This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Fate of the Benders Revealed by Vigilante Tale
George Evans Downer recounts the end of Kate and John Bender and the rest of their kin, detailing a vigilante ambush near Independence Kansas. He describes the pursuit, gunfire, and the final killings, along with the oath to keep names and fate secret.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bender
Kansas Prairie
Mexico
Canada
California
Germany
United States
Chicago
Kate Bender
George Evans Downer
Downer’s Grove
Pierce Downer
Kansas
Oklahoma
Independence
Law and Order
Osage Mission
Desire Ett
Tom
William H. York
A. H. York
Benders
Kate
John
Cherryvale
Bender Farm