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 3
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By every golden harvest, by every lowing herd, by every bursting granary, by every successful business en- terprise, by every overflowing bank, by all of her increas- ing streams of business, already bank full, Kansas has reason to congratulate itself upon these evidences of ma- terial prosperity that have followed the planting of the flag upon her soil long before Kansas was born. But better than all these-in its many happy and contented homes, from the dugout to the mansion; in all of its public schools, uni- versities, colleges and academies; in its many churches, of whatever name, denomination or creed; and in the product of all these, its noble type of manhood and womanhood, Kansas finds its real cause for rejoicing.
And this suggests two questions: If the hauling down of the Spanish flag and the planting of the American flag in its stead at that place in the early days of the last cen- tury has been productive of so much good, can the hauling down of the Spanish flag and the planting of the American flag in its stead in any other place, at the closing days of the same century, be productive of harm? If the haul- ing down of the Spanish flag and the planting of the Ameri. can flag in its place brought so much liberty and blessing to millions of people and displaced a rude savagery by a high Christian civilization, is there any danger that the hauling down of the Spanish flag and the planting of the
MRS. ELIZABETH JOHNSON.
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History of Republic County.
American flag in its place a hundred years afterward will bring hardship, tyranny or oppression?
And now, in the name of Kansas; in the name of its one and a half million strong, brave and law-abiding citi- zens; in the name of its public schools, the pride and glory of our state: in the name of its homes, its churches, its public press; in the name of its early pioneers, living and dead; in the name of the boys and girls who are soon to come forth out of our homes and churches and schools- the product of our civilization-to take upon their shoul- ders the responsibilities and cares of state; in the name of all that is good and inspiring in the history of Kansas, I hereby accept, in the name and behalf of all of these, the deed to this historic spot.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the program was re- sumed and Henry F. Mason, of Garden City, delivered an address on "From Quivira to Kansas," which abounded in stories of the exploits and conquests of Coronado, Cortez and other early adventurers. His speech was of an his- torical nature and elicited close attention.
Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter, of Topeka, the noted woman orator, delivered a patriotic address "Lest we Forget," showing the educational advantages of such gatherings. The address was warmly received.
The speaking closed with an able address on "Fra- ternalism and Patriotism" by Hon. John W. Haughey, grand master of the Odd Fellows of Kansas.
The unveiling of the monument with appropriate ceremonies will take place September 29, just ninety-five years from the day that the American flag first floated to the breeze in Kansas.
PIKE'S PAWNEE INDIAN VILLAGE.
A paper read by Mrs. Elizabeth A. Johnson before the Daughters of the American Revolution, at Lawrence, Kan., October 11, 1900.
What of the Pawnee republic? Where was it? And
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History of Republic County.
why do we, a people of modern ideas and fancies, busy with the trials and cares of a new era, seek to return to a people nearly a hundred years gone? Can we only say "because?"
To begin with, what of the Pawnee republic? Wasit only a place high on a hill overlooking the Republican river, which bears its name, and flows continually on, un- mindful that above it dwelt the first uncivilized people who gave themselves a republican form of government such as we now enjoy? Ah, no; nor was it the plains, vast and wide, which stretched away to the southward as far as the eye could reach. One would never have dreamed that some day the iron horse would leave a dense cloud of smoke behind, or that cities would spring up like magic. The Pawnee Indians, like their white brothers, were not always at peace with their neighbors; in fact, they were rightly named the Ishmaels of the plains.
On the 15th of July, 1806, there sailed away from the landing at Belle Fontaine, near St. Louis, two small boats with a party consisting of two lieutenants, one surgeon, one sergeant, two corporals, sixteen privates, and one in- terpreter. They had in charge a number of Osages and Pawnees who had been to Washington, and whom Lieuten- ant Pike was to escort to their own peeple. He was also to investigate our new possessions, a part of which is now Kansas. Yet no sooner had he started than the news was carried across by Spanish spies, and Lieutenant Malgares hurried up with an army of 300 men from Santa Fe, with the hope of bringing Pike back a prisoner. But luckily on the broad Kansas plains they missed each other, and after many trials and hardships Lieutenant Pike arrived safely at the Pawnee republic, having crossed the Spanish trail wondering what it meant. He was soon to find out. Our little handful of men crossed the Republican river, oppo- site the village, and rested a few days.
