USA > Kansas > Crawford County > A Twentieth century history and biographical record of Crawford County, Kansas > Part 4
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Since the first schoolhouse was built, seven other large brick build- ings have been erected for school purposes, aggregating about seventy school rooms. By act of the legislature a State Normal Manual Training School is located here, and occupies one of these buildings. This school has been previously referred to. Here the students, male and female, in connection with other studies, are taught many mechanical trades. Cabi- net making, carpentry, sewing, and all kinds of needle work, including cutting and fitting garments, cooking and housekeeping in all branches, are taught-and the young man or woman who graduates in these depart- ments is fitted to take up some lucrative employment, when he or she leaves school.
The Zinc Industry.
In the spring of 1878 Robert Lanyon came from Peoria, Illinois, and began the erection of a zinc smelter. His plan to bring the zinc ore, which is mined in large quantities in and about Joplin. Missouri, and Galena. Kansas, to the coal fields for reduction, proved an excellent one. With him came S. H. Lanyon, who was a general overseer of the work. For three years he remained one of the firm of Robert Lanyon & Company.
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He then severed his connection, and began the erection of zinc works of his own, associating with him his two sons, Arthur and Alvin, both of whom are now connected with the National Bank of Pittsburg.
In the spring of 1880 the Granby Mining and Smelting Company began the erection of zinc works on the west side of Broadway, north of town, and two years later William and Josiah Lanyon came from Miner- al Point. Wisconsin, and built extensive zinc works.
The adding of smelting works to the mining of coal gave Pittsburg an impetus that has never ceased. Business enterprises of all kinds came in. A large frame hotel was built by L. Stephens on the ground where Biles' Brothers bakery now stands. Another hotel was built on the corner of Fifth and Broadway on the spot now occupied by the First National Bank. Both of these buildings were burned. Then came the first brick building. erected by Kalwitz and Vogle, which they soon sold, and built another. In the summer of 1883 four brick business houses were built. John R. Lindburg built on the corner of Fourth and Broadway, Brown & Brown on the next block south, I. P. Waskey built across the street the building now occupied by T. J. Evans, books and music, and A. J. Geor- gia built on the corner of Third and Broadway.
The town company was organized with C. M. Condon president, and B. F. Hobart secretary, who purchased the lands owned by Moffett and Sargent. John W. Jennings, who had been the agent of the old company, was succeeded by Major J. J. Rochison as manager. Other tracts of land, contiguous to the original town, were platted and put on the market and sold. New buildings went up everywhere, and the town began to assume the appearance of a city. In the fall of 1879 Pittsburg was incorporated as a city of the third class. M. M. Snow was elected mayor and J. R. Lindburg, W. McBride, F. Kalwitz, P. A. Shields and D. S. Miller coun- cilmen. These were the pioneers in establishing a city government.
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M. M. Snow was re-elected mayor in the spring of 1880, and in 1882 was succeeded by H. C. Willard. The councilmen who served with him were John R. Lindburg, .A. J. Georgia. C. S. Jennis, E. E. Eakin and J. R. Braidwood.
In the spring of 1882 the directors of the Granby Mining and Smelt- ing Company, of Granby, Missouri, held their annual meeting in the city of St. Louis, an account of which appeared in the St. Louis news- papers. At this meeting they resolved to build zinc smelters. The item as it appeared in the newspapers attracted the attention of the mayor and councilmen, who sent an invitation by telegraph to the managers to come to Pittsburg before locating. The result was the building of the Granby Smelting Works. About this time S. H. Lanyon began the erection of a new plant : then William and Josiah Lanyon built their works, which were followed by two other plants, the St. Louis and the Wear. Then Pittsburg was known as the coal and smelting city.
In the fall of 1890 Robert Nesch and John Moore came from Atchi- son and embarked in the brick business, manufacturing building and paving brick, which, proving of an excellent quality, a contract was entered into with the city, by which they were to pave Broadway for a distance of three-fourths of a mile. During this time Mr. Moore retired, leaving Mr. Nesch in full control of the brick plant, which has grown to large proportions. The excellent quality of the clays found in and around Pittsburg attracted the attention of manufacturers. Now two other clay-working establishments are engaged in manufacturing. One turns out brick to be used exclusively in building tall smoke-stacks for manufacturing plants : the other makes drain and sewer tile. hollow blocks for building and other products.
