Polk's Atchison (Atchison County, Kans.) city directory : including Atchison County, 1950, Part 1

Author: R.L. Polk & Co
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : R.L. Polk & Co.
Number of Pages: 278


USA > Kansas > Atchison County > Atchison > Polk's Atchison (Atchison County, Kans.) city directory : including Atchison County, 1950 > Part 1


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Lutfen Furniture Company.


HOME FUR ISHERS 60/08 185 P


EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK


M- 2-20-87


1950 3 Capital $200,000.00


Surplus and Undivided Profit $310,000.00


6th AND COMMERCIAL STREETS TELS. 6 -7


Member F. D. I. C.


NEW


PLUMBING REPAIR


Work of All Kinds WE SERVE WITH 3 EQUIPPED TRUCKS 24 Hour Service


PIPER the PLUMBER


KEEP YOUR WIFE IN HOT WATER


415 Commercial Call 120 If No Answer Call 2443


Frigidaire REFRIGERATORS ELECTRIC RANGES AUTOMATIC WASHERS


MAYTAG WASHERS MAGIC CHEF AND ROPER GAS RANGES ZENITH RADIOS AND TELEVISION DELCO AND COLEMAN AUTOMATIC HEATING


Levin HOME APPLIANCE AND SPORTING GOODS CO.


517-519 Commercial Atchison, Kansas Phone 569 SPORTING GOODS - TENNIS AND FISHING TACKLE


Established 1871


Blish, Mize & Silliman Hardware Co. Exclusively Wholesale HARDWARE, CUTLERY, SILVERWARE, SPORTING GOODS, STOVES, PAINTS AND OILS


CONTRACTOR - BUILDERĀ®


F. P. GEHRING


Phone 2271


"No Job Too Large


No Job Too Small"


214 N, 8th St.


LMAN


SEARLES


A


Duplicate removed from collection Atchison Co. Historical Sop


Mount St. Scholastica COLLEGE


Telephone 328


RECOGNITION


Accredited as a degree-granting institution by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, by the Association of American Colleges, by the University of Kansas, and by the State Board of Education. It is affiliated with the Catholic University of America. It is a member of the American Council on Education, a constituent member of the National Catholic Educational Asso- ciation, and an Institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.


MOUNT ST. SCHOLASTICA ACADEMY TELEPHONE 716


a boarding and day school for girls, was founded in 1863. It is in- corporated under the laws of the state of Kansas and is empowered to confer academic honors. It is conducted by the Benedictine Sisters.


Mount St. Scholastica is accredited by


The State Board of Education


The University of Kansas


The National Catholic Educational Association


The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools


It is affiliated with the Catholic University of America.


The Conservatory of Music provides for the study of organ, piano, harp, violin, cello and voice.


The Department of Art includes design, handcraft, and painting.


Specialized teachers, spacious modern buildings, completely equipped library and laboratories make Mount St. Scholastica an ideal residential and day school for girls.


(1950) R. L. POLK & CO.'S


. . . .....


B


St. Benedict's College


ATCHISON, KANSAS


TEL. 2800


Select Boarding School for Boys and Young Men


Founded in 1858


CONDUCTED BY THE BENEDICTINE FATHERS


The Benedictine Fathers have an experience of 1400 years as teach- ers. While developing the heart and mind of students they also guard their health and happiness.


GRADUATE SCHOOL: School of Theology


UNDERGRADUATE: College of Arts and Sciences


BUILDINGS - Fireproof, New and modern in every respect.


CAMPUS-Large and convenient, in- cludes five Baseball Diamonds, Eight Hand Ball Courts, four Ten- nis Courts, Gymnasium.


LOCATION-Graduate School and Col- lege situated on the bluffs of the Missouri River, command one of the most extensive views of the country.


MAUR HILL SCHOOL


Academic (Strong course in the Classics) General College Entrance (for students entering the professions)


Located to the extreme south of the City, looks out upon the rich farm lands and the scenic beauty of the Missouri River bluffs.


TEL. 419


WRITE FOR CATALOGUE


ATCHISON -CITY DIRECTORY (1950)


C


U. S. POSTAL INFORMATION


POSTAGE RATES AND CLASSIFICATION


For information regarding classifica- tion, postage rates, and mailability of domestic mail of all classes, entry and mailing of publications as second-class matter, metered and permit maii, bulk rate maliings of third-class matter, Business Reply Cards and Envelopes, apply at your locai post office.


