1878 Sage Inn & Stage Coach Station in Dover

1878 Sage Inn &
Stage Coach Station in Dover

The Sage Family immigrated from Sommersetshire, England to Skenateles, NY in 1848. In 1856, two of the Sage brothers, Alfred and John, moved by covered wagon to the Indian territory that was claimed by the Kansas-Nebraska Bill in 1854. A proviso of that bill was that settlers, themselves, might determine the question of slavery. The Sages, being active abolitionists, were ready to fight for a Free State Kansas (Jan. 29, 1861). During the two year period between 1854, and 1856, pro-slavery inhabitants from Missouri, known as "Border Ruffians," infiltrated the eastern border of Kansas. Emigrants from the northeast traveling the main route up the Missouri River from St. Louis to the mouth of the Kaw River were greatly endangered and many died at the hands of hostile pro-slavery vigilantes. A new route, "The Lane Trail," was opened due to the efforts of General James Lane, a cohort of John Brown, that guided wagons across Iowa to Nebraska City then south into Kansas. The Sages traveled "Lane's Trail" and are believed to have known both Gen. Lane and John Brown. The Sages settled in Mission Valley, on Mission Creek which joined the Kaw River, and may have become involved in the underground railroad efforts to aid slaves seeking freedom. John, Alfred, and other brothers who joined them, enlisted in the Kansas Battalion of the Union Army in the resulting Civil War (1861-1865). An equally volatile issue at that time was the displacement of native Americans. Many were moved from eastern states to the grasslands. Basically, the Kansas territory had been given to the Indians. Tribes such as the Delaware and the Shawnee were not native to Kansas, and were crowded in to live among the Osage, Kanza and Pawnee. With the government's passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, now even that land was being taken from them. Kansas was a hot bed and earned it the title "Bleeding Kansas." Alfred Sage was the original owner of the Sage Inn, but it was Mark Sage, his brother, who is believed to have built the beautiful stone building. Mark became a well known stone mason in the area and built many of the stone farm houses, barns and bridges in Shawnee and Wabaunsee Counties in Kansas. In addition, Mark helped build the Kansas Capitol building in Topeka. Alfred Sage built the General Store south of the Inn and was the first postmaster in Dover, KS. The Sages are credited for being the founding fathers of Dover which was named after their beloved community in England. There were five brothers and a sister that finally settled in Dover. Tombstones of early Sage family members may be found in the Dover Cemetery. Many Sage descendants populate the community today.

Try Debra's delicious recipe: Pumpkin Nut Waffles, Parmesan Potatoe, Sticky Buns.

This BnB is featured in Sunrise Sunset Across America, Bed & Breakfast cookbook. Purchase it by clicking on the link in the upper sidebar. We'll talk again soon...