~~~Family Group Sheet~~~
Lyman Beecher (L.B.) PUTNEY WIFE: : Jennie COLEMAN
By J Fowkes email: [email protected]
5/21/06
Husband's name: Lyman Beecher (L.B.) PUTNEY WIFE: : Jennie
COLEMAN
Birth date and place: 15 Dec 1832, New York
Death date and place: 10 Mar 1900, Topeka, Shawnee, KS
Marriage date and Place: 24 Dec 1863, Douglas County KS
Buried: Fairview Cemetery, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, NM
His Father's name was: Jedidiah PUTNEY
His Mother's name was: Caroline S SARTWELL~
Wife's name: Jennie COLEMAN
Birth date and place: 15 Feb 1843, Michigan
Death date and place: 27 Sep 1911, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, NM
Buried: Fairview Cemetery, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, NM
First Child: Robert E Sr PUTNEY Gender: Male
Birth date and place: 05 Feb 1873, Kansas
Death date and place: 12 Apr 1951, New Mexico
Marriage date and Place: 09 Sep 1896, Douglas County KS by Willis G Banker, MG
Spouse's name: Margaret B LOVE
Supporting sources:
From a reference book found at Albuquerque Public library
the subject being the business district of New Town (Albuquerque NM): "By 1881 a
building boom was well under way in what would become the business district of
New Town. The first substantial structure was raised by Lyman Beecher PUTNEY. In
1876, PUTNEY, a retailer in Lawrence, Kansas, decided to move west and sell
supplies to contractors for the AT&SF. He first located at Trinidad, Colorado,
where he built a store of pine panels, 100 feet long and 70 feet wide. The
following year, wishing to keep ahead of the railroad, he dismantled his
building, section by section, loaded it in ox-drawn wagons, and rolled down to
Las Vegas [NM], where he put the thing back together and was in business. Next
door was a dance hall in which the favorite sport on Saturday night was shooting
out the lights. The walls of Putney's store were soon amply ventilated with
bullet holes.
In 1880 he moved again. Loading his now well-traveled store on flatcars, he betook himself to Albuquerque. On the corner of First and Railroad Avenue (later the site of the YMCA) Putney raised the bullet-ridden walls once more. For several years, his place of business also doubled as a residence. Nights, Indians who had come in to trade were allowed to roll up in their blankets on the floor. The proprietor slept in a hammock slung close to the rafters. Putney claimed later that he kept his bed high in the air to escape bed bugs and stray lead fired by rowdies who went on sprees in the streets."
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As stated in a Kansas newspaper article of his death:
"Pioneer Dead!"
"L.B. Putney, Pioneer Wholesale Merchant."
"His Death Occurred at Topeka, Kansas."
"City Mourns the Loss of One of Its Best Men."
"Funeral To-morrow Morning."
Lyman Beecher PUTNEY died at Topeka, Kansas, yesterday
morning after an illness of a few months, and in consequence there is universal
sorrow throughout this city and the southwest.
For the past few days the end to this long life of general usefulness was
expected, and being anxious to gain the latest bit of information from the sick
chamber of his father, Robert E. Putney wired for facts to Dr. J.P. Kaster last
Saturday. The doctor promptly answered and wired as follows: "Topeka, Kansas,
March 10.-Father ailing rapidly; can hardly survive the night."
The son knew by this brief message that the dissolution of life was approaching,
but he wanted to see his father once more alive and he telegraphed to Dr. Kaster
asking whether he should make the trip to Topeka, and would his father be alive
on his arrival.
In response thereto came the following sad message from the bereaved wife
yesterday afternoon: "Topeka, Kansas, March 11.-Father died this morning; leave
for home at noon Sunday with the body."
This is indeed sad news to Albuquerque, for it removes from the business circles
of the city one of the pioneers of mercantile life -a man "where his name is
written his honor is given and one whose integrity, straightforwardness and
business principles are by-words, throughout the southwest."
Lyman Beecher Putney was born in New York in 1832 and was therefore 67
(unreadable]. He left his old New York home when quite young to "grow with the
West", and when he reached Lawrence, Kansas, he had accumulated enough funds to
engage in business there. He was enjoying a thriving trade when Quantrell and
his guerrilla raided the town and he lost everything.In 1866 the firm of Moore,
Bennett, & Co., of which the deceased was a member, was established at
Lawrence, and several years later the Santa Fe railway company commenced
building west and southwest. The firm followed the railroad, and first
established a store, with Lawrence as headquarters, at Trinidad, thence at
Raton, Las Vegas, Albuquerque and San Marcial, leaving a branch store at each of
the places name. Finally, when the railroad had penetrated into the Rio Grande
valley, all the branch stores were withdrawn and the immense business of the
firm was concentrated at this city.
