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

Evelyn Gertrude Lamont Gravestone

After many months of delay, her gravestone has been installed. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

After over fifty-five years, Effie has a gravestone!

The story of Evelyn "Effie" Gertrude Lamont

Evelyn's Birth

Evelyn "Effie" Gertrude Lamont was my maternal-great-grandaunt and the youngest of Thomas and Mary Lamont, three children. She went by the name of Effie and was born on 23 Oct 1875 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.  This is based on her death certificate and Thomas Lamont military pension file.  

Effie Before Marriage

Effie was two 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. While in Saint John, she graduated from eighth grade from School District #38 in Kenilworth, 1891. After graduation, she continued her education at the Stafford County Normal School in St John from 1892 to 1893. 8 Apr 1893, she received her Normal School certificate. No information has been found about Effie after receiving the certificate in 1893 and when she was married in 1898. 

George Barger and Effie Marriage

Effie married George Barger at the age of twenty-three. The next eleven years they resided in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, living at many rental homes.  City directories show Effie working as a Stenographer and George as a delivery driver.  During October 1909, George was making a delivery to Saint Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri and was severely injured and died on 13 October 1909 at the age of 37.  He is buried in the Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson, Kansas. 

Gideon Butler and Effie Marriage
A few years later, Effie met and married Gideon Butler.  They moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, OK.  Effie worked as a dress factory seamstress and Gideon as a salesman.  The 1917 Oklahoma City Directory lists the couple living at 1015 West Park Place in Oklahoma City.  Effie and Gideon purchased three lots in the West Lawn Park Addition of Oklahoma City at 2016 NW 26th Street on 29 Jan 1921. On 27 July 1927, they bought two additional lots in the area at 2015 NW 27th Street. 

Effie and Gideon Butler at a park in Oklahoma City, OK in the 1920s

Death of Gideon Butler
During the winter of 1928, both Gideon and Effie contracted the deadly flu.  Gideon did not survive and died on Christmas day 1928 at the age of 69.  He died at their home on NW 27th Street.  The Watts and McAtee Funeral Home held his remains until Effie recovered from her illness.  She worked with the family to have his remains buried in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas at the Thomas Lamont plot in the Oak Hill Cemetery.  This was the last grave in the Thomas Lamont plot.  Effie returned to Oklahoma City after the funeral and continued to work as a seamstress.

After Gideon Butler Death
The 1940 census lists that she had moved back to Gideon and her original home on NW 26th Street and was not able to work because of her health.  She died at Saint Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma on 12 February 1966 at the age of 90.  At the time of her death, she had no children. Her only known living relatives were two nieces, Hazel Lamont Heizer of Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado and Margaret Lamont Westerhouse of Eudora, Douglas, Kansas. Friend, Norma Warner, and her mother, Mima Warner, both living near Effie at 1832 27th Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma arranged and paid for a small funeral at Watts Funeral Home Chapel. The two ladies purchased a grave in the Moore Cemetery, Moore, Cleveland, Oklahoma where Effie is buried in an unmarked grave.

I have ordered a headstone for Effie, and it is scheduled to be installed next month. I hope to share that with you soon.

Photo of Effie's unmarked grave, with flowers that I have placed

George Barger worked as a delivery driver and was close to his mother and family in the Kansas City area. He did not have alot of money and moved from apartment to apartment often.

Gideon Butler was a salesman and was very friendly and outgoing.  He was not close to his family and died with no living family other than his wife, Effie. 

Evelyn "Effie" Gertrude Lamont was an excellent student, always receiving excellent grades, and advanced to get a Normal School certificate in 1893. Effie preferred living in large towns rather than rural living. She had an occupation, stenographer and clerk, in Kansas City. Effie worked as a dress factory seamstress in Oklahoma City. She struggled financially when she became a widow in 1928. She was not close to her family and died with no family knowing of her death.

Welcome to the Jays Family History Blog!

 I am currently researching my great-great grandparents, Thomas Jefferson Lamont and Mary Ann Shade and family (1830s-Present) from Pittsburgh, PA.  They lived in Indiana County PA, Allegheny County PA, Stafford County KS, Barton County KS, and Douglas County KS. I will share about my research and findings. Please share any photos, stories, and research you have learned also.

Photo taken in 1889. Sitting L-R, Thomas, Mary. Standing L-R, Ida, Edwin, Effie

I have been reviewing 

        Thomas's NARA Compiled Military Service file 
        Thomas's NARA Military Pension file

        Mary's NARA Widow Pension file

Here is a summary of what I have learned

Thomas married Mary Shade at her home (Coalman Hills, Allegheny, PA) on 14 May 1861.  They were married by Reverend D A McCready, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church  of East Liberty, Allegheny, PA.  Thomas and Mary have known each other all their life. Their first child, Ida, was born 26 Feb 1862, six months before enlisting in the military.

Marriage Certificate for Thomas Lamont and Mary Shade - 14 May 1861

Thomas Jefferson Lamont enlisted at East Liberty (East End), Pittsburgh, Allegheny, PA into the 14th Regiment, Company D, Pennsylvania Calvary on 11 Sept 1862. He enlisted with his father-in-law and best friend, Michael Shade for three years. Their unit was under the command of Captain Richard Pollock. Thomas was twenty-four years old and Michael was forty-three. Both men were coal miners before enlisting and served as boatmen.

While in the line of duty, Thomas engaged in battle with the enemy at Rocky Gap, VA or Dry Run, VA on 26 Aug 1863 and was wounded. The injury was caused by a gunshot striking his fore-finger of the right hand near the first or knuckle joint. He was transported to the hospital in Beverly, VA and his fore-finger was amputated, by Dr Wynn four days after the injury occurred. Thomas recovered at the hospital for seven days before being released.  He only went back to the hospital to have the wound dressed.

During Fall/Winter 1864 Thomas developed Rheumatism of hip joint while in camp near Winchester ("Muddy Creek"), VA. 

Thomas was honorable discharged on 28 May 1865 with occupation of Boatman after serving two-years, eight -months, 17 days in the War of 1861 (civil war) from Bladensburg, Prince George, MD (8.6 miles from central Washington) and mustered out on 24 Aug 1865 from Ft Leavenworth, KS.

He was awarded a pension of 3-dollars per month on 29 May 1865. He failed to include Rheumatism when he applied for pension. Likewise, he only claimed the loss of the index finger. Thomas spent much effort to have his pension increased to include Rheumatism, with little success. He asked Physicians, Neighbors, soldiers for a signed court affidavit to submit. Thomas's pension was last increased to forty dollars on 5 Jul 1912.

The Physician affidavits (1891-1920) showed he was 5' 9", Grey eyes, hair light, fair complexion, weight range from 145-152. Additionally, it showed his pulse and respiration being normal. Treated for attack of "Sciatic Rheumatism". Partially deaf in left ear from shells of 1863

The neighbor's affidavits (1891-1920) showed he was confined to the bed because of pain from Rheumatism in the shoulder, back, hip for weeks at a time; walked lame in the right leg; Stooped over from pain in back, right leg and hip; 3-qtr disabled for manual work. Was strong with good health before enlisting.