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 3
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Stately mansion and hut forlorn.
All are hidden by walls of corn."
-Ellen P. Allerton.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
KANSAS AN AGRICULTURAL STATE.
The fame of Kansas as a wheat growing State reaches around the world. The wheat crop of 1900, exceeded by twenty-three million bushels the wheat of the entire United Kingdom; but it is corn as well as wheat that has made the state famous and in her present good financial condition. Kansas be- gan the present year ( 1902) with six hundred and fifteen million five hundred and three thousand and fifty-eight dollars in the treasury.
Kansas is an agricultural state. the home of the farmer and stockinun. Agriculture is the most certain source of financial independence; that com- merce looks to the products of the farm for both defense and supply, no more striking illustration can be found than the prosperity of Kansas with her pro- (luctive soil and genial climate. Kansas has been the home of the poor man . its prosperity is based upon the furrow turned by the plow. However, its manufacturing establishments are steadily increasing in both importance and number, demonstrating that sound policy requires not only diversified agri- culture but turning of labor and capital into various avenues and channels. It is certain that the wealth and independence of the citizens of the state of Kansas will be further promoted by the judicious establishment of manu- factures in the future, more than it has done in the past.
EDUCATIONAL.
The schools of Kansas are part and parcel of her structure. They be - gan with the advent of the state. have kept apace with her advancement and growth and have been woven and interwoven into her history almost be- fore there were pupils to attend them.
Lawrence was settled in September, 1854, and in less than four months, January 2, 1855, a school was commenced by E. J. Fitch, of Massachusetts, and March 7th the Quincy high school was established. Topeka was set- tled late in November. 1854, and early the following summer a school was opened by Miss Sara Harland and the Topeka Academy was established Jan- uary 2, 1856.
Though these movements were voluntary, as there were no provision of law, they sprang from the same popular conviction which later created the public school system. The example of these towns were repeated in one way or another in every settlement and village throughout the state.
Kansas territory having been organized May 30, 1854, its first terri- torial legislature passed the school law AAugust 30, 1855, and from that date the history of the public school system of Kansas properly began. The law of February 12, 1858, provided that the governor should appoint dur- ing that session of the legislature assembled by and with the advice of the council, a territorial superintendent whose term of office should commence March 1. 1858. This was amended by the law of 1859. which made the superintendent elective annually.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
The laws of 1858 provided for the appointment of a county superin- tendent by the tribunal transacting county business, and the same law pro- vided for an election of a county superintendent, to be elected at the same time and place and in the same manner, the county officers were chosen, the term to commence on October Ist and continue one year.
The board of county commissioners by the law of 1855, formed the districts in accordance with petitions presented, and they were signed by & majority of the voters residing within the limits of any contemplated dis- trict. By a law of 1858, this duty was relegated to the county superintend- ent. The state has been divided into school districts small enough to make a school accessible to all the children. Every district is encouraged to sus- tain a school at least three months in the year, and every parent is required by a law passed in 1874, to send his children to school at least twelve weeks in each year during school age, under penalty for disobeying its injunctions.
Cities and larger towns have established graded schools with high school departments. At Emporia is the State Normal School ( established in 1864) for training teachers. It was founded by a grant of nearly forty thousand acres of land which is being sold to establish a fund for its sup. port. The Leavenworth Normal School was opened in 1870, and closed in 1876. The Concordia Normal School existed from 1874 to 1878. The State Agricultural College at Manhattan was located by legislative enact- ment January 16, 1863. On July 23, 1863, its board of regents held their first meeting and educational work began September 2, 1863. Its four de- partments were agriculture, mechanic arts, military science and tactics. literature and science. This institution was based on a congressional grant of eighty-two thousand acres of land, the sale of which has been admirably managed and made to produce a permanent fund of about five hundred thou- sand dollars.
