USA > Kansas > Republic County > A history of Republic County, Kansas, embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01 > Part 1
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1800
S
Very truly yours I Odavage.
A HISTORY
-OF-
REPUBLIC COUNTY, KANSAS,
EMBRACING A FULL AND COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF ALL THE LEADING EVENTS IN ITS HISTORY, FROM ITS
FIRST SETTLEMENT DOWN TO JUNE 1, '01.
INCLUDING INDIAN DEPREDATIONS AND THE HARDSHIPS ENDURED BY THE PIONEER SETTLERS.
ALSO THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTY,
INCLUDING SOIL, CLIMATE, TIMBER, STREAMS, WATER POWER, COAL, SALT, ETC., ETC.
STATISTICS,
SHOWING INCREASE IN WEALTH AND POPULATION, RAILROADS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, NEWS PAPERS, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
AND OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.
naax. BY I. O. SAVAGE. -
BELOIT, KANSAS. JONES & CHUBBIC, ART PRINTERS. 1901.
. RAS: 1901
PREFACE.
A single county in the great state of Kansas occupies but an insignificant place on the map of the world, and its people and its story are comparatively unknown. Yet the grand river of national history is formed by the union of many rills of traditions and record, flowing from a thou- sand counties and states all over the land. The tracing of one of these rills to its source is the province of the pres- ent little volume. It is the aim of this work to collect and preserve some of the facts of the early settlement, subse- quent growth and development of one of the leading coun- ties of a young, yet great and glorious state. The families who were early on the ground, and whose members have contributed to make the county what it is, are worthy of remembrance; and their difficulties and sorrows, labors and patriotism, should not be allowed to fall into oblivion. By a knowledge of these, the present generation will be instructed, and the future will be guided. All history, if properly written, is profitable; and there is not a country, or a city, or a hamlet, on the globe, whose history might not be more or less valuable to posterity. We trust this little volume will be the means of preserving from the empire of decay a host of incidents, of recollections and of anecdotes relating to the land of pioneers and first settlers of the county, which, in the estimation of the historian and student of history, are of priceless value, but which other- wise would soon fade from the memories of the living.
Still, a perfect and complete history of any county is one of the impossibilities, and this work may be incom- plete in many particulars. Nor, indeed, is it possible for it to be otherwise, as it is not permitted any man to attain perfection. Its regions lie beyond our reach.
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8 12 3 43
And now, after several months of laborious research and persistent toil, the History of Republic County, so far as I have to do with it, is completed, and it is my hope and belief that no subject of importance or general interest has been overlooked-or omitted, and even minor facts, when of sufficient note to be worthy of record, have been faithfully chronicled. I have endeavored to be fair and impartial, aiming in all cases to give credit where credit is due, and to criticise as little as possible consistent with the facts. I also claim to have prepared a work fully up to the stan- dard of my engagements, and to have fulfilled all the promises contained in my prospectus.
In collecting the facts here presented I have drawn largely from my own observations extending over a period of thirty years' residence in the county, but am much in- debted and hereby acknowledge my obligations to many of the hardy pioneers and first settlers of the county for early incidents, recollections and other valuable information which could be obtained in no other manner, and especially to D. Y. Wilson, County Clerk, for his uniform kindness and courtesy in allowing me access at all times to the records of his office; also to J. C. Humphrey, late editor and proprietor of the Telescope, for valuable information of historic interest obtained from the old files of the paper, which I have at all times been privileged to consult.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY HISTORY.
Page.
CHAPTER 1 .- THE PAWNEE REPUBLIC AND THE OLD FLAG .. 13
CHAPTER 11 .- REPUBLIC COUNTY-BOUNDARIES OF THE COUN- TY DEFINED -- EARLY SETTLEMENTS-FIRST SCHOOLS- EARLY MAIL FACILITIES
CHAPTER III .- INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
41
CHAPTER IV .- FIRST LAW SUIT IN THE COUNTY-COUNTY OR- GANIZED-OFFICERS APPOINTED-FIRST ELECTIONS. 56
CHAPTER V .- PERMANENT LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT AND THE TROUBLES ATTENDING IT 63
CHAPTER VI. - SOIL -- CLIMATE-STREAMS-TIMBER -- LIMESTONE -COAL-SALT-WATER POWER-RAIN FALL-ETC. - ETC. 69
CHAPTER VII .- WIND STORMS-TORONADOES AND CYCLONES 76
CHAPTER VIII .- RAILROADS.
