Our Past Is Present November 26, 2018

November 26, 2018

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is a continuation of the one we shared with you about Junction City’s first residents – Robert and Elizabeth Henderson.  Today’s story is more about Elizabeth. 

When Reverend David Clarkson was Chaplain at Fort Riley, an organ was presented to the Episcopal parish at Fort Riley’s (St. Mary’s Chapel).  It is believed to have been the melodeon (or small organ), which Mrs. JEB Stuart played for the services. There was a change in the chaplaincy at Fort Riley, but before leaving, Chaplain Clarkson left the organ with Mrs. Henderson.  He explained that the organ belonged to the Junction City parish.  Upon the arrival of the NEW chaplain, he claimed the organ as property of the fort.  Mrs. Henderson learned of the possibility of some trouble over the instrument, so she carefully nailed down the windows of her house and awaited the outcome.

            A sergeant and five men came to the Henderson house on the fifth of May in 1863 with orders to seize all fort property.  Mrs. Henderson, with rifle in hand stood in the door of her house defying the soldiers from entering.  In the meantime a detachment was on the opposite side of the house.  They gained entrance and made away with the organ.

            Two days later, Mrs. Henderson, accompanied by the constable, went to the Fort to reclaim the organ, but they were driven off by the guard.  The following October, the case came before a justice of the peace and the verdict was given by the jury to have the organ returned to the town folk.  It was appealed to district court, where the case was dismissed for an informality.

            Following this decision, a party of soldiers seized the instrument, put it in a wagon and started to carry it off.  It was retrieved before the team left town. Merchant P.Z. Taylor sewed it up in army blankets and hid it away in his store.  The most thorough search failed to reveal its hiding place.  Two years later the court declared that the ownership was finally to be the town parish.  And….that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.