Despite modernization, Flint Hills remain stable through generations By Frank J. Buchman eration Flint Hills landown- ing operation, named for The Flint Hills have er, with his children and their grandfather. changed little in the past cen- grandchildren the sixth and W.H. White started the tury and a half, with much seventh generations respec- Farmers and Drovers Bank thanks due to dedicated care tively. "My great great in 1882, and served as its of its owners. grandfather, Thomas White, first president. The White Families with six genera- came to Morris County from family remains active in the tions of Flint Hills land own- Kentucky in 1857 and paid bank, with John, Hank and ership related history of $600 for 160 acres north of Bill and John’s children, making a living on the land, Council Grove," related Julie Hower and Steve while diverse methods of White, while reviewing her- White, all in leadership posi- modern day operation were itage of the area. tions. Julie Hower’s children reviewed during afternoon "He came with an oxen and Steve White’s daughter programs as part of the re- team in a schooner wagon, are the seventh generation of cent third annual Symphony but his wife became sick en the White family in Morris in the Flint Hills. route and passed away," County. In a beautiful, blue-skied White continued. "Thomas In 1880, W.H. White setting with lush emerald White later bought an ad- wrote, "When our generation Flint Hills overlooking two joining 160 acres from his is gone, there will be none clear ponds, more than 6,700 brother, making the original left who know anything people participated in activi- farm of 320 acres." about the pioneer farmer and ties which climaxed with the When Thomas White his early struggle to make Kansas City Symphony Or- passed away at an early age, this country the beautiful chestra performing a 90- his son, William Henry spot it now is." minute concert in the North (W.H.) White, 17, and John White emphasized, Lakeview Pasture, owned by daughters had to fend for "We believe W.H. would be the White family of Council themselves. The girls mar- thrilled to know that his Grove. ried and moved away, but beloved Morris County has After gates opened at W.H. remained in Morris remained a beautiful place, noon, there was a steady County, building the legacy cared for by generations who stream of cars into the park- that is left today. have shared his reverence ing area, and people moving "W.H. was active in the and love of the land." Fifth, sixth and seventh generations of the White family in Morris County posed in to the concert and program livestock business and also Some of the original tract their North Lakeview Pasture south of Council Grove when they hosted the recent grounds almost a mile out in operated a general store in north of Council Grove re- third annual Symphony in the Flint Hills. Thomas White came to the area from the grasslands. Nearly 1,700 Council Grove," John White mains in the White family, Kentucky in 1857 and bought land, still in family ownership. Shown are Steve White, volunteers helped with the stated. "He served two terms while nearby land was taken Julie (White Alexander) Cage, John White, Julie (White) Hower and the seventh event, from setting up facili- as the Morris County treas- by the federal reservoir in generation, Allison and Hailey Hower. ties with over a dozen tents urer and was then elected as the 1960s. Pastures in which to assisting visitors with the Morris County represen- the symphony was con- according to John Doran John Doran, for whom I was Linda Johnson and Kevin their diverse needs. tative to the state legisla- ducted were purchased by Cosgrove, who spoke after named," Cosgrove recog- and Mary Kniebel, with Many of the crowd ture." John’s father, Hale, in the John White. nized. "He chose to stay Mike Beam of the Kansas walked the trail while others Three more generations 1940s. "My brother, Dave, and I home and farm, while Livestock Association as utilized the horse-drawn of the White family followed Neighboring the White are the fifth generation of pi- Thomas Doran left home to moderator. covered wagons, tractor- with W.H.’s great grandsons, pastures to the north is oneer stock operating Flint go to school at St. Mary’s Originally from Jackson pulled trailers and golf-cart- John, Hank and Bill, current- rangeland owned by Cos- Hills land in Morris County," Academy and then to KU at County, the Jenkins have type vehicles. ly operating C.H. White and grove Farm Company, which Cosgrove informed. Frank Lawrence." managed large ranches in John White is a fifth-gen- Sons, a farming and ranch- also originated in