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Gc 978.101 W97 1142787
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01103 2262
Wyandotte County
and Kansas City,
KANSAS.
Historical and Biographical.
COMPRISING
A Condensed History of the State, a Careful History of Wyandotte County, and a Comprehensive History of the Growth of the Cities, Towns and Villages.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO : THE GOODSPEED PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1890.
-
PRESS OF JONN MORRIS COMPANY, CHICAGO.
1142787 PREFACE.
HIS volume has been prepared in response to the prevailing and popular demand for the pres- ervation of local history and biography. The method of preparation followed is the most suc- cessful and the most satisfactory yet devised- the most successful in the enormous number of volumes circulated, and the most satisfactory in the general preservation of personal biography and family record conjointly with local history. The number of volumes now being distributed seems fab- ulous. Careful estimates place the number circulated in Ohio at 50,000 volumes; Pennsylvania, 60,000; New York, 75,000; Indiana, 40,000; Illinois, 40,000; Iowa, 35,000; Missouri, 25,000; Minnesota, 15,000; Nebras- ka, 15,000, and all the other States at the same propor- tionate rate. The publishers have few, if any, excuses to offer in handing this fine volume to their patrons. What errors, if any, occur in the historical department are trivial, and do not in any sense detract from the real merits of the work. Such mistakes as are found in the biographies are wholly the fault of the subjects, as proof was mailed to each for revision and correction, and in a number of instances was never returned, thus necessitating going to press without such assistance. In the preparation of this volume the publishers have met with nothing but courtesy and assistance from the public. The subscription list was much smaller than the pub- lishers hoped and expected to receive; and although the margin of profit was thus cut down to the lowest limit, no curtailment or omis- sion of matter was made from the original extensive design of the work. No subject promised is omitted, and many not promised are given. The publishers call special attention to the great quantity of fact crowded into the volume, and to its fine mechanical execution. With many thanks to our friends for the success of our difficult enter- prise, we respectfully tender this fine volume to our patrons.
September, 1890.
THE PUBLISHERS.
SURNIANIE FILE
27.50
CONTENTS,
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
CHAPTER I.
Geology, Physical Description, Water Courses, Timher, Soil, Minerals and Climate-Geological Formations-The Geologic Uplifting of Kansas Gradual- Missing Formations-Kansas Never Volcanic-Fossils of the Pliocene Age- Remains in the Niobrara Formatiou-The Chalk of Western Kansas-The "Monument" and "Castle " Rocks-Traces of the Age of Reptiles-Fantastic Sandstone Formations-Economic Geology-Limestoue, Gypsum, Clay, Salts, Lead and Zinc-The Geographical Center of the Union-State Boundaries and Dimensions .9-19
CHAPTER II.
A General Account of the Settlement of Kansas-Coronado's Expedition-The "Louisiana Purchase "-Names of the State-Kansas' Trials-Settlement in the Several Counties-Pioneer Experiences-Indian Troubles and Atrocities -Early Elections and Improvements-Town Companies-Primitive Births, Marriages and Deaths. .20-55
CHAPTER III.
Territorial and State Organization-A Scheme of Euterprising Missourians- Hall's Uniontown "Constituency "-Election in the Wyandotte Nation-Act Organizing Kansas and Nebraska-First Territorial Appointments-First Ter- ritorial Election Proclamation-Kansas' Four Constitutions-The Topeka, Lecompton, Leavenworth and Wyandotte Constitutional Conventions- Graphic Pen-Pictures of these Historie Deliberations-The Distinguished Par- ticipants in Them-Territorial and State Governors-Elections-State Offi- cers. 56-77
CHAPTER IV.
Kansas in the Rebellion-First Call for Volunteers-Quota Assigned to the State more than Filled-Sketches of Regimental History-Infantry aud Cavalry Organizations-Batteries-Colored and Indian Troops-Casualties-The Gov- ernor's Military Staff, 1861-1863-1865-Cost to Kansas of the Price Raid and Curtis Expedition-Tedious Settlement of War Claims 78-94
CHAPTER V.