CHAPTER IX .- COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETIES. .
CHAPTER X .- CROPS AND FARM ANIMALS
96
CHAPTER XI .- COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS 102
CHAPTER XII .- DISTRICT COURT TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 104
CHAPTER XIII .- ELECTIONS AND ELECTION RETURNS 115
CHAPTER XIV .- COUNTY BUILDINGS
132
CHAPTER XV .- TOWNSHIPS .. 141
CHAPTER XVI .- CITIES AND TOWNS .. 175
CHAPTER XVII .- CHURCHES 194
CHAPTER XVIII. - SCHOOLS
CHAPTER XIX .- NEWSPAPERS. 233
CHAPTER XX .- C'ENSUS STATISTICS AND ASSESSED VALUATION FOR 1901 242
CHAPTER XXI .- SOLDIERS' REUNION, ORGANIZATION, ETC. 245
CHAPTER XXII. - C'ORN JUBILEE. 254
CHAPTER XXIII -- SECRET ORGANIZATIONS.
270
CHAPTER XXIV .- PATRIOTIC RECORD
294
5
History of Republic County.
INTRODUCTORY HISTORY.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS-LOUISIANA PURCHASE-KANSAS AND NE- BRASKA BILL-BORDER RUFFIAN WAR-TOPEKA AND WYAN- DOTTE CONSTITUTIONS-ADMISSION OF KANSAS AS A FREE STATE.
The Spaniards were the first white people who made explorations here. As early as 1540 Coronado, a Spaniard, commanding an expedition which marched from Mexico northward in search of gold, silver and precious stones, explored the region of the Colorado, examined the country now known as New Mexico, and penetrated as far east as Kansas, which he named Quivira, and northward to the 40th degree of latitude, the northern boundary of the state. Finding no gold, which seems to have been the leading object of the expedition, he returned to Mexico, leaving Kansas early in the year 1542. On his return to Mexico he reported that the regions through which he passed were not fit to be colonized. This expedition made the first explorations in Kansas of which we have any record. Forty years later the Spaniards, after conquer- ing the natives, colonized New Mexico. In April, 1682, La Salle, a French discoverer, took formal possession of the mouth of the Mississippi river, for the King of France, and the country on the banks of the river received the name of Louisiana, in honor of King Louis XIV. then at the height of his power. Louisiana was understood to embrace all the country drained by the waters emptying either directly or indirectly into the Mississippi river. This made Kansas a possession of France.
November 3, 1762, France cedes Louisiana to Spain. This cession made Kansas Spanish. In 1769 the Spanish troops took possession of Louisiana, and the dominion of Spain begins, and continues until 1802, when, almost with- out consideration, she, by secret treaty, retrocedes Louisi- ana to France, and Kansas again becomes French territory.
6
History of Republic County.
April 30, 1803, a treaty was concluded between the United States and the French Republic, by which France con- cedes Louisiana to the United States. The treaty was ne- gotiated, on the part of France, by Barbe-Marbois, the French minister, and by Robert R. Livingstone and James Monroe on the part of the United States, and Kansas be- comes the property of Uncle Sam. The above, briefly stated, is the chain of title. By this the United States acquired 1,160,577 square miles of territory, or 742,769,280 acres of land. The purchase price was fifteen millions of dollars, or a fraction over two cents per acre. This pur- chase was made during the administration of Thomas Jef- ferson, and was approved by the entire nation as an act of the greatest importance. as it doubled the area of the United States and placed the whole valley of the Missis- sippi within the territory of the Republic. Congress at once divided this great region into two territories, the territory of Orleans, corresponding to the present state of Louisiana, and the district of Louisiana, comprising the remainder of the purchase. On the 22d of May, 1854, the House passed the Kansas-Nebraska bill, providing for the organization of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. The Senate passed the same bill on the 24th, and it was signed by President Pierce on the 30th. The passage of this act opened the door to a bloody and bitter conflict in Kansas between slavery and free labor, which continued with almost unabated fury until the admission of Kansas into the Union as a free state. On the 29th of June, 1854, Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, was appointed by President Pierce Governor of Kansas, and November 29 of the same year an election was held for choosing a delegate to Congress, which resulted in the election of J. W. Whit- field, the pro-slavery candidate, he receiving 2,258 votes to 574 votes for free state candidates. Whitfield took his seat and held it until March 3, 1855, the close of the 33d Con- gress. He was re-elected October 1, 1855, receiving 2,721 votes, the free state men not voting. The first election
7
History of Republic County.
