Did You Know This About Geary County History?
By Dr. Ferrell Miller
Geary County Historical Society Board Member
“Libbie Custer’s Days At Fort Riley”
George Armstrong Custer and his wife Elizabeth, arrived at Fort Riley in October of 1866. They each had nicknames for each other. He called her “Libbie” and she called him “Autie”.
Apparently Libbie was fond of living at Fort Riley. She often wrote letters to her friends back in Monroe, Michigan. In one of those letters dated December of 1866, Libbie wrote: “The climate of Kansas is very fine, so pure and free from dampness. As yet we have not had a week of cold weather altogether. No snow, nor mud, nor rain, except a few small attempts at a feeble drizzle.”
She went on to state that “We are living almost in luxury. It does not seem like life in the Army, for you know I have had mostly a rough time. This is not a fort, though called so, it is a garrison. For there are no walls enclosing it. There are five long stables, the Suttler’s Store and Billiard House, Express Office and Post Office, Quartermaster, employee’s houses, mess houses, a Superintendent’s house and an ordinance building. All of them are near the barracks, which gives the post the appearance of a little city.
Our houses are built side by side. They are double except the Commander’s house next to ours. It is a privilege to have a little chapel all by itself (St. Mary’s Chapel) and a chaplain who reads the service and preaches well. The chapel has a little organ too. We are only a short walk from the Depot and Telegraph Office.
We are three miles from a little town called Junction City where we shop and market. The Smoky Hill River and Republican form a junction just below here and form the Kansas, which is below the post a little distance.”
Several months after this letter was written in March of 1867, Autie (or George) and other soldiers rode out of Fort Riley to get their first taste of Indian fighting. Nine years later George’s life ended in June of 1876 at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in Montana.
Libbie was nearly destitute in the aftermath of her husband’s demise. She became an outspoken advocate for his legacy through books and lectures. Libbie Custer wrote three books: Boots and Saddles (1885); Tenting on the Plains (1887) and Following The Guidon (1890).
Libbie never remarried. She lived in New York City until 1933, where she died at the age of 90.
“Junction City’s Own Currency”
The U.S. government has always had an interest in regulating currency. It became heavily invested in regulating paper currency during the chaos of the Civil War.
After 1863 most private banks issued their own money. However, when it was spent or exchanged there was an exchange rate much like when US dollars are exchanged for foreign money today.
According to the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing, “National Bank Notes were issued between 1863 and 1938.” The bank note in the picture was issued by Central National Bank with their name and location. The rest of the design is similar to the five dollar bills prior to the year 2000. (See the picture included with this article.)
Central National Bank was not the only bank in Junction City to issue National Bank Notes. First National Bank also issued currency bearing their name. Don McWilliams stated in his journals that “Central National Bank Charter No. 4284 issued national currency totaling $980,400.” A complete list of these bills can be found in the Central National Bank Centennial Book.
After the US government began printing and issuing their own money, reports in 1935 stated that Central National Bank had $10,200 in large bills and $14,800 in small bills outstanding.
There is a possibility that some of these bills are still in circulation today. Be sure to check your money. You may have a valuable piece of Junction City’s history in your hands.