|
- Josiah B. McAfee was born August 8, 1830 at McAfeetown, Pa. His father died when he was seven years old. He received his early education in the district school near his home, and at the age of 19, became the teacher of the same school.
- With assistance from friends, he was able to attend Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. From there he went to Maryland where he was put in charge of "the old academy" at Clearspring during 1854. He held this position until he left for Kansas on April 1, 1855.
- After an initial exposure to the Lutheran faith, McAfee passed an examination before the Lutheran Synod of Maryland for licensure and was ordained as a minister in October of 1856.
- Eleven days after arriving in Kansas, he and eight others contracted a case of cholera which killed everyone except McAfee in seven hours! A few days later he had fully recovered.
- On May 13, 1855, he assisted in organizing the first "Sabbath-school" in Kansas (Indian missions and government forts excepted). On May 14, he began teaching the first school in Kansas and taught there for a year and a half. During his first year in Kansas he organized a Lutheran church in Leavenworth. In addition to teaching, he also farmed due to the fact that he didn't take any money for preaching. During his 38 years of preaching in Kansas his only compensation was a pair of boots.
- Rev. McAfee was an ardent supporter of making Kansas a free state. Numerous times he was threatened to leave the state or he would be hanged, but he kept pursuing his activities against slavery. Because of these actions, pro-slavery forces plundered his house and destroyed his goods.
- He enlisted as a private on Sept. 1, 1862, and 14 days later, was elected unanimously by his company as first lieutenant. He fought in the following battles; Old Fort Wayne, Indian Territory, October 22, Cane Hill, Arkansas, Nov. 28 and Boston Mountain and Prairie Grove, on Dec. 7. It is reported in the Lutheran Observer of Dec. 16, 1892, that, "He was with Col. Crawford at the balle of Mine Creek, and was but a few feet away when General Marmaduke (afterward Governor of Missouri) surrendered." In the follwoing years he served in a variety of positions and ranks including lieutenant, captain, and superintendent of refugees at Fort Smith.
- From 1865 to 1867 he was private secretary to Governor Crawford of Kansas, and he was appointed adjutant general on Aug. 18, 1867 at the rank of colonel. He served in this office until Mar. 6, 1869. During his tenure as adjutant general, he organized two battalions for service against Indian attacks in western Kansas. He wrote the "Official Military History of Kansas Regiments during the War for the Suppression of the Great Rebellion."
- In 1870, he served as Mayor of Topeka where he strongly fought against liquor selling and gambling. In fact, no liquor licenses were granted while he was mayor. In 1873, he was elected as a republican to the Kansas House of Representatives and served three terms. After leaving office he continued his fight for a constitutional prohibition of alcohol.
- He died May 19, 1908 and is buried in Topeka Cemetery - Section 61 Lot 1.
-
|
|
|