the 1850s, Doran and Mary Clark came There Thomas Doran met Butler and Chase counties, to the United States from and married Mary Wood- and now have a cow-calf Ireland in 1857, first arriving ward, daughter of Brenton, operation north of Council in New York. Frank and one of the first pharmacists Grove, look after yearling Mary were married the next in Kansas, and his wife pastures and do day work for year, and traveled to St. Lucy, one of the first school other cattlemen. Louis by train in 1859. teachers. Thomas became Johnson, who had worked "They then came by boat an attorney in Topeka, and for other ranches previously, to St. Joseph, Mo., where his only child, Josephine, manages the 14,000-acre they bought an oxen team, met and married Michael Mashed O Ranch, a cow-calf wagon, breaking plow, cook Cosgrove, also of the law and steer grazing operation stove and other provisions to firm. on the Morris-Chase County travel further west," Cos- "This is where the Cos- line, with assistance from his grove shared. "They came to grove name came into the wife and two employees. Topeka, then through Es- picture. My dad, Thomas kridge, to settle in August Francis Cosgrove, was one Continued on page 3 1859, on Munkres Creek of their two children," John north of Council Grove, Cosgrove verified. Oddly where my family lives enough, Mike Cosgrove, today." Michael’s father, had settled First cabin constructed by in Morris County in 1873 the Dorans was close to the south of Council Grove near creek, despite a warning Dunlap in the Neosho River from Kaw Indians that it was Valley. on a flood plain. In 1871, the Some of the Cosgrove couple moved to higher land near their home, north ground and built a stone of Council Grove, was taken home, with sand hauled in when the reservoir was con- from Junction City. structed, and the family re- "The original stone house placed that land with acreage had two rooms downstairs south of town. and three upstairs. It is the "Next summer will be the same house that I grew up in 150th anniversary of our with my parents and seven ranch, and one of my sons is siblings. However, it was now the sixth generation added onto when I was a working the land. Hopefully, John Doran Cosgrove is the fifth generation of pioneer stock operating Flint Hills land baby," Cosgrove noted. "My it will continue into future in Morris County. John’s great grandfather came from Ireland and settled in the area family lives in this house generations," Cosgrove said. in 1859. Cosgrove spoke about the family’s history during programs as part of the now." Contemporary Flint Hills Symphony in the Flint Hills, conducted in pastures south of those operated by Seven children were born ranching was discussed by a Cosgrove and his brother, Dave. Indian artifacts collected by Cosgrove on the land to the Dorans, but only four panel including Don and originally inhabited by Kaw Indians were shown after his presentation. survived. "The oldest was Peg Jenkins, Larry and Page 2 Grass & Grain, July 29, 2008 Guest Editorial Such economic develop- cerned about the present The sky is the limit ment allows investment dol- value of money being of- By John Schlageck, to chart and research the lars to remain local. It also fered by wind developers,” Kansas Farm Bureau growth of U.S. wind power. has the potential to build a Irvin cautions. “A lease Wind power continues to “We’re finally starting to new industry for rural com- price today, for example, sweep across the United say ‘yea,’ wind affords us a munities that is compatible may amount to very little in States as one of the fastest great economic and rural with agricultural. the future. You also have to growing sources of electri- development opportunity,” For farmers and land- understand that the con- cal generation. And while Irvin says. owners, wind energy pro- tract you draw up today Kansas ranks as the top Others see wind energy duction is somewhat of an will impact your children, three in wind potential de- projects as one solution to unknown commodity. Many grandchildren and even velopment in this nation, bolster sagging rural com- have been inundated with your great-grandchildren.” our state ranks twelfth in munities or an option for development companies There are lots of dollars actual wind production. farmers seeking to hedge seeking to secure land for that go into these wind In today’s wind energy their bets in the risky busi- wind development. farms — projects range game, states like Minnesota, ness of agriculture. Before entering into an from $150- $250 million, Iowa, Oregon and Texas re- Wind energy can stimulate agreement or contract with Irvin says.