DOMESTIC POSTAL RATES First-Class


LETTERS: 3 cents for each ounce or fraction of an ounce. (Local delivery same rate.)


POST CARDS: 1 cent each within prescribed sizes.


BUSINESS REPLY CARDS: 2 cents each; Air Mail, 5 cents each.


BUSINESS REPLY ENVELOPES : Business reply envelopes 1 cent in ad- dition to regular postage. Apply at Post Office for Permit.


Second-Class


NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS (Transient rate) : 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction of 2 ounces or fourth-class rate, whichever is iower.


Third-Class


(Limit 8 ounces)-On circulars and other miscellaneous printed matter, also on merchandise, 2c for the first 2 ounces or fraction, plus 1c for each additional ounce or fraction.


On books and catalogs having 24 or more pages; also, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants-11/2C for each 2 ounces or fraction.


Bulk Rate


14c per pound, but not less than 1c each. Bulk rates are available only to the holders of permits under Sec. 562, P. L. & R., and require at each mailing a minimum of 20 pounds or 200 identical pieces separated by states and cities into bundies of 10 or more. An annual fee of $10.00 is charged for a permit to maii under this section.


When returned to sender under "Return Postage Guaranteed," all


third class requires regular rates.


Fourth-Class-(Parcel Post)


(Limit of weight, over 8 ounces and not exceeding 70 pounds; limit of size, 100 inches in length and girth combined). Includes merchandise, books, catalogs and other printed mat- ter and other mailable matter not in first or second class.


The regular pound rates for the various parcel post zones are :


Up to and


Zone First 1b. including


10 1bs. Cents


Cents


Local


10


1.0


0.75


First & second


12


2.1


2.0


Third


13


3.0


2.8


Fourth


14


4.5


4.25


Fifth


15


6.0


5.50


Sixth


16


7.5


7.25


Seventh


17


9.5


9.25


Eighth


18


11.5


11.25


AIR MAIL SERVICE


United States Air Mail Service


Six cents for each ounce or fraction thereof ; limit of weight 8 ounces; to any part of the United States. May be registered, insured, sent G. O. D. or Special Delivery.


Post Cards 4 cents each. .


Air mail stamps and distinctively- stamped envelopes are issued for pre- payment of postage on air mail. Ord- inary stamps may also be used.


Air mail should be plainly marked "VIA AIR MAIL" in the space imme- diately below the stamps and above the address.


Canada (same


as above except weight limit of 60 ibs).


Air Mail Mexico


Rate of postage to Mexico : Six cents for each ounce.


Dispatched by the United States Air Maii Service and in Canada or in Mex- ico by the Air Mail Services in those countries. For additional information telephone your local post office.


United States Air Mail Service to Central America, South


.America, the West Indies and other Foreign Countries.


For information regarding this ser- vice telephone your local post office.


Air Parcel Post


Air postage on parcels weighing 8 oz. or less is 6c per oz.


Zones


Over 8 oz. to 1 pound


Additional pounds


1 & 2


55c


4c


3


60c


8c


4


65c


14c


5


70c


24c


6


75c


33c


7


75c


45c


8


80c


65c


On matter of the First Class in ex- cess of 8 ounces sent as air mail, the air parcei post rate will apply, unless this is less than 3 cents per ounce in which case the 3-cent per ounce rate will apply.


FEES IN ADDITION TO REGULAR POSTAGE SPECIAL DELIVERY


FIRST CLASS ONLY-2 pounds or less, 15 cents; over 2, not over 10 pounds, 25 cents ; over 10 pounds, 35 cents.


MAIL OTHER THAN THAT OF THE FIRST CLASS will be given the most expeditious handling and transportation practicable, and in addition receive im- mediate delivery at the office of ad- dress, upon payment of the following special-delivery fees :


2 lbs. or- less. .25c


Over 2 lbs., but not over 10 lbs .. 35c


Over 10 ibs .... . 45c


"Special Delivery" must be so in- dorsed.


