USA > Kansas > Brown County > Annals of Brown County, Kansas : from the earliest records to January 1, 1900 > Part 51
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Iowa Union forces. That night, one nishing the lists of headquarters at Vinsonhaler, at whose well the party St. Joseph, assisting In running the had stopped for water, being a loyal draft in the old Occidental Hotel of man hitched up his team and hauled St. Joseph and serving the draft no- the warriors until daylight was ap- tices and collecting the drafted men. proaching when, fearing to be caught He also held the position of registra- in such business, he turned back. tion officer. The party pursued their course, and At the close of the war he served a although having sighted a detach- term as district clerk and ex-officlo ment of the Union forces on their recorder and held various little posi- way to Maryville early in the fore- tions of trust, school offices, city noon did not overtake them until clerk, district deputy grand master Maryville was reached at sundown. of I. O. O. F., and editor and pub- This little band was followed by dis- lisher of the Holt County Sentinel, loyal farmers on horseback with corn the county paper and organ of the knives and was warned all along Republican party, which he sold in route that they would be attacked, 1869 and came to Hiawatha March, but they pursued their course, keep- 1870. On April 3, 1870, he issued the ing the powder in the pans dry and first number of the Hiawatha Dis- their eyes to the rear as well as to patch, now the World, the name be- the front. When the main army had ing changed by Wilder, Campbell & been reached, the march made on to Bowman when they purchased the St. Joseph, and the town found plant from W. T. Stewart, Mr. Ru- backed and the enemy gone south, ley's successor.
tents were pitched in Pateetown, and
After worrying through two.grass- in a few days a Major Kelly came hopper years at an every day loss down from Oregon and took Ruley Mr. Ruley sold the Dispatch to W. T. and Bowman home, formed a com- Stewart April 4, 1878, at a sacrifice of pany, entered the service in Col Kim- more than $2000. He was aftewards ball's regiment and went into camp local editor of the Sun for a year or in Savannah, Mo.
so, correspondent for several city pa-
From this time on Mr. Ruley was papers and manager of the opera in service of some kind until its house from 1881, the year it was com- close, with the exception of one win. pleted, until 1895. He held a small ter when he taught the primary de- position at the Topeka asylum from partment of the Oregon public July 1, 1895, to June 15, 1897. Mr. schools, although not out side of the Ruley is the author of a city directory state. He was orderly sergeant in and reference book which is the best of one service and first lieutenant in an its kind ever issued in the county, other, was on horseback most of and another little book of history the time in much scouting and rac- and statistics both of which are cred- ing after bushwhackers. He served itable to his ability as a writer and for a while as assistant aid de camp compiler.
on General Craigg's staff, with head- quarters at the Patee Hotel, St. Jo- seph. Was deputy provost marshal under Capt. William Fowler for Holt and Atchison counties, keeping up the enrollment of these counties, fur- born in Topeka, December 12, 1895.
Mr. Ruley has been married three times, February 3, 1869, August 15, 1877. and November 28, 1894. He has two sons and four daughters by the first marriage, all married now, and one child by the last marriage, a girl
395
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
L. A. Irsik.
L. A. Irsik. the editor of the Ever- est Enterprise, was born in Shelby- ville, Mo., November 15, 1857. In 1859 his parents drifted down the Missis- sippl river to St. Louis, and a year later moved to the Marak settlement northwest of Everest. They came as far as St. Joseph on boat and the rest of the way with an ox team. Later they moved to Nemeha county, but returned to Brown county in 1870 and settled on a farm one mile
drews & Lyons Bros., and entered into polities. Has been elected town- ship trustee three successive terms, mayor of Everest once, and elected to various other offices. He now controls the insurance business of Everest and vicinity. Is clerk of the M. W. A and has been for seven years, also secretary of the F. A. A. In 1883 he was married to Francis Milinow- sky and has four children living. On December 1, 1897, he bought the En- terprise.
Henry J. Calnan.
