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"^U i-v^ • • • , **> 0^ c"" ' ^O , A <^ 'o . . -v. ■n-o< ^--^^^ .\"-n ^o\ v\ ■\ '<^.. ^m»^' ,^^ •1 o^ . i/'-^ai^ o > •^ o o \ x'^'^'j ^<-f?!^y x^m'^'^^'-'^^^yx. .^'^ A" <$> ♦ o , ' O,^ .I'i^, <^^ - \ps V- ."^ c %/ />#)h \/ ".J ,■■', •%:/:'!<'■ <) r* % ♦ o o c° ' " " ° V . 1 \»- CV .0 'bv -^^ /"'^^-^ ^'"'A?^^'\ /^^^'-^ ^ .^^ ^'j^m^:- %..' .:^i,v. ".,<.^^ ^';^>> V..' .i^^-/". .^^* '>^-'- "^-^ •^0 v- ^^ > v^ .HO, ^'/ '^^o'^ 0' 0- V'-,..' \v>^ ^ ..x"- .'S ■^ -^ _ "^^V^iv^' ^^ ^ *bv "-. .0^ ■■\' V V '^^ A / 'X ^\ HISTORY OF Atchison County KANSAS BY SHEFFIELD INGALLS ILLUSTRATED STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY Lawrence, Kansas 1916 in oy. II. PREFACE In the preparation and compilation of tliis history, n(j effort has Ijeen made to interpret the logic or spirit of events that snrronnded the birth and progress of Atchison connty. The work was nndertaken with the idea of com- piling a narrative plainly told, of the people antl the institutions here. I was interested in. putting in permanent form chronologically the events that have transpired in the past sixty years, that have made for the ]")olitical, social, moral antl commercial development of the county, laut. had 1 realized in ad\'ance the nianv hours of laljor and patient study it required, the work of completing the task in six months would not have lieen attempted. 1 am very deeply conscious of the imperfections of die completed work, but had there been more time for research and study, much might have been included that does not appear. It would he ingratitude if no acknowledgment were made at the outset, of the obligation I am under to George J. Remsburg for the assistance he has rendered me. Without his unfailing courtesy, kindness and hel]j I should never have been able trci)aring for me a sketch of the .\tchison city schools. And my dear mother, a loyal resident of Atchison since July, 1859. intimatelv identified with its history and growth for fifty-seven years, has visualized to me as no other could, the story of the early days. Remarkable as a mother, loved and adored by all lier children, she is no less remarkable PREFACE. as a woman, stalwart, rugged and buoyant. She lived her young life with the pioneers of Atchison, and now in the fullness of her years she looks over the past, so full of pleasures, tribulations and sorrows, with gladness and resignation, and faces the future with a determined spirit and a brave heart. To the ministers of the various churches of Atchison and to Professor Erasmus Haworth and Charles H. Taylor, the county farm agent, and to many other good people of Atchihu, I entertain sentiments of the deepest appreciation, and if any of them ever undertakes the work of writing a his- tor\-, I shall gladly render them any service in my power. SHEFFIELD INGALLS. Atchison, Kan., March 6, 1916. ILLUSTRATIONS Abell, P. T 295 Adams, John P 488 Adams, Mary A 584 Adams, William 584 Adams, S. W 520 Atchison County Court House 57 Atchison County High School, Effing- ham 274 Ballinger and Wife, S. E 64S Ballinger, Julia H 600 Ballinger, Thomas E 600 Barber, Moses 672 Barber, Mary 672 Beard and Family, Frank 704 Blodgett, Thomas L 624 Boyington, Home of Frank W. and Julia 584 Burbank, E. G 520 Burrows, C. H 544 Bush, William H 464 Btittron, Henry and Family 472 Carnegie Library, Atchison 289 Challis, William L 307 Cheseborough, Ellsworth 193 Christian Church, Atchison 249 Cirtwill, Jennie 712 Cochrane, Dr. W. W 307 Commercial Street, Atchison 66 Conlon, Charles J 488 Deutsch, Julius 520 Dorssom, George 464 Du Bois and Wife, Lewis P 768 Eagles' Home, Atchison 330 Effingham Street Scene Ill Elks' Club House, Atchison 329 Falk, Charles H 464 First Church of Christ, Scientist 255 Forest Park, Atchison 80 Fox, Jared C 408 Click, George W 351 Graner's Annual Sale 785 Graner, Gottlieb 784 Graner, H. C ; 785 Graner Homestead 784 Graner, Martha 784 Graner, W. H 785 Griffin, L 680 Gundy, Charles T 560 Ham and Wife, Martin W 608 Hansen, H. C 520 Hart, C. C 792 Harvey, Albert B 440 Harwi, Alfred J 416 Hazel, Ernest C 744 Highfill, Thomas 704 Hines, Micliael J 464 Hooper, Daniel E 616 Hospital, Atchison S7 Hughes, Bela M 19.3 Ingalls, John J 392 Ingalls School, Atchison 279 Ingalls, Sheffield — Frontispiece Jackson, William A 488 Jackson Park, Entrance 172 Jewell, L. M 536 Johnson, George H. T 456 Kaaz, Julius 688 Keirns, Gail Maxine 568 Keith, U. S 544 Keithline, Andrew 432 King. S. S 560 Kingman, S. C 295 Kuhn, Julius 592 Laird, Britamore 736 Laird, Marcus J 736 Lane, Jim 189 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Maiigelsdorf Building 312 Martin, Col. J. A 297 Masonic Temple, Atchison Z2y Million, George 200 Morrow, James G 384 Mt. St. Scholastica's Academy, .Atch- ison 286 Muscotah School Building 108 Muscotah Street Scene 107 Newcomb, Don C .' 424 Xewcomb, D. C., Residence of 426 Old High School Building, Atchison .... 268 Orr, James W 360 Orr, J. \X.. Residence of 362 Orphans' Home, General V'iew 23 Orphans' Home, Main Building 19 Overland Freighting 16 Perdue. Edward .- 576 Plummer and Wife, T. 696 Pomeroy, S. 189 Potter Street Scene 124 Potter School House 126 Post Office, Atchison 35 Presbyterian Church, Atchison 250 Presbyterian Church, Effingham 112 Remsburg, George 504 Remsbnrg, John E _ 504 Sanders, B. F 568 Scarborough, William 200 Scaton, John 376 Sharp, Harry L 512 Sharpless, U. B 560 Simmons, O. A 800 Speer, D. .Anna 776 Stringfcllow, Gen. B. F 297 St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison 263 St. Benedict's College, Atchison 291 Storch, George 448 Sutter and Wife, Fred 752 Sutter, Fred, Residence of 753 Sutter Homestead 840 Thompson and Wife, George W 664 Thompson, Matilda 720 Trimlile. Roy C _ 488 \oclkcr, C. M 560 AN'aggencr. Balie P 368 Walker. Claudius D 400 Wards of tlie State 29 Wilson, Charles 544 Wilson, Mary K 544 Wolf, Rt. Rev. Innocent 264 V. M. C. .\. Building, Atchison 57 CONTENTS CHAPTER I. GEOLOGY. Fossils — Evidences of Early Animal and Plant Life — Geological A.sfes — Rock Formation — Cdacier Period — Minerals Pa.ees 17-20 CHAPTER n. PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD. Evidences of Paleolithic Man — An Ancient Fdrtification — Aljoriginal Village and Camp Sites — The Ingalls and Other ^lonnds — Pages 21-24 CHAPTER III. INDIAN HISTORY. Harahey, an Indian Province of Coronado's Time — The Kansa Nation — Bourgmont's Visit in 1724 — Conncil on Cow Island in 1819 — The Kickapoo Indians Pages 25-30 CHAPTER IV. EARLY EXPLORATIONS. Coronado in 1541 — The P.ourgmont Expedition in 1724 — Perin Du Lac — Lewis and Clark — First Fourth of July Celel:)ration — Major Stephen H. Long — Cantonment Martin — Isle an Vache — Other Explorers — Paschal Pensoneau — The Old Military Road — The Monnons Pages 3 1-36 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY CHAPTER V. TERRITORIAL TIMES. Territory Acquiretl From France in 1803 — Organization of the Terri- tory — Kansas-Nebraska Act — Immigration to Kansas — Territorial Government — Free State and Pro-Slavery Conflict — First Elec- tion — Secret Political Organizations — Border War Activities and Outrages — Contests Over Adoption of Constitution — Kansas Ad- mitted to the Union Pages 37-63 CHAPTER VI. ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY AND CITV OF ATCHISON. One of the Thirty-three Original Counties — City of .\tchison Located — Town Company — Sale of Lots — Incorporation of Town — Early Business Enterprises — Organization of County — Commercial Growth — Freighting — First Officers — Free State and Pro-Slavery Clashes — Horace Greeley Visits Atchison — Abraham Lincoln Makes a Speech Here — Great Drouth of 1860 — City Officials Pages 64-83 CHAPTER VII. TOWNS^ P.VST AND PRESENT. Sumner. Its Rise and Fall — Ocena — Lancaster — Fort William — Ar- rington — ]vIuscotah — Effingham — Huron — Old Martinsburg — Bunker Hill — Locust Grove — Helena — Cayuga — Kennekuk — Kapioma — Mashenah — St. Nicholas — Concord — Parnell — Shan- non — Elmwood — Cummingsville — Eden Postof fice — Potter — Mt. Pleasant— Lewis' Point — Farley's Ferry Pages 84-128 CHAPTER VIII. THE CIVIL WAR. The Issue Between luarly Settlers — Influx of Free State and Pro- Slavery Partisans — Early Volunteering — Military Organiza- tions-^Threatened Invasion from Missouri — Political Societies — Jayhawkers — Cleveland's Gang — Lynchings — Atchison Coun- tv Troops in the War — Price's Attempted Invasion Pages 129-150 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY CHAPTER IX. NAVIGATION. Pioneer Transportation — Early Ferries and Rates — Famous River Boats — Steamboat Lines to Atchison — Steamboat Registers. . . Pages 151-157 CHAPTER X. OVERLAND FREIGHTING. Atchison as an Outfitting Point — Freigliting Companies — Principal Routes — Stage Lines — Overland Mail Routes — Ben Holladay — "Butterfield's Overland Dispatch" — Time to Denver — Tables of Time and Distances on Various Routes — Statistical Pages 158-173 CHAPTER XL RAILROADS. Early Railroad Agitation — The First Railroad — Celebrating the Ad- vent of the Railroad — Other Roads Constructed — The Santa Fe — The Atchison & X'ebraska City — The Kansas City, Leaven- worth & Atchison — The Rock Island — The Hannibal & St. Joseph — The First Telegraph — ^lodern Transportation. .Pages 174-185 CHAPTER XII. REMINISCENCE.S OF EARLY PIONEERS. D. R. .Atchison — ]\Iatt Gerber — J. H. Talbott — William Osborne— John W. Cain — W. L. Challiss — George Scarborough — Samuel Hollister — John Taylor — John M. Cromwell — Luther Dicker- son — Luther C. Challiss — George W. Glick — \V. K. Grimes — Joshua Wheeler — William Hetherington — William C. Smith — John M. Price — Samuel C. King — Clem Rohr — R. H. Weight- man — Case of Major Weightman Pages 186-212 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY CHAPTER XIII. ACRICLLTIRE AND ITS nEVELOPMENT. An Agricultural Community — Scientific I'armino- — Farmers, the Aristocrac}' of the West — Mndcrn Improvement — Topography —Soil— Statistics Pages 213-216 CHAPTER XI\'. THE TRESS. Influence of Newspapers — Part Played b_\- the Early Press — Squat- ter Spz'ercign — Freedom's Champion — Chauipion and Press — Pioneer Editors — Later Newspapers and Newspaper Men .... Pages 2 1 7-233 CHAPTER XV. BANKS AND BANKING. Early Dav Banking— Pioneer Financiers — The Oldest Bank — Pri- vate, State and National Banks — Atchisini County Bankers and the Development of Banking Institutions Pages 234-244 CHAPTER XVI. CHURCHES. Methodist — Christian — Presbyterian — Baptist — Salem Church — German Evangelical Zion Church — First Church of Christ, Scientist — St. Patrick's, Mt. Pleasant — Trinity Church, Episco- pal — St. Mark's, English Lutheran — St. Benedict's Abby — First German Evangelican Lutheran Church Pages 245-265 CHAPTER XVn. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Establishment of the Public School System — Pioneer Schools and Early Teacher.s — Districts — Statistics — Atchison County High School — County Superintendents of Public Instruction — Atchi- son City Schools — Private Schools — Mt. St. Scholastica's Acad- emy — Parochial Schools — Midland College and Western Theo- logical Seminary— St. Benedict's College Pages 266-292 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY CHAPTER X\'IIT. BENCH AND BAR. Early Mecca of Legal Talent — Organization of Judicial District — ■ Early Judges — Prominent Pioneer Lawyers — IMemliers of the Atchison County Bar Pages 293-301 CHAPTER XIX. MEDICAL TROFESSION. First Physicians — Early Practice — Pioneer Remedies — Modern Medicine and Surgery — Prominent Physicians and Surgeons — Atchison County Medical Society Pages 302-310 CHAPTER XX. INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL. Much Wealth and Enterprise Abound — Manufacturing — Milling — Extensive Wholesale Hardware and Grocery Establishments — Planing Mills — Various Jobbing and Retail Literests. . . .Pages 31 1-3 17 CHAPTER XXL PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS. Atchison Postoffice — Court House — County Hospital — Ycmng Men's Cliristian Association — State Orphans' Home — Atchi- son Public Library — Atchison Hospital — Masonic Temple. . . . Pages 318-327 CHAPTER XXn. SOCIETIES AND LODGES. Bene\-olent and Protective Ordei of Elks — Fraternal Order of Eagles — Atchison County Protective Association — Secret Socie- ties — Catholic Societies Pages 328-333 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY CH.XPTER XXIII. THE AFKO-AMKRICAX RACE. Early-day Conditions — Their Advancement — Prior Dickey — Henry C. Buchanan — Eugene L. Bell — Charles Ingram — Charles J- Ferguson — Henry Dickey — Dr. Frank Adrian. Pearl. M. D. — Dr. \V. W. Caldwell, M. D Pages 334-344 CHAPTER XXIV. OFFICIALS. County. Township and School Officers Pages 345-350 CHAPTER XXV. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. INDEX Abner, John W 534 Adams, John P 488 Adams, Stark W 524 Alkire, Charles L 726 Allen, Edmond W 7SS Allen, Joseph W 4/6 Allison, Ralph A 7Si Anderson, George V 836 Arensberg, L. C 611 Armstrong, James L 733 Arthur. Joseph X 422 Atkin, Paul 859 Babcock, O. M ."igi Bailey, Willis J 882 Baldwin, Royal 830 Ballinger, Thomas E 600 Ballinger, Samuel E 648 Barber, Herbert J 672 Barker, Charles E 682 Barker, O. 761 Barnes, Asa 715 Barry, John H 481 Bean, John H 708 Beard, Frank 704 Beckman, Carl L 382 Behen, James E 796 Belz, John 884 Best, Aaron S 379 Beyer, David 822 Beyer, John 731 Bilderback, Allen T 738 Binkley, Fred 852 Bishop, Frank W 876 Bishop, Robert F 596 Blair, Albert H 454 Blair, John L 586 Blodgett, Thomas L 624 Boos, Nicholas 699 Boyington, Julia E. A 584 Bradley, Lewis 819 Brockett, Renton L 637 Brown, George L 837 Brown, Thomas 452 Brown, Walter E 519 Bullock, Edmund 847 Burbank, E. G 520 Burrows, Charles H 547 Bush, William H , 464 Bushey, Calvin 871 Buttron, Henry 472 Buttron, Jacob 728 Calvert, Alexander H. , 747 Calvert, Presley H 848 Chalfant, W. D 727 Chandler, Charles A 716 Cirtwill, Jennie 712 Clapp, Alva 447 Clem, William J 406 Cleveland, Richard B 834 Cline, Thomas L 656 Cloyes, Marshall J S7i Coliett, W. B 612 Collins, Davis W 832 Conlon, Charles J 494 Conlon, John F 49S Cortelyou, Luther 757 Coupe, Joseph 375 Cummins, Barney 445 Curtis, Benjamin P 531 Davis, Cyrus E 470 Dawdy, Drennan L 808 Deutsch, Julius 523 Donnellan, William R 538 Dooley, James 613 Dorssom, George 468 Drinmiel, John 854 Du Bois, Lewis P 768 Duncan, John E 620 Duidap, Rienzi M 767 Dysingcr, Holmes 724 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Evans, Aaron B 749 Falk, Charles H ,. 467 Fankhanel, John 635 Ferguson, Charles W 581 Ferris, John 734 Fiechter, Samuel E 71' Finnegan, Thomas 647 Fleming, John : 604 Flynn, J. F 743 Forbriger, Robert 658 Fox. Jared C : 408 Frable, Thomas 359 Fuhrman, Charles H 460 Fuhrman, Rinhold 502 Garside, James H 880 Gault, Thomas 495 Gibson, George \V 823 Gibson, Joseph E 529 Gigstad, Knud G 439 Gigstad, Ole G 480 Gilmore, Earl A 415 Glattfelder, Henry 741 Glick, George \V 35' Goodwin, George 833 Gragg, James R 542 Graner, Henry C 787 Graner, William H 784 Grccnawalt, Joseph C 778 Griffin, John 821 Griffin, Lawrence 680 Grimes, Robert L 642 Gundy, Charles T 565 Guthrie, Warren W 483 Hackney, Hiram H 660 Ham, Bishop K 608 Ham, W. Perry 702 Hamon, Alferd J 820 Hansen, H. C 521 Harvey, Albert B 440 Harwi, Alfred J 416 Harwi, Frank E 419 Hart, Charles C 792 Hartman, l-'rcd 797 Hartman, William 828 Hastings, Z. S 436 Hawk, John D ; 670 Hawk, Lafayette T 539 Hawk, Rutherford B 868 Hazel, Ernest C 744 Hekelnkaemper Brothers 804 Hendee, George E 429 -Henderson, William 535 Hetherington, Wirt 510 High fill, Thomas 706 Higley, Clem P 806 Hines, Michael J 465 Hixon, Charles L 577 Holmes, James I 841 Hooper, Abraham 616 Hooper, George R 867 Horan, Michael J 501 Horner, Thomas E 527 Howe, Edgar W 844 Hubbard, Lewis H 815 Hubbard, William E 807 Hubbard. William S 759 Hulings, :Mark H 605 Hunn. Frank J 824 Hutson, William T 730 Ingalls, John J 392 Ingalls, Sheffield 632 Intfen. Theo 645 Jackson, Horace M 353 Jackson, William A 490 Jackson, Zaremba E 356 Jewell, Lumas M 536 Johnson, Charles H 458 Johnson, George H. T 456 Jones, F'arl \' 582 Kaaz, Julius 688 Kammer, Karl A 570 Kanning, Christ 644 Kaufman. Fred W 781 Keith. Uri S 544 Keithline, Andrew 432 Kcithline, Charles J 630 Kelly, Edward J 635 King, Richard K 788 King, Samuel S 564 Kistler, William D 430 Klein, Martin 442 Kloepper. Louis 580 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Koester, Frederick \V 551 Kramer, John A 883 Kuehnhoff, Henry 513 Kuehnhoff, Louis R 567 Knlm, Julius 592 Laird, Marcus J 736 Lange, Arnold 783 Lange, Charles 725 Lilly, C. A 818 Lincoln, Frederick W 692 Linley, Charles 461 Linley, Charles H 610 Loudenback, Henry H 653 Low, Hal C 775 Loyd, Samuel L „ 686 Lukens, Charles M 762 •McAdani, William 399 McCullough, Edward B 599 Mclnteer, John 651 McKelvy, William A 865 Mangelsdorf, Albert H 852 Mangelsdorf, August 856 Mangelsdorf, Frank A 858 Mangelsdorf, William 850 Markwalt, Amel 556 Martin, Sidney 393 Mayhevv, Albert E 372 ililler, John O. A 791 Moeck, John 790 Moore, June E 701 Morrow, James G 384 Myers, Charles 552 Xass, John H 722 Xewcomb, Don C 424 Niemann, Henry 780 Xitz, W'illiam M 740 North, Howard E 698 Xusbaum, Leo 629 Oliver, John R 626 Orr, Louis C 381 Orr. James W 360 Parsons, Peter 861 Peery, Rufus B SS7 Pennington, James E 411 Perdue, Edward 576 Pfouts, Ralyh U 479 Pike, Napoleon B 516 Pinder, Robert 675 Pitts, E. P 634 Plummer, Thomas 696 Potter, Thomas J 677 Power, Grace E 718 Price, John M 811 Raterman, John L 559 Redmond, George W 689 Remsburg, George J 50S Remsburg, John E 504 Reynolds, John A 838 Robinson, Charles W 650 Rover, Boyd 814 Rudolph, Harrison \V 598 Ryan, William 879 Sanders, Benjamin F 568 Schaefer, George H. T 554 Schapp, William 622 Schiffbauer, Henr\' 862 Scholz, George 526 Scholz, John A 517 Schrader, George : 729 Schurman, Arthur S 816 Scoville, Orlando C 389 Seaton, John 376 Sharp, Harry L 512 Sharpless, Ulysses B 560 Shaw, Benjamin F 679 Shelly, Edwin T 843 Shortridge, Alfred 589 Simmons, Oscar A 800 Smith, Albert J 618 Smith, W. H 473 Smith, Wilson R , 427 Snyder, Mark D 574 Speck, A. S 640 Speer, Andrew 710 Speer. D. Anna 776 Speer, William F 846 Stanley, U'ilfull A 497 Stever, Abram 434 Stodlitionist. A few days after this incident Rev. Pardee Butler, a minister of the Christian cburcli. who was living at that time near the now abandoned townsite of Pardee, west of Atch- ison, about twelve miles, came to town to do some trading. Butler was an uncompromising anti-slaver)- advocate and never overlooked an opportunity to make his sentiments known. He had strong convictions backed by cour- age, and while he did not seek controversies, he never showed a desire to avoid them. He was well known in the community as a Free State man, and so when he came into Atchison after these resolutions were passed and the town was all excited about them it did not take him long to get into the controversy and he condemned in strong terms the outrage upon Kelley and also the resolutions which were passed. In the course of a conversation which he had at tlie postoffice with Robert S. Kelley. the postmaster and assistant editor of the Squatter So7-ereig)i. he informed Mr. Kelley that he bng since would have become a subscriber to his paper bad he not disliked the violent sentiments which appeared in its columns. Mr. Kelley replied : "I look upon all Free Soilers as rogues and they ought to be treated as HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 5 I such." Mr. Butler responded: "I am a Free Soiler and expect to vote for Kansas as a Free State." "I do not expect you will be allowed to vote," was Mr. Kelley's reply. On the following morning Mr. Kelley called at the National hotel, corner of Second and Atchison streets, where Mr. Butler liad spent the night, accompanied by a numl)er of friends and demanded Butler to sign the resolutions, which of course Mr. Butler refused to do, and walked down stairs into the street. A crowd gathered and seized Mr. Butler, drag- ging him towards the river, shouting that they intended to drown him. Tlie mob increased in size as they proceeded with the victim. A vote was taken as to the kind of punishment which ought to be given him and a verdict of death by lianging was rendered. It was not discovered until fortv years afterwards that Mr. Kelley, the teller, saved Mr. Butler's life by making false returns to the excited mob. Mr. Kelley subsequently was a resident of Montana and gave this information while stopping in St. Joseph with Dr. J. H. String- fellow, the fonrier editor of tlie Squatter Sovereign. Instead of returning a verdict of death by hanging Mr. Kelley announced that it was the deci'sion of the mob to send Mr. Butler down the Missouri river on a raft, and an account of what followed is best given by Rev. Pardee Butler himself; "When we arrived at the bank Mr. Kelley painted mv face with black paint, marked upon it the letter "R." The company had increased to some thirty or forty persons. \\'itiiout any trial, witness, judge, counsel or jury, for about two hours I was a sort of target at which were hurled impreca- tions, curses, arguments, entreaties, accusations and interrogations. Thev constructed a raft of three cottonwood sawlogs, fastened together with inch plank nailed to the logs, upon which the\- put me and sent me down the Mis- souri river. The raft was towed out to the middle of the stream with a canoe. Robert S. Kelley held the rope that towed the raft. They g■a^■e me neither rudder, oar nor anything else to manage my raft with. Thev put up a flag on the raft with the following inscription on it : 'Eastern Emigrant Aid Express. The Rev. Pardee Butler again for the underground road ; The way they are served in Kansas ; Shipped for Boston ; Cargo in- sured. Unavoidable danger of the Missourians and Missouri ri\er excepted. I.et future emissaries from the north Beware. Our Hemp crop is sufficient to reward all such scoundrels.' "They threatened to shoot me if I pulled the flag down. I pulled it down, cut the flag off the flag staff, made a paddle out of the flag staff -. put me therein, accompanying me to the suburbs of the town and sent me naked upon the prairie. I adjusted my attire about me as best T could and hastened to rejoin my wife and two little sons on the banks of Stranger creek. It was rather a sorrowful meeting after so long a parting." Tiie above incident gives some idea of the prevailing sentiment in Atch- ison county during the period beginning in 1854 and ending in 1857. There was little chance of Free State settlers to avoid trouble except by discreet silence. It would not be just, however, to fail to disclose the fact that the Free State men also had their secret organizations. The Kansas Legion was a military organization for dcfensi\'e purposes only. Its members were organized into companies, battalions and regiments and were officered and armed with rifles and pistols sent from the East. These or- ganizations were the natural result of the secret pro-slavery organizations of Missouri and were known to exist to protect the Free State settlers against the attacks of the Blue Lodges, Sons of the South, and the Social Bands. .\ man by the name of Pat Laughlin became a member of the Kansas Legion and was very active in organizing companies of that organization at different points in the territory. He subsequently Ijecame a traitor to his associates and gave out information to the enemy, thereby creating great in- dignation among his former friends whom he had betrayed Later Laughlin and Samuel Collins, of Doniphan county, liecame engaged in a fierce alterca- tion and friends of both parties to the dispute were present and aiTned. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 53 Lauglilin shot Collins and killed him on the spot and was slightly wounded himself. This affair occurred October 25, 1855. No attempt was made by the appointed peace officers of the territory to bring the guilty parties par- ticipating in the Pardee Butler outrage or the murder of Collins to justice. Shortly after Laughlin recovered from his wound he secured a position in a store in Atchison and lived there for many years. This condition of affairs could not long exist without an open rupture between the two opposing forces and from this time on there was a succes- sion of personal encounters of wide significance, and in addition there was the war along the border in which Atchison county played a conspicuous but not a glorious part. The activities here at that crucial period were largely in the interest of the pro-slavery forces. It was at this juncture that the im- mortal John Brown appeared on the scene to begin his work of driving the slavery advocates from Kansas and making it and the Nation free. His first appearance among the Free State men was December 7, 1855, but he had been in the territory several months before that with his four sons. John Brown did not reach Atchison county during his stormy career in Kansas. •Tlie nearest he e\-er came was in 1857 when he passed througli Jackson county with a party of slaves which he was taking from Missouri to Nebraska for the purpose of setting them free. In the historical edition of the Atch- ison Daily Globe of July 16, 1894, there appears the following short refer- ence to this excursion; "In 1857 John Brown made a trip from Missouri into Nebraska with a party of slave negroes which he intended to set free. His route was through Jackson county, Kansas, and up by where the town of Centralia now stands. A lot of the pro-slaAcry enthusiasts in Atchison heard of the affair and went out to intercept Brown. They came up with him near Centralia, but Brown had heard of their coming and captured the entire party. One of the men in the pro-slavery party was named George Ringo : afterwards he sol- diered with Dwight Merlin in the Thirteenth Kansas and often talked of the trip to Merwin around their camp fires. Ringo says that James T. Her- ford was another member of the pro-slavery party, and a man named Cook was another. John Brown looked at Cook critically after the capture and asked his name. Cook said his name was Thomas Porter. "I believe you are being. I believe your name is Cook and if I was certain of it I would kill you," Brown said. Cook was one of the men accused of killing Brown's son at Osawatomie, but Brown was not certain of his identity and let him go with the others. George Ringo says that Brown held a prayer meeting in his camp every evening and asked a blessing at every meal. 54 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY "One night when the Atchison party was in the custody of Brown, Brown asked Jim Herford to pray. 'I can't pray,' Herford replied. 'Didn't your mother teach you to pray?' Brown inquired. 'She taught me to say, "Now I lay me down to sleep," that was all,' Herford answered. 'AH right,' Brown said, 'get down on your knees and say, "Now I lay me down to sleep." " Herford did as he was requested, being afraid to refuse and Brown soon rolled himself in a blanket and went to sleep." As the activities of Brown increased so likewise the activities of the pro-slaverjf forces increased under the leadership of Senator Atchison, of Missouri, and Dr. Stringfellow, editor of the Squatter Sovereign. The Squatter Sovereign, about which more will appear in a subsequent chapter, was published in Atchison and was largely supported by government adver- tising patronage. It was the leading pro-slavery newspaper organ of the territory. Senator Atchison's activities were of the most pronounced sort. He not only urged his Missouri constituents to invade the territory in all their might and capture the Yankees, but he went himself. .\t Platte City, Mo., Februarv 4, 1856, Senator Atchison made a speech which gives some idea of the language he employed in urging the people of western Missouri to join in the invading of Kansas. He said: "I was a prominent agent in repealing the Missouri Compromise and opening the territory for settlement. The abolition traitors drummed up their forces and wliistled tiiem onto the cars, and whistled them off again at Kansas City ; some of them had 'Kansas and Liberty' on their hats. T saw this with my own eyes. These men came with the avowed purpose of driv- ing or expelling you from the territory. What did I advise you to do ? Why, to beat them at their own game. Wlien the first election came off I told you to go over and vote. You did so and Iieat them. Well, what next? Why, an election of members of the legislature to organize the territory must be held. What did I advise you to do then? Why, meet them on tiieir own ground and at their own game again; and, cold and inclement as the weather was, I went over with a company of men. The abolitionists of the North said, and published it abroad, that Atchison was there with bowie-knives, and by God, it was true. I never did go into that territory — I never intend to go into that territory — without being prepared for all such kinds of cattle. "They held an election on the fifteenth of last month and tliey intend to put the machinery of the State in motinu on the fourth of March. Now you are entitled to my adx'ice. and you shall ha\c it. I say. h'cl^are your- seh'cs. Go over there. Send yoiu' young men. and if liiey attempt tu drive HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 55 yon out, then, tlamn them, drive thciii out. Fifty of you with your shotguns are worth 250 of them with their Sharpe's rifles. Get ready — arm your- selves : for. if they abolitionize Kansas you lose one million dollars of your property. I am satisfied that I can justify e-\-ery act of you before God and a jury." All of the pro-sIaver\^ papers were open in their ad\'ocacy of an immedi- nte war of extemiination. The Squatter Sovereign in its issue just after the electicjn of January 15, commenting- on certain disturbances at Easton and a mvu-der at Leavenworth, did not condemn what took place at Easton and had no word of apology or pity to offer for the murdered man. On the con- trary it upheld those who committed the murder and gave them encourage- ment in their campaign of killing abolitionists. Dr. Stringfellow employed his violent rhetoric to gWe vent to his feelings and the opening paragraph of his leading editorial in the issue of the Squatter Sofereigii he used the following language : "It seems now to be certain that we will have to give the abolitionists at least line good thrashing before political matters are settled in this territory. To do so we must have arms ; we have the men. I propose to raise funds to furnish Colt's revolvers for those who are without them. We say if the alx)litionists are able to whip us and overturn the government that has been set up here, the sooner it is known the better, and we want to see it settled." During the whole of the fo]lo\\'ing winter preparations for attack and defense went quietly on. There was drilling- along the border and discjuiet- ing rumors came from time to time of companies that had been organized and equipped to move into Kansas as soon as spring opened to uphold the rights of the Southerners. .\tchison county took a prominent part in the border warfare. The bold attitude assumed by the Free State forces in and around Lawrence : the W'aka- rusa war; the Free State elections, and the determination of the Free State party to convene their legislature in March, 1S56, kept the partisan pro- slavery sentiment in .\tchison in a constant tumult. In March large numbers of South Carolina emigrants, armed and equipped with the a\'0wed purpose of enforcing southern rights in Kansas, arrived on all the incoming steaiu- boats. Capt. F. G. Palmer, of Atchison, commanded one of the earliest if not the earliest company of these emigrants. Robert De Treville was first lieutenant. The home company had been formed prior to the arrival of the South Carolinians. Dr. John H. Stringfellow was ca]itain : Roliert S. Kel- le\-, first lieutenant; A. I. G. Westbrook, second lieutenant, and lohn 11. 56 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Blassingame, third lieutenant. Their arms v>ere supphed from Ft. Leaven- worth and by the last of April they were ready and waiting for the assault and the su1)se(|uent "sacking" of Lawrence. The wliole cnuntryside was aflame with the passion of war. By May i quite a large anny of pro-slaver}- sympathizers was organized. The South Carolinian Company, from Atch- ison, was among the first to start the assault upon Lawrence and it was not long before "its flag was planted upon the rifle pit of the enemy." Dr. String- fellow was there and Robert S. Kelley, his able assistant on the Squatter Sovereign, was also there. In an account of the assault the following ap- peared in the Squatter Sovereigns "The flag was carried by its brave bearer and stationed upon the Her- ald of Freedom Printing office, and from thence to the large hotel and for- tress of the Yankees, where it proudly waived until the artillery commenced battering down the building. Our company was composed mostly of South Carolinians, under command of Capt. Robert De Treville, late of Charleston, S. C. and we venture the prediction that a braver set of men than are found in its ranks never bore arms " 'llie Squatter Sovereign continued to be witlmut fear the most bitter and uncompromising pro-slavery organ in the territory. Its watch-word was "Death to all Yankees and traitors iVi Kansas." At a large mass meet- ing at Atchison, held in June, 1856, Robert S. Kelley, its assistant editor, was nominated as the "commander-in-Chief of tlie forces in town." but for some reason now lost to view Kelley declined the honor and it was passed on to Capt. F. G. Palmer who accepted it without remorse and without apologies. Senator Atchison was present at this mass meeting and made a speech, and so was Col. Peter T. Abel], afterwards president of the Atch- ison Town Company, and Captain De Treville. and others not so famous, and they all made speeches. During that summer, Ijecause of the continued activities of old John Brown and the agitation which those activities created in the breasts of the pro-slaverjr sympathizers in Atchison, another military company was formed, called the Atchison Guards, of which John Robertson was the commander, who was so prominent in the Battle of Hickory PoiiU. and Atchison county continued to take a prominent part in the border warfare which continued for sometime thereafter. During all of this time the Free State settlers of Atchison were very quiet and undemonstrative. They were not strong in number and aside from a few virile souls like Pardee Butler, they held their tongues and kept their own counsel. They were treated with scant courtesy (I'pjjer) Atcliisoii Ilusiiitiil. (('('lit'T) -Ati-liison (.'ouiity C'diirt ?ti)iisi>. (I.owit) V. y\. ('. A. 58 HISTORY OF ATCIIl.SOX COUNTY and consideration liy their pro-slavery neighbors, and it can be said to tlieir credit that no set of men ever displayed greater self-restraint or suffered more for the cause of peace than the Free State settlers of this county. It doubt- less unsettled their minds and disturbed their slumbers to read from time to time sentiments such as these taken from tlie Squatter Sovereign of June 10, 1856: "Hundreds of Free State men who have committed no overt act, but have only given countenance to those reckless murderers, assassins aiid thieves, will, of necessity, share the same fate of their brethren. If Civil war is to be the result of such a conflict, there cannot Ije and wil! not be, am- neutrals recognized. 'He that is not for us is against us,' will of necessity be the motto, and those who are tiot willing to take either one side or the other are the most unfortunate men in Kansas and had better flee to other regions as expeditiously as possible. They are not the men for Kansas." In another issue Dr. Stringfellow said : "The abolitionists shoot down our men without provocation where\-er they meet them. Let us retaliate in the same manner. .\ free fight is all we desire. If murder ane of great commercial advantage to a town to be thus located, so July 4, 1854, after a careful consid- eration of the matter, in all of its phases. Senator Atchison and his Platte " county, Missouri, friends dedicated the new town. They felt that they had located the natural gateway through which all the overland traffic to Utah,' Oregon and California would pass. After ihey had settled with George Mil-/ lion, the first known white settler of the territory, and attended to other unim- portant preliminaries Dr. J. H. Stringfellow made a claiin just north of the Million claim, and with Ira Norris, James T. Darnell, Leonidas Oldham,'' James B. Martin, George Million and Samuel Dickson, agreed to form a town company, and theyreceived into their organization David R. Atchison, Elijah ^ Green, E. H. Norton, Peter T. Abell, B. F. Stringfellow, Lewis Burnes, Dan- iel D. Burnes, James N. Burnes, Calvin F. Burnes and Stephen Johnson. A week later these men gathered under a large Cottonwood tree, near Atchison street, on the river, and organized by electing Peter T. Abell, president ; Dr. J. I H. Stringfellow, secretary, and Col. James N. Burnes, treasurer. Peter T. ' Abell, president of the town company, was an able lawyer, and a S outhern man, with pronounced views on the question of slavery. But he was a man of judgment, and a natural boomer. He was a very large man, being over six feet tall and weighed almost 300 pounds. When he became president of the town company he was a resident of Weston, Mo., and lived there until a year^ after Atchison had been surveyed. Subsequently, Senator Atchison assigned his interests in the town company to his nephew, JanTes_ Headley, who after- wards became one of the leading lawyers of the town. Jesse Morris also be- came a member. The town company, having been regularly organized, tlie townsite was divided into 100 shares. Each of i'ts members retained five .shares:^ the balance of thirty being held for general distribution. Abell, B. F. String- fellow and all of tlie Burnes brothers were received as two parties. Henry Kuhn. a surxeyir, sun'eyed 4S0 acres, which comprised the original townsite. ' Mr. Kuhn and his son returned to Atchison forty-five years later, and for a short time ran the Atchison Champion. On September 21, the first sale of town lots was held, amidst great excitement and general interest. It was a gathering which had both political and business significance. Senator Atch- ison, from Missouri, with a large number of his constituents, was there, and Atchison made a speech, in whicli one rc])orter (|uotes liim as ha\ing said: 66 HISTORY or ATCHISON COUNTY "People of every quarter should be welcome to the Territory, and treated with ci\ility as long- as they showed themselves peaceable men." Someone in the crowd called out. "What shall we do with those wlm run off with our negroes?" "Hang "em." cried a voice in tlie crowd. To this Mr. Atcbison rejilied. "Xo, I would not hang them, but I would get them out of the Territory — get rid of them." One version of the speech was to the effect that Senator Atchison answ-ered his questioners by saying, "By G — d. sir, hang every abolitionist you find in the Territory." But the best account of the meeting was printed in a Parkville, Mo.. news])aper. and was reported by an eve witness, wlio said: A \ Tiial Street, Looking Eat^t. Ai. "We arrived at .Atchison in the forenoon. .Among the company was our disting^iishcd senator, in honor of whom tlie new city was named. There was a large assemblage on the ground, with i)lcnty of tables set for dinner, where the crowd could be accommodated with bacon and bread, and a drink at the branch, at fifty cents a head. The survey of the town had just been completed the evening before. Stockholders Iield a meeting, to arrange par- ticulars of sale, and afterwards, as had been previously announced. General -Atchison mounted an old wagon and made a speech. He commenced by men- tioning the bountiful country that was beginning to be settled: to some of the circumstances under which a territorial government was organized, and .in the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 67 course of his remarks, mentioned how Douglass came to introduce the Nebraska bill, with a repeal clause in it. He told of how Judge Douglass requested twenty-four hours in which to consider tiie question of introducing a bill for Nebraska, like the one he had promised to vote for, and said that if, at the expiration of that time, he could not introduce such a bill, which would not at the same time accord with his own sense of right and justice to the South, he would resign as chairman of the territorial committee, and Democratic caucus, and exert his influence -to get Atchison appointe' town, and no abolitionist was a welcome settler in her midst. For this reason Sumner sprang into existence. It was a dream of its founder to make Sumner an important for- warding point, one of its claims being the fact that it was the most westerly of any of the Missouri river towns in Kansas. In 1856 the site was surveyed and platted, and the name "Sumner" given the new town, in honor of George Sumner, one of the original stockholders, and not for his brother, the Hon. Charles Sumner, United States senator, of Massachusetts, as many people suppose. To bring Sumner before the public Mr. Wheeler engaged an artist named Albert Conant to come out and make a drawing of it, and this was later taken to Cincinnati, and a colored lithograph made from it. which was widely cir- culated. From copies of this lithograph still extant it must be admitted that the artist did not slight the town in any particular. In the fall of 1857 the Sumner Town Company began the erection of a large brick hotel. Samuel Hollister had the contract, his bid being $16,000. The brick used in the construction were made on the ground, and the lumber used in the construction work came by steamboat from Pittsburgh, Pa. The hotel was completed in the summer of 1858, and at last accounts the town company still owed Mr. Hollister $3,000. Some years later the brick used in the hotel were gathered and cleaned and hauled to Atchison and used the con- struction of a building owned by the late John J. Tngalls, located at 108-110 South Fourth street. 86 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY In the fall of 1857 Cone Brothers (John P. and D. D.) brought a print- ing outfit to Kansas, and were induced to locate in Sumner, where they sliortly begun the publication of The Sumner Gazette, the first issue of which appeared on September 12. During the political canvass that fall they also issued a daily. The Gazette was issued until 1861 when it suspended, its publishers ' believing that it was the only paper in Kansas that outlived the town in which it started. Among those engaged in business in Sumner on October i. 1857, the Daily Gazette shows the following : John P. Wheeler, attorney and counsellor at law, commissioner of deeds, dealer in real estate, etc. Kahn & Fassler, general store, on Front street, between Washington ave- nue and Chestnut street. Mayer & Rohrmann, carpenters and builders. Barnard & Wheeler, proprietors of the Sumner Brick Yard. ^^'m. M. Reed, contractor, Atchison and Sumner. John Armor, steam saw mill, in the city. Butclier & Brothers, general store on Front street, between \\'ashington avenue and Olive street. Allen Green, painter and glazier. S. J. Bennett, boot and shoe store, corner of Washington avenue and Fourth street. Arthur M. Claflin, general land agent, forwarding and commission agent. J. P. Wheeler and A. M. Claflin, lumber, office with the Sumner Company. H. S. Baker, proprietor of Baker's Hotel, corner of Front and Olive streets, near steamboat landing. A. Barber, general merchandise. Front street, between Washington ave- nue and Olive street. Lietzenburger & Co., blacksmiths, wagon makers, etc.. Cedar street, be- tween Third and Fourth streets. D. Xewcomb, M. D., office in postoffice building, corner of Third street and Washington avenue. Mr. Newcomb also dealt in lime, and on September 24, received a large and select stock of hardware, stoves, etc. When the Territorial legislature of 1858 met, a bill was introduced, incor- porating the Sumner Company, Cyrus F. Currier, Samuel F. Harsh, J. \N. Morris, Isaac C. Losse and Jolm !'. Wlieelcr, their associates and successors, constitutin gtlie company. The act also provided that the corporation should HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 8/ have the power to purchase and hold, and enter by preemption and otherwise, any quantity of land where the town of Sumner is now located, not to exceed one thousand acres, etc. A ferry at Sumner was also incorporated by the legislature of 1858, J. \A'. Morris. Cyrus F. Currier and Samuel Harsh being the incorporators. This boat plied between Atchison and Sumner and the Missouri side. In 1S58 Samuel Hollister built a steam sawmill, adding a gristmill later. By the end of 1858 Sumner had outstripped its rival, Atchison, in popula- tion. ■ and steps were taken looking towards the incorporation of the town. Early in the beginning of the legislature of 1859, articles of incorporation were passed and received the approval of Governor Samuel Medary on February 9. These articles of incorporation were later amended by an act passed by the first State legislature, which was approved June 3, 1861. The decline of Sumner began with the drought which started in the fall- of 1859 and prevailed through the year i860. In June, i860, a cyclone struck the town and either blew down or damaged nearly every building, this calamity being followed in September by a visitation of grasshoppers, all of which were potent factors in wiping- Sumner off the map. Some of the houses which could be moved were taken to Atchison, and some to farms in the immediate vicinity. One of the most interesting accounts that appeared about Sumner was written by H. Clay Park, an old citizen of Atchison, who for many years was editor and part owner of the Atchison Patriot. It would not be just either to Mr. Park or to Sumner, were this account not perpetuated in this volume, and it, therefore, appears in full as follows : "the rise and fall of SUMNER. "Three miles south of Atchison, Kansas, is the site of a dead city, whose streets once were filled with the clamor of busy traffic and echoed to the tread of thousands of oxen and mules that in the pioneer days of the Great ^\'est transported the products of tiie East across the Great American Desert to the Rocky mountains. It was a city in which for a few years twenty-five hundred men and women and children lived and labored and loved, in which many lofty aspirations were born, and in which several young men began careers that became historical. "This city was located on what the early French voyagers called the 'Grand Detour' of the Missouri river. No mure rugged and ])icturesque site for a city- or one more inaccessible and with mure vuipropitious environ- 88 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ments could have been selected. It was literally Ijuilt in and on the everlast- ing hills, covered with a primeval forest so dense that the shadows chased the sunbeams away. It sprang into existence so suddenly and imperceptibly it might almost have been considered a creation of the magician's wand. It was named Sumner in honor of the great Massachusetts senator. Its official motto was 'Pro lege et grege" (For tlie law and tlie people). This would, in the light of subsequent events, have been more suggestive: 'I shall fall, like a bright exhalation in the evening.' "Sumner's first citizens came mostly from Massacliusetts, and were im- bued with the spirit of creed and cant, self-reliance and fanaticism that could have been born only on Plymouth Rock. Tliey had come to the frontier to make Kansas a free State and to build a city, within whose walls all previous conditions of slavery should be disregarded and where all men born should be regarded equal. The time — 1856 — was auspicious. Kansas was both a great political and military battlefield, upon which the question of the institution of slaver}- was to be settled for all time. "The growth of Sumner was phenomenal. A lithograph printed in 1857 shows streets of stately buildings, imposing seats of learning, church spires that pierced the clouds, elegant hotels and theaters, tlie river full of floating pal- aces, its levee lined with bales and barrels of merchandise, and the white smoke from numerous factories hanging over the city like a banner of peace and prosperity. To one who in that day approached Sumner from the east and saw it across the river, which like a burnished mirror, reflected its glories, it did indeed present an imposing aspect. "One day the steamboat Duncan S. Carter landed at Sumner. On its hurricane deck was John J. Ingalls, then only twenty-four years old. As his eye swept the horizon his prophetic soul uttered these words: 'Behold the home of the future senator from Kansas.' Here the young college graduate, who since that day became the senator from Kansas. lived and dreamed until Sum- ner's star had set and Atchison's sun had risen, and then he moved to Atchison, bringing with him Sumner's official seal and the key to his hotel. "Here lived that afterwards brilliant author and joumalist, Albert D. Richardson, whose tragic death some years ago in the counting room of the New York Tribune is well remembered. His 'Beyond the Mississippi" is to this day the most fascinating account ever written of the boundless West. "Here lived the nine-year-old Minnie Hauk, who was one dav to Ijecome a renowned prima donna and charm two continents with her voice, and who was to wed the Count \\'artegg. Minnie was born in poverty and cradled in adversity. Her mother was a poor washerwoman in Sumner. HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY 89 "Here lived John E. Remsburg, the now noted author, lecturer and free- thinker. Mr. Remsburg has probably delivered more lectures in the last thirty years than any man in America. He is now the leader of the Free- Thought Federation of America. "Here Walter A. \\'ood, the big manufacturer of agricultural implements, lived and made and mended wagons. Here Lovejoy, 'the Yankee preacher," preached and prayed. Here lived 'Brother' and 'Sister' Newcomb, from whom has descended a long line of zealous and eminent MethocTists. Here was born Paul Hull, the well known Chicago journalist. "And Sumner was the city tliat the Rev. Pardee Butler lifted up his hands and blessed and prophesied would grow and wax fat when the 'upper landing' would sleep in a dishonored and forgotten grave, as he floated by it on his raft, clad in tar and feathers. The 'upper landing' was the opprebrious title conferred by Sumner upon Atchison. The two towns were bitter enemies. Sumner was 'abolitionist;' Atchison was 'border ruffian.' In Atchison the 'nigger' was a slave; in Sumner he was a fetich. It was in Atchison that the 'abolition preacher.' Pardee Butler, was tarred and feathered and set adrift on a raft in the river. He survived the tortures of his coat of degradation and the 'ciuick-holes' of the Missouri river and lived to become a prohibition fanatic and a Democratic Presidential elector. "Jonathan Lang, alias 'Shang,' the hero of Senator Ingalls" 'Catfish Aris- tocracy,' and the 'last mayor of Sumner,' lived and died in Sumner. When all his lovely companions had faded and gone 'Shang' still pined on the stem. The senator's description of this type of a vanished race is unicjue : ■ " 'To the most minute observer his age was a (juestion of the gra\'est douljt. He might have been thirty ; he might have Ijeen a century, witli no violation of the probabilities. His hair was a sandy sorrel, something like a Rembrandt interior, and strayed around his freckled scalp like the top laver of a hayrick in a tornado. His eyes were two ulcers, half filled with pale blue starch. A thin, sharp nose projected above a lipless nioulh that .seemed always upon the point of breaking into the most grievous lamentations, and never opened save to take whiskey and tobacco in and let oaths and saliva out. A long, slender neck, yellow and wrinkled after the manner of a lizard's belly, bore tin's dome of thought upon its summit, itself projecting from a mis- cellaneous assortment of gent's furnishing goods, which covered a frame of unearthly longitude and unspeakable emaciation. Thorns and thongs sui)plied the place of buttons upon the costume of this Bnmimel of the bottom, coarsely patched beyond recognition of the original fabric. The coat had been con- go HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY structed for a giant, the pants for a pigmy. They were too long in the waist and too short in the leg, and flapped loosely around his shrunk shanks high above the point where his fearful feet were partially concealed by mismated shoes that permitted his great toes to peer from their gaping integinnents, like the heads of two snakes of a novel species and uncommon fetor. This princely phenomenon was topped with a hat which had neither band nor brim nor crown : " 'If lliat could shape be called which shape has none. " 'His voice was high, shrill and querulous, and his manner an odd mix- ture of fawning servility and apprehensive effronteiy at the sight of a "damned Yankee abolitionist," whom he hated and feared next to a negro who was not a slave.' "The only error in the senator's description of 'Shang' is that 'Shang' was 'abolitionist' himself, and 'fit to free the nigger.' 'Shang' continued to live in Sumner until every house, save his miser- able hut, had vanished like tlie baseless fabric of a vision. He claimed and was proud of the title, 'the last mayor of Sumner.' He died a few years ago, and a little later lightning struck his cabin and it was devoured 1)y flames. And thus passed aw^ay the last relic of Sumner. "In tlie flood tide of Sumner's prosperity, 1856 to 1859 — fnr Jiefore that it was nothing, after that nothing — it had ambition to become tlie county seat of the newly organized county of Atchison. J. P. Wheeler, president of the Sumner Town Compan)-, was a member of the lower house of the Territorial legislature, and he 'logrolled' a bill through that body conferring upon Sumner the title of county seat, Init the Atchison 'gang' finally succeeded in getting the bill killed in the senate. Subsequently, October, 1858, there was an election to settle the vexed question of a county seat. Atchison won ; Sumner lost. , "About this time Atchison secured its first railroad. Tlie smoke from the locomotive engines drifted to Sumner and enveloped it like a pall. The decadence was at liand, and Sumner's race to extinction and oblivion was rapid. One dav there was an exodus of citizens ; the liouses were torn down and the timbers thereof cartered away, and foundation stones were dug up and carried hence. Successive summers' rains and winters' snows furrowed streets and alleys beyond recogniiiDn and filled foundation excavations to the level, and ere long a tangled mass of briers and brambles hid away the last vestige of the once busy, ambitious city. The forest, again unvexed by ax nr saw. asserted liis dominion once more, and tuday. beneath the shadow cast by mighty oaks and sighing cottonwoods. Sumner lies dead and forgotten." HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 9I In the above article, reference is made 1j\- Mr. Park to Jonathan Lang, and it is important in this connection to print herewith an excerpt from the Atchison Daily Globe, December, 1915, relating to this interesting character, which follows : "The reunion of the Thirteenth Kansas infantry at Hiawatha Tuesday recalls that the late Jonathan G. Lang, self-styled 'Mayor of Old Sumner,' and hero of John J. Ingalls' 'Catfish Aristocracy,' was a soldier in this regi- ment, and was the butt of many jokes on the part of his comrades in camp as he was in the days of civil life at old Sumner. Thomas J. Payne, a sergeant in the Thirteenth, now living in California, relates an amusing story of 'Old Shang,' as Lang was generally called by his comrades : When the regiment was mustered into service on September 28, 1862, and the newlv assigned officers ^^■ere reviewing their troops at Camp Stanton, in Atchison, tlie tall, gaunt form of Lang (for he was nearly seven feet tall and very angular) towered above the rest of the men like the stately cottonwood above the hazelbnish. Riding up and down the lines, and scanning the troops with critical eye to see that there was no breech of ranks or decorum, the gaze of Colonel Bowen could not help but fall upon the lofty and lanky form of Lang, rising several heads above any of his comrades. The colonel paused, and pointing his finger at the grenadier form in the ranks, shouted in thunderous tones, 'Get down off that stump.' A ripple of suppressed laughter immediately passed along the lines, and when Colonel Bowen saw his mistake he promptly revoked his order with a hearty chuckle and rode on towards the end of the column. And not until twenty years later, when all that was mortal of old Lang — his nearly seven feet of skin and bones — was laid way to moulder with the ruins of old Sum- ner, did he finally 'get down off of that stump.' He rests at the entrance of the Sumner cemetery and his grave is marked with one of those small, regula- tion slabs such as are furnished by the Government for the graves of dead soldiers and bears this simple inscription : 'J. G. Lang, Co. K. 13th Kansas In- fantry.' There are two other members of the Thirteenth Kansas buried at Sumner. They are, John Scott, of Company D, and Albred Brown, of Com- pany F." Another article relating to Old Sumner, which is entertaining and instruc- tive, was written by E. W. Howe, and is taken from the Historical Edition of the Atchison Daily Globe, issued July 16, 1894: "The founder of Sumner was Jolin P. Wheeler, a red-headed, blue-eyed, consumptive, slim, freckled enthusiast from Massachusetts. He was a sur- veyor by profession, and also founded the town of Hiawatha. He was one 92 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of the adventurers who came to Kansas as a result of the excitement of 1855- '56, and was only twenty-one years old when he came West. ^lost of the men w^ho had much to do with early Kansas history were young. "The town was not named for Charles Sumner, as is generally supposed, but for his brother, George Sumner, one of the original stockholders. At that time Atchison was controlled by Southern sympathizers — P. T. Abell, the Stringfellows, the ^^IcVeys. A. J. Westbrook and others — and abolitionists were not welcome in the town. It was believed that a city \\ould be built within a few miles of this point, as it was favorable for overland freighting, being farther West than any other point on the Missouri river. On the old French maps Atchison was known as tlie "Grand Detour," meaning the great bend in the river to the westward. "Being a violent abolitionist, John P. Wheeler determined to establish a town where abolitionists would be welcome, and Sumner was the result. The town was laid out in 1856, and the next year \\'heeler had a lithograph made, whicli he took East for use in booming his town. "Among others captured by means of this lithograph was John J. Ingalls. Wheeler and Ingalls were both acquainted with a Boston man of means named Samuel A. Walker. Wheeler wanted Walker to invest in Sumner, and as Walker knew that Ingalls was anxious to go West, he asked him to stop at Sumner and report upon it as a point for the investment of Boston money. "Mr. Ingalls arrived in Sumner on the 4th of October. 1858, on the steamer Duncan S. Carter, which left St. Louis four days before. The town then contained about two thousand people, five hundred more than Atchison ; but Sumner was already declining, and Mr. Ingalls did not advise his friend. Walker, to invest. "A hotel building costing $16,000.00. had been Iniilt by Samuel Hollister. A famous steamboat cook had charge of the kitchen in the old days, and the stages running between Jefferson City and St. Joe stopped there ever\- day for dinner. Jefferson City was then the end of the railroad — the Pacific Railroad of Missouri, now the Missouri Pacific — which runs through the deserted site of Sumner, and directly over the foundation of the wagon factory built by Levi A. Woods. This wagon factory was one of the results of Wheeler's audacious lithograph, and few wagons were actually manufactured. The factory was heavily insured, and burned. "Albert R. Richardson was a. citizen of Sumner, when Mr. Ingalls arrived there ; also James Hauk, the father of Minnie Hauk, who has since become famous as a singer in grand opera. James Hauk was a carpenter, whose wife HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 93 * operated a boarding house. Minnie Hauk waited on the table, and was noted among the boarders as a smart Httle girl with a long yellow braid down her back, who could play the piano pretty well. The next year Hauk made a house boat and floated down the river to New Orleans. "When John J. Ingalls went to Sumner, a young man of twenty-four, he took great interest in sucli characters as Archie Boler and Jonathan Grander Lang. Lang was a jug fisherman in tlie river, melon raiser, truck patch farmer and town drunkard. Ingalls says that Lang was reall}- a Ijright fellow. He had been a dragoon in the Mexican War, and his stories of experiences in the West were intensely interesting. Ingalls used to go out in Lang's boat when he was jugging for catfish and spend hours listening to his talk. Finally Ingalls wrote his 'Catfish Aristocracy,' and Lang recognized himself as the hero. He was very indignant and threatened to sue Ingalls, having been advised by some jackleg lawyer that the article was libelous. Lang lived on a piece of land belonging to Ingalls at the time, and Ingalls told the writer of this the other day that it was actually true that he settled wih Lang for a sack of flour and a side of bacon. Lang served in the Civil war, and long after its close, when his old friend was president of the United States Senate, he secured him a pension and a lot of Ijack ])ay. But this he squandered in marrying. His pension money was a curse to him. for it only served to put a lot of wolves on his trail. "When the war brnke <:iut tiie Atciiisun men who objected to abolitionists settling in their town were driven out of the country, and this attracted a good many of the citizens of Sumner. But its death blow came in June. iS6o, when nearly eveiy house iii the place was either blown down or badly dam- aged by a tornado. This was the first and only tornado in the history of this immediate section." Reference is made in both of these articles to John J. Ingalls, who arrived in Sumner from Boston, Mass., October 4, 1858. Mr. Ingalls was a graduate of Williams College a sliorl time before, and at the time he decided to go West he was a student in a law office in Boston, where his attention was first called to Sumner by an elaborate lithograph of the town displayed by Mr. Wheeler, the promoter. Tiie impressions of Mr. Ingalls upon his arrival in Sumner are, therefore, ]jertinenl and convey some idea of the shock he received when he landed at the Sumner levee. In a letter which lie subscquenth' wrote describ- ing the event, he said ; "That chromatic trium])li of lithographed mendacity, supplemented b\- the loquacious embellishments of a lively adventurer who has been laying out lown 94 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY sites and staking off corner lots for some years past in Tophet, exhibited a scene in which the attractions of art, nature, science, commerce and religion were artistically blended. Innumerable drays were transporting from a fleet of gorgeous steambooats vast cargoes of foreign and domestic merchandise over Russ pavements to colossal warehouses of brick and stone. Dense, wide streets of elegant residences rose with gentle ascent from the stores of the tranquil stream. Numerous parks, decorated with rare trees, shrubbery and fountains were surrounded with the mansions of the great and tlie temples of their devotion. The adjacent eminences were crowned with costly piles which wealth, directed by intelligence and controlled b}^ taste, had erected for the edu- cation of the rising generation of Sumnerites. The only shadow upon the enchanting landscape fell from the clouds of smoke that poured from the tower- ing shafts of her acres of manufactories, while the whole circumference of the undulating prairie was white with endless, sinuous trains of wagons, slowly moving toward the mysterious region of the Farther West." OCENA. Ocena was laid out in Atchison county in 1853, and for a time it gave promise of becoming an important place. Ocena was located on the northeast bank of Stranger creek, on what is known as the McBride farm, in the south half of the northeast quarter of section 22, township 6, range 19, about a mile north of the present site of Pardee. The first postoffice in Center township, and one of the first in Atchison county, was establislied at Ocena with William Crosby as postmaster in August, 1855. In 1856, T. C. McBride was appointed postmaster, and served until the office was removed to Pardee in 1858, when S. G. Moore was appointed postmaster. T. C. McBride was one of the early settlers of Center township, having arrived there in March, 1856, and settled on the land on wliich the town of Ocena was built. He was one of the early merchants of the place, having a small store, in which he kept the postoffice. The mail was caried from Atchi- son to Ocena by stage. McBride was a Tennesseean, born in 1826. In the fall of 1857, in a grove on the McBride farm, the first church service in that section was held. It was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Ocena was the first important stopping place west of Atchison. The old Sqttatter Sovereign, of Atchison, in its issue of December 5, 1857. contained the following advertisement of the town : "The tnith plainly told will show that Ocena is alreadv a citv. The surface of the earth was so moulded bv HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 95 the plastic hand of tlie Creator tliat a few jioints in the witle expanse of Nature were destined to ecHpse all otiiers. Ocena is one of tliose points. Located as it is, on the northeast bank of Stranger creek, in the county of Atchison, where roads leading from Doniphan and St. Joe to Lecompton are intersected by roads leading from Atchison to Grasshopper Falls and Osawkee ; and also being upon the great thoroughfare running up and down the valley of the Stranger, it offers more inducements for a large and ]jrosperous inland town than any other place in Kansas Territory. All persons anxious to thrive and desirous of obtaining a home on reasonable terms will do well to settle in Ocena. For further particulars in reference to the town apply to Isaac S. Hascall, president, or M. C. Finney, secretary." Freedom's Champion, in its issue of July 3, 1858, says of the town : "Ocena, besides having the most musical name, is one of the most beautiful places in Kansas. A postoffice has been established there and several new buildings are being erected. It is destined to be a thriving little place." Ocena was killed by Pardee, a town which was started a short distance to the south of it, but neither amounted to much from a municipal and busi- ness standpoint. Pardee is now only a country village. It was first platted as a town by James Brewer, in the string of 1857, and was named in honor of Pardee Butler, of border warfare fame. In the winter of 1856 Mr. Butler preached iiis first sermon in Pardee, the services being held in the sciiool house, which had been completed during the previous fall, and opened by James Brewer in December. Caleb May, the first settler in Center township, was the first president of the Pardee Town Company. Pardee Butler was afterwards president; Milo Carleton, secretary; Wm. J. May, treasurer; S. G. Moore, A. Elliott and W. Wakefield, trustees. Mr. Moore opened the first store in Pardee in 1858, and became the first postmaster as aforestated. Mr. Carleton put a wind gristmill in operation at Pardee at an early day, but it was destroyed by a storm. LANCASTER. Lancaster is one of the oldest towns in the county. In the issue of October 16, 1858, of Freedom's Champion, the following advertisement with reference to Lancaster appears : "LANCASTER. "Lancaster City is the name of a new town just springing into existence. It is located 10 miles direct west of our city (Atchison) Atchison county, K. T., on the east half of Section 32, Township 5, Range 19, the great military road g6 HISTORY OF ATCHISON" COUNTY to Fts. Kearney, Laramie, Bridge, and to Santa Fe, Utah, Washington Ter- ritory, Gadson Purchase, CaHfornia, Xew Mexico, etc., passes through the town site. Also roads leading from Nebraska City, St. Joseph, Doniphan, and to Grasshopper Falls, Topeka, Lecompton and Lawrence. "A more beautiful situation for a large and prosperous city could not be found in the Territory, or the Great \\'est. Its site is rolling and dry, climate healthy and salubrious as heart could wish for. The surrounding country cannot be surpassed for its magnificent undulating prairies, being one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the whole country. "Excellent coal, building stone and timber, within two, and two and a half miles. This town has been under way but little over two months, and notwithstanding the hard times, quite a number of buildings are already erected, among which will be found a large and commodious hotel, a good store, blacksmith and carpenter shops, post office, etc., etc. Arrangements are made for the erection of several more dwelling houses, also for the erection during this montli. of a Union church, Tthe first in the county ) and with liberty heretofore unequalled in Kansas, Mr. J. W. Smith, the President of the Com- pany, authorizes us to say that he will give good lots gratis to mechanics, lab- orers, and others, who will apply for them soon, or who will erect improve- ments on them in six months, worth S200 or more. This, we think, a good chance for men who want a comfortable home in the best section if our coun- try. The company now offer to sell lots or shares at reasonable rates, and are prepared to make warrantee deeds for the same, having purchased the site and obtained the title for the same of the Government of the United States on the 26th day of June, 1858. Persons wishing to live in an interior town, will do well to visit Lancaster before investing elsewhere." While this little town did not prove to be all that its promoters expected of it, it continued as a good trading point for many years, and in 1916 remains one of the prosperous communities of the county. In addition to the one bank which it supports, reference to which has already been made, Lancaster, in 1915, has seven stores, a two-room public school, three churches, one eleva- tor, one lumber yard, a good hotel and a garage. In 191 5 its enterprising citi- zens built an electric high tensioned line connecting with the Effingham line out of Atchison, to supply the town with electric lights, and its citizens are now enjoying all the benefits of electricity. About 80,000 bushels of grain, and an average of seventy-five cars of live stock are shipj)ed out of Lancaster annually. Its merchants are enter- prising and prosperous, and many comfortable and commodious homes have HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 97 been built in this little town. It is located in one of the finest agricultural sections of the county, and the surrounding country is in a state of high culti- vation, and peopled by prosperous and thrift)- farmers. PORT WILLIAM. In the Squatter Sovereign of March ii, 1S56, publisiied at Atchison, ap- peared the following advertisement of Port William : "This new and beautiful town site is situated on the Missouri river, in Kansas Territory, three or four miles above tlie town of latan, in the heart of the most densely populated part of Kansas ; surrounded b_\- the finest soil and timber in that Territory, with a permanent landing, commanding a \iew of the river for several miles above and below. The principal part of said town is located on a bed of stone coal of the liest quality. Arrangements are being made to have said stone coal bed opened and wrought 1)y a joint stock company early in the spring, at which time there will be a sale of lots. There is now in course of erection a good steam saw mill, which will be in successful operation in a few weeks ; also, a large and commodious tavern is in process of erection, wliich will be opened for the accommodation of the public in a short time. Persons wishing to procure lots immediately will have opportunity of so doing by calling on Henry Bradley or Jonathan Hartman, both of whom are authorized agents to sell and dispose of lots, and one or both may at all times be found on the premises ready to accommodate purchasers upon the most liberal terms. H. B. Wallace, Amos Rees, Henry Debard, H. C. Brad- ley, H. B. Herndon, James G. Spratt, W. C. Remington. James W. Bradley, P. J. Collins, trustees." Of the above named trustees Judge James G. Spratt, W. C. Remington and Henry Debard were prominent citizens of Platte county, Missouri, and members of the town company that incorporated Port William in 1855. James M. and Henry Bradley and H. B. Herndon were also members of this comi)any. Henry Deliard was a Kentuckian, jjorn in Clark county, November 24, 1801, and came to Platte county at an early day, later removing to Kansas. He was a prominent Mason, and took an active ])art in Masonic work in Missouri for many years. He was a cat)inet maker, l)ut did not work much at his trade. He died in Platte City, October 5, 1875. Amos Rees was born at Winchester, Va., December 2, 1800, and came to Missouri at an early age, locating in Platte county, March i, 1845. For many years he was a prominent attorney of that county. He moved to Kansas in 7 9$ HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 1855, and died, December 29, 1885. Dr. H. B. Wallace, who was interested in Port William, was a physician at Platte City, and a member of the town board in 1858. He invested largely in St. Jose, and the war reduced him almost to poverty. He died, February 24, 1863. Judge Paxton, in his "Annals of Platte County," simply mentions him as having married the "beautiful and accomplished Ann E. Owen." J. Butler Chapman arrived in Kansas in the spring of 1854, made a trip over the tcrritor\-, and then published a small volume, entitled "History of Kansas and Emigrant's Guide." He refers to Port William as "Williamsport, a prospective town a short distance above Kickap- Debard, James M. Bradley, Henry Bradley, Horace B. Herndon and William B. Almond. General William B. Almond, one of the incorporators of Pt. \\'illiam. was a noted man in the West in the early days. He was a Vir^nian, whtj came to Platte county, Missouri, when the Platte Purchase was opened, and settled near the Buchanan county line. At a very early period he had been connected with the American Fur Company, and as a mountaineer had many adventures. During the thirties he was a brigadier genera' of the State militia in Missouri. He was one of the foremost "Forty-niners" to California, leading a company to the land of gold, among whom was Ben HoUaday, afterwards famous as the originator of the "pony express" and other \\'estern enterprises, \\liile in California General Almond distinguished himself as a I'erritorial judge in San Francisco. Returning to Platte county in 1851 he was elected circuit judge, was a candidate for lieutenant governor, and filled other offices and places of distinction and prominence. He was also connected with mercantile, milling / and other enterprises. He li\ed for some time in Topeka and Leavenworth, and died at the latter place in i860. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 99 Judge James G. Spratt, anotlier of the promoters of old Port William, was also a man of some prominence. He came to the West from Smith county, Virginia, where he was born, 1826, and, like General Almond, settled in Platte county at a very early day. In 1843 he was appointed a justice of the peace in Platte county, and was afterwards deputy county clerk, probate judge and held other positions. For some time he was engaged in the prac- tice of law, and was in partnership with Hon. Joseph E. Merryman, in Platte City. In 1864 he went to Montana where he became a mine speculator. He died November 13, 1881, and his remains were brought back to Platte for burial. W. H. Spratt, a brother of Judge Spratt, was at one time sheriff of Platte county. William C. Remington was another pioneer of Platte, like General Al- mand and Judge Spratt, a A'irginian by birth, who came west at a very early day. He was one of the early assessors of Platte county, and subsequently was elected circuit clerk. He was one of the trustees of the Platte City Town Company when it was incorporated in 1843. He was also a memlier of the compan}- that laid off the town of St. Mary's at the mouth of Bee creek in 1S57, but no lots were ever sold. Mr. Remington was one of the early mer- chants of Platte City, one of the proprietors of the Platte City Weekly Atlas, and was interested in various other enterprises. His handsome brick resi- dence in Platte City was among those burned by federal orders in July, 1864. He died December 20, 1864, in Omaha, where he was operating a hotel. Of Plenry Debard, another member of the PYirt William Town Company, the writer has not yet found any record. The Bradleys lived in Platte county, opposite Port William for many years, moved over to the Kansas side early in 1854, and with Squire Horace B. Hemdon started the old town. The Brad- leys opened a general store and James M. Bradley was appointed postmaster when the postoffice was established in April, 1855. Squire Plerndon was one of the earliest justices of the peace in Kansas, and had much business in his court in the early days, as Port William was one of the roughest of the l)order towns. Port William was located eight miles below Atchison. It is one of the most interesting localities from a historical standpoint in Atchison county and northeastern Kansas. It is one of the oldest settlements in Kansas, ami for a time in the early days was one of the promising villages of the territory. In fact, it was of enough importance, not in size, but as a prospecti\-e po])ulace, lo be mentioned by travelers of that time, as one of the [irincipid towns of Kansas. Father Pierre Jean de Smet, the Jesuit missionary, in a letter written I(X) HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY F"ebruary 26, 1859, says : "A great number of towns and villages have sprung up as if by enchantment in the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska. The prin- cipal towns of Kansas are \\ yandotte. Delaware, Douglas, Mar\-sville, lola, Atchison, Ft. Scott, Pawnee. Lecompton, Neosho, Richmond, Tecumseh. Lawrence, Port William. Doniphan, Paola, Alexandria, Indianola, Easton, Leavenworth and others." The history of old Doniphan, Sumner and Kick- apoo has long l>een well established, but that of Port William has been neglected and has remained obscure. Port \\'illiam never was much of a town, as were its rivals, Doniphan. Sumner and Kickapoo, but it was proposedly in the race for municipal supremacy in the pioneer days, and though its star may never have attained the ascendency, its story is at least worthy of preser\-ation in the archives of Atchison county history. Port William was started in 1856 by Henry and James M. Bradley. John T. and Albred Bailey, and Jonathan Hartman. The two Bradleys and John T. Bailey composed the town company. The Bradleys conducted a general store, and a postoffice was established in April, 1855. with Henry Bradley as first postinaster. This was the first postoffice in \\'alnut township. Jona- than Hartman owned and operated a sawmill, the first in Atchison county, in 1854, and made the first lumber ever sawed in the county. There were several saloons, and later a blacksmith shop, a carpenter shop and other small industries were started. It has been surmised by someone that Port Williams, as it is sometimes called, was named for a Missouri river steamboat captain named Williams, as steamboats often tied up at the place in the early days. There are others who believe it was so called for the late "Uncle Frank" W'\\- liams, one of the fathers of the colored settlement which was started in that vicinity at a later day. The correct name of the place, however, is Port \\'illiam, instead of Port Williams, and it is known that it was so named more than fifty years ago, or nearly twenty years before "Uncle Frank" Williams settled there. The correct origin of the name is probably given by the late W. J. Bailey, of Atchison, who was one of the very first settlers of that vicinity. He said that in 1854 a man named William Johnson came across from the settlement about latan. Mo., and took up the claim on wliich Port William was afterwards built. It was a likely claim and Johnson soon had trouble on his hands in holding the property. Several men tried to chase him off with gims. but Johnson managed to make sucli a good defense as to repel them. He stayed in his cabin a week, not daring to come out for fear of being sliot. He won out and held the claim. Tiie other fellows tlien referred to his cabin as Fort William (that was his first name). Soon after Jake Yunt, HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY lOI from Missouri, established a liand ferryboat, and b_\- and by steamboats began to land there. Then the name was changed to Port William, and this is the proper name of the place, although on the Alissouri Pacific statit)n board now- standing there it is marked "Port Williams." There are but few men who came to Atchison county earlier than W. J. Bailev. of Atchison. He crossed the river from Platte county on June 12, 1854, and settled at Port \\'illiam, and, with the exception of a few years" resi- dence in Colorado, has lived in this county ever since. Luther Dickerson, who was generally known as the "oldest inhabitant," came here the same month that Mr. Bailey did. \\'lien Mr. Bailey first arrived at Port ^^'illiam he built a one room cabin on his claim near that place, and to do so was obliged to drag- logs with one horse a distance of a mile and a half. In 1853 he brought liis cattle over. He said the grass all over this county was ankle deep and afforded fine pasturage. There was no town at Atchison then, but Challiss Bros, con- ducted a store on the river bank, and George Million operated a hand ferry- boat. ^Ir. Bailey worked for Million three years. "Those were happy times," said Mr. Bailey, "we met aroui-id among neighboring cabins and had parties. When we had a fiddle we danced." For several years Mr. Bailey was with afreighting crow between Ft. Leaven- worth and Ft. Kearney, most of the time as a wagon-master. They gener- all\- drove twentv-si.x wagons w-ith six yoke of oxen to each wagon and hauled Government supplies. Once they were surrounded by Indians and were in imminent danger of being annihilated, when General Harney with a company of troops came to their rescue and chased the red-skins to Ash Hollow, near Ft. Kearney, where a bloody skirmish took place and the Indians were routed. Speaking of old Port ^^'illiam, Mr. Bailey said: "Although laid out as an investment, the town was a failure. The little creek flowed through the center of the tow-n, dividing the stores and saloons from the sawmill, blacksmith shop and carpenter shop. No city government encased the stream with cement tilii-ig, and the best bridge the town ever afforded was built by felling a cotton- wood tree across the stream." Port William had its "tow-n bullies" and fights were of frequent occurrence. Mr. Bailey said that the "town bullies" were Dan McLoud, Bill Pates and Bob Gibson. "It was common," he said, "for farmers to go to Port William every Saturday afternoon to witness the fights and drunks." On one occasion a man was badly shot u]) and .uiotiicr jumped into the river and swam across. Mr. Bailey said the first election there con- tained 250 ballots, although only sixty people voted. There were two ballot I02 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY boxes, one controlled by the pro-slavery and the other by the Free State people. Eight or ten men stood around the balloting places with guns, and people voted five or six times, though under different names. The "village blacksmith" of old Port Wiliam, and one of the early justices of the peace of Walnut township, was Thomas J. Payne, later living at Canyon City, Colo. Mr. Payne settled at Port William. March i8, 1855. and was one of the pioneer blacksmiths of Kansas. He operated black- smith shops at three of the old towns of Atchison county. Port \\'^illiam, Sum- ner and Mt. Pleasant. He was appointed a justice of the peace by Governor Shannon, in 1856. The office of "county squire" was of more importance in those stirring times than it is now. Mr. Payne's son, Charles Sumner Payne, was the first child born at old Sumner. His birth occurred September 25. 1857. He was named by the to\vn company, who made out and pre- sented to him a deed for a lot in the once thriving city. Another son was bom at Sumner on the day that John Brown was hanged, and was named for the great abolitionist. A third son was named for Jim Lane. Thomas J. Payne enlisted as a private in Company F, Thirteenth Kansas infantry, al Atchison, August 20, 1862. and was later promoted to orderly sergeant. He was discharged at Ft. Smith, Ark., October 29, 1864. Then he was imme- diately appointed by the secretary' of war first lieutenant of Company B, First Regiment of Kansas infantry, colored. He took part in many engagements, and was mustered out in August, 1865. He was born in Georgetown, Ohio, the town in which General Grant was born. There are few men in Kansas who have served as a justice of the peace longer than Mr. Payne. He held the office in Atchison county for a number of years, at Robinson. Kan., for eighteen years, and later at Horton, Kan., for several years. The old Horace B. Herndon farm at Port \\'illiam, now owned and occu- pied by Frank Bluma, Sr., was known as the "Old Indian farm," in the early days. According to W. J. Bailey it was socalled because an Indian known as "Kickapoo John" located on it previous to the settlement of Kansas bv the whites and was still living there with numerous other Indians when Mr. Bailey first came to that locality. Mr. Bailey said that the butts of tepee poles could be seen sticking in the ground on the site of Port \\'illiam for some time after- wards. In 1854 Horace B. Herndon preempted the "Old Indian farm," built a cabin thereon at the southwest corner of the field near the creek, and put an old negro slave in it to hold the claim for him. The old darkey died and was buried in the family burying ground on the farm about 1855. He was probably the first colored man who ever lived and died in what after- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY IO3 wards became famous as the "Port William colored settlement." This was about twenty years before this community became generally settled by colored people. The old Herndon family residence, one of the landmarks of this region, is still standing and is occupied by Frank Bluma and family. There is evidence that the "old Indian farm" was occupied by Indians long before "Kickapoo John's" time for the old field is strewn with various fragments representing the stone age and prehistoric times. Mr. Herndon died a number of years ago. He was another of the early justices of the peace of \\'alnut township and was generally known as "Squire" Herndon. He was also a public administrator for Atchison county, and was one of the most prominent citizens of the southern part of the county for many years. He was the father of Mrs. Henry King and James Herndon. residents of Round Prairie. Mrs. King, then Miss Virginia Herndon, was the "belle" of the old town of Port William, and was a social favorite throughout this section of the county. Another early settler of Port William was Henry Luth, the veteran car- penter, who moved from Atchison to Leavenworth. Mr. Luth lived in Port William for several years in the early fifties, remo\'ing to Atchison in 1857. He built many of the first houses in this section of the country. A large wal- nut cupboard and other furniture in Mr. Luth's home he made from walnut timber cut at Port William and sawed into lumber at the old Hartman saw- mill at that place. Mr. Luth had a little shop at Port \\^illiam in wliich he made furniture. Henry Hausner. Atchison's well known commission mer- chant, took a claim at Port William in 1855, but was cheated out of it. Andy Brown, for many years an Atchison flagman, was an early settler of Port Wil- liam. ^^'ith Thomas Taylor, now living at Perry, Kan., he crossed the river to Kansas on Jake Yunt's ferry just above Port William in 1854. Mr. Brown's father had taken a claim at Port ^^'illiam and Ta_\lor one adjoining it. The latter helped Samuel Dickson build his caljin shanty on the site of Atchison in the fall of 1854. Ex-Sheriff Fred Hartman, of this county, now deceased, lived at Port William in the early days. His father, Jonathan Hartman, in 1854, put into operation at that place one of the very first sawmills in the Territory. It furnished lumber for many of the first houses in this section. The lumber was sawed from the fine timber which grew along Little Walnut creek. Fred Hartman said that in 1856 Bob Gibson brought his famous "Kickapoo Rang- ers" to Port William for the purpose of lynching his father, Jonathan Hart- man, on account of his most avowed Free Soil principles. They stayed around a while, and as Mr. Hartman did not seem to be the least bit intimidated, they I04 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY finally left and never molested him again. It was during this time that Pardee Butler was placed on a raft at Atchison and set adrift in the river. He landed just above Port William, and went at once to Mr. Hartman's for assistance. Not deeming it safe for Mr. Butler to remain in Port William, JN'Ir. Hartman took him out to the home of Jasper Oliphant, about two miles west of the vil- lage, where he stayed at night and finally reached his home in safety. Jasper Oliphint was anotlier of the earliest settlers of tliis locality. He was assassi- nated some vears ago Ijy Bob Scruggs, a desperate character, who at the same time sliot and killed julin ( iroff, another prominent Walnut township citizen, and Scruggs was captured and hanged to a tree near Oak ]\Iills. The tragic deaths of two such substantial citizens as Mr. Oliphint and Mr. Groff produced a profound sensation throughout Walnut township. In tlie spring of 1857 Jonathan Hartman sold his sawmill and mo\ed tn a I'arm near the present site of Pamell, where he died. Fred Hartman sen-ed during the war in the Thir- teenth Kansas with Thomas J. Payne, mentioned elsewhere. The wagon road leading from Port William westward to the "old military road." bears the unique distinction of crossing the same creek fourteen times in a di.stance of less than three miles. It is not believed that there is another creek in Atchison county that is crossed an equal nunil)er of times by one road. Little W'alnut creek, which empties into the Missouri river at Port William, has its source near the Leavenworth county line. It flows nurtlnvard through a heavilv timbered country, and is one of the prettiest little streams in .Atchison county. It was formerly called Bragg's creek, after "Jimmy" Braesfs, an earlv-dav Missouri Pacific section foreman, who lived on its banks. Braggs afterward moved to Holton, where he died and tlie name of the creek was changed to Little Walnut, after its neighbor. Walnut creek. wlu"ch empties into the river at Dalby, about two miles above. ARRINGTOX. Arrington is located on the Union Pacific railroad in the southwest part of the county. This town was platted August 20, 1884. and its original pm- moters were R. A. Van Winkle, D. S. Henecke, John Ballinger, D. D. High, D. A. Benjamin, J. M. Roberson, Michael Baker. J. S. Hopkins, Ira Tabor and George W. Drake. Its streets are numbered one to four, and its cross streets are called Fountain avenue, Delaware street and h'orest avenue. Arrington has three general stores, one elevator and a bank. During good crop vears, as high as 125 cars of grain and live stock are shipped from its station, and its stores do a good business, rendering fine service to the surrounding territorv. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY IO5 At one time prior to 1890 medicinal springs were locattd at Arrington and it was quite a resort during the summer munllis for people living in Udrlh- eastern Kansas. The town has a good hotel, and in addition to its merchandise establishments it supports a physician and se\eral churches. For many years a mill was conducted on the Delaware ri\er u])on which Arrington is located, operated by water jiower. This mill was built by John Reider in 1867, who also operated it both as a sawmill and as a grain mill. In 1874 W. H. Stockton joined Mr. Reider. and these two men built a two-story frame mill, liut they operated it rmly one day, as it was mysteriously burned the following night. Shortly thereafter Mr. Reider, undismayed and undis- couraged, associated with himself Albert Ingler, and remembering his previous disastrous experience with fire, 'Sir. Reider built a stone mill. This fimi con- ducted a successful business for a number of years, drawing patronage for a distance of sixty miles, but in 1879, Mr. Ingler met an untimely death, by drowning as he was crossing the river, a few feet below where the Arrington ftridge stands. Mr. Reider sold his interest to D. S. Heneks, who ran the mill until 1906. when John W. Young became its owner. He subsequently turned it over to George W. Stone, since which time it has been in possession of various owners, and in 19x6 is owned by Burt ^NlcCulley. It has not been operated since 1908, and stands in ruins. A history of Arrington would be incomplete without the mention of the name of Ransom A. Van Winkle, who was the first settler in Kapioma town.ship, and the founder of the town. Captai'n Van Winkle was born November 25, 1818, in Wayne county, Kentucky. He was a Hollander bv descent, and at one time his great-grandfather, Michael Van \\'inkle, owned an interest in 13,000 acres of land within twelve miles of New York Citv, which was sold just prior to the Re\olutionary war, for twentv-fi\e cents an acre. Van \^'inkle recei\ed the rudiments of his education in a Kentucky log school house, but was for two years a cadet at West Point and received a good education. He was married twice and had a varied experience in busi- ness, at one time owning a large interest in coal lands in Kentuck\-. He removed U> St. Joseph, Mo., in 1849, and i'n September, 1855, came to Kan- sas and built the first claim cabin on the Grassho])per, or wlial is now the Delaware river, above Valley Falls, in Kapioma township. He also built the first steam sawmill; sawed the first lumber, and built ihe first frame house, and taught the first sclmol in Kapioma townshi]). and was the first po.stmaster at Arrington. He always took an active part in ])olilics in the county and was a stanch Republican. He was a prominent P'ree State man I06 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY in the early struggle in Kansas and contributed liberally to the cause and worked hard in its Ijelialf. He was a justice of the peace in Papioma township for fourteen years : postmaster five years ; trustee of Kapioma township eight years; a member of the legislature in 1861 and 1862 and county commissioner of Atchison county for six years. He was patriarchal in appearance and was a conspicuous figure for many years in Republican conventions in Atchison county. MUSCOTAH. The name of "Muscotah" is of Indian origin, but when, why and by whom it was applied to a town, seems to be a question. "Andreas' History of Kansas."' in a brief historical mention of the town of Muscotah, says : "The name ^luscotah. written in Indian style, Musco-tah, signifies 'Beautiful Prairie,' or "Prairie on Fire.' " Andreas does not give any authority for this statement, but on page 1343 in a biographical sketch of \\'illiam D. Barnett. one of tlie earliest settlers of Muscotah, he says that Mr. Barnett did not name the town, but that it was named by Paschal Pensoneau. the old Kickapoo trader and interpreter. Mr. Kessler was a blacksmith among the Kickapoos at an early day. Maj. C. B. Keith was one of the founders of Muscotah, and an early agent fnr the Kickapoo Indians. In a letter under date of December 8, 1908, Mrs. Keith, the widow of Major Keith, wrote that Muscotah was named by her husband and her two brothers, William P. and John C. Badger. She corroborates Andreas in his statement that the name signifies "Beautiful Prairie," or "Prairie on Fire." and says that Muscotah should be accented on the last syllable. She further says that Paschal Pensoneau may have suggested the name, and incfdentally adds : "He was interpreter for my brother, William P. Badger, who was Indian agent under President Buch- anan, and later for my husband under Lincoln. He was a good friend for both of my brothers and Major Keith, and accompanied my husband to Washington with the head chiefs when they made their treaty. The original Muscotah was on a fine site and justified the name." There is a town i'n the old Kickapoo country-, in Illinois, named Mas- coutah, and believing it to be synonymous with the Atchison county name, though slightly different in orthography and pronunciation, Milo Custer, of Heyworth. 111., the well known authority on the Kickapoos. wrote: "As to the meaning of the names Muscotah and Mascoutah, they are synonymous HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 107 witli the old .Algonquin word, Masko-teh, meaning 'prairies.' The Kick- apoo word for prairies was one among others that I failed to get when I visited the tribe in Kansas in October, 1906. However, I am of the opinion that the word was originally derived from Ma-shi 0-shkoo-teh, meaning 'Big Fire,' and that it referred to the great prairie fires which swept over the country. In fact I have seen the opinion advanced b}- some other author- ity, but cannot now recall the name." When the Kickapoos lived in Illinois there was a band called the Mas-cou-tins, which Maj. FI. W. Beckwith, the highest authority on the Illinois tribes, says was the Indian name for "Indians of the Prairie." Hence it is evident that the name Aluscotah is at least a derivation of the word "prairie," whether a "beautiful prairie" or "prairie of fire." The plat <>f the Muscotah Town Company was filed Ijy W. P. Badger, Scene on Main Street, Muscotah, Kansas one of its proprietors, June 5, iS^j, and the town is located in section 34, township 5, range 17, on the Central Branch railroad, near the western edge of the county. Its streets run from one to thirteen, and its cross streets are named Pawpaw, Flm, Vine, \Valnul, Mulberry, Hickory and Oak. Follow- ing the construction of the Central Branch railroad William Oslxtrn filed another plat of the town, and several amendments have since been made to it. Muscotah has ahvavs been an important trading point, and one of the prosperous (owns of ihe county. In 1916 there were three general stores. io8 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUXTY New Muscotah School Building. Erccteil I'.Hii. at a cost of $-20,0(Mt. one hardware store, two banks, two elevators, one kiniber vard. two cream stations, two barber shops, one harness shop, two drug stores, two res- taurants, a hotel, private boarding house, two garages and blacksmith shops. The town also has four practicing physicians, including an osteopath, and one dentist. The first general store was established by Xels Brown in 1868, and a year later Watson & Guy put in a general hardware store. Hagerman & Roach conducted a grain business in 1865, and the first elevator was built in 1874. Several serious fires have destroyed much property in Muscotah, the largest being known as the Watson fire, which occurred in 188,:;. de- stroying much property. The first mayor of the tow'n was Dr. William P. Badger, who was eelcted in 1882. All>ert Harrington was the first post- master, in 1866. The first physician to locate in the present limits of Mus- cotah was Dr. L. N. Plummer, who came there hi T86g. Tn 1868 a Dr. Heath located a few miles out from Muscotah, but never lived in the town. Dr. S. M. Riggs came in 1872 and he and Dr. Plummer are both active physicians in the practice in 19 16, together with Dr. O. O. Barter and Dr. F. A. Bermen. Years before Muscotah was established there was a small settlement nearby where there were a few houses and a postoffice located HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY IO9 about where the Robert Russell farm is. John Keeley, an enterprising early settler, built a flouring mill on the Grasshopper ri'\-er, now known as the Delaware, in 1869. Mr. Keeley did considerable business with the farmers in the surrounding territory, Init business finally fell off and the mill was washed away by high water in 1895. Muscotah is an important shipping point, and the annual shipment of grain amounts to $150,000 to $200,000. Much live stock is also shipped from Muscotah, and during the year 191 5 fifty-two cars of cattle, hogs and horses were shipped to the Kansas City and St. Joseph markets. Muscotah is also a city of churches and schools. The Congregational church was established in 1866. The pastor of this church in 1916 is Rev. Fred Gray, who preaches to a congregation of about 150. \Mien this church was organized its members worshipd in the home of Robert Russell, which was at that time in the depot, and the church edifice which is now occupied was built in 1914. The Methodist Episcopal church was established about 1876; it now has a membership of 120, and its pastor is Rev. Rollo J. Fisher. The Advent Christian church was organized in 1889, and its first pas- tor was Rev. Marshall McCollough. ^Mission Hall is maintained by unattached and unorganized Christians. It holds meeting several times a week, including two services on Sunday. The public school system of Muscotah includes an accredited high school, in which two foiu^-year courses are offered, together with a general and col- lege preparatory course. R. E. De\-or is superintendent of schools, and the officers of the school board are: J. F. Thompson, president; W. D. Roach, treasurer: R. A. Allison, secretar}-. The first school house within the pres- ent limits of the town was built in 1870, but was subseciuently destroyed by fire when another school was built in 1885. A six room school was erected, and it was also destroyed by fire in January, 1916. A movement is now under way to build a new, handsome, modern school building, to accommo- date twelve grades, together with manual training, domestic science and a gymnasium. Muscotah is supplied with electricity by high tension line from Atch- ison, and in 1916 it has forty-two street lamps and fiftv-five private con- sumers. In addition to being a town of churches and schools, Muscotah also has several active lodges. The Masonic lodge was organized December 20, 1871, by E. D. Hillyer, of Grasshojiper Falls, on a dispensation issued by I lO HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the grand edge; the charter was issued October 17, 1872, and the officers installed November 16, 1872. The first officers were: Ben F. Freeland, Willi'am X. Kline, Thomas H. Phillips, B. G. Merrill. D. M. Stillman, \V. Bullock and I. C. Archer. Purity Council No. 293, Knights and Ladies of Security, was chartered July 6, 1895, with John Edward Lewis, president. It had ten charter mem- bers and in 1916 there was a membership of seventy, with George W. Rork, president, and Mrs. Carl Rork, secretary. Modem Woodmen was chartered in August. 1898. The present offi- cers are W. F. Murray, V. H. Little and G. W. Harris. There are also active lodges of the Mystic Workers. Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors. Muscotah's new combination grade and high school, which will take the place of the one destroyed by fire, will cost approximately $20,000, and will be a fire-proof structure of brick and concrete. When completed it will be one of the best school buildings of its kind in any town the size of Mus- cotah in the State. The present city officials of INIuscotah are : William Buckles, mayor; R. A. Hillyer, J. G. Burbank, W. D. Roach, R. H. Trial and R. A. AUison, councilmen ; H. M. Turner, city clerk; E. M. Hicks, police judge, and S. B. Liggatt, marshal. EFFINGHAM. Effingham, the seat of Atchison county high school, is an incorporated town, located sixteen miles west of Atchison, on the Central Branch rail- road, and was first platted by William Osborne April 4. 1868, who built the first hundred miles of the Central Branch railroad, and is located on a part of the southwest quarter of section 15 and the northwest quarter of section 22, township 6, range 18. The original plat contained only eight blocks and was subsequently cancelled. February 6. 1871, Major W. F. Downs, land commissioner of tlie Central Branch railroad, filed another plat in which one block was dedicated as a public park and the streets numbered from one to ten, with cross streets as follows : Elizabeth, Seabun,-, Howard, George, William, and John. At the opening of the Central Branch railroad Effingham enjoyed quite a boom and it has remained one of the finest towns in northeastern Kansas ever since. There was a settlement around Effingham for a number of vears prior 10 the location of the townsite, and it was quite a trading point. Effingliam is located on a broad sweep of prairie land, but there is very little of romance HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY III or legend connectetl with tlie town. There is one thing', linwever, for which it has ahva\s lieen noted, and to this extent Effingham occui)ies an nnique place in the tow ns, not only of Atchison county, but of Kansas, namely : It lias never been without a good liotel. The original hotel was known far and wide throughout the country and was conducted by Aunt Betty Benton, a famous cook, who n^t imly gave her guests good things to eat, Init made of her hotel a favorite stojiping place fur the tra\'eling ])ul)lic on account of the hospitable way in which she ran it. L'ncle Jack Martin succeeded Aunt Betty and for many }ears thereafter kept up tlie liigh standard set by her. Then came Thomas F. Cook, whose kindly welcome made friends for him rl, L.I ciiiu Wi-st. I'.i I iH;i!i;iiii, Kansas among the Iiundreds of visitors that came to Effingham from vear to year, and who never left his hotel without a full meal. Mr. Cook was succeeded by Mrs. Frank Pitman, and she in turn was succeeded by Mrs. Davis, who, in 1915, is conducting the hotel at Effingham and maintains the high stan- dard of excellence of food and iiospitality set by her predecessors. Among the early merchants of Effingham was Hon. Milton R. Benton, who was born in Madison county, Kentucky May 3, 1815. Tie immigrated to Kansas in 1857; located in Atchison, where he resided until 1867, during which year he moved to his farm in .\tchison county, near Effingham. He was the first marshal of the city of .\tchison, having been elected in 1858. In 1863 he was elected mayor of the city, and in 1864 was elected a member I 12 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of the council. He served as a member of the senate in the Territorial coun- cil of 1859; in the State legislature in 1864, and for three years as trustee of Center township. Benton township, in which Effingham is located, was named for him. He was educated as a Democrat, but before he cast his fi'rst vote identified himself with the anti-slavery movement and became a Free State man in Kansas, 1uit in after years he supported Horace Greeley and became identified with the Democratic party. In addition to farming he was in the real estate business in Effingham. .\. I-". Achenbach was one of the early liverymen of Effingham, and also was George P. Allen, who was a dealer in hardware and grain ; Ball & Her- Presbyterian Cluircli. Rffhi^'liaiii. K.insa.s ron, dealers in harness : Joel M. Ketch, hardware merchant : J. E. McCor- mick. butcher: .\lonzo Spencer, grocer; James Xesbitt. lumber dealer, and Simeon Walters, contractor and carpenter. P. J. O'Meara was a pioneer merchant of Effingham, and was a native of Ireland, having been born in the county of Tipperary March 27. 1820. He first settled in Miami county, where he received his education, and in 1865 he moved to Atchison and went into the grocerv business on Com- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY II3 mercial street, between Third and Fonrth, later mo\ing to Effingham when the townsite was located, and huilt one of the first store buildings. He did a large and paying business, and his popularity was shown by the people of Effingham in electing him their first mayor. Effingham in 1915 had two hardware stores, one drug store, four gen- eral stores, two banks, two garages, two barber shops, one cream station, one clothing store, three restaurants, one hotel, one livery, and two elevators. Effingham is also a city of churches having one Catholic church, one Pres- byterian church, Methodist church. Christian church and Lutheran church. Its citizens are enterprising and progressive, and in 19 14 the city council secured a twentv-four hour electric light service over high tension line from Atchison. The elevators are owned by the Farmers' Mercantile xA-Ssociation, and Snyder, Smith & Company. Tom Tucker and Beckman & Thomas are big live stock shippers, and they ship from ninety-five to one hundred cars of live stock out of Effingham every year, and the elevators ship over one hundred cars of grain every year. The ]iresent city officials who have been so diligent and faithful in their services to Effingham are as follows : J. W. Wlallach, mayor: A. J. Sells, city clerk: G. M. Snyder, council- man: L Ebert, councilman; D. Richter, councilman; James F^arrell, council- man ; E. J. Kelley, councilman ; J- W. Atcheson, marshal ; J. A. Harman, city treasurer. HURON. Huron is located on the Omaha branch nf the Missouri Pacific railway, in Lancaster township, seventeen miles northwest of Atchison. The town- site was originally the property of Col. D. R. Anthony, of Leavenworth. Mr. Anthony donated the railroad company twenty acres of land and the right nf way for one mile. The surveys were made and the town named and platted on May 18, 1882. Within six weeks after completion of the sur- veys five dwellings were erected and the business interests of the town were well represented. W. D. Starr was the first postmaster, and by the end of the first year there were rn'er fifty dwellings in the town, and among the first buildings to be erected were the Presbyterian and Baptist cb.urches. Colonel .\nthnny donated lots upon which to build the churches. J. D. Car- penter opened the fi'rst hotel in Huron. Mr. Carpenter came to Kansas in 1874 and located on a farm near Huron, and when the town was organized he moved there and opened his hotel. \^^ C. Rucker was one of the earlv 8 1 14 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY lumber dealers of Huron. He came from Corning, where he was engaged in the general merchandise business, and moved to Huron when the town was platted. Capt. George W. Stabler, for many years a resident of Huron, was one of the prominent politicians and characters of the county. He was bom at Stablersville, Baltimore county. Maryland, in 1839, w^here his ances- tors had lived for over 200 years. He moved to Kansas in 1858. set- tling in Lancaster township. He enlisted as a private in Company D, Second Kansas infantry, in 1861, for 100 days, and at the expiration of that time he re-enlisted in the Second Kansas calvary; was made sergeant and was mustered out in 1865 and returned to his farm, subsequently moving to Huron. In 1866 he was elected to the legislature, and in 1871 and 1872 served as deputy United States marshal. He had been justice of the peace, at the time of his death, a few years ago. for over twenty years. Old Huron was tlie original settlement near the present townsite of Huron, and was an important trading point for many years prior to the establishment of the new townsite following the laying of the railroad to Omaha. There were many early settlers of importance in and around Huron, among whom was Capt. Robert AV'hite. Captain White came to Kansas in 1857 and bought the squatter rights of Charles Morgan and preempted a quarter section of land in Lancaster township, near Huron. The birth of the first white child in Atchison county, of which there is any record, occurred in Lancaster township. The child was Miss Frances Miller, who was bom Alay 9. 1855. Her father was the late Daniel Miller, an Ohioan by birth, and lived near DeKalb, Mo., in 1841. In 1854 he looked over northeastern Kansas and settled on Independence creek, twelve miles north of Atchison, early in 1855, near the northeastern corner of Lancaster township. Mr. Miller sold his quarter section in 1858, after he had proven up on it, to Thomas Butcher, a new arrival in Kansas from Brownville, Pa., for $3,000. Mr. Butcher built a flouring mill on this land, which was run by water from Independence creek. Butcher subsequently sold the plant to A. J. Evans, who ran it as a "custom mill" until August. 1865, when it was destroyed by high water, caused by heavy rains. Samuel \\'ymore, for whom Wymore, Nebraska was named, was a res- ident of Lancaster township, near Huron, in the fifties and early sixties, and ran a sawmill by horse power, about three miles north of I^ncaster, in 1858. Mr. \\'ymore sold his first bill of lumber to Captain Robert White for $100 in gold, and at that time it was more money than Wymore had ever .seen at one time, and he was so nervous during the following night that HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY II 5" he could not sleep and continually stirred the fire in the stove so that he could count the money from the light that it made. Wymore was unedu- cated. He could neither read nor write, and he was said to have been worth over $150,000 before 1875. Isaac E. Kelly, a young man from Pennsylvania, taught one of the first schools in Lancaster township, in one of the settlers preemption cabin, near Eden postoffice in i860. He went to war in 1861 and marched with Sher- man to the Sea. The first mowing machine in Atchison count)' was brought to Lancas- ter township, two miles west of where Huron now is, by Joel Hiatt, in 1859, who sold it to Capt. Robert White, who cut hay with it several seasons. The machine was a Ball, and a crude affair. The first reaper to harvest grain in the county was owned by the late M. J. Cloyes, who also lived in Lancaster township, not many miles from Huron. Mr. Cloyes bought the reaper in the early sixties. The grain was raked off by a man lashed to a post on a platfoiTn four or five feet to the rear of the cycle. This reaper was a Buckeye machine, and was sold by J. E. Wagner, the hardware mer- chant of Atchison. The forty acre tract of land upon which the home of Edward Perdue stands, a few miles east of Huron, was traded for a mowing machine by the owner in 1865. Bethel church, located southwest of Huron, is supposed to be the oldest church in the county, outside of Atchison. It was built by the Methodist Episcopal church (South), about 1870, and is still in use in 19 15. Thus it will be seen that Huron is located in the midst of a very inter- esting part of Atchison county, and while the town did not reach the pro- portions that its original promoters had hoped for it, it is one of the good towns of the county. The following are the business houses in Huron in 19LS: J. M. Delany — General merchandise. E. P. Perry — General merchandise. W. E. English — Hardware, implements and furniture. H. T. Harrison — Grocer. Dr. Wiley Jomes — Drug store. John L. Snavly — Restaurant and postmaster. Mrs. Alta Wilson — Hotel. C. E. Mathew — Lumber. Loren Horton — Meat market. Il6 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY A. F. Allen — Grain, coal, live stock and automobile supplies. Baker-Corvvell — Grain company. A. Morehead — Barber. W. Hildman — Blacksmith. Riley & Son — Livery bam. Over 200,000 bushels of grain are shipped from Huron annually and the a\erage shipment of live stock amounts to about forty cars. OLD MARTINSBURG. Martinsburg was laid out near the present site of Potter in the early days. It is not generally known, even among the old settlers, that there was such a place. George Remsburg said that this was due probably to the fact that Martinsburg was born dead. It was conceived in the town craze of early territorial times, but it came a still-bom infant and its pro- moters succeeded in viewing it only long enough for it to give a feeble gasp and fall back dead again. Though this proposed municipal enterprise of pioneer days did not materialize, it was, nevertheless, an interesting and im- portant fact of local history, hitherto unrecorded, that such a town was actually staked off and laid out in Atchison county at a very early period. The only old-timers wlio remembered it were James B. Low, of Colorado Springs, formerly of Mount Pleasant, "Uncle Joe" Potter, and \\'. J. (Jack) Bailey. All three settled in the southern part of Atchison county in 1854. Mr. Low settled with his parents in Walnut township in the fall of that year, and says that Martinsburg was laid out tliat fall. It was situated in what is known as the Mercer bottom, on land Ijelonging to Felix Corpstein and P^red Poss, in the west half of section 24, a little nortlieast of the present site of Potter,' or immediately adjoinitig it. What is known as the Mercer spring, one of the finest in this section, was included in the town site. Mr. Low and his brother went out to look at the place in the fall of 1854 and decided to spend the winter there. It consisted at that time of a few liuts and a small store, and never amounted to any more than a village, if it could be called that, although Mr. Low says the town site originally comprised about 100 acres, and a few lots were actually sold. The store was a small frame building, erected by one Alex Hayes, wlio had pre\iously taken a claim on Plum creek, near Kickapoo. Mr. Low thinks this was the first frame building in Atchison county. Hayes carried a small stock of goods. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY II7 Tliis was long before the town of Mt. Pleasant, in the same vicinity, was ever dreamed of, and even before Tom Fortune opened a store there. It seems that the chief promoters of Martinsburg were two brothers named Martin : hence the name. Not much is known concerning them, or what became of them. "Uncle Joe" Potter says that one of them came to h-is house on one occasion wlien he and his brother, Marion Potter, were mak- ing rails. Martin stood around a while and finally insinuated that they were foolish for working so hard, , and ih a confidential way, "just the same as told them," as Mr. Potter expressed it, that they could make lots of money and make it easy stealing horses, whereupon Marion Potter promptly or- dered him off of the place, and told him never to return. James Low's father bought the town site of Martinsburg in the fall of 1855 and moved onto it in the spring of 1856, converting it into a farm. Thus perished Martinsburg. Even the name did not survive in the memory of the settlers, and it was only by accident that it was recently recalled after a lapse of fifty-four years. At an early day the locality became known as Mercer's Bottom, after Joe Mercer, one of the earliest settlers, and it is known by that name today. It is not known \\hat became of Mercer. James Low sa}-s the last time he saw him was in Den\'er. in 1S5Q. ]\Iercer was a queer character. It is told of him that he lived in a little cabin and sulisisted principally on mussels, which he found in Stranger creek. Alex Hayes, the Martinsburg store- keeper, has also been lost trace of, but Dick King says there was an old- timer named Alexander Hayes, who died many years ago and was buried in the Sapp graveyard at Oak Mills. The town site of Martinsburg was a favorite camping place for soldiers and emigrants passing over the old Military road in the early days on account of the fine spring, the large meadows and the protection of the hills around it. To catch this tide of emigration was, in all probability, the object of those pioneer town pro- jectors in selecting this site. BUNKER HILL. There appears to be nn data available which enables the historian to determine exactly where this town was located, but a prospectus publica- tion March 18, 1858, in Freedom's Champion, states that it was on Inde- pendence creek, within ten miles of Atchison and twenty-five miles of St. Joseph. Its chief promoter was Dr. Charles F. Kob, of Atchison. Dr. Kob was a German physician and surgeon, who located in Atchison at an early Il8 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY date. He had been a surgeon in the anny, and a member of the Massachu- setts and Connecticut medical societies. He hved and practiced medicine in Boston for some time. About the only advantage for Bunker Hill, set forth in the prospectus, was that coal was found around the place, but Bunker Hill never seemed to have any coal in her bunkers. She failed to flourish and no Bunker Hill monument perpetuates her memory. LOCUST GROVE. Locust Grove was never laid out as a town site. It was a stopping place on the old stage route to Topeka, and the postoffice from Mount Pleasant was moved there in 1862. HELENA. Helena was located and named in this county, and the plat thereof was filed March t8, 1857, by James L. Byers, one of the proprietors of the town company, and was located on the north half of section 28, township 5, range r8, on the Little Grasshopper river, in Grasshopper township, at the cross- ing of the old Military' road, five miles north of the present site of Effing- ham. The town appears on an old township map of eastern Kansas, pub- lished by Whi'tman & Searl, of Lawrence, in 1856. It shows it to have been on the east branch of Grasshopper river, about fifteen miles west of Atchison, and north of the Ft. Laramie and California roads. CAYUGA. Cayuga was laid out by a New York colony in 1856, and was named for Cayuga, N. Y. It was also in Grasshopper township, on the old Military road, one and one-half miles from Lancaster township line on part of the east half of section 18, township 3, range 18. It was sun-eyed by Dr. A. C. Tator, and the plat was filed October 9, 1857, by George L. Will- son. Provision was made in the town site for a public park and a young ladies' seminary. It was claimed that it had at one time 400 inhabitants. Among the members of the town company were Messrs, Smooks, Fuller, Higby, Athcrton, Ontis, Meeker, WMlliam Adams, Chase and Dr. Taylor. The land on which the town was located was "junked" as a claim by a Mrs. Place, and thereafter the town gradually went out of existence. It i's said to have had a good two-storv hotel and a number of business houses. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY II9 KENNEKUK. In the plat which Royal Baldwin, president of the town company, filed April 6, 1859, the name of this town is given as Kennekuck. It was located on the southeast quarter and the southwest fractional quarter of section 3, township 3. range 17. Its streets were sixty feet wide, except Broadway, which was 100 feet wide, and Market street, which was eighty feet wide. One block was donated for a market house, and another block for a park, for religious and educational purposes. The streets were numbered from I to 10 and the cross streets were named as follows: Elm, Linn, Cedar, Poplar, Broadway, Market, Walnut, Weld, Perry and Baldwin. The town site was vacated by the board of county commissioners December 15, 187 1. Kennekuk was a station on the Overland stage route, twenty-four miles west and north of Atchison. During the overland stage days Thomas Perry ran an eating station there, and Mrs. Perry, who was a grand cook, always had a smoking hot dJnner ready with the best of coffee, for the occupants of the stage coaches. In the early days dances were held in the Perry home, and Hon. D. ^^^ wilder, the author of the celebrated "Annals of Kansas," used to trip the light fantastic toe there, and it is said that he courted the girl who afterwards became his wife, in the Perry home. Frank .A. Root, who was an express messenger on the overland stage, says, in his book, that Kennekuk was the first "home" station out from Atch- ison, and the drivers were changed there. In 1863 it was a little town of perhaps a dozen houses with one store and a blacksmith shop. The Kick- apoo Indian Agency was one of the most prominent buildings there, and was located near the old road in the northwestern part of the town. The town was laid out by William H. Wheeler, a surveyor and speculator, and was named for the Kickapoo chieftain, John Kennekuk. George Rcmsburg says that the town was platted in June, 1854, but the dedication on the original plat in the court house would indicate that it was platted on the date first mentioned in this sketch. Hon. A. J. White, the son of Capt. Robert White, and at one time a meml)er of the legislature from this county, and one of the leading farmers of the county, claims that Royal Baldwin was the first white settler in Ken- nekuk, and that he was appointed Indian agent for the Kickapoos there by President Pierce before Kansas was opened for settlement. Mr. Remsburg also says that many noted travelers stopped at Kennekuk, including Mark Twain. I20 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY KAPIOMA. According to Captain Elberhant. of Golden. Colo., the Kickapoo Indians once had a village on the Grasshopper river in Atchison county, called Ka- pioma. after the chief of the band, and it is from this source that Kapioma township took its name. Captain Berthoud says that Father Duerinck, a native of Belgium, who was probably the first Jesuit priest in Atchison county, gave the pronunciation of the name of his Atchison county station as Kah-pi-oma, accent on the syllable "Kali." In an affidavit of H. H. Skiles, volume 69, page 63, in the records of the office of the register of deeds of Atchison county, Kansas, the following appears : "This affiant further states that there was in 1857 and 1S58 a com- panj' formed, called and known as the Kapioma City Company, and the in- dividuals composing that company were B. Gray. S. C. Russell, W. \V. Wes- ton. H. H. Skiles and W. Y. Roberts, who united themselves together for the purpose of laying out, locating and establishing a town called Kapioma, on what was then known as Grasshopper creek, just north of its confluence with Straight creek, in the western borders of Atchison county. Kansas. The entire- purpose and scheme in laying out and establishing a town fell through and was wholly and totally abandoned by all and every person con- nected with it without prejudice to any one, and the title to the land in- tended by the company to become town property reverted to the original owner. The law required to establish a town was never complied with." MASHENAH. r^Iashenah. apparently, was to be a rival town of Kennekuk. The cold and quiet records now on file in the court house would convey the idea that Royal Baldwin must have fallen out with the original promoters of Kenne- kuk and decided to establish a town of his own, so, accordingly, he filed a plat of this town Septemlx;r 21, 1857, showing it to be located in the north- east quarter and the northwest quarter of section 2, township 5, range 17. One block was set aside for a college and another for a park. Its streets were numbered i to 21, and the cross streets were named as follows: Oak, Pine. Plum, Vine, Elm. Linn and Cedar. ST. NICHOLAS. The only record that can be found of this town is that Thomas Poteet filed a plat thereof .April 20, 1858, showing it to be located in the southwest corner of section 6, township 7, range 20. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 121 CONCORD. This is another town about which there is httle information available. The plat was filed June 20, 1857, by James R. Whitehead and shows it to have been located in the west half of section i, township 5, range 17. The streets were numbered from i to 18, and the cross streets were named Buch- anan, Emily, Mary, Carolina, Jefferson, St. Joseph, Ell wood, Able, Alex- ander, and there were two public squares, called North and South. PARNELL. The plat of Parnell was filed December 24, 1883, by J. C. Hotham, and shows the town site to be located in the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 20, township 6, range 20. It is located on both the Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads. The station was named for a hero of the Civil war, James L. Parnell, a private soldier in Company F, Thir- teenth Kansas volunteer infantry, who was killed during the skirmish at Haare Head, Ark., August 4. 1864. Parnell was the original settler on the site of Parnell and was one of the first citizens of Atchison county to re- spond under President Lincoln's call of July, 1862. He enlisted in the Thirteenth Kansas. Ex-Sheriff Frank Hartin was a comrade of Parnell in Company F and married into the Parnell family. SHANNON. Shannon was platted by G. W. Sutliff February 22, 1883, and is located in the northwest comer of the northeast quarter of sectitm i, township Ti, range 19, about eight miles \\est of .Xtcliison, on the Parallel road. Tb.e town consists of one store building, in which the ])ostoffice is located, and a few residences, together with railroad station and a small elexator. ELM WOOD. Elmwood was platted by Anna liokc and J. .S. Hoke .