Devine Anderson (1824-1867) lived in Illinois for most of his life. In 1865, he wrote a letter to a former neighbor about moving to Kansas. The obituary for his daughter, Tabitha Anderson (1861-1935), describes how she and her family moved from Illinois to Kansas in 1866 by covered wagon. The letter is transcribed below, with additional facts interspersed that connect to the letter contents.
This picture is not of the Andersons, but illustrative of what it may have been like when they traveled to Kansas.
Letter to Mr. Anderson from Mr. Turner
Eureka, Kans. Nov. 29, 1865
Mr. Anderson —
Yours of Nov. 1st has just come to hand, and I hasten to give you what information I am able concerning the several items mentioned in your letter of inquiry.
First, you want the price of wild land. There is plenty of first quality of prairie land to be had a government price, $1.25 per acre; or you can get it under the homestead, which will cost you $16 for 160 acres. Most of the timber is taken though there are a few places to take yet with the timber to them. There could be some farms bought for near what the improvements are worth. One of my neighbors has a good farm with plenty of timber joining, 100 acres of cultivation, good well of water, good cellar and good Kansas cabins, etc. which he offers for $1,000. You can buy smaller places for a less price, or take up a place yourself, just as you like.
Land Records for Devine Anderson
Land records for Devine Anderson shows he patented several acres of land in Greenwood county. The land purchased was in T26S and R10E, which is excerpted in the image from a 1877 Map of Greenwood County, digitized at the Library of Congress. The first purchase was for 40 acres in section 4 (NE1/4 of the SW1/4). The second purchase was for 40 acres in section 10 (SE1/4 of the NW1/4). The third purchase was for 80 acres in section 12 (the NW1/4 of of the SW1/4 and NE 1/4 of the SW 1/4). The fourth purchase was 160 acres of land originally granted to Joshua Turner for military service and was reassigned to Devine Anderson. This land was in the N1/2 of the SW1/4 of Section3 and the N1/2 of the SE1/4 of Section 4. The land was purchased for $1.25 per acre. Two of the purchases were commuted under the 8th section of the Homestead Act which allowed them to take ownership for $2.50 without waiting the necessary 5 years. To do so they would have to prove settlement and cultivation.
In the 1870 Census, real estate values were listed next to names. Elizabeth Anderson, his wife, had land valued at $900. George A, her son, had land valued at $600 and Clinton, her son, had land valued at $600.
There is not much coal of good quality discovered yet. There is an abundance of building rock of the finest quality, both sand and limestone. Corn is not a sure crop, though we always make some. The seasons have been irregular for several years, about every second year only making about half crops, or 20 to 30 bushels per acres — this year’s crop will average 50 bushels per acre. Wheat and rye is a sure crop in this part of Kansas; 30 bushels per acre of each is about an average crop in our county. Rye often comes self-sown and does about as well as first crop. Our wheat compares favorably in quality with any of the best grown in any of the states.
Eureka, Kansas
25 Oct 1877, Thu • Page 4
Coal Bank Discovered
There were about six household in Greenwood County in the 1880 Census with the last name of Anderson. There are no other articles in the paper that indicate which Anderson household this may have been. However, in the article posted with the letter, it claims that “in the spring [following the letter] he with his family removed to this county and settled on a farm near Bachelor Creek”, which coincides with the Obituary of Tabitha Anderson, which stated that they located “northeast of Eureka” which is consistent with the Bachelor Creek location.
There is not a thrashing machine owned in this county and we were much troubled the past season to get thrashing done — price, 8 cents per bushel.
Vegetables of all kinds does well here. Potatoes (sweet and Irish), onions, beets, parsnips, carrots, melons, etc. all do well. I raised the largest beets this year I ever saw; one common red beet weighed 17 1/4 pounds.
We have the healthiest portion of the state by a great odd. I left Illinois on account of the bad health of myself and family, and have lived in several places in Kansas and still had more or less sickness until we came to Fall River and we have not had occasion to call a doctor as yet, and the past season we have not had need of even a dose of medicine, and I have a large family — though some of our neighbors had some chills.
Death of Devine Anderson
“Within a few years following his settlement in the county, he sickened and died.” Devine Anderson died in 1867. In addition to Devine dying, his father-in-law, James Brown who was visiting from Fulton County, Illinois, died also around Sept 13, 1867, his death date recorded in the Greenwood County Probate records.
The article also mentions two sons who died. One was George A Anderson who was 19 years old and died in 1870. Her other son, James H Anderson, died in the summer of 1867.
We are 100 miles from any railroad now but will soon have one in 45 miles.
Railroads come to Greenwood County
This map from 1877 shows proposed railroads in Greenwood County with some very near the land that the Anderson’s received under the Homestead Act. The proposed railroad line south out of Eureka through the section of land near the Anderson’s patents were in fact laid.
This is great stock growing country. Stock of all kinds grow well here with very little feed and some stock growers never feed at all.
Well, I believe I have touched on the items mentioned in your letter, and as I have been riding very hard for several days and am very tired and sleepy, you will excuse me for this time, and if there is anything more you wish to know, speak out and I will tell you in my next.
I am yours truly,
R.R. Turner
Finding the Yellow Bricks 
Hi there! I am a descendent of Devine Anderson and Elizabeth Brown (specifically Tabitha Anderson, and then from her daughter Florence.) Thanks for putting all this info together. Would you have any info on where their farm was and if there are any photos of any of the family members? 🙂
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Sadly, I do not have pictures. Devine Anderson had a land patent as an assignee for portions of land in Sec 3 and Sec 4 of 26S-10E, which is immediately to the sw of Eureka. However, later records show they lived near Bachelor Creek to the east of Eureka.
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