In the year 1888 Lewis Hull and T. G. Dillon started a small pack- ing plant, which has increased from year to year until now it is a large industry.
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So Pittsburg has in a few years grown from a plat of bare prairie to a city of fifteen thousand inhabitants, with all the modern conveniences. Five railroads carry her commerce. Four wells, reaching to a depth of from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred feet, furnish an abundance of pure water. The trolley cars of the Pittsburg Railroad Company, extend- ing to Frontenac on the northeast and Chicopee on the southwest, making a continuous line of ten miles, furnish the transportation to the people : while the railroad shops of the Kansas City Southern Railway, with the many other manufacturing establishments, furnish employment to her people.
In her push for business the wants of the traveling public have not been overlooked. The Hotel Stetwell was erected in the year 1890, and is one of the finest hotels in the west. It is kept by O. K. Dean, who caters bountifully to the wants of his guests. Other hotels are the Cres- cent, on the corner of Third and Locust, Commercial, Third and Broad- way, Phoenix, Fifth and Locust, and other smaller ones scattered over the city.
Churches .- No sooner had the town begun to grow, than the several churches sought to secure a location. The Methodist Episcopal was the first to build a house of worship. The building was erected in 1880, of brick, and stands on the corner of Fifth and Pine streets. It is now owned and used by the United Presbyterians, Rev. J. H. Gibson, pastor. After selling their building the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church. in 1891, proceeded to build a larger one, on the corner of Eighth and Locust streets, where they now worship. Next after the Methodists came the Christian denomination. They built and still occupy a commodious church building across Pine street from the United Presbyterian church. The Baptists built a small brick church on Walnut near Fifth street, which they sold to the German Methodists, and have since built a fine church
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building at the corner of Seventh and Walnut. The Presbyterians occupy their church building at the corner of Eighth and Pine. while the Memorial Baptists worship on East Tenth street. The United Brethren and Congregationalists are in the south part of the city, while the Swedish Lutherans and German Lutherans worship in their respective churches in the eastern part of the city. The Episcopal is on West Euclid avenue.
The Bell and Home Telephone Companies run their wires to all parts of the city, while the gas and electric light companies furnish the people with light.
In 1881 H. C. Bruner built the first mill. It stands on East Fourth street, and is a modern flouring mill.
Nearly all the secret societies are well represented: Two lodges of Masons, two Odd Fellows lodges, one each of Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, Woodmen of the World and Modern Woodmen, Sons of Herman, Elks, Eagles, and many fraternal beneficiary societies claim the attention of Pittsburg citizens. Two hos- pitals the City and Mount Carmel, minister to the wants of the sick, in connection with two score or more of physicians.
The Standard Mercantile is probably the largest store in Kansas, occupying a three-room department on the first floor, with basement and second floor, while more than one hundred other establishments are sell- ing drugs, hardware, dry goods, clothing, shoes, queensware, musical instruments and every other kind of merchandise.