Henry J.Cal- Dan, theeditor of the Pow- hattan Post, was born No- vember 17, 1858 in Boston, Ma- ssachusetts. He learned the printing busi- ness when a boy and work- ed on all the principal daily papers in the west. When he was twenty- two he commenced to fire a locomo- tive engine on the C., B. & Q. and kept it up for three years when he was promoted to be an engineer. He ran a locomotive on different rail- roads in this country and Mexico un- til the fall of 1894, when he came to
L. A. IRSIK.
west of Everest. Mr. Irsik received his education in thecommon schools. In 1881 he and E. M. Kopietz opened a small country store at Marak and Powhattan and bought the Post. when the Missouri Pacific railroad The following spring he bought the was bullt through this part of the Fairview Courier and consolidated county in 1882 they moved it to Ev- the Post with it at Fairview. This erest. Was in the mercantile busi- arrangement did not last long and ness until the year 1893 with varied he soon returned to Powhattan and success, at one time owning the revived the Post once more. He has Jumbo Store, the largest store in made money out of the business and Everest. In 1893 he sold out to An- ownes a good two-story building in
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Powhattan which he uses for an of- He acquired that knowledge "never fice and residence. Although he nev- learned at school." In 1883 with his er expects togo on the railroad again brother he went into business in he still retains his membership in the Pawnee City, establishing the Paw- Order of Locomotive Engineers and is an honorary member of the lodge at Horton. During his railroad ca- reer he was in a number of wrecks but was fortunate in escaping with- out any serious injuries. In 1895 Mr. Calnan was married to Miss Marcha Swisher, of Powhattan. They have one child, a son.
nee Press, the first Democratic paper Pawnee county ever had. In 1888 he succeeded to the business himself. On June 14, 1888 he and Miss Minnet- ta Moore were married at Pawnee City. Three children have been born to them all boys-the oldest Benja- min Franklin dying at seventeen months-the other two Leslie Newlon
Benjamin F. Hildebrand.
Benjamin F. Hildebrand, who is the subject of this sketch, came into the newspa- per history of Brown County on March 20, 1890 when he pur- chased the DEMO- CRAT of Geo. T. Williams. He came from Pawnee City, Nebraska, where he had been running the only Democratic paper the county ever had. So successfully had his efforts made that paper several times were negotiations opened for it by pros- pective purchasers, which being fi-
nally successful Mr. Hildebrand moved to Hiawatha for a larger JENNIE MCMILLAN. field. Mr. Hildebrand was born a farmer's boy on the prairies of jowa and a baby boy living. In 1895 Mr. near South English in Keokuk coun- Hildebrand moved to St. Joseph, ty on February 14, 1864. He only Missouri and took charge of the ad- vertising department of the Daily Herald which position he held al-
received a district school education until he went to learn the printing
trade with A. E and J N. Hassler most four years-the papers now of Pawnee City, Nebraska at the age being consolidated as the Gazette sixteen-his parents having moved Herald. Mr Hildebrand is engaged to Pawnee county in 1878. It was ou the Annals in securing the His- there he "graduated" from the print-
torical sketches of the prominent ing tr.de. Under skilled printers people selected to complete this ex- who took an interest in the "boy." cellent history.
400
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Jennie McMillan.
now ownsand edits the Morrill News,
Mrs. Jennie McMillan was born in an independent weekly.
Broadway, Union county, Ohio, July 24, 1866. In 1869 her parents moved to Brown county, Kansas, and set- N. F. Leslie. tled one-half mile from where the N. F. Leslie the senior editor of town of Horton now stands. Re- the Robinson Index is the postmaster
N. F. LESLIE.
ceived her education in the public of Robinson He is an Ohlo man. school and at the Highland Univer- He was born in Trumbull County sity. Was for six years a teacher of February 26th 1842. He enlisted in Brown county. Was married June Company C. of the 10th Pennsylvan- 5, 1889, to Lloyd McMillan, of Morrill, la Reserve in April 1861 and served Kansas. Three children were born with the regiment until it was mus- « of this marriage. Mrs. McMillan tered out in 1863. Then he re-enlisted
401
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
with the First Pennsylvania Rifles and served until the close of the war. After his discharge he went to college and then began to teach school. In 1871 he came to Kansas locating at Seneca where he worked in a drug store and taughtschool. Hecameto Brown county in 1873 and was prin- cipal of the Hiawatha school in 1873-4. He then entered the employ of the St. Jue & Denver City Railroad as sta- tion agent at Robinson and stayed with the company in various capac- ities for eight years. After leaving
HARRY LESLIE.
Lucien H Smyth.
L H. Smyth, former proprietor of the Horton Headlight, came to Kan- sas in 1869 from his native state Pennsylvania. and settled near Rob- inson. In 1871 he moved to Cloud county and took up a claim. That fall he was elected county surveyor and served for five years when he returned to Robinson where he was elected principal of the schools. In 1881 he was elected county superin- tendent to fill a vacancy and re-elect- ed again in 1882 and 1884. He moved
the company helocated in Robinson and has conducted various business in the town since then. Hehasserved to Horton when the town was one term in the state legislature and started and soon afterwards was one term as County Commissioner. appointed postmaster by president Mr. Leslie's first newspaper venture Harrison. When his term of office was in 1884 when he launched the was completed he purchased the
Robinson Record, a short lived pub- Headlight and ran it until the fall of 1897 when he sold out to Bert How- lication. The newspaper microbe lay dormant in his system after this ard and moved to Utah were he was until February 1st 1899 when he and appointed deputy United States his son Harry purchased the Robin- marshal which position he now son Index. holds.