The Growth of Cities in the State-An Advocate of Kickapoo-"Cities" of the Past-Pawnee-Quindaro-Delaware-Sumner- Doniphan - Elwood -Other "Cities on Paper"-Their Influential Projectors aud Promoters-Lecompton and Minneola-The Cities of the Present-Kansas City-Topeka-Leaven- worth-Fort Scott-Lawrence-Other Municipalities-The Centers of Trade and Finance and the Results of Energy and Well-Directed Effort. .95-101
VI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
The Bench and Bar of Kansas-Under the Territorial Government-Under the State Government-The Supreme Court-District Courts-Composition of Districts-The Judiciary-Two Distinguished Chief Justices-High Standing of the Bar of the State. 102-106
CHAPTER VII.
General Account of Religious Denominations-The Pre-Territorial Era-The Ter- ritorial Era-The War Era -- The Era of Peace and Prosperity-Facts and Sta- tisties of Growth-Characteristics of the Churches of Kansas 107-110
CHAPTER VIII.
Historical Sketch of State Educational Institutions and Affairs-Value of Public Education-Pioneer Schools-The Schools under the Territorial Organiza- tion-Territorial Superintendents of Public Instruction-The Schools in 1860- The Public School System of To-day-Successive State Superintendents of Public Instruction-State Normal Schools-The State Agricultural College- University of the State of Kansas-How the Common Schools are Main- tained-Statistics-Denominational Educational Institutions 111-115
CHAPTER IX.
Growth and Development of Industries and Material Interests-A Brilliant Record-Railway Construction and Development-Agricultural Progress- Manufacturing Enterprise-Statistics and Prospects-Character of Popula- tion-Successive Aggregates 116-119
CHAPTER X.
Distinguished Men of Kansas Past and Present-Short Biographical Sketches of Celebrities Whose Names Have Come to he Household Words-Gov. Lyman U. Humphrey-Senator John J. Ingalls-The First Territorial Governor- The First State Governor-The Famous "Jim " Lane-Gov. Crawford-United States District Attorney Hallowell-Kansas' First Democratic Executive- Senator Preston B. Plumb-"Ottawa" Jones-Chief Justice Horton-A Well- Remembered State Printer-The First Chief Justice-The Champion of the "Homestead Law"-Prof. Mudge-Col. Anthony-Judge Brewer -Gov. Medary 120-142
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
Location-Topography - Altitude - Economical Geology - Explorations - In- dians - Settlement -First Election - Indian Treaties-Surveyor-General's Office -- Land Surveys-Indian Settlers-First White Settlers-Indian Ceme- tery-First Marriages, etc., etc. 143-175
VII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
County and Township Organization and Acts of the County Board-Act of the Legislature Creating and Organizing the County of Wyandotte-Election of Temporary County Officers-Old Leavcuworth County Records-First Poll- books-The Jail-Early Taxes-Settlement Between Wyandotte and Leaven- worth Counties-The Quindaro and Wyandotte Road-Ferry Licenses-Early Election Precincts-Location of the County Scat-Seal-Early Jurors-Pro- ceedings in 1860-Division of the County into Commissioner Districts-Pur- chase of the Old Court-House Property on Nebraska Avenue, Wyandotte- The Plat of Wyandotte Lands Recorded-Grand and Petit Jurors for 1861-62 Election Figures, 1861-Organization of Townships. 176-200
CHAPTER XIII.
County Interests, Commercial, Political, Official and Statistical-An Unparalleled Railway System-How Projected and Developed-The Story of Early and Later Railroad Construction-A Celebrated Murder That Grew Out of Personal Difficulties Between Railroad Projectors and Builders-The Railway System of the Present-Post-offices in Wyandotte Couuty-Banks-Public Buildings The Poor Farm-Fair Associations-First Election in Wyandotte County- First Meeting of the County Commissioners-The County's Civil List-Statis- ties of Taxation, Bonded Indebtedness, Agriculture, Horticulture and Stock- raising-Wyandotte County as a Manufacturing Center-Population-General Claims of Pre-eminence. 201-252
CHAPTER XIV.
