Smith-Hollingsworth-Thomas Log Cabin

In 1867 the cabin was built by James & Francis Smith. Used until 1870 as a meeting place for the Baptist church. Probably had no windows and a dirt floor. It was a dog trot cabin with an open breezeway between the kitchen and bedroom rooms. Being the coolest place in the cabin, dogs would choose the breezeway to take a nap, thus the name dog trot. The logs were walnut, hickory, and oak from the Neosho river bottom. It is one of only 3 cabins in Kansas that are on their original foundations and one of 3 dogtrots. 

James Smith purchased the land Lots 9, 10, 11 & 12 Blk 18 for $125 from the Oswego Town Committee. 

Smith sells the cabin and property for $100 to Elisabeth Hollingsworth, a widow with 7 children. Her husband Noah had died in the Civil War in 1863. A ½ story was added, the breezeway was closed in, and weatherboarding was used to cover the structure 

Mrs. Bender and daughter Kate were brought to trial in Oswego and rumor has it that they were housed under guard in the cabin. 

Mrs. Elisabeth Hollingsworth died on April 4. She had lived in the house for 43 years. (According to her obituary. That would mean she started living in the house in 1869. Perhaps she rented it from Smith until she purchased it in 1871.) Her son Joel and a daughter lived in the house until 1932. 

Joel Hollingsworth dies and the land is deeded to Elizabeth Zimmerman. 

Property sold to Carl & Irene Abbott 

Dr. & Mrs. J. F. Thomas buy the house and intends to turn it into a 2-story duplex with 4 rooms and a bath on each side. During the renovation logs are discovered underneath the plaster on the first floor. Remnants of an 1869 newspaper were also discovered on the walls, probably used as insulation against the cruel Kansas winter. New windows were added. 

In August the structure was donated to the Oswego Historical Society by Nellie Thomas (Dr. J. F. Thomas’s wife). They intend to move it to John Mathews Park and open it as a museum. 

Second story and siding are removed and the roof is placed on the original structure.

Oneita Miller. president of the New Perspective Club and Debbie Schreppel, treasurer, present a $200 check to Mrs.

Dean Mumy, curator of the Oswego Museum and Mr. Wayne O'Connell, president of the Oswego Historical Society.

House listed on the Register of Kansas Historic Places