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Harry M. Leslie.
Harry M. Leslie, the junior editor of the Robinson Index, is a Brown county product. He was born at Robinson January 1st 1874 and is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. N. F. Leslie. He learned his trade in the newspaper and job offices in Hiawa- tha, St. Joe and Seneca. For some time before his purchase of the Index he wasforeman of the Seneca Tribune Mr. Leslie was married June 27th 1900 to Miss Snyder oldest daughter
law in the office of Brownell & Gregg at Frankfort and was admitted to the bar March 31, 1887. After prac- ticing law for seven years he dropped it for newspaper work, purchasing the Courier at Fairview in 1895 and continuing its editor until 1899 when the office was destroyed by fire. Mr. Calnan is a Democrat and was the nominee of his party and of the Peo- ple's party for probate Judge in 1896. He was married in 1897 to Miss Dora Schilling, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
CHAS. A. CALNAN.
of Dr. and Mrs. Alvin Snyder of Sene- ca. Mr. Leslie has started in to climb the political ladder and is now the police judge of the city of Robin- son.
Chas. A. Calnan.
BERT HOWARD.
Adam Schilling of Hiawatha. In 1893 he was elected the senior vice-com- mander of the Kansas Division of Sons of Veterans.
Bert Howard.
Chas. A. Calnan was born in Bos- Bert Howard, the editor of the ton, Mass., September 1, 1867, and Horton Headlight, was bornin Leon came to Kansas in 1880. He studied Iowa in 1870 and came to Hiawatha
403
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Charles R. Johnson.
Kansas in 1887. He graduated from the Hiawatha Academy with the Charles R. Johnson, editor of the class of 1894 and at once commenced Horton Leader, is a native of Brown newspaper work. He worked for county having first seen the light of the Hiawatha World. St. Joe Herald, day in Mission Township on August Atchison Patriot and Detroit Jour- 21st 1869. When he was seventeen nal in various capacities until 1896 years old he commenced to learn the when he started the Wathena Star. printer's trade at Muscotah, Kan-
CHAS. R. JOHNSON.
He sold the Star in 1897 to Pool sas and for the next few years found Grinstead and bought the Headlight steady employment with the various taking possession on September 20th offices at Muscotah, Whiting Ev- erest and Horton. In 1890 he pur- chased an interest in the Everest En- terprise and soon afterwards be- came sole proprietor of the paper. Having sold the Enterprise he start- 1897. Mr. Howard was married July 1, 1897, to Miss Tena Henney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Henney of Hia- watha. They have one child.
404
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
ed the Leader in Unionville, Missouri county's successful teachers. They in January 1898 and ran it one year have two boys, one three years old when he came to Horton and start- and the other five months old.
-
EWING HERBERT.
ed the Leader January 1899. Mr.
Johnson was married June 30th 1892
Ewing Herbert.
Ewing Herbert was born in 1866
to Miss Lulu Law one of Brown and is the only son of L. S. and
A BROWN COUNTY PIONEER.
"A gentleman who made the trip in 1849, afterwards re- lated that while his party, consisting of thirty men, were camped near the head of Drummond's Branch, he, with the oth- ers, started out in search of game, and as they came upon the high prairie in sight of the timber at the northwest and at the south, they discovered a small herd of buffalo, and, after a short chase, suceeeded in killing one in the timber nearly east of where Hiawatha now stands. From this description of the point where the buffalo was first discovered, it would seem that it must have been on or near the present site of Hiawa- tha; and the wood where it was killed was probably on or near the farm now owned by Dr. Seburn."-Morrill's History of Brown County, page 16.
A TYPICAL BROWN COUNTY HOME IN 1857.
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Harriet Herbert, who are among the old-time residents of Hiawatha. Mr. Herbert began printing when twelve years old and has been so em- ployed ever since, being the owner and publisher of the Brown County World, a foremost country newepa- per, and the Atchison Champion, the oldest newspaper in the state. Mr. Herbert's sister, Elizabeth Herbert, his three nephews, Herbert Hayes, Charles H. Brown Jr. and Andrew Mclaughlin, assist him in his news- paper and postoffice work, he being at this time Postmaster for Hiawa- tha.
