52 Ancestors: Richard W. Woolsey: Pioneer Builder and Adventurous Spirit (1822-1908)

This week's theme is "Colorful," and few ancestors embody this concept quite like Richard W. Woolsey. While some ancestors' lives were painted in steady hues of consistency, Richard's story is a vibrant canvas of constant motion and reinvention. From the green pastures of Indiana to the silver mines of New Mexico, his life was an ever-changing palette of pursuits and adventures. His apparent fascination with gold and silver drove him from one opportunity to the next, leading him to try his hand at farming, hotel keeping, and ultimately prospecting well into his seventies. Yet amidst his quest for precious metals, he managed to leave behind something far more enduring—his legacy as a pioneer builder in early Arkansas City, where his first brick house stood as a testament to his craftsmanship for nearly half a century.

Richard W. Woolsey, born in August 1822 in Batavia, New York, emerges as a fascinating figure who embodied the pioneering spirit of 19th-century America. His life story weaves through multiple states, careers, and adventures, from farmer to hotel keeper to miner, while leaving a lasting mark on the early development of Arkansas City, Kansas.

Early Life and Marriages

The 1840 census first captures Richard at 18 in Batavia, Genesee County, New York. On January 8 or 9, 1848 (sources differ slightly on the exact date), Richard married Alice S. Buck in LaGrange County, Indiana. This union produced several children, including Eugene, Caroline, Mary, Evangeline, Alfred, and Alice.

Following Alice's death in 1862, Richard remarried on September 6, 1863, to Charlotte Ann Nolen (also recorded as Beck) in LaGrange, Indiana. This union represented a second marriage for both parties. Charlotte was a widow with three children; her first husband had died in the Civil War. They had one child, William George Woolsey, born in 1865. However, the marriage appears to have been short-lived; by the time of the 1870 census, Richard and Charlotte had already separated.

A Life on the Move

Census records trace Richard's westward journey:

• 1850: Farmer in West Lima, LaGrange County, Indiana
• 1860: Farmer in Bloomfield, LaGrange County, Indiana
• 1870: "Hotell Keeper" in Creswell, Cowley County, Kansas
• 1880: Widowed miner in Sauk City, Whatcom County, Washington
• 1900: Miner in Faulkner, Sierra County, New Mexico

Pioneer Builder in Arkansas City

In the early 1870s, Richard Woolsey played a significant role in Arkansas City's development. His contributions to the city's early infrastructure proved lasting—he constructed the first brick house in the city, which still stood in 1918 with "a new covering of cream stucco, corner of Central and Summit." He also built a brick chimney for what would later become the Traders State Bank building.

The Woolsey family quickly became integral to the community's social fabric. During Arkansas City's first picnic celebration in May 1871, Richard's daughter was chosen as "Queen of May," and Richard himself was playfully "arrested by the ladies" during the festivities, suggesting his status as a well-known community figure.

Business Ventures and Challenges

By 1876, Richard was involved in local business dealings, though not all proved successful. A notice in the Arkansas City Weekly Traveler from January 26, 1876, announced a public auction of three Grover & Baker sewing machines at James I. Mitchell's harness shop. These machines had been deposited as security for a debt owed by Richard Woolsey and Robert I. Theaker, suggesting Richard may have ventured into the sewing machine business.

Later Years and Continued Connections

Though Richard eventually moved west, he maintained ties to Arkansas City. In December 1887, the Weekly Republican-Traveler reported that "Uncle Richard Woolsey" had returned from Kingston, New Mexico, for a visit. As "one of the old settlers of Arkansas City," he was "greatly surprised to see the great growth which our town has enjoyed since he left it several years ago." This visit helps document his movement to New Mexico, where he would continue his mining pursuits.

His wanderlust apparently never ceased—the 1900 census found him still pursuing mining opportunities in Faulkner, Sierra County, New Mexico, well into his seventies.

Property Disputes and Final Years

Legal notices from 1909 in the Arkansas City Daily Traveler reveal that Richard maintained property interests in Kansas until his death. The Arkansas City Ice & Cold Storage Company filed a suit regarding several lots in the South Side addition, with Richard named among the defendants, suggesting his continued stake in the community's development.

Legacy and Death

Richard W. Woolsey passed away on Wednesday night, October 21, 1908, in Arkansas City, Cowley County, Kansas. His funeral services were held at 2 o'clock in the afternoon at the home of Mrs. E. N. Brown on North Third Street, and he was laid to rest in Riverview Cemetery.

