USA > Kansas > Cloud County > Biographical history of Cloud County, Kansas: biographies of representative citizens. Illustrated with portraits of prominent people, cuts of homes, stock, etc > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
No country can chronicle a more marvelous change in the conditions of things within a quarter of a century, than the state of Kansas. The hardy pioneer well remembers how he used to look over his fields still uncultivated. perhaps, but covered with a cast iron mortgage and interest growing daily in proportion, that would strike terror to the stoutest heart. He next sees
I 5
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
the drouth and the implacable army of grasshoppers approaching, and within a few hours all his prospects are laid waste. They covered the trees, the fences, darkened the sky and ruin was sown broadcast on every hand.
It has been truthfully said, "The hope of America is the homes of America," and when the homestead law was passed by which every Ameri- can citizen or person declaring their intention to become such, tens of thou- sands of homes were established and the individual blessings it brought to this fair land can not be estimated. The enterprising, progressive spirit and early experiences of the men and women who first settled in Kansas, are widely known and to their credit must be attributed the foundation laid for the greatness and prosperity her citizens are now enjoying.
Pride must swell the hearts of those early settlers as they now look upon this fair domain which ranks among the finest states of the union. There is an element of romance and sentiment in the history of Kansas that stands distinctly a part of its realty, that belongs to no other state. The pioneer suffered, but we cannot imagine a true hero who has not. It ennobles, ele- vates and draws humanity nearer together in bonds of sympathy that win the admiration and reverence of men. It is evident the people are reaping in comfort what they have sown in trials and tribulation.
For years the whole state of Kansas, figuratively speaking, was under mortgage and the amount of interest that went into the eastern money bag's was astounding, but there is wiser financiering at the present time. Those who succeeded in lifting the burden were more conservative and adopted the wise old system, "Pay as you go." There are comparatively few farmers now unfettered and the money that once went to eastern capitalists is kept within their own state and has brought to them wealth and financial inde- pendence.
In 1877 Kansas ranked eleventh in the United States in wheat and the following year jumped into the first rank. the total yield being 32.315.371 bushels and the same year ranked fourth in corn.
BURNING CORN.
The people of Kansas burned millions of bushels of corn in 1872-3 and millions more rotted in the fields, it being in so exceeding abundance as to only command the low price of from 10 to 20 cents per bushel. The fol- lowing years as if in retribution for their extravagance two-thirds of all the hogs and cattle in Kansas had to be sold because of the scarcity of corn and elevators and granaries that were filled the year before were conspicuous for their emptiness.
Burning corn was tested as to the expense incurred in using it as fuel and it was found that even when abundant and cheap, it was more expensive than coal or wood, thus a practical test showed that corn was never intended to be used as a fuel.
During this period when every incoming train was freighted with
16
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
humanity enroute to suffering Kansas, John C. Whittier wrote the poem entitled :
THE KANSAS EMIGRANT.
"We crossed the prairies as of old The Pilgrims crossed the sea, To make the West as they the East The homestead of the free.
We go to rear a wall of men On Freedom's central line. AAnd plant beside the cottonwood The rugged northern pine.
We're flowing from our native hills As our free rivers flow. The blessings of our motherland Is on us as we go.
We go to plant her common schools On distant prairie swells, And give the Sabbaths of the wild The music of her bells.
Uphearing like the ark of ok The Bible in our van. We go to test the truth of God AAgainst the fraud of man.
Nor pause nor rest save where the streams That feed the Kansas, run. Save where our pilgrim gonfalon Shall float the setting sun.
We'll tread the prairies as of old Our fathers sailed the sea, And make the West as they the East A homestead of the free."
Kansas stood head in the production of wheat in 1884, the yield be- ing 3,000,000 bushels more than any state in the union. Kansas was in the lead, headed the procession and carried off the banner prize at the World's Fair held in New Orleans in 1885. A long list of premiums that swelled the heart of every Kansan with pride was won by the "Sunflower" state.
The awarding committee gave Kansas the first premium On white corn
17
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
and the first on yellow, and the jury recommended that in addition she be given a gold medal for the best corn in the world.