^pril T2, 1873. and was located on the south half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 6, range 20. This was a "paper" town, and the only record now available of it is the plat on file in the court house at Atchison. 122 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY CUMMINGSVILLE. Cummingsville was platted by William Cummings December i6, 1872, and was located on the north half of the southwest quarter of section i, to^vn- ship 7, range 19, on the line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway, southwest of Atchison, in Center township, and took its name from the founder of the town. The original plat provided for two streets, Market and Main, but on September 21, 1883, Samuel C. King filed a plat, creating an addition to Cummingsville, composed of four blocks. The first settler on the townsite was Robert Kennish, who located there in November, 1872, and was appointed postmaster when the postoffice was established the following fall. Mr. Kennish opened the first store in Cummingsville in December, 1872, and he for many years was station agent there, one of the oldest in the service of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway. He was a much he- loved character. He died a few years ago at the home of liis daughter. ]\Irs. Nelson W. Cox, who lives in Cummingsville with her invalid husliand, Nels Cox, who for eight years served Atchison county in the capacity of clerk of the court. In April, 1873, C. D. Harrison and family located in Cummings- ville, and their child. Lorenzo, was the first child born on the townsite, and his was also the first death, Lorenzo having died March 25, 1875. In the win- ter of 1880-81, R. C. Ripple taught the first school, and the Methodist church (South) was built in 1880. Cummingsville now is a town of over 100 residences, and in addition to its bank, it has several good stores, a cream station and an elevator. Much grain and live stock is shipped out of Cum- mingsville annually. EDEN p. o. Eden was located about eight miles northwest of Atchison, and Charles Servoss was appointed the first postmaster there in 1858. The postoffice was located on a farm adjoining the Johnson ^^'ymore farm on the south. Servoss resigned as postmaster in 1863 and removed to Detroit, Mich. He was succeeded by H. C. Lee, who kept the office on a farm adjoining the Wymore farm on the west. Mr. Lee was a grandfather of Miss Kate Piatt and Mrs. S. E. Harburger, formerly of Atchison, and the father of Mrs. Flora B. Hiatt. Mr. Lee held the office until 1872, when Francis Schletz- baum. Sr., was named as postmaster, and removed the office to his farm, which adjoined the old Wymore farm on the north. The postoffice remained there until it was discontinued upon the establishment of free nn-al delivery service in 1900. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I23 POTTER. Potter is pleasantly situated on a slight rise or knoll in the beautiful val- ley of Stranger creek, and near the southeast corner of Mt. Pleasant town- ship. From the first it has been the principal station on the Santa Fe rail- road, between Atchison and Leavenworth, being situated about midway be- tween the two cities. It is an attractive little town, with well graded streets and good cement sidewalks, and a number of attractive residences. While it is one of the younger towns of the county, it has made strides that make it compare favorably with some of its older sisters, in volume of liusiness at least, if not in population. Potter, as tlie home of the white man. dates back further than any com- munity in the county. Elsewhere in this history will be found an account of Paschal Pensoneau, the old French trader, who established himself on Stranger creek, near the present tox^nsite, during the early forties. The building of Potter is the third and the most successful attempt to establish a town in that vicinity. The first attempt was at Mount Pleasant. This was one of the first towns started in Kansas, and here was located the first postoffice in Atchison county. It prospered for a time and was a can- didate for the county seat. It gradually declined, and since the establishment of Potter, has been little more than a memory. In the early days, some say before Mt. Pleasant was started, a town was laid out near the big Mercer spring, just northeast of the present site of Potter, and called Martinsburg. It was extensively boomed, but outside of a small store and a few huts, it never advanced beyond the paper stage. Early in 1886 the Leavenworth, Northern & Southern railway, now a branch of the Santa Fe, and known as the "Pollywog," was built and a sta- tion located where Potter now stands. A town was platted and called Ben- nett Springs, after James Gordon Bennett, the well known eastern journal- ist. The mineral springs on the Masterson farm near the townsite were attracting considerable attention at the time, and it was thought that a pop- ular resort could be built up there. The medicinal properties of the water were discovered by Dr. Rice, a local physician, and subsequently analyzed by experts, who confirmed Dr. Rice's conclusions, and a number of people claimed to have used the waters in liver, kidney and other complaints with good results. Henry C. Squires, afterwards a Potter banker, conceived the idea of establishing a health resort here, and named it in honor of James Gordon Bennett, who, it was thought, would use his influence towards get- 1-24 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ting eastern capital interested in the project. The expected financial back- ing was not forthcoming, however, and the proposed development of the springs was never made. In the meantime tlie railroad people had ciiristened the town Potter, in honor of Hon. Joseph Potter, owner of the quarter section on wliich the town was laid out, and. while the name of the town still appears oii the tax rolls as Bennett Springs, the original name having never been legally clianged, the town is now generally known as Potter. Joseph Potter was the original settler, having preempted the land on wliich the town stands, in 1854, and the first sales of lots in Potter were deeded to their purchaser thirty-two vears later direct from tlie Government preemption owner. Tlie taking up of Stlful Sci-lii-. I'littiT. I\:uis:is the land, filing, etc.. cost .Mr. Potter about $220 for 160 acres, and when it was divided up into town lots it brouglit him $200 an acre. Mr. Potter entered part of this land with a land warrant given him for services in the Mexican war. The first lots in the town were sold to the late James Stalons, for many vears a justice of the peace, preacher of the Gospel and prominent citizen of the county. The first house on the townsite was built by Tliomas J. Potter in 1882, four years before the town was laid out. The house is still stand- ing. The first business house in the town was erected by Charles Klein, who operated a store there until his. death. A year or two after Potter was HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 125 Started the postoffice was removed from i\lt. Pleasant to the place, and James B. Weir was the first postmaster. The first hotel was operated l)y Mrs. Elvira Pierce. Dr. Barnes had the first drug store, and was also the first physician ; Frank Blodgett. the first hardware store, and B. F. Shaw & Com- pany, the first furniture store. The first barber was Thomas Seever; the first blacksmith, Lou Chilson: the first butcher, John Yost; the first carpen- ter, P. H. Fleer; the first painters, George Brown and Grant Cass; the first stone masons, S. B. Morrow and Frank Maxwell ; the first shoemaker, Pat- rick Murphy; the first stock buyer, Henry Show; the first school teacher, Albert Limbaugh ; the first railroad agent, C. L. Cherrie; the first lumlier dealer, David Hudson; the first harness maker, Harry Rickets; the first rural mail carrier, Frank White. Frank Mayfield operated the first livery stable; the first elevator was built by James Hawley ; the first church 1>uilding was that of the Methodists. The first Methodist preacher was Rev. John W. Faubian, and the first Christian preacher. Rev. T. W. Cottingham. The first telephone exchange was operated by Charles and George Sprong. The first lodge was Echo Lodge, No. 103. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The first bank was the Potter State Bank. Potter has had three newspapers, the first, the Potter Press, was established by E. E. Campbell, in 1898. In igoo Mr. and Mrs. Eppie Barber started the Potter Leaf. Three years later Charles B. Remsburg bought the Leaf's circulation and launched the Potter Kansan, which is now owned and published by his father, J. E. Remsburg. Potter is one of the most flourishing towns of its size in Kansas. Though its population is less than 200, it boasts of two banks, the aggregate resources of which amount to nearl\- a (|uartei" million dollars. There probably is not another town of its size in the State that has two banks. The town has two good elevators which during the years 1912, 1913 and 1914 handled on an average of 140,000 bushels of grain a year. These elevators are operated by Fred Ode & Sons and James Robinson. The railroad station at Potter does a business that amounts to something like $40,000 annually. The ship- ping of live stock is an important industry here. The principal buyers are Tinsley, Potter, and Timple Bros. Much fruit is grown around Potter, and as high as $20,000 has been paid out for apples during one shi])ping season. Potter has a rural high school, the first of its kind established in the State, and an $8,000 school building. The town has two general stores, those of W. A. Hodge and P. P. Knoch ; a hardware store, operated by B. F. Shaw ; a grocery store, by Thomas J. Potter; a furniture store, by Frank Beard; a drug store, by G. E. 126 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Coulter; a hotel, by Mrs. G. F. Pope; two blacksmith shops, by R. E. Brown and G. F. Pope; a livery stable, by H. G. Hawley; two barber shops, by George Brown and Frank Blankenship; a cement tile factory, by Grisham & Maxwell ; a millinery store, by Mrs. T. J. Maxwell ; a telephone exchange, by E. C. Yoakum; a newspaper. The Potter JVeekly Kdusau, by J. E. Remsburg; two physicians. Dr. G. W. Redmon and Dr. S. M. Myers. Dr. A. E. Ricks, of Atchison, has a branch dental office here ; the Lambert Lumber Company, of Leavenworth, has a commodious and well stocked yard here, with Samuel Parker as manager. There are two churches. Methodist and Christian, two I FOB fX^'W r^W Z9^ I II i iiif - y i ■ public halls, and one lodge hall. L. M. Jewell conducts an insurance, real estate and loan business. There is also a garage, and other business enter- prises in the town. MOUNT PLEAS.VNT. In 1854 Thomas L. Fortune, Jr., a Virginian, settled on the "old Mili- tary road" and opened one of the very earliest stores in Atchison county, around ^his store springing up the village of Mount Pleasant. .A postnffice was established here in 1855, and Mr. Fortune was appointed postmaster. Being an inventive genius, he finally gave up his store business and devoted his energies towards perfecting and building a road-wagon, to which refer- ence has heretofore been made, and which he thouglit would revolutionize the freighting business across the plains. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I27 The townsite of Mount Pleasant was sun-eyed in 1857 by Jolm P. Wheeler, agent for the Town Company. Michael Wilkins and James Laird were the very first settlers in the township, being followed shortly afterwards by Levi Bowles, Jacob Grind- staff, Andrew J. Peebler, Martin Jones, Chris Horn, P. R. King, W. C. Findley, A. S. Speck and .\mos Hamon. The first hotel in the town was opened by Henry Pa^-ne, who operated it many years. T. J. Payne and Philo W. Hull were the next parties to engage in busi- ness, Mr. Payne leaving when the new town of Sumner was started, and locating there. The next to engage in business was P. R. Khig, who established a gen- eral store about 1858. He remained at Mount Pleasant until after the county seat question had been settled, when he removed to Atchison. In the fall of 1858 a district school was opened. In i860 tlie Cumber- land Presbyterians erected a church liuilding, having held religious services at the homes of the members prior to this time. Rev. A. A. Moore was their first pastor. On May i, 1862, the Church of Christ was organized by Elder W. S. Jackson, with seventeen members, services being held in the school house. Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 158, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Mount Pleasant, was organized in the fall of 1868 by the following charter members : William J. Young, X. Klein, M. R. Benton, John Hawley, S. K. McCreary, Joseph Howell and Albert Hawley. Their first meeting was lield October 20, 1868, with the following as first officers : William Young, wor- shipful master; X. Klein, senior warden; A. Hawley, junior warden; S. K. McCreary, secretary ; M. R. Benton, treasurer. In August, 1862, the name of the postoffice was changed to Locust Grove. lewis' point. In pre-territorial times and in the steamboat days, Kansas had many geographical names that are not now to be found on the map. Some of them, where permanent settlements have sprung up, have been perpetuated, but the majority of them do not live even in the memory of the oldest iniiabitants. One of the latter is "Lewis' Point," near the present site of Oak Mills. Old "Cap." Lewis is long since dead, his name almost forgotten, and the rapacious Missouri river and "Mansell's Slide" are now about to devour the "Point," 128 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY with which his name was coupled in our early geography. While "Lewis' Point" was never a place of any prominence, and not even the site of a village or settlement, yet it was a geographical name that was known to every steam- boat man running on this section of the river, and is worthy of preservation in our local historj-. "Lewis' Point" was at the projection of land lying im- mediately above Oak Mills, on the Missouri river. It took its name from the fact that Calvin Lewis, an old riverman. settled at this point at an early day, and it became a frequent stopping place for steamboats to take on wood. In those days there was a splendid wood supply in that vicinit)-. Lewis' house stood near the site of the old Champton. or William Moody, house, wlhich was destroyed by fire about a year ago. It is not generally known that a steamboat was ever built on Atchison county soil, much less that Oak Mills was ever the scene of the ship builder's craft, outside of the construction of Indian canoes and the modern skiffs built by Dick King or some other later-day river man. Yet. it is a fact that Calvin Lewis once built and launched at "Lewis' Point" a small stern-wheel steam- boat, and operated it on the river for several years. In 1855 the first terri- torial legislature of Kansas passed an act authorizing Lewis to operate a ferr}^ at "Lewis' Point." FAliLEV's FERRY. The same legislature that gave permission to Lewis to operate a ferrv' at "Lewis' Point," granted the same privilege to Ximrod Farley, to maintain a ferry across the Missouri river, opposite latan, Mo. Farley \vas a well known character in the Missouri bottoms in the vicinity of latan. Cow Island, and Oak Mills, in the early days. He lived near latan, but it seems that he owned land on the Kansas side, near Oak Mills, which offered a landing for his ferry. He was a brother of Josiah Farley, who laid out the to\\Ti of Farley, in Platte county, in 1850. George McAdow later became proprietor of Farley's Fern,- and operated it until it was destroyed by Jayhawkers, shortlv before the war. CHAPTER VIII. THE CIVIL WAR. THE ISSUE BETWEEN EARLY SETTLERS INFLUX OF FREE STATE AND PRO- SLAVERY PARTISANS EARLY VOLUNTEERING MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS THREATENED INVASION FROM MISSOURI POLITICAL SOCIETIES JAY- HAWKERS — Cleveland's gang — lynchings — atchison county TROOPS IN the war PRICe's ATTEMPTED INVASION. The six years intervening between 1854 and i860 constitute a momentous period in the history of Atchison county. No new community was ever organized under more unpromising circumstances. It was not merely land hunger and lust for personal gain that were the impelling motives wliich brought men to Kansas in that day. Neither gold, nor gas, nor oil, nor precious gems lured men here. Kansas was then, as it is now, an agricultural paradise, and such an environment has ordinarily Init little charm for the dar- ing adventurer and the seeker after sudden riches, who toil not and spin less. It is true that a large numlier of peaceful, plodding home-seekers — the tillers of the soil — the hewers of wood and the haulers of water, immigrated to Kansas to take up land and build ])emianent homes, but they were in the minoritv prior to i860. The tremendous issue of human s1aver\- was the all absorbing fact, and the long struggle here wrought a complete revolu- tion in the political thought of the whole country. Men came to Kansas for the most, part for political rather than for business or agricultural reasons. The settlement of Kansas was an inspired political movement (if partisans. There was little room for neutrals, and those who were "too proud to fight" went elsewhere. There was little consideration on the part of the earlv settlers of Kansas, of any questions except slaverv and anti-slaverv. Thev came in large numbers fmm the .South and from the Xortli, an- fought here in a last desperate strug- gle for supremacy, these courageous men and women on both sides fouioded their towns, built their court houses, then" primary schools and their churches with an abiding faith in the hearts of each of them that victory would finally crown their efforts. Atchison county made progress in spite of the fact that her leaders were wrong. We gave promise here of being the metropo- lis of Kansas, for we had many geographical and commercial advantages over other struggling communities of the Territory. But before the well laid plans of our citizens matured, before projects for the development of steam transportation to bring us nearer the outside world could be conclmled the mighty conflict which ended in four bloody years of civil w-ar, broke upon the Nation, and Kansas within three months after being admitted as a State enrolled itself on the side of the Union. Atchison county sprang to amis almost a thousand strong, and may it ever be said to its everlasting glory that few-, if any, counties in the State had a more patriotic record. One hundred and thirty-one .\tchison county men enlisted in the First Kan- sas regiment; twenty-five in the Seventh; eighty-five in the Eighth: eighty- six in the Tenth: 260 in the Thirteenth; 100 in the First Kansas (colored); twenty-five in the First Nebraska; 105 in the Thirteenth ?*Iissouri: thirty in the Fifteenth Kansas: forty in fhe Ninth, and fifty in the Sixteenth, or a" total of <)T,j men, which, together with the scattering of men in other regi- ments- in adjoining States, brought the total number of soldiers engaged during the Civil war to 1,000. The population of .\tchison county at that time was 7.747, and the voting population 1,133, which shows that the total number of voters was but slightly larger than the total number of \-olun- teers. At that time Atchison, by reason of its location, was subject to in- cursions from Confederate troops and Jayhawkers from Missouri, w-hich called for the organization at different periods of the war, of home guard companies, which are not included in the foregoing statement. .\t the out- set of the war .\tchison had three militia companies. .\. B and C. and a fourth, known as the All Hazard company, the origin of w^hose name is thus explained. At the city election in the spring of 1861 the issue was union or dis-union. The Republicans and Union Democrats united in supporting G. H. Fairchild for mayor. He w^as a Union Democrat who on various occasions announced his unwavering friendship of the Union and for the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I3I maintenance of the constitution and laws "at all hazards," and when this company enlisted for the war [Mayor I'^airchikl was its captani and it became Company K of the First Kansas. It participated in the battle of Wilson's Creek, August lo, 1861, which was the first action in which a Kansas regi- ment was under fire. In 1861 there were constant threats of invasion from Missouri rebel organizations in Buchanan and Platte counties, and in that year anoliier home guard company was organized with the following officers : Charles Holbert, captain ; J. G. Bechtold, first lieutenant ; Clem Rhor, second lieuten- ant ; W. Becker, third lieutenant ; John Schupp, ensign. During the follow- ing year the danger of invasion became still more threatening and 650 men in sixteen companies came to Atchison to protect the town from destruction. Tlie Atchison county companies were commanded by Captains Holbert, Hays, Batsett, Evans and Vanwinkle. It was due to the thoroughness with which the people of Atchison organized themselves against invasion that they were spared from being completely annihilated. On the fifteenth day of Septem- ber, 1861, another company for home guard service was mustered in at I't. Leavenworth. J. M. Graham was captam ; J. G. Bechtold, first lieutenant; R. N. Bryant, second lieutenant. This company subsequentlv liecanie Com- pany E of tlie First Kansas Regiment Home (iuards, numbering fiftv men, and were ordered back to Atchison for duty, where thev were stationed until all danger of invasion had passed, after which the company became a part of the Eighth Kansas. The victories of the Union forces in 1S62 were frequent, and as a result many rebel sympathizers came to Atchison for safety, where they became very troublesome. In order to counteract the growing evil over the activities of these men, Mayor Fairchild issued a proc- lamation in which he warned them that they must not expect to be pro- tected in any manner by the city laws as long as thev held to the \'iews which they expounded at every favorable opportunity. "It would be absurd to suppose," the proclamation said, "that a patriotic communitv 'could treat otherwise than its enemies, persons who are in svmpathv wit!i base men who ha\e lirought upon our country untold nn'serw almost un- limited taxation and almost inconceivable pecuniary suffering. " As a repre- sentative of a lo}al people I will not encourage men to return among us who ha\e circulated reports that they were refugees from the loyal States on account of their secession doctrines, nor will I give protection to men who unmistakably at heart belong to the Confederacy." This proclamation met with such favor that a mass meeting of Union men in .\tchison count v 132 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY was held at Price's Hall March 15, 1862. The whole county was well represented and stirring addresses were delivered by Colonel Edge, of Doni- phan countv, Tom Murphy, the genial proprietor of the Massasoit House. Rev. W. S. W'enz, Lieutenant Price. E. Chesebrough, Mayor Fairchild, Caleb May, and others, after which resolutions denouncing the southern sym- pathizers and notifying them not to return were unanimously adopted. Dur- ing the latter part of the sanie year a call for aid to assist the Atchison countv troops met with immediate response and within a few days, com- mencing August 20, 1862, almost $4,000 was subscribed by tlie citizens of Atchison. Seven hundred and forty-five dollars came from Mt. Pleasant township. Among the leading contributors were Theodore Bartholow. E. Cheseijrough. G. W. Fairchild. J. W. Russell. W. L. Challiss, Dr. \Mlliam Irwin. G. W. Howe. Bela M. Hughes. William Hetherington. Otis &• Glick, Henry Deisbach, J. E. M'agner, Rice McCubbin, McCausland & Brown. Tom Murphv, \^'. A. Cochrane. Samuel C. Pomeroy. Stebbins & Company, E. Butcher, and William C. Smith, each of whom subscribed the sum of $50 or over. Atchison also made a notable contribution when Ouantrell invaded Lawrence, sending $4,000 to assist the people of that city. In [SA^ depreda- tions of the Ja.\hawkers became very annoying, and a vigilance committee was organized and all good, peaceful and loyal citizens were called upon to band themselves together for the protection of their lives, homes and i)rop- ertv. Those who joined the vigilance committee took an oath to support the Government of the Ignited States and Kansas, and to do all in their powder to put down the rebellion, and also to keep secret 'all proceedings of the or- ganization. This committee did very effective work in l)ringing to punish- ment violators of law and also in keeping the lawless bands of Jayhawkers and other thieves out of Atchison county. The following "circular" has been unearthed by the author, and while it bears no date it apparently contained the constitution, by-laws, ritual and oath of these societies. "circular TO OFFICERS. "Be extremely careful in the selection of your members. Admit no one who is not of good standing in the community, and whom you have not good reason to believe to be firm and nncomjiromising in his devotion to the LTnion. and to be relied upon to assist in any emergency in maintaining the laws and good order in the community. This is of the first and highest im- portance to the order, and if any member shows symptoms of defection, watch him closely. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I33 "In all cases, deal kindly with }r)ur opponents, and strive b_\' gentle means to win them over to a change of sentiment. Many good men ma}- thus be brought within our circle who would otherwise be lost to us. "The first club established in your county seat will be called the County Club, to which all clubs in the county will report, and by those officers all such clubs will be established. It is important that we be frequently advised as to our strength in the State ; and for this purjxise each subordinate club will re- port weekly to the county club the number of members enrolled therein : and the County Club will report monthly to the Ex. Com. at the number of clubs and number of members in the county. These reports should be carefully sealed and addressed . "The officers of County Clubs will be supplied with a printed constitution and ritual, aiul they will furnish officers of subordinate clubs copies of the same, with a strict injunction to secrecy. "All correspondence must Ije secret as possible: and in order that this may be accomplished the monthly reports maj' consist only of the place, date, num- ber of clubs in the county and number of members. No signature must be attached. These reports will be summed up and published by the Ex. Com. "Strict secrecy as to the icorking of the organization is enjoined and promptness and vigor in its extension is very important. We must work now and work rapidly. No time is to be lost; our opponents are working vigor- ously and secretly, but it is not too late to counteract their machinations and utterly overthrow them. JVork! Work! Jl'ork! "CONSTITUTION. "object. "The object shall be to preserve and maintain the Uninn and the constitu- tion of the L'nited States and of the State of Kansas, and to defend Kansas against invasion, insurrection, civil commotion and to protect Cnion men against assassination, arson, robbery, prescription and all other wrongs in- flicted by the enemies of the Government of the United States and of this State upon loyal persons. "officers. "The officers shall consist of Pr.. V. P., R. S., T., M., and S.. who shall hold their office for three months. 134 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY "duties OF OFFICERS. "The duties of officers shall be the same as in similar organizations and all business shall be conducted in the usual parliamentary form. "admission of members. "Persons may become members who are eighteen years of age and up- wards, and are citizens of the United States. "initiation. "All initiations shall take place in and with the authority of the officers of the club who may delegate suitable persons to initiate members from time to time as occasion requires outside of any regular meeting of the club. Branch clubs mav be formed by proper application to this club when the president may appoint suitable persons to establish the same. "withdrawals. "Any member may withdraw from this club by giving written notice of the same to the R. S. at any regular meeting: but the obligations of such member shall remain the same as before. ".\MENDMENTS. "This constitution may be altered or amended by giving one week's notice thereof, by a vote of two-thirds of the executive committee of the State. Each county club may make by-laws for its own organization, not conflicting with this constitution. "ritu.a,l. "Eternal God ! Supreme Ruler, Governor and Architect of the Universe I We humbly beseech Thee to protect the people of the United States in general and especially the members of this organization. Wilt thou be pleased to direct and prosper all our consultations to the advancement of Thy glory, the good of Thy country, the safety, honor and welfare of Thy people, and may all things be ordered and settled by the Legislature and Executive branches of our Gov- ernment upon the best and surest foundation, so that peace and happiness, truth and justice may be established among us for all generations. Wilt Thou be pleased to guide and direct us as Thou didst our Fathers in the Revolution, With the strength of Thine almighty arm Thou didst uphold and sustain them through all their trials, and at last didst crown them with - victor>'. May HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I 33 charit}-, and brotherly love cement us ; may we be united with our principles founded upon the teachings of Thy Holy Word and may Thy Good Spirit guide, strengthen and comfort us, now and forever, Amen. "All candidates for membership to (his club will be required to answer the following questions to be propounded b\' the marslial before initiation : "i. Are you opposed to secession or disunion ? "2. Do you acknowledge that your first and highest allegiance is due to the Government of the United States of America? "3. Are you willing to take such an oath of allegiance to the United States of z\merica? "4. Are you willing to pledge yourself to resist to the extent of your power, all attempts to subvert or overthrow the constitution of the United States, or the constitution of the State of Kansas? "Should the candidates answer affirmatively, the marshal, after repeating to the president, will conduct them into the club room and present them to the president, who shall then address the candidates as follows : "Gentlemen : — We rejoice that you have tlnis voluntarily come forward to unite yourselves with us. The cause we advocate is that of our country ; banded together for the purpose of perpetuating the liberties for which our fathers fought, we have sworn to uphold and protect them. "It is a strange and sad necessity which impels American citizens to band themselves together to sustain the constitution and the Union ; but the Govern- ment under which we live is threatened with destruction. Washington en- joined upon us that 'the unity of the Government which constitutes us one peo- ple is a main pillar in the edifice of our real independence : the support of our tranquility at home, our peace abroad — of our safety, of our prosperity, of that very liberty which we so highly prize.' He charges that we should 'prop- erly estimate the immense value of our national Union to our collective and in- dividual happiness; that we should cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it ; accustoming ourselves to think and sjieak of it as the palladium of our political safety and prosperity ; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety ; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned.' "He tells us again that 'to the efficiency and permanency of the ITnion, a Government for the whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict be- tween the parts, is an adequate substitute.' "It is to sustain this Government we are banded togetlier, and for this pur- pose you are now required to take a solemn obligation. 136 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY "Place your left hand on the National Flag and raise your right hand toward Heaven ; repeating after me : "We and each of us do solemnly swear in the presence of God and these witnesses to support, protect and defend the constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Kansas against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to maintain and defend the Government of the United States and the flag thereof, and aid in maintaining the laws of the United States in this State and to defend the State of Kansas against invasion from any State or States and from any other rebellion, invasion, insurrection to the best of our ability without any mental reservation or evasion — So help us God. "The members will respond. "To this we pledge ourselves. "We do severally solemnly swear and affirm that we will protect, aid and defend each member of all Union clubs, antl will never make known in any way or manner, to anv person or persons, not members of Union clubs, any of the signs, passwords, proceedings, purposes, debates or plans of this or any other club under this organization, except when engaged in admitting new members into this organization. "The president will then deliver the following address to the candidates : " 'The oath which you have now taken of your own free will and accord cannot rest lightly upon your conscience, neither can it be violated without leaving the stain of perjury upon your soul. Our country is now in "disorder" and "confusion ;" the fires of commotion and contest are now raging in our midst, war has come to us but we cannot, we must not, we dare not omit to do that which in our judgment the safety of the Union requires, not regardless of consequences, we must yet meet consequences : seeing the hazard that sur- rounds the discharge of pul)lic duty, it must yet be discharged. Let us then, ciieerfully shun no responsibility justly devolving upon us here or elsewhere in attempting to maintain the Union. Let us cheerfully partake its fortune and its fate. Let us be ready to perform our appropriate part, whenever and wherever the occasion may call us, and to take our chances among those upon whom the blows may fall first and fall thickest. " 'Above all remember the words of our own immortal Clay : "If Kentucky tomorrow unfurls the banner of resistance, I never will fight under that ban- ner. I owe a paramount allegiance to the whole L',nion. A subordinate one to my own State." " 'Be faithful, then, to your country, for your interests are indissolubly connected with hers; be faithful to these, your bretlnen, for your life and theirs HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I 37 may be involved in this contest; be faithful tn jjosterity for the blessings you have enjoyed in this Government are but held in trust for thee.' "Response by all the members — We Will! "The president will then present the constitution and oath to the candi- dates for their signature." Charles Metz, a notorious Jayhawker, whose personal appearance and characteristics are best described in an essay entitled, "The Last of the Jay- hawkers," contributed to the old Kansas Magazine, by John J. Ingalls. "Conspicuous among the irregular heroes who thus sprang to arms in 1861," says Ingalls, "and ostensibly their leader, was an Ohio stage driver liy the name of Charles Metz, who having graduated with honor from the peniten- tiary of Missouri, assumed for prudential reasons the more euphonious and distinguished appellation of 'Cleveland.' He was a picturesque brigand. Had he worn a slashed doublet and trunk hose of black velvet he would have been the ideal of an Italian bandit. Young, erect and tall, he was sparely built and arrax-ed himself like a gentleman in the costume of the day. His appearance was that of a student. His visage was thin, his complexion olive tinted and colorless, as if 'sicklied over with a pale cast of thought.' Black piercing eyes, finely cut features, dark hair and beard correctly trim- med, completed a font ensemble that was strangely at variance with the aspect of the score of dissolute and dirty desperadoes that formed his com- mand. These were generally degraded ruffians of the worst type, whose highest idea of elegance in personal appearance was to have their mustaches a villainous, metallic black, irrespective of the consideration whether its native hue was red or brown. * * * * "The vicinity of the fort with its troops rendered Leavenworth undesir- able as a base of operations. St. Joseph was also heavily garrisoned, and they accordingly selected Atchison as the point from which to move on the enemy's works. Atchison at that time contained alxjut 2,500 inhabitants. Its business was transacted upon one street and extended west about four blocks from the river. Its position upon the extreme curve of the 'Crand Detour' of the Missouri, affording unrivaled facilities to the interior in the event of pursuit. Having been princi'pally settled by Southerners it still afforded much legitimate gain for our bird of prey, and its loyal population having already largely enlisted, the city was incapable of organized resistance to the depredations of the m.irauders. "They established their headquarters at the saloon of a German named Ernest Renner, where thev held their councils of war and whence thcv started 138 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY upon their forays. The winter was favorable to their designs, as the river closed early, enabling them to cross upon the ice. Cleveland proclaimed himself marshal of Kansas, and announced his determination to run the country. He invited the cordial co-operation of all good citizens to assist him in sustaining the government and ])unishing its foes. Ignorant of his resources and of his purposes, the people were at first inclined to welcome their strange guests as a protection from the dangers to which they were exposed, but it soon became apparent that tlie doctors were worse than the disease. They took possession of the town, defied the municipal autliorities, and committed such intolerable excesses that their expulsion was a matter of public safety. Their incursions into Missouri were so frequent and audacious that a company of infantry was sent from Weston and stationed at \\'inthrop to effect their capture, but to no purpose. * * * * If a man had an enemy in any part of the country whom he wished to injure, he reported him to Cleveland as a rebel, and the next night he was robbed of all he possessed and considered fortunate if he escaped without personal violence. * * * * A small detachment of cavalry was sent from tlie fort to take them, but just as they had dismounted in front of the saloon and were iiitching their horses, Cleveland appeared at the door with a cocked navy in each hand and told them that he would shoot the first man who moved a finger. Calling two or three of his followers he disarmed the dragoons, took their horses and equipments and sent them back on foot to reflect upon the vicissitudes of military affairs. Early in 1862 the condition liecame des- perate and the city authorities, in connection with the commander at W'in- throp, concerted a scheme which brought matters to a crisis. Cleveland and about a dozen of his gang were absent in Missouri on a scout. The time of their return was known, and Marshal Charles Holbert had his force sta- tioned in the shadow of an old ware-house near the l^ank of the river. It was a brilliant moonlight night in mid-winter. The freebooters emerged from the forest and crossed upon the ice. They were freshly mounted and each one had a spare horse. Accompanying them were two sleighs loaded with negroes, harness and miscellaneous plunder. As they ascended the steep shore of the levee, unconscious of danger, they were all taken pris- oners except Clexeland, who turned suddenly, spurred his horse down the embankment and escaped. The captives were taken to Weston, where they .soon afterward enlisted in the Federal army. The next day Cleveland rode into town, captured the city marshal on the street and declared his inten- tion to hold him ns a hostage for the safety of his men. He compelled the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I39 marshal to walk l)y the side of his horse a short distance, when finding a crowd gathering for his capture, he struck him a blow on the head wi'th his pistol and fled." Cleveland continued his exploits for a number of months after this, but was finally captured in one of the southern counties where he was attempting to let himself down the side of a ravine. He was shot by a soldier from above, and the ball entered his arm and passed through his body. He was buried in St. Joseph. Mo., and a marble head stone over his grave bears the following inscription, placed there by his widow : "One hero less on earth, one angel more in heaven." As the direct result of the operations of Cleveland and liis gang, the spirit of lawlessness grew and the people finally "took the law into tlieir own hands." Perhaps the best account of the lynchi'ngs that followed was given by Hon. Mont. Cochran March 17, 1902, at the time a Congressman from Missouri, but formerly a leading citizen and county attorney of Atchi- son. Mr. Cochran said : "The thieves who fell victims to Judge Lyncli, while not known as Cleveland's gang, operated extensively throughout the period of lawlessness, in which no effort whatever was made to bring the outlaws to justice. After the Cleveland gang had been effectively broken up, these depredatory scoun- drels continued their operations. Their last crime, and the one for which they were jibbeted, was the attempted robbery of an old man named Kelsey. He had received at Ft. Leavenworth $1,500 on a Government contract, and, upon returning home by the way of Atchison, he deposited it in Hethering- ton's bank. The thieves went to his house at night and demanded the money. Of course, he could not produce it. They tortured the old man and his wife alternately for hours, and when after the departure of the thieves, the neigh- bors were called in. Kelsey and liis wife were nearer dead than alive. The next morning hundreds of their neighbors, armed to the teeth, swarmed into . Atchison. In Third street, north of Commercial, was a little log building, which had been the home of an early settler, in which was a gunsmith's shop. Three or four of the farmers went there to have their fire arms put in order. When they came out one of them had a revolver in his hand. Two fellows standing by, seeing the farmers approaching, dived into an alley and started westward at lightning speed. The farmers pursued and at the house of a notorious character, known as Aunt Betsey, the fugitix'es were run to cover. The house was surrounded and they were captured. One of them was sterling, the fiddler and pianist of the bagnio. Other arrests 140 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY followed until five were in durance. Then ensued probably the most extra- ordinar)' proceeding known to the annals of Judge Lynch. The mob took possession of the jail and the court house and for a week held them. The prisoners were tried one by one. Sterling was convicted and executed. An elm tree, standing on the banks of White Clay creek, in the southwest ciuar- ter of the town, was admirably suited to the purpose. When the wagon, bearing Sterling to his doom reached the ground the whole town was in attendance. A range of hills to the south swarmed with women. Asa Barnes, a prominent farmer, a man of iron resolution and unswerving hon- esty, was the leader of the mob. With clinched teeth and blanched face he ordered Sterling to take hJs place on the seat of the wagon, and, while the desperado was as game as a peacock, he promptly obeyed. Standing on the wagon seat Sterling took off his hat, banged it down and placing his foot on it, shook his clenched hand at the sea of upturned faces, and with a volley of imprecations, said : T am the best d d man that e\er walked the earth and if you will drop me down and give me a gun, I will fight any ten of you." Sandy Corbin, a great bluffer, who bore but little better reputation than the man with the noose on his neck, pretended that he wanted to fight Sterl- ing single-handed. Nobody else paid any attention to Sterling's ravings, and in a twinkling he was swung into eternity. The next day two others, a man named Brewer, a soldier at home on a furlough, and a young fellow known as Pony, met the same fate. There was much sympathy for Pony. He was a drunkard and all his delinquencies were attributed to this weakness. Just as they were ready to swing him up, two or three members of the mob told him that if he would give information as to others implicated, but who had not been arrested, they would save him. His reply was: 'I went into this thing as a man and I will die as a man.' There was a stir among those near- est the wagon and it was discovered that an effort was being made to save the boy from death. The traces were cut and the horses led away. The effort failed. Fifty men seized the wagon and dragged it away. The fourth to suffer the vengeance of the mob was an old gray-haired man named Moodv. At the trial he strongly protested his innocence, and promised, if given a respite of twenty-four hours, lie would prove an alibi. This was granted, liut the witnesses were not forthcoming and the next day the old man was put to death. .\ priest visited him in jail, which was constantly surrounded day and night, and when he came out after administering the rights of the church to the doomed man, it was remarked by those who saw hi'm that the priest was as pale as a ghost. The report gained currency that HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I4I when asked if IMoody was innocent, he refused to answer yea or nay, and, although it had not then developed that Moody could not produce the wit- nesses he promised, the cnnduct of the priest was taken as proi)f that Moody w^as guilty. During the week in which these exti^aordinarv proceedings took place, the mob was in undisputed control of the court house and jail. Judge . Lynch was perched upon the wool sack and a jury of twelve men, who had cjualified under oath, in the usual form, occupied the jury box. Not the slightest effort at concealment was made by those who led or those who followed. In my judgment no other course was left open to the community. "Not less than 500 men were driven out of Kansas on the charge of disloyalty in 1861 and 1862, with the approval of men of excel- lent character, by thugs and scoundrels, who made no concealment of the fact that they lived by horse stealing and house breaking. From the be- ginning of the Civil war until peace was declared, the Kansas border from the Nebraska State line to the Indian Territory, was a scene of lawlessness and disorder. In the earlier years of the war, thieves regularly organized into companies, with captains whose authority was recognized by the rank and file, with headf|uarters in the towns and cities of eastern Kansas, mas- queraded as saviors of the Union, and upon the pretense that thev were serving the cause, thrived amazingly by pillaging the farm houses and barns of neighboring counties in Missouri. Atchison was the headquarters of the Cleveland gang — the nmst active and the lioldest of the ])anditti. The gang did not hesitate to cross over to Missouri and steal horses, and returning to Atchison sell them in broad daylight. Usually these raids were made at flight, but there w-as no concealment of the business they were engaged in, nor of the fact that hundreds of the horses sold Ijy them were stolen from farmers of Buchanan, Platte and Clinton counties. In the capacity of saviors of the Union, they took upon themselves the task of driving all per- sons suspected of sympathy for 'thf lost cause' out of Kansas. P. T. Abell, J. T. Hereford, Headley & Carr, prominent lawyers, were notified to leave or they would be killed. They departed. Headley, Carr and Hereford served i'n the Confederate army. Abell lived in exile until after the war was over, and then returned to Atchison. He was one of the founders of the town, and before tlie war was the ])artner of Gen. B. V. Stringfellow. Tom Ray, proprietor of an extensive blacksmitliing and wagon shop, was ban- ished. In a month or two he returned, but not until after he had halted at \\'intlirop, a village opposite Atchison and opened u]) negoli;itions which resulted in a grant of permission to remain i'n .\tchison long enough to settle 142 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY up his business and collect considerable sums due from his customers. He registered at the old Massasoit House, but did not tarry long. Maj. R. H. Weightman, an early settler, who left Atchison in 1861, and accepted a col- onel's commission in the Confederate army, had been killed at Wilson's Creek. While sitting in the Massasoit House barroom, Ray was approached by Sandy Corbin. a somewhat notorious character, who handled most of the horses stolen by Cleveland's thieves. Corbin mentioned Weightman's death, expressing satisfaction at his untimely end. and applying all the epi- thets known to the abandoned, to the dead man. Ray expostulated, and finallv warned Corbin to desist or expect a thrashing. Corbin rushed to his room and returned with two revolvers, so adjusted upon his belt that Ray could not help seeing them. Ray, who was a giant in size, seized Cor- bin, threw him face downward upon a billiard table, and with a blacksmith's hand as large as a ham. spanked him until he was almost insensible. Then he hurriedlv boarded the ferrv^ boat, crossed the river and made his way to Montana, where he lived until his death, twenty years ago. "Cleveland's lieutenant, a fellow named Hartman. was the worst of the gang, and was guilty of so many and such flagrant outrages upon the prom- inent citizens that in sheer desperation, four men. all of whom are now dead, met and drew straws to see who would kill Hartman — (i) Jesse C.'Crall, during his life prominent in politics and business; (2) George T. Challis.s, for tliirty years a deacon in the Baptist church and a prominent wholesale merchant and identified prominently with Atchison affairs; (3) James Mc- Ewen, a cattle buyer and butcher; (4) The fourth man was a prominent physician. Each of these had suffered intolerable outrages at tlie hands of Hartman. He had visited their houses and terrified their wives by notifying them that unless their husbands left Atchison within a specified period they would be mobbed. Even the cliildren of two of the victims of persecution had been abused. They met at the physician's office, and after a prolonged conference at which it was agreed that neither would leave un- til Hartman had been killed, proceeded to draw straws to see which would undertake the work. Crall held the straws, McEwen drew tlie short straw and the job fell to his lot. Atchison is bi-sected by two or three brooks, one of which traverses the northwest section of the town and runs into White Clay creek. This ravine has very precipitous banks, and was crossed by several foot bridges. At the east approach of the bridge was a tall elm tree. McEwen took his position under this tree, and awaited the appearance of Hartman, who necessarily passed that way in going home at night. When HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 143 Plartman was half-way across llie bridge, McEwen stepped oul. dropped lo his knee, leveled a double-barreled shotgun and turned loose. He filled Hartman with buckshot from his head to his heels, but strange to say, the fellow did not die for months afterward. Had either of the others drawn the fatal straw, no doulrt Hartman would have been killed in broad daylight, on the streets, but McEwen concluded to give the fellow no chance for his life." The First Kansas volunteer cavalry was the first regiment to be raised under the call of President Lincoln May 8, 1861. It was mustered into the service at Ft. Leavenworth June 3, 1861. George W. Deitzler, of Lawrence, was colonel, and the following men from Atchison were officers : George H. Faicheled, captain, Company C; Camille Aguiel, first lieutenant; Rinaldo A. Barker, second lieutenant ; James \V. Martin, second lieutenant of Company B. Within ten days of the date this regiment was mustered in, they received orders for active service. The regiment joined the army of General Lyon at Grand River, Mo., and on July 10 arrived at Springfield, where the force of General Sigel was gathered. Tlie united forces of the rebels, under Price and McCullouch, was concentrated at Wilson's Creek, twelve miles from Springfield, and was strongly entrenched there, where the initial engage- ment of the First Kansas regiment took place. This regiment went into the engagement with 644 men and officers, and lost seventy-seven killed and 333 wounded. The rebel forces were estimated to be 5,300 infantry, fifteen pieces of artillery, and 6.000 horsemen, with a loss of 265 killed, 721 wounded, and 292 missing. The L'nion forces numliered about 5.000, with a loss of about 1,000. It was one of the fiercest and most determined bat- tles of the Civil war, and both officers and privates in the companies from Atchison displayed great bravery. First Lieut. Camille Aguiel was among the killed, and privates Henry W. Totten and Casper Broggs, together with Corporal William F. Parker, of .Atchison, also lost their lives in this engage- ment. The Seventh regiment Kansas cavalry was ordered into active service immediately following its organization. Colonel Daniel R. Antliony. of Leavenworth, was a lieutenant-colonel of this regiment, and among the line officers was William S. Morehouse, of Atchison, who was second lieuten- ant. This regiment saw a great deal of active service in the Civil war, and was first attacked by the rebels November ti, 186 i, while encamped in western Missouri, on the Little Blue river. Following a furious battle the regiment lost nine of its force by death and thirty-two wounded. This reg- 144 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY iment subsequently participated in an engagement at Little Santa Fe and at Independence. In Januan-, 1862. the Seventh regiment went into camp at Humboldt. Kan., and remained there until it was ordered to Lawrence in the following March, and subsequently was ordered to Corinth. Miss., and from thence to Rienzi, Miss., where it was assigned to the First Cavalry brigade, of which Phillip H. Sheridan was commander, and subsequently saw much service in Tennessee and other points in the South, and participated in the various actions that occurred during General Smith's expedition to the Tallahatchee, after which the balance of their active service took place in Missouri. It was mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth Septeiuber 4, 1865. The Eighth regiment Kansas infantn,- was perhaps closer to the hearts of the people of Atchison county tlian any other regiment that participated in the Civil war, for the reason that its lieutenant-colonel was the beloved John A. Martin, editor of the Atchison Champio)!. and subsequently governor of Kansas. It was originally recruited and intended for home and frontier service. The fear of invasion, both by hostile Indians on the west, and the rebels on the south and east, kept fear alive in the hearts of many residents of Kansas, and for this purpose it was deemed desirable to have a regiment of volunteer soldiers close at hand. As originally organized, this regiment consisted of six infantn,' and two cavalry companies, but various changes were made during the three months following its organization. It saw active service throughout the South, and participated in many of the important bat- tles of the Civil war, but in none did it play a more conspicuous part than in the great battle of Mission Ridge. The following is from Colonel Mar- tin's official report of the part taken by the Eighth Kansas in this engage- ment : "Shortly after noon, on the twenty-fifth (November), we were ordered to advance on the enemy's position at the foot of Mission Ridge, and moved out of our works, forming in the second line of the battle, ^^'e at once ad- vanced steadily in line through the woods and across the open field in front of the enemy's entrenchments to the foot of the hill, subjected during the whole time to a heavy artillery fire from the enemy's batteries, and as soon as we reached the open field, to a destructive musketn,- fire. Reaching the first line of works we halted to rest our men for a few moments, and then advanced through a terrible storm of artillen,- and musketry, to the foot of the hill and up it as rapidly as ftossible. The crest of the ridge at the point where we moved up was formed like a horseshoe. We advanced in the interior, while the enemv's batteries and infantrv on the right and left. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 1 45 as well as in the center, poured upon us a most terrific fire. But the men never faltered or wavered, although from the nature of the ground, regi- ments were mingled one with another, and company organization could not possibly be preserved. Each man struggled to be first on top, and the offi- cers and men of the regiment, without a single exception, exhibited tiie high- est courage and the most devoted gallantry in this fearful charge. "The enemy held their ground until we were less than a dozen yards from their breastworks, when they l)roke in wild confusion and fled in panic down the hill im the opposite si'de. A portion of our men pursued tiiem for nearly a mile, capturing and hauling back several pieces of artillery and cais- sons, which the enemy were trying to run off. "We occupied the suinmit of Mission Ridge until the night of tlie twenty- sixth, when we were ordered to return to camp at Chattanooga. "Our loss was one commissioned officer wounded and three enlisted men killed and thirty-one wounded. The regiment went into the battle with an aggregate force of 217 men and officers. "Where all behaved with such conspicuous courage, it is difficult to make distinction, but I cannot forebear mentioning my adjutant-lieutenant, Sol. K. Washer. Wounded at Chicakamauga, and not yet recovered from the effects of his wound, and suffering from a severe sprain of the ankle, which pre- vented his walking. lie mounted his horse and rode through the whole battle, always foremost in danger." The Eiglith infantry remained in camp at Chattanooga until it removed to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, which citv was reached on Decemlier 7. About the same time Sherman's corps arrived. The winter of 1863 was spent in east Tennessee, and in the following February arrived home in Atch- ison and Ft. Leavenworth. Tiiere was great rejoicing and celebration and both officers and soldiers were greeted with waving banners, ringing bells, booming cannon, and there was much feasting and speech making. The regi- ment was horhe on a furlough, and early in April the men re-assembled at Leavenworth and on the twelfth of that month was ordered to report back to Chattanooga, where it subsecjuently saw service in the Cumberland mountains, and throughout the State of Tennessee. Colonel Martin was mustered out at Pulaski November 17, his term of enlistment iiaving expired, and the following day he left for the North, but the regiment was not mustered out of service until the following January. The Tenth regiment, Kansas infantn, was made up of the Third and FourtJT and a small portion of the Fifth Kansas regiments, and among its 10 146 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY officers were Mathew Quigg, captain of Company D ; Selh M. Tucker, first lieutenant, and David Whittaker, second lieutenant, all of .Atchison. The activities of this regiment were largely confined to operations in Mis- souri and Arkansas, and afterwards in Tennessee. In December, 1864, it arrived at Clinton, Miss., without tents or blankets, and many of the men without shoes or overcoats. During January it made an expedition into jSIississippi, and the latter part of that month marched to W'aterloss. .\la., remauiing there until February 8, when it embarked for \'icksburg, where it remained until February 19, and subsequently operated around Mobile, and the men of this regiment were employed as skirmishers in the joint ad- vance upon the fortifications around Mobile. It was mustered out at Mont- gomery, Ala., September 20, 1865, and finally discharged at Ft. Leaven- worth, Kan. The regiment was mostly composed of veterans, who under- stood the life of a soldier, and realized the hardships of military campaigns. They did their duty, whether it was in guarding their own State from in- vasion, or assaulting the rebels at the siege of Ft. Blakely. The Thirteenth regiment, Kansas infantn,-, had more officers in it from Atchison than any of the regiments that participated in the Civil war. It was raised under President Lincoln's call of July, 1862, and was recruited by Cyrus Leland, Sr., of Troy, Kan., by virtue of authority from James H. Lane, in the counties of Brown, Atchison, Doniphan, Marshall and Nemaha. The regiment was organized September 10. 1862, at Camp Staunton, Atch- ison, and mustered into the service ten days later. Colonel of this regi- ment was Thomas M. Bowen, of Marxsville, and the major was Caleb A. Woodworth, of Atchison. Among tlie line officers from Atchison were : Henry Havenkorst, captain of Company B; August Langehemeken, second lieutenant ; Henn," R. Neal, captain : Robert Manville, second lieutenant : John E. Hayes, captain. Company F: Archimedes S. Speck, first lieutenant; William J. May, second lieutenant; Patrick McNamara, captain. Company K ; Daniel C. O'Keefe, first lieutenant ; Hugh Dougherty, second lieutenant. The regiment joined a division of General Blunt soon after the battle of Old Ft. Wayne, and participated in various engagements in .Vrkansas. .\t the battle of Prairie Grove, it was one of the first regiments to be en- gaged, and in ever}- attempt to capture the battery- of which this regiment formed the support at this battle, was successfully repulsed, with heavy losses to the rebels. This battle virtually finished the campaign for the winter. It subsequently did garrison and out-post duty in Arkansas, and in the Cherokee Nation. The regiment remained on dutv at Ft. Smith, .Ark., un- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I47 til March 3, 1865, when it was ordered to Little Kock, Ark., and on June 26 of that year was mustered out of service. Among the privates of this regiment from Atchison, who were killed, were : James L. Pamell, of Mount Pleasant, and John Collins and Lorenzo Richardson, of Atchison. Thomas Roe, a fine, stout young man, son of a widowed mother, of Brownsville, Pa., was the only member of Company D, of the Second Kan- sas cavalry, that lost his life in battle during its nearly four years of service in the Civil war. This company participated in the battles of Cane Hill and Prairie Grove, in Arkansas, and other engagements. Roe came to Kan- sas with the late Thomas Butcher, for whom he worked until going into the war of the rebellion. In May, 1861, a company of home guards was organized liy Free State men. of Lancaster and Shannon townships, Atchison county, with a few from Brown and Doniphan counties, which gathered every Saturday afternoon for drill, altemating at the homes of Johnson Wymore and Robert \\'hite. Robert White, who had received military training during the Mexican war, having served there in 1846-48, did most of the drilling. A. J. Evans was captain ; Robert White, first lieutenant : John Bertwejl. of Brown countv, was second lieutenant. The pro-slavei^y people were also organized and drilling at the same time, consisting of South Carolinians, Virginians and Missourians, who were for the Confederacy and slavery. At a Sunday school meeting on the prairie, held in a vacant settler's shanty near Eden postoffice, where both sides in the neiglilwrhood wor- shiped on Sundays, Robert White found out on a Sunday in August, 1861, that a southern organization was to disarm all Free State men the following Tuesday. His nearest neighbor and a good friend, also a southerner, thought White had found this out and came and visited him a good part of Sunday afternoon and staying in the evening until after 10 o'clock before going home, \\"hite showing no excitement. Willis went home, seemingly much at ease, but he was watched by his friend White until safely resting at his home, when W'hite went and called another Free State man from his bed who notified half the Free State company and White the other half, causing them 10 meet early the following Monday, when by the middle of the afternoon of that day every proslavery man in that part of the country had his fire arms taken from him, and Ijefore Tuesday evening all of them had departed for Missouri. 148 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Most of the members of the Free State company enlisted in the following October as volunteers for three years' service in the Union army and became known as Company D of Second Kansas cavaliy. Robert White, who was commissioned as first lieutenant in Company D, was dis- chareed and sent home to die with a serious case of inflammatorv rheu- matism. but lie recovered so far that in 1863 he raised and drilled a company that became a part of the State militia. He was commissioned captain of this company and led it in the Price raid at the battle of Westport in 1864 as a part of the regiment commanded by Col. L. S. Treat in helping keep Capt. \\'hite's old brigade, commanded by Gen. Sterling Price, of the Mexi- can war, from getting into Kansas. The late M. J. Cloyes and T. B. Piatt, of Atchison, were members of Captain White's company in the Price raid. Piatt was clerk of the company: John English was first lieutenant; W. F, Streeter, second lieutenant, and Francis Schletzbaum was first sergeant. The Seventeenth regiment, Kansas infantry, was a negro regiment, but with white officers. James M. \\'illiams was colonel, and George J. Martin, of Atchison, was captain of Company B. and William G. White and Lutlier Dickinson, of Atchison, were first and second lieutenants. This regiment played an honorable part during all the Civil war, and its service was largely confined to operations in Arkansas and Te.xas. It was mustered out of service at Pine Bluff, Ark., October 1. 1865. The Second regiment, Kansas colored infantry, was organized in June, 1863, at Ft. Smith, Ark., and among its line officers was First Lieut. John M. Cain, of Atchison. It conducted itself with conspicuous bravery with the army of the frontier, and during tlie brief occupation of Camden, .Ark., by General Steele's forces, this regiment was employed on picket and forage duty. It showed conspicuous bravery around Poison Springs and Mark's Mills, and under the able command of Col. Samuel J. Crawford, who subsequently became governor of Kansas, it won for itself an enviable name among the regiments from Kansas, who participated in the Ci\il war. This regiment was finally discharged from the services at Leavenworth Novem- ber 27, 1865, after having proved to the Xation the fidelity of the colored soldier. It was in Septemlier, 1864, that General Sterling Price created great consternation by an attempted invasion of Kansas, wiiich ended in his defeat on the border by the Union forces, aided by the Kansas State militia. .At the time Price started north in his march through .\rkan.sas and Missouri, Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis commanded the Department of Kansas, which HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 149 included Nebraska. Colorado and Indian Territiiry, in addition to Kansas. General Curtis had aliout 4.500 men, all of whom had been employed in pro- tecting the frontiers of Kansas and Colorado, and the overland mail route. At this time General Curtis was near Ft. Kearney, operating- against the Indians. On receipt of word announcing the movements of General Price. General Curtis was recalled and reached Kansas in Septemljer. A few days later he received word that 3,000 rebels' were marching on Ft. Scott, and advised Governor Car;iey to call the militia into service. At this time George ^V. Deitzler was major-general of the State militia ; John T. Norton was assistant adjutant-general ; R. A. Randlett, assistant quarter-master ; Samuel S. Atwood, assistant quarter-master; Charles Chadwick, George T. Robin- son, Lewis T. \\'elmorth, John J. Ingalls, Thomas ^Vhite. Elijah G. Moore. H. Stein, and John A. Leffkler were all majors. Constant reports of a con- flicting nature were spread from day to day, regarding the movements of General Price, but the first point to be attacked was Pilot Knob, the engage- ment commencing September 27 and lasting all day. General Ewing put up a vigorous defense, with a force of about i.ooo men, while the militia commanders in Kansas made preparations for further resistance to the in- vasion of Price. Meanwhile General Price continued to make headway, and on the fourth of October an order was issued forbidding the transit of boats below Kansas City. When it was discovered that the rebels under Price had not been seriously checked in their movement westward, further efforts were made by General Curtis to prevail upon Governor Kearney to call out the militia, which the Governor seemed disinclined to do. Finally, on Octo- ber 9. 1864, Major General Deitzler issued an order for the State militia from Doniphan, Brown, Nemaha and Marshall counties to rendezvous at Atchison, and the militia from other counties were ordered to other points in the State. A few days later Leavenworth was fortified, because of a tele- gram which was received from General Rosecrans, stating that it was Price's intention to strike that point first. The militia responded promptly, and the following regiments reported for service at Atchison : The Twelfth regiment, composed of 460 men, under the command of Col. L. S. Treat, and the Eighteenth regiment, composed of 400 men, under the command of Colonel Mathew Ouigg. The total number of militia enrolled under the call of the governor was 12,622. of which about 10,000 were south of the Kansas river at the point most exposed to danger. From the eleventh until the sixteenth of the month there was great excitement, as the forces rapidly gathered, to 150 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY be organized and equipped. On the staff of Genernl Deitzler there were two men from Atchison ; A. S. Hughes, an aide, and John J. Ingalls, judge- advocate, with the rank of major. As a result of this determined move on the part of Ctcu. Sterhng Price to invade Kansas, there followed in quick succession the battle of Lexing- ton, the battle of Big Blue, and finally the battle of Wiestport, at which, on October 23, 1864, the forces of Price were finally routed and his campaign and invasion were stopped, but not until it had causec^ the citizens of Kan- sas, in addition to the labor and loss of life, not less than half a million dollars. CHAPTER IX. NAVIGATION. PIONEER TRANSPORTATION EARLY FERRIES AND RATES FAMOUS RIVER BOATS STEAMBOAT LINES TO ATCHISON STEAMBOAT REGISTERS. Slight reference has been made in the early narrative of this history to pioneer transportation facilities, but the subject is one of so much import- ance and of such immense interest, that a chapter devoted to it is the only way in which it can be adequately treated. At the time Atchison county was settled, railroad transportation by steam was not a new thing", although it was in its primitive stages. Navigation of the inland waterways had reached rather a high state of development, and the matter of transportation then was just as essential to the purposes of civil- ization as in this day of the, railroad and the automobile, but it was many years before the steam railroads made the steamboat traffic of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers obsolete. The tremendous subsidies granted by the Govern- ment in later years for railroad building, however, and the splendid oppor- tunity for piling up wealth in the projection of new railroads and the operation of them, without Governmental restrictions, together with the advantage of speedier transportation facilities, completely over-shadowed the steamboat bus- ness, and as a result, our great inland waterway system has grown into prac- tical disuse. Shortly after Atchison county was organized, and the city of Atchison laid out. agitation was started for railroad connections witl: the East. One of the first ordinances passed by the city council in 1858 pro- vided for an election to submit a proposition to take $100,000.00 of stock in railroad. .At that time the only means of communication to the out- side world Atchison had was by steamboats to St. Louis. It was in October, 1855, that George M. Million, Lewis Burnes, D. D. Burnes, James X. Burnes and Calvin F. Burnes commenced the operation of a ferry across 151 152 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the Missouri river. Their dock on tlie Kansas side was at the foot of Atchison street. Their charter was secured from the legislature under the terms of which a bond of $1,000.00 was required to insure the faithful performance of their operations. Although there was no public utilities commission in Kansas in 1855. the legislature took upon itself the task of fixing the rates to be charged by the ferry owners, in order that the public would not be robbed. They were as follows : Two-horse wagon, or wagon and one yoke of oxen (loaded) $1.00 Two-liorse wagon, or wagon and one yoke of oxen ( unloaded) 75 One additional pair of horses or oxen 25 Loose cattle or oxen, per liead 10 Sheep and hogs, per liead 05 Man and horse 25 Foot passengers 10 One horse and buggy or other vehicle 50 Two horse buggy or carriage 75 The original promoters operated the ierry but a short time, and early in the following year, they disposed of their interests to Dr. William L. "^Challiss, and his brother, Luther C. Challiss, and Willis E. Gaylord, and the ferry, under Dr. Challiss, and subsequent owners, continued in operation until 1875, when the present bridge was built. About the time the first ferry was established in Atchison, a number of Salt Lake freighters selected the town as a starting and outfitting point and from that time until 1866, Atchison was the eastern terminus of many of the leading overland mail and freighting routes. It was the natural location for communication with tlie West, as it was twelve miles further west in Kansas than any other point on the Missouri river. Freight and passengers were l)rought to the Atchison levee, at the foot of Commercial street, by a regular line of Packets plying between St. Louis and St. Joseph. It required eight days to make the round trip, and in tlic very early days, as many or four to six boats landed here in the busy season. i During the winter montlis traffic on the river was practically suspended, 1 on account of the ice. These boats carried as many as 400 passengers, the. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 153 fare from St. Louis to St. Joseph ranging from $10.00 to $15.00. which in- cluded meals and state rooms. The cooking was said to ha\'e heen very fine, and tlie passengers always enjoyed the best that money could buy. In addition to passengers, these boats carried from 500 to 600 tons of freight, and the rates were as high as $2.50 per cwt. on merchandise that would not cost to e.xceed fifteen cents per cwt. in these days. The crew con- sisted of 80 to 100 men, and the value of these Ixiats was estimated to be about $45,000.00 each. The river then, as now, was filled with sandbars and it required the greatest experience to pilot a boat safely to its destination, and as a result, experienced pilots would command monthly salaries ranging from $250.00 to $500.00. Each boat carried two pilots. A. B. Symns, for many years a successful wholesale grocery mercliant in Atchison, E. K. Blair, the miller, and George W. Bowman, who also subsequently engaged in the grocery business, were employees on several of the steamboats that landed at Atchison. Stories of gambling and revelries, by day and by night, are not uncommon, and it is said it was not an unusual sight to see as many as ten games of poker going on in the main cabins on every trip, in which real money and not mere chips were used. Among the famous boats on the river in the early days were the "Hesperian," which burned near Atchison in 1859: the "Converse," "Kate Kinney," "Eort Aubrey," "Morning Star," "John D. Periy," "Sioux City," "Omaha," "Carrier," and the "James H. Lucas," which made the record run from St. Louis to St. Joseph, encompassing the trip in fifty-nine hours and twenty-two minutes, were among the well known boats that docked at the Atchison levee from time to time. The leading wharfmaster of the steamboat days was Mike Finney, who was the father of Atchison's present mayor (1915). James H. Garside succeeded him and remained in the position until steamboat days had passed. Had the Missouri river been the beneficiary of of the bounty of the Government, as the railroads were in that day, it would still be a splendid auxiliary of our transportation system. The Missouri river, so far as Atchison is concerned, is in the same condition it was in when Mark Twain made an early trip on it from St. Louis to St. Joseph. In "Roughing It," he said : "We were six days going from St. Louis to St. Joseph, a trip that was ,so dull and sleepy and eventless, that it has left no more impression on my memory than if its duration had been six minutes instead of that many days. No record is left in my mind now concerning it, htU a confused innihlc of, savage looking snags, which we deliberately walked over with one wheel or the other; and of reefs which we butted and Initted and then retired from, and 154 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY climbed over in some softer place : and of sand bars which we roosted on occa- sionally and rested, and then got our crutches and sparred over. In fact the boat might as well have gone to St. Joseph by land, for she was walking most of the time anyhow — climbing over reefs and clambering over snags, patiently and laboriously all day long. The captain said she was a bully boat, and all she wanted was more "shear" and a bigger wheel. I thought she wanted a pair of stilts, but I had the sagacity not to say so." STEAMBOAT LINES TO ATCHISON 1856. From Squatter Sovereign. March ii, 1856. "A. B. Chambers," James Gormley, Master; D. Jamison, Clerk. "F. X. Aubrey," Ambrose Reeder, Captain ; Ben V. Glime, Clerk. "Polar Star," E. F. Dix, Master; H. M. Glossom, Clerk. "New Lucy," \Vm. Conley, Master. "James H. Lucas," Andrew Wineland, Commander. March 18, 1856. "Star of the ^^'est," E. F. Dix, Master. March 25, 1856. "J. M. Convers," Geo. W. Bowman, Captain; G. A. Reicheneker, Clerk. April 29, 1856. "Martha Jewett," D. H. Silver, Captain: W. McCreight, Clerk. "Sultan," John H. McCloy, Master; D. C. Sheble, Clerk. "Edinburg," Dan Able. Master. May 27, 1856. "Morning Star," \^'m. Brierly, Master. June 24, 1856. "Emigrant," Hugh L. \\"hite. Master: H. R. McDonald. Clerk. STEAMBOAT REGISTER. Reported for tlie Champion by M. C. Finney, Steamboat Agent. BOUND UP. E. M. Ryland, Blunt Monday, 8th. Peerless, Bissell W'edncsdav. lotli. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY John H. Dickey. Abel Saturday, 13th. H. H. Russell, Kenny Sunday, 14th. Hesperian, Kerchival Sunday, 14th. F. X. Aubry. GHme Wednesday, 17th. Platte Valley, Postill ; Wednesday, 17th. Wm. Campbell, Dale Thursday, i8th. White Cloud, O'Neil Friday, 19th. Spread Eagle, Lagrage Friday, 19th. Emma, Friday, 19th. BOUND DOWN. E. M. Ryland, Blunt Tuesday, 9th. Peerless, Bissell Friday, 12th. John H. Dickey, Abel Sunday, 14th. W. H. Russell, Kenney Monday, 15th. Hesperian, Kerchival Tuesday, i6th. F. X. Aubry, Glime Wednesday, 17th. Wm. Campbell, Dale Friday, 19th. White Cloud, O'Neil Saturday, 20th. (From Freedom's Champion, Atchison, March 20, 1858.) BOUND UP. Spread Eagle, Lagrage Friday, 19th. Emma, Yore Friday, 19th. Silver Heels, Nanson Saturday, 20th. Morning Star, Burk Sunday, 21st. Polar Star, McMuIIin Monday, 22d. Twilight, Shaw Monday, 22d. St. Mary, Devenny Tuesday, 23d. Carrier, Postal Wednesday, 24th. Sovereign, Hutchinson Wednesday, 24th. Omaha, W'ineland Thursday, 25th. F. X. Aubry, Glime Thursday, 25th. Minnehaha, Baker Thursday, 25th, John H. Dickey, Abel Friday, 26th. White Cloud, O'Neil Saturday, 27th. 155 156 HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY Florence, Throckmorton Saturday, 27th. Polar Star, McMullin Sunday, 28th. Hesperian, Lee Sunday, 28th. Star of the West, Oilman Monday, 29th. South ^^'estem, Dehaven Monday, 29th. John \\'arner, Paterson Monday, 29th. Sioux City, Baker Monday, 29th. War Eagle, White Tuesday, 30th. Ben Lewis, Brierly Tuesday, 30th. Thomas E. Tutt, Dozier Tuesday, 30th. J. D. Perr}-, Davis Wednesday. 31st. Watossa, Riclioneker Wednesday, 31st. Alonzo Child, Holland Wednesday, 31st. Wm. Campbell, Dale Wednesday, 31st. Kate Howard, Nonson Wednesday, 31st. Sk}' Lark, Johnson Thursday, April i. E. M. Ryland, Blunt Thursday, ist. Silver Heels, Xanson Friday, 2d. John H. Dickey, Abel Friday, 2d. F. A. Ogden Friday, 2d. Every boat on the above list except eight have passed down again, mak- ing in all. sixty landings at our wharf, in the short space of thirteen days. (From Freedom's Champion. Atchison, April 3, 1858.) ST. LOUIS & ATCHISON UNION LINE. One of the following Splendid Steamers Will leave ATCHISON FOR ST. LOUIS DAILY. Sunday Boats Peerless and Silver Heels, Alternately. Monday Boats, Hesperian and Morning Star, Alternately. Tuesday Boats, South Webster and A. B. Chambers, Alternately. Wednesday Boats Ben Lewis and Twilight. .\lternately. Thursday Boats, Sovereign Friday Boats, Kate Howard and Minnehalia Alternately For Freight or passage apply to G. W. BOWMAN, Agent. Atchison. N. B. Tickets sold through to all the Eastern and Southern Cities. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 1 57 OFFICE on the Levee. (From Freedom's Champion, Atchison, Marcli 27. 1858.) Squatter Sovereign, Atchison, Dec. 5, 1857: Omaha, Andrew Wineland, Master ; J. J. Wilcox, clerk. Freedom's Champion, Atchison, April 3, 1858: Ben Lewis, T. H. Brierly, Master ; W. G. Barkley, clerk. Freedom's Champion, March 12, 1859: Alonzo Child, D. DeHaven, Master; Stanley Ryland, clerk; H. P. Short, clerk. CHAPTER X. OVERLAND FREIGHTING. ATCHISON AS AN OUTFITTING POINT FREIGHTING COMPANIES PRINCIPAL ROUTES STAGE LINES OVERLAND MAIL ROUTES BEN HOLLADAY BUT- TERFIELD'S OVERLAND DISPATCH TIME TO DENVER TABLES OF TIME AND DISTANCES ON VARIOUS ROUTES STATISTICAL. Atchison was chosen as an outfitting point for the SaU Lake freighters, ' in addition to many other reasons, l>ecause we had one of the best steamboat ' landings on the river, and had the best wagon road in the country leading west. Twenty-four miles west of Atchison this road was intersected by the old overland mail trail from St. Joseph. Leavenworth had laid out a new road west, over which it was planned to run the Pike's Peak Express stages in the spring of 1859, as well as the mule and ox teams, for Denver and the mountain mining camps. A branch road was also opened to intersect this route from Atchison in the spring of 1859, under the direction of Judge F. G. Adams.^ The expedition started west from Atchison in tlie spring of tliat year, over what is now known and was then known as the Parallel road, tlien through Muscotah and America City, across into the Big Blue river, near Blue Rapids, and westward through Jewell county. The object of this expedition was to open a shorter route to the mountains than the one opened b\- the Leavenworth company, and the route proposed did save sixty-five miles distance, and almost twelve hours time. E. D. Boyd, an engineer, measured the entire distance . from Atchison to Denver. He also made an accurate report, showing dis- tances and the crossing of streams, and a brief description of the entire route, which was published in 'the Atchison Champion, in June, 1859. According to that report, the distance from Atchison to Denver was 620 miles. But not- withstanding the advantage of this new road, it was abaudoned_immediately and never traveled by ox or mule trains out of Atchison, for the reason that 158 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 159 the old military road by Fort Kearney and along tlie Platte ri\er enjoyed Government protection from the Indians, and was settled at intervals almost the entire distance. During- the period of overland freighting on the plains, more trains left Atchison than any other point on the river. The leading firms engaged in the freighting business were, Stevens & Porter; Dennison & Brown; Hocka- , day-Burr & Company; J. S. Galbraith; George W. Howe; Brown Brothers; E. K. Blair ; I. N. Bringman ; Roper & Nesbitt ; Harrison Brothers ; Henry Reisner; J. C. Peters; P. K. Purcell; R. E. Wilson; Will Addoms; George I. Stebbins; John C. Bird; William Home; Amos Howell; Owen Degan, and a numbers of others. The cost-of-shipping n2erchandise_J:QjI)eiTyei^ya^s \^rv_high, as everything was carried by the pound, rather than by the hundred pounds rate. Flour, bacon, molasses, whiskey, furniture and trunks were carried at pound rates. The rates per pound on merchandise shipped liy ox or mule wagons from Atchi- son to Denver prior to i860, were as follows : Flour 9 cents Tobacco 12J/2 cents Sugar 13^ cents Bacon 15 cents Dry goods 15 cents Crackers 17 cents Whiskey 18 cents Groceries 19^ cents Trunks 25 cents Furniture 31 cents It has been said by those who witnessed the tremendous overland traffic of the late fifties and the early sixties, that those of this g"eneration can form no conception of the enormous amount of traffic overland there was in those days. Trains were being constantly outfitted not only at Atchison, but at other points along the river. Twenty-one days was about the time requiied for a span of horses or mules to make the trip to Denver and keep the stock in good condition. It required five weeks for ox trains to make the same dis- tance, and to Salt Lake, horses and mules were about six weeks making tlie trip, and ox trains were on the road from sixty-five to seventv davs. It was the ox upon which mankind depended in those days to carry on the commerce l6o HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of the plains. They were the surest and safest for liauhng a large part of the freight destined for the towns and camps west of the Missouri river. Next in importance to the ox, was the mule, because they were tough and reliable, and could endure fatigue. The year of 1859 was a big year in the liistory of Atchison, for in that year the percentage of the growth of the town was greater than any other year in its history. The fact that it was the best point on the Missouri river for the overland staging and freighting outfits, brought it in greater commer- cial prominence. At that time, Irwin & McGraw were prominent contrac- tors, who were supplying the various military posts on the' frontier. The mere fact that these Government trains were started from Atcliison, ga\-e the town wonderful prestige. It was nothing unusual to see two or three steamboats lying at the levee, discharging freight, and as many more in sight either going up the river from St. Louis, or down the river from St. Joe. It was not uncommon for a boat to be loaded at Pittsburgh, Pa., or Cincinnati, Ohio, going down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi and Missouri to Atchison ; it wa.s not an unusual sight to see a whole boat load of wagons and ox yokes, mining macliinery, boilers and other material necessary for the immense trade of the West. The greater part of the traffic out of Atchison to the West was QY£r_the Military ro ad, along the south bank of the Platte, and along this road teams of six to eight yoke of cattle, hauling heavily loaded wagons, and strings of four or six horse or mule teams, formed almost an endless procession. The liveliest period of overland trade extended from 1859 to 1866, during which time there was on the plains and in the mountains an estimated floating population of 250,000. The greater majority of the people on the plains produced but few of the necessities of life, and consequently they had to be supplied from the Missouri river. During the closing year of the Civil war, the travel was immense, most of the emigration going into the gold mining camps of the Northwest. \\'hile there was considerable freighting out of Atchison to die West fol- lowing the opening of the Territory, overland staging did not reach its heighth until 1 86 1. The era of overland staging from the Missouri river to the Pacific coast lasted altogether about eight years. The first great overland staging enterprise started in 1858, on what is known as the Southern or Butterfield route. This route ran from St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn., inter- secting at Ft. Smith, Ark. After l)eing in operation for nearly three vears. the route was succceiled b\ a dailv line on the Central route, which ran from HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY l6l the Missouri river five _\-ears. first starting at St. Joseph, Mo., July i, 1861, and then from Atchison in September of that year. On the Central route, the through staging came to a close after the completion of the Union Pacific railroad from Omaha across the continent. Originally the stage enterprise was known as the Overland Mail Company — the Southern or Butterfield line. After it was transferred north and ran in connection with the stages to Denver, it was known as the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company. After passing into the hands of Ben Plolladay, it became the Overland Stage Line, and finally the name was changed to the Holladay Over- land Mail Express Company. In 1866, the line had been consolidated with the Butterfield Overland Dispatch, a sta.ge company which was organized in 1865, with headcjuarters in Atchison. Atchison's importance as an overland staging terminus was fixed b\ reason of an order of the United States Postoffice Department. Before the final change, making Atchison headquarters and starting point for the mail, the road from Atchison westward intersected the road from St. Joseph at Kennekuk. The distance from Atchison to Kennekuk was twenty-four miles, while it was about thirty-five miles from St. Joseph, and consequently there was a saving of about nine miles in favor of Atchison. This was an import- ant item, in carrying the mails, and resulted in the order of the Postoffice De- partment making Atchison the starting point. The distance by tlie overland stage line from Atchison to Placerville was 1,913 miles, and following the abandonment of the Butterfield or Southern route, it Iiecame the longest and the most important stage line in America. There were 153 stations between Atchison and Placerville, located about twelve and one-half miles apart. The local fare was $225.00, or about twelve cents per mile, and as high as $2,000.00 a day was frequently taken in at the Atchison office for passenger fare alone. The fare between Atchison and Denver was $75.00, or a little over eight cents per mile, and to. Salt Lake City, $150.00. Local fares ran as high as fifteen cents per mile. Each passenger was allowed twenty-five pounds of baggage. All in excess of that was charged at the rate of $1.00 per pound. During the war. the fare to Denver was increased from seventy-five dollars to $100.00. and before the close of llie war. it had reached $175.00. or ncarlv twenty-se\'en cents per mile. It required about 2,750 horses and mules to run the stage line between Atchison and Placerville. It required, in addition to the regular supph- of horses to operate the stages, some additional animals for emergencies, and it was estimated that the total cost of the horses on this stage line was about one- II l62 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY half million dollars. The harness was the finest that could be made, and cost about $150.00 for a complete set of four, or about $55,000.00 for the whole line. The feeding of the stock was one of the big items of expense, and tliere were annually consumed at each station from forty to eighty tons of hay, at a cost of $15 to $40 per ton. Each animal was apportioned an average of twelve quarts of corn every day, which cost from two to ten cents a pound. In the Salt Lake and California divisions, oats and barley, grown in Utah, were substituted for com, but which cost about the same. There were about 100 Concord coaches which, in the early sixties cost about $1,000.00 each. The company owned about one-half of the stations, in addition to thousands of dollars' worth of miscellaneous property, at differ- ent places along the route. There were superintendents, general and local attorneys, paymasters and division agents, all of whom drew big salaries. Among the stage company's agents in the late fifties and early sixties were Hugo Richards and Paul Coburn, at Atchison ; Robert L. Pease, of Atchison, was also for a time agent at Denver. The mail was carried from Atchison west by Forts Kearney, Laramie and Bridges, once a week. The schedule time from the river to Salt Lake City was about eighteen days, and the distance was about 1,200 to 1,300 miles. In 1861 a daily overland mail was established out of Atchison, and with the exception of a few weeks in 1862, 1864 and 1865, on account of Indian troubles, the overland was in operation and ran stages daily out of Atchison for about five years. It was the greatest stage line in the world, carrying mail, passengers and express. It was also regarded as the safest and the fastest way to cross the plains, and the mountain ranges. It was equipped with the latest modern four and six horse and mule Concord coaches, and the meals at the eating stations along the route were first-class, and cost from fifty cents to $2.00 each. When Atchison was selected as the starting place for the overland mail, it was not certain how long it would remain the eastern tenninus of the mail route. The Civil war was at its height, and the rebels were doing much damage to the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, which had been constructed in 1859. They tore up the track, burned the bridges, destroyed the culverts, fired into the trains, and placed obstructions along the roadbed, frequently delaying the mail from two to six days. As a result of this condition of affairs, it was feared that Atchison would lose the overland mail, and the Gov- ernment would change the starting point to some town further north, but be- cause of the advantageous geographical position of Atchison, it was decided HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 163 that it would be disastrous to make a change, so the Government placed a large number of troops along the entire line of the Hannibal & St. Joe, to insure the safety of the mails, and Atchison continued to be the point of de- parture for the overland mail, until 1866. The stage coaches used by the overland line were built in Concord, N. H. They carried nine passengers inside, and one or two could ride on the box by the driver. Some of the stages were built with an extra seat above and in the rear of the driver, so that three additional persons could ride there, making fourteen, with the driver. Sometimes an extra man would be crowded on the box, making as many as fifteen persons, who could ride on the Con- cord coach without very much inconvenience. This chapter on overland staging would be unfinished, unless some reference was made to Ben Holladay, who played such an im- portant part in the overland staging days of this country. Ben Holladay had a remarkable career. In his early days, when he resided in Weston, Mo., he drove a stage himself. He was a genuine westerner, having run a saloon and tavern in Weston as early as 1838 and 1839. He went overland to Cali- fornia in 1849, ''"d took a train to Salt Lake City with $70,000 worth of goods. He spent some time in Utah, where he made considerable monev. Besides operating the Overland Stage for over five years, Holladay had other important interests in the W^est. Among his enterprises was a fleet of passenger steamers, plying between San Francisco and Portland, Ore. At the height of his career he was a millionaire, and few men in the country - accumulated wealth more rapidly. He spent his money freely, and squandered vast sums when he was making it. After he had accumulated a fortune, he went to New York to live, and built a most pretentious residence a few miles out of New York, on. the Hudson river, which he called Ophir Farm. After he was awarded some good mail contracts by the Government, he built a mansion in Washington, which he furnished superbly, and collected a large classical library, with handsomely bound volumes, and also was a patron of art, collecting fine oil paintings of celebrated masters in Europe and '\merica. He also made a collection of fine bronzes and statuary, and paid $6,000.00 each for two bronze lions. It was in i860 that he came into possession of the Central Overland Cali- fornia Mail Line, but subsequent trouble with the Indians damaged his prop- erty to the extent of a half million dollars. His stage stations were burned, and his stock stolen, and stage coaches destroyed. Finally, in 1888, being 164 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY broken in health and in debt, his Washington home, with its contents, was sold under the hammer. He came into possession of practically all the big overland routes by pur- chase and foreclosure of mortgages, and he made his vast fortune in mail contracts from the Government. He remained at the head of the overland line for about five years, taking possession of it in December. 1861, and dis- posing of it, including the stations, rolling stock and animals, in the latter part of 1866, to Wells Fargo & Company. Mr. Holladay died in August, 1877. in Portland. Ore., a poor man. butterfield's overl.vnd dispatch. One of tlie interesting promoters in overland staging days was D. A. Butterfield.' He came to Atchison from Denver in 1864, and engaged in the commission business in a large stone ware-house near the Massasoit House, and, in addition to his commission business, he was agent for a line of packets plying between St. Louis and .Atchison. Shortly after his arrival in Atchison he began the development of an overland stage line, which subsequently reached ver\- large proportions. His amliition was to be at the liead of an overland stage line, and, having selected what was known as the Smoky Hill route along the Kansas and Smoky Hill rivers, which was fifty miles sliorter than any other route to Denver, he proceeded with rhe further development of his plans. ?Ie was a smart, capable, ambitious and aggressive fellow, with ^•im, and was in touch with a number of men of large means in New York, whom lie soon interested in his enterprise. Early in 1865 the following advertisement appeared in the Atchison Daily Free Press, announcing Mr. Butterfield's project: "BUTTERFIELD'S 0\'ERLAXD DISPATCH. "To all points in Colorado, I'tah, Idaho ^nd Montana Territory. Principal office, Atchison, Kansas. Xew York Office No. I Vesey St. Astor House. "Through bills of lading given from New York, Boston. Philadelphia. Pitts- burgh, Chicago, St. Louis, and Burlington, Iowa. "D. A. Butterfield, Proprietor, Atchison, Kansas. "A. W. Spalding, General Agent, New York.'' i'.utterfield's consuming desire was to control the big end of tlie trans- portation business across the plains. He maintained an expensive office in New "^'ork City and called his line "The Butterfield Overland Dispatch." HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 165 Conspicuous signs were displayed over the doors of his office in tlie Astor Honse, showing caravans of great covered wagons drawn b_\- mules ami nxen. which signs attracted the attention of all. During his promotion of this new- stage line Butterfield lived in great style and elegance in Atchison, in a liouse, the remains of which still stand (1915) at the southwest corner of Fifth and S streets. He entertained lavishly, and "champagne flowed like water" at his home when he gave a part}-. The direct route out of Atchison to Denver, chosen by Butterfield, was in a southwesterly direction to Valley Falls, thence across the plains to a point on the old Fort Riley military road a few miles northeast of Topeka. The Butterfield line was first operated with mules and oxen, but as the road grew more prosperous, four horse stages were substituted. "Dave" Butterfield, as he was known, was determined to mak'e Ben Holladay a pigmy in the overland stage business. Althongh it was known to many that there was more wind behind his enterprise than real money, yet in spite of the fact that his efforts in the staging world were more or less looked upon as a promotion scheme, he interested considerable capital, including the United States, American and the Adams Express companies. He was a great believer in publicity and spent large sums in newspaper advertising, but it required much mone\- to properly equip and operate a stage line, and Butterfield did not ha\-e enough. In consequence of his lack of capital, his original company failed, but was sub- sequently reorganized in June, 1865. Butterfield, undaunted, went east again and raised more money, and before his return, he capitalized a new company with $3,000,000.00, with one-half paid in. Branch offices were gpened in New York, Boston. Philadelphia, St. Louis. Cincinnati. Chicago, Atchison, Leavenworth, Denver and Salt Lake City. John A. Kinney, a pioneer busi- ness man of Atchison, who had been connected with Butterfield from the be- ginning, continued in charge of the Atchison office under the reorganization, with a salary of $2,500 per year. Shortly after the new company was organized, Butterfield inserted another advertisement in the Free Press, as follows : "BUTTERFIELD'S OVERLAND DISPATCH. "To all points in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona. Idaho. Montana and the state of Nevada. "Contracts can be made with this Coinpany through their Agents to transport freight from all the eastern cities to all localities in the Territories, the rate to include railroad and overland carriage and all commissions upon l66 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the Missouri River. The Company owns its own tronsportation and gives a through bill of lading which protects shipper from extreme East to the Far West. "express DEPARTMENT. "About August, 1865 the Company will have a line of express coaches running daily between Atchison, Kansas and Denver, Colorado; and about September ist, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and as soon in the Spring as possi- ble, a tri-weekly between Denver and Salt Lake City over which merchandise will be carried at fair express rates. "TIME TO DENVER— EIGHT (8) DAYS. "INSTRUCTIONS: Mark goods for cattle and mule trains: 'But'd Ov'd Desp'h.' Mark goods for express : B. O. D. Express, Atchison." Some changes were afterwards made in the location of the route, but it left as before, in a southwesterly direction to Valley Falls. The business of the new company was very large from the start and grew rapidly. Steam- boats discharged great quantities of freight at the Atchison levee for shipment by Eutterfield's line. A large amount also came from St. Joseph by railroad. In one day during July, 1865, nineteen car loads of freight consigned to the Butterfield line at Atchison were received for transportation across the plains. In the following month a train was loaded with 600,000 pounds of merchandise for Salt Lake City. One of the early stages that left Atchison on this line made the run to Junction City, which was 119 miles, in less than twenty-four hours, or at the rate of five and one-half miles an hour, including all stops, but the reorganized Butterfield line was not long in operation before it met with many obstacles. The fact that the Smoky Hill route selected by Butterfield was not guarded by Government troops of soldiers, as the Fort Kearney route was, caused the Indians to make many raids upon the overland trains. A number of severe encounters with Indians were had from time to time, until it became necessary to operate the stages with a mounted guard in advance. It finally became so dangerous that it was difficult to secure mes- sengers and drivers to operate the line. This condition became so serious that the "Overland Dispatch," which in the meanwhile was becoming more finan- cially embarrassed from day to day, was finally obliged to retire from the field. During the short time that it lasted, it was widely known throughout HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 167 the western country, and in the East it was known in most of the leading cities. WHiile this company, to some extent, cut down the receipts of the Holla- day line, traffic across the plains had become so dull in the sixties that there was not much profit in it for anybody. In March, 1866. Holladay took over the Butterfield line and the following announcement appeared in the newspapers : "NOTICE. "To the Employees of the Overland Distpatch Company. "The Overland Stage Line and the Overland Dispatch Company liave become one property under the name of the Holladay Overland Mail & Express Company. "The new Company guarantees payment to the employees of the late Overland Dispatch Company. An agent is now enroute from New York to pay them. "David Street, Gen'l Agt., "Holladay Mail & Express Co. "Atchison, Kansas, March 17, 1866." The business that Butterfield had worked up was continued by the new company, but Butterfield was hopelessly down and out. While in the midst of what appeared to be a prosperous freight business with many tons of ponderous mining machinei-y in transit across the plains to the mining camps of Colorado, the mining bubble broke, and great difficulty was experienced in collecting freight bills that were accumulating on machinery tliat was being transported across the plains, so it was unloaded upon the plains and there it was left to rust out. In less than eighteen months from the first organization of the Overland Dispatch. Butterfield was a financial wreck, and the consolidation of his company with the Holladay line was the only action that could be taken to conserve the property which the Butterfield line had acquired. Butter- field subsequently left Atchison and located in Mississippi, where he organized a railroad, which also proved a failure. He left Mississippi for Arkansas and built and operated a horse car line in Hot Springs. He finally got into a quarrel with one of liis employees, who struck him with a neck yoke, from the effects of which he died. OTHER ROUTES. Atchison was an important point for stage routes as early as 1839. There was a line of hacks which ran daily from Atchison to Leavenworth, and an- other to Lawrence, and still another by Oskaloosa and Valley Falls across the l68 HISTORY OK ATCHISON COUNTY ~^Kansas river to Lecompton, Big Springs, Tecumseh and Topeka. To reach ' Lawrence from Atchison in those days, passengers were compelled to go by )y Leavenworth, until a line was opened by Mount Pleasant and Oskaloosa, re- ^ dticing the distance to forty-five miles, and the fare to $4.50. There was a lin^ north to Doniphan, Troy, Highland and Iowa Point. A line was also operated by Doniphan to Geary City, Troy and St. Joseph, and still another ran by Hiawatha to Falls" City, Neb. The most important route, whicli had its headquarters at that time in Atchison, was a four mule line. The Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express, which with its speedy Concord stages, crossed the plains twice a week. This was the Holladay line. The Kansas Stage Company operated a line to I-eavenworth, which made stops at Sumner and Kickapoo. A daily line, operated by the Kansas Stage Com- pany% ran to Junction City by way of Mount Pleasant, \^'inchester, Osawkie, Mt. Florence, Indianola, Topeka, Silver Like, St. Marys, Louisville, Ogden and-Et^ Riley. The distance over this route was 120 miles and the fare was $10.00. There was also a two-horse stage line carrying the mail from Atchi- son to Louisville, Kan. Louisville was one of the most important towns in Pottawatomie county, and in 1859 was an important station on the route of the Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express. The mail line as tiien operated ran through Monrovia, Arrington, Holton and other points to its destination in the West. J. H. Thompson, who was an old man then, was the contractor for carrying the mail and was well known along the whole route, being familiarly known as "L'ncle Johnny" Thompson. His stage left Atchison every Saturday morning at 8 o'clock and arrived from Louisville on Friday evening at 6. The fare from Atchison to Louisville was $8.00. "ST. JOSEPH. ATCHISON AND LECOMPTON "STAGE LINE. "Passing through Geary City, Doniphan, Atchison. Winchester, Hickory Point, and Oscaloosa, connecting at Lecompton with lines to Topeka, Grass- hopper Falls, Fort Riley. Lawrence, Kansas City, and the Railroad at St. Joseph for the East. "Offices — Massasoit House, Atchison. K. T.. and Planter's House, St. Joseph, Mo." (From Freedom's Champion, Atchison, February 12, 1859.) I,.\ST D.WS OF THE STAGING BUSINESS. The people of Atchison in the si.xties little realized the advantages the town gained by being the starting point for the California mail. They became HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 169 used to it, the same as we have tliis day been accustomed to the dail\- arri\al and departure of trains, but it was a gloomy day for Atchison when "the overland" finally pulled out of tiie town for good, after having run its stages' I' out of the city almost daily for five )ears. Tlie ad\ance of the Union Pacific railroad from Omaha west along the Platte to I't. Kearney, antl the completion of the Kansas Pacific railway was the cause of the abandonment of Atchison by the "overland" as a point of departure for the mail. The company for many weeks before its final departure had been taking both stock and coaches off of the eastern division from the Missouri river to Rock creek, and other steps in preparation for moving the point of departure further west were taken. It was a little after ii o'clock in the morning of December 19, 1866, that the long train of Concord stages, express coaches, liacks and other rolling stock started from their stables and yards on Second street to leave Atchison forever. The procession went west out of Atchison along Commercial street. Alex Benham and David Street, both faithful employees of "The Overland," were in charge of the procession and they rode out of town in a Concord bugg)\ Other em- ployees followed in buggies and coaches, and then the canvas covered stages, followed by over forty teams and loose horses, slowly moved out of town, headed for Fort Riley and Junction City. ROUTE FROM ATCHISON via the SMOKY HILL FORK ROUTE. Remarks Junction of the Great Military Road. Provisions, entertainment and grass. On the Grasshopper, w( lod and grass. W'liod. water and grass. Wood and grass. ^Vood and grass. \\'ood and grass. \\'ater, wood and grass. \\ater, wood and grass. Wood, water and grass. Grass and buffalo chips, (jross and buffalo chi])s. Wood, water and grass. From Atchison to Miles Total Mormon Grove 3/2 Monrovia 8V2 12 Mouth of Bill's Creek 13 25 Ter. Road from Nebraska 15 40 Soldier Creek 10 50 Lost Creek 15 65 Louisville 10 75 Manhattan City 12 87 Fort Riley 15 102 Salina 52 154 Pawnee Trail-Smoky Hill 130 284 Pawnee Fork 35 319 Arkansas Crossing 35 354 170 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Bent's Fort ISO 504 Bent's Old Fort 40 544 Huerfano 40 584 Fontaine qui Bouille 15 599 Crossing of same 18 617 Jim's Camp 15 632 Brush Corral 12 644 Head of Cherry Creek 26 670 Crossing of Same 35 705 Mines 6 711 Wood, water and grass. \\'ater and grass. Water and grass. Wood, water and grass. Wood, water and grass. Water and grass. Wood, water and grass. Wood, water and grass. From this point to the mines there is heavy timber, and srass and water in abundance. From Freedom's Champion, February 12, 1859. ROUTE FROM ATCHISON via The Great Mihtary Road to Sah Lake, and Col. Fremont's Route in 1841. From Atchison to Miles Total Marmon Grove 3/2 Lancaster 5K' 9 Huron ( Cross. Grasshop- per) 4 13 Kennekuk, do main do 10 23 Capioma (Walnut Creek) 17 40 Richmond (head of Nema .- ha) J 5 55 Marysville 40 95 Small Creek on Prairie 10 105 do do 10 115 do do 7 122 Wyth Creek 7 129 Big Sandy Creek 13 142 Dr\' Sandy Creek 17 159 Little Blue River 12 171 Road leaves Little Blue 44 215 Small Creek 7 222 Platte River 17 239 Ft. Kearney 10 249 Remarks Junction of the Great Military Road. Provisions and grass. Provisions and grass. First Salt Lake Mail Station. Provisions, timber, and grass. Provisions, timber, and grass. Salt Lake Mail Station and pro- visions. Water and Gross. Luxurient grass. Water and grass. Wood and grass. Wood and grass. Wood and luxuriant grass. Heavy timber. Wood and grass. Wood and grass. W^ood, grass and buffalo. Salt Lake Mail Station and pro- visions. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 171 17 Mile point Plum Creek Cottonwood Spring Fremont's Springs O'Fallon's Bluffs Crossing South Platte Ft. St. Vrain Cherry Creek 17 266 18 284 40 324 40 364 5 369 40 409 200 609 40 649 \\ (lod, water and grass. Wood and grass. Wood and grass. Luxuriant grass. Wood, water and grass. \Vood, water, and grass. Provisions, and from this to the mines the route is well timbered and watered. From Freedom's Champion, February 12, 1859. TABLE OF DISTANCES — ^From— ATCHISON TO THE GOLD MINES, via the First Standard Parallel Route to the Republican Fork of the Kansas River, thence following the Trail of Colonel Fremont on his Explora- tions in 1843, to Cherry Creek and the Mines. Compiled from Colonel Fremont's Surveys, and the most reliable information derived from the traders across the Great Plains. From Atchison to Miles Lancaster 9 Muscotah, on Grasshopper 11 Eureka Ontario, on Elk Creek America, on Soldiers Creek 9 Vermillion City Crossing of Big Blue Little Blue creek Head of Blue creek Republican Fork Total II 20 II 31 10 41 : 9 50 25 75 3 78 17 95 23 118 12 130 Remarks Settlement, provisions and grass. Settlement, provisions and grass. Settlement, provisions and grass. Settlement, provisions and grass. Settlement, provisions and grass. Settlement, entertainment and pro- visions. Heavy timber and grass. Timber and grass. ' Wood, water and grass. 172 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Republican Fork crossing 2 Branch of Solomon's Fork 38 Leaves Solomon's Fork 75 Branch of Republican Fork 15 Following up Rep. to its Cherry Creek and Mines 2 = From Freedom's Champion. 132 I/O 245 260 head 190 450 Beaver Creek 23 473 Bijou Creek 22 495 Kioway Creek 15 510 Colonel Fremont describes this sec- tion as "affording an excellent road, it lieing generally over high and le\el i)rairies, with numerous streams wliich are well timbered with ash, elm, and \er) heavy oak, and abounding in herds of buffalo, elk and antelope." Heavy timljer and grass on course. Wood, grass and buffalo. Wood, grass and buffalo. Tlie route from tliis point to the 535 mines runs thro' a country well tim- bered and watered, with luxurient grass and plenty of wild game. February 12, 1859. Main Kntiance lo .lackson Tark, .Mrliisim. Kansas HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ^72> C-OOOOOO^HOOOt^OOOOOOOOOOOO Tt. TUTj OOOOOCOOO^OOi-iOOOOOOOOOOOO Horses *^ lCC-3?0 N C- ■* iH i-i ea CO i-l ffl ^ L.T C by: o 11 O o J5 O ■7. o x" o XT. <5 Si u: •«s» hj c ■«-. ca ^ 5 *r; 5 X S < aj *i bjc _yi C3 ^r^ b^ ^^ "" C-> CJ t/j •T3 _"u ■*-) « «!J ,-> — §; 15 5 Sc t, ■^ A ^ c - >,-l"^-& a; a O .>j° >.>. >..2 >.>;.^ >.>>>.>j ^.P "« .'5'5s .art S codsffls S t- hS ti J o .ran K M X X X K a: X i. C^ t: K cc 7i i. O a; D .: S t. K O v; K. c> C) c: 0) (uV^ o c; o o c "^ ji j> i>^ o t. 41 y O C ^ CJ O ^ -II 2.-II1S c £ c c =sK H ch~ ^ S? O C*^ r- ^ 5? X X X f C ^ OJ X •/; -^ ^ 4> ciJ *■ ^ CuD 00 ■3 5 Ob <« l^l^i s,iE:K-ixLi02;£.;:,:;xoKoaKB3>-;KE-i<;a ; r o ,0;? = o _-s s;:; oi ?;=_ai'= c-3 o..-^ °," xS^^xS>>fcS£2;^JC=.C5Z£QSfc,£o^ ;o o ■c d S-O = P c a) • , V, 5 -g Sco-gc"" ?;s>'5?:f2=« = =x ^*^ - ° H.hC 51^'"'- tSi CHAPTER XI. RAILROADS. EARLY RAILROAD AGITATION THE FIRST RAILROAD CELEBRATING THE AD- VENT OF THE RAILROAD OTHER ROADS CONSTRUCTED THE SANTA FE THE ATCHISON & NEBRASKA CITY THE KANSAS CITY, LEAVENWORTH & ATCHISON THE ROCK ISLAND THE HANNIBAL & ST. JOSEPH THE FIRST TELEGRAPH MODERN TRANSPORTATION. Eight years before the last stage pulled out of Atchison the agitation for a railroad began. The first charter provided for the construction of a railroad from Atchison to St. Joseph. As appeared in an earlier chapter, the city council of Atchison at its first meeting called an election March 15, 1858, to vote on a proposition to subscribe for $100,000 in stock. The I election was held in the store of the Burnes Brothers, and S. H. Petefish, Charles E. Woolfolk and Dr. C. A. Logan were judges of election. The proposition carried almost unanjmously, and, in addition to the stock sub- scribed for by the city, the citizens of the town subscribed for $100,000 in stock individually. The following May the contract for the constniction of the road was awarded to Butcher, Auld & Dean at $3,700 per mile. There were fourteen other l)idders. The members of the firm which made the successful bid were : Ephraim Butcher, David Auld, James Auld and William Dean. Work of construction was started May 12, 1858, but was not fin- ished until February 22, i860. The completion of this road to Atchison was of ver}- far reaching importance. The town was wild with excitement, for the new railroad gave the town its first direct rail connection with the east. Its terminus at Winthrop (East Atchison) was the first western point east of the Rocky mountains reached by a railroad at that time in the United States, save one. The first railroad built between tlie Mississippi and the 174 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY '/3 Missouri rivers was the Hannibal & St. Joseph, which was completed to St. Joseph Februar}- 23, 1859, and the new railroad from Atchison connected with the Hannibal & St. Joseph at the latter point. Richard B. Morris was the first conductor of the Atchison road, and he subsequently became internal revenue collector of Kansas under Cleve- land. Following the completion of the road, a great celebration was held at Atchison June 13, i860, and the people not only celebrated the completion of the St. Joseph line, but also the breaking of ground on the Atchison & Pike's Peak railroad, now the Central Branch. Great preparations were made for the celebration weeks in advance and promptly following the hour of 12 o'clock on the morning of June 13, i860, the firing of 100 guns at intervals began, which was kept up with monotonous regular- ity until daybreak. Flags and bunting fluttered from poles and windows throughout the city, and a special train of invited guests from the East ar- rived at Winthrop before noon with flags flying and bands playing". The passenger steamer, "Black Hawk," loaded to the guards with citizens from Kansas City, reached Atchison early in the morning, and leading citizens also came from Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Lawrence, Topeka and other towns. The city had been cleaned up and put in holiday attire by the city author- ities. The town had never before presented such a gay appearance. Frank A. Root in his interesting book, "The Overland Stage to California," who was present at the celebration, has perhaps written the most interesting ac- count of this event that has ever been printed. He says : "In the procession that formed along Second street, one of the unique and attractive features was a mammoth government wagon trimmed with evergreens and loaded with thirty-four girls dressed in white, representing every State in the Union and the Territory of Kansas. There were three other wagons filled with little girls similarly dressed, representing all the forty-one counties of Kansas in its last year of territorial existence. "One of the contractors for government freighting had a huge prairie schooner, drawn by twenty-nine yoke of oxen, the head of each animal or- namented with a small flag, while he himself was mounted upon a mule. The contractor was quite an attraction, dressed in the peculiar western prairie and plains frontier cow-boy costume with buckskin pants, red flannel shirt, boots nearly knee high, with revolver and bowie knife buckled around his waist, dangling by his side. The procession in line, marched west along Commercial street to near Tenth. It was a long one and it was estimated that there were 7,000 people in it and at least 10,000 in the city witnessing ^ 176 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the festivities. The ceremony of lireaking i^round for these two roads took place about noon, but there was nothing particularly imposing about it. The most important part of the ceremonies was the turning over of a few- spadefuls of dirt by Col. Peter T. Abell, president of the road, and Capt. Eph. Butcher, the contractor, who built the Atchison & St. Joseph road. The event was witnessed by fully 5.000 people, after which the monster procession formed, and. headed by a brass band, and other bands at different places in the line, marched across White Clay creek to the grove in the southwest part of the city, where the oration was delivered by Benj. F. Stringfellow. Following the oration several speeches were made by the mosf prominent of the invited guests, one of them by Col. C. K. Holli^aVi^of Topeka, one of the founders of the great Santa F"e system. The barbeque was an im- portant feature of the affair. Six beeves, tv/enty hogs, and over fifty-sheep, pigs and lambs were roasted. There was also prepared more than one hun- dred boiled hams, several thousand loaves of bread, cakes by the hundred, besides sundry other delicacies to tickle the palate and help make the occasion one long to be remembered by all present. The exercises were quite elal)- orate and wound up with a ball in the evening at A. S. Parker's ha ll on the west side of Sixth street, between Commercial and Main and a wine supper in Charley Holbert's building on Second street, just north of the Massasoit House. Many visitors came from a long distance east, some as far as New England. Most of the Northern States were represented, and a few came from the South. Free transportation was furnished the invited guests. Hundreds came by rail and steamboat and many poured in from the sur- rounding countiy for miles, in wagons and on horseback, from eastern Kansas and western Missouri." \\niile a strong movement for the ccinstruction of railroads was started in i860, it was soon discovered that much progress could not be made in the face of the unsettled conditions brought on by the Civil war, and, as a result a further effort in that direction, was, for the time being, abandoned. However, Luther C. Challiss did not give up his idea of projecting a road to the West, and to him more than to anybody else belongs the creditof^ start- ing the first road west out of Atchison. He obtained a charter for the building of the Atchison & Pike's Peak railroad and this company was organ- ized February 11, 1859, but on account of the war was not opened to Water- ville until Januaiy 20, 1868. Challiss obtained possession of 150.000 acres of Jand from the Kickapoo Indians by a treaty, and. upon the organization of the company he was elected president. The land he secured from the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I77 Indians was, for the most part, located in Atchison county, around Muscotali, and adjoining counties. With Mr. Challiss were associated Charks B. Keith, who was the agent of the Kickapoo Indians, George \V. Glick and Senators Pomeroy and Lane. In the charter for this road provision was made for its construction lOO miles west of Atchison. Col. William Osborn, who had constructed the west half of the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, built the first section of the Central Branch to Waterville. He named the town after his old home in New York, where he was born. It was proposed at this point to make a connection with a branch running from Kansas City to Ft. Kearney, Neb., but tlie Kansas City road was subsequently changed to Denver, and for this reason it has been said the Central Branch was not completed to Denver, as originally planned. The Atchison & Pike's Peak Railroad Company was incorporated by special act of the Territorial legislature of the Territory of Kansas, chapter 48, "Private Laws of Kansas, 1859," ^""^ authorized to construct a rail- road from Atchison to the western boundary of the Territory in the direc- tion of Pike's Peak. Subsequently, the Atchison & Pike's Peak Railroad Compan}^ became the assignee of all the rights, privileges and franchises of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, given and granted under an Act of Congress, of July 8, 1862, Twelfth Statute, page 489, entitled : "An Act to aid in the constraction of a railroad and telegraph line from the IVIis- souri river to the Pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of same for postal, military and other purposes," which provided that the Han- nibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company might extend its road from St. Joseph via Atchison, to connect and unite with a railroad in Kansas, provided for in said Act, for one hundred miles in length next to the Missouri river, and might, for that purpose, use any railroad charter, which had, or might have been granted, by the legislature of Kansas. Accordingly, the work of con- struction from Atchison west was inaugurated under the name of the Atch- ison & Pike's Peak Railroad Company. On January i, 1867, by virtue of the laws of the State of Kansas, the name of Atchison & Pike's Peak Railroad Company was changed to the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany, and the latter company completed the railroad from Atchison to Water- ville. THE ATCHISON, TOrEKA & SANTA FE RAITAVAV COMPANY. Tlie first real move for the construction of a railroad from the Missouri river, west, resulted in a charter granted by the Territorial legislature to the 12 IjS HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY St. Joseph & Topeka Railroad Company February 20, 1857. Under the terms of the charter the road was to start from St. Joseph, Mo. : thence crossing the river through Doniphan, Atchison and Jefferson counties to Topeka. Tlie cliarter was subsequently amended and the road was extended in the direction of Santa Fe, N. M.. to the southwestern line of Kansas, which is practically the same route now traversed by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad. The desire on the part of the people for direct rail- road connection with the Missouri river and the East gave to this move- ment great impetus, and there was considerable rivalry between the towns to offer aid and assistance. The people of Atchison were particularly anxious to make this town tlie terminal point and the future railway center of the great trans-continental system, and strongly opposed any project which would make Atchison simply a way station on the great road to the West. \\'it]i a view to avert such action on the part of those behind the movement to construct this road, it was determined to make Atchison the eastern terminus of the same. Accordingly, Atchison loaned its credit to the amount of $150,000, by aid of which subsidj' a direct road was built on the Missouri side of the river from St. Joseph and thence north under an- other charter with Atchison, Kan., instead of St. Joseph as the eastern ter- minus, the enterprise was carried on .'