Abijah Wells
Creator: Purnelle Brothers
Date: Between 1880 and 1885
This is a carte-de-visite showing Abijah Wells who was an early pioneer, lawyer, and financier in Nemaha County, Kansas. He was born June 12, 1840, the son of William R. and Betsy K. Skinner Wells. The family came to Kansas in 1857, and soon after their arrival, William became involved in the free-state movement. Abijah attended Centralia College and later attended Kansas State Agricultural College. Early in life, Abijah decided to enter the legal profession, and after college, he entered the law office of J. E. Taylor, where he studied law. He was admitted to the Nemaha County bar in 1866 and practiced law all his life except for four years while a member of the Kansas Court of Appeals. In that same year, he married Loretta C. Williams, the daughter of Captain Arthur William Williams and Mary Angeline Nordyke. In early 1881, he became the editor and owner of the Seneca Tribune and later that year sold the paper. Wells held many offices including clerk of the district court, register of deeds, superintendent of education, mayor of Seneca, and the Seneca school board for a number of years. In addition to his legal career, he was vice-president of the National Bank of Seneca and involved in various financial interests. Abijah Wells died March 1, 1915 in Los Angeles, California.

Agnes Kelly Henry
Date: Between 1910 and 1912
This is a photograph of Agnes Kelly Henry, who was born October 18, 1902 in Wymore, Nebraska, the daughter of Nicholas J. and Elizabeth Freeman Henry. The family lived in Wymore until 1908 when they moved to Valley Falls, Kansas. In 1918, the family moved to Kampler Switch, close to Seneca, Kansas. Agnes was one of eleven children. Her siblings were: Mary Anna, twins Rose and Elizabeth, Cecilia, John, Agnes, Tim, Catherine, Anthony, and Joe. On October 11, 1921, Agnes married Leo Henry, a farmer and stockman. Agnes and Leo had eleven children: Rita Fienhage, Eileen Huls, Betty Kramer, Mary Chelemedos, James, Norma Heiman, Arlen, Cecil, Damian, Sonja and Nick. Agnes died September 8, 1994 in Seneca, Kansas.

Albert R. Greene to Franklin G. Adams
Creator: Greene, A.R.
Date: August 18, 1897
In this letter to Franklin G. Adams, Albert R. Greene explains that he recently met with Charles C. Haynes, with whom he discussed the waning days of the Overland Stage. Greene explains that Haynes was old but that his eye was as "keen as when he ran the gauntlet of hostile Indians and brought his coach into the home station bristling with arrows."

American Legion baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas
Date: 1975
These photographs feature the 1975 American Legion Post 160 baseball team from Silver Lake, Kansas. The photos were taken during the American Legion's Class AA state baseball championship tournament held in Seneca. The Post 160 team won the state championship that year by defeating Lyndon in the title game. Members of the 1975 Post 160 team were: Bobby Bowers; Randy Brown; Alan Cunningham; Mark Elliott; Donald Francis; Brett Hamilton; Darrel Harden; Mike Kruger; Ken Martinek; Ronnie Martinek; Jon McCormick; Chuck Ross; Kevin Ward; Cecil Hamilton (manager and head coach); C.J. Hamilton (assistant coach); Kent Hamilton (assistant coach); and, David Boyd (batboy). Digital reproduction of the photos was accomplished through a joint project sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame.

Andrew Henry and Mary Gudenkauf Zind Henry
Date: January 7, 1896
This is a photograph showing Andrew A. Henry and Mary Gudenkauf Zind Henry on their wedding day. Andrew A. Henry was born in Bavaria, Germany on December 31, 1860, and his parents were George Heinrich Henry and Eliza (Iva) Dougle Henry. Andrew immigrated to the United States in 1881 at the age of 21 and settled in Kingman County, Kansas. He worked for the railway company in Kingman for a few years before coming to Nemaha County in 1893 where he settled on a farm near Goff, Kansas. In 1896, he married Mary Gudenkauf Zind at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca, Kansas. They had six children Frank, Antone, Leo, Catherine, Joseph, Bernard and Clemens Zind, Mary's son from a previous marriage. On September 18, 1910, Mary died of peritonitis. On January 21, 1914, Henry married Josephine Dreier and they had one son Vincent. In 1924, Andrew and Josephine moved from the farm to a home in Seneca, Kansas. Andrew Henry passed away December 12, 1947. Mary Gudenkauf Zind was born November 14, 1869 in Minster, Auglaize County, Ohio and her parents were Henry Clemens and Maria Catherine Barhorst Gudenkauf. Mary's parents moved to Seneca, Kansas in 1886 after their flour mill was destroyed by a fire. In 1890, Mary married Antone Zind, and they had two children Margarite (who died at the age of 2) and Clemens. Antone Zind died in an accident on a farm just east of Seneca on August 29, 1893, at age 31.