On the 29th of September they held their grand coun-
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History of Republic County.
cil, at which were collected hundreds of warriors who had been taught hostility to the American cause. Imagine a place high on a lonely prairie, wigwams here and there, a river dark and somber, hundreds of dusky warriors made hideous with war paint, each solemn and stern, and a man determined and cool, but the same as alone with this vast throng, each ready to slay him. Why? you ask. There on a staff in front of a chief's tent floats a flag foreign to our country. Would Lieutenant Pike hold council under another flag, and in his own country? No, a thousand times no! He demanded that the Spanish flag be hauled down, and our stars and stripes be hoisted in its place. Receiving no response, he repeated his request, adding that it was impossible for a nation to have two fathers; either they must be children of the Spanish sovereign or acknowledge their American father. Slowly an old man arose, took down the Spanish colors, and sadly laid them at Pike's feet.
Pike's end was gained. Our flag floated proudly over his head for the first time in a new and disputed territory. We are almost tempted to shout "America !" but we must pause and think of what he suffered after his departure from this place. He was beset on on all sides by these savages, only overcoming danger by his fearlessness, but he was captured at last and remained a prisoner for six months. His notes of observation and his letters were taken from him. He merely saw the glorious peak which bears his name. Honor to Colorado for her step in the matter. Does he deserve honor? Shall we, a patriotic people, allow this one and only place to pass into obscurity? Does Kansas lag behind her sister state in recognizing bravery and de- votion to a proud flag and a glorious cause? A more fit- ting tribute we cannot give than to mark this spot, which it would seem even nature had designed to do honor to a brave and noble man, Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike.
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History of Republic County.
THE PAWNEE REPUBLIC.
Read by A. B. Warner, before the Pawnee Republic Historical So- ciety, at the Pawnee village.
Tread lightly to-day, for the dust of your feet Is the tomb where a nation lies sleeping; The cold blast of winter and summer's soft breeze Together their vigils are keeping.
No monument o'er them to crumble to dust, Unmarked as the realms of the fairy;
These children of nature, how sweetly they rest, Embalmed in the green of the prairie.
A blast from the tempest swept over the scene; The nymphs of the vale have a story; They stand at the portal of nations and plead For a people entitled to glory.
The fierce battle-ax and the torch of the foe Were the doors to this climax of horror; The sun in its glory set peaceful and calm, But rose sullen and black on the morrow.
The voice of the infant was cruelly hushed, It perished beside its dead mother; The maiden arrayed in her bridal costume Died in the cold arms of her lover.
You ask of the warrior and where could he be, 'Mid the flame and the carnage and rattle; Surprised and outnumbered, a hero was he, As he fell in the front of the battle.
Old Father Time with his sickle so keen Sweeps down the tall oak and the heather ; And nations unborn with the nations that be Shall mingle their ashes together.
The voice of each mortal shall cease to be heard, And palsied the arm of the giant;
And kings with their kingdoms shall lie in the dust, And the tongue be no longer defiant.
These toilings for gain and for honor we see, Ambitions loud claim for preferment ;
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History of Republic County.
The bustle and turmoil and strivings that be, Be unknown in the place of interment.
The prince and his palace, the serf and his hut, Shall mingle their ashes together ;
From dust and to dust is again the decree, And not a leaf missed from the heather.
And, at the last page of the records of time, When the nations from slumber shall rally,
Then the Pawnee republic shall shine as she stood, In her pride, overlooking the valley.
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History of Republic County.
CHAPTER II.
REPUBLIC COUNTY.
BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY DEFINED-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-FIRST SCHOOLS-EARLY MAIL FACILITIES.