^.nd as a result the citizens of Kansas Ter- riton,- were much elated with the added prestige of the railroad being a Kan- sas corporation. The Atchison & Tojjeka Railroad Company was incor- porated by an Act of the legislature February ii, 1B59. Those named as the original incorporators were: S. C. Ponieroy, Atchison; C. K. llalliday, Topeka; Luther C. Challiss, Atchi.son ; Peter T. Abell, Atchison; Aspah Allen, Topeka; Milton C. Dickey. Topeka; Samuel Dickson, Atchison; Wilson L. Gordon, Topeka; "George S. Hillyer, Grasshopper Falls; Lorenzo D. Bird, Atchison ; Jeremiah ]Mar.sliall, Topeka ; George H. Fairchild, Atchison ; F. L. Crane. Topeka. The company was "authorized to sur\'ey, locate, con- struct, complete, alter, maintain and operate a railroad with one or more tracks from or near Atchison in Kansas Territory, to the town of Topeka. in Kansas Territory, and to such point on the southern or western boundar\' of said Territory in the direction of Santa Fe as may be convenient and suitable for the construction of said road and also to construct a branch to any point on the southern line of said Territory in the direction of the Gulf of Mexico."' The authorized capital stock was $1,500,000, and the first y meeting for organization under the charter was held at the office of Luther C. Challis in Atchison Septemljer 15, 1859, at wliich meeting $52,000 of the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 1 79 first subscription of stock was paid, and the following directors were chosen : L. C. ChalHss. George H. Fairchild, P. T. Abell, S. C. Pomeroy. L. D. Bird, C. K. HalHday, F. L. Crane, E. G. Ross, Joel H. Huntoon, M. C. Dickey, Jacob Safford. R. H. Weightman, and J. H. Stringfellow. The officers were : C. K. Holliday, president ; P. T. Abel), secretar}^ ; M. C. Dickey, treas- urer. It will be seen that the majority of the incorporators and of the offi- cers were citizens of Atchison, and it is an important fact in the history of Kansas that Atchison county played such an important part in the organiza- tion and construction of the first railroad lines in the State. Had it not been for the terrible drought Qf_ 1860, which totally paralyzed all classes oi business, the work of constructing this road immediately following its or- ganization would have gone forward, but the famine which followed the drought was so complete and so widely distributed throughout the State and the western country as to almost destroy the farming- interests. During this period the directors of tlie road decided to press the claims of Kansas for a national subsidy for the construction of railroads, and President C. K. Holli- day, with a number of his associates, spent much- time in Washington dur- ing 1859 and i860. Their work was not in ^•ain, for on March 3, 1863, Con- gress made a grant of land to the State of Kansas, giving alternate sections one mile square and ten in width, amounting to 6,400 acres per mile, on con- dition that the Atchison-Topeka road should be finished on or before 1873. The State accepted the grant and transferred it to this road Februarv Q, 1864. It was in October, 1868, almost ten years after the date that the first charter was granted to this road that work of construction was begun in Topeka. The road was first built in a southerly direction so as to reach the coal region in Osage county. It was opened to Carbondale, eighteen miles from Topeka, in July, 1869, and readied Wichita, 163 miles from Topeka, in May, 1872, and at about the same time in 1872 the road was completed from Topeka to Atchison, a distance of fifty-one miles. ATCHISON & NEBRASKA CITY RAILR0.\D. On May 5, 1867, the charter for the Atchison «&; Nebraska City Railroad Company was filed in the office of the secretary of State of the State of Kan- sas. The original incorporators of this road were Peter T. Abell. George W. Click, Alfred G. Otis, John M. Price. W. W. Cochrane, Albert H. Hor- ton, Samuel A. Kingman, J. T. Hereford and Augustus Byram, all of whom were citizens of Atchison. The charter provided for the construction of a l8o HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY railroad from "some point in the city of Atchison to some point on the north hne of the State of Kansas, not farther west than twenty-five miles from the jNlissouri river, and the length of tlie proposed railroad will not exceed forty-five miles." Shortly after the road was incorporated the name was changed to the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company, and under this name subscriptions in bonds and capital stock were made in Atchison and Doniphan counties. Atchison county subscribed for $150,000, and in addi- tion to the subscription of the county there were individual subscriptions amounting to $80,000 in the county. Work was commenced on the road in 1869, and it was completed in 1871 to the northern boundary of Doni- phan county, three miles north of Whitecloud. The stockholders of Atchi- son graded the road bed to the State line, constructed bridges and furnished the ties, after which the entire property was given to a Boston syndicate in consideration of the completion and operation of the road. This railroad was afterwards consolidated with the .'\tchison. Lincoln & Columbus Rail- road Company of Nebraska, which road had lieen authorized to construct a railroad from the northern terminal point of the Atchison & Nebraska rail- road to Columbus, on the Union Pacific railroad, by way of Lincoln, and the road was completed to Lincoln in the fall of 1872. This consolidated road was purchased by the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company in 1880. • KANSAS CITY, LEAVENWORTH & ATCHISON RAILWAY CO>rPANY. This road was organized by articles of association filed in the office of the Secretarj- of the State of Kansas September 21, 1867, and March 25, 1868, and the Missouri River Railroad Company by articles of association filed February 20, 1865, and the construction of tlie Leavenworth, Atchi- son & Northwestern railroad was commenced at Leavenworth in March, 1869, and completed to Atchison in September, 1S69. The stock held in the company by Leavenworth county, aggregating $300,000, was do- nated to this road to aid in its extension to Atchison, and the first train into Atchison arrived in the latter part of 1869. It was not until July, 1882, however, that the first train was run through from Atchison to Omaha over the line of the Missouri Pacific railroad, which subsequently absorbed the Leavenworth, Atchison & Northwestern Railroad Company. THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company was one of the last of the railroads to make connection with Atchison. This line was HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY lOI originally projcctetl to Leavenworth, hut reached Atchison shortly after. The construction of the Atchison branch was begun in 1S72, and in July of that year the first train was run- into the city. All of these roads having been organized and constructed and in opera- tion, the next mo\-ement that took place in transportation circles was the erection of the bridge across the Missouri river, work upon which was com- menced in August, 1874, and completed in July, 1875. This bridge is 1,182 feet long and the stone for the piers and abutments upon which it rests was taken from the quarries at Cottonwood Falls, Chase county. It was originally built by the American Bridge Company of Chicago, and was re-built entirely new, except for the piers, in i8q8. Shortly after the erection of the bridge, connecting Missouri with Kansas at Atchison, the first railroad de- pot was built upon the site of the present union station, which was com- pleted and dedicated September 7, 1880. There was a great deal of dis- cussion as to the proper location of a depot before the building was finally erected, and it was through the efforts of the Burneses that its location on Main street, between Second and Fourth street, was selected. The cap- ital stock of the original Depot Company was $100,000,000, of which the railroad companies then entering the city suliscribed for $70,000. The bal- ance of the stock was taken by individuals. The cost of the original depot was $120,000, and the architect was William E. Taylor, who planned the old union station in Kansas City. James A. McGonigle. who was the con- tractor for the old Kansas City station, also built the Atchison union depot. It was built of the finest pressed brick from St. Louis, and trimmed with cut stone from the Cottowood Falls quarries. Its length was 235 feet, with an "L" ninety-six feet long. It was two stories high with a mansard roof. It was an ornamental, and, in those days, an imposing structure. The cere- monies accompanying its dedication were witnessed by a great crowd, and many great men in the railroad and political life of Kansas participated in them. Gen. Benjamin F. Stringfellow delivered the address, and a ban- quet was served in the evening, followed by a procession and fire-works. Tw'O years later, in June, 1882, this depot was partially destroyed by fire, suffering a loss of $10,000, but it was immediately rebuilt. On January 6, 1888, another fire completely destroyed the building, and the present union station was erected a short time later. HANNIBAL & ST. JOSEPH RAILROAD. On and after Monday, February 28, this road will be open for business throughout its entire length. Passenger trains will leave St. Joseph for Han- 1 82 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY inbal every morning, making close connection with steam packets to St. Louis and Ouincy, and affording direct connection with all the railroads east of the Mississippi river. Time from St. Joseph to Hannibal, eleven hours, and to St. Louis, eighteen hours, saving more than three days over any other route. Trains from the east will arrive in St. Joseph every evening, con- necting with a daily line of packets running between St. Joseph and Kansas City; also a line up the Missouri to the Bluffs. Passengers from all parts of Kansas will find this the quickest and most agreeable route to St. Louis and all points on the Mississippi, giving those going east a choice between the routes from St. Louis. Alton and Ouincy. Fare will be as low as by any other route. Favorable arrangements will be made for taking freight, saving most of the heavy insurance on the Missouri river. Express freight will be taken through much quicker than by any other line. Tickets can be had at the office in St. Joseph for nearly all parts of the countr^^ JOSL\H HUNT, Sup't. P. B. GROAT, Gen'l. Ticket Ag't. Feb. 1st, 1859. no. 48-lm. (From Freedom's Cftampion, Atchison. Februarys 12. 1859.) HANNIBAL & ST. JOSEPH RAILROAD. NEW ROUTE OPEN FOR THE E.\ST AND SOUTH. Passengers for St. Louis, northern Missouri, Iowa. Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, Louis- ville and Southern States, will find this the shortest, quickest and most de- sirable route to the above points. On the ist day of February only fifteen miles of staging intervenes between St. Joseph and Hannibal, and on the ist day of March, 1859, the road will be completed, and open for through travel the entire length. A daily line of stages from Atchison, passing through Doniphan and Geary City, connects at St. Joseph with the H. & St. Jo. railroad. From Hannibal a daily line of packets leave upon arrival of cars for St. Louis, upon the opening of navigation, and lioats connect at Ouincy with the C. B. & O. railroad for Chicago, and with the G. \V. railroad for Toleda via Naples. This is in every respect the best route for eastern and southern passengers. Trains leave St. Joseph for the east daily. JOSL\H HUNT, Sup't. P. B. GROAT, General Ticket Agent. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I03 (no. 47) (From Freedom's Champion. Atchison, February 12. 1859.) THE FIRST TELEGRAPH. It was a little over six months after the completion of the Atchison & St. Joseph railroad that the first telegraph connection was established be- tween Atchison and the world. The construction of the Missouri & Western telegraph line was begun in Syracuse, Mo., in 1859. Charles M. Stebbins built this telegraph line, which extended from Syracuse to Ft. Smith, Ark. A branch of this line was extended westward to Kansas City, and reached Leavenworth along in the spring of 1859. August 15, 1859, this branch was extende_d to_ Atchison, and it was a proud day in the history of this city. ' The first office was in a brick building on Commercial street adjoining the office of Freedom's Champion. John T. Tracy was the first operator. Gen. Samuel C. Pomeroy was mayor, and on this account the honor was given him of sending the first message, which was as follows : "Atchison, August 15, 1859. His Honor, H. B. Denman, Mayor of Leavenworth. Our medium of communication is perfect. May our fraternal relations continue — may our prosperity and success equal our highest efforts. S. C. Pomeroy, Mayor of Atchison." Mayor Denman replied as follows: "Hon. S. C. Pomeroy, Mayor of Atchison. Mav each push forward its works of enterprise and the efforts of each be crowned with success. H. B. Denman, Mayor of Leavenworth." Congratulations were next exchanged between Atchison and St. Louis, as follows: "Atchison, August 15, 1859. Hon. O. D. Filley, Mayor of St. Louis. For the first time since the world began, a telegraph message is sent to St. Louis from this place, the farthest telegrapli station in the West. Ac- cept our congratulations and aid us in our progress westward. S. C. Pome- roy, Mayor of Atchison." It was in October of that same year that the first news was flashed over the wire telling of the capture of Flarper's Ferry by old John Brown. In connection with the question of early day transportation in Atchison county, it would be an oversight to fail to mention the efforts of one Thomas L. Fortune to improve the means of locomotion. Mr. Fortune was a citizen of Mt. Pleasant, and in the fall of 1859 he conceived the scheme which he believed would revolutionize the whole transportation problem. lie planned a steam wagon with which he expected to haul freight across the plains. The following year he built at St. Louis, a large vehicle, twenty 184 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY feet long by eight feet wide. The wheels were twenty inches wide and eight feet in diameter. This wagon was transported up the Missouri river to Atchison from St. Louis on the steamer, "Meteor," and was landed from the steamer in front of the \\'hite Mice saloon, which was a noted resort on the Atchison levee at that time, in the latter part of June, i860. The follow- ing account is taken from Frank A. Root's "Overland Stage to California" : A day or two after its arrival (referring to Fortune's wagon) Mr. Root says that it was arranged that the steam wagon should make a trial trip on the Fourth of July. The monster was accordingly fired up on the eighty-fourth National anniversary and started by an engineer named Callahan. The wagon was ornamented with a number of flags and loaded with a crowd of anxious men and boys. When everj-thing was in readiness the valve was opened and the wagon moved off in a southerly direction from the levee. It went all right until it reached the foot of Commercial street, about a square away. The pilot failing to turn the machine, it kept on straight up to the sidewalk and ran into A. S. Parker's warehouse, which stood so many years by the old historic cottonwood tree at the southeast cor- ner of Commercial street and the levee. The result of this awkard blunder was an accident, in which a son of the owner of tlie wagon had an arm broken, as the machine crashed into the side of the building, which was a long, one-storj' frame cottonwood structure that for a number of years was a noted landmark in Atchison. The excited engineer was at once let out and Lewis Higby, another engineer, and a natural genius, was sent for. Higby mounted the wagon and took his place at the engine, backed the ma- chine out into the middle of the road and in a few minutes went sailing gracefully along west on Commercial street at about six miles per hour. When in front of Jesse Crall's stable at the corner of Sixth street, before that part of Commercial street had been graded, it went down a little hill at a lively speed, but Higby kept it going and did not stop until it reached L. C. Challiss' addition, just south and west from Commercial and Eighth streets. near Morgan Willard's old foundry, built in 1859, away from the business and residence portion of the city. After the wagon crossed Eighth street and was beyond the business houses. Higby turned on more steam, and the monster veliicle made about eight miles an hour, cavorting around on the bottom, there being only a few scattering buildings then west of Eighth street. To test the practicability of the machine, it was run into hollows and gullies, and, where the ground was soft it was found that the ponderous wheels would sink into the mud HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 1 85 when standing still in soft ground. The result of the trial, witnessed by ^ hundreds, was disappointing to most of those present. The inventor, who had spent a large amount of money and much time in trying to perfect his steam wagon and solve the overland transportation problem, was the worst C disappointed. He was thoroughly disgusted. He saw at once that the use ^^ of the vehicle was impracticable and that it would never answer the purpose. , That trial trip was the first and only one the "overland steam wagon" ever made. It was accordingly abandoned on the bottom where the tracks of the Central Branch and Santa Fe roads are now laid, and was never afterwards fired up. Those who had crossed the plains with mules and oxen, kr.ew it could never be used in overland freighting. There was no use for any such vehicle and the anticipated reduction in prices of ox and mule teams did not take place. The timbers used in the framework of the machine that were not stolen finally went to decay, and the machinery was afterwards taken out and disposed of for other purposes. MODERN TR.\NSP0RTATI0N. The propitious beginning that Atchison had as a commercial and trans- portation center should have made the town one of the largest and most important railroad terminals in the West. That was the hope and aspiration of its original founders, and for many years afterwards it was a cherished idea. But Kansas City was subsequently selected as the point of vantage, and the builders of this great western empire have since centralized their activities at the mouth of the "Kaw," and it is there that the metropolis of the West will be built. However, a marvelous development has taken place here since the day of the Holladay and Butterfield stage lines and slow- moving ox and mule trains across the plains. We no longer marvel at the volume of trade and freight tonnage and the multitude of travelers that pass through Atchison every year. We take these things as a matter of course, and make no note of the daily arrival and departure of the fifty-six passen- ger trains at our union depot every day; we marvel not at the speed and the ease and comfort with which we can make the trip to St. Louis or Chicago, over night, or to Denver in less than twenty-four hours, or to New York in two and one-half days, and to San Francisco in less than five, surrounded by evei"y luxury money can buy. We have accustomed ourselves to these marvels, just as we have learned to make use of the telephone and the tele- graph, and a little later on will begin to use the air ship and the wireless. Nature has a way of easily adjusting mankind to these changed conditions. CHAPTER XII. REMINISCENCES OF EARLY PIONEERS. D. R. ATCHISON' MATT GERBER J. H. TALBOTT WILLIAM OSBORNE JOHX W. CAIN W. L. CHALLISS GEORGE SCARBOROUGH SAMUEL HOLLISTER JOHN TAYLOR JOHN M. CROWELL LUTHER DICKERSON I.ITHER C. CHALLISS — GEORGE W. GLICK W. K. GRIMES JOSHUA WHEELER WILLIAM HETHERINGTON WILLIAM C. SMITH JOHN M. PRICE SAM- UEL C. KING CLEM ROHR R. H. WEIGHTMAN CASE OF MAJOR WEIGHTMAN. One of the really creditable and most pretentious newspaper enterprises ever undertaken and accomplished in Kansas was E. W. Howe's Historical Edition of the Atchison Daily Globe. It contains much interesting and val- uable information written in the unique style which has made Mr. Howe famous. With the consent of Mr. Howe, which he has ver\' kindly granted the author of this histor}', there will appear in this chapter, almost verbatim, a number of biographical sketches and other interesting matter, which has should be printed in book form so that it could be assured of a permanent place in the archives of the State. There are but few copies left, and these are in a bad state of disintegration. The sketch of Gen. D. R. Atchison will first be reproduced herein, and then will follow others, toucliing upon the lives and characters of early settlers, who contributed their part to the upbuilding of this community. Much ha^ already appeared in this history touching upon the activities of General Atchison, but a sketch of his life is important, inas- much as he is perhaps the most conspicuous early-day character in the Iiistory of Atchison county. GENERAL D. R. ATCHISON. David Rice Atchison, for whom Atchison was named, was born near Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky, August ii, 1807. The son of William ' 186 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 187 Atchison, a \vealtli_\- farmer of that count}-, he received all the ad\-antages of a liberal education. His mother's maiden name was Catherine Allen, a native of the State of Georgia. William Atchison, the father, was a Pennsylvanian by birth. David R. Atchison was blessed with six cliildren, four sons and two daughters. In 1825 he graduated with high honor from Transylvania Uni- versity, then the leading institution of learning in the State, and since incor- porated in the new University of Kentucky. Upon receiving his degrees in the arts, Mr. Atchison immediately applied himself to the study of law. In 1829 Mr. Atchison was admitted to practice in his native State, and a few months after, in 1830, removed to the compara- tively wild district of Clay county, Missouri. In April of that year he re- ceived in St. Louis his license to practice in the supreme court of the State and immediately settled in the village of Liberty, now the county seat of Clay county. About this period, Mr. Atchison was appointed major general of the northern division of the Missouri State militia. General Atchison soon commanded a lucrative practice in his new home, where he continued to reside in the discharge of the duties of his profession until February, 1841, when his superior legal attainments, which were known and recognized throughout tlie State, won for him the appointment as judge of the district court of Platte county on its organization in February of that year, when he moved his residence to Platte City. It appears that in that day judges were appointed to this position by the Government, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The office was not made elective until several years after. In 1834 and 1838 he was elected to the Missouri legislature from Clay county. Upon the death of Dr. Lyon, United States senator, in 1838, Judge Atchi- son was appointed by Governor Reynolds to the vacancy in the Senate. It was by many considered that this appointment was merited and he had been recommended by Colonel Benton and other authorities of the Democratic party ; by others it was said that the governor himself was ambitious of the senatorship and had selected Judge Atchison as a person who could be easily beaten at the next election. The death of Governor Reynolds, however, occurred before the meeting of the next legislature and Judge Atchison was elected with but slight opposition. He was reelected for two more terms, the last of which expired March 4, 1855, during the administration of Franklin Pierce. Two years after this he moved his residence from Platte to Clinton county. He was elected president of the Senate to succeed Judge Mangun, a Whig senator from North Carolina. l88 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY The 4th of March. 1849. occurring on Sunday. Zachary Taylor was not inaugurated until the following Monday. Judge Atchison thus, as presiding officer of the Senate, became virtually President of the United States during the term of twenty-four hours. In referring to this accidental dignity, on being interrogated as to how he enjoyed his exalted position, the venerable senator good humoredly replied that he could tell but little aboat from Jefferson City. Two weeks later he met a number of the members of the Sumner Town Company who were looking for somebody to go to Sumner to build a hotel. Having been a contractor and builder in his old home in New Jersey, Mr. Hollister accompanied the men to vSumner, which then consisted of a claim cabin, used as a hotel, and four frame houses in course of construction.. The material for the frame houses had been brought from Cincinnati, ready framed, and when completed were 16x24, containing two rooms each. Mr. Hollister took the contract to build tlie Baker House, which contained three rooms on the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY I97 ground floor. Tlie half story above was all in one room, where the guests slept. The frames for the Baker House were hewn out in the timber adjoin- ing the town ; the weather boarding and shingles were shipped up the river. The hotel was completed in the summer of 1857, and was operated by Hood Baker, a cousin of Capt. David Baker, for many years a prominent citizen of Atchison. In the fall of the same year Mr. Hollister began work on the Sumner House, the contract price being $16,000.00. The brick used were made on the ground. The lumlaer came by boat from Pittsburgh, Penn. This hotel was completed in the summer of the following year. It was built by the town company, which owed Mr. Hollister $3,000.00 at tlie time of his death, a few years ago. Mr. Hollister lived in Sumner twelve years, vigorously fighting Atchison. In the fall of 1858 he built a mill, in company witli Al Barber, later adding a gristmill, which was the second built in the county, tlie first having been built in Atchison, by William Bowman. Mr. Hollister went down the river in a boat in January, 1859, and when he reached his old home in tlie Catskill moun- tains, he crossed the Hudson river on the ice. During this trip east he was married to Miss Harriet Carroll, a lineal descendant of Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His wife returned with him to Sumner, and they^afterwards moved to Atchison, where they lived for many years. Mr. Hollister died March 28, 1910. JOHN TAYLOR. John Taylor, who for many years lived on a farm immediately south of the State Orphans' Home, was a resident of Missouri, a mile and a quarter above East Atchison in 1844, ten years before Kansas was opened for settle- ment. His father, Joseph Taylor, came to the Platte Purchase in 1838, from Pennsylvania, settling near Weston. At that time most of the best claims were taken. John Taylor's recollection was that the very earliest settler in that vicinity was in 1837. Joseph Taylor did not secure a very good claim, and afterward removed to Andrew county, finally locating a mile above East Atchison, in 1844. John Taylor said that George Million was living on the present site of East Atchison when his father's family settled in the bottom. It was Mr. Taylor's opinion that George Million settled in East Atchison in 1842, and that he did not start his ferry until 1850. In the spring of that year John Taylor crossed the river on George Million's flatboat fcrrv, and 198 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY went to California, in company with his brother, Joe. There was no wagon road running west from Atchison at that time. John and Joe Taylor mined in California for eighteen months, never making over $20.00 per day, and usually only $5.00. They returned home by the way of the Isthmus of Pan- ama, and John Taylor got the small-pox at Glascow. Mo., which did not break out on him until he 'reached East Atchison. This was supposed to be the . first case of small-pox in this section of the country. All the other members of the family .got it. and the wife of Jim Stultz, who came in to help his mother, also got it. Their pliysician was a Doctor Ankrom. who lived in the Narrows, near Rushville, and he got it, too. This was in the winter of 185 1 and 1852. In September, 1854, ten years after settling in East Atchison, Mr. „ Ta\lor came to this side of the river. \\'hen he arrived Ladd Yocum was ^ running a hotel in a tent ; there was nothing else on the town site. Late in the fall George T. Challiss completed his store, which was the first l^uilding of anv kind in Atchison, according to Mr. Taylor. He says tliat George Mil- ■ lion did not erect his claim shanty until the following year. i\Ir. Taylor first settled in the bluffs, northeast of Atchison, but after- wards moved to a tract of land owned by a man named O. B. Dickerson, who afterwards built the first livery stable in Atchison. Dickerson sold his claim to a man named Adams. B. T. Stringfellow's father-in-law, for $600.00, but Adams did not comply with the law and Taylor jumped it. For a while Tay- lor and Adams lived on the same quarter, and became acquainted ; then Taylor discovered that Adams paid v$6oo.oo for the claim, and gave him his money back. Taylor said he never had any short words with Adams ab(Uit the claim. l)ut once. Tiiey met on the iiill, overlooking the ri\'er. one day. and were looking at the wreck of the old "Pontiac," which is now said to have con- tained several hundred barrels of whiskey. "Well," said Adams, "when are you going?" "Going where?" asked Taylor. "To Nova Scotia," replied Adams. "I am not going at all," was Taylor's rseponse, wliich Adams imder- stood to mean that he was not going to leave the claim, but intended to fight. A compromise soon followed. Taylor says the "Pontiac" was carried off b}- Atchison people, and put into their houses, and that years afterwards, the writing on the wheel house could be seen around town. There was no whiskey left in the hold; indeed, the hold was carried away. The Taylor place was considered a great deal more valual)le in 1855 than it is now : people felt sure that within four or five years John Taylor would cut it up in town lots and sell them at fabulous prices, and go abroad. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 199 John Taylor's sympathies were ahvays \\dllL-Lhe^SautlL_,Carolinians, who made tliis section so warm in 1856, but said that only one in ten were good citizens : the others were tougiis. One of them, a man named Newhall, was killed in the fight at Hickory Point. John Robinson, captain of a southern party at Hickorj- Point, was an Atchison man. and was shot in the hii). ^Ir. Taylor said that in 1844 and several years later the country was full of bee trees, and that cattle turned into the rush in the river bottom in winter, came out fat in the spring. In 1844 there was a settlement of fify Kickapoo families on the flat just atove the island on the Kansas side. They made a great deal of maple sugar. In summer these Indians went out to the buffalo grounds, sixty to eightv miles west of the river, returning in the fall, to be near the Missouri settlers. There never was an Indian village on the site of Atchi- son, altliough Mrs. Joe \\'ade, who was George Million's daughter, claims to have remembered coming to this side of the river when she was a little girl, and seeing a dead Indian strapped to a board and leaning against a tree on the present site of Commercial street. The body was surrounded with totem poles. There was no game at that time on this side of the river. Indians themselves hunted deer on the Missouri side in winter, and were very friendly with the whites. John Taylor died on March 7, 1897. JOHN M. CROWELL. John M. Crowell \\as mayor of Atchison tliree terms, coming to the city ' in 1858 from Londonderry, X. H., where he was bom October 22, 1823. For ten years he was a merchant iiere, afterwards being appointed Government storekeeper, and having charge of a distillery below town. From 1870 to 1885, he was United States postoffice inspector for nineteen States and Terri- tories, and in that capacity visited every section of the country. He resigned to become a mail contractor, although solicited by a Democratic postmaster general to remain. His record in Washington was as good as that of an\' man who c\-er worked for the Government. I\Ir. Crowell was a forty-niner. crossing the plains during tlie great rush of that year, and engaging ni sluice mining. He made four trips to California, but never by railroad. From San Francisco he visited China, South America, the Sandwich Islands, and was a great traveler in his time. He was the father of Frank G. Crowell, who was Ijorn in Atchison, and for many years a prominent citizen liere, but later resigning his position as county attorney of Atchison county and moving to Kansas City to engage in the grain business, where he now lives. 200 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY John 'SI. Crowell's daughter became Mrs. F. ]\I. Baker, wiio accumulated a fortune in the grain business in Atchison. Mr. Crowell died on the eleventh day of October, 1902. GEORGE MILLION WILLLV.M SCARBROl'GH LUTHER DICKERSON. Luther Dickerson came to Atchison county in Jnne. 1854, immediately after Kansas was opened to settlement, from Saline county, Missouri, where he had lived ten years. He went to Missouri from Washington county, Ohio, where he was born in 1825. After looking over the countr)- Mr. Dickerson returned to Missouri, but came back to Kansas the following October, and "squatted" on a tract of land a mile north of the State Orphans' Home. From 1854 to 1857 were the squatter sovereignty days, during which period a set- tled could have no title to land, further than the fact of his settlement on the land he seleced as his home. Land offices were not established until in 1S57, when the squatter filed his claims, and began fighting over them. The first land office in this section was at Doniphan. John W. Whitfield, who was afterwards in Congress, was the register. About a year later the land office was removed to Kickapoo, just below Atchison. When Mr. Dickerson squatted on his claim in 1854, three-fourths of the land around him was taken. Welcome Nance, Peter Cumming-s, John Taylor Andy Colgan did not come until and Widow Bovle had farms at that time. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 20I 1857. The settlers of 1854 were mostly from Missouri. In 1855 came an organized band of South Carolinians, whose object was to make Kansas a slave State. Then followed the fierce and relentless fight with the Free State men, which ended in 1857, ^s far as this section was concerned. That is, in 1857 the Free State men won control, and have practically kept it ever since. In the fall of that year the Free State men elected their county ticket, and Luther Dickerson was chosen as one of the four commissioners and was made chairman. Luther Dickerson was a Free State man and was fought by all the Mis- souri and South Carolinians. His land was contested, and he was beaten in the land office, but he finally won before the secretary of the interior, by proving that the woman who was contesting him was a foreigner. Hiram Latham, a Free State man, who lived across the road from Dickerson, was murdered in Doniphan, and because of tiiis murder Frank McVey left the country and never came back. The men who killed Latham were ferried over Independence creek by Dickerson, and, noticing that they were armed, he asked where they were going. They said they were going wolf hunting. In 1858 Luther Dickerson was elected a member of the house of representatives, which met at Lecompton, and tlien adjourned to Lawrence. In the same vear, while still a county commissioner, he built the old court house, which occupied the site of the present court house. Luther Dickerson raised the first company of soldiers ever organized in the State of Kansas, in May, 1861. The first military order issued in the State was directed to him, signed by John A. Martin, assistant adjutant general. But while his company was the first organized, it happened that Dicker- son's commission as captain was the second issued, and was signed by Gov- ernor Charles Robinson, before the State had an official seal. Afterwards, Mr. Dickerson served in the regular volunteer service, as first lieutenant. He lived on his land, north of town, for many years, and died in Atc!n',son on the thirteenth day of December, 19 10. LUTHER C. CHALLISS. Luther C. Challiss came to Atchison in 1855 from Boonville, Mo., where he was engaged as a merchant. He remained here continuously until 1861 as merchant, banker, ferry operator and real estate owner. Luther C. Chal- 202 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY liss' addition, the east line of which is at the alley between Seventh and Eightli streets, was preempted by ]\Ir. Challiss in 1857, and was originally com- posed of 198 acres. As a memlier of the Territorial council. Mr. Challiss secured the first charter for a railroad west from Atchison, known as the Atchison Pike's Peak railroad, now the Central Branch. He was the first president of the road, and originally owned every dollar of the stock. He also managed the Kicka- poo treaty, which gave the road 150.000 acres of land, and made it prominent in \\'ashington as a specific possibility. The original Government subsidy for this road was ever}- other quarter section of land for ten miles on either side, in a ddition to $16,000 to $48,000 per mile, in Government bonds. At the same time Mr. Challiss secured a charter for the Atchison-Pike's Peak railroad, he secured a charter for the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe rail- road, his original idea being a southern route to the Pacific, and that road has fulfilled all of his early expectations. Mr. Challiss made a great deal of money in Atchison, and in 1864 drifted to New York and \\'ashington, where he became an operator on the stock exchange. Mr. Challiss" sympathies were with tlie South, and was generally a bull. As long as the South showed its ability to hold out Mr. Challiss made a great deal of money, and at one time he had on deposit in Xew York $960,000. but the tide turned against him when the South began to fail, and this fortune was reduced to nothing. As an operator on.\\'all street at that time, Mr. Challiss outranked Jim Fisk and Jay Gould, and was the peer of Anthony ^lorse and the Jeromes. Jay Gould was a ver\- common man at that time, compared to Mr. Challiss. and a very little thing might have made Mr. Challiss one of the great financial leaders in America. An incident in his career in Xew York was the attempt of W'oodhull & Claflin to break him. He made a fight that is still remem- bered, and sent Woodhull and Claflin. Colonel Blood Stephen, Pearl Andrews and George Francis Train to jail, where they remained six months. Finally they left the countn*- as a result of a compromise.- Mr. Challiss' lawyers were Roger A. Pr}or and Judge FuUerton. Judge Fullerton received a quarter section of land in Atchison county as his fee. Mr. Challiss also brought the famous Pacific Mail suit, which was e(|ually famous. He returned to Atchison in 1878. looking after the wreck of his former possessions. For three years he edited the Atchison Champion, and bitterly opposed John J. Ingalls for United States senator in i8go. Mr. Challiss. in his latter vears. became a verv much abused man, and HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 2O3 was looked upon as one of the unpojnilar citizens of the town, but it may be said to his credit that he did much for Atchison, and was largely responsible for making the town the terminus of the Hannibal «S: St. Joe railroad. He brought Jay Gould. Henr}' N. Smith and Ben Can-er to Atchison, and they agreed to extend the road from St. Joseph to Atchison, in consideration of $75,000.00 in Atchison bonds, which was agreed to. Mr. Challiss had some sort of a deal with Henry N. Smith while they were operating on Wall street, and Challiss claimed that Smith owned him $107,000.00. They finally settled the matter, by Smith agreeing to bring the Hannibal & St. Joseph road here without the $75,000.00 in bonds the people had agreed to give him. The Atchison Champion of May 11, 1872, contained a half column scare head, to the effect -that Luther C. Challiss telegraphed from New York that the bridge had been finally secured, and gave tlie credit of securing the bridge to Chal- liss and James N. Burnes. Mr. Challiss died a poor man on the si.xth day of Jul}-, 1895. GEORGE W. GLICK. George W. Glick, the ninth governor of Kansas, for a number of years United States pension agent for the district comprising Kansas, Missouri, Col- orado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Indian Territory, came to Atchison in June, 1859, from Fremont, Ohio, \vhere he studied law in the office of Ruth- erford B. Hayes, who afterwards became President of the United States. Mr. Glick came to Atchison on the steamer "W'm. H. Russell," named for and largely owned by William H. Russell, senior member of the celebrated freight- ing firm of Russell, Majors & Waddell. Mr. Glick was bom in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 4, 1829, on a farm, and when four years old removed with his father's family to within a mile and a half of Fremont, where he remained until he came to Atchison. He first went to school in the country, near Fre- mont, where he afterwards taught wlien lie was nineteen. Later he attended a Dioclesion school at Fremont, founded by Dr. Dio Lewis, who afterwards became famous and whose name then was Dioclesia Lewis. Later he attended Central College, Ohio, but did not graduate. In 1849 he began the study of law in the office of Bucklin & Hayes, in Fremont, as a result of getting his feet in a threshing machine. It was supposed that he would never be fit for farm work again, init he afterwards recovered. Two years later he was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati, standing an examinatinn with the graduat- ing class of the Cincinnati law school. He practiced eight years in Fremont 204 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY before coming to Atchison, building up a good business, in spite of the fact that he always went out to the farm in haying time and harvested and helped his father. In January, following his arrival in Atchison,- he formed a part- nership with A. G. Otis, which continued as long as he practiced law. The firm of Otis & Glick was the strongest in Atchison, as long as it lasted, and B. P. Waggener was a student in their office. In 1872 Mr. Glick became a town farmer, operating a farm of 640 acres four miles west of Atchison, mak- ing a specialty of Short Horn cattle, paying as high as $1,000 for several sin- gle animals. He served nine terms in the Kansas legislature, and was once county commissioner, and once county auditor of Atchison county. While auditor of Atchison county, in 1882, he was elected governor, by 9,000 plur- ality, over Jim P. St. John, who had been elected two years before by about 55,000. In 1S84 he was re-nominated as governor by the Democrats, but was defeated by John A. Martin. He first received the nomination for governor nine years after coming to Kansas, but was defeated by the Republicans. He was appointed pension agent in 1885, and again in 1893. He was a Mason, and was one of the original organizers of the Kniglit Templars and Royal Arch Masons, in Atchison. He was the first president of the Atchison-Ne- braska road, having built it to the county line, in connection with Brown and Bier. Governor Glick sold his farm near Shannon a number of years ago, and during the latter part of his life was inactive in business and professional affairs. He died on the thirteenth day of April, 191 1. DR. W. K. GRIMES. One of the oldest citizens of Atchison was Dr. W. H. Grimes, who came here from Yellow Spring, Oliio, in 1858. His son, E. B. Grimes, came a year before, and opened a drug store in the building for many years occupied as an office by the Atchison A\'ater Company, across from tlie Byram Hotel. Dr. W. H. Grimes practiced medicine until the war broke out, when he became a surgeon in the Thirteenth Kansas. Returning to Atchison at the close of the war, he continued the practice of medicine until his death, in 1879. E. B. Grimes was a quarter-master during the war witli a rank of major. At the close of the war he entered the regular army, and built many of the posts in the Department of the Platte, notably Ft. Laramie, Ft. Fetterman and Ft. Douglass. He died at Ft. Leavenworth, in 1882. Another son. Dr. R. V. Grimes, was a lieutenant in his father's regiment. After the war he became an army surgeon, and was in many of the Indian HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 205 campaigns in the Northwest. He was in Men^itt's command when it went to the rescue of General Custer, and was the surgeon in Major Thornburg's command when it was surrounded at the famous fight on Milk river. The command was surrounded five days by the Utes, and was finally rescued by General Merritt. While he lived in Atchison he was employed as a printer on the Champion. Two other sons of Dr. Grimes, John and Howard Grimes, were mem- bers of Colonel Jennison's Seventh Kansas Jayhawkers. JOSHUA WHEELER. Joshua Wheeler was one of the best known, as well as one of the most successful, farmers Atchison county ever had. His papers on questions per- taining to agriculture and the farm, read before the various societies, attracted wide-spread attention. In State affairs, he served the public long and honor- ably, and for over twenty years was a member of the State board of agricul- ture, serving three years as its president. His long connection with the State Agriculture College game him an extended acquaintance over the State, and he was appointed regent for that institution by Governor Hai-vey in 1871, and re-appointed by Governor Martin in 1888, serving until April, 1894. During several years of that time he was treasurer of the board, and gained an exten- sive knowledge of the college and its history. He served in the State senate during 1863 and 1864 and in the fall of 18S5 was elected for another tenn. Joshua Wheeler was born in Buckingham, England, Februarj' 12, 1827, and came to America in 1844, locating in New Jersey, where he resided four years before removing to Illinois. In 1857 a colony of seven or eight families of Fulton county, Illinois, farmers, Seventh-Day Baptists, came to Kansas, and located in the southwest portion of Atchison county, covering the entire distance overland. S. P. Griffin and Dennis Sounders preceded the colony in the spring of the same year to look up a location. They went as far to the southwest as Emporia, but found no land equal to that of Atchison county. After locating the land for the colony they went back to Illinois, but did not accompany the colony to Kansas, but came a year or two later. Griffin farmed for nearly twenty years, but afterwards became a Nortonville mer- chant. He was the father of Charles T. Griffin, at one time an attorney in Atchison. When the colony of Seventh-Day people arrived at the end of their des- tination they found the land in possession of colonists, but they bought tliem 20U HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY out, preempted claims and laid out the now famous Seventh-Day Lane. The land was then an open prairie, occupied only by an occasional hut. It is at this time the admiration of ever\- visitor abounding in well cultivated fields, pastures, groves, orchards, comfortable homes, to which paint is no stranger, large barns, uniformly trimmed hedges, and peopled by as thrifty a class as can be found in the western country. Later on Seventh-Day people came from Iowa, Wisconsin and New York, and joined the Illinois colony on Sev- enth-Day Lane, which is two miles in length. The Seventh-Day Baptists ob- serve their Sabbath from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday eve- ning. Their church has a seating capacity of 400, which is always comfort- ably filled, and was built in 1884. prior tn wliich time the Seventh-Day Bap- tists worshiped in their school house. A. A. Randolph was the first pastor of the church on Seventh-Day Lane. He came here from Pennsylvania in 1863, and died in 1868. S. R. Wheeler, a brother of Joshua Wheeler, was pastor of the churcli for twelve years. When the Seventh-Day Baptists built their homes on the Lane smooth wire cost eleven and one-half cents per pound in Atchison, and ordinary flooring, $100.00 per thousand feet. Money was loaned at four per cent, per month. They did all of their trading in Atchison until Xortonville was built. Joshua \\'heeler was not onl\- a successful farmer, liut a good business man. He kept a regular set of books, and could always tell exactly what it cost him to produce a bushel of wheat in any of the different years of his farm experience. He could tell also what a bushel of com, fed to cattle, would produce. In 1877 he sold his wheat for $1.75 per bushel. Fie owned a farm of over 300 acres, just at the west end of tlie Lane, where he died on the fourteenth day of May, 1896. WILLI.\M HETIIERINGTOX. William Hetherington, founder of the Exchange National Bank, came to Atchison in 1859, from Pottsville. Penn., wliere he operatetl a flouring mill. His three oldest children, Mrs. B. P. Waggener. W. W. Hetherington and C. S. Hetherington, were born in Pottsville. Mrs. W. A. Otis, the young- est daughter, was born in Atchison. William Hetherington himself was born in Milton, Penn., May 10, 1821. He was also married there. When he first came west he stopped in St. Louis, then went to Kansas City, and later to Leavenworth, where he bought a bankrupt stock of goods and hauled them to Atchison in wagons. This was in 1859. The same vear he estab- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 20/ lished the Exchange Bank of W'ilham Hetherington, absorbing the Kansas Valley Bank, owned by Robert L. Pease, which had been established several years before. Mr. Hetherington's inflnence in Atchison was very marked. He was a cultured gentleman of the old school, and was so generally respected, although alwa}-s a Democrat, he stood very high in the sixties when the sectional bitter- ness was at its height, and did much to maintain peace- between the contending factions. He was a verj- able public speaker. He was never a bitter partisan, and enjoyed the respect of the people to an unusual degree. He was one of the early mayors of Atchison, and had a successful career. He died on the twenty-first day of January, 1890. WILLIAM C. SMITH. t A\'illiam C. Smith, one of the early mayors of Atchison, came to Kansas in 1858 from Illinois, settling- near Valley Falls. Two years later he traded his farm to Sam Dickson for a stock of goods in Atchison and removed to this city. The firm uf \\'illiam C. Smith & Son continued sixteen }ears. The son was Henry T. Smith, who still resides in Atchison (1915). Another son is W' illiam R. Smith, who is at present the attorney for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, at Topeka, for a number of years was a justice of the supreme court of Kansas. His oldest daughter married P. L. Hub- bard, who afterwards became district judge of Atchison county, and another daughter married H. C. Solomon, for many years a leading attorney of Atchi- son. Mr. Smith died in 1884. He \vas mayor two terms; member of the legislature, council and the board of education. Although Mr. Smith came to Kansas from Illinois, he was born at Columbus, Ohio, in 1817. JOHN M. PRICE. John M. Price arrived in Atchison with his wife on the first of Septem- ber, 1858, the day the Massasoit House was formally opened for the public. They came here from Platte City, Mo., to visit some old friends fnMu Ken- lucky, who had moved to Kansas, and after they arrived concluded to remain. The Prices originally came from Irvine, Ky. Mr. Price studied law in Irvine; was admitted and elected county attorney before coming to Atchison. He was a Union man, in spite of the fact that he came from Kentucky, and was ver}- active in a business and professional way during the carlv days of his t . 208 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY . '-. U ■*: \ residence in this county, and for many years tliereafter. He constructed more large and substantial buildings in Atchison than any other individual who ever lived here. He built tlie house for a residence, now occupied by Mt. St. Scholastica Academy, an opera house and many blocks of business buildings and residences. He was a member of the legislature several times ; was prom- inently mentioned as a candidate for United States senator. Mr. Price died on the twentieth day of October, 1898. SAMUEL C. KING. Samuel C. King came to Atchison March 27, 1857. His brothers, Ed. and John, together with a sister and his widowed mother, arrived here the year before, coming here with Dr. W. L. Challiss, in the steam ferry. "Ida." from Brownsville, Penn., where that boat was built. The King family came originally from England, within thirty-five miles of Liverpool, where the children were born, and where the father died. Ed. King was the first pilot of the ferry boat. "Ida," when it began making trips to Atchison. The three sons and the mother took up claims in Mt. Pleasant township. While living there three old neighbors came out and Samuel C. King went out wath them to look for claims. They were told that there was plenty of vacant land near Monrovia, but Mr. King advised them that it was too far out in the wilderness, and they went elsewhere. (INIonrovia is fourteen miles from Atchison). While the other members of the family were getting their start Samuel C. King clerked in George T. Challiss' store, receiving $25.00 per month, and boarded himself. He afterwards went to work for Mike Finney, steamboat wharf master, and was practically the first express agent in Atchison. Later he went out to his farm and split rails to fence it, and afterwards clerked for BowTiian & Blair for $25.00 per month and board. He enlisted in the navy in June, 1861, enlisting as a landsman on the man of war, "Augusta." He sen-ed on this ship through all the exciting scenes of the navy during the war, and was at the battle of Point Royal. He assisted in capturing eight British ships, which tried to nm the blockade, and his part of the prize monev amounted to over $7,000.00. He was at the bombardment of Ft. Sumpter, and at the tak- ing of Tyble Island, off Savannah, Ga. He spent eleven months at sea, work- ing for the "Alabama." and rounded Cape Hatteras. He saw the burning of Charleston, and finally learning that his mother was fatally ill. he came home. He was elected county treasurer of Atchison county. Mr. King remained a prosperous capitalist and real estate operator, until his death on the twenty- third day of January, 1910. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 209 CLEM ROHR. Clem Rohr came originally from Euffalo, N. Y., where he was born in 1835. He learned the trade of harness maker there, and afterwards worked at his trade at Chicago, Detroit and Moline, 111. In Davenport, Iowa, lie heard Jim Lane make a speech about Kansas. This speech caused Rohr to go to Leavenworth in 1856, and while living in that town and employed as mail carrier he ran into the famous battle of Hickory Point. He slept in Hickory Point the niglit after the fight and helped fix up the wounded. He walked to Atchison in 1857 from Leavenworth, with Nick Greiner, for many years a prosperous German farmer, south of Atchison, and started a harness shop, which he conducted in the same place on the south side of Commercial street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, for over forty years. The first telegram that came to Atchison announcing that Kansas had been admitted was sent to Clem Rohr, and was signed by S. C. Pomeroy. He served as mayor of Atchison. Early in the sixties when the home guard was organized in Atchison Clem Rohr was made captain. His father was one of Napoleon Bonaparte's body-guard, and was with that great soldier at Austerlitz in the Russian campaign, and at the battle of Waterloo. Mr. Rohr always claimed that Julius Newman, who had a farm near the Soldiers' Home, made the first filing in the Lecompton land office. Mr. Rohr died in Atchison on the twenty-third day of Mav, 1910. R. H. WEIGHTMAN. One of the most interesting and romantic early-day characters in Atchi- son county was Maj. R. H. Weightman, an ex-major of the Cnited States army, who was associated with a famous frontier tragedy. Major Weight- man was a violent pro-slavery man and had lieen reared in the South. Before coming to Kickapoo, where he was connected with the land office, and subse- quently to Atchison, he was the editor of the Herald at Santa Fe, N. M., and also a delegate to Congress from tliat Territory. F. X. Aubrey, the other party to the quarrel, was a French Canadian, of great pluck and energy, and had made a reputation on a wager in 1852, riding from Santa Fe to Independence, Mo., in a few hours over eight days. The next year he wagered $1,000 he could go the same distance in less than eight days. His bet was accepted and Aubrey covered the distance in less than five days. Following these rides he engaged in the freighting business over 14 2IO HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the plains and he and Major \^'eightman became warm personal friends. Aubrey later made a trip to California, taking a herd of sheep, which he sold at a fine profit. It was upon his return from this trip that he and Weightman had their famous quarrel. The fairest account of this incident appeared in the Missouri Republican. September 28. 1854. which was in the form of a com- munication from a correspondent of that paper, and was as follows : "the c.\seof major weightman. "Mr. Editor: The deplorable event by which F. X. Aubrey lost liis life and which deprived the West of one of its most energetic and able pioneers, will not be passed liglitly over. The name of Mr. Aubrey had become too closely identified with all that is gallant, preserving, and — in a western sense, at least — brave and chivalrous, that his memory and his sudden death should not awaken painful emotions among all those to whom his name had become a household word ; emotions too painful to expect that, under his influence, full justice would be done to both parties concerned. When, therefore, an opportunity is afforded by which the facts, as nearly as we can approach them, may be investigated, it would seem injustice to withhold these facts from the public. "Thougli, perliaps, less liistorically known (if the expression be per- mitted) than Mr. Aubrey, Major Weightman has peculiar claims upon the citizens of Missouri, and especially of St. Louis, for demanding full and im- partial justice in this behalf. Without wishing to anticipate the judgment of your readers, or at all commenting upon the evidence which will be found be- low, your correspondent, in view of the grave charge in wliich Major Weight- man is involved, and the melancholy importance of the event, deems it his duty, notwithstanding, here to state what may be known to most of your readers, that Major Weightman, for years, formerly, was a resident of St. Louis, beloved and respected, almost without any exception, by all with whom he came in contact. • "Amongst the many of Missouri's citizens who participated in the late Mexican war. Major, then Captain Weightman, at the head of his Light Artiller}' Company, won laurels which placed his name foremost among the bravest and most gallant in that war. His fellow soldiers still in our midst will cheerfully liear your correspondent testimony, that Captain Wcightman's gallantry as a soldier and officer was onlj- surpassed by his urbanity and true kindliness of feeling as a gentleman; and if the evidence adduced upon his HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY . 211 preliminary examination before the examining magistrate should sustain Weightman's plan of self-defense in tlie premise's, his former friends here and abroad, and his fellow soldiers, will be glad to learn that the qualities of heart, for which they used most to prize Captain Weightman, in former years, remain untainted even now, when his name has become unfortunately coupled with a most grave and serious charge. May the public judge, and may not the unquestioned enviable renown of Captain Aubrey's name tend to warp calm judgment in pronouncing upon the guilt or innocence of the accused. "The following evidence, being a synopsis of the process verbatim at the preliminary examination before Judge Davenport, at Santa Fe. have been transmitted to your correspondent from New Mexico by a third person, and, as your correspondent has every reason to believe, may be fully relied on. It is in tlie main supported by your former notices published in the Republican concerning this same transaction. "The circumstances are these: Major Weightman, hearing of the arrival of Aubrey, and that he was at the store of the Messrs. Mercure, mer- chants at Santa Fe, crossed the plaza to see him. and was one of the first to take him by the hand and greet him as a friend. When Major Weightman arried at the store of the Messrs. Mercure, several persons had alreadv arrived to pay their respects to Mr. Aubrey. "Aubrey and Weightman met kindly, shook hands, and conversed pleas- antly for a short time, when something having been said bv a tiiird person about the route by which Aubrey had arrived from California. Aubrey asked the major if he had yet published his paper in Albuquerque. The major said, no; that it was dead — had died a natural death from want of subscribers. Aubrey then said it should have died, because of the lies with which it was filled. This was said without excitement. \¥hen Weightman asked 'What lies?' Aubrey remarked : 'When 1 returned from California last year you asked me for information in respect to my route, and afterwards you abused me.' This Weightman denied, saying, 'No, Aubrey, I did not abuse you.' Aul^rey then said, more or less excited, 'I say you did, and I now repeat, it is a lie." at the same time bringing his hand down with force upon the counter. "At this Weightman, who was sitting on the counter, five or six feet from Aubrey, sprang down and approached Aubrey, who had been standing near the counter, and taking a glass from which Aubrey had been drinking (a toddy), threw the contents in his face. \\'eigiitnian immediatelv stepped back, when Aubrey drew a pistol (Colt's belt pistol), the first shot from which took effect in the ceiling (supposed to have gone off while cocking). 212 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Weightman then drew a knife, and before another shot could be fired, closed with Aubrey and stabbed him in the abdomen, and soon after seized Aub- rey's pistol. "The Messrs. Mercure rvished on and seized the parties. Aubrey rapidly sank, and as soon as he relinquished his pistol Weightman said : 'I did it in my own defense, and I will go and surrender myself to the authorities,' which he did, accompanied by his friend. Major Cunningham. Aubrey died in a few minutes. He received but the one blow. Major Weightman has carried a bowie knife for his own protection for a year past, believing it to be necessary for him to do so. This was stated as the cause of his being armed. Aubrey was of the number of those who were inimical to him. The relations between Aubrey and Weightman had been heretofore of the most agreeable character." Major Weightman was a resident of Atchison only a few years. At the outbreak of the war he joined the southern army, and lost his life in the battle of Wilson's Creek. CHAPTER XIII. AGRICULTURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. AX AGRICULTURAL COMMUXITV SCIENTIFIC FARMIXG FARMERS, THE ARIS- TOCRACY OF THE WEST MODERN IMPROVEMENT TOPOGRAPHY SOIL STATISTICS. Atchison county is distinctively an agricultural community. There have been some earnest efforts made in the past to develop its mineral resources, and it is not be_\ond the realm of possibilit}- that future efforts in that direc- tion will unlock hidden resources of fabulous value. But in the future, as in the past, agriculture will be the big important dividend producer in this county. L'p to this time it is not unfair to say that only the surface of the soil has been scratched. Fanning has been the occupation of a veiy large portion of our people from the days when the first settlers took up their claims and with crude implements, broke the sod, down to this en- lightened age, of the riding plow and the traction engine, but scientific hus- bandly has not been followed on a large scale in this county. Crops have been so easy to produce, on account of rich soil and a favorable climate, that the methods employed in countries not so blessed and of a greater popula- tion, have not been followed in the past. This is not an arraignment of the former, for Atchison county has been peculiarly blessed in its possession of an intelligent lot of thrifty farmers. They have toiled and labored early and late ; they have built comfortable homes, accumulated fortunes, and are the sturdy, dependable citizens of the county, but for over si.xty years they have lacked organization and the prosperous farmers have succeeded because of their own personal initiative, judgment and hard work. As a class they have not made the progress to which they are justly entitled. Those that came early and remained, have in most instances met with rare success, but they worked out their own salvation, unaided by scientific organization. 213 214 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY One hundred and sixty of them have banded togetlier for mutual lielp and have secured a county agricultural agent to assist them in this direction, as the rich countrj- in the States east of us have been forced to do. The soil also has an abundance of potash and a creditable amount of phosphorus, so with the proper use of legumes and manure, with the addition of some phosphorus, the fertility of the soil may be increased and maintained in- definitely. If soil washing is stopped and the organic matter in the soil maintained, this county has a soil, that agriculturally speaking, is second to none. The real aristocracy in the ^^'est, will, in future generations, trace its ancestry back to the pioneers, who settled on the land and tilled it. Those who went into trade and the professions when they came to Atchison county prior to i860, and in subsequent years, have prospered, in part, b}' their wits, but in the main, on the farmer. The farmei-s were then, as now, the real wealth producers and so it has come to pass, after these many years, that the farmer "has arrived," and with the increase in population and the gen- eral trend of advancement and improvement in all human activities, farming now stands near the top of the big human enterprises. The desire for organ- ization and cooperation among the farmers is growing even,'where, and it has taken hold of Atchison county in recent years. * The farmer's life in this county, in the late fifties and early sixties, was a hard and lonely one. During those years many homesteads were preempted, fifteen to twenty-one miles southwest, west and northwest of Atchison, and onto these the young pioneers took their wives and families. There they built their log houses, "broke out" their land, and put it to com and wheat. There were few neighbors, fewer creature comforts, and no conveniences. It was a solitar)- life. This history contains biographical sketches of many of these pioneers, and in them will be found the intimate stories of hardships, privations and discomforts. They came to conquer the resources of nature, and they ac- complished what they came after. There were no highways over which to convey their crops when harvested, and the ways to the nearest market were long and dreary ones. It was a two days' trip over the prairies to Atchison with a load of grain, and there were few ways to economize time, although, fortunately, time was not an object then, as it is in these restless days. And yet within the short span of the lives of farmers who are still here, there has been a marvelous development. Log houses have given way to fine commodious homes, steam heated and electric lighted : great bams shel- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 215 ter the stock, and house the grain ; the telephone, the rural delivery and the automobile have revolutionized the farmer's life and the farmer's wife. Better roads are the order of the day, and it will be along this line that great progress will be made in the immediate future. Meanwhile, land values are on the increase, and the quarter sections that sold from $500 to $800 each, fifty years ago, are now bringing $16,000 to $24,000 each. Within the year 19 15 there has been a general trend of sentiment among the more enterprising farmers to put farming upon a more scientific basis. The serv- ices of a farm adviser have been secured, whose duty it is to assist in this direction. They are learning more of food values, crop rotation and diversi- fication, soil culture and plant life. As the value of these things become more apparent, the farming industry will thrive more, and in another gen- eration the problem of keeping the young men and young women on the farm will have been solved. The richest and most valuable farming land in Atchison county is very generally distributed. There are parts of each township that are rough and broken, but as the population increases land not now regarded as choice v.-ill be made to produce alnindant crops. The river bluffs, which have stood so long in timber, are gradually being cleared and the bare hills which are left, are admirably adapted to fruit, wheat and alfalfa. Much of this land is as well adapted to fruit raising as is the already famous Wathena district, some of it being exactly the same type of soil. All that is needed is that the fruit growers give their plantations care. The orchard that is properly cared for produces fruit of a quality far superior to that of the famous Northwest. Incidentally, this land returns the grower a greater net profit. Atchison county lies within the glaciated portion of the plains region. The underlying rocks are buried by the glacial till, but in turn is covered by a deposit of fine silty material, known as loess. Practically all the soil throughout this country is derived from the loess covering. The principal soil is a brown, almost black, silty loam, well adapted to the production of general farm crops. The rainfall is sufficient for the maturing of all crops, the nonnal anual precipitation ranging from fifteen to twenty-five inches. Atchison county has a population ranging from 28,000 to 30,000 people. There was a slight decrease in the population between the years of 1900 and 1910, yet, in spite of this apparent unfavorable showing, the value of farm land and farm products have increased. About ninety-five per cent, of the land in this county is in farms, of an average value of $69.26 per acre. The proportionate land area is 263,680 acres, of which 249,339 acres are in farms, 2l6 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY with an aggregate land \-alue of $17,270,130, which is more than double what it was in 1900, and over two million dollars more than the whole of the Louisiana Purchase cost us in 1S03. Figures and statistics are proverbially dr\- and uninteresting, but there is no place in which they can be more ap- propriately used than in historj^, and no language that can be employed could tell a tetter story of the agricultural progress of Atchison county, than the statistics taken from the thirteenth census of the United States. From this source we find that the total value of improvements on the farms in this county in 1910 was $2,692,755, and that the value of the implements and machinery used by the farmers, not including automobiles, was $499,129. While the value of domestic animals and live stock was $2,149,863, and in these figures poultry is not included. The chicken, duck, goose and turkey census reached 150,127, and these were valued at $77,926. The total value of all crops shown by the census of 1910 was as follows: Cereals $1,928,065.00 Other grain and seeds 3o77-00 Hay and forage 281,793.00 Vegetables 94,232.00 Fruits and nuts 32,297.00 All other crops 30,883.00 Grand Total $2,370,847.00 Making a grand total of $2,370,847.00. CHAPTER XIV. THE PRESS. INFLUENCE OF NEWSPAPERS PART PLAYED BY THE EARLY PRESS SQUAT- TER SOVEREIGN'" "freedom's CHAMPIOn" "CHAMPION AND PRESS," PIONEER EDITORS LATER NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER MEN. Of all the mighty powers for good and evil, none can excel the news- paper. Take all the newspapers out of the world today and there would be chaos. Mankind would be groping in the -dark, and life itself would be a vain and empty thing. Newspapers are the arteries through which the life- blood of the world runs. They carry to our firesides the continued story of civilization. Early in the history of Atchison county, before the schools and the churches, the ne\yspaper appeared. It received a bounty of the original town company when that association, September 21, 1854, bv a resolution, donated $400 to Robert Kelley and Dr. J- H. Stringfellow, to start a printing office, and it was then that the Squatter Sovereign was conceived, and after a brief period of gestation, was born February 3, 1855. By a strange stroke of mis- fortune this first newspaper in the county stood for a wrong princijik- and preached bad doctrine, for it advocated human slavery. Yet it was a crea- ture of environment, and reflected the prevailing sentiment of its constituency. It was fearless in its attitude and rabid in its utterances. It was a violent organ of hate and bitterness toward all Free State men. and in it appeared a constant flood of inflammatory comment directed against those who op- posed slavery, and were determined that Kansas should be the land of the brave and the home of the free. But as the pro-slavery cause waned, the Squatter Sovereign waned with it, and in the fall of 1857, when saner coun- sel and the feeling of brotherhood grew, the town company disposed of its 217 2l8 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY interest in tlie Sqiaittcr Soz-crcigii to the New England Aid Society, of which S. C. Pomeroy was agent, and the paper then passed into the hands of Rob- ert McBratney and Franklin G. Adams. Mr. Adams and Mr. McBratney were both Free Soilers, but they did not run the paper long. It was shortly sold to O. F. Short, wdio ran it until the following Februar>% and on the twen- tieth day of that month, 1858, John A. Martin purchased the plant and changed the name of the paper to Freedom's Champion. Under that name Colonel Martin made of his paper one of the leading Free State organs of the Territor}'. Always a brilliant editor, of courage and deep convictions, Colonel Martin during his whole career never performed a greater service than during the time he shouted the battle-cr\' of freedom through the col- umns of Freedom's Champion, from 1858 to 1861. In September of the lat- ter year, he laid aside his pen and took up his sword in defense of the prin- ciples he so stoutly advocated, and thus translated his words into deeds. When he went to the front he left the Champion in charge of George I. Stchbins, who continued in charge until the fall of 1863, when it was leased to Jo!m J. Ingalls and Robert H. Horton. These two men afterwards became political rivals. Both were lawyers and both residents of Atchison for many years. I Horton was a typical lawyer, smooth and tactful, who enjoyed a suc- Icesgful career in the practice of his profession and on the bench. Ingalls was of a different temperament, being more intellectual, caring little for the law, less tactful, Init ambitious. They bolli met in the arena of politics, and Horton was the vanquished. Following the senatorial election of 1879, at which they were both candidates, they became bitter enemies, and did not speak until they met, by chance, in London, in 1891. W'hile these two men were editors of the Champion, Ingalls did most of the writing and kept things warm until the return of Colonel IMartin from the war in January, 1865, one of the Nation's heroes. Three months after his return, on the twenty-second day of Marcli, 1865, Colonel Martin became the publisher of a daily paper, and on August 11, 1868, the Freedom's Champion was consolidated with the Atchison Free Press, under the name of CItampion and Press. The Free Press was a Republican daily paper, and first appeared May 5, 1864, with Franklin G. Adams as its editor and proprietor. In April, 1865, Frank A. Root became a partner, and subsequently, L. R. Elliott, who had been an assistant editor, became a proprietor, with Mr. Root retiring later, when the paper was consolidated with tlie Champion. The office of the Champion and Press was destroyed by fire May 20, 1869, but three weeks later the paper was in running order, with John .\. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 2ig Martin as sole editor and proprietor, and from that date until llie death of Mr. Martin October 2, 1889, it remained one of the most influential and prosperous papers in tlie State of Kansas. Upon the death of Mr. Martin, the newspaper property was turned over to his father-in-law, W. L. Challiss, as executor of Mr. Martin's estate, and on the day of Mr. Martin's death the name of Phillip Krohn appears as man- aging editor. Krohn occupied that imprjrtant place until March 29, 1890, when his name appeared for the last time as editor. Dr. Phillip Krohn was a man of brilliant attainments, a fluent writer, and a pleasing public speaker. He was a Methodist minister by profession, but. althouh he occupied the pulpit upon occasions, his name was seldom taken seriously in connection with religious work. From the date of Governor Martin's death the paper gradually waned in influence. The paper remained the property of the estate of Governor Martin, and Luther C. Challiss was editor and manager, until October II, 1894. when A. J. Felt, an ex-lieutenant governor of Kansas, be- came its editor and proprietor. The paper did not prosper under the man- agement of Mr. Felt, and four years later a company was organized by Charles M. Sheldon, a promoter, and Mr. Sheldon became its editor May 2, i8g8. Mr. Sheldon was an enthusiastic and aggressive individual, who had very little respect for the value of money, which he spent so lavishly that two months later, July i, 1898, his name appeared for the last time as edi- tor of the Champion. On the twentieth of that month the paper was sold to satisfy a mort.ga.ge and the property was re-purchased by A. ]. Felt, who immediately transferred it to the Champion Linotype Printing Company, a partnership, composed of Edward Skinner. George T. Housen, Charles O. Hovatter, James McNamara and A. J. Felt. Mr. Felt again resumed the editorial management of the paper, and remained in charge until January i, 1899. February 3, 1899, Henry Kuhn, who surveyed the townsite of Atchi- son, returned to the city with his son, James G. Kuhn. They made a heroic effort to restore the lost prestige of the Champion, but soon became dis- couraged, and in the latter part of May or early in the June following, they gave up the ghost and silently disappeared. The mortgagees continued the publication of the paper, and July 31, 1899, the name of John A. Reynolds appears as business manager. It had no editor until August 23, 1899, when James G. Day, Jr., a young lawyer, occupying a desk in the office of Wag- gener, Horton & Orr, became editor and manager. Mr. Dav ran a daily until January 9, 1900, when it was discontinued. The following March he 220 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY published a daily for one week, "as the devil would run it," a piece of cyni- cism in reply to an effort the Topcka Capital made a short time before, when that paper was turned over to Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, the eminent Con- gregational preacher, who ran that paper one week, "As Jesus would run it." Meanwhile, the Chaiupion had its ups and downs, but did not die. A daily again appeared April 22, 1901, with Ewing Herbert, one of the cele- brated newspaper men of Kansas, as its editor and owner. Mr. Herbert was at that time the owner of the Brozvu County U'orld, at Hiawatha. He conceived the idea that Atchison offered an attractive field for a newspaper venture, and he succeeded in interesting some local capital in his enterprise. Capt. John Seaton was a stockholder, among others, and Jay House, the present mayor of Topeka ( 1915) and a brilliant newspaper paragrapher. was city editor. Mr. Herbert spent only part of his time in Atchison, and turned over the management of the Champiun to Mr. House. It looked for a time as if Mr. Herbert was going to make a success of his venture, but just at the height of his prosperity he was guilty of an editorial indiscretion, which turned some powerful influences against the paper, and on August 17, 1901, Mr. Herbert gave up his effort as a bad job and turned the plant over to one W. A. Robinson, formerly of St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Robinson was a follower of Henry George, the great single taxer, and conceived it to be his duty to spread the single tax propaganda through the editorial columns of the Cham- pion. His efforts in this direction did not pro\-e profitable, and becoming disheartened and discouraged he fled from the city shortly thereafter, a much poorer but wiser man. The Champion next fell into the hands of Corman IT. Young, for many years a successful music merchant, of Atchison, who incidentally ac(]uired a small job printing plant, which he operated on North Fifth street, and which he subsecjuently merged with the Champion plant, having acquired that by paying off the mortgage which Mr. Robinson gave Ewing Herbert at the lime he undertook to acquire the property. Mr. Young ran a weekly paper for a number of years, until May, 1907. when he employed Walt Mason, the famous prose poet of the United States, to assume the editorial management of a daily. Mr. Mason many years before had been a resident of Atchison, and ran the Globe during the absence of Mr. Howe in Europe. He was not so famous in 1907 as he is in 1915. but he was just as brilliant. He pub- lished the daily Champion on pink paper and filled it with columns of edi- torial matter and humorous running comment on current affairs. Mr. Mason had a wonderful capacity for work and could prepare more "copy" in one HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 221 day tlian all the other writers on tlie paper could prepare in a week. Dur- ing the summer of 1907, Sheffield Ingalls, having returned from the legisla- ture, where he was a member of the house of representatives, became an edi- torial writer on the Champion. November 20, 1907, Mr. Young prevailed upon Mr. Ingalls to give up his other work and become editor of the paper. As Mr. Ingalls walked into the office, Mr. Mason walked out, never to re- turn. Mr. Ingalls remained editor and manager of the Champion until Oc- tober 6, 1909, having been frustrated in plans he had made to acquire the property as his own. Mr. Young continued to run the paper until July i, 191 1, when Mr. Ingalls, with the assistance of J. C. Killarney, succeeded in organizing a company, which purchased the paper and turned it over to Eu- gene C. Pulliam, as editor. Mr. Pulliam was a young man, who had served his apprenticeship on the Kansas City Star as a reporter. He was a good writer, but lacked experience and business judgment, and while he made a vigorous effort to run the paper, and had the benefit of strong financial con- nections, he did not succeed, and September i, 1914, he turned the paper over to Sheffield Ingalls as trustee, and it was subsequently sold to A. S.Andereck and his brother, A. P. Andereck, of Kankakee, 111. A few months later a company was organized, composed of the Andereck brothers, O. A. Simmons, vice-president of the First National Bank. Wilbur C. Hawk and Sheffield Ingalls, who in 191 5 are conducting the paper, and it is enjoying its most prosperous days since the death of its brilliant editor, John A. Martin. In 1877 there came to Atchison a young man who subsequently became one of the famous editors of the United States, Edgar Watson Howe. Mr. Howe was born in Wabash county, Indiana, May 3, 1854, a son of Plenry and Elizabeth Howe. When he was about three years of age his family re- moved to Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri, where the father, a Meth- odist preacher, published a newspaper of strong abolition sentiments. The younger Mr. Howe served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in his father's office, and in 1868 started out for himself. He visited various cities, working at the case to earn money to pay his way from one place to another, and at the age of eighteen became the publisher of the weekly Globe, at Golden, Colo. From there he went to Falls City, Neb., where he published a newspaper, subsequently coming to Atchison, and established the Daily Globe. WHien Mr. Howe reached Atchison, the Champion, under the man- agement of John A. Martin, was the most powerful newspaper organ in the northern half of Kansas, and the field here was none too promising on this account. However, Mr. Howe proceeded to publish a paper of an entirely 222 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY different type than that published by Mr. Martin. It was a small slieet, and was devoted to "gab, gossip and paid locals," and for over thirty years this policy was successfully maintained by Mr. Howe. It was unique in the journalistic world, and under the management of Mr. Howe it acquired a National reputation, chiefly because of the quaint, homely philosophy it con- tained and the unusual treatment he gave the ordinary incidents of human life. As a reporter of this class of news, Mr. Howe was perhaps without a peer in the country. For over thirty years he tramped the streets of Atchi- son with note-book and pencil, and to practically ever\- item he turned in he gave a peculiar twist, which reflected a remarkable insight of human nature. With Mr. Howe were associated Miss Frances L. Garside. Ralph ("Doc") Tennal. Miss Nellie Webb and J- E. Rank. To each of them Mr. Howe was indebted for much of the success the Globe attained. The death of Col. John A. Martin and the collapse of the Champion, that followed, gave Mr. Howe his opportunity, and for the greater part of his active newspaper career in Atchison he had the field to himself. The Globe was a great financial success, and in one year it has been said that Mr. Howe cleared close to $24,000 on his property. "Doc" Tennal was the first one of Mr. Howe's faithful associates to break up the Globe family. Mr. Tennal was a remarkable reporter of local news, but being ambitious and realizing the lim- itations by which he was surrounded, he concluded to acquire a newspaper property of his own, and in pursuance of that plan, he bought the Sabetha Herald in 1905, subsequently relinquishing it to become editor of the Kansas City Weekly Star. He returned some years later to Saljetha. and re-pur- chased the Herald plant, and is now the editor of that prosperous and pro- gressive paper (1915). J. E. Rank left the Globe a few years later, and went to Bartlesville. Okla., where he ran a paper a short time, and then returned to Atchison, and his first newspaper love. Miss Garside, who was one of the most brilliant newspaper women in the country, went from the Globe to the Nezv York Journal, and in 1909 Mr. Howe turned the Globe over to his son, Eugene Howe, who is now (1915) its editor and principal owner. Associated with him are Mr. Rank and Miss Nellie Webb, together with other old Globe employes. Miss Webb is the society reporter, and in this capacity she has acquired a brilliant reputation among the newspaper women of Kansas. The "policy" of the Globe remains vmchanged, and, while it mav not enjoy the same pres- tige It had during the days of the elder Howe, it is still one of the money- HISTORY OF ATCHISON' COUNTY 223 making newspaper plants of Kansas. Eugene Howe is a young man of much promise. He is still young and has spent his life in newspaper work. He has carried the new responsibilities thrust upon him by his father both grace- fully and tactfully, and there is every reason to predict a successful future for him. Among the early newspaper enterprises of Atchison was The Patriot, established by Nelson Abbott October 25, 1867. In September. 1868, Messrs. H. Clay Park, B. P. Waggener and Mr. Abbott fonned a partner- ship, under the name of H. Clay Park & Company, and purchased the estab- lishment, and in October of the same year, the paper passed into the hands of C. F. and C. P. Cochrane, but shortly thereafter reverted to Nelson Ab- bott, who remained in control until December, 1875. Dr. H. B. Horn, for many years a respected and honored citizen of Atchison, was connected with the paper as bookkeeper and business manager, and performed much of the editorial work, and when Mr. Abl)ott finallv relinquished control of the paper, it fell again into the hands of H. Clay Park, who together with F. L. Vandergrift and P. H. Peters, assumed control. Mr. Peters did not remain long in the partnership, and in 1877 he sold his interest to E. W. Beall. The paper was Democratic, and Mr. Park, who was very actively identified with the affairs of Atchison in the early days, was an aljle editor. He left Atchi- son twenty-five years later, to become an editorial writer on the St. Joseph Neii's and Press. F. L. Vandergrift is one of the famous newspaper men of Kansas, and for many years was the representati\e in Kansas of the Kansas City Star. He is one of the best loved and best known newspaper writers of the W'est, and is now (1915) editor of the Earth, a publication devoted to the interests of the Santa Fe railroad. One of the well known newspaper men of the West connected with The Patriot was Tom Stivers, who was coimected with the Champion for eight years, and in January, 1879, became a partner with Mr. Park and Mr. Vandergrift. The Patriot was an afternoon daily paper, and always stanchly Dem- ocratic in politics, and for many years was a successful journalistic enter- prise. This paper continued to be published either as a weekly or a daily until about October 12, 1895. It was in a precarious condition many years before that date, and had a number of different editors, among them F. M. Stambaugh and W. J. Montgomery. The Atchison Morning Star and Daily Patriot was built upon the wreck of the original Patriot, its first issue being dated October 13, 1895, and running until February 23, 1896. The Atchison Union was a Democratic paper, established by Gideon O. 224 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Chase, about 1858. It had an office in a frame building at tlie southwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets, subsequently occupied by the Cham- pioH. Mr. Chase came from \Vaverly, N. Y., and his paper, while Dem- ocratic, was for the Union and against slavery. Mr. Chase did not remain in charge of the paper very long, and turned it over to \\'. H. Addoms and G. I. Stebbins. Shortly thereafter Stebbins retired, and Addoms went to Leavenworth, where he started a paper, turning his interest over to A. P. Cochrane, who was an employe in the office. Cochrane did not run the paper but a short time, when a Mr. Leland. Francis J. Marion and Franklin G. Adams assumed control and ran it a short time, when Marion took the plant of Plattsburg, Mo., and junked it, and for many years what was left of the paper was piled up in the court house at that place. The Atchison Church Visitor was established in 1906, and was published by the pastors of the following churches : English Lutheran, Methodist, Christian, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist. On January 14, 1911, Paul Tonsing became its editor and publisher. The paper is printed by Mr. Tonsing in the office over 500 Commercial street, so long occupied as the editorial room of John A. Martin, of whom Mr. Tonsing is a son-in-law. Mr. Tonsing is a Lutlieran minister by profes- sion, and for a number of years after his gradtiation from Midland College, he did pastoral work in a number of Lutheran churches in Nebraska and Kansas. Mr. Tonsing is a reformer, and a man not without courage and ability. His views are looked upon as too extreme by the conservative liberal element of Atchison, but all give him credit for being conscientious and honest. He is a hard-working, industrious citizen, and, while he has made many active enemies in his reform work, he enjoys the personal satisfaction of seeing many of the reforms he has advocated come to pass. He is an avowed foe of the liquor traffic, and has perhaps done more than any other individual m the community to make his views on that question effective. In connection with the publication of the Church Visitor, Mr. Tonsing also prints and edits the Western Chief, a monthly publication devoted to the Improved Order of Redmen. E. W. Hoive's Monthly was started by Mr. Howe in March, 1911. It is published monthly and contains practicallv all of the present literary efforts of its editor. Mr. Howe has adopted the use of pink paper for this publica- tion, which is composed of four pages. It contains no advertising matter, but has a large circulation among friends and admirers of Mr. Howe's peculiar literary type. Mr. Howe has popularized this monthly by making HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 225 the price so low that no subscriber can afford not to take it, and when he has reached a circulation large enough, he plans to put it on a profitable basis as an advertising medium. The Effingham Ncic Leaf was started about April 12, 1894, with J\I. C. Klingman, editor, and his wife, Mrs. Ima L. Klingman, as associate editor. The New Leaf was the successor of the Effingham Times, founded in 1887, and the Effingham Graphic, founded in 1891, and the Effingham World, founded in 1893. After the death of M. C. Klingman, at the Missouri Bap- tist sanitarium, at St. Louis, Mo., May 5, 1899, Mrs. Klingman took charge as editor and publisher, and employed W. W. Cahoon, associate editor. Jan- uary 4, 1901, J. W. Coleman became the editor and publisher, and W. W. Cahoon, associate editor. In December, 1903, W. \\'. Cahoon purchased a one-half interest and the firm became Coleman & Cahoon. ^Ir. Coleman repurchased the paper October 16, 1903, and continued its publication until September 8, 1905, when Mr. Cahoon and C. E. Sells became the editors and publishers. May 4 of the following year Mr. Cahoon sold his interest to W. H. Sells, and August 31, 1906, C. E. and A. J. Sells took charge of the paper, and in 191 5 were still its publishers. The Effingham Neiv Leaf is a successful country newspaper, serving its readers faithfully and satisfactorily. The Miiscotah Record was founded about October i, 1884, by F. M. Bonham, who ran the paper until about 1886, when on August 18 of that year the Miller brothers became its editors and publishers. They sold it to Claud Martin and Coleman Martin December 4, 1889, who subsequently sold the plan to M. C. Klingman, editor of the Effingham A'czi' Leaf, INIay, 1890. Mr. Klingman turned the pro])erty over to Fred W. Badger July 18. 1890, who continued the paper until December 8, 1893, when he disposed of it to John Ford. Ford published the paper until November i, 1894, when he sold it to James S. Martin and Guy L. Stotter, the latter assuming entire control March 6, 1896. Mr. Stotter sold the Record to J. W. Campbell August 17, 1905, but assumed control of it again November 23, 1905, and remained in control until June 6, 1907, when J. A. Shoemaker, who after- wards became county superintendent of Atchison county, appeared as its editor and publisher. When Mr. Shoemaker was elected county superin- tendent, he turned the property over to A. \V. Huntis, who on Februar}- 3, 1910, sold it to P. J. Cortelyon, and March 7, 191 2, the property was pur- chased by R. M. Dunlap, who is now (191 5) its editor and publisher. 15 226 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY The Huron Herald started January 7, 1892, with Frank I. White as editor and publisher. On May 16, 1895, Messrs. Priest & Priest took charge and were in control October 18, 1896, when the office was destroyed by fire. The paper was suspended for a few weeks and the next issue was dated November 6, 1896, with W. E. Johnson, editor and pub- lisher. The Herald suspended publication in February, 1897, and was again resurrected by W. A. Huff by the issue of April 9, 1897. Mr. Huff dis- continued the paiier in 1900, and went to Brown county, where he was active in newspaper work in that county. The Huron Herald was revived again April 12, 1907, by J. E. Smith, who published it until March 12, 1914, and March 19 of that year, J. M. Delaney announced that through no fault of his> he was forced to take control of the paper, and had employed Herman Van- On August 19, 1915. T. A. Cur became editor, and on November 11, 1915. August 19, 1915, T. A. Cur became editor, and November 11, 1915, Orvil L. Pancake was in charge. The Potter Kansan was originally known as the Potter Leaf, which started November 22, 1900, by Eppie L. Barber and Norene Barber, his wife. Mr. Barber surrendered control of the paper September 17, 1903. turning it over to his wife, who became its publisher. Shortly thereafter, Charles B. Remsburg, who for many years was a well known newspaper re- porter in northeastern Kansas, appeared as its editor and publisher, and re- mained in charge until May 11, 1905, when he turned it over to J. W. Thomp- son and his wife. Mrs. J. W. Thompson. On August 17, 1905, the Thomp- sons leased the paper to R. J. Wilson, but in the following December Mr. Thompson resumed control again and placed Howard C. King in charge as local editor and business manager. On March 22, 1906, W. .\. Remsburg be- came proprietor and in the following September, J. E. Remsburg purchased 'lie plant, and is now its editor. The Potter Kansan is one of the best known country weekly papers in Kansas and the contributions from the pen of George J. Remsburg, the noted archeologist and newspaper paragrapher and poet, are frequently quoted by the newspapers of the State. Atchison county, perhaps, has been the graveyard for as many news- papers as any other county in the State. The State Historical Society has reserved the record, and in many instances, the files, of newspapers, which have been born, and after a brief existence, have did in this county. The first rival newspaper of the Champion, then the Squatter Sovcreiijin, was the Simmer Gazette, published at Sumner in 1857. Tt survived only a short time, as also did the Western Spy, which lived a few months in i860. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 227 In 1857 The Kansas Zcitimg was started by Kab & Sussman, but was moved to Leavenworth in 1859. Half a dozen papers sprung up in 1862 and 1863, among which were: The Pleifei; The Bulletin, The Union-Banner, The Anti-J ayhawker , The Standard, and Die Tackle. In 1873 the anti John A. Martin crowd, headed by John M. Price, started a RepubHcan daily and weekly, called the Globe, with A. W. Wagnhals, J. B. Button, Rev. E. Cooper, T. F. Smith and Franklin G. Adams as the prin- cipal writers. It lasted but a few months. Wagnhals subsequently changed his name to Wagnalls, and moved to New York City, where he became a great publisher as a member of the firm of Funk & Wagnalls, which pub- lished the Standard Dictionary and a number of other well known publica- tions. The following list shows the different publications received by the His- torical Society from Atchison county at the end of the year 1915 : Atchison Champion, daily and weekly. Atchison Globe, daily and weekly. The Adidland, Atchison. The Abbey Student, Atchison. Midland College Bulletin, Atchison. St. Benedict's Calendar, Atchison. The West em Chief, Atchison. Atchison Church Visitor. E. W. Hozt'e's Monthly, Atchison. Kansas Synod Lutheran, .^itchison. The Optimist, Atchison. Effingham Nezv Leaf. Atchison County High School Nezus, Effingham. Muscotah Record. Potter Kansan. Huron LIcrald. .\mong the numerous publications that have enjoyed a brief existence in this county, are the following: Kansas Churchman, published at Atchison from November, 1891, to December. 1892. Rev. E. K. Brooke was editor. This publication had Ijeen published at Salina, Kan., previously, and from Atchison was removed to Lawrence. 226 HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY .Irriiigtoii Argus, started by T. W. Gardner, and was suspended after the tentli number. The American Journal of Education was published at Atchison and St. Louis, Mo., by Messrs. J- B. IMerwin and I. C. Scott, in 1870. The Atchisonian, estabhshed March 24, 1877, by the Atchison Publish- ing Company. This paper was a six column, eight page affair, with a patent inside. The last issue appeared ^lay 26, 1877. Atchison Daily Times was started February 3, 1887. by J'>hn X. Re\n- olds, Init after the seventh issue the paper was changed to a weekly, and called the Atchison Weekly Times, from March 19 to July 2, 1887. The ne.xt issue was dated July 11, 1887. and was again called The Atchison Daily Times, and ran as such until August 6. 1887. when it suspended. John X. Reynolds was. in many ways, a unique character. He came to Atchison as the organizer and manager of a live stock insurance company. He was at one time a preacher, and his career in Atchison was remarkable for its vio- lence and his disregard for both the proprieties and the ethics of the news- paper profession. He was looked upon by mau}^ as an irresponsible dem- agogue, and it was supposed that he ran his paper for blackmailing purposes. The story goes that during his management of the live stock insurance com- pany, he incurred an ad\ertising bill with one of the local papers, and fail- ing to pay the bill, the editor of the local paper, instead of having recourse to the courts, began to lieap abuse upon Reynolds, and. using this as a pretext. Reynolds established the Times, for the purpose of retaliation. As the result of this episode, Reynolds became very violent in his denunciation of many men of established reputations in the community, and during the time that he published his paper tliere was much e.xcitement of an undesirable charac- ter in the city. Reynolds finally landed in the Kansas State penitentiary, hav- ing served a term previously in the Missouri State penitentiary. He wrote a book subsequently, relating largely to liis treatment in these two institu- tions, which he entitled. "The Twin Hells." For a short period he edited his paper from the county jail in .\tchison. but in 1888 J. .\. Sunderland took hold of the Times, and it was publi.shed up to Januarv 31. 1891. The Suiniay Morning Call was started by the Call Printing Company, with Frank Pearce as editor and publisher, and was first issued in magazine form February 8, 1880. March 28, 1880. Barton Lowe & Company became editors and publishers, enlarging the paper to a five column folio. January 30. 1881. Luther L. Higby appears as a member of the firm, but with the issue of October 9, 1881. Luther L. Higby became sole owner. X^ovember 6, 1881, C. F. Cochrane became one of the editors, and Tanuarv 18, 1882, HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 229 Cliris Rutt became a partner of Mr. Higby, and ihis firm sold tlic plant to Herman J. Rodman October 22, 1882, who continued it until Xo\enil>er 18, 1S83, when the name was changed to The Western Mercury, with E. j. Van Deventer and H. J. Rodman as pubhshers, and it was continued until about 1886. The Missouri Valley Farmer was publislied by A. J. Felt during the time that Mr. Felt was editor of the Chainpioii. The first issue of the Farmer was dated January 5, 1893, and it continued until August 18, 1898, at which time it was sold to C. M. Sheldon, who also became owner of the Champion, and the Missouri Valley Farmer was moved to Kansas City. The Ncz\.' West was a monthly journal of immigration, publi^vlied by the Immigrant Union, that was established in Atchison in August, 1878. It was issued in magazine form and contained aljout sixteen pages of reading matter. The earlier numbers of the publication were printed at Hannibal, Mo., and in 1878 H. H. .\llen, who was for many years a real estate opera- tor in .\tchison, became the editor of this paper. Mr. Allen subsequently sold the property to J. (j. P. Hilderbrand, who later turned the property over to two men by the names of Berry and Henrw The last issue a])peared about July, 1880. . Itchison Baptist was a monthly magazine, printed by the City Mission Publication Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., in the interests of the First Baptist church, of Atchison. It lasted about three years, and W. H. Park was the local editor. Kansas Agriculturist was a weekly publication, which was established July 18, 1898, and probably died about March 20, 1899. The Atchisou Blade was estaltlished July 16, 1892, and published by the Blade Publishing Company, composed of Dr. Grant Brown, Natt G. Langston, and Will Harris, three prominent negroes of Atchison. It was a four page, six column paper, and was operated, after several changes in the manage- ment, until alxjut January 20, 1894. It again resumed publication November 5, 1897, and was run until September 19, 1898, by H. Lewis Dorsey. The Kansas Statesman. Atchison, was established February 15, 1901, by G. \\. Myers & Sons, office. 315 Commercial street. This pajjcr was ab- sorbed by the Atchison Champion, after the issue of Octolier 11. 1901. The Trades Union, Atchison, was founded September 5, 1885, by Frank Hall, R. Tompkins, and James ^V. Reilly. This paper was the official paper of the Kansas State Assembly of the Knights of Labor, office. 521 Com- mercial street. The last issue on file is dated November 6, 1886. and the paper moved to Topeka after this date. 230 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY The Atchison Banner was a German paper, and C. F. Ruth was editor and publisher. Tliis was a seven column, four page paper, and was founded March i. 1878. It was enlarged to an eight column paper the same year. It supported the Republican State ticket in 1878. The paper was suspended after the issue of July 12, 1879. The Bible Investigator was a monthly publication, started about July, 1881, by William Kirby and A. D. Stevens. It was printed by W. H. Has- kell & Son, who for many years conducted a prosperous printing business in Atchison. The editor was William Kirby, and a Mr. Stevens was the man- ager, both of whom were residents of Doniphan, and a notice in the paper asked that communications for either one should be addressed to that place- It was in operation about five months. Atchison's Monthly was published by W. H. Haskell & Son, and the man- aging editor was Herman J. Rodman. It did not last long. Sentinel of the Northivest was a monthly publication, of which Dr. A. H. Lanphear was editor. The only issue of which there is any record was Volume I, No. i, date January i. 1883. Sunday Morning Facts was published by E. W. Beal from September 2, 1883, until about Februarj- 3, 1884. Der Humorist, was as the title indicates, a German publication, with L. Willstaedt as its publisher. This paper, or magazine, was also short lived, lasting less than a year. Atchison Sundciy Morning Sermon, published by J. W. and J. M. Tan- ner. First issue was Jime i, 188;, and the last issue about July 27. 1884. Atchison Advance, published by Frank Hall and Dr. H. B. Horn. The first issue of this paper was November 5, 1884, and the last issue was Jan- uar\- 3, 1885. The Messachorean was started in 1887, and issued about every two months. It was devoted to the interest of Midland College, and edited by the faculty. It died about June, 1888. The Atchison Daily Bee was one of John N. Reynolds' enterprises, which started March 25, 1880, and suspended April 4, 1880. The Tradesman was a monthly publication, devoted to the trade union- ism, and was edited by Robert Tompkins, the veteran editor and publisher. Stcbhins & Talbot's Real Estate Record, established in 1869, by C. I. Stebbins. W. R. Stebbins. and J. H. Talbot. This was. as its name implies, a publication devoted to Ixioming real estate in .\tchison county and ^•icinity. Kansas Monthly Souz-enir was published by Fitch Rice & Company from Februari-, 1873. to sometime in June of the same year. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 23 1 Gardner's Real Estate Bulletin was another real estate journal, pub- lished monthly, by C. V. Gardner in 1873. The Short Line Advocate was issued by the Atchison & Denver Rail- road Company in 1879. Der Courier was another German publication, published at Atchison and Topeka. by Edward F. Fleischer in 1879. The Public Ledger was started August 19, 1880, by W. J. Granger. It supported the National Greenback ticket of that year, and Octoljer 30, 1888, Granger turned the paper over to F. A. Davis & Son, who ran it a short time. Mr. Granger returned to Atchison eighteen years later, and became a re- porter on the Atchison Champion, and during the interval published papers in Effingham and other places. In 191 5 he was the publisher and owner of the Nettazi-aka Talk. The Western Farm Home was a continuation of the New West Monthly. Its first issue was in January, 1881, with James P. Henry and George H. Pardee as editors and publishers. It suspended publication in October, 1881. High School Quarterly was published at Effingham for the first time January, 1895, with S. J. Hunter, editor, and John W. Wilson, business man- ager. This magazine was published in the interests of the Atchison high school. It was subsequently changed to The High School Bulletin, after which it was issued regularly once a month during the school year. It sus- pended publication about September, 1902. The Oracle was another Effingham publication, started December, 1901, which was conducted by Guy Hendrickson and the students of the .Atchison high school, in the interests of that institution. It suspended publication about May, 1902. The A. C. H. S. Nezvsletter was a monthly publication, started in Feb- ruary, 1901, by John W. Wilson, principal of the Atchison countv hi.gh school. There were only three numbers of this paper, which was a monthly. The Atchison County Visitor was still another Effingham publication, started by W. J. Granger March 10, 1905. Guy C. Hendrickson became business manager June 8, 1906, and the paper suspended during the year 1907. The Potter Press, started April 8, 1898, with E. Campbell as editor, and Jewell & Campbell as publishers. It lasted until September 30, 1898, when it was consolidated with the Easton (Leavenworth county) Light. Januan- 27, 1899, it resumed publication, with M. L. and K. Lockwood as editors, and 232 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY E. E. Campbell as local editor, but again consolidated with the Easton Light September i, 1899. The Atchison County Recorder was started June i, 1900, and published by the Lockwood Printing Compam , of Atchison. Its last issue was dated October 26, 1900. The Mtiscotah Nezcs was filed April 5, 1880, by Nash & Walkup, and lasted about three months. The Weeky Journal was started by G. W. Messigh in Effingham Sep- tember 2, 1892, who ran it until February 23, 1893, when it died. The Arrington Times was started May 28, 1896, by W. A. Huff. In September of the same year its name was changed to The Atchison County Times, and it suspended sometime in 1897. The Prairie Press was started in Lancaster May 12, 1888, with W. C. Adkins as editor and publisher, and it was run until ]March 7, 1890, when it was succeeded by the Huron Graphic. The Huron Headlight, started March 13, 1884, and died on the same date. The Huron Messenger was started July 2, 1884, by J. M. Warton, and also died on the same day it was born. The Weekly Graphic, which succeeded to all the rights and privileges of the Prairie Press, of Lancaster, was started by W. C. Adkins April 5, [890. Mr. Adkins ran this paper until March 28, 1891, at which time he sold it to J. A. Sunderland, of Atchison, who ran it until May 2, 1891, when Mr. Adkins again took control of the paper and ran it until the following fall. The Huron Times was a kind of continuation of the Atchison Times, and \'i>lume 4. Xo. i. of this paper, was dated .\pril 4, 1891. There were hut fmir issues of the Times, after the plant was ni(i\cd from .\tchison to Huron, the last issue being dated April 25, 1891. J. A. Sunder- land was also editor and publisher of this paper, after he moved it from Atch- ison to Huron. The Huron Times was a weekly publication, by G. E. Nichols, and \\as started February 22. 1901, and published seventeen times, when it died. T/ic Effingham Enterprise was founded about July i, 1893. by W. H. Bright. It was short lived, and little is known of its history after the date just mentioned. The Peoples' Press was a party organ, started in August, 1883. by the Peoples' Press Association, and suspended September 15 of the same year. The A't'ii' Kansas Maga:;inc was started b) L^r. W. H. Wynn, for many HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY _\^3 years a much beloved and g'reatly respected professor of Englisli literature at Midland College. Dr. Wynn conceived the idea that there was a place for a monthly magazine in Atchison, to be conducted along the lines of the original Kansas I\Iaga::iiic. published in 1873, which contained some of the best literature that had ever been produced in Kansas. Associated with Dr. Wynn were Dr. \V. \\\ Campbell, R. M. Manley, B. P. Waggener, H. :M. Jackson, H. H. Allen, and A.. J. Harwi. The first issue appeared February 18, 1892, and the last issue appeared September 30, 1893. Midivest Moose Rezneia was the official organ of the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, published monthly by Frank L. Danforth, editor. It was founded in 1912, and ran only a few months. The Atchison Tribune was started in 1896, but the name of the editor and publisher are unknown. T]ic Western Chief is a monthly publication, devoted to the Order of Redmen, and was founded about April, 1909. Paul Tonsing is editor and publisher. Benedictine Parish Monthly, started in Atchison, in March, 1907, and published by St. Benedict's College, until Jaimary, 1910. The College Revieiv was published monthly in Lawrence and Atchison, by A. G. Coonvod and' G. T. Smith, from 1891 to 1900. Coimrod & Smith w-ere the owners of business colleges at Atchison and Lawrence. Kansas Telegraph was a German paper, started by H. Von Langen December 23, 1880, and was published in Atchison until 1881, when it was removed to Topeka, where it was published for many years. Atchison Journal was another German publication, started by John Hoenscheidt in 1880, but was short lived. The Kansas Staats-Anzciger was started in Topeka in 1879, ^"d pub- ished until 1881, when it was moved to Atchison. It was also short lived. Plain Facts was a "weekly publication, started in Atchison October 4, 1897, and published by authority of twenty-five Atchison Populists, who were opposed to the election of George W. Click, the so-called Populist candidates for State senator. It lasted three issues. The Atchison Journal was the official publication of the Trades and Labor Council of Atchison. It started early in the year 1905, bv W. T. Granger, and discontinued the last of November of the same year. The Atchison Morning Star was a daily paper, published bv J. A. Ruul- ston, and started June 14, 1905, lasting until August 30, 1905. The .Itchison Tribune was a weekly publication, started ]\Iarch 27, 1896, by W". TI. TTiggins, and suspended publication July 16, 1896. CHAPTER XV. BANKS AND BANKING. EARLY DAY BANKING PIONEER FINANCIERS THE OLDEST BANK PRIVATE, STATE, AND NATIONAL BANKS ATCHISON COX'NTY BANKERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BANKING INSTITUTIONS. Banking was a precarious business during tlie Territorial days in Kan- sas. There were no banks, as we know them, until January 29, 1857. when the Territorial legislature passed an act providing that every company or association of persons formed for banking purposes within the Territory, and without an act of legislature authorizing the same, should be deemed unlawful. Upon tlie passage of tliis act. the first bank authorized to do business under it was The Kansas Valley Bank, of Leavenworth, with an authorized capital stock of $800,000.00, with five branches, at Atchison, LeCompton, Doniphan, Ft. Scott and Shawnee. The authorized capital stock of each one of the branches was $300,000.00, and under the terms of the act, each branch was independent of the Leavenworth institution. The great Govemment Over- land Transportation Company of Majors Smoot-Russell & Company was the . big financial power behind this organization. The Leavenworth bank was never formed, and the Atchison branch was the first to start out under this act of the legislature, being authorized to begin business February 19, 1857, with securiiies amounting to $100,000. Dr. John H. Stringfellow, Joseph Plean and Samuel Dickson were authorizd to open subscription books. Tlie board of directors included Samuel C. Pomeroy, who was president ; W. li. Russell, / L. R. Smoot, \\'. B. Waddell. Franklin G. Adams, Samuel Dickson and W. E. Gaylord. Sliortly after the bank began Inisiness there were rumors emanat- ing from the rival towns of Sumner and Doniphan that the Atchison institu- tion was about to suspend, and for the purpose of allaying any susjiicion on the part of the ]iulilic, created by these ruiuors, tiie directors publishetl a state- -'34 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 235 ment of its condition, showing that the assets were $36,638.00. with liabilities of $20,118.00. In July or AugiLSt, 1857, L. S. Boling. of LeCompton, was appointed to examine and report on the financial condition of the Atchison branch of the Kansas Vallc}' Bank, and this is the first record in Kansas of a proceeding of this kind. Samuel C. Pomemy resigned as president of the bank in 1858, and was succeeded b)- William H. Russell, of the contracting firm of Majors-Smoot- Russell & Company. G. H. Fairchild was made vice-president, and R. L. Pease, cashier. In 1861, this bank, then called the Kansas Valley Bank, had its name changed by act of the legislature, to the Bank of the State of Kansas, and it was conducted under that name until 1866. when the stockholders wound up its affairs. The legitimate successor of the Bank of the State of Kansas was Hether- jngton's Exchange Bank, which was founded in 1859 by William Heth- erington. The Exchange National Bank, of Atchison, Kan., is the oldest banking institution in the city of Atchison, having been established in 1859, while Kansas was a Territory. The bank was then named the Hetherington Ex- change Bank. That bank became the successor of the Bank of the State of Kansas, which was organized in 1857. The founder of the Hetherington Ex- change Bank was William Hetherington, and, except for one year during the Civil war, it has been in successful operation since it was established. It passed through the period of its existence during Territorial days, and the depressing financial conditions as a result of the war, and business reversals incident to the re-construction period, and its management was at all times conducted upon the theory of its motto adopted by William Hetherington in an early day that "Safety First" in all of its business transactions was the secret of success. The bank's first business home was in the Otis & Click building, opposite the Byram Hotel. In 1869 it was moved to the Hetherington building, at the northwest corner of Fourth and Commercial streets. Later on, and in 1885, the bank was moved to the southwest corner of Sixth and Commercial streets, into the building erected by its president, William Hetherington. where it has since been located. In 1876, William Hetherington admitted into the firm, as a partner, W^eb- ster W. Hetherington, his eldest son, and in 1881. Clifford S. Hetherington, his youngest son, became associated with him. In the year 1882 the Heth- / 236 II ISTCJKV OK ATCHISON COIXTY eringlon Exchange Bank was incorporated under the laws of Congress, as a National bank, under the name of The Exchange National Bank of Atchison, with a paid-up capital of Sioo.ooo. and surplus of $20,000, and at once took high rank as one of the strongest and most conservative banks in northeastern Kansas, and has ever since maintained that reputation. The Exchange National Bank was organized with William Hetherington / as president, August Byram, vice-president, \\''ebster \V. Hetherington, cash- ier, and C. S. Hetherington, assistant cashier. In 1890, upon the death of its president, William Hetherington, Webster W. Hetherington was elected president, B. P. Waggener, vice-president, and C. S. Hctlierington. cashier. In 1892, upon the death of its then president. Webster W. Hetherington. B. P. Waggener was elected president, .\. j. ilarwi, vice-president. W. P. ^^ aggener. vice-president, C. S. Hetherington. cashier. C. W. Ferguson, assist- ant cashier, and Webster \\'irt Hetherington, teller. In October, 1906, C. S. Hetherington, the cashier, died, and C. \\'. Ferguson was elected cashier, and \\'ebster Wirt Hetherington, assistant cashier, and Edgar Mattocks, teller. In April, 1907, the cajiital stock of the bank was increased to $200,000.00 with a surplus of $50,000, and ex-Governor W. J. Bailey was elected vice- president and managing officer of the bank, which pnsition he has since held. Upon the death of A. J. Harwi, his son, Frank E. Harwi. was elected director, and succeeded his father, A. J. Harwi. as vice-president, which position he now Iiolds. In 1892 the bank adopted a i)_\-law. wliirh pniliibited any officer or director of the bank from borrowing any money from it, or becoming an en- dorser or surety on any obligation or note to the bank, since which lime no officer or director of the bank has been permitted to borrow an\- of its funds on deposit. The wisdom of this by-law adopted in 1892 lias repeatedly been approved by the comptroller of the currency. The management of the Ex- cliange National Bank has adopted and adliered to tliis policy, because it be- lieves that a bank officer or director should not be iiermitted. under any cir- cumstances or in any emergency, to use any of its deposits in an}- of his own personal speculations or ventures. In February, 1914, Webster Wirt Hetherington was appointed cashier, and Edgar Mattocks was elected assistant cashier, and George L. Wolfe, teller. While the bank it known far and wide throughout the State of Kansas for its conservatism, yet it makes an effort to accommodate all business insti- tutions in the city of Atchison entitled to assistance and credit. It aims to be a distinctive Atchison institution. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 237 Luther C. Challiss ap])eared as a banker in tlie city directory of 1859 and 1 86 1, operating his bank at the corner of Second and Commercial streets, but not much is known of this institution. First National Bank was organized on tlie first day of October, 1866, by I David Auld, with the following as the first board of directors : David Auld, Henry Kuhn, H. H. Moulton, George Scarborough, C. G. Foster, D. C. New- comb, and J. M. Linley. David Auld was elected president, George Scarbor- ough, vice-president, and W. R. Stebbins as cashier. For thirty-eight year? this bank was under the careful and conservative management of David Auld, who died in October, 1904, and was succeeded by his son, David Auld, Jr. The bank began business in July, 1867, and since that time has been one of- the strongest financial institutions in the West. It has always had the benefit of the services of experienced men in the banking business, and has followed a conservative policy during the whole of its existence. In 1910 the controll- ing interest in the First National Bank was purchased by the Commercial State Bank, which was organized in Atchison in 1906 by Sheffield Ingalls and O. A. Simmons. In tiie merger that took place the Commercial State Bank was absorbed by the First National Bank, and has continued under the latter name to maintain its high standard of conservatism, and with the introduction of new blood and new methods, it embarked upon a policy of service which has redounded to the lasting benefit of the community. The present officials of this institution are as follows: Edward Perdue, president; J. H. Barry, chairman of the board; O. A. Simmons, first vice-president and manager; J. M. Schott, second vice-president; Charles Linley, cashier; George H. Ed- wards, assistant cashier ; F. J. Ledoux, assistant cashier. The directors represent varied business interests of this city and county, and are as follows: Edward Perdue,. J. II. Barry, O. A. Simmons. Charles Linley, J. M. Schott, C. C. McCarthy, August Manglesdorf, Leo Nusbaum, Sheffield Ingalls, A. E. Mize, M. Noll and Wl T. Hutson. The Atchison Savings Bank claims the distinction of being "The Old- est State Bank in Kansas." ha\ing enjoyefl a continuous corporate existence of over forty-six years. R. A. Park was its organizer and first cashier, and in June, 1869, it ^ opened its doors for business in a brick one-story building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets. At that time most of the business was centered close to the river, and this was considered quite an "up town" location, but time has vindicated the judgment of its carl\- directors in anticipat- ing the westward growth of the town. With the expectation of building 23S HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY thereon the bank early acquired title to the lot at the southwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets, but subsequently disposed of it to the late Ex- Governor John \. Martin, who built the Cliaiiif. Trwin. Rebecca Irwin, .\nnie Love, .Andrew Hamilton, Maximilla Ireland ;nid Ivlward Hair. 'i1ic following persons 250 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY have served the church as ministers: Rev. Juhus Spencer, from April, 1858, for about eighteen months: Rev. H. H. Dobbins, for seven months, from September, 1863; Rev. T. P. Lemis commenced his labors in April, 1865, and continued with the church until February, 1868; Rev. Edward Cooper had charge of the churcii from December, 1868, until December, 1875; Rev. J. H. Clark officiated as pastor from March, 1876, until June, 1878; Rev. M. L. Howie began his labors in November, 1878, and continued with the Presbyterian Church at Atchison, Kan. church until November, 1882: he died in Chicago in .'Xugust, 1013: Rev. D. C. Miiner began his work in December, 1882, and continued with tlic church until Septeml)er 23, 1887; Rev. M. L. Ilowic (second term), November 11, 1887, to 1897; Rev. J. D. Countermine, from 1897 to 1899: Rev. B. F. Boyle came February 25, 1900, and continued as pastor until in tlie fall of 1911. Rev. W. I. Alexander came in November, 191 1, and continued his labors until September, 1914. Rev. W. C. Tsett was called in September. 1015. