Edward Thurston & Family

Sarah Thurston (1840-1885), PF lot 1206

Ann Eliza Thurston (1863-1882), PF lot 1177

Ulysses Thurston (1869-1884), PF lot 1286

Edward Thurston (1832-1908), born enslaved in Tennessee, endured a long life, mostly as a low-wage laborer with his large family. Upon settling in Lawrence around 1862, he first worked as a farm laborer in rural Wakarusa Township with his wife Sarah (Sally), a domestic servant, and their two children, Silas (b. 1862) and Annie (1864-1882), both born here.¹ The family survived Quantrill’s raid in August 1863, and Sally obtained $3.50 worth of groceries ($83 today) in raid relief for her family, including one child (Annie).² Mr. Thurston listed himself as a stone quarrier in the 1866 city directory.

            Beginning in 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Thurston lost five children to common diseases, and each were buried in potter’s field at Oak Hill Cemetery: six-year-old Emma (1869-1875), infant Lulu (1875-1876), 19-year-old Ann Eliza (1863-1882), infant Burnetta (1882), and 16-year-old Ulysses (1869-1884).³ After a year-long illness, Sarah Thurston (1840-1885) died at age 45  from TB at the family home on New York street.⁴ Two years later, 14-year-old Maggie (1873-1887) died from typhoid fever and her funeral was held at St. Luke AME Church.⁵

            Given the loss of so many children and his wage-earning wife, Edward turned to selling intoxicating liquor in the low-lying, east-side Bottoms, like so many other African Americans who defied the 1881 Kansas prohibition law by working in this lucrative business.⁶ After his first charge in 1888 was dismissed for lack of evidence, he was fined $100 ($3,275 today) for selling whiskey but his 30-day jail sentence was commuted by commissioners.⁷ In 1893, he was arrested for “keeping a disorderly house” (prostitution), fined $59.50 ($1,970), and sent to jail “in default of payment”; but fifty friends petitioned the city council to pardon him.⁸

            The following year, his 14-year-old daughter Alice Thurston (1880-?) began using a sharp knife to fight other Black women “in jealous envy” over Black men, first with Mrs. “Speevy” Gunter over Nick Allen and then with Mary (Mame) Ford whom she cut severely on both cheeks. This second assault charge “with intent to kill,” short of manslaughter, confined her to the county jail for six months.⁹ Yet six months after her release from jail, Alice murdered Ella Lane, another Black red-light district woman, on 6th street over another Black boyfriend, Labe Anderson, a case that initially attracted much court room attention. After spending four years in the state penitentiary, she was released and “restored to citizenship” by Gov. Stanley in 1899.¹⁰

            Meanwhile, Edward faced more fines ($300) (over $10,000) and 30-day jail sentences for selling whiskey and “maintaining a nuisance [house].” Yet several downtown merchants (who benefited from bootlegged liquor) asked the city attorney to dismiss his last case once he paid his court costs. It appears that Mr. Thurston may have “retired” from bootlegging after this last reported incident, especially if his children supported him with their wages.¹¹

Will Thurston (b. 1879), Edward’s oldest son, grew up with his good friend George “Nash” Walker (1872-1911), a prominent Black performer who showcased his productions at the Bowersock Opera House [now Liberty Hall]. During his 1902 visit, Walker was an honored guest of the white Elks fraternal order, writing:

On the morning of July 4th, I was awakened by a complimentary visitation of the [Haskell Institute] Indian brass band, which served as a reminder to prepare to make good my promise to participate in the [Elks’] parade. Just then Willie Thurston rushed into my apartments yelling, ‘For God’s sake, Nash, get up. The white folks are about to parade and you are the only darkey in the procession, so fix up and get right. If you don’t, we sure will tell you about it after the parade is over, and Mr. Donnelly has got you the white horses and trap [carriage] all fixed up for your special benefit. Please get up, Nash.’¹²

Two years later, Will plead guilty to “disturbing the peace” by smacking Genesee Drake, a young Black woman, in the mouth for calling him racist names. He paid his fine and court costs ($6.50 or $217) but reportedly “concluded he did not get his money’s worth.”¹³ In 1905, Will lived with his father and older sister Cora at 818 Indiana. Cora (Thurston) Alexander (b. 1876), a domestic servant, had married and then divorced William A. Alexander (a cook) in 1901.¹⁴

            In 1908, Edward Thurston, around age 76, died at his home (211 W. 6th street) from blood poisoning (sepsis).¹⁵ After his funeral at St. Luke AME church, he was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in a grave he had purchased and reserved for himself (Sec. 11, GR 43)—far away from his family buried in potter’s field.