She was also awarded the first premium on red winter wheat. The first premium on flour by the graduated process was awarded to Bliss & Wood, of Winfield, Kansas. The first on flour by the old process to Pierson Brothers, of Lawrence, Kansas.
Kansas took sixty-five miscellaneous first and second premiums and in the face of great odds, as the legislature only appropriated for the display $7.000 and yet Kansas led the world, and felt that she was "The salt of the earth." She received these premiums against the severest competition in the middle and northwest states.
ALFALFA.
Alfalfa is fast becoming the chief forage crop of Kansas. Once thor- oughly started it firmly stands the drouth better than the tame grass; is vers productive, yielding three crops on an average in a season, not counting the seed, which, when threshed, is marketed at a good profit.
Alfalfa is much more nutritious than prairie hay and is equal to a gold mine to the hog raiser. The absence of tame grass has been a serious draw- back to this country and alfalfa supplies this long felt want.
In a speech at Downs, delivered on July 4. 1884, paying tribute to the state of Kansas Judge Borton, of Clyde, excited the risibilities of the audience by saying: "He had been all over the United States and that Kansas was God's country, and it had been said that the world was created in six days and three of these were spent on Kansas, the rest of the world having been thrown together most any way. in New York, for instance, it is so rough that when they set a goose they have to dig a hole for its tail. Down in Tennessee the ground is so transparent you can see down a foot and must be manured three years before it will make brick."
Kansas is, and has ever been, patriotic and during the war was in the thickest of it all, and at one time had twenty thousand men in the army out of a voting population of less than twenty-two thousand and gave more lives to the country's cause in proportion to the number of troops engaged than any other state of the Union.
DROUTH AND HOT WINDS.
We shall not dwell at length upon the drouth and hot winds of Kan. sas, for too much has already been said and written upon this subject and exaggerating opinions have been formed by people abroad. The weather in Kansas is somewhat capricious but the citizens generally have become philosophical and do not predict desolation, death and destruction, as they did in the earlier settlement of the country.
When the dry weather begins to make itself felt the Kansan naturally
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
begins to grow alarmed at what may happen and the "calamity howlers" and "eroakers" are teeming with predictions of a gloomy nature. "li it don't rain within one week we won't have any wheat," or "The corn crop will be a total failure," ete. But within the forty-two years that Kansas has been a state there has been few entire failures.
Much is said about the weather by prophets and weather predictors. but the fact is demonstrated almost every year ( the present year not ex. cepted ) that no man can tell what a month will bring forth. The predic- tions of the weather-wise fall wide of the mark, the learned sage has been devoured and the weather-wise parched by the hot winds, or drowned in the foods.
COAL.
The coal measures of Kansas are a part of an immense field which covers nearly all of eastern Kansas, the northwestern half of Missouri, south- eastern Nebraska, southern lowa and a large part of the Indian territory, south. The Kansas bed is in the western part of this field, showing the thickest and most valuable strata in the following counties: Cherokee, Labette. Crawford, Neosho. Bourbon, Montgomery, Chautauqua, Elk, Wilson. Allen. Anderson, Woodson, Coffey, Linn, Franklin, Osage and Miami, also the eastern part of Greenwood and Lyon counties. Deposits exist in paying quantities in most of these localities. In several of these counties the mining and shipping of coal constitute one of the important industries and are a constantly increasing source of wealth. The deposits range in thickness from twenty to fifty inches.
As their various strata show the coal measures were alternately be- neath and above the salt seam, the changes occurring many times during their formation and has left its unquestionable record in its organic re- mains, which embrace the marine fossils in the lime stone and other sca formations, while the intermediate deposits and the coal seams, abound in vegetable and animal remains of terrestial life. Building material, fuel, fertilizers, etc., are found in abundance. Stone suitable for building pur- poses is found in nearly all parts of the state. The varieties inchide mag- nesian lime stone, blue and gray lime stone and great quantities of sand and flagging stone. Stone from the Kansas quarries is used in some of the finest buildings in the country.