His death brought family from across the region to pay their respects. His son Al Woolsey and family traveled from Kildare, Oklahoma, while his grandson, Richard Brown, came from Dalhart, Texas. Mrs. Brown attempted to come from Shawnee but was prevented by flooding along the railroad lines.

Richard Woolsey's story exemplifies the adventurous spirit of America's westward expansion. From his early farming days in Indiana to his role in building Arkansas City and his later mining ventures in Washington and New Mexico, he never stopped seeking new opportunities. His legacy lives on not only through his descendants but in the physical infrastructure he helped create in Arkansas City, where his brick house stood as a testament to his craftsmanship for nearly half a century after his death.

Source Citations

1. "1840 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard W Wolsey in Batavia, Genesee, New York; Roll: 287; Page: 533; Family History Library Film: 0017188.
2. "Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard Woolsey marriage to Alice S Buck on January 8 or 9, 1848 in LaGrange County, Indiana; Page: 6; FHL Film Number: 001871247.
3. "Indiana, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard Woolsey marriage to Alice S. Buck on January 9, 1848 in LaGrange County.
4. "Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard Woolsey marriage to Alice S. Buck on January 9, 1848 in LaGrange County.
5. "Indiana, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard Woolsey marriage to Alice S. Buck on January 9, 1848 in La Grange County; FHL Film Number: 1871247.
6. "Indiana U.S., Compiled Marriages to 1850," database Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard Woolsey marriage to Alice S. Buck on January 9 or January 8/9.
7. "1850 United States Federal Census," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Pichord Wolsey in West Lima LaGrange Indiana; Roll: 157; Page: 83a; Line Number: 2.
8. "1860 United States Federal Census," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 November 2024), Richard Wolsey (age 35), Farmer in Bloomfield LaGrange Indiana; Roll: M653_274; Page: 693; Family History Library Film: 803274.
9. "U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Name: Richard Woolsey; Race: White; Age: 41; Birth Year: abt 1822; Birth Place: New York; Residence Date: July 1, 1863; Residence Place: New York USA.
10. "Indiana U.S., Select Marriages Index," database Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Richard Woolsey marriage to Charlotte Ann Nolen on September 6, 1863, in LaGrange Indiana.
11. "1870 United States Federal Census," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Rich Wolsey (age 43), Hotell Keeper in Creswell Cowley Kansas; Roll: M593_431; Page: 335B.
12. "1880 United States Federal Census," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Richard Woolsey (age 57) widowed Miner in Sauk City Whatcom Washington USA.
13. "1900 United States Federal Census," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Rachard Woolacy (age 78) widowed head of household Faulkner Sierra New Mexico.
14. "Web: Kansas Find A Grave Index," database Ancestry.com (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Richard W Woolsey burial died October 21, 1908 Arkansas City Cowley County Kansas USA.
15. "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index," database Ancestry.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed November 6, 2024), Winfield Courier publication date October 29, 1908 Winfield Kansas USA.
16. "Iowa U.S., Death Records," database with images Ancestry.com (https://www.iowagov/deathrecords/ : accessed November 6, 2024), State Historical Society of Iowa Des Moines Iowa USA Certificate Number 778593 for Mary Emela Galpin died January 3, 1927 Des Moines Polk Iowa USA.
17. "Arkansas City Daily Traveler" (Arkansas City, Kansas), 28 August 1909, page 7, legal notice regarding Arkansas City Ice & Cold Storage Company vs. Richard Woolsey et al.
18. "Arkansas City Daily Traveler" (Arkansas City, Kansas), 6 August 1909, page 6, legal notice regarding property dispute.
19. "Arkansas City Daily Traveler" (Arkansas City, Kansas), 23 October 1908, funeral announcements.
20. "Arkansas City Daily Traveler" (Arkansas City, Kansas), 28 January 1918, page 5, "Some Early Day History," paper read by Mrs. Chaney at D.A.R. Meeting.
21. "Arkansas City Weekly Traveler" (Arkansas City, Kansas), 26 January 1876, page 2, Notice of public auction.
22. "Weekly Republican-Traveler" (Arkansas City, Kansas), 30 December 1887, page 7, Notice of Richard Woolsey's visit.