The

Northwest Vigilance Committee

A description of the organization and a description of its books

found on microfilm at the Ottawa Library.

The Northwest Vigilance Committee was organized at a meeting held at the Emery Green Schoolhouse on March 3, 1873. At this meeting the Committee drafted a constitution and by-laws that were ratified a week later by the founding members. After examination of the membership rolls it was found that the rank and file of the committee lived in the Walnut Creek Valley, mainly in Peoria, Ottawa and Harrison townships in Franklin County. Another factor in placing the committee in these townships is that the schools and churches that were used as meeting Locations were situated in this river valley.

The purpose of the committee, as outlined in its constitution, was to aid, "the officers of the civil law in protecting us in the undisturbed possessing of our property." In explaining their position the original membership portrayed a situation where the civil authorities did not have the manpower or communication network necessary to protect the members' stock, or i the case of theft pursue, retrieve and prosecute the lawbreakers. To assist the civil authorities the committee provided for the creation of a standing posse of 10 members, who were to be ready at a moment's notice to track down rustlers.

These "Minute Men" were elected on an annual basis at the same time as the officers of the organization. Expenses incurred were paid from funds secured through the $1.00 annual dues. A provision was created that should the treasury of the committee be empty during the year each member would be levied an equal portion for replenishing its treasury. Initially the NWVC was only concerned with the theft of cattle, however in 1875 a series of horse thefts resulted in horses and other livestock being added to the list. The result being an added expense on the demands of the committee.

From its first meeting in March of 1873, the Northwest Vigilance Committee was a secret organization. Meetings were not held at regular intervals, although attempts were made to structure meeting times. Secrecy was maintained during meetings by the use of a password. If a member could not provide the password to the "doorkeeper" he was not allowed to enter the meeting. A standing rule of the committee was that if a member was caught divulging transactions of the group to a non-member that member was to be punished by mandatory expulsion from the group and its protection. Meeting places were also changed on occasions also in an attempt to promote secrecy.

Membership in the committee was also governed by some of the prevailing social values of the day. It was written in the By-laws that any member coming to a meeting in a drunken state was subject to expulsion and the sponsoring member was fined a sum of money from $1.00 to $5.00. This was a reflection of the prevailing attitudes in Franklin County in the latter half of the 19^th century. The committee membership was also segregated. At one point in the proceedings of the group a subcommittee was created to assist the "colored" residents of the area to organize their own vigilance committee. This also reflects the prevailing attitudes of the period.

There is also evidence that the NWVC also worked with other vigilance organizations to coordinate activities to assist each other with problems in the area. Members were sent out in November of 1876 to talk with representatives of the North Topeka Mutual Protection Society perhaps to discuss the rash of horse thefts in the northeast counties of Kansas. In February of 1886 a similar subcommittee was organized to meet with the Franklin county Vigilance Committee. This contact with other groups in the area showed a willingness of the NWVC to cooperate in its attempts to thwart rustling.

From the records of the committee we know that the NWVC was organized in 1873, but do not know when the group stopped to function as a unit. The minutes and rols of members in the collection end in 1892, but there is no evidence in the material that this was the last year of its operation. Based on the number of members in the organization the evidence suggests that the committee was still popular in 1892. In 1882 the number of Minute Men were reduced from ten members to six, but this was more of a reflection of a posse of six being more manageable and efficient than a reflection of a loss of members. In fact, the minutes and rolls of members show a gradual growth from new memberships and reinstatement of removed members. Some of the committee's growth could be attributed to its rise as a social club, as picnics and suppers were organized by the group that were attended by members and non-members from the community. Many of the suppers were held during the winter months to help break up the monotony of the log winter season.

The records of the committee show that the NWVC was an important part of its community because of the extent of community participation of the membership and social activities. Although it was a secret organization it did provide a service to its members and the public.

The Northwest Vigilance Committee records consist of minutes, membership rolls and copies of its constitution and by-Laws from its inception in 1873 through 1892. Material has been divided into two series. The series is minutes and proceedings from 1873-1892. Included in this series is the copy of the original constitution and by-laws of the committee as drafted in March of 1873. This series is in chronological order. In some cases photocopies were made to aid in microfilming.

The second series consists of a constitution and by-laws amended in 1885, rolls of members 1880-1891 and miscellaneous items. Although the original constitution and by-laws were not amended a great deal, the changes show a move towards efficiency and economy. Time had provided the necessary experience to change the committee into a more useful and effective body. The membership roles material that will allow the researcher to recreate the geographical boundaries of the committee and the social status of the membership. Each sub-series is in chronological order.