By an act of the legislature the University of the state of Kansas, located at Lawrence was organized March 1. 1866. This university was designed to give all citizens the opportunity for professional study and for the pursuit of all branches of higher learning. The first session opened Sep- tember 12. 1866. The maintenance of the common schools is both state and local. By an act of congress the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections of each township were set apart for school purposes aggregating nearly three million acres of land which has been estimated can be made to yiekl a permanent school fund of fifteen million dollars. It is invested in good security, the interest is apportioned among the districts and the fund is in- creasing rapidly. The chief dependence, however, of the common schools is the local tax which districts impose upon themselves, that is many times greater than the amount given by the state. Besides the schools and private institutions there are many colleges and universities mainly under denomina- tional control.
"The schools of Kansas are as great an attraction to the immigrant and furnish as strong an inducement for him to settle here as the cheapness
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
of our land, the fertility of the soil, and the salubrity of the climate. Our people take pleasure in placing upon their shoulders the burden of building good school houses and sustaining the best schools. It is the one tax which all Kansans pay without objection."-Annual message of Governor Thomas A. Osborn, 1873.
STATISTICS RECENTLY COMPILED.
Public Schools .- 8,927 districts, 9,406 buildings. 11.614 teachers. 508,- 854 school children, valuation of school property, $10.537-392; 1,000,000 acres unsold school land : $7.021.958 in permanent school fund ; $52.000 in- vested annually for public school libraries and apparatus: $4,800,000 ex- pended annually for public schools : $5,377,000 received for school purposes ; 156 school buildings erected last year, at a cost of $291.985.
Higher Education .- Largest State Normal in the world; largest State Agricultural College in the world; a State University with 80 professors and 1,200 students; combined property valuation of above named institu- tions, $1,887.666; 24 denominational colleges: 400 teachers; 6,500 students ; property valuation, $2.470,000; 3 private normals, 14 academies, 12 busi - ness colleges 200 teachers; 5,081 students; property valuation, $490,500 ; 10 county high schools; 60 teachers; 1.788 students; property valuation, $200.600.
Summary .- Total value of all school property, $20.386,158; $10,000,- 000 expended annually for education : $65.357.996 expended for public schools during the last fifteen years.
PROHIBITION.
May 1, 1881, the selling of liquor became an outlaw in Kansas. The Murray liquor law which prohibited its sale except for "medicinal, mechani- cal and scientific purposes" was enacted by the Legislature of 1881, and went into effect May I, of the same year. It was enacted to enable the au- thorities to enforce the prohibitory amendment to the constitution, which had been adopted at the general election in 1880.
The agitation began with the organization of the territory in 1854. The first movement placing restriction on the sale of liquors began in 1874, when the state temperance convention met and formerly demanded a na- tional law on the subject. Many people both in and out of the churches became aggressive, held camp meetings, and enlisted actively in working up sentiment in opposition to the liquor traffic.
The temperance advocates became so powerful and were so persistent in their efforts, that in 1879, the lawmakers yielded and submitted to the people a proposed amendment to the state constitution to be voted upon at the following general election. The canvass that followed was non-parti- san but extremely vigorous. A house to house canvass of the state was
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS:
made. Every city and town was the scene of rallies and meetings, and speak- ers from other states were imported by both sides.
The total vote on the prohibitory amendment was one hundred and seventy-six thousand six hundred and six, and the majority in its favor was seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight. Resistance to the new law was general; liquor dealers and manufacturers in all parts of the country contributed liberally to defeat its practical operation. For two years the constitutionality was up for discussion in the courts and saloons were run almost openly as they had been before the law was enacted; and the bitter warfare has never ceased during the twenty-one years.
Drug stores largely took the place of saloons. It was only necessary for a former saloon keeper to buy a worn out stock of drugs and employ a prescription clerk, and sell as much liquor as he could before the enactment of the law. In the cities and larger towns a half dozen times the number of "drug stores" sprung up than was necessary to supply the town in drugs. they paid no license and were the source of a large revenue.
There is a difference of opinion among conservative people as to the amount of actual benefit derived from a law, that is not enforced.
A FRIENDLY COMPLIMENT TO THE HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, AND ITS ARTIST AUTHOR AND COMPILER, BY J. E. BURKHART, OF MILTONVALE, KANSAS.