.Material suitable for the manufacture of ordinary brick exists every- where. The banks along the water courses furnish sand. The lime stone affords an abundant supply of quick lime, thus the requisites of building exists in abundance and consequently are remarkably cheap in all parts of the state. Beds of bituminous coal valuable for fuel and for manufactur- ing uses are found in the central districts of the state. A fine quality of natural gas has been discovered in some parts of the state and is being extensively used for light, fuel and manufacturing purposes. New de- velopments are constantly coming to life and gas and oil are being struck
19
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
in unexpected quarters. Lead mines are profitably worked in the south- eastern part of the state. Zinc is also found in paying quantities.
Kansas has taken its place among the large producers of salt of the best quality known to commerce. Since 1867, salt has been made from brine obtained from wells near the mouth of the Solomon river. An ex- tended area in the central part of the state is underlaid with rock salt. It is found at depths varying from four hundred and fifty to nine hundred and twenty-five feet. The thickness of the salt itself is from one hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty feet. These beds of salt produced last year ( 1901) one million six hundred and forty-five thousand three hun- dred and fifty barrels of salt.
GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER.
The state of Kansas embraces . within its boundaries the geographical center of the United States, excepting the detached territory of Alaska. The middle parallel of latitude between the southern cape of Florida and the north- ern border of the state of Washington, the dividing meridian of longitude midway between the extreme eastern and western limits of the country, pass through the state, cutting it through the center north and south, and one degree south of its center east and west. The bisecting degree of latitude is thirty-eight degrees north, the parallel of longitude twenty-two degrees thirty seconds west from Washington, the intersecting point being the north- west point of Reno county.
The state has the general form of a rectangle with a breadth of a little more than two hundred miles from north to south, and in length a little over four hundred miles from east to west, containing an erea of eighty-one thousand three hundred and eighteen miles or fifty-two million two hundred and eighty-eight thousand acres. The general surface of the state is a roll- ing prairie gently ascending from the eastern border. Kansas presents a succession of beautiful prairies, undulating hills and fertile valleys diversi- fied scenery and a varied surface of fertile soil.
The state is well supplied with rivers and creeks; on the eastern border the Missouri presents a water front of nearly one hundred and fifty miles. The Kansas is formed by the junction of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers and from a point of confluence it flows in an easterly direction about 150 miles to the Missouri. Valleys on the north are formed by the Saline, Solomon, Blue rivers and other streams. The Osage river rises in the east - ern part of the state and after flowing in a southeasterly course one hun- dred and twenty-five miles enters the Missouri. The Arkansas has its source in the Rocky mountains of Colorado, and runs through nearly three-fourths of the length of Kansas east and southeast, and with its tributaries waters two-thirds of the western and southern part of the state. 'Its valleys on the north are traversed by the Walnut, Little AArkansas, Pawnee Fork and other streams, and on the south by Ninnescah, Chicaskia and others. 2
20
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
The Neosho, rising in the central part of the state, runs in a southeasterly direction for about two hundred miles, receiving in its course the Cotton- wood and other streams. The Verdigris runs nearly parallel with the Venho, receiving Fall river on the west. In the southwest are the Cimarron and Medicine, which flows for a considerable distance in the state, and a network of the southern tributaries of the Arkansas. These rivers are not navigable, yet with their tributaries make Kansas one of the best watered states of the west. In most localities even in the extreme western part of the state good water is obtained within a reasonable distance of the sur- face. In some parts, particularly the western counties, artesian wells furnish an adequate supply of water.
Timber is abundant along the streams in the eastern part of the state, but less plentiful in the central and western portions. The varieties of timber embraces the oak, elm, black walnut, cottonwood, maple, box-elder, honey-locust. willow. hickory, sycamore, white ash, hackberry and mulberry. The osage orange is extensively used for hedges.
Statistics show that Kansas can claim a greater amount of sunshine than the Eastern States. The average cloudiness is a little more than forty- four per cent. In the Southern States it is forty-seven per cent, in the New England States it is fifty-three per cent. while in Great Britain it reaches seventy-one per cent. As regards the health of her people, Kansas compares favorably with any state in the U'nion. The rolling surface of the country furnishes fine natural drainage, and as a result there are no marshes or swamps to breed fever and malaria Especially is this true of the central and western portions of the state.
