Following the
American Civil War, the United States government moved the
Osage Indians from
Labette County to a new
Indian Territory located in what would eventually be
Oklahoma. The "vacant" land was then made available to homesteaders. In October 1870, five families of
spiritualists settled in western Labette County, around 7 mi northeast of where
Cherryvale would be established seven months later and 17 mi from
Independence. One of the families was John Bender Sr. and John Bender Jr. who registered 160 acres of land located adjacent the
Great Osage Trail, which was then the only open road for travelling further west. After building a cabin, a barn with corral and a well, in the
fall of 1871, Kate Bender and her daughter Kate arrived and the cabin was divided into two rooms by a canvas
wagon-cover. The Benders used the smaller room at the rear for living quarters, while the front room was converted into a "
general store" where a few dry goods were sold. The front section also contained their kitchen and dining table, where travelers could stop for a meal or even spend the night. Ma and Kate Bender also planted a 2 acres vegetable garden and apple tree orchard north of the cabin.