The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-28
William Greiffenstein, Noble Bene=
factor OF, Two Races, Stricken
With Paralysis.
BODY LIES IN STATE
At Masonic Lodge Room-Brought From Burnett
I. T., Last Night-Funeral Friday Morn
ing-F1is Romantic Life.

1865 he established a permanent trading
post on the Cowskin, from where he
made many perilous journeys into the
midst of the Indian country.
After the Indians were removed into the
territory he established his trading post
on the north fork of the Canadian river,
and afterwards transferred it to the
Comanche and Kiowa agency on the
Washita river. He remained at the
agency until some of the other TRADERS
who were jealous of his success and
popularity among the Indians made him
trouble by making Misrepresentation to
General Sheridan, who ordered him from
the territory. He went to Washington
where he received a portion Of the
amount due him for supplies furnished
the different agencies. He then returned
to Kansas and remained in Lawrence
and Topeka for short time, when he
Joined the Quaker commission sent out
by the government to the territory as
scout and interpreter. When the party
arrived at the Arkansas river he re-
ceived word from General Hazen to pro-
coed on the Texas cattle trail to the Ca
madam river and thence I'D the stream
to Fort Supply, in search of a location
for the Cheyenne and Arapahoe agency.
From Camp Supply the party proceeded
through the Kiowa country, visiting the
different tribes on the route. They re-
turned to Topeka, having been gone a
month, and they had covered distance
of 1,4O0 miles on their ponies during that
time.
In the winter of 1878 Mr.. Greiffenstein
came again to the Arkansas river where
he purchased the trading post of E. H.
Durfee and engaged in general merchan-
dising until 1870, when he bought the land
on which the business center of Wichita
now stands. He also purchased the claim
lying just south of Douglas avenue and
laid it off into town lots and it is now
known as Greiffenstein addition. In
1870 he disposed of his business of mer-
chandising and trading and devoted his
time to his large property interests and
cattle business. He erected the Douglas
avenue hotel, the "CommercaI' block,
and other fine buildings of that day. He
was instrumental in getting the bridge
erected which now spans the Arkansas
the Wichita Savings bank and was a d.
rector in the First National bank. He
assisted in the organization and building
of the Wichita and Southwestern rail-
read, being elected director and treasurer
OF the company. He took an active part
in securing the voting of bonds by the
county for the completion of the road.
He was a great admirer of fine stock
and was one of the first men to import
FLOODED stock into the country. In order
to promote the raising of fine cattle and
horses he offered prizes, the outcome of
it being the fine exhibition which was
seen at the race track yesterday between
Joe Patchen and John r. Gentry. He
was also one of the prime movers in the
organization Of the first county fair, and
he was always liberal donator to all
movements which had an upward trend
He was married November q. 1859, to
Miss Catharine Burnett, daughter of
Abraham Burnett, of Shawnee county,
Kansas Mr.. Burnett was chief of the
Pottawatomie tribe and was educated by
Richard Johnston of Kentucky. Mr..
Greiffenstein was the father of three
Sii4AhA w hiram Jl-r anu WI =.
Ossie Raymond, all of whom are living at
Burnett, I. T.
Since 1880, the year when Mr. Greiffen-
stein drifted into traffic with the Indians,
in company with Joe Bournett of West
port, No, his life has been filled with
thrilling adventures among the Indians
and in chase of the buffalo and deer over
the prairies of southern Kansas and In
dian Territory. Dealing for years with
the Indians. he acquired their language
and could converse freely with them in
their own tongue.
Mr.. Greiffenstein was a man of gener-
Gus impulse. benevolent in the extreme,
always ready and willing to aid any ap-
peal to his generosity. Being of a genial
and social nature, he has made many
friends and few enemies throughout his
eventful life
A FEW "REMINISCENCES.
Many are the "reminiscences recalled by
the old settlers and friends OF Uncle
Billy" Greiffenstein. as everybody knew
him here. The frontiersmen and In
dams hailed him by the sobriquet of
Dutch Bill" Many settlers here recall
the life and appearance Of mis- first wife
She was a full blood Cheyenne Indian,
and is said TO have been both beautiful
and graceful. She was by no means an
ordinary squaw, and neither did she dress
like any Of the women OF her tribe. IN
stead OF wearing the traditional Logging
and red blanket, she wore gown which
was combination of the mother hub
bard and the Grecian robe, which was
confined at the waist by a long red sash
Of silk. The sash had a pr0fusion q
fringe at each end and it gave her pic
turesque appearance, especially when she
was mounted on a prancing steed and the
wind was blowing breeze. On her head
she wore a rebosa, which, with her state
~ mein, gave her a oueeniy air. She
was known to all the tribe and through
out the west as Cheyenne Jennie" L
Is related that she ruled the tribe and
vas a woman OF superior quality being
a born commander and one gifted with
diplomatic skill She was tail and sight
OF statue. with long black hair and even
features once when her tribe was an
cry with her husband and was on The
point OF having Uncle Billy bantshsd
from the tribe. she said Il was not to BE-
She. wlsh rare skili- adjusted thu difficulty
and gave the Indians q severe lecture
Mr. G-ei1ens;sin was oEce 'ravelsng
across the country IL the dead - wln-
ter on a mule. y hen ne reached The
Smoky Hi river in northern Kansas
terrible snow Storm came uoou h5sa- IL
rode down ana Sos uz1sr sAe rive rzak
for shelter. where he vas detained E1z
four days. Wh=n tae ranae wou53 ~
down az nighs 81 Geel7ensgesn ~snia he
dawn b. the side OF me E.Els Gnd iAey