USA > Kansas > Wabaunsee County > Early history of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, with stories of pioneer days and glimpses of our western border.. > Part 7
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65
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
An Educational Exhibit.
No better evidence of the interest taken by our people in the cause of education could be presented than is here shown by the bonds issued by the several school districts for building purposes.
These contributions have been voluntarily assumed that our children may enjoy every possible benefit to be derived from an educa- tional system unsurpassed anywhere. The comparatively small amount of bonded indebtedness remaining unpaid is a feature that commends itself to those seeking a home among our people.
DIST. WHEN ISSUED. AMT.
1. May 31, '79. .$1,000
May 2, '87. 1,000
2. Oct. 11, '78. 500
3. July 5, '72. 760
Aug. 16, '93 .. 1,200
$400 due 1-1, 1902
4. No bonds issued.
5. Jan. 25, '82. 1,200
6. March 20, '71. 1,350
7. Sept. 26, '84. 600 Dec. 5, '92 200
8. No bonds issued.
9. June 14, '75 300
10. No bonds issued.
11. July 1, '70. 900
12. Oct. 24, '77. 700 Nov. 16, 1901 2,000 $2,000 due.
13. Sept. 23, '73 1,400
14. May 27, '81 1,500
15. Oct. 1, '74 600
16. April 1, '69 1,000
June 1, '74 5,000
Feb. 22, '75. 1,000
17. August 26, '74
500
May 3, '92 500
DIST. WHEN ISSUED. AMT.
Jan. 5, '97 $ 450
46. June 2, '73 1,100
47. August 15, '73 1,200
April 16, '87. 1,200
48. Oct. 26, '96. . .. $300 due 900
49. Nov. 14, '82. 530
50. July 30, '84. 800
51 Sept. 26, '74. 1,000
52. Oct. 21, '76. 1,000
May 21, '81 1,000
53. June 1, '78 500
Oct. 5, '86 700
54. Sept. 3, '85 500
55. Sept. 1, '78. 600
May 13, '90 65(
56. Oct. 19, '78. 500 Nov. 11, '89 2,000
Dec. 28, '94. 400
57. Dec. 15, '79. 600
58. Aug. 19, '82. 600
59. Nov. 15, '79. 500
60. Oct. 1, '81. 800
61. Aug. 20, '81. 350
62. Sept. 19, '81 300
63. Sept. 19, '81 1,000
Sept. 24, '84 2,500
66
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
18. August 26, '78. 500
June 13, '92 800
64. April 28, '83 1,000
19. No bonds issued. 65. July 24, '83. 600
20. Sept. 18, '74) 900
21.
Sept. 18, '83.
800
22. March 10, '83. 1,100
23.
August 1, '70
900
24. April 1, '71. June 9, '83. 800
300
69.
Oct. 17, '84
600
70. Nov. 22, '84 600
71. Oct. 2, '85. 1,000
26. NNo bonds issued.
27. May 31, '71. paid 1,200
73. Aug. 22, '85
600
28. July 1, '70 600
29. March 1, '72. 1,100
30. November, '70. 1,600
31. No bonds issued.
32. August 7, '71 400
July 9, '90 .. 900.
300 due 1-1-1902
33. No bonds issued.
34. May 3. 73 600
35. Feb. 5, '92 800
$200 due 1-1-1902
35. July 22, '71. 400
Dec. 1, '93. $350 due 800
37. Feb. 10. '72
1,200
38. Oct. 25, '71 750
39. June 1, '72
1,500
July 24, '90. 2,500
40. June 2, '73 1,000
41. Nov. 10, '91 3,000
42. June 2. '73 1.200
43. June 1, '73 1.000 Sept. 24, '98 1,200
44. Feb. 11, '74
1,000
Sept. 21, '95 900
45. Sept. 20, '73 500
81.
Due Jan. 1, 1902, $900. .
82. July 14, '88. 1,500
83. Oct. 1, '90. 500
84. Aug. 19. '90 800
85. Sept. 5, '93. 700
$500 due 1-1-1902.
86. Sept. 15, '93. 350
87. Nov 14, '93 500
88. Oct. 2, '95. . 800
$500 due 1-1-1902
89. Oct. 21, 1901. .. $500 due 500
Jt. 15. Oct. 4, '69. . 900
Jt. 15. Oct. 12, '77 450
Jt 100. July 2, '91. 800
$400 due 1-1-1902. . .
