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 15
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CLERKS.
J. H. Long
1888
J. H. Long
1889
T. A. Cordry
first half 1890
John C. Hogin
last half 1890
E. B. Towle.
'91-'92-'93
R. M. Armstrong
1894
John C. Hogin, from Novem-
6, 1894-'95-'96-'97-'98-199-'00.
Amos Pierce. '95-'96
James Shepherd '97-'98
H. T. Crawford .1899 Resigned September 4, 1900.
John M. Doyle, acting mayor until September 28th, when Geo S. Spencer was elected to fill vacancy. Amos Pierce 1901
The postmasters at Belleville have been:
A. B. Tutton, appointed
Feb. 18th, 1870
Jan. 16th, 1871
Volney Vantrump, "
E
BELLEVILLE CISX STORE.
Belleville Cash Store, Loomis & Hollandsworth. Proprietors.
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History of Republic County.
Eli W. Wagner, .6
June, 11th, 1877
Volney Vantrump,
Oct. 25th, 1877
William A Brock, "
.. June 11th, 1883
Max J. Alwens,
July 31st, 1885
John McLaury,
March 28th, 1888
William A. Brock, "
Feb. 28th, 1891
Charles.P. Baldwin. “
March 20th,
1895
Joseph H. Long,
April 1st, 1899
Madge E. Long,
Sept. 22nd, 1899
Messrs. A. H. Loomis and W. A. Hollandsworth came to Belleville February 27th, 1899, and opened a general store in the south room of the hotel block, which they now use as a flour and feed room. The building shown in the cut was erected especially for them during the summer of 1900. It has a frontage of fifty feet, is eighty feet deep, with a fine basement, making a total floor space in the two rooms of 56,000 square feet. They have more than quad- rupled their stock since they commenced business. They have their own light plant and have one of thelightest and best equipped store rooms in Republic county. They are both young men and hustlers, anticipating a bright future in their business. In answer to a question as to their success, said they owe it to selling lots of goods at small profits.
Belleville, with a population of 2000 is beautifully sit- uated on high, gently rolling upland, very nearly in the center of the county. It is the junction for two divisions of the great Rock Island system. The Junction City branch of the Union Pacific terminates here, giving this section another direct line to the east and west. The city has a fine water system and the telephone service is sur- passed by none; a large first class flouring mill and ele- vator combined, and two other large elevators. Thereare nine churchorganizations here, with six substantial church edifices, all well sustained and flourishing. A graded school, with three handsome school buildings in which nine teachers are employed at least eight months in the year; a fine opera house, complete in all its appointments; two
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History of Republic County.
good weekly newspapers, one of which has the best plant of any city of its size in the state; an elegant court house and jail, although the last named building is but little used, as more peaceable and law-abiding people are nowhere to be found.
SCANDIA CITY.
The first settlement made at Scandia was in the fall of 1868, by the members of the Scandinavian Agricultural Society, of Chicago, Illinois. The first settlers to arrive were M. Johnson, Charles Lesom, P. Walin, -- Lundin, John Strom, F. Granstadt, A. Bergren, A. Erickson, J. R. Sandell, John Holmstrom and Peter Johnson. The town was named New Scandinavia.
The first store was built in the fall of 1869, by J. R. Sandell, size 8 feet square, and his first stock of goods in- voiced one hundred and twenty-five dollars. This was the first store started in Republic county. The second busi- ness house was built by A. B. Whiting, of Milford, Davis county, who kept a stock of general merchandise. The third was Wilson Brothers-Charles and A. D .- who kept a general store, starting in the spring of 1870. The next was a grocery house, by August Weld, who commenced
business some time in the summer. A. T. Miller and Amos Coyle built a business house in the summer of 1870, and commenced general merchandising in the fall. Dr. Amos Coyle started a drug store the same fall. L. C. Han- son opened the "Hanson House" early in the spring of 1870, being the first hotel in Republic county.
At the time the settlement was made at Scandia, the nearest settler on the south was one Dutton, in Cloud county, about sixteen miles down the river. The nearest on the east was the Salt Creek settlement, about fourteen miles distant, and S. M. Fisher and a few others had made settlement on White Rock Creek. In the spring of 1869, immediately after the killing of the boy Granstadt, by the Indians, E. B. Pedersen was dispatched to Fort Riley, the
United Brethren Church, Scandia, Kansas.
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History of Republic County.
nearest military post, for assistance, but failed to procure any at that time. A short time after, however, seventy- five men under the command of Col. Weir, were sent to Scandia, where they remained on duty about two months.