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 25 1 For some months after its organization the church had no regular min- ister and services \\f«re held in a store room, hall and private residences. For a time the church held meetings in Bang's Hall on Commercial street, and in Price's Hall, on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. During the pas- torate of Rev. Lewis, the building on Fourth street, between Commercial and Main streets, known as "the Presbyterian hall," was erected, and the con- gregation commenced using it as a place of worship in 1865. The congre- gation began the erection of the present church building in 1880. The cor- ner stone was laid on September 15 of that year. About the time of begin- ning the building, Mrs. S. Donald, Mrs. Judge Berry, Mrs. C. A. Stuart and Mrs. A. J. North canvassed the city and secured large subscriptions to the building fund. The building committee consisted of A. W. Simpson, A. F. Martin and J. M. Covert. The elders in 1880 were as follows : A. B. Mc- Queen, A. J. North, J. M. Covert, J. W. Allen, J. S. Trimble, and Harry Harkness. The deacons in the same year were as follows : B. F. Hudson, J. Edward Lewis, S. D. D. Smith and D. M. Wynkoop. The trustees were as follows : B. F. Hudson, president ; A. F. Martin, secretary ; David Lukens, treasurer; E. K. Blair, R. B. Drury, A. W. Simpson, S. D. D. Smith. Offi- cers of the Sunday school were as follows : A. F. Martin, superintendent ; J. M. Covert, assistant superintendent, and J. E. Lewis, secretary and treas- urer. Officers of the Ladies' Aid Society were as follows : Mrs. A. J. North, president ; Mrs. W. C. North, secretary ; Mrs. E. K. Blair, treasurer. Young Ladies' Society: Miss May Seaton, president; Miss Tola Thomas, secretary; Miss Nellie George, treasurer. In the year 1858 the persons active in the church at that time were : Mrs. Thomas Seip, Mr. and Mrs. William Davis, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. McQueen. The first deaconesses were: Mrs. C. J. Par- menter and Miss Anna J. North, ordained in 1888. BAl'TIST. The First Baptist Church of Atchison was organized in 1858, in Allen's Hall, on the northwest corner of Second and Commercial streets. At the time of the organization there were but nine members, of whom three are still living and members of the church, though non-resident : Mrs. L. A. Alderson, Mrs. Aaron Stephenson and Mrs. Mary A. Challiss. Dr. W. L. Challiss was soon added to the membership. The lots on the corner of Ninth street and Kansas avenue were donated by Luther C. Challiss, and a Iiouse 252 HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY of worship was erected upon it. and 'this location lias l)een the home of the church ever since. Rev. L. A. Alderson was the first pastor of the church, and he served faithfully three years without salarj'. Then followed Rev. Dr. Perkins from New Jersey, and Rev. Frank Remington. Just at this time the troubles of the war came on and very little could be accomplished. Rev. J. W. Warder became pastor in 1866 and the church grew strong under his ministry. Rev. H. A. Guild successfully served the church for a time in 1868. Rev. J. Sawyer accepted the pastorate, and then Rev. E. Gunn. Rev. J. W. Luke was pastor directly before Rev. Alulford. He bap- tized some of our best workers and did excellent and permanent work for the church. The twenty-fifth anniversary was fittingly celebrated at the home of Mrs. John M. Price, and a silver offering was received toward a new build- ing which came soon after, under the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Mulford. who was called to his reward from here. Rev. D. D. Proper followed and Rev. E. P. Brand and Rev. G. W. Rogers, all of whom served the church under great difficulties. There was a heavy debt left upon the new building, which was drawing a high rate of interest, and the constant calls for money which was paid with apparently no returns, discouraged the membership. Still, the pastors resolutely worked at the great task. Rev. G. W. Rogers undertook to raise $5,000 of the mortgage, and B. P. Waggener, who had always been a generous contribu- tor, gave $2,000, and made a liberal loan tesides. Not long after Rev. Rog- ers was called to another field, and again the church had a pastorless period, but greatly enjoyed the ministrations of the late Dr. Murphy. l\e\'. J. R. Comer was called to the pastorate June i, 1895, and faithfully served the church twelve years. Much of the money pledged during Dr. Rogers' pas- torate was paid in or collected while Rev. J. R. Comer was pastor. Then the remaining $1,500 mortgage and all other debts were bravely taken up and paid, and the church celebrated its victory in burning the mortgage and a general rejoicing, and also a firm determination ne\er to go deeply in debt again. During the present pastorate of more than eight years the church has strictly followed this rule, but this has not prevented some large purchases. In 1909 the church purchased and placed a new ])ipe organ at a cost of $4,500, and two years later purchased the property adjoining the church on the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 253 west for the accommodation of the g^rowing Sunday school. This was done at a cost of $5,500 for property and furniture, and the money was raised at a Sunday morning service. It is in the minds of many of the members of the cliurch tliat in the near future there must be a new cliurch building, and to that end over $6,000 has been accumulated and is being- held for the time when the membersiiip of the church shall be ready to erect a structure that shall be worthy of the city and an honor to God. The work of tlie church has grown and developed and every depart- ment has accepted a larger share in work, local and world-wide. Last year the church contributed over $1,200 for missionary and benevolent work, be- sides some gifts which did not pass through the church treasury. The church stands for a strong and helpful and constructive religious work, and a faithful adherence to the teachings of the Bible, and a loyalty to the Lord.ship of Christ. The present pastor is Rev. A. J. Haggett, who has served his congregation long and well. S.\LEM CHURCH. The Evangelical Association located a mission m .Vtcliison in iSSj, with Rev. C. Brandt as the first missionary. A number of German families were gathered and signified their willingness to effect a church organization. Ac- cordingly, a hall was rented at 614 Commercial street and services held. In 1884 the organization numbered forty-seven nicml)ers, and the Kansas con- ference of the Evangelical Association at its annual session in 1884 decided to build a church at this time. Rev. Daniel R. Zellner was appointed pas- tor, and Rev. John Wuerth, presiding elder of the Holton district. During the pastorate of Rev. D. R. Zellner in 1S84 the clun-cli was built at 522 .\tch- ison street, and dedicated by Rev. John Wuerth, presiding elder, as the Salem church of the Evangelical Association, and ser\'ice has continued uninter- ruptedly e\er since. Following are the ministers who served consecutively as pastors : Rev. C. Brandt, D. R. Zellner, C. Brant, second pastorate ; C. F. Erffmeyer, Samuel Mueller, Jacob Schmidle, John Wuerth, C. F. Iwig, Peter Scheumann, D. R. Zellner, third pastorate ; Charles Linge, E. E. Erf fmever, D. R. Zellner, fourth pastorate, L. M. Nanninga, J. M. Fricker, Samuel Breithaupt, present pastor (1916). The following served as presiding elders during the past thirty-four years: John Wuerth, Henry Mattill, J. F. Schreiber, Alliert Brunner, C. F. Erffmeyer, Wl. F. Wothensen and C. F. Iwig. The Evangelical Association 254 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY was organized as a denomination in 1800, with Jacob Allbright as its founder. Originally, the language used was German, but in the past half cen- tury the German language was rapidly superseded by the English language. At this time there are very few congregations in the denomination that wor- ship in the German language exclusively. The sendees in the Evangelical church in this city for the past few years are conducted in English. This society maintains a well organized Sunday school, with weekly sessions every Sunday at 10 o'clock a. m. G. W. Bradley is superintendent; a Young People's Alliance, E. B. Breithaupt, president, and a Woman's Missionary Society, Mrs. Samuel Breithaupt, president. This organization maintains free pews and extends an invitation to strangers when in the city to worship with them. GERMAN EVANGELICAL ZION CHURCH. In the summer of 1893 a number of men, among them Rev. Nestel, of St. Joseph, Mo., who had received a special invitation, met at the home of August Manglesdorf, Sr., and organized a German Evangelical congregation. It was decided to have services in Odd Fellows hall. Rev. Nestel came over from St. Joe from time to time and conducted the services. In Januar}', 1894, Rev. C. Stork, of Concordia, Mo., took charge of the congregation as their first own pastor. In 1894 two lots of land, at the northwest corner of Ninth and Santa Fe streets, were bought, upon which the church was built. In 1895 the congregation became a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America. In the same year the parsonage was erected, and in 1908 a school building was added to the church. Besides Rev. Stork, the following ministers served the congregation: H. Limper. 1897 to 1901 ; C. Bechtold, 1901 to 1905; P. Stoerker, from 1905 to 1909, and Emil Vogt, the present pastor. Besides the annual donations for their own church, the members have spent $2,000 for home and foreign missions. The church has a Sun- day school, a teachers' training course, a choir, a Young People's Society, and a Ladies' Aid Society. FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST. Mrs. Henrietta E. Graybill, of Ad^ilwaukee, might properly be called the founder of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Atchison. She was the original first reader when she came to Atchison from Kansas City in 1894. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY = D0 In March, 1895, she began a class in instruction at tlie Byram Hotel. This was the beginning of the local church. On September 7, 1895, the followers met in temporary quarters in the Ingalls' building, at Seventh and Com- mercial streets, seven being present. The church was organized April 9, 1895, ^^''th seven charter members. The first testimonial meeting was held January 3, 1896, and January 15, 1896, the first Sunday school was organ- ized, with seven children m attendance. Before the end of 1896 the church was moved to more commodious quarters, at the southeast corner of Fourth and Commercial streets. These quarters were soon outgrown, and in March, First Church of Christ Scientist , Atchison, Kan. 1897, the German Methodist church at Ninth and Santa Fe streets was pur- chased and the first services held there were on July 4, 1897, This church was dedicated in April, 1900, by Mrs. G. W. Pennell, who had become first reader, and from the start had been a constant and enthusiastic worker. Ten years later, March 28, 1910, lots at the northwest corner of Fourth and Santa Fe streets were purchased, as a site for the permanent church. Land was secured and the foundation started September 11, 1911 ; corner stone 256 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY was laid July 7, 1912, and first services held in the Sunday school room May 25, 1913. First services were held in the auditorium September 7, 1913, and the church dedicated October 19, 1913. Among the permanent members of the church are Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Pennell. !\lr. and Mrs. James W. Orr, L. H. Munson, Miss N. S. Donald and Miss Emma Maage. the first reader, and D. W. Rowe. The present churcii edifice was erected largely through the liberality of Mr. Pennell. at a cost of $50,000, and is pronounced an architectural gem. ST. p.\trick's, jit. ple.\sant. St. Patrick's congregation, near Mt. Pleasant, was founded in the early fall of 1857. by the Rev. Father Augustine W'irth, O. S. B. He came from Doniphan, Kan., over the prairies and through dense timber on foot, not hav- ing the means to l:)uy a liorse or secure any kind of a conveyance, in the sum- mer of 1857. The Benedictine Fathers had been sent west by an American founder, Rt. Rev. Boniface W'immer, O. S. B., to establish a priory in the eastern part of Kansas. They settled in the hills of Doniphan, and from this county they founded and attended missions in Atchison, Brown, Nemaha and Jefferson counties. Among the first parishes established by these priests was one near Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant at that time was quite a commercial center, owing largely to the overland freighting outfits that passed through there on their way to Denver and the Pacific coast. Patrick Durkin, who is a resident of \\"alnut township in 1916, and the late John Delaney were teamsters on this route, and had many interesting experiences and struggles with Indians and Jayhawkers. Following the first visit of Father Augustine, after he had told the few Catholic settlers how he had traveled on foot from Donijilian. a small congregation collected enough money to pay for a horse, saddle and bridle, and presented it to him. Father Augustine attended to the spiritual demands of thr early Cath- olic settlers in the Mt. Pleasant district about once a month during the period of his services there. There was no church edifice during that period, and divine services were held in the humble log cabins of the Catholic settlers, usually at the homes of John Knowlcs, Owen Grady. Ned Cotter, Bernard Lee and James McArdle. Mary Honorah Clare was the first child Ixip- tized at St. Patrick's parish, September 28, 1857. The first marriage was that of James Barry to Catherine Hennesy, May 9, 1857, at the home of Ed- ward Cotter. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. .Augustine W'irth. In HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY -0/ tlie fall of 1857 the first church was built, which was a small affair, con- structed out of native timber. It was poorly constructed and was of short duration, as it was blown down b_\' a strong wind one cold winter day, and wrecked beyond repair. Following the destruction of the first church, the members concluded to build a more substantial edifice of stone, and in the spring of 1866 the walls were built. The stone work was done bv the late Nicholas Greiner, a German stone mason, who came to Sumner in the late fifties, and subsequently died, one of the wealthiest farmers of Walnut town- ship. The church was dedicated December 8, 1866. In addition to the church proper, the Catholic settlers of Walnut town- ship, near Mt. Pleasant. ha\e also erected a commodious parish house for their priest, and a hall for public meetings. The following is a list of the priests in charge of St. Patrick's Church since it was established : Irregular pastors. — Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., Septeinber, 1857, to November, 1859: died, December 20, 1901. Rev. Edmund Langenfelder, O. S. B., November, 1857, to December, i860: died, April 18, 1885. Rev. Philip Vogt, O. S. B., February, i860, to January, 1861 ; date of death not known. Rev. Emanuel Hartig, O. S. B., December, i860, to June, 1861 : died, September i, 1910. Rev. Thomas Bartel, O. S. B., April, 1862, to August, 1867; died, November 30, 1885. Regular pastors. — Rev. Timothy Luljer, O. S. B., January, 1864, to March, 1871. Rev. Placidus McKeever, O. S. B., March, 1871, to August, 1873: died, September 22. 1896. Rev. Maurice Lynch, O. S. B., August, 1873, to -August, 1875: died. December 13, 1887. Rev. Eugene Bode, O. S. B., August, 1875, to A])ril. 1880. Rev. Raymond Danial, O. S. B., .April. 1880, to September, 1880: died, September 25, 1910. Rev. Peter Kas.sens, O. S B., September, 1880, to April, 1S81. Rev. .Adolph We.s.seling, O. S. B.. April, 1881, to April, 1883; died, September 24, 1891. Rev. Urban Tracv, O. S. B., .April, 1883, to .April, 1885: died, May 13, 1915. Rev. Timothy Luber, O. S. P... Ajiril, 1883. to AprW, 1890; died, March 29, 1901. Rev. Augustine Baker, O. S. B., .\pril, 1890, to December, 1893; died. June 23, 1909. Rev. Thomas Burk. O. S. B., December, 1893, to December, 1897. Rev. Columban Meaney, O. S. B., December, 1897, to December, 1910: died. January 8, 1911. Rev. Ignatius Stein, O. S. B., January, 191 1. to September, 1912. Rev. Lawrence Theis, O. S. B., September, 1912, to September, 1913 Rev. Robert Salmon, O. S. B., September, 1913, to September, 1914. Rev Lawrence Theis, O. S. P.., Septeml)er, i(ji4: still in charge ( 1916). 17 2!;8 IlISiOKV Ol- ATCHISON COUNTY TRINITY CHURCH, EPISCOPAL. This church was organized November 3. 1857, as St. Mary Magdalene's Church, by Rev. Lewis R. Staudenmayer, John H. Stringfellow, Joseph P. Carr, G. \\'. Bowman, William O. Gould, John M. Maury, James W. String- fellow and Daniel Adams. The Rev. L. R. Staudenmayer, a German, of middle age, was the first pastor, and the first property owned by the parish was at the northeast corner of Kansas avenue and Ninth street, where a small rectory was built in 1859. The first vestry was as follow- s : Richard C. Mackall, A. Hanson W'eightman, James L. McClure, Philipp Link, John M. Maury and Joseph P. Carr, and in October, 1859, a committee from the vestry was authorized to procure estinjates for building a church on its prop- erty upon Kansas a\enue at a cost of $1,500. The foundation for this edi- fice was laid and some money expended, but the resignation of Mr. Stauden- mayer in January, i860, and his removal from the city, brought to a stand- still the construction of the edifice. The court house and Price's Hall were used as places of worship for ten years. The Rev. Faber Byllsby succeeded Mr. Staudenmayer, and in 1863 the Rev. John E. Ryan succeeded Mr. Bylls- by. After Mr. Ryan's resignation, in September, 1864, Bishop Thomas H. Vail was made rector of the church, and notwithstanding the manifold duties which pressed upon him as bishop of the diocese, he gave much of his time to his work here, with the assistance of his son-in-law, Rev. John Bakewell. who proved to be a ver\- successful rector. It was during his rectorship that agitation for a new church building was started, and due to the efforts of Mr. Bakewell, Col. William Osborne, Richard A. Park, Judge Otis and E. S. Wills, the present church edifice at the corner of Utah avenue and Fifth street was erected, at a cost of $20,000. It is built of stone, in the early Eng- lish style of Gothic architecture, slate roof and interior finished in black walnut and pine, and stands today one of the ornaments of Atchison. In 1871 Mr. Bakewell resigned and was succeeded by Rev. P. Nelson Meade in January, 1872, and continued in charge until April, 1874, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Thomas G. Garver, who resigned in September, 1875. Rev. Frank O. Osborne liecame rector in February, 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. .\l)iel Leonard. Rev. M. Leonard found a congregation of 150 com- municants, who in May, 1882, erected a two-story brick rectory on T street for him. It was during the Rev. Mr. Leonard's rectorship that St. Andrew's Mission, on west Commercial street, was built. Mr. Leonard was succeeded by the Rev. Francis K. Brooke, who in turn was succeeded by the Rev. John HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 259 Henry Hopkins, who built a parish house adjoining the church, wliich was opened for use in 1905. Upon the resignation of Mr. Hopkins, Rev. John E. Sulger became rector, but he remained only a short time, and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. John Henry Molineux. Rev. William R. Cross suc- ceeded Mr. Molineux, and then came the Rev. Francis S. White, who re- mained in the parish until 1911, and was succeeded by the Rev. Otis E. Gray. The present vestry of the church is composed as follows : E. A. Mize, senior warden: Dr. W. G. Beitzel, junior warden and clerk, and W. W. ' Hetherington, T. L. Lawrence, Clyde Hastings, J. W. Barlow, W. J. Brown- son, Henry Diegel and Sheffield Ingalls. ST. M.\RK's ENGLISH LUTHERAN. The history of English Lutheranism in Atchison is interesting. The work of establishing St. Mark's was fraught with hardship and discourage- ment. Several of the early efforts failed. But the battle was renewed and success at last achieved. Early in 1867 J. H. Talbott, through the Lutheran Observer, called attention to Atchison as a point for a Lutheran mission. By correspondence he secured tlie interest of Rev. Morris Officer, then secretary of the general synod's home mission board. At the convention of the gen- eral synod at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1868, the Rev. Officer persuaded the Rev. M. G. Boyer, then pastor at Marklesburg, Pa., to become a missionary to Atchison. Rev. Bover and his young wife arrived here June 30, that year. Price's Hall, South Fourth street, between Main and Commercial, was rented and fitted up as a meeting place. Services were begun and a Sunday school organized. On September 20, 1868, the congregation was organized with twenty-five members. The first church council consisted of C. Weber and H. Gehrett, elders ; J. H. Talbott, J. Beamer, H. Snyder and F. Brcndt, deacons. In the spring of 1869 the board of church extension granted the con- gregation a loan of $500, which amount was invested in the purchase of an excellent lot on Kansas avenue.' There were bright hopes of having a chapel soon, but these hopes were scattered when an aged minister advised delay on account of the financial stringency of the times, and the numerical weak- ness of the church. Among the members at this time was the Rev. A. W. Wagnalls, afterward one of the founders of the publishing house of Funk & Wagnalls, New York City. While here he was in the real estate business. At his suggestion the congregation purchased a fifteen acre tract adjoining 26o HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY tlie city of Atchison on tlie nortliwest, which section was platted and offered for sale with the hope of makings enough profit to erect a church building. "In this the Lutherans were disappointed," says the historian, "for they sold only enough lots to pay for the land." .After that venture the congregation used the Congregational church building. About that time many English Lutherans left the city. Rev. Boyer resigned at the end of the year 1869, and for ten years the church was without a pastor. The Rev. Wagnalls supplied the pulpit now and then until his removal in 1876, but finally the congregation dislranded. The lots belong- ing to the church were sold for taxes, but were redeemed at the eleventh lidur through Mr. Talbott's efforts, and deeded to the board of clunxh extension. Li 1880 the Rev. \V. L Cutter, a returned missionary to India, with the assistance of Rev. David Earhart and his daughter, Mrs. H. E. Monroe, gathered the English Lutherans together again. Mrs. Monroe was then con- ducting a private school known as the "Atchison Institute," and she offered her school room as a place of worship. On the eighth of August the congre- gation was re-organized and the following officers elected: Elders, J. H. Berlin, W. H. Kuhns and X. D. Kistler; deacons, J- L. Heisey, E. D. Kistler, and John Fusselman; trustees. J. H. Talbott, W. H. Smith and S. J. Clark. Rev. Cutter served as pastor two years. During part of this time aid was received from the Home Mission Board. In 1882 this aid was withdrawn and Rev. Cutter resigned. Xot vmtil 1884 did the second organization flourish. In November of that year the Rev. George S. Diven was commissioned to come to .Atchison and revive the mission. New interest was taken and the rejux'enated con- gregation held its first service in the home of Henry Snell at 921 South Sev- enth street. The Odd Fellows' hall was then secured as a place of worship and a Sunday school was organized. Under the leadership of Pastor Diven this school is said to have quicklv become the largest in the city. Tliat year the pastor reported sixty members. Atchison's boom season occurred during Rev, Diven's pastorate, and everything was rushed along at a tremendous pace. The movement for a Lutheran college for Atchison started at this time. The location of Midland College here was largely due to the efforts of Rev. Diven and his congrega- tion, supported by the public spirited citizens of the city. In Februarj', 1885, the church was incorporated as St. Mark's English Lutheran Church. Rev. Diven resigned in 1887 and was succeeded by the Rev. \V. F. Rentz, in .\pril. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 261 1888. Rev. Rentz set to work at once to secure a lot and erect a church building. The present location, corner of Sixth and Park streets, was pur- chased for $5,000. The southern vnd of the lot with the dwelling on it ( now the Keith home), was sold to the pastor for $1,750. The chapel (now the Sunday school room) was erected in 1888, the cornerstone Ijeing laid August 19, and the church dedicated December 16. The building and equipment cost $4,010. Pastor Rentz served nine years, resigning in May, 1897. The Rev. L. S. Keyser, now professor of dogmatics in Hamma Divinity Scliool, Wittenberg College, became pastor November 7, 1897, a"d served most acceptably until April 7, 1903. During his pastorate the church became self-supporting, after receiving aid for fifteen years from the Home Alission Board. The Rev. R. W. Hufford, D. D., served as pastor from January 9, 1904. to November 27, 1904. After a vacancy of nine months the Rev. A. E. Renn became pastor August 18, 1905. The outstanding achievement of Re\-. Renn's pastorate was the erection of the present church building. The movement began October 21. 1907. Plans were adopted March 17. 1908, and the building committee ordered to proceed. The cornerstone was laid during the summer following. The building was erected under the supervision of A. B. Zimmerman, contractor, and cost, including organ and furnishings, about $14,000, a marvel of churcli financing. The opening service was held May 23, 1909, and marked an epocli in Kansas Lutheranism. During this pastorate the congregation ."dopted tile historic Lutheran vestments for pastor and choir, and advanced in chinxhly worship. Rev. Renn resigned September i, 191 1. The Rev. How-ard C. Garvic was installed pastor the first Sunda_\- in March. 1912. No pastor of St. Mark's sui-passed him in zeal and energy for the upbuilding of the Lord's kingdom. Day and night he labored in per- sonal appeal and in teaching classes of adults and children. Li a little more than two years 175 names were added to the church roll, constituting the largest growtli of any pastorate. The death of the pastor in the prime of manhood in March, 1915. produced a profound impression upon St. Mark's and the city of Atchison. The Rev. Robert L. Patterson, D. D.. liecame pastor October 17, 191 5. ST. Benedict's .\bbev. St. Benedict's Abbey, church and college, are conducted by the Bene- dictine Fathers. The first Benedictine father that came to Kansas was Henry', Lemke, O. S. B.. who arrived in Doniphan in 1855, where he laid the tounda- 262 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY tion of a monastery. He was shortly followed to Kansas by a number of brother workers, who were sent here by Father Boniface W'immer, O. S. B.. who founded the monaster}' of St. Vincent's, in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania. They immediately opened a Latin school with a few pupils, but Veni- Rev. Augustine Wirtii, O. S. B., soon discovered that Atchison would surpass Doniphan, and on this account the Catholic brothers transferred their home to Atchison in about 1859. The Rev. Augustine Wirth. O. S. B., came to .Atchison from Doniphan once a month to hold religious services, which were conducted in the home of Charles Burnes, located on the southwest cor- ner of Second and L streets. Tlie following year Father Augustine built a frame parish church in which services were held for the first time on Christmas day. In this rude structure the faithful worshipped until about 1865, when the parish, having increased to such number, it became necessary to build a larger church. Under the aggressi\e leadersliip of Father Augus- tine, the parishioners concluded to invest in this structure $25,000. Francis George Himpler, now living in New York, and for many years a partner of the late J- P. Brown, was employed as architect. The work was pushed for- ward and instead of the proposed church, a magnificent Basilica was con- ceived, and the construction of it was carried forward with great earnestness. The foundation was completed in 1866. and the cornerstone was laid in Octol^er. The Rev. John Hennessy. O. S. B., who later was archbishop of Dubuque, and one of the most eloquent orators of the church, delivered the dedication sermon. To obtain brick for the church walls. Father Augustine bought expensive machinery, and, under the supervision of the late Peter Bless, started a brickyard in East Atchison, but the undertaking proved a failure, as the bricks were not servicable for the church. Instead of using them in the construction of the churcli they were used to build several cot- ta.ges and store buildings in tlie immediate neigliborhnnd and, later on, when suitable bricks were obtained, the work on the church was continued, and by the summer of 1868 the walls were finished to the window sills. Father Au.giistine resigned June 18. 1868. and went to ^Minnesota, and subsequently died while pa.stor at Melrose in that State, Deceml^er 19, 1901, at the age of seventy-tliree years. He was succeeded by the Very Rev. Louis ^fary Fink, O. S. B.. July. 1868, and it was during his pastorate that the church was solemnly dedicated Trinity Sunday. 1869, but it was not completed at that time. and. in fact was not completed for many years there- after. The church is built in Roman style and is 152 feet long and fifty- six feet wide. Father Louis was succeeded liy tlic \>ry Rev. Giles Christoph, HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 263 St. Benedict's; Abbey, Atchison, Kan O. S. B., who was appointed jji-inr in July, 1871. In January, 1S75, Very Rev. Ouswalfl Moosennieller, O. S. 1'.., became i)ri(ir. Under his direction the church flourished and he is particularly remembered for his exertions in founding- and building- u]) a goixl library for the cliin-ch and sclmnl. The members oi the church had grown sufficiently large, so that the |)riory was promoted to an abljey April 7, 1S77, and on Septenil)cr 29 of that year Rev. Innocent Wolf, O. S. B., was elected abbot, and still retains bis place ( i()i6). loved by all. Rev. Innocent Wolf's election as abbot was celebrated with anpropriate ceremonies, and the Very Rev. Boniface X'erbeyen, O. .S. B., was appointed pastor, and at that time the status of the bouse was as follows: Rt. Rev. Innocent Wolf. O. S. B.. abbot: \'ery Uvv. lioniface X'erheyen, O. S. B., prior; Very Rev. I'irmin Kaumly, O. .S. 1',., prior of St. Benedict's; Rev. Augustine \\'irth. O. S. B., Kmanuel Horlig, O. S. !'... Rev. Timothy Litber, O. S. T... Rev. Peter Kassens, O. S. B.. Rev. Eugene Bode, (). S. B., Rev. Adolpb Wessebng. (), .S. I',,, Re\'. In-rdinand Wolf. O^ S. I',.. Re\-. W'in- fried .Schnndt, (). .S. I',.. Re\ . lobn .Slcodcr. (). .S. and .Mrillhew 264 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Kt. Rrv. Iniuwiit Wolf. I). S. li., President St. Beiicdict's College, Atchison, Kan. P.radley, O. S. 11. Besides these there were four ];riests from St. N'incent's, Pa., who acted as assistants, whose names were Rev. .\ni1)rose Huclmer. O. S. B., Rev. Casimir Elsesser, O. S. B.. l-iev. Tlieodore .Scliniilt. O. S. B.. and Rev. Anslem Soehiiler, O. S. B. Tliere were seven clerics, ten lay brothers, five candidates and ten scholastics. Rev. Charles Sloekle. O. S. B., succeeded Father Adolph as pastor of St. Benedict's Chuvcli in 1890, and remained pas- tor until 1898, when he was succceilcd 1 \ i\e\ . Lonjjinus Xew. O. S. B.. who HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 265 was one of the most beloved and acti\e pastors of the church. He was a priest burning with zeal and he delighted in preaching. He was a powerful speaker, and his sermons were always well prepared and written out. He had a strong voice ; used plain and simple language, and spoke with such zeal and sincerity that he left a lasting impression on all of his hearers. His health failed him, however, and he was compelled to seek a southern climate, and died in a hos- pital at Birmingham, Ala.. March 2, 1899, aged fifty-three years, and in the twenty-eighth year of his priesthood. He was succeeded' by Rev. Girard Hemz, O. S. B., who was appointed to take his place Januar\- i. i8()q, and Facher Girard remains the pastor of the church in 1916. FIRST GERM.\N EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. This church was_organized in 1866 by Rev_^C-F:-fci€be, home mission- ary of the Evangelical Lutheran synod of Missouri, Kansas, Ohio, and other states. The first regular minister was Rev. Mr. Menge, who was installed in 1S67. Rev. G. Landgraf succeeded Mr. Menge in December and was in- stalled the first day of that month. The church Ijuilding at the corner of Tenth and Commercial streets was dedicated at the same time. In 1869 a parsonage, adjoining the church, was erected, and the following year C. Jan- zow, of Weston, Mo., succeeded Mr. Landgraf, who in turn was followed by Rev. C. Hartman, who died in the fall of 1872. and after which the call was extended to Rev. W: Zschoche, of Miami county, Kansas. Under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Zschoche the congregation increased to a membership of 130, and a day school was conducted in connection with the church by Mr. Zschoche until 1881. Rev. C. Vedder succeeded Rev. Zschoche, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. Theodore Bundenthal, whose untimely death in the latter part of 1915 deprived the church and its congregation of one of the best ministers it ever had. Mr. Bundenthal was succeeded by Rev. Frederic Xiedncr, who is in charge of the church in 1916. The present church building at the corner of Eighth and Laramie streets was Ijuilt in 1889. There are 500 communi- cants and the cluirch is affiliated with the Missouri synod. In addition to the churches already enumerated, there are several neo-ro churches, of which the Ebenezer Baptist Church, organized in 1867, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, organized in the summer of 1868, are the most pronn'ncnt. Tlierc are also several other denominations represented in Atchison, including the Latter Day Saints, and the Holy Rollers. CHAPTER XVII. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. FIRST SCHOOLS, PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARLY SCHOOLS AND PIONEER TEACHERS DISTRICT SCHOOLS STATIS- TICS MANUAL TRAINING ATCHISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION ATCHISON CITY SCHOOLS PRIVATE SCHOOLS— MT. ST. SCHOLASTICA's ACADEMY PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS MIDLAND COLLEGE AND WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ST. benedict's COLLEGE. Durinof the turmoil and confusion that accompanied the movement of population into Atchison when the town and county were orjjanized, the question of schools appeared to be a secondary one. It was not until the bitter days of 1854, 1855 and 1856 had passed that the attention of the people was directed to this important question. The first schools in Atchison were private institutions, and a number of them flourished until after the beginning of the Civil war. Among- those which were first in the educational field here was the Baptist Seminary, at the northeast corner of Elexenth and Santa Fe streets. It was a school for young women and was conducted by Mr. Stork. Later Mrs. Lizzie Abbott, who afterwards became the wife of Judge Cassius G. Foster, conducted a young ladies' school at the northeast comer of Sixth and Laramie streets, and in the eighties Miss Mary Teasdale conducted a private school at the same place. Miss Lizzie^ay, the daughter of Hugh Bay, a prosperous farmer living southwest of Atchison, was als o activ e in early day educational affairs, and so was Mrs. Amanda Blair, at that time Miss Amanda Meeker, who is a resident of Atchison in 1916. Mrs. Blair was the first teacher in Atchison county. While there was no activity in educa- tional affairs during the period just mentioned, the first Territorial legisla- ture did, in fact, pass a law in the summer of 1855 providing for the estalilish- 266 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 26/ ment of common schools, but the history of the Atchison county school system did not begin until 1858. The city of Atchison, District Number i, was organized August 5, 1858. On September 13th of that year a meeting was' held in the law office of Franklin B. Adams, and the following school offi- cers were elected: James A. Coulter, director; Dr. William Grimes, treasurer, and Franklin G. Adams, clerk. O. F. Short was the other member. Phillip D. Plattenburg, who had previously served as county superintendent of Ful-^ ton county, Illinois, was elected principal of the schools and Mrs. Blair his assistant. School was opened the first week in November, in two rooms over Bury's Grocery Store, on the corner of Fourth and Commercial streets, where the Y. M. C. A. building now stands. The next year the corps of teachers had increased to four, and Miss Lizzie Bay and Miss Melissa Kipp, - who subsequently became the wife of Chief Justice Martin, became the other two teachers. The school was mov€d to the old Masonic building further west on Commercial street, where it was conducted for two years. Mr. Plattenburg was also appointed county superintendent, and the first teacher's certificate issued by him in Atchison county was to D. W. Rippy, who died in Severance, Kan., in 1914, the richest man in Doniphan county. Mr. Rippy taught the first school in the Second district, organized near the Waggener farm, southwest of Atchison. Mrs. Blair had her teaching certificate when she arrived in Atchison, as one was issued to her by Dr. Plattenburg in Ful- ton county, Illinois, before she came to Atchison. Her school opened in Atchison the first Monday in November, 1858, and she had charge of the primary and intermediate departments. Dr. Plattenburg received a salary of $100.00 a 'month and Mrs. Blair a salary of $45.00, whicli was increased to $50.00 by Dr. Plattenburg giving her $5.00 of his own salary. Mrs. Blair had sixty-five pupils. Mrs. Blair says that the first spelling match in Atchi- son county took place in W. D. Rippy's school. She participated in the spelling match, and was spelled down on the word "Poisonous." Mr. Plattenburg served in the capacity of principal and superintendent of schools until May, 1861, when the schools were closed for lack of funds. Because of the Civil war very little progress in education was made, and the records of the county superintendent's office for that period are not avail- able. The earliest record in the office of the county superinendent concern- ing the schools of Atchison county is found in an old record book of July 7, 1863, as follows : "Through the kindness of the present board of County Commissioners, E. Leighton, B. Wallack and C. G. Foster, this book was furnished for the 268 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Old High School Building, Atchison, Kan. records of the public schools of Atchison count}-. It is lioped that every superintendent, into whose possession this book may fall, will perform every duty devolving upon him officially, and make every effort to advance the cause of education. "Orlando Sawyer, "Superintendent of Public Instruction, "Atchison County." In spite of tlie fact that the recoi-ds of County Superintendent Sawyer, who held his office from 1863 to 1867, are somewhat incomplete, they contain much interesting' information. The average lengtli of the school term for the first year was tin-ee and one-half months, and in some districts, owing to the distance and the rigors of the winter climate, school was held only during the summer months. Among the early teachers in this county were Miss Lizzie Keith, who taught in Dis- trict No. 29 in 1863; Miss Mary A. Shields, who taught in District No. 16 in the same year ; Miss Helen E. Bishop, of District No. 26, and Miss Stewart, of District No. 31. Miss Bishop was a pioneer in advocating the teaching of vocational subjects in the public schools, including domestic science, manual training, agriculture and sewing, and for her zeal in this respect she was de- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 269 rided and laughed at. Women teaclners in those days, as now, outnumbered the men. The following are the names of those who received teaclier's cer- tificates in 1863: July 8, Michael Roach; July 27, Mrs. Esther Thayer; July 30. \\'. D. Barnett: August 15, Mary A. Shields: August 13, Solomon K. McCrary ; August 27, Richard Dunn : September 14, Martha Stewart ; Sep- tember 25, Allen Abbott: September 27, Adelia Guest: October 11, Carlos E. Pease; October 14, John C. Butman : Xovember 23, I. J. Adams; December I, R. S. Cook; December 4, L. A. Messenger: December 4, Harriet Hollis- ter, and December 4, W. R. DeWitt. There were thirty-one districts in the county in that year, and the amount of State funds appurtioned to Atchison county was $295.30. Tlie school population was 1941, with an enrollment of 1,072, and an average daily attendance of 500. Twenty-nine teachers were employed, twenty-two women and seven men, with an average monthly salary for the men of $25.20 and $16.75 tor the women. Tlie total \-aIuatinn of school houses was $1,050, and the amount of money received from the county was $827.05. The fol- lowing is a list of the Atchison county school officers in the year 1863 : District No. i : P. H. Woodard, director ; M. S. Gaylord, clerk ; F. Bier, treasurer: District No. 3: Peter Boyer, L. A. Messenger and A. \\'heeler: District No. 5 : Natiian McClintic, Hosea Noj-ris and James Cravins ; District No. 6, W. H. Bowen, J. W. Cain and Jonathan Hartman; District No. 8: S. Cummings, Milo Carleton and Lewis Brockman ; District No. 9 : George Scarborough, Joseph Scarborough and Jacob Poehler; District No. 10: Jacob Beck, Frederick Neerman and James A. Smith : District No. 1 1 : John Graves, Henry Shell and Henry \\'idner; District No. 15 : John \V. Best, George Lam- ' berson and Boaz W. Williamson: District No. 17: Hiram Quiett, Chas. Wil-) liamson and Wm. Cummings: District No. 18: W. J. Young. I*". L. Fortun^ and A. J. Reed; Di.strict No. 19: Henry Cline, E. Leighton and W. J. May- field ; District No. 20 : W. J. Oliphant, D. H. Sprong and Dandridge Holla- day : District No. 21: Dwight \\'illiams. Jacob Reese and John J. Halligan : District No. 22: F. Roach, C. B. Keith and Joseph Speer; District No. 23: W. A. Adams, W. H. Seever and W^ M. Hamm : District No. 24 : James R. May, E. S. Evington and Jefferson Gragg; District No. 26: R. Breedlone, C. May and James Fletcher : District No. 27 : James F. Butcher, C. G. Means and W. L. Davis: District No. 28: Andrew C. Pittman, David Earhart and George H. McPherson ; District No. 29 : Anderson Pate, James M. W'ylie and H. T. Gill; District No. 30: P. B. Chadwick, J. W. Robcrson and R. A. Van Winkle: District No. 31: Samuel Vanatta, William Hamon and Hamil- 270 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ton Bailey; District No. 33: Benj. Rivers, Silas A. Hooey and J. Plotner; District No. 34 : D. Kottle, John S. Van Winkle and A. King ; District No. 35 A. A. F. Randolph, D. M. Stillman and Joshua Wheeler; Union District No I : J. A. Anderson, M. C. Willis and George Storch; Union District No. 2 James Cooley, L. H. Masterson and Wm. H. Cook; Union District No. 3 W. J. Brown, Thos. A. Snodd\- and J. Lasswell, and Union District No. 4 Richmon Dalton, Albert Henson and Frederick Eleman. The ne.xt record that can be found of tlie progress of schools in this county is of 1868, when Norman Dunsliee was county superintendent. In that year there were forty-six organized school districts, and a school popula- tion of 3,878, with a total enrollment of 2,247, and an average daily attend- ance of 1 28 1. The term for white children was increased to five and one-half months and for colored children to ten months. There was a total of sixty- four teachers, of whom thirty-seven were women and twenty-seven men. The visages of the men were $42.92 a month, and for the women, $28.76 a month, and there was a total of $15,117.87 paid out for wages. The amount received from the State was $2,627.09, and an additional source of revenue was from the pounding of stray livestock, which brought into the school fund of the county that year $589.58. The amount raised by district school tax was $24.- 373.21, and there were forty-three school houses in the county, of which twelve were built of logs, twenty-six of frame construction, and five of stone, with a total valuation of $16,750.00. During the interim between 1863 and 1868, the Third Kansas Teachers' Association met in Atchison. The meeting was lield July, 1865, and there were fifty-nine teachers present in Price's Hall. John A. Martin, John J. Ingalls and Geo. \\'. Glick attended the meeting and made addresses. In comparison with the figures of those days, the figures of 1915 are interesting, and tliey are here given as follows: School population, June 30, 191 5 3o30 Total enrollment, 1914-1915 2,477 Average daily attendance, 1914-1915 1.915 Teachers employed, 1915-1916, including county high school, males 23, females 81 104 Teachers employed 1915-1916, including county high school, holding State certificates 19 Normal training 33, first grade 22, second grade 27, ... . Teachers without previous- experience 21 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 2']\ Teachers serving first rear in present positions 56 Teachers more than two years in present position. ... 16 Average experience of teachers : One-teacher schools 5 years Graded schools 6 years Average length of term in weeks : 1914-15 1915-16 One-teacher schools 30.4 30.65 Graded schools 35.3 35.33 Average salary of male teachers: 1914-15 1915-16 One-teacher schools 63.75 67.25 Graded schools - 84/7 85-81 Average salar)' of female teachers : 1914-15 1915-16 One-teacher schools 58.16 57-45 Graded schools 5964 60.00 Average attendance per teacher IQ14-15 One-teacher schools 21 Graded schools 26 Average cost per pupil per month in attendance: 19 14-15 One-teacher schools $ 3.69 Graded schools 4-38 Amount expended for school purposes: 1914-15 One-teacher schools $39,756.47 Graded schools 19,212.88 County high school 17,719.71 Total $76,689.06 Common school graduates, 1915: Boys 57, girls 71, total 128. High school graduates, 1915: Boys 17, girls 19, total 2>(^. Total number of libraries in rural schools 63 Number of volumes in rural libraries 4>3i4 Number of schools having room or basement furnaces 66 Number of county certificates issued during year: First grade 9 Second grade 24 Third grade 7 Total 40 272 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Number of first grade renewed 5 Number of State certificates registered 7 Number teadiers normal training certificates regis- tered 13 Number of first grades indorsed 3 Number of second grades indorsed i Tlie city of Atchison is not included in any of tlie above statistics. It is interesting to note that the vision of Miss Helen E. Bishop of 1863 has been realized, for in every school in Atchison county, not only agricul- ture is taught, but in al)out one-third of tlie schools, plain sewing and various kinds of fancy needlework are tauglit also, and while no rural scliool as yet is equipped to teach cooking, a number of the teachers are directing some work along this line and it is done in accordance with the teacher's directions in the homes, witli the assistance of the mothers. More attention tlian ever is also being give.n to drawing and music. Earnest efforts are being made by super- intendents and teachers to secure the cooperation of parents by means of community gatherings. In many districts teachers' associations, literary societies and debating clubs have been organized, in which parents as well as children are taking a great interest. Many of the districts have availed them- ■ selves of the opportunity to use tlie stereopticon lectures sent out by the Uni- versity of Kansas. Lecture courses are being made in some of the schools, and provisions have been made for serving hot lunches for children. Medical inspection is also provided for, through the efforts of teachers. One of the most interesting and valuable features introduced into the rural school work of the county in recent years is the community school fair. The plan is to have three to five schools unite and meet at a school house, wliere the children enter exhibits of corn, cereals, seeds of various kinds, vegetables and fruits, and in addition to these are also exhibited canned fruits, peaches, jelly and loaves of bread, and other samples of the art of cooking, together with arti- cles of fancy needlework and plain sewing. Many prizes are awarded for the best exhibit, and the result is that much interest is stimulated among tiie children in these accomplishments. The county farm agent is also lending great assistance in organizing school gardens, and boys' and girls' clubs of various kinds for the purpose of agricultural development. Much attention is also paid to the supers-ision of the children at play, on the theory tliat all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. and the equipment for the plav- ground of various kinds has been supjilied. Six rural schools of the county have organized basketball teams. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 273 Besides the rural and graded schools, Atchison county has four high schools. Muscotah maintains an accredited four-year high school, offering a college preparatory and general course, and the school building which was destroyed by fire January 13, 1916, will be replaced by a larger and better school, reference to which has already been made in this history. Under tlie direction of J. S. Blosser, an excellent two-year liigh school is maintained in Huron. THE ATCHISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. In 1888 Atchison county, in accordance with an act of the Kansas legis- lature of 1866, established the second county high school in the State, and it was due to the efforts of Senator B. F. \\'allack, and also the efforts of the puljlic spirited citizens of Effingham, that this school was located there. The first board of trustees of tliis school were as follows : A. J. Harwi, A. S. Best. J. E. Logan, F. E. Cloyes, L. R. Spangler and W. E. Knight. John Klopfen- stein. who was at that time crmnty superintendent, became the first president of the board. The present site, which comprises a spacious campus of eight acres, was purchased by the city of Effingham and donated to the county. A handsome pressed brick and stone building was erected in compliance with plans and specifications designed by Alfred Meier, of Atchison. The building, cost- ing more than $22,000.00, was completed in June. 1891. School opened September 14, 1891, with F. J. Squires, principal, assisted by J. O. W'ard, Miss Julia Heath, and Miss X. Grace Murphy. Tliree courses of study were provided for : Normal, general and college preparatory. On the night of November 6. 1893, the building was destroyed by fire. School was opened the next morning and was continued tlie remainder of the year down town in lodge rooms, churches, and the public school building. The present building, erected on the same site, was ready for occupancy b\' the fall of 1894. Following are the names of tlie principals who have served the school : J. F. Squires, 1891 to 1893; S. J. Hunter, 1893 and 1896; J. W. Wilson. 1896 to 1907; W. H. Keller, 1907 to 1908; E. H. McMath, 1908 to 191 1 ; J. R. Thierstein, 191 1 to 1915, and A. J. AfcAllister and G. W. Salisbury, 1915 to 1916. The county high school exists mainly tn afford free high school educa- tion to every bov and girl in tlie county. Since its students cnme principally 18 ' ' 2/4 HISTORY OF ATCHISON" COUNTY 1 .\ti-lii>..ii (ni.iiitv Hi"li SriiLK.I. I'.tliii"h;un. K;;iisas from llie rural districts, it must educate them to become better liomemakers and better farmers, and to appreciate more fully the advantages of mral life. It must also help prepare better teacliers fur tlie rural schools and train them for business as well as for college. It has grown in efficiency and influence until it is recognized as one of the best high schools in tlie State and is on the accredited list of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This means that our school is recognized by the colleges of Kansas. Oklahoma. Missiiuri, Ne- braska. Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Michigan. Oliio, Indiana. Illinois. West Virginia. South Dakota. Wyoming and Colorado, whicli admit our graduates without examination. The faculty has increased in number from four in i(S92 to twelve in 191 5. The number of graduates in 1892 was two, in 191 5. thirty. Since its organ- ization the departments of commerce, music, manual training, domestic art, domestic science, and agriculture have been added, a farmers' short course established, and a demonstration farm in connection with tiie work in agricul- ture put into operation. The school is well equipped in laboratories, and has a library of 3.000 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 275 volumes, and all the leading- magazines and papers. A lively interest is taken in athletics, both Young Men's Christian Association and Young Wom- en's Christian Association have a large membership. Every year the stu- dents have the benefit of a splendid lecture course. From its halls have been graduated 387 young men and young women. who are now filling positions of honor as doctors, lawyers, ministers, teach- ers, superintendents, farmers, bankers and missionaries, and are found in nearly every State in the Union and in some foreign countries. Atchison county further increased its educational advantages in June. 191 5, by establishing at Potter, a rural high school, in accordance with a law- passed by the legislature in 191 5. This district is known as Rural High School, District No. i, and comprises 263/ square miles, including portions of nine school districts, five of which lie wholl)- in Atchison county, and the four others jointly in Atchison, Jefferson and Leavenworth counties. August 9, 191 5, the first school meeting in this district was held, and J. E. Remsburg was elected director, T. F. Hall, treasurer and D. H. Strong, Jr., clerk. It was not necessary for this district to vote bonds for a building, because Union District No. i, which includes Potter, and is a part of the new high school district, already had a beautiful modern four-room structure, which was leased to the ne\\-l}- organized high school district. A. T. Foster was elected first president, and Miss Sarah Armstrong, assistant. The school opened September 6, 191 5, with an enrollment of eighteen pupils. The course of study is that prescribed b}- the State, lioard of education, and covers four years. The year 191 5- 16 has been a year of progress for the schools of Atchison county. The State department of education, by virtue of authority given them by the State legislature in 191 5, established a definite standard of effi- ciency for the rural schools of the State, and formulated plans for standardiz- ing rural schools. As a result, two rural school supervisors were added to the State department. J. A. Shoemaker, county superintendent of this county, was apopinted as one of those supervisors, and was succeeded in office by Miss D. Anna Speer, who is making one of the most earnest and efficient county superintendents this county has ever had. It is universally conceded that the board of county commissioners made no mistake when they selected Miss Speer as a successor to Mr. Shoemaker. Miss Speer is making an earn- est effort to bring our schools up to the standard set l)y the State department of education, ni which she is receiving the cordial cooperation on the part of the sciiool officers, parents and children of the county. The work that 276 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY is being accomplished here has been highly commended by Miss Julia Stone, one of the new State supervisors, and three schools, approved by the super- visor, have the honor of the first three "Standard Schools" in northeastern Kansas. These are: New Maiden District No. 45, H. S. Mahan and Eugene Crawford, teachers; Lancaster District No. 10, O. E. Seeber and Miss lone Gibson, teachers, and White Clay District No. 6, J. M. Pennington, teacher. In 191 5 the County Normal Institute was combined with Midland College Institute, at Midland College. A si.x weeks' session was held, June 15 to July 28. Besides thorough reviews of all subjects required for county teach- ers' certificates, numerous courses for college credit were offered. The corps of instructors consisted of county superintendent. Miss D. Anna Speer : professors, W. E. Tilberg, E. M. Stahl, S. L. Soper, D. W. Crouse, C. F. Malmberg and Bnnio Meinecke. The following is a list of county superintendents of public instruction of Atchison county from the beginning of our history to the present time: Philip D. Plattenburg, served September, 1858, to May, 1861. Orlando Sawyer, served July, 1830, to January, 1867. Norman Dunsher, served January, 1867, to January. 1869. Thomas F. Cook, ser\'ed January. 1869, to January, 1873. J. E. Remsburg, served January, 1873, to January, 1877. Mr. Martin, ser\-ed January, 1877, to January, 1879. W. H. Tucker, served January, 1879, to January, 1883. A. G. Drew, served January, 1883, to January, 1885. J. F. Class, served January, 1885, to January, 1887. George A. W'ard. ser\-ed Januar}-, 1887. to Januar\-, 1889. John Klopfenstein, served January, 1889, to January, 1893. Samuel Ernst, served January, 1893, to Januarj-, 1895. C. E. Reynolds, served January, 1895, to January, 1899. John Klopfenstein, served January, 1899, to January, 1901. E. E. Campbell, sensed January, 1901, to May, 1901. The Kansas legislature of 1901 changed the date of beginning of super- intendent's term from the second Monday in January to the second Monday in May, thus creating a vacancy in the office for four months. Mr. Campbell was appointed by the county commissioners to serve during that period. John Klopfenstein, sei-ved May, 1901, to May, 1903. O. O. Hastings, served May, 1903, to May, 1907. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 277 J. W. Campbell, served May, 1907, to March 18, 1909, when he died. J. A. Shoemaker, served March 23, 1909, to July i, 1915. D. Anna Speer, served July i, 191 5, and still remains superintendent. ATCHISON CITY' SCHOOLS. It was lamentable, but, nevertheless true, tliat there were nianv residents of the city of Atchison of the early period in its history who doubted the jus- tice of supporting free schools. In i860 the school board refused to levy a f tax for school purposes in the city of Atchison. Following this, however, a more progressive spirit prevailed, and free schools were regularly supported by annual tax levies. For ten years the schools occupied rented quarters, ex-^ cepting two frame buildings in South Atchison. The basement of the Con- gregational church, the lower floor of the old Masonic building that stood near the corner of Eighth and Commercial streets, the upper floor of the Auld building on Commercial street, near Sixth, Price's Hall and probably other buildings were used during tiiose years. There was little or no general supervision of tiie work of the schools up to 1866, little or no system, and little distinction between public and private schools. During- this unorganized period the business affairs of the schools were administered by a district board of three meml^ers. Under a law approved ]\Iarch i, 1867, the Atchison cit}- schools were organized June 3, 1867, at which time the first board of education of Atchi- '. son was elected, as follows : First ward, W'm. Scoville, Wm. C. Smith ; Second , ward, M. L. Gaylord, L. R. Elliott ; Third ward, John A. Martin, Julius Holthaus; Fourth ward. Geo. W. Gillespie, Jacob Poehler. In the organiza-; tion of the first board, Wm. Scoville was elected jM-esident. John A. Martin, vice-president, and M. L. Gaylord, clerk. The board consisted of eight members until Atchison became a city of the first class in 1881, at which^tmieThe ward representation was increased to three members each, giving a board of twelve members. At the organization of the first enlarged board, J. C. Fox was elected president; J. B. Kurtli. vice- president. The time of organization was the first regular meeting in August, a change from tlie former time, the first regular meeting in May, which was the law till 1881. During this year the time of organization was extended three months, giving fifteen months' service under the organization of May, 1880. Another change made at this time was the election of a clerk not a 2/8 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY member of the board. At the organization, August i, 1881, M. Noll was elected clerk. He was succeeded in October, by C. N. Seip, who was fol- lowed in May, 1882, by James H. Garside. By the addition of the Fifth ward, 1884, the boarti organized in August, that year had fifteen members. Tlie board organized in August, 1885, had ten members. This representation continued till the law of 191 1 provided for the reduction to six members, and for a term of four years instead of two years. The reduction was completed in 1913, and since August of that year the board has had six members, elected without regard to city wards. The presidents of the board from 1871 have been as follows: For the year ending in May, 1872, H. S. Baker; J. T. Coplan, to May, 1873; J- K. Fisher, to May, 1874; A. J. North, three years, to May, 1877: John Seaton, two years, to May, 1879; A. F. Martin, two and one-fourth years, to August, 1881 : J. C. Fox. to August, 1882: John B. Kurth, to August, 1883; J. C. Fox, to August, 1884; Seneca Heath, two years, to August, 1886; E. A. Mize, five years, to Augiist, 1891 ; R. C. Meade, to August. 1892 ; J. T. Herse\-, two years, to August, 1894; J. F. Woodhouse, to August, 1895 ; J. T. Allensworth, to August, 1896; \V. L. Bailey, to August, 1897; Chas. S. Osborn, ten years, to August, 1907; H. H. Hackney, eight years, to August, 191 5: Alva Clapp, now serving his first year. WHiile tiie records of the early days are not available, there are indications that the chaos of the early schools was reduced to order in the middle sixties, the graded S3'stem unifying the free schools being established at tliat time by D. T. Bradford, who served as su]>erintendent and principal of the high school for four years. In those early days the superintendent tauglit during the greater part of his time. Mr. Bradford was followed by a Mr. Owens, who served one year and was followed by R. H. Jackson. Available records show that Mr. Jackson was superintendent in August, 1871, and served till June, 1876. How long he served prior to the election of May, 187 1, is not indicated by records at hand. The superintendents following Mr. Jackson are as follows : I. C. Scott, to 1878; C. S. Sheffield, to 1880; R. C. Meade, to December, 1886; F. M. Draper, to 1889; Buel T. Davis, to 1891 : John H. Glorfelter, to 1901 ; Nathan T. Veatch, serving at present (January, 1916). The principals of the liigh school serving prior to the union of the duties of superintendent and ])rincipal of tlie high school were, P. D. Platten- burg, Orlando Sawyer and David Negley. The course of study in the high school tjien was Latin, followed later HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 279 "The Ingalls School," Atchison, Kan. by the Latin-Scientific. Little change was made for years, except the intro- duction of German in the fall of 1871. For more than thirty years there was little change in the subject matter of the work. The most important change during those thirty years or more was the complete organization of the high school by Superintendent R. C. Meade, in 1880, at which time a dis- tinct principal was placed in charge of the re-organized high school. The first principal under the new plan was F. \\'. Bartlett. Definite classes were started and the first class graduated June 7, 1881, in Corinthian Hall, as fol- lows: Jane Boone, Artluu" Challiss, Blanche Challiss, Daisy, L. -Denton, Delia Estes, Mary E. Fox, Frances L. Garside. Lilly G. Hathaway, Maggie R. Hedges, May Hosier, Victor Linley, Nellie G. Reid, Mary E. Scott, Annie Underwnod, 14. Total graduates to date (January, 1916), 568. l'\ W. Bartlett was ])rincipal of the high school until 1883. The follow- ing is the list of principals since 1883: J. B. Gash, lo 1885; Geo. D. Ostrom, to 1887; J. T. Dobell, to 1895; C. A. Shively. to 1900: W. C. Janu'eson, to 1902; A. H. Speer, to 1909: W. H. Livers, to 1910: j. 'I". Rosson, lo 191 1 : H, P. Shepherd, now serving his fifth year. 28o HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY The superintendent and pn'ncii)al aided by one assistant taught the high school subjects till 1882. With the opening of school in September, of that year, the high school course of study was changed from two years to a full three-years course. Miss Sarali E. Steele and Miss Anna M. Niklaus were assistants during tliose early years. The addition to tlie teacliing force, the lengthened course and tlie tendency toward greater latitude in the choice of subjects soon doubled the high school enrollment. The start toward vocational studies began in September. 1881, when, at the suggestion of J. H. Garside. bookkeeping was made an optional study. , The growth of the high schoorwas gradual. During the late eighties, an- other year was added to the course and an additional assistant was employed. Manual training was added in December, 1903: sewing, 1907; commercial subjects were added from time to time till the introduction of a full business course, including shorthand and typewriting, in 1910; normal training, 1909; cooking, 1910; physical training, 1910; elementary agriculture, 1913; school nurse, January, 1914; special music director, 1915. The addition of courses and optional subjects has so increased tlie high school work as to require eight- een teachers, in addition to the principal, and the enrollment has grown to 393. The school is on the accredited list of the University of Kansas and of the North Central Association of Colleges. A school paper, the Optimist, is now in its sixth year. A Glee Clttb and orchestra have been organized. A Young Men's Christian Association and a Young Women's Christian Association are doing good work. Tlie atliletic association is giving an nutlet for the surplus energy in football, basketball, etc. Grades and teachers were added in tlie different Ijuildings until there are now (January, 1916) five buildings having full eight grades of work, one building with three grades, and the Branchton school ha\ing two grades. The Branchton building belongs to district 65. Manual training for the boys and sewiog for the girls are given in sixth, seventh and eighth grades and liigh school. All tlie grades have the Ijenefit of inspection by the school nurse, and instruction in music bv tlie special director. In 1S82 the teaching force was lliirty beside tiie superintendent. This grew to forty-one by 1901, and to sixly-ti\e in 19T5. During March, 1881, it was resolved that a "kindergarten" be opened during the next term. No record is found indicating the opening of such school. Tlie kindergarten was not made a part of the system till 1910. Such work was offered earlier in rooms granted by the lioard. This was. how- ever, the result of private cnterinise. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 281 At the opening of the new high school building in 1910, the first public kindergarten was established. In tlie spring of 1914, another kindergarten was opened in the new Washington school. The corner stone of tlie Central building was laid in August, 1868. This building was destroyed by fire in October. 1869. The construction of a new building on the old foundation began as soon as plans were completed. This was the three-story brick building, costing $35,000, torn down in 1908, to make room for the magnificent high school building completed in 1910, and occupied for all school purposes in September of that year. On October 5, 1892, the name was changed to "The Ingalls School." The building begim in 1869 and, when completed, said to be "one of the finest in the State," was opened in 1870 and served without cliange till 1903, when a three-story addition, costing $5,264.00 was built to provide for the office, manual training, one high school room and sanitary fixtures. It was finally outgrown after serving thirty-eight years. While the present building was being constructed, the high school was housed in the old three- story Douglas building, Fifth and R streets, and in two rooms of the did Washington Ixiilding, Sixth and O streets. During the two years' waiting for the new Ingalls building the colored pupils from Douglas school were housed in a vacant store at Sixth and Spring streets for one year, and in Lincoln school for part of the second year, and the grades of Ingalls school were housed as follows : Seventh and eighth, banquet room of Odd Fellows Hall; sixth, Martin school; fifth, Pioneer Hall; second, third and fourth, basement of Congregational church ; first, basement of Presbyterian church; manual training, in old fire department for the first year, and in a vacant store room till the latter part of Decemljer of the second year, when it was moved to the new Iniilding. Tlie present high school building, the Ingalls school, cost about $103,500. The equipment and added lots at the southwest corner of the block, improve- ment of grounds, etc., will bring the present value of the property at least to $130,000. Governor George W. Glick was largel\- instrumental in tlie work of securing the lots for the Ingalls school. The ten lots purchased prior to the erection of the first building cost, approximately, $3,500. Lots 8 and 9 in the same block secured by condemnation in 191 1, cost $2,250. The three-story brick building at the corner of Fifth and R streets, built in 1873 at a cost of $15,000, was originally called Wa,shinglon school. A three-room, one-story frame building, erected on this site in tlic middle sixties. 282 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY was the first building owned by district No. i, and served till 1873. The lots cost $1,200 and the building $2,425. At that time a frame building at the corner of Sixth and O streets was used by the colored pupils and was called Douglas school. This was built in the middle sixties. It was at first a two-room, one-story building. Later, a third room was added. The lots cost $820. This was the second building owned by district No. i. Early maps of Atchison show tlie locations of Washington and Douglas here given. The names "Central," "Washington," "Franklin." "Lincoln" and "Douglas" were authorized Februan,- 2, 1880. In 1884 work began on two new buildings, one a ten-room brick building to take the place of the frame building called "Douglas," and the other an eight-room brick building at Sixth and Division streets, named North Atchi- son school. The one at Sixth and O streets cost $18,682, and was occupied for school purposes January 3, 1885. The white pupils in "Washington" school were taken to the new building, and the colored school formerly housed in "Douglas" was taken to the "Washington." The names were also trans- ferred soon after the new order of things was established. The ten-room \\"ashington building was used till the close of school for vacation, December, 1913. On January 5, IQ14, the school began work in the present beautiful building, south of R street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. The old property at Sixth and O streets was sold for $2,300, but the name of the school was retained. The new building with grounds and equipment cost $63,000. The site was secured by condemnation and cost $5,350. The original "W a;-hingtnn" remained the "Douglas" uinii the com- pletion of the new Douglas on Sixth, between U and V streets. The pupils of "Douglas" were housed in "Lincoln" till late in the fall of 1909. The site of this building, lots 18. 19, 20 and 21, block 35, South Atchison, was secured in March, 1909, in exchange for lots 10 and 11, same block, the old hospital property, which had previously lieen donated to the board of educa- tion for school purposes, the money in\-olved being the payment of some back taxes by the board. The North Atchison school, Sixth and Division streets, was occupied for school purposes in September, 1885. The lots cost $800 and the bnilding, equipment and retaining walls, $5,381.94. On October 5, 1892, the name of this school was changed to "The John A. Martin School." This building was used till the last of May, 191 5. Immediately after the close of school, May 28, 1915, it was wrecked to make way for the new building now in HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 283 course of constructicm. The added lefrnund. secured by condemnation, cost $6,200 and the building, equipment and improvement of grounds will cost, approximately, $56,500. During the year 191 5-1 6 this school is housed in the Ingalls building. The West Atchison school building, named Franklin school, February 2, 1880, was, originally, a three-room, one-story brick, costing $2,617.10. This was changed to six rooms by the addition of a second story in 1883, at a cost of $2,498. and was remodeled and changed to an eight-room building in 1908, at a cost of $12,500. and reoccupied early in 1909. The lots cost $400. Dur- ing the change in Franklin, the pupils were housed in the "Green-Tree House" and in a \acant store room at 1521 Main street. The Lincoln school (colored). Eighth and Atchison streets, was origi- nally a three-room, one-story brick building erected in 1871 at a cost of $2,425. The lots cost $750. In 1883, this was changed to a six-room build- ing at a cost of $2,498. This is the only school building in the city not modernized. The records reveal some interesting things. In 1878 it was decided that "the work of the grades should be completed in eight years." In 1884 an attempt was made to establish a branch high school in South Atchison. While this failed, it was voted that "a sub-junior grade be maintained in the Washington school." This was discontinued within a few years. In March. 1883, it was ordered that the schools close because of lack of funds. The city council came to the rescue and appropriated $4,000 for school purposes. The schools re-opened March 29. The school year was shortened several times in those early days. The school spirit is in splendid condition. The increased material equipment is adding greatly to the educational opportunities. "Continuation schools" have been conducted for several years, with good attendance. The improvements have been made without bonds, excepting the $100,- 000 issue fiir the high school in 1908. The total bonded indebtedness (January, 1916) is $122,000. Of this amount, $4,000 will be paid July i, 1916. Of the issue of 1908, $94,000 remain unpaid, and will fall due in 1923. The $24,- 000 refunding- bonds issued in 1913 will be due in 1933. The board of edu- cation is not using the full limit of its taxing power. It is only fair to add a tribute at this point to the faithful, enthusiastic and efficient work rendered by Prof. Nathan T. Veatch to the public school system of Atchison. During the period of his service here, Atchison has seen 284 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY its greatest development in its public school system, and this has not only been brought about by the fine public spirit that exists here but by the splendid co- operation which Prof. Veatch has given it. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. In addition to the private schools tliat existed here in an early day, there were a number of private schools which did good work in Atchison subsequently to the Teasdale school, which was operated here in the eighties. Mrs. Harriet E. Monroe rendered the cause of education in Atchison county an invaluable and also an imperishable service. Mrs. Monroe founded the Atchison Institute. In 1871 she erected a building at the northwest corner of Third and Kansas avenue, to which a wing was added in 1876, and three years later the large brick building, all of which are still standing. The prop- erty represented an investment of $25,000, and the success of Mrs. Monroe's enterprise was phenomenal. She received no bonus or assistance from city, county, State, church or individual. She had nine students when she started her school, and subsequently increased her enrollment to 300. She had a musical department and an art department, and they were admitted to have no superior in the Missouri valley at that time. She also conducted a kinder- garten, primary, intermediate and academic grades. Also a collegiate de- partment, consisting of preparatory, scientific, classical and literary courses, together with the normal and commercial courses. She had thirteen teacliers. Her vocational department covered all tlie arts of domestic economy and domestic science, before which she employed most eminent women in their special lines to deliver lectures. Mrs. Monroe was then, and is now, a truly remarkable woman. Her school was a forerunner of Midland College, and when it came to Atchison in 1887, Mrs. Monroe closed her school shortly thereafter and has since been a resident of \\''ashingti)n, D. C. She is a highly educated lady of refinement and culture, and has spent niucli lime u])(in the lecture platform. Following the Monroe Institute, some years later, Prof. Flint conducted a Latin school iiere, which was largely attended. Mr. Flint was succeeded by Prof. Foot, and as an outgrowth of these two schools, Misses Helen and Abigail Scofield opened a preparatory school, and successfully conducted it for a number of years, when they were succeeded by Miss Maiy Walton, who ran her school in the building owned by Mrs. J. W. Parker, on Laramie street, between Third and Fourth streets, until a few years ago. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 285 In 1916 the public school system is augmented in its work by several parochial and denominational schools, conducted by the Catholics and tlie German Lutherans. MT. ST. SCHOLASTICA's ACADEMY. One of the first sights to impress the visitor to Atchison is the impos- ing collection of buildings which crowns its southern hill, now commonly known as Mt. St. Scholastica. Mt. St. Scholastica is practically as old as Atchison itself, the first sisters having come here in 1863. Few who gaze upon the massive and commodious array of buildings, surrounded as they now are by well-kept lawns, spacious meadow and woodland, stop to think of its humble beginning and the many trials which beset the earlv foundation. But the first sisters were in time to feel the effects of the Civil war and the hardships attendant upon the same. At the request of Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., then prior of St. Benedict's College, and the first pastor of the church in Atchison, Rev. Mother E\-angelista and six companions were sent from the Benedictine con\-ent in St. Cloud, jNIinn., to establish a school in Atchison. Two more sisters were sent the following April. As these latter were on their way, they were detained at Hannibal for two days. The funeral cortege of President Lincoln having reached that city at the same time as the sisters, one of their sad privileges was that of attending the obsequies of the martyred President before continuing their journey Kansasward. The little convent, situated at the corner of Second and Division streets, near St. Benedict's church, was the cradle of the present institution. Second street at that time was not a street at all. but rather a passageway cut through the hazel brush, then so abundant in Atchison. The academy organized its classes December i, 1863. It was incor- porated in 1873. Its roster bears the names of many of Atchison's best families of both town and county. In the summer of 1877 the Price villa was purchased. A new building was added in 1889. The third building was commenced in 1900. The build- ings are surrounded by thirty-eight acres of woodland and meadow. Besides the academy in Atchison, the sisters supply teachers for a large number of missions or parochial schools in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa, also one large school in Walsenburg, Colo. The institution in Atchison 3! ■Ji ■Jl HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 287 is tlie center or mother house of all these branch houses, and in vacation all the sisters from the missions assemble here for the annual retreat, and for the summer normal. The \-enerab!e Mother Evangelista, the first mother and foundress, was succeeded in office by Sister Theresa, who governed the community as Rev- erend mother for the next twelve years. Since that time Mother Aloysia has ably carried on the work of her predecessors. The early days of Mt. St. Scholastica, like the early days of Kansas, were times of struggle and hardships. Yet, these brave pioneer sisters were of the true Kansas type, and tell us that they never for a moment regretted their mission to the Sunflower State. They tell us, too, that the sunflower itself had a strange power to cheer and encourage their early da_\-s. Its sturdy stalk and bright disk seem so fit a type of faith, labor and grateful content, that even to the present day this rustic flower always finds a place in the convent garden. The later history of Mt. St. Scholastica is too well known to need repeti- tion. Its actual growth began with the purchase of Price villa in 1877, since which time progress has been steady and vigorous. A most comprehensive plan of stud}- is pursued at Mt. St. Scholastica. It includes all branches needful for a thorough, lil^eral and refined education, the outcome of long years of experience and thoughtful consideration. That this fact is appreciated, not only by neighboring cities and towns, may be seen by consulting the academy roster, which records a long list of names from many and various sections of the country. Besides the academic or classical course, Mt. St. Scholastica furnishes a complete commercial course, together with special advantages for the study of music and art. The home life of Mt. St. Scholastica is ideal. The association of fellow- students amid wholesome environments has the tendency to bring out and de- velop every noble and womanly quality, while the lieneficient and judicious guidance of the sisters wisely leads to the attainment of those lofty princi- ples so needful to right living. Sacred Heart parochial school, in Atchison, is also controlled by the Benedictine sisters, and is supported by tuitjon. Its curriailum extencls through the grades, and the school is under the direction of Sister Monica, O. S. B., and one assistant. Both boys and girls attend, and the enrollment in 1 916 is seventy-four. St. Louis College is another parochial .school, offering work through the 2<5<5 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY grades, and admitting both boys and girls. It is maintained by St. Benedict's parish. Number of teachers employed is six, and the Rev. Gerard Heinz, O. S. B., is principal. Enrollment in 1916 is 293. St. Patrick's parochial school is located near St. Patrick's churcii, in Union District No. 2, about seven miles south of Atchison. " Two teachers are employed in the school, and Ven. Sr. Menvina, O. S. B., is directress. It is controlled and supported by St. Patrick's parish, and its curriculum ex- tends through the grades. Boys and girls attend the scliool, and the enroll- ment in 19 1 6 was sixty-seven. St. Ann's school is a Catholic parochial school, at Effingham. It is controlled and supported by St. Ann's parish. Both boys and girls enroll in the school, which completes the work of the grades. The past year, forty- six pupils were in attendance. Two teachers are employed, one of whom is Sister Sr. M. Marcellina, O. S. B., the directress. ■ The Trinity Lutheran parochial school is controlled and supported by the Trinity Lutheran parish, corner of Eighth and Laramie streets. The cur- riculum extends to the eighth grade, and work is offered to both boys and girls. The enrollment in 1916 is fifty-three, and Rev. Carl W. Greinki is principal. MIDLAND COLLEGE AND WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMIN.\Ry. The board of education of the general synod of the Evangelical Luth- eran church, after considering propositions from a number of cities in the Middle West, decided on Atchison as the most suitable location for a Luth- eran institution. It is easy of access from the whole territory from which students are most likely to come, and the offer of the city to give $50,000 in money for buildings, twenty acres of land for a campus and professors' houses, a half interest in the sale of 500 acres of land, and to furnish 200 stu- dents the first year, was a tempting offer. Owing to some difficulties that arose, this offer was not entirely ful- filled, but the twenty acres of ground was donated, and about $33,000 put into buildings. The college was opened on tlie fifteenth of September, 1887, with loi students registered. In 1888 the main building, known as Atchison Hall, was begTJn, and turned over to the board of trustees in tlie spring of 1889, and formally dedicated on the 30th day of September of the same year. The institution was given over to the care of a self-perpetuating board. From time to time the constitution has been changed, so that the trustees would be elected by the synods supporting the college. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 289 At the present time tlie board is composed of twenty-nine members; foiu" are elected by tlie board from the citizens of Atchison, six from each of tlie Kansas. English Nebraska and German Nebraska synods ; two from the Rocky Mountain and Iowa synods each, and tliree from the Alumni Associa- tion, with the president of the college advisory menilier. ex-officio. Carnegie Library. Midland College. Atchison. Kans. Ciiriicnic l^il)iai'y. Atcliisoii, Kansas Rev. Jacob A. Clutz, D. D., was elected first president, and served efficiently in that capacity for fourteen and one-half _\ears. In 1904 Rev. M. F. Troxell. D. D., pastor of the English Lutheran church of St. Joseph, Mo. was elected president, and was succeeded bv Dr. Rufus B. Peery. In 1891 Oak Hall, a dormitory for girls, was erected, to which, about ten years later, the annex was added, giving accommodations for thirt\- young women. In 1893 the gymnasium was erected, the money being solicited by the students of the institution. Through the solicitations of Dr. Clutz, a splendid six-inch telescope was donated, and an observatory built in 1899. Through the efforts of Dr. Troxell a proposition was secured from Andrew Carnegie to donate $15,000 towards the building of a library, pro- vided the same amount could be raised for its upkeep. From the synods on the territory, alumni and friends of the college, this amount was secured, and 19 290 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the handsome library building was erected during the winter of 1910-igil, and formally dedicated on May 30. 191 1. A legacy of $5,000, given several years before, was added to the building fund in order to have a public hall, and a memorial tablet was placed in the hall to the memory of the generous donor, Rev. J. G. Griffith, D. D. On the retirement of Dr. Clutz, his home was bought by the college board for the use of the president. The W'estern Theological Seminary was organized in 1895, and the first president and professor, Rev. F. D. Altman, D. D.. was inaugurated. The German department of the seminary was added a few years later, with Dr. J. L. Neve as dean of the department. The home owned by ex- Senator John J. Ingalls was secured in 1908 for seminarj- purposes. It is ad- mirably adapted to that purpose. At the annual meeting of the college trus- tees in 1910 the board of education turned over the management of the seminary to this board. ST. benedict's college. St. Benedict's College is the product of Benedictine activity in Kansas, in the cause of Christian civilization. Father Boniface Wimmer, O. S. B., the founder of the Benedictines in the United States, settled in Pennsylvania in 1846, and ten years later he sent missionaries in all directions, and where they settled, promptly there, too, their schools soon were founded. Father Henry Lempe, O. S. B., was the first Benedictine to touch upon Kansas soil in 1856, and he inspired Bishop Miege, S. J., of Leavenworth, witli the idea of inviting Abbott W'immer to make a foundation in Kansas, and tliere- after Father Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., was sent out to Doniphan, in 1857, but in 1838 he moved to Atchison. Father Augustine's management of the college continued until 1868. when he was succeeded by Louis M. Fink, O. S. B., who remained at the head of the institution until 1871. It was under Father Louis that the first printed catalog of St. Benedict's College appears. Father Giles Christoph, O. S. B., succeeded Father Louis, and held the posi- tion three years, from 187 1 to 1874, and was succeeded by Father Oswald Moosmueller, O. S. B. The college is situated on the hills north of Atchison and commands an extensive view of the Missouri river and surrounding country. In 1908 the college planned to erect a new group of buildings to crown the brow of the hill, east of the old college, new St. Benedict is to be not only first class, but it is to be a monument of beautiful architecture, which will be in Tudor Gothic and uniform throughout. Tlie administra- tion building, already erected, comprises the first of the group, part of which Cd O o 2g2 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY comprises living quarters of the students. It is a fire-proof building of re- inforced concrete and vitrified brick, spacious, well ventilated, and conve- niently arranged. The buildings in the old group are of substantial structure, well fitted to serve tlieir purposes. They comprise an auditorium, recitation room, kitchen and dining rooms, scientific laboratories, museum of natural history, music and typewriting departments. The college has two distinct libraries, one for the exclusive use of the students, and the other, the college library proper. The students' library contains upwards of 5.000 volumes, in addition to a number of papers and magazines. The college library proper, maintained for the use of the professors, occupies four rooms and the monastery, and it contains more than 27,400 Ijound volumes and over 5,000 pamphlets. The scientific laboratories are adequate for present use, and the museum is one of the best of its kind in this part of the country. The play- grounds of the college are large and well suited to afford all manner of healthful exercise for tlie students. The courses available in the college are the academic, the collegiate, busi- ness and stenographic, which are presided over by twenty-two professors, and in which are 300 students. St. Benedict's is one of the finest Catholic institutions in the West. CHAPTER XVIII. BENCH AND BAR. EARLY MECCA OF LEGAL TALENT ORGANIZATION OF JUDICIAL DISTRICT EARLY JUDGES PROMINENT PIONEER LAWYERS MEMBERS OF THE ATCHISON COUNTY BAR. Atchison county has always been particularly proud of the high order of talent that has graced its bench and bar. From the very earliest days of its history, the legal profession has lieen well represented here. Men who have reached a high order of distinction in the profession have had their begin- ning at the bar of this county. In fact, this county has been somewhat unif|ue in this respect, for there is perhaps no other county in Kansas that has furnished a greater number of (listinguished representatives of this noble profession, wlm have shed their luster upon the fair name of the State.- For a long period, indeed, Atchison seemed to be the Mecca towards which the best legal talent from all quarters of the country gathered, and it was the Atchison bar that furnished three chief justices of the supreme court of Kansas, one United States district judge, an attorney-general, a governor, a L'nited States senator, and a general counsel for a large railroad system. No attempt will be made in this chapter to give a complete roster of names of the many lawyers who have successfully practiced their profession here. The list is too numerous, but reference will be made to a numlier of conspicuous leaders, whose names stand out prominently in the history of the State, and whose careers have enriched the story of success and achieve- ment. Atchison county was one of the counties of the second judicial district, which composed, in addition to Atchison county, Doniphan, Brown, Nemaha, Marshall and Washington counties. The first judge of the district was Hon. Alljert L. Lee, who lived at Fhvood. Dimiphan county, and served from Jan- 293 294 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUXTY uary 29 to October 31, 1861. He died in New York City December 31, 1907. The second judge of this district was Hon. Albert H. Horton. Judge Hor- ton was born in Orange county. New York, Marcli 12. 1837. and was edu- cated at Farmers' Hall Acadeniw in that cnunt}-. and al Ann Arbnr L'ni\er- sity. He was admitted to practice in the supreme court of New "^'ork. at Brooklyn, in 1859, and continued the practice of his profession at Goshen until i860, when he removed to Kansas, locating at Atchison. His first pub- lic office here was city attr)niey. to whicli place lie was elected in the spring of 1861. upon the Republican ticket, and the same year was appointed by Governor Robinson judge of the second judicial district, and held this office, by election, until 1866. when he resigned. He was a Republican presidential elector in 1868, and in 1869 was appointed a district attorney of Kansas by President Grant, which office he held until 1873. when he was elected a member of the house of representati\es from this county. Three years later he was elected to the State senate, and was also a delegate to the National Republican conventirm in June of that year, and in the same year was ap- pointed chief justice of the supreme court of Kansas by (lovernor Thomas A. Osborn, to succeed Hon. S. .-\. Kingman, who was before that time a prominent practitioner in Atchison. In 1877 Judge Horton was nominated on the Republican ticket to the office of chief justice of the State, and he served in that capacitv for seventeen years, at the end of which time he re- turned to Atchison and formed a partnership with Hon. B. P. Waggener. Judge Horton was an able jurist and lawyer, a strong argumentative and fluent speaker. "He displayed marked ability as a parliamentarian while in the legislature, and was. altogether, a man of strong mental capacity, good judgment, coupled with executive ability, and much practical experience. Ater a number of years' practice here, following his resignation as chief jus- tice of the State, he subsefpiently was reelected to the same position. He died on the second day of Septemljer. 1902. Judge Horton was succeeded as judge of the district court of this dis- trict by Hon. St. Clair Graham Mav 11, 1866. Judge Graham served as judge until January 11. 1869, and was on the bench at the time that the cele- brated Regis Liosel land contest was tried in Nemaha county, in which John J. ln.galls. another Atchison lawyer, represented some claimants to 38,111 acres of land in the counties of Nemaha, Marshall. Jackson and Pottawato- mie. It was one of the celebrated cases of that day. The litigation grew out of a French land grant, which subsequently was confirmed by an act of Con- gress in 1858. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 295 Judge Graham was succeeded by Hon. Nathan Price, of Troy, Doniphan county, January 11, 1869. Judge Price served until March i, 1872. He practiced law in the district for a number of years thereafter, and died in Troy March 8, 1883. B. P. Waggener, who began his wonderful career as a lawyer during the administration of Judge Price, and who has been in the active practice in Atchison since that time, is authority for the statement that Judge Price was one of the most brilliant judges that ever adorned llie bench. He is described Iiy Mr. Waggener as being a man of a ])owerful per- sonality, and thorouglily grounded in the principles of the law. S. C. KINGMAN P. T. ABELL During this period in the history of the county, Atchison had one of the strongest bars in the State of Kansas. Among tiie able lawyers then in the active practice were : P. T. Abell, about whom much has appeared in this his- tory; Gen. Benjamin F. Stringfellow, Alfred G. Otis, John J. Tngalls, George W. Glick, Samuel C. Kingman, J. T. Hereford, Gen. W. W. Guthrie, Albert H. Horton, Cassius G. Foster, S. H. Glenn, F. D. ]\Iills and David Martin, and one of that number, Air. Waggener, is also authority for the statement that Benjamin F. Stringfellow was the most brilliant. General Stringfellow was a brother of Dr. John H. Stringfellow, one of the founders of Atchison, and, like his lirotlier, was a strong pro-slavery leader. He was famous be- fore he came to Atchison, because of his widely known views with regard to the opening of Kansas as a slave State, and for the depth and force of 296 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY his arguments upon the points then at issue. General Stringfellow was born in Fredericksburg. Va., September 3, 1816, and before coming to Kansas he was a resident of Missouri. He first located in Louisville, Ky.. and tiien went to St. Louis, and from St. Louis to Huntsville, Mo., finally locating at Keytesville. where he settled down in liis profession, and was recognized as being a young lawyer of fine ability. He declined the position of circuit attorne)', but upon the earnest solicitation of the governor, he finally yielded and entered upon the duties of that office, and subsequently was elected without opposition, and held that office for a term of four years at a salary of $250 a year. He subsequently was elected to the legislature, with the largest majority ever received in a count)', and immediately became a very active, popular and influential member of that body. Shortly thereafter the position of attorney-general of the State of Missouri became vacant, and General Stringfellow was appointed to that place. He held the office of attorney- general for four years. It was then that he formed a partnership wit!: Hon. P. T. Abell, which continued until the fall of 185 1. and they removed to Weston, Platte county, Missouri, in the fall of 1853. At the opening of Kansas to settlement in 1854, General Stringfellow found the abolitionists preparing to get control of the country, and. in opposi- tion to the formation of the Massachusetts Immigrants' Aid Society, he took part in the organization of a pro-slavery organization at W'eston. Mo., known as the Platte County Self-Defensive Association, of which he was secretary, and one of its most active members. General Stringfellow, fore- i;eeing the conflict, insisted that the only means of preventing or deferring it, was to make Kansas a slave State, and thus retain sufficient power in the T7nited States Senate to defeat aggression l)y tlie abolitionists on the rights of the South. General Stringfellow, with all the power and enthusiasm of his southern temperament, labored ceaselessly for the success of his cause. He was the active man of what was generally called "Atchison. Stringfellow & Company." When the pro-slavery forces finally succeeded, and the destiny of Kansas was fixed. General Stringfellow went to Memphis. Tenn.. in 1858. but not liking the climate, and compelled by his financial interests to look after prop- erty in .\tchison, he brought his family here and b,ecame a resident of Atchi- son county in the fall of 1859, and remained here during all the bitter con- flict that followed, beloved and respected by friends and opponents alike. He submitted gracefully to the final decision, and. while never seeking office, and influenced in his political action by what he deemed the best interests HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 297 of the people of the State, he cordially cooperated with the Republican party in Kansas, but he was preeminently a lawyer, although he had a large out- side business interests during his residence here. He was active in the organ- ization and construction of the Atchison & St. Joseph railroad, which was the first railroad connecting Kansas with the East, and was its first attorney. Shorly before his death he made a trip around the world. He died in Chicago in the early nineti*. GEN. H. F. STRINGFELLOW COL. J. A, .\1AUXI.\ A few years after General Stringfellow immigrated from Missouri into Kansas, there came another famous lawyer, who was also formerly an attor- ney-general of ^Missouri, Gen. Bela M. Hughes. General Hughes was also one of the brilliant la\vyers of an early day, whu remained in Atchison but a few years as general counsel for the Overland Stage Line. Before coming to Atchison, General Hughes was a resident of St. Joseph, where he was the president and general counsel for the Central Overland California & PiUe's Peak Express Company, \^'hcn this line was sold, under a mortgage fore- closure, to Ben Holladay, in 1862, General Hughes came to .\tchison. He served as general counsel for Mr. Holladay until the line was purchased by Wells, Fargo & Company. He was retained by this company as its gen- 298 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY eral counsel, which continued to operate the overland stage hne, until a rail- road was built across the plains, meanwhile moving to Denver, where he was elected the first president and general counsel of the Denver & Pacific rail- way, the first railroad to enter Denver, in July, 1870, and he later became general counsel for the Denver & South Park railroad, and a member of the last territorial legislature of Colorado. General Hughes was born in Ken- tucky, educated at Augusta College, and removed with his parents at an early date to Liberty, Mo. He was a member of the Missouri legislature, prose- cuting attorney, and receiver of the United States land office at Plattsburg, from which place he went to St. Joseph. In his early youth he was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, serving with the Missouri volunteers. He took up his residence in Denver in the late sixties, when the city had less than 5.000 inliabitants. He died in Denver in 1904, at the age of eighty-six years. Judge Samuel C. Kingman was born in Worthington. I\Iass.. June 6, 1818. He attended a common school and academies of his home town, and became proficient in higher mathematics and Latin, but his regular attendance at school ended when he was seventeen years old. He was always a sickly man, and at times during his life was compelled to lay aside all study and attention to active affairs. At the age of twenty he drifted to Kentucky, where he remained eighteen years, teaching school, reading law and practic- ing as an attorney. He held offices as county clerk and county attorney in Kentucky, and was a member of the legislature of that State in 1850. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and in the following year moved to Brown county, Kansas, where he lived on a farm for a year, and then opened a law office in Hiawatha. Jud.ge Kingman was a member of the Wyandotte Constitu- tional convention, which framed the constitution of the State, and the same year was elected a judge of the supreme court, taking his seat upon the ad- mission of the State into the Union in 1861, holding his office for four years. In 1866 he was elected chief justice, and reelected in 1872, but because of ill health he resigned in 1877. and retired from active professional life. Judge Kingman was for a time a resident of Atchison and a law partner of John J. Ingalls. He died in Topeka September 9, 1904. Cassius G. Foster, another one of the brilliant galaxy of lawyers, who practiced in Atchison during the term of Judge Price on the bench, was born at Webster, Monroe county. New York, June 22, 1837. He was lirought up on a farm until he was fourteen years of age, and having only the advantages of a common district school, he attended high school at Palmyra. N. Y., after which he went to Michigan, where he lived on a farm near Adrian, where he HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 299 worked for his uncle. Meanwhile, he attended school at the academy in Adrian. He studied law with Fernando C. Beaman, of Adrian, and afterwards re- moved to Rochester, N. Y. In June, 1859, he came to Kansas, having pre- viously been greatly interested in the Free State struggle, and upon arriving in Atchison, he formed a partnership with Judge S. H. Glenn, and immedi- ately won for himself a high position at the bar of the State and Federal courts. He was elected State senator from Atchison county in 1862, and was mayor of Atchison in 1867. He practiced law here until 1874, when he was appointed United States district judge of Kansas. Hon. P. L. Hubbard, of Atchison, succeeded Judge Price on the bench March 2, 1872, and served until January 8, 1877, and following Judge Hub- bard, Hon. Alfred G. Otis was elected judge of the second judicial district January 8, 1877, and served until January, 188 1. Judge Otis was born in Cortland county, New York, December 13, 1828, and came to Kansas in October, 1855, and immediately became engaged in land litigation, which at that time was very active here. During the early career of Judge Otis in Atchison county, and for many years thereafter, land litigation was the chief source of revenue for lawyers. There were no great corporations then as now; no railroads for clients, and aside from land litigation and a general practice of the law, including criminal cases, there was but little business for lawyers. At that time the criminal practice was not looked upon with the same disapprobation on the part of the profession as it is in these days. A good criminal lawyer then was an ornament to the profession, and a good criminal advocate was in constant demand and his services brought him large remuneration. Judge Otis was a Democrat, but a Union man, and in addi- tion to his activities in his profession, he was also prominent in the business affairs of the town, and for a long time took an active part in the manage- ment of the Atchison Savings Bank, of which he was for many years presi- dent. Judge Otis died in Atchison May 7, 1912. Judge Otis was succeeded by Hon. David Martin in January, 188 1. Judge Martin served until April, 1887, and was one of the eminent members of the Atchison county bar. In personal appearance he was unique among his fellows, and in physical appearance was the counterpart of Dickens' famous Mr. Pickwick. He was a partner of B. P. Waggener for a number of years, and was subsequently elected to the position of chief justice of the supreme court of Kansas, where he served with great distinction. He was a thorough lawyer and a scholar. He died at Atchison March 2, 1901. It was between the terms of Judge Price and Judge David Martin that 300 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the bar of Atchison county reached its greatest eminence, and. wliile there have been good lawyers here since that time, there never has been a period in the histor}'^ of the county when there were so many brilhant practitioners at the bar. During several years following Judge Martin, the second judicial district, which constituted Atchison county alone, was torn by internal dis- sension, and upon the resignation of Judge Martin. Hon. H. M. Jackson was elected to the bench, April i, 1887, and served until January, 1888. There never was a more conscientious or painstaking lawyer a resident of Atchi- son than Judge Jackson. He was not only a fine lawyer, but he was a good citizen, useful to clients and the pul>lic alike. At his death, May 7, 191 2, he left a large practice, which has since been conducted by his son, Z. E. Jackson. Following a bitter contest, Hon. W. D. Gilbert succeeded Judge Jackson in January, 1888, and served until 1889, and then came Hon. Robert N. Eaton, whose term began in January, 1889. and ended in January, 1893. J"<^1&^ Eaton was succeeded by Hon. W. D. Webb, who in turn was succeeded by Hon, W. T. Bland, who served from January, 1897, to January, 1902. and resigned to go into the wholesale drug business. Hon. Benjamin F. Hudson, one of the oldest practitioners at the bar. succeeded Judge Bland and served until October 11, 1909, and was succeeded by Hon. \\'illiam A. Jackson, the present judge, a sketch of whose career appears in another part of this history. During the turbulent years that followed the organization of the second judicial district, down to 1916, there was no greater lawyer at the Atchison county bar than B. P. Waggener, about whom there appears an historical sketch in another part of this history. Mr. Waggener. in addition to being a native genius, inherited or acquired a faculty for unremitting toil. These qualifications make him stand out in 1916 as a brilliant leader of his pro- fession in Atchison county. He has been associated as a partner with many men who have been preeminent in their profession at different periods in his career, Horton. Martin and Doster, all of whom served as chief justices of the State, were his jjartners, and in addition to these, Aaron S. Everest was at one time a jiartner under tlie firm name of Everest & Waggener. In January. 1876, this firm was appointed general attorneys for northern Kan- sas of the Missouri Pacific and the Central Branch railroads, and from that date to 1916 Mr. Waggener has been in the constant service of this road, first as general attorney and later as general counsel for the states of Kan- sas, Nebraska and Colorado. Col. Aaron S. Everest was an interesting member of this bar. He was a native of Plattsburg, N. Y., and located in Kansas in 1871. His first partner HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 301 was A. G. Otis, and when he and Mr. Waggcner were associated, they were not only attorneys for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, but for the Pacific Express Company, the Western Union Telegraph Company, three Atchison banks, the Atchison Bridge Company, and the firm was also con- nected with the Union Pacific Railroad Company. Mr. Everest retired from active practice a number of years before his death, having acquired a com- fortable fortune in the practice of law and in business operations. He died in St. Louis a number of years ago. The present membership of the Atchison county bar is composed of law- yers of fine abilities, and the active members are as follows : James \\\ Orr, for many years a partner of Mr. Waggener, and now special counsel for the Government in important litigation against the Central Pacific railroad; \V. P. Waggener, general attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company in Kansas; J. M. Challiss, former county attorney, and a member of the firm of Waggener, Challiss & Crane, of which A. E. Crane is the other member ; W. A. Jackson, district judge; Charles J. Conlon, county attorney, C. D. Walker and T. A. Moxcey, both of whom were former county attorneys ; W. E. Brown, city attorney; Z. E. Jackson, of the firm of Jackson & Jackson; Judge J. L. Berry, P. Ha^es. Hugo Orlopp, E. W. Clausen, Ralph u' Pfouts,' Charles T. Gundy, judge of the city court, George L. Brown. William O.' Cain, and Andrew Deduall. CHAPTER XIX MEDICAL PROFESSION. FIRST PHYSICIANS EARLY PRACTICE PIONEER REMEDIES MODERN MEDICINE AND SURGERY PROMINENT PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS ATCHISON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. Any history of this county would be incomplete did it not dwell at some length upon the activities of the splendid sei^vice rendered the community by the physicians and surgeons who were among the earliest arrivals upon the frontier, and have presided at the births and administered to the sick and dying for the past sixty years. It was peculiarly fitting and appropriate when Atchison, was born, that a prominent physician of those days was on hand to assist in the delivery. In truth, Dr. J. H. Stringfellow was not only the physician in charge, but he also was one of the parents also, and from that time to the present the medical profession has been active in the affairs of the county. There have teen many splendid representatives of the profession here since the days of Dr. String- fellow, and the vicissitudes and trials and hardships they went through make up a romantic chapter in our history. The oldest physician in the city of Atchison in 1916 in point of service is Dr. E. T. Shelly, and it might be said, without disparagement to others, he is not only the oldest, but he is per- haps held in as high esteem and respect as any other physician who ever practiced here. Dr. Shelly combines the qualities that make for good citizen- ship. He treats his profession as a good Christian treats his religion. He is a man of ideals, of vision, of integrity, and his life rings true. Yet, withal, Dr. Shelly is not a professional hermit. While his profession comes first, he does not allow it to exclude him from an active interest and participation in the affairs of life. He is a student of political and economic questions, an essayist, and a vigorous advocate of a liberal democracy. His views on these 302 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 3O3 questions are wholesome and instructive, but it is to the profession of medi- cine tliat Dr. Slielly addressed himself in a recent interview the author of this history had with him, and his views were expressed as follows : "What changes liave occurred in the practice of medicine since the days of the first physicians here ! He did his work on horseback with his medicines in saddle-bags thrown over the horse, and often had to go many miles to visit a patient over a sparsel}- settled prairie with roads that were little more than trails. The streams he had to cross were bridgeless. and the larger ones could be crossed only at fords, which, after heavy rains or during freezing weather, were very dangerous. "Today, in this section of the State, these primitive conditions can hardly be imagined. Nearly every country doctor now has an automobile, and crosses gullies and streams on concrete bridges and travels over 'dragged' roads. Instead of passing through a sparsely settled country, he finds a fine large farm house on nearly every 'quarter' or 'eighty' supplemented bv a sub- stantial barn and spacious granaries. He passes a school house every few miles and occasionally a rural church, and lives in a comfortable, modern home in a flourishing, well kept country town. "In the science and art of medicine the change has been no less marked than in its general practice. "Until forty years ago, doctors possessed a few great remedies which they often used very skillfully, but the knowledge of the nature of disease was very slight. Treatment was largely symptomatic; that is, remedies were expected chiefly to combat certain symptoms, rather tlian to treat underlying causes. "A notion very prevalent until then, and which has not yet disappeared entirely, was that there is a remedy for every disease, and that whenever a patient is not cured of his illness it is due, not to the limitations of the heaUng art, but to the fact that treatment was not begun early enough, or his doctor didn't know enough, or didn't care enough to give him the right medicine. About that time it began to dawn on the most thoughtful and capable med- ical men that the course of disease can usually not be quickly checked; that most diseases run a definite course ; that most patients recover spontaneously, or the disease persists to the end and is not much influenced by any of the remedies used. About that time medical men began to appreciate also an- other fact: that underlying most diseases, there is a natural tendency toward recovery, which means that most diseases will cure themselves if given time enough. 304 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY "While medical men insist that the practice of medicine is both a science and an art, they are also perfectly willing to admit that it is neither an exact science nor a perfect art. In other words, modern medicine admits that it has not yet scaled the heights or fathomed the depths of scientific knowledge in regard to the nature of disease or of its cure. It is still willing to learn. Indeed, it realizes the fact that there is still infinitely more to learn than has yet been found out. And there is no avenue of human knowledge which it is not willing to explore in order to find out things that will get the sick well and keep the well from getting sick. "A stunning blow to the old notions of the nature of disease and to the old methods of treatment, was administered about thirty years ago by the dis- covery that most diseases are due to infinitely small, living organisms, called germs or liacteria, wliicli pre\- upon, or poison the tissues of the body, and therein- disturl), more or less seriously, some, or all, of the norma! functions of the body. The scientific laboratory thereupon became the shrine of mod- ern medicine ; a new epoch in medicine had arrived. "This new epoch meant not only that medical and surgical disorders were henceforth to be treated in a much more scientific and rational way than they had been in the past, but that one of the greatest scientific conquests of the ages was underway — the intelligent prevention of disease. Preventive medicine had been born. Soon thereafter a new and unprecedented popular interest in medical matters liecame prevalent. Newspapers, magazines and the public forum took a hand in popularizing this new knowledge of the nature of disease and the methods of preventing disease, which was founded on the new knowledge. Disease began to be looked on no longer as only a mys- terious dispensation of Providence, but as a thing which, as scientific medi- cine advanced, was more and more to come under the knowledge and con- trol of science. "In no domain of modern medicine have greater advances been made than in surgery, due chiefly to the discovery of the role which germs play in the causation of surgical troubles. Because of the discovery of the neces- sity of asepsis (the absence of germs) in surgical operations and its practical application, operations, which, if done thirty years ago, would have been almost invariably fatal, can now be done nearly with impunity. Then, surgi- cal operations in large surgical clinics were done by men in Prince Albert coats. Today, the surgeon and his assistants are arrayed in sterilized white gowns and rubber gloves with caps for their heads and special coverings for mouth and nose, which are worn in order to prevent any unfiltered, con- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTV 305 taminated vapor from these orifices coming in contact with the freshly 'made wound. Where proper precautions are taken, and no pus or other fihh has come in contact with the wound, some of the most extensive operations are followed by immediate repair, without the formation of pus in the wound. To enumerate even a small part of the triumphs of modern surg-ery would occupy too much space and is uncalled for here, and these triumphs would have been impossible before the advent of surgical cleanliness. "But modern medicine does not stop at treating or curing people. It does something even bigger and better — it tries to keep them well. Indeed, the medical profession is the only immolating profession there is — the only profession that is all the time tr\ing, by its efforts in the direction of pre- ventive medicine, to destroy its onI\- source of income — the treatment of disease — by doing all within its power to make disease less and less prev- alent. It is continually urging Ijetter personal and public hygiene and san- itation. Because medical men understand the stunting effects of ill health on the growing mind and body of the child, they are urging careful med- ical inspection of schools and school children, and they call for better health conditions in the family, the factory, and the mine, and they denounce with- out measure unhealthy child labor. Modern medicine tries to banish from the home and school, as nearly as may be, that brutal precept — "He that spareth the rod, hateth his son" — because it knows that the irritable, petulent, stubborn child may be a sick child, or has fools for parents, while the incor- rigible boy or girl needs the attention of an exi)ert in nerv(jus and mental diseases rather than the lirutality of an impatient, ignorant parent or policeman. "Modern medicine enters the jungle and by proper sanitary rules and regulations makes a deadly, miasmatic swamp a model of cleanliness and healthfulness, as was done in the Panama canal zone, and without which the building of the canal would have been impossible. "Modern medicine seeks to help and to save mankind, not only from physical ills, but from moral ills as well. By the careful study of the in- fluence of inheritance and environment on the development and the conduct of the child, it tries to make his physical inheritance as favorable as possil)le. and his economic and social environment as helpful as may be, realizing that much of our moral delinquency is due to unjust civic and economic conditions." It would require a \-olume to tell the story of the lives of all the early- day physicians of this county. Investigation discloses the fact that they were numerous, and that in addition to Dr. Stringfellow. who gave more of his time 20 306 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY to political matters than to his profession, there was a Dr. D. McVay here prior to i860. He was a southern gentleman, but apparently had more dis- cretion than valor, for he fled from Atchison at the beginning of the Civil war. Dr. William Grimes, concerning whose life brief mention has been heretofore made in this histoiy, was a physician at Atchison in 1858. Dr. W. W. Cochrane was another physician of the old school, a courtly, amiable gentle- man, and a good physician. He was for a number of years treasurer of the Kansas Medical Society, and was a pioneer among pliysicians in administer- ing chloroform in childbirth cases. Dr. Arnold was here in 1859, and later, on a trip to Denver, he was scalped by the Indians. Dr. Joseph Malin, of Weston, Mo., who married one of the McAdows, was a physician in Atch- ison in 1861, and Dr. J. V. Brining practiced in Atchison in 1862. and re- mained a practitioner here until 1914. Dr. William Gough, who iiad been a Confederate army surgeon, located in Atchison shortly after the war. He practiced in St. Joseph before coming to Atchison, and also at DeKalb, where he married Mrs. Annie Dunning. From DeKalb he moved to Rushville, and then came to Atchison, where he formed a partnership with the late Dr. J. M. Linley. Together they enjoyed an extensive medical and surgical practice, until 1887, when Dr. Gough moved to Los Angeles, Cal., for the benefit of his health. He died there in 1908. Dr. Gough is described by his friends as being a man of large physique, the soul of honor, and displayed the utmost care and gentleness in the care of his patients. Dr. W. L. Challiss came to Atchison in 1857, and while standing high in his profession, gave most of his time to business affairs, and prac- ticed only spasmodically. There was also a Dr. Buddington in Atchison in 1864, who ran a drug store at Fourth and Commercial streets. One of the most interesting members of the medical profession in an early day was Dr. Charles F. Kob, a German physician, who lived here about 1858. Dr. Kob had been a surgeon in the army and a member of the Mas- sachusetts and Connecticut Medical Society. He founded the town of Bunker Hill, on Independence creek, ten miles north of Atchison, to which reference has already been made in this history. He lived and practiced in Boston be- fore coming to Atchison. Dr. Amaziah Moore was another very early day physician, who located on a farm three or four miles west of Lancaster, in 1857. He came from Ohio. In 1861 he helped organize a company for the Civil war, which became Company D of the Second Kansas cavalry, of which he was captain. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 307 DR. W. W. COCHRANE WILLIAM L. CHALLIS Dr. John C. Batsell lived about two and one-half miles northwest of Monrovia. He was a native of Kentucky, and was born in Marion county March 16, 181S. He was reared and educated in his native county, where he ^7 Masonic Temple, Atcliison, Kan. basement. It is built of gray Brazil, Indiana, vitrified brick and trimmed with ocean colored terra cotta. The first floor is a store room and on the second floor there are a number of offices and the banquet hall with kitchen facilities. The third floor is used e.xclusively for Masonic purposes, and in the rear por- tion of the third floor is a mezzanine floor with tire-pn«if Inckers. The lodge room is embellished with an ornamental plaster cninice and with Seagli- ola columns and pilasters. The ceiling is circular with a large dome, and the memorial room is finished with ornamental plastering in elaborate Egyp- tian design. The total cost of this building with furniture and er|ui])ment was close to $60,000. CHAPTER XXII. SOCIETIES AND LODGES. ATCHISON COUNTY PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES OTHER SECRET SOCIETIES CATHOLIC SOCIETIES. One of the strongest county organizations among the farmers is the Atchison County Protective Association. It had its origin in a vigilance committee whicli was organized at Gdiul Intent and Shannon, in 1883. For three years this committee operated as a vigilance committee and was organ- ized under tlie Central Protective Association, August 31, 1886, by William Conners, of Winthrop, Mo. L. P. Dubois, concerning whom a biographical sketch appears in another part of this history, was the first ])resident of the Good Intent lodge, and W. H. Smith was the first secretary. Hon. T. J. Emlen, county treasurer of this county, was the first treasurer i>f Shannon Hill lodge, and J. I. Holmes was the first secretary. The first work that was done by the consolidated lodges was in running down a thief who stole a team of ivirses from the late Rolla Streeper. Mem- bers of both lodges were taxed $10 each to defra\- the ex])ense of the chase. J. H. Barrv was sheriff of the county at that time and captured the thief in Nebraska. Following tliis cai)ture the lodges decided that the expense was too great to be borne by them alone and so tlie Atchison County Protective Association was formed in the spring of 1889. The first president was C. S. I'rim, and the second president was Hon. W. T. Bland, third president was Elias Graves. W. H. Busli was the fourth president, and he held office for ten years and was one of the most ]io])ular, tactful and conscientious officials the associa- tion ever liad. \\ ill Dcmlew nf the Good Intent ludge, was president of the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 329 association in 1916, and no better man ever filled the position. The Hon- Edward Iverson, ex-county clerk, and now cashier of the Exchange State Bank, at Atchison, has been secretary of the association since 1901. The association has now a membership of 1,500 and with twenty-five lodges, and is affiliated with the Central Protective Association. BENEVOLENT .\ND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS. This lodge was organized January 17, iqoi, with 150 charter members. W. T. Bland, for many years district judge of this county, was elected the first exalted ruler. The lodge occupied temporary quarters for a number of years, and erected its present building at a cost of $20,000 and dedicated it in 1907. The prcFcnt membership of the Elk's lodge is 326, and the names of the past l-Jl. Club House, Atchison, Kan. exalted rulers, in .-iddition tn W. T. Bland, are as follows: Charles Einlev. T. S. Young. J. Ai. Challiss, James W. Orr, \V. S. Washer. Fred fnddings. W. r. Waggencr. I!. W. \"ickcry, W. 1). liarlmrger, Charles .\. I'.r.iwn. ( i. \\". .\l\ers, II. 1!. I'iliniek-, and Walter F.. liniwn, whose term expires March 31. nji'). 330 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ATCHISON AERIE, NO. 1 73, FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES. The Atcluson Aerie, Xo. 173, of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, was instituted on October 3, 1901. The officers in 1916 are as follows: Past worthy president, Owen Grady ; worthy president, John V. Smith ; worthy vice-president, Fred Ramhke ; worthy cliaplain, F. E. Kaaz ; treasurer, L. M. Baker; secretary, W. H. Smitli ; trustees, S. S. King, Carl Sclmiitt, E. N. Underwood ; aerie physician, Dr. C. F. Finney. Eagles" Hume, .\tchison, Kan. The aerie meets every W'ednesdav evening. The cost of t!ie present building was about $35,000. Tlie bu'lding belongs to the Eagles' Benevo- lent .Association. The present menil)erslii)i is 530. SECRET SOCIETIES. Ancient Order of United W'urknien — Atchison Lodge, No. 4, first and third Thursdays at Od Fellows' Hall. L. M. Baker, recorder. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 33 I Ancient Order of United Workmen — Mulford Lodge, No. 137. Sec- ond and fourth Thursdays at Odd Fellows' Hall. W. A. Wilson, recorder. Ancient Order of United Workmen — Degree of Honor — Columbia Lodge, No. 85. Second and fourth Thursdays. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks — Atchison Lodge, No. 647. First and third Tuesdays at 611 Kansas avenue. George R. Hooper, secre- tary. Central Protective Association — Atchison Lodge, No. 32. Meets at call of president. W. H. Smith, secretary. Court of Honor — (See Ancient Order of United Workmen.). Eagles — (See Fraternal Order of Eagles). Elks Club House — (See Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks). Fraternal Aid Association — Atchison Council, No. 7. First and third Wednesdays at Security Hall. Rosa S. Voorhees, secretary. Fraternal Order of Eagles — Atchison Aerie, No. 173. Every Wednes- day at Eagles' Hall. W. H. Smith, secretary. Grand Army of the Republic — A. S. Everest Post, No. 493. First and third Mondays at court house. Grand Army of the Republic — A. S. Everest Woman's Relief Corps, No. 148. First and third Thursdays at court house. Mrs. John Noron, secretary. Grand Army of the Republic — John A. Martin Post, No. 93. Fourth Sundays at court house. Willful A. Stanley, adjutant. C. H. Burrows, com- mander. Independent Order of Odd Fellows — (See Odd Fellows). Improved Order of Red Men — Miami Tribe, No. 15. Every Monday at Red Men's Wigwam. J. M. Tarman, sachem. Independent Order of Foresters — Court Atchison, No. 1741. Meets at call of Chief Ranger. George R. Hooper, secretary. Kansas Fraternal Citizens — Atchison Assembly, No. 15. First and third Thursdays at Odd Fellows' Hall. Walter North, secretary. Knights and Ladies of Security — Atchison Council, No. 267. Meets every Thursday at Security Hall. Courtney Turner, secretary. Knights and Ladies of Security — Harmony Council, No. 1375. Second and fourth Thursdays. C. H. Burrows, secretary. Knights of the Maccabees — Atchison Tent, No. 2. First and third Tues- days. F. M. Woodford, record keeper. Knights of Pythias — Golden Cross Lodge, No. 7. Every Thursday at Security Hall. W. M. Thistle, keeper of records and seal. 332 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Masonic — Active Lodge, No. 158. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Second and fourth Mondays at Knights of Pythias Hall. A. W. Nicholson, secretary. Masonic — Washington Chapter, No. i, Royal Arch Masons. Second and fourth Thursdays at Asylum, 724I/2 Commercial street. J. E. Hender- son, secretary. Masonic — W'asliington Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar. First and third Thursdays at Asylum, 724I/2 Commercial street. J. E. Henderson, recorder. Eagle's Benevolent Association — Meets at call of president. W. H. Smith, secretary. Masonic — Washington Council, No. 2, Royal and Select Masters. Third Saturdays at Asylum, Masonic Temple. J. E. Henderson, recorder. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons — Washington Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. First and third ^londays at Masonic Temple. J. E. Henderson, secretary. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons — Order of Eastern Star — Martha Washington Cliapter, No. 215. First and third Fridays at Masonic Temple. Miss Alice Noron, secretary. Modem Brotherhood of America — Atchison Lodge, No. 427. Second Tuesdays at Red Men's Wig\vam. Charles Pantle, secretary. Modern A\'oodmen of America — -L'nity Camp, No. 356. Second and fourth Fridays at Odd Fellows' Hall. T. J. Ritner, clerk. Mystic Workers of the World — First and tliird Tuesdays at Security Hall. Herman Haase, secretan-. Independent Order of Odd Fellows' Hall — Southwest corner Fifth and Kansas avenue, second and third floors. Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Friendship Lodge, No. 5. Every Tuesday at Odd Fellows' Hall. ^\^ H. Smith, secretary. Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Hesperian Encampment, No. 6. First and third Fridays at Odd Fellows' Hall. A. W. Heisey, secretarj-. Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Rebekah.s — I'^riendship Lodge, No. 288. Second and fourth Mondays at Odd Fellows' Hall. Mrs. Bessie Jost, secretary. Independent Order of Odd Fellows — Schillers Lodge, No. 33. Every Wednesday at Odd Fellows' Hall. Charles Feierabend, secretary. Order of Eastern Star — (See Ancient Free and Accepted Masons). HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 333 P. E. O. Society — Chapter J, Kansas. Every second Friday at homes of memljers. Mrs. Anna Lungwitz, secretary. PubHc rest room. 109 South Fifth avenue. Daughters of Rehekah — (See Independent Order of Odd Fellows). Red Men's Wigwam — Third floor, 500 Commercial street. Royal Arcanum — Atchison Commandery, No. 1035. Scott Jones, sec- retary. Meets at call of regent. Royal Neighl)ors — Atchison Camp, No. 1044. First and third Fridays at Odd Fellows" Hall. Mrs. Emma M. Christian, recorder. United Commercial Travelers of America — Atchison Council, No. 99. Fourth Saturdays at Masonic Temple. George R. Hooper, secretarv. Woodmen Circle — Atchison Grove, No. 13. First and third Mondavs at Odd Fellows' Hall. A. W. Heisey, secretary. Woodmen of the World — Atchison Camp, No. 9. First and second Mondays at Odd Fellows' Hall. Judge J. P. Adams, clerk. Security Hall — 524-526 Commercial street, third floor. CATHOLIC SOCIETIES. Carroll Club — First and tliird Tuesdays at St. Louis College Hall. Le- Roy Ostertag, secretary. Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association — No. 20. First Thursdays at St. Louis College Hall. Werner Xass, secretary. Knights of Columbus — Sacred Heart Council, No. 723. Second and Fourth Thursdays at Hall, 511,'^ Commercial street. William T. Jochems, financial secretary; Charles Smith, recording secretary. Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association — No. 602. First and third Tuesdays at St. Louis College Flail. Agnes Langan, secretary. St. Joseph's Benevolent Society — Second Sundays at St. Louis College Hall. Joseph Tinschert, secretary. Odd Fellows — Abdallah Shrine Club — Meets at call of president. J. E. Henderson, secretary. Masonic Charity Association — Meets at call of president. A. W. Nich- olson, secretary-treasurer. Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association — No. 942. Second and fourth Tuesdavs. CHAPTER XXIII. THE afro-a:\ikricax race. EARLY DAY CONDITIONS THEIR ADVANCEMENT PRIOR DICKEY HENRY C. BUCHANAN EUGENE L. BELL CHARLES INGRAM CHARLES J. FER- GUSON HENRY DICKEY DR. FRANK ADRIAN PEARL^ M. D. DR. W. W. CALDWELL, M. D. The story of the African race in Atchison county makes an appeal to the thoughtful and intelligent student of history. It is not a mere platitude to say that the negro has made marvelous progress in many lines, and not the least striking illustration of this assertion is to point to what he has accomplished in this county under circumstances that have not been alto- gether propitious. The record of African bondage here is not voluminous, but it is sufficient upon which to base a story of his development. As early as 1856 a reference to slavery in Atchison county is found in the Squatter Sovereign, which on September 16 of that year contained the following advertisement : $500 REWARD. Ran away from the subscribers on the night of September 9. two negro boys, Ned and Harrison. Ned is about eighteen years old, stout and well built, about five feet, eight inches high, and weighs about 170 pounds. At the time of his leav- ing was dressed in a brown velvet coat. Harrison is a bright mulatto, about five feet, four inches high, weighs about 120 pounds, is about sixteen years old, and was rather shabbily dressed. Said negroes took with them two horses. One black, six years old, branded H on left Iiip, quite thin, about fifteen and one-half hands high. One claybank, dark mane and tail, rather bony, six years old, about fifteen and one-half hands high, paces. 334 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 335 Five hundred dollars reward will be given for the apprehension and safe return of the negroes, or $250 for the recovery of either of the negroes and horses. A. J. Frederick, R. H. Cabell. Atchison, K. T. A search of the files of the Squatter Sovereign fails to disclose the sequel to this ad\'ertisement. Whether or not "Ned and Harrison" were subsequently apprehended and the reward paid must Ije left to the imagina- tion, but doubtless they were among the four million black men from whose limbs, a few years later, Abraham Lincoln struck the shackles, and whose descendants this day are breathing the pure air of freedom. There is no defi- nite record of the number of slaves in Atchison county at the time the adver- tisement in the Squatter Sovereign appeared. When the first census was taken in 1855 no counties had been established and the territorv in Atchison county was included in the fifteenth election district. This census provided for the enumeration of the slaves in the territor}', and as far as can be determined, the following men in and around Atchison were slave owners: D. .A. N. Glover, three; \\'. M. Size, five; John Samuel, one; R. A. Walker, one; Charles Kcher, three; S. F. Raz, three; and Grafton Thomasson, the saw- mill man, of Atchison, owned three, one of whom drowned herself in the Missouri river, which fatality was the direct cause of the famous Pardee Butler incident. It is a far cry from "Ned and Harrison" to I'rior Dickey and Henry Buchanan, successful farmers of Walnut township, and it will be the object of this chapter to show how far that cry is, by tracing somewhat inti- mately the lives and careers of Dickey and Buchanan, and other leading negroes of the Mills neighborhood. Prior Dickey was born in Barren county, Kentucky, March 9, 1861, a son of Jackson and Edith Dickey, the father a native of West Virginia, and the mother of Kentucky. The first eighteen years of his life were spent in Kentucky, and in 1879 he came to Kansas, and his first employment was in a rock quarry at Millbrook, Graham county. He possessed $3.75 when he landed in this town. He helped build sod houses, and in fact turned his hand at anything that offered for his board and lodging. During the spring of 1880 he walked from Millbrook to Concordia, a distance of 200 miles, in search of work. He was accompanied by a friend, Calvin Trotter, and their joint capital was $1.25. After reaching Concordia, and also having gone 336 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY without food for two days, he secured work willi a railroad construction crew, and was sent from Concordia to Atchison, and thence to Rich Hill, Mo., and later to Texas, wliere he worked on the extension of tlie Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway. W'lien this work was fini.shed he started for Kan- sas, and wishing to sa\e his money stowed himself in a box car. \\ hile the train was at a standstill in a Texas town, a wiiite man knocked on the door, demanding admittance. Prior was scared, and stealing out of the opposite door, started to run. Tiie wliite man called out, "Stop, neighbor." and Prior stopped. Tliey became friends, and came nortli together in the box car. On arriving at Ft. Scott, Prior gave his white friend $1, fed him at a res- taurant, and sent him on his way. From Ft. Scott he came to Atchison, and later was em])loved in railr^iad construction work of various kinds in Nel)raska, on the Central Branch railroad in Kansas, the Wabash in Missouri, and elsewhere. In 1833 he secured his first employment on a farm, a field of endeavor in which he has since made a signal success. From ten dollars a month to twenty-one dollars, with board and lodging, was his wage. Prior possessed a spirit of thrift and .saved his wages. In 1885, while working for Medad Har\-ey. in Grasshopper township. Atchison county, he bought liis first forty acres. On this place he put his fatlier and mother. l)ringing them from Kentucky. Tliey lived here until their deatiis, that of the father, in 1895. and tlie mother in 191 1. Prior's example in caring for his aged par- ents, even refusing to marry on account of attendance on his mother, is worth\- of enuilation. Tlu"ee years after his first purchase of land lie i)ought liis second forty, a year later a third forty, then an eighty, and later from John J. Ingalls. he bought a 160 acre tract. He is also the owner of a 160 acre farm in Oklahoma, and his various holdings total o\er 500 acres. He is a capable and industrious agriculturist, employs modern methods, is in close touch with the adxancement in scientific farming, and is a successful breeder of high grade cattle and hogs. His herd of grade Herefords is the equal of any in the county and numbers over fifty head. His property is well improved and well kept. He is a stockholder in the State Bank of Potter and conceded to be no mean financier. He is a stanch Republican and states "not a black man in the United States can conscientiously 1)e any- thing but a Republican." He cast his first vote in Graham county in the first election held in that county after its organization. He is a Mason and a Baptist. A sister and her children comprise his household. Possessed of ambition to succeed and gain an assured position in his adopted State, of untiring energy, intelligence and the quality of thrift, Prit)r Dickey has de- veloped into a citizen who is worth while. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 337 Henry C. Buchanan was born in Lincoln county. Kentucky, on April 8,' 1844. His father was a sku'e, owned by Dr. Thomas Montgomery, and named Martin Montgomery, and his mother was Violet Shanks, a slave girl, owned by Archie Shanks. Their son was l)orn an the Shanks planta- tion. Following the death of Archie Shanks, his daughter, Sarah, inherited the boy, Henry, along with thirty other slaves. She afterward married a man b}- the name of Buchanan, and this famih- name was g^iven the boy. He grew to young manhood on the Buchanan plantation, and was given fair treatment, but not any schooling. In 1864 he left the plantation and en- listed in the Fifth United States cavalry, at Camp Wilson, on the Kentucky river. He served about twent\-two months and was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark. He then returned to the old plantation in Kentucky, and found it had been made a Govenmient post. He was fairly well posted on farm- ing, as he had been one of the best field hands on the Buchanan plantation, and this fact being known to the land owners of the neighborhood, he bad no difficulty in leasing a portion of the old plantation. A brother-in-law was associated with him in this venture, but Henry was the manager. He later leased land in the adjoining county. His farming was profitable, and he saved his money, eventually accumulating enough capital to engage in the general merchandise business in Lancaster, Ky., on a small scale. In 188 1 he concluded to go west, and chose Atchison Kan., as his place of location. He arrived here at the time of the great flood, and shortly afterward opened a grocery and produce store on Fifth street. He continued in this business until 189 1, when he sold out, and with the proceeds bought 100 acres of land in Walnut township. This property he improved, and as the vears have passed he has added to the acreage, until now he owns 400 acres. The property is well improved, well kept and well farmed. He was married in 1878 to Belle Hogans, of Garritt county, Kentucky, who died in 1899. Handicapped by the lack of education, he has spared no reasonable expense in the matter of educating his cliildren, and his sons are now carrving for- ward their father's farm enterprise along modern lines, and are well edu- cated, intelligent members of the community. A deceased daughter, Luella B., graduated from the Atchison county high school, at Fffingham. Henry Buchanan has always been a Republican. He has served as precinct com- mitteeman, and as a member of the election board at several elections, and also as judge of election. He is a member of the Baptist church, and has been a member of the board of trustees of his local church for many years. Mea.s- ured from the standpoint of a man who has done the things which have come to his hand from time to time, he lias done those things well. He has 22 T,^8 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY assisted in the development of the county's agricultural resources, has been thrifty, and has gained the respect and esteem of the residents of his town- ship and county. Eugene L. Bell, prosperous farmer, Walnut township, was bom at Oak Mills, lian., July 28, 1875, a son of Joseph and Sydney (King) Bell, natives of Missouri and Kentucky, respectively. Joseph Bell, the father, was born in October, 1844, in Platte county, Missouri, of slave parentage, lie lived in Missouri until 1863, and then located in Leavenworth, Kan., where he joined the United States army, becoming a member of Company G, Seventy- ninth regiment, United States Colorado infantr}^ He served until the close of the Civil war, taking part in fourteen battles. After the war he married- Miss Sydney King at Leavenworth, Kan. In 1872 he removed to Oak Mills, Atchison county, and settled on a farm in Walnut township. He was one of the pioneers of this settlement and developed a fine farm. Mr. Bell took an active part in matters pertaining to the betterment of his community and was an exemplary citizen. Many of the noted men of his day in Kansas were his warm and steadfast friends. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were the parents of nine children, six of whom were reared to maturity: Eugene L., the subject of this review; Mrs. Birdie Norman, of Omaha, Neb.; Mrs. T. C. Brown, and Miss Pearlie Bell, of Chicago, 111. ; Humphrey Bell, of Pittsburgh, Pa. ; and Mead Bell, of Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph Bell died May 30, 1914. Mrs. Bell died April 18, 1903. Like her husband, she ran away from slavery to Kansas. Eugene L. spent his boyhood days assisting his father in cultivating the home farm, and managed to attend school about two and one-half months out of the year until he attained the age of nineteen years. He then began to hustle for himself and completed a three years' course in the Atchison county high school at Effingham. Ambition and a desire to educate himself led him to make sacrifices in order to prepare himself to better cope with the struggle for a livelihood. The priceless boon of an education was his after considerable effort, and he graduated from the county high school in 1896. He then returned to the avocation of farmer and rented land in Walnut town- ship, which he cultivated for some years. Mr. Bell is the owner of a fine farm in Walnut township. He was married December 26, 1901, to Miss Mamie Churchhill, of Mon- rovia, Kan., a native of Hardin county, Kentucky. They settled in Atchison, Kan., and lived there three years after this marriage. Mr. Bel! then moved to Walnut township and taught school for two terms in District No. 20. He then bought forty acres of land, on which he has since made his home. Seven HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 339 children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bell : Inez, Orville, Eugene, Leslie, Jr., Justin, Irene, Pearlie, Ruthanna. Mrs. Bell died December 7, 19 12. Mr. Bell has been the local newspaper correspondent of his neighbor- hood for several vears and has a decided literary talent. For the past eighteen years he has been connected with school district No. 20 in the capacity of teacher and school trustee. He is a progressive Republican in his political affiliations, and has been honored by his- party. On May 27, 191 5, he was appointed by Governor Capper as a member of the board of trustees of Ouin- daro University, Kansas, and also received a complimentarv appointment to attend the Farmers' Congress as a negro delegate, held at the Panama Exposi- tion at San Francisco. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Atchison, and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for the past fifteen years. Mr. Bell has taken a prominent part in the educational and civic life of Atchison county. He has served as a delegate to county and State conventions of his party, and filled the position of doorkeeper and sergeant- at-arms in the house of representatives at Topeka. His newspaper experience mcludes a term of employment in the printing department of the Omaha Bee when nineteen years old, where he learned typesetting, going from there to Chicago and attending the World's Fair. After tliis experience he returned home with the intention of securing an education and succeeded. Mr. Bell is one of the well respected citizens of his community, and is one of the recognized leaders of his race in Kansas. His father, Joseph Bell, was a member of the Grand Anny of the Republic, Scott Post, of Hydro. Okla.. whither he removed in 1900. Charles Ingram, a well known farmer, of Walnut township, whose agri- cultural plant is located four miles distant from the town of Potter. Kan., consisting of 160 acres of good land, is a native of the Southland. He was born in 1S55, a son of Hart and Vinia Ingram, both of whom were born and reared in Tennessee. Just previous, or some years before the opening of the Civil war, his parents left Tennessee and came to Buchanan county, Missouri, as chattels of Jesse Ingram. The Ingram fann was located about four miles distant from St. Joseph, Mo. Here they toiled in the fields of the master and owner until given their freedom by Mr. Ingram near the end of the Civil war. The owner, on setting his slaves free, told them to go out and hustle for themselves. Hart Ingram and his family came to Kansas and lived during their first winter here in Atchison. He then located on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, and worked for Mr. Speck for five years. He 340 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY then rented land of John King- for one year, after which he invested his sav- ings in forty acres of land in W'alnnt township, upon which he resided until his demise. As a youth Charles had no opportuin'ly to acquire an education, and after his marriage in 1880 he rented land for several years, and eventually saved enough money to make a payment on forty acres of farm lands. He im- mediately made his home on his pwrchase and has added to his possessions until he is now the owner of 160 acres of excellent farm land, with good, comfortahle dwelling and improvements. Charles Ingram was married in 1880 to Margarette Farner, of Atchison county. Five children have blessed this marriage, who are all receiving the benefits of a good school education by their ambitious parents. Mr. Ing-ram is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Baptist church. He is a man of high and strong character, whicii has been developed in the stern and exacting school of adversity. Air. Ingram has seen the time when he was unable to borrow even twenty-five dollars, and his credit is now good for as much as $2,500, should be desire it. One of his daughters. Grace, is a graduate of the Atchison county high school at Fffingham, and the others have been given similar opportunity. Grace Ingram taught school in .Atchi- son county before her marriage. Mr. Ingram is a striking example of the progress which his race has made since the negroes have been freed from bondage. Charles J. Ferguson, farmer, of Oak Mills. Kan., was Ixirn in l^latte county, Missouri, in .\pril. t88i, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Williams) Ferguson, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter a native of Mis- souri. The parents of Charles came to Kansas from Missouri in 1881, and settled on a small farm of twenty acres, wbicii Daniel bought with his sav- ings, and still owns. Charles attended school in District No. 20, and was reared on the parental farm. After his marriage in IQOO he began doing things for himself and has become the owner of 100 acres of fine farm lands, overlooking Bean I^ke. and located in Walnut townshi]i. Mr. Ferguson has attained to his comfortable position of affluence li)- industry, economy, and good financial mana.gement, and began his career with practically noth- ing. He was the first man in W'alnut township to ship a carload of wheat, and others have since followed his example. He shipped his first carload of wheat in 1910 and has become noted as a grower of small .grain, having raised 1,690 bushels of wheat in 1914, and raises on an average over 1,200 bushels annually. He was married March 7, 1900. to Eliza, a daughter of HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 34I H. C. Buchanan, and is the father of the following children : Granville F., liorn Decemljer 19, 1900; Sarah, liorn March i, 1902; Sheffield, Ijorn January 12, 1905; Rothschild, born Septembers. 1908; Luella, born June 17, T910: Decina, bom May 31, 1912. Mr. I-'ergusim is a Republican in politics and has taken an active and in- fluential part in the affah's of his party in Atchison county. He was elected a member of the county central committee in 1908, and has held this position since that time. He is treasurer of the school lx)ard of District No. 20 of his township. He is a member of the Knights of Tabor, of Atcliison. and is well thought of and highly respected by all who know him. Henry Dickey, farmer, of Walnut townshij), was Ijorn Feiiruarv 24. 1850, in Barron county, Kentucky. He was a son of Jackson. and Edith Dickey, who were slaves until freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. After the Civil war, whicii resulted in the Dickeys becoming freemen, the parents re- mained in Kentucky until 1884. Henry was at that time working on a farm in Kentucky for fifty cents a day, and he wished to better his condition and that of his parents. Accordingly, he came to Kansas in search of a location, and found it in Atchison county. After his brother, Prior Dickey, joined liim in this cmuU}', lie and Prior pooled their interests and invested in fann lands until they now own over 500 acres of land in partnership. Thev also own fort}- head of fine Hereford cattle, seven-eighths pure bred stock. Mr. Dickey was married February 23, 1903, to Celia Kerford, a daugh- ter of Abraham Kerford, a well known colored family of Atchison county. The Kerfords came from the home county of Abraham Lincoln, in Kentucky. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dickey, Sarah E., born September 24, 1906. Politically, Mr. Dickey is allied with the Republican party, and has scr\ed as a meml)er of the school board of his district. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist church. Mrs. Dickey is affiliated with the True Eleven lodge of Atchison. Mr. Dickey is one of the most influential and successful members of the negro race in Kansas, and is considered as one of the indus- trious and highly successful agriculturists and live stock men of Atchison coujTty. Dr. Frank .\drian Pearl, M. D., Atchison, Kan., is one of the self-made men of the present generation. He was born September 2, 1886, in the city of Atchison, a son of Ryes and Sarah J. Pearl, the former of whom was a native of Missouri, and removed to Atchison, Kan., shortlv after the close of the Civil war. ?Te li\-ed in Atchison until 1888, and then moved to IJutte, 342 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Mont., where he lived until his demise. After his demise the widow mar- ried a man named Davis. Frank xA. was reared to young manhood in Butte, and attended tlie pub- lic and high school of his home city, afterwards pursuing a course in business college. \Vhen yet a boy lie began to work for himself and early became self-reliant in doing anv and all kinds of honest labor. In 1905 and 1906 he studied in the Topeka Educational Institute, and supported himself by hard work while studying in this institution. He then entered Howard Medi- cal College, of Washington, D. C. and graduated from this school in 1912. After iiis graduation Dr. Pearl located in Kansas City, and for one and one- half years served as interne in the General Hospital of Kansas City. He located in Atchison in August of 1914, and has built up an excellent practice among the people of his race, and has made a name for himself as a skilled and well educated physician. Dr. Pearl is a member of of the County Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Association, embracing Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and the Kansas Medical Societ)^ He is an independent in poli- tics, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal churcli. Dr. Pearl is fra- ternally allied with the Odd Fellows, the United Brotherhood of Freemen, and tlie Knights of Tabor. He is well educated, courteous, a great student, and is fast making a place for himself in his chosen profession. Dr. W. W. Caldwell, M. D., of Atchison, Kan., was born in Nashville. Tenn., in 1877, a son of Jefferson and Elizabeth (Bell) Caldwell. His mother was a native of Louisiana and had the entire support of ten children thrown upon her after the removal of the family to Topeka, Kan., in i8So. Mrs. Cald- well was a capable woman of more than ordinaiy ability, thorouglily un- tutored, but possessed of a strong character, she determined that her ciiildren should be fitted to cope with the battle of life with well trained minds. She early installed into the minds of her children those qualities of character which have produced great men. She possessed an iron constitution and an unconquerable will which enabled her to put in long hours each day at the wash-tub in order to gain the means of feeding tlie hungr\' mouths of her children. She also taught each of her offspring to become self-supporting as soon as they were able and encouraged them to strike out for tliemselves. An instance of her nature is shown in an occurrence in the life of Dr. Cald- well : "When tlie boy was fourteen years of age he made liis way to St. Louis, via 'tlie side-door Pullman' route. He did not like the appearance of things in St. Louis, and returned to the safer haven of his home in Topeka. only to be chided by his mother for his inability to stay away from home and HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 343 make his own way in the world as she desired him to do."" The night follow- ing his return he again left home and did not return until time for school to re-open in the fall, with money in his pocket which would suffice to carry him through the winter. The mother was an expert laundress and kept all of her children in school as long as thev desired to go. Two of her daughters nearly finished the high school course in Topeka, but Dr. Caldwell was the only child of the family to acquire a collegiate education and a professional training. He attended both the public and high schools of Topeka and afterwards studied for three years in the State Normal school at Topeka, and was granted a life teacher's certificate. While at college Dr. Caldwell made a great reputation as a runner and football player, serving as halfback on the State Normal football team. He acquired his education practically by his own efforts, encouraged by his ambitious mother. In 1892, when he Avas fourteen years of age, he made his first trip away from home, to St. Louis, but returned home after one month's stay in that city. His mother having ridiculed him for coming home, he caught the Rock Island flyer out of To- peka that night and rode part of the way to Denver. After a thrilling experi- ence covering a period of two weeks, he finally arrived at the western city, just as he started, without funds, but with the desire to obtain employment. He worked in Denver at any honest employment he could obtain, such as shining shoes, laying concrete, hotel porter, and similar jobs. His hard- ships were many, but he was eventually well repaid for his earlv struggles. One place which he held as porter in a barber shop enabled him to lay by a considerable sum of money each week. He was paid ten cents per shine and allowed to keep the money thus earned, and saved eight dollars during his first week. He worked for this shop for three successive summers, and made it a rule to lay by eight dollars each week. When it came time for school to open he would "beat" his way back to Topeka via the overland trains and study during the wiinter and spring months, and would then again make his way to Denver in time for employment. Thirty-five dollars saved usually sufficed to pay his expenses during the winter months while in school, and he would sometimes make his way home with $300 in his pocket. He kept up this plan of working and studying until he had completed his medical course, entering medical college in 1902, and graduating therefrom in 1906. After practicing in Topeka for one and one-half years he went to Indepen- dence, Kan., but remained there only seven months. In 1908 Dr. Caldwell 344 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY came to Atchison and opened an office for general medical practice. He has made a great success in his noble profession, and has attained to a high posi- tion of leadership among the members of the Afro-American race. Dr. Caldwell was married in 1906 to Araminta Beck, a native of W'a- megoa county, Kansas, and to this union have been born children, as follows : Georgia, born in 1909; Elizabeth, born in 1911 ; Elnora, born in 1908. The mother of these children was bom in Kansas City August 20, 1880. a daugh- ter of Leonardo Beck, a stone cutter by trade. Her mother, Mrs. Georgia Beck, was one of the original Fisk Jubilee Singers, who sang in pul)lic recitals in many cities of the United States and in England. They sang in the cause of education, the money earned by the recitals going to defray the expenses of erecting the $100,000 Jubilee Hall at Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. An uncle of Mrs. Caldwell, Col. James L. Beck, commanded the Twenty- third regiment of colored Kansas volunteers which served in Cuba during the Spanish-American war.. Mrs. Caldwell is a well educated lady and is a graduate of the Wamego, Kansas, high school, and graduated from Kansas University before she attained the age of twenty years. She is a member of the Eastern Star lodge of Topeka, in which city she taught school for seven years, later teaching one year in Springfield, Mo. Dr. Caldwell is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Topeka, and is a physician for the Knights of Tabor lodge of Atchison. He is a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and is a Republican in politics. In 1912 lie re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the State Normal at Emporia, Kan. On July 30, 1915, Governor Capper appointed the Doctor a delegate to the National Negro Educational Congress, held at Chicago, from .\ugust 16 to August 21, inclusive. In 1914 he was presented with a walnut gavel by the Inter-State Literary Association. CHAPTER XXIV. OFFICIALS. COUNTY TOWNSHIP AND SCHOOL OFFICERS. County Clerk— C. M. Voelker. County Treasurer — U. B. Sharpless. Sheriff — Roy C. Trimble. Register of Deeds — L. M. Baker. County Attorney — Charles J. Conlon. County Sun'eyor — Charles W'oodworth. County Superintendent — D. Anna Speer. Clerk of District Court — W. H. Smith, Probate Judge — J. P. Adams. County Commissioner; First district — S. S. King. County Commissioner ; Second district — J. H. Glancy. County Commissioner : Third district — Andrew Speer. Member of Legislature; Second district — T. A. Moxcey. Member of Legislature ; Third district — A. E. Mayhew. State Senator ; Second district — B. P. W'aggener. TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS SHANNON TOWNSHIP. Trustee — Joseph Taylor. Clerk— Richard Handke. Treasurer — Edward Underwood. LANCASTER TOWNSHIP. Trustee — C. R. Perdue. Treasurer — J. R. Gragg. Clerk — F. H. Kloepper. Justice — C. D. Parrot. GRASSHOPPER TOWNSHIP. Trustee — William Stirton. Treasurer — Charles McCurdy. Clerk — L. N. Plummer. Constable — G. R. Shannon. KAPIOMA TOWNSHIP. Trustee — F, M. Pratt. Treasurer — James Robertson. Clerk — Walter Ferris. Justice — C. F. Katherins. 345 346 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY BENTON TOWNSHIP. Trustee — W. S. Heffelfinger. Justice — W. P. Heffelfinger. Clerk— J. G. Niblo. Constable— J. W. Acheson. Treasurer — W. R. Smith. Constable — James Farrell. CENTER TOWNSHIP. Trustee — J. E. Gibson. Clerk — Edward Higley. Trustee — B. Cummins. Clerk— j. W. Ashcraft. Trustee — S. M. Young. Clerk — J. R. Adams. Treasurer — George Schroeder. Justice — S. E. Langworthy. MT. PLEASANT TOWNSHIP. Treasurer — Robert Volk. ] ustice — William Hartman. WALNUT TOWNSHIP. Treasurer — C. N. Faulconer. Justice — B. Brown. PRESENT ATCHISON COUNTY SCHOOL OFFICERS, I9I5-I916. Names of officers in the followi District No. 2 — Charles Cummings. Atcliison. James Neilson, Atchison, Route 6. George \'anderweide, .-\tcliison. District No. 3 — H. J. Kuhnhoff, Lancaster. J. W. Loutliian, Huron. Herman Fuhrman, Lancaster. District No. 4 — J. W. Lewman, Atchison, Route 3. Robert Limerick, Atcliison. R. L. Stevens, Atchison, Route 3. District No. 5^ J. B. Davenport, Atchison, Route 2 H. W. Sachse, Atchison, Route i. John M. Price, Atchison, Route i. District No. 6 — William Hartman, Cummings. C. R. Miller, Atchison, Route 3. William Krall, Cummings. ng order : Director, Treasurer, Clerk : District No. 7 — Nicholas Boos, Atchison, Route 5. Conrad Handke, Atchison, Route 5. John Vandeloo, Atchison, Route 5. District No. 8 — S. G. Moore, Cummings. C. P. Higley, Cummings. E. Scarlett, Nortonvilie. District No. 9 — James Servaes, Atchison, Route i. A. B. Howe, Atchison, Route i. L. E. Lister, Atchison, Route 1. District No. 10 — Guy P. Chain, Lancaster. L. J. Woodhouse, Lancaster. A. J. Smith, Lancaster. District No. 1 1 — John Cowley, Nortonvilie. W. A. Meador, Monrovia. Ed. Neill, Nortonvilie. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 347 District No. 12 — W. D. Chalfant, Atchison, Route 4. J. A. Kramer, Atchison, Route 5. P. Wolters, Atchison, Route 5. District No. 13 — N. W. Enzbrenner, Atcliison. George A. Thurn, Atchison. John Schletzbaum, Atchison. District No. 15 — Harry Strine, Monrovia. S. Swendson, Monrovia. C. W. Stutz, Monrovia. District No. 16 — Roy Grandstaff, Atchison, Route 2. J. B. Findley, Atchison, Route 2. J. H. Glancy, Atchison, Route 2. District No. 17 — M. Amend, Cummings. M. Jones, Cummings. T. J. Ferris, Cummings. District No. 19 — C. Chne, Cummings. Wilham Donnelly, Cummings. L. B. Allen, Cummings. District No. 20 — E. L. Bell, Oak Mills. C: J. Ferguson, Oak Mills. J. D. Richardson, Oak Mills. District No. 21 — F. H. Hawk, Effingham. William Critchfield, Effingham. Mrs. C. M. Madden, Effingham. District No. 22 — W. F. Speer, Muscotah. E. A. Barley, Muscotah. James R. Fassnacht, Muscotah. District No. 23 — F. W. Weber, Horton, Route i. L. N. Plummer, Horton, Route i. John Shoebrook, Horton, Route i. District No. 24 — J. E. Wilson, Huron. W. H. Grimes, Everest, Route 2. W. F. Harden, Everest, Route 2. District No. 25 — T. P. Armstrong, Atchison, Route 3. J. I. Holmes, Atchison, Route 4. A. L. Keithline, Shannon. District No. 26 — F. M. Linscott, Farmington. Edwin Thorne, Farmington. William Higley, Monrovia. District No. 27 — W. A. Dilgert, Atchison, Route 2. William Christian, Atchison, Route 2. L. H. Davenport, Atchison, Route 2. District No. 28 — John Myer, Cummings. George Schrader, Cummings. W'illard Pike, Farmington. District, No. 29 — H. L. McLenon, Effingham. Anton Candreia, Effingham. WilHam E. Steward, Muscotah. District No. 30 — Frank Plummer, Arrington. W. J. Schiffbauer, Arrington. D. L. Dawdy, Arrington. District No. 31 — J. E. Hamon, Arrington. Frank Reichart, Arrington. John Nevins, Valley Falls. District No. 32 — D. L. Richards, Effingham. D. Richter, Effingham. Frank A. Stever, Effingham. District No. 33 — John A. Sacks, Oak Mills. 348 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY H. Pohl, Oak Mills. J. R. Adams, Oak Mills. District No. 34 — John Davitz, Oak Mills. Frank Zacharias, Oak Mills. R. E. King, Oak Mills. District No. 35 — F. B. Maris, Nortonville. E. M. Glaspy, Nortonville. Dennis Stillman, Nortonville. District No. 36 — A. T. Bilderback, Nortonville. Harry H. Nieman, Nortonville. John Moeck, Nortonville. District No. 37 — Henry Fankhanel, Monrovia. H. .\. McLenon, Everest, Route 2. Stewart McLenon, Monrovia. . District No. 38 — S. E. LangAvorthy, Nortonville. J. R. Snyder, Farmington. H. Bertels, Nortonville. District No. 39 — F. W. Weit, Effingham. Bon Hargrove, Effingham. C. N. Snyder. Effingham. District No. 40 — J. P. Holmes, Cummings. Mrs. Cora B. Ferguson, Atchison. [. M. Martin, Atchison, Route 3. District No. 41 — Mrs. \\1. H. Ryherd, Horton. Gates Saxton, Horton, Route 3. O. E. Rigdon, Everest. District No. 42 — John Burns, Effingham. John Huffman. Nortonville. J. P. Davidson, Nortonville. District No. 43 — J. F. Thompson, Muscotah. W. D. Roach, Muscotah. Ralph A. Allison, Muscotah. District No. 44 — R. E. Brooks, Huron. C. E. Smith, Huron. A. F. Allen, Huron. District No. 45 — W. H. Wicker, Horton, Route i. Gilbert Pendlebury, Horton. Route i. Robert P. \^■aller, Horton, Route i. District No. 46 — Abe Gerard, Atchison, Route 6. Sam Gelwick, Atchison, Route 6. M. J. Baker, Atchison, Route 6. District No. 47 — H. H. Rork, Horton, Route i. O. G. Wilson, Horton, Route i. W. M. Loser, Horton, Route i. District No. 48 — E. C. Evans, Shannon. George Anderson, Lancaster. A. Fannen. Shannon. John Miller, Muscotah. W. E. Hubbard, Muscotah. F. M. Pratt. Muscotah. District No. 50 — E. Whittier, Muscotah. Walter Stewart, Muscotah. H. M. Foster, Muscotah. District No. 51 — H. A. Watowa. Atclnson, Ruute 4. Everett Shufflebarger, Lancaster. Mrs. Anna Kumfrf, Lancaster. District No. 52 — R. L. Finnegan, Atchison, Route 5. Julius Handke, Atchison, Route 5. Thomas Kilkeny, Atchison, Route 5. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 349 District No. 53 — Frank Fassnacht, Effingham. \\\ J. Lauffer, Effingham. F. R. Schurman, Effingham. District No. 54 — W. R. Freeland, Effingham. Ed. High. Effingham. \X. H. W'ilHams, Effingham. District No. 55 — F. W. Kaufman, Cummings. \\'. K. Stilhngs, Cummings. E. B. Nieman, Cummings. District No. 56 — J. E. Behen, Farmington. J. G. Cormode, Farmington. S. Congrove, Farmington. District No. 57 — Samuel Plotner, Horton, Route i. N. E. Jacobs, Horton, Route i. C. S. Fairbairn, ]\Iuscotah. District No. 58 — Lawrence Kipp, Horton. J. H. Claunch, Horton. G. E. Rork. Horton, Route i. District No. 59 — Howard Nortli, Lancaster. Jacob Buttron, Lancaster. H. A. Dorssom, Lancaster. District No. 60 — James Mummert, Effingham. David Morgan, Effingham. E. L. Henning, Effingham. District No. 61 — Charles Gilliland, Atchison, Route i. John Downey, Atchison, Route i. J. D. Hundley, Atchi.son, Route i. District No. 62 — David Rouse, Everest, Route 2. James W. Freeland, Horton, Route 3. Wallace E. Harden, Everest, Route 2. District No. 63 — Frank Hunn, Arrington. Thomas F. Cawley, Arrington. M. McGrath, Arrington. District No. 65 — Robert C. Sparks, Atchison. T. C. Treat, Atchison. Augaist Haegelin, Atchison. District No. 66 — William Walz, Atchison, Route 4. Louis J. Drimmel, Atchison, Route 4. R. D. Holder, Atchison, Route 4. District No. 67 — Thomas MuUins, Atchison, Route 5. Antox Brox, Atchison, Route 5. C. E. Wood, Atchison, Route 5. District No. 68 — Sam Beyer, Arrington. David Beyer, Arringtcjn. William Lovelace, Muscotah. District No. 69 — J. H. Durst, Atchison, Route 4. Chester Yaple, Atchison, Route 4. H. S. McGaughey, Atchison, Route 4. District No. 70 — J. D. Nevins, Arrington. Henry Reichart, Arrington. W. P. Yazel, Arrington. District No. 71 — W. J. Hunter, Atchison, Route i. Charles Pantle, Atchison, Route i. C. E. Jaquish, Atchison, Route i. District No. 72— William H. McLenon, Monrovia. Gus. Stutz, Lancaster. Gustav Gigstad, Lancaster. 350. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY District No. 73 — A. G. Higley, Nortonville. John W. Henry, Nortonville. W. T. Henry, Nortonville. District No. 74 — J. P. Cummings, Atchison, Route 3. A. C. Mayfield, Atchison, Route 3. J. W. Barber, Atchison, Route 3. Union No. i — John Henninger, Potter. Frank Beard, Potter. S. A. Ellerman, Potter. Union No. 2 — Albert Hanf, Atchison, Route i. D. T. Greiner, Atchison, Route i. Lawrence Wagner, Potter. Joint No. 3-50— Charles Handke, Atchison, Route 6. Paul Kuhnert, Atchison, Route 6. Henry Handke, Atchison, Route 6. Joint No. 6 — H. E. Montgomery, Larkinburg. E. A. Smith, Larkinburg. J. J. Mooney, Larkinburg. Joint No. 70-98 — W. L. Heineken, Effingham, Route i. Calvin H. Feerer, Nortonville. G. B. Van Horn, Nortonville. Rural High School No. i — J. E. Remsberg, Potter. T. F. Hall, Potter. D. H. Sprong, Jr., Oak Mills. Atchison County High School — D. Anna Speer, President, Atchison. C. E. Belden, Vice-president, Horton, Fred Sutter, Treasurer, Effingham. S. W. Adams, Secretary, Atchison. H. A. McLenon, Everest, Route 2. J. A. Kinney, Atchison. D. H. Sprong, Jr., Oak Mills. i^tiilnr ii. O. C. CHAPTER XXV. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY GEORGE WASHINGTON GLICK. George W. Glick, ninth governor of Kansas, was born at Greeneastle, Fairfield count)-, Ohio, July 4, 1827. His great-grandfather. Philip (dick. a Revolutionary soldier, was one of five brothers who came to Pennsylvania from Germany. His grandfather. George Glick. sened in the War of 1812. as did also his mother's father, Capt. George Sanders. Governor Glick's father, Isaac Glick, was a man of influence in the community in which he lived, took an active interest in State and local politics, and held many positions of public trust. His mother, Mary Sanders, was of Scotch parentage. Both parents lived to a good old age. George W. Glick was reared on his father's farm near Fremont, Ohio, and there acquired the habits of industry, economy and self-reliance that made his later life so successful. At the age of twenty-one he entered the office of Bucklin & Hayes as a law student, and was admitted to the bar two years later at Cincinnati by the supreme court. He began practice at Fremont, and soon won an enviable reputation as a hardworking and successful lawyer. He fully sustained this reputation after coming to Kansas. Locating at Atchison in the spring of 1859, he fonned a partnership with Hon. Alfred G. Otis, which lasted until 1874, when an affection of the throat compelled him to abandon the practice of law. Mr. Glick soon took a leading place at the Kansas bar. His practice extended to all tlie courts. He was a salaried attorney for two railroads and a numJjer of corporations. Mr. Glick was a natural leader and began early in life to take an active part in politics. When but thirty-one years of age he was nominated for Congress hy the Democracy of his district in Ohio, but declined the nomina- tion. The same year he was nominated for State senator and made the race against Gen. R. P. Bucklin, his former law preceptor. He was elected to the 351 352 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Kansas le,s^islature in 1862 uithout opposition, and reelected in 1863, "64. '65, '66, '68, '76 and '82. During his service as a legislator, he secured the passage of many needed and important laws which have settled and fixed the policy of the State on mat- ters of vast interest, that have stood the test of time and experience. In 1876 Mr. Click was made speaker pro tem. of the house of representatives, although that body was strongly Republican. He was a delegate to Democratic Na- tional con\entions in 1856, 1868, 1884 and 1892. The Kansas delegation in the Democratic National convention at Chicago in 1892 presented his name to that convention as its candidate for vice-president, after the nomination of Crover Cleveland for President, and, although not the nominee of the con- \ention for that office, lie received many votes. He was nominated for gov- ernor in 1868 and made the race in obedience to his party's call, though his defeat was inevitable. In 1882 he was again the unanimous choice of his party for governor and made a memorable campaign, speaking in nearly every county in the State ; and, though fighting against great odds, among them being a Repu1)lican majority of over 52,000, he defeated that distin- guished Republican and Trohiljitionist, John P. St. John, In- 8.079 \-otes. Governor (jlick was inaugurated Januar\- 8, 1883, and his administratinn was marked by dignity, intelligence, and a careful and discreet management of the material and financial interests of the State. His long experience as a legislator gave him an intimate knowledge of its needs, and many valuable re- form measures recommended in his message to the legislature were accom- plished. He entered an earnest protest against the burdens imposed upon the agricultural classes by the railroads and asked that legislation be enacted to prevent these exactions, A law creating a railroad commission, and em- bodying substantially all the improvements asked by him, was passed, and proved of great benefit to the people of the State. In 1885 he was appointed by President Cleveland pension agent at Topeka and reappointed when Mr. Cleveland again came into office. During Mr. Click's two terms as pension agent at the Tojjeka agency, he received and dis- bursed over $85,000.00. In 1857 he married Elizabeth Ryder, of Massillon, Ohio, a latly de- scended from a distinguished colonial ancestry. Her ancestors were among the first settlers of Concord, Mass., and she derived her name from forbears who were well known among the early colonists of New York City. For fifty years and more this noble matron, having with her the best traditions of Amer- ican life, presided over the hospitable home of George W. Click, with the grace HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 353 and dignity inherited from a fine ancestry. She added to the success of liis public life the greater blessings of domestic happiness. Two children were born to this union : Frederick H. Click and Mrs. James W. Orr, of Atchison, Kan. He died at Atchison, Kan., April 13, 191 1, aged eighty-four years; his wife and children survive him. Each State is entitled to place in Statuary Hall at the capitol in Washing- ton, statues of two of its citizens renowned in literature, art, war or civil life, and several years ago one of such places was filled In- the State of Kansas with a statue of John James Ingalls, of Atchison, Kan. The regular session of the 191 3 legislature of Kansas adopted a concurrent resolution and made an ap- propriation for the purchase of a suitable statue as a tribute to the memory of George Washington Click, to be placed in Statuary Hall, where the Nation has granted to its people the privilege of placing it. The statue was designed and executed by Charles H. Niehaus and accepted by Congress as a gift from Kansas, with suitaljle ceremonies, and is now in Statuary Hall. A cut repre- senting it precedes tliis sketch. Sixteen thousand fi\e hundred copies of a vol- ume containing the proceedings in Congress, and a plate of the statue, were, by authority of Congress, printed and distributed. HORACE MORTIMER JACKSON. He who leaves behind him, when he passes laexond the goal from wliich no mortal man has ever returned, a pleasant and aljiding memorv of his existence on this earth, and has bequeathed to his progeny and posterity a heritage of right living and right thinking, has accomplished much. His memory will be revered long after that of the individual who has done noth- ing but accumulate wealth and has made no effort to leave this earthlv abiding place a better place to live than when he came upon it. Judge Horace Morti- mer Jackson, deceased, was a man who li\ed an upright life, and was accorded the uni\-ersal respect of his fellow men and was a legal practitioner of high rank, whose honorable methods of practice and manner of living were sucii as to commend him for most favorable mention in the archives of his adopted county of Atchison. Judge Horace M. Jackson was born near Albion, Penn., July 11, 1839, a son of Lyman Jackson, wlio was the son of Miciiael Jackson, wlidse father was also named Michael, and was a native of Ireland. Michael Jackson, 22, 354 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the founder of the family in America, came from Ireland and settled near Hartford, Conn. He went to the coast to trade and was not thereafter heard from and was supposed to have heen killed by Indians. He had three sons, one of whom, Ebenezer, died in service as a soldier during the French and Indian war. Another son went south, and the third was Michael Jackson, the direct ancestor of Horace M. Jackson. Michael was born March 28, 1735 and on June 4, 1755, was married to Susanna W'illcocks. who was bom April u>. 1732. They settled in Windham county, Connecticut, later removing to Pownal, near Bennington, Vt. Michael Jackson was a soldier in the colonial army during the French and Indian war, and was a member of Company Ten, First regiment. He was discharged December 12, 1759. He also enlisted in the Seventh Company of the Third regiment of volunteers. Army of In- dependence, May 5, 1775, and was discharged December 15, 1775. He later volunteered for service in Col. Samuel Herrick's regiment of "Alarm Men." Lyman, the son of Michael, also served in the Revolution on the American side. Fie was born February 29, 1755, at Simsbury, Hartford county, Con- necticut. He enlisted eight different times in the American army. Lyman married Deidania Dunham on January 3, 1782. This couple lived at Albany. Otsego and Wyoming, N. Y., at different times. To them were bom thirteen children. About 1805, Ljinan Jackson settled in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and obtained a dense tract of timber land in the Holland Purchase from which he cleared a farm. Seven sons and a son-in-law of this redoubtable patriot fought in tlic \Var of 1812. Lyman Jackson died March 20, 1835. David Bardsley Jackson, a son of Lyman. Iwrn May 29, 1797, at Richfield. Otsego county, New York, mar- ried Lucy Hendryx, on April 11, 1822, near .\lbion, Penn. He was the ninth child of Lyman Jackson and cleared a farm of forty acres in the Holland Purchase on which he resided until the year 1830. He then sold his land, loaded his effects in a farm wagon, drove to Pittsburgh, and took passage down the Ohio river and thence up the Mississippi to Warsaw, 111., from wiiicli landing place on December 15, 1839 ^^ drove to Knoxville, 111., and bouglit a farm ten miles west of the village. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1841, driving overland with his team 1,000 miles each way accom- panied by his wife and two youngest children. In the year 1846 he removed to a residence in Knoxville and engaged in the grocery business. In 1854 he settled on a farm one-half mile west of Cambridge. Henn,- county, Illinois. He lived iiere until 1876, then sold out and made his home at Gilson, for the remainder of his days. This sturdy pioneer died January 18, 1879. His children were: Mrs. Elizabeth Ruth Pierce, Zaremba, Obadiah H., Gershom, HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 355 David, Francis Marion. Charles Wilmer De Loss, Horace Mortimer, and Mrs. Annie Lucelia \^'^ing. Horace Mortimer Jackson was reared on the farm, attended the schools of Knoxville. 111., clerked in his father's grocer}- store, sawed wood for forty cents per cord, and did the hardest kind of farm work while yet a boy. During 1860-61, he taught school for $28 per month. On August 7, 1861, he started for De Soto, Neb., by way of Hannibal and St. Joseph. On April 12, 1861, he boarded a steamer at St. Joseph en route for Omaha, \rri\ing there he joined his brother Zaremba on his farm in Nebraska. He worked here for some time and assisted his brother in tilling the farm with oxen in the most primi- tive way. He saved his money and in 1862 returned to Cambridge, 111., taught school during the winter and read law at night. He followed farming, served as deputy sheriff of the count)- and finally located at Versailles. Mo., in the practice of law. He was a member of the board of education whid" gave the first public school to the town of Versailles. He married Lavanchia Isabelle Valentine, December 12, 1865. She was the eldest daughter of John O. Valentine. For a time the newly wedded couple were in very poor circumstances. Tlieir furniture was (if crude workmansliip, made from store lioxes. It was here that the future judge made the friendship of Anderson W. Anthony, a good lawyer wiiom he esteemed highly, who became his first law partner. He made a journey to Wichita, Kan., in August, 1870, but located at Maiys- ville. Mo., in September of the same year. He became a partner of D. L. Palmer, who later went to Jewell City, Kan. He then formed a partnership with Judge Thomas J. Johnston, and served as prosecuting attorney of the county. In December of 1878 he started for Beloit, Kan., with tlie intention of locating in tliat city, but stopped at Atchison where he met W. S. (ireen- leaf and Gen. W. W. Guthrie. He remained in their law offices during the ensuing winter. -General Guthrie at that time was a member of the State senate. He fonned a partnership with Mr. Greenlea on March 17, 1879, whicli continued until Mr. Greenlea's death in September, 1880. His wife died March 26, 1883, and he later, on February 11, 1886, married Matilda (Adams) Rook, wiio had one daughter by a former marriage, Effie, now the wife of C. A. Chandler, of Atchison . Matilda Adams Rook was a daughter of Peter and Martha Adams, of England, and sister of J. P. Adams, of Atchi- son. Horace M. Jackson was apjiointcd judge of the district court on March I, 1887, and continued as judge until his successor was elected. He and his son, William A., conducted the law business and served as the local attorneys for the Santa Fe and the Burlington railroads until liis deatli. which occurred 356 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY December 11. 1910. Judge Jackson left two sons, ^^'illiam Anthony and Zaremba Edward. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Elks, Modern Woodmen and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He be- queathed to his children and posterity a heritage of an honorable, upright life without stain or lilemish and will long be remembered as one of the honored citizens of .\tchison. ZAREMBA E. TACKSOX. The measure of a living citizen is his genuine worth to his community. H lie unselfishly strives to make his home city a better place in which to live, and does something l)y which he will long be remembered, as of lasting good, he has acc(^mplislied a task well worth wliile. ^^'hile every town and city can boast of such individuals who are striving to do things in belialf of the juiblic welfare, there are not a great number who can act without an\- ulterior motive and without desire to bring jDCCuniary reward to themselves. Of the class of better citizens mentioned as doing things for the betterment of the con- dition of the citizenry. Z. E. Jackson, attorney of Atchison, occupies a promi- nent place in the cit)-. Gifted as an attorney, upright in all of his dealings with his fellow men, interested to a high degree in the welfare of his fellow citizens, he has striven unselfishly to do good. Jackson Park, named after this gentleman, represents the culmination of one of his dreams and years of endeavor to create a breathing place of woodland beauty and a ]niblic playground of which the city may well be proud. Z. E. Jackson was born in IMaryville. Mo.. Septemlier 23. 1872. and is a son of Judge Horace Mortimer Jackson, late of Atchison, and a review of whom appears in this work. He came to Atchison witli his parents when six years of age. He received his primary education in tlic public schools of Atchison and afterward stutlied for two years in ^Midland College. He then matriculated in the University of Illinois, with the intention of preparing himself to become an electrical engineer. After studxing for two years in the Illinois university, he abandoned his original intention and returning to Atchison, entered his father's law office in 1893. He studied stenography without a regular instnictor and prepared him.self to take dictation, filling the post of stenographer in his father's office while reading law. He studied law under his gifted father's tutelage and was admitted to the bar in 1899. being later admitted to practice in the higher State and federal courts. At first lie practiced alone and was then made a member of tlie law finn of HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 357 Jackson & Jackson. This firm was at first composed of Judge Horace M. Jackson, and his son, William A., and when William A., was elected to the position of judge of the district court, it was composed of Horace M. and iiis son, Z. E. Jackson. Air. Jackson is local attorney for the Home Building and Loan Association, and a director of the same con- cern. He is the local attorney for the Santa Fe Railroad System and the Burlington Railroad Company. He is also the legal advi.ser for several of Atchison's corporations. Air. Jackson has the reputation of heing one of the ablest and cleanest practitioners of the Atchi.son county bar wlio has followed in the footsteps of his illustrious father in never refusing counsel or advice to a pulilic official, religious denomination or to a charitable organ- ization, whether or not any fee was forthcoming — in fact. Ins office lias al- ways been ready to give advice to applicants of the character of the foregoing without charge or recompense of any kind. Mr. Jackson has never turned away a client who had a meritorious cause, because of lack of funds, and in this respect resembles liis father in liis manner of conducting his legal practice. \Miile Mr. Jackson is not a memljer of any particular religious denomination, he iias always lieen a liljeral contributor to all mo\'ements wliich ha\e had for their intent tlie betterment of the community. He is owner of Atchison real estate and farm lands in Jackson county, Kansas, to which he gives his personal attention. Mr. Jackson's career as a public official began in lyoi, when lie was elected police judge cjf the city and again elected in 1903, after which he declined to again become a candidate for the office. His career as police judge was marked b}' uniform fairness and impartiality, tempered with kind- ness in dealing with tlie city's minor malefactors who were brought before him for judgment in his official capacity. From 1905 to 1909 he was assist- ant city attorney, and in 1912 was elected to the office of city attorney to fill the unexpired term of Daniel S. Hooper, deceased. Fie served out the unexpired term and declined to become a candidate in 1913, liecause of the growing demands of his large law practice. While serving as city attor- ney many important problems came up before the city for solution, such as the telephone merger, and the renewal of the city's contract with the Atchison Light and Power Compan\-. His wise advice and counsel steered the city government safely over the shoals, incidental to the settlement of these ques- tions. Mr. Jackson found the city finances in bad shape, as related to the renewal of the lighting contract, a condition of affairs brought about by his predecessor's long illness preventing him from attending to business, and he immediately set to work to unravel the tangle and brought order out of 338 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY chaos to the achantag-e of the city. Another matter to which lie gave con- siderable attention wliile c!t\- attorney was the intercepting sewer problem which he handled satisfactorily. Mr. Jackson is a pronounced Republican in his political views, hax'ing become a convert to Republican principles when he became of age, a decision which he was influenced to make by the panic of 1893. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He was united in marriage with Miss Maud K. Smith. April 30, 1903. Mrs. Jackson was born in Burlington. Iowa, a daughter of Lewis T. and Theresa June (Chadwick) Smith, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter a native of Canada. Lewis T. Smith was born in 1846 in \\'est Lebanon, Pa., and is one of the old-time railroad men of the early days. Mr. Jackson's creed of living- is best expressed in his own words, "I be- lieve that every man .should do something for the communit\- in which lie lives, besides getting a living out of it." It was the practice of his creed which led to the beautiful park in the southeast part of the city being named in his honor, over his personal objections. The Atchison Globe says of his connec- tion witii the building and equipping of the park in the issue of August iS. 1913, in part, after (lunting Mv. Jackson's creed, as above given: "That e.xplains the principal reason why lie ( Z. E. Jackson) has taken such an interest in the park which now bears his name. Another reason is he likes to dig in the ground, and investigate things as he finds them in the woods and wild places. He is also handy at improving on Nature here and there without spoiling the general effect. "Seven or eight years ago. after spending many of his boyhood and young maniiood days in Jackson Park, he saw the possibilities of it for a beautiful playground for young and old. He invited several of his South .Atcliison neighbors to meet in liis law office one night and a ]>ark iniijonement asso- ciation was formed. In order to start a fund for improvements in the park each member present put up five dollars. Otlier citizens were invited to con- tribute and thus a small fund was raised. "That proved to l)e the redemption of City Park, a tract of fifty-si.x acres of woodland which cost the city $7,500 abecame the owner of two teams which he drove with the great trains which were constantly leaving Atchison in the early sixties, 360 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY en route to the far U'est, and transported blasting powder to Denver and mining points in Colorado for the use of the gold and silver miners. He also carried corn for tlie United Stales Government. During the Civil war Mr. I'^rable was enrolled as a member of the Kansas State militia, and served at the battle of Westport in the expedition against the reljel, General Price. After the war he settled down to farming in Benton township, and has pros- pered exceedingly, he and his son, Harry, now owning over 560 acres of fine land. The Frable home is one of the most imposing and best built farm residences in the county, and Harry Frable recently erected a large barn in which the live stock of this extensive farm is housed. Mr. Frable and Harry have been life-long Republicans. Tiiomas Frable was married in 1862 to Rebecca Graham, a daughter of Richard Graham, who came from Pennsylvania with his family to Atchison county in the early days, and was one of the well known pioneers of this county. Mrs. Frable was born October 5, 1835. and died in November, 1908. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Frable, namely : Clara, de- ceased; Margaret, dying in infancy: two died in infancy: and Harry was bom January 22, 1865. JAMES W. ORR. TIic reviewer, in attempting to write a comprehensive and trutliful biography of an individual, must take into consideration the related facts as to birth and subsequent career, the success attained, the underlying principles which have combined to assist him in achieving his desires and ambitions, and to lay particular stress upon the special talent which lias been developed in the life of the subject under review. In reviewing the life career of James W. Orr, a leading member of the Atchison county bar, the fact is determined that he is truly an able and distinguished lawyer, whose reputation for suc- cess at the bar, for having a profound knowledge of the law. and his ability to successfully practice in the courts of the land, arrayed against the brightest minds of the legal profession of the country, is recognized, not only by the people of the State of Kansas and his profession generally, but by the United States Government, in whose employ he now is as special assistant to tlie attorney general of the United States. James W, Orr was born September 14, 1855, in the town of Reading, Hillsdale county, Michigan. In his boyhood days, and during the struggle HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 361 to educate liimself for the practice of his chosen profession, he knew what adversity meant and has the satisfaction of knowing that his education was obtained through his own unaided efforts. He is a son of James and Mary EHzabeth (Underbill) Orr, both of whom were natives of New York City. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, his forebears emigrating from Scot- land to the north of Ireland in the days of old to escape religious persecution. His paternal grandfather left Ireland in an early day and made his home in New York. The Underbill family is of English origin and a very old one in America, several generations of whom have been horn and reared in this countiy. His maternal grandfather was Daniel Unflerhill, a goldsmith in New York City. James Orr, the fatlier, was a merchant in New York till about 1848, when he left his natix^e city and engaged in merchandising in Rome, Syracuse and Utica, N. Y.. (three stores), following which he engaged in wholesale business in Toledo, Ohio. While a resident of Toledo he became identified with some of the enterprises of that day and was a stockholder, director and one of the builders of the Erie & Dunkirk railroad. In 1861 he removed to Coldwater, Mich., and conducted a merchandise business there until 1868. when, in broken health, he settled in Niles, Mich., where he died. When James W. Orr was fourteen years of age he began earning his own living and educating himself. He and his brother, Louis C. Orr, the present postmaster of Atchison, worked together for several years, sharmg their work with each other and pooling their earnings. The boys were fortunate in hav- ing a wise and ambitious mother who was well educated and who taught them at home, thus giving tliem the education they were financialh- unable to obtain at school. At the age of se\enteen years while employed in a drug store he was reading law at nights and at odd times when his work was not pressing. By persistent endeavor he managed to secure two years of study at Michigan University, at ,\nn .Arlior. He then took his examination for admission to the bar in open court, and was admitted to practice when but twent\- years of age. His first employment in his new profession was with the McCnrmick Harvester Company, settling claims, etc., in liehalf of that company. He remained in this position until 1880, and in January, 1881, came to Atchison where he has since continuously resided. It was necessary for him to begin the upward climb of the ladder to fame and success without assistance from an}' indi\-idual or friend. How well Mr. Orr has succeeded during the past thirty-four years is attested by his present high position in the ranks of the legal profession and the competence he has accumulated. He was first employed in Atchison by the New England Loan & Trust Com- pany as attorney to examine abstracts of titles, etc., at a salary of forty 362 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY dollars per month. It was not long until he was receiving a salary of $150 per month and a share of the profits in the employ of the same concern. When the concern moved to Kansas City and became known as the Equitable Loan & Trust Company, Mr. Orr remained in Atchison. In 1883 he was married to Miss Jennie Click, the only daughter of Governor George W. Click, of Atchison. He took up the practice of law, purchasing tlie interest of Judge W. D. Webb in the finn of Webb-& Martin, and entered into part- nership with .\. F. Martin, which partnership existed from 1882 until April, 1887. During the five years he had been in Atchison he had been extending his acquaintance over the county, and in Noveml^er, 1866, was a successful candidate for county attorney on the Democratic ticket, being elected over W. D. Gilbert by a substantial majority, despite the fact tliat the county was then normally Republican by over 800 majority. In April, 1887, he formed a law partnership with B. P. Waggener and Judge David Martin, the Residence of .1. W. Oir. firm having previously been known as I-lvcrcst &: Waggener. Judge Martin resigning the position of judge of the .\tchisnn district court to join the firm, which was known as \\'aggener. Martin & Orr. In the year 1895 Judge Mar- tin retired from the firm, and Judge A. H. Horton, then chief justice of tlie supreme court of Kansas, resigned his office of chief justice, a position he had held continuously for nineteen yenrs, to become a member of the finn. Judge David Martin was appcMuted to the vacancy so made on tb.e supreme bench. Judge Horton remained a member of the firm until his deatli. wlien ex-Ciiief Justice Frank Doster became a member of the firm known as AN'aggener, Doster & Orr. During Mr. Orr"s association witli B. P. Waggener in tlie HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 363 practice of law they had charge of the legal business for the Gould system of railroads in Kansas and Nebraska; the Western Union Telegraph Company; express companies, and the Pullman Palace Car Company. They were associated in partnership with three ex-chief justices of the supreme court of Kansas during this period. In June, 1910, Mr. Orr resigned his position as attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, and his connection with B. P. Waggener. which had then continued for twenty-three years, was also terminated. The position of special assistant to the attorney-general of the United States was proffered him by Attorney-General McReynolds in Octol>er, 19 1 3, while Mr. Orr was engaged in the trial of a case in St. Louis. He accepted and was given charge of the suit of the Government against the Southern Pacific Company and others, including the Central Pacific Railway, to dissolve the relations between those companies. Mr. Orr conducts his cases for the Government in addition to his private practice. His rise has been stead\ and consistent during the years he has been practicing his profession in Atchison, and it is true that the youth who began his career in the city of Atchison for the modest salary of forty dollars per month now enjoys a lucra- tive private law practice, in addition to his income from the Government and not supplemented by corporation salaries. Mr. Orr has accumulated a com- fortable fortune during the years of his practice and has what is considered the most beautiful home in Atchison. In his home he has his private library of several hundred volumes, including the standard works of literature. His law library lines the walls of his down-town offices and exceeds 2,000 vol- umes in number. Mr. and Mrs. Orr had but one' child, a son, George Glick Orr. who was drowned while bathing in the Pacific ocean, near San Diego, Cal, on July 21, 1909, at the age of twenty-five years. The loss of this talented young man saddened the lives of his parents for years. At the age when most young men are just beginning to gain a higher education, George Glick Orr could read, write and speak six different languages. For seventeen years of his life he was a student, graduated at the University of Kansas, and had been admitted to the bar, showing great promise in his chosen profession and being frequently entrusted with important legal matters. Mr. Orr has received all the Masonic degrees except the thirty-third, and is a memljer of several fraternal societies. He attends and contributes to tlie support of the Christian Science Church, of which Mrs. Orr is a member. In politics and as a public official and law-maker, Mr. Orr has a record of which any man may well be proud. He became a member of the Kansas Democratic State central committee in 1884 and remained such continuously 364 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY until 1908, and in point of service was its oldest member. He has attended, as a delegate, six National Democratic conventions, and on three occasions was a member of the notification committee appointed to officially notify the presidential candidate of his nomination by the convention, including Cleve- land in 1892; Parker in 1904, and Woodrow Wilson in 1912. His excep- tional career in politics began as early as 1880, when he served as assistant secretary of the committee chosen to notify General Hancock at Governor's Island, N. Y., of his nomination for the Presidency. Mr. Orr was an original Wilson man and one of the committee of five having the floor management of the Wilson forces at the Baltimore convention in 1912 which nominated Mr. Wilson for the Presidency. From 1901 to 1907 Mr. Orr served three terms successively as mayor of the city of Atchison and gave the city one of the best administrations in its history. He served two terms in the State legislature as representative from the Atchison city district, the sessions of 191 1 and 1913. During the 191 1 session he was one of the three legislators selected by the house to draft and did prepare the present public utilities low, under which all railroads and public utilities in this State are now managed and controlled; he was the author of the present comprehensive drainage laws ; the law requiring the attorney-general to pay into the State treasury all fees received by him in the prosecution of State cases ; the so-called "Orr viaduct law," which requires railroads to construct and maintain at their ex- pense all necessary viaducts over or tunnels under their tracks in cities, and under which the Fourteenth street viaduct in this city and viaducts in many other cities have been built and the maintained by the railroads, also many other laws of public interest and importance. In the session of 1913 he was chairman of the judiciary committee and was elected majority leader of the house. At the close of the legislative session of 1913 Mr. Orr was presented with a resolution, unanimously adopted by the members of the house, beauti- fully engraved in India ink, artistically framed and containing a reproduction of the great seal of Kansas. This resolution thanks Mr. Orr for the assistance he had given individual members of the house and for his service to the State, both as chairman of the judiciary committee and as majority house leader, and is signed by every member. It follows : "house resolution, XO. 51 BY MR. RIDDLE. "Resolved, That the members of the house extend to tlie Hon. James W. Orr their sincere thanks for the splendid service lie has given to them and to the State during the present session. In addition to his work as floor leader HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 365 of the majority party, and his work as chairman of the judiciary committee, he has been tireless, patient, and industrious in giving to individual members the benefit of his learning and ability by helping them in their work. His help has been extended alike to members of all political parties, and has been especially beneficial to members who have had little experience in legislative work. He has the confidence, esteem and love of all the members. "Done in the city of Topeka, this eighth day of March, 191 3." ANDREW B. SYMNS. A\'hen the late A. B. Symns passed beyond mortal ken on April 9, 1905, Atchison suffered a loss from its business circles which could never be re- placed. He left behind him a monument in the A. B. Symns Grocer Company, one of the largest of the wholesale establishments of the city and State, which was the product of his brain and ability. He was one of the noted pioneer figures of a decade which produced great and strong men. From a modest beginning" he rose to become a national character in the business world of the great \^'est and realized his ambition during a long and useful life. He not only succeeded in accumulating a comfortable fortune but left a reputation for integrity and upright citizenship which has never been surpassed by any of his compeers of the building age in .\tclTison and Kansas. From bovhood to the time he iiad jiassed the age of three score years and ten, Mr. Symns was an indefatigable worker and never relaxed except for much needed recreation and rest, occasionally. Early in his career he had great faith in the future of Atchison and that faith was fully justified by his own success in the jobbing field. A. B. Symns was born in Monroe county. West Virginia, March 27, 1831, and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Peters) Symns, natives of old Virginia, of Scotch-Irish descent. As a boy he worked on his father's farm, attending school three months each winter. At the age of eighteen he clerked in a store at Petertown and later on attended Lewisburg Seminary one year. He also worked at White Sulphur Springs before coming west in 1853. He listened to Ihe call of tlie great unpeojjled western country for )oung and ambitious men to develop her dormant resources, and in 1853 crossed the country to St. Joseph, Mo., where he clerked in a store for two years and then went to St. Louis. After clerking in St. Louis for one year he became an eighth owner of the steam- 366 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY lx)at "Hesperian" and served as clerk aboard the steamer. This boat made its first trip on the Missouri trade in 1856 and it was while passing up and down the Missouri river that he was attracted to the then flourishing town of Doniphan. It far overshadowed Atchison at that time and he determined to locate in Doniphan. During the time he was connected with the steamboat service he had many interesting experiences. He opened a grocery store in 1858, but during the same year the land office was removed to Atchison and Doniphan lost ground, but the Symns store grew in size and importance and was the nucleus around which his great business was subsequently builded. He removed the store to Atchison in 1872, and Ijegan wholesaling in a small way in connection with his retail business. In 1877 he was doing business in the corner store room at Sixth and Commercial streets, on the southeast corner. While located in this building he closed out his retail business and engaged in jobbing exclusively. With the impetus given by his splendid business mind and his remarkable energy the business grew rapidly, and he soon found himself at the head of one of the largest wholesale grocery houses in the western country. Thirty men are employed as traveling salesmen by the Symns Grocer Company alone, and the Symns Utah Grocer Company, which he established, has its own force. Customers of Mr. Symns over Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri. Texas, Colorado and Utah have always agreed that A. B. Symns was the fairest man with whom they ever did business. He had faith in .N.tchison as a great jobbing center, and the success of his business fully justified that belief. The immense jobbing house of the Symns Grocer Company on Main street of Atchison was built from plans prepared by Mr. Symns himself and is one of the most complete establishments of the kind to be found anywhere. So extensive did the business become, however, that it was necessar}- to erect an addition in 1903. The capitalization of the Symns Grocer Company at the time of the demise of Mr. S}-mns was $300,000 and that of the Utah concern at Salt Lake City was $80,000. ilr. Symns was president of both companies and had a controlling interest in each. He left an estate valued at over $300,000. One of the interesting episodes of Mr. Symns' mercantile career was tlic looting of his Doniphan store by Cleveland's band of outlaws, who made Atchison their headquarters in the winter of 1861-62. At the time Mr. Symns was absent in St. Joseph, but his brothers, Sam and ^^'illiam Symns, were in charge when it was surrounded one evening by Cleveland and his gang. They forced William Symns to open the safe and took what money there was on hand in addition to clothing, saddles, etc. While the robbery was HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 36/ in progress, Mrs. Symns ran out to arouse the neighbors, but no help was forthcoming because of tlie fact that everybody was afraid of Cleveland and his gang, and the thieves got away with their Ijooty unmolested. A. B. Symns was married in 1858, returning to Old Virginia for his bride. ]Miss Elizabeth Tiffany, who was his boxhood sweetlieart. Mrs. Symns was a member of an excellent Virginia family and bore him tiie following children: ^Irs. A. S. Rowan, who died December 31, 1903; Miss Effic Symns, of Atchison ; Charles, Atchison, and Guy. Tlie mother of these chil- dren departed this life September 12, 1900, at the age of si.\ty-four years, hav-_ ing been born in 1836. Six children were born and died in infancy at Doni- phan : Jolm, Joseph, Lee, Hugh, Edna and Louis. ]\Ir. Symns died April 9, 1905, at Hot Springs, Ark. He was sincerely mourned and Atchison busi- ness circles suffered a loss which could hardly be estimated. While Mr. and Mrs. Symns were on their wedding trip on the steamer "Carrier" en route up the Missouri river from St. Louis to Doniphan., the boat sank near Hermann, Mo. They easily escaped drowning because the "Carrier" sank slowly, but they lost their newly jnirchased household goods and a large amount of supplies with which Mr. Symns intended to stock the Doniphan store. ' I\Irs. Symns continued to Doniphan on another boat, while Mr. Symns returned to St. Louis to lay in another stock of household goods and provisions for his store. The Symns family came of old Scotch Presb)terian stock. Although a southerner by Iiirth. lie was a L'nion man in Kansas. He was an independent Democrat in politics. Mr. Symns was in active pursuits even after attaining the age of three score years and ten, and was always found early at his desk. He was not only the active head of the business but closely watched the details. He was always hurrying and was ever busy, and it was iiis custom to walk daily to the postoffice for his mail so as to have the benefit of the exercise. Having always been a man of correct habits he belied his years and his demise came unexpectedly at Hot Springs. He was accidentally killed by a locomotive on a railroad crossing at Hot Springs, where it had been his custom to go for his health during the latter ten }ears of his life. He was fond of his family and dearly loved his home life. He was quiet, unassuming, and was one of the kindest and gentlest of men, probably no man being more universally admired and beloved in Atchison during his day. His life story furnishes a decided inspiration for any one who may read of his success in Atchison. 368 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY BALIE PEYTON WAGGENER. It is not difficult to classify Balie P. Waggener so as to deterniine his position in the civic body of Atchison, but it is not easy to write a review com- prehensive enough to give a proper estimate of this distinguished citizen who has been honored in his home city and in the State of Kansas. When one thinks of Atchison it is only natural to refer to the city as the home of Balie Waggener. who is indisputably grouped among the prominent and widely known figures who have shed fame and luster upon their liome city. A lead- ing attorney, statesman, progressive citizen, builder, fanner and stockman, friend of all children, capitalist, and public benefactor are some of the terms which might be applied to him without fear of contradiction from the mass of the people who know him best. He was born in Platte county, Missouri, July 18, 1847, a son of Peyton R. and Sophronia Briseis (Willis) Waggener, who were American born and descended from old American families. The great-grandfather of Mr. W'ag- gener served in the Continental army as a lieutenant-colonel during the .Ameri- can war of independence, and hi? grandfatlier was a major in the United States army during the War of 1812. Balie Waggener attended the public schools until he attained the age of fourteen years and then obtained a situa- tion as toll-gate keeper on the old Platte City & Western turnpike. He was ambitious to become a lawyer and during the interims of his duties in attend- ing the toll-gate, and after his day's work was done, he read his law books. The next step in his preparation to l^ecome a member of the legal profession was to enter the law office of Otis 8z Glick, in .Atchison. This was in 1866, and so assiduously did the young man apply himself to his studies that he was admitted to the bar June 10, 1867. Three years later he formed a partnership with Albert H. Norton, then United States district attorney, under the firm name of Horton & Waggener, which lasted until the election of Judge Horton to the office of chief justice of the Kansas supreme court in 1876. In 1887 Mr. Waggener formed a partnership under the firm name of Waggener, Mar- tin & Orr, which continued until .April 30, 1895, when the firm was dissolved and the firm became Waggener, Horton & Orr. Chief Justice Horton having resigned his position and again entered the firm. David Martin, Mr. Wag- gener's former partner, became chief justice of the supreme court of Kansas to succeed Chief Justice Horton. In 1902 Judge Horton died, and later his place in the firm was taken by Ex-Chief Justice Frank Dnster, under the firm name of Waggener, Doster & Orr. It will thus be seen that I\Ir. Waggener has been associated in the practice of law with three chief justices of the HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 369 supreme court of Kansas. In 1913 Mr. Orr withdrew from the firm to become special assistant to the attorney-general of the United States, and the firm is now known as Waggener, Challiss & Crane, being composed of W. V. W'ag- gener, James Challiss and Albert Crane. Mr. Waggener now devotes his time and legal talents almost exclusively to his duties as general solicitor for the Missouri Pacific railway. The ability of a lawyer having the calibre of Mr. Waggener was bound to attract attention, and on January 4, 1876, he was appointed general attor- ney of the Missouri Pacific railway for the State of Kansas, and on May i, 1910, he was made general solicitor for that company for the States of Kan- sas, Nebraska, and Colorado, his son, W. P. Waggener, succeeding him as general attorney for Kansas. During the forty-four years Mr. Waggener has been engaged in the practice of law he has won an enviable position at the bar through his own personal efforts. He has never ceased to be a student of all subjects pertaining to that most jealous of professions, and it is worthy of note that he is the possessor of one of the most comijjete law libraries in the United States, containing upward of 10,000 volumes on every conceivable legal subject. He keeps his library at his residence, which is one of the hand- somest and best appointed in the city of Atchison, and he prepares most of his cases in the study of his home where privacy is possible. Naturally, a man of Air. Waggener's vigor and broad-mindedness would eflgage-in enterprises outside of the practice of liis ])rofession, and he has done so in such a manner as to profit himself and the community. In 1892 he was elected president of the Exchange National Bank of .Atchison, which position he has since held. He perfected and put into operation the Atchison Railway, Light and Power Company in the city, and is the owner of the famous "Green View Stock I-'arm," comprising 500 acres, beautifully located a short distance west of .\tchison. and which is one of the best equipped and most modern farms in Kansas. Through experimentation and adapting modern methods of agriculture to the cultivation of his land and the breeding of fine li\e stock, Mr. Waggener has become a recognized authoritv on agriculture and aninril hu'^bandry. The annual sales of fine live stock which are ])ro duced on his farm have become an annual event in this section of Kansas and the West, and are largely attended by buyers from all parts of the country. In addition to his professional and business interests, Mr. Waggener has manifested a public spirit in matters pertaining to the political conditions of his city and State. Firmly grounded in Democratic principles, be has become one of the foremost leaders of his party and occupies a high place in its coun- cils. In 1R69 he was elected to the Atchison city council when he had barely 24 370 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY attained his majority. In the year 1872 he was the nominee of his party for the office of attorney-general of the State of Kansas, and in 1873 was made city attorney. From 1889 to 1891 and again in 1895-97 he was mayor of the city. In 1902 he was elected a meml^er of the lower branch of the State legislature, which had a large Republican majority, and during the term held the important position of chairman of the judiciary committee. It is generally conceded that he influenced much of the legislation at that session, and his record so commended him to his constituents that in 1904 he was elected to the State senate from a strong Republican district, carrying the district by a majority of 1,500 votes, although at the same election Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican candidate for President, carried the same district by over 3,600, an indisputable testimonial to Mr. Waggener's personal pop- ularity and his ability. Mr. Waggener served in the senate of the Kansas State legislature in the sessions of 1905 and 1907. and was reelected by a hand- some majority of over 2,000 in November of 1912, He is now holding the position of State senator from this district. Mr. Waggener is a member of many secret orders, and is prominent in Masonic circles, being a Knights Templar and a Thirty-second degree mem- ber of the Scottish Rite, and a member of the Mystic Shrine. On May 27, 1869, Mr. Waggener married Miss Emma L., daughter of William W. Hetherington, one of Atchison's prominent citizens, now de- ceased, a review of whose life and career is given elsewhere in this volume. Two children were bom to this union : William Peyton Waggener, a "chip off the old block." and present general attorney of the Missouri Pacific rail- way for the State of Kansas, and president of the Exchange State Bank of Atchison; Mabel L., wife of R. K. Smith, vice-president and general man- ager of the Mississippi Central railway. Perhaps the trait of character that most endears Mr. Waggener to the people of .\tchison county is that lil)erality which led him in 1897 to inaug- urate the system of giving an annual picnic to the children. Every year, at his o\\Ti personal expense, he furnishes free transportation, free entertainment, and free refre.'^hnients to all the cliildren of .\tchison county who can attend his picnic, and the larger the crowd the greater is his delight. These picnics are not given for the purpose of increasing his popularity or for any self- aggrandizement whatever, but solely that he may steal at least one day from his business cares and derive a wholesome recreation in contributing to the amusement of the young people. This inno,vation has occasioned at various times favorable and commendatory comment in the press of the State, and a record of these picnics has been placed in the annals of the Kansas State His- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 37I torical Society. The report of the secretary of the historical society fert E. Ala_\he\v was born March 17, 1866, at St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada, a son of William, born in 1833. died in ]\Iarch, 1906, and !\Iary ( Lan- caster), born in 1833, died December 25, 1878, Mayhew, both of whom were torn in England and immigrated to Canada when in their youth. William Mayhew ran away from home and made his way to Canada where he became a farmer and married. \\"illiam Mayhew and his wife resided in Canada until May, 1870, when they immigrated to Kansas, settling in Nemaha county. They purchased a farm near the town of Centralia, developed it and Mr. May- hew made a success of farming and stock raising. He began with a large tract of land at first, but soon ascertained that it were better to hive a smaller farm, and accordingly reduced his acreage to 160 acres, upon which he pros- pered. Mrs. Mayhew, the mother of Albert E., died on the home pi ice in Xemaha county. W^illiam, as old age crept upon him, removed to San Diego, Cal., where his demise occurred. He is buried in the cemeterv of the Cali- fornia city. Five sons and a daughter were born to William Mayhew and wife, namel\- : John, a merchant, of Denver, Colo. ; Robert, a retired farmer and merchant, living in Topeka, Kan.; George, a merchant, of Denver, Colo.; Eliza, wife of A. B. Clippinger, Kansas City, Mo. : Alljert E., the subject of this review, and Leonard, of Los Angeles, Cal. Albert E. was reared to young manhood on the home farm in Nemaha county, and received his education in the public schools of Centralia, Kan., and the Seneca, Kan., high .school, completing his education in the normal school at Emporia, Kan. He taught school for a number of years in his liome county, saved his earnings and in 1887 embarked in the hardware and imple- ment Inisiness at Vermilion. Kan. He conducted this business with fair .suc- cess until 1897. ^"fl then sold out, coming to Effingham soon afterward and engaging in the same line of business in this city. In addition to his exten- sive business Mr. Mayhew is the owner of two excellent farms in Mar.shal! county, Kansas, aggregating 640 acres in all, which has his attention. He has a beautiful, modem residence in the south part of Effingham. Mr. Mayhew was married in September, 1887, to .Xnna J- Tinker, of \^ermilion, Kan., born in Humboldt county, Kansas, a daughter of Avery and Ellen Tinker, natives of Xew York State, born at Hastings Center, that .State. Two children have blessed this union of .\lbcrt E. and Anna Mav- 374 HISTORY OF ATCIIISOX COUNTY hew: Avery, bom in 1889, and died June 2. 1901 ; Carl H., born January, 1891. and associated with his father in business. Carl H. married Miss Vera Snvder. and has one daughter. Lucille, aged two years. .Mr. Mayhew is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations and has taken an active and influential part in the affairs of his party since coming to .\tchison county. In Xovember, 1914. he was the candidate of his party for the high office of State representative from this district and was elected, subsequently serving in the 19 15 session of the Kansas legislature with such marked ability as a legislator that his course and activities conferred distinc- tion upon himself and his constituents. During this session he was a mem- ber of the committees on insurance, education, legislative appointments, mines and mining, and judicial apportionments. Having always taken a keen in- terest in educational affairs, his position as a memljer of the committee on education gave him an opportunity to support and advocate legislation which would enhance the cause of education thnnighout the State. He succeeded in having passed through the house an act requiring the school moneys of the State to be loaned to farmers. There was plenty of precedence behind an act of this character, and the fairness of its provisions is ver}- evident, al- thougli it was opposed by the banking interests of the State. The act. how- ever, failed to take its regular course through the senate, because of tiie ad- journment of the legislative body. It is probable that the act will be finally passed at the ne.xt session and it is morally certain to have strong support, if Mr. Mayhew is again representative from .\tchison county. He also intro- duced and successfully fathered an act. allowing districts to levy higher taxes to pro\ide more amplv for bridge building and road improvements, two pro- visions, which were of direct benefit to the farming interests of the State, inasmuch as the movement for better highways is fast gaining ground in Kansas. Mr. Mayhew also assisted in the passing of better automobile laws, and took an active part in all the delilx^rations of the legislative Ixidy, special- izing, however, in legisation which had for its utlimate object the betterment of the school system of the State. He is a member and trustee of the Pres- byterian church, of Effingham, and is fraternally associated with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. It is probable that no citizen is more widely or more favorably known throughout Atchison county than A. E. Mayhew, and his course as a successful merchant and public official has been such as to favorably commend him to the masses of the people, who are al- ways found appreciative of honesty and square dealing on the part of men HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 375 in pul)lic life, whom tliey honor with their pohtical preference. He is well worthy of the confidence and trust which have been bestowed upon him by the people. " JOSEPH COUPE. Joseph Coupe, late of Benton township, was lx)rn December 6, 1852, in Utica, N. Y., and was a son of James and Jane ( Latus)' Coupe, both of whom were born in England. James emigrated from his native land when a }Oung man and located in New ^'ork, where he married and reared a family, cul- tivating a farm located one mile from the limits of Utica. He died on his farm. Joseph was reared on the family farm and attended the Utica public schools, receiving an excellent education, after which he took up the study of law and was admitted to practice in his home city. He practiced his pro- fession in Utica until 188 1 and then came west and located at Falls City, Neb., where he continued his practice with considerable success until ic)o6, when he removed with his family to his farm, west of Effingham. Failing health induced him to make the change, and it was thought by his physicians that the open air life would lie beneficial to him. He died February 10, IQ08. Judge Coupe was married in 1890 to Miss Anna Moonev, and to this union were born six children : Alargaret, a graduate of the count\- high school, and a teacher in the Effingham public schools ; James, who is managing the home farm with his mother; Richard, a graduate of the county high school; Anna, likewise a high school graduate; Mary, a junior in the high school; and Joseph, a pupil in the Sisters' school at Effingham. The mother of these children was born in Atchison, Kan., confirmed and baptized in St. Bene- dict's church, and was a daughter of James, born in 1833, and Julia (Ryan) Mooney, bom in 1837, both of whom were natives of Ireland. James Moonev emigrated from Ireland when a youth, was first a resident of Buffalo, N. Y., and in 1857 moved to Nebraska, and was later employed at the nursery in Atchison, Kan. From Atchison he removed to Rulo, Neb., where he still lives. He was married in i860, and the family lived in Atchison during the Civil war. James and Julia Mooney were the parents of five children, namely: Thomas, deceased in March, igo8; John and James, farmers; Mar- garet, at home in Rulo with her parents; Mrs. Joseph Coupe. Previous to locating in Kansas, Mr. Coupe had resided on a farm near Falls City, but was induced to remove to Effingham and liere purchased a farm of 194 acres west of the city in Benton town.sIiip, this farm consisting 376 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of 160 acres of excellent tillable land and thirty-four acres of pasture. He was prominently identified with civic and political affairs in Falls City and Richardson county, Nebraska, and had built up a large and lucrative law prac- tice. He was a Democrat in politics and was one of the leaders of his party in Nebraska, serving four years as county judge and was successful in re- election to a third term, but resigned on account of poor health. He was popular with the masses of the people and well liked by all who knew him, being universally admired for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart. JOHN SEATON. The name and accomplishments of the late John Seaton appear promi- mently in the histon' of the constructive period of the development of Kansas and the city of Atchison. Destiny and natural endowments designed Mr. Seaton to become a creator and builder ; inherent ability also made him a statesman and leader of men : design and inducement led bim to locate his enterprise, which was the work of his own hands and brain, in the city of Atchison. In the course of time be was the gainer, becoming one of the first citizens of Kansas, and Kansas and Atchison were doubly gainers, be- cause of him and his great work. What John Seaton wrought, in an indus- trial sense, will live long as a monument to his energy and enterprise ; the record of right doing, honesty, plain living and his work in behalf of his fellow-men in the halls of the State legislature will live in the minds and hearts of bis fellow citizens in the long years to come. John Seaton was a builder whose vision of a great industrial enterprise in the city of the great bend of the Missouri came true in a material sense, inasmuch as Atchison will continue to benefit through the continued whirring of the industrial wheels which his genius set going. While the evidence of his handiwork is visible, and the smoke of the factory wiiich he built will continue to be seen day after day as time goes on, the greatest reminder of Mr. Seaton's life on this earth will be the lesson which his manner of living and his strict atlentinn to the highest duties of citizenship lia\e left In poster- ity. Atchison suffered a sincere loss when bis demise occurred and his de- parture from the realms of mortal ken created a void which could never be filled, although Mr. Seaton's work continues to exist after him. John Seaton was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 11, 1834, a son of John M., and Elizabeth (Jones) Seaton, the former a native of Virginia and the latter having been born in Vermont. John M. Seaton, the father, was a ^O^h^-^x^ Q/L an industry which today stands without a peer in its line in the West. The secret of Mr. Seaton's success lay in the fact that every detail of his business received his direct supervision, and he insisted tliat on]\- first class wi^rk be turned out by his factories. For over eighteen years this captain of in- dustry carried his dinner pail with him to the foundry and worked side by side with his men. He continued doing this after he had attained to a position of wealth and affluence which enabled him to own a home at the seashore at Orient, L. I., and could have retired from active work at any time he chose. None but the finest finished products were allowed to leave his estaljlishment, and the name of Seaton and the output of his plant are noted over the West for the excellence of the finished manufactured materials and for their abso- lute reliability. In addition to general architectural work, he filled orders 378 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY for the Santa Fe, Missouri Pacific and Ft. Scott and Gulf railroads, such as casting locomotive wheels, smoke stacks, steam cylinders, etc., all known as locomotive finished material products. The business of his large establish- ment in Atchison was built up until it amounted to over $250,000 annually, and the plant covered an area of 700x400 feet. Mr. Seaton was in busi- ness continually from 1856 until the time of his demise, January 12, 1912. The activities of tliis noted citizen of Atchison were not confined cn- tirel}' to his business, but he took an active and influential part in civic and political affairs after his advent in Atchison. His career showed tliat he possessed statesmanship ability of a high order. For a period of eighteen years Mr. Seaton was a member of the Kansas State legislature, and so great was Iiis influence in the house, and so long and distinguished was his service that he became known throughout the State as the "Father of the House." His name is associated with many of the important measures enacted into law by the State legislature, among them being the binding twine factory law, wliich act is responsible for the establishment of a plant for the manufacture of binder twine at the State penitentiary. He probably did more for the suc- cess of the "Douglass House," during the legislative trouble of 1893 than any other member of tlie Republican body. As a citizen and a legislator he en- joyed the respect and esteetn of the people of Kansas without regard to political affiliations. He was opposed to tlie dominance of "trusts and mo- nopoly," and it was his firm conviction that the great corporations were devoid of feeling of a personal nature. .Vpril 9. 1857. Mr. Seaton was married to Miss Charlotte E. Tuthill, of Alton. 111., and this marriage was blessed with five children: Mrs. Lillie M. Hendrickson. of Atchison; John C, in California; Mary, wife of l^r. W. H. Condit. of Kansas City; Mrs. Nellie Taber (Seaton) Byram, deceased, and George L.. married Amv Cox, of \\'eston. Mo., and resides on South Fourtli street, Atchison; John C. Seaton married Gertrude Hickman, of Coffey- ville, Kan. and resides in Kansas City and Los .\ngeles, Cal. ; Mrs. Charlotte E. (Tuthill) Seaton was born in Alton, 111., November 10, 1840, a daughter of Pardon Taber Tuthill, wdio was born and reared on Long Island, N. V., and was a scion of one of the oldest American families. The great-great- grandfather of Mrs. Seaton, John Tiuhni, known as Pilgrim John Tuthill, came from England with early settlers to Long Island. The home built by Pilgrim John on Long Island in the early part of the eighteeiuh century is still standing in a good state of preservation. The ancestral hoiue of the Tuthills is located in the village of Orient, Long Island. On the maternal side an ancestor of Mrs. Seaton, ii.Tnied Capt. .\ndrew I'.nglis. commanded a HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 3/9 compam- in the Re\-olutinn and was a great patriot. Pardon Taber Tuthill was a pioneer in Alton. 111. He was a contractor and builder and in his later years devoted his time and talents to horticulture. He was continually experi- menting- and developed several new varieties of fruit. He was blessed with a scientific mind and became famous as a horticulturist. John Seaton was a member of John A. Martin Post, No. 93. Grand Army of the Republic, the Loyal Legion and the Knights of Pythias lodges. Through him the Enterprise theater was rebuilt and remodeled in Atchison, and he was always found in the forefront of public movements to advance the interests of his home city. Socially Mr. Seaton was a genial, approachable, unassum- ing gentleman, whose pride was manifest concerning his Civil war record and the fact that he had amassed wealth and attained a leading position in the civic life of his adopted State through his own efforts, and built up his for- tunes from the ground. He was a man of undoubted integrity and was a noble character whose demise was sincerely mourned by the whole city of Atchison. He was a kind and indulgent husband and father. In his pass- ing Kansas lost one of her best and most widely known statesmen and Atchi- son one of her most useful citizens. His was a life well spent in behalf of the city and State where his name will long be remembered and revered as one of the honored pioneers of a widely known city and great State which he helped to create. AARON S. BEST. It is meet that considerable space in this history of Atchison county be devoted to the stories of the lives of real pioneers of the county. The old pioneers were the salt of the earth, and a stronger or more vigorous race of men. never conquered a wilderness. In the class of the real, old pioneer set- tlers, comes Aaron S. Best, retired farmer, of Effingham, Kan. Captain Best has lived in Atchison county for nearly fifty-five years, and has seen the country transformed from a vast tract of pasture and grazing land to a region of fertile and productive farms, and well built towns and cities. Dur- ing all these }-ears he has taken an active and prominent part in county af- fairs, and in his younger days was a political leader in his own neighborhood. Aaron S. Best was bom June 27, 1839, in Clinton county, Pa., a son of John W. and Catharine (Schaefer) Best, of German descent, and native born and reared in Pennsylvania. John \V. Best was bom in 1S09 and died in 188 1. He was the son of Peter Best, a native of Pennsylvania, of German parentage. In the year i860, John W. Best, accompanied by his wife and 380 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY seven children, crossed the country to find a new home in Kansas. He had made a trip to Atchison county in the previous year, and, after carefully look- ing over the ground, made up his mind that the country had a great future, and he decided to move his family so as to make a permanent home in Kan- sas. The Best family arrived in Atchison in March of 1861. and at once moved to a farm in old Monrovia. In June of the same year, the wife and mother died, at the age of forty-five years. The following children were born to John W. Best and wife : Mary and Elvina, deceased, in Pemisylvania ; Henrv. living at Parr, Tex. ; Louis, Luther and Reuben, deceased : Mrs. Hen- rietta Lamberson, of Argentry, Ark.; and Michael, deceased. Aaron Best was twenty-one years of age when the family removed to Atchison county. Being a Free State advocate, it was only natural that he take some part in the struggle which finally made Kansas a free State. When General Price's threatened invasion of Kansas seemed imminent, he assisted in raising a company of militia among his neighbors and was chosen cap- tain. This company marched to Westport, and took part in the famous en- gagement which resulted in Price's retreat to the southward. Captain Best was in command of Company F, Twelfth regiment, Kansas cavalr\-. Only two companies of the Twelfth regiment were under fire, and Company !■" was one of these, Capt. Asa Barnes' company being the other actively engaged. Captain Best's horse was shot from under him and badly crippled. After coming to Kansas, he spent one year assisting his father on the home farm, and then moved to a farm of his own, south of Monrovia, which he developed from raw prairie land to a very productive farm, residing on until 1907, when he rented his land holdings and retired to a comfort- able home in Effingham. The first land which Mr. Best owned was bought by his father for $750. and he farmed this on the share plan for six years, after which he paid his father $2,000 for 140 acres. His next purchase was eighty acres of land nearby, and he continued to add to his land possessions until he was the owner of 275 acres in all. In the spring of 1914 Mr. Best sold his fann land for $21,000. His farm was one of the 1)est improved in Atchison count}-, and naturally brought a good, round price, because of the good condition of the buildings and of the fertility of the soil. Mr, Best was married in February, i860, to Malinda Bricker, and to this union have been born one son and three daughters, as follows : Mrs. Ella Rebecca Sharp, living at Helena, Mo., and mother of two children, .Albert and Twila; Mrs. Mary C. Bonnell, living on a farm southeast of Effingham, and who has eight children, Nellie, Edith, Grace. Ruth. Catharine, Lea, Claude, Malinda; Mrs. Emma Wood, of Council Grove, Kan., and mother HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 381 of four children, Clara, Beulah Morris, Ralph, Esther ; John a merchant, of Monrovia, Kan., father of three children, Leota, Hazel, and Blanche. The mother of these children was born in Hanover township, Daulphin county, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1837, and was a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Lohs) Bricker, both of whom were of Pennsylvania German ancestry, and died in their Pennsylvania home. Mr. Best has always been allied with the Republican party, and has been a stanch advocate of Republican principles for a long period of years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and contriliute generously to the support of that denomination. He is fraternally affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge and Encampment, No. 5, and the Modern Woodmen. Physically and mentally, Mr. Best is a remarkably well pre- served man, when one considers his age and the fact that he endured so many hardships in his first struggles to attain to the position of affluence and comfort which he enjoys at present. LOUIS C. ORR. Faithfulness to duty on the part of public officials is always appreciated by the people, and an official who regards his office as other than a sinecure. is recognized as honest, capable and well meaning. In Louis C. Oir, post- master of the city of Atchison, Kan., the patrons and citizens of Atchison have a capable and conscientious public servant, whose sole interest is to see that the affairs of this important Government office are conducted smoothly, and for the convenience of the patrons of the postoffice. Although, in times past, the .\tchison postoffice has Ijeen looked upon as a sinecure, operated as a well oiled piece of Government machinery with an efficient and well trained force, Mr. Orr, since taking over the duties of his position, has demonstrated that he can work as hard and efficiently as any of the many employees making up the postoffice force. Probably no postoffice in the Stale of Kansas is better conducted, or the welfare of the patrons more carefully looked after than the Atchison postoffice, and credit is due Mr. Orr for his diligent application to the duties of his office since his appointment. Louis C. Orr, postmaster of Atchison, was born August 3, 1857, in Mc- Gregor, Iowa, a son of James and Mary Elizabeth (L'nderhill) Orr, concern- ing whom further mention will be found in the biography of James W. Orr, brother of Louis C., in this volume. When Louis C. was eight years of age 382 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the family removed from Iowa to Xiles, Mich. Louis C. and his brother James \^^ knew wliat poverty was in their youthful days, and shared theii hardships in common. Louis C. was ambitious to obtain an education, and at an early age was compelled. Ijy force of circumstances over whicli he had no control, to practically earn his own living and the wherewithal to obtain an education. For some years he and James W. pooled their earnings and worked together for their mutual benefit, and to this day this trait of brotherly devotion is present. Louis C. attended school until he had attained the age of eighteen years, and he then entered a drug store at Niles, ^lich.. in tlie capa- city of clerk. He remained in Michigan until 1885, wlien he came to Atchi- son. Kan., where his brother, James W.. had preceded him in 1881. Mr. Orr entered the Government railroad mail service, and was employed in this capacity on the Santa Fe Railway System, on the run from Atchison to Topeka. during Grover Cleveland's first administration. He then left the railway mail service and was employed as clerk in tlie drug store of A. \\'. Stevens for the following period of eight years. For the six years following he was in charge of the paint department of the McPike Drug Company, a wholesale drug firm then operating in Atchison, and since removed to Kansas City. Mo. For four years, from 1907 to 1911. he served as city collector of Atchison. He was engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business until January,- 191 5. Mr. Orr was appointed postmaster of Atchison Decem- ber 29. 1914, by President Wilson, to take effect January 4. 191 5. although Mr. Orr did not begin his duties until January 15. 191 5. Mr. Orr was married in 1886 to Mary Isabelle Smith, of Richmond. Ind., a daughter of John P. and Mary (Sedgwick) Smith, residents of Richmond, Ind. One son has been born to this marriage. Richard Sedgwick Orr. torn in 1888. and at present employed as manager for the Standard Oil Company in Atchison. Louis C. Orr is a Democrat and is affiliated with the Christian Scientist church. For the past twenty-five years he has been a member of Lodge Xo. 127, Ancient Order of United Workmen. It can be said of him that he is courteous, efficient and obliging to all witli whom he is brought in contact. CARL LUDWIG BECKMAN. Successful as an agriculturist, and again achieving success as a live stock buyer and shipper, is a summary of the life and accomplishments of Carl Ludwig Beckman, one of the best known and progressive citizens of Effing- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 383 ham, Kan. Mr. Beckman's live stuck operations invohe the Inlying and shipping of over fifty carloads of Hve stock yearly. In addition to his busi- ness dealings, he also looks after his fine farm of 200 acres in Benton township. Mr. Becknian was lx)rn April 2. 1861, in Ouinc\ , 111. As the name in- dicates, he is the son of German parents, his father, William Beckman, hav- ing been born in Germany, in 1830, and was unfortunately killed by a stroke of lightning in Burlington, Iowa, in 1863. When a young man, William Beckman left his native lanfl to seek his fortune in this country. He located at Ouincy, 111., where he married Elizabeth Kipp, who bore him four chil- dren, and was also born in Germany in 1824. W'illiam Beckman removed his family to Burlington, Iowa, m about 1862. The four children born to this couple were : William, a resident of Parnell, Atchison county, Kansas ; Mrs. Hannah Buhrmaster, living on a farm in Benton township ; Minnie, and Carl Ludwig, with whom this review is directly concerned. The mother of these children later married Henrv \'ollmer, a farmer, in hjwa, who gave her and the children a good home and left his widow well pro\ided for. Mrs. Vollmer. mother of C. L., resides at Mediapolis, Iowa. W.hen Carl was twenty years of age he left the farm in Iowa, and came to Kansas in 1881, and in partnership with his Ijrother, William, rented a farm near Effingham for thirteen years, dissolving partnership in 1894. Through purchase and by inheritance, on his wife's part, Mr. Beck- man and his wife came into possession of 200 acres of land in 1894, upon which they resided until 1908. In that year they bought a small farm of thirty-five acres, one mile west of Effingham, upon which they resided for three years, and then made a permanent home in Effingham. Since 1908 Mr. Beckman has been engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock, with Robert M. Thomas as a partner in the enterprise, and has been very successful in this business, being an accurate judge of live stock and keeping abreast of market conditions. He was married in 1S94 to Miss Lebeldine Gersbach, torn in Atchison county in 1863, a daughter of Samuel and Catharine Gersbach, both of whom were natives of Germany, and, after emigrating from their nati\e country to America, settled in Atchison county as early as 1854, and were among the earliest pioneers of Kansas. Mr. Gersbach preempted land and built up a fine farm which is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Beckman. Two children were born of this marriage: Rosa, aged twenty years, and a stu- dent in the Atchison county high school, class of igi6; and Pearl, aged seventeen, also a student in the high school, class of 1916. 384 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Mr. Beckman is a Republican in politics, and takes an interest in the civic and political affairs of his home town and county. He is a member of the Odd l-'ello\vs and the Modern Woodmen. Mrs. Beckman and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. ^Ir. Beckman is a stock- holder of the Farmers' Mercantile Association of Effingham, and is gen- erally found in the forefront of all undertakings which are intended for the betterment and progress of conditions in his home city. JAMES GRANVILLE MORROW. We are taught that life is eternal ; that when the course of man has been run upon this earth and his work is done, his spirit returns to his Maker and he is judged according to his deeds while a mortal among his fellow creatures. This thought and belief is comforting alike to the dying and the bereaved ones left behind to mourn their earthly loss for the time being. Longfellow has written : "Life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not its goal ; dust thou art, to dust returneth, was not written of the soul." So thought and so lived the late Capt. James Granville Morrow, who at the time of his demise was tlie oldest living pioneer resident of Atchison, and a man famed for his upright life and beloved for his good and kindly deeds. Life was very "real and earnest" to Captain Morrow and he enjoyed his earthly existence to the fullest extent, the latter years of his residence in Atchison being the fullest and best of all. in the sense that he indulged his taste and talents to doing things which he loved, all the while being surrounded by a loving wife and children whose respect and love he had to comfort him through the greater part of his long and useful life. Captain Morrow lived in such a manner as to endear him to all of his associates and he will long be remembered as one of the noted figures of the pioneer and the present era of Kansas development. It is meet that tlie life story of this truly noble citizen be recorded in these annals of his county and city for the inspiration and encouragement of the present and coming posterity for all time to come. James Granville Morrow was born on a farm in W'ayne county, Ken- tucky, June 27, 1827. a son of Jeremiah ,nnd Lydia (Holder) Morrow, lx)th of whom were born and reared in Kentucky. Jeremiah Morrow was the son of Matthew Morrow, a native of Virginia, wlio was one of the early pioneers of Kentucky, and of Scotch descent, his ancestors having emigrated from ^j-^^'M^^UnM j:s^ A^y ^...