KANSAS IN THE REBELLION.
The admittance of Kansas to the Union proved a landmark in the struggle, which begun en her soil seven years previously. Slave power having challenged the nation to open battle for its life, the infant State put in the struggle of years and took her place in the foremost rank and fonght with an indomitable courage and fidelity to win for the nation the battle she had already won for herself.
Within three months from the time Kansas was admitted into the Union, she was called on to furnish her quota towards suppressing the re- bellion. No state bore a more honorable record than Kansas in this great struggle. The military organizations formed during the early 'sixties for the protection of the settlers during the turbulent Indian troubles, had fallen into disuse. or entirely abandoned, and at the breaking out of the Civil war the state had no well organized militia: no arms, accoutrements or supplies.
When the President made the first call for seventy-five thousand militia on April 15. 1861, Kansas furnished six hundred and fifty men and her legislature at once took measures o amend the military conditions of the state. April 22d an act passed providing "for organization and disciplining
21
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
of militia." and a service very generally organized throughout the state. During Governor Robinson's administration, one hundred and eighty com- panies were formed and organized into two divisions, four brigades and eleven regiments.
Under the call of President Lincoln for four hundred thousand volun- teers the First and Second regiment were recruited. many whole companies marching to the place of rendezvous and offered their servics. Each suc- ceeding demand received a cordial response from Kansas and this in the face of the fact that no extra pecuniary recompense could be offered by the young commonwealth for the services of the militia, the state being scarcely able to meet the ordinary expenses of the situation.
The patriotism and loyalty of Kansas was demonstrated by not being obliged to resort to the system of bounty offers, extra pay to families of soldiers, or any of the expediences commonly employed to encourage re- cruiting. Statistics reveal the fact that more losses occurred in Kansas regiments in battle and from disease per thousand than in an other state in the Union. The unhealthy region in which a large part of their services were performed. the laborious nature of the service, long marches through a wild and unsettled country, outpost and scout duty, and poor hospital ac- commodations, all combined to produce this result. It was noticeable that in the northern regiments doing duty in these localities, the mortality was also very great.
The entire quota assigned to the state of Kansas was sixteen thousand six hundred and fifty-four, and the number raised was twenty thousand and ninety-seven, leaving a surplus of three thousand four hundred and forty- three to the credit of Kansas. Three Indian regiments were actively en- gaged in the United States service during the war of the rebellion which were officered and entirely recruited in Kansas. They were chiefly from the loyal refugee Seminole and Creek Indians, who had taken refuge from the encroachments of hostile Indians under Stand-Waitie in the southern border of the state. A few of them were resident Indians, having homes and fam- ilies in Kansas.
The "Price raid" and "Curtis expedition" cost the citizens of Kansas not less than five hundred thousand dollars. besides the labor, loss of life and incidental losses that could not be computed. The legislature of 1865 made provision for the payment of the claims by the state, looking to the general government for reimbursement. Various commissioners have been appointed to settle these claims but their adjustment has been attended with much difficulty. and in all probibility many of them will never be settled to the satisfaction of all concerned.
The war was followed by Indian troubles in Kansas which terminated in the loss of many innocent lives; men, women and children were slain. Many of the women suffered a fate worse than death. The savages kept up their desultory warfare which did not cease in some localities until ten years after the Civil war.
22
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Professor Louis Agassiz, the renowned scientist, visited Kansas in Au- gust, 1868, and the Springfield ( Mass.) Republican said in an issue of that period : "Professor Agassiz is fairly teeming with enthusiasm over his visit to Kansas. All Brazil was nothing to what he has seen of natural beauty and scientific revelations."
MISSIONARY WORK IN KANSAS.
Prior to 1854 (the territorial era of Kansas), the missionaries labored among the various tribes of Indians. The denomination of Baptists estal . lished a mission among the Shawnees in 1831, in the present county of Wyandotte. The first printing press was brought by Jotham Meeker in 1833, for a Baptist mission located near the present city of Ottawa.