for members of the Territorial Legislature was held by districts, March 30, 1855, thirteen members of the Coun- cil and twenty-six members of the House, resulting in the choice of the pro-slavery candidates by large majorities. This Legislature convened, by order of the Governor, at Pawnee, near Ft. Riley, nearly one hundred miles from the border, and supposed to be far enough away to be free from intimidation by the Missourians. Pawnee was a re- tired and quiet place, and the members, no doubt, fre- quently called to mind that passage of Scripture which reads something like this: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but this Kansas Legislature has not a peg to hang its hat on." The executive office was also established at Pawnee. On the 6th of July both branches of the Legislature passed, over the Governor's veto, an act removing the seat of government from Pawnee to the Shawnee Manual Labor School, in Johnson county, near the Missouri border. August 8th, the Legislature, in joint session, voted to establish the permanent seat of govern- ment at Lecompton. Upon re-assembling at Shawnee the Legislature proceeded to adopt the laws of Missouri as the laws of Kansas, and to frame a series of laws designedly cruel and oppressive to the free state men. Nearly all the
acts of this Legislature took effect as soon as passed. They made a volume of 1,058 pages, and were commonly called the "Bogus Laws." Under these laws none but pro-slav- ery men could hold office, and every officer, whether elected or appointed, was compelled to take an oath to support the Fugitive Slave Law. This was also the oath administered to every attorney admitted to practice in the courts. Under these laws any person found with a New York Tribune in his pocket was deemed guilty of felony, the punishment being imprisonment at hard labor for two years. These laws were vetoed by Governor Reeder, but passed by a nearly unanimous vote over his head. Governor Reeder, being odious to the pro-slavery party and to the adminis- tration at Washington, was removed August 16 and Wilson
8
History of Republic County.
Shannon, of Ohio, appointed in his stead. In the mean- time the free soil settlers had increased so rapidly that they outnumbered the pro slavery settlers. They now felt themselves strong enough to resist the outrages of the Missourians, and accordingly, on the 5th of Septem- ber, 1855, held a convention at Big Springs, formally or- ganized the Free State party, and adopted a platform, in which they distinctly and emphatically repudiated the government that had been forced upon them by men who were not residents of the territory. They announced their intention not to take part in the election of a dele- gate to Congress, which the territorial authorities had ordered to be held on the first of October, and called upon the actual residents of the territory to send delegates to a convention to be held at Topeka on the 19th of September. This convention ordered an election to be held for the pur- pose of choosing a delegate to Congress. On the 23d of October the convention adopted a Free State constitution, known as the Topeka constitution. An election for state officers, under this constitution, was held January 15, 1856, and Charles Robinson was chosen Governor, receiv- ing 1,296 votes, the pro-slavery party not voting. The struggle for the possession of the territory now passed out of politics. The outrages of the pro slavery men had forced the free state men into an attitude of direct and uncompromising resistance, and after the action of the latter at Topeka, the struggle, which had hitherto been comparatively bloodless, changed its character, and be- came an open and sanguinary war between the two parties, in which the pro-slavery men were the aggressors. Bands of men, armed and regularly organized into companies and regiments, came into the territory from South Carolina, Georgia and the extreme southern states, with the avowed design of making Kansas a slave-holding state at all hazards.
May 21st, 1856, under the pretext of aiding the United States Marshal to serve certain processes upon the citi-
9
History of Republic County.
zens of Lawrence, they captured and sacked that town, burned several houses, killed several of its citizens and inflicted a property loss upon it amounting to $150,000. From this time the war went on in a series of desultory but bloody encounters, in nearly all of which John Brown took an active and prominent part, some of which assumed the proportions of battles. The Free State Legislature met at Topeka, March 4th, received the message of Gov- ernor Robinson, appointed three commissioners to pre- pare a code of laws, elected James H. Lane and Andrew H. Reeder United States Senators, prepared a memorial to Congress asking admission into the Union under the Topeka constitution, and adjourned to meet July 4th, hav- ing been in session four days. This memorial was pre- sented to Congress by Lewis Cass, of Michigan, in the Senate, and by Representative Mace, of Indiana, in the House. July 3d, the House passed Grow's bill for the ad- mission of Kansas under the Topeka constitution, but the Senate, being pro-slavery, refused to concur. The Free State Legislature met at Topeka, July 4th, pursuant to adjournment. Col. Sumner, of the First Cavalry, appears in the House, and then in the Senate, and orders each body to disperse. He was acting under orders from Act- ing Governor Woodson and President Pierce. The Legis- lature obeys the order. Governor Shannon received notice of his removal August 21st, and Acting Governor Woodson calls out the militia and declares the territory in a state of open insurrection and rebellion. This was the darkest day during the whole struggle for the Free State men, and large numbers of them left Kansas.