Andrew Henry family
Date: 1913
This is a photograph of the Andrew Henry family. People in the photograph are: front row: (left to right) Joe Henry (August 10, 1903-October 1, 1996), Frank Henry (December 1, 1896-April 4, 1988), Katheryn Henry (October 21, 1901-February 6, 1990), Tony Henry (June 13, 1898-August 3, 1984), Ben Henry (March 2, 1907-April 9, 1978); and back row: Clemens Zind (October 5, 1892-February 12, 1932), Mary Guden Kauf (photo added) (November 14, 1869-September 18, 1910), Andrew Henry (December 31, 1860-December 12, 1947), and Leo Henry (January 7, 1900-September 27, 1984).

Bicycle racing. Seneca fair
Date: September 08, 1896-September 11, 1896
Bicycle races are promoted on this Seneca, Kansas, fair poster. Only amateurs are allowed to participate with an entry fee of 50 cents a race. Prizes are displayed at Walter Sperling's, jeweler. J. J. Knepp is the president and John Stowell is the secretary of the fair association.

C. J. Colman to Governor John St. John
Creator: Colman, C. J.
Date: July 14, 1880
In this letter, Pastor Colman of Seneca, Kansas, feels his county must be "pushed" to vote for the prohibition amendment and desires Kansas Governor St. John to come address his community.

Charles A. Richard
Date: 1945
This is a photograph of Charles A. Richard. He married Lula Jerusha Ford on September 14, 1902, and they had four sons: Glen U. (born May 9, 1905), Quentin L. (born June 25, 1907), Wilbur O. (born December 19, 1910), and Charles A, Jr. (born May 14, 1916). Charles A. Richard was a minister and lecturer in Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas. Later, he was a minister at the First Christian Church in Lawrence, Kansas. Also, he was a Republican and served in the Kansas State Senate in 1937, SS1938, and 1939 representing District 17.

Charles A. Richard
Date: Between 1920 and 1929
This is a photograph of Charles A. Richard. He married Lula Jerusha Ford on September 14, 1902, and they had four sons: Glen U. (born May 9, 1905), Quentin L. (born June 25, 1907), Wilbur O. (born December 19, 1910), and Charles A, Jr. (born May 14, 1916). Charles A. Richard was a minister and lecturer in Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas. Later, he was a minister at the First Christian Church in Lawrence, Kansas. Also, he was a Republican and served in the Kansas State Senate in 1937, SS1938, and 1939 representing District 17.

Charles A. Richard and Lula Jerusha Ford Richard
Date: Between 1902 and 1905
This is a photograph of Charles A. Richard and Lula Jerusha Richard. She was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Ford and they settled in Nemaha County, Kansas. Charles and Lula were married September 14, 1902, and they had four sons: Glen U. (born May 9, 1905), Quentin L. (born June 25, 1907), Wilbur O. (born December 19, 1910), and Charles A, Jr. (born May 14, 1916). Charles A. Richard was a minister and lecturer in Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas. Later, he was a minister at the First Christian Church in Lawrence, Kansas. Also, he was a Republican and served in the Kansas State Senate in 1937, SS1938, and 1939 representing District 17.

Damian and Rita Henry
Date: Between 1942 and 1945
Here is a photograph showing Damian Henry (September 26, 1938 -) and Rita Henry (July 31, 1922-June 11, 1987), the children of Leo and Agnes (Kelly) Henry. The photograph was probably taken in Seneca, Kansas.

Damian and Sonja Henry
Date: 1943-1945
Two photographs showing Damian Henry (September 26, 1938- ) and Sonja Henry (September 16, 1941-April 6, 1945), the children of Leo and Agnes (Kelly) Henry. Sonja died of lockjaw at age 4 years.