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"This book's a gem, a handy volume, The author's sketch of homes at sight. Terse in story, spacious column. Limned in beauty's cheerful light. Reflecting scenes remote in distance With each event set in line, Calling back into existence Forgotten things in lapse of time.
Here portrayed are many faces. Silent lips and moveless eyes, Kindred forms of different races, Friends and neighbors, former ties. Here engraved are memoirs golden, Of the day and time of youth. Quaintest history. new and olden, In simplicity and truth.
Thoughts of Brown and border strife, Raids of bandits, sack and pillage, The tomahawk and scalping knife, Torch lit flame in town and village
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Recall to mind the seething plain ; Famished homes were rife; The pioneers of fame All flash in thought to life.
On we turn the pictured pages, Each enframed in gilt-edge tire. Vocal sounds roll back the ages. Awakes to song the poet's lyre. Just as of yore the senses feel By these presents each may know,
From youth to age there's no appeal
As morning dawns the noon-tide's glow."
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The politicians will no doubt consider the organization of Cloud county one of the most interesting parts of this history. The participants were beginners in matters of this kind, some just coming from the army, and all from localities where subjects of this kind were given but little or no atten- tion. This applies not only to the county but the state, if, for instance, we take some of its legislation in regard to the county.
.As an example take the statute enacted in 1860, where the legislature not only preseribed the boundary of the county, but actually legislated its organization, appointing three commissioners, all out of the county, consist- ing of F. F. Blake. M. S. Essic and Lorenzo Gates, of Clay county, near Bachelder, giving these non-residents the power to divide the county into election precincts and establish the temporary county seat.
Section four of the same act says: An election shall be held on the fourth Monday of April in which the county and township officers shall be elected to hold their respective offices until the next general election. If it were said these men were the first county commissioners, in all probability none of the old settlers would have known what was meant without this explanation, and yet. such really is the case. for their powers were precisely il.c same.
Who the two first named gentlemen were or where they lived is not known, and perhaps neither of the three men knew that such honor was conferred upon them. This same kind of legislation was applied to Re- public and Ottawa counties. The matter has been referred to, to show that while small corporations may blunder, larger ones where more talent is ex- pected may also make mistakes, and it is also a part of this history.
"The statute of Kansas provides that in organizing a new county three trecholders must state on affidavit there are not less than six hundred in- habitants in the county and twenty frecholders must by memorial petition to the governor to appoint three special commissioners therein named, and
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
also one person named for county clerk and the place designated for the temporary county seat. These preliminaries were complied with and all that was necessary to complete the organization was for the governor to use the appointing power. The names of those three lenient freeholders can not be given. Many had grave doubts as to there being that many inhabitants. Moses Heller, G. W. Wilcox and Dr. Lear were the persons designated for county commissioners, N. D. Hagaman for clerk and "Elk Creek" for the county seat.
The next thing to be considered were the candidates for county officers at the general election. For this purpose the first county convention was called to be held in the little log school house on Elm creek, September 1. 1866. Unlike the politicians of to-day there were no aspirants. Nobody wanted office; for filling a county office without a predecessor and con- sequently without any one for an instructor, minus a salary, was not very desirable. The county was not canvassed.
On the day appointed for the convention John B. Rupe, F. B. Rupe. John and Lew Fowler, David Heller, Thomas and James Williamson from Elk Creek attended the convention. Among those from Elk Creek were J. M. Hagaman, J. M. and Cal Thorpe, Quincy and Randall Honey, N. D. Hagaman, Obadiah Thompson, Matt Wilcox and others from that settle- ment. Mr. Taylor and son-in-law represented Sibley. The assembly was not large but the house was filled-a fair proportion considering the popu- lation.
The convention was opened by J. M. Hagaman, who nominated Thomas Williamson for chairman. Mr. Williamson said he had acted as chairman of church meetings but questioned his competency to fill this position ; how- ever, he went forward and took the chair. Matt Wilcox was elected secre- tary. Being young and inexperienced he remarked, "he didn't know how." "Sit right down here," said Hagaman. "and I will show you how." He complied.
