USA > Kansas > Doniphan County > Doniphan County, Kansas, history and directory for 1868-9 > Part 21
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This remained the only settlement or trading post for a number of years. In the spring of 1852, a trading post was established at Bellemont (Whitehead), and in April of the same year, a trading post was opened at Wathena, and in the fall of 1852, a trading post was
SAM S. McGIBBONS & CO., Dealers in Boots and Shoes, Mar- ket Square, St. Joseph, Missouri, Sign of the Elephant.
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DONIPHAN COUNTY, KANSAS.
F. C. HAHAN,
MANUFACTURER OF, AND DEALER IN
Boots, Shoes, Gaiters lippers,
DONIPHAN, KANSAS.
Repairing of all Kinds Done to Order at Moderate Rates.
established at Elwood (Rose Port). The next settlement was made at Doniphan, in the year 1853.
These settlements were only trading posts, and therefore improve- ment was very slow; in fact there was no improvement made in the way of opening farms, and not much enterprise exhibited, as the whole country was then in the hands of, and under the exclusive control of the Indians. In the year 1854, treaties were made with the Kickapoo, Iowa, and Sac Indians, and the lands ceded to the United States (the Kicka- poo treaty took place at Doniphan, and that with the Iowas and Sacs, at the mission), and the country was thrown open for settlement, and an immense tide of emigration began to flock into Kansas, and im- provements began at the several points on the river (Iowa Point, Charleston, Bellemont, Wathena. Elwood, and Doniphan).
Town companies were organized, and towns laid out at these several points, and their growth was very rapid. Upon the organiza- tion of the Territory of Kansas in May, 1854, and during the session of the first Territorial Legislature, many of these towns received city charters, and all gave great promise of a large and permanent growth.
In the organization of Doniphan County, Bellemont (Whitehead), - was appointed the temporary seat of justice for the county, and all the county business was transacted at that place until A. D. 1856. - About the middle of September, the board of County Commissioners ordered their next meeting to be held at Troy, the present county seat, and in the month of October, all the publie books, &c., were re- moved to Troy.
For Blank-Books of all kinds go to J. B. McCLEERY & CO., 103 Felix street.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY 0 F
We have several lively and promising towns in the county, of which there will be found sketches following this "history."
CITIES AND TOWNS.
WHITE CLOUD, in Iowa Township, is situated at the extreme north eastern corner of the county and State, on the bank of the Missouri River, two miles from the Nebraska line on the north, and about the same distance from the Brown County line on the west, sixteen miles from Troy, the county seat. This city has upward of one thou- sand inhabitants; was incorporated by the Territorial Legislature, and still retains its city organization, and elects its Mayor and Council annually.
There is an immense amount of lumber manufactured at this place. White Cloud is a good market for home products, and is a prominent landing on the Missouri River.
IOWA POINT, in Iowa Township, is situated on the Missouri River, at the mouth of Cedar Creek, five miles southeast of White Cloud, and twelve miles northwest of Troy the county seat. This town was at one time one of the most prominent towns in the county, supported a large amount of trade, one newspaper (the Iowa Point Dispatch), and mechanical and professional branches in abundance; but as the county improved, other points sprung up and took the lead, and this place was compelled to yield to the superior advantages of other points; but she still retains a lively trade, supporting seven stores of all branches, one hotel, one grist and flouring mill, one carding-mill, one saw-mill, and other trades and professions in proportion. There is a large amount of grain annually shipped from this point, and goods are landed here for many parts of Brown and Doniphan counties.
HIGHLAND, in Iowa Township, is a flourishing and enterprising vil- lage, situated three-fourths of a mile west of Mission-farm, ten miles northwest from Troy, the county seat. This town is noted for its educational advantages. The Highland University is located here. There is a good business done here, and a proportionate amount of all branches of trade and professions.
TROY, the county seat of Doniphan County, is situated in Center Township, near the geographical center of the county, and on the di- vide between the head waters of Peter's and Mosquito creeks, and has about eight hundred inhabitants, this is a lively and enterprising city, chartered by the Territorial Legislature, and elects its Mayor and Council annually.
Troy is in the central part of the best farming country in the State.
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DONIPHAN COUNTY, KANSAS.
