Abstracted by Carol K. Songs-Hansing from the Holton Recorder, Holton, KS, March 14, 1935 orignally written by Gladys L. Brown --------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Adrian Settlers Conquer Prairie Families Pushed Past Holton to the West Stretches of Pasture Land to West Jackson" While I was sitting by the fireside thinking of the by gone days, these lines of the beautiful poem came to me: Backward, turn backward, O time in thy flight. Make me a child again just for tonight. Mother, come back from the echo less shore; Take me again to your heart as of yore; Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care, Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair; Over my slumbers your loving watch keep, Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep. Then we can see the Adrian community as it was sixty years ago, just a vast prairie with a few scattered houses, as Adrian was not in existence; it was known as Little Cross Creek. The first white man's home on the way to Holton was the Shields home known far and near as the Shield's Grove. Neighbors were few and far between and most of them lived in log cabins. Any history of the early pioneers would be incomplete without mentioning their remarkable faith and courage to build homes in a new country. It is impossible for us to realize the hardships and loneliness that they endured, especially of the women who were left at home while husbands and sons made long trips for supplies which often took days, weeks and months to make. The following are the names of families who were here sixty years ago and their descendants who are still living: The J. R. MARTIN family: Mrs. Martin of Topeka, KS is the only one living of the early pioneers. She is being tenderly cared for by her daughter, Mrs. Fannie Stillson. Jesse Martin of Topeka, KS; Clara Martin of Palm Beach, CA; Charley Martin of Scandia, KS. The Edward McNEIVE family was the first white family to settle on Cross Creek, coming here in 1868. The land was bought from Frank Kessis, an Indian. They cut the trees, hewed the logs and built their cabin. Mr. McNeive hauled corn to Denver, CO with an ox team, which he sold for five cents a pound. It took three months to make the trip. His descendants tell of the many narrow escapes he encountered with the Indians. His children still living are Joseph McNeive, Mrs. Margaret McNeive Vaughn of Delia. Joseph lives on the home place. The Mrs. Bridget McNEIVE house was built in 1875 and is now occupied by the John McNeive family, grandson of Mrs. Bridget McNeive. The Pat KENNEDY family came in 1970, and his children, Mary Ann, Rose Kate, Ella, Peter and John are living on the old home place. The Dan PLACE family came in 1874. The living children are Michael and Peter of Topeka, KS. William, Mrs. Margaret Grace McNeive. Mary and Thomas of Delia, KS. The Henry TREZISE family came in 1871. Those living are William Raymond, WA; Mrs. Hanna Moore, Delia, KS; Mrs. Anna Sophia Hoffman, Topeka, KS; and Mrs. Lena Brown, Delia, KS. The first Trezise house was burned in 1874 and a new house was erected soon after which is still standing and is occupied by the Fred Rezac family. The John AYERS family: Andrew Ayers of Holton, KS; Ernest Ayers of Minneapolis, KS. The Pat HOLLIGAN family: John Holligan of Topeka, KS; Mrs. Mary Holligan Riley, Montana, the William Holligan family. The Mitchell ROARK family: Will Roark and Erve Roark of McFarland, KS; Mrs. Martha Roark Fair of Manhattan, KS; Mary Roark of near Topeka, KS. A school house was built on the Tim VAUGHN land about 1871. This school house was torn down and rebuilt and is now known as the Browne District No. 46. The John CALLERY family: Martin Callery of Texas. The John SONGS family: Mrs. Mary Songs Jackson of Elmont, KS. The Timothy VAUGHN family: James Vaughn, Delia, KS; Mrs. Molly Vaughn Callery of Delia, KS. The Michael McNEIVE family: Mrs. Alice McNeive Fennell and James McNeive of Delia, KS. The Thomas McNEIVE family: Mrs. Mary McNeive Vaughn of Topeka, KS and Mrs. Nellie McNeive Moore of Delia, KS. The Samuel COPELAND family: Charles Copeland of St. Marys, KS; James Copeland of Burley, ID; Mrs. Kate Copeland Brumel, Council Bluffs, IO. The E. L. STALKER family: Marion Stalker of Topeka, KS; Mrs. Anna Stalker Houck of Delia, KS; Will Stalker, Caldwell, ID; Mrs. Hattie Stalker Shaklee of Oklahoma; Mrs. Emma Stalker Kirkpatrick of Manhattan, KS. The A. P. REDMON family came here in 1873 from Jefferson county: Paris Redmon of Topeka, KS; Edward Redmon of Delia, KS. The Little Cross Creek school had its beginning in a log cabin one-half mile south of where the present modern school house stands. At this time there was not a bridge on Little Cross Creek. There was a census taken in the fall of 1874 after grasshoppers had eaten everything, to determine the amount of supplies that were needed. At this time there were five hundred pounds of flour in the district which consisted of what is now Adrian township and part of Washington. Of the five hundred pounds of flour, one man owned three hundred pounds of it. A. P. Redmon and Henry Stalker went to Topeka to bring home supplies for the needy. The John LUTHER family came in 1874. Mr. Luther lived to be over one hundred years old. His son, Gus, lives at Gooding, ID. The John FEIGHNEY family: John, Jr., of Topeka, died December, 1934. The Martin BURKE family: James Burke and Mrs. Alice Burke Charles. The Holligan school district was organized in April, 1874. The school house was built in the summer and after two weeks of school in the fall it was burned. Then the school was held in a log house on the Dan COFFEY place, now owned by the Peter THOLL family. Proceeding the organization of this district, school was held in the upstairs of the Pat Kennedy house, taught by Jerry Sullivan. A few surviving pupils are Mary Ann Rose, Kate Kennedy, Johnnie and Michael Kennedy. The south part of what is known as the ENGLEBRECT house was built by Henry HAMMER in 1870. When the Henry Trezise family came in 1871, they stayed with the Hammer family while building their house. Hay was brought in at night and spread on the floor of the two-room house for a bed and carried out the next morning and fed to the horses, and the next night more hay was carried in for beds. One of the first ministers who preached at Little Cross Creek school house was Rev. J. M. WADE. His living children are Will Wade of Ontario, KS; Hattie and Anna, of Topeka, KS. Rev Wade worked as blacksmith during the week and on Saturday evening would drive to his appointments and preach Saturday evening and Sunday. For one year's services at Little Cross Creek, he received a rocking chair. We wonder what the ministers of today would think of that for a salary. The Thomas McMANUS family: Thomas, Jr., of Topeka, KS; Mrs. Ida McManus Kennedy. The Pat MCMANUS family: Hugh McManus. The Mrs. Bridget McNEIVE family: Patrick McNeive, who died in 1931. The Patrick CHARLES family: John Charles of Topeka, KS; Mike Charles of Emmett, KS. --------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ---------------------------------------------------------------------