History

When the Civil War ended and the government opened up for settlement the territory now known as Kansas, a whole new way of life on the plains was about to begin.

The wide open prairies were Indian territory. Waconda Springs, located three and a half miles west of Glen Elder, was a special place of worship for several tribes. Buffalo roamed the land by the thousands, along with deer, antelope and other wildlife.

The Indians killed buffalo only as needed for food, shelter, clothing and other necessities of life. However, their way of life was soon to change. As the white settlement began, big time game hunters also came in, killing the buffalo and other game in large numbers for sport, until within a few short years, the buffalo was gone, as well as the Indian way of life.

Some of the Indians and early white settlers were able to make friendships, however, as could be expected, it was also the start of many conflicts, with both Indians and white settlers losing their lives. In May 1870, near the bluffs on the south edge of Glen Elder, five settlers, John Geer, Solomon Miser, William Kenyon, Scott Guffy and a young boy about 17 years old, Heugh Nesbit, were Planting com on the south side of the Solomon River. Caught unaware and unable to reach the guns they had left at their dugouts by the bluff, Indians attacked, killing Geer, Kenyon and Miser. Guffy and Nesbit made their way downstream, hiding in brush, and eventually reached the fort on the George Stinson property in old Glen Elder, located on the east side of Limestone Creek from the present Max Porter home place.

The Indians soon were forced to move further north, giving up their land to the newly forming white settlement.

It was later reported the earliest pioneer, Mr. Smith or Mr. Decker, arrived here in 1866, made a dugout on Limestone Creek by the present Porter home place, planted a garden, but did not stay.

The first known settlers were the Truman and Emetine Allen family in May 1869. They first occupied the dugout mentioned above, however, within several months, moved on up the creek about a mile and a half north, onto what was later the Anna Winkel farm.

George Stinson then homesteaded the land the Allen's had vacated and his brother Franklin took an adjoining claim to the south which is now within the city limits of Glen Elder. This was before the county or Glen Elder Township was formed.

George Stinson started the Kansas Bitter Saloon which was soon surrounded with a stockade as protection against the Indians and was located east across the creek from their dugout. He also started the Log Cabin Home, reported to be the first hotel in Mitchell County. When Max and Phyllis Porter built their new home, while digging for the basement, an old rock sign with crudely carved lettering "Glen Elder Log Cabin Home 1870" was uncovered in two parts. The Porters had the sign cemented back together, and it now sits in their yard. It is believed to be the only artifact from the original town of Glen Elder.