JAMES FOLEY & BRO.,
PRACTICAL
Steam & Gas-Pipe Fitters,
SECOND ST., Second Door above Post-Office,
ST. JOSEPH, MO.
DEALERS IN
Bas Fixtures, Wrought Iron and Onlennised Pipe OF ALL DIMENSIONS.
Steam and Water Ganges, Brass Valves, Faucets, &c. Malleable and Cast Iron Fittings. Lift and Force Pumps for hand or power. Lead Pipe, Sheet Lead, Rubber Hose, Gum Packing, &c. A Choice Assortment of the Best Wooden Pumps
FURNISHED AND FITTED UP ON REASONABLE TERMS.
Patent Well Material always on Hand.
LAFAYETTE is situated on the Missouri River, in Center Township, south of the mouth of Wolf River, and northwest of the mouth of Mosquito Creek, is six miles due north of Troy, has stores and saw-mills < necessary to supply the demand, and is a good landing for steamboats.
WATHIENA is situated near the month of Peter's Creek, in Wash- ington Township, is the largest town in the county, has one thousand, - four hundred inhabitants, and is a lively and flourishing city. There are fourteen stores, two grist-mills, one woolen manufactory, one saw- mill, two hotels, and professional and mechanical branches in propor- tion. Wathena is one of the best markets in the county for all kinds of farm and stock productions, is convenient to the Missouri River on the north and south ; distance to Troy, the county seat, eight miles ; St. Joseph, Missouri, four and one-half miles.
ELWOOD is situated at the eastern extremity of the county, in Wash- ington Township. This was at one time the largest town in the county, claiming upward of two thousand inhabitants, but the treacherous bottom land upon which it is situated has been so much torn up and washed away, that the city has gone down to a great extent. This is the starting point for the St. Joseph and Denver Railroad, also the St. Joseph, Wathena, and Troy macadamized road.
ELFRED & YOUNG, Druggists and Apothecaries, S. W. cor. 4th and Edmond Streets, St. Joseph, Missouri.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF
PALERMO is situated at the month of Walnut Creek, in Marion Township, on the Missouri River, two miles south of Wathena, and is a prominent landing on the river. This town once stood second to none in the county, but finally fell into the same retrogressive movement as other towns; but still retains its proportion of trade.
GEARY CITY, in Wayne Township, is also one among the first or- ganized towns in the county, situated on the Missouri River, at the mouth of Brush Creek ; but never attained the growth of other towns. There is a good grist and flouring mill, also a good saw-mill at this place; distance to Troy, the county seat, eight miles ; to Doniphan, four miles.
DONIPHAN, in Wayne Township, is situated near the southeast cor- ner of the county, on the Missouri River, is an enterprising and lively town, and a good market for all products of the county ; all branches of trade are here represented, and improvements are going forward each year; the great amount of grain and produce annually shipped from this point, makes Doniphan a prominent landing on the Missouri River; distance to Troy, the county seat, ten miles, and to Atchison, the county seat of Atchison County, six miles.
BELLEMONT ( Whitehead), is situated on the Missouri River, one and one-half miles north of Wathena, eight miles due east of Troy, the county seat, and four miles due west of St. Joseph, Missouri.
This was the first seat of justice for Doniphan County, appointed by the Legislature upon the organization of the Territory of Kansas, and during the time from 1838 to 1860, was second to no town in the county in point of wealth and enterprise. There was a large steam ferry-boat, which made regular trips to St. Joseph and back, and every thing looked favorable for a large and flourishing town. During the great Pike's Peak emigration, there was not a town in the county which did more business than this, but like other towns it was des- tined to go down, and now only remains a mere shadow of its former self.
SCHOOLS AND SABBATH SCHOOLS.
Doniphan County is probably as well supplied with schools as any county in the State. There is in the county sixty-eight organized school districts, each of which is supplied with a good school-house or empowered to make the necessary appropriations for the construction of them, and under the well-regulated school laws of Kansas, can have a good free school nine months in the year. There are good
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DONIPHAN COUNTY, KANSAS.
COL. A. G. EGE, Real Estate Agent and Conveyancor,
TROY, KANSAS,
WILL EXAMINE TITLES, PAY TAXES, and ATTEND TO ALL REAL ESTATE BUSINESS.
With many years' experience in buying and selling Real Estate in Kansas, I feel satisfied that I can give general satisfaction to all patrons.