The Judicial District and the District Court-First Session-Judge John Pettit- Falling of the Court-room-Judges McDowell, Brewer, Burris, Stevens, Wag- staff, Hindman and Miller-The Bar-First Grand Jury-First Cases-First Petit Jury-Probate Court-Important Trials-Wills vs. Wood-The Ice Case -Title to Church Property-Homicides-Lynchings-The Strike of 1886- Trials of Hamilton and Others for Wrecking Train, etc. 253-275
CHAPTER XV.
Freedom and Slavery-First Regiment Kansas Volunteers-Infantry, Second Regiment Infantry-Fifth Regiment Cavalry-Sixth Regiment Cavalry- Tenth Regiment Infantry-Twelfth Regiment Cavalry-Fifteenth Regiment Cavalry-Sixteenth Regiment Cavalry-First Regiment Kansas Colored Troops-Rosters of Officers and Enlisted Men from Wyandotte County .... 276-309
CHAPTER XVI.
First Free School-First Teachers-Constitutional Provisions-School Funds- School Lands-School Statistics-Value of School Property-Bonded Indebt- edness-Cost of the Schools-Normal Institute-Schools in Kansas City- Scholastic Population - Enrollment- High School - Kindergarten - Private and Parochial Schools-Old Academy, etc. 310-322
CHAPTER XVII.
Churches of the County-A Reversal of the Usual Order of Events and the Intro- duction of Christianity by the Indians-Church Beginnings in Different De- nominations-Division of the Methodist Church into "North" and "South "
VIII
CONTENTS.
Churches-The Churches of To-day-Statistics Showing Their Number, Their Membership, and the Number and Value of Their Houses of Worship ..... 323-333
CHAPTER XVIII
Quindaro a Famous Pioneer Town-Town Company-Rapid Growth-Rush of Im- migrants-Rival Towns-Road to Lawrence-Steamer Lightfoot-Decline and Fall of Quindaro-Rosedale-Its Progress-Incorporation-First and Succes- sive Officers-Development-Argentine-Its Town Company-Incorporation -Officers- Smelting Works- Industries-Churches -Societies-Press-Ed- wardsville-Indian Chief Half Moon-Edwardsville Cemetery-White Church - Bethel -Pomeroy-Connor -- Turner Smelting Works -- Bonner (Saratoga) Springs-Civil Townships. .. 334-350
CHAPTER XIX.
Origin of Wyandotte-Indian Oeeupaney-United States Indian Agency-First Temperance Society-First Jail-Wyandotte Indian Convention-Treaty of 1855 -- Land Office-Survey of Wyandotte-Rush of Immigration-Rapid Growth-First Enterprises-Election in 1857-Scene at the Wyandotte Conven- tion in 1859-First Post-office-Death of the Members of the Wyandotte City Company-Incorporation-Roster of Officers-City Additions-Former Kan- sas City-Armourdale-Press-Meetings at Wyandotte September 4 and 23, 1875-Predictions as to the Future Metropolis-Consolidation-Governor's Proclamation 351-386
CHAPTER XX.
The Consolidated Cities-Review of the History of Consolidation-First and Sub- sequent Officials Since the Consolidation-Present City Officers-Wards and Precinets-The City's Great Real Estate Interests-A City of Homes-The City's Finances-Wonderful Progress of Street Improvement-Banks-Incor- porated Companies-Educational Progress and Statistics-The Young Men's Christian Association-Reasons for the City's Growth-Kansas City's Manu- facturing Status-Its Great Grain Market and Gigantic Elevators-Facts and Figures from Reliable Sources of the City's Remarkable Progress and Great Interests -- The Census-A Suggestion of the Future-Armourdale's Progress- The Mayor's Annual Message, 1890. 387-422
CHAPTER XXI.