The post office was established July 1st, 1869, E. H. Hansen being the first postmaster, and the office was called New Scandinavia. This was the third postoffice es- tablished in the county. The mail was brought from Junction City once a week. The postmasters at New Scandinavia have been:
F. H. Hansen, appointed. June 24 1869
August Asbjournson, appointed Jan 24 1870
John R. Sandell, appointed Aug 11 1870
Jacob L. Gui, appointed. Apr 25 1872
Charles N. Hogan, appointed Oct 11 1872
Jacob L. Gui, appointed.
Dec 12 1872
John R. Sandell, appointed
May 1 1874
Charles Peterson, appointed
July 16 1875
Name changed to Scandia.
June 7 1876
Charles Peterson, appointed.
June 7 1876
Adelbert B. Wilder, appointed
Feb 26 1877
John Hadsell, appointed
Feb 21 1878
George L. White, appointed Mch 17 1881
William Walker, appointed
July 3 1886
Stoy E. Ware, appointed May 1 1891
William Walker, appointed. Mch 29 1893
Albert B. Kimball, appointed May 6 1897
Geo. Lembke was the first Justice of the Peace in Scandia township, being appointed by Gov. Harvey, in the spring of 1870, which office he held for several years. The first school taught in Scandia was in the summer of 1870, by Maria Young, now the wife of Walter Johnson. This was a three months' subscription school, and was taught in the old colony building, afterward purchased by the district, and used for several years as a school house.
The Atchison, Republican Valley, and Pacific Railroad company was organized in April, 1878, and work com- menced in June of the same year. The first train ran into Scandia, December 24th, 1878.
The Hanson House was destroyed by fire, October 22,
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History of Republic County.
1879; was rebuilt the same fall, and reopened in just three months from the date of the fire.
The order of incorporation of Scandia as a city of the third class, was made March 28th, 1879. First election held on the 15th of April, 1879, at which A. D. Wilson was elected mayor, C. W. Gulick, D. F. Longnecker, T. A. Nel- son, L. C. Hanson and A. B. Wilder, councilmen. R. L. Whitney was elected police judge. A. D. Marble was appointed city clerk; Isaac McClun, treasurer, and M. J. Sigsbee, marshall and street commissioner.
The first sawmill was brought to the county by the Scandinavian colony in the fall of 1868. It was hauled from Waterville on a wagon with six wheels, drawn by five yoke of oxen and was set up in Scandia on the river bank just south of where Pinney's elevator now stands. The mill was owned by the colony and remained at Scan- dia until the spring of 1870, when it was moved three miles down the river to the quarter section which after- wards became the homestead of Charles Nordmark, where it was operated until the fall of that year by Ras- musson brothers and L. Ellingson, these parties having rented it of the colony. It was then moved some three and one-half miles further down the river to the home- stead of Joseph Merica, the farm now being owned by Joseph Blosser, where it remained until the spring of 1871, when it was moved back to Scandia and a grist mill attached. William Bell, late county commis- sioner, being the foreman and boss miller in the grist mill department for the years 1871 and 1872. The mill was remodeled and considerably improved in 1873 by the addition of a new engine, two runs of new burrs, new bolt- ing machinery, etc. The dam across the river, one-half mile above the old site of the mill, was built in 1876, at an expense of $5.000, and the mill moved and rebuilt. Excel- lent water power was obtained, with a fall of six feet, Leffel's Turbine wheel running four burrs, two for wheat, one for corn, and one for middlings. Capacity of the
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History of Republic County.
mill, 150 barrels of flour per day besides corn and mid- dlings: size of mill, 30x40 feet, two and a half stories high besides basement. This mill was successfully operated by C. F. Ericson until it was destroyed by fire and has not been rebuilt.
Scandia is the second city in population and commer- cial importance in Republic county, pleasantly located in the Republican valley at the intersection of the Rock Island and Missouri Pacific, has a graded school in which the higher branches are taught, a fine city hall, a good weekly newspaper, several churches and ample elevator facilities for handling the immense quantity of grain which finds a good market there.
CUBA.
The old town of Cuba was located on the NW } of section 4, in Richland township, and on the SW } of sec- tion 33 in Farmington township, on the main road leading from Belleville to Washington. John Swan built the first business house there in 1873 and for several years it was a place of considerable trade.