Geo. T. Williams.
George T. Williams who founded the DEMOCRAT writes the following characteristic sketch from his Arkan- sas home:
ANDERS STAN'S O
GEO. T. WILLIAMS.
"I was born and "brought up" in rolls. I purchased the plant from Lewis County Missouri. Was born good natured Tom Brown, the jolly in 1857. Learned the "Art Preserva- farmer and capitalist and the princi. tive" as "devil" and chief factotem pal creditor of the Messenger. In of broom and scuttle in the office of September 1883 I issued the first num- the La Grange Democrat where I ber of the Hiawatha DEMOCRAT. The served for seven years, advancing to paper was a success from the begin- the position of foreman, and was for ing and I am glad to say is still a several months editor. pressed with the notion that I could better my condition in the west. For
I was im- popular and successful journal. Owing to my ill health I sold the pa- der in 1890 to Ben F. Hildebrand and a short time I set type by the thous- came south, locating at Florence, and on the Saturday Democrat at Alabama, where I purchased an inter- St. Joseph, of which Geo. King was est in the Herald and was made busi- the editor John B. Campbell of the ness manager. I disposed of my in- Brown county World discovered me terest in the Herald in the early part and induced me to remove to Hiawa- of 1891, and came to Fort Smith. I tha as foreman of that paper. In purchased an interest in the Weekly this position I remained six months, Elevator and for nearly ten years severing my connections with the have been actively identified with the World to take a position with the business and editorial management Messenger, Sam Whartonowner and of the paper. The Elevator is the editor. At the end of three weeks political organ for Democracy of the Messenger passed into the hence- this section of Arkansas, has a circu- ness of the hence caused by the in- lation of 7500, and I am happy to ability to meet paper bills and pay state has been a paying investment.
406
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
Clyde M. McManigal.
Clyde M. McManigal, editor of the Horton Commercial, was born in Jacksonville, Pa., September 20, 1863, He went to Iowa with his parents in 1874. First located at Stuart, later at Casy. His first newspaper exper- ience was "rolling" for the Casy Clar- ion while the editor turned off the sheet on an army press. He entered the office of the Andubon County De- fender at Exira, Iowa, as an appren- tice in 1879. Bought a half interest in the Fontanelle Observer with a brother-in-law, M. A. Raney, in 1880. Sold out in 1882 and entered the poss- office as deputy. He established the Courant at Cumberland, Iowa, in 1885, sold out in 1887 and established the Commercial at Horton. He was ap- pointed postmaster of Horton in 1894 and was relieved at the end of four years by Mr. Mckinley. He . served on the Democratic state cen- tral committeein 1889-90. Waselected alternate delegate to Chicago con- vention in 1892. Has served as sec -. retary of county committee for eight years and is at present chairman of congressional committee and secre- tary of judicial committee. He was married at Fontanelle, Iowa, in De- cember, 1887, to Laura Hetherington. They have three children, two boys and one girl, aged respectfully eleven, seven and three year old.
cessful in trade he finally drifted in- to the newspaper business and came to Kansas. His first work was on the Wamego Agriculturist. He also held a position on the Topeka Demo- crat, Holton Signal and Valley Falls Register. About thirteen years ago he started the Fairview Enterprise a smart and thrifty little city in Brown county. His connection with the paper has been continuous from the start. The Enterprise has built up a good business and is well sup- ported by a generous and apprecia- tive public. Mr. Groesbeck owns his presses and building and is doing a good business. Mr. Groesbeck has the honor of being the first Police Judge of Fairview which he filled very satisfactorily. The Enterprise is regarded by the fraternity as being one of the best local papers in Brown county.
Daniel W. Wilder.