City Institutions of the Consolidated Cities-Other Institutions of Public Benefit -Police Department-The Fire Department-The Board of Trade-The Post- office-Electric Lighting-The Fremont Street and Reynolds Avenue Market House-St. Margaret's Hospital -- The Kansas Institution for the Education of the Blind-Headquarters of the Kansas Farmers' Alliance-Hotels, past and Present-Seeret and Benevolent Orders 423-436
CHAPTER XXII.
Kansas City's Great Street Railway and Rapid Transit Systems-Description of the Several Lines-History of the Inter-State Consolidated Rapid Transit Rail- road Company-Sketch of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company-Elec- tric Lines to Armourdale and Argentine-Projected Lines-New York Com- ment on Kansas City's Street Railways-A Great Viaduct in Prospect .. ... . 437-446
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IX
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Kansas City's Immense Live Stock Market and Meat Packing Interests-The Second Largest Pork-Packing Center in the World-Rise and Progress of the Industry-Sketches of the Great Packing Establishments-Twenty-two Years of Meat Packing-An Era of Wonderful Progress-Contributory Causes-The Past Year's Remarkable Showing-Facts, Figures and Statistics-The Outlook for the Future 447-466
CHAPTER XXIV.
Navigation of the Missouri and the Kaw-Kansas City's Favorable Location-The Advent of Steamboats on the Missouri-The Days of Pioneer Navigation- "Boating" Before the War-Rival Lines-Exciting River Races-Old Boats and Captains-First Discussion of Barge Navigation-Efforts and Failures- The Movement Crushed by the Panie of 1873-Revived Four Years Later- Barge Transportation Tried and Found Feasible-Misfortunes and Antagonis- tic Influences-River Improvement-Congressional Appropriations-Ill Ad- vised Expenditures and Consequent Disappointment-Other Navigation Move- ments-Organization of the Kansas City and Missouri River Transportation Company-The Construction and Arrival of the Mason, the State of Kan- sas and the State of Missouri-Benefits to Accrue from the Enterprise-An Enthusiastic Celebration-Part in it of Kansas City, Kas .- Account of the . Navigation of the Kansas River. 467-486
Biographical. 487-894
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
CHAPTER I.
GEOLOGY, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION, WATER COURSES, TIMBER, SOIL, MINERALS AND CLIMATE-GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS-THE GEO- LOGIC UPLIFTING OF KANSAS GRADUAL-MISSING FORMATIONS- KANSAS NEVER VOLCANIC-FOSSILS OF THE PLIOCENE AGE-RE- MAINS IN THE NIOBRARA FORMATION-THE CHALK OF WESTERN KANSAS-THE "MONUMENT" AND "CASTLE" ROCKS-TRACES OF THE AGE OF REPTILES-FANTASTIC SANDSTONE FORMATIONS- ECONOMIC GEOLOGY-LIMESTONE, GYPSUM, CLAY, SALTS, LEAD AND ZINC-THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF THE UNION-STATE BOUND- ARIES AND DIMENSIONS ..
" About me round I saw Hill, dale and shady woods, and sunny plains, And liquid lapse of murm'ring streams."
XIIXIXIIXIIXXX
VERY intelligent reader of the history of a State is interested primarily in its geology- the story of the growth of the terra firma composing and underlying it. The devout student of Nature is filled with awe as he is brought to view the successive processes of the Great Architect, as, layer upon layer, through the ages of the past, He laid the foundations of the earth.
A vertical section of the soil underlying the State of Kansas, had it rested undisturbed during the ages of its formation and to the present time, would have presented the order and approximate thickness of the various formations, as follows: 1, Post tertiary formation- allu- vium, læss (bluff), drift 150 feet; 2, tertiary-sandstone (pliocene), 1,500 feet; 3, cretaceous (chalky)-limestone and shale (Niobrara), 200 feet; Fort Benton, 260 feet; sandstone (Dakota, 500
1
5
G
10
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
feet), 960 feet; 4, upper carboniferous-limestone and shale, 2,000 feet; 5, coal measure-coal in limestone and shale, 600 feet; 6, sub- carboniferous-limestone, 150 feet.
