Murder & Mayhem in Butler and Harvey Counties
2/2/2026
WHITEWATER, KS: The Frederic Remington Area Historical Society invites the pulic to Murder & Mayhem in Butler & Harvey Counties, presented by Darren McMannis. The presentation will be Monday, February 2, 2026, at Centre Point Church, 212 S. Main, Whitewater.
True stories taken directly from the newspaper accounts once read by our ancestors will be recounted in an interesting and entertaining way. We’ll look at historic accounts from the 1800’s and 1900’s that shocked residents in the Frederick-Remington area.
Daily living in our area was hard enough with work and family alone. Add the concerns of thieves, hard cases, swindlers, and murderers operating in the area and the stress on our ancestors was intensified. Rightly so. Unseen dangers of every sort lurked around every corner. By looking back in time to uncover the true-life historical narratives of the period, we will be amazed at the level of Murder & Mayhem which happened right in our own back yard.
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BIOGRAPHY
Darren McMannis became interested in history in 1992 while compiling his own genealogy and family history. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Reno County Genealogical Society, and the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies. He is a founding member of the Harvey County Genealogical Society, where he serves as webmaster and newsletter editor. He has published 5 books on Harvey County history and is currently compiling 4 others. Darren has given historical presentations for area libraries, Senior centers, societies and museums, and city and county governmental agencies, and has written articles for both local and national publications. He serves as the creator and editor of PRAIRIE TALES audio and YouTube podcasts, featuring local area and Kansas State history.
About The Frederic Remington Area Historical Society
The Frederic Remington Area Historical Society (FRAHS) is a membership organization and not-for-profit corporation, filed June 21, 1978. This corporation is exempt from federal income tax under 501(c)(3) Revenue Codes of 1954. Membership runs from September to May; dues are announced at meetings.
The primary purpose of FRAHS is to collect, preserve, and share the Frederic Remington USD206 School District area’s rich history and culture with its residents, students, and other interested persons. A majority of the society’s programs each year are to fulfill that purpose, while other programs should inform attendees of state and national topics of historical and cultural interests.