USA > Kansas > Wabaunsee County > Business directory and history of Wabaunsee County > Part 4
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The Alma Enterprise, Sage & Little, editors and owners, is the oldest paper now in the county, being established in 1884, and since absorbing the News, established in 1868, and the Alta- vista Record. It has a list of 1,600 subscribers, by far the largest in the county. It put in the first power press, also the first gas engine in the country and was first to own its own home. Frank I. Sage, the senior partner, is a printer of thirty- five years' experience, and the fame of his excellent work is known over several adjacent counties. O. W. Little, the junior member, is a native born son of the county, and for nearly four years was Deputy County Clerk. He was largely instrumental in establishing the Wabaunsee County Historical Society, the first county society in the State, and is its present secretary.
The Enterprise is Republican in politics and has always stood for what was best in the growth and upbuilding of the city and county.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
1
A. & P. Schmitz, Poland-Chinas
Among the prominent breeders of Wabaunsee County are Arthur and Paul Schmitz, who are of Alma. They have been raising Poland-China hogs for the past four years. They have a herd of about one hundred and forty pigs. The young pigs are sold cach year to farmers and stockmen for breeding pur- poses. They will have about eighty for sale this year.
The Schmitz Brothers are also getting a start in registered Hereford cattle. They have about a dozen head as a beginning and intend to increase their herd.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
I
OETINGER LUMBER CO.
Among the new men who have come to Alma and established a business, of which the little city is proud, is Wm. Oetinger, President and Treasurer of the Oetinger Lumber Co. The Oetinger Lumber Co. owns yards at Harveyville and Alma. The yards were established April 15th, 1906. The above is a cut of the buildings put up at that time. The Harveyville yard was bought of the Harveyville Lumber Co. in 1906. These two yards are about equal in capacity, and a large business, running up to about $30,000, is transacted at each point.
All kinds of building material, including lumber, rough and dressed, shingles, lath, posts, lime and cement are dealt in. Coal and brick are also handled at the Alma yards. The different kinds of lumber handled are the yellow or Southern pine, the white pine, and redwood from California, fir from Oregon, cedar from Washington, cypress from Louisiana, and oak from Mis- souri. Mr. Oetinger is an experienced lumberman. He came to Alma from Riley, where he had been in the lumber business for fifteen years. He has energy and enterprise, and is doing his share to promote the interests of his city and county.
The Oetinger Lumber Co. is incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas, and its officers are Wm. Oetinger, President and Treasurer; W. G. Means, Vice-President; J. E. Edgerton, Secretary.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
J. B. Fields
One man who has a system for keeping the boys on the farm, which beats all the "sage ad- vice" ever printed, is Mr. J. B. Fields, real estate dealer in Aima. Mr. Fields realizes that one way to increase the de- mand for real estate is to make farmers. To this end he manages various contests - one of these the corn contest. Mr. Fields furnishes seed- corn to all boys of Wa- baunsee County who care to go into the contest. Some of this corn of the
new varieties costing $1.00 for three quarts. Twenty prizes will be given to the boys raising the best corn. The prizes are given by the business men of the county and are of an educational nature, such as a trip to Manhattan to inspect the live-stock and farming methods. The object is to teach the boys the very best kind of farming. Mr. Fields has been in Alma in the real estate business since 1892. He is an extensive real estate owner himself and pastures 1,800 head of cattle. He was the first Shawnee Insurance agent in Wabaun- see County, and is still in the insurance business.
Alma has three banks, the oldest of these The Alma National. It has a capital of $50,000, a surplus of $20,000 and is especially well backed by the following substantial directors: Fred Reuter, President, is a retired farmer, but still retains about 1,500 acres of choice real estate, besides his homestead. Mr. J. L. Shepp owns 4,000 acres of land in Farmer Township and in Lyons County. C. G. Willig, of Pavilion, who is considered one of the wealthiest men of the county, owns a large area of valuable land. Mr. C. Thomson owns town real estate and a general store. Geo. Huber, manufacturer of hand-made boots and shoes. Mr. J. C. Goctzbach owns one of the largest stores in the county, also a fine farm. Philip F. Johnson, an old settler and retired farmer, has considerable money in property and stocks. Mr. J. R. Henderson is the cashier of the bank.
Wabaunsee County Directory and History
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Dr. George W. B. Beverly
U. S. Pension Exam- iner. County Health Officer.
Coroner for the past two years.
Offices fitted with latest equipment, including X-Ray Machine.
Has an extensive prac- tise over the entire county.