The present succession of the strata from the highest elevation in the northwestern portion of the State to the lowest in the southwest shows the order of formation as above stated to be unbroken. By the gradual upheaval of some portions of the area, or the sinking or unequal changes in others, the strata no longer rest horizontally one above the other, but dip downward to the northwest, so that the edges of the several formations, even to the lowest, the coal measures, are brought to or near the surface of the soil in some sections of the State. In the foregoing order of formation the striking fact has been noted that the oldest rocks are not seen, and that the deposits of important ages and parts of ages of more recent date are also missing. Thus, the Triassic and Jurassic ages were either never deposited within the bounds of Kansas and the adjoining territory, or, in the grand operations of nature, all those deposits have been eroded and swept away, leaving no trace of their existence. This allows the Dakota (cretaceous sandstone) to rest directly on top of the carboniferous, and nearly if not quite in conformity, the geological level of the two being apparently identical. The absence of four groups in succession has also been noted, usually found between the pliocene rock of the ter- tiary period and the middle formations of the cretaceous, allowing the pliocene of the latter age to rest directly on the Niobrara or middle of the cretaceous.
Nowhere in the State are there any evidences of violent disturb- ance of the strata or metamorphic indications in any of the formations. The gradual uplifting of this State and adjoining territory from the level of the ocean must have been slow, uniform, and in a perpendic- ular direction, which has left all the strata in a nearly horizontal posi- tion. This may have been as slow as that now going on in Florida, or a rise of five feet in a century. From our knowledge of the geology of the West, this undoubtedly took place after the rise of the Rocky Mountains, and probably did not come to a close until the drift period. The origin of the rivers, therefore, may date back as far, at least, as the beginning of this uprising. As the channels (valleys) cut by them are large, and often through heavy beds of limestone, the earlier pro- cesses may date still farther back in geological history.
The rock formations do not crop out to any great extent, but are generally hidden by the post-tertiary deposits, alluvium, loess and
11
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
drift. The two former, which have already been noticed, are of more recent formation than the drift, which underlies them, resting on the tertiary sandstone below. It consists of quartz, gravel, pebbles and sand, differing very little from the same deposits found in other parts of the country, and having a like origin, viz., the glacial, or ice period. It is intermixed with large metamorphic stones and bowlders of strati- fied quartz, greenstone and other rocks, not among the formations of this State. The nearest permanent formations similar are found hun- dreds of miles north and east. The deposit of fine drift material sel- dom exceeds five feet in depth. In a general sense it may be said that the post-tertiary formation in some form-alluvium, loess, drift or mixtures of the same-covers, as with a blanket, all the lower rocky strata in whatever order they may come to the surface. The surface rock is not the same throughout the State, but shows, within different areas and well-defined limits, different rock formations from the high- est to the lowest.
The pliocene group of the tertiary system, the first in vertical order, is seen only in the north western portion of the State, which has the high- est altitude. The territory covered by this formation extends along the north line of the State eastward, as far as the middle of Jewell County. The eastern and southern line of demarcation ruus south and west, embracing the northwest quarter of Jewell and the north half of Smith and Phillips Counties; thence southwesterly, nearly to the southwest corner of Norton County; thence east through Graham and into Rooks County, where, with a return bend of some eight or ten miles, it turns to the west, through Graham County, to the south line of Sheridan County; thence along and near the south line of Sheridan, Thomas and Sherman Counties, to the western line of the State, some eight miles south of the latter county. Another detached spur covers all of Greeley and the north quarter of Hamilton County, extending east, over the south half of Wichita and Scott Counties, into the south- west quarter of Lane County.
