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 1st, 1883 > Part 6
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Republic
$ 52,754
Ottawa. $100,000
Washington
108,475
Clay.
117,390
Jewell
112,014.72
Mitchell 62,000
Cloud. 215,641.33
The above is official, and ought, we think, to be quite satisfactory to the tax-payers of the county, showing as it does that, as compared with the other counties, our financial affairs have been carefully guarded and well managed.
CHAPTER VILL.
TOWNSHIPS, CITIES, VILLAGES, ETC.
ALBION TOWNSHIP.
As shown by the map. Albion occupies the northeast corner of the county, and is known as town 1 south, range 1 west, and is a most excellent township of land for farming purposes. It is watered by Cherry creek, which flows southeast, through the southern half of the township. Reuben Phillips made the first settlement in October, 1869. The township was organized in 1870, and David Geckler was the first township trustee. Prairie Grove post-office was established in 1872, and E. W. Hall appointed first postmaster.
ROSE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Rose Creek lies immediately west of Albion, is well timbered and woll watered. Rose creek flowing northeast through the greater portion of the township. Magnesia limestone is found in great abundance on twelve different sections of land. The first settlement was made by Thomas Regester. May 15th, 1867. The township was organized in 1870, and Frank Powell was the first township trustee.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. .
Liberty, next west of Rose Creek, is also well watered, and has considerable timber. Among the first settlers were J. J. Wilkes. Thomas Benson, Andrew Glenn, Geo. A. Hovey, and Desmond Vraine. The township was organized in 1871, and was christened Liberty by Mrs. G. A. Hovey. Geo. A. Hovey was the first township trustee.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP,
The first settlement in this township was made by John Stevens, who built the first house, in 1870. Among the carly settlers were Wmn. R. Toll. Stephen Matteson. A. B. Turner, and Mr. Free, the latter building the first frame house in the township. Noah Miles was the first township trustee.
BIG BEND TOWNSHIP.
This township lies in the northwest corner of the county, is watered by the Republican river, which flows through it from the
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History of Republic County.
northwest to the southeast. The first settlement was made by Daniel Davis. The first business established was a general store by Win. Walton, in the northwest corner of the township, in 1871. Gomeria post-office was established in 1871, W. R. Charles post- master.
WHITE ROCK TOWNSHIP.
So called from a creek of the same name, which flows across the northern and western portions of the township. The first settlement was made by Philip Keyser, in the spring of 1862, who remained but a short time. In the fall of 1863, S. M. Fisher, James Reed, and one Clark made a settlement, but left the following spring on account of Indian troubles. No further settlement was attempted until 1866, when Thomas Lovewell and others came to stay. White Rock post-office was established in May, 1871, and Chester Babcock appointed postmaster.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement made in this township was by S. Sherdahl, April 10th, 1870, and who is still a resident of the township. Mr. Sherdahl had his only team of horses stolen by the Indians, May 18th, 1870. The township was organized July 7th, 1871, and E. K. Mahan appointed first trustee. Magnesia limestone is found on section 33. This township embraces a larger area than any other in the county, the Republican river forming its western boundary.
FREEDOM TOWNSHIP.
This township lies in the center of the county, east and west, is well settled and well improved, and is one of the best in the county. The first settlement was made on the SW 4 of section 35, by Dr. A. B. Tutton, in the spring of 1870. The first school was taught by Mrs. A. Odell, at her residence, in the winter of 1870-1. The township was organized in July. 1871, and named Freedom by Wmn Hughes : and Robt. M. Edgecomb was the first township trustee An abundance of magnesia limestone is found in the south part of the township.
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP
lies next east of Freedom, and is also an excellent township of land. First settlement was made in 1870; and was named Fairview by Joseph Northrup, first township trustee. The population is about equally divided between Americans and Bohemians.
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History of Republic County.
FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
John Harris, sr., and Calvin Mapes were the first settlers in this township, making settlement in 1867. The next were H. Il. Hardenburg and Mary Cummins, who came in May, 1868. This was the first township organized in the county. An abundance of limestone is found, and the township is well watered by Mill creek, and has considerable timber.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
John Harris and James Swan were the first to make settlement in this township. Harris taking a homestead on the N 3 of NW Į of section 4, and Swan pre-empting the NE } of the same section on the 5th day of March, 1866. Edwin Enoch came in April, Z. P. Rowe and Jacob Hull in the summer of the same year. Henry Willoughby, Wm. Oliver, and Samuel Elder came in the fall, settling in the south part of the township. This township is well watered, has considerable timber, and an abundance of building stone.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement was made by J. E. Van Natta and Win. Harshberger, May 10th, 1862, David and John Cory coming soon after ; and, still later, Henry Mead, J. HI. Frint, Noah Kunkel, J. R. Robbins, J. II. Jackson, and George Wilcox. In this township. the first school was taught and the first sermon preached in Republic county. Good building stone is found on nearly every section, and pottery clay is quite abundant. The township was organized in 1871.
BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP.
So called from Belleville, the county seat. It was settled by J. C. Reily, and T. C. and W. HI. H. Reily, his sons, in 1866, all of whom are still residents of the county. This township is watered by Salt and Reily creeks, which flow across it from north to south, has considerable timber, an abundance of limestone, and many valuable improvements. J. C. Reily was the first township trustec.
SCANDIA TOWNSHIP.
Scandia was first settled by the Scandinavian colony, in the fall of 1868. This township lies on both sides of the river, which is spanned by a substantial bridge at Scandia City, a place of consid-
History of Republic County.
crable commercial importance. The township was organized in 1870.
COURTLAND TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement in this township was made by C. A. Hloh- strom in the spring of 1869, who broke the first prairie and built the first house. The first school-house was built by subscription, in district No. 42. in the summer of 1871. The township was organized in 1871, and called Soldier, afterward changed to Courtland. Christopher Parkinson was the first trustee.
BEAVER TOWNSHIP.
E. B. Pedersen and T. A. Nelson settled on Beaver creek in 1869, being the first settlers in the township. It was called Buffalo precinct until 1873, when, principally through the efforts of Mr. Pedersen, the township was organized, and named Beaver, from the creek which flows through it. This was the last township organized in the county.
NORWAY TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement in the township was made by Thomas Green and family in 1869. Norway post-office was established January 1.st. 1870, and J. G. McCathron appointed postmaster. This township lies on both sides of the Republican river. Twenty-five per cent is bottom land, and very fertile. Good building stone is found on seventeen different sections, and good pottery clay is found on section 15. The township was organized in 1871.
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
was settled by Daniel Meyers, in March, 1861, one of the first settlements in the county. West Creek post-office was established June 26th, 1871. and Joseph A. Deweese appointed postmaster. Sections 17, 27. 33, 34, and 35 are underlaid with coal, and pottery clay is found on the northeast quarter of section 16. Hydraulic cement is also found in the township in considerable quantities, and magnesia limestone of most excellent quality is distributed through- out the entire township. It is watered by West creek. and has considerable timber.
GRANT TOWNSHIP.
The first settlement was made by James G. Tuthill, in 1861. The great salt marsh, described elsewhere in this work, lies wholly within this township. The township was organized in 1868. It is
History of Republic County.
well watered, well timbered, has plenty of magnesia limestone, and is one of the most prosperous townships in the county, stock growing being one of the leading industries.
ELK CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Elk Creek, lying in the southeast corner of the county, was settled early in 1868, the first settlers being W. I.L., Geo. W. and E. A. Willoughby, Wm. Oliver, A. Mapes, M. II. Harper, Samuel and Robert Edwards, Romante Alderman, and Frank Smith. John Manning, G. W. Johnson, Reuben James, and John W. Jarrett arrived October 15th, the same year : and C. G. Bowers and family, on the 16th. John H. Ranney came later in the fall. Elk creek flows from north to south across the township, affording plenty of water, and, in many places along its banks, there is considerable timber. Limestone, for building purposes, is abundant. The township was organized in 1871.
BELLEVILLE CITY.
The Belleville Town-site Company was organized on the 25th day of September, 1869, and the. following named persons were reported as charter members : James E. VanNatta, N. T. Van Natta, A. B. Tutton, W. A. Means, J. H. Frint, T. C. Reily, W. 11. H. Reily, W. A. Dugger, John MacFarlane, John Harris, jr., B. F. Sayler, T. C. Smith, W. W. Newlon, John W. Corey, G. II. Jackson.
The site selected was the NW { of section 2, town 3 south, range 3 west, the same being made with a view to a central location in the county. On motion of A. B. Tutton, the town was christened Belleville, in honor of Arabelle, his wife. At this time, the town was on paper wholly, no buildings having been erected, nor im- provements of any kind made. At this meeting, the following res- olution was unanimously adopted : " Resolved, That this company proposes Belleville as a point for the county seat of Republic county, Kansas, and that we use all dne exertion, as a company and indi- vidually, for its election." Subsequent events show that this com- pany stood together to carry out this resolution.
At the second meeting of the company, held August 27th, the charter and by-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected : J. E. VanNatta, president : John McFarlane, secretary ; John
5
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History of Republic County.
Harris, jr., treasurer ; B. F. Sayler, J. C. Reily and A. B. Tutton, were elected directors. A portion of the town site was surveyed by E. P. Hedenskogg, county surveyor, in the fall of 1869.
