Chapman's Dugout (Ottawa County, Kansas, Kansas)
Ottawa County, Kansas · Kansas · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Stephen B. Chapman and his family moved to Ottawa County, Kansas in October 1863 after the Lawrence Massacre prompted their flight from their farm near Lawrence. They constructed a single-room dugout measuring fourteen by sixteen feet with a fireplace and roof made of logs and/or sod.
The dwelling quickly served as a fort during Indian disturbances as the settler population in the area increased. At its peak, the dugout sheltered fifty-two men, women, and children who slept on quilts on the floor while men stood watch through the night.
During one incident, Native Americans set fire to the prairie grass, which stood six feet high and burned fiercely in the wind. When serving as the community fortress, the dugout also functioned as a Sunday school, with approximately ten people gathering weekly.
The dugout's use as a refuge ended by summer 1864 when Fort Solomon was constructed approximately one mile north. The Chapmans abandoned the dugout in 1868 or 1869 upon completing a brick house.
Key Facts
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman%27s_Dugout
- https://www.ottawacountykansas.com/ottawa-county-history.html
- https://legendsofkansas.com/kansas-time-line/