^-'T-^-Z^ ^^T-T^-^^ HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 385 Scotland to America in the early colonial period of American history. Jere- miah Morrow, father of James G., was born in 1802, and after his removal to Kentucky married Lydia Holder. Six sons and two daughters were torn to Jeremiah Morrow and wife, only one of whom survives, Mrs. W. H. Crisp, residing in Kentucky. Their children were as follows : Mahala, wife of Rev. W. H. Crisp, of Kentucky; Floyd, deceased; James Granville, the sub- ject of this review; Nimrod, deceased; Riley, William, Nancy, deceased wife of John Pennington ; Percy, deceased. Granville Morrow spent his boyhood days on the family farm in Wayne county, Kentucky, and at the age of six- teen years was sent to a select school. He made his home with his parents until he attained his majority and then set out to make his own way in the world. He dealt quite extensively in horses which he drove from Kentucky to Georgia. He was also associated with his brothers in raising, purchasing and selling hogs, which they drove 400 miles into Georgia, where they were sold to the Georgia planters. Sometimes a single planter would buy 500 head and the price ranged from eight to nine dollars per 100 pounds, live weight. The Morrow brothers frequently drove as high as 13,000 head, trav- eling only seven miles a day. There were no railroads in those days, but the country was dotted with stations. Hog cholera did not bother swine in those days and it was Captain Morrow's frequent expression that hog cholera was a product of civilization and high breeding, and, although the hogs were driven as far as 400 miles they did not lose weight on the trip. The business of the Morrow brothers was not always profitable, however, and they lost money on some of the trips. Mr. Morrow abandoned the business in 1850, and in 1854 arrived in Atchison en route to California, but he did not go any farther. On April 5, 1854, he arrived at Rushville Landing, now East Atchison. This was shortly before Kansas was opened for settlement, and the only man living at that time on the townsite of Atchison was George Million, who operated a rope ferry acress the Missouri river. Mr. Morrow found on landing at Atchison that the overland train which he expected to join en route to the far West had left, and, as he was ill he decided to wait for the next train. Captain Morrow ate his first dinner in Kansas with Samuel Dixon at Dixon Spring, now included in the city of Atchison. The food was ladled out of a common kettle to which all the diners had access without style or invitation other than "help yourself." A tree trunk sawed off smooth answered the purpose of a table on which the meal was sers'ed. Wliile waiting he found a job with Million and decided to remain in Kansas. In the fall of 1854, he, with John Alcorn, bought out Portumous Lamb's ferry boat which was operated by horse power and a tread-mill, and from 25 386 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY tliat time on for seventeen consecutive years Mr. Morrow plied his ferry be- tween Atchison and Winthrop. In the fall of 1855 he began operating a side-wheel steam ferry which had been brought here from Brownsville, Pa. In 1857 he became captain of the steam ferry, "Ida," later running tlie steam ferry, "Pomeroy," after which he went to Brownsville, Pa., where he built the transfer boat, "William Osborne," remaining there eight months while the work was in progress. When he brought the ''William Osborne" to Atchi- son it was loaded with 300 tons of rails for tlie Central Brancli of the Missouri Pacific railroad, now the Northern Kansas Division. This boat also con- veyed across the Missouri river the first locomotives used on the road after its construction. Not long after his arrival in Atchison Captam ^ilorrow l.egan to accumulate land, and in 1869 turned his attention to farming, retiring from the steamboat business entirely jn 1871. He accumulated 1,240 acres of rich bottom lands in the Missouri river bottoms near East Atchison which has never failed to produce a crop and is very valuable. He fonnerly owned a section of land in Osage count)', Kansas, near Lebo. He also was the owner of two valuable farms on the Atchison side of the river, 320" acres near Jacks- boro, Texas, and owned considerable real estate in the city, all of which has been left to his widow in trust for his children and heirs. He was very suc- cessful as a wheat grower, and in this way gained the greater part of his work- ing capital. He erected a beautiful home called "Enidan Heights" at Eighth and U streets, on the south side of Atchison, where he spent his declining years in peace and comfort. About 1875 he opened a general store in East Atchison which he conducted until 1883. Those were still pioneer days, and the settlers in the vicinity were poor and sometimes were unable to pay for the goods they needed. The captain's big heart and generous impulses fre- quently led him to extend credit to patrons whom he knew would not be able to pay for their purcliases, and it was a favorite expression of his when his clerk would report to him that a poor man wished credit, "Gracious to good- ness, if we don't let him have the stuff he'll starve to death." The captain sold hundreds of dollars' worth of goods which were probably never paid for, but his good heart would not permit him to see a fellow creature in want for the necessities of life. This trait of kindness was the predominating char- acteristic of his life and endeared him to hundreds of people; After quitting the mercantile business Captain Morrow devoted himself entirely to his farm- ing interests and his transfer business which he established in 1888 with liis partners, later becoming the sole owner of the business. He retired entirely from active business pursuits and his farming in 1910 and spent the most HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 387 of his time working around the gardens of his fine lionie in Atchison. For years it was his custom to drive back and forth to his big farm on the Mis- souri side and he was gradually persuaded to abandon this activity. His demise occurred December 2, 19 15, after a brief illness, beginning with an attack of la grippe, his great age and depleted vitality militating against his recovery. James Granville Morrow was married November 26, 1874, to Miss Sarah J. George, and this happy marriage was blessed with the following children : Delia, born November 11, 1875, and died in 1904; Mary Etta, born in Mis- souri March 17, 1880, dying October 2, 1880, and who is buried in Orearville cemetery, Saline county, Missouri ; James Granville George, born September 16, -1878, married Ethel Worrell, and is the father of four children; James Granville, Jr., John Worrell, Frances and Robert George: Nadine, wife of John Raymond Woodliouse, who lives with Mrs. Morrow, of Atchison, and mother of John Granville, bom December 16, 1914; James G. Morrow re- sides in Buchanan county, Missouri, and has charge of the inunense Morrow farm in the Missouri bottoms. The cliildren of Captain and Mrs. Morrow have all been well educated and afforded every facility for mind cultivation. ]\Irs. Nadine Woodhouse was educated m Mount St. Scholastica Academy and the College Preparatory School of Atchison, after which she completed her studies at Central College of ^lissouri. Miss Delia Morrow studied in ]\Iount St. Scholastica Academy, Midland and Central colleges, and \\'ashing- ton University, at St. Louis, and was a bright and talented young ladv prior to her demise. James Morrow, the son, studied in the Atchison public schools and Midland College. The mother of these children, Mrs. Sarah J. (George "I Morrow, was born March 30, 1853, 'i^^r Orearville, Saline county, Missouri, a daughter of Dr. James Jameson George, a native of Prince William county, \"irginia. Dr. George was born in Virginia November 25, 1810, a son of William Henry George, a soldier in the W'ar of 1812, who moved from Vir- ginia to Hardin county, Kentucky, in 1816 with his brothers, Moses and IJndsey George, wlio settled at Shelbyville, Ky. The mother of Dr. George was a member of the Jameson family, an old Virginia family. The ancestry of both the George and Jameson families goes back to the pre-Revolutionary days of the Virginia colony. Dr. J. J. George was a graduate of the Trans}^- vania College at Bairdstown, Ky., and also studied at Lexington, Ky. He was married in 184 1 at Mt. Sterling, Ky., to Mary (Catlett) Orear, a daugh- ter of Robert Catlett Orear, who was born in Mt. Sterling. Ky.. January 30, t8t4, and departed this life March 27, 1876. in Johnson county. Missouri. Dr. J. J. and Mary George were the parents of the following children : Rob- ert died in June, 1905, on his ranch in Coffey counly. Kan.sas; Joel S., who 388 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY resides at Peace River Crossing;, Alberta, Canada ; Mary E., wife of J. H. Russell, died June 28, 191 1; Mrs. Malinda Morrison, of Tecumseh, Okla. ; Benjamin Franklin, born in Saline count)', settled in Coffey county, Kansas, and now resides in Denver, Colo.; Mrs. James Granville Morrow; two who died in infancy : James Nelson contracted fever at Central College, and died October 26, 1875, aged twenty-one years and twenty-nine days; Lee Davis, a ranchman, of Coffey county. Kansas. Four of these children were born in Kentucky, and the last four were born in Missouri, where the family re- moved in 1850. Dr. George was a minister of the Gospel and a member of the Methodist Episcopal conference in Kentucky from 1838 to 1839. He came to Missouri to farm and preach the Gospel, but was impressed ven,- early in his western career with the woeful dearth of skilled medical care for the sick and ailing of the backwoods country, and was frequently called to the bedside of people who were supposed to be dying, and whom he realized could be easily saved with some medical attention. Fired with zeal to assist an unfortunate and suffering people, he conceived the worthy idea of studying medicine, so that he coitld be of material assistance to his people other tlian in a religious sense, He returned to Kentucky and entered the Medican College at Lexington. After completing his course he returned to Saline county, Missouri, and engaged in the practice of his profession until old age came upon him. He then re- moved to Cass county, Missouri, and became a local minister. His was a long and useful life, every matured year of whicli was given in behalf of his fellowmen. unselfishly and devotedly. He was one of the noted missionaries of the early days in Missouri and extended the word of tlie Gospel to the remotest settlements. He organized churches and Sunday schools where they seemed needed most and his work called him to preach the \\^ord in log houses and the most primitive habitations of man. Dr. George was deeply in love with his great work, and loved the people, and worked tirelessly for their well being in a religious and practical way. He departed this life August 4, 1875. The last public utterance which he made was when he spoke to a Sunday school assemblage in Coffey county, Kansas, in the village of Key West. His end was peaceful and tranquil, and the departure of this good man's soul to the realms beyond mortal kin marked the passing of one of the truly great men of the western country whose work will go on and on forever. Dr. George and Captain Morrow became great friends in the early si.xties. On Thanksgiving day of 191 5, just the day before Mr. and Mrs. Mor- row's forty-first wedding anniversary, the captain's last illness began which HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 389 resulted in his passing away. His burial occurred on December 4 from Trin- ity Episcopal Cliurch, Rev. Otis E. Gray officiating, with the Masonic lodge of Atchison conducting burial service at the grave. He was for many years a Mason and was greatly interested in the Masonic fraternity, rarelv being absent from the lodge meetings, his last spoken regret having Ijeen that he would be unable to attend the ceremonies held at the laying of the corner- stone of the new Masonic Temple in Atchison. The last five years of Captain Morrow's life were perhaps the most satisfactory and the happiest of his ex- istence. His years of retirement, although few as compared with that of most men. were spent almost entirely at his beautiful hnme, witli occasional visits to his farm lands. He was loath to retire, and did so only at the urgent insistence of his devoted wife, and for quite a long time after he was eighty years of age he would insist on driving across the river to his farm. He took the greatest pleasure with his grandchildren, and especiallv with his namesake. In his later years he became a specialist in gardening and fruit growing merely for his own satisfaction and would frequently sui-prise his family with some very choice and rare fruits grown in his gardens and orchards. From his orchard of peach trees he gathered over 400 bushels of peaches in one season, and also set out an apple orcliard which lie attended assiduously. He became a disciple of the famous Luther Burbank and was a member of the Luther BurJjank corporation. Through the exercise of his skill as a fruit grower he produced several kinds of rare berries and was continually experimenting in small fruits and vegetable growing. It was fitting that the life of Captain Morrow should close in such a manner and that during his last years he was permitted to indulge himself in his favorite pur- suits, surrounded with the loving and watchful career of his devoted wife, who was always his confidant and adviser, and to whom he went in time of stress or trouble for comfort and advice. His was a life well spent and his memory will live long in the hearts and minds of those who knew him best. ORLANDO C. SCOVILLE. In the northeast part of Benton township, in a comfortable farm home on section 11. range 18, there resides the oldest pioneer settler of that section of of the county, the review of whose career takes one back to the days of the Civil war when he shouldered a musket in defense of the Union, and to the early days of Kansas history when the long freight trains hauled by oxen and 390 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY mules were leaving Atchison for the far West. We are reminded of the Indian troul)les wliich beset the hardy freigliters as they convoyed their treas- ures across the wiile reaches of jirairie and mountain. In all these tilings Or- lando C. Scoville, Union veteran, old-time .freighter, and ]iioneer farmer, par- ticijated. and it is meet that the story of his life and adventurous career l)e recorded for the entertainment of succeeding generations of men and women in order that they might know how a wilderness was redeemed and what manner of men tlieir forefathers were and whence tliey came. Orlando C. Scoville was born February 4. 1846, in Cook county. Illinois, on a farm located just twenty-two miles from the city of Chicago. His fatlicr was William Scoville. born in 1820. at Watertown. X. Y.. a son of Al)ijah Scoville, a native of Connecticut, and a scion of an nld Xcw Engl.uid family. Abijah Scoville was a carpenter by trade and his art was transmitted to his descendants. William Scoville received a good education in his native State, and taught school in New York when a young man seventeen years old. As early as 1842 he came west, to Cook county, Illinois, and owned a farm in that county which he cultivated until 1865 when he came to Atchison, Kan., where he first engaged in the handling of live stock. Later he was in the lumber business with a Mr. McCoy, who later sold out to Henry T. Smith, and he and Smith conducted a wagon and lumber business on Utah a\enue, just east of the old Episcopal church. l)etween Fourth and Fifth streets. William eventu- ally sold out his business and moved to a farm in Benton townsiiip. south of where his son, O. C. lives, and there died in December, 1891. Previous to removing to his farm he was foreman of the Hixon Lumber Company's inter- ests in .-\tchison. The mother of Orlando C. was Lucinda Lasher, whom William Scoville married in New 'S'ork, and who removed to Arrington after her husband's death. an, One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment, Illinois infantry. He served for six months in the Army of the Tennessee, under (ieneral Tliomas. and took part in the several hard-fought battles, among them being the l)attle and siege of Atlanta. His command started on the march with .Sliernian. to the sea. but HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 391 were turned back bv department orders. After his war service expired he came to Atchison and joined the family. His first occupation in Atchison was the operating- of a wagon shop, just across tlie street from the Blair Mill, and it is a matter of history that his shop was used as the first depot of the Central Branch railroad, then building-. He ran the wagon shop for two years and then made two trips across the continent in the capacity of freighter and con- voying a herd of cattle. In 1867 he was one of the freighters in charge of the first train sent over the Smoky Hill mute for Butterfield to Denver. The live stock was run off by the Indians during this trip, and Butterfield came out and found them after four weeks' search ; his next trip was to Salt Lake City. In 1868, he with others, drove a herd of milch cows which had been sold by McCoy to a man named Murray, and consigned to him in California. This trip required eighteen months to consummate, and they were forced to winter in the Antelope valley on Walker river. After taking the cattle to their destination he returned across the n-iountains to Reno, Nev., and there boarded the train for the rest of the journe}- home, Reno at that time being the western terminus f)f the railway. During 1869 he worked for one \-ear in the engineering corps of tlie. Santa Fe railroad, and in that winter his father bought his present farm in Benton township. In the fall of 1872 he moved to the farm where he has resided continuously for the past forty -three years. In 1893 he bou.ght the farm formerly owned by the family and has increased his acrea,ge until he and his son are tlie owners of 400 acres of land, the latter owning 180 acres, u])(in wliich formerlv stood three sets of farm buildings, one of wliich was destroyed b}- fire in April, 1915. His present residence was erected in 1893. Mr. Scoville was niarricd in AtcJ-iison May 8. 1S73, to \'irginia Williams, born in Greenbrier countv, X'irginia. in 1854, and a daugiiter of Alexander Williams. Her father died when she was very young and she came with her mother and stepfather to Missouri in the early ])ionecr days when her mother died and she was ado])ted by Mrs. Miller, a music teacher, of Atchison, Kan. Three children were born to this union, namely: Katie died in infruicy: Will- iam C, born .\ugust 10, 1875, married Myrtle Lollar, and has two children, Earl, bom December 13, 1911, and Alice, born I\Iay 16, 1914. William C. is the only living son of Orlando C. Scoville. Mrs. Scoville died in October, 1913- This sturdy pioneer has been a Republican ever since he cast his first vote, and is one of the true blue variety who prides himself on bein,g a "stand- patter," who believes thorou.ghly in the priiiciples of iiis party and will never desert the standard of Republicanism. He Ins uc\x-v held office and has 39-2 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY never been a seeker after political preferment; has never been a party to a law suit, never served on a jury, and has been called only once in his lifetime to the witness stand. He has endeavored at all times to live at jjeace with all mankind and has succeeded to such an extent that at a ripe old age, this pioneer settler of Atchison county is living in peace and comfort in the home wliich he created out of a wilderness. ^Ir. Scoville cast his first vote for x\braham Lincoln in St. Louis, in 1864. JOHX JAMES INGALLS. John James Ingalls, author, lawyer, and United States Senator, was born in ^liddleton, ^lass., December 29, 1833. a son of Elias T. and Eliza (Chase) Ingalls. He was descended from Edmond Ingalls, who, with his brotlier. Francis, founded the town of L}nn, Mass., in 1628. His father was a first cousin of Mehitable Ingalls, the grandmother of the late President Garfield. His mother was a descendant of Aquilla Chase, who settled in Xew Hamp- shire in 1630. Chief Justice Chase was of tliis family. After going through the public schools Ingalls attended Williams College, at W'illiamstown, Mass., graduating in 1855. He then studied law and was admitted to tlie l)ar in 1857. The next year he came to Kansas and in 1859 was a member of ilie \\'yandotte constitutional convention. In i860 he was secretary of the ter- ritorial council and was also secretary of the first State senate, in 1861. The next year he was elected State senator from Atchison county. In tliat year, and again in 1864, he was nominated for lieutenant-governor on the anti- Lane ticket. During the Civil war he served as judge advocate on the staff of Gen. George W. Deitzlcr with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1863 Mr. Ingalls married Miss Anna Louisa Chesebrougli, a descendant of William Cliesebrough, who came to this country witli tiov. Winthrop in 1630. Her father, Ellsworth Chesebrough, was a New York importer who came to Atchison, Kan., in 1859, and at the time of his death, in i860, was an elector on the Lincoln ticket. Of this union eleven children were born, six of wliom were li\ing at tlie time of Mr. Ingalls' death, viz: Ellsworth, Ethel, Ralph, Sheffield, Marion and Muriel. In 1873, "Opportunity." of which Mr. Ingalls wrote in his declining years, knocked at his door. He was made a candidate for United States senator at a private caucus one night and was elected by the legislature the next day. His career at Wlashington, covering a period of eighteen years, was one of HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 393 great brilliancy. He quickly acf|uired distinction, and Speaker Reed remarked before lie bad learned the name of tbe new senator : "Any man who can state a proposition as that senator does is a threat man." .\s a parliamentaririn he was unsurpassed. Senator Harris, a Democrat from iciinessee, said: "Mr In^alls will go down upon the records as the greatest presiding officer in the history of the senate." His speeches made liim famous. He was the master of sarcasm and satire, as well as of eulogistic oratory. I lis address on John Brown, a speech of blistering satire; llie ancestors, paternal and maternal, were among the first to settle in the \^irginia colony, coming from England in 1607. His father, Jackson H. Martin, best known to the residents of Atchison county as "Uncle Jack"' Martin, was also a Kentuckian, bom in Estill county on January 15. 1812, a son of Robert and Mary ( Harris) Martin, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Robert Martin served in the \\''ar of 1812 and was a commissioned officer. The epaulets from his uniform were in the possession of the family until a few years ago. Subsequent to this service he removed to Kentucky and was one of Daniel Boone's companions and was with him during many Indian fights. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Estill county. Jackson H. Martin, or "Uncle Jack," as he was commonly called, was reared in Estill county, married there, and in 1855 brought his family to Buchanan county, Missouri, where he lived one year. In the s])ring of 1856 he came to Kansas and settled at Mormon's Grove. The place derived its name through Ijeing a fonner Mormon emigrant settlement. It was al)Out five miles from .\tchi.son. "Uncle Jack" and his family occupied the Mormon cabin until he could build one of his own. He preempted a quarter section of land at this point and engaged in farming. .\ native of Kentucky, a Dem- ocrat as well, he naturally became involved in the turmoil of events preceding the Civil war. For the protection of himself and family, he built a double wall of stone and earth around his dwelling. This caused it to be called Ft. Martin. The place was attacked one night by Jayhawkers who were after horses. The attacking party were driven off without booty and several of their numlier were wounded. "Uncle Jack" continued to reside at Ft. Martin until 1878. when he became a resident of Effingham. He built the Martin Hotel and conducted it for a number of years. He was a success as a host, his hotel was famous for its cookery and hospitalitv and Effingham the gainer by his coming. His death occurred in April. 1902. at the age of HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 395 ninety years. He had lived an eventful life, had watched Kansas grow from a sparsely settled, faction-torn border State to one of the most prosperous agricultural commonwealths of the Union. He had met many of the most famous men of her formative period, and was a personal friend of John A. MaYtin. Paddy Brown, Governor Glide and Charles Robinson. His wife, Polly Walters, wliom he married in Estill Springs. Ky., died in April. 1895. They were the parents of four children : Ann Elizabeth, the wife of William Hight, of Fremont county. Colorado: Sidney, the subject of this review: Mary \\'., widow of Gilliert Keithline. of Atchison county, and Sally, widow of Henry Woodard. Twins died in infancy. Martha died at the age of sixteen years. Sally f Martin) \\^oodard was born in Estill county, Ken- tucky, in 1852. and came with her parents to Kansas in 1856. She was reared on the old Martin farm in Atchison county, and in 1869 married Henry Woodard. who was born in Evansville. Ind., in 1844. He was a son of Philander Henn*- Woodard, who came to Atchison in the early sixties and engaged in the milling business. After liis marriage Henrj- Woodard settled on a farm in Jackson county, where he remained until 1874. when he located in Effingham and engaged in the mercantile business. He followed this line of occupation until a few years Ijefore his death which occurred May 30, 1914. He is survived by his widow and the following children: Philander Henry, Jack Martin, Gilbert Campbell, Dorothy, wife of Elmer Percival. of Sheridan county, Kansas : Helen Lee, wife of Rolla Taliaferro : and Sally Bernice, a student in the Atchison Business College. Sidney Martin acquired his education in the schools of Atchison, and later completed a course in the Platte City (Missouri) Academy. He was reared on his father's farm, near Atchison, and assisted in its carrying on until about sixteen years of age. He then secured employment with Mr. Teuschau. a pioneer French trader and freighter, who had an Indian wife. He was also with the Scotch freighter, Kisskadden, on several trips. The latter recommended him as a capable guide and driver to G. T. Smith, who wished to secure the services of some one who could take his wife and baby, and the aged wife of his partner, from Atchison to Denver in 1864, where Smith owned a hardware store. Although but sixteen years of age, young Martin secured the job. This was in 1864, a time when the Indians were on the war path and Smith's wagon 'with young Martin as driver, started alone, but joined a freighting outfit numbering some forty wagons and dri\ers. Just before the\- reached Ft. Kcamev at Big Sandv. thev met flee- ing Blue Ri\er ranchmen, who were huriwing to the nearest settlement, and who told them the Indians were on the war path. They stayed all night at 396 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY tlie home of a settler and heard the following day that Indians had mur- dered the settler's family and burned their house. The wife of Smith's part- ner was insistent on a proper observance of tlie Sabbath day, and while in tlie Indian country caused Mrs. Smith to order that their wagon remain in camp over Sunday. The wagon train left them behind and the Lord's day was properly kept by the women, although they were warned by Martin that it was dangerous to leave the protection of the train. As related by Martin "that was the longest day I ever spent." About midnight he fed and harnessed the team and started on with the intention of joining the train of eleven men and wagons which had preceded them. At sunrise' they reached a lone ranch and its owner, who was postmaster, told Martin the wagons were just ahead, over the first hill. Here he mailed a letter to his mother. On arriving at the hill top Martin was able to see the valley where the train had camped. The wagons were in flames, had been robbed of their contents, a large part of which was whiskey. Two women were taken cap- ■ tives and the eleven freighters had been killed and scalped by Indians. The savages had indulged in the cajitured whiskey and were so thoroughly stupe- fied that they were incapable of riding a horse and also failed to follow the wagon which Martin drove. He wheeled his team and dro\e them at full speed to the nearest ranch and found the buildings burned. They drove on to the next ranch where they secured protection, a company of soldiers arriving there the same day. The officer in command was drunk and refused to at- tack the red-skins that night when victory would have been easy. When the company reached the scene of the massacre the following day, the Indians were not to be seen. Martin's next stop was at another ranch and here Mr. Smith joined the wagon, having rushed forward in the belief that Martin had been killed and the women captured by the savages. On parting from his charges Martin was given a plain band gold ring by Mrs. Smith with her blessing. He made several other trips across the plains, the last one with his father, "Uncle Jack" ]\Iartin. which took them to Montana, \\hen the Kickapoo Indian reservation was thrown open to purchase, Sidney Martin bought the first section that was sold and several years later he bought the last, becoming the owner of 560 acres in one body. He entered actively into the developing of his raw land and brought it up to a highly productive state. He Ijecame widely and favorably known as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and from time to time purchased additional acreage until his holdings in land were extensive, owning at one time 747 acres, at the time of his demise. He took an active part in political affairs of his section, and, wiiile disin- clined to accept office, was called upon frequently for counsel and advice. He HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 397 was a man of keen perceptions, knew men and the motives which actuated them, and was a student thorouohly tamihar with the questions of the day. He numbered among- his close personal friends, Governor Glick. His death occurred on January 3, 1904. Mr. Martin married on February 20, 1868, Miss Maiy Elizabeth White, a daughter of George B.. born May 10, 181 5, and Mary Ehzabcth (Lindsay) White, bom December 14, 1820, the former a native of \\^oodford county, Kentucky, and the latter of Carroll county. They were married January 25, 1839. She died September 25, i860, while the family was residing in Mis- souri. After tlie death of his wife, Mr. Wliite came to Atchison and engaged in the grain business. With S. R. Washer lie built tlie first elevator in the city of Atchison. He died in November, 1900. Mrs. Martin was born on May 15, 1848, while her parents were living in Missouri. On the maternal side she is descended from tlie Blackburn family, members of which fought with the Continental troops in the war for independence. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Martin became a resident of tlie cit}- of Atchison, where she has since resided. ROBERT M. THOMAS. In e\ery community we find that tliere are some individuals who seem naturally endowed with the ability to go ahead and do things and take a place of leadership among their associates. Robert M. Thomas is one of those who possess the natural endowments, peculiar to leadership and the ability to make things go witii which he is connected. A successful fanner, a good citizen and business man, makes an excellent coni1)ination, and Mr. Thomas lias made his mark in his community as a progressive and enterprising citizen. Robert M. Thomas was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, February 2, 1868, a son of Moses and Katie 1 Critchfield) Thomas, who were born and partly reared in old Kentuck\-. The ])arents of both were early settlers of Buchanan county. Moses was the son of Robert Thomas, and the father of his wife was Martin Critchfield. They were Southern born, and were de- scendants of old Southern families. Moses Thomas was born in 1843, and still resides in Buciianan county; his wife, Katie, was born in 1850, and is still living. The Thomas family has a farm of 140 acres in Buchanan county, upon which was reared a large family of eleven children, nine of whom are Hving: Robert M. ; John, deceased; Walter, living in California; Forrest, re- 398 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY siding in St. Joseph, Mo. ; Harriet and Cecil, at home; Olhe, deceased ; Louise, Margaret, Cora and Ellen, at home with their parents. R. M. Thomas received his education in the public schools of his native State and assisted his father in the operating of the home farm until 1892, wiien he married and farmed for three years in Buchanan county, Missouri, and then worked his farm in Platte county, JNIissouri, for four years. His first purchase of land was in 1899 when he invested in a farm of 120 acres in Buchanan county, which he sold three years later at a profit over the original purchase price. In 1902 he bought another farm, and in 1903 located two and one-half miles northwest of Effingham in Benton township. This farm com- prises 160 acres and is now one of the best improved places in the neighbor- hood. Mr. Thomas did so well in Atchison county that he was enaliled to buy another farm of 160 acres in 1912. This fami is located in Grasshopper town.ship, about three miles north of Muscotah. Upon th^ organization of the Farmers' Mercantile Company in June. 191 3, in which Mr. Thomas 'took an active part, he assumed the managership of the same and attends to his business during the day, while still making his iiome at the farm. This ]ilan gives him an excellent opportunity to oversee his farming operations at all times. Mr. Thomas was married in 1892 to Katie Stanton, of Platte county, Missouri, a daughter of William and Cynthia (Hall) Stanton, natives of Platte county, and of Eastern origin. To this union the following children have been born : William, married Pearl, daughter of Thomas O. Gault, and is managing his father's farm, two miles north of Muscotah ; Clara, a graduate of tlie Atchison County High School, and a teacher in the public schools; Margaret, Ollie and Jessie, students in the county high school ; Elva. Emma, Robert M.. and Daisy, attending the district school near their home. Mr. Thomas is a Democrat in politics and has filled the office of trustee of Benton township one term. He and his family are members of the Ciiris- tian church. He is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows lodge. The Farmers' Mercantile Association, of which Mr. Thomas is the man- ager, was organized in June of 1913 for the purpose of handling grain, coal, feed and seeds. The capital stock of the concern is Sio.ooo. of wliich $6,800 is fully paid up. The officers of the association were: President. C. .\. Talia- ferro; vice-president, Stewart Hef flefinger ; secretary and manager, R. M. Thomas; treasurer. C. M. Snyder. The directors are: C. A. Taliaferro. S. Hefflefinger, Charles M. Snyder. John E. Sullivan. R. M. Thomas, E. H. Cawley. W. M. Sutter. R. B. Hawk, Reuben Hargrove. The j^resent offi- cers are the same witli the exception that Reuben Hargrove is now serving HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 399 as the vice-president, and Fred Wyatt was elected to fill the vacancy in the board of directors, caused by the demise of C. A. Taliaferro and l''d\vard High succeeded \V. M. Sutter. Tlie concern has a grain e]e\ator with a capacity of 8,000 bushels. Tlie largest shipment of grain made in any one year has exceeded 115,000 bushels. WILLIAM McADAM. William ^IcAdam. retired farmer, of Effingham, Kan., was born Feb- ruray 6, 18O1, in Sterlingshire, Scotland, and is a son of James and Helen ( Macnee) McAdam, who, witli their children emigrated from their native country in 1882 and settled on a farm near Effingham in Atchison county, Kansas. Tliey reared a family of five cliildren, of whom William is the old- est, the others lieing as follows: Mrs. Jane Drummond, of Ellenville, Kan.; George, of Holton, Kan. : Mrs. Nellie Drummond, resithng in Cottonwood Falls, Kan. ; and James, living at Holton, Kan. The father of these chil- dren was born in 1820, and died in 1885, just three years after coming to America. He was a hard-working, industrious farmer. The mother was horn in 1839 and departed this life in May, 1899. William McAdam was twenty-one years of age when the family came to Atchison county and for tiiree years after his arrival here lie assisted liis parents in the operation of the home farm. He then worked out for one year and began renting land on liis own account, renting twelve years in all, five of which were in Jackson county, Kansas. His first purchase of land was a tract of ninety-six acres in Jackson county, which he improved and resided upon until 1907, when he moved to Effingham, where lie and his family reside in one of the most attractive homes in the city, located on a tract of ten acres. Air. McAdam is now the owner of 160 acres of good land south of Effingliam, over whicl: he has supervision. He was married in 1888 to Miss Augusta Sutter, a daughter of Fred- erick Sutter, now deceased, who was one of the earliest settlers in Atch- ison county, and who became one of the wealthy land owners of the county. (See sketch of Fred Sutter.) Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McAdam, Fannie and Mabel, both of whom are at home with their parents. The mother of these cliildren was born in Atchison county in 1861. Mr. McAdam is an independent Democrat, who votes as his conscience 400 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY dictates, and prefers to support the man rather than any one political party or creed, believing in this manner that better government will result. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is fraternally connected with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. CLAUDIUS DeMONT WALKER. The citizen who loves his city to the extent that he is willing to devote his ene'-gies toward making it a better abiding place for his fellow men, and tioes his duty in a public capacity, regardless of criticism or adverse comnie^.ts, is a man worth while. He whose name heads this review is such an individual. As mayor of Atcliison, C. D. Walker made a record which will outlive the present generation ; as an attorney he has achieved a signal success and ranks high in the legal fraternity of the State of Kansas ; as a religious worker he has accomplished much good of a lasting and enduring quality for the com- munity in which he lives. Born of Kansas pioneer parents, his training and education were such as to prepare him for the career which has made him dis- tinguished among his fellow men : and he has proven that a wholesome example set by noble parents is the best incentive that a man can have to guide him through life. C. D. Wrilker was born ^larch 29, 1851. at (ireenville. Pa., a si>n of Har- vey and Anna M. Walker, tlic former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter a native of Ireland. Harvey Walker, tlie father, was born in 1S20 and was a son of Harvey Walker, a native of the Keystone State, who married at Pittsburgh, Pa., Miss Mary Ann Carr, who was born at Mile End, England. The grandfather of C. D. Walker was a wagon and carriage maker by trade and operated a shop in Greenville for many years. Tlie history of the Walkers in America begins with three brothers who emigrated from the north of Ire- land in colonial days. One of whom, Samuel Walker, located near Rochester, X. ^'.. one. .\ndrew Walker, settled in Virginia, and one, the great-grandfather of C. D. Walker, settled in Pennsylvania. Being north Ireland people it is practically certain that the Walker family is of Scotch descent, their ancestors having emigrated from the ancestral home of the family to the north of Ire- land a few centuries ago when the migration of the protestant people from the Isle of Britain to escape religious persecution occurred. Harvey Walker learned his father's trade of wagon and carriage making, but worked but little at the business. Imbued with the desire to better his fortunes in the great ^^c^^^y^^^- xr .''■V .■'*'^<>«*Ci^'M ii?-5>- /^~ ^o^^ -^^^^ HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 4OI West, he left the old home of the family in about 1854 and migrated to Oneida, 111., near which town he purchased a homestead. After farming for a few years he sold out and started overland to the new State of Kansas, which at that time was attracting adventurers from all parts of the country. The family possessions were loaded upon wagons drawn by horses, and in due time the Walkers arrived at Ft. Scott in Bourbon county, Kansas, their destination. During tine vears '57- 58-"59. the senior Walker traded with the Indians, and eventually located on a homestead, twelve miles northwest of Ft. Scott. Har- vev Walker was a stanch Methndist of the uncompromising type and was un- alterably opposed to the institution of slavery. He fearlessly and freely voiced his convictions at every opportunity, and his out-spoken tendencies frequently brought trouble upon him from the slavery advocates, who had settled in the neighborhood in considerable numbers. He was always introducing new in- novations in farming methods and machinery. It is a matter of history that he owned and used the first rake harvester brought to that part of the country. The slavery advocates and border ruffians annoyed him considerably. They stole his horses, broke up his wagons and farming implements and so pro- nounced were the threats of the slavery men that Mr. \\'alker was forced to spend most of his time in Ft. Scott away from his family. He was greatly in- terested in the success of the anti-slavery propagandists and used great in- fluence in determining the ultimate destiny in Kansas becoming a free State. When the war broke out he decided to move north. In the spring of 1861 he arrived in the city of Atchison, which at that time was a small village, and was induced by Capt. Asa Barnes to locate in Atchison county, where he remained about a year. He afterwards purchased and settled on a tract of land adjoin- ing t!ie town of Winchester, Jefferson county, Kansas. Here he located liis permanent Kansas home, and developed a fine farm. Here he raised a large family, and gave his children the best education the school facilities at that time afforded. Harvey Walker was married December 24, 1848, to Anna Mariah Nelson, who bore him the following children, namely: Crandall C, an importer of thoroughbred horses, Sioux City, Iowa ; Claudius D., with whose career this review is directly concerned: Marion D.. a farmer and fruit grower, living near Midland College, Atchison county; Manin L.. a banker of Oklahoma City, Okla. ; Ellis Lytle. living in Washington State : Schuyler R.. a farmer of Stillwater Okla. ; Ilarvey Mitcliell, an importer of thi(rough1)rcd horses of Oklahoma City ; William Nelson, a farmer of Stillwater. Okla. : Ro- land Ferris, who died in infancy: Orlina L.. widow of Willirm McKenney. de- ceased, a hardware merchant of Winchester, Kan., and Anna M., wife of William B. Stevenson, a Methodist minister. The mother of the foregoing 26 402 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY children was born in north Ireland, September 24. 1824. a daugliter of James and Elizal)eth ( i-arris) Xelson. James Nelson was agent for an luiglish estate in Ireland, and was the son of William Nelson and Catherine ( Stewart) Nelson. His wife, Elizabeth Farris, was the daughter of Robert and Jane Farris, all of English descent. Anna Alariah Nelson came to America when eight )^ears old with a brcjther, and went to live with an aunt in Greenville, Pa., while her family settled in Bayfield, Canada. She was educated in the schools at Greenville and afterwards became a teacher in the public school where she was wooed and married by Harvey Walker. Harvey Walker and his noble wife were sturdy God-fearing Christians, and the family prayers were a part of the regular regime of the religious creed followed by tliem through life. They were ardent Methodists who believed in living faithfully according to the precepts of their religion, and the examples set l)y their upright and consistent conduct throughout thtir long lives left an indelible imprint upon the lives of their children, w ho ha\e endea\ored to follow in the footsteps of tlieir ])'ir- ents. Claudius DeMont attended the district school at Winchester, and when eighteen years of age left home to enter Baker University at Baldwin, Kan. After two years of liard work in Baker University he entered tiie agncultund college at Manhattan, which at that time was a college controlled by the Meth- odists and had the best facilities of any college of the State of Kansas. Here he spent four years and should have graduated in the class of 1873, but on account of ill health w'as compelled to leave school before the end of the term. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Walker matriculated in the law dei)artment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. During the. year previous to this, he liad studied law in the office of iloyce & Bo_\-d in Cincinnati. Oliin. ar.d upon his matriculation at .Ann .\rbor entered the junior class of the university, lie graduated from the law department at Ann Arbor in the class of 1878, and immediately located in Atchison, where he began the practice of his profession. From the very beginning his professional career was a success. In February, 1882, he formed a partnership witli Judge Gilbert, which continued until Gil- bert's election to the district bench in the fall of 1887. Since that time Mr. \\'alkcr has practiced his profession alone for thirty-four consecutive years, which has been filled with gratifying success. The district records of Atchi- son county show that for many years Mr. Walker was interested in virtually all of the im])ortant cases pending. For many years he was attorney for the First National Bank of Atchi.son, Kan., together with many other large insti- tutions of the city. During his long successful legal career, Mr. \\'alker has not neglected the material side of his affairs and early invested his money in loans and real HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 4O3 estate. His investments were so judiciously made that lie has become one of the largest land owners of Kansas, and is rated as one of Atchison's wealthiest citizens. His total holdings in Atchison county will exceed 1,700 acres of farm lands, and he also owns other lands in Texas and western Kansas. The political and civic career of Mr. Walker has been a noteworthy one and portrays tlie nigged honesty and public spirited feeling wliich have actu- ated him during liis wliole life. He was first appointed to the office o\ county auditor by Judge Gilbert in 1888, and served for two years; and was elected to the office of county attorney in 1891, and served in this capacity until 1894. His service as county attorney included the most strenuous years of his life, inasmuch as the court docket was continually crowded during his entire in- cumbency. This was the time that Coxey's army of unemployed was making its journey from this part of the country toward W'ashington and on its way committed all kinds of small crimes, and many arrests were made daily. It was i\Ir. \\'alker's duty to prosecute these numberless cases as they came up for trial which overwhelmed him. He has served as a member of the city council of Atcliison several terms, and was ma}-or for two years, 191 1 to 1913. Mr. Walker's administration of the city's affairs during his incuml;enc_\- as tlie chief executive is considered to have been the best that Atchison ever had in a constructive and law-abiding sense. Several miles of street paving was accomplished and many bad streets were repaved thoroughly and well. Tlie first concrete paving in the city was laid on Division street and done in the l^est manner possible. The city purcliased tlie finest fire apparatus ever brought to a northeast Kansas city. The \\'est Atchison fire station was built. Three large sewer districts were created and the sewers installed. One of these was the intercepting sewer in White Clay creek. For many years the city of Atchi- son suffered from the filth and stench of While Clav creek until the same became intolerable. The remedy had been tliought impossible, but on Mr. Walker's election he conceived the plan of installing an intercepting sewer whicli has proved a great success, and a benefit to the city. The electric liglit rate was reduced from 15 to 10 cents per kilowatt, tlius saving to the consumer thousands of dollars annually. The street lighting was changed from the half night to tlie all night moon li.ght schedule, with many new liglits added and without a dollar's increase in expenses. The city was freed from joints and gambling places and houses of ill repute within the first few months after Mr. Walker went into office and remained so during his entire term. As mayor he first raised the question of requiring the mills and otlier large institutions located alon.g railroads, and the railroads enter- ing the city to light their own premises and yards. Mr. A\'alker was the promoter and organizer of the first independent 404 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY telephone company in Ihc city, which company succeeded in putting the Bell Telephone Company out of business for the time being, and until the Home company was sold to the Bell company in 191 1, and a consolidation effected. Mr. Walker is a Republican and has always taken a more or less active part in his party's affairs. He was at one time a candidate for Congress from. the First Congressional district of the State of Kansas, at the time the three- cornered fight for the nomination between Ex-Governor Bailey. Charles Cur- tis and C. D. W'alker was waged, and a deadlock ensued which lasted for more than one week. His famil} life has been an ideal one, and in keeping with the career of the man himself. The marriage of Mr. \\"alker and Miss Lizzie E. Auld took place June 7, 1881, at Atchison, Kan. One daughter has blessed this union, Isabelle, wife of Louis D. Brockett. a son of B. L. Brockett, a leading lumber merchant of Atchison. Mr. Brockett has charge of the loan business estab- lished by Mr. Walker. Mrs. Lizzie Auld Walker was born in Brownsville, Pa., a daughter of William W. and Isabelle Mullen Auld. natives of Pennsyl- vania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The Auld family is one of the oldest of American families. Its members are related closely w ith the Carrolls of Car- rollton. \'a., whose ancestors came from north of Ireland and were originallx of Scotch ancestry. William \\'. .\uld migrated from Pennsylvani.n to .\tclii- son, Kan., in, 1872, and was a member of the milling firm of Blair & Auld, from that time until his death in 1895. Mr. Walker has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for over thirty years, and has taken a regular course of Masonry, being a Knight Templar. He is fraternally affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen. Knights and Ladies of Security, the Ancient Order of L'nited Workmen, and tlie Royal .Arcanum. It is only natural th'tt a man reared in a religious atmosphere, as he has been, should take an active and influential part in church and religious work. Mr. Walker has been a member of the official board of tlie First Methodist Episcopal Church of .Vtchison. since 1880. and lias been a liberal and cheerful supporter of this denomination. At pres- ent he is chairman of the building committee which has cliarge of the erection of the new building planned by the church for the ensuing year. Since 1889 he has served as a member of the board of trustees of Baker LTniversity, of Baldwin, Kan. In 1908 he was a delegate to the National conference of the Methodist denomination at Baltimore. Successful as a lawyer, having achieved substantial competence in his behalf, made history as a public official, followed the teachings of his Christian parents as regards an up-right life and doing his duty in a religious sense, sums up the life career of this useful Atchison citizen. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 405 ALVA CURTIS TRUEBLOOD. Alva Curtis Trueblood, a former Atchison merchant and city official and Union veteran, now deceased, was born in Salem, Washington county, Indiana, in 1838. a son of Dr. Joshua and Zelpha (Arnold) Trueblood, natives of South Carolina, who emigrated from their native State to Indiana in the early pioneer days when the Indians were still camping on the streams and roaming the forests of the Hoosier State. The parents of A. C. Trueblood settled in Salem and he was there reared to manhood, receiving his educa- tion in the district schools and the Seminary at Battle Creek, Mich., where he was graduated. After his graduation in the classical course at Battle Creek, he returned to his home town of Salem and embarked in the newspaper busi- ness, purchasing the Salem- Times, which he edited until the outbreak of the Civil war. He enlisted at the first call for troops issued by President Lin- coln and was mustered in as a member of Company H, Thirteen regiment, Indiana infantry, under Captain S_ales, who was later promoted to the rank of colonel, private Trueblood being successively promoted to a second lieuten- ancy and then to first lieutenant of his company. Later, he was commis- sioned a captain and remained Captain Trueblood until the close of the war. He saw much active service during the great rebellion and was under fire with his regiment at the veiy first battle in which it was engaged, at Green Brier Mountain, W. Va. Captain Trueblood fought in thirty-six terrific battles during his term of service, and was engaged in the nine days' battle at Cold Harbor under General Grant. Captain Trueblood often gave a vivid and heart-rending description of the terrific slaughter of human lives which took place at this great battle, and told of how a person could walk for miles on the dead bodies with which the field was strewn. His time of enlistment expired while the battle of Cold Harbor was in progress, and he then re- turned to his home, where he was married December 29, 1864, to Hattie Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Trueblood resided in Salem. Ind.. until after the close of the war when he entered the mercantile liusiness in Salem and was very suc- cessful. His health failing him it was deemed advi.sable that they seek a new home in the West. During his business career he had invested in .\tch- ison county land, and they came to this county in 1880, settling on their farm in the spring of that year. They remained on the farm but a short time, however, until Mr. Trueblood regained his health, in a measure, and then removed to Atchison, where he embarked in the queensware business, which he conducted for about three years. He was then elected city clerk and held 406 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY this office for about ten years. Captain Trueblodd died April 16. 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Trueblood have reared the following children: Albert, now en- gaged in the newspaper business at Sacramento, Cal. ; Victor T., manager of the ^'all Xoys News Company, of Kansas City. Mo. ; Paul T., a traveling salesman, residing in Grand Island. Neb. : Owen T., of Kansas City, an ex- press messenger of the Missouri Pacific railroad; Nellie, a graduate of Mid- land College, and a teacher in the Ingalls school; Norvel died in 1867. at the age of four years. The mother of these children was horn in March, 1840, a daughter of Thomas and Annis (Brinkley) Allen, both natives of West Virginia, and pioneer settlers of \^'ashi^gton county. Indiana. She was educated in the common schools of her native county and attended the Salem Female College. Thomas .Mien, father of Mrs. Tiaicblood. was proprietor of a cotton and woolen manufactory at Salem, and was forced to pay Gen. John ^hiirgan and his raiders the sum of $1,000 to prevent the burning of his mill, when Morgan and his troops made their memorable raid and burned the depot at Salem and raided the stores. Thomas Allen and wife were the par- ents of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Three of the sons were Union soldiers, William Allen, the twin brother of Mrs. Trueblood, serving in the same regiment with Captain Trueblood. Mr. Truelilood was an efficient and capable city official during his many years of service in the city clerk's office and had many warm friends in Atchison. He was allied with the Repulilican party and was prominent in the affairs of his party. He was well known in Masonic circles and was high in the councils of the Masonic lodge, being master of Washington Lixl.ge. No. 5. of Atchison. Kan., for several years, and was a leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic, both of which liodies officiated at the cere- monies held when his bodv was laid awav for the long rest. WILUAM T. CLEM. William J. Clem, deceased tanner and horticulturist, of Shaimon town- ship, was born June 9. 1851. in Randolph crmnty. Virginia, a son of Aaron Clem, who immigrated to Kansas in 1863 and settled on Independence creek, near the Doniphan-. \tchison county line. On the farm, which his father owned in this jjioncer settlement of Kansas. William was reared to young manhood, and married, after whicli he lived on a farm in the southern part of Doniphan county for four vears. then uK^ved to the Mvers farm, which HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 407 he and his wife purchased some years later and cuhivated until March of iS(;8. In this year he purchased the fine farm which is now owned by his widow and immediately began improving it. This farm consists of sixty acres and lays within a few miles of Atchison in a ncMthwesterly direction. Its acreage is divided as follows : Twenty acres of apples and small fruits, and forty acres of farm land and pasture. Realizing that it was necessary to follow intensive farming on a sixty-acre farm, Mr. Clem set out an orchard of 350 trees, which have been bearing prolificaily for several years. An attractive farm residence, set in a fine lawn in whicli shrub- bery and flower beds please the eye, together with a good barn and silo, greets the eye as the}- stand out on a rise of land. Mr. Clem was a very in- dustrious farmer, a good citizen, and a kind father sind hu.sband, and will long be remembered by those who knew him best and were aware of his many excellent qualities. He departed this life on May 26. 1906. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist church and a Democrat in politics. \\'. J. Clem, and Laura E. Myers, his widow, were married June 16, 1879, and to this union were born children, as follows: Mrs. Effie Randolph, of Atchison, who is the mother of two children, Elizabeth and Bernice; Mrs. Clara \\'altz. of Shannon township, and mother of one child. Virginia Frances: Mrs. .Addie Underwood, residing on a farm in Shannon township, who has one child, Spencer Eugene: Mrs. Laura Demmel, living near Rush- ville. Mo., and mother of one son, Raymond: Albert, married Ella Turner, and Edgar, at home: Mrs. Lissa Marie Altauf, of south Tenth street, .\tch- ison : I'rances and Jessie, at home. Mrs. Laura E. (Myers) Clem was born June 9, 1859, in Buchanan county, Missouri, a daughter of .\ugustus and Hulda (Snyder) Myers, natives of Germany and Indiana, respectively. Augustus Myers was born in 1825 and died October 6, 1909. His parents with their family immigrated to this country from Germany in 1831. .\ugustus was reared on a farm, south of St. Joseph, and was there mar- ried. His wife, Ilulda. was born in 1831 aufl died Octolier 8, 1907. She came with her parents to Buchanan county, Missouri, in 1841. There were nine children in the Myers family, namely: Hiram K., deceased: Edward S., deceased: William H., living in Doniphan county ]\Irs. Laura E. Clem, with whom this re\iew is directly concerned: Winslow, of Gower. Mo.; Charles \\'., of Lancaster township, this county; Mrs. Dora .\ugusta Saeger, of Ouincy, 111.: Mrs. Malinda Frances L'nderwond. of Shannon township: and Ray Evans, of Seattle. Wash. The Myers family came to .Atchison county in .\ugust of 1875, living in Atchison until February, 1876, and set- tled on a farm in Shannon township, which he purchased from .\ndrew 408 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Evans, living on their place near Good Intent, until March of 1891, when the old couple sold their farm to Mr. and Mrs. Clem, and retired to a home in Atchison, where they died. Augustus Myers was a soldier in the Union army and served for a few months under Captain Snyder, an uncle of Mrs. Clem. Mrs. Clem and her children are all members of the Ch.ristian church and take an active part in the social and religious affairs carried on by the large membership of this flourishing denomination. She and her sturdy sons carry on the farming operations in a creditable and profitable manner and are happy and contented. The boys are greatly interested in athletics and were an important part of the winning church baseball team during the season of 1915. A happier nor more contented family can not be found in •Atchison county. Mrs. Clem is a capable and intelligent woman who did not hesitate to take over the management of the farm upon her husband's demise and has made a success of the undertaking. TARED COPELAND FOX. The late Jared Copeland Fox was one of Atchison's ablest citizens, pub- lic spirited, a successful financier and a familiar figure in the leading circles of the city for many years. Merchant, banker, scholar, a kind husband and father, his demise left a void which can never be filled. Coming of a dis- tinguished family, born October 30, 1841, in Chili, N. Y., his life bears out the oft repeated assertion that lineage and birth have something to do with shaping a man's destiny, and influencing his career. His parents were Jared Ware and Mercy Chapman (Copeland) Fox. Jared Ware Fox was a son of Alanson and Elizabeth (Ware) Fox. His maternal grandfather was Jona- than Copeland, who married a Miss Wells at Charlton, Mass., who was a di- rect descendant of Ruth, a daughter of John and Priscilla Alden. On April 2, 1816, Jonathan Copeland w^as commissioned a captain in the luilitia and adjutant on the governor's staff of Massachusetts in 1816. In i8iq he was appointed a brigadier commander of the State militia, .\fter his marriage he removed to New York and was there a colonel in the State militia of New York. He held five different commissions in Massachusetts and New York. The Fox family is of English descent and originally settled in Connecticut. The maiden name of the wife of Col. Jonathan Copeland was Rebecca Ed- wards and she was a connection of the family of which Rev. Jonatlian Ed- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 409 wards was a member. Colonel Copeland had three children : Alerc}', Eliza- beth and the Rev. Jonathan Copeland, a Congregational minister of Xew York, who conducted an academy in that city and one of whose pupils was Philip Armour of beef packing fame. Jonathan was born October i6, 1786, died in 1858 in Xew York; Rebecca was horn in 1790, died h'eljruary 6, 1863, in Kansas. Alanson Fo.x, grandfather of Jared C, removed from Connecticut to a farm near Sherburne. N. Y., and here Jared Ware was born December 5. 18 10. Rev. Jared Ware Fox was educated for the ministry, studying four years in Oneida Institute and one )ear in a seminary in New York City, and for fifty years preached the Gospel according to the Congregational faith. In the earlv days he was sent to Kansas by his church to establish and organize churches in the new towns and cities Iniilding up on the broad prairies. He formed a church at Burlingame and Ridgeway, Kan., making his home at the latter place and preaching throughout the country serving churches at Kunwaka, Waveland, Valley Brook and one year at Lawrence. He spent one year in Topeka in charge of a church in the capital city. He was a strong abolitionist and was in his natural element when he first came to Kansas in i860, the vear of tlie "great drought." He took an acti\'e part in the relief work in Kansas at that time and sent his son, Jared C, then but eighteen years of age, back to Galesburg, 111., where an old friend of the family re- sided, to gather potatoes and produce for the sustenance of the drought suf- fers. He died March 2. 1898, leaving the following children: Charles G., on the old homestead at Ridgeway, Kan.; Jared C. ; Irving Dwight. deceased; Herlx;rt Everett, of California; Herman Elliot, Davenport, Iowa. 'Ihe mother of these children. Mercy C. (Copeland)' Fox, was born b'ebruary 16, ]8i(). and died April 11, 1893. Jared C. Fox recei\ed an academic education in Xew \'i"rk and accom- ])anied his parents to Kansas. At the age of nineteen years he was first employed in a general store conducted by Crosby Brothers at Valley h'alls, Kan., at a salary- of $1 50 ])er year and his board. He yearned for a larger field and came to Atchison in 1862, entering the employ of William Smith, who owned a dry goods store. During a part of the Civil war he ser\ed as clerk in the commissary department at Rolla, Mo., under Major Grimes for two years. After the close of the war he was deputy county treasurer under Sam C. King, and upon Mr. King's resignatK)n frf)m the county treasurersliip, he was appointed to serve for six montiis finishing out Mr. King's unex])ired term. He then served as deputy United Stales marshal under Charles Whit- ing. For some years previous to embarking in the drug business he was 410 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY associated in tlie real estate business with H. Clay Park, former postmaster of Atchison and editor of Tlic Patriot, and now one of the editors of the St. Joseph News. In 1869 Mr. Fox made the business \enture whicli was tlie turning point of his fortunes and launched iiim on the high road to financial success. He entered into partnershi]> witli W. C. McPike. S. C. King and Frank Allen in the wholesale drug business. Later Mr. Fox and Mr. McPikc became the sole owuers of the business, Mr. Fdx disposing of his interest to T. M. Walker and tlie firm removed to Kansas City, where it is still doing business under the name of the McPike Drug Co. Mr. Fox became interested in banking and at the time of his death was vice-president of the Atchison Savings Bank, the oldest State l)ank in Kansas. He conducted a loan busi- ness as his financial resources increased in strength and he became one of Atchison's wealthy citizens. On December 22, 1868, Mr. Fox was married to a charming southern lady. Miss Virginia Alexina Tortat. This union was blessed by the birth of five children as follows: Tared Copeland, Jr., manager of the Howard Manufacturing Co.. of Atchison, and father of eight children, Virginia Par- ker, Marjorie Parker, Tared Copeland, J'-. Parker, .-\iuelia Joanna, Lawton, Editli and William Horan ; Edith Fox Jackson, wife of Judge W. A. Jackson, and mother of two children, Jared Fox and Fdmund X'alentine : Henry Irving, wholesale druggist at Wichita. Kan., and father of Everett Cranson. Florence, Mary Anne and Sarah Virginia Fox: William Tortat, assistant cashier in the Atchison Savings Bank, and father of one daughter, Mary : Florence, at home with her mother. The mother of these children, Mrs. Virginia Fox. was born at Eufaula. Ala., December 20, 1847, a daughter of Henri Sylvest and Xancy (Decker) Tortat. Henri S. Tortat was born in October, 181 1. in France. He was destined to be a clergyman by his ])arents. but, having no intention to enter the i)riesthood, took i)art in the three days' re\-olution against Charles X. He left home and joined an uncle who was an officer in the i'rench army of occupation in Algiers in 1833. He came to America in 1836 when a young man and was married at Wiscassett, Me., to X;mcy Decker, whom he met at Boston, Mass. After his marriage he took his bride to Charleston, S. C, and thence to Eufaula, .Ala., and conducted a merchandise store there until he was induced to join a colony of southern people who were going to Kan.sas in May, 1857. When he came to Kansas he first took up a home- stead claim and then purchased a bakery at Tecumseh, Shawnee county, but died July 6, 1858, before he could get fairly settled in the new country. Seven children were liorn to and reared by Henri and Xancy Tortat : Henri .\lexis. deceased; Mrs. Amelia Caroline Barrv, deceased; Mrs. T- C. Fox; lean Paul. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 4II deceased; Augusta makes her Iiome with Mrs. P'ox ; W'iUiam Marshall. I'ea- bodv. Mass.: Mary died at the home of Mrs. Fox. Six years after Mr. - - • ' Tortat's demise, the mother and cliildren removed to Atchison, where she died December 20. 1864. In his younger days Mr. Fox was a Republican, but later became a Demo- crat and was a strong Cleveland adherent. He was a supporter of President Theodore Roosevelt during his first administration. He was a stanch sup- porter of W'oodrow Wilson when \\'ilson was a candidate for the Presidency, but was generally broad minded in his political views. He was a member of \\'ashington lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Knights Templar, a Mystic Shriner and an Odd Fellow ; he was reared in the Congregational church atmosphere but after marriage chose to attend the Episcopalian church with his wife. His death occurred August 23, 1914, when a strong and noble character passed to the great beyond. Mr. Fox was blessed with a singularly happ)- temperament which manifested itself even on his bed of illness; he w^as always good humored and had a strong sense of humor which, combined with a kindly disposition, made him a prime favorite with his friends and acquaintances. He was a great reader, an expert accountant, possessed a strong memon- and was a S Shakespearean scholar, quoting frum Shakespeare while lying on his couch awaiting the last summons, and also quoting the Twentv-first Psalm on his last day on earth. He served the city as a mem- ber of the city council and was president of the school board for a term, being of material assistance in handling their financial affairs, because of his genius in this direction. JAMES EMERY PENNINGTON. The Western Adi-ocate, Mankato, Kan., in an issue of July, 1899, has this to say in part regarding one of the most remarkable family reunions ever held in Kansas or anywhere in the countn,': "Without doubt the most re- markable family reunion ever held in Jewell county has been for the past week at Burr Oak and among the various members of the family in that vicinity. It is the reunion of the eleven children, together with many of the sixty-four grand children of the late James Pennington and Susan \\'isdom Pennington. The Pennington family is a Southern family, the elder Pennington being a native of Tennessee, and his wife of Xorth Carolina. All of the eleven chil- dren, however, with the exception of the oldest son, were born and raised in Missouri. The Pennington ' family is remarkable in that iJiere were just 412 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY eleven children and they are all living and enjoying- good liealth. although the youngest is now fifty years of age, the eldest being a little past seventy. These family reunions, which are an annual event, prove that the family tree, nour- ished by the good old warm Southern blood, is still bearing the fruits of hos- pitality and good cheer. Once a year they get together, parents, children and grand children, and the ties of family, of kinship, and affection are drawn a little closer. Hearts are cheered, lives are brightened and days are length- ened." Speaking of the gathering on Saturday of the reunion week, the Western Advocate goes on to say : "On this day a company of one hundred gathered around the banquet board, and the eleven brothers and sisters were weighed and their combined weight found to be 1.832 pounds, an average of 166 pounds each." The father of this remarkable family was James Pennington, a native of Tennessee, born in that State in 1822, and was there married to Susan Wis- dom. They migrated to Missouri in the early thirties and settled in Nodaway county, developing a fine farm until the discovery of gold in California. James then set out across the plains and mountains to the gold fields of the New El- dorado in quest of fortune. W'hile in California he became a freighter and transported flour and provisions to tlie mining camps afoot. He- would carry a fifty pound sack of flour a distance of sixteen miles and was paid at the rate of $50 per sack for transportation, the flour costing $50 per sack at the point of purchase and being valued at $100 when it was taken to its destination by the carrier. James, Sr., remained in California until 1851 and then returned to his home and family in Missouri, where he lived the remainder of his days, dying- in 1878, in Platte county. James and Susan Pennington were the parents of eleven children as follows: William W'.. born in 1837, died Feb- ruary, 1913, at Lebanon, Kan. ; John Thomas, California, born in 1839; Mrs. Telitha Thorp, Marysville. Mo., born in 1841 ; Mrs. Julia Deiiney, Benedict, Kan., born in 1842; Mrs. Clementine Conner, Santa Ana, Cal., born in 1844, a widow; Mrs. Nancy Miller, California. l)orn in 1845, a widow; James Emery, with whom this review is directly concerned; Mrs. Sarali Robertson, Elk City, Okla., born in 1849; Mrs. Mary Robertson, Burr Oak. Kan., born in 1853; Mrs. Cynthia Jane Judy, Burr Oak, born in 1855; Mrs. Rocksinah Graves, Burr Oak, Kan., born in 1857. James Emery Pennington, retired farmer of Potter, Kan., was born on a farm in Nodaway county, Missouri, October 30, 1847. He was reared on the farm in Missouri until seventeen years of age, and he then left home and crossed the plains. The occasion of his going was because of the fact that two brothers and tliree brothers-in-law had alreadv enlisted in the I'nion armv HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 413 for service in the Civil war, and the fatlier feU tliat he conld not spare his son, James E.. so it was agreed between father and son that the boy should go west for a time. He made his way across the Missouri to Ft. Leavenworth and there joined an overland freight train which was bound for Salt Lake City, L'tah. At that time all the freight and merchandise west of the Mis- souri river was transported in wagons, drawn liy horses, mules or oxen. These wagons were loaded with from six to twelve thousand pounds of mer- chandise and were drawn by teams ranging in numbers from twelve to twenty- four animals. From twenty to forty men, wagons and teams constituted what was then known as a "freight train." The train to which young Pen- nington attached himself consisted of forty wagons, forty teamsters, two wagon masters, four assistants, two night herders, and two extras, in all, fifty men, four hundred and ninety oxen and a few horses for herding purposes. Being a farmer boy and having a working knowledge of animals, young Pennington soon made himself indispensable to the outfit and received the name of "Our Boy" from the other men in charge of the train. The train proceeded its long way over the plains of Kansas and followed the valley of the South Platte to the Rockies without mishap, other than a few Indian skirm- ishes. In October of 1864, "Our Boy" stood on the crest of the Rockies with one foot on the Atlantic and one foot on the Pacific slope. \\'inter soon came on and stock perished and they arrived at tlieir destination in the dead of severe winter. Young Pennington spent the winter in the home of a Mor- mon family, consisting of a Mormon and his seven wives. From Utah he went north into Idaho and Montana, and in that region took up his favorite pursuit of freighting, which he followed for four years. His operations were mainly from Ft. Benton, the head of navigation on tlie Missouri river, to which point the river steamers carried the freight destined for the mining camps of the mountain regions. He, with others, transported the first quartz mill to the mining camp, later widely known as Butte City, Mont. He re- turned home in 1869 and lived there for three years, coming to Kansas in 1872. He had saved some capital which he brought with him to Atchison county, and invested tliis money in a iierd of cattle which he grazed upon the free ranges, in this manner getting his first real start in life, and which was the beginning of his later prosperity. After his marriage in 1872 to Elizabeth Snoddy, he and his wife settled on the home farm of the Snoddy's, and at the end of one year the father of Mrs. Pennington deeded the young couple eighty acres of land which became the nucleus of their present acreage. This land is four miles east and one-half mile south of Potter, Leavenworth county, and the farm has been increased to 320 acres of well improved land. Mr. 414 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Pennington removed to Potter in the spring of 1916, from the farm in Leav- enworth county, and has recently completed a fine, modern, ten-room residence which will serve as his future domicile during the remainder of his davs. James E. Pennington was married Fehruary i. 1872, to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Thomas and Margaret (Brown) Snoddy, the former a native of Tennes- see, and the latter a native of Missouri. Thomas Snoddy first came to Kan- sas in 1854, and preempted the farm which he improved and where Ins children were reared. He was a Mexican war veteran and the Govcnnncnt gave him for his ser\nces a grant of land in northwestern Missouri, which he sold for $1,600, and wiili the proceeds of the sale built his home on his preemption in Kansas. The upper part of the house was used as headquarters for the Kickapuo ]\Iasonic lodge for many years. Thomas Sned and liis demise occurred August 19, 191 5. His second marriage was with Louise Richter, on November 8. 1892, at Effingham. Four children were born of this marriage, namely: Amelia, John. James and Mary, all of whom are at home with tlieir mother. Mrs. Trompeter was born in Austria, in 1874, a daughter of Juhn. born September 2, 1852, and Amelia (Wohletz) Richter, born May 31, 1849. The Richters are of German birth and immigrated to America in 1882, first residing in Atchison and then coming to Effingham. For twenty-eight \ears Mr. Rich- ter was employed in railroad work on the Central Branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Richter now make their home with their daughter, Mrs. Trompeter, and assist in the farming operations. The Richter children are as follows: Mrs. Joseph Trompeter: Domineck. conducting a meat market in Effingham: Leapold, li\'ing at Tacoma, \\'ash., also a builder and contractor; Mrs. Amelia Hansen, residing in Texas: Mrs. Anna Royer, Tacoma, Wash. There are eleven grand cliildren in the Richter family. Mr. Trompeter was affiliated with tlie Democratic part}-, but was never a seeker after political ])referment. He was a member of the Catholic church, and was fraternally connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Modem Woodmen. Throughout his life he was an industrious and hardworking citi- zen who did his duty as he sa\\- it and lived an upright and honest life. He was prominently identified with the civic life of Effingham and was highly respected for his many excellent qualities. JOSEPH N. ARTHUR. Joseph X. Arthur, automobile salesman and garage proprietor, of Ef- fingham, Kan., is one of the progressive and enterjjrising business men of the second citv of Atchison county. Signal success has attended liis efforts during the years he has been a resident of Atchison county. He eml)arked in the automobile business and established a garage in Effingham, despite the fact that predictions were madti that the venture would not be a success, and Mr. Arthur as a result is the recognized pioneer automobile man of his part of the county. Since taking the agency for tlie l-'ord cars in 1912, he has sold over iialf the total of Ford cars sold in the countv and vicinitv. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 423 Mr. -Vrthur first started in business in 1910 and established a small garage in the rear of his real estate office. His business grew to such an extent that larger quarters became necessary, and in 19 13 he erected a large con- crete building, forty by eighty feet in extent, in which is incorporated his office, display and repair rooms. He employs a skilled mech;inic, assistant and driver. Mr. Arthur handles the Dodge Brothers, the Maxwell, and Ford automobiles. J. N. Arthur was born June 3, 1869, near Corning, .\dams county, Iowa, and is a son of John and Martha Arthur, natives of Oh.io. Both parents were reared in the old Buckeye State, and were early pioneer settlers in Iowa, coming from Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1855, and driving overland via the ox team route, with all their movable possessions loaded on wagons en route from St. Joseph, Mo., to their destination in Adams county. Iowa. John Arthur homesteaded Government land in Adams county and preempted along the river where timber and water were plentiful. He prospered as the years v.-ent on and the country became more and more settled, and he laecame the owner of over 800 acres of excellent Iowa farm lands. He resided in Adams county, Iowa, until his demise, in 1907. John Arthur settled on the banks of a river for the purpose of having timber, fuel and water, three essentials in keeping alive in the then sparsely settled countrv in the suulhwestern part of Iowa. He built a log cabin of logs hewn from trees chopped down with his own hands and chinked the cracks and crevices with mud. \\%en he preempted his first tract of land in Iowa he had a yoke of oxen, $10 in money and a favorite bull-dog, things which he was fond of telling about as he grew older and more prosperous. During his fifty-two years of residence in Iowa he accumulated 800 acres of land and had money loaned out to the amount of $10,000. He was the father of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity, each of whom as he married was assisted by the father to settle on a farm urlington & Ouincy railroad and the Santa Fe System, being promoted to the post of railway engineer while in the employ of the latter system. He was then employed by the General Electric Company, of Chicago, in the installation of and erecting mining machinery. 430 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY his duties requiring him to travel in the South for over a year. He was em- ployed by the Chalmers company for one year erecting heavy engines, and was employed as engineer of the Pearsons' Flouring Mills at Lawrence, Kan., for seven years. For a time he sen'ed as master mechanic at the Leavenworth coal shaft on the Government grounds at Leavenworth, Kan. In the year 1901 he built and operated a machine shop at Cripple Creek, Colo., but his plant was destroyed by fire in 1902. He then moved to Grand Junction, Colo., where he worked in the oil fields and .was round house foreman for the rail- roads in that city until he resigned his position and located in Denver, Colo., where he worked as a machinist in the Missouri Pacific shops until he took employment as engineer on the Colorado & Southern railway. After this he was employed as a machinist in the shops of the Santa Ve railroad. Imt resigned this place to become foreman in the plant of the Locomotive Finished Material Foundry in Atchison. Following this he was chief engi- neer for tlie P>lair Milling Company, resigning to take employment as an ex- pert machinist with the Atchison Motor Company until 190S. In that year he engaged in business, and has made a name for liimself in the motor and business world of Atchison. Mr. Hendee is looked upon as one of the rising and successful young business nien of Atchisim, and justly deserves all of the success which has come to him. His marriage with Laura Hall, of Lawrence, Kan., occurred in 1902 and gave him a faithful helpmate who has assisted him in every way to achieve liis present success. Two children were bom of this marriage, Velva and Ken- neth, both deceased. Mrs. Hendee was born in .\ugust, 1879, in Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Nettie (Crow) Hall. nati\-es of Wiscmsin. Slie is a well educated ladv and is a graduate of tlie college at Piurlington, Kan. Mr. Hendee is an independent in political affairs, and is fraternally allied with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Ixdlrnvs, and the Modem Woodmen of America. WILLIAM D. KISTL[^.R. \\'illiam D. Kistler, prosperous farmer of Shannon township, is descend- ant of good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and has lived in Atchison county for thirty-six years. He came to tiiis county from his ancestral home in Pennsylvania, in moderate circumstances, if not actua]l\ ;i ])oor ni;ui, ;uul tlur- ing that time has accumulated a fine fann of 200 acres which ranks among the best and most productive farms of the county. The little shack HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 43 1 in which he and his faniil}- lived when the}- first came tn Ivansas has been superseded Iiy a handsome and comfortalile residence and great sliade trees have grown up around it. The modest "eighty" in which Mr. Kistler invested all of his small capital on his arrival here has grown steadily with substantial additions from time to time as lie was enabled to purchase adjoining tracts. A large red barn alike shows evidence of thrift and good management on the part of the proprietor. W. D. Kistler was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1853, a son of Xathan J. and Catharine ( Dietrich) Kistler, both of whom were born in the adjoining comUy near Lehigh county. Xathan J. Kistler was born April 6, 181 1, and died September 11. 1878. He was a son of Jacob S., who was a son of Samuel Kistler, whose father, John George Kistler, emi- grated with his wife, Dorothia, from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania early in the eighteenth century, arriving in Philadelphia Octoljer 5, 1737. Nathan J. Kistler was a captain of State militia and died at the old home in Lehigh county. Two brothers of W. D. and a sister out of a iamily of nine children settled in the West. After his public school training Mr. Kistler attended the Kutztown, Pennsyb.'inia, Normal School and ])repared himself for the teaching profession. He taught school in his native State for four years, after which he clerked in a general store for four years, previous to migrating to Kansas. He left the old home in Pennsylvania in 1879 and came to Atchison county, Kansas, investing in an eighty-acre tract in Shannon township which he graduallv improved. The small house which he first erected was gradually enlarged as the needs of his family demanded more room and his means permitted. In 1883 he erected the present handsome home, which is one of the most attractive places in the township. Mr. Kistler raises cattle, horses and hogs and feeds his grain products to the live stock on his farm, thus managing to keep up the fertility of his acres and being able to market his farm prorkicts in the most profitable manner. He was married in 1876 to Ellen Brobst, who was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1853, a daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Kimken) Brobst, of Lehigh county, and whose ancestry came from Germany. The)- are the par- ents of five children : Mrs. Alice Bunnell, of Lancaster township, this county : Anna, wife of Samuel Du Bois, also of Shannon township; Calvin, a farmer, residing at the Du Bois home, and assisting in the management of the farm ; Bertha, wife of James Dooley, residing in Shannon township; William, at home, married Catharine W'olters. Mr. Kistler is a Republican in politics, but he has never been an office 432 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY seeker, or sought preferment at the hands of his fellow citizens. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and the members of his family stand well among their neighbors and are highly esteemed by all who know them. ANDREW KEITHLIXE. The late Andrew Keithline enjoyed the distinction of being one of the oldest, if not the oldest living pioneer resident of Atchison. Fifty-six years of his four score and se\en years of life were spent in Atchison and vicinity. In the fulness of his years, and satisfied in the reflections concerning a long and useful Iif« well spent he lived a quiet, retired life in his comfortable home at 1 121 Santa Fe street until the Death Angel called him. He loved to meet his many friends and speak reminiscently of the days when Atchison was in the embryo stage, and of the stirring scenes during the da\s when Kansas was in the throes of becoming an integral part of the great American Union. He was one of the citx's grand old men who was universally loved and respected by all who knew him. He came of that sturdy Pennsylvania German stock, noted the country over for their sterling qualities of endurance and the ability to do their share in the transformation of a wilderness to a land of homes and plenty. Andrew Keithline was born on a farm in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, a son of John and Mar\- (Xeyhart) Keithline. The first Keithline to come to America was Colonel Keithline, who figures ])rominentlv in Rcv-. The school house was quite a structure to be builded in that early day, but the settlers did not complain at the high taxes, since their children had a good place to attend school. The cost was :ibont $3,000, quite a good sized sum for early settlers to expend, but it shows their deter- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 451 mination to provide an education for their children. The first school board was composed of George Storch, Squire Willis and Henry Claunch. ..." Mr. Storch was always greatly interested in the cause of education and after his removal to Atchison he served as a member of the Atchison board of education and was president of this body for a time. While a resident of Kennekuk he was elected to represent Atchison county in the Kansas legis- lature in 1864. During the ensuing session he voted for Gen. James H. Lane for United States senator and voted to ratify the fourteenth amendment to the National constitution. In 1876 he was elected a member of the legisla- ture from the city of Atchison, and during the session following his election he was a member of the ways and means committee and voted for P. B. Plumb for United States senator. Mr. Storch made an excellent record as an able and honest legislator, who had the best interests of his State at heart. He was active in civic and political affairs in Atchison and served as a member of the city council of which body he was president for one year, declining re-election when his tenn of office e.xpired. The following tribute to his ability as a city father appeared in the Atchison Champion of April 6, 1873 : "One of the best councilmen our city has ever had leaves that body after two years' service in it. We refer to Hon. George Storch, chairman of the committee on improvements. He has been industrious, independent, and energetic. Hav- ing the chairmanship of tlie most important and laborious committee, he has given his time and attention to the discharge of the duties devolving upon Iiim, and in tlie decision of all questions in the council he has exhibited a clearness of judgment and a carefulness in guarding the interests of tlie city that entitle him to general commendation. He dechned re-election." Mr. Storch served for three years as city treasurer and exhibited the same judgment and careful management, of tlie city"s affairs in this imunrtant capacity that has marked the performance of his official duties as a council- man and school trustee. It is worthy of record that in 1865, while in Kenne- kuk, he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and served as chairman of that body. Few pioneer citizens of Atchison lived a more useful or busier life than he of whom this review is written. The name of George Storch figures prom- inently in the historical annals of Atchison county as a builder and creator and an honorable and upright citizen, who left behind him when iiis soul winged Jts way beyond the knowledge of mortal ken, a record imperishable, and a name unblemished and untarnished of which his descendants may well be proud. While opportunities for achieving fortune and fame may not be as great at this day as they were in George Storch's time and era, the story of 452 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY this poor Cierman emigrant bi>\- who made his own way in Kansas from pov- erty to affluence and won an honored place in llie liistory of liis adopted'counly and State is well worth reading and may serve as an inspiration and guidance to others of the present and rising generations. THOMAS BROWN. There is considerable satisfaction in writing the life story of a man who has worked his wa}- upward from poverty to a position of wealth and in- fluence in the space of a lifetime, and accomplished it all with his own strong arms and mind. When one adds to this accomplishment the rearing of a large family to lives of usefulness, and to bring up a bevy of young men and women to comfort their parents in their declining years, there is not much for any one individual to w'ish for. Thomas Brown, retired fanner, of Effingham. Kan., has done all of this and is the proud father of one of the largest families in Atchison county. Had lie done no more than to bring into the world his thirteen children, he would have been worthy of praise and been entitled to honorable mention in this volume, as a patriotic and sturdy American citizen. A native of the Emerald isle, he came to America in his youth, and now ranks as one of the Kansas and Atchison county pioneers. Thomas Brown was born in the little village of Altone. Ireland, and is a son of John and Mary (Dalton) Brown. His birth occurred on Eebruary' lo, 1847. His father was a farmer in his native country, and made a good living for his family, later moving to the town of Altone and engag- ing in the transfer business, in which occupation he was fairly successful and enabled to provide for his family in comfort. He was the father of ten children, seven of whom came to America to seek their fortunes in the land of opportunity. The seven who came across the ocean were : J- P. Brown, a pioneer merchant and capitalist, of Atchison, now deceased : Mrs. Bridget Norton, who died in 191 3 at her home in Pittsfield, Mass. ; Mrs. Mary Scully, of Troy, N. Y. ; Mrs. Anna Elkhom, of Troy, N. Y. ; Mrs. Margaret Hewitt, of Independence. Mo. ; Mrs. Kate Waters, deceased, who was the wife of a soldier in the British army. The father of these ch'ldren died in Ireland, and the motlier died in Troy, N. Y. Thomas Brown emigrated from his native land to this country in 1865, and hired out to a farmer in Orange county. New York, at S20 per month. Tlie farm where he was employed was located seventeen miles north of New- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 453 burg, on the Hudson river. He worked there for two years an.d carefully saved his earnings until he had $300. With this capital he set out for the West and joined his brother, J. P. Brown, who was then located in .Atchison. His first employment was on his brother's stock farm, located north of Mon- rovia. Unfortunately, he was taken ill not long after his arrival, and lay sick for a long time with typhoid, all of his savings going to pay for medical services and nursing. He remained on his brother's farm for ten years and laid by another stake during that time. During this period he cultivated three farms, owned by J. P. Brown, who did not require him to pay any rental fees. Even the taxes were paid by his brother who was only anxious to keep the land in cultivation and give his brother. Tom, a start in the world. In the year 1877, Thomas, having saved enough money to buy a farm of his own, invested his savings in a tract of 160 acres of high prairie land, northwest of Effingham, in Benton township. His first land invest- ment cost him $2,250. The land had on it only a small shack which was soon replaced Ijv a comfortable home. It is now one of the best improved places in this section of Kansas, and the Brown farms are among the most pro- ductive in the whole State of Kansas. A handsome white farm house graces the home place, which can be seen for miles around, and it is quite impos- ing. Mr. Brown prospered as he deserved and increased his holdings to the grand total of 640 acres of good Kansas land. The remarkable part about his purchases of land is that he paid cash for every tract of land which he bought and never went in debt for a single acre. This land, pur- chased at varying prices, is now easily worth $125 an acre. Mr. Brown carried on general fanning and live stock raising until February of igii, when he turned over the management of the home farm to his son, and re- moved to Effingham, where he has a beautiful and comfortable residence in the west part of the city. He, of whom this re\-iew is written, was married on October 20. 1869, to Miss Anna Neely. born in Ohio in 1846, a daughter of Samuel Neely, who migrated to Atchison county, Kansas, in 1868. Sixteen children have been born of this marriage, thirteen of whom are living, all of whom are married excepting one daughter and a son : John, a farmer, living near Blue Rapids, Kan. ; Mrs. Ida I-'ishlmrn, living on a farm near Meriden, Kan. ; William. Charley, Frank, and Edward, who are located on their father's ranch ; George lives at Effingham ; Richard, a successful farmer, living south of Muscotah; Mrs. Pearl Dunn, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Ethel Smith, residing in Oklahoma: Edith, at home with her parents; Mrs. Juha Wagner, living near 454 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Mortimer, Kan.; Mrs. Mary Kemp, on a farm near Vermilion, Kan. This worthy couple have thirty-si.x grandchildren. Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics, but is decidedly independent in his voting and making up his mind concerning political questions of the day. He believes in supporting tlie man best qualified to serve the people in a civic capacity, rather than blindly following the dictates of political leaders or so-called bosses, a characteristic of the man in all of his conduct through ■life. He is a member of the Effingham Catholic church and is a liberal sup- porter of this denomination, having contributed liberally toward tlie build- ing of the local church. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons lodge and became a member of this lodge in 1871. It is a matter of historical record that Mr. Brown, Willis Walker and Hump. Henderson, of Effingham, are the three oldest living Masons in Atchison county in point of years of membership in the order. What more honor does a man wish than has l)efallen this Atchison county pioneer? ALBERT H. BL.MR. Albert H. Blair, farmer, of Center townshiii, Atchison county, was born March 6, 1862, near Astoria, III., and is a son of William and Alcinda (McCormack) Blair. He was one of five children, Daisy being the only other survivor. She resides in Center township and is now Mrs. Warner. Two other children died in infancy, and William died while living on the farm which Bert now owns. The father was liorn May 18, 1833, in Browns- ville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was a son of William Blair, and was a glass cutter while living in the East, but when he went to Illinois, he engaged in farming. Later, he farmed in Fulton county, Illinois. In 1863 he came to Kansas and engaged in freighting between Atchison and Denver, with his brother, Edward. They foUmved this exciting occupation about three years, and in that short time had many experiences wliich they related with great delight in after years. They were never attacked by the Indians, for llie reason that tlicy drove in large numbers, with lOO wagons to the train, and the Indians were shy of such a large force. However, one night they thouglit tliat their luck had changed. Mr. Bl.'iir can just barely remember the incident, although his father has told it over so many times that it seems to him as if he remembered the original incident. One night the party camped on the trail between Atchison and Denver, lying asleep HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 455 under their wagons. Indians had been seen that day and the freighting party was a little uneasy, and some of the more nervous members feared an attack. Late in tlie night the mules became frightened and woke up Mr. Blair. William Jumped up, and off in the dark he cnuld see a white object approaching. The cry of "Indians" .went out and rifles were aimed. William shot, but could not hit tlie object. No one else could, for it was very dark and the object could not be seen distinctly. The white object kept approaching, and finally took a definite outline in the darkness. It was a white steer. One night when Indians stampeded the mules of the train, William and a comrade set out in pursuit of the Indians by flaying the mules with arrows and drove them so fast that the pursuers caught up with them by hard exertion and recaptured the horses. These are typical of many narratives which the elder Blair related of his early-day experiences on the plains, .\fter quitting the freighting business, he and his brother engaged in milling in Atchison, Kan. Three years later William sold his interest to his brother, and started a livery business. A year later he went to farming in Doniphan county, Kansas, and moved from one farm to another for several years. In 1882 he was elected sheriff of Atchison county on the Democratic ticket, and his first term was so successful that he was re-elected. After his term expired he continued to live in Atchison for some time. He then bought 160 acres of land in Center township and remained there until 1891, when he removed to Effingham, where he lived in retirement until his death in 1899. The mother of Bert Blair was lx)rn January 11, 1S4.2, in Browns- ville, Pa. She is a daughter of Alonza and Sarah J. fHibbs) McCormack, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They came west in the early days and farmed in Illinois and Iowa. The mother is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Daisy Warner, in Center township, Atchison county. Bert Blair grew up on his fatlier's farm and in .\tchi?on, and was edu- cated in the district schools and the Atchison public schools. He lived at home until he was eighteen years of age when he engaged in railroading. It may liave been the stories of his father about the travelers that prompted him to go into railroading. At any rate he found the adventurous work to his liking and he worked as a fireman on the Missouri Pacific railroad passen- ger train from Kansas City to Omaha, until he was promoted to the posi- tion of locomotive engineer. His run was from Hiawatha to Kansas City, which was a division of the Missouri Pacific then. In 1890 he rented his father's farm, and at the death of the latter, he inherited eighty acres, and he has since increased his holdings to 160 acres. He has Iniilt a fine modern 456 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY barn on his place, 50x54 feet in size, with a capacity of ninety-two tons of hay, and was designed and built by Mr. Blair himself. In 1886 he married Sarah P. Jeffery, who was born February 20, 1869, in Missouri. She was a daughter of Ira P. and Mary (Farley) Jeffery, both of whom were born in Virginia. They came to Atchison county, Kan- sas, in the seventies, and are now deceased. To Air. and Mrs. Blair have been born four children, as follows : Roberta, deceased ; Claude, Effingham, Kan., married Vera Pittman, of Effingham, and has one son, Thomas Albert, who was bom December 24, 1909; William C. who mar- ried Elsie Stickler, of Lancaster, and has two sons, Chester Eugene, born April 23, 1913, and Bert William, born October 20, 1914. A daughter, Sarah, died in infancy in Kansas City. Mrs. Blair died November 20, 1915, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at Lancaster. Mr. Blair is a Democrat. He attends the Methodist church, and is a member of the Eagles and Modern Woodmen of America. GEORGE H. T. JOHNSON. Tiiere is considerable distinction in being the oldest practicing physician in Atchison county, and this well merited honor properly belongs to Dr. George H. T. Johnson, of Atchison, Kan., who for nearly half a century has prac- ticed his profession continuously in the city with ever increasing prestige and success which has never abated during the long period of his career. Dr. Johnson is one of the best loved and well respected professional men of the city who has won his place in the front rank of his profession by sheer merit and ability of a high order. Despite his seventy-tiiree years of age he still continues to minister to the ailing and has kept abreast of the wonderful advances made in medical science. Dr. G. H. T. Johnson was born near Mt. Vernon, Jefferson county, Illi- nois, October 15, 1842, a son of James and Lydia (Cricle) Johnson, the former a native of Connecticut and tlie latter of Illinois. His paternal grand- father, George Johnson, was a soldier in the American army during the War of 1812. The father of Dr. Johnson died when he was an infant and his mother departed this life at the age of seventy-eight years. George H. T. was educated in the public schools of Jefferson county and ]\Iount Vcnion. He remained at home until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted in the , Union army as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Tenth regiment. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 457 Illinois infantry. In September of the same year' tin's regiment was assigned to the command of General Buell, then at Louisville, Ky., and first saw action at the battle of Perryville, Ky., Octol>er 8, 1862. Subsequently, the One Hundred and Tenth was transferred to General Rosecran's army and took part in the great battle of Stone River and the campaign which resulted in the capture of Chattanooga, and the great battle of Chickamauga. He was under General Thomas at the battles of Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. General Grant in person directed the maneuvers of Gen- erals Thomas' and Rosecran's combined forces during these famous engage- ments. Subsequently, his regiment was assigned to the cominand of General Sherman and served under Sherman until the close of the Civil war. He took part in the siege and capture of Atlanta and the famous March to the Sea, which culminated in the capture of Savannah, which city Sherman presented to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift. He also participated in the cam- paign of the Carolinas and was at the last battle fought by Sherman's army at Bentonville, N. C, and at the surrender of the Confederate army under Gen. Joseph Johnston near Raleigh. From there the victorious army marched to Richmond, thence to Baltimore and on to Washington, where they par- ticipated in the Grand Review. Mr. Johnson was honorably discharged from the service and mustered out June 8, 1865. The doctor tells many anecdotes of his long and varied army experience which are all interesting and show that he proved himself not unworthy of the martial blood coursing through his veins and transmitted from his grandfather. Upon his return home from the war Mr. Johnson taught one term of school and then decided to take up the study of medicine and make the science of healing his life vocation. .Accordingly, he entered the Cleveland Homeo- pathic Medical College and subsequently attended the Homeopathic Medical College of St. Louis, Mo., where he was graduated February 26, 1869. While a student at college he heard of the city of Atchison and was impressed with the idea that it would be a good place to locate. After looking around for a few weeks he became convinced that Atchison was a desirable location for a young physician and he came here in April of 1869 and soon built u]) an excellent practice which grew in volume as the years went on. In 1885 Gov- ernor Martin appointed Dr. Johnson a member of the State board of health, and in April of that year he was elected president of the board and retained the position for eight years. He is president of the Atchison board of pension examiners for the LTnited States Government and has acted in that capacity for several years, his service as pension examiner beginning during the term of President Arthur and continuing under the administrations of Presidents 45!^ HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Harrison, McKinlcy, Roosevelt and Taft. lie always takes an interest in tlie hrotliers who f(night in the aiiny under the stars and stripes for the preservation of the American I'nion and does eventhing in his power to aid the old soldiers. He is a charter nienihcr of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Kansas and served two terms as president of this society. He is also a meinher and has been a senior member of the American Institute of Homeo- pathy, the oiliest medical institute in the United States. For many years he has been a member of the American Public Health Association, as well as the County, State, and American Medical Associations. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd hVllows, and tlie .\ncient Order of XTnjted Workmen, and has been a surgeon of John .•\. Martin Post. No. 03. Grand Army of the Reimblic. since its organixation, excepting two years when be served as the post commandei-. Ur. Johnson is a man of wide and thorough experience, broad and tolerant in his views, who h.is comm.uuled tlie ciMifidenee and high esteem of the people of Atch- ison and the sm-ronnding countn- during the many years m which he has been a resilient of the cily. He is one of llie best known men in the county anil holds high rank as a physician whose skill has not suffered alxitement as the years have gone by. Dr. Charles 11. Johnson, his son, practices with Ins father, lie is a gnidu.ite of the Kansas State ITniversily and completed a course in the medi- cal ilepartment of Columbia University, N. Y., and also graduated from the (."ollcge of riiysicians and Surgeons of Xew York Cily. b'or two yeais lie served as staff physici.m of the Roosevelt Hospital of Xew ^'ork City, where he gained a wide ;md \aried experience in the practice of liis profession that has pro\en to be iiualuablc lo him in his later c.arcei'. Since locating in .\tch- ison with his father be lias built up a fine ]iractice ami servetl for ten years as .surgeon of the Orphans" Home at .\tchison. THOMAS C. TREAT. Thomas C. Treat, who is eng.iged in the investment brokei-age business in .\tchi.>^on, is one of the extensive land owners of .Xtchison county. Mr. Treat is a native of Atchison county. lxirn March 26. 1R65. and is a son of Levi .^. and Mary O. (Cooper) Treat, the former a native of Connecticut .and the latter of F.ngl.iiul, ^lary D. Cooper was born in I'.xeter. Devonsliire. b'.ngknul. an.l was ,1 daughter of Tboinas and Man- \ Cooper, The Cooper HISTORY OK ATCHISON COUNTY 459 family immigrated \<> America wluii Mary I), was a eliild. 'I'lie family eon- sisted of the ])arents and tliiee cliildreii. Tliey made 1'ie trip acrtjss tlie Atlantic in a sailing- vessel, the voyage taking six wcoks. 'I'liey located at Covington, Ky., where the parents spent their lives. Mary i^. Cooper had friends living in Atchison, and came here in 1857, where she later met and married Levi S. Treat. Levi S. Treat was lx)rn in Connecticnt in 181 4, and was a .son of Amos Treat, who removed with his family lo the Western Re- serve, which compri.sed twelve counties in northeastern Ohio. The Treat family located in that section in 1828, when Levi S. was fourteen years old, and lliere tlie ])arents spent the remainder of their lives. When a young man, Levi S. Treat was in the employ of the Covernment, l)rospecting for copper in the Lake Suiierior region. lie was thus engaged for eight or ten years, and in 1856 came to Atchison county. Kansas. .Shortly after arriving here, he jireempted 160 acres of land, part of which is now in- cluded within the city limits of Atchison. Here he followed farming and fruit growing in the early days and prospered and acf|uired consideralile land. He dealt rjuite extensively in real estate and was one of the early pro- moters of Atchison, and built the first brick business hou.se in that city. Tliis building was located two doors east of the Ryrum Hotel. Levi S. Treat was a successful business man and one of the substantial citizens of Alchi- .son county. During the Civil war I.e was a colonel of the Twelfth regiment, Kansas militia. He died April 13, 1881, and his wife survived him for sev- eral years, passing away March 29, 19L3. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Kate married .Samuel K. VVoodworth, and they reside in California; Frank resides in Arizona; Thomas C, the subject of this sketch; Alice married George Cuerrier, of Atchison, Kan.; Grace married William Berry, of Atchison, Kan., and Ethel married Harry McHuff, of Omaha, Neb. Tliomas C. Treat was rearerl in AtchisfHi and eflucalcd in the pul)lic schools, and later attended St. Benedict's College. He then was engaged in fniit growing for a number of years, and in 1889 engaged in the investment anrl brokerage business in Atchison, and has continued in that business to the ])resent time. Mr. Treat owns over 1,100 acres of land besides various other interests and investments. He is one of the pi<-;neer fruit growers of .Atchison county, and owns a fifty-acre fruit farm, which has few equals, if any, in the State of Kansas. The trees on this place arc a1x)Ut fifteen years old, and. invlcr normal conditions, are very productive. Mr. Treat has made an extensive study of the fruit business and has developed a scientific system 460 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of treating his trees. He was the first fmit man in Atchison county to use the spray method, and he has been very successful in the fruit business. Mr. Treat was one of the organizers of tlie Union Trust Company, which was later merged into the Exchange State Bank, and has been a direc- tor, or other officer, in that institution since its organization. He is also a stockholder in the Exchange State Bank. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is one of the progressive and public spir- ited citizens of Atchison county. CHARLES H. FUHRMAN. Charles H. Fuhrman, farmer and stockman, of Lancaster township, Atch- ison county, Kansas, was born in Schleasien, Germany, December 13, 1852. He is a son of Ernst and Louise (Heine) Fuhrman, and is their only child. The father was married again, however, and to his second wife, Jo- hanna Gerlach, twelve children were born, as follows : Ernst, Atchison, Kan. ; Caroline (Dierking), Dodge City, Kan.; Louise (Repstein), Jefferson county, Kansas; William, St. Joseph, Mo.; Reinhold, farmer, Lancaster township, Atchison county, Kansas ; Julius, Doniphan county, Kansas ; Trau- got, Center township, Atchison county ; Herman, Lancaster township, Atch- ison county; Paul, Center township, Atchison county; Emma (Schwope), Center township. Two children died in infancy. The father was born in Germany July 8, 1826, and in 1872 came to America and settled in Atchison county, Kansas, where he bought 160 acres of land in section 16, Lancaster town.ship. Tliis was timber and prairie land and there was only a small, poorly built house on it at the time, but during the twenty years wliich he owned it he built several substantial buildings and made numerous improvements. He then sold the place to his son, Herman, and removed to Lancaster, where he lived in quiet, well-earned retirement for five years, when he went to live with his son, Paul, in Cen- ter town.ship. where he died September 2, 19 13. The mother, Louise (Heine) Fuhrman, died in Germany when a young woman in 1852. Charles Fuhr- man's step-mother, Joehanna (Gerlach) Fuhrman, was bom in Germany, and is now living witii her daughter, Emma, in Center township, Atchison county, in her eighty-fifth year. Charles Fuhrman left Germany with his parents when he was nineteen years of age. He had received his education under the German system, and HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 461 had been taught the carpenter's trade, but never followed this occupation after lie came to America. He remained with liis parents, helping his father on the farm in Lancaster townsliip until he was twenty-five years old, when he bought i6o acres of land in section i8, Lancaster township. When he took possession tlie farm had mi improvements, and he first built a house and a barn, and added other improvements and conveniences. He acquired more land until he now owns 390 acres, including eight acres of fine timlier land on his home place and ten acres of timber oh the farm which he rents. He has stocked his farm with graded animals. Be- sides his real estate investments, Mr. Fuhrman is a shareholder in the Huron Telephone Company. He was married in 1878 to Louise Roerchen. who was born in Germany July 16, 1857. She left her native land with her uncle. Karl Schwope, in i860. They came to Wathena, Doniphan county, Kansas. Her mother died on the ocean while coming to America and the little daugh- ter was reared by her grandparents in Doniphan county and attended the grammar sch(.)()l at Wathena. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fuhr- man : Em.st, farmer, Lancaster township, Atchison county; Ida (Tuley), de- ceased; William, Lancaster township; Selma (Lange), Grasshopper town- ship, Atchison county; Edward, living at home; Mallei, also living with her parents. Mr. Fuhrman is a Republican, and has been road overseer of Lan- caster township. He belongs to the Evangelical church, and is a member of the Modern W'oodmen of America. CHARLES LINLEY. A true analysis of the growth and developniL-nt of the man- ufacturing and commercial enterprises of a city invarialily lirings forth the fact that while the interested principals furnished capital, energ}- and ability, its financial institutions were also material factors. The citv of .\tchison is not an exception to the rule. The policy of her banks has been, since the first one was established, to extend assistance to merchants and manufacturers. Both executives and directors have been keenly alive to the fact that a lil)cral policy, in so far as was consistent with sound bank- ing, was essential to commercial growth. Among those who have realized success in this field of activity is he whose name initiates this article. He first entered the banking life of the city in the early nineties, subsequently .sen-ed Atchison county in an official capacity and re-entered financial circles as one of the organizers of the Union Trust Company in 1907, was later elected 462 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY cashier of the Exchange State Bank, and in 1911 resigned to accept his pres- ent position, that of cashier of the First National Bank. Charles Linley was born in the city of Atchison July 10. 1867. and is the only surviving member of the family of Dr. James M. Linley, a pioneer physician of the city and one of her most influential citizens. Dr. Linley was born in Salem. Ky., the son of a pioneer, and was of English descent. He was reared in his native State, received a good academic and classical education, and subsequently entered Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. During the closing years of the Civil war he entered the Union army as a regi- mental surgeon and sened until the close of the conflict. Previous to enter- ing the army he had married Mary A. Hubbard, a daughter of Charles Hub- bard, of Hickman, Ky., a member of one of Kentucky's most prominent families, an influential citizen and a widely known and successful physician. Following his service in the Union army, he came to tiie conclusion that Kansas spelled opportunity for him, and bringing liis family, located in the city of Atchison in 1865. From this time until his death, which occurred November 28, 1900. he continued in the active practice of his profession. He was recognized as one of the most successful physicians and surgeons in northeastern Kansas. He was a man of attractive personality, was intimately acquainted throughout the city and county and licld in tlie highest esteem by all who knew him. His record for continuous years of practice has seldom been equaled in the State. He was a believer in the religion of ileed. and his creed v.-as to do good. He believed in the gospel of help and hope. For forty- five years he lived his creed and preached his gospel to the citizens of his adopted State. He was not only a successful physician but also realized a substantial success in a commercial way. He was directly or indirectly interested in many business enterprises. He was one of the active forces in the organization of liie First National Bank, and from the establishment u^itil his death was a member of its directorate. He and his wife were prom- inent in the social and religious life of the city, and the Linley residence was known for its gracious hospitality which was extended to their many friends with true Kentucky spirit. Dr. and Mrs. Linley were the parents of five children, all of whom, with the exception of our subject, are deceased. Hub- bard Linley, the eldest, was graduated in medicine and became one of the most prominent surgeons in northeast Kansas. He was division surgeon of the Missouri Pacific railway, Atchi.son district. His death occurred in July, igii. Tliomas died in childhood; Victor, on November 20, 1915: and Maria died in childhood. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 463 Charles Linley was reared in the city of Atchison and received his early education in its puhlic schools. Subsequently, he entered Kansas University, where he completed a course in English. He initiated his commercial career in 1887 when he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Atchison in the capacity of collector. In 1892 he was appointed deputy treasurer of Atchison count\-. That he filled this position satisfactorily is attested throug-h his having been electeil treasurer of the county in 1899 and re-elected to that office in 1902. His second term expired in 1905, but he held over until 1907, as the gentleman elected to the office in the fall of 1904 died before being sworn in. The administration of the affairs of this office under Mr. Linley was marked by efficiency, economy and courtesy. During the last two years of this service he was the junior member of the Antle-Linley Grain Company of Atchison, In 1907 he was actively concerned in organiz- ing the Union Trust Company of Atchison, and was elected secretary and treasurer. He filled this position until 1909, when the Exchange State Bank was organized. This institution took over the Union Trust Company, and Mr. Linley Mas elected cashier. He remained w'ith the Exchange State Bank until 191 1, when he was elected cashier of the First National Bank, the insti- tution in which he had received his first business experience some twenty years previous, and in the organization of which his father was an active factor. To the banking fraternity ]\Ir. Linlev is known as an energetic, able and progressive executive, one who has brought the administrative policy of his bank to a point of high efficiency. He has extensive commercial inter- ests aside from the bank. He is a stockholder in the Globe Publishing Com- pany, the Bailor Plow- Company, and the Cain ^filling Company. Since attaining his majority, he has been active in the political life of the county, and is one of the influential members of the Progressive party. Mr. Linley is a member and past exalted ruler of Atchison Lodge, No. 647, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of Atchison Lodge, No. 404, Loyal Order of Moose. On June 26, 1890, in Atchison, Mr. Linley married Miss Roberta Wil- son Riddell, a daughter of Mrs. Josephine E. Riddell. Thev have one child, Robert Wilson Linley, born in Atchison, March 8, 1894. He was educated in the public schools of his native city and graduated from its high school. In 191 1 he entered the law^ department of Kansas University, remaining until 19 1 3, when he entered the University of \\'isconsin, where he completed a course in English. In 191 5 he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Atchison in the capacitv of collector and remittance clerk. 464 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY WILLIAM H. BUSH. William H. Bush, farmer and stockman, of Lancaster township, Atchi- son county, was born January 16, 1856, in Hanover, Pa. He is a son of Elias D. and Sarah (Keithline) Bush, and was one of six children, as fol- lows: William, subject of this sketch; Samuel, deceased; John, deceased; Andrew, foreman of tailoring establishment in St. Louis, Mo. ; Charles F., signal man for the Missouri Pacific railway in Colorado; Minnie, Atchison, Kan. Elias D. Bush, the father, was born December 16, 1834, in Penn- sylvania. He was a stationary engineer and also followed farming for a time. During the eighties he came to Atchison county and took up farming in Sliannon township. For a few years he rented his land, but later bought 160 acres in section 26, Lancaster township, which is now owned by .\mel Markwalt. Elias D. Bush followed farming here until 1904, when he sold his place and removed to Atchison, where he is now living in retirement. William H. Bush's mother was born February 27, 1834, in Hanover. Pa., and died in iSgo, and is buried in Lancaster cemeter}'. William H. Bush attended the common schools in Hanover, Pa., and later worked in the coal mines. In 1876 he left the East and came to Atchi- son county, Kansas, and for five years worked for his uncle, Andrew Keith- line, and then rented land in Shannon township for eleven years. He was successful in this venture, and in 1890 bought the fami of 160 acres which he now fanns, in Lancaster township. When he took the farm it had only the most meager improvements, consisting chiefly of a small liouse and an old barn, both in a dilapidated condition. Mr. Bush has l)uilt a fine eleven-room house and a large barn, 64x60 feet. This liarn cost him 83,000, and he is willing to wager that it is one of the best, though perliaps not the largest, in Alcliison county. He now owns 320 acres of land in Lancaster township and lias a number of head of high grade stock, including Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Bush is a practical farmer, who, with prac- tically no start, has, by hard work and diligent economy, become a man of comfortable circumstances. He holds a position of high esteem among the many acquaintances he has made in Atchison county. On March 30. 1881, Mr. Bush was united in marriage with Ellen J- Christian, a native of the Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish sea lying l)etween Ireland and England. She was born January 24. 1857, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Kneale) Christian, both of whom were natives of the Isle of Man. Mrs. Bush died in February. 191 1. They had six children, as follows : Cora, Atchison, Kan. ; Harry, Atchison, Kan. ; Marv Smithson, B: M- MICHAEI, J. mXES & :a « ii.i.i.v.M n. ursii * <;k<)K(;k noKssOM ®: I® (HAS. 11. FAI.K =[!]= :[*] HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 465 Lancaster, Kan.; Ina, deceased; Sarah, Atchison Kan.; Jessie, Atchison, Kan. On October 29, 1913, Mr. Bush married Mary E. Christian, a niece of his first wife, and a daughter of Charles and Ellen J- (Wade) Christian, natives of the Isle of Man. She was born near Pardee, Atchison county, March 21. 1869, and attended the Catholic parochial school of Atchison. They have no children. Mr. Bush is a Republican and attends the Methodist church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America of Lancaster. He also is a member of the .\tchison County Pro- tective Association, of which he was one of the organizers, and served as president of the association for a number of years. Mr. Bush is one of the most successful farmers in Kansas and is the owner of a highly productive tract of land. As an illustration of his success as a farmer, the records show that from a tract of twenty-one acres there was corn produced at an average of 108 bushels to the acre the first year, ninety-seven bushels to the acre the second year, and eighty-four bushels to the acre the third year, after which the land was sown to wheat in the natural order of crop rotation and the yield was thirty-eight bushels to the acre. Mr. Bush is a fiiTn believer in crop rotation as a means of preserving the fertility of the soil. MICHAEL I. HINES. For an individual to come to Atchison county without funds and with practically no influential friends to assist him to achieve success, it is remark- able for him to accomplish in the rather brief period of twenty-six years as much as has been "done by Michael J. Hines, of Lancaster township, Atchison county. It is apparent that Kansas presents unusual opportunities for a man to better his condition, if one man can accumulate 480 acres of land, liccome president of a flourishing banking concern and a stockholder in another im- portant city bank. The main reason for Mr. Hines' wonderful success must lie in the ability of the man himself," and the reviewer must of necessitv con elude that the power to achieve was inherent in his mental and physical make- up, which, combined with industry, dccidefl financial ability, honestv and uprightness has made him one of the leading citizens of his adopted county. Mr. Hines is a scion of old southern families, and comes of good old Vir- ginia stock on his mother's side, being descended from the well known Hiui- ter family of Virginia, who were among the founders of the Baptist church in the soulldand. Mr. Hines is a large stockholder and director, and was 30 466 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY formerly vice-president of the Antelope Peak copper mines of Arizona. He is the owner of a 320-acre irrigated ranch in the Valier valley of Montana, near Valier. Michael J. Hines was born July 5, 1863, in Roanoke county, Virginia, and was one of tlie twelve children of Henry and Katherine (Jeter) Hines, six of whom are living. The father was bom in Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, in 1833. He was a Confederate soldier during the Civil war, having enlisted in Virginia but was not in any battles during the war. His life was spent in farming except for a time when he speculated in Confederate money. At the close of the war he had a sack full of Confederate scrip which could not be redeemed. He died at his home in Abington, Va., in 1898. His father, Richard Hines, was of Irish descent and was a plantation owner in Virginia. His mother was Sallie (Howmaker) Hines, and was of German descent. The mother of Michael Hines was also a Virginian, having been born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1841. She died in 1890. She was a daughter of Allison Jeter. Her mother was a member of the Hunter family, who were among the first members of the Baptist church. Michael Hines was reared and educated in Virginia and left that State in 1883 when he was twenty years of age. settling in Morgan county. Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for six years. He then came to Atchison, Kan., and was engaged as foreman 1iy the Greenleaf & Baker Grain Com- pany. Six years later he bought his present farm of 160 acres. It was un- improved and none of the land was broken. Since buying the land he has made $10,000 worth of improvements on his place and has set out fifteen acres of orchard. This evidence speaks for the thrift and good judgment of Mr. Hines. He also has bought 480 acres of land in Lancaster township. He is a live, progressive farmer and stock raiser and keeps graded stock of all kinds on his farm. Mr. Hines is a shareholder and president of the Lan- caster State Bank, and is also a stockholder in the German-American Bank of Atchison, Kan. In politics Mr. Hines is a Democrat, but votes inde- pendently in county and State affairs, and for the individual. Mr. Hines was married in i8go at Alexander, 111., to Lillie Kaiser, who was born August 27, 1870, and six children have been born to this union, as follows: Samuel, who was graduated from the Atchison business college, and is now farming at home; Frank, Helen, Louise and Lillian, all living at home, and one died in infancy. Mr. Hines is a member of the Methodist church and is a trustee and steward in the Shannon Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows of Lancaster, Kan. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 467 CHARLES H. FALK. Charles H. Falk, of Shannon township, is the owner of the first tract of land which was filed upon in the Atchison count}- land office in 1854. This farm was preempted by Capt. William Jackson, who was a justice of the peace and a captain of home guards during the Civil war, and died at Ft. Worth, Tex., in 191 1. The first house built on the place was made from material taken from the cabin of a river steamer sunk in the Missouri river. Henrv Falk, father of Cliarles. and his son, have made so many excellent improvements on the dwelling that the dining room of the present resi- dence is the only part of the old cabin now in use. This part of the home was built in 1857. The original owner set out a grove of cottonwoods in 1857 which was cut down in the fall of 1892 by the present proprietor, and erected a barn from the lumber sawed, which made over 112,000 feet of good mercliantable lumber. Mr. Falk's barn \\as built from this lumber, with the exception of the shingles. Captain Jackson sold the land to Frank Fislier, who died in 1877, six months after the purchase, and it was bought by Henry Falk, father of Charles H., in 1878. After Henrj- Falk's death, Charles H. came into possession of the land by inheritance, and bv purchase of the inter- ests of the other heirs. He has made very extensive improvements since be- coming the owner and despite that the soil has been in constant cultivation for more than sixty years the yield of crops is greater now than ever before, and the wheat crops in late years have exceeded twenty-two bushels an acre. The farm residence is attractively situated, in the center of the tract of 155 acres and is reached by a splendid driveway, kept in first class condition by Mr. Falk. In fact, the private road to the Falk residence is kept in far better condition than many of the country roads in Atchison county, and is in keep- ing with the general appearance of this fine farm. Charles H. Falk was born May 23, 1864, in Watertown, Wis., a son of Henry, born in 1815, and died, 1894, and of Wilhelmina (Clout) Falk, born 1819, and (lied m 1901. Both parents were born on the River Rhino in Ger- many, and married in their native land. Henry Falk was a cabinet-maker and immigrated to Wisconsin in 1857, and worked at his trade until 1866, when he settled on a farm. He came to Atchison county with his family in 1879, a"d on February 2, of that year, moved on the fann whicli he had purchased the preceding year. Charles H. Falk was married in 1885 to Elizabeth Wolters, a daughter of John Wolters, a native of Holland, who was one of the first brickmakers in Atchison and Doniphan counties. John Wolters emigrated from Holland 468 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY to Doniphan county. Kansas, in 1857. and came to Atchison in 1858. Dur- ing his long residence in Atchison he has been a manufacturer of brick, and the results of his handiwork are seen in the construction of many of the brick buildings in the city. Mr. W'olters was born in Ma\-. 