The third meeting was held November 13th. 1869, at which meeting R. P. West moved that a honse 16x18 feet be erected for the use of the company, and that the logs for the same be placed on the ground by November 27th, which motion prevailed. 1. B. Tutton was chosen chairman of the board of directors, and the meet- ing adjourned.
No more meetings were held until March, 1870, when 1,000 feet of native lumber was purchased for $35, delivered, and Mr. Tutton authorized to receive bids for digging a well.
The next meeting was held April 4th, and the job of digging the well was let to Dave Woodruff.
Next meeting was held May 29th, 1870, when the following plan and specifications for finishing the house were adopted : -
"Resolved, That the town house be chinked with rock, daubed with mortar, covered with cottonwood shingles, one door and one window ent and finished, gables finished with lumber, window to be in the east and door in the west end.
Style of achitecture not distinctly stated, probably a combination of the Ionic. Doric and Grecian bend.
Opportunity was now offered for bids to finish the house in accordance with the above plan and specifications ; and the same being received and considered, the contract was awarded to John G. Rich for the smin of $26, the house to be completed in twenty days. which we presume, was complied with, although this the record does not show. We may state, in passing, that W. P. Weeks slept in this house on the night of April 28th, 1870, before it was roofed, he being the first citizen that slept on the town site. This log build- ing, standing alone on the high prairie, with no other buildings or timber in sight, presented an appearance of incongruity ; yet the squatty little structure had an air of newness about it that was quite refreshing. In this house, the first store was kept, by J. (. Bright : the first post-office, by AA. B. Tutton, postmaster : and the first school, taught by Mrs. Eliza G. Lathan, in the winter of 1870-71.
During the summer and fall of 1870, several substantial business
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History of Republic County.
houses were built, among which we mention, a general store on the southwest corner of the public square, by G. D. Bowling; a drug and grocery store, by J. C. Griffith ; a general store, by Vantrump & Hallowell; and a hotel on the north side of the square, by Wm. Piper. During the summer of 1870, the little Telescope was started, the first issue being on the 20th of September. Geo. Wood started the first blacksmith shop in the fall, on the southwest corner of the square. Charles Blanchard opened the first wagon shop, and manufactured the first wagon and the first buggy at Belleville in August, 1872, and is still carrying on the trade, turning out first- class work.
Everything seems to have worked harmoniously and well , until the latter part of the year 1870, when A. B. Tutton, a member of the board of directors, accompanied by Marshal Stone and J. C. Bright as witnesses, proceeded to the land office at Junction City. where he represented himself as the president of the town site com- pany, and authorized and empowered by said company to make final proof on the NW { of section 2, town 3, range 3, the tract selected as the town site of Belleville. With the assistance of Stone and Bright, on whom the obligations of an oath seem to have rested very lightly, he succeeded in making final proof, taking receiver's receipt in his own name. . We had heard before this of a man steal- ing a barn in the State of New York, but this was the first case we recollect of where a whole town site had been stolen. Soon after this, Tutton left for parts unknown, but was pursued by R. W. Van Dyke and W. S. Lathan, acting for the town company, who, after a long and tedious search, captured him at York Center. Nebraska, and brought him to Belleville to answer for his crooked- ness. A rope and a limb of a tree were talked of, but better conn- sels prevailed, a compromise effected, and Tutton deeded the town site back to the company, after which he was allowed to depart in peace.
This fraudulent final proof made by Tutton was afterward can- celed by the general land office. On the 9th day of August, 1872. the town company requested J. C. Griffith, probate judge, to prove up on the Belleville town site. For this purpose, he was provided, by the company, with agricultural college serip. On the 10th of August, the Judge reported that he had made the final proof as
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History of Republic County.
requested, whereupon the town company resolved to issne deeds on demaud to those entitled to them. But towards the latter part of February, 1873, intelligence was received from the land office that the commissioner of the general land office at Washington had refused to accept agricultural college serip in payment of town sites, and that the serip sent had been returned. By direction of the town company, (. Il. Smith and V. Vantrump, accompanied by Judge Boothe, proceeded to Concordia, and made final proof on the town site, by paying the cash, on the 28th day of February, 1873, just in time to make the town property taxable for that year ; and so at last, after much delay and vexation, a title was obtained, the patent being received October 1st. 1874.
On the 1st day of December, 1874, the unsold lots belonging to the company were divided by lot among the stockholders, and the Belleville Town-site Company, after an eventful career of over five years, was dissolved.
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, Chas. Lesom. P. Walin, - Lundin, John Strom, F. Granstadt, A. Bergren, A. Ericson, 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 invoiced one Indred and twenty-five dollars. This was the first store started in Repub- lie county. Mr. Sandell is still in the mercantile business, and his trade long since ontgrew the limits of the first little store, and he now keeps a large and elegant stock of goods.