Daniel W. Wilder was born in Blackstone, Massachusetts, July, 15, 1832. He was educated at the Public Latin School, Boston and at Harvard University. After being admitted to the Boston bar he came west. He spent the summer of 1857 in Kansas and settled at Elwood, in Doniphan county in 1858 He has been the editor and one of the pub- lishers of the Elwood Free Press, S. O. Groesbeck. the St. Joseph Missouri Free Demo- crat, The St. Joseph Daily Herald, S. O. Groesbeck editor and pro- The Leavenworth Daily Conserva- prietor of the Fairview Enterprise of tive and The Hlawatha World. He Fairview, Brown county, came from edited the Fort Scott Monitor New York state about 19 years ago. eighteen months, projected The Kan- He received his education at the sas Magazine at Topeka, and was Genesee Wesleyan Seminary located the founder of The Kansas State at Lima, New York. After leaving Historical Society. In 1893 President school he embarked in the mercantile Lincoln appointed him Surveyor business following the same for General of Kansas and Nebraska about ten years, not being very suc- He was elected Auditor of State in
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
1872 and in 1874, after two unanl- and publisher of these Annals, was mous nominations. From 1887 to born in Walworth county Wisconsin, 1891 he was State Superintendent of June 5th 1865. He is the son of El- Insurance. In 1891 he established dred and Amorette Harrington of the Insurance Magazine at Kansas Baker, Kansas. Ho came to Brown City, Missouri and continues its pub- county with his parents in 1868 and lication with his son Carter Wilder lived with them on the farm in Mis- as his partner. He has lived in Hla- sion township until the fall of 188
GRANT W. HARRINGTON.
watha nearly twenty years. The when he entered the preparatory de- first edition of his Annals of Kansas partment of the state university at was published in 1875, the second in Lawrence. He graduated from the 1885 at Topeka. His Life of Shakes- Arts department of the university as peare was published In Boston in a class representative in 1887 and 1893.
then entered the law department. He graduated from the law depart- Grant W. Harrington. ment in 1889 and was a representa- Grant W. Harrington, the compiler tive of his class on this occasion al-
403
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
SO. In 1892 he bought an interest in ment held at Beloit he was elected the KANSAS DEMOCRAT and a couple commander of the Kansas division of years later became the sole pro- and served one year in that capacity. prietor of the paper. While at the He is a member of the Masonic fra- university he was an active member teraity belonging to the Lodge, of the Sigma Nu college fraternity Chapter, Commandery and Eastern and served that organization as its Star at Hiawatha and the Shriners Grand Recorder for four years. He at Leavenworth. He also belongs was also the editor of the Sigma Nu to the Woodmen, the Workmen, the Delta, the official organ of the fra- Knights and Ladies of Security and ternity, for six years. After coming to lliawatha he joined the organiza- tion of the Sons of Veterans and
the Life and Annnity Association He is the National Vice President of the latter organization. He is an soon rose to a prominent place in active member of the People's party that order. He bas been elected a and for the last four years has been delegate from Kansasto its National a member of its state committee. He encampments on several occasions was elected to that position at the and also served a term as Judge Ad- Abaline convention in 1896, reelected vocate General on the staff of Com- at Topeka in 1898 and again reelect- mander in chief Wm. E. Bundy of ed at Ft. Scott in 1900.
Ohio. In 1896 at the state encamp-
409
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
THE BROWN COUNTY FAIR
The Brown County fair is an old settler. It came early and has en- dured all the trials and vicissitudes of the pioneers. It has prospered when the county prospered and suffered along with the rest of the community in the days of grasshoppers and the drouth. It has been an advertiser for the county second to none and its annual exhibit of fine cattle, horses and hogs, golden grain and luscious fruits has told the story of a rich and pros- perous community and has spread our fame both far and wide.
These Annals record the fact that on June 11th, 1864 there was a meet- ing at the Court House to organize a County agricultural society. Ira J. Lacock presided and Wm. Hunter was secretary. Subsequent meetings were held and a constitution adopted which provided that any person might, become a member by paying a dollar into the treasury. Ninety-two members were secured that year.
The first fair was held in the Court House October 13th and 14th, 1864. J. F. Babbitt was president, E. L. Pound was secretary and H. M. Robin- son was superintendent. Jacob Englehart, W. B. Dickinson, S. W. Swa- zey, A. K. Yount, Thomas Ellis, Gregory Amann, J. G. Kelsey, I. B. Hoover, Mrs. B. F. Killey, Mrs. E. L Pound and Mrs. W. B. Barnett were the superintendent, of the various departments. On the second day Judge A. H. Horton delivered an address
Every year since then, with two exceptions, there has been a fair in Brown county In 1874 the grasshoppers, and in 1893 the World's Fair caused a year to be missed.
The organization perfected in 1864 was known as the Brown County Agricultura! Society. It was a loose jointed organization. Any one who payed a dollar a year could be enrolled as a member and the election of officers was a feature of the last day's exercise each year. In 1865 fifteen acres of ground were purchased of W. B. Barnett, the same being a part of the present fair grounds. No buildings were erected and the fairs were held in a tent.
In 1874 the officers discovered that the organization had never been chartered and they proceeded to charter the Brown County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association. This organization ran the fairs until 1880 when the Brown County Exposition Association was char- tered and fell heir to the assets of the old Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association.
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