1827. and is now over eighty-nine years of age and the oldest Atchison county resident at the pres- ent time. He lives a retired life on South Second street. Mr. and Mrs. Falk iiave children as follows: Joint H., a resident of Beattie, Marshall county, married Margaret Gressel, and they have two children. Karl and Pauline; Henrv. in the employ of the Symns Grocer Company ; Anna, a seamstress, liv- ing with her parents ; Rose, wife of John McGrath. a traveling salesman for the Symns Grocer Company, and they have one child. Rosemary ; Herbert, aged twenty years, and Irene, aged ten years, both of whom are at home with their parents. 'Sir. Falk and his family are members of St. Benedict's Catholic Church, and Mr. Falk is a member of the chtuTh committee of four councilors. He is a Democrat, but is inchned U> be independent in his voting, having a decided leaning toward the support of those candidates that seem best fitted for the t>ffice. He has filled n(^ civic office but that of township trustee, which he held for one year, having been appointed by the county commis- sioners to fill a vacancy in Shannon township. He is affiliated with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the Central Protective Association and is a mcml)er of the St. Jose])!! societv. GEORGE DORSSOM. George Dorssom. fme of the oldest living pioneer settlers of Lancaster township in point of residence, now living retired at Lancaster. Atchison county, was born August 4, 1864, in Lancaster township, Atchison county. He is a .son of George and Sophia (Storm) Dorssom. and was one of thir- teen children, four boys and five girls of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch was the seventh child of the family. The father of George Dorssom, whose name also was George, was born in Germany January 8, 1820. He sailed to .\merica and settled in New Orleans when a young man and worked as a tailor there. He then went to Wayne county, Ohio, where he worked as a tailor for a time, when he engaged in farming. In tS6o he came to Atchison county, Kansas, and bought forty acres of prairie land in section 21, Lancaster township, which he broke with oxen. He farmed on HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 469 this place until his death in January. 1895. He came to America a stranger and without funds, but b}^ hard work he accumulated considerable means and reared ten out of a family of thirteen children. His wife, Sophia, was a de- voted help-mate, and when they were struggling- to make their farm pay. she would load up a small hand wagon with vegetables and garden truck and pull it to Lancaster, where she would sell or exchange the produce for goods. This trip was two miles, and it was a great exertion for Mrs. Dorssom. but she was glad to be able to help her husband in whatever way she could. After the death of her first husband she was married again on February 19, 1896, to Jacob Merkel, a native of Germany. He died March 12. 1908. His wife is still active, despite her age, and lives in Lancaster with a maid. She is able to be about her work and takes a keen interest in life. Her children are : Mrs. Margaret Klep])e, a widow, residing in Brown county, Kansas; Mrs. Katherine Hinz. a widow. Lancaster, Kan: ; John, fanner, Lancaster town- ship; Mrs. Caroline Kloepper, deceased; Mrs. Sophia Myer, living in Sol- dier. Jackson county. Kansas ; Adam, Lancaster township ; Louisa Henrietta, dead: ]\Irs. Lizzie Myer. of Lancaster; Dora W.. deceased; Adam, of Lan- caster, Kan. ; Mrs. Louisa Fridel. Brown county. Kansas ; Henry, farmer, and three children who died in infancy. She has forty-five grandchildren and fifteen great-gi-andchildren and is very proud of them all. Her descend- ants all earn.- the idea of an industrious woman with them and the in- fluence of the life of this woman will stay with them all through their lives. George Dorssom, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm of his father. He attended school in tb.e Bell district and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He then bought eighty acres of land from his father in section 21, Lancaster township, and followed farm- ing for fifteen years. He has added. forty acres to his farm and made exten- sive improvements to the extent of $7,000. He now owns 138 acres of land and a fine residence with about five acres of residence property in Lancas- ter. Kansas. Mr. Dorssom was a breeder of Berk.shire hogs, to which he paid special attention. In 1909 he retired and moved to Lancaster, Kan. He is a Republican and was a member of the city council for four years, h'or a tenri of seven years he was road supervisor of Lancaster township. He has alwavs taken an active interest in public affairs of his community. He has led a useful life and looks back on one of the longest careers of living citizens who were born in Atchison county. He has traveled in many parts of the United States, but is glad to have settled down in retirement in Atchison county, believing it to be the happiest country he has ever seen. On December 31, 1890, Mr. Dorssom married Hulda Hinz, wlm was 470 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY born in Germany October i, i860. She came to America when she was twenty years old. Her father, Edward Hinz, died in Germany in 1895, at the age of fifty-eight years. Tlie mother. CaroHne (Lutce) Hinz. came to Atchison county, Kansas, in 1896, and now resides at Leavenworth. Mrs. Dorssom attended school in Germany. She was one of nine children. A brother, Richard, is a florist at Leavenworth, Kan., and two brothers are in tlie same business, one, Rudolph, at St. Joseph, Mo., and the other, Amiel, at Leavenworth. Mr. and Mrs. Dorssom have no children, but they adopted a child, Gustave Hinz, a nephew of Mrs. Dorssom. They reared and educated him, and he is now farming on the home place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dorssom are members of the English Lutheran church. He is a char- ter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been a mem- ber of the Lancaster Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 355, since October, 1891, nearly twentv-five years. Mrs. Dorssom is a charter member of the Daugh- ters of Rebekah Lodge, No. 431. CYRUS E. DAVIS. Cyrus E". Davis, founder and proprietor uf the firm C. E. Davis & Sons, plumbing and heating contractors, at 509 Kansas avenue, is one of Atchison's leading citizens, and a successful business man who has liuilt up his business from a modest l;eginning in a few short years. Fie first started with a small simp on Commercial street, and in October. 1914, moved to his present location. A complete stock of .plumbing, heating and steam fitting goods is carried in the shop, exceeding a value of $2,500. The excellence and thor- oughness of the work done bv the Davis establishment is marked, and the business is constantly on the increase. .Mr. Davis was born October 10, 1864. in I-'rederick county. Maryland, son of George W. and Belinda (Saunders) Davis. The Davis family is a ^■ery old one of W'elsli extraction in America. The founders of this family were four brothers, who crossed the ocean and left their native land of Wales cari\- in llie se\enleentli century. George W. Davis was also born in I'rcd- erick county. Maryland, and became a contractor and builder, lie followed his trade in his native State until 1873, when he migrated to Nebraska with his family. Later he went to Texas, where he died in 1900. He was the father of nine sons, as follows : George W., a contractor and builder, of David City, Neb. ; Harry ^^^, a building contactor, of Houston, Texas ; Theo- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 47I dore E., a contracting painter, of Columbus, Neb. ; Mahlon, a tailor, located in Xorwalk, Ohio; William M., deceased; Lewis A., a tinner and coppersmith, of San Bernardino, Cal., in the emplo\' of the Santa Fe railroad; Cyrus E., with whom this review is directly concerned ; Frank H., business agent for the Carpenters' Union of Oklahoma City, Okla. The mother of these chil- dren was also born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1825. a daughter of Mr. and ]\lrs. Walter Saunders, natives of England, ^^^alter Saunders came of a good English family and studied in a boarding school of Southhampton. England, and became a school teacher in Marvdand. He had the distinction of having taught for forty years in one school district in Frederick county, Maryland, and became well-to-do. Mrs. Davis died in 1889. Cyrus E. Davis was educated in the public schools of Columbus. Neb., learned his father's trade when a young man, and after taking a correspon- dence course in bridge engineering, he entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company as bridge constructor. He remained with this road for five years and came to Atchison in 1886. He was employed by the Missouri Pacific Railway Company until 1905 and then entered the plumbing and heating department of the Farwell Heating Company for one and one- half years, and then became foreman for the Thayer Supply Company of Atchison. In tlie year 1912 he started a shop of his own on Commercial street and was successful from the start. It became necessary for him to seek larger quarters, and in October of 1914 he moved his Inisiness and shop to his present location. Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Ida Mayhood in 1889, and to this union have been born seven children, as follows: Frank M., George E., Reynold. Fred. Norma. Charles, and Verner, deceased. .All of Mr. Davis' sons are associated with him in his business, and have learned to become expert plumbers and steamfitters under their father's tutelage. The mother of these children was born November 9. 1869, in Leavenworth county, Kan- sas, a daughter of George and Mary (Carr) Mayhood. natives of Ireland, and Canada, respectively. George Mayhood emigrated from Ireland in an early day and settled in Leavenworth county about 1865, where he engaged in farming. He and his wife were married in Lowell, Mass. Mr. Davis is a Republican, and lias taken an acti\c and influential part in the civic life of his adopted city, having served two terms as a member of the city council. He and his family are members of the Christian church, and he is fraternally connected with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Active Lodge, No. 158. and the Modern Woodmen of America, in lioth of which lodges he is much interested. 472 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY HENRY BUTTRON. Tlie life story of Henry Buttron, late of Lancaster township. Atchison county, Kansas, reveals the accomplishments of a poor German emij;^rant, wlio began his career in Kansas witli nn money, and rose to become the practical leader of the German colon)- in the township, and to amass considerable wealth. His large farm of 960 acres wliich he owned at the time of his demise was left intact, to be held in tnist for liis children and heirs. Henry Buttron was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, October 12, 1831, and he was one of the five sons of Jacob and Margaret (Zimmer) But- tron, two of whom came to America from their native land. Two brothers of the family, Frederick and Henry, came to America in 1852; Frederick settled in Pittsburgh, as did Henry, and he resided there until 1854, and then came to the \\'est. In his native land. Henry Buttron had learned the trade of blacksmitli ; he worked at his trade in Pittsburgli. and after he came west, he was employed as a smith at Elgin, 111., until 1S57. He then came to Kansas and preempted a claim on section 22, Lancaster township, Atchison county. He brought a small amount of money with him, and was enabled to build a very small house, and then began to improve his farm. The crops failed in i860, and he found it necessary to resort to the hammer and anvil in order to gain a livelihood for himself and his family. He, accordingly, removed to Atchison and was employed at his trade by Tom Ray, of the firm of Ostertag & Carmichael, and Anthony & Ostertag, consecutively for nine }ears. He then returned to his claim, redeemed the unpaid ta.xes, and entered upon a new era of progress and industry wliich led to his great success in the ensuing years. In 1882 he erected a large, handsome farm house, which at tlie time was one of the most conspicuous homes in the county. He added to his pos- sessions as he was able, and accumulated a total of six quarter sections of good land, of 960 acres in all, all of which he left to his widow, who resides on the old home place. Henry Buttron was married in Atchison, Kan., in 1866, to Rosa Scheu, whose father, Andrew Scheu. came from \\'ittenberg. Germany. The fol- lowing children were born to this union: Rosa, wife of Louis (jerliardt, of Atchison: Emma, wife of Charles Kammer, of Lancaster township: Kate and Jacob, at home; Henrj', who married Bertha Kemmer: I'red. married Louise Meek, lives near Nortonville. Kan. : Anna, wife of George Schulz, Lancaster township: Karl, married Anna Hegland, Lancaster township: William, George and Louis, at home. The mother of tlicsc children was liorn in Germany, in HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 473 May, 1845, and came to America with her parents when nine years of age. She was a daughter of Andrew and Rosena ( Baner ) Sclieu, both deceased. Mrs. Buttron has grandchildren as follows: Kathrine. Rosa and Hen- rietta Kamnier ; Henry Buttron's children, three, Clarence, Esther and Kulb : Fred Buttron has three children, Karl, Ralph, Mildred; Mrs. Anna Schuiz has two children, Gilbert and Karl : Mrs. Rosa Gerhardt has one son, William ; Karl Buttron has one cliild, Edward; Jacub Buttron has four ciiildren, Ber- tha. Emma, Alice and }onn. Henr\- Buttron died h'eljruary 8, 1913. During the Civil war he was a member of the Kansas State militia, and was in the engagement fought at Westport, and wiiicli resulted in the rout uf the forces of the rebel general. Price. Mr. Buttron always took a keen interest in local and county affairs, and took a prominent part in affairs of importance to the well being of the people. He was always modest and unostentatious in his conduct, and was greatly respected b}- the people of his neighborhood for his codI judgment and patriotism at all times. Henry Buttron was a good citizen, and a kind parent who was highly esteemed b)- all who knew him. W. H. SMITH. Some men are natural organizers and blessed with sucli a deep love for the well being of their fellowmen that their activities are to a considerable extent devoted to spreading the gospel of good fellowship among mankind. The social and fraternal orders wItIcIi are popular among men of any local- ity are simply the outgrowth of that desire, for the realization of a great dream for the "Brotherliond of Man," which was predicted 2,000 years ago. .\ man who furtliers the growth of organizations whici: have the welfare of the individual, singl\- and collectivel}', at heart is doing a con- siderable amount of definite good for the Ijetterment of social conditions. Such a citizen is W. H. Smith, the widely known and efficient clerk of the district court of Atchison, county, and a likeable and able personality, who figures prominentlv in the history of his countv. Mr. Smith was torn Feliruary 3, 1855, at Knoxville, 111. \\c is a son of John and Harriet (Gibbons) Smith, natives of England. John Smith, the father, was horn in 1808, and died in the year 1863. He was a scion of an English family and was a graduate of Oxford University. He became a contractor and builder in his native land, l>ut immigrated to America with liis 474 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY wife and three children in 1852. setthng; in Knoxvilie, 111., where he died eleven years later. He was the father of the following children : Mrs. Sarah Ann Simpson, deceased; Mrs. Harriet Ann Webb, of Burlington Junction, Mo. ; Charles E., of Sierra Blanca, Texas, emploj-ed as a stationary engineer by the Texas Pacific railway since 18S0. The mother of tliese children de- parted this life February 2, 1890, aged seventy-eight years, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Simpson. W. H. Smith was reared in Knoxvilie, 111. Being left an orphan at an early age, by the death of his father, it was necessary for him to start work when a toy and practically earn his own living and educate himself. By working on neighboring farms during the spring and summer he was en- abled to attend school during tlie winter months, and succeeded in attend- ing the Knoxvilie high school. He did farm work until 1865 and then learned the printing trade in Knoxvilie. being attached to the staff of the Knoxvilie Republican during the winter of 1866 and '67, and remained un- til 1874 in that capacity. At the early age of twenty years he wedded Elmira Kistler, and tlien settled on a farm in Lehigh county. Pennsylvania, on which was located a tannery. He operated botl: farm and tannery until 1880. when he decided to cast his fortunes in the western country. March 2. 1880, he came to Atchison with his family and moved to a farm near Good Intent, five miles northwest of Atchison. The year before this he had made a trip to Atchison county and invested in eighty acres of land which was partly im- proved. He developed this tract into a very fine fann and sold it at a con- siderable advance over and above the purchase price in 1895. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Smith removed to Atchison and for three years served as night agent at the union station for the Wells, Fargo and American Express com- panies. He then bought an interest in the Home Show Printing Company, and was connected with this concern in active capacity for a period of twelve years, or until 1905. The printing company was then taken over by other parties and he continued working in the office until 1909. During his residence in Atchison cnuntv previous to this time. Mr. Smith had Ijecome prominently identified with the Republican party and had be- come known as a "wheel horse" of the organization and universally esteemed by the rank and file of the party. He was elected to the office of clerk of tlie district court in the fall of 1908, and togan tlie duties of his office in January of 1909. He was reelected in 1912 and again in 1914. He was elected without opposition from any source in 1912, and overcome his op- ponent in 1914 by the immense plurality of 3,010 votes. For a period of three years he was secretary of the Republican centra! com- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 475 mittee. and was for six years a member of the first Atchison county liigh school board, being one of the surviving memlaers of the original board which erected the county high school at Effingham, and was likewise a member of the board which rebuilt the school house when it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Smith was a member of this board while still a resident of the county and took a prominent part in the inauguration of this worthy institution, which has been so much appreciated by the people of Atchison county. In religious matters Mr. Smith is identified with the Episcopal church. Probably no man in Atchison county is identified with a greater number of fraternal organizations than is he. He became a member of the Odd Fellows August 2, 1882, and is also a member of the encampment. Since January I, 191 5, he has served as a secretary of Friendship Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 5, and has been scribe of the encampment for the past fifteen years. For eighteen years he has been secretary of the board of trustees of the Odd Fellows lodge and is affiliated with the Rebekahs, and is a mem- ber of the canton. Since 1880 he has ben a member of the Central Protec- tive Association and was practically its originator, and has been the grand secretary of the order since 1886. The first of the annual outings and picnics held by this famous association was conducted in the grove on Mr. Smith's farm. Visitors and guests to the number of 10,000 people have attended these picnics. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men since 1895, and recorder of the order for thirteen years. He is a mem- ber of the Woodmen of the World and has been tlieir banker for six years past. He is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security; the Kansas Fraternal Citizens; a member of Atchison Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 173, and its secretary since 1904. Before removing to Atchison he was secretai-y of the Central Protective Association at Good Intent for five vears. He is at present serving his second term as State secretary of the Kansas Eagles, and has held various offices in the State aerie, including the impor- tant post of State representative. Since 1895 Mr. Smith has been a member of the Modern Woodmen ; is a member of the Fraternal Aid Union, and the Improved Order of Red Men, and is an honorary member of the Typographi- cal Union. Mr. Smith's hajjpy wedded life began July 4, 1874. when he married Elmira, daugliter of Joel and Matilda Kistler, of Lehigh countv, Pennsvl- vania, meml)ers of an old Pennsylvania family. Joel Kistler was a large land owner and tannery operator in Lehigh county. He and his brother, Stephen, operated a number of tanneries, and were extensive farmers, and were very wealthy. Joel Kistler came west, located in Knoxville, III, and invested 4/6 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY lieavily in Illinois land. He died at Stony Run, Berks county, Pennsylvania. i^/lrs. Kistler died at Schnecksville, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born the_ following children : Estella, born July 14, 1875, deceased; Harriet Matilda, born June 6, 1876, wife of J. A. \\'ilkinson, of Hershey, Pa., and the mother of two children, John J., aged twelve years, and Michael aged eight years; Isabelle, born December 15, 1880, wife of Dr. J. E. Exter, of Atchison, and mother of one child, Eugene, aged five years ; Pearl, born Octo- ber 12, died April 25, 1890; Helen, born May i, 1885, wife of R. H. Jones, chief train dispatcher for the Missouri Pacific railroad at Falls City, Neb., and mother of one child, Mary Elmira, aged six years ; Frank Gibbons Smith, born August 8, 189 1, and died February 23, 1901. W. H. Smith is considered as one of the best officials who has ever filled a county office, and he is held in high esteem for his many excellent qualities. To his many friends and associates he is affectionately known as "Big Bill," an appropriate name on account of his large stature, and an ap- pellation which can well be applied to his heart and mind. While large of body, he is also big-hearted and blessed with a breadth of mind and good will which embraces all mankind. JOSEPH W. ALLEN. For over forty-five years Joseph W. Allen, veteran, merchant, and descendant of an old and distinguished colonial family, has been identified witli the civic and mercantile life of the city nf Atchiscjn. He comes of rugged New England stock, noted for their integrity, honest}- and proverbial industry throughout the United States, and has been one of the builders of Atchison's largest wholesale grocery house. Mr. Allen has grown up with Atchison, and has come to be one of its Ijest known and liighly rcsi)cctcd citizens, hax'ing risen from moderate circumstances at the outset of his career to a position of affluence and decided prestige among the commercial men of northeast Kansas. Joseph W. Allen was born in Craftsbury, Orleans county, Vermont, March 2, 1841, a .son of Hollis F. and Sophia (Root) Allen, natives of Massachusetts. The father was a merchant and when a young man removed from his native State to Craftsiiurv', Vt., where he was engaged in the mer- cantile business for a numlier of years, and in the latter part of his life he come to Atchison. Kan., dying in 1874. He had three sons who served in HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 477 the Union ami}-: Frank H., who later came to Atchison and was a member of the wholesale drug finn of McPike & Allen; George R. Allen, a retired manufacturer, living- at Alton, 111., and Joseph W., with whose career this re\-iew is directly concerned. A daughter, Anna 'H., wife of the late Frank Howard, founder of the Frank Howard Manufacturing Company of Atchi- son, died in 191 5 at her home in this city. Another daughter, Nellie, makes her home with her brother, Joseph W.. in Atchison, and is now in Honolulu. The Allen family is of Scotch origin, and Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, was a member of the same family. Mr. Allen was reared to manhood in Vermont and received a good com- mon school education, attending the Craftsbury Academy. On Octolier 2, 1861, in answer to the President's call for volunteers to defend the Union, he enlisted for three years in Company I, First regiment, Vennont cavalry. He was mustered in with the regiment November 19, 1861, at Burlington, Vt., as bugler, and was mustered out of the service November 18, 1864. He left Btndington December 12. 186 1, for Washington, D. C, and remained there with his regiment until Februar}-, 1863. at which time he was detailed at General De Forest's headcjuarters as musician, .\ftcrwards, he was de- tailed to General -Kilpatrick's headquarters as musician and remained there until (reneral Wilson took command of the division in April, 1864. He was then detailed to (General Sawyer's heailqunrters until October, 1864. at which time he came to BurlingtDU Vt., where lie was mustered out of the service. Mr. Allen was in thirty-seven engagements during his three years of service. and v.^as never wounded nor captured, nor was he absent from duty a single day on account of sickness. His regiment did- notable service under Generals Sheridan and Custer, and he was engaged in the famous battle of Winches- ter. An incident of Mr. Allen's army career is well worth recording. He effected, single handed, the capture of four Confederate soldiers, and the story of the capture is one of the historical incidents of the great conflict. The incident took place near Lightersville, Md., and it was afterthe regiment had taken part in the battle of Huntersville, Pa., July 2, 1863, and the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, the battle of Monterey on the Fourth of July, Lightersville nn July 5. and (ui the sixth nf July occurred the battle of Hagers- town. The men were all fatigued and had been deprived of both sleep and rest for .several nights in succession, Joseph Allen among the rest. When they had ridden nearly all night to a point near Lightersville, they halted for rest in the small hours nf the nmrning. Many were dismounted and fell asleep on the ground, Mr. .\llen doing likewise. He slei)t so soundly, how- ever, that when he awoke his comrades were gone. It was dark and he was 478 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY uncertain in which direction the command had gone. He mounted his horse and let the animal pursue its own way without guidance. Dashing down the road, horse and rider came out into a main highway and unexpectedly came upon four men who .were as much taken by surprise and fright as ,\llen himself. The rebels, supposing that there was a larger number of Union men following, made haste to surrender without waiting for an invi- tation. .Mien promptly accepted their surrender and took iheni along to the main body which was some distance ahead. His prisoners proved to be a major, a captain and two lieutenants of the Eighth Georgia regiment. Mr. Allen rode during the war a very sensible and intelligent cavalry horse, and thereby hangs a tale. In one of the cavalry engagements in which he participated he and his comrade were riding together under heavy fire. His riding partner was shot from the saddle and Mr. .Mien felt his own horse sinking under him. Believing that the animal was mortally hurt he dis- mounted and jumped on the back of his dead comrade's mount and rode away to safety. That night while lying in his blankets with the earth for his couch and the starlit sky for a canopy overhead he felt something soft and gentle nudging him. Startled, he arose hastily and was overjoyed to find that it was his favorite horse which had returned safely, but badly wounded, from the battlefield, and had hunted out his master from among the hundreds of recumbent and sleeping fomis on tlie camping ground. He returned to Craftsbury after his war service and engaged in mer- cantile business which he continued until 1870, when he came to Atchison at the solicitation of his brother, Frank H., who was at that time tlie junior member of tlie firm of McPike & .'Mien, wholesale druggists of Atchison. Mr. Allen entered the employ of the company as traveling salesman and was thus engaged for a period of three years. He then embarked in tlie grocery business in partnership with Colonel Ouigg under the firm name of (juigg & Allen. Colonel Ouigg commanded the Thirteenth Kansas infantrv regi- ment during the Civil war. The firm of Ouigg & .Mien carried on a whole- sale grocer)' business for alx)ut three years. Then Mr. Allen purchased his partner's interest, and three years later consolidated with the A. B. Symns Grocer Company. A. B. Symns became the president of the company and Mr. Allen became vice-president. When Mr. Symns died in 1005 Mr. .Mien became president and held the position until iqii when he retired from active participation in the business, although he still retains a substantial in- terest in the company. Mr. Allen was one of the dominant individuals in the development of the Symns Grocer Company in the extensive concern which it is at the present time. When he joined forces with Mr. Symns their HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 479 combined capital did not exceed $15,000, and during his period of associa- tion with this company their business developed into enormous proportions, and the capital of the Symns Grocer Company now amounts to $300,000. Mr. Allen was a natural salesman and had complete charge of the traveling sales department of the Symns Grocer Company, and, in fact, during the first few years was the entire traveling sales force himself. Later, as additional salesmen were added to the force he continued to direct the sales department of th-; business. Mr. Allen is a prominent factor in the business world of Atchison, and is vice-president of the Atchison Savings Bank. He is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in his political views is absolutely independent. RALPH U. PFOUTS. Ralph U. Pfouts, a leading young attorney of Atchison, is a native son of Atchison county. He was born at Monrovia December 4, 1890, and is a son of William A. and Ollie (Sharpless) Pfouts. William A. Pfouts, the father, is also a native Kansan, born in Nemaha county in 1861 and is a son of James and Caroline (Kellam) Pfouts, natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married, and in i860 came to Kansas, locating in Nemaha county. The father. James Pfouts. died a few months after coming to this State and his wife returned to Pennsylvania with her little family. A few years later, however, the Pfouts family returned to Kansas, locating at Lancaster, Atchison county, and here William A. Pfouts was educated and reared to manhood. Pie followed farming in early life and for eighteen years was a school teacher. In 1896 he engaged in the general mercantile business at Lancaster. To William A. and Ollie (Sharpless) Pfouts were born two children, as follows : Ralph, the subject of this sketch, and Mabel, deceased. The wife and mother died in 1901, and in 1905 William A. Pfouts married Miss Sadie M. Monnies. Ralph U. Pfouts was educated in the public schools of Atchison county, and Kansas University, at Lawrence, Kan., graduating from the law depart- ment of the latter institution with the class of 19 14. Shortly after graduat- ing he passed the State bar examiisation and engaged in the practice of his profession at Atchison where he is meeting with well merited success. He has appeared in connection with important litigations in both the State and Federal courts and is enjoying a lucrative practice. He possesses the natural 480 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY qualities of an able lawyer and is an untiring student, and those who know him best predict for him a successful career in his chosen profession. Politic- ally, he is a Republican. Mr. Pfouts is a member of the Ancient Order of United \Vorkmen, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Atchison Aerie No. 173, Fraternal Order of Eagles. OLE G. GIGSTAD. Ole G. Gigstad, farmer and stockman. Lancaster township, was born in Norway, October 25, 1856. He is a son of Gulick and Anna (Grannan) Gigstad. He was one of seven children, one of whom is now dead. Four sons and one daughter are now living in the United States. A brother, Knud G. Gigstad. is also a farmer and stockman in Lancaster township. The father was a native of Norway and spent his life there. Ole Gigstad left Norway m May, 1883, and came to Atchison county, Kansas, where he worked a year for his brother, Knud. Then for three years he rented a farm from his uncle in Brown county, Kansas, and in 1887 bought the fann in Lancaster township. It is an eighty acre farm and ]\Ir. Gigstad has made improvements to the extent of $5,000, including a fine house and barn. He now owns 320 acres of well improved land, 160 acres of which are being farmed liy his oldest son, Gustave. and it has a comfortable residence. Ole Gigstad attended school in Norwa\-, but wlien he sailed for America he could not speak the English language, and when he arrived here he was in debt to the extent of fifty dollars, which was an additional handica]). But his industry has brought him to the front rank of Atchison county farmers. He owns a fine herd of graded stock and is a successful farmer and stockman. He rented eighty acres additional in 1915 and he had 100 acres in corn last year. Mr. Gigstad was married in 1888 to Sevcrine Knudson. who was born in Norway, September 23, 1866. She left her native land in the spring of 1883 and settled at Everest, Kan., where her brothers were living at the time. ' In 1884 she removed to St. Joseph, Mo., where she worked four years. Her parents were Knud and Inger Sofie (Berntson) Knudson, natives of Norway. Her father was born in 1814. and immigrated to America in 1891, coming to Atchison county, Kansas, where he lived with his children until liis death, in 1894. The mother was born in 1827, and died in her native country in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Gigstad have eight children: Gustave A., farming the 160 acres HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 481 west of his father's farm ; Ida, Charles, Albert, Emma, Edna, Alice, Benjamin, all living at home. Mr. Gigstad is a member of the Lutheran church and is a Republican. JOHN H. BARRY. John H. Barry, cliairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Atchison, is one of the well known citizens of the city who has figured in the development of Kansas, especially the eastern portion of the State, for a period of many years. For fifty-seven years he has been a resi- dent of the State, and has made his own way from comparative poverty in his youth, to a position of affluence which compares most favorably with that of the men of his day with whom he has been associated. lie has seen the Sunflower State develop from a wilderness, unsettled and unpeopled, except by the wild animals and Indians, to become one of the fairest and greatest of the sub-divisions of the American Union. He is proud of Atchison and her prestige, and has played no small part in the task of advancing his adopted city to the forefront of western municipalities. J. H. Barry is of Celtic origin, having been born in the city of Boston, of Irish parents, in 1849. His parents, Michael and Ellen (Roach) Barry, were natives of County Cork, Ireland, wliere they were reared and mirried, and crossed the Atlantic to seek their fortune in the new world. Settling in Bos- ton in the early forties, Mr. Barry plied his trade of tailor with fair success and owned and conducted his own tailoring establishment. Fie died there when John H. was a small boy. His widow, accompanied by her son, then journeyed across the countiy to Leavenworth in 1858. Here the buy was brought up until he was fifteen years of age and in 1862 became a freighter in the employ of the Government. He was a "mule whacker," or driver, who had charge of a team of six mules which he drove from Ft. Leavenworth across the Great Plains to New Mexican ppints. Saving his earnings, he em- barked in the freighting business at Leavenworth for himself in i86f), driv- ing his outfit over the route of the Ft. Scott & Gulf railroad, via Baxter Springs, Kan., through the Indian Territory to Indian agencies in the terri- tory and Texas, carrying wagon loads of merchandise and trinkets on tl:e outward bound trip, and bringing back a load of furs, hides and osage orange seed. The trinkets taken along were intended for the Indians who exchanged ihcir furs for adornment. The osage orange seed was in great demand at 31 482 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY this period inasmuch as the settlers were then oinhng their lands witii usag'e hedges. Mr. Barry's freighting venture proved ])r()fitahle. and lie made con- siderable money during the two years in which he made trips to the South- west. In 1870 lie engaged in railroad contracting, and was fairly successful until 1873. He graded and laiilt man\- miles of railroad in southern Kansas and through Oklahoma, ancrin the huildingof the L. L. & G. R. R.. he reaped! excellent profits. He had his ups and downs, like other contractors, however, and one experience in particular very nearly proved his undoing. This was in the building of the ]\1. K. & T. R. R., in wliich Mr. Barry had contracted to build a twenty foot embankment for a distance of one mile. It was under- stood with the railroad officials that the grading was to be completed by the first day of the following yeai', but he rushed the work so as to have it com- pleted before the fall rains began. He succeeded in doing this early in the fall, but the head contractor, Stewart McCoy, would not accept the work as finally done before the time limit of the contract, unless he would deduct twenty per cent, from the contract price agreed upon. This arrangement meant the complete dissipation of his profits, and he fhially came through with only his outfits. This experience ended Mr. Barr\-'s contracting career, as far as railroad building was concerned, and disposing of his outfits, he came to Atchison in 1873 with a small capital. Here on March 17. 1873. he entered the employ of the ^Missouri Pacific railroad as switchman and re- mained in the employ of this road until 1879, filling various positions, such as baggageman, trainman and yardmaster. While engaged in railroading he became interested in the civic and jjolitical life of Atchison, and possessing an engaging and candid personality, he made many warm friends, and was given political preferment. In the spring of 1879 he was elected constable and held the post and various otliers for three years. I'ollowing tliis office he was appointed chief of the Atchison city police in 1883 by Mayor C. C. Burns and ser\-ed until 1885. In 1885 he ser\-ed as superintendent of the Street Railway Company. Since then he has taken a more or less active part in political matters in tlie city and county, and is considered one of the politi- cal leaders of his party. While serving as city marshal he was a United States deputy marshal under United States Marshal Ben Simpson. In 1885 he established the Barry Coal and Wood Company, which he successfully conducted along with other commercial propositions until i(;io. He became interested in the Atchison Paving Brick Company, and was active in the affairs of this manufacturing concern for over fifteen years, Ijeing still inter- ested in the company. U])on the organization of the Commercial State Bank in November. 1906, he was electeil jjresident oi the institution, and upon its HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 483 consolidation with the First National Bank of Atchison he became chairman of the board of directors of the new organization. Mr. Barry's marriage with Kate Curtin occurred November 28. 1874, and to this marriage have been born the following children : John, engaged in business in New Mexico; Henry, Helen and C. W., deceased: Frances Barry Simmons, and one son, who died in infancy. The younger daughter is the wife of O. A. Simmons, whose biograpliy appears in this volume. The mother of these children was born and reared in Leavenworth. Kan., a daughter of John and Helen Curtin, natives of Ohio, who came to Lea\en- worth in 1856. John Curtin was a landscape gardener by profession. Mr. Barry has always been a Democrat. In 1885 he became a candi- date for sheriff of the county, but was defeated by only four votes. In 1887 he was again a candidate for the office and was elected by the large majority of 1,150 votes. This, too. in the face of the fact that Atchison countv has generally been considered a stronghold of Republicanism. So well did he perform the duties of his office, and so popular did he become that he ex- perienced no difficulty in a second election to the sheriff's office in i8S<), with a majority of 850 to his credit. It is stated that his majority when elected sheriff of the county was the largest ever given a candidate for the place. He is a member of the Catholic church and is fraternally connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Columbus, and the Elks. ]\Ir. Barry's success has been due to a strong and winning per- sonality, squareness in the conduct of his business transactions which have been proverbial, a genius and capacity for organization, which enabled him tn plan and carry out his various undertakings to a successful issue, and the ability to make and retain friends. WARREN W. GUTHRIE. Tt is given to relatively few men to leave this world for the mysteries of the next, contented with what they have done here, and without regret for duties unfulfilled. At the end of a lingering illness, giving ample time for reflection, and as a last utterance. General Guthrie called closer to his bed- side his faithful wife and companion and his six living children then gathered about him and whispered to them : "I know that I am alxout to leave vou for- ever. I want you to know that I am going without regret except for our separation. I have raised a family in which I have had only pride. I have 484 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY tried to prepare you to be good members of your own families and useful citizens. I have fought the fight and my work is done. I am ready to go. I want you to know that I leave you feeling that I have never done any man an intentional wrong, or left unfulfilled any duty I was capable of accom- plishing, and tliat I go content." These last whispers give a fair inde.x to the life and character of this sturdy pioneer Kansan. He was a type of a product of the early years of struggle in Kansas, now largeh' passing away. Diplomacy was a word of which he might never have known the meaning. He at least never practiced it to the prejudice of frankness. Whether as a friend who could be depended upon in any emergency and regardless of consequences to himself, or whether as a foe who could not be placated by excuses or offers of advantage personal to himself, and equally regardless of consequences his cards in the game were always upon the table face up. He despised sham and pretense in every form, and whether in business, politics or the judicial forum, he always fought his way double-fisted, straight for the goal. Born June 9, 1S34. on a flinty hillside farm on the lianks of the Housa- tonicriver in Connecticut, and ambitious for a broader field, W. W'. Guthrie struck out for himself early in life. At seventeen he was providing for his further education by teaching a rural school in New Jersey, on the present site of Long Branch, where the chief qualification for the teacher was his abilitv to thrash the biggest young fisherman in the school. In his later years it was one of the delights of General Guthrie to tell of his experiences in instructing the youth of New Jersey with a clapboard. In 1857 under the well known general advice of Horace Greeley, Mr. Guthrie, then admitted to the bar, came, seeking his fortune, to Kansas by way of steamboat up the Missouri river from St. Louis, landing at Whitecloud, thirty-one miles north of Atchison, then one of the cities upon the Missouri with small population but unlimited future possibilities. Shortly afterwards he moved again westward to Hiawatha, the county seat of Brown county, where he established himself in practice, his business radiating to the sur- rounding counties, which were reached principally on muleliack. General Guthrie was over si.x feet in height, and be loved to tell how. as a lanky young lawyer with a small mule, it was difficult to keep his feet off the ground in traveling from county seat to county seat. .\t Hiawatha he and the late Gov. E. N. Morrill were close friends, kept "bach" together, and had the usual quarrels as to whose turn it was to scrape the skillet. Elected to the Territorial legislature, his service attracted such attention that in liis absence, and without his knowledge, he was given by the Rejiubli- f HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 485 cans the first nomination under State organization for the office of attorney general ; he was duly elected and served as the first attorney general of the newly created State. It was from his incumbency in that office that he be- came known as General Guthrie. He was not acceptable for military seryice and took no part in the Civil war except as a yolunteer in the organization hastily effected to repel the hivasion of Gen. Sterling Price, which was cut off by his defeat at the battle of Westport. Some of General Guthrie's friends haye felt that he would not haye been nominated for attorney general if he had been at the conyention where he was nominated, or had known that he was to be suggested as a candidate. While General Guthrie subsequently served with credit in the Kansas State senate and was an influential factor in Kansas politics for many years in the interests of others, he was not a successful politician as a candidate in con- ventions not made up of a majority of men who personally knew him well. He was thrice a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress, and once nominated by one of the two factions of a convention which split up in a row and nominated two different candidates. \\"hen it came to todies made up of trading delegations dickering for local advantages. General Guth- rie's straightforwardness, his aversion to crooked deals and trades, and his unwillingness to offer personal reward for political assistance put him at a serious disadvantage. If he thought a man or thing was wrong he never hesitated to say so, even though he understood what the results would be. It is said that at the last congressional convention in which he was a candi- date, and in which he was the favorite candidate, the balance of the power was held by a delegation amenable to the allurements of promise of office, or more direct substantial and immediate reward. His less scrupulous friends tried to "dope" the General with some medicine that would put him out of action while they used the necessary means to the end. But the Gen- eral refused to he either doped or to retire and shut his eyes to the situation. preferring an honorable defeat. General Guthrie had physical as well as moral courage. Contesting the candidacy of a former prominent citizen of Atchison who had come from an- other State under a cloud, General Guthrie collected the record of this can- didate in his fonner home and announced that he would read it at a meet- ing to be held in old Turner Hall. This was in the early days when Atchi- son had her quota of "roughneck" citizens. General Guthrie was notified that they would attend and that he would read his documentary evidence at the peril of his life. He had never owned or carried a firearm except dur- ing the preparation to resist the Price raid, but on the night of the meeting 486 HISTORY OF ATCHISON" COUNTY he stepped out on tlie platform at Turner Hall, and laying u])on the table a pair of old annv revolvers, he looked down on the "roughnecks" in the front row and advised them that he was about to proceed with his speech, and that persons wlio didn't like trouble had better leave l^efore it began. He made the speech. The trouble did not start. The candidate he was opposing was defeated. From the time Kansas became a State until his death. General Guthrie was a citizen of Atchison contemporary with that circle of brilliant and able men who in the early days made .\tchison the mother of the political history of the State, such as Senator John J. Ingalls, Governor John A. Martin, Governor George \\\ Glick, United States District Judge Cassius G. Foster, Chief Justices Samuel A. Kingman and Alljert H. Horton, and such early- day business men as David Au'd. the Challiss brothers, Jacob Leu. and Samuel Hollister. .\fter his election as attorney general on December 21, 1^63. General Guthrie, accompanied by his friend. Chief Justice Albert II. Horton. as best man. crossed the Missouri ri\er to St. Joseph upon the ice, crawling upon their hands and knees, the ice Ijeing too treacherous to support a man talk- ing upright, to be married to Julia, daughter of Capt. William Fowler, of St. Joseph, also a pioneer, the first county clerk in the territory of which St. Jo.seph is now the county seat. There were born of this marriage eight children, two of whom died in infancy, the others and the wife sur\iving General Guthrie. W. F. Guthrie, the eldest son, practiced law with his father until aboiU the time of the death of the latter, when, with his wife and three children he remo\ed to Kansas City and is still in practice. The second son, F. L. Guthrie, a retired banker, with wife, resides at Paola. Kan. Mary Lou- ise Guthrie is the wife of .-\. E. White, head of the commissary department of the Burlington system, residing in Chicago, and the mother of four chil- dren. Warren W. (iuthrie. Jr., practiced law in Atchison in association with his father and brother, and afterwards practiced alone until his death on August 17. IQ14. being one of the most beloved men personally of all the people of .Atchison. Theodore F. Guthrie, also the father of four children, is. as he has been since before his father's decease, the manager of the Guth- rie ranch in Chase county. Kansas. Gilbert L. Guthrie lias l)een the wanderer of the family, a metallurgical en,gi!'ieer who has seen distinguished ser\icc on every continent of the globe, but has given up his work to lie a companion to the widow, residing on the old Guthrie homestead adjoinin.g .\tchison. F"rom the first General Guthrie became and luitil ill health overtook him remained a nut.il)le figure at the bar. not only of Atchison. Imt of the State at HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 487 large, and particularly northeast Kansas, where liis earlv successes brought him in as a consultant in the territory lie had formerly covered on mule- back, long after that territory had de\-eloped man)- able lawyers of its own. His name appears frequently in the reports of the supreme court of Kansas, and in connection with the establishment of many new and novel precedents in the courts. General Guthrie was an original thinker along legal lines, and not over-tolerant of the law as he found it in the books. When it did not suit him his \igorous mind would discern logical modifications and novel applications of old doctrines to meet tlie new necessities of his litigation. Every fight for the general good of the community found General Guth- rie in the front of battle. No difficulty daunted him. .All that was required for him was to decide as to what he thought right, and his hat was in tlie ring. Perhaps the greatest personal, direct service rendered by General Guth- rie to the community was in connection with the failure of the Peoples Sav- ings Bank. The Peoples Savings Bank was an auxiliary of the United States National Bank, the closing of which was brought about by the circulation of rumors affecting its solvency. It paid its lialiilities in full before it closed, but tlie assets of the Peoples Savings Bank were invested cliiefly in real estate mortgages and bonds not immediately payable, and as times were then, not readily convertil)le. so that its closure, following that of the United States National, left hundreds of citizens with tlieir needed savings not immediately realizable. General Guthrie was a holder of one share of stock only in each of these banks, for the purpose of qualifying as a director as an accommodation to the operating officers, his friends. This double failure, at a time of gen- eral financial uneasiness, helped by stories circulated by enemies of the bank officials anxious to bring them into disgrace, filled .\tchison with excitement. Nightly meetings, attended by hundreds of depositors, were Iield. and in their ignorance measures were initiated which would have resulted in a sacrifice of the assets and the realization to the depositors of but a small per cent, of their claims. General Guthrie undertook to stem this tide and save the depositors from themselves. He arranged with his co-directors to advance a sum to l)uy up at face value the deposits of the smaller and more needy de- positors, and out of his own funds advanced the moneys nccessaiy to protect the assets from sacrifice, and lent his own uncompensated efforts to their realization at their actual value, with the result that within a year every claim of the bank was paid in full. Like man)'- successful men who ha\e been born and spent their early years upon a farm. General Guthrie was interested in farming and in farm development and in sliowing what could lie done through proper cultivation 488 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY and stock development. He left ample provision for his widow and younger children, ciiiefly in farm lands. He gave personal attention to the operation and improvement of his farms, and took particular delight in the management of his 6,000 acre ranch in Chase county, Kansas, and in the development of a grade of cattle originated by himself, the Polled Herefords, a strain of Here- fords, from which he succeeded in breeding off the horns. Nothing gave him greater pleasure in the later years of his life than to explain his farming and cattle operations to his friends and intimates. He was ready to put aside the most intricate litigation at any time for a chat on this subject. Wliilc General Guthrie's open-handed warfare upon the tilings he thought wrong made him many enemies, his untiring energy, integrity and readiness to help anyone or anything he believed to be right, brought him a host of friends, not only among the young lawyers he raised and trained, but among the public at large, and he died an honored and respected mem- ber of this community on April 22, 1903, at the old home place adjoining the city of Atchison. JOHN PETER ADAMS. Faithfulness to duty is generally recognized and rewarded by the people of an average American community. Atchison county is singularly fortunate in having as its officials men of whom it can be said are above the average type of county officials. The office of jjrobate judge of the county is no exception, and is ably filled by the present incumbent of whdni this biography treats. John Peter Adams is an able member of the Atchison county bar and a painstaking and conscientious public official. In the performance oi tlie duties of his high office he has won the esteem of the people of the county and showed such marked ability in his judicial capacity that he was elected to the office for the third time without opposition from any source. Judge John Peter Adams was born in the town of Lock Berlin, Wayne county, New York, June 7, 1855. His parents were Peter and Martha (Eld- ridge) Adams, and Judm' Adani'^ was nne of six cliildroii. Judge Adams received his early education in the schools of his native State and the Macedon yVcademy, following which he completed a business course at the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He practically worked his way through school by teaching, becoming a teacher at the early age of eighteen. He came to Atchison in 1870 and entered iho law office \\ ll.l.l \\I \. .1 \( KSON. .Iii'lq*- I>istri<'t < (iiirl. « IIAKI.KS ,1. * OM.ON. (' .\tl(iriH'.\ . JOHN pi-:tkk .\i».\\is, •IihIki* «f rr»»l»alt- < oiirl. m-- mn (. IKIMIII.K, ifi HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 489 of Judge H. M. Jackson, as a law student, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1880. A short time following his admission to the bar he opened an office for himself, and later became a partner with Roy C. Crawford. A partnership with Charles J. Conlon was formed some time afterward, which continued until the election of Mr. Adams to the office of probate judge in iQio. Judge Adams was reelected in 1912, and again in 1914, without opposition for the nomination or election. He is a Republican and a firm believer in a high protective tariff. Previous to his election to the probate judgeship, he served as judge of the Atchison city court, having been ap- pointed by Governor Bailey in 1902, and reelected three times following his appointment without opposition. Judge Adams has always earnestly advocated Republican principles and has been a faithful party worker. Judge Adams was married in Albion, Mich., June 24, 1885, to Mary Stevens, a native of Lock Berlin, N. Y., and a daughter of Wells J. L. and Nancy Stevens. To Judge and Mrs. Adams have been born three children, who are the pride of their parents, as follows : Eldridge, born November 30, 1892. He received his classical education in Kansas University and grad- uated in medicine from Rush Medical College at Chicago in 1914. after a thorough course of study in the University of Chicago, now a practicing physician and surgeon in the Illinois State Hospital for eye, nose and throat, at Chicago. Dr. Adams is a rising young physician of marked ability and was an apt student, and is ambitious to succeed in his chosen profession. He graduated from the z\tchison High School at the age of fifteen, from the Kansas University at the age of nineteen, and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Rush College of Medicine when but twenty-three years of age. It is safe to predict a brilliant future for this Atchison boy. A daughter of Judge Adams, Eleanor, aged twent)', is a student of Knox College, Gales- burg. 111., class of 19 1 6, where she is specializing in music — \'iolin and voice. Gene\ra, the voungest child of Judge and Mrs. Adams, is eighteen years old, a graduate of the Atchison High School, and a student in Baker University. The Adams family has resided in the same house at Fourth and Laramie streets for thirty years, or since the marriage of Judge and Mrs. Adams. They believe in .giving their children the advantages of a good education, as the best preparation possible for their future success. Judge Adams was reared in the E])iscopalian faith, which was the church of his fathers, but is an attendant with the members of his family at the Methodist Episcopal church. He became a member of the Masonic lodge in 1876. 490 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY WILLIAM ANTHONY JACKSON. While we reverence the courts and look upon them as the final refuge of the citizenry in time of oppression or trouble, we realize that the tribunals of the people for safeguarding our inalienable rights as citizens are measured in their usefulness by the character of the men chosen to sit at the head of the judiciar}-. Society is protected from those criminally inclined, and we accept without criticism the decisions of tlie judges with whom we come into personal contact, because of the fact that the masses of the people have an abiding faith in the integrity of the courts. This confidence is more in evi- dence in a community where all have an opportunity of judging at close range tlie qualifications and personal integrity of those chosen by the people to administer the judicial affairs of the people. It is meet and necessary that the judges ni wliom we place implicit confidence 1)c men of the highest calibre, broad-minded and sympathetic in dealing firmly with the many diverse cases which are brought before them for adjudication. The district court of Atchi- son county is presided over by a learned jurist who lias the confidence and esteem of tlie people, and who enjoys the universal respect of the citizens of the county. Hon. William A. Jackson, judge of the district court of Atchison county, is such a man wisely chosen to fill the highest office within the gift of tlie people in his district. His career as ])residing officer of the court lias been marked bv a display of ability, legal acumen, broad-minded and sym- pathetic discernment of right and wrong in handing down his decisions that have satisfied the most exacting. He was iiorn in X'ersailles, Morgan county. Missouri, October 6, 1866. He is a son of Judge Horace M. and Lavanchia Tsaljelle (\'alcntine) Jackson, a rex'iew of whose life is given in this \-oluine. Judge Jackson has a reputation for fairness and impartiality in liis judicial decisions which has gone far beyond the liorders of Iiis county. The .Atchison Daily Champion in its issue of September 25. 1913, has this to say of his high honor and integrity : "In these days of alleged lawless lawyers and corrupted courts it is a gond thing to know that .\tchison county has an hunest and efficient judge to administer justice from the district bench. Many big men. — men of splendid (|ualifications and sterling integrity — liave occupied the important position now held bv Judge Jackson, but never before has this county had a judge whose service on the bench commanded more vmiversal satisfaction than that ren- dered l)v Judge Jackson. It is the unanimous opinion of the .\tchison Imr that he is the best district judge in the State, .\bsolute1y fair, impartial, ca])ablp. be ]ierforms the fnncti()ns of his office with a high sense of duty HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 4QI and responsibility to the law and to his fellow men, a duty and responsibility which precludes all other results, save only unqualified, justice for each case that comes under his supervision." The supreme test which could be applied to a man in his position came on an occasion when the father and Inother of Judge Jackson appeared for the defendant in a case which was tried in the Atchison court with Judge Jackson on the bench, and he was not found wanting. Quoting from the Atchison Daily Chainpwn in its issue of April kj. iqcg. concerning this uni(|uc situatinn and the conduct of Judge Jackson during the course of the trial of the case: "Many people have attended court the past week as witnesses, jurors and spectatiirs in the Xorris-]\lapes tial, and the fact was freely commcntt'd upon that the appearance in the trial of father and son as attorneys for the defendant and another son was on the bench, presented a situation that was quite unusual. Some at first indulged in unfriendly criticism of the circum- stances and it is therefore a pleasure for the Champion to sa^y that it has heard nothing but the most universal praise for the fairness, the impartialit\- and the splendid integrity of purpose Judge Jackson displayed in his rulings on everv' disputed question of law and evidence in the case. It is a fact worthy of C(jniment that the Clwinpioii takes pleasure at this time in giving public recog- nition ti) so important a matter. There is nolx)dy in .\tcliison wlio has a stronger following of loyal friends than Will Jackson, and it is because of his manhood, his honesty and fine sense of honor that he has earned them and retains them." William Anthony Jackson was tnmdled in a home-made baby-cart and dressed in clothing spun and made by his devoted mother. Few were the luxuries in which he was indulged: the plainest of fare was his sustenance during his childhood days. In 1870 he was placed in school at Marysville, Mo., and after coming to Atchison with his parents he attended the city schools. He attended the Monroe Institute and later entered Kansas Univer- sity at Lawrence, graduating therefrom in 1888. He was admitted to the bar and in iR8g was made a member of the law firm of Jackson I'l- Jackson. His success in the practice of his profession has been marked and he is widely known as a capable lawyer and jurist, llis first ])ublic office was that nf city attorney, to which he was elected in April, 1905, and served until 1900. Dur- ing the four years of his incumbencv of the office of city attorney he lost but one case which came up for trial under his care for the city. He was elected judge of the district court, second judicial district, in November of 1908, and resigned the office of city attorney to take up his duties on the bench in order to qualify in January, 1909. His career on the bench speaks 492 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY for itself and the fairness of his decisions is proverbial. Judge Jackson is remarked frequently Inr his kindness of heart, and snon after he was admitted to the bar the opportunity came to him to "return good for evil" in one particular case. A lad with whom he had come into contact on the school ground at Marysville, and who had tried to impose on him, with the result that strained feeling existed for many years between them was the beneficiary of his goodness. This lad, then grown to man's estate, came to the judge in Atchison and asked him to assist him in getting employment. The judge did so and earned the thanks of his boyhood enemy. Judge Jackson's wedded life began April 26, 1894, when he was united in marriage with Edith Fox, of Atchison. To this union have been bom two children: Jared Fox Jackson, born November 19, 1895, and now a stu- dent in the law department of Kansas University ; Edward Valentine Jackson, born June 6, 1900. a student in the Atchison High School. The mother of these children is a daughter of Jared Copeland. (See sketch of Jared Cope- land Fox elsewliere in tliis volume. ) Judge Jackson is fraternally affiliated with the ^Masonic Lodge. W'asli- ington. No. 5, of Atchison, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity of the Kansas State University. He is a liberal contributor to charitable and religious denomina- tions, and is usually found in the van of all projects which have for their pur- pose the betterment of his liome citv and county. ROY C. TRIMBLE. In Roy C. Trimble, sheriff of Atchison county, tlie people have an effi- cient and capable public official, who believes tliat his duties are paramount over all other considerations, and he has shown by his steadfast and unswerv- ing loyalty to the ethics of his office that he is a man eminently fitted for high pulilic office. Wv. Trimble is a young man to hold sucli an important office, but is old in ability and experience. He is a native of Atchison county, and a son of James M. and Margaret E. (McCreary) Trimble. Roy C. Trimble was bom August 11. 1877. on a farm, four miles south- west of Atchison. His father. James M. Trimlile, was Ixirn September 10. 1843. in P>uchanan county. Missouri, and died in January. 1910. in .\tchison county. He was the son of Benjamin F. Trimble, a native of Kentucky, who immigrated to DeKalb, Mo., where he conducted a blacksmith and wagon re- pair shop, and later removed to Texas. After a residence of some vears in HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 493 Texas lie settled in Atchison county, where the son, James M., bought a farm which he ctiltivated until 1905, when he disposed of his land and invested in a livery business. He was thus engaged until his death. During the Civil war, Mr. Trimble was enrolled in the State militia. Benjamin F. Trimble was one of the early pioneer settlers of Atchison county and owned a farm near Effingham. The children of James M. Trimble are J. P., a railway mail clerk on the Central Branch railroad; A. F., a rural mail carrier; K. S., a farmer, south of Atchison; E. S., a resident of Lake Ballinger, Wash. ; Roy C, and T. O., a ranchman, near Seattle. Wash. The mother of the foregoing children was Margaret E. McCreary, born in 1850 and died in 1890. She was a daughter of Solomon McCreary, a pioneer settler of Atchison county, who had a farm eight and one-half miles south of Atchison. Solomon McCreary was born in Clay county, Missouri, in 1822, and died in Julv, 191 1. He was a son of Elijah McCreary, and was the )-oungest of a family of thirteen children. The family is of Scotch- Irish ancestr}-, and originally settled in South Carolina. S. K. came to Kansas in 1854, first settling in Leavenworth county, and four years later moving to Atchison county. He bought a land patent from a Mexican war veteran, and made his home on the pioneer farm until bis death. His chil- dren were as follows: Mrs. B. Frank Trimble, Mrs. Margaret Trimble, de- ceased; Mrs. Nellie Adams; Cora, deceased; W. S., deceased; Mrs. Nettie Perkins, Leavenworth ; S. K., and Mrs. Grace Salmon, of Los Angeles. Roy C. Trimble was educated in the district school No. 5, located south of the city, and resided on the farm until 1905 when he was engaged in the liver\- business with his father, continuing until the latter's death, after which . he conducted the business for a few years and then traded it for some real estate. He was first a candidate for sheriff in igi2 on the Republican ticket, but lost out by 288 votes. He was again a candidate in 1914 and won b}- the considerable margin of 700 votes. Sheriff Trimble was married November 2. 1904, to Ma}- Florence Hart- man, who was born near Purcell, seven miles southwest of Atchison, and is a daughter of Ex-Sheriff F. C. Hartman, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Trimble have been born the following children: Guy Roy, born August 7, 1905; Cynthia tjrace, l;orn ^lay 2, 1907; Clara May, born May 10, 1913, and Henrietta Gale, born June 4, 191 5. Mr. Trimble and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Aid. Mr. Trimble is likeable, and has a winning personality which goes far toward making him a successful and popular official. Such enco- 494 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY miums and praise as have come to him for his conduct of the duties of the sheriff's friends. slieriff's office are well deserved and he is constantly widening his circle of CHARLES J. COXLOX. Charles J. Conlon, a prominent attorney of Atchisi^n. who is Udw serving his second term as county attorney, is a native of the Empire State. He was born at Orwell, Oswego county, New York, October 31, i860, and is a son of James and Anna (Bowen) Conlon. the former a native of Xew York and the latter of Ireland. Anna Bowen, the mother, came to America with her parents, William and Xancy Bowen, when she was thirteen years of age. James Conlon was bom in Onedia county, New York, and was a son of Charles Conlon, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to .\merica in 181 4 and settled in Oneida county. New York, where he spent the remainder of his life. James Conlon grew to manh()od in Oneida cinintx'. and in 1859 was married and about a year later removed to Oswego county, bought a farm and followed farming there until 1867. He then returned to Oneida county, where he remained until 1870, when lie came to Kansas, locating in Atchi.son county. He bought a farm about a mile and one-half soutliwest of the city of .\tciii- son, where he was successfully engaged in fanning and stock raising until about a j-ear prior to his death, Xovember i, 1899, at tiie age of seventy-three. He was a very successful farmer and a highly respected citizen, and at the time of his death owned 200 acres of valuable land, which is still owned by the Conlon family. He was a life-long Democrat and a member of the Catholic church. His wife died September 22, 1898, aged sixty-three years. They were the parents of the following children : Anna M. married Peter Donovan, now deceased, and three children were born to this union, Peter. Fredrick and Charles, and after the death of her first husband. .Anna M. married John Mc- Inteer, who is also now deceased and she resides in Atchison : Charles J., the subject of this sketch: William H. resides on the old homestead; John F., farmer, .Atchison: James D., plumber, St. Louis, Mo.: Letitia M. McKenna, Denver, Colo., and Fred J. died in .Atchison at the age of thirty-three years. He was a machinist and well and favorably known in .\tcliison county. Charles J. Conlon was educated in the public schools, St. Benedict's College. Atchison. Kan., and Whitestown Seminary, Whitestown, X. Y., graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1882. He then entered the law de- partment of the L'niversity of Michigan, at Ann Arlxir, Mich., and was i HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 495 graduated in tlie class of 1884 with tlie degree of Bachelor of Laws. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Atchison. Kan., and has continued in the practice to the present time. He was elected county attorney of Atchi- son county in 1912 and reelected to succeed himself in 1914. Mr. Conlon is a capable lawyer and is a fair and fearless prosecutor. Mr. Conlon was united in marriage Februan,' 14, 1903, to Miss Mae Flanigan. a native of Os- wego count}'. New York. John F. Conlon, farmer, was born October 15, 1865, in the town of Or- well, Oswego count}-. Xew York. He was educated in the common schools of his native town and later attended the Whitestown Seminary at Whites- town, N. Y. After coming to Atchison county, Kansas, in 1885 with his par- ents, he studied at St. Benedict's College. He remained with his parents on the home farm southwest of Atchison until their deatli, and managed the estate for several vears thereafter successfulh-. THOMAS O. GAULT. Personal achievements of the indi\-idual are always worth recounting when he has accomplished something worth while. There is considerable satisfaction in the latter years of the life of an industrious couple, who, having begun at the foot of the ladder of success and having climbed up- ward by degrees, have attained to a state of wealth and comfort bv the time middle age has been reached. Thomas O. Gault and his wife, residing in a beautiful farm home in the northeast part of the city of Effingham, are among the most respected citizens of Atchison county. Mr. Gault is one of the large land owners of the county, and while not an old resident he can lay claim to the fact that he was a homesteader in Kansas back in the "grasshopper" era, and has had as many ups and downs as the average western pioneer. Thomas O. Gault was born November 7, 1849, in VVycomico county, Maryland, a son of Archibald and Eliza (Littleton) Gault, natives of Marv- land, and descendants of old American colonial families. The ancestry of the Gault and Littleton families dates back to the earliest days of the settle- ment of the eastern coast of America. Archibald was the son of Obid Gault, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was an early pioneer settler of Indiana. Eliza Littleton was a daughter of Thomas Littleton, and died when Thomas O. was seven years of age. Archibald Gault emigrated from Marv- 490 nisTouv ov atchison county laiul to Ripley county. Indiana, about 1859, and sculcd on a farm south of Pierce City, or near Stringtown. This was in a timbered countn*, and he Hved there only three years, returning to Maryland during the dark days of the Civil war. where he remained until the war was over. In 1865 he re- turned to his fami in Ripley county, and cultivated his Indiana fann until old age overtook him. and he finally returned to the old home in Mary- land, there spending his declining years, dying in 1900, at the age of eighty years. Thomas O. Gault was educated in the district schools of Ripley county. Indiana, and began working at the hardest kind of farm lalxir when yet a bov. When he attained his majority he came to the great West, where opportunity seemed to beckon with a more lavish hand than among the hills and forests of his native county and State. He located in Jasper county, Iowa, and worked at farm labor until twenty-five years of age. then came to Kansas and homesteaded a Government claim in Phillips county. This was a sad experience, however, as the grasshoppers came along soon after- wards and "cleaned out" the crops of the homesteaders in his neighliorhood, and he abandoned his claim and left the country. He returned to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1873, ^vhere he remained for three years, after which he remained in Iowa, locating in Pottawattamie county in 1S7S. where he had purchased a farm. He and his wife developed the farm and prospered for a period of fourteen years. Selling out their Iowa farm at a good round price in IQ03, thev located in Effingham, where they have resided since March of 1903. Mr. Gault invested his capita! in Kansas and Missouri lands and has made money since lie came to Kansas. Peing giftetl witli the money- making instinct and capacity, he has dealt somewhat in land and been .suc- cessful in his farming operations in Atchison county. He is the owner of an eighty acre tract of valuable land, purchased in 190J. adjoining Effingham. Kan., on the northeast, and has one of tlie most attractive modem fann homes in the county. He owns at the present time a total of 582.5 acres of land, 262.5 seres of which is located in Grundy county. Missouri, and the rest in Atchison county. He has a large farm of 240 acres near Pardee in Center township, which is one of the best improved tracts in the vicinity. This fami was purchased in 1902 and is equipped with excellent buildings, including a house of twelve rooms and three good barns. He was married on March 4, 1R88, to Miss Melissa Drury, of the town of Druf}-. Rock Island county, Illinois. They are the parents of two children : Essie, at home with her parents, and Pearl, wife of William Thomas, a son of Robert M. Thomas, of Effingham. Mrs. Gault was born March 4, 1861, HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 497 in Drury, Rock Island county, Illinois, a daujjliter ni Eli and Margaret (Huitljard) Drury, natives of Wayne county, Indiana, and Bedford county, Pennsylvania, respectively. Mr. iJrury served as postmaster of the village named in his honor in Rock Island county for thirty-five years, and was filling the office at the time of his death, in 1892. Mr. Gault is a stockholder in the Farmer's Mercantile Company of Ef- fingham. He is a Republican in jjolitics. Init is an independent voter, who believes in doing his own thinking as regards the merits of respective can- didates for office and the principles which influence good government. H<; became an Odd Fellow in Marshal] county, Iowa, in the early eighties, and has continued in good standing in the order to the present time. One of the incidents of his early career which left an impression on Mr. Gault's memory, which time has never been able to eradicate, was his first Kansas experience. He was so thoroughly cleaned out during the great grasshopper scourge in the seventies, in Phillips county, Kansas, that he was forced to walk the entire distance from Blue River, Kan., to Atchison. WILFULE .\. .ST.\XLEY. Wilfull .\. Stanley, a Civil war veteran, who perhaps has had more mili- tary experience than any other man in .Atchison county, is a native of New Jersey. He was born at Salem Novem1;er 26, 1838, and is a son of Joseph C. and Rebecca D. CGosline) Stanley, both natives of New Jersey and de- scendants of colonial ancestors, who trace their family genealogy back for several generations in this countrj'. The first white child born in the English colony that settled in New Jersey, opposite Egg Harlxjr, was an ancestor of Wilfull .\. Stanley. Joseph C. Stanley, the father of W51full .\.. was a son of Friend Richard Stanley, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. The Stanley's were Quakers, but there were a great many fighting Quakers dis- tributefl along the line of descent. Friend Richard was a son of John Stan- ley, who was a Revolutionary soldier and served in Lighthorse Harry Lee's cavaln*. He was captured and confined in a British prison ship for some time. He lived to be a very old man and died in 1845, at the age of 102. He was very active physically and mentally to a very old age. Wilfull A. Stanley was reared in New Jersey and received a common school education. On Decemljer 22, t86o. he enlisted as a private in the United States marine; and af»er making a trip around the world was detailed in 1861 as orderly to Admiral Dahlgren at Washington, D. C. He also served as orderly to Com- 32 498 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY manding Officer C. R. P. Rogers. Mr. Stanley was at the taking of Hat- teras Inlet and the operations on Roanoke Sound in conjunction with General Burnside's expedition. He was at the engagement of Port Royal and served as orc^erly to Capt. C. R. P. Rogers there. He was also at the engagement at Ft^ Walker. The "Wabash," upon which he was serving then, joined Admiral Farragut's fleet at New Orleans. Here Mr. Stanley was trans- ferred to the "Hartford," Admiral Farragut's flag ship, and served as orderly to Farragut and participated in the engagements at Fts. Jackson and Phillip, and was at the capture of New Orleans when he was again detailed to the "Wabash." Shortly after that he was taken sick with a fever and sent to the marine hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y. After recovering he was discharged, and with his discharge received a very complimentary letter from Admiral Rogers. After remaining home a short time he enlisted in the Second regi- ment, New Jersey cavalr}'. He participated in the battle of Nashville and was at the siege of Mobile. He went from there to Montgomery, Ala. About this time the war closed, but Mr. Stanley's regiment was kept in the' South for nearly a year during the reconstruction period, and in 1866 he was discharged and returned to his New Jersey home. Mr. Stanley had learned the plasterer's trade when he was a young man and at the close of the war worked at it for some time, when the military spirit took possession of him again and he enlisted at Philadelphia, Pa., and was assigned to Troop L, Sev- enth United States cavalry, and was sent from Ft. Leavenworth to Ft. Mor- gan on the Platte river. Capt. Michael V. Sheridan, a brother of "Little Phil," commanded this troop and they were mobilized at Ft. Hayes for a winter campaign against the Indians in the Wichita mountains. This cam- paign was against the Arapahoes, Comanches and some other tribes. .\fter an engagement with Lone Wolf's band the soldiers were forced to retreat, but soon after were reinforced at Big Timber by a Kansas regi- ment, and after that captured Lone Wolf and Satanta, chief of the Kiawas, and returned the Indians who had been on the war path to the Ft. Sill reserva- tion. After that Mr. Stanley returned to Ft. Leavenworth and had charge of the hospital stores for two years, when he was transferred to Wingate, N. M., where he also had charge of the hospital stores until 1872. when he was discharged and returned to New Jersey. In 1889 he came to Kansas, locating in .\tchison. where he has since worked at his trade most of the time. He had lived in Philadelphia for some time and in Georgetown, S. C. before coming to Kansas, and came to this State on account of his wife's health. Mr. Stanley was married in 1877 to Mrs. Mary E. (Ingravi) Fpuntain, a widow. She is a native of Bellefont, Pa., born June 25, 1842, 1 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 499 a daughter of Isaac D. and Deborah (Grant) Ingram, natives of Pennsyl- vania and descendants of old Pennsylvania stock. Joshua Bloomfield Will- iams, a major in the Revolutionary war, and at one time colonial governor of New Jersey, was a grand-uncle of Mrs. Stanley's mother, and Mrs. Stan- ley is a Daughter of the American Revolution. She is a member of the Ladies' Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is past department president of Kansas, and National press correspondent, and has filled all the offices from the local circle to the National. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have one child, Leon Glen, born in 1881. He served in Troop B, Si.xth United States cavalry. He was in China at the rescue of the foreign legations and sup- pression of the Boxer uprising and later served in the Phillipine Islands, and after three years' service he was honorably discharged. He was the first post printer at Ft. Leavenworth, and is now in the employ of the Atchison Globe, in the capacity of pressman and mailing clerk. He married Sadie Wiggins, and two children have been born to them, as follows : Inez Leona and Richard. Wilfull A. Stanley is a member of the Grand Armv of the Republic and has Ijeen adjutant of the Atchison post for ten years and is past commander. CHRISTIAN W. STUTZ. Christian W. Stutz, a substantial farmer of Center township, .Atchison county, was bom and reared in Lancaster township, this county, and is a son of pioneer settlers of the county. The Stutz family came to Kansas from Missouri in 1859. Christian W. is a son of Christian and Catharine (Schweitzer) Stutz, both of whom were born in Germany from whence they came to America in 1855, and first settled in Jackson county, Missouri, com- ing from there to Lancaster township in Atchison county four years later. Christian, the father, was born in Germany, March 25, 1825, and when thirty years of age decided to locate in the new country where there were better opportunities for gaining a livelihood and laying up a competence. Accord- ingly, we find that after a residence of four years in Jackson county, Missouri, he came to Atchison county, and with his savings invested in eighty acres of timber and prairie land in Lancaster township. He hired a man to break this land with ox teams, and proceeded to cultivate his land. He made extensive improvements on his farm from time to time as he was able, and added to his acreage to such an extent that at the time of his death, December. 1898, he was the owner of 380 acres of land. Christian Stutz was the father of 500 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY seven children as follows : Mrs. Caroline Demel. of Central City, Neb. : Mrs. Katherine W'ilkins. of Atchison, Kan. : Frederick, a member of the Atchison police force ; Christian A\'. ; Gustave, a prosperous farmer of Lan- caster township; Jc^hn. a farmer in Center township: one child died in in- fancy. The mother of these children was torn in (jermany in February of 1829, and died in Lancaster township, in December, 1888. Christian W. Stutz, whom this review directly concerns, was reared on the old home place of the Stutz family in Lancaster township, and educated in the Lancaster school. He assisted his' father in the operation of the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age, and then began fanning for him- self on land which he rented from his father. He continued to till the rented land for four years, all the time saving his earnings, with a view of eventually owning a farm of his own. He made his first investment in 1891 when he purchased and inherited, partly, eighty acres of improved farm land in section 8, Center township. He at once began to remodel the home and make extensive improvements, and it might be said that he has never ceased to improve his surroundings. In igoS he erected a new l)arn, 50x50 feet, and now lias one of the attractive places of his township and county. Mr. Stutz has continued to add to his land holdings until he is now the owner of 393 acres of land, all nf which he has secured through his own efforts. Dur- ing 1915 he had ])lanted 160 acres to corn which gave him an excellent crop. He keeps good graded stock and maintains a herd of Shorthorn cat- tle. He has made cjuite a reputation as a breeder, and in 1914 e.xhibited a "Mahrath Jack" at the Atchison county fair which was awarded the second prize. In addition to his farming interests he is a share holder in a copper mine located in Arizona. Mr. Stutz was married in 1891 to Kathrine W'alz, and of this union have been born ten children, as follows: Charles F., \\'illiam, John E., Clara, a graduate of the Atchison County TTigh School: .\rlliur, Mary and Marga- ret (twins), the latter deceased: Francis. Nora B.. Reidel, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mrs. Stutz was born September 8, 1868, in Atchison, Kan., a daughter of Charles and Kathrine (Reidel) \\^alz, both natives of Germany. Charles AX'alz emigrated from Germany to Cincin- nati, Ohio, and there learned the butcher business and trade. W'hen nine- teen years of age he left Germany to seek his fortune in .\nierica. and about 1857 came to Atchison and worked in the first butcher .shop ever operated in that city. He later bought the shop of I'hilliii Link, and after operating it for a time bought a farm in Shannon township, where he lived until his death, in 1891, at the age of sixty-one years. Kathrine, his wife, was born ■ HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 5OI in 1842. and died on the old hrother, August, bought 160 acres each from the heirs, and engaged in farming. They bought 320 acres comprising the old home. March i, 191 5, they bought eighty acres additional in Lancaster township, making 400 acres in all. John and his brother began to take a fancy to high grade stock and they are now breeding fine Shortliorn cattle. They have a herd of twelve head of thoroughbreds. They have a graded stock of horses and breed Poland China hogs also. John A. especially takes great interest in mules, and at one time had the largest span in the county. These sold for $600. They were five years old and weighed 3,300 pounds. John Scholz married Ida R. Meyer, October i, 1913. She was born March 3, 1882, in Center township, Atchison county, and is a daughter of John and Caroline (Schroeder) Meyer. John Meyer was born in Switzer- land, and came to Atchison county when he was four years old, with his parents, John and Verena (Slaughter) Meyer, natives of Switzerland. They were early settlers in Center township where they died. John Meyer was bornr May 8, 1854, and his wife, Caroline (Schroeder) Meyer, was born in Elgin, 111., April 2, 1859. Mrs. Meyer was the daughter of Nicholas and Katherine Schroeder. natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Scholz have one child, Ralph Edward, born August 17, 1914. Mr. Scholz is a Democrat, and he and his wife belong to the Evangelical church. WALTER E. BROWN. Walter E. Brown, of the law firm of Waggener, -Ciialliss & Crane, and the present city attorney of Atchison, is a native son of Kansas. He was born at Whiting, Jackson county, Kansas November 17, 1887, and is a son of William E. and Martha W. (Gilmore) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania. William E. Brown, the father, came to Kansas with his parents in 1872 at the age of sixteen. He is a son of Michael Brown, a native of Ireland. The Brown family settled in Brown count}', Kansas, where the parents spent their lives. In 1879 William E. Brown removed to Jackson county and engaged in the lumber business at Holton, where he is still an extensive lumber dealer and one of the substantial business men. To William E. and Martha W. 520 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY (Gilmore) Brown were born three children, as follows; A\'alter E., the sub- ject of this sketch ; Bemice and Harold. Walter E. Brown was reared in Holton and educated in the public schools, graduating from the liigh school there. He then entered Kansas University, Lawrence, Kan., and was graduated in the class of 1909 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He then came to Atchison and became associated with the law firm of which he is now a member. Some few changes have taken place in the personnel of the firm of Waggener, Challiss & Crane within the last few years, but it substantially remains the same. Mr. Brown is a Republican and since coming to Atchison has taken an active part in political matters. He was elected city attorney in 1913 and reelected to succeed himself in 191 5. He is a Knights Templar and Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Loyal Order of Moose, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Brown is a ver\- capable attorney and has a wide acquaintance in northeastern Kansas. E. G. BURBANK. E. G. Burbank, proprietor of the Burbank printshop, is a native son of Atchison county. In 1905 Mr. Burkank founded this printing establishment in a very humble way, which within ten years has developed into one of the leading printing plants of eastern Kansas. Tlie ]-)henomcnal success of this enterprise is, no doubt, due to the fact that Mr. Burbank was an expert job and edition printer when he embarked in the business for himself. Burbank's printship catered to high class printing from the start, which has been its specialty and in which it has made a clean record. They do a large amount of high class catalog printing and other high grade work of a kindred nature. They are also well known as liook printers and binders and printers of high class stationer}-. The plant has a floor space, 30x50 feet and is equipped with all modem machinery and methods for up-to-date printing. When Mr. Burkank started in business for himself he was able to do most of his work alone, but he now has ten people on his payroll, and the plant is now one of the most prosperous concerns of .\tcliison. E. (i. Burbank was born at Muscotali, Kan.. January 17, 1881, and is a son of Heni-y N. and Mina S. (Hazlett) Burbank. Henry N. Burbank. his father, was a native of Vermont and came to .\tchison county witli his father, George S. Burbank, in the pioneer days of Atchison county. He died in 1913, 11= m S. W. AI>AMS, Aetna Life Innuranee Co. Ul.irs DKITSCH & II. C. HANSEN, I'enn .Miitiuil I.if*" Irisiirnni-i' fo. m K. (.. ISI KIlAMv HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 52 1 and his wife now resides at Billings, Mont. E. G. Burbank was reared in Muscotah, and after receiving a high school education began his printing career as "devil" in the office of the Muscotah Record. Shortly afterwai'ds, he entered the office of the Atchison Globe and was connected with that paper as a printer for four years, when he organized the plant wliich now liears his name. Mr. Burbank was married in 1908 to Miss Millie Anderson, and they have two children: Millie Ervin, born in December, 1910, and John Max- well, born in July. 191 2. Mr. Burlwnk is of the type of business men who are making Atchison the commercial and center that it is. He is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Bene\-olent and Prf)tective Order of Elks. H. C. HANSEN. The story of a young man who has been successful in his chosen field through sheer force and energy and aptitude is always interesting. Conse- quently, it is fitting that the biography of one of the most successful life insurance men of northeast Kansas have a proper place in the pages of the his- tory of Atchison count}-. The rise of H. C. Hansen in the insurance field has been rapid and substantial until his high place among the business men of his home city is assured. Born in the little kingdom of Denmark and reared on American soil, he has given evidence of possessing the sturdy qualities pecu- liar to the Danish people which have led them to the forefront in America wherever they have settled. It is probable that no people coming here from foreign shores and speaking an alien tongue ha\e shown greater adapta))ility and more acumen in being assimilated into the great American body of citi- zens than those who have come from Denmark. H. C. Hansen was born in Denmark January 17, 1867. His parents were Hans and Anna Hansen, who left their native land to seek their fortunes in America in 1869. Hans Hansen was a backsmith. and the family first located in Atchison. From here they went to Brown county, and a few years after- ward settled in Doniphan county. Mr. Hansen operated a blacksmith and wagon-shop at Severance, Kan., until 1890. He then removed to Graham county and settled on a farm where he still resides. His first wife. Anna, died in 1875. leaving four children, as follows : Mrs. Mar\- Kellcnberg. of Brown county; Mrs. Minnie Knoop. of Canton, Okla. ; Mrs. Ellen Moore, of Cottonwood Falls, Chase county, Kansas, and Hans Christian. 522 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY H. C. Hansen was reared in Doniphan county and was forced by circum- stances to look after his own education. When still a boy he learned the blacksmith's trade and also worked as a farm liand. He had little opportunity to secure an education and received no encouragement from his parents to acquire knowledge. It was necessary for him to earn money to support him- self \v!:ile atttndin.i;- school. He studied tor twii years in the Christian Brothers College of St. Joseph after he became of age. Beginning with December 20, 1892, he served twelve years as salesman for the Edward Heeney Hardware Company, of Severance, Kan. He then Isecame local agent for the I'enn Mutual TJfe Insurance Comjiaiiy at Se\ trance. So successful was Mr. Hansen in his new vocation that in a short period of eighteen months he was tendered the position of general agent of the company, with headquarters in Atchison. He has written as high as $200,000 in life insurance policies yearly and his success still continues. A strong and amiable personality com- bined with energy and persistence have been factors in enabling liim to advance with such rapid strides in a field which is full of able competitors. In addi- tion to his duties as general agent of the Penn Mutual Insurance Com- pany, he looks after his farm of 120 acres, located five and one-half miles east of Potter. Mr. Hansen has purchased this farm with money earned in selling life insurance, and he is displaying the same energy in developing his farm acreage that placed him to the forefront in the life insurance field. An old. rundown orchard of about ten acres was located on his farm. He had this orchard placed in shape for fruit bearing by trimming the trees and spray- ing with a power sprayer. The results are seen in the fine quality of fruit which the trees have yielded. He has been awarded three first prizes at the Atchison county horticultural display. Mr. Hansen was married August 20, 189 1. to Katie Browning, a daugh- ter of Frank Browning, an early pioneer settler of Doniphan county. To them have been horn the following children : Anna, a graduate of the public school and high school, and now a teacher in the schools of Sparks, Kan.; Bettie, a trained nurse, who graduated from the Sisters of Charity Hospital, at St. Joseph, in October of 1915; Crystelle, a milliner in the Ramsey store: and William Penn or "Pat." the youngest of the family. Politically, Mr. Hansen is an independent Republican, inclined to be progressive in his ideas of government by the people, and favoring those can- didates for office who seem to be capable of serving the people to the best advantage of all. He is a member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church, and is fraternallv connected with the Knights of Columbus. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 523 JULIUS DEUTSCH. Julius Deutsch, retired merchant and capitalist, of Atchison, is a citizen who has made his own way in the world, and achieved a satisactory measure of success in tlie mercantile field. He was born in Lorraine, the French province of Germany, Noveml>er 27, 1858, a son of Mollingf and Melanie' Deutsch, who were born and reared in Lorraine. Moiling Deutsch was a wholesale gain and flour merchant in his native town. Melanie Deutsch was a daughter of M. Friend, a soldier in the Napoleonic wars, and who was awarded the Medal of St. Helena for bravery on the field of battle. Both parents lived their lives and died in the land of their nativity. When Julius Deutsch had completed his education at the age of four- teen years, in 1872, he immigrated to America, coming direct to Atchison, where he made his home for a short time with an uncle. L. Friend. Later, he entered the employ of another uncle, I. Friend, a merchant, doing business in Seneca. He worked in the store at Seneca for two years, sold goods in Atchison for another year, spent one year in a mercantile establishment at Topeka, and then embarked in business for himself. Mr. Deutsch estab- lished a general store at Muscotah in 1878, which was a successful \-enture. Prosperity attended his efforts, and it was not long until he and his brothers embarked in the mercantile business at Horton, Kan., and established a store which they still own. He was associated in his business ventures with his brothers, Sylvain, Maurice, Simon, and Isaac. Simon is now a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. Isaac is deceased. The brothers established a chain of stores and operated them at Beloit. Atchison, Valley Falls, Muscotah, and Concordia, which were generally successful, and made money on the invest- ments. Mr. Deutsch continued in active mercantile pursuits until his retire- ment to AtcJiison in 1902. He first came to Atchison from Muscotah in 1885, turned over the business at Muscotah to his brother, and then engaged in business in this city. His brother, Maurice, now operates the store at Horton, Kan. Sylvain Deutsch makes his home principallv in Kansas City. During later years the Deutsch brothers have disposed of a number of their various stores, and now operate the Horton concern only. Their capital is mainly invested in real estate, consisting of city property and farm lands in Kansas and the West. Isaac Deutsch was the first of the family to come to America to seek his fortune, and his brothers followed, and a community of interests which held them together at all times, resulted in all becoming well-to-do. Mr. Deutsch and his brothers are interested in a number of financial 524 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY institutions, and he has many friends among the substantial citizens of his home city. He took an active part in the incorporation of the town of Mus- cotah, serving as city councilman. He is of the Jewish faith, and is prone to assist all religious denominations to the extent of his ability, being tolerant and broad-minded in this respect. He is fraternally allied with the Odd Fellows and the Elks. Mr. Deutsch possesses a likable personality, which, coupled with a kindly and courteous demeanor at all times, makes him well liked by his associates and esteemed for his many excellent qualities. STARK WILBOR ADAMS. Stark W'ilbor Adams, general manager for the Aetna Life Insurance Com- pany, with offices in the new Masonic Temple, and secretary of the Atchison County High School board, is a native of the Bucke3fe State, born in May, 1866, at Huron, Ohio, and a scion of an old American family which traces its lineage back to the colonial days of New England. His father, Stark Adams, and his mother, Mary (Chandler) Adams, were born in Milan, Ohio, and Birmingham, Ohio, respectively. Stark Adams was a son of Philo, a son of Daniel Adams, of Vermont, who was a soldier in the Continental army during the American war of independence, and was a brother-in-law of Ethan Allen, of Vermont. Daniel was second in command of the "Green Mountain Boys" at the capture of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. In recognition of his sei-v- ices in behalf of the new nation, he was given a grant of land in the Western Reserve. His son, Philo, rode horseback from Middlebury, Vt., to the Huron river valley in 1816 and took possession of the tract which had been granted to th(," family b)' the Government. He also traded a horse for an eighty-acre tract in addition to his own grant. He and three brothers settled on the land lying along the course of the Huron river, Philo locating at the mouth of the river where it flows into Lake Erie, and upon which the town of Huron was eventually built. The brothers became the owners of about 600 acres of land in the neighborhood. They cleared the land of standing timber, planted corn, lian-estcd and shelled it during the first season, then crossed the lake to L'uf falo to trade grain for supplies, which they again traded with the Indians for furs. They conducted a general trading business and the settlement grew from this beginning, in course of time to be of considerable importance. Philo Adams was a first cousin of John Quincy Adams, and was appointed the first collector of the Port of Huron. The first of the family to come to America was Henry HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 525 Adams, who came to Plymouth on the "Mayflower," when the good ship made its second voyage to bring over the Puritans, and he settled at Mt. W'olaslon, (now Ouincv, Mass.) in 1638. Joseph Adams II was the son of Henry, the founder of the family in America; Joseph III, son of Joseph Adams, was next in line, and was the father of Daniel and President John Adams, second President of the United States. Daniel -\dams was the father of Philo Adams, and direct ancestor of the Adams family. Stark Adams, accompanied by his family, left the old home in Ohio in 1878, crossed the country to Hays City, Kan., and there homesteaded on 160 acres of land, taking up a timber claim of the same number of acres at the same time. Settlers were few and far between in tliat part of Kansas in those days, and the country was settling up slowly because of the dmugiits and other vicissitudes with which the farmers had to contend. Ten years after locating near Hays City, Mr. Adams came to Atchison and eventually bought a farm four miles south of the city, on which he lived until his retirement to a resi- dence on the corner of O and Sixth streets in Atchison. He was born October 14, 1827, and died August 30, 1909. His children are: Augusta J., at home; C. B., of 714 Park street; James Otis, on a farm, eight miles southwest of the city: Stark Wilbor; Margaretta L., at home, associated with S. W. in the office located on the second floor of the new Masonic Temple; J. D., at the family home in .\tchison at 517 South Seventh street. S. W. Adams and family came to Atchison from the farm in February, 1908, and engaged in the insurance business, the mother and father and family coming to the city in December of the same year. He opened his present office May i, 1914, when Mr. Adams was appointed manager of the Aetna Life Insurance Company for northeast Kansas. His career as an insurance solicitor and manager has Ijeen very successful. The real estate and loan business conducted in the same office is in charge of Ja}- D. Adams. Mr. Adams was married December 25, 1899, to Miss Mary Speck, who was born on a pioneer farm in Atchison county on Stranger creek in Mt. Pleas- ant township. She was a daughter of Archimides S. and Sarah E. Speck, na- tives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively, who emigrated from In- diana to Kansas, driving a team the entire di.stance, during the year 1855. (Furtiier data concerning Mr. and Mrs. Speck will be found elsewhere in this x'olume.) To tiiis unirjn ha\'e ])cen Ixirn, Dorotli\- M.. Sarah \'... Mildred |., Lorena Wilberta, Wilbor Speck. Mr. Adams is a Repul)lican in politics and has taken a more or less active part in political and civic affairs. For the past five years he has served the county as secretary of the Atchison County High School board. He and the 526 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY members of his family are affiliated with the Presbyterian church. Frater- nally he is allied with the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. GEORGE SCHOLZ. George Scholz, farmer and stockman of Lancaster township, Atchison county, Kansas, was born in Germany, April 22, 1870, and is a son of August and Johanna (Seidel) Scholz, who were the parents of seven children: Mrs. Pauline (McCowin), Renton. Wash.; Herman, Doniphan county, Kan- sas; Charles, Lancaster township, farmer; Louise, wife of C. Thoren, Los Angeles, Gal.; Caroline, wife of J. W. Louthian, Lancaster towiisliip; Paul, living near Lancaster, Kansas ; Mrs. Anna Stockebrand, Yates Center, Kan. ; August, farming with his brother, John, in Lancaster township, and John, farmer, Lancaster township; Robert. Lancaster township. The family was reared on the father's farm wliere all the sons were taught farming. The father was born Novemljer 25. 1835, in Schlesien, Germany, and learned the blacksmith trade from his father, and worked at that trade until he left Ger- many in 1870. He was a son of George Frederick Scholz. His mother died when he was an infant. Coming to America with liis family of six children, August Scholz, resided in St. Joseph, Mo., for a time and tlien bought a farm of 160 acres in Doniphan county, Kansas, which he worked about six years. He broke this place with o.xen and made all necessary improvements. himself. After leaving Doniphan county he bought 480 acres of prairie and timber land in Atchison county, Kansas. This was in 1882. He bought the farm of Morgan Osborne and paid $15,000 for it. The place is known as the "Three Springs Farm." It is located on the northwest quarter of section 9. The name comes from the fact that the farm has a fine natural water supply from springs located on it. The springs supply water for the stock on the farm even hi the longest drought. The father bought an unusually large farm for the reason that he wanted his boys to grow up on his own farm. He did not want to see them go out and work for strangers. His capital was limited but he and his sons were industrious, and they were able to go into debt to acquire more land, and the farm was paid for in due time and improvements were made as rapidly as possible. The father farmed his place until his death, in 1901. The mother of George Scholz was a daughter of Godfred and Rosanna ( Schwartzer) Seidel. HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY 527 and was born in Schlesien, Germany, April lo, 184.0, and is now living with her son, John. The father was a farmer in his native land. George Scholz attended the Atchison count)- schools, finishing at the Rock district school. He remained at home until he was twenty-six years old, when he rented a farm which he operated in partnership with his brother, Charles A. In 1905, George bought the farm which he now owns, and which consists of 120 acres in section 24, Lancaster township. The place was com- paratively unimproved, having only an old house and barn. Since then he has built a modern eight-room house, electric lighted and modern in all respects. In addition, he has erected a fhie barn, 40x36 feet in size. It is electric lighted and equipped with up-to-date conveniences. Mr. Scholz keeps graded stock on his farm and is a progressive farmer and conducts his farm in an efficient manner. When he and his brother were farming together, ten or more years ago, they sold corn from the field as low as fourteen cents per bushel. Mr. Scholz was married to Anna Buttron, February 10, 1909. She was born October 20, 1877, and is the daughter of Henry and Rosanna Buttron. Mr. and Mrs. Scholz have two children: Gilbert, born December 31, 1909, and Karl, born January 16, 1914. Mr. Scholz is an independent voter. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge, of Lancaster, No. 355, and attends the Lutheran church, of which his wife is a member. Mr. Scholz made his first investment in 160 acres in Sheridan county, Kansas, for $1,100 in 1902, and sold it three years later for $2,400. THOMAS E. HORNER, M. D. Diligence in the pursuit of success is inevitably rewarded, be it in the marts of finance or in the ranks of the learned professions. The profession of medicine has from earliest times offered opportunity for honor and social prominence, as well as giving its members a chance for bettering the con- dition of mankind in general as well as physical. The physician is at once the friend in need who alleviates our ills and is often the family adviser. To him very frequently are intrusted the secret troubles which beset his patients many times and he thus becomes a benefactor to mankind in more ways than one. Thus, the needs of this noble profession require a high type of indi- vidual who is at once a learned and skilled practitioner and gentleman in whom the people can place their trust. Dr. Thomas E. Horner is of the type 528 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of physician in whom one can have confidence and whose abihty in his hfe work is marked, the best evidence of w^hich is his large practice in and near the city of Atchison. He is a native born Kansan, born on a farm on Independence creek in Doniphan county August 8, 1875, a son of Isaac and Ehzabeth (Farrell) Horner, natives of Ireland. His father was born in 1836 in the tnwn of Coleriyne, Ireland, and his mother is a native of County Cavan, Xorth Ireland, born in 1842. Isaac died in Atchison county in 191 1. He immi- grated to America with his father, James Horner, who bought a farm near New- York City, returning to Ireland where he resided for twelve years, after which he located in western Pennsylvania. From there Isaac removed to Kansas in 1859 and became a freighter across the plains, operating his own outfit. He married in 1866 and sctted on Independence creek. Isaac left the farm in 1880 and removed to Atchison where he engaged in buying and shipping live stock until his death. He became well-to-do and was the owner of over 1,000 acres of land in Doniphan and Atchison counties. He was an excellent business man and a keen trader who w'as honest in his dealings and enjoyed the respect and esteem of those with whom he came in contact during his long life. . Coming of an excellent Irish family, he was a vounger son and had a brother named Samuel who was educated in Oxford University, and was an early settler in .\tchison county, dying in Jackson county. Kansas, in 1886. The children bom to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Horner are as follows: Mrs. Elizalwth McGurk, Frankfort, Kan.: Airs. Ella St. Peters. Denver. Colo.; James, who married Xellie Deigan and resides in Par- nell. Kan. ; Rose, at home w ith her mother, antl Dr. Thomas E. Horner, with whom this review is directlv concerned; Mrs. Marie Farrell, widow of James Farrell, of Atchison; and Samuel, who married MoUie Butler, and resides at Jarbalo, Leavenworth county. Dr. Homer was educated in the parochial schools and Christian Brothers College at St. Joseph, Mo., from which academic institution he graduated in 1893 with the highest honors of his class. He then pursued the study of medicine and graduated from the Kentucky College of Medicine in 1897. For two years he practiced medicine at \'liets, Marsh.ill county: then at Sev- erance, Doniphan countA'. for a period which ended in i()i 1, ])rior to his loca- tion in Atcliison. He has built up an excellent practice and has a beautiful home at 1 1 14 Santa Fe street. In politics Dr. Homer is a Democrat; he is a member of the Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Fraternal Aid Societies, the Mystic Workers, and the Knights of Columbus. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 529 He is likewise associated with the Atchison County, the Kansas State and the American Medical associations. He served as police surgeon of the cit}' of Atchison. Dr. Horner was married January ii, 1898, to Sadie E. Armstrong, and to them have been bom three children: Elizabeth, aged fifteen years; Mary, fourteen years of age, and Thomas, aged seven years. The mother of these children is a daughter of Thomas T. and Mary J. (White) Annstrong. Thomas T. Armstrong was born in 1846 in Canada and came to Kansas when a young man and entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific railroad. He is now living a retired life in Atchison. His wife, Mary J., died January 9, 1902, leaving one son, Fred, a resident of Seattle, Wash. JOSEPH E. GIBSON. Joseph E. Gibson, farmer, of Center township, Atchison county, Kansas, and a widely known breeder of Sliorthorn cattle, has one of the attracti\-e and well kept farm homes in Atchison county, located directly on the White Way, a much traveled and fairly well kept highway, crossing Atchison county from east to west. Mr. Gibson was born August 22, 1861, in Union county, Ohio, and is a descendant of good old Virginia stock. His parents were John and Susannah (Westlake) Gibson, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of the Buckeye State. John Gibson, the father, was born in West- moreland county, X'^irginia, June 17, 1824, and was the son of Leven and Mary (McClure) Gibson, who were among the early settlers of the State of Ohio, migrating from their old homestead in Virginia in 1833 and settling in Ohio, where tliey lived on a pioneer f.irm the remainder of their days. John Gibson was reared to young manhood on liis father's farm, and after his marriage settled on a farm of his own in Union county, Ohio, where Joseph was born and reared. John Gibson was the father of seven children, namely: Arthur, a farmer living in Union county, Ohio; Joseph E. : Mattie. deceased; Mrs. Rosa F. Staley, of Union county, Ohio; Tiiomas, a farmer and .sawmill operator in Louisiana ; Mrs. Uzzie Scliuler, residing in New Dover, Ohio; and Asa, a farmer, of New Dover, Ohio. The father of these children died in 1899. The mother was liorn in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1829 and departed this life in 1907. She was a daughter of Josiah and Chris- tena fKnughouf) Westlake. Joseph E. Gibson, of whom this review directly treats, was brought up 34 530 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY on his father's fami in Union county, Ohio, and there attended the district school. He remained with his parents until 1891 and then migrated to Kan- sas, to become a foreman in the fruit orchards owned by J. ^\^ Parker in Atchison county. Eight years later he rented a fami three miles north of Shannon, Kan., and in 1901 purchased the farm of eighty acres which he is now cultivating in Center township. This tract of eighty acres lies in sec- tions 10. 6 anil 19 of this township and is well improved. The improve- ments which j\lr. Gibson has placed on his farm since laiying it will exceed $1,400. For some years he has been a breeder of pure bred Shorthorn cattle and ships the product of his farm to all parts of the country. He has a herd of high grade Shorthorn cattle to the numlier of twenty-eight head. The cattle bring good prices at private sale, the buyers visiting the farm for the purpose of purchase. He also is a breeder of Big Type Poland China hogs of the best breed obtainable. Mr. Gibson was married November 8, 1888, to Miss Virginia I. Weaver, and to this union the following children have been born : Imogene, a grad- uate of the Atchison County High School; Walter S., at home, attending business college at Atchison ; one child died in infancy. The mother of these children was born on April 17, 1864, near Lockbum, Franklin county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Gavel) \\'eaver, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter a daughter of German parents. The mother of Mrs. Gibson is aged eighty-one years and makes her home with her daughter. Samuel M. Weaver was bom in Pickaway county, Ohio, May 20, 1826, a son of George and Isabel (McConnell) Weaver, who were the parents of six children. The father, George, was a native of Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained until 1806, when he came west and located in Pick- away county, Ohio, near where tiie city of Circleville is now located. He was a tailor by trade, and for many years held the office of deputy sheriff of that county. He was a soldier in the War of 18 12. He died in 1848. Samuel Weaver was well educated. When twenty years of age he went west and traveled in different states for ten years. When thirty years old. while travel- ing in Iowa he met Isabel Gavel, to whom he was married Decemlier 16, 1856. She was born in Germany and immigrated with her parents to .America when one year old and was reared in Franklin county, Ohio. She was born .\pril 3, 1835. Samuel and Isabel Weaver were the parents of five children: Mrs. Catharine K. Cunningham. She died at Cleveland, Ohio, in 191 1 ; Mrs. \"ir- ginia I. Gibson: Mrs. ]\iary F. Southern died at Marysville, Ohio, in 1900: George H. and Samuel, deceased. Samuel, after a residence in Fr.nnklin HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 53I county, located in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1869 and farmed until his death, July 26, 1904. Mr. Gibson is a Democrat who has taken an active interest in political and civic affairs in the county, and is now serving his third term as trustee of Center township. It is needless to remark that he is satisfying the people of the township and is an efficient and capable official who looks after the township affairs as carefully as he does his own personal affairs. He is fraternally affiliated with the Odd Fellows lodge, the Modern Woodmen, and the Central Protective Association. Mrs. Gibson takes a just pride in keeping the place in spick and .span condition and she has a beautiful lawn fronting the White Way road which attracts the attention of travelers. BENJAMIN PATTON CURTIS. Benjamin Patton Curtis has been for sixty-one years a Kansan. Looking l)ack what wonderful changes do tliese years present to the onlooker! Tiie privations, vicissitudes and perils of those days in which the State was bom ; the beginning of her commerce when the ox team and flat-boat were the principal means of transportation ; the five long drawn-out years of civil strife in which the Union was preserved ; the era of agricultural development, when the wild prairies were transformed into fruitful fields of golden grain : the epoch in which railways were keeping pace with tlie settler, the merchant, the manufacturer, and steam and electricity displaced the ox team and stage coach. Sixty-one years in Kansas, from the days of the prairie schooner, flat-l)fiat and pony express, to the days of the automobile, air-ship and tele- phone ; to have done his share in connection with these great developments ; to have through his unaided efforts and with determination and energj' achieved success to have so lived that he is honored by his friends and neigh- bors, entitles the man whose name initiates this review to a prominent place in this publication, the history of the county in which he is passing the sunset years of his life. Benjamin Patton Curtis, pioneer, successful farmer and Civil war vet- eran, since 1904 a resident of the city of Atchison, was born on the twenty- seventh day of Marcli. 1839, while his parents were encamperl in the w ilder- ness of Missouri, a terrific snow storm having interrupted their journev to Illinois. His father, John M. Curtis, was a native of southern Tennessee. 532 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY He had married when a young man, Mary Ann Warren, also of that State, and with his young wife had settled in Missouri. They were both of Scotch- Irish ancestr}? and came from a remarkably long-lived line of forebears, one of whom lived to the age of 104 years. In 1839 the family removed from Missouri and settled in Adams county, Illinois, where they remained until 1854, when they came to Kansas Territory, settling just across the Missouri river from St. Joe. John M. Curtis became a stanch Republican after seeing the abuse of slaves while in Missouri, and he was one of the fearless men who came to Kansas for the purpose of making her a free State. He pre- empted a quarter section of land and then engaged in "following the river," as it was then termed, flat-boating, rafting and steam-boating. His three sons, among wdom was our subject, also followed that occupation for a time. Ben P. Curtis spent the first fifteen years of his life in Adams county, Illinois. His schooling was scant and that little was acquired in the country schools. In his fifteenth year he came to Kansas Territory with his parents, as has been previously stated, and within a short time was employed on the Missouri river. The free life of the plains called him, but as liis two brothers had run away from home, and he was the only son left, his longing to become a freighter was unsatisfied, as he preferred to remain with his father. He was one of the first in his section of the State to heed President Lincoln's call for volunteers, and in May. 1S61. he enlisted in Company .\. First Kansas Volunteer infantry, under Capt. B. P. Chenowith. He was with his regiment in all its engagements, and is Atchison's only survivor of the battle of Wil- son's Creek. After the burning of Holly Springs with $2,000,000 worth of supplies; the First Kansas was compelled to live off the country. During the march to Memphis, and while out foraging, Ben Curtis was captured and taken to Ripley, Miss. He was paroled, and while waiting to be exchanged he and a companion, Alverton Abbey, decided to exchange their uniforms for the rebel grey and join the Union lines as deserters and reenlist in some regi- ment other than their own. knowing full well they would be shot if they were again capturd while serving with the First Kansas. They were successful in securing the rebel uniforms and gained the Union lines, Curtis taking the name of C. F. Barker and his comrade. Abbey, that of William Payne. He enlisted in the Fifth Illinois cavalry, and Ben Curtis, under the name of C. F. Barker. At the time of his capture he was sen'ing as sergeant, and when enlisting under Captain Chandler he slunved him his parole as Sergeant B. P. Curtis. The captain assured him he would not lose his rank and he was . accordingly made a sergeant and served as such until mustered out in February, 1864. 1 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 533 On conclusion of his military service he returned to Doniphan county and resumed his old employment of "following the river," remaining in this field of occupation until 1867, when he bought a quarter section of land in Doniphan county and engaged in farming. He made a success as an agri- culturist, was an active and influential factor in the life of his section and reared a family of six daughters, all of whom are women of education, in- tellectuality and refinement. In 1901 Mr. Curtis' health failed and he dis- posed of his farming interests and became a resident of Troy, and in 1904 came to Atchison, where he has since resided. On July 23, 1865, Mr. Curtis married Mary Eliza Ashcraft, a daughter of Jeddiah Ashcraft. She was born July 23, 1844, in Larue county, Ken- tucky, her marriage being on the twenty-first anniversary of her birth. The first eight years of her life were spent in her native State, the following three in Missouri, and in 1855 her father brought his family to Kansas and took up a claim near Mt. Pleasant, where she lived until her marriage with Mr. Curtis. She was for a time a teacher in the Doniphan school. They are the parents of the following children : Bird, the wife of Judson F. Thayer, of Stormsburg, Neb. ; Anna, the wife of Julian Tait, of St. Joseph, Mo. ; Mable, the wife of William Maynard, of Cologne, S. D. ; Maude, the wife of A. W. Toole, of St. Joseph, Mo. ; Jessie, the wife of C. H. Allison, of Chicago, 111. ; and Frances, the wife of A. E. Williamson, of Troy, Kan. On July 23, 1915, their children, sons-in-law, grandchildren, friends and acquaintances gave them signal honor in a fitting obsei-vance of their golden wedding anniversary. The Atchison Globe of that date says in part: "Fifty years ago today Miss Mary Eliza Ashcraft and Benjamin Patton Curtis were married in Doniphan." Of their first meeting it states: "The Ashcraft home was on the old Military road, and when Ben Curtis, a soldier in the Civil war, passed there Mary Ashcraft handed him a cup of water which he drew up from the well. However, that was not the beginning of the love affair which culminated in the marriage of Mary Ashcraft and Ben Curtis. They fell in love with each other in Doniphan, where Miss Mary Ashcraft went to teach school, and Mr. Curtis does not accuse his wife of 'chasing" him. He as'ked for an introduction to the pretty school teacher. After he received it he never took another girl." Mrs. Curtis is the type of woman evervone admires. Her home is her kingdom and she rules it wisely and well. She has never belonged to a woman's club, but when there is sickness or trouble at her own home, or in the neighborhood, Mrs. Curtis is on hand, capable, gentle and sympathetic. She rules her home with a velvet hand, and her hus- band says that he notices as the years glide by he gets off at the stations for 534 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY which she has bought the tickets, not because he has to, but because he wants to." Of Mr. Curtis it states : ''If you don't know Ben Curtis there is missing from your acquaintance one of the most companionable of men. Friends who have hunted and fished with him say that he is a seventy-seven year old prince. A lover of wild life, he has thoroughly enjoyed his retired life, which has now covered a period of fourteen years. In the summer he hunts llie best game and fishing resorts of the North, and the winter is liable to find him down around Corpus Christi, Texas, or some other locality that is attractive when this climate isn't. At Leach Lake, Minn., a famous resort on Leach Lake, if you tell the people that you are from Atchison and a friend of Ben Curtis, the place instantly belongs to you." Without sons of his own, he has naturally taken a great interest in his nephews and is justly proud of the posi- tion attained by the following, all of whom are Doniphan county boys : Ed- ward Franklin, formerly of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, now professor of chemistry at Leland Stanford University ; Thomas Franklin, a prominent insurance underwriter, of Chicago; and Professor Will Franklin, of Lehigh University. The latter is also tlie author of several te.