When the B. & M. Railroad was built it missed the place and a new town also called Cuba was started about three miles southwest at the intersection of the Burling- ton & Missouri and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroads. The town was laid out in the spring of 1884, and N. O. Danefer built the first general store and for several years was the leading merchant in the town. John D. Bennett published the first newspaper, "The Cuban," in the summer of 1885, it being the first paper published in the eastern portion of the county. It is now a flour- ishing little city of about 600 people, the population being about equally divided between native and foreign born, the foreigners being principally Bohemians, several of whom are leading business men of the city. It has two newspapers, a graded school, several churches, many first-class business houses and ample facilities for handl-
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History of Republic County.
ing the grain and live stock of the county tributary to the place, making it the third city in the county in population and the amount of business transacted.
COURTLAND.
Courtland, in the west part of the county, located at the crossing of the Rock Island and Santa Fe roads, is an enterprising little city, with a weekly newspaper, a good bank, schools and churches, good facilities for handling grain and is justly noted as being one of the best grain markets in the county, as it is located in one of the best agricultural centers in the state, and no farming commu- nity in Kansas is more substantial, intelligent or prosper- ous. Its history from the first has been one of steady growth, all its citizens working in harmony for the up- building of the city.
It was incorporated as a city of the third-class July 18th, 1892, on the petition of A. A. Burk and fifty-nine others.
The first election was ordered held at the office of the Courtland Register on Monday, July 25th, for the purpose of electing a mayor, police judge and five councilmen. The election was held as ordered, 112 ballots being cast. which being canvassed resulted in the election of C. Ever- est, mayor; C. F. Litsinger, police judge: A. N. Smith. L. F. Bradley, W. W. Stewart, T. L. Freeland, C. N. El- liott, councilmen.
The mayors have been: C. Everest, 1892. L. F. Bradley was elected in April, 1893. and served until June 7th when he resigned, W. S. Conaway acting as mayor un- til November 13th, when A. A. Burk was elected and served until the end of the term.
A. A. Burk 1894 and 1895
A. N. Smith
1896
A. A. Burk 1897
Wm. Bateman. .1898 and 1899 Paul Smith 1900
C. M. Gevrey
1901
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History of Republic County.
NARKA.
The original plat of the townsite of Narka was filed for record by M. A. Low, president, and C. J. Gilson, secre- tary of the Kansas Town and Land Company, Sept, 8th, 1887. A corrected plat was filed Oct. 13th, same year, comprising 14 blocks, being all that part of section 16, town one south, range one west, which lies south of the right of way of the C. K. and N. Railway. Reeder's addition to Narka, containing blocks one and two, situated in the SW } of section 15, town one, Range one, was filed for record, April 4th, 1889. Brenneman's addition, containing three blocks in the NE corner of section 21, was filed for record Feburary 6th, 1894.
Narka was incorporated as a city of the third class, April'9th, 1894, and the first election held May 14th, when the following officers were elected: J. V. Campbell, mayor; H. Beck, police judge; J. E. Walker, D. W. Dus- kin, S. H. Bacon, A. L. Brandon, A Brosh, Councilmen.
The city council organized May 18, 1894. The mayor's have been: J. V. Campbell, 1894; B. H. Speer, 1895, '96, '97; R. A. Larabee, 1893; J. E. Arnold, 1899; G. E. Moore, 1900; S. M. Hunt, 1901.
Population in 1901, 275, ranking as the 5th city in the county in population. The first hotel in the town was built in the fall of 1887 by James Foreman. The first buiness house was built by U. B. McIntyre, a drug and grocery store, the same fall. The first physician was Dr. Edward Stone, who built the store now ocupied by Wm. Thomas. The first postmaster was S. M. Edwards. The Narka News, a live and bright paper, is published weekly by Howard E. Moore.
Narka is surrounded by a fine farming country; is an excellent trading and shipping point, where all branches of trade are well represented.
REPUBLIC CITY.
Republic City is located on section 36, in Big Bend
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History of Republic County.
township. In March, 1878, A. B. Young purchased the SW { of NE } of said section at a public sale of school land, with the view of starting a town. Mr. Young had asso- ciated with him, Milton Grim, H. S. Stone, T. F. Marlett. J. B. Pollard, Fred and Wm. Elliott each contributed ten acres of land, making seventy acres in all, with seven members as a town company. The company was chart- ered immediately and in May twelve blocks were laid off and lots offered free to any person who would build on them. About the first of October E. B. Duncan moved a small dwelling house from his farm, three miles away, and built a blacksmith shop about the same time. These were the first buildings on the town site.