January 6th, 1857, the Free State Legislature again met at Topeka. Governor Robinson and Lieutenant Gov- ernor Roberts are absent, and there is no quorum. Re- assembled on the 8th with quorum present, organize and appoint a committee to again memorialize Congress to ad- mit Kansas under the Topeka constitution. After adjourn- ment a dozen or more of the members were arrested by a
10
History of Republic County.
United States marshal and sent as prisoners to Tecumseh. Met again on the 8th without presiding officers and with- out quorum, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House being prisoners at Tecumseh It appears to have been the tactics of the pro-slavery party, backed by the administration at Washington, to arrest a sufficient number of members to break a quorum, and thus prevent legislation. Late in July John W. Geary was appointed Governor in place of Wilson Shannon, removed. The sec- ond session of the Territorial Legislature met at Lecomp- ton, January 12th, 1857, to enact more "bogus laws." The Free State men had no part in the election of this House, and the whole Legislature remained pro-slavery. All bills vetoed by Governor Geary were promptly passed over his head, in accordance with a secret agreement at the com- mencement of the session. Governor Geary exerted him- self honestly to restore peace, freedom of speech and of the press, and asked the repeal of many of the bogus laws; but finding himself powerless, and fearing assassination from the pro-slavery party, he secretly left Kansas, March 10th, as Governor Reeder had done before him.
President Buchanan appointed as successor to Gover- nor Geary, Robert J. Walker, of Mississippi, a man of emi- nence and ability, who sincerely desired to effect a settle- ment of the quarrel, and who succeeded in inducing the Free State party to vote, at the coming election, for mem- bers of the Territorial Legislature and a delegate to Con- gress, assuring the people that the election should be fair and free. The election was held October 5th, 1857, which resulted in the election of a large majority of Free State men to the Legislature, and of M. J. Parrott, Free State candidate for delegate to Congress, by a majority of over 4,000. This was the first free and fair election held in the territory. Governor Walker resigned December 17th, and James W. Denver was appointed in his stead. Denver acted as Governor until October, 1858, when he in turn re- signed, and Samuel Medary, of Ohio, was appointed No-
11
History of Republic County.
vember 19th, 1858, and who continued in office until Janu- ary, 1861, and was the Democratic candidate for Governor under the Wyandotte constitution, against Charles Robin- son, December 6th, 1859, but was defeated by over 2,500 votes.
In January, 1859, the civil strife having partially sub- sided in the territory, and the Free State men having a majority in the Legislature, a convention was summoned at Wyandotte. It met in July and adopted a Free State constitution, which was submitted to the people Oc- tober 4th and ratified by a majority of 5,000. The Wyan- dotte constitution was then laid before Congress, and a bill admitting Kansas into the Union passed the House early in 1860. The Senate, however, failed to act upon the bill. At the next session the measure was revived, and on the 29th of January, 1861, the opposition of the south having ceased by reason of the withdrawal of a large number of the southern Representatives and Senators from Con- gress, Kansas was admitted into the Union as a free state, adopting as her motto, "Ad astra per aspera "-To the stars through difficulties.
List of Territorial Governors of Kansas and the term of office of each:
Andrew H. Reeder, of Pennsylvania, from October 7, 1854, to August 16, 1855.
Daniel Woodson, of Virginia, Secretary and Acting Gover- nor from August 16 to September 7, 1855; June 24 to July 7, 1856; August 18 to September 9, 1856, and March 12 to April 16, 1857.
Wilson Shannon, of Ohio, from September 7, 1855, to Au- gust 18, 1856.
John W. Geary, of Pennsylvania, from September 9, 1856, to March 12, 1857.
Frederick P. Stanton, of Tennessee, Secretary and Acting Governor from November 16 to December 21, 1857.
Robert J. Walker, of Mississippi, from May 27 to Novem- ber 16, 1857.
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History of Republic County.
James W. Denver, of California, Secretary and Acting Governor from December 21, 1857, to May 12, 1858, when he was appointed Governor.
Hugh S. Walsh, born in New Winsor, Orange county, N. Y .; came to Kansas from Alabama in April, 1857; was Secretary and Acting Governor from October 10 to December 17, 1858.