The first mention we have of Republic county is by the Legislature of 1860, which defined its boundaries and gave it a name. It is so called from its relations to the Republican river, which enters the county near its north- western corner, flowing a little east of south, leaving the county about eight miles east of the southwest corner. The river received its name by reason of the fact that at one time the band of Pawnee Indians called the "Pawnee Republic " had its principal village and seat of government in its valley. The boundaries of the county, as fixed by the Legislature of 1860, are as follows : Commencing at a point where the sixth principal meridian intersects the base line of the state of Kansas; thence south on said sixth principal meridian to the township line between townships four and five, south; thence west with said township line to the range line between ranges five and six, west of the sixth principal meridian; thence north with said range line to the base line of the state of Kansas; thence east on said base line to the place of beginning. These boundaries have never been changed; and the idea, entertained by some of our citizens, that the county originally embraced a larger area, and that one tier of townships on the south had been detached from Republic and attached to Cloud county, is erroneous. The county is as large to-day as it has ever been, being thirty miles from east to west and twenty-four from north to south, containing seven hundred and twenty square miles, and is located in what is popularly called the "northern tier," immediately south of the fortieth paral- lel of north latitude and west of the sixth principal merid-
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ian. It is bounded on the north by Thayer and Nuckols counties, Nebraska; on the east by Washington, on the south by Cloud and on the west by Jewell county. It is one hundred and twenty-five miles, on an air line, west of the Missouri river, and ninety miles northwest of the geo- graphical center of the United States.
The following highly interesting account of the loca- tion of a townsite in Republic county before any settle- ment had been made here by white men is a bit of history never before published. Mr. Manning was one of the origi- nal members of the Winfield, Cowley County, Townsite Company, organized in January, 1870, and has been a con- spicuous figure in the history of Kansas for forty years. He was a State Senator during the session of 1864, and whose district comprised the counties of Marshall, Riley, Washington, Clay, Republic and Shirley, now Cloud, and was the author of an important measure in the interest of Republic county :
WINFIELD, KAN., March 25, 1891.
HON. I. O. SAVAGE, BELLEVILLE, KAN.
DEAR SIR :- I am in receipt of your communication of the 24th inst., and note its contents. With pleasure I com- ply with your request. In the spring of 1860 I was a resi- dent of Marysville, in Marshall county, Kansas, 21 years of age and a land surveyor. Mr. Frank Marshall, who was the founder of Marysville and a conspicuous figure in ante- bellum days and politics, closely in touch with Buchanan's administration and alive to western development, antici- pating the passage of a Pacific railroad bill then pending in Congress, decided to secure possession of a townsite at what should be the focal point of two lines of railroad under the bill. By its provisions one line was to start from the vicinity of the mouth of the Platte river, and the other line was to start from the mouth of the Kansas river, and the the two were to converge to a point within 200 miles of the Missouri river. Congressmen Craig, of Missouri, and Montgomery, of Pennsylvania, were co-operating with Mr. Marshall. The latter outfitted a heavy government wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, with necessary tools,
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History of Republic County.
camp outfit, including tent, and employed me to take charge of it and five men to go over to the big bend of the Republican river and select a townsite on suitable ground, which was to be the junction of the two railroads, from which westwardly one line was to be constructed. This was in April of 1860. We drove from Marysville down the Big Blue river to reach what was known as the parallel road, the only road leading to the Republican valley in that vicinity at that time, and on arriving at the Republican river found a big, burly settler named Cloud at or about where Clifton now is. We remained there over night and resumed our travel up the valley on what was known as the Military road. We saw no more settlers nor Indians. I easily found the parallel line, dividing Kansas and Ne. braska, for the township and section corners were plainly marked by stones. At the point where the river turns south and extending from the north bank of the stream to the state line a fine, gently sloping plateau offered a beau- tiful townsite. This I selected and laid off and staked two streets, one running east and west and one running north and south, and in the four angles of these cross streets superintended the laying of the foundations of four log houses and platted a map of a townsite one mile square, to be turned over to Mr. Marshall. I then left the party to complete the buildings and returned on a mule, which I had taken along for my individual use, across the track- less country to Hollenberg station, on the overland stage road, about sixty miles distant. There were no settlers on the route. The party completed the buildings and re- turned some weeks later by the route they went. There was some travel at that time over the Military road, con- sisting of teams en route to Oregon and Washington terri- tories. That summer the Indians burned the houses down. The Democratic railroad bill died with Buchanan's admin- istration, and a new bill, with different provisions and com- missioners, fostered the living Pacific railroad. At the time I speak of there was considerable good timber at the junction of White Rock creek and the Republican. As I now remember, Sec. 4, Town 1, S. R. 5 west, was the loca- tion selected. Tom Tierney and G. L. Manning, a younger brother of mine, were in the party, but I do not now recall the names of the other members of the party. My brother, a boy of 17 years, joined an emigrant train and went to Bakerville, Oregon. I don't now remember what name
CONRAD MYERS.