Persons coming to Kansas to locate and buy property, will consult their own interests by calling upon me.
schools in nearly every district, as great pains are taken to employ none but good and competent teachers, yet we are at present laboring un- der the great disadvantages that generally arise in new countries, viz., our districts are, as a general thing, too large, and the number of schol- ars are too great for the quota of teachers generally employed. We have good proof of this fact by noticing the number of subscription schools throughout the county, but our directors are selected with great care, and our schools are being brought down to an unexception- able basis.
Each town in the county is well supplied with school room, and many places are gathering the material for graded schools.
We have at present as good an institution of learning as can be found in the west. This is the Highland University, situated at the village of Highland; this is a flourishing institute, under the superin- tendence and control of the Presbytery of Kansas, and is well patron- ized, as well from other States as our own.
This institute was founded in the year 1856, and is an out-growth of the mission near Highland.
There are organized Sabbath Schools at nearly every school-house in the county, with a large attendance. Each organized Sabbath School is supplied with a good library and other necessary appurten- ances, and they are in a flourishing condition in all parts of the county.
For Note, Letter, and Cap Paper, go to J. B. McCLEERY and CO., 103 Felix Street.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
RAILROADS.
Our railroad interests are probably not as far advanced as some parts of our State, notwithstanding the first railroad in Kansas was built, in the year 1860, from Elwood to Wathena, a distance of four miles, and enough rolling stock furnished to form a good construction train. This railroad was called the St. Joseph and Denver City Rail- road, and was to follow the route surveyed for the Rose Port and Palermo Railroad.
This road was re-located under the famous "Henderson Amend- ment," and was to receive appropriations from Congress, and was con- sidered the most feasible route for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad ; but at the breaking out of the great Rebellion, all enterprise seemed to die out, and our railroad came to a stand still ; soon the rolling stock was withdrawn to the eastern side of the river, and our rail- road became a dead institution.
Amendments were soon made and appropriations granted by the United States to other routes, which went rapidly forward, taking with them the public attention that had once been directed to our road. The question of starting the enterprise again was agitated last year, and an appropriation asked for from Doniphan County, which was submitted to the people and passed by a large majority, giving to railroads $400,000, one-half of which was to be for the benefit of the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad, and work was again com- menced (St. Joseph, Missouri, also made appropriations in a large amount), since which time the road has been pushed forward as fast as possible, and is now (May, 1868), graded and ready for the ties and rails to Troy, a distance of fourteen miles, and the track laid ready for the rolling stock about one-half the distance, and iron and ties on the ground to complete it, as far as Troy. This time we have good assurance of its early completion through our county, which will add greatly to the value of property in all parts of the county, and give us an outlet from the interior. This road makes its starting point at the river bank, in the southeastern part of the town of Elwood, running due west to Wathena, and from thence following the valley of Peter's Creek to its licad at Troy (thus far an excellent route) ; from Troy it takes (according to the survey) a direction almost due west to the western line of the county. It will probably be completed to Troy, during this summer.
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DONIPHAN COUNTY, KANSAS.
DAVID F. RITTENHOUSE,
Veterinary Surgeon,
Residence, 4 1-2 Miles Southeast of Highland,
DONIPHAN COUNTY, KANSAS.
(On the Telegraph Road, near S. D. GILMORE'S ROCK HOUSE.)
Calls promptly attended to from all parts of the country. Charges moderate.
THE ATCHISON AND NEBRASKA CITY RAILROAD is a surveyed route from Atchison, in Atchison County, to Nebraska City, in Ne- braska. This route enters our county about one and one-half miles south of Doniphan, passing through Doniphan, and from thence due north, forming a junction with the St. Joseph and Denver City Rail- road at Troy ; thence northwest, touching the Missouri River again, near the mouth of Wolf River, and following the river to Iowa Point, and from thence along the foot of the bluffs, to White Cloud, and thence into Nebraska.
This will give us about thirty miles of railroad running north and south through the most fertile portion of the State, and there is not much doubt that the road will be speedily completed, as it is em- bodied in the bill appropriating $400,000 to railroads, of which its proportion is $200,000. When these two roads are completed, we shall have speedy access to all parts of the country, and in addition to our present markets, we shall have markets at many points in the interior of the county.