SPECIAL HANDLING (Without Special Delivery)


FOURTH CLASS: 2 pounds or less, 15 cents; over 2, not over 10 pounds, 20 cents ; over 10 pounds, 25 cents.


"Special Handling" must be so In- dorsed.


DOMESTIC ORDINARY MAIL SENDERS' RECEIPTS FOR


A receipt (certificate of mailing) is furnished the sender of domestic ordin- ary mail of any ciass upon payment of I cent for each piece. This fee does not insure against loss, rifling or dam- age, but merely furnishes evidence of mailing, and no receipt will be obtain- ed from the addressee on delivery. Ad- ditionai duplicate receipts may be ob- tained upon payment of 1 cent each.


Money Order Fees


Limit for each money order is $100.


Fee


Amount of Money Order


Cents


From $ 0.01 to $ 5:00 .10


From 5.01 to


10.00


From 10.01 to


50.00


..


From 50.01 to 100.00


Registry


Domestic mail matter prepaid at the first-class rate of postage, may be reg- istered against loss, rifling or damage upon payment of the following fees :


REGISTRY


Indemnity Limit Fee


$ 0.01 to $ 5.00 $0.25


5.01 to 25.00


.35


25.01 to


50.00. .


.40


50.01 to


75.00.


.45


75.01 to


100.00 ..


.50


100.01 to . 200.00.


.60


200.01 to


300.00 ..


400.00.


.85


400.01 to


500.00.


1.00


500.01 to


600.00.


1.10


600.01 to 700.00


1.20


700.01 to


800.00.


1.30


800.01 to


900.00. 1.40


900.01 to 1000.00. 1.50


Registered mail having a declared value in excess of maximum indemnity covered by the registry fee paid, shall be charged additional fees or sur- charges.


Coliect - on - delivery mail sealed against postal inspection and bearing postage at the first-class rate may also be registered. The fees on registered C. O. D. mail range from 40 cents to $1.40, according to amount to be col- lected up to $200, or amount of in- demnity desired not exceeding $1,000. Consuit postmaster for particulars.


COLLECT-ON-DELIVERY (Third and Fourth Class Mail)


C.O.D. FEES


For collections and in- demnity not to exceed.


Fee Cents


$ 2.50 20


5.00


25


25.00


35


50.00


45


100.00 55


150.00


60


200.00


65


INSURANCE


INSURANCE FEES (3d and 4th Class)


Amount of Insurance


Fee Cents


$ 0.01 to $ 5.00.


5,


5.01 to 10.00.


10


10.01 to 25.00.


15


25.01 to 50.00.


20


50.01 to 100.00. ...


25


100.01 to


200.00 .. ...


30


AIDS TO PROPER MAILING


Write name and address plainly and completely.


Place name and address of sender ou ali matter.


Prepay postage fully on all letters and parcels.


Always address mail for city deliv- ery to street and number and request correspondents to do likewise.


Use designation North or South, East or West when it is a proper part of the address and save delay in delivery.


Insure valuable parcels except those containing smail articies of consider- able vaiue which should be registered. Wrap parcel post carefully in heavy paper and tie knots secureiy.


You will often gain a day's 'time in delivery by depositing mail as soon as it is ready.


.15 Use Postal Unit numbers on mail addressed to cities where Unit Num- bers are required. .. 85 25


(1950) R. L. POLK & CO.'S


.70


300.01 to


Over 10 1bs.


Cents


POLK'S ATCHISON


(ATCHISON COUNTY, KANS.) CITY DIRECTORY


1950


INCLUDING ATCHISON COUNTY


Containing an Alphabetical Directory of Business Concerns and Private Citizens, a Directory of Householders, Occupants of Office Build- ings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide; also a


BUYERS' GUIDE


and a Complete


Classified Business Directory


FOR DETAILED CONTENTS SEE GENERAL INDEX


PRICE


"The DIRECTORY IS THE COMMON INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN BUYER AND SELLER


donated by art Metz in 1987


$25.00ATCHISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY


R. L. POLK & CO., Publishers 1207 Grand Ave., Kansas City 6, Mo.


DIRECTORY LIBRARY FOR FREE USE OF PUBLIC AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Member Association of North American Directory Publishers


Copyright, 1950, by R. L. Polk & Co.