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History of Republic County.
Gen. Marshall gave the town site, nor what steps he took to obtain title. Respectfully yours,
E. C. MANNING.
Daniel and Conrad Myers were the first white settlers of Republic county, Daniel settling upon the E } of NE + and E } of SE} of section 1, town 4 south, range 3 west, and Conrad taking W $ of NW} and W.} SW } of section 6, town 4 south, range 2 west, where he now resides.
These settlements were made the 28th of February, 1861. The nearest white settlement, at that time, was at Lake Sibley, in Cloud county, which did not prove perma- nent on account of Indian depredations. Conrad Myers is the only one of the early settlers who did not, at any time, leave the county on account of the Indian troubles, and for more than four weeks during the spring of 1861 was the only white person in Republic county. The near- est postoffice at that time was at Manhattan, eighty miles away; and it is not, perhaps, necessary to state that Mr. Myers did not at that time take the daily papers.
Daniel Myers built the first dwelling house in Septem- ber, 1861, a comfortable log structure in which he lived during his entire residence in this county. John Myers, a cousin, came with Daniel and Conrad, but did not take up any land. He died the last of April, 1861, being the first white settler who died in the county.
The next settlers after Daniel and Conrad Myers, were David and John Cory, who came and made settlement March 17th, 1862, John Cory taking the W } NW } section 18 and the W & SW } section 7, town 4, Range 2, in the fall of 1861, and made the first improvements in the county after the two Mr. Myers.
David Cory was born in Cortland county, New York, March 4th, 1807, and died after a long and painful illness at the home of his son, John W., in Grant township, Jan. uary 3rd, 1893, being 85 years, 10 months and 23 days old.
John W. Cory is still living on the land he selected 40 years ago.
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History of Republic County.
The next settlers were James VanNatta and Wm, Harshberger; the former settling on the NW ¿ of section 19, town 3-2, on the tenth day of March, 1862, and the lat- ter on the SW { of same section and same date.
The next settler was James G. Tuthill, who arrived at what was then known as Salt Marsh, on the tenth of June, 1862, and located on the NW } of section 28, town 4, south range 2 west.
On the day of his arrival he cut and hauled four logs for the foundation of a house, intending to build at once, but was obliged to return to Jefferson county, Kansas, his former home, on account of the serious illness of his hired man, where he remained until July 1st, when he returned with four men, intending to complete the building of the house as speedily as possible. Again was he disappointed, one of his men being so unfortunate as to have a bug crawl into one of his ears on the night of his arrival; and having no means of removing the same, and fearing the same would prove fatal, necessitated the returnof the entire party to Jefferson county. Mr. Tuthill then employed C. M. Way, a resident at that time, of Jefferson county, to come on and complete his house; Mr. Way arriving at the Marsh August 16th, 1862, but finding the country swarm- ing with Indians, returned at once to Clifton, where a small settlement had already been made.
Mr. Tuthill remained in Jefferson county until the lat- ter part of September, 1862, when he again set out for Re- public county, bringing his family and two good men as help with him, arriving at the Marsh October 1st, and built that fall two houses of logs, each 18x20 feet.
The winter of 1862-63 was very mild, no snow or rain falling, and little freezing weather, no ice forming thicker than a knife blade. The spring opened very early, and Mr. Tuthill broke ten acres of prairie at the Marsh in February, 1863, and had his garden all made by the 10th of March. He had a splendid garden that year, melons being ripe on the 4th of July. On Sunday after the 4th,
A
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History of Republic County.
about 6,000 Indians, principally Pawnees, Iowas and Otoes, camped near Mr. Tuthill's place, and harvested his melons and other garden truck most successfully, but offered no violence to himself or family. After everything on the place had been stolen the chief in command placed a double guard around the garden patch. This action of the chief was very considerate, and highly appreciated by Mr. Tuthill after his property had been stolen.