The second business house was built by A. B. Whiting, of Mil- ford, Davis county, who kept a stock of general merchandise.
The third was Wilson Bros., Chas, and A. D., who kept a gen- eral store, starting in the spring of 1870.
The next was a grocery house, by August Weld, who commenced business sometime in the summer.
A. T. Miller and Amos Coyle built a business house in the sum- mer of 1870, and commenced general merchandising in the fall. Dr. Amos Coyle started a drug store the same fall.
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History of Republic County.
L. C. Hanson opened the "Hanson House" carly 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 Clond county, about sixteen miles down the river. The nearest on the cast was the Salt Creek settlement, fourteen miles distant, and S. M. Fisher and a few others had made a 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 nearest military post, for assistance, but failed to procure any at that time. A short time after, however, seventy-five men, under 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 Scandina- via. This was the third post-office established in the county. The mail was brought from Junction City once a week. Capt. Geo. L. White is the present postmaster.
The Scandinavian Improvement Company, of Chicago, started a steam saw-mill at Scandia in the spring of 1869, and about a year later a grist-mill was attached. The mill was remodeled and con- siderably improved in 1873 by the addition of a new engine, two run of new burrs, new bolting 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 Tur- bine wheel running four burrs, two for wheat, one for corn, and one for middlings. Capacity of the mill. 150 barrels of flour per day besides corn and middlings ; size of mill, 30x40 feet, two and a half stories high besides basement. This mill is operated by C. F. Erieson.
Geo. Lembke was the first justice of the peace in Scandia town- ship, being appointed by Gov. Harvey in the spring of 1870.
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 build- ing, afterward purchased by the district, and used for several years as a school-house.
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History of Republic County.
The Atchison, Republican Valley & Pacific R. R. Co. was organ- ized in April, 1878, and work commenced in June of the same year. The first train ran into Scandia, December 24th, 1878.
The Hanson House was destroyed by fire, October 224, 1879, was rebuilt the same fall. and re-opened 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, (. W. Gulick, D. F. Longnecker, T. A. Nelson, 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, marshal and street commissioner.
The present officers are : Mayor, C. P. Carstensen : council, L. R. White, Theo. Hurtz, A. L. Whitney, C. G. Bulkley and J. R. San- dell : city clerk, W. H. Stinson ; city marshal, M. J. Sigsbee.
The population of Scandia, according to census of March, 1883, is 007,-males 405, females 302. There are, of this number, American, 443: Swedish, 74: German, 25; Scotch. 15: Norwe- gian, 13: Irish, 10: English, 7: Bohemian, 1: Danish. 1: Col- ored, 16.
INVENTORS.
W. H. Stinson, one of the early settlers and contractor and builder, is the inventor of a novel device for the use of carpenters and other wood workers. It is called a dado plane guide, and its use greatly facilitates the work of making window and door frames. and all work requiring transverse or oblique gains or grooves, being so constructed that, when set for any particular piece of work, any number of exact duplicates can be made without gauging or marking. The device was patented April 25 and August 15, 1882.
Albert Schlapbach, of Scandia, is the patentec of a hand press or lemon squeezer, which is well adapted to the use for which it is designed. Patented in 1882.
REPUBLIC CITY.
Republic City is located on section 36, in Big Bend 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
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History of Republic County.
town. Mr. Young had associated with him Milton Grim, H. S. Stone, T. F. Marlett. J. B. Polland, Fred and Win. Elliott cach contributed ten acres of land, making seventy acres in all, with seven members as a town company. The company was chartered imme- diately, 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 post-office was moved from Mr. Pollard's, in October, to Duncan's, and Mr. Duncan appointed postmaster. In May. 1879. Mr. A. Capers erected a business house, the town company donating him two lots. The post-office was then moved from Duncan's to ('apers', and the latter appointed postmaster, holding the office until in 1882. when H. Stone was appointed, and still holds the office.
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 com- menced running in June. C. W. Gulick built the Famous New York store, 20x50 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 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. The town site now embraces one hundred acres, and lots which, three years ago, were given away, are now selling for from $75 to $300 cach.
Republic City is surrounded by a rich farming country, is a good
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History of Republic County.
market, is pleasantly and healthfully located, and is one of the best trading points in the county. Land in the vicinity is selling at from $8 to $25 per acre, according to improvements.
HARBINE.
Harbine is located on the NE } of section 4, town 1 south, range I 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 town site was the railroad depot, in August, 1880. The second was a business house, by Boorman & Waite, on the Kansas side of the railroad. The next were a dwell- ing-house, by David Carpenter, and a grain house by Gregg & Key- ser, 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.
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