William Joseph FIELD

                   EXTRACT SEND FROM HATTIE SCHRAM
The following is copied from Genealogy of the Field - Schmahorn Families In early days when the fire was out in the fireplace or stove, early mornings, pioneers borrowed fire from a neighbor.  William Joseph, with two barrel staves, rode the oxen Old Blue for new embers.  On the way home a hot ember or 'coal' dropped, burning the oxens hair on his back. He tossed William to the ground losing the embers. During the Civil War, Bush Whackers (said to be Quantrill's raiders) caught 16 year old William J. and threatened to hang him  -- they wanted money his mother had hidden. The noose was placed, thrown over a tree limb, William would not talk. Apparently they could not hang a child so departed.  Stories verified by Louis Field and Ina Field Ferguson. Two rows of hedge one fourth mile long was cut and sold for posts from the farm of William J. -- they sold for a great amount of money.  William raised and fed cattle, was the Holt County Veterinarian and belonged to the First Christian Church.
From A Short History of the Families of: Greenhalgh, Field and Merrill He was a rather small man but wirey, and I imagine when he was younger, he was very powerful physically.  I expect he had to be, as in those days there was not much in the way of mechanical equipment on the farms and the work had to be done by main strength. A story as told by Annie E. Field with added background from Funk and Wagnall's Encyclopedia:  As a boy in his teen's while riding his horse in 1861, near his father's farm West of Benton School in the year 1861 or 2, he was accosted by Quantrill's Raider's and they wanted his horse and the whereabouts of his father's farm.  As he slipped off of his horse he slapped him and sent him running and would not answer their questions. He probably didn't know that William Clarke Quantrill (1837-65) was a Confederate guerrilla commander. Quantrill was born in Canal, Ohio and after teaching school for a brief period, went to Kansas in 1861.  He filed a land claim, but his restlessness caused him to leave his land and wander through the Kansas region, living under assumed names as a gambler and. occasionally, a teacher. Warrants for his arrest were issued several times on charges of murder, theft, and horse-stealing.  When the American Civil War began in 1861, QuantriIl headed a band of@ Confederate guerrillas in Missouri and Kansas, raiding farms and communities sympathetic to the Union. He was declared an outlaw in 1862 by the Union and was mustered into regular Confederate service. On Aug. 23, 1863, he led his guerrillas on their most infamous exploit when they burned and pillaged the town of Lawrence, Kans. killing over 150 men, women, and Children. In October, the band defeated a small Union cavalry unit at Baxter Springs, Kansas, and put 17 captured noncombatants to death. In 1865 the guerrillas entered Kentucky, where they robbed and looted until May, when a small Union force surprised them and fatally wounded Quantrill.  The Raiders decided to punish/torture William for his actions and refusal to tell them where the horses were so the strung him up to hang him but finally let him go free. The following is a copy by Robert Greenhalgh of a letter written by Lucy Field Pebley. It is an account of Wm J. Field's last days. September 3, 1913 Papa took bad sick Thursday August 25. He sat in the dining room by the window where mama fed him his last hearty meal. In the afternoon he became tired and mama and Uncle Landon brought him in the sitting room and put him in bed where he had a hard chill.  Dr. J. W. Miller was called.  He found that his temperature was up to 104 degrees. Friday morning found him but very little better - although a little more rational than he was the previous evening. Saturday pap seemed very bright and better.  He recognized his children when they came that day. Dr. Miller also came everyday.  Mama, cousin Gerrissie, Mr. Kinney and Mr. Swain sat up Saturday night with him.  I fed him his supper (Chicken broth) Saturday night. Sunday morning came and found him weaker. Mama fed him his dinner (squirrel broth), he said it tasted good to him. Mama sat by his bed side and gave his medicine. He took the last dose about 1 o'clock. Soon Mama noticed a change in him and she called to us to come when, we saw that he was going.  He having died Sunday August 31st, 1913 at 1:39 P,M. aged 70 yrs. 5 mos. 27 days. Birthday March 4th 1843. Funeral Monday, September 1st at 3 P.M.  W. H. Hardman preacher. Songs: Nearer my God to Thee was sung at the house. Asleep in Jesus My Faith looks up to Thee Going down the Valley Pall bearers:  Mr. Frazer.  Mr. Paxton. Mr. Cason.   Mr. Kinney. Mr. Quick. Mr. Staley. According to a conversation between RF Greenhalgh and Clara C Field Greenhalgh:  Willian Joseph Field bought out is brother's shares in the original homesteaders section of land (gotten from the government). His brothers were: Landon, Tom, Jim,Robert, Marshall.  This was the source of some jealousy or feeling between them. There was the feeling that Landon and the rest had not any money and they were
not able to keep up their part of the farm, and son.  William J. Field was a competent farmer and had some property and all that.
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In the early days when the fire was out in the fireplace or stove, early mornings, pioneers borrowed fire from a neighbor.  William Joseph, with two barrel staves, rode the Oxen Old Blue for new embers.  On the way home, a hot ember dropped, burning the Oxens hair on his back.  He tossed William to the ground losing the embers.
During the Civil War, Bush Whackers caught 16 year old William J. and threatened to hang him - they wanted money his mother had hidden. The noose was placed, thrown over a tree limb and pulled tight until William could not talk.
Apparently they could not hang a child so they departed.  Stories verified by Louis Field and Ina Field Ferguson.
Two rows of hedge one-fourth mile long were cut and sold for posts from the farm of William J.   They sold for a considerable sum of money. William raised and fed cattle, was the Holt County Veterinarian and belonged to the First Christian Church.
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In addition to owning more than 400 acres of land in Holt County, William J. Field was known for his veterinary skills and traveled the county assisting with animal care.  The following cures for animals and possibly lice on humans were found in an envelope with W.J. Fields written on the outside.  Some of the treatments were written on various papers of different texture and age includes the following:
Fistula Cure
A fistula is and area of inflammation where the animal had been scrapped, cut or otherwise had an abscess.
Alcohol             1 Qt
Corrosive sublimate 1oz
Red precipitate          1oz
Camphor gum         1 oz
Opideldoc      1 oz
Pulverized copperas 1 oz
Oil Cedar           4 oz
Oil Spike           4 oz
Turpentine          1 pt
Directions:  Apply twice a day for 5 days and skip 5 and there after 5 days again
Spavin and Ringlone
Quick Silver        2 oz
Nitric Acid         2 oz
Sulphuric Acid      2 oz
Tinctatre Canthardies    1 dr.
Directions:  Clip the hair off close then apply.  Leave on three hours.  Then grease with Neats     Foot Oil.
Lice Killer
Zenolium            4 oz to a half gallon of water
Linament for wire cut
Aqua Ammonium       6 oz
Carbolic Acid       1 oz
Spirits of Turpentine    3 oz
Corrosive sublimate 1/2 oz
Linseed Oil         1 pt
Glycerine           4 oz
Swinney Linament
Oil Organism        2 oz
Oil Spike           2 oz
Oil Las             1 oz
Gum Camphor         1 oz
Alcohol             4 oz
Spirits Turpentine       3 oz
Whiskey             5 oz
Aqua Ammonia        2 oz