We have also an excellent maeadamized road running from Elwood to Wathena, a distance of four miles. This road extends the whole length of what is known as the " Elwood Bottoms," and is one of the most beneficial of publie improvements, as it makes an excellent road at all times in the year, where the roads were previously impassable with heavy loads for a large portion of the year.
THE DONIPHAN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL, HORTICULTURAL, AND ME- CHANICAL ASSOCIATION completed its organization as an institution of public interest in the month of January, 1868; since which time it
284
Agents, Principal Office, cor. 2d and Francis Streets, St. Joseph, Missouri.
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF
has been growing in public favor very rapidly, and has given an impetus to all branches of agriculture in the county. This association has received so much encouragement, and has been so active in its effect upon the products of the county, that it is deemed advisable to hold a county fair the coming fall; and arrangements are nearly completed for this enterprise. This is known to be a step in the right direction, and one that will place us much higher in the scale of improvement.
WHITE CLOUD (IOWA TOWNSHIP).
The town of White Cloud is located in Iowa Township, in the ex- treme northeastern corner of the county and of the State, two miles from the Nebraska line on the north, and the same distance from the Brown County line on the west-Doniphan County here running into a narrow neck between the Missouri River and Brown County. The town is situated on the western bend of the Missouri, and is the most westerly of all the Kansas River towns, being twelve miles farther west than Atchison. The distance to Troy, the county seat of Doniphan County is twenty miles; to Hiawatha, the county seat of Brown County, sixteen miles ; to St. Joseph, Missouri, thirty-two miles ; to Atchison, Kansas, thirty-five miles ; to Leavenworth City, sixty miles; to Topeka, the capital of the State, about eighty miles.
White Cloud was laid out in the spring of 1857, by a company originally formed in Oregon, Missouri ; but the company was soon after reorganized ; embracing capitalists from the West, North, and South.
There were several settlers on the town site for a year or more previous to the above date ; but it was included in the Trust Lands of the Iowa Indians, which lands were not put into market until the spring of 1857. The title was acquired by purchase, at the sale of the Iowa Trust Lands, which took place at Iowa Point, in June, 1857. But before the purchase a great many lots had been sold, and a num- ber of buildings erected. The first public sale of lots took place on the 4th day of July, 1857; on which occasion there was a grand cele- bration, barbecue, and steamboat excursion.
The Iowa Indians still have a Reservation adjoining the town on the north, extending above the Nebraska line, and six or eight miles to the westward.
The town was named after White Clond, a celebrated chief of this tribe.
285
DONIPHAN COUNTY, KANSAS.
Olive Street Hotel.
E. N. ROBERTS, : : : PROPRIETOR.
Near H, & St. Jo. R. R. Passenger Depot,
ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.
Early in the spring of 1857, when there were not half a dozen houses in the town, the " White Cloud Kansas Chief" newspaper was established, which has been published uninterruptedly up to the pres- ent time, and is now the oldest established paper in the State.
This town, like most others in Kansas, has had its backsets and its dark days ; but for several years past, the spirit of improvement has revived, and at the present time (February, 1868), there are cheering signs of future prosperity. One great advantage in favor of this place is, that it has not, like most western towns, outgrown the country tributary to it ; consequently its natural movement must be forward, to meet the demands of the country, not go backward or come to a halt, to wait for the country to catch up. The surrounding country is in the very center and best portion of the magnificent grain and stock-growing region of Kansas and Nebraska, and affords a plentiful supply of every material necessary to a great and prosperous agri- cultural community.
White Cloud at this time has a population of a little rise of one thousand, and boasts a large brick school-house (not half large enough to meet the demand, we are informed), a fine briek church, and two other churches now being built, the largest and finest hotel (a three
Empire Sewing Machine, WELLS & RICHMOND, Gen'l Western Agents, Principal Office, cor. 2d and Francis Streets, St. Joseph, Missouri.
286
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF
story brick) in northern Kansas, a number of dry-goods, grocery, drug, and other stores ; a supply of nearly all of the professional and mechanical branches; a fine livery stable ; a steam ferry-boat, and a newspaper and job printing office; also an extensive pork-pack- ing establishment, where a large number of hogs are slaughtered every winter, giving employment to numerous hands, and affording farmers a convenient market for their hogs. There are several dealers con- stantly engaged in buying grain, of which a vast amount is annually shipped to market. A leading feature of this place is its manufactures, embracing a large grist-mill, a carding-mill, a planing-mill, four saw-mills, and two shingle manufactories. The lumber business is especially large ; on the opposite side of the river is the finest and most extensive body of timber on the Missouri; and White Cloud manu- factures more than double the amount of lumber of any other town on the Missouri River, all of which finds ready sale as fast as turned ont.