Jt. 85.
No date.
1,900
Jt. 30. June 10, '95
900
1,000
75. Sept. 5, '85. 600
76. Aug. 29, '85. 800
77. Sept. 2, '86 500
78. Oct. 16, '86
700
79. Oct. 9, '86. 600
80. Sept. 16, '86. 400
Due Jan. 1, 1902, $100. . Jan. 5, '89. 2,400
67.
Nov. 11, 1901, $1200 due 1,200 Nov. 15, '84 400
68.
Feb. 6, '85 900
25. August 11, '87 700
72. Sept. 12, '85. 650
74. Aug. 15, '85
Dec. 1, '85 1,890
66.
Sept. 1, '83
600
67
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
The McMahan Telephone Exchange.
When on June 25, 1898, Mr. McMahan secured from the City of Alma a telephone franchise for twenty-five years, but few persons realized the magnitude the undertaking would assume in so short a period of time. At first the growth of the venture was compara- tively slow but ere long the convenience connected with the new order of things became apparent to the people and the daily increas- ing patronage encouraged Mr. McMahan in extending his lines, at first, to all points in Wabaunsee county, and, later, to Topeka and other outside points, until direct telephone communication is not confined to the limits of this and adjoining counties, nor even of the State.
A few data as to the growth of the McMahan telephone system:
Telephone franchise granted, June 21, 1898. On August 27, fol- lowing there were 12 phones in Alma and 12 more ordered. On November 12, there were 36 phones. Completed to Manhattan Decem- ber 1, 1898-the M. A. & B. telegraph line being secured for the service. April 28, 1899, telephone completed to McFarland. On May 1, to Eskridge, and on September 16, to Maple Hill. January 27, 1900, Alta Vista was reached, and on June 16, 1900, there was telephone connection between Alma and Wamego. Topeka was reached Decem- ber 15, 1900-since which time the growth of the McMahan telephone system has been phenomenally surprising to all. and extremely flatter- ing to the business sagacity of the founder of the system. In the illustration, seated in the front row, is Mr. J. H. McMahan, projector of the enterprise and proprietor of the system. On the left is Mr. William Noller, bookkeeper, and on the right is Mr. Julius Frey, who may be found almost constantly in attendance at the keyboard. At the extreme ends of the employes standing are Masters Roy and Arthur McMahan, who, though young in years are capable of filling the place of substitute at the board. Then in succession are Mr. Albert Copp, Mr. George Sweitzer, Mr. Wm. Hershey, and Mr. Louis Sweitzer, the latter now in charge at Eskridge. By reason of a misunderstanding as to the time of sitting for the group picture, the portraits of Messrs. Louis and Gus Schroeder, two of the oldest employes of the telephone exchange, appear elsewhere. The follow- ing are the names of the local managers not already mentioned: McFarland, Mr. Arthur Winkler: Paxico, Dr. O. E. Webb (who is,
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EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
also, the owner of an independent line); Maple Hill, J. N. Dolley; Rossville, G. P. Pierce; St. Mary's, Miss Annie Damaris; Willard, Mr. R. N. Blackburn: Valencia, Mr. Ed. Mitchell; Wanamaker, Mr. Straub; Dwight, Mr. II. Olson; Alta Vista, Mr. Union Thomas; Vol- land; Mr. J. W. Kratzer: Harveyville, Mr. R. D. Lewis; Eskridge, Mrs. Louis Sweitzer, assistant; Halifax, Mr. Longabaugh; Templin, Mr. Gustav Zimmermann-the services of thirty men being required. In Wabaunsee county there are over 200 miles of wire and 225 phones in use. Of this number, 110 are in Alma, 70 in Eskridge, and 41 in the the rural districts. The number of phones is constantly increasing and the efficiency of the system is perfect.
Ethnologic History.