\t books which are in general use. Mr. Curtis has been a life-long Republican, and during his residence in Doni])han county took an active part in its political affairs. Political office has never appealed to him, and. although often urged by his friends to accept nomination, he refused. He is a mcmlier of Severance Post, No. 391, Grand Army of the Republic, and is prominent in Masonic circles. He has attained the Knights Templar degree and is affiliated with Abdallah Temple, Mystic Shrine. JOHN W. ABNER, M. D. John W. Abner, ]\I. D., although recently locating in .\tchison, his skill and ability as a capable and painstaking physician has met with ready recog- nition and he has a large and growing practice. Dr. Abner is a native of Kentucky. He was torn in Clay county, in 1867, a son of John and Matilda { Robinson) Abner, both natives of Kentucky. Dr. John W. .Abner was one of a family of three children whose parents died when tliey were very young and the children were reared by friends and neighljors. W hen Dr. Abner was fifteen years old he started out to make liis own way in life. He was always of a studious turn of mind and by his own ef- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 535 forts obtained a very good education. At an early age he determined to be a physician and bent his every effort in that direction. He learned the car- penter and cabinet maker's trade, and after working at his trade for some time he entered the Eclectic Medical College of Kansas City, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1912 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy. He engaged in the practice of his profession in Kansas City, Mo., where he remained until February, 1915, when he located in Atchison, Kan. He has a fine suite of offices at 712 1-2 Commercial street and is meeting with well merited success. Doctor Abner was married in 1902 to Ada Pearl Wade, of Kansas City, Mo., and they have one child, Dorothy, born January 6, 1905. Dr. Abner is a member of tlie Christian church and take^ an active part in tlie work of his denomination and lias served on the board of trustees. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the ^^'orld. Dr. Abner is a past noble grand and senior warden of vSubor- dinate Lodge, No. 577, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and past chief patriarch of Encampment, No. 27, of Kansas City, Mo., and is a member of the Patriarchs Militant, No. 14, Kansas City, Mo., Politically, he is an independent Republican and takes a keen interest in political as well as current events generally. He is a close student of the science of his profession and aims to keep himself thoroughlv posted in the rapid advances that are constantly being made in the world of medicine and surger)'. WILLIAM HENDERSON. V \\''illiam Henderson, one of the most industrious farmers of Benton township. Atchison county, Kansas, was born December 29, 1872, in the locality where he now lives. His parents, George and .\melia (Stockwell) Henderson, had six children, of whom the subject is the oldest. The others are James, Atchison, Kan., in the employ of the International Harvester Com- pany ; Josie married Walter Kelsey, and now dead ; Ella married Clayton David.son, of Effingham, Kan. ; Etta, wife of Arthur Olinger, Jefferson county, Kansas; Tva. married Elmer Grabiel, Garden City, Kan.; George Henderson was bmn in Platte county, Missouri, in 1844, and came to Leaven- worth county, Kansas, with his parents when eleven years of age. Seven years later he came to Atchison county, where he has since lived, and is now retired, making his home in Effingham. The mother of William Hender- son was born in Missouri in 1S46. 536 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY William Henderson was reared on the farm and attended the district school near the farm, and the Effingham high school one year. He worked for his father until he was married to Nettie R. Jenkins September 5, 1900. His wife was born in Mitchell county, Kansas, in 1883, and is a daughter of James Q. Jenkins, who came to Atchison county, Kansas, in 1894, from Nebraska, but was born in Illinois. Mr. Henderson owns 180 acres of land which is all well improved, the improvements costing $5,000. Of four chil- dren boiTi to Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, three died in infancy. The living child, Floyd, was born May 28, 1904. Mr. Henderson is a Democrat. He belongs to the Elks lodge of Atchi- son, Kan., and the Masonic lodge at Effingham. Though not a church mem- ber, he attends regularly. Mr. Henderson has made a success by hard work and good management. He is always in favor of movements which benefit the community and is a public-spirited citizen. LUMAS M. JEWELL. Potter is one of the coming and enterprising towns of Atchison county and Kansas. During the past few years the town has taken wonderful strides in the matter of public improvements and new* buildings. A considerable portion of this push and enterprise is directly due to the energy and influence of Lumas M. Jewell, retired merchant and banker, who can well be called the "father of the present day Potter." ]\Ir. Jewell has been a consistent booster for the town ever since his advent in the town, and lias given of his time and money toward its development. Mr. Jewell is a self-made Kansan, who has had an interesting career, and whose rise from a poor boy to a posi- tion of comparative wealth and affluence is well W(Mth recording in the an- nals of Atchison county. L. M. Jewell was born on a farm in \\ayne county, Kentucky, Decem- ber 3, 1861, a son of Heman S. and Susan Mary (Weaver) Jewell. His father was a native of Vermont, who immigrated to Kentucky when a young man, and engaged in fanning operations. He followed fanning during liis life, until a few years before his demise, at the home of his son, G. W. Jewell, at Kidder, Mo., in 1913. L. M. Jewell received a meager education in the schools of his native State, and his later success in life has been due entirely to his own efforts. His gi-eatest education has been received in the stern school of experience, which is the best after all, and most useful, in develop- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 537 ing the real attributes of a man. When he was seventeeh j'ears of age. he left home and went to the home of an uncle in Michigan, where he attended scliool for a time. When he had attained his majority in 1882, he went to South Dakota and homesteaded a tract of prairie land. He stayed in South Dakota for two years and developed his homestead to such an extent that he was able to dispose of it for a good round price, and lie then moved to Caldwell county, Missouri, and bought another farm, which he cultivated with a fair degree of success. Later, he embarked in the mercantile business in Marvel, Mo., for a period of three years, disposing of his business in 1892, and locating in Pot- ter, Kan. His first employment in Potter was with the general merchandise firm of Paxton & Kemper. Three years after entering the employ of this firm, Mr. Jewell purchased Mr. Paxton's interest for $1,500, paying $400 cash, and borrowing the remaining $1,100 with which to complete his pur- chase. It is remarkabe that he could have so established a reputation for business ability and integrity in that time as to be alile to command that amount of capital to swing his first business deal in Kansas. His later suc- cesses date from that time on, and in the short time of three years he was out of debt, and the business had taken on larger proportions. W. T. Kem- per, his partner, then sold his interest in the store to a cousin, Madison Kem- per, from whom Mr. Jewell purchased the remainder of the business and became the sole owiner. During this time the stock of the store had been increased, and the business had taken on a wider and a more general scope through Mr. Jewell's enterprise and the exercise of his decided business ability. He became sole owner of the store in 1S97, and during the next three years the business was placed upon a permanent and staple footing, which yielded large profits for its owner. In 1900 Mr. Jewell conceived the idea of engag- ing in the real estate business, primarily for the purpose of building up the town of Potter and attracting more residents to the place. He acquired sev- eral business lots and began to erect buildings to such an extent that Potter soon began to take on the airs of a growing city. Where there was but one store building on the side of the street occupied by the Jew'ell store, he erected five new store buildings, which are occupied by merchants who have moved into the town in the past fifteen years. It is due to Mr. Jewell's enterprise in this regard that the business part of Potter has been developed. Whereas, when he first came to Potter the town boasted Init three stores — his own store, a small hardware shop, and a grocery. All the stores were small and the towin did not have a bank. At the present time Potter has two banks and every line of business is represented. As Mr. Jewell's business expanded his enterprises included a lumber yard, furniture stock and a grain elevator. See- 538 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ing the need of a bank, he started a plan of organizing tlie Potter State Bank in 1899, and after ahnost a year's effort, lie received the assistance of O. A. Simmons in effecting the organization, and Mr. Simmons was the first cashier of the hank. Mr. Jewell later served as cashier, and is now the president of this hank. In 1910 Air. Jewell disposed of his mercantile interests, and is interested mainly in real estate and farm lands in Jackson county, Mis- souri, and Atchison county, Kansas. He has also made a number of large trades in merchandise stocks. Mr. Jewell was married in 1897 to Sinnie M. Shaw, a daughter of Henry Shaw, who wias an early settler of Kansas. One child was born to them, Edna Fern Jewell, born in 1901. Mr. Jewell is a Democrat in politics, and Mrs. Jewell is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Jewell's efforts to advance Potter among the Kansas municipalities have not been confined to commercial activities alone, but he has always had in mind the welfare of the people along other lines. He had not been a citi- zen of the town but a few years when he conceived the idea that a newspaper would be of great benefit to the community in more ways than one. Conse- quently, he used every effort to iia^e a paper established in the town, and the Potter Kansan, one of the best edited small weeklies, and one of the most pros- perous newspaper enterprises in the State, is the result of his dream. He has been foremost in the cause of education, and he worked unremittingly toward the erecting of the present modern school building and the establishment of a graded school system in the town. Such men as Mr. Jewtell are the kind of citizens every town needs, and Potter has been the gainer for his civic enter- prise and the fostering oi the growth of his adopted city. WILLIAM R. DONNELLAN. William R. Donnellan. hardware merchant and postmaster of Lancaster, Atchison county, Kansas, was born June 25, 1868, at Lancaster. He is one of six children of John .and Mary J. (Davidson) Donnellan. as follows: Anna .A. (Ostertag), of Atchison: Thomas E.. Parsons. Kan.: \\"illi;un R., the subject of this sketch, Lancaster, Atchi.son county, Kansas; Emma B.. Atchison, Krm. ; Margaret (.V. Manglesdorf), Atchison. I\;in. : juiiia (J. Cleary), Sliannon township farmer. John Donnellan. the father, was born in Ireland in 1827. \\'hen twenty years of age he left the iMncrald Isle to trust his fortunes in America. Landing at Ellis Island. X. A'., he set out HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 539 for the interior of New ^'orl-: State and found employment on a dairy farm. After a few years of hard labor there he went to Crawfordsville, Ind.. and worked in a hardware store. Tn 1856 he left Crawfordsville and came to Kansas, where he preempted 160 acres of land in Lancaster township, Atchi- son county, and built a small, four room house and lived in the most prim- itive way. When he first broke the soil on his farm he used oxen, but later, as he prospered, he used improved methods of farming. He died on his farm in 1893. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and died in 1892, a year preceding the death of her husband. William R. Donnellan was born and reared on his father's farm in Lan- caster township. He attended the public schools of Lancaster, and at the age ' of twenty-one went to Kansas City, Mo., and secured employment as a motor- man and conductor in the service of the Street Railway Company there. Three years later he became shipping clerk for the A. J. Harwi Hardware Company of Atchison, Kan., and a year later returned to his home and en- gaged in farming on the home place. He remained on the farm until 1903 when he moved to Lancaster and purchased the hardware stock of H. O. Whittaker. This is a large store, carrying $8,000 worth of stock. Lt poli- tics Mr. Donnellan is a Republican. He was elected mayor of Lancaster in 1907 and served until 191 1. In 1903 he was appointed postmaster. Air. Donnellan was married in 1893 to Lillian M. Sanders, who was born Februarv 12, 1870, at Lewisburg, Pa. She is a daughter of George L. and Elizabeth (Harrison) Sanders, both natives of Pennsylvania. They have one child. Eva M. (Carson), living in Lancaster. She is a graduate of the high school and business college. Mr. Donnellan is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights and Ladies of Security lodges. LAFAYETTE T. HAWK. The biographical annals and the history of Atchison county, Kansas, record three distinct periods of settlement in Kansas and Atchison county. The first was the real pioneer era, when an influx of settlers came, who were the first to break the prairie and lay the foundation for future development. The second was directly after the Civil war, when many people came from all parts of the East and European countries. The later period was in the eighties, when there came from Ohio and Pennsylvania many excellent Amer- :^40 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY ican families who have prospered and taken leading places in the civic and agricultural development of the county. Tlie Hawk family, of old Pennsyl- vania German stock, came to this county in the latter era. Lafayette T. Hawk, substantial and well respected, and prominent farmer of Benton township, was among this number, who can be reckoned among the latter-day old settlers of the county, and who has resided here for over thirty-four years, and has worked his wav upward from the station of comparatively a poor man to a position of affluence in the county. L. T. Hawk was born August 22, 1849, in Coshocton county, Ohio, a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Neede) Hawk, both of whom were born and reared in the Buckeye State. Jonathan Hawk was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1822. and was a son of Leonard Hawk, born in Pennsylvania, of German parents. Leonard Hawk was an earl\ immigrant in Coshocton county, Ohio, and settled in that county when the whole region was a wilder- ness and car\red a farm from the dense woods which covered that part of the Buckeye State in the early part of the nineteenth centur}'. He first came to Ohio in 18 14. Jonathan Hawk came into possession of the old home place of his parents' in Coshocton county, but sold out in 1883, and came to Kansas, to join his son, Lafayette T., who had preceded him to Atchison county by one year. During the first year of his residence here, he made his home on his son's farm, and then purchased the Shell property in Effingham, where he made his home until his demise in December, 1889. He was the owner of eighty acres of land which he farmed. Jonathan Hawk was the father of eight children, namely: Sarah died in Ohio; Lafayette T., of whom this re- view is written; Mary Jane Roll, widow of Samuel Roll, and residing in Ef- fingham ; Samuel, living in Oklalioma : Mrs. Margaret Denbow, of Great Bend, Kan. ; George Leonard, of Oklahoma ; Edith Elzina died at the age of four years; John, deceased. The mother died in January, 1891, at the age of sixty-six. Lafayette T. was reared on the ancestral farm in Coshocton county, Ohio, and received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood. He learned in his youth to do the hardest kind of farm work and was taught by his parents the best methods of tilHng the soil. \\'hen a young man he be- came imbued with the desire to locate in the West where opportunities seemed to be greater than in his home State, and he saved his earnings toward this purpose. Not long after his marriage he came to Kansas, in 1882, and lo- cated in Benton township, Atchison county. His cash capital being limited to the sum of $300, he deemed it advisable to rent land for the first year, tlien bought his first farm of 160 acres at the purchase price of $25 per acre. This HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 541 farm was necessarily bought on time, but with good management and in- dustry, Mr. Hawk was enabled to pay out and add considerably to the im- provements of his place, which is one of the most attractive in the county and one of the most fertile and productive. Mr. Hawk also added ninety acres to his land holdings in later years, and invested his surplus in western land which he traded for the Effingham Hotel property which he now owns. He is a stockholder and director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Effing- ham, he is also a stockholder in the Midnight Oil Company, a producing concern with headquarters at Morris, Okla. Mr. Hawk was married March 21, 1874, to Miss Harriet Pitt, of Coshocton county, Ohio, and who was bom in Kentucky. To this union have been born the following children : Charles, who served in the Twenty-second regiment. United States infantry, during the Spanish-American war, and is at present chief of police at Shawnee, Okla. ; John D., a prosperous and pro- gressive farmer in Benton township; Margaret, wife of Clem Higley, a farmer living in Center township, near Pardee ; Homer, who was killed in a railway accident in October, 1913; Fred, died in April, 1913, and who had held the position of cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Effingham prior to his death ; Wilbur D. Hawk, business manager of the Atchison Daily Cham- pion, and former deputy warden of the Federal penitentiary, Atlanta, Ga. ; Mrs. Mary Foster, of Trenton, Mo.; Robert, a farmer in Benton townsiiip; Clifford, a farmer and auctioneer in Benton township, and Vera, at home with her parents. The mother of these children was born, November 8, 185 1, in Kentucky, a daughter of William and Frances (PhilHps) Pitt, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Vermont. In 1853 Mi's. Pitt and their children removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, Mr. Pitt having died when Mrs. Hawk was an infant. Two of the three children were reared: Mrs. Hawk and Mrs. Lenore (Miller), who died in September, 1915, at Carlton, Ohio. Mrs. Pitt's second marriage was with Dr. Ephraim P. Stewart, of Coshocton county, Ohio, where he practiced after moving from Carroll county, Ohio, his birthplace. With the exception of a few years spent in Atlanta, Ga., with his son, Wilbur D., when on duty as deputy warden of the Federal Penitentiary, Mr. Hawk has lived continuously in Atchison county, since 1882, and has taken an active and influential part in the affairs of the county. He is a standi Republican in his political affiliations, but has never .souglit political prefer- ment. He and the members of his family are affiliated religiously with the Lutheran denomination, which was the faith of his father. He is prominent in lodge circles and is a memljer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 542 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is one of the original Central Protective Association members and is a charter member of Sunny Hill Lodge, No. 158, of Effingham, and is prominently connected in Central Protective Association circles throughout the State of Kansas, having organized seven lodges in this State. JAMES R. GRAGG. For nearly fifty-nine years James R. Gragg, wealthy farmer and stock- man, of Lancaster township, Atchison county. Kansas, and the present town- ship treasurer, has lived in Kansas, and is one of the real pioneers of the State. Since a lad six years of age he has been a resident of Atchison county, and has lived to see the once wild and barren prairie become one of the garden spots in America, and has seen the towns and cities grow within the lx)rders of the county where once was a wild, unbroken waste. When a boy he was taught by his father that the greatest returns from the pursuit of agriculture could be obtained by the raising and feeding of live stock, and he has en- deavored to follow his father's teachings in this respect and has met with success, resulting from following a definite plan of getting the best results from his efforts. He is a descendant of a southern pioneer family, who were among the original settlers of eastern Tennessee, and again were pioneers in Clay county, Missouri, early in the nineteenth century. It is a topic of inter- est to compare the comfortable residence and farm buildings of Mr. Gragg, at Jhis day, to the log cabin in which he was reared, and the stock shed made of poles and slough grass, which his father was forced by necessity to erect in the early days of the settlement of Kansas. Few families settled in Lancas- ter township as early as the Graggs. and in point of years of residence. James R. is probably the third oldest living settler of the township. James R. Gragg was bom February 5, 185 1, in Clinton county, Mis.souri. He is a son of Jefferson and Mary (White) Gragg. to whom fifteen children were born. Four children, two sons and two daughters, are still living, as follows : Mrs. Mahala Martin, Gower, Mo. ; James R. ; Mrs. Alice Muks. near Oklahoma City. Okla. : and Bisliop or Bascomb Gragg, Stafford. Kan. The Graggs are of Irish descent. The father of James Gragg was bom in 18 14 in eastern Tennessee. When he was a child his parents removed to Clay county, Missouri, where he grew up as a farmer. In the spring of 1856 Jef- ferson Gragg came to Kansas and settled in Leavenworth, where he had taken a claim. He sold this a year later and came to Atchison county, and HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 543 preempted i6o acres in section 24, Lancaster township, on which James R. is now Hving. He paid $1.25 an acre. As soon as he took charge of the land he built a log house, twelve feet square and also erected a hay barn with a slough-grass roof. He brought a covered wagon to Kansas and lived in it until the log house was ready for occupancy. During the border war he was forced to return to Missouri for three months, but at the end of., that time came back to Kansas and continued to improve his farm. It was slow work, as he did most of the plowing with oxen and this took a great deal of time, but he was able to accumulate a little money slowly, and in ten years erected a better house on his place. He had a hard fight for existence the first few years in the face of crop failures, droughts and grasshoppers, but when he retired, about 1890, he owned 640 acres of land which he divided among his children, and lived with them until his death, April 10, 1910. His wife, the mother of James R. Gragg, was born in Clinton county, Missouri, in 1816, and died in 1912. She was the daughter of Robert White, and her mother bore the maiden name of Cooley. Both parents were members of the South Methodist church, and helped to organize and build the Bethel church in Grasshopper township, which was one of the early Methodist churches in Kan- sas. Both parents are buried in old Huron cemetery. James R. Gragg. the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm where he now lives, and attended school in Lancaster and Huron, Kan., ■ although his early educational opportunities were limited. L: early days the father and his son were stock buyers on a large scale. The father did the actual buying, and the son had charge of the herds on the prairie. They did a large business in trading and buying and selling stock, and the son has continued this until the present time. James has always lived on the Gragg land and was with his father until the latter retired in 1890 and the land was divided. James later bought out the other heirs and now owns 1,040 acres in Atchison and Wabaunsee counties, 560 acres of this land being lo- cated in Atchison county, with three sets of farm buildings. He gives a great deal of attention to the stock selling part of his business, and feeds and win- ters 150 head each winter. On December 25, 1872, Mr. Gragg married Mrs. Viola A. Norris, who was born May 26. 1855, in Buchanan county, Mis- souri. She is a daughter of David and Martha (Cook) Norris. The fathei''s family came from Kentucky and the mother's from Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Gragg have two children : Jefferson K., bom Februan,' 23, 1875. in .Atchison county, Kansas: married in October, 1894, to Ella Walls, and has two chil- dren, Paul, aged twenty years, and George, aged twelve years. He is now engaged in the live stock commission business in Kansas City, Mo., and Arch, 544 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY born Alay 3, 1889. who is farming on the home place, married March 11, 1914, to Edna Wilson, of Lancaster township, a daughter of J. E. Wilson. Jefferson, the older son, completed a course in the Atchison Business Col- lege. ^Ir. Gragg is a Democrat, and has been a member of the school board, and is now treasurer of Lancaster township. He is a member of the Meth- odist church and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modem Wood- men of America. URI SEELEY KEITH. Uri Seeley Keith is one of the grand old men of Atchison. His career has been interesting, and borders upon the romantic, when many incidents in which he has figured are recounted. A valiant soldier of the Union dur- ing the Civil war, it fell to him to perform the arrest of Vallandingham in Ohio when his activities in favor of the Confederacy had rendered him obnox- ious to the State and Federal governments. Few men in Atchison ha\e had a more varied or active life than Mr. Keith. He was born June 27, 1841, in Massillon. Ohio, the son of Fordyce M. and Parthena J. (Seeley) Keith, na- tives of New York and the Western Reserve of Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Keith was a daughter of Uri Seeley. Fordye M. Keith was born in 181 6 and died May 14. 1906. He was a son of Ansell Keith, a native of New York. The Keith family is descended from two brothers who were sons of General Keith, at one time a field marshal in the Russian army. He was a Scotch-Englishman, who quarreled with Queen Elizaljeth and left England to take service under Peter the Great of Russia. His two sons immigrattfd to America in 1690, one settling in New York and the other going to the South- land. Two branches of the family tlius sprang from these sons of Marshal Keith. Brigadier General Keith served under General \\'ashington during the Revolution and the General lived at the Keith home in New York for a time, .\nscll Keith served in the \\'ar of 1812. The Seeley family originally settled in Connecticut. Uri Seeley was l)orn in 1791 and settled in the West- ern Reserve on a land grant of 100 acres where he died. Ansell, the father of Fordyce !\I.. and grandfather of the subject of this .sketch, settled in Lnrain county, Ohio, in 1832, near Elyria and was a contractor and builder. Data regarding the members of the family is as follows: Ansell Keith was born June 24, 1786, and Betsy M., his wife, was born January 2, 1794; LIri Seeley was born May 25, 1791, and died August 10, 1877, '^^^ '""^s wife. Abbey, was born October 22,, 1792. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 545 Fordyce M. Keith was born April 27, 1816, and died May 12, igo6. His wife, Parthena, was born August 4, 1816, and died at Seneca, Kan.. February 18, 1893. He received an excellent education and was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio, practicing for some years at Massillon. He served in the I'nii mi army, enlisting in the One Hundred and Seventeenth regiment, Ohio infantry, and later the First Ohio heavy artilleiy. His service extended throughout the war from August 30, 1862, to August i, 1865. He was a major in the One Hundred and Seventeenth regiment, Ohio infantry, and was created a lieutenant colonel in the heavy artillery August i, 1863. He came to Kansas in 1866 and practiced law in Brown county where he served as county attor- ney. In old age he resided with his granddaughter in Oklahoma. He was the father of the following" children : Uri Seeley ; Fordyce M.. Jr., who died in Pueblo, Colo., August i, 1900; Clarence M., and Herbert Brewster died in infancy; Lamar Burrett, born February 22, 1847, ^"^ lives at Seneca, Kan. Uri Seeley Keith was educated in the common schools of his native State. He enlisted April 20, 1861, when Lincoln issued his first call for troops. His first enlistment was in Company L Eighteenth regiment, Ohio infantry, for a period of three months, which was extended to five months. He again en- listed in Company E, Eighty-seventh regiment. Ohio infantry. June 2. 1862, for four months. November 4, 1862. he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Seventeenth regiment, Ohio infantry, for a period of three years, or until the close of the war. He was promoted to the second lieutenancy of Com- pany C. First Ohio hca\}- artillery. December 23. 1863. The One Hundred and Seventeenth regiment was transferred to the heavy artillerv organization May 2, 1863 with Mr. Keith as second lieutenant and later as first lieutenant of his company. He was regimental quartermaster sergeaiU of the One Hun- dred and Seventeenth regiment, Ohio infantry, and received his final discharge at Knoxville. Tenn., July 25, 1865, and was mustered out at Camp Deni.son, Ohio, August I, 1865. This valiant soldier participated in the following en- gagements: Chickamauga. Sejitember 19-20. 1863; Knoxville. November iC) to December 9, 1863; Campbell Station, October 16; Carter Station, December 21; Lowden, October 15, 1863; Rogersville, December 19; Tavlorsville, De- cember 19, 1863; Seaversville, Octolier 9. 1864: Charleston, October 19, 1864; Cleveland, October 24; Columbus, October 27; Franklin, November 30: Nashville, December 12 to 16, and Duck River, December 18, 1864. He served as quartermaster of the Second battalion of the First Ohio heav\- artil- lery from April i. 1864, to the close of the war. Other engagements in which he fought were: Rich Mountain, July 7, 1861 ; Gainesville, July 24, 1861 ; Red House, July 29, 1861 (Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry) and Harper's 35 546 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY Ferry, September 14 and 15, 1862; South Mountain, September 13, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862 (Eighty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry) Paintville, January 11, 1863 ; Peach Orchard, January 27, 1863 (One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio volunteer infantry). An interesting episode in ?\lr. Keith's career which has been published in various newspapers is worth record- ing. He was the man who arrested Vallandingham at Dayton, Ohio, Ma\- i, 1863. Early in 1863 while he was an officer in tlie heavy artillery. General Burnside, then in command of the Department of the Ohio, issued general order Number 38, which was especially obnoxious to southern sympathizers, the Knights of the Golden Circle, and Associated Sons of America, and kin- dred organizations which had for their object the placing of every obstacle in the path of the Federal Government and tlie overthrow of the Union. Val- landingham made an incendiary speech at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, on May i. Cap- tain Hutton of General Burnside's staff was detailed to effect the arrest of Vallandingham, who was to be transported to the rebel lines. Lieutenant Keith was second in command of the expedition. They reached Vallanding- ham's home at midnight, and knocked at the door, but the woman of the house stated that the object of their capture was not at home. Lieutenant Keith did not believe her and pushed open the door and rushed up stairs to find Vallandingham, who was in bed. When Keith broke open the bed room door ris prisoner rushed to the window and called "Asa," presumably in search of assistance, but no one came to his aid. He was then taken to Cincinnati and sent through the Union lines to the Confederate general, Bragg, for safe keeping. Mr. Keith came west to Doniphan county September 8, 1865, and located in the town of White Cloud for a time and then came to Atchison. He bought a farm a few miles west of White Cloud which he cultivated until 1872, and then followed railroading for a time. In 1872 he was in the employ of the United States Government on the Great Nemaha Indian reservation. In 1875 he again returned to White Cloud and from there went to his farm, remaining until 1885 when he engaged in the hotel business at Hiawatlia until 1890. He removed to Atchison in 1890, and was employed for a number of years as inspector of city contract work. He has superintended practically all of the paving and contract work which has been done in the city except during the past few years since his retirement. Many miles of paving have been honestly done under Mr. Keith's supervision and he has had charge of the building of practically all of the concrete culverts erected in the city. For four years he served as deputy sheriff of Atchison county. Mr. Keith was married September 11, 1866, to Mary Frances Grossman, HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 547 who was born in Massillon, Ohio, August 24, 1842, the daughter of Daniel and Martha Grossman, natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneer settlers in Ohio. The Grossmans moved to Ohio in 1836 and both died in Massillon. To Mr. and Mrs. Keith have been born the following children: Minnie L. born July 24, 1867, wife of J. R. Bailey, of Enid, Okla., and the mother of one child, Mildred, wife of Dr. Lee J. Render, of Falls Valley, Okla., and who also has one child, Bailey Adrian ; Mrs. Ruby V. Doyle, born April i, 1870, and residing in Lincoln, Neb., the mother of one child, Halbert K. ; Edward C., and Charles R.. born June 6, 1875, of whom Charles R. died May 24, 1898, and Edward C. married Elsie Schmitt. engaged in Lhiited States mail service. ]\Ir. Keitli's daughter, Mrs. Bailey, is a talented writer and has issued a volume of poems which has decided literary merit. She is counted among the leading authors of the "New State" and is fast gaining a place in the world of letters. Mr. Keith has always been aligned with the Republican party and has been active in its councils during his long and busy life. He is a Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 93, having been quartermaster of the local post for the past eight years. He served as post commander at White Cloud, Hiawatha, and of E. C. Johnson post, of Atchi- son, which was later consolidated with Post No. 93. Few men can look back over long years crowded witl: incidents and with such activity as has fallen to the lot of Uri S. Keith, one of the last of the Old Guard who offered their lives that the Union might be forever preserved. As the years pass and time rolls on the ranks of those brave men who wore the blue are becoming thinner and their steps more feeble. It is only the more vigorous who have survived thus far and Mr. Keith is one of them. CHARLES H. BURROWS. Charles H. Burrows, Union veteran and clerk in the Missouri Pacific railroad offices at Atchison, has had a long and varied career in the railway service of the countr}-. He is a native of the Buckeye State and was born at Cincinnati, November 19, 1843, a son of James H. and Nancy A. (Lynchard) Burrows, both of whom were descended from old American families. James H. Burrows was born in Maryland and his wife was a native of Kentucky. The Burrows family settled in America in about the year 1647. There were at first two branches of the family, one of whom settled in Maine and the otlier on the south shore of Maryland. The great-granilfather of C harles H. 548 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY settled first in Maiyland and here his grandfatlier, \\'illiam Burrows, was born and reared. Tlie sons of the family were sea-faring men and se\eral of the descendants of the first Burrows have been officers in tiie United States nnvy. Xancy A., wife of James H.. was a daughter of ]Mr. Lynchard of Virginia, who became a pioneer settler of Kentucky, and married a member of tlie Talbot family, of \'irginia. He had two sons and four daughters and came from Kentucky to Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1838. In 1845 James H. Burrows was married in Cincinnati where he made Iiis residence. Upon the outl)reak (if tlie Civil war both father and son, C. H., enlisted. The family removed to Springfield, III, in 1858 and here James H. operated a cooperage shop. As before stated, father and son enlisted in the same regiment, the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois volunteer infantry, on September 10, 1862, for a period of three \ears. The father died in the Union hospital at Cairo, III. after his honorable discharge on account of sick disability, in February, 1863. Charles H. fought in the battles of Champion Hills, Vicks- burg, Spanish Fort, Blakely, and took part in many other engagements until the close of the war. He was also engag-ed in the Mobile campaign. Charles H. was the eldest of a family of five children, namely ; Charles H., James died in 1856; Mrs. Alice A. Direen, of Jacksonville, III; \\illiam C. deceased; Emma D., wife of Judge Henry Piiillips, of Beardstown, 111. In 1873 he, with whom this review is directly concerned, left the old home in Illinois and began his railroading career which was eventually to end with his present berth in Atchison. Forty-two years of railroading, or rather fifty \ears of railwa}- service with tlie exception of two years in the practice of law at Mondamin, III, is the proud record of this sturdy patriot. During- this long period he has served as telcgra])h operator, superintendent of telegraph, engineer, hrakcman. conductor, etc. He was in the employ of the Cliicago & Alton railroad, tlie Wabash, the Ciilman. Clinton X: Sjiring- field railroads, while located at Springfield, 111, and was in the employ of the Vandalia when it was building out of St. Louis. As early as 1868 he was in the employ of the Missouri Pacific railroad and was with the Denver and Rio Grande in the earl\- days of its operation : was with the Ft. Scott & Memphis railroad one year; the St. Louis & St. Joseph road; was station agent on the old Hannibal & St. Joe mad : served on the Chicagfo, Burlington & Ouinc\- railroad in Missouri and Iowa; the Chicago & North- western; t!ie Sioux City & Pacific; the I'remont, Elkhorn & Missouri Val- lev roads. After a railroad experience in the states of Illinois. Iowa. Mis- souri, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado, he came to Atchison in September of 1890, as a clerk in the offices of the Missouri Pacific railroad system. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY j49 He was married August lo. 187 1, at Lawsoii. Mo., tn Susan K. Morrow, a native of Missouri, and daughter of Vincent Morrow. To this union has been born one child, Pearl, wife of Adolph Frailey. By a former marriage with B. F. Shumalt, Mrs. Frailey had two children, Ruth E. and Frances Shumalt. Mr. Burrows has been and is now an independent voter, not allied with any particular political party or creed. He is fraternally connected with the Suns and Daughters of Justice, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has served as commander of the Grand Armv Post. Xo. 93, of Atchison, for the past two years. Commander Burrows has the great distinction of having been one of the original organizers of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been prominent in the affairs of this great organization since 1866. In February of 1866, he assisted in the organization of Springfield, 111., Grand Army Post, No. 2. He served as officer of the day when this noted post Cthe second in America) was organized. JAiMES EDWARD WILSON. James Edward Wilson, fanner, of Lancaster township, Atchison county, was born December 14, 1865, on the farm which he now manages. He is a son of Charles and Mary K. (Brown) Wilson, who were the parents of eleven children, as follows : Sarah E. died in infancy ; Louise C. died when two years old; William M., deceased: Andrew J., Hill City, Kan. ; Martha E., deceased; Nancy J., deceased; James E., stibject of this sketch; Julia A. Martin, Wa- baunsee countv, Kansas; Charles T., Atchison county, and Samuel H., de- ceased. The father, Charles Wilsort, was born February 7, 1827, in Bar- tholomew county, Indiana, a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Wilson, who migrated to Missouri. Charles Wilson left the farm in Buchanan county, was married and came to Kansas. In 1855 he settled on the farm which his son now owns in section 14, Lancaster township, Atchison county. The father with his wife and infant child went through many hardships in their pioneering days. The familv came from Buchanan county, Missouri, in a covered wagon, driving a yoke of oxen. He preempted 160 acres, the site of his son's present farm. He built a small log cabin to shelter his family, and, with the aid t)f two other men. lie began to break the prairie. This was slow work with oxen, and during the first year tliey cleared but ten acres each. Fifty acres of the farm was in fine wooded land along the creek. This furnished them plenty 550 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of lumber with which to build their cabin and other buildings. They planted the land, which was in tillable condition, in corn, and were soon able to live in some degree of comfort, but it was still a wild country. An old trail ran near the farm, now known as the "Military trail," and the Indians following this frequently camped along the trail near the farm. They prowled around the house frequently, and the father always kept close to his house to pro- tect his family from possible danger. Those were the true pioneer days, and they had to go to Atchison for their provisions. It was a lonely trip, only one house being between the Wilson cabin and Atchison. But in those days people only bought the barest necessities of life which were all that they could afford. They paid two dollars a bushel for com meal during the second spring there. Wild game was plentiful and furnished much of the food. Badgers and wolves were numerous and gave danger to the sheep of the pioneers. IMany nights were spent with loaded gun within reach in prepared- ness for the wolves which could be heard howling about. On the trips to Atchison to trade travelers and pioneers often stopped at Mormon Grove for a rest. The place was about seven miles west of Atchison, and took its name from the fact that the Mormons, on their way to Utah, frequently camped in this grove over night. Travelers along this road always watered their horses from the pond there. After two years the settlers began to feel the need of educational ad- \antages for their children, as there was no school near enough for the chil- dren of the pioneers to attend. For the two years they had lived here they had no school advantages, and the men of the neighborhood joined together and built a log school house. It was in the district now known as old Huron school district No. 24. A postoffice also was established near the school house, but when the railroad was Iniilt through that section of tlie county, the postoffice was moved to Huron, where the station was located. Charles Wilson died in 1897, ^t the age of seventy years. His wife, Mars- K. Wilson, was born October 31, 1831. in eastern Tennessee. She was a daughter of Joseph and Polly (McCurry) Brown. They were natives of Tennessee. The mother is now living with her son, James, the subject of this sketch. She had a great deal to do with the success of her husband. \\'hen she came into the wild country with her young liusband she was fac- ing a new life, and one which was to test her courage and strengtli, but she was equal to the occasion. She toiled early and late on the new farm and helped shear sheep and spun wool. The paternal grandparents of James \\'^ilson were Martin and Elizabeth (Mitchell) \Vilson. both natives of Indiana. James W^ilson was reared on the farm where he now resides. He was HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 551 educated in the district school and went to work on his father's farm, and is now farming the place, renting it from his mother. He operates about 115 acres of it. Mr. Wilson was married in 1880 to Martha Louisa Culpepper, who was born in Dallas county, Iowa, September 5, 1867. She is a daughter of Ben- jamin and Amanda (Lowery) Culpepper, natives of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of eleven children: Chariie, deceased; Anna Edwards, Dardanelle, Ark.; Archibald, living at home; Edna Gragg, Lancaster town- ship, Atchison county, Kansas ; Frank, living at home ; Marie, at home ; Eva, Thelma, Leslie and Vera, all living with their parents, and one child died in infancy. Mr. Wilson is a Republican and is now a member of the school board for his district. He attends church, although he is not a member of any denomination. Mrs. Wilson, mother of James E., is the oldest living pioneer settler of Lancaster township. FREDERICK W. KOESTER. Frederick W. Koester is a native of Atchison, born April 6, i860. He is a son of Fred and Anna (Bertha) Koester, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Zurich, Switzerland. The mother immigrated to America when she was a young girl, coming to this country with her mother. Fred Koester, the father, was born in Minden, Germany, January 18, 1835, and came to America when he was about twenty-one years of age. He landed in New Orleans, but remained there only a short time when he came up the Mississippi river by boat, and located at St. Louis. He remained there but a short time, however, when he went to St. Josepli, Mo. W' hile there he learned the barber's trade, and in 1857 came to Atchison, Kan., and established one of the first barber shops in the city. He was an industrious and thrifty man and although not highly educated, he was a man of unusual foresight and good judgment. Soon after coming to Atchison he began to invest his savings in real estate and became one of the extensive properly owners of the city in the early days. He built several residences which lie sold at a good profit and he built one of the first brick houses in Atchison. He also built the first pressed brick house in the city. The building is still standing and is known as the Koester house situated on Second street, l>etween Commercial and Kansas streets. This was considered one of the magnificent residences of Atchison in the earl\- seventies. Fred Koester owned a number of business 552 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY places in Atchison as well as several residences. Frederick W. Koester is the older of a family of two. His sister, Susie Bertha, is now the wife of Carl Hachette. and resides in San Francisco. Cal. Frederick W. Koester attended the public schools of Atchison, and later was a student in St. Benedict's College, and also attended the Jesuits" College, St. Louis, Mo. His father had advanced ideas in regard to education, and endeavored to give his children the best that could be obtained. After com- pleting school F. W. Koester began life as a clerk in D. C. Newcomb's dry goods store at Atchison. He remained there but a short time, liowcxer. when he went to work in his father's barber shop and later opened a six chair shop of his own. He then went on the road as traveling salesman for a barber supply house, and was thus engaged for seven years. He went to California in 1886 where he was employed as timekeeper for a railroad contractor. Mr. Koester was married in 1883 to Miss Bertha Bracke, a daughter of Albert Bracke, an Atchison county pioneer, who was engaged in freighting across the plains in tlie early days. Later, he was engaged in a cattle and butchering business in Atchison and was a very extensive dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Koester are the parents of two children, Albert, bom on Januarv 21. 1885. is in tlie employ of the Seaton Foundry. Atchison, and Fred- erick William, Jr.. born July 25. 1895. in San Francisco, is a student in Kansas University, department of journalism, and during his vacations is connected with the Atchison Champion as a reporter. Mr. Koester was appointed by Governor Hodges secretary of the Kansas State Barbers' Board in April, 191 3, serving two years. He is a member of tiie Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, and secretary of the insurance department of Golden Cross. He and his familv are members of the Christian Science church. Mrs. Koester died Octoljer 13, 1904, and on Octol^er 23, 1915, Mr. Koester was united in mar- riage with Miss Lillie Barth Hood, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of J. H. Hood, of McCloud, Okla. CHARLES MYERS. Charles Mvers. farmer, stockman and contractor, of Lancaster township. Atchison countv, Kansas, was born May 13. 1864, in Buclianan cdunty. Mis- souri. He is a son of Augusta and Hulcia (Snyder) Myers, and one of nine children, seven of whom are living. The father was torn in Germany in 1818 and left there with his parents when a young man, the family settling HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 553 in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two he came to St. Joseph, Mo., and learned the carpenter's trade. Later he engaged in farming in Missouri, and came to Atchison county, Kansas, and bought the old Captain Kvans farm in Shannon township. He improved it considerably and then sold it. and moved to Atchison, where he resided until his death in 1903. The mother was torn in Indiana. She died in 1903, at the age of seventj'-four years. Charles Myers, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Shannon township and attended the district school. He worked for his father until he was twenty years old, and then rented land in Doniphan county, Kansas, and farmed for himself, and later came to Atchison county, where he rented a farm for two years. Having accumulated some capital, he bought 120 acres in section 13. Lancaster township, and fanned this for sixteen years, meanwhile making extensive improvements. He sold this land and bought 160 acres in section 23, Lancaster township, in 1904. The farm was comparatively unimproved and he set to work building the place up. He erected a large, modern, nine room, brick house, superintending the work himself. He also built an excellent barn and a commodious ice house. These buildings were planned by Mr. Myers, who had learned the carpenter's trade at odd times. He selected the materials used in the construction and by his careful supervision thus insured the best of buildings. This work comes natural to Mr. Myers, although he has never spent much time at the work, but it was so easy for him that he just naturally drifted into it. Whenever he had any work to be done he personally took it in hand. Other important improvements were made by Mr. Myers. Several additions to his farm land were made, and he ntnv owns 240 acres of good tillable farm land. Mr. Myers also keeps graded stock and takes pride in keeping up his breeds. Be- sides these activities Mr. Myers holds stock in the Independent Harvester Company of Piano. 111. He was married to Eva Kenbal in 1897. Mrs. Myers was born August 19, 1867, in Ohio, and is a daughter of Nelson Kenbal. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Ora (Snyder), Erazer. Mo.; Edna (Tay- lor). Lancaster township, .\tchison county. Kansas; Merrel. .\ugusta. Glen, Hubert, Irene, Lafayette, all living at home. Mr. Myers is a Republican in politics and has served on the school board of his district. He belongs to the Baptist church, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Myers, in addition to his occupation as a farmer and stockman, has found time for constructing several buildings in Atchison county, and has been re- markablv successful in his construction work. 554 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY GEORGE H. T. SCHAEFER. George H. T. Schaefer. contractor and builder, has achieved such a rep- utation in his avocation during- his more than thirty years of residence in Atchison, as to place him in the front rank of artisans in his adopted city. History is constantly repeating itself, when we chronicle the fact that "from small beginnings, great things have grown." Mr. Schaefer began contract- ing in a small way. after quitting the first job which he held in Atchison. The results of his handiwork are now seen on every hand, and include the most stately and costly buildings of the city and structures throughout Kan- sas and Nebraska. Through all of his success ]\Ir._ Schaefer has remained the same, unassuming, plain citizen, whose motto has been, "honest work for honest money." There are few men in his profession who can point to a more successful career, and who can look back over long 3-ears spent in erect- ing abiding places for mankind, and realize that every contract was fulfilled faithfully and the work well and consistently done to the satisfaction of the owners. G. H. T. Schaefer was torn November ii, 1857. in Indianapolis, Ind., and is a son of Rev. J. George and Minnie Schaefer. His father was a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and his mother of Hamburg, Cxermany. Both came to this countrv in youth witli their respective parents. The father was edu- cated for the Lutheran ministry, and in 1863 left Indianapolis and took charge of a church at Lanesville, Ind., twelve miles from New Albany, on the stage route in Indiana. From that time on he filled various charges and died in the midst of his pastoral labors in New Boston, Ind. The mother now re- sides in Atchison. He, with whom this review directly concerns, left the parental roof when thirteen years of age and went to Indianapolis, where he learned the trade of carpenter. After serving his apprenticeship he spent two years in the vicinity of his father's home at New Boston, working for an old German contractor. This experience was invaluable, inasmuch as his em- plover took contracts for erecting barns, churches and bridges from the standing timber. The future contract(ir here learned to create buildings from the virgin timber of the forests. Desiring to gain a wider experience in his calling, in 1876 he went to Evansville, Ind., then, as now, an important river city. He spent one year in this city, and during that time witnessed the great cyclone which swept this section of the country and destroyed lives and many buildings. Ml. Canncl. 111., was badly wrecked, and he arrixed on the scene of the disaster in time to help burj- the dead and assist in the rebuild- ing of the city. In 1879 he went to Greenville, Miss., and during the winter HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 555 the yellow fever, which had been epidemic in New Orleans, broke out in Green- ville, and he managed to catch the last 1>oat leaving the wharf for St. Louis. From here he went to Kansas City, but no sooner did he set foot on the streets of this growing metropolis than he was besieged by real estate men who wanted to sell him property. He became disgusted with Kansas City and took a train for Atchison. Here he purchased a ticket for a point 200 miles west on the Central Branch railroad and landed at Cawker City. Upon alighting from the train and making inquiries about work he was informed that, inasmuch as he did not belong to any lodges, and had no connections in the western town, he could get no work. However, he got a job and was kept busily employed for two years, building in the surrounding country. He erected dwellings and business houses in Jewell and Mitchell counties, at a time when the country was in the initial stage of its development. He in- vested his savings in property, only to see his hopes of gaining a permanent competence swept away, when the hot winds came and ruined the corn crop and scorching everything in its path. Mr. Schaefer promptly left and de- cided to locate in Omaha. On his way eastward he drew matches to decide upon his stopping place and the choice fell to Atchison. This was in 1882. On reaching this city he saw in the Atchison Globe an advertisement, reading: "Competent man wanted to take charge of building," etc. The following morning he applied for the job, and was given the post of foreman by Mr. Jones, a contractor, who had undertaken to erect the Presbyterian church, a stone structure. He received two dollars per day for his services as foreman, with the understanding that his employer was to advance his wages accord- ing to his worth as a foreman. As foreman he did not receive any more pay than the men who were working under him ; consequently, when he had super- vised the erection of the stone structure as far as the roof, he quit the job, despite the fact that his boss offered him three dollars per day to continue working for him. Mr. Schaefer's first contract in Atchison was the erection of a barn on south Third street. Since his first job he has not lacked for contracts, and he has been employed repeatedly by the same patrons who were well satisfied with the work done. His most notable building operations in- cluded the magnificent Ingalls high school building, erected at a cost of $125,000; the G. C. Wattles residence, the Bradley residence, the Blish, Mize Silliman building, costing $125,000: three double officers' quarters at Ft. Leavenworth : thirty church edifices in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska : the Presbyterian church in Ottawa, Kan., and the Masonic Temple in Atchison, built at a cost of $65,000, and completed in December of 191 5. He employs from ten to seventy-five skilled men, as occasion requires. He formerly op- 55f> HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY iTated a large planing- mill on Eighth street, whieh was destroyed by fire in 1913. Mr. Sehaefer was married in 1884 to Lizzie Jacobs, of Atchison, Kan. To them have been born the following children: Clara, wife of John Froinnier, Oak street, Atchison; Minnie, wife of John Kiiisemark, ()I5 North Eleventh street; Etta, wife of AU)ert I'Vonimer. St. Paul, Minn. ; Corrine. wife of Paul Smith, merchant, of .Vtcliison; Julia. Edwin, Laura, and Ruth, at home with their parents. Edwin is a machinist in the employ of the Railway Specialty Company. Mrs. Sehaefer was a daughter of J. H. and Catharine Jacobs, who came from Gennany in i860, accompanied by their three chil- dren: Henry, deceased; Mrs. Sehaefer. and John E., and a son, Conrad V., was bom here. The Jacobs first located in Pennsylvania, and then in Ft. Wayne, Ind., removing from there to Illinois in 1865. and coming to .\tch- ison in 1867. J. H. Jacobs was employed by the Hixon Lumber Company, and died Februar)- 8, 1896, at the age of se\enty-two years. His wife died Deceml>er 26, 1895, aged seventy-three years. Politically, ]\Ir. Sehaefer is an independent Republican, and serxed one term as city councilman from the Fifth ward. He is a member of the Luth- eran church, belongs to no lodges, and is essentially a home man when he is not engaged in building. His investments are principally in .\tchison real estate and Te.xas farm lands. His handsome resider.ce at 911 North Eleventh street was remodeled after his own ideas and presents an attractive appear- ance. AMEL MARKWALT. Amel Markwalt. fanner, of Lancaster township, .\tchison county, Kan- sas, was bom in Germany July 14, 1864. He is a son of Gottlieb and Min- nie (Schraum) Markwalt, anil was one of five children, as follows: Gus- tave, Manistee, Mich.; Augiista. address unknown; .Amelia (Lidkye). widow\ Manistee, Mich.; William, Manistee, Mich.; and Amel, the subject of this sketch. The parents were both German, and died when .\mel was but five years of age. He knows nothing of his parents, except that his father was in the German war of 1866, when the Piiissians were fighting the Austrians. The schooling of .\mel was neglected, ow ing to the death of his parents, and he spent his youth working on a farm in Germany. In 1882 he sailed for America, and upon arri\ing in this country he went to work in the lum- ber mills at Manistee, Mich., remaining there three years. He then came to Atchison. Kan., and worked in the Central Branch railroad shops as a laborer. I HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 557 He (lid various kinds of work of a mechanical nature during his six years of employment there. He then engaged in the retail oil business for himself, and finding this profital)le he enlarged his business to include the selling of ice. A few years later he sold his business, anfl in 1903 bought 160 acres of land in Lancaster township and moved there the following year, where he has since resided. He has built a fine residence and a barn since buying the land, and has a two-acre orchard. His barn is an excellent one, with a capacity of fifty tons of hay. Amel Markwalt was married in 1885 to Augusta Stolp, who was born in Germany August 2, 1865, and left her native land in 1883 and came to Atchison, Kan. She is a daughter of August and Charlotte (Weisgean) Stolp, both now deceased. Her father came to Atchison, Kan., in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Markwalt have six children : Ida, wife of J. Ziegler, Nortonvillc, Kan.; William, living at home; Henry, deceased; Charlotte, Elsie, and Otto, living at home. Mr. Markwalt does not affiliate himself with any political party, believing that he can vote more conscientiously by voting independently. He is a member of the German Lutheran church. RUFUS BEXTOX PEERY. Dr. Rufus Benton I 'eery, jiresident of Midlanrl College, Atchison, is a true type of scholarly and progressive educator, one of that class of men who seem fitted or destined for the high places, and are adapted by profound learn- ing and natural endowments to be instructors and leaders of the youth of the land. His work as the head of Midland College is attracting favorable atten- tion. He has won fame as a lecturer and achieved a measure of renown as an author. Endowerl with inherent powers of leadership, he occupies a place among the educators of the nation which is unquestioned, and he is univer- sally recognized as a man of brilliant attainments and a strong personality. Although he has occu|)ied his present position but a few years, during that time Dr. I'eery has done much toward advancing the interests of Midland College and pushing this institution forward to its rightful place among the seats of learning in the Middle West. Dr. Peery is a native of Virginia, bom April 9, 1868, at Burke's Garden, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah Henrietta (Repass) Peery. His father was a farmer and stockman, who eventually Ijecame an extensive buyer and shipper of live stock in Virginia and Tennessee. He traveled over the region 558 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY in quest of cattle and other live stock, buying it up and sliipping train loads to the New York City markets. Rufus B. early learned to do farm work and assisted his father as other boys have been wont to do on the farm. After he had entered college he became his father's assistant in the live stock business during his vacations, and thus earned the money to continue with his studies. During his boyhood on the farm he raised a fine mare named "Gypsy" which was the apple of his eye. He became ambitious to enter college, luit had not the means to make the start. His only recourse seemed to be to part with "Gypsy," and thus get the funds to realize his ambition. He sold his favorite for the sum of $125, and was enabled to matriculate in Roanoke College, Salem, Va., from which institution he was graduated with tlie degree of A. B. in 1890. He received his j\Iaster"s degree from Roanoke in 1895. Imbued with a desire to enter the ministiy, he continued his studies in tlie theological seminary at Greensburg, Pa., for the next two years, and was ordained in the English Lutheran ministry in 1892. Actuated by a de- sire to assist the Japanese people, he became a missionary and remained in the Orient from 1892 to 1903. For four years he was professor of theology in Japan, and traveled extensively in the Orient, including the Chinese Em- pire. Being a close student and observer of condition in the lands which he visited while pursuing his missionary tasks, he was enabled to write enter- tainingly, the results of his observations, and embody them in an interesting volume "Gist of Japan," in 1897, which has run through eight editions. He has also written and published a volume entitled "Lutherans in Japan," issued in 1900. His "Lectures to Young Men" (Japanese) was issued in 1902. Dr. Peery is a regidar contributor to religious and secular journals. His work has decided literary merit, and lie has attained higli rank as a writer on religious subjects. In the year 1895 ^^ received the degree of Ph. D. from the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. He took the non-resident course in theology and homiletics in Chicago University from 1898 to 1901. In 1909 Dr. Peer}- received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Midland College. Upon his return from the far East he lectured in America on Oriental and missionary subjects from 1903 to 1905. In 1905 he received a call and accepted the pastorate of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Denver. He had charge of the Denver churcli until 1012 when he came to Atchison and be- came president of Midland College. \\'hile in Denver he served as president of the Denver Ministerial Association from 1Q09 to 1910. inclusive. Dr. Peery is a trustee of- the Tabitha Home at Lincoln, Neb. ; a member of the Red Cross Society of Japan ; member of the Sons of the American Revolu- tion Society, and the Phi Gamma Delta. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 559 He was married to Letita Rich, of Wytheville, Va., August 21, 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. Peery have Ijeen born six sons, namely : Harold Rich, Thomas Benton and Rob Roy, born in Japan ; Paul Denver, and William Wal- lace, bom in Denver, Colo. ; Donald Lee, born in Atchison. Dr. Peery, like many other college heads, began at the bottom rung of the ladder, and is essen- tially self-made. His first teaching experience was in the district schools of his native State. While a student at college he served as private tutor to the student son of a wealthy man and thus earned sufficient funds to continue his studies. His father gave him a share of the proceeds of the live stock business which lie earned in New York City, during his vacations. Notl)ing develops the individual more than the necessity of striving for himself, and thus developing his own powers by combining the gaining of a livelihood with the attaining of a higher education. Dr. Peery's aspirations have been noble, and he has been actuated by the high and unselfish purpose of being of service to his fellow men. Atchison is proud of Midland College and the great work being done within its walls, and the reputation of the college is growing under Dr. Peery's management. JOHN L. RATERMAN. From office boy to manager for one of the most widely known concerns in the United States, or the civilized world, is the story of the hfe of him of whom this review is written. The history of J. L. Raterman, manager for R. G. Dun & Company, Mercantile Agency, shows what can be accomplished by beginning at the lowest rung of the ladder, learning every detail of the business, and eventually fitting himself for the important and responsible position of manager. The business of R. G. Dun & Company was first established in Atchi- son in 1886, with G. T. Bolman as manager. Other managers succeeded Mr. Bolman in the course of time, but Mr. Raterman has held the position longer than any of his predecessors. He began as office boy in 1890, when but four- teen years of age, it being necessary for him to leave his school studies when a pupil of the sixth grade. During his idle moments around the office, young Raterman practiced on the typewriter, and it was not long until he was able to do typist's work efficiently and satisfactorily. He was soon promoted and became a regular typist, and mastered shorthand at the end of three years of study. Seven years later he was advanced to the post of chief clerk, and" in 1900 was promoted to the important post of manager of the Atchison 560 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY branch of R. G. Dun & Company. As manager, Mr. Raterman travels over seven counties, collecting necessary data regarding the l)usiness concerns of his territory, including the six counties of northeast Kansas and DeKalb county, Missouri. He is personally acquainted with practically every business man in his district. J. L. Raterman was born in Atchison, Kan., October 25, 1876, a son of John and Elizabeth (Myers) Raterman, both of whom were born in Germany, immigrated to this country in youth and were married in Cincinnati, Ohio. John Raterman came to Atchison in 1857, and was one of tiie well known pioneer merchants of the city, operating a grocery store here in tlie early davs. He conducted his grocery store for twenty-five years, and died Decem- ber 21, igo2. Mrs. Raterman is living in Atcliison at the adxanced age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Raterman left a family of seven children. ULYSSES B. SHARPLESS. Ulysses B. Sharpless, treasurer of Atchison county, is one of the most successful citizens and business men of the county. He is the son of pioneer parents. Reared on a pioneer farm, successful as a merchant and public offi- ical, he is uni\'ersally recognj^^ed as one of the most influential n;en of .\tchi- son county today. Mr. ShaqDless is a descendant of old American stock, his ancestors having been among the original ico Quaker families brought over from England by William Penn, and colonized near and within the city of Pliiladelpbia, in 1082. Joseph Sliarpless, the direct ancestor of I". R. Sharpless, erected a stone house on the ancestral farm of the family in 1700, near the city of Chester, Pa., which is still standing- in an excellent state of preservation. One room of this old and stanch dwelling is still in exactly the same condition as the original bm'lder left it. The timbers and boards of this house were drawn together by means of wooden pins instead of nails. U. B. Sharpless was born January 18, 1870, in Delaware, a son of Benja- min T. and Susan (Green) Sharpless, the fonner of whom was a native of Delaware, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. The family resided in Delaware until 1878 and then migrated to the West, settling on a fami near Pardee in Atchison county, Kansas. Here Benjamin T. lived and reared his family of six children, as follows: Mrs. Cora E. (Burdick), deceased; Mrs. Olivia R. (Pfouts). deceased; Mrs. Susan Ella (Shifflet), of .\tchison : Ulysses B., with whom this narrative is directly concerned; Carrie died in m C. M. VOEI.KER. County Clerk. m I . 15. SIIAKri.ESS. ('oimty Treasiir«T. S. S. KING, County ComntiNwioner CIIAS. T. <;iM>v. City 'UuIko. HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 561 infancy; Mrs. Emma M. Rulings, Center townsliij), Atchison county. Benja- min Sharpless died in 1894, ar.d the mother of tlie foregoing cliildren dejjarted this life in 1908. He of whom this review is written was eight years of age wlien the Sharpless family came to Atchison county. He was reared to young manhood on his father's farm and learned to cultivate the soil under the tutelage of his father, who was a successful farmer. He was educated in the common schools and early learned to apply his education to the best advantage for himself. When twenty-one years of age he obtained his first position as manager of a general store at Monrovia, Kan. This position entailed a number of duties which kept him busily employed for a number of years. From 1891 to 1903 Mr. Sharpless managed the Monrovia store, served as postmaster, and per- fomied the duties of station agent for the railroad company. However, he found time to take an interest in politics and became active in the affairs of the Republican party when yet a young man. In 1903 he removed to Effing- ham, Kan., and engaged in the liardware and implement and grain business •with considerable success. He still retains his interest in this busmess, al- though now a resident of Atchison. Mr. Sharpless has also become a land owner in the county and has farm lands near Effingham. He was married in 1892 to Sadie A. Cook, born and reared in Atchison county, and a daughter of Thomas F. and Margaret Cook, who were pioneer settlers of this county, coming here from Missouri in i860. To Mr. and Mrs. Sharpless have been born five children: Gladys A., Margaret S.. Edith \u- bine died at the age of seven years; Lois A., and Alice Marie. .\11 i>f tlie living children are attending the Atchison public schools. The civic and political career of Mr. Sharpless has been an interesting one and he has risen from the rank and file of the Republican party to become one of the recognized leaders of his party in Atchison county and Kansas. His first civic office was as police judge of Effingham. He also served a term as mayor of that city. He was elected a member of the State legisla- ture from legislalix'e district Xo. 3, in Atchison count\- in njio and again elected to succeed himself in 191 2. He was also a member of the Atchi- son County High School board and served as treasurer of this organization. In the fall election of 19 14 he was elected to the office of county treasurer by a large and handsome majority — evidence of his great personal popularity among all classes of citizens. He assumed the duties of the treasurer's office in October of 191 5, and is bestowing the same care and application in the discharge of his public duties in this capacity as he lias always taken in tlie conduct of his personal business affairs. 36 562 HISTORV OF ATCHISON COUNTY Mr. Sharpless is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Bkie Lodge, Xo. 48. and is a Kniglits Templar and R(iyai Arch Mason. He is past noble granfl of Spartan Lodge, No. 250, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of Effingham, Kan., and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of the latter city. He is also fraternally allied with the Benevolent and Protecti\e Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of I'lagies, and the l-'ra- ternal Aid L'nion of Atchison. COXRAD M. VOELKER. It is certainly a distinction to be known as the youngest county clerk. and in all probability the youngest county official ever elected in the State of Kansas. Such is C. M. Voelker, the efficient and justly popular county clerk of Atchison county. Political honors and preferment rarely come to a really young man, unless he is especially qualified for the work, and has a host of friends who are willing and able to support him and his candidacy. Although young in years, Mr. Voelker is performing his duties in a manner which would reflect distinct credit upon an older individual. Conrad M. Voelker is a native of Atchison county, liaving been born May 20, 1889, on a farm, four miles north of Atchison, in Shannon town- ship. His father is Conrad Walker,- who was born in Germany November 20, 1856, a son of Karl and Christiana Voelker, who immigrated to America in 1861, and settled on a farm, two miles north of the city, where he operated a dairy and truck farm until his demise. To Karl and Christiana Voelker were bom the following children : Conrad; Mrs. Joseph Biddle, of Atchison; Henry, residing in New Orleans; Karl Voelker was twice married, Mrs. S. L. Loyd, of Shannon township, being a daughter of the second marriage. Conrad, father of C. M. Voelker, was reared to manhood in Atchison county, and when he became of age, settled on a 160 acre farm, four miles north of Atchison, which is now one of the best improved farms in tlie State of Kan- sas. For a number of years he specialized in the cultivation of cabbage, making a success of the venture, and accumulated considerable money. He became known far and wide as the "Cabbage King" of Kansas, always hav- ing the first cabliage on the market, and shipped the product of his fields to points in Kansas and Nebraska in carload lots. The Voelkers have a beauti- ful, well appointed home, with excellent out buildings. Conrad Voelker mar- ried Jennie Mueller, who was born in Cooper county, Missouri, November HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY 563 15, 1862, a daughter of German parents. To Conrad \'oelker and wife were born tlie following children: Fred C. W., a farmer, living north of Atchison; Conrad ]\1. Tlie \'oelkers are members of the Lutheran church. Conrad AI., with whom this narrative is directly concerned, was edu- cated primarily in the district schools, his education being supplemented with one year's studv in the German school in Atchison, and a course in Midland College, where he w-as graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1909. He then completed a course in commerce and bookkeeping in the Atch- ison Business College. W'hile a sophomore of Midland College he won first lionors in the oratorical contest, and represented his alma mater at the State oratorical contest, held in Salina. Kan. W'hile yet a student he received the appointment of deputy county clerk under Edward Iverson, March 13. 1910. He was elected to the office on the Republican ticket in November. 19 12. and again elected without any opposition in the fall of 1914. A more intimate personal view of this rising young man \\as published in the Atchison Champion just previous to assuming the duties of his office after his election : "Conrad M. Voelker, county clerk elect, wdien he takes office January i, 1913, will have the distinction of being the youngest man ever elected to the office of countv clerk in Kansas. Mr. A^oelker. while he appears to be much older, is but twenty-three years old. He is popular; this was pri)\-en In- the fact that he was elected by a majority of 955 votes. "Mr. \^oelker is the son of Conrad Voelker. He was born four miles north of Atchison. He ne\'er passes up an opportunity to learn something. When four years old ]\Ir. \^oelker started to school. He was graduated from the eighth grade at ten years of age, and in 1909 he was graduated from Midland College. When be finished the common schools he studied in a German school for one year; so he both reads and writes German. He com- pleted a double course at the Atchison Business College in five months, grad- uating in March, 1910, and a few days later he was appointed deput}- county clerk. When Mr. Voelker was eighteen years of age he took part in the Kan- sas intercollegiate oratorical contest, which was held at Salina. There were nineteen other contestants, several of them being men twice the age of Voel- ker, wdio were going through college for the second time. Voelker won fourth place in the contest, which in addition to being quite an honor, dem- onstrated that he has great ability as a public speaker. "There is no doubt that he will be re-elected two years hence. He un- doubtedly will prove to be one of the most efficient county clerks in the his- tory of the count}'." 564 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY The last paragraph was prophetic, as Mr. \''oelker's second election to the office in 1914 will testify. His re-election was the best evidence of his suc- cess and strong personal popularity. Mr. Voelker is affiliated with several fraternal societies, an active part}- worker, what is known as a good mixer, and a rising young citizen of the county, whose future career will be well worth watcliing, inasmuch as lie is bound to gain greater honors in the years to come, and to climb to a still higher place in the civic life of his home county and State. SAMUEL S. KING. Samuel S. King, a member of the board of county commissioners of Atch- ison countv. was born in Moorcstown. N. J.. May 16. 1856. One year later, in 1857, he came to Atchison with his parents, John and Violet King, on a boat owned bv Dr. Challiss. The King family arrived at Atchison in April of 1857. John King soon afterward settled on a farm six miles southwest of Atchison, where Samuel S. lived until he was fifteen years of age. He then came to Atchison for the purpose of attending the city schools. During vaca- tions lie worked for McPike & Allen (later McPike & Fox). After finish- ing his public school education Mr. King was employed as bookkeeper for some time by WTiite. Waslier & King, now the S. R. Washer Grain Company. He was also employed as tookkeeper by McPike & Fox, W. F. Dolan and others until 1881. In that year he was appointed by Senator John J. Ingalls to a position in the United States railway mail service and was sent to New Mexico and .Arizona as railway mail agent. Here he remained in the United States Government service for about two years and then resigned to enter the employ of P. E. Brannen & Company as bookkeeper and manager at Flagstaff, Ariz. This firm conducted a jobbing hou.se at Flagstaff which was then the largest town on the raih-oad between .\lbu(|ucr(|uc, X. M.. and Los .\ngeles, Cal. In June, 1886. he and his family returned to Atchison and Mr. King became the confidential bookkeeper of McPike & Fox. wliolesale druggists, and remained with this concern until the fall of 1807. when he' resigned to take up his duties as county clerk. Mr. King had always been more or less interested in politics and he was elected to the office of county clerk on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1897. K^ ^^'35 subsequentlv reelected and held the office for nine years, or until January. 1907. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business which he still follows with offices at 106 North Fifth street. Mr. HISTOKY Ol' ATCHISON COUNTY 565 King was elected mayor of the city of Atchison in April, 1907, and served as the city executive for two years, and later was appointed city clerk to fill out the unexpired term of C. A. Hawk, who resigned. In the fall of 1914 he was elected county commissioner, an office which he is at present filling in a capable and efficient manner. Mr. King was married April 14, 18S5, at Flagstaff, Ariz., to Miss Sarah Hawks, of Newton, Kan. Two children have been born of this marriage, namely, Grace and Victor. Mr. King is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Acce])iC(l Masons. tlie P>ene\olent and Protective (Jrder of Elks, the l-'raternal Order of Eagles, of which lodge he is a trustee, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Mystic Workers, and the Central Protective Association. There are few citizens who are more highly esteemed, and Atchison county has not a more popular pubic official than S. S. King. CHARLES T. GUNDY. This iiistory of Atchist^n county is issued not only for the purpose of inscribing a record of those who have built up the county and were here dur- ing the pioneer days and endured the hardships of the pioneer life, but for recording as well the life stories of those who came later and have won places of merit and distinction in the affairs of the city and county of Atchison. It is probable that few men have attained such eminence as Judge Charles T. Gundy of the city court of Atchison during his brief residence here. The esteem in which he is held and the successful manner in which he has per- formed tlie duties of his judicial position are decided evidences of his ahilit\'. His standing among the members of the legal fraternity is high and he well merits the confidence of his fellow citizens. The conduct of his court is marked for the fairness of his decisions in suits of equity and the settlement of such cases as come under his jurisdiction have been accomplisiied to the satisfaction of the parties concerned. Judge Charles T. Gundy is a native of Scotland county, Missouri, and he was born and reared on his father's farm, eight miles northwest of the thriving and progressive city of Memphis. He evinces much of the character- istics of the good people of Scotland county, wlio are noted for their liosj)iial- ity anfl kindliness. He was born lHl)ru;iry ro, 187X. and is a son of George M. and Margaret M. fNecdham) Gundy, natives of Illinois and Missouri, respectively. George M. Ckindy was l)orn in 1843 rmd is a son of Jacob Gundv, a nati\e of I loll;ind. wlio settled in Sc^*C~ /eA.A<,c^ HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 577 for the next five years. He then sold this farm and bought another one about one and one-half miles east from Huron, which remains his home to the present time. Mr. Perdue has given his attention mostly to the raising and feeding of live stock in his farming operations and has succeeded in amassing a comfortable fortune during the forty years he has been an agriculturist. He has increased his land holdings until at the present time he is the owner of 1,040 acres of splendid farm lands in Lancaster township. His home fann is one of the Ijest improved tracts of farm land in the county and all of his farms show the results obtained from soil conservation and advanced methods of farming. \\'hile Mr. Perdue has been primarily a farmer, he has given his atten- tion to other matters as betokens a man of influence and substance. In the year 1891 he assisted in the organization of the Huron State Bank and is president of this thriving concern. In 1906 he took part in the organization of the Commercial State Bank of Atchison, which was succeeded later by the First National Bank, of which banking institution he has served as president since 1900. He is also a stockholder of the State Savings Bank of Leaven- worth, Kansas. Mr. Perdue was married in 1878 to Mary Viola Davey, of Brown county, Kansas, a daughter of Charles Davey, which marriage has resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows : Mrs. Maria Walters, living on a farm near Huron; Edna, wife of J. M. Delaney, merchant, of Huron, Kan.; Mrs. Mabel Schmidt, wife of the assistant cashier of the Huron State Bank; Charles, who is cultivating the home farm; Thomas Hendricks, at home; George, a farmer in North Dakota ; and Edward, Jr. Mr. Perdue has been a life-long Democrat, who has ahva\s taken a more or less active part in the ])olitical affairs of the county. He was elected county commissioner in 1897 and served one term. In 1904 he served one term as a member of the State legislature, representing this district, declin- ing reelection when his term of office expired. While he was reared in the Catholic belief, Mr. Perdue is tolerant of all creeds and takes a broad-minded view of religious matters. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Work- men and the Modern Woodmen. DR. CHARLES L. HIXON. Dr. Charles L. Hixon. a leading denial practitioner of Atchison, is a native son of Kan.sas and comes of a pioneer family of the State. He was bom on a farm in Jackson county, Kansas, January 14, 1872, and is a 17 5/8 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY son of John S. and Alice (Clark) Hixon. His father, John S. Hixon, was born in Ohio in 1850, a son of Jacob and Cassandra (Stonebraker) Hixon, who resided in Ashland county, Ohio, until their removal to Putnam county, Indiana, in the early pioneer days when that part of the Hoosier State was being settled by large numbers of Ohio people. Alice Clark Hixon, mother of Dr. Hixon, was likewise bom in 1850 in Putnam county, Indiana, a daugh- ter of Andrew Jackson and Harriet (Mann)' Clark, natives of New York State, and also pioneer settlers of Putnam county, Indiana. While John S. Hixon and Alice Clark were attending the district school in the neighborhood of their respective homes, they became great friends, and the warm friendship ripening into love which culminated in their marriage several years later in Jackson county, Kansas. The Hixons and Clarks were essentially pioneers, and the history of the family for generations shows that some member of the family, or several of them, have lieen continually pushing westward and settling in the newer countries. Jacob Plixon w'as one of the first men in his neighborhood to hearken to the call of the West, and. after disposing of his land holdings in Putnam county, Indiana, he with all of his family migrated to Kansas, set- tling in Jackson county. They arrived in Atchison during the stormy days of the Civil war, and at a time when the local vigilance committee was in control of community affairs and were naturally very suspicious of all strangers. There had been considerable lawlessness in Atchison and neigh- boring towns and many outrages had been perpetrated by border ruffians and outlaws. The \ecame more and more settled. He died in 1905, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, his wife, Cassandra, depart- ing this life in 1885. The Clark family came to Kansas from Indiana in 1868, and Andrew Jackson Clark naturally settled in that part of Jackson county where his old friend and neighbor had chosen his place of residence. The intimacy which had existed between the two families in Putnam county, Indiana, was re- newed, and as time went on. John S. Hixon and Alice Clark grew to ma- turity and were united in marriage. Their married life has been a happy HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 579 and prosperous one, and five children have blessed this union : Dr. Charles L. Hixon, with whom this review is directly concerned ; Mrs. J. C. Neeley, of Weiser, Idaho ; Ernest H. Hixon, of Kansas City, Mo. ; one child died in infancy. John S. Hixon became prominently identified with the civic life of Jackson county and is serving his county well and faithfully as treasurer for two terms, having been elected on the Republican ticket in 19 12 and again in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. John S. Hixon reside in Holton, in Jackson county, and are prosperous and well respected in the neighborhood. Dr. C. L. Hixon spent his boyhood days on the farm and early learned to assist in the farm work. He received his elementary education in the dis- trict schools, and was ambitious to secure a higher education. He has prac- tically educated himself, and after learning all that was possible for him to learn in the country school, he attended Campbell College, at Holton, Kan., for two years. His ambition was to become a dentist, and with this end in view he matriculated in the University of Iowa in 1895. After spending two profitable years in this institution in the study of dentistry he returned home, and a short time later opened an office in Atchison, where he has practiced continuously for the past eighteen years. After seven years of practice in his first location, he opened well equipped offices at 519 Commercial street, and remained there until his removal to his present location at 613 Com- mercial street, where he has offices equipped with all the latest appliances for facilitating his work. Dr. Hixon is kept ver\' busy attending to the calls made upon him in the practice of his profession, and during the many years he has been located in Atchison, he has built up an extensive and lucrative practice. He finds time, however, to keep abreast of the latest developments made in his profession, and is ever seeking to better his skill and knowledge of dentistry. He has been distinctly honored by the members of his profes- sion, having served as president of the Northeast Kansas Dental Association, and is at present an active member of this association. He is a leading meiii- I)er of the Atchison Dental As.sociation, and ranks high in his profession, not only as a successful practitioner, but as a citizen who has the best inter- ests of his home city at heart. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons. Washington Lodge, No. 3, and is fraternally affiliated with the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Rebekah and Eastern Star lodges. Dr. Hixon was united in marriage with Miss Inez B. Horn in 1902, and one child has been born to this union, Charles Horn Hixon, born May 25, 1907. Mrs. Inez B. Hixon was born in Atchison county, a daughter of J. H. 580 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY and Catharine (Wallick) Horn, who reside at 1126 North Third street, Atch- ison. Mrs. Horn is a daughter of Benjamin Walhck, who served as sheriff of the county during the time of the Civil war. LOUIS KLOEPPER. Louis Kloepper, farmer and stockman of Lancaster township, Atchison county, was born Januar}- 18, 1888, on the farm where he now hves. He is a son of ^^'i^iam and Fredericka (Von Derahe) Kloepper, who were the par- ents of four children as follows: Louis, subject of this sketch; Emma, de- ceased ; William, deceased ; Pauline, living at home. The fatlier was bom in Germany, December 14, 1853. He left there in 1883 and came directly to Atchison county, Kansas, where he bought eighty acres of land in section 27, Lancaster township. He farmed this one year, and in 1885 returned to Germany to be married. In 1886 he returned to his farm and began to improve it, building a large eight-room liouse in 1899 in place of the little three-room affair which stood on the place. In 1903 he built a fine 32x40 feet granary, and in 1904 he erected a large barn, 40x48 feet. The follow- ing year he bought more land and put up additional buildings, building in 1908 another barn, 32x40 feet. At the time of his death, February 7. 1913, he owned 240 acres of well improved land under cultivation, and thirteen acres of fine timber land. This achievement is the more remarkable in view of the fact that he landed with only $1,200. But he was industrious, and worked faithfully to improve his fami. He was a member, trustee and steward of the German Lutheran church. His wife was born in Germany, February 15, 1858, and is a daughter of Henry and Fredericka (Von Behren") Von Derahe, natives of Germany. The mother is now living with her son, Louis. Louis Kloepper attended the old Huron school of Lancaster township, and grew to manhood on the fann which he now operates. Since the death of his father he has had charge of the farm and has worked to the extent of his ability in installing modern improvements on his place. He owns 160 acres in section 27, Lancaster township, in addition to the home place, and has three acres of orchard and grove. He also has a vineyard which was the feature of the place which Louis, and his father before him, always loved most. Sjjecial attention has been given to the vineyard when other things had to be neglected, perhaps. It is the pride of Mr. Kloepper's place. He HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 58 1 keeps graded stock and is a practical farmer. He now is operating 400 acres of land, 114 acres of which are in corn, and ninety-three acres are in clover, the latter ha\'ing been unusually successful. He owns a threshing outfit and two clover hullers, a corn shredder, and three gas engines. He utilizes these engines in numerous ways, including pumping and threshing and plowing. Mr. Kloepper has a modern farm in every way and has all up-to-date improve- ments of a labor and time saving kind, as well as an automoljile. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Mercantile Association of Effingham. Kan. He is a practical farmer, of the progressive type. In igii he married Marie Meier, a native of Germany, born July 3, 1888. She is a daughter of Henry and Fredericka (Finke) Meier, and was educated in Germany and left her native land at the age of seventeen. Mr. and Mrs. Kloepper have two children, Fredia, born November 13, 191 1, and Emma, born x^pril 21, 1913. Mr. Kloepper is an independent voter. He belongs to the German Lutheran church. CHARLES \y. FERGUSON. Charles W. Ferguson, vice-president of the Atchison Savings Bank, is one of the best known men in financial circles of northeastern Kansas, and he is equally as well known over a large section of western Missouri. Mr. Ferguson was born at Plattsburg, Mo., December 29. 1862, and is a son of William L. and Fannie A. (Carpenter) Ferguson, both natives of Kentucky, whose parents were Virginians and very early settlers of the Blue Grass State. The Ferguson family removed from Kentucky to Missouri about 1831. They came up the Missouri river by boat as far as Liberty Landing, and later located in Clinton county, Missouri. The father was a merchant and also engaged in the grain business, and was an all around progressive business man. He was a Republican, and in 1862 A\as elected sheriff of Clinton county, being the first Republican elected to office in that county within a period of twenty- five years. During the Civil war he was captain of the Home Guards. He died in 1893, age 64 years. Charles W. Ferguson is one of a family of six children, as follows : John L., assistant general passenger agent of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, Chicago, 111.; Mary F., widow of M. B. Riley, and resides in St. Joseph, Mo. ; Adelia M., Plattsburg, Mo. ; Katherine, Plattsburg, Mo. ; Charles W., the subject of this sketch, and Louis, a conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, resides at Highland Park. 111. Charles 583 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY W. Ferguson attended the public schools in Plattsburg until he was thirteen years old, and at that early age went to work in the express office at Platts- burg, where he remained about five years. He then entered the employ of Stonum Brothers, remaining with that company two years. He then accepted a position in the Plattsburg Bank, as bookkeeper and assistant cashier, remain- ing with that institution for seven years. He then went with the Schuster- Hax National Bank, St. Joseph, Mo., as receiving teller, and served in that capacity for four years. He resigned that position in June, 1894. to become bookkeeper of the Exchange National Bank of Atchison. He served with that institution in the capacity of paying teller, assistant cashier and cashier, resigning the latter position February i. 1914. In November, 1914, he ac- cepted a position with the Federal Reserve Bank, of Kansas City, Mo., and was with that institution for eight months, and in July. 191 5, became vice- president of the Atchison Savings Bank. Mr. Ferguson has had a vast ex- perience in the field of banking, and is well posted on the intricate problems of finance, and possesses the keen discriminating qualities of the successful banker. Mr. Ferguson was married April 28, 1892, to Miss Sallie Clay, of Plattsburg. Mo. She is a daughter of James M. Clay, a member of the Ken- tucky branch of the Clay fam'ily. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Wood- men of America. EARL V. TONES. Signal success in any one field of endeavor is worthy of recognition bv the public, whether it be professional, inventive, mercantile or of an in- dustrial nature. Some men are naturally gifted with the ability to become successful in the industrial and manufacturing field, and are mentally equipped with a certain amount of mechanical genius, along with decided business ability to take hold of a proposition, and makes it succeed, despite difficulties. E. V. Jones, treasurer and manager of the Bailor Plow Company, of .Atchi- son, is one of the latter type who is fast cliniliing to a place of eminence in his chosen field of endeavor, and holds a high place among the manufactur- ing and mercantile interests of Atchison and the Middle West. Mr. Jones was born in Lixingston county, Missouri, January 21, 1878. a son of Charles Jones, a Iniilding contractor, who was a native of Kentucky and a son of William Jones, owner of a large plantation in Kentuck\-. which was lost as one of the misfortunes which befell the family as a result of the Civil HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 583 war's ravages in Kentucky. Desirous of making a new start in a land further removed from internecine strife, and where opportunities for success seemed greater, William Jones removed to Missouri, and here Charles, the fatlier of E. v.. was reared and became successful in agricultural pursuits, the son, Earl v., being reared on the family estate in Livingston county, Missouri. The Jones family is originally of Scotch-Irish stock, the founder of the family emigrating from the north of Ireland to this country several generations ago. Charles Jones married Miss Jennie Wills, a daughter of John Wills, native of the east coast of England, and who immigrated to this country with his brother, George, and followed his trade of wagon maker successfully. John Wills owned and operated an extensive blacksmith and wagon maker's shop at Chillicothe. Mo., which did a large business and made moderate wealth for its proprietor. Earl V. Jones, with whom tins review is directly concerned, was edu- cated in the common and high schools of his native county, and attended the military school at Paylmra, Mo., supplementing his academic education with one year's study in business college at Atchison, Kan. For some years be- fore the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. he had been a member of the Missouri State militia. Company H, Fourth infantry regiment. When the war broke out and troops were called for to fight the Spaniards in Cuba and the Philippines, he responded with his company and regiment, and went to the front immediately, serving at Camp Alger, near Washington, D. C, on the Potomac river, and Camp Meade, at Harrisburg, Pa., and at Green- ville, S. C. After the close of the war, and receiving his honorable discharge at Greenville, S. C, and being mustered out of the service, he returned to his home city, Chillicothe, and entered the employ of the Jackson Woodenware Companv as a workman in i8f)g. His capacity for work and an inherent genius for detail and management here asserted itself and his rise in this concern was rapid and substantial. It was not long until his faithfulness and decided ability was recognized by his employers and he was promoted to the post of superintendent of the factory. When the Jackson \\'oodenware Com- pany was removed to Atchi.son in 1902, Mr. Jones came along in the capacity of shipping clerk, and later served as superintendent of tlie company until its dissolution in 19TO. During this time Mr. Jones had made a reputation as a manufacturer and organizer, which had become generally recognized throughout this section of the country, and, although many flattering offers came to him to accept executive positions of importance, he decided to cast his lot with tlie Bailor Plow Company as treasurer and manager in 1910, when a company was organized for the purpose of locating the factory in 584 HISTORY Of ATCHISON COUNTY Atchison. His judgment in this respect was essentially sound, inasmuch as the Bailor Plow Company, under his management, is one of the flourishing manufacturing concerns of the city. The company and Mr. Jones, the man- ager, have made good, the large pay-roll, and the constantly increasing output of the plant having fully justified the decision of the A,tchison men who were instrumental in locating the plant in this city. A great future is decidedly in store for the Bailor Plow Company and its manager. Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Katherine Barton, of Livingston county, in 1901. To this union have been born two sons: Raymond and Earl. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Prof. John ^^^ Barton, widely known educator of Missouri, who formerlv served as city superintendent of various schools, and was fomierly a member of the faculty of the University of Missouri. Mr. Jones finds time, aside from his duties as manager of the factor}', to take an active part in the social and civic life of Atchison, and has identi- fied himself with the city's institutions in a substantial manner, as befitting a man of his position and attainments. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of the Maccabees, and is affiliated with the United Commercial Travelers. MRS. JULIA E. ADAMS BOYINGTON. Mrs. Julia E. Adams Boyington comes of. parents wiio were important factors in the early history of Atchison county. Her father. William Adams, came to Kansas in the fifties for the purpose of lielping make Kansas a free State. He was a leader of tlie Cayuga settlement and he was intimately con- nected with tlie making of Kansas history f(ir many years. Mrs. Boyington was born May 15, 1849, in Skaneateles, Onondaga county. New York. Hei parents, William and Mary Ann (Elisbury) Adams, were Ijoth born in Eng- land. The father was born October 6, 1820, in Summersetshire, England, and was a son of George Adams, wlio married Miss Thayer, also a native of England. At the age of seventeen, William Adams left his native country and came to New York. He farmed there until 1856, when he came to Kansas and set- tled in Atchison count\- lor the express purpose of helping J.olm Brown in his fight along the border, and assisting tlie Free State party. He passed througli many thrilling experiences during these trouI>le(l years and though lie was often subjected to great bodily danger, he never wavered in liis convictions ■/fr. i Hxtreme Left-SAMUEL ADAMS Right-MRS, clULIA E. BOYINGTON FRANK W. BO^INGTON W II I I \M -\I)\MS. II \| \R>- \\\ \|i\M- ITISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 585 and was always ready t" fif^l'l f"i' his cunvictions. lli- ])rft'iii])lc(l ci^hly acres of land which he increased to 800 acres during his life lime. When he took his first land tlie country was wild and undeveloped, and lie Imilt a log cabin on his place and used a yoke of oxen in breaking the land. 1 le was a great stockman and kept a large number of animals and I'arnu'd nnlil his death in 1889, remaining in active life until within a short lime of his death. Mr. Adams was a Republican and was loyally devoted to the welfare of his party. He always took a great deal of interest in the activities (jf his party and helped it at every opportunity, though he never desired rm nffice as a re- ward for his work, and never held a political job. On July 4, 1848, Mr. Adams was married to Mary A. Ell.sbury, als(j a native of Summersetshire, England. She was born October 10. 1825, and died December 15, 1895. Mrs. Boyington, though a small girl when she came to Kansas, reinembers many incidents of that early life with remarkable vividness. She still keeps a rifle and an old .shot gun which her father brought from New York, and ])rizcs them very highly. They were the means of protecting her and her mother many times from the depredations of ibe Indians, who were numerous in that section then, and livcrl on a reservation only four miles from the Adams home. They passed the little Adams cabin when they went after whiskey. As the)- would return completely intoxicated, they would quarrel and disturb the neighborhood, often frightening the women whose husbands were working out in the fields. The Cayuga settle- ment numbered about forty people during the early days. The township elections in Grasshop])er township were always held in tlie Adams hou.se. and Mr. Adams was always generous in helping public affairs along. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were parents of five children: Julia, the subject of this .sketch; Georgia Anna, deceased; Samuel, of Grasshopper township; .Milli- rent, who died in infancy; Julia, born a twin, but the other child died in in- .(■ancv. Samuel, married Mrs. Ida Hitchcock, a native of Scranton, i'enn., in California, May 31, 1887. By her marriage to Mr. Aflams she w.is the mother of tw(j children : William J., who was born March K), iS(;(). and l''.;irl, who was horn October ic, 1891. These two children were ]nrtly reared bv their aunt, Mrs. Boyington, and she is very fond of them. Though she has no children of her own, she has made these two nephews her favorites and has treated them as though they were her own children. iMank W. Boyington, the husband of Julia E. Adams Boyington, was born hebruary 15, [845, in Pennsylvania, and was a .son oi Edwin C. and Susan (Smith) Boyington, the former a native of Litchfield, Comi., and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. In their old age they came to Kansas and lived w ith tlieir son. lM;nik W.. ;nid 586 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY died here. The father died 1872, and tlie mother died in 1875. He left there in 1867 and settled in Grasshopper township, Atchison county, wlicre Samuel Adams was reared to manhood in Grasshopper township ; lived for ten years in California and returned to his farm in Grasshopper township in 19 1 3. He was married to Mrs. Julia Bartlet before his marriag-e to Miss Adams. His first wife was a school teacher in Grasshopper township before her marriage. Three children were born to them, Edward, of Atchison, United States mail clerk, Alice Spangler, Marion county, Kansas, and one deceased. After her death in 1899, he was married to Miss Julia E. Adams, tlie subject of this sketch. Mr. Boyington was an early settler in Kansas and has been a successful farmer. His wife owns 480 acres of land whicli once was a part of the old home place. Mr. Boyington owns 160 acres in Marion county, Kansas. He has lived in Kansas since 1867 and has seen muci: histor}- made during tliat time. Mr. Royington is a Republican and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Although he is not a church member, he attends services. Mr. Boyington is one of the most successful farmers of Atchison county, and with his wife, who is also a good manager, has made a financial success of farming. JOHN L. BLAIR. The historian must e\'er take cognizance of the facts C(inceriiing tiie lives of those wlio have contrilnited most to the upbuilding and tlie welfare of their communit}". In looking backward over the Iialf century, and more, whicli has elapsed since the Kansas Territory was thrown open to settlement, it is found that there arc quite a numlier of men and women who are deserving of more tlian mere casual mention in the history of .Vtchison count)-. Among these are John L. and Amanda (Meeker) Blair, whose names will go down in his- tory as having taken a very prominent part in the social, political and intel- lectual development of Doniphan and .\tcliison counties. Mrs. Blair has the honored distinction of having been the first public .school teacher in Atchison and she and her husband were prominently identified with the historical course of events in northeast Kansas for a long period of years.- John 1.. Blair, deceased, was torn in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1833, a son of .Mexander and Rachel fLynch) Blair. The family is of Irish origin. Alexander Blair was a minister of tlie ^letliodist Episcopal church in I'ennsxlvania. He died in I'ennsvl\'ania, antl in 1860 the widow tf HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 587 joined Jolm L., whn had come to Kansas in 1838. They settled in Doniphan county, near tlie Atchison-Doniphan line. Mr. Blair developed a fine farm and made quite a reputation as a breeder of fine live stock, being; one of the pioneer stock breeders of Kansas. In 1863 he was united in marriage with Amanda Meeker. This was after he had sei'ved some time in the Civil war as a member of Company D, Seventh regiment, Kansas cavalry, as a sergeant, enlisting at the beginning of the war and serving for two years. After being mustered out, he returned home and was married in June of 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Blair immediately moved to a farm in Doniphan county, Kansas, and were successful from the start. Both being endowed with more than ordinary intelligence and thrift, they foresaw the inevitable rise in land values and in- vested all of their earnings in land, accumulating over 600 acres of land which was located in Doniphan count}- and since Mr. Blair's demise Mrs. Blair lias purchased 320 acres in Lyon county, Kansas. Mr. Blair was an active and influential figure in the civic and political life of Doniphan county, and fre- quently stumped the county in the interest of the Republican party candidates. He was a public speaker of power and ability, and was a warm adherent of the cause of women suffrage, stumping Atchison and Doniphan counties in 1884 in the interest of the suffrage movement in Kansas. He filled the office of count}' commissioner of Doniphan county for two terms, and was at one time a candidate for State senator. During the years 1873 and 1874, when the Grange movement was spreading over Kansas, Mr. Blair was the official organizer for Atchison and Doniphan counties. He had a good knowledge of parliamentary law and this came in very useful in his work among the different granges. It was in the Grange meetings that tlie movement for woman suffrage first gained headway in Kansas, and the women learned how to vote. ]Mr. Blair died in iSqi, February 4. To Mr. and Mrs. Blair were born the following children : Mamie, widow of James Hunter, of Doniphan county, and mother of two children; Alexander, a farmer in Doni]ihan county, and father of seven children; Kate, wife of Thomas Evans, a breeder of fine Hereford cattle, hackney horses and pure bred hogs, in Lyon county, and who is the owner of the famous hackney mare formerly owned by Jay Gould. Mrs. Evans was educated in the schools of Doniphan county, and the old Monroe Institute of Atchison, and is a graduate of Holton University, at Hoi- ton, Kan., and graduated from the Kansas State University at Lawrence in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have one daughter, Mary Frances. Mrs. Blair has ten grandcliildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Blair belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church and he was an Odd Fellow. Mrs. Amanda (Meeker) Blair was born in Franklin county, Ohio, near 588 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY the city of Columbus, June 24, 1837. She was a daughter of Caleb and Mary (Grant) Meeker, her mother being a relative of Gen. U. S. Grant, and her father being a member of the famous Meeker family of America. Ezra Meeker, who crossed the continent en route to Oregon with an ox team, was a second cousin of Caleb Sleeker. Caleb Meeker was born in X'ew Jersey, a son of Aaron, who was born in New Jersey, of German origin. Caleb Meeker was bom in Essex county, New Jersey, August 9, 1807, a son of Aaron Meeker, also of New Jersey, who had eight sons and four son-in-laws in the Meeker, also of New Jersey. Aaron was a brother of Timothy Meeker, who had eight sons and four sons-in-law in the American army dur- ing the Revolutionary war. Mary Grant Meeker was born in Penn- sylvania. In 1808 the Meeker family migrated from New Jersey to Ohio and resided there until 1857, when they went to Fulton county, Illi- nois, stopping for one year. In November of 1858 Amanda Meeker came to Atchison to take a position as teacher ifl the first public school in Atchison. Caleb came in Januarv' of 1859 to visit his daughter and invested in a tract of land near Huron, Kan., moving his family in March. 1859. He lived on his farm all the rest of his life, dying in September, 1886. Amanda was educated in the district schools of her native county in Ohio and received a certificate to teach school when but fifteen years of age. She taught three months in 1852 for $9.00 per month and then attended school for the re- mainder of the season. The following year she taught six months for $20 per month, after which she studied for two years in the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Delaware, Oliio. Her teaching experience embraced si.x years in Ohio, five months in Illinois and three years in Atchison and six months in Hiawatha, Kan. Mrs. Blair was a ver\- successful teacher, and had the faculty of exercising great control over her pupils. A brother, Jeptha Meeker, served in the Union army during the Civil war. Mrs. Blair kept the postoffice at Huron, Atchison county, wiien the \illage was one of the stations on the old Military road, from Ft. Leavenworth to Denver and Pike'.s Peak, Colo. Mrs. Blair is distinguished among the pioneer women of Atchison county as having been the first pul)lic school teacher in tlie county appointed by a board of education, duly organized and elected. During the summer of 1858, this board was organized in the office of l-". G. Adams in Atclu'son, and the members of the board were Dr. William Grimes, treasurer; F. G. Adams, clerk ; James A. Coulter, director ; Philip D. Plattenburg, principal of the schools at Lewistown, 111., had been engaged as superintendent of the Atchison schools and this board elected Amanda Meeker as liis assistant. This was the 1 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 589 first public schiuil in the city of Atchison, and was located over a grocery store in a frame building, where the Y. M. C. A. edifice now stands at the comer of Fourth and Commercial streets. The school term began on No- vember I, 1858, and lasted for seven month, ending July i, 1859. The fol- lowing vear the school term was extended to nine months. Miss Meeker taught for three years without a certificate. The first teacher's certificate in Atchison county was issued to W. D. Rippey, a young man who came from Valparaiso, Ind. Mrs. Blair recalls that Mr. Rippey had no intention of teaching when he came to Atchison, and remained here for about five months and then went to Doniphan county, where he became quite wealthy in the course of years. Applicants for teacher's certificates had little or no trouble in passing, the whole procedure of examining being conducted verbally and the chief requisite apparently being the one dollar fee which was required from the applicant. Few Kansas pioneer women at this day occupy the honored position in history which is held by Mrs. Blair. To have taught the first public school in Atchison is a great honor, and to have been one of the pioneers of a great State in such a capacity is a great honor which is claimed by very few people. Mrs. Blair, despite her age, is possessed of a keen mentality and is remarkably well preserved, her long life being best attributed to her mental vigor and student pow^ers which she has kept nourished these many years. ALFRED SHORTRIDGE. Alfred Shortridge, deceased pioneer of Atchison, was born in Milton, Ind., February 27, 1834. When twenty-three years of age he listened to the admonition of his elders to come to the great West, where opportunities for amassing a competence were much better for a young man than in his home community. He came b\- train to St. Louis and after stopping a few days at the Planter's Hotel, he boarded a Missouri river steamer which brought him to Atchison. His intention was to get a farm from the Government, and he accordingly took up a claim one-half mile south of Monrovia. He de- veloped his homestead, sold it and later bought a farm, ten miles south of Atchison, in Walnut township, near Potter. He added to this first farm of 120 acres until he became the owner of a finely developed farm of 200 acres, which he still owned at the time of his demise. Mr. Shortridge was one of the early da)- freighters and during llie years 590 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY of 1862 and 1863 he freighted from Atchison to Denver, and in 1863 made two trips overland to Denver and return with I'arilee Butler, with wliom he was on intimate terms. He enlisted in the company of soldiers which was formed in his neighborhood for the purpose of repelling Price's invasion of Kansas in 1864 and was present at Westport when Price's army of invasion was driven southward. After lie iiad made his last trip to Denver in 1863, he sold liis wagon and four mules for $1,500, and then engaged in farming. He resided on his farm near Potter until the year 191 2, and (hen removed to a home in Atchison. He was married February 23, 1867, to Miss Catherine Elizabeth Clasby, of DeKalb, Buchanan county, Missouri, and to this union five cliildren were born as follow s : Mrs. J- A. Edwards, Fairmount. Kan. ; J. T. Shortridge, W. O. Shortridge, and Mrs. C. N. Faulkner, of Potter, Kan., and Miss Florence Shortridge, at home. The mother of these children was born March 20, 1843, a daughter of John D. and Sarah Ann (Elli.son) Clasby. John D. Clasby was a native of Virginia, whose mother was a member of the Dunlap family of Virginia, one of the old colonial families of America. One of the Dunlaps, a direct ancestor of Mrs. Shortridge, ser\-cd in the Continental army in the Revolutionary war. He was a pioneer settler of Buchanan county, Missouri, and is buried on a hill within sight of Atchison. Mrs. Shortridge's mother, Sarah Ann (Ellison) Clasby, was born in Mis- souri, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Dunlap) Ellison, who were resi- dents of Kentucky, and who were among the pioneer settlers in Buchanan county, Missouri. There were nine children in the Clasby faniil\-, as follows: Tames T., Robert, Orlando, Joseph, Franklin, Julian, deceased; Mrs. Ann Eliza (Stewart), and Mrs. Alfred Shortridge, Alfred Shortridge departed this life on July 17, 1015, and was sin- cerel}' mourned bv a liost of friends and ac(|uaintances wlm IkkI kn^wn him for many years in Atchison county. During his life, ;ifter attaining his majority, he was affiliated with the Republican parly, and was always active in the affairs of his party, although he was never a seeker after political pre- ferment. He was a member of the Christian cburcii, and li\-ed according to the precepts of his religious belief, as nearly as mortal man could. He car- ried iiis religion into his daiy life and believed implicitly in the golden rule, which admonishes mankind to treat his neighbor as he would have his neigh- bor do unto him. On Feiiruary 23, 191 1, Mr. and Mrs. Shortridge celebrated their forty- fourth wedding anniversarv at the od Shortridge homestead, and it was a fit- ting culmination of one of the happiest life nninns on record. Mr. Siiort- HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 59 1 ridge was deeply devoted to his noble wife and family and was always kind and considerate, not only with the members of his immediate family, but with his many friends and acquaintances. He was never known to complain or find fault but took things as he found them and made the best of every occasion. One of the last of the old guard of Atchison pioneers, he was a fitting example of the type which did so much to develop the Sunflower State and make Atchi- son county one of the garden spots of the country. One by one the old pioneers are passing to the great beyond from which no man returneth; it is fitting that we record in imperishable print the record of their lives and their deeds and accomplishments while on earth in order that it all may live after them forever and their memories be kept continually green and fresh in the minds of succeeding generations which will know them not except through the pages of these Atchison county historical annals. O. M. BABCOCK. O. M. Babcock, of the Babcock-Avensberg Shoe Company, is one of the most progressive merchants of Atchison. He is a native of the Empire State, and was born at Adams Center, Jefferson county. New York, in November, 1872, and is a son of M. S. and Amy (Green) Babcock, both natives of New York and of English descent. The Babcock family was founded in America by Capt. James Babcock, who settled in Rhode Island during the seventeenth century. M. S. Bab- cock came to Kansas with his family in 1883 and settled on a farm in Benton township, one mile north of Nortonville in Atchison county. Here he bought 160 acres of unimproved land, which he developed to a higii state of cultiva- tion and followed farming there successfully until he and his wife removed to Battle Creek, Mich., where they now reside. O. M. Babcock, the subject of this sketch, was eleven years old when he came to Atchison county with his parents. He was educated in the district schools and the Atchison County High School at Effingham. After completing school he taught in Atchison county about two years when he accepted a position in a general merchandise store at Nortonville and later at Effingham. He remained at Effingham one year and then came to Atchison and entered the shoe department of D. C. Newcomb's general store, where he remained about three years. He then accepted a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale shoe house, and for three years was a successful knight of the grip with St. Joseph, Mo., as his 592 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY headquarters. He then came to Atchison as general sales manager for a retail shoe establishment, and four years later, in 1902, organized the Babcock Shoe Company, which he still conducts. This is Atchison's leading shoe store. ]\Ir. Babcock was united in marriage in 1903 to Miss Edith L. Hooper, a daughter of George R. Hooper, of Atchison, a personal sketch of whom ap- pears in this volume. Mr. Babcock takes a keen interest and an active part in the welfare and development of Atchison and is one of its tooster citizens. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and active in the work of ttiat organiza- tion. He is also a member of the Elks and belongs to the Commercial Club. He is president of the Kansas Retail Shoe Dealers' Association, and politically, is a supporter of the policies and principles of the Republican party. JULIUS KUHN. Julius Kuhn, deceased pioneer merchant of Atchison, was a man of sterling worth, industry and purpose who achieved a success in the commer- cial life of his adopted city which ranked with the greatest accomplishments of those who figinxd most prominently in the early civic life of Atchison. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 10, 183 1, and received an excellent edu- cation in the famous university at Munich, where he fitted himself to become an arcliitect. He was gifted with more than ordinary talent as a draughts- man and architect and to this day many of his best drawings and designs are hanging on the walls of the art room in St. Benedict's College. \\'hen twenty years of age he took passage on a sailing vessel for America, then as now, the land of promise for the poor and ambitious youth of the old world. After a stay of a few years in New York City and points in Connecticut, he journeyed to St. Louis where he was married, his wife, Lucetta, dying in Atchison in the spring of 1881. To this union one .son was born, Gustave, who died July 15, 1883. Wliile in St. Louis Mr. Kuhn heard tales of the opportunities V. v to either buy the stock or store it until such a time as it would be markcta!)lt. Mr. Kuhn took a chance and when tobacco soared to an extremely higli pi ice towaid the last ('.:iys of tlie war, he disposed of it at a profit of $1.00 per [j.iund. Flour rose to the high price of $7.00 per sack during those troublous days, while beef was very cheap, a "half of beef" often selling for ten cents. llr. Kuhn was married the second time, September 30, 1883, to .A.r,n.-i Glattfelter, and to this union were born two sons, Julius Otto, at home with his mother, and Gustave Adolphus, living in Kansas Citv, married Irene King, and is the father of one cliild, Rutli Kuhn. Airs. Anna Glattfelter Kulm was born in Glattfelter, Switzerland, a daughter of Henry and Margaret Glatt- felter, who immigrated to America in 1864, and located on a farm in Atchison county. Henry Glattfelter died in 1867, and his wife died in Atchison in 1903. They were the parents of Mrs. W. A. Dilgert, living on a farm in Wal- nut township; Mrs. Martin Dilgert, residing on Ninth street; Margaret, wife 38 594 HISTORY OF ATCHISOX COUNTY of Mrs. John Meyer, living on Seventh street; Fannie, wife of Dr. Sievers, of Manning, Iowa ; Henr}-. on the old home farm, near Cummings. Mrs. Kuhn resides in the family residence at 1029 Atchison street, and looks after the interest of the Kuhn estate. She is a keen, intelligent lady, who has shown marked business abilit}' in caring for the property interests left in her charge. Mr. Kuhn retired from active mercantile pursuits in 1889, and died October 30, 1902, universally respected and loved by all who knew him. He was a Republican in politics and took an active part in the civic and p