Water Works .- One of the difficult problems that confronted the earlier inhabitants of Pittsburg, was a supply of good water for domes- tic and public purposes. Wells and cisterns were first resorted to, but the water obtained by digging wells was generally bitter and unwhole- some, while cisterns were often dry from lack of rainfall ; so that when a fire occurred all that could be done was to carry out the goods an 1
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let the building burn. The furnishing of water thus became a grave problem. Where was the water to come from, necessary to put out fires, and furnish pure water for domestic purposes? This was the question discussed in the stores. on the street, and in the family circle, until it developed into a call for a meeting to be held at the school house to discuss the water question. About fifty men attended that meeting, and there were several plans proposed. One was to purchase a large tract of land along Cow creek, northwest of town, build a dam across the creek, and levies on the sides, where needed to hold the water, and with pumps, water mains and settling basins, prepare and bring the water to the city. But as this plan would involve an outlay of about fifty thousand dollars, it was not considered feasible, and was aban- doned. Other plans were suggested, among which was the boring of deep wells, with the hope that an abundance of good water might be obtained. This meeting was finally adjourned to meet in one week. Accordingly, on the next Monday night, another one was held and was largely attended. At this meeting reports were heard from the various committees appointed at the first meeting. After hearing the reports it was decided to adopt the deep well plan, and a committee consisting of O. T. Boaz, A. J. Georgia, S. H. Lanyon, D. Miller and H. C. Willard . was appointed to present the matter to the city council, and report re- sults in two weeks, at the next meeting. The council heard the argu- ments in. favor of the city boring a well, but refused to take any action. The next move was to form a stock company. A charter was secured, * the shares fixed at ten dollars each and subscriptions taken. Mr. O. T. Boaz was sent to Kansas City, to contract with Mr. Swan to bore or drill the well, and in April Mr. Swan was on the ground. with his drilling machine, and the work began. . \ lot had been purchased on Pine street, just back of where the Stilwell Hotel now stands. For days. weeks
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and months the work went on. At first only one thousand dollars was subscribed, but when that sum was exhausted the stockholders would double up their subscriptions, and, more money being in sight, the work would go ahead.
Finally, in December, the well had reached a depth of one thousand two hundred and three feet, and an abundance of water, of excellent quality, secured, at an expense of five thousand dollars. By a vote of the stockholders the well was offered as a donation to the city. provided she would proceed to put in water works. But the offer was promptly rejected, under the plea that the city would get in debt. In the following spring A. H. McCormick, of Parsons, Kansas, who was engaged in build- ing water works, came to Pittsburg and offered to buy the well, provided a test should show an unfailing supply of good water. A test of ninety- six hours' continual hard pumping showed no diminution, and the bargain was closed for the sum of three thousand dollars. He secured a franchise from the city and proceeded to build the works. Since then the property has changed hands twice, and is now owned by L. M. Emer- son. of Titusville, Pennsylvania. Three additional wells have been bored, averaging about fifteen hundred feet each, and an inexhaustible supply of water obtained. The water is practically pure, the analysis showing ninety-eight and one-half per cent of pure water, the one and a half per cent being solid matter consisting of chloride of sodium or common salt, sulphate of lime, sulphate of magnesia and a trace of iron, all wholesome products. The water when first pumped is heavily charged with carbonate gas, which soon evaporates on coming to the open air. This fact of the water being impregnated with carbonate gas is the only evidence of natural gas at Pittsburg. The company has recently built a large reservoir, into which the water is pumped and exposed to the open air. Thus the question of an abundance of pure water for all purposes was successfully solved by a few of the enterprising citizens.
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Courts .- In the winter of 1899 the legislature of Kansas created a common pleas court, to be held at Pittsburg and Galena, in Cherokee county, to accommodate the large number of litigants living at and near these places. The court was established by the election of W. E. Sap, of Galena, judge. Some cases were tried, and some parties sent to the peni- tentiary, but the constitutionality of the law creating the court having been attacked, the law was held to be unconstitutional, and the cases remanded back for retrial.
At the following session of the legislature an enabling act was passed to permit an election being held to divide the terms of the district court, so that alternate terms might be held at Girard and Pittsburg. The election resulted in favor of the change. Pittsburg then built a courthouse, and gave the use of it free to Crawford county.
Frontenac.
Frontenac, located three miles north and one east of Pittsburg, is a flourishing town of two thousand inhabitants. The Santa Fe Railroad furnishes transportation to the people, while the Pittsburg Railroad trolley cars carry people to and from Pittsburg. Frontenac is the out- growth of the Devlin or Santa Fe Coal Company. Here are located the coal shafts and offices of said company, and here most of the people employed in and about the mines live. They have built comfortable cot- tages for themselves and families. Excellent schools are maintained, and churches are well patronized. Several stores, a postoffice, hotels and boarding houses are well represented. The coal shafts are one hundred and twenty feet deep, where they mine forty inches of excellent coal. The Santa Fe Coal Company own several thousand acres of coal lands about Frontenac and the vicinity of Chicopee.