This was in 1879, and about a year later Mr. Putney purchased the interests of
his two partners, they retiring shortly from the territory and he remaining to
help build up the country and at the same time continue to increase his own
business.
The old frame store building-which is indeed one of the landmarks of Railroad
avenue-was moved to Albuquerque in sections from Las Vegas after the firm had
consolidated all their business interests in New Mexico at this city.
The deceased was married to Miss Jennie Coleman (the devoted and faithful wife
that survives him) at Waukesha, Wis., in 1866*, and besides her he leaves to
mourn his death Robert E. Putney, the only son and child. It is understood that
a brother resides somewhere in the west, but the deceased had not heard from him
for many years.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The remains will arrive from Topeka on the No. 1 passenger train which will
reach this city at 7:55 o'clock this evening, accompanied by Mrs. Putney and
possibly Dr. and Mrs. Kaster. The remains will then be turned over to the
Undertaker Strong and conveyed by him to the residence of the bereaved son
Robert E. Putney, No. 617 West Copper avenue. The funeral services will be held
at the residence mentioned at 10 o'clock to-morrow (Tuesday morning, conducted
by Rev. T.C. Beattie.) The music will be furnished by a male quartette which
will be in charge of Prof. C.E. Burg. The following pall-bearers have been ?:
Gov. E.S. Stover, O.N. ?, A.J. Maloy, Noa Ilfeld, John A. ? of this city, and
John Becker, of Bele?
All friends are invited to attend the funeral services, which will be followed
with burial in Fairview cemetery.
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As stated in an Albuquerque paper.
"LAID TO REST!"
"Funeral Services of L. B. Putney"
"Large Crowd of Warm Friends Attend."
As stated in The (unreadable) the remains of L. B. Putney,
Alburquerque's (unreadable) arrived (unreadable) last night from Topeka, Kansas
accompanied by his sorrowed wife and and Dr. ?. Kaster and wife and the body
after being (unreadable) from the (unreadable) was placed in a handsome ? casket
and the taken to the home of the bereaved son Robert E. Putney, No. 617 West
Copper Avenue, where (unreadable) funeral services were held this morning at 10
O'Clock.
As soon as the (?) for the funeral had arrived and the grief-stricken family
entered the parlor, where all that was (?) of the once happy and generous
husband and father lay in the casket literally smothered with (?) wreaths and
bouquets of (unreadable). Rev. T.C. Beattie opened the (?) services by reading
the last chapter of Revelations.
After the reading the male quartet Prof. C.E. Burg, E.L. Washburn, M.C.
Nettleton, and C.A. Lampman sang the beautiful hymn "I Cannot Always Trace The
Way". Rev. Beattie then (unreadable) his text the 25th verse of the ? Chapter of
Revelations. "There shall be no night there", etc. and in his remarks which ?
spoke eloquently of the character, the noble ?, the generosity and integrity of
the dead lie referred, in appropriate terms to the fact that on of Albuquerque's
landmarks has passed away, for he was here in the infancy of the city, and
Albuquerque indeed lost a good and most valuable friend when his death occurred.
His integrity was well known, his honor a shining mark-the (cutoff)
(restarts) early in 1859. The free state troubles were then about at an end, but
as a free soil democrat Mr. Putney worked and voted for the Topeka constitution
making Kansas a free state. At 4 a.m. on August 21, 1863, the citizens of
Lawrence were aroused by shooting and yelling in the streets. Between that hour
and 8 o'clock 150 citizens of that city were massacred by Quantrell's band. The
city was burned and with it almost all of Mr. Putney's four years savings. He
attributed his escape to his hurriedly rushing into the street dressed in an old
red flannel shirt. Many of the raiders being dressed in the same manner, he was
mistaken for one and not molested. He witnessed the slaughter in front of the
Eldridge house, the impression of which never faded from his mind. Not
withstanding the raid had made him poor, his engagement to Jennie Coleman, of
Waukesha, was kept, and they were married the same year**. Mr. Putney's business
career in New Mexico began in the old town of Las Vegas in 1877, he and his
family being conveyed to that place by team, the railroad not having yet reached
there. In 1879 the business of the firm was continuously resided up to about
five months agao, when he went to Topeka for treatment in hopes of staying the
fatal malady that finally ended his life. Mr. Putney was a man who made friends
slowly, but always attached them firmly when made. A man of positive character
and convictions, they were so wisely and temperately governed that they were
never the cause of friction with his fellow man. He was simple in his tastes,
genuine in his integrity and natural in his address to men. He quietly
discharged his duty, shunned all ostentation and was jealous that his kind acts
should not be publicly displayed. He was intent upon realities and abhorred
semblances. He had tenderness for his fellow citizens, looked upon them as
members of the same family, as beings with whom he was appointed to act, to
suffer and to sympathize. He looked upon life as a stage on which he hoped to
honestly perform his part. He held himself not aloof from, nor viewed with
contempt the struggles and pursuits of those who made up his environment. He
delighted to extend the hospitality of his place of ? to the poor Pueblos, for
they went about heralding his name. ? and useful life has been closed, ? lamp
kindled in his grave will ? burning by the recollections of ? deeds done for
many years.