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$9123
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Mr. R. M. Buck, of near Eskridge, is one of the stock-raisers of great enterprise. He is making Poland-China hogs a specialty and his herd of one hundred head contains some very valuable animals, including some prize-winners.
Mr. Buck has a herd of fifty Shorthorn cattle, one of which was a prize-winner at the Kansas City Royal Stock Show.
Mr. Buck is also a breeder of Barred Plymouth Rock Chick- ens.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
Knostman Clothing Co.
MEN'S Ready-Made
Clothing and Furnishings
Shoe Emporium
Latest Styles in all Goods.
G. H. Meier.
Photographer.
Mr. Meier is a Portrait and View Photographer permanently located at Alma, with branch galler- ies at Alta Vista and Pax- ico. He can be found- First Saturday of each month at Alta Vista.
Third Saturday of each month at Paxico.
Pictures copied and en- larged in India Ink, Cray- on, Water Color and Pas- tel.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
Altavista.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Banks.
Altavista State Bank. Peoples State Bank.
Barbers.
City Barber Shop. Fred Kruger.
Carpenters and Contractors. Syring Bros.
Dentists.
Dr. F. C. Gale.
Furniture Store.
Otto Wolgast.
General Stores.
Alexander & Son. J. N. Bolton. Gantz Bros. W. F. Kahle. Star Mercantile Co.
Hardware and Machinery.
A. H. Wolgast.
Hotels.
Fairview Hotel. Farmers Hotel.
Jewelry and Notions.
Chris Johnson.
Lumber Yards.
The Wohlgast Lumber Co.
Meat Market.
Union Thomas.
Millinery.
Doull Millinery Co. Mrs. Dollie Houghton ..
Music Store.
Olney Music Co.
Newspapers.
Altavista State Journal.
Notary Public.
P. Hawes.
Physicians and Surgeon ..
Dr. W. H. Little.
Produce Dealer.
Joe Hampton.
Real Estate Dealer.
A. H. Meseke.
Restaurants.
City Restaurant. L. E. Paetke.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
Altavista is a very active, enterprising town of almost five hundred people, on the Main line of the Rock Island. It is situated in the southwest corner of Wabaunsee County, just at the junction of three counties, and draws a large amount of trade from each, there being no other town of importance be- tween Alma and Herington. Besides the town trade, Altavista has a steady trade of about 560 country families. To the South and West is a vast area of level farming lands. The increasing prosperity of the farmers has caused the population and busi- ness of Altavista to double within the last four years. The town is booming, but the boom has the firm reliable backing of a rapidly developing farming community to sustain it.
EARLY HISTORY OF ALTAVISTA.
The earliest account obtainable concerning Altavista is the establishment of the town in 1886. The surrounding territory must have been settled many years before, but no account of it was ever learned.
Matt Thompson says that Pike was laid out in October, 1886, by W. D. Deans; that shortly after the name was changed to Cable City, and in March, 1887, changed again to Altavista. In an old 1887 map, the name appears as Cable City. The ac- count obtained from citizens of Altavista is to the effect that the town was laid out by C. Langvart, who sold lots enough to start in the stock business and thus become wealthy. P. Hawes' had previously homesteaded a piece of land which is now the part of the townsite, from the depot south. Geo. Wolff had homestended what is now north part of town.
The town was laid out in 1886 and building began in the winter of '89.
A party by the name of Messenber built the first building. Steve Hoog, Gantz Brothers, and Sattell were some of the first people to build and start in business. Mr. Kahle, who has a general store at the present time, did the carpenter work on many of the early buildings. L. J. Woodward, Richardson & Fisher, and the firm of Kistler and Arndt are also among the
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
pioneer business men of Alavista. M. L. Hull was the pioneer lumberman. He was bought out a few years ago by Wm. Wol- gast.
There is an old landmark not far from Altavista, in the shape of a stone fort, built on the farm of August Wolgast in 1864 in anticipation of a raid from the Kaw reservation. Sixty- four was a very anxious time on the border. The Kiowas and Cheyennes were on the warpath and the restlessness of the Kaws caused much apprehension among the whites. In the same year the settlers of Harveyville "hid out" in the corn- fields for fear of an Indian outbreak. However, the Kaws stayed at home and the strong stone fort was not needed. It is quite a curiosity today.
There is an old proverb, "Happy is the nation that has no history." Applying that to the towns in Wabaunsee County, Altavista is a happy place indeed, for we were able to gather very little, except that the little town has always been pros- perous. There was no stories of hard times, as was heard from the earlier settled places. This may be because the town did not appear on the map until after the "big drowth" and the two grasshopper years were over. There is a tradition that Altavista was struck by a cyclone about two years ago. If it was, the town certainly does not look it now. It is all together again and steaming away at a rate that looks like business. There are no vacant store rooms or dwellings to be found. Neither are there any idle men. The railroad rock crusher gives steady employment to a large number of hands.