Fire department in Seneca, Kansas
Date: Between 1895 and 1899
Here are three photographs showing the fire department with their equipment in Seneca, Kansas.

Frank Fienhage and Christina Lierz Fienhage
Date: Between 1895 and 1900
This is a photograph showing Frank Fienhage and Christina Lierz Fienhage. Frank was born May 10, 1860 in Oldenburg, Germany. He came to the United States in 1878 and settled on a farm near Baileyville, Kansas where he lived for 33 years. Christina Gertrude Lierz was born April 29, 1866 at Loose Creek, Missouri. She was the daughter of Peter Joseph and Gertrude Yeager Lierz. At age two Christina moved with her family to Kansas and settled on a farm six miles east of Seneca, Kansas. Frank and Christina were married February 23, 1886 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca, Kansas. They farmed near Baileyville, Kansas for thirty-four years before moving to Seneca, Kansas. Frank and Christina had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The surviving children were named Gertrude (Mrs. John Jacob Renninger); John Clement; Henry August; Frank Peter; Peter Paul; Mary (Mrs. William Spencer Scott); and Bertha (Mrs. Alfred Peter Woltkamp).

Governor's proclamations
Date: 1869-1977
This collection of proclamations issued by Kansas Governors declares first, second or third-class status for Kansas towns and cities. Proclamations are arranged in alphabetical order by town name. Included are descriptions of city limits, plat maps and censuses.

Group of men in Seneca, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1919
This is a postcard showing a group of men in Seneca, Kansas. They were possibly gathered to work on or discuss roads in their community.

Ice storm damage, Seneca, Kansas
Creator: Randel, Marissa
Date: December 11, 2007
This is a color photo of damage to a tree on the Randel home from an ice storm, Seneca, Kansas.

Ira K. Wells, World War I soldier
Creator: Wells, Ira K.
Date: 1918-1921
Around 1919, the Kansas State Historical Society and the American Legion solicited biographical information from returning veterans (primarily members of the 35th and 89th infantry divisions) and the families of those who died in service, notably from the Gold Star Mothers. Each veteran or family member was asked to provide letters, photographs, a biography, and military records. This file contains information on Ira K. Wells, Major, Judge Advocate General's Department.

J.C. Hebbard to Governor John St. John
Creator: Hebbard, J. C.
Date: July 17, 1879
J. C. Hebbard, from the Office of the Kansas Freedman's Relief Association in Topeka, writes Kansas Governor St. John to request a copy of the Biennial Board of Agriculture Biennial Report. Hebbaard asks that it be given to George Benedict, Seneca, Nemaha County, who is the District Court clerk and a temperance supporter.

James Henry, Arlen Henry, Cecil Henry, and Damian Henry
Date: Between 1943 and 1945
This is a photograph showing James Henry (February 17, 1929-November 15, 2006), Arlen (July 20, 1932 - ), Cecil (February 25, 1934-August 15, 1995), Damian (September 26, 1938- ), the sons of Leo and Agnes (Kelly) Henry who lived in Seneca, Kansas.

Joseph Ford
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
This is a photograph of Joseph Ford who lived in Seneca, Kansas. Ford School located in Nemaha County was named for him.

Joseph Ford home in Seneca, Kansas
Date: Between 1910 and 1920
This is a postcard showing Joseph Ford's home in Seneca, Kansas.

Joseph Martin Gress, World War I soldier
Creator: Gress, Joseph Martin
Date: 1918
Around 1919, the Kansas State Historical Society and the American Legion solicited biographical information from returning veterans (primarily members of the 35th and 89th infantry divisions) and the families of those who died in service, notably from the Gold Star Mothers. Each veteran or family member was asked to provide letters, photographs, a biography, and military records. This file contains information on Joseph Martin Gress, Company F, 7th Infantry. Gress was killed in action, fall of 1918.

Kansas Adjutant General general correspondence
Creator: Kansas. Adjutant General's Office
Date: 1879
This correspondence was sent and received by Kansas Adjutant General Peter S. Noble to and from militiamen across the state, often written on stationary from their places of regular employment. The Kansas University Cadets are frequently mentioned. Included are petitions for the organization of militia companies in the cities of Raymond, Offerle, Burlingame, and Caldwell, among others. Also included are petitions for weaponry and ammunition to protect the cities of Oberlin, Spearville, and Bazine from Indian attacks.