Section 28, Copyright Law In Force July ,7, 1909


That any person who wilfully and for profit shall infringe any copyright secured by this act, or who shall knowingly or wilfully aid or abet such infringement, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court.


ASSOCIATION OF


PRO BONO


PUBLICO


NORTH AMERICA


ORGANIZE


1898


DIRE DIRCODIRED


SHERS


OMRODIREGDIRIC


RECTORY


P.UB


PUBLISHERS NOTE


The information in this Directory is gathered by an actual canvass and is compiled in a way to insure maximum accuracy.


The publishers cannot and do not guarantee the cor- rectness of all information furnished them nor the complete absence of errors or ommissions, hence no responsibility for same can be or is assumed.


The publishers earnestly request the bringing to their attention of any inaccuracy so that it may be corrected in the next edition of the directory.


R. L. POLK & CO., Publishers


143


GENERAL INDEX


Page


Abbreviations


16


Alphabetical List of Names


17


Apartment Buildings


230


Banks 232


Board of Education


30


Buildings-Office and Public


233


Bus and Coach Lines-Motor


233


Buyers' Guide


.preceding Classified


32


Cemeteries


234


Churches


234


City Offices 42


229


Clergymen


235


Clubs


236


Convents


237


County Directory


259


County Offices


46


Courts


46


Fire Department


42


Government Offices


66


Halls


243


Homes and Asylums 244


Hospitals and Dispensaries 244 Hotels 244


Libraries


247


Newspapers


249


Organizations


250


Parks and Playgrounds


252


Police Department


42


Post Office


42


Railroads 254


Schools-Parochial 255


Schools-Public 255


Schools, Colleges and Academies 255


State Offices


136


Street and Avenue Guide 161


Classified Business Directory


INDEX TO ADVERTISERS


PAGE NUMBERS BELOW REFER TO THE BUYERS' GUIDE SECTION, THE YELLOW PAGES


Page


Atchison Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Co


2


Atchison Electric Shop left side lines and 15


Atchison Flower Shop left top lines and 16


Atchison Hardware Co Inc


18


Atchison Ice Co Inc The


back cover and


21


Atchison Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co


right top lines and


24


Blish Mize & Silliman Hardware Co . front cover and 20


Bolman Searles T


Braun Wm H front cover and 22


left side lines and


11


Brazeal Motor Co


right side lines and


6


Bunch Jess Motor Co . back cover and


3


Burbank-Munson right side lines and


Byrd Memorial Co


City National Bank of Atchison back cover and


22


Commerce Investment Co


9


Exchange National Bank


right side lines and 18


12


Glaman Insurance Agency


right side lines and


Globe Publishing Co


right side lines and


Gray A L Jeweler


Grodick Transfer & Storage Co


backbone and


Hotel Atchison


Howard & Kohler


Individual Mausoleum Co left top lines and


Intfen Furniture Co . front cover and 17


J G Decorating Stores Inc bottom edge and


26


Kesse Coal & Feed Co . back cover and


11


Levin Home Appliance & Sporting Goods Co


front cover and 15


Local Loan Service


Locomotive Finished Material Co


25 16


Mangelsdorf Carl Seed Store


Mangelsdorf Ed F & Bro Inc


29 2 4


Miller Chevrolet Auto Co


right side lines and


Mount St Scholastic College


Mullins Bros Hardware Co


.right side lines and


Penney J C Co


.right side lines and


14


Piper the Plumber


.front cover and


R P D Motor Corp


left side lines and


Ray's Radio Service


Runyan Jeweler


StBenedict's College


Tony's Dairy left top lines and 13


Velvet Ice Cream Co back cover and


12


Wendling's the Rexall Store


14


Witt Fred C Co


front edge and 28


25 25 7


Commerce Savings & Loan Assn


front cover and 8


Ferrell A C Butane Gas Co


Gehring F P


.. front cover and


22 Z 23 30 21 30 10


29


Midwest Solvents Co Inc


A 19 5


Nestler-Rose Motor Co


27 6 28 23 B


INTRODUCTION


R. L. POLK & CO., publishers of more than 750 city, county, state and national Directories, present to subscribers and the general public, this, the 1950 edition of the Atchison City Directory, which also includes Atchison County.


