Story of Ida Elizabeth Lamont

Ida Elizabeth Lamont was my maternal-great-grandaunt and Thomas and Mary Lamont, first child. She was born on 26 Feb 1862 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She was six months old when her father, Thomas, enlisted in the Union Army and left to fight in the Civil War. When Thomas returned in the fall of 1865, she was almost four years old. 

Ida was almost sixteen years old when she moved with her family by train from Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania to Great Bend, Barton, Kansas in Jan 1878. She stayed in Great Bend with the family while her father established the homestead in St John. In February 1878, she moved with her family to the newly established homestead in St John. The 1880 census shows her on both St John and Great Bend with her family, as the family resided in both towns for a period.

During this same time period, Andrew Williamson moved to Great Bend, Barton, Kansas. He went by the name AJ and was from Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. The 1880 census shows him as a laborer, living with a family. AJ came to Kansas on his own, as his parents and siblings always remained in Pennsylvania.

AJ Williamson (23) and Ida Lamont (19) married 14 Aug 1881 in Great Bend by the Barton County Probate Judge, at his home. 

Ida and AJ (1907)

26 Jul 1882, Ida purchased a home at Lot 6, Block 123, Great Bend, Barton, Kansas (1103 Hubbard Street), for $150 from Urias and Carrie Clay. The home is three blocks southeast of the Barton County Courthouse. They lived there until 1883, when they moved to a rented farm in Stafford County to be closer to Ida's family.

Ida and AJ Home At 1103 Hubbard Street (Oct 2022)

5 Oct 1885, Andrew and Ida sold their home in Great Bend for $400. 11 Sep 1888, they purchased an 80-acre farm for $500 from John and Mary Davis. The farm was in South Seward at the North Half of Northeast Quarter of Section 32, Township 22S, Range 13S (SW Corner of NW 100th & NW 10th, South Seward, Stafford, KS).  

Ida and AJ 80-Acre Farm in South Seward (Oct 2022)

AJ and his brother-in-law, Edwin Lamont, participated in the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893, but returned not impressed with any land opportunities in Oklahoma.

St John Daily Capital and County Capital Newspaper, 15 Sep 1893

6 Oct 1900, AJ purchased an additional 160-acre farm for $960 from L G Scheetz. The farm was in South Seward near their original farm at the Southwest Quarter of Section 29, Township 22S, Range 13S (NE Corner of NW 100th & NW 20th, South Seward, Stafford, KS).

Ida and AJ 160-Acre Farm in South Seward (Oct 2022)

During 1915, AJ and Ida built a home on their 320-acre homestead near Caddo, Bent, Colorado. Their children, Charles and Ethel also built a home on their own 320-acre homestead. They moved onto the homestead in Spring 1916, based on newspaper articles. All three homesteads were close to Ida's brother, Edwin Lamont, who moved there a few years earlier. AJ and Ida moved back to their farm in South Seward during 1918.

On 4 Aug 1930, Ida died at Great Bend Hospital, Great Bend, Barton, Kansas at the age of 68. The death certificate shows she died of acute appendicitis. Her funeral was at the Methodist Episcopal Church, St John, Stafford, Kansas on 6 Aug 1930 at 2:30 PM with Rev C E Farney officiating. Following the funeral, burial was at Fairview Park Cemetery, St John, Stafford, Kansas at Section L, Lot 32, Space 2.

After Ida's death, AJ continued to live on the farm with the help of his son, Ivan Williamson.

Ivan Williamson, Age 36 (1934)

On 9 Dec 1935, AJ died at home at the age of 78. The death certificate shows he died of cerebral hemorrhage (8 days) at 8:35 PM. His funeral was at the Methodist Episcopal Church, St John, Stafford, Kansas on 12 Dec 1935 at 6PM with Rev C E Farney officiating. Following the funeral, burial was at Fairview Park Cemetery, St John, Stafford, Kansas at Section L, Lot 32, Space 1.

Ida can be described as a caring person and was very responsible, caring for her parents and siblings. She enjoyed working as mid-wife for Dr Copeland.

AJ can be described as a hard worker, skilled carpenter, and horse breeder. AJ had a big heart and would be there for anyone that needed his help.

Thomas Lamont establishes homestead and timber claims

The family arrived in Great Bend, KS from Pittsburgh, PA in early Jan 1878. They found housing in Great Bend while Thomas was searching and establishing a homestead for the family. 

The National Archives Homestead record show Thomas Lamont settled on his homestead 9 Jan 1878 and papers were filed 19 Jan 1878. The property was 160 acres, located twenty miles south of Great Bend, Barton, KS and six miles northwest of St John, Stafford, KS at the North West Quarter of Section 8, Township 23S, Range 13W (SE Corner of NW 80th & NW 20th, St John, Stafford, KS)

He worked to improve the land by building a sod house 12x14, dug out 14x15, stable 14x32; digging a well; planting 300 forest trees, 50 peach trees. Witnesses describe that he moved his family (Mary, Ida, Edwin, Evelyn) onto the homestead 1 Feb 1878. His claim was final 14 Oct 1881 and approved 14 Oct 1881. The homestead patent was issued 15 Mar 1882.