Chicopee.
Chicopee lies southwest of Pittsburg, and about the same distance
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
as Frontenac on the northeast. Here is another mining village, of about one thousand population. The street cars from Pittsburg reach this town, and the Missouri Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads pass through this place. Several stores, a postoffice, boarding houses and other conven- iences accommodate the people. Most of the inhabitants are of foreign birth, the Italian race predominating. The people are nearly all coal miners, and work for the several coal companies operating about Chico- pee. They have good schools, which are well attended, and the children of these foreign born people are quick to get learning, and soon become excellent business men and women.
Beulah.
Beulah is located on the main line of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad, about five miles south of Girard. This road is now operated by the Frisco. In the year 1874 some members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church formed a company for the purpose of establishing a colony, to be composed exclusively of Methodists. Among those who entered heartily into the scheme, were Rev. D. P. Mitchell, C. S. Jennis and Thomas J. Crowder, also C. A. King, H. T. Potter, Henry Brown, J. S. Schofield, R. G. Hermance and many others. Some of these lived in Iowa, some in Illinois, while others lived as far east as Pennsylvania. A committee was chosen to select a site for the company. After much travel, and examination of various locations, the lands in the vicinity of Beulah were chosen, and the members began moving to the new country. and by the close of the year two hundred persons were living in the village. Time has proved the good judgment of the committee who selected the lands. They are rich, of black, deep soil, slightly rolling. and make the very best of farms. As might have been expected the first enterprise was the erecting of a schoolhouse, and then a church. Both were large and commodious, but have been added to from time to time
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
as necessity required. Beulah has not grown to be a big city, but as a village of good moral homes she has no superior in the county. A large number of her promoters have joined the great majority, but a few still live to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Mulberry Grove.
On the north side of the ridge, which is partly in Lincoln and partly in Washington townships, and near the state line, in the early days of the settling up of Crawford county stood a beautiful grove of wild mul- berry trees. Here the Osage Indians frequently camped when on their hunting expeditions. From the top of the ridge, back of the grove, the red men could look far away to the northeast and south, and no enemy or wild game could approach without being discovered. When the mili- tary road was established between Fort Scott and Fort Gibson it passed within a few rods of this beautiful grove, and the place became the camping ground of the frontiersman in his lonely journey. When white men began to settle the county the land where the grove stood was taken by N. W. Taylor, who secured a large tract of the richest of lands. In 1866 a stage line was established on the military road, and a postoffice granted the people, which was named Mulberry Grove. When the Cher- ryvale division of the Gulf Railroad was built, a town was laid out and named Mulberry. Among the first to locate in the town were A. M. and Jesse Brown, two brothers, who came from Ohio. Churches, schools. a mill, several stores, hotels and all the things that serve to make a town have been established at Mulberry. About 1871 mines were opened near the town, and have increased in volume of business until extensive mining is carried on, and Mulberry has become an extensive shipping point. The Miller brothers are extensive dealers in coal, merchandise and farm implements. Excellent farms surround the town, and grain and stock-raising are the principal work of the farmers.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
Englevale.
Englevale, located near the west line of Lincoln township, on the Fort Scott and Southern Railroad (now the Missouri Pacific), was laid out in the fall of 1890, on land belonging to David Dick and Jerry Ingals. Frazier & Baysinger built the first store building and put in a stock of general merchandise. W. L. Baysinger was appointed postmaster, which office he has continued to hold, with the exception of four years during President Cleveland's administration. The first school was taught by Charles Finley, and the first child born in the town was Pearl Swain. Two neat churches, the Methodist Episcopal and Church of God, supply places for worship. Three other general stores, one drug store, one grain house, and one lumber yard constitute the largest part of com- mercial activity. A coal shaft, employing about one hundred men, is in constant operation, and produces the very best quality of bituminous coal. The coal measure is from thirty to forty-two inches. The farm- ing lands surrounding Englevale are very productive, and are occupied by an intelligent, industrious people.
Early Postoffices.