*NOTES FROM THIS RESEARCHER: THIS PLACE & DATE OF MARRIAGE
IS CONtrADICTED
**NOTES FROM THIS RESEARCHER: THIS STATEMENT PUTS THE YEAR OF MARRIAGE IN 1863
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Transcription of Original Court Document
Seeking Guardianship of George, Melvina and Lyman B PUTNEY
County Court }
Yates County }
Before A. Oliver County Judge }
To Andrew Oliver County Judge of Yates County:
The petition of George Putney, Melvina Putney and
Lyman B PUTNEY of the town of Potter County of Yates and State of New York each
and every of them infants over the age of fourteen years respectfully alloweth
(?): That your petitioners are each & every of them children of Jeddiah Putney
and Caroline his wife late of the town of Potter and County aforesaid, deceased,
and that they are of the following ages that is to say, the said George Putney
was nineteen years of age the first day of June 1849, and the said Melvina
Putney is about seventeen years of age, and the said Lyman B PUTNEY was fifteen
years of age on the 15th day of December 1848.
That as heirs of the said Jeddiah Putney & Caroline his wife now deceased
your petitioners are seized (?) Of and entitled to an estate in for in and to a
certain farm on a lot of land situate in the town and County aforesaid
consisting of about 109 acres, the gross annual income of which is about $300 -
That is to say your petitioners are entitled to (?) Severally to one equal
individual eighth of said farm, there being eight heirs of our deceased father
and mother now living including ourselves, viz. Therresa wife of Charles
Olmsted, Decastero Putney, Julia, wife of Liman Brown, Rebeca Putney, & Henry
Putney all of whom have attained their majority: That your petitioners are also
entitled severally to one equal eighth of the following personal property viz.
One xxx of Horses of the value of about $150, about four Hundred bushels of
wheat in the barn on said farm of the value of $400, about three hundred bushels
of barley of the value of $175, about ten tons of hay of the value of about $50,
fifteen hogs of the value of about $50, farming utensils of about the value of
$25, two waggons of the value of about $110, one sliegh of the value of about
$10, six head of horned cattle of about the value of $35, sixteen sheep of the
value of $16, two horses of the value of about $85, household furniture of about
the value of $300.
And your petitioners further show that the said personal property
aforesaid will be and is subject to the payment of certain debts (the amount of
which are unknown to us) of our deceased mother - And that they have no
knowledge of any other property real or personal, nor any right or interest in
any other property than that above specified as they are now informed & believe.
That on account of their respective ages and of their own inability to
protect their rights and interests they are desirious of having some suitable
and proper person appointed by this court to take charge thereof.
Your petitioners therefore pray that Forest Harkness of Middlsex Yates
County Physician who is no kin to us, may be appointed the general guardian of
their persons and Estate, according to the Statute and in conformity with the
rules & practice of this Court.
And your petitioners will ever xxxx & @ Dated (?) Potter this 5th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine
[followed by the original signatures of]
George S Putney
Malvina S Putney
Lyman B PUTNEY
State of New York }
Yates County }
On this 5th day of October 1849 before me personally appeared the above named George Putney, Melvina Putney and Lyman B Putney, and whom being severally sworn, before and severally say that they have each and every of them heard the petition above read to which they have severally subscribed their names and that the xxxx therein stated are true according to their knowledge & belief.
In witness whereof I have subscribed my name this day & year first above written.
Jo B Vanosdol Justice of the Peace
I hereby consent the be appointed the general guardian of the above petitioners George Putney Melvina Putney and Lyman B Putney and offer as my surities.
Forest Harkness
Dated at Potter Oct. 8th 1849
State of New York }
Yates County }
DeCastro A Putney of Brookfield Wis. being duly sworn says that he is acquainted with the property and estate of the above named minors that the xxxx [the rest of the statement is difficult to read and transcribe].