Cream is an important product, and the weekly shipment averages one thousand pounds a week.
Corn is the principal grain, although all grains are raised to some extent. Hogs and cattle are raised in large herds. There are five men near Altavista engaged in breeding regis- tered stock. Cattle feeding on the hills north and east is quite extensive. This is one of the principal points in the county where Texas cattle are unloaded for pasturage. This territory is well watered and especially adopted for stock-raising.
As its name indicates, Altavista is built on a high location. From a hill a short distance away Alma and other distant points can be seen very distinctly.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
REALESTATE
BANK
1
ALTA VISTA
L TA VISTA BANK
BANK
-THE- Altavista State Bank Altavista, Kans.
Capital and Surplus, $15,000.00.
Resources of Stockhold- ers, over $200,000.
DIRECTORS. A. H. MESEKE, President.
OTTO WOLGAST, Vice-President.
W. C. A. MESEKE, Cashier.
HERMAN ARNDT, A. H. WOLGAST.
J. N. Bolton Altavista, Kans
Dry Goods, Ladies' and Gents' Furnishings.
"' Black Cat" Hosiery.
Shoes for Men and Boys, "Julia Mar- lowe" for Women.
Staple and Fancy Groceries.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
55
NK
THE PEOPLE'S STATE BANK, ALTAVISTA, KANSAS.
This bank owns its own building, as shown in cut, and is absolutely protected against fire, etc. As the name indicates, this bank was created "by the people for the people." The stock- holders consist of the best and most wealthy people in the com- munity, aggregating a value of over one-fourth million dollars, thus making it one of the most safe and substantial institutions. When in our city make this your headquarters; we will treat you honorably as well as honestly. We respectfully solicit your patronage.
H. F. DIERKING, President. WM. ADDIE, Cashier.
Directors: J. W. Spencer, U. Thomas, V. G. Slack, Ross Cooper, S. P. Snodgrass.
ANDREW BROTHERS
Andrew Brothers, who maintain a well-kept livery, a dray and transfer, are new men in Altavista, having bought out the old-established business of A. P. McLain about a year ago, which consisted of seventeen head of fine horses. Several carriages and wagons are a part of the equipment, and are kept constantly in good order.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
View of the Ranch of John W. Naylor, Altavista, breeder of registered and high-grade Hereford Cattle. Herefords of the leading strains-Anxietys, Archi- balds, Columbus, and Acrobats.
WOLGAST LUMBER CO.
Among the people who figure in the building of a town is the man who furnishes the wherewithal to build. Mr. William Wolgast, who went into the lumber business in 1902 has fur- nished most of the lumber used. In 1904 he bought out M. L. Hull & Son, pioneer lumberman of Altavista. Having the two yards, Mr. Wolgast was then well equipped to handle all the lumber the town needs. In 1905 Herman Wolgast, brother of the lumberman, bought a half interest in the lumber yards and the business has since been conducted under the name of the Wolgast Lumber Co. The bulk of the lumber handled is yellow pine from Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. Most of the finish is bought in Oregon. The trade is in Altavista and tributary country.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
W. H. H. Smith, M. D.
W. H. H. Smith, M. D., and a registered drug- gist, of Altavista, Kan- sas, was born at Jersey- ville, Illinois, April 6, 1858, and came to Kan- sas in 1890, beginning the practise of medicine at Eureka, but came to Altavista in 1897, suc- ceeding Dr. E. W. El- dridge in the practise of medicine and the drug - business. By hard work and close attention to business the doctor has built an enviable reputa- tion as a physician, be- sides making his drug- store the most attractive and complete of any in the county. The doctor will soon retire from ac- tive practise of his pro- fession and take life easy at his country home, one of the most beautiful quarter sections in Wabaunsee County, just four miles east of town.
