Illustrations

Figure 1. Mollusk fossils in a limestone foundation rock obtained from Florence, Kansas and used on the Bernhard Harder Farm beginning in 1876 on Section 17, Milton Township, one mile east of Whitewater. Source: Private collection. Author’s photo.

Figure 2. Native American artifacts collected from Section 17, Milton Township between 1950 - 1970. Photo 2a shows a projectile point 6.75 cm from tip to base, picked up on the southwest quarter of the section. Photo 2b shows a point 10.25 cm long collected on the southeast quarter. Since Section 17 is not traversed with a creek where points are normally found, these points may have been dropped and lost as the hunters traveled through the area or the points were carried in animal bodies (most likely bison) until they perished. Source: Private collections. Author’s photos.

Figure 3. An example of a Homestead Certificate deeding the south half of the NW Quarter of Section 18, Milton Township to George P. Neiman. The certificate reads: Homestead Certificate No. 976. Application 2644. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings: Whereas There has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Wichita, Kansas, whereby it appears that, pursuant to the Act of Congress approved 20th May, 1862, “To secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the Public Domain,” and the acts supplemental thereto, the claim of George P. Neiman has been established and duly consummated in conformity to law, for the South half of the North West quarter of Section Eighteen in Township Twenty four South of Range Three East in the District of lands subject to sale at Wichita, Kansas containing Eighty acres and seventy eight hundredths of an acre (Excess paid as per Receiver’s Receipt No. 1348) according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the said land, retained to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General. Now know ye, That there is, therefore, granted by the United States unto the said George P. Neiman the tract of Land above described: To have and to hold the said tract of Land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said George P. Neiman and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony whereof, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six, and of the Independence of the United States the One Hundredth. BY THE PRESIDENT U. S. Grant by D. D. Cone, Secretary. J M Armstrong, Recorder of the General Land Office. adicterim Recorded, Vol. 2, Page 450. Source: Marilyn Nigg Umbach Collection. Author’s photo.

Figure 4. First home in Whitewater area—1869, built by George P. Neiman. A picture of an oil painting by L. Schroeder, created from a sketch drawn by Arthur L. Neiman. The location of this first log cabin is thought to have been in the middle of Main Street right in front of the home of John and Marilyn Umbach and not within the original 1887 plat of Whitewater. Source: Marilyn Nigg Umbach Collection. Author’s photos.

Figure 5. Deeding of the railroad land from the US government to Bernhard Harder Sr. in 1876 who purchased Section 17, Milton Township. Source: Office of the Register of Deeds, Butler Country Court House. Author’s collection.

Figure 6. A 1977 plat map of Whitewater modified from Figure 4-A in Comprehensive Development Plan, 1977-1995, City of Whitewater, Kansas. The original area within the 1887 plat is outlined on the map. The location of the original log cabin is marked with a house; early on Main Street going south did not go through to the section line or K196. Source: Frederic Remington Area Historical Society Library.

Figure 7. The location of businesses in the Whitewater of 1920. Adapted from Mike L. Hopkins’ A Look in Whitewater’s Past, May 5, 1985. Source: Frederic Remington Area Historical Society Library.

Figure 8. The Remington Rock Plaque. Author’s photo.

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Whitewater, KS 67154
Phone: (316) 799-2137