Mount Mitchell Transferred to Audubon of Kansas

According to local historian Michael Stubbs, the Beecher colony received national attention in 1856 during the build up to the Civil War when famed abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher advocated arming the free-state colonists with Sharps rifles in a speech at Old North Church in New Haven, CT. This was the first time such an action had been taken from the pulpit of a church and it outraged the South increasing tensions between pro and anti-slavery advocates. The colonists eventually left New Haven armed with 50 of the advanced weapons. Their leader, Charles Lines, kept a diary that was sent to Eastern papers. The colony’s progress was reprinted in every major paper in the country. They arrived in the territory just as the previous winter’s “Wakarusa War” was reigniting. Within weeks of settling at Wabaunsee they formed a militia and were called to the defense of Lawrence when it was threatened with attack by pro-slavery forces. One of their members, Dr. Joseph P. Root, was elected chairman of the Free-State Executive Committee. Upon statehood he became the State’s first Lieutenant Governor. He was later Ambassador to Chile. Harvey Rice, another colony member, was one of the founders of Washburn College in Topeka.

In 1953, W.I. Mitchell, a son of the Colony’s militia leader, Captain William Mitchell, bequeathed to the Kansas State Historical Society the hilltop prairie “as a park to memorialize the famous Beecher Bible and Rifle Colony. The Historical Society agreed to make the tract two miles south of Wamego a public park and to erect within five years a historical marker on ‘Mount Mitchell’.”

In 1956, the 100th anniversary of the colony’s arrival, the will’s stipulations were met when a 7-foot tall limestone monument was dedicated. It’s brass plaque reads:

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE CONNECTICUT KANSAS COLONY KNOWN ALSO AS THE BEECHER BIBLE AND RIFLE COLONY WHICH SETTLED AT WABAUNSEE IN 1856 AND IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM MITCHELL, A MEMBER OF THE COLONY, THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED ON MOUNT MITCHELL THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF HIS SON, WILLIAM I. MITCHELL, BY THE KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1956

While the state assumed ownership of the property, it was never officially taken into the state historic site system. This made it difficult to allocate resources for its development. Several years ago the State Historical Society began exploring relinquishing ownership of the property. According to Stubbs, a board member with the Wabaunsee County Historical Society, in the spring of 2005 a group of local residents, history buffs, economic development advocates, members of the Mitchell family and members of the leadership of Audubon of Kansas met with the director of the Society to discuss the future of the property.

The grassroots group was encouraged to pursue a plan for Audubon of Kansas to assume ownership and stewardship of the property. The Attorney General’s office determined that legislation was necessary to transfer ownership. According to Stubbs, Committee members contacted Senator Laura Kelly and Representative Richard Carlson who represent the area of the park’s location. Senator Kelly introduced Senate Bill 553 and she and Representative Carlson guided the bill through the legislative process. Jennie Chinn, Executive Director of the Kansas State Historical Society testified in favor of the bill. The Wabaunsee County Commissioners also passed a resolution of support.

Dick Seaton, a member of the Board of Directors of Audubon Of Kansas, said that that body voted to assume ownership under the condition that a management committee would be created comprised of adjoining landowners, local stakeholders and Audubon board members. The consensus for management is to keep it simple and always keep the welfare of adjoining landowners in mind by involving them in all major decisions. John Gehrt a member of the Wabaunsee Township Board has agreed to serve on the management committee. The committee is initiating fundraising efforts to create a parking area, walking trail, and interpretive signage.

According to Seaton, Audubon was impressed with the plant diversity and richness of the prairie and its potential to instill appreciation for native prairies. The scenic pastoral views of the surrounding farms, pasturelands and the river were also recognized as a significant asset. The vistas are of even more educational and inspirational importance because they help visitors visualize and reflect on the historical heritage of this specific site and the surrounding area. The property contains ruts from an old military road that was first used by the John Fremont expedition of 1843. It was later a stage route between Eastern Kansas and Ft. Riley. Slaves seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad used the trail to reach Captain Mitchell’s cabin station at the foot of Mt. Mitchell. The cabin, now encased in a modern home, is a registered National Park Service Network to Freedom site. The home’s owners, Morris and Michelle Crisler, are supporters of making Mt. Mitchell more accessible to the public and Michelle has agreed to serve on the management committee.

According to Ron Klataske, Executive Director of Audubon of Kansas, The Mt. Mitchell Heritage Prairie Committee believes that everything envisioned for the property can be accomplished in harmony with surrounding landowners and nearby residents. In fact, the conservation and educational uses of the property are much more complementary to their interests than if it were used as a public hunting area, for residential development or even neglected.

Audubon of Kansas, Inc. is a statewide membership organization devoted to promoting the enjoyment, understanding, protection, and stewardship of natural ecosystems. Conservation and educational initiatives focusing on native prairie resources are a priority for the organization. One of Audubon’s most noteworthy initiatives was development of the proposal that led to establishment of the 10,894-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve by Congress in 1996.