a day ago
Larned DAR chapter plans Tuesday program on Ash Valley
Jun. 6—ASH VALLEY, Kan. — The history of settlement in Pawnee County predates the county's official organization in 1873, as the eighth of 65 counties organized in that year. As an official township, Ash Valley was organized in 1881, with a community of the same name first opening a post office in 1877. Settlers arrived as early as 1875 and the Pieschl family arrived in 1877; while the original homestead no longer exists, Marc Pieschl still farms in the area roughly 15 miles north of Fort Larned, which actively operated until 1878.
Remains of several buildings may still be viewed, as well as a well-maintained cemetery; Ash Valley Methodist Church is a well-maintained edifice, as it continues in non-profit status as the Pleasant Hill Community Center.
While residents of Ash Valley are now few in number, there are plenty of surviving stories among the old-timers still living nearby. These and other moments in history will be explored Tuesday, June 10 as the Larned Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution hosts a special program featuring a historic narrative delivered by Pawnee County resident Tom Giessel at the church.
A piece of history?
One such story centers on a concrete marker erected in 1917 at a bridge close to the church near the intersection of 160th Ave. and West Road in Pawnee County. The marker contains an etched limestone fragment that, according to local legend, was unearthed by former Ash Valley resident Cliff Line as he was digging a posthole. Etching on the stone indicates that in June 1841, W.D. Silver was shot with an arrow in what was suspected as an Indian attack. The site is 30 miles from the Santa Fe Trail, and so it is possible that the person could have been out hunting before he was attacked. History notes that a small caravan of Trail travelers reached Ash Creek on June 1, 1841 on their way to Santa Fe, but little else remains extant about the trip.
The concrete marker encasing the stone (which used to be behind glass that is now missing) was erected by workers for what was to become the Wichita Northwestern railroad line in the county. Local historians have doubted the veracity of the marker, but many Ash Valley residents recall being told about the incident while in their childhood.
Larned DAR's program begins at 2 p.m. at the church and is free to the public.