Dr. W. H. H. Smith was graduated from the University of Valparaiso, Indiana, taught school twelve years, the last five years of which time he was State Teachers' Institute instructor; attended the Missouri Medical College one year, was graduated from the Northwestern Medical College, St. Joseph, Mo., 1890; was married to Maria Rhodes, of Effingham, Ill., February 22d, 1882, four children being born to this union-Grover Eugene, graduate of the pharmacy department of the University of Val- paraiso, in 1906, now has a position in the laboratory depart- ment of the Smith Drug Company, Salt Lake City, Utah; Her- man, 19 years of age, and a student of the State University of Lawrence; and Dewey and Wm. H. H., two youngest of the four children.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
A. H. Meseke
Among the young men whose enterprise is giving Altavista new life and impulse is A. H. Me- seke. He is the son of Herman and Caroline Meseke and was born in Wabaunsee County, April 18th, 1879. He at- tended common school at Templin and at the age of 13 entered the Salina University, where he completed the commer- cial course in 1895. He entered the Alma State Bank (now the Alma National Bank), at Alma, Kansas, as book- keeper and was later elected Assistant Cash- ier. In 1900, A. H. Me- seke, with others, organ- ized the Altavista State Bank at Altavista and opened a real estate of- fice. January, 1905, he was elected President of the Altavista State Bank. September, 1904, he was married to Miss Lillian E. Simon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Simon, of Alma, Kansas.
KISTLER & ARNDT
Probably the most important factors in the development of a town are the men who started in business with the town and stayed with iit through good and bad. Such a business is the Hardware Store of Kistler & Arndt, which started the same year Altavista was established, under the name of J. B. Kistler, J. S. Kistler owning an interest in it. The business prospered with the town and under careful management has greatly enlarged. In 1906 the interest owned by J. B. Kistler was bought by J. S. Kistler and Herman Arndt and the firm name became Kistler & Arndt. This store handles the latest and most up-to-date ap- pliances in farm machinery and tools as well as the usual hard- ware stock.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
UNION THOMAS' MEAT MARKET
Union Thomas entered business in Altavista in 1888. Sold meat in connection with restaurant. Closed restaurant business in 1890 and continued meat market. In 1897 Mr. Thomas dug an ice-pond north of town, from which he gets not only his own supply of ice, but also supplies his customers. The ice from this pond is pure as well water.
We have been requested to mention Miss Addis, of Topeka, Kansas, in this book. She is the only lady jeweler in this part of the country and her place of business has won fame on ac- count of having a contract for many of the precious articles which have so recently taken an advance. This is the one rea- son why she has been credited with the extreme amount of sales, of which a large portion has gone into the new homes in Wabaunsee County. She invites everyone to make her place of business (817 Kansas Avenue) their headquarters while in the City. She handles very rich cut glass, hand-painted china, watches, clocks, diamonds, silverware, latest novelties and sou- venirs. Wedding-rings are made to order. Courteous treat- ment is said to be the pride of this house. Miss Addis prides herself in having the finest line of Christmas presents in the city. A lady jeweler is not often herd of and should be encour- aged. Expert repair department. Old jewelry made new.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
Eskridge.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Bakery.
Meyers & Gee.
Banks.
Eskridge State Bank.
Security State Bank.
Barber-Shops.
City Barber Shop.
Star Barber Shop.
Blacksmith.
Fred Baker.
Carpenter.
W. H. Peet.
Dentist.
Dr. A. H. Reynard.
C. A. Kraus.
Drays.
Beach & Bashor. Mace Bros.
Druggists.
E. R. Brown.
J. G. Trueblood.
Dry Goods and Groceries.
H. Hersberger.
N. E. Reed.
Flour Feed and Coal.
Miller & Son. K. C. Berry.
Furniture and Undertaking. Geo. D. West.
General Merchandise.
Mudge Mercantile Co. W. A. Harris.
Hardware and Machinery. W. A. Waugh.
Hotels.
Palace Hotel. Merideth Hotel.
Jeweler. N. N. Spaulding.
Lawyers.
J. R. Moreland.
J. E. Martin.
Livery.
Martin Schwartz.
Lumber Yards.
S. B. Chapman. D. Worden.
Meat Market.
Wm. Parmiter. Millinery.
Kelley Sisters.
Mrs. Anna Mears.
Newspapers.
The Eskridge Star. Wabaunsee County Tribune.
Paint.
Robertson Paint Co.
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
Painters and Paper Hangers. C. D. Marshall.
Potographers. Easter's Photograph Gallery.
Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. C. William Walker.
Dr. M. F. Trivett.
Dr. A. L. Lemon.
Pumps.
S. M. Handley.
Real Estate Dealers.
F. L. McCoy. C. C. Moreland. W. H. Melrose.
Restaurants.
T. A. Endsley.
Sells Everything.
Wm. Trustler. W. H. Earl.
The town is located on a plateau 1,700 feet above sea level. A range of hills rises to the north and west, from which Esk- ridge looks like a grove with a church in it, so completely is it covered by the foliage of its trees. Situated near the head of four streams, the Dragoon, Mission Creek, Mill Creek, and Elm Creek, this town has a large area of rich country tributary to it and its nearness to Topeka and Kansas City makes these lands very valuable for all kinds of special and general farming.