Samuel Medary, of Ohio, from December 18, 1858, to De- cember 17, 1860.
George M. Beebe, born at New Vernon, N. Y .; came to Kansas in 1859; Secretary and Acting Governor from December 17, 1860, to February 9, 1861.
Governors of Kansas since its admission as a state : Charles Robinson, elected December 6, 1859; sworn into office February 9. 1861.
Thomas Carney, elected November, 1862.
S. J. Crawford, elected November, 1864; was re-elected November, 1866; resigned November 4, 1868, to take command of 19th Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Nehimiah Green, Acting Governor after the resignation of Governor Crawford.
James M. Harvey, elected November 3, 1868. Served two terms.
Thomas A. Osborn, elected November 5, 1872. Served two terms.
Geo. T. Anthony, elected November 7, 1876.
John P. St. John, elected November 5, 1878. Served two terms.
George W. Glick, elected November 7, 1882.
John A. Martin, elected Nov. 4, 1884. Served two terms.
Lyman U. Humphrey, elected November 6, 1888. Served two terms.
Lorenzo D. Lewelling, elected November 8, 1892.
Edmund N. Morrill, elected November 6, 1894.
John W. Leedy, elected November 3, 1896.
William E. Stanley, elected November 8, 1898. Re-elected November, 1900.
13
History of Republic County.
CHAPTER 1.
THE PAWNEE REPUBLIC AND THE OLD FLAG.
On the 15th day of July, 1806, Zebulon M. Pike, a young army officer, being at that time only twenty-seven years of age, left Belle Fontaine, a small town near the mouth of the Missouri river, to make explorations in our newly acquired territory known as the Louisiana pur- chase. The party consisted of twenty-three white men, and a party of fifty-one Indians of the Osage and Pawnee tribes, who had been redeemed from captivity among the Pottawatomies. These he was to take back to their friends on the head-waters of the Osage river, on the border of what is now Kansas. The safe delivery of this charge at the point of destination, seems to have been the primary object of the expedition. This being accomplished, he was to push on to the seat of government of the Pawnee Republic and establish as far as possible friendly relations and a good understanding between the various Indian tribes as well as to cultivate the friendship of all of them towards the government of the United States. He was also instructed "to remark particularly upon the geographical structure, the natural history and popula- tion of the country through which he passed, taking es- pecial care to collect and preserve specimens of every- thing curious in the mineral and botanical worlds, which can be preserved and are portable." This expedition was planned in April, 1806, on the return of Lieut. Pike from a successful tour of discovery and exploration to the head-waters of the Mississippi. He was chosen to con- duct these expeditions on account of his great proficiency in mathematics, astronomy and the languages.
Capt. Pike camped on White Rock creek on the eve- ning of September 24th, and the following day he entered
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History of Republic County.
the Pawnee village, the exact location of which has only recently been established, different historians locating it at different points, some placing it at, or near the present site of Scandia, others at Red Cloud, Nebr., but all agree- ing that it was located in the valley of the Republican. During the year 1896 researches were made which estab- lished beyond a reasonable doubt the site of this historic village, locating it on section 3, * in township 2 south, range 5 west, known as White Rock township. This fact is established by a careful study of the route of Pike's travels, he being easily traced into Republic county and by many relics consisting of broken mills, pottery, pipes of red pipe stone, dressed and undressed flints and many other articles of Indian workmanship, also many large circular excavations, within what was once a wall of earth works, an adjoining cemetery, all distinguishing charact- eristics of the permanent villages of the Indian tribes of the plains. At what time this village was established is only a matter of conjecture. All the information the Paw- nees themselves can give is that it was a long time ago. Neither is there any record as to when it was abandoned, but probably not later than 1833 as in that year the Paw- nees, by treaty surrendered all their possessions south of the Platte river, but for a long time thereafter con- tinued to hunt throughout their ancient hunting grounds on the plains, their hunting parties frequently visiting the White Rock valley after its settlement by white men.
September 29th Capt. Pike held a grand council with the Pawnees at which a large number of warriors were present. The Spanish flag was floating from a pole in front of the head chief's lodge, a large party of Spanish troops having passed this way but a short time previous. Pike, although having but twenty men under his com-
* The N. E. 14 of section 3, town 2, range 5, on which was located the Paw- nee Indian village, was pre-empted in 1871 by John Johnson, known by the early settlers as White Horse Johnson to distinguish him from other Johnsons in the same neighborhood. as he was the owner of a fine team of white horses.
Residence of George Johnson. White Rock Township.
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