Gomeria postoffice was moved from Mr. Pollard's, in October, to Duncan's, and Mr. Duncan appointed post- master. In May, 1879, Mr. A. Capers erected a business house, the town company donating him two lots. The postoffice was then moved from Duncan's to Capers, and the latter appointed postmaster, holding the office until in 1882, when H. Stone was appointed.
In June, 1879, Wm. Spotts built a small blacksmith shop and dwelling house combined. Mr. Spotts opened the first boarding house in the city. In September, E. Kerns erected the second business house, keeping dry goods and groceries. His building was blown down and Mr. Kerns soon after left. At the close of the year there were eight or nine buildings on the town site.
In June, 1879, the town was surveyed, and lots offered for sale. In the fall, the extension of the Central Branch from Scandia to the state line was commenced. and some grading done. In the spring of 1880 the railroad was completed, depot built and trains commenced running in June. C. W. Gulick built the famous New York store, 20 x50 feet, in May of the same year. The Chicago Lumber Company opened a yard in June, with D. S. Zanker as manager. In the fall, George Michel erected his large
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History of Republic County.
and commodious livery stable. Another blacksmith shop was built, and an elevator erected.
During the year 1881, the growth of the town was rapid. Many large business houses and several elegant dwelling houses were erected, and its growth has been healthful and continuous ever since, until it has become one of the liveliest little cities in Northern Kansas, being noted far and wide for the vast amount of grain and live stock it ships annually. An elegant city hall 40x80 feet, of which the citizens feel justly proud and which would be an honor to any city of three times its size, has just been completed. Republic City was incorporated as a city of the third class, April 23rd, 1885, since which time the fol- lowing well known citizens have been chosen mayors.
Ralph W. Polly 1885
R. T. Stanfield .1887 and 1888
J. W. Goodrich 1889
F. W. Craft 1890
R. T. Stanfield 1891 and 1892
J. W. Goodrich 1893 and 1894
R. W. Polly 1895
Gomer T. Davies 1896
H. A. Baxter 1897
E. V. Rockhold 1898 and 1899
J. W. Boughner a part of 1899
W. H. Stinson 1900 and 1901
The village of Munden, so called from John Munden, owner of the land on which the town is built and trustee for Jane Ann Stephens, is located on the north line of Fairview township. The original townsite was surveyed by E. W. Wagner, county surveyor, on the 29th and 30th days of September, 1887, containing seven blocks situated north of the C., K. & N. Railway in the northwest corner of section three (3) and the northeast corner of section four (4). The original plat was filed for record October 31st. 1887. The first addition comprising blocks eight, nine and ten lying south of the C., K. & N. Railway, was filed for record August 18th, 1890.
John Washichek built the first general store in the fall
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History of Republic County.
of 1887 and commenced selling goods in October of that year. Wesley Skocdopole was the first blacksmith com- mencing business early in the fall of 1887.
A. M. Canfield, postmaster at Bethel, built a store building in the fall of 1887 and commenced business the last of October, 1887. He was the first postmaster at Munden. John Epherson, a Swede, built a millinery store building in the winter of 1887 and 1888. Joseph Kuchera built a hardware store in the spring of 1888, moved to Munden and commenced selling goods May 6th of that year. Anton Stransky built a business house in the summer of 1888 and commenced selling goods August 1st. Amasa Welch built and kept the first restaurant and boarding house in the summer of 1888, running until fall, when he sold out to John Whitlach. The building is now occupied by Dr. G. E. Gray as a drug store. The Odd Fellows' hall, a two-story frame building, was moved from Ida to Mun- den in the summer of 1888. C. L. Houdek was the first to do business in this building in Munden. It was destroyed by fire June 28th, 1895. Was rebuilt of brick and dedi- cated April 26th, 1896. This building stands on the Rose Creek side of the line, is the best building in the town and is now occupied by Bowersox & McCall as a general store.
Mr. O. A. Allen commenced business in 1892 as grocer and confectioner and is still in business as a general store- keeper. Joseph Stransky built a general store in 1894 and has been in business ever since. Mr. Stransky is the present postmaster.
The grain business is represented by John W. Kelley and the Davis Elevator Company. The station agent is H. H. Howes.
NEVA OR AGENDA.
Neva is the name of the town and Agenda the name of the railroad station and postoffice. This town was laid out in 1887. The first building erected on the townsite other than railroad buildings was a store 28x50 feet, built by Joseph Cox in the fall of 1887. This building was rented
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History of Republic County.
by Stephen Bradley, who commenced selling goods in No- vember of that year and is still in the business at the same place. Geo. W. Smith built the second store and sold goods for several years.
