Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Rev. J.B. McAfee was active in public affairs of Kansas for 40 years. Relative to local history in 1857, he organized a Lutheran congregation and built a church, the first Lutheran Church in Kansas, at Grasshopper Falls — now Valley Falls, where the Shrine Church still stands.
During 1862-63 and '64 he served in the Civil War in various capacities. Later, other accomplishments included private secretary to the governor of Kansas, Adjunt General of Kansas, a member of the Kansas Legislature three times, and mayor of Topeka.
He was a lifelong temperance man. When mayor of Topeka, he put prohibition into practice amidst threats to take his life.
Quoting a source, "He enacted prohibition by refusing to sign any license to saloon keepers as long as he was mayor, though they threatened to hang him from a lamp post.
"C.R. Jennison was running a Faro Bank in Topeka while Mr. McAfee was mayor, though the business was prohibited by city ordinance. McAfee found his gambling house, and, being refused admission, he heeded not the threats nor the warnings, but taking an ax in his hand he battered down the door, cleaned out the establishment and prepared to burn it as the law directed.
"He was told by the gamblers that he would not dare to do that if Jennison were present.
'When will he be back?' asked the mayor.
'At 2 o'clock tomorrow,' was the response.
'Well, we will adjourn the burning until the gambler comes,' said the fearless mayor.
"The next day, in the presence of Jennison, the bonfire was kindled and Jennison was meek as a lamb."
(Source: The Topeka Mail and Breeze, May 22, 1896.)
The Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Admission is free.
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