Jewell in Jewell County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Fort Jewell

Built May 13-14, 1870

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2021

1. Fort Jewell Marker

Inscription.
Twenty-eight settlers, organized as the Buffalo Militia, built Fort Jewell following the killing of three white men at the milldam on the Solomon River.

Sod was used for fort walls, which were four feet thick, seven feet high, enclosing a space fifty yards square, four blocks due east of this memorial.

Erected in honor of the pioneer settlers
of Jewell County by
Desire Tobey Sears Chapter D. A. R.
1934

Erected 1934 by Desire Tobey Sears Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 13, 1870.

Location. 39° 40.182′ N, 98° 9.33′ W. Marker is in Jewell, Kansas, in Jewell County. Marker is on Delaware Street (Kansas Route 28) just east of South Custer Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located near the southwest corner of Maag Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 Delaware Street, Jewell KS 66949, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Buffalo Township in the Buffalo Valley

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Jewell County's First Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Beloit's Little Red Schoolhouse (approx. 13.3 miles away); Waconda Springs / Glen Elder State Park (approx. 14.8 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Erection of Fort Jewell. Bible Views website entry
The settlers of Jewell City community were interrupted in their tasks of breaking prairie, building cabins, digging "dugouts" and otherwise improving their claims on May 12, 1870, by the message of couriers that the Cheyennes were again on the warpath and had killed three white men working on a mill dam on the Solomon river at the present site of Glen Elder. At daybreak on the following day, twenty-eight settlers had gathered at "Hoffer's shanty" near the forks of Buffalo Creek, organized a company of militia, and at the future town site of Jewell City commenced the erection of a sod fort. (Submitted on July 9, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Fort Jewell, Kansas. Legends of America website entry:
The post was named in honor of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, who died during the Civil War of wounds received in the battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas. It was built and defended by 28 local settlers, who organized themselves

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2021

2. Fort Jewell Marker

(looking northeast • Maag Memorial Park in background)

as the "Buffalo Militia." The local volunteers were relieved in June, 1870 by a Company of U.S. soldiers who remained until Fall. (Submitted on July 9, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Jewell Centennial Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 5, 2021

3. Jewell Centennial Plaque

(mounted on ground in front of marker)
Jewell Centennial
1870 • 1970
Celebrated Oct. 3, 1970

Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 260 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.