Thomas Lamont, homestead - taken Oct 2022

Thomas had his eye on a timber claim northwest of his homestead claim. This claim was settled, but no improvements were done. Thomas petitioned to take over the land and got approval.

The National Archives Timber claim record show Thomas Lamont papers were filed 12 Feb 1884. The property was 160 acres, located twenty miles south of Great Bend, Barton, KS and six miles northwest of St John, Stafford, KS at the South East Quarter of Section 6, Township 23S, Range 13W (NW Corner of NW 80th & NW 20th, St John, Stafford, KS)

He worked to improve the land by cultivating 11.25 acres from 1884-1892 (8 years), planting 875 cottonwood, catalpa, mulberry, locus, and walnut trees. The trees grew to an average of three inch diameter and ten feet high. His claim was final 25 Apr 1892 and the timber patent was issued 21 Mar 1893. 

Thomas Lamont, Timber Claim - taken Oct 2022

Thomas Lamont moves his family to Western Kansas

Thomas mustered out of the Union Army Cavalry on 24 Aug 1865 at Ft Leavenworth, KS and returned to Pittsburgh, PA.  It is not known how he traveled from Kansas to Pensylvania, almost 900 miles. He must have been excited to see his wife, Mary and daughter, Ida. Ida was only 6 months old when he enlisted, and now would be over three years old. He returned to work as a coal miner, but was not as healthy or strong as before the Civil War. They had a son, Edwin Francis on 12 Jun 1871 and a daughter, Evelyn Gertrude on 23 Oct 1875.

1870 Patton, Allegheny, PA Federal Census

Thomas and Mary learned about a group of Mormons that had split from the Mormon church because they did not believe in polygamy. The new church was established in 1865 and headed by a Methodist, William Brickerton. The church was named, 'Church of Jesus Christ' (Bickertonite) and was incorporated in Pittsburgh, PA. William Brickerton wanted to establish church community and mission for Native Americans in Kansas. William spent many years searching for a place to establish the mission. He first looked into creating a Cherokee mission in Chetopa, Labette, Kansas. Later decided on a mission in Western Kansas.

By 1872, Santa Fe tracks had reached 6 miles west of Great Bend, KS. During 1874, William Brickerton led an explorer group of about five settlers to Kansas, traveling by train from Pennsylvania to Great Bend, KS, where the tracks ended.

 The explorer group then traveled twenty miles south of Great Bend by horseback, choosing an area near the junction of Rattlesnake Creek and Wild Horse Creek and called it Zion Valley. William blessed the area, and said it would never be struck by a tornado. To this day, no tornado has struck the area. 

The explorers returned to Pennsylvania and brought a group of 35 church families with 120 -140 people during 1875. They traveled by train from Pennsylvania to Independence, Missouri. The group only brought a small amount of belongings on the train.  They bought wagons, goods, and animals before traveling a direct route to Zion Valley, not following any major wagon trail.

There were no trees in the county when the group arrived and was located six miles north of modern day St John, Stafford, KS. Only five-white families were in the county when they arrived. The group gathered and hauled buffalo bones to Great Bend and Larned for $12/load for the first three years. The first post office was established at William Brickerton home in 1875, moving to St John in 1879.  

During 1875 the state of Kansas was trying to discourage the church to establish a community in Kansas. The state divided Stafford County, making the north half, part of Barton County and south half, part of Pratt County. Kansas divided the county right in the middle of the Zion Valley community, without a county they could not claim land as a whole. During 1878 the Brickerton 'Church of Jesus Christ' church was built on the hill (Now W 5th Street, St John, KS). The church was the only one in the Stafford county for nine-years. Brickerton church was used by all denominations as a place of worship and served as the school, named 'Zion Valley School'. By 1879, Governor St John re-established Stafford county, so Brickerton could resume their community plan. Zion Valley was eventually changed to St John, named after the Kansas Governor, John Pierce St John.

A book written about the area 'No Cyclone Shall Destroy' by Clelland Cole and Helen Malin Reuber describes the area was home to Santana, Indian chief for the Kiowa tribe, who raided and terrorized the frontier on the Santa Fe Trail.  He eventually was captured and spent his last days at Fort Sill, OK, and died in 1878. Many starving Indians in the area were given food from travelers. The book describes the area as desolate, with Indians, Buffalo stampedes, prairie fires, and grasshopper plaques, forcing many settlers to return east.

            Santana, Indian chief for the Kiowa tribe       

Thomas Lamont National Archive Pension record includes an affidavit of Thomas, indicating he left for St John, KS in Jan 1878.  Thomas and Mary may have followed the same path as the William Brickerton explorer group, traveling by train from Pittsburgh, PA to Great Bend, KS. Thomas Lamont family is listed in both St John, Stafford, KS and Great Bend, Barton, KS 1880 Federal Census. He is listed as farmer in St John and laborer in Great Bend. They may have settled in Great Bend initially until the homestead in St John was established. 

Thomas is on a Stafford County Historical Society document that lists the original families of Zion Valley. I have not found any record indicating that Thomas Lamont family was a member of the 'Church of Jesus Christ' (Bickertonite) Church. They were always members of a Methodist or Presbyterian Churches. 

1880 St John, Stafford, KS Federal Census

1880 Great Bend, Barton, KS Federal Census