Among the postoffices that were established in an early day, and which have long since been discontinued, by reason of the advent of railroads, we mention Iowa City, which was kept by George Hobson, two miles south and one-half mile east of Pittsburg.
Hope was the name of another postoffice, kept by Joseph Lane, two miles west and one-half mile north of Pittsburg. Strongtown, kept for a while by Alfred Williams, was located five and a half iniles north of Pittsburg. Lacoy, first located six miles northeast of Pittsburg, was kept by a Mr. James, and was afterward moved to the farm of John Magie, five miles north of Pittsburg. his wife Elizabeth being appointed postmistress. The removal of Lacoy discontinued Strongtown. Carbon
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
was located five miles northeast of Pittsburg : afterward the name was changed to Litchfield, but the moving away of the mines and the com- pany store has nearly depopulated the town.
Cato.
On the north line in Lincoln township is one of the oldest towns in the county. As early as 1866 there was a store kept by Peter Smith, who also sold some drugs. A postoffice was also established in the same year. In 1867 a saw-mill was built, where corn was also ground. About this time a blacksmith located in the village. Then came George and Robert Fowler. They put up a good mill and built a store-room and filled it with goods. The farms of Isaac K. and Chad Brown adjoin the town. These men lived here with their father before the war, and both went into the Union army, serving in a Kansas regiment. Many of their neighbors were in the Confederate army, and during the war life and property were not safe in and around Cato. But all that is changed, and those who wore the blue and those who wore the gray live side by side in peace, enjoying the blessings of a stable government.
Brasilton.
Located about half way between Girard and Walnut, on the Santa Fe Railroad, is the village of Brazilton. Considerable stock, grain, hay and poultry are shipped from this point. The town is supplied with post- office, stores, hotel, blacksmith shops, schools and churches. Farming is extensively carried on around the town, the soil being of excellent quality. The town is growing slowly.
ARMA, on the Missouri Pacific Railroad in Lincoln township, is but little more than a station and shipping point. A depot and one or two houses are all there is of the town.
MIDWAY is a mining town in Baker township, on the line of the Arcadia and Cherryvale branch of the Gulf Railway (now Frisco). A
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postoffice was established here in 1871. The Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company have a large store here to supply the wants of a large number of miners who work in their mines. Good schools are also provided. Large quantities of coal are shipped daily.
Other towns are FULLER, three miles south of Mulberry Grove; YALE, two miles south of Fuller; and NELSON, southwest of Yale two miles, all mining towns with about five hundred population in each town. Yale and Nelson are on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, while Fuller is located on the Kansas City Southern. Each town has a postoffice of the name of the town, also stores, schools and other conveniences. The people are nearly all engaged in mining. The coal is of excellent qual- ity, and finds a ready market. Farming is also carried on, the soil being rich and well adapted to raising wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, hay and other farm products.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
CHAPTER I I. CONCERNING LINCOLN TOWNSHIP. By F. A. JEWELL.
CATO postoffice, named by E. J. Boring, first postmaster, in about 1858, located on what is now the county line between Bourbon and Craw- ford counties, in N. W. 1/4 Sec. 25, T. 27, R. 24.
Captain Rogers, who was killed during the war by the bushwhackers, bought out Mr. Boring and was the next postmaster. After Captain Rogers' death Peter Smith became postmaster and inherited by marriage the Rogers property.
The postoffice was not moved until 1869 or 1870, when George W. Fowler was appointed postmaster and moved the office to the present . site of Cato.
The first lodge in Cato was the Masonic Lodge, organized about 1872, with William Simpson master. This lodge is now consolidated with Godfrey and meets at Pawnee. There was an Eastern Star in connection with the Masonic lodge, with Mary Fowler as matron. The next lodge organized was the A. O. U. W., in 1883, with John W. Odom as master and J. H. Brown past master, which was removed to Topeka. This lodge still meets at Cato, and has a D. of H. lodge also.
First church organized at Cato was a Missionary Baptist church organized in 1871, with Israel Harris as pastor. This church was organized with eight members. Mrs. Chad Brown was the first member baptized into the church. Two other churches have been organized and gone off from this church, viz. : Farlington and Drywood, and the Cato
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