The same spring a settlement was made on White Rock creek by Mr. Philip Keyser, on what is now known as the Fisher farm. Keyser had been here but two months when the creek overflowed its banks and swept over the bottom to the depth of four feet or more, and continued this way for nearly two weeks. Until very recently the driftwood at the foot of the hills indicated the height of the water. The water in this creek has not been as high since by five feet. Mr. Keyser left as soon as the water fell so he could go, not liking that kind of a drouth.
In the fall of 1863, S. M. Fisher, James Reed and one Clark, a preacher, homesteaded the land now owned by Fisher, Johnson and Lovewell, and remained upon it until the spring of 1864. That spring the Pawnees and Chey- ennes had a battle on the town site of White Rock, which resulted in the death of one of the Pawnee braves named Sywasha Spattybat, the first blood known to have been spilled in White Rock township. The presence of large numbers of Indians, and their hostile demonstrations, so alarmed the settlers that they all left, and no further set- tlement was attempted until the spring of 1866, when Thomas Lovewell and others came back to stay.
But to return to the settlement on Salt Creek. In the fall of 1862, Isaac M. Schooley settled on the NW } of sec- tion 7, town 4 south, 2 west, and made homestead entry No. 54 on the same, January 17th, 1863, and made final proof on the same January 17th, 1868, certificate No. 9.
Daniel Meyers made entry No. 55 on the E } of NE + and E } of SE { of section 1, town 4 south, range 3 west, on
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History of Republic County.
the 17th day of January, 1863, and made final proof Janu- ary 17th, 1868, being exactly five years from the date of his homestead papers, certificate No. 10.
Thus it appears that the homestead entries and final proofs made by Schooley and Meyers were made on the same dates, the land office at that time being located at Junction City.
John Cory made final proof on the W { of the SW } of section 7, and the W } of the NW } of section 18, town 4 south, range 2 west, with land warrant, on the 5th day of October, 1864, thus becoming the first real estate taxpayer in the county.
The first prairie broken was by Daniel and Conrad Meyers in March, 1861. The population of the county, according to the census of 1861, was 5. In 1862 this num- ber was augmented by the arrival of David and John Cory, James VanNatta and family, making a total of 13 at the close of that year. Rev. R. P. West came to Republic county in October, 1863, and settled on the NW + of sec- tion 18, town 3 south, range 2 west. The entire population of the county at that time was 47. Conrad Meyers paid $2.89 taxes in May, 1864, for the tax of 1863, which was the first paid in the county. The first white child born was Lincoln, son of Daniel and Matilda Meyers, Septem- ber 15th, 1861.
The first persons married in the county were Sidney S. Way and Madora Tuthill, at Salt Marsh, near the pres- ent town site of Seapo. They were joined in the holy bonds by a United Brethren preacher from Nebraska named Pring, in December, 1864. Edward Enoch and a Miss Johnson were the second couple married, this marriage being solemnized by Rev. R. P. West in May, 1865.
The first school district that was laid off or formed was six miles wide and twelve long, embracing all the territory occupied by the first settlers. On the division of this dis- trict, by some mistake or other, that part having the first school house, and where the first school was taught, was
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History of Republic County.
named No. 2, and district No. 1 was formed from territory lying next on the south.
During the war the growth of the county was very slow, scarcely averaging five families a year, the settlement of the country west of the Sixth principal meridian being re- garded as an experiment only. The only soldiers from Re- public county in the war of the rebellion were Ezra Spen- cer Cory, son of our late esteemed fellow citizen, David Cory, who enlisted at Ft. Riley as a private in company C, 2d Kansas Cavalry, August 27th, 1863, served a little more than a year, and died at Springfield, Mo., March 9th, 1864, of disease contracted in the service, and Wm. Harshberger, before mentioned, who, from the best information we can get, enlisted soon after leaving the county, and, on the 8th of April, 1865, was commissioned by the President as sec- ond lieutenant in the 5th U. S. Volunteers.
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