Confidence in the growth of Atchison's industry, popu- lation and wealth, and in the advancement of its civic and social activities, will be maintained as sections of this Di- rectory are consulted, for the Directory is a mirror truly re- flecting Atchison to the world.


The enviable position occupied by R. L. POLK & CO.'S Directories in the estimation of the public throughout the country, has been established by rendering the best in Directory service. With an unrivaled organization, and having had the courteous and hearty cooperation of the business and professional men and residents, the publishers feel that the result of their labors will meet with the ap- proval of every user, and that the Atchison Directory will fulfill its mission as a source of authentic information per- taining to the city and county.


Five Major Departments


The five major departments are arranged in the follow- ing order :-


THE ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NAMES of residents and business and professional concerns is included in pages 17 to 157, on white paper. This is the only record in existence that aims to show the name, marital status, occupation and address of each adult resident of Atchison, and the name, official personnel, nature and address of each firm and corp- oration in the city.


THE DIRECTORY OF HOUSEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STREET AND AVENUE GUIDE, on pink paper, covers pages 161 to 196. In this section the numbered streets are ar- ranged in numerical order, followed by the named streets in alphabetical order; the numbers of the residences and business concerns are arranged in numerical order under the name of each street, and the names of the householders and concerns are placed opposite the numbers. The names of the intersecting streets appear at their respective cross- ing points on each street. Special features of this section are the designation of tenant-owned homes and the designa- tion of homes and places of business having telephones.


THE BUYERS' GUIDE, preceding the Classified and separately paged from 1 to 32, on goldenrod paper, contains the advertisements of leading manufacturing, business and professional interests of Atchison. The advertisements are indexed under headings descriptive of the business repre- sented. This is reference advertising at its best, and merits a survey by all buyers eager to familiarize themselves with sources of supply. In a progressive community like Atchi- son, the necessity of having this kind of information im- mediately available, is obvious. General appreciation of this fact is evidenced by the many reference users of this City Directory service.


10


INTRODUCTION


THE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY is included in pages 229 to 258, on white paper. This department lists the names of all business and professional concerns in alphabetical order under appropriate headings. This feature constitutes an invaluable and indispensable catalog of the numerous interests of the community. The Directory is the common intermediary between buyer and seller. As such it plays an important part in the daily activities of the com- mercial and professional world. More buyers and sellers meet through the Classified Business Directory than through any other medium.


THE ATCHISON COUNTY DIRECTORY extends from page 259 to page 270, on white paper.


Community Publicity


The Directory reflects the achievements and ambitions of the community, depicting in unbiased terms what it has to offer as a place of residence, as a business location, as a manufacturing site and as an educational center. To broad- cast this information, the publishers have placed copies of this issue of the Directory in Directory Libraries, where they are readily available for free public reference, and serve as perpetual and reliable advertisements of Atchison and Atchison County.


The Atchison Directory Library


Through the courtesy of the publishers of the Atchison City Directory, a Directory Library is maintained in the offices of the Atchison Chamber of Commerce, for free refer- ence by the general public. This is one of more than 600 Directory Libraries installed in the chief cities of the U. S. and Canada by members of the Association of North Am- erican Directory Publishers, under whose supervision the system is operated.


The publishers appreciatively acknowledge the recog- nition by those progressive business and professional men who have demonstrated their confidence in the City Di- rectory as an advertising medium, with assurance that it will bring a commensurate return.


R. L. POLK & CO., Publishers.


ATCHISON (Courtesy Atchison Chamber of Commerce)


Statistical Review


Form of Government-City manager-commission.


Population-16,091, estimated. American-born, 89.6%. Area-2.6 square miles.


Altitude-801.7 feet above sea level.


Climate-Mean annual temperature, 54.3 degrees F .; average annual rainfall, 34.98 inches.


Parks-6, with total of 156 acres, valued at $25,000.


Assessed Valuation-$13,600,000, with $5.14 per $100 tax rate.


Bonded Debt-$361,000.


Financial Data-2 banks, with total deposits of $14,069,- 973 (Dec. 31, 1949), and total resources of $14,874,084 (Dec. 31, 1949). 5 building and loan associations, with total assets of $5,000,000.


Postal Receipts-$163,225.48 (calendar year 1949).