As the surrounding country is already among the best settled por- tions of the State, and as the greatest part of this lumber is used in improving the region of which White Cloud is the natural commercial point, it will readily be seen upon what the town has to depend for substantial prosperity.
As yet the Missouri River affords the only channel of commerce to White Cloud; but the surveyed route of the Atchison and Nebraska Railroad passes through the town, and the railroad com- pany promise to have the cars running over the road to the Nebraska line, before the close of the year 1868. Her future, therefore, seems bright, and she bids fair to remain one of the richest and most thriving localities in the magnificent county of Doniphan.
TROY (Center Township).
Troy, the county seat of Doniphan County, is situated two miles east of the geographieal center of the county, and is about equal dis- tance (8 to 12 miles) from the towns of Iowa Point, Highland, Doni- phan, Wathena, Geary City, Palermo, Columbus, and Bellemont, and sixteen miles from White Cloud, thirteen miles from Elwood, and fourteen miles from the city of St. Joseph, Mo.
In the year 1855, in the act of the Territorial Legislature, organ- izing the first counties of the Territory, three commissioners were ap- pointed to select a site for the county seat of Doniphan County, the act requiring the same to be within six miles of the geographical cen-
SAM S. McGIBBONS & CO., Dealers in Boots and Shoes, Mar- Ket square, st. Joseph, Missouri. Sign of the Elephant.
287
COUNTY, KANSAS.
DONIPHAN
HIRAM BELL, Cabinet-Maker & Undertaker,
MAIN STREET,
White Cloud, - Kansas.
Furniture of all kinds furnished or made to order. Coffins made, and attendance given to funerals.
BED-SPRINGS AND MATTRESSES FOR SALE.
ter of the county. This provision requiring the county seat to be located within a given distance of the geographical center of the county, was incorporated in the act so as to enable the county to pre- empt of the government of the United States one quarter section of land for the benefit of the county, under the provisions of an act of Congress granting to counties where the public lands are situated, the right to enter one hundred and sixty acres of the public lands for the establishment of seats of justice therein.
On the 12th of October. 1855, the commissioners appointed for the purpose established the seat of justice for Doniphan County, on the summit between the head waters of Peter's and Mosquito creeks, which is the present city of Troy. This is shown by the report of the said commissioners which is now on file in the office of the county elerk. This report was accepted by the Board of County Commis- sioners, and Troy became the county seat. On the 15th day of Octo- ber, 1855, a survey was ordered by the Board of County Commission- ers, and a partial survey was made by James Foreman, and on the 15th day of December, the first sale of lots occurred ; and on the 16th day of September, 1856, the Board of County Commissioners then in session at Whitehead (Bellemont), the temporary seat of justice, ordered their next meeting to be held at Troy, and on the 20th day of October following, the meeting of the commissioners was held at Troy, and the public books and papers of the county were removed to Troy, where they have since remained.
Since the establishment of the seat of justice at this place all county business has been transacted here, and all meetings of a publie
For Sintos, Slate-Pencils, &e. go to J. B. MOCLEERT & CO., 103 Felix street.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF
character where the publie good was interested, have been held at this place.
In the year 1857, a company was organized ealled the Troy Town Company, and had surveyed, in addition to Troy proper, a quarter section of land adjoining the town on the east, which portion is known and designated as East Troy.
During the session of the Territorial Legislature in 1859 and '60, the citizens made application to have the town incorporated, which application was granted, the act giving as an incorporated town all the rights and privileges as a city with a Mayor and Council ; this act of incorporation ineludes East Troy extending the city limits to eon- tain one half section of land. Since the act of incorporation, how- ever, there have been some additions to the city, to wit : Hayton's ad- dition and Leland's addition.
Since the incorporation the city has ever maintained her organiza- tion.
That Troy will make a great eity is not expected, but that it will maintain itself as one of the first towns in the county can not be doubted.
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