Eskridge is an important shipping point. It is the center of the greatest Shorthorn district in the world. There are about 1,000 head of pedigreed cattle within a radius of twenty miles. Some of these animals are worth thousands of dollars.
The whole town has a well-kept, thrifty appearance. Its business blocks are substantially built of native stone or brick. Unlike Alma, it never had a boom of any sort to string its nerves up to a tension, and then let them down, but has enjoyed a steady growth from the beginning.
Eskridge has unusual educational advantages for a town of its size. Besides its excellent graded and high schools, it is the fortunate possessor of a university which reflects great credit on the town. This is the Wesleyan University, a Bible School founded in 1901, by men of lofty ideas and great faith, and ambitious to make it the foremost institution of its kind in the United States. Many people do not realize the value of a college to a town. Aside from a matter of culture, a college
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Wabaunsee County Directory and History
always brings money and business to the locality, not only in what the attending students spend, but in donations and gifts, the benefit of which the community receives in the end.
THE FIRST ESKRIDGE.
The history of Eskridge begins with the establishment of what is now called East Eskridge, in 1861, two years after the county seat fight came up. With characteristic enterprise. Eskridge at once got into the game, although she had only one house at the time. By an offer of a court house square and a building to be donated to the use of the county, Eskridge at the election, February 7th, 1871, polled 256 votes against 269 for Alma, 217 for Newbury, and 2 for Wabaunsee.
The race was now between Eskridge and Alma. Another election was called three weeks later, and Eskridge lost to Alma by thirty-six votes.
It was in this year that Col. Ephraim H. Sanford, the founder of Eskridge, started a paper called the Landmark. This was the second paper established in the county. The press and other material was brought from Emporia and had been the property of a man by the name of Eskridge, for whom Sanford named his town. We have said his town, because he founded it on his own land, of which he owned six or seven hun- dred acres in the vicinity. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and had apparently made a success of everything he undertook.
He held many offices of honor and won distinction in politics and war. His strenuous temperament is nowhere more promi- nent than in his loyalty to his own town. According to his idea, Eskridge was the central point of the whole globe-ac- cording to his map, all railroads lead to and from Eskridge, and according to the pictures in the Lank Mark, heavy steam- ers plied the Dragoon, and unloaded their commerce at Eskridge landing. Colonel Sanford was Postmaster for over twenty years and must have been appointed in the early '60s.
Dr. M. F. Trivett and Wm. Earl, who are both live wires in: modern Eskridge, lived in East Eskridge in the early days. Dr. Trivett was the first man in the vicinity to own a buggy. Wm. Earl kept a stock of general merchandise from the time the
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Wabaunsce County Directory and History
town first started. He was not only the first merchant in Esk- ridge, but he has been in business longer than any merchant in the county.
Under the strenuous efforts recounted above, the town as- sumed village-like proportions and in 1880 had two hotels, two livery-barns and several stores. The population was between 400 and 500.
About this time the Santa Fe surveyed for a road to take the place of the old trail. Bonds were voted all along the line and tradition has it that a load of hop tea was sent to Harvey- ville and that a few cold ones found their way to Eskridge. The writer does not believe it. It is true, however, that after the road was built the people along the route were given an excursion on the flat freight cars, previously used for hauling dirt. The people were game and went. The train stopped at every corner, and even in the middle of the block if anyone wanted to get on. It rained as usual and rained hard.
Instead of all railroads leading to Eskridge, the only one which did go through, "passed by on the other side" of Colonel Sanford's town, and the little burg had to move over to the west. Dr. Trivett was first to move his residence. He also built the first building. W. H. Earl moved his store building, and built the first new store.
Within three years the town had grown considerably and the surrounding country was being rapidly developed. Eskridge was shipping great quantities of hay for which $3 per ton was being received.
In 1882 the first paper in the new town "Home Weekly," was moved from Alma by W. W. Cone. This was the second of the six papers Eskridge has supported at different times. The rest are The Eskridge Star, issued in 1883 by Mitchell F. Fowd and owned at present by Don Busenbark; Wabaunsee County Democrat, Dr. Platte, editor-which lasted a few weeks -a little longer than Democrats do in Kansas; The Eskridge Sun, A. A. Graham, editor, issued 1888; The Eskridge Tribune, Frank Hartman, editor, issued in 1900; The Wabaunsee County Tribune, 1900, by Seaman & Carrol.
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