Telephones in Service-4,816.


Churches-25, representing 18 denominations.


Real Estate-Number of homes, 6,660, with about 50% owned by occupants.


Industry-Chief industries of city and surrounding ter- ritory: Manufacturing, agriculture and distribution. 60 manufacturing establishments, employing 3,000 workers, paying wages of $5,000,000 annually, and having products valued at $21,430,600 annually (last report). Principal man- ufactured products: Iron and steel products, flour, feeds, work clothes, plumbing specialties, bookbinding, leather findings, moisture-testing equipment, and locomotive parts.


Trade Area-Retail area has radius of 20 miles, and population of 45,000; wholesale area, radius of 400 miles, and population of 10,000,000.


Newspapers-1 daily.


Hotels-3, with total of 173 rooms.


Railroads-4: Missouri Pacific, Santa Fe, Burlington and Rock Island.


Highways-U. S. 59 and 73; Kansas 4, 7 and 9; Missouri 45.


Airports-1 municipal and 1 privately-owned.


Amusements-Largest auditorium in city seats 3,000 persons. 3 moving-picture theatres, with total seating ca- pacity of 1,760 persons. 1 golf course.


Hospitals-3, with total of 95 beds.


Education-St. Benedict's College and Mt. St. Scholas- tica Academy & College. 9 public schools, including 1 senior high and 2 junior high. 5 parochial schools. Number of pupils in public schools, 2,633. Number of teachers in pub- lic schools, 84; in parochial, 23. Value of public school prop- erty, $1,000,000; parochial, $150,000, college, $4,000,000.


12


INTRODUCTION


$1,000,000 building program for St. Benedict's College under way.


Public Libraries-1, with 18,000 volumes.


City Statistics-Total street mileage, 75, with 60 miles paved. Miles of gas mains, 44; sewers, 45. Number of water meters, 3,570; light meters, 6,350; gas meters, 3,442. Capacity of water works reservoirs, 9,000,000 gallons; daily average pumpage 6,000,000 gallons; miles of mains, 60. Fire depart- ment has 18 men, with 1 station and 5 pieces of motor equip- ment. Value of fire department property, $130,000. Police department has 15 men, with 1 station and 4 pieces of motor equipment.


Location


Atchison, Kansas, county seat of Atchison County, is located on the west bank, in the "Great Western Bend," of the Missouri River.


History


The first recorded history of this point dates back to the 4th of July in 1804, or 57 years before Kansas was admit- ted to statehood, when the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at the site of what is now Atchison. The creek, which is now called White Clay Creek and runs through the center of Atchison, was named by the Expedition, Fourth of July Creek, in honor of the day.


It was fifty years after the Lewis and Clark Expedition visited here before Atchison was plotted as a town. Eighteen men on July 27, 1854, organized and plotted the town of Atchison. The settlers, with the exception of two who re- sided at Atchison, came from Platte County, Missouri, and named the town after David R. Atchison, noted Senator from Missouri and a pro-slavery champion. The founders thought Atchison would be a gateway for powerful pro- slavery champions to take Kansas for their cause.


The first survey of the town was made by Henry Kuhn, Sept. 20, 1854, embodying a tract of 480 acres, and on Sept. 21, 1854, the first sale of lots took place, all of which were bought by the original and actual settlers of this promising townsite. So rapid was the development of the town that it gained sufficient recognition from the government to secure a post office before a year had passed. The post of- fice was established on March 15, 1855, with Robert S. Kelly as the first postmaster. This constituted the first Federal Government act of recognition for Atchison.


The Town of Atchison was incorporated on Aug. 30, 1855, by a special act of the Territorial Legislature under Gov- ernor Wilson Shannon, and on Feb. 12, 1858, the City of Atchison was incorporated under Governor Robert J. Walker. Atchison was made a city of the first class on March 14, 1881, by a proclamation issued by Governor John P. St. John. Samuel C. Pomeroy was a prominent Free State settler and was made the first mayor. Atchison remained under the system of city-council government until April, 1921, when it was replaced by the city-manager form.


Atchison can afford to be proud of its past history and its present. One of the oldest established towns in Kansas, it was host in pioneer days to such notables as Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Horace Greeley and numerous others. It was the birthplace of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe




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