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Greensburg, Ks —
It says a lot about a collector when a Civil War drum isn’t the oldest or most interesting piece in their collection. So is the case with Greensburg resident Galen Nichols, known for his expansive Indian artifacts collection, much of which has been pulled from a high hill on his property that is thought to have been an Indian encampment hundreds of years ago. As a collector, Nichols has amassed an impressive stock of historical artifacts but lately he has also become a bit of a philanthropist, donating parts of his collection to the Kiowa County Historical Museum.
“My Civil War stuff is pretty limited,” says Nichols humbly surveying the parade of large wooden display cases that hug the wall of his basement.
“I got these [civil war bullets] from a minister here in Greensburg years ago,” said Nichols pointing to a small red box on a shelf. “They were found over at Fort Dodge in a field, just southeast of Fort Dodge. Some musket balls early shells and a couple of belt buckles.”
Though a smaller part of his much larger collection of Indian artifacts, the dozen or so pieces of Civil War history are a delight to look at, fascinating to discuss and understandably challenging to collect.
Asked about the box of bullets, Nichols is more than happy to impart some historical information that may be old news to a longtime collector, but riveting to a casual observer.
“The confederate items are more collectible,” Nichols noted. “What they would do in battle is they would use each other’s arms. There were companies that made them just for union soldiers and just for confederate soldiers. These bullets are brass and these still have the gun powder in them.”
Inside the well-organized cases are beautifully displayed items like a U.S. labeled horse bit, some well-worn cavalry spurs and a small cannonball.
“That [cannonball] was found in Larned. It’s made out of lead and it’s really heavy,” Nichols laughed.
A Springfield musket, that Nichols says was used just after the Civil War, is surrounded by an unopened box of bullets in the shadow of an ancient Indian hunting bow and a pair of mid-century binoculars.
All fascinating pieces, but not nearly as mesmerizing at the large wooden drum and sticks that anchors the front corner of the case.
“The drum has a label inside of the shell, and it’s dated, patented 1794. It was refurbished after the Civil War around 1865. May the fifth, 1865. I’d have to get [the drum sticks] out to precisely tell you about them but one is 1861 Massachusetts infantry, but I can’t remember what else is on them.”
It says a lot about a collector when a Civil War drum isn’t the oldest or most interesting piece in their collection. So is the case with Greensburg resident Galen Nichols, known for his expansive Indian artifacts collection, much of which has been pulled from a high hill on his property that is thought to have been an Indian encampment hundreds of years ago. As a collector, Nichols has amassed an impressive stock of historical artifacts but lately he has also become a bit of a philanthropist, donating parts of his collection to the Kiowa County Historical Museum.
“My Civil War stuff is pretty limited,” says Nichols humbly surveying the parade of large wooden display cases that hug the wall of his basement.
“I got these [civil war bullets] from a minister here in Greensburg years ago,” said Nichols pointing to a small red box on a shelf. “They were found over at Fort Dodge in a field, just southeast of Fort Dodge. Some musket balls early shells and a couple of belt buckles.”
Though a smaller part of his much larger collection of Indian artifacts, the dozen or so pieces of Civil War history are a delight to look at, fascinating to discuss and understandably challenging to collect.
Asked about the box of bullets, Nichols is more than happy to impart some historical information that may be old news to a longtime collector, but riveting to a casual observer.
“The confederate items are more collectible,” Nichols noted. “What they would do in battle is they would use each other’s arms. There were companies that made them just for union soldiers and just for confederate soldiers. These bullets are brass and these still have the gun powder in them.”
Inside the well-organized cases are beautifully displayed items like a U.S. labeled horse bit, some well-worn cavalry spurs and a small cannonball.
“That [cannonball] was found in Larned. It’s made out of lead and it’s really heavy,” Nichols laughed.
A Springfield musket, that Nichols says was used just after the Civil War, is surrounded by an unopened box of bullets in the shadow of an ancient Indian hunting bow and a pair of mid-century binoculars.
All fascinating pieces, but not nearly as mesmerizing at the large wooden drum and sticks that anchors the front corner of the case.
“The drum has a label inside of the shell, and it’s dated, patented 1794. It was refurbished after the Civil War around 1865. May the fifth, 1865. I’d have to get [the drum sticks] out to precisely tell you about them but one is 1861 Massachusetts infantry, but I can’t remember what else is on them.”
For some collectors, paying top dollar for desirable pieces is a must, particularly when collecting in highly desirable items, like guns, civil war memorabilia or Indian artifacts, but Nichols has enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and swears that he’s used time, patience and a keen eye more than dollars.
“I have very little money in any of this stuff; I’ve just picked it up here and there,” he says.
Lately Nichols has been donating small pieces of his collection to the Kiowa County Historical Society, a rare gesture given that he has spent so much time learning about and collecting valuable items.
“The things I took into the museum were extra things that I had,” he said. “Some of the things I took in were a small motor and the plow and some tools, like a wrench from a [Ford] Model-T and a sausage stuffer.
“My family loves coming here on Christmas and Thanksgiving and they like to see all of my things, but I thought more people could see these things in a museum. Not too many people can come to the house and see them, except maybe family during the holidays. They are exposed to more people there than they are here.”
But, Nichols is quick to note that his generosity has limitations.
“I kept the best things here,” he laughed. “But they might end up in the museum one day.”
Some of his prized items are an 1851 Colt pistol, “This is what Teddy Roosevelt carried,” gleamed Nichols and his 1841 Robbins and Lawrence “Mississippi” musket, which hangs on the wall in his living room with an early leather powder flask.
“Why I gave the museum some things instead of selling them, well I didn’t have much money in them, I didn’t want to increase my [income] tax by selling them and I don’t need the money, so I just helped the town museum,” he continued.
The soft-spoken rancher, who comes from a conservative Mennonite family, has found a joy in not just the collection of items and their collective stories, but the sharing of each of them with others. When asked what will come of his precious arrowheads, bone tools and select civil war items after he’s gone, Nichols spoke without hesitation.
“I hadn’t thought much of that, I guess I’d like other people to be able to enjoy them.”
