Ellsworth in Ellsworth County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
1873 County Jail
Historical Plaza Walking Tour Stop 10
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 28, 2011
1. 1873 County Jail Marker
During Ellsworth's earliest years, Wild Bill Hickok's common-law wife, Indian Annie, lived in a shack near this site. After Hickok abandoned Indian Annie, she made ends meet washing clothes, scrubbing floors at the Grand Central Hotel (9) and reading fortune cards.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Hickok once helped Sheriff Kingsbury and Township Constable Whitney tie offending drunken troublemakers to fence posts to cool off before the jail was built. This was the first building in Ellsworth erected for the purpose of holding prisoners.
The first prisoner, J.M. Gruder, escaped. The Ellsworth Reporter announced, "The sheriff is not at all to blame as the building is not full ready for prisoners." It was said that the new jail was the most comfortable place in town, but that not too many should crowd into the place at once.
Erected by Ellsworth County Economic Development, Ellsworth-Kanapolis Area Chamber of Commerce, Ellwsorth County Historical Society, et al. (Marker Number 10.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 38° 43.685′ N, 98° 13.746′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth, Kansas, in Ellsworth County. Marker is on Court Avenue near 1st Street
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Plaza (1873) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Grand Central Hotel (about 400 feet away); Kansas Pacific Railroad Depots (about 600 feet away); Joe Brennan Saloon (about 700 feet away); Nick Lentz Saloon (about 700 feet away); Beebe General Store (about 700 feet away); The Old Reliable House (about 700 feet away); North Main Street (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth.
Also see . . .
1. Ellsworth, Kansas – Another Wicked Cowtown. Legends of America website entry (Submitted on January 30, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Ellsworth County in Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (1883). (Submitted on April 3, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 28, 2011
2. 1873 County Jail and Marker
Photographed By Unknown, undated
3. 1873 County Jail Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 697 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 3, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