In 1827, the Catholics, with Father Schoenmakers, started a mission among the Osages, near the present site of Osage mission. The Methodist Episcopal church begun its work among the Delawares and Shawnees and organized a church among them in 1832. The Reverend Thomas Johnson established a school in 1829, on the south side of the Kansas river. The Pres- byterians founded their first mission in Kansas among the Wea Indians, near the present site of Ottawa, in 1835; they also founded a mission for the benefit of the Iowa Indians, near what is now Highland, Doniphan county.
The Society of Friends established a school and held services among the Shawnees, in Johnson county, soon after the removal of the tribe to Kan- sas. Schools and churche were early founded by the Moravians, and other bodies of Christian people. The political strife and border troubles from 1854-61 were not conducive to the nurture of churches, yet during this period foundations were laid by various denominations in anticipation of prospective settlement of the territory.
The Baptists organized in 1855, and built their first house of worship at Atchison. The first Catholic congregation of white people was organized in Leavenworth, August 15, 1855, and the first building for the use of a white congregation was erected there in the same year. In Lawrence, Oc- tober. 1854, perhaps the firts white man's church in the territory was or- ganized by the Congregationalists. The edifice was built in 1857.
The Methodist Episcopal church began its work in Leavenworth in 1856, and erected a house of worship in 1858. The first Evangelical Li- theran organization was effected at Leavenworth, October 25, 1855. . house of worship was built in the summer preceding the organization, and was probably the first building in Kansas erected for church purposes out- side of Indian missions and government forts. Probably the first sermon to the white settlers in the state was by Reverend W. H. Goode, presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church. He preached in a log cabin at Hickory Point on the Santa Fe road. July 9, 1854, Reverend A. Stil !. Reverend J. M. Chivington and Reverend Mendenhall, a minister of the Society of Friends, being present and participating in the services.
23
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
The first church building erected in Lawrence was built in 1856, and a small slab church was built in Leavenworth the same year. The first church for whites in the state was organized near Tecumseh by Reverend Mr. Goode. The first session of the Kansas and Nebraska conference convened in a tent in Lawrence, October 23. 1856. The Presbyterians organized their first church at Leavenworth, January 1, 1856. The United Presbyterians made their first organization at Berea, Franklin county, in 1857 ,and their first church was erected there in 1858.
The Society of Friends held meetings in Leavenworth county in Feb- ruary, 1856, and erected a log house of worship in 1857, which gave place to a good frame building in September, 1859. The German Methodists were organized in 1860, in Dickinson county, and the German Lutherans at Leavenworth in 1861. The war that followed closely upon the admission of Kansas to the Union engrossed the interest and the energies of the people.
The effect of war upon general church work is fairly represented in the following report made by the Methodist church: Number of ministers in 1860. eighty-five: in 1861, seventy-four; in 1862. seventy- two; in 1863, sixty-eight. Number of churches in 1860, seventeen ; in 1861, forty-three; in 1862. thirty ; in 1863. thirty-three.
The trials and sacrifices during the territorial and the war eras, em- bracing a period of eleven years, were as heavy as any that ever fell on any people . since the days of Jamestown and Plymouth, but they were. met by all-women as well as inen-with the patience and heroism unsurpassed in the annals of the world.
With the immigration that begun to flow into Kansas after the close of. the war were persons who if not members of the church were decided!y favorable to the establishment of them, and churches and Sabbath-schools sprung rapidly into existence. The work was not only prosecuted in the towns and villages but through the sparsely settled country districts where- ever the hardy pioneer built his dugout of sod house, the congregations gathered and services were held. . An important feature in the work has been the interest taken by intelligent foreign born citizens; most noticeable among whom are Danes. Germans, Swedes. Norwegians, French and Welsh.
"Smiling and beautiful heaven's dome Bends softly o'er our prairie home. But the wide-wide that stretches away Before my eyes in the days of May, The rolling prairie's billowy swell, Breezy upland and timbered dell,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.