Other preliminaries being dispensed with the first nomination was for a representative. Cal Thorpe nominated John B. Rupe; J. M. Hagaman was put in nomination. It was moved by F. B. Rupe that these nominees in brief speeches define their position on politics. Mr. Rupe facetiously re- marked that this was rather rough, as neither of them were speakers. Mr. Hagaman refused to make a speech. In a few well chosen remarks Mr. Rupe told how he had beena soldier during the late war, knowing it would have the desired effect on the convention. The vote was taken and he re- ceived the nomination.
The representative being disposed of, the next in order was a delegate to the state convention which met that year at Topeka on the 5th of Sep- tember. This honor fell to J. M. Hagaman. Matt Wilcox was nominated for county clerk, Quincy Honey for sheriff and Zachariahi Swearingen for treasurer. Mr. Hagaman (father of J. M. Hagaman) for probate judge.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
John Fowler, county assessor, Dr. Lear, county superintendent, and Lew Fowler, William English and Robert Smith for commissioners. Ed. Neeley ran independent for probate judge, and was elected.
The nominations being completed it occurred to J. B. Rupe that at the Republican county conventions in his native county they always appointed a Republican central committee and made the motion that such a committee be appointed by the chair, which was done. Luckily for Mr. Rupe no one called upon him to explain the duties of such a committee, for in all probabil- ity the explanation at that time would have been a failure. J. M. Hagaman was elected chairman, thus this act of the convention gives it the just claim of organizing the Republican party in Cloud county, and all who took a part in it are entitled to the honor of being its aiders and abettors.
After the convention had done its work, Mr. Hagaman, thinking empty honors were not exactly what he was seeking, stated he was a poor man and could not go to Topeka unless at least his expenses were borne, and it was nothing more than fair that the people should do this. At first it was a damper, as they were all poor, but the argument was convincing. Twenty dollars of twenty-five dollars, the amount asked for, was forthcoming after considerable effort.
It was generally understood that Mr. Hagaman would carry with him the affidavit and memorial which the governor was to act upon. Had it not been for this, little importance would have been attached to the office; hence the effort to bear his expenses. The 6th of September dates the county organization so far as the governor had anything to do with it, but it could not be considered fully organized until all the county officers were elected, which was to take place at the next general election; also the county seat to be voted upon by the people.
The next convention was held in the unpretentious school house at Clyde, and the two following in the saw mill owned by Captain Sanders, of Lake Sibley.
The first Democratic convention held in Cloud county convened Sep- tember 13. 1876.
1 .. J. Crans, chairman of the Democratic standing committee, called the meeting to order, whereupon Moses Louthan was elected chairman and F. A. Thompson secretary.
NAMING OF CLOUD COUNTY.
Should there be any who still cling to the idea that the name "Shirley" was given to Cloud county in honor of Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, who was one of the pusillanimons appointees of the British crown in colonial dass, the following letters and communications furnished by J. B. Rupe, through whose efforts the county bears its present honored name, are pub-
Sol Miller says: The Kansas papers were discussing the subject of "fool names" of counties, a large majority of the counties of the state having
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
them. Many of them are uncouth and one might imagine they were named after some of the characters in Dickens' novels. A number of names have been changed from the original ones and many others need changing.
Cloud county was originally named Shirley. The name sounds well but it is a solemn fact that the county was named for a notorious Leaven- worth prostitute of war days named Jane Shirley, who was known to all "the boys." The legislature had one of its fool spells on of organizing and naming counties and in several cases could not be agreed upon. Ward Burlingame, who was reporting for a Leavenworth paper, suggested the name Shirley to a member sitting near by who "caught on" and moved that one of the counties be so named. It was carried and Shirley was the name of the county for several years.
The following is a letter from Dr. Thomas Lindsay to John B. Rupe in reply to an inquiry for information on the subject of naming Shirley county :
Garnett, April 19, 1880.
