Jewell County Poor Farm operates from 1881-1968

Jewell County was organized on July 14, 1870. The U. S. Census for 1870 found 205 persons living in the county. By 1880, the population had grown to 17,475. A tremendous increase in population in a relatively short period of time.

Not all the residents of the county found prosperity, some found dire financial straits. It was not many years into the county history that Jewell County faced the necessity of caring for those in need. "Pauper" was the term used in those early days to identify someone without the means to care for themselves.

The Aug. 18, 1876 Jewell County Monitor in reporting the July 5th and 7th meetings of the Jewell County Commissioners listed 14 different cost items approved for those caring for paupers. There was also a township office "Overseer of the Poor."

Whether there was an overseer in each township is not known but G. W. Scouten was identified as an "overseer of the poor" in the Feb. 1, 1877 Jewell County Monitor. Others identified as overseers of the poor in the July 16, 1880 Jewell County Republican are O. S. Baxter, M. Daily, L. W. McKee, D, M. Callendar and S. Altman. At one time, J. F. Harrington was the Allen Township Overseer of the Poor.

Suffice it to say, before the county was 10 years old, the Jewell County Commissioners were spending more than $1,800 per year for the care of the poor in the county. (Oct, 23, 1879 Jewell County Monitor). Today that would be $50,606.64.

It is not surprising that citizens and the Township Trustees were advocating for a different approach. The approach advocated called for a County Poor Farm. (Aug. 21, 1879 Jewell County Review was one edition requesting the commissioners to act.)

The land, in Section 26 of Center Township, for the Jewell County Poor Farm was purchased in April of 1881 from John Dalton for $1,675 (April 21, 1881 Jewell County Monitor). During the ensuing months, a cellar was dug, a house was built, plastered, painted and the farm was going to be "ready for occupancy about the first of December." (Oct. 13, 1881 Jewell County Monitor)

The Jewell County Poor Farm was in operation from December of 1881 until the voters in an election on Nov. 5, 1968 voted to sell the farm.

When the farm was closed and the land put up for sale, the sale bill in the March 13, 1969 Jewell County Record listed these improvements; two-story house (32' by 58'), barn, wood shed, garage, two chicken houses, granary, two outhouses, two box cars, and a rock building (17' by 27').

Merlene Neilson is among those who remember the house. "It was big, a big two-story house." She grew up near the farm but was never in the house. Others, including Linda Woerner, remember the stone building that stood for some years after the Poor Farm was closed and the house torn down.

In the Jewell County Registrar of Deeds Office, there is a record book detailing information about those who lived on the farm. There is also an index to that record book. The index was compiled by Susan Abel-Diehl and Mindy Ost. From those records, it has been learned there were at least 450 persons who lived from a few days to many years on the Jewell County Poor Farm.

In the early years there were many residents whose condition was described as "insane." At least 76 were admitted with that diagnosis, four more were "mentally disturbed" and one called "looney." There were so many the county built a stone house in which to house them. In those years, the farm's superintendent-overseer was to receive $2.40 per week for each resident but $3.00 to $3.40 per week (the amounts varied) for an insane resident.

Those unfortunates described as insane were often removed from the Jewell County Poor Farm to another facility. Notes would indicate they were transferred to Topeka, Atchison or just "asylum." One blunt comment "won't miss him" alluded to the difficulty of caring for the insane. But to be fair there was also a "much improved" note about one resident.

Thirty residents were "feeble minded." During the late 1800s this would have meant a mental deficiency – not severe but the individual would not be able to make sound decisions. There were also two "drug fiends." Seven had "fits" which were likely a type of seizure.

But not all residents were difficult, others were described as "a very peaceful man," "a great student," "excellent morals" or "sunshine to the home."

Others, 29, came as "Crippled." It was noted one had a "hurt" hand. Some simply were elderly and "infirm." Three were listed as being blind.

Sixty-five of those who came to the Jewell County Poor Farm were born in another country. Those individuals came to "the land of opportunity" and did not find the land of their hopes and dreams. Perhaps even having less than they did in their homeland. They came from Norway, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Canada, England, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark.

Over the years, many persons stayed just a short time before the records noted they "returned home," "father came for her," "went to family" "got married," "went to Iowa (or some other destination)," and there were three young men in 1940 who went to the WPA Camp at Fort Riley. These short stays were for as few as four days up to a few months.

Three residents stayed for more than 20 years. The three came at different times during the latter part of the 1930s. They resided on the farm for 22 to 25 years before they died.

The residents ranged in age from birth – a baby was recorded as being born at the farm – to 96 years of age. The youngest came with their families, often just a mother. Two women came pregnant or in the parlance of the day "in a family way." Many of the older residents came alone and often in the 1940s and 1950s, to live the rest of their lives on the farm.

There were at least 103 deaths on the farm. More than one resident arrived in an ambulance. One woman was unconscious and lived only five days. Another had a "fit and died in his cell." There were heart attacks and strokes and deaths simply from "old age."

Early on the commissioners determined the superintendent or overseer was to bury any residents who died without any extra compensation. Thus, there is a Jewell County Poor Farm Cemetery. In 1991, it was cleaned, fenced and a bronze Historical Marker added by the late Bill Lange.

There are two pet stones in the cemetery but only two other tombstones. One marked "Unknown" and the other "D. Kuipers born Feb. 21, 1817. Died March 29, 1897." This would be the Richard Kuipers found in the record book.

The death records are not complete. Some deaths are noted only with "Died" and no indication of the location of the burial. There are 21 deceased listed as buried in various local cemeteries or with a note such as "relatives took body." However, there is one more individual known to be buried in Mount Hope Cemetery whose burial was not documented in the records.

Nine were listed as being buried on the "farm." Richard Kuipers was not noted as being buried on the farm, though his tombstone is the only one identifiable in the cemetery. So, there are 22 individuals known to be buried off the farm and 10 known to be buried on the farm which accounts for 32 of the 103 deceased.

This leaves 71 of the deceased with unknown burial locations. It is believed a thorough search of Find-A-Grave would locate the graves of some individuals.

Known County Poor Farm superintendents-overseers (listed alphabetically) are: Mrs. Howard Balty, John Cubbison, John Goodwin, Glenn E. Grout, Ross and Gale Hancock, Supt. Hocket, A.A. Jones, A.W. Jordan, C. Pider, E.E. Runyan, Thurman Semke, and Ralph Simmons.

There is nothing left of the buildings where close to 500 residents, superintendents and their families once lived. The house was torn down after the farm was sold. The rock house, built for the insane, stood for many years but it too is now gone. The simple cemetery and the memorial are all that remain. On private property, there is no public road leading to the site. The Jewell County Poor Farm is another part of history fading from view.

Those with additional information about the Jewell County Poor Farm or with pictures of the house are encouraged to contact the Jewell County Record.