The fossils of this formation, over a considerable part of the plio- cene area, are scarce, or entirely wanting. In some localities, particu- · larly in Smith and Norton Counties, and in Ellis and Trego Counties, where small detached areas of the formation exist, they are quite numerous. They are of species common to the closing period of the pliocene-"the bones of deer, beaver, a large animal of the ox kind, two species of the horse, one smaller than the small Indian ponies, a wolf, ivory of the elephant and mastodon, bones of the rhinoceros and
12
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
camel and also remains of an undetermined character." Remains of a large, fresh-water turtle, five feet in length, and those of a smaller size have been found; also a few species of mollusks. The remains of the horse are quite common, having been found from Smith County to the vicinity of Ellis, in Ellis County, and prove that horses roamed the plains of Kansas ages before the herds descended from the escaped steeds of the Spanish cavaliers of the fifteenth century. Prof. Mudge writes, that among the fossil remains of horses, he found one in the northern part of Ellis County, in 1875, of the celebrated three-toed species, having three hoofs coming to the ground, the feet with the three toes being in an excellent state of preservation. The bones were badly broken, and much of the skeleton missing, but sufficient to show it was of small size. The remains of the common horse, of about the same size as those now existing, and with the markings of the teeth quite similar, were found in the same geological horizon with the extinct three-toed species, showing that they had a contemporaneous existence. The ivory and bones in the upper pliocene are found firmly fossilized, and sometimes changed to a hard, compact silica. In the process of petrifaction a tusk seen must have been so softened as to admit the intermixture of black oxide of manganese in solution, which then crystalized in delicate sprigs. The ivory was next silicified into nearly pure quartz, with the usual hardness of that substance. The ivory was thus converted into the so-called moss agate.
Directly eastward of the pliocene, and stretching entirely across the State in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, is the creta- ceous, covering an area of nearly 40,000 square miles. The Niobrara is the upper formation in the cretaceous system, and in Kansas differs from the same deposits in Nebraska and on the Niobrara River, some- what in its physical features, but more especially in its fossils, which, in Kansas, yield a richer and more varied type of vertebrates, and of the saurian genera. It covers a hill of country next adjoining the plio- cene, about thirty miles in width, in the northern part of the State, widening southward to nearly sixty miles in the Smoky Hill Valley. It is composed of chalk and chalky shales. The chalky rock varies in color from buff to pure white, and is generally too soft for building material. The pure white specimens consist of pure carbonate of lime, and can not be distinguished from the best quality of foreign chalk. The soft, fine grained white stone, known in commerce as chalk, is found nowhere in North America except in Western Kansas. It differs from the chalk of Europe in the absence of the rhizopod shells, which
13
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
comprise, generally, a large part of its material. Regarding the Kan- sas chalk, Prof. G. E. Patrick, of the Kansas State University, states: "Examined under the microscope, it appears perfectly amorphous-a simple aggregation of shapeless particles. The rhizopod shells which almost universally occur in the chalk of the old world, sometimes com- prising nearly its entire substance, seem to be quite wanting in our Kansas chalk. With a good microscope and a high power, I have been unable to detect a trace of them." This deposit in its purity is found in Trego County, where it appears in seams varying from a foot to eight feet in thickness. It is manufactured quite extensively into whiting, which exceeds in excellence of quality the best manufactured from foreign chalk, as, unlike that, it never contains flint nodules.
Seams of pure calc-spar, usually in flat crystals, from one to six inches in thickness, are quite common in the shales, and occasionally appear in the chalk strata. In the darker shales are sometimes found nodules of pyrites, lenticular in form. Occasionally they appear in fine crystals of various shades of brown. The thickness of the Nio- brara formation varies from seventy-five to 200 feet.
Along the courses of the streams and ravines, owing to the soft nature of the rock, cañons occur, similar to those in Dakota and Ne- braska, though on a smaller scale; and in some localities remains of the formations, in detached masses, worn by the flow of ancient waters, stand high above the surrounding plain, fantastic monuments of the period when they were created. . Fine specimens of these forms of Nature's sculpture are the Monument Rocks, in the Smoky Hill Val- ley, Gove County, and the Castle Rocks, of Ellis County, varying in height from fifty to seventy-five feet.
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