The grain elevator was built some two years later. The postoffice was kept at the depot for some time, when it was moved to Bradley's store and Bradley appointed postmaster, where it has been ever since, except during the four years of Cleveland's administration, during which time Geo. W. Smith was postmaster.
WAYNE.
The town of Wayne was laid out in May, 1884, imme- diately after the B. & M. railroad was built. It is located on the SE { of section 9-4-2, this quarter being the home- stead of Isaac Walton, and which had been purchased by the Lincoln Land company for a town site. Wm. Hill erected a small frame building in August, 1884, which he occupied as a store, selling the first goods in Wayne.
Olof and Hans England built a store in the fall of that year, which was rented to and occupied by George A. Ho- vey, as a store. Isaac Walton erected a store building about the same time. The stone block was built in the lat- ter part of 1884 and the spring of '85. The east room was built by M. S. Herring and occupied by him as a bank. John M. and Charles A. Campbell built the next two rooms and V. W. Wimer, the west room. John M. Campbell built the hotel in the fall of 1885.
Wayne is surrounded by a fine farming and stock- raising country and is a good trading point, all branches of trade being well represented.
HARBINE OR BYRON.
Harbine is located on the NE { of section 4, town 1 south, range 4 west, in Republic county, and on the SE + of section 33, town 1 north, range 4 west, in Nebraska, and is on the line of the B. & M. railroad.
The first building erected on the townsite was the
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History of Republic County.
railroad depot, in August, 1880. The second was a busi- ness house, by Boorman & Waite, on the Kansas side of the railroad. The next were a dwelling house, by David Carpenter, and a grain house by Gregg & Keyser, in the fall of the same year. Mr. Noah Miles, an old resident of Republic county, built the hotel in 1881, and Harsh & Son opened a lumber yard about the same time. Boorman & Waite built a second business house on the north side of the railroad, in March, 1883. Since that time as business increased, several business houses have been erected. This is a convenient shipping point, for one of the best ag- ricultural sections of country in northern Kansas and southern Nebraska. Nearly all branches of trade are represented here, and the town is in a highly prosperous condition.
KACKLEY.
This thriving and prosperous little town is located in Beaver township on the A. T. & S. Fe railroad, is sur- rounded by a rich agricultural country and is justly noted as being one of the best grain markets and shipping points in Republic county, especially for corn, which frequently commands a higher price here than at any other point in the county.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHURCHES.
Every shade of religious opinion and belief is repre- sented, from Roman Catholics to Latter-Day Saints. As stated in another chapter, the first gospel sermon preached was by a representative of the M. E. church, at a very early date in the history of the county; and this denomination seems to have been the pioneers in religious organization and work, and are, perhaps, more widely diffused than any other in this county.
血名
Methodist Episcopal Church, Belleville, Kansas.
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History of Republic County.
The first to organize was the M. E. church in Grant township, known as the Fairview church, during the latter part of the year 1870, and the meeting house was built in the summer of 1872, being the first house of worship erected in the county. Rev. E. R. Brown was the insti- gator of the enterprise, Thomas Gray being the architect and builder. This house was erected under great disad- vantages, as nearly all the lumber was hauled from Water- ville. This building is on the farm of A. W. Way and has been used by him for several years as a barn. In 1885 the Evangelical society erected a fine house of worship in Wayne at a cost of about $2600, and it was dedicated as an Evangelical church, but it was also used by the Metho- dists, who a few years ago purchased the house and now own and occupy it as a place of worship. Preaching once in two weeks, Rev. Mann being the pastor.
I am indebted to Mr. John Fulcomer for the following highly interesting historical sketch of the M. E church at Belleville :
THE BELLEVILLE M. E. CHURCH.
In reviewing the proceedings of the church from its infancy, which is nearly all within the last quarter of a century-that being just the time that has elapsed since the issuing of the charter of its incorporation-Methodis- tic aggressiveness is clearly visible in all the enterprises that tend to the elevation and eternal welfare of mankind. And to this rule the pioneer settlers of Republic and ad- joining counties were no exception, when we remember that not many ages have passed since this vast domain was considered as being a worthless and barren waste, but by the heroic efforts of the people who, by their per sistence and the use of brain and muscle have caused it to blossom as the rose, at the same time remembering the source of all blessings. So in order that they might the more acceptably worship God they banded themselves to- gether in Christian fellowship and commenced the holding
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