Honorable John B. Rupe, Sir : Yours of the IIth inst. received. I can give you some of the information desired but will not attempt to put it in proper shape for print. You can rewrite it or rather use it for material for making up your history. 1 was a member of the committee on counties, etc., in the session of 1860 (territorial legislation). We were organizing some new counties, Washington, Republic, some in the southern part of the state, also your county.
In naming the counties (those which had not been previously named) I suggested the name of Sherman for your county. Sam Wood, of Chase county, was as usual poking his nose into other people's business and offered the name of Jane Shirley, of unsavory reputation and fame. In debate either before the committee or committee of the whole house, a Mr. Chandler, of Davis county, I think said that Shirley was the name of the town (town- ship I suppose) where he was born, which formed a pretext for the black- guards of the house to leave off "Jane" and simply call it Shirley, but it was understood by most to mean Jane Shirley all the same.
It was with pleasure that 1 contributed my might to undo the act in a subsequent legislature where I suppose I made substantially the above state- ment on the bill to change the name. Although 1 did not get my original name (Sherman), but as the people of the county wanted another, I was satis- fied to get the odious name off the statute book and map of Kansas.
Of course there were others besides Sam Wood concerned in fixing the foul name on the county, but at present I do not remember them well enough to put their names on paper. As you will probably not use this for some time, if there is anything more or explanation needed I will furnish it if requested. The committee were Ed. Lynde, of Jefferson, chairman; Jones, of Linn, Lindsay, of Anderson, Nelson. of Coffee, and Dutton, of Brown. Lynde is now in Kansas City-Lynde. Wright & Co.
Respectfully,
THOMAS LINDSAY.
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HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY. KANSAS.
Governor Shirley died about one hundred years before the county was named and a century had passed since he had been governor of Massachusetts. History records the fact that he was governor when that state was the most rebellious of all the colonies and was in constant quarrel with England. showing that his administration was more in sympathy with the crown than with the people, and consequently could not have been popular with them.
It is doubtful if any of the Massachusetts people know of Shirley favor- ally. She has had far more distinguished governors of modern times who were elected by the people and consequently more popular and well known. Among whom are John Hancock. Edward Everett and Nathaniel P. Banks.
Shirley died in 1771, but a short time before the Revolution, in Massa- chusetts, but had he lived until the day of this important event, judging from his course as governor. he would have been a Tory. Naming the county for Jane Shirley was a disgraceful act, and that J. B. Rupe as representative of his district was instrumental in having the name changed to Cloud was in accordance with the wishes of the people of Cloud county.
CHANGING THE NAME OF SHIRLEY TO CLOUD.
The following narrative will doubtless strike many of the present popu- lation of Cloud county with astonishment and even the state might feel humiliated that it ever had a legislature transcending enough to enact so disgraceful a bill wherein this county was named Shirley. The position of J. B. Rupe, who enjoyed the distinction of being the direct mover in having the name changed. was not an enviable one, as much conjecture was engaged in as to what sort of man was sent from a county so strangely named.
It was commented upon in a way far from pleasing to a man of Mr. Rupe's sensitive and pure nature. Others wondered if a county named in such a disgraceful way would be allowed to retain its title and suggested to Mr. Rupe the propriety of changing it. among whom was Governor Craw- ford.
Being satisfied that so long as this appellation was retained a stigma and burlesque would continue on the county and as this was the most oppor- tune time for a change, Mr. Rupe introduced a bill substituting the name of Cloud. This was done in honor of Colonel W. F. Cloud, of the Second Kansas. one of the noblest and bravest of the state's heroes and a mai the people need never regret their county being named for.
When the bill finally came before the committee of the whole Mr. Rupe had a great desire it should pass without any comment, but there was too much humor included, and in consequence C. H. Thompson, of Dickinson county. arose and stated that "inasmuch as the name of Shirley was an old established name, he would like the gentleman from that county to state his reasons for the desired change." This he did with a humorous grin, showing that so far as he was concerned he was well conversant with the facts, per- hips more so than Mr. Rupe.
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