Wabaunsee County has an ancient history of surpassing interest, partly printed in the old Spanish chronicles and partly determined by archæological science-the two combined making a record recently completed which covers a period of 500 years. In 1897, Mr. J. V. Brower discovered near Alma, in Mill creek valley, an ancient village site from which he gathered chert spearheads, arrow points, knives, scrapers and pieces of clay pots. Judge J. T. Keagy, and others, associated with Mr. Brower in the work, have continued ex- plorations and investigations until the identity of the people who in- habited this county during a pre-Columbian age has been ascertained as the same people who were discovered by Coronado in 1541, at two provinces called Quivira and Harahey, part of which was constituted by the prairies and valleys of Wabaunsee county, the dividing line crossing Deep creek and Mill creek near Volland. Two volumes have been issued and published concerning the work, eutitled respectively, Quivira, 1898, and Harahey, 1899. These two books describe in particular all of the discoveries and many historic and prehistoric facts. In 1901, the Quivira Historical Society was organized at Alma for the purpose of continuing the work, and another volume is to be issued after a monument is erected for the purpose of commemorat- ing the discovery and rediscovery of Quivira and Harahey, by Coronado in 1541, and Brower in 1896-7-8. Like many other similar explora- tions, an attempt has been made to divert the actual rediscovery, made in 1896, to the credit of a plagiarist several years later. But this will not be successful as the Quivira Historical Society has been organized to not only preserve all records, but to prevent literary piracy.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
RESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE MOMAHAN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE, Alma.
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
MR. GUS SCHROEDER, Alma.
MR. LOUIS SCHROEDER, Alma.
RESIDENCE OF MR. LOUIS SHROEDER, Alma.
69
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
The First White Shirt.
Readers of historical incidents, as a rule, delight in reminiscences entitled to first place in any particular line. They would know the first settler in this or that locality; the name of the first woman who cooked the first meal in the "Hard Scrabble" settlement, and so on to the end of the chapter.
In view of these facts wherein is the harm of a true story involving the right of the first white shirt to a place at the head of the column?
In the early settlement of Kansas hundreds of families looked upon milk and butter as luxuries beyond their reach. Many families were not sufficiently well-to-do as to own a cow. Of course there were exceptions, and, as time advanced, other evidences of civilization began to appear. Perhaps a little incident might better illustrate our meaning. Over in Wabaunsee a genial old gentleman had just arrived from Connecticut. His neighbors were somewhat inclined to look upon him with envious eyes from the fact that he was the possessor of a cow. This particular cow was the mother of a white calf, and, be- sides, she possessed qualities that rendered her valuable to an extra- ordinary degree. Besides furnishing a daily supply of the lacteal fluid her disposition enabled her owner to utilize her as a beast of burden. The ease with which our friend was enabled to transfer the products of the farm from the field to winter quarters might well excite the envy of his less fortunate neighbors. But all did not go "merry as a marriage bell." One night a storm came on and misfortune visited that little household. When morning dawned it was found that the white calf was missing.
Diligent search and anxious inquiry failed to reward the discon- solate owner with the sight of the lost calf. But there came a ·moment when joy beamed forth from the countenances of the owners of the white calf. A white object was seen some distance away on the banks of the creek, which the good wife recognized at once as "our calf." She "would know that calf anywhere, " and as it was the only white object known in all the county at the time she was excus- able in entertaining the idea that the lost had been found. Procur- ing a rope our overjoyed owner proceded at once to capture the truant calf, but one can hardly imagine his discomfiture when about to secure
70
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
his prize he discovered that the white object was not the lost calf, but a man who had just come into the country wearing a white shirt-the first garment of that description that had found its way into Wabaun- see county.
The First Wagon Shop.
When Mr. Wm. Horne came to Wabaunsee county in 1859, he had two wagons with skeins-the only two of the kind in the Spring creek settlement. But Henry Palenske was a wagonmaker and before long he was supplying the demand for wagons.
It didn't take long to make one, either. With a cross-cut saw, a sycamore log about 20 or 24 inches in diameter would soon be trans- formed into wheels-about every six inches, running measure, was enough for one wheel, two feet being all that was required for a wagon.
To make the running gear was easy. Two big hewed slabs for axles, in which two-inch augur holes were bored for standards, a coupling pole and tongue, and that wagon was ready for the owner- who in all cases, was patiently waiting for the first wagon he ever owned-of that particular pattern.
Grease being a commodity that hadn't found its way into the country, there was music in the air whenever a wagon happened to be on the road-and music too, of the semi-calliope variety-that could be heard two miles or more-when the wind happened to be right, more. Those wagons would last for two or three years, but the supply wasn't equal to the demand, and Mr. Horne never lacked for oppor- tunities to loan one or both of his wagons to his neighbors-and every settler in the country at that time considered himself a near enough neighbor to borrow a wagon with spokes in the wheels to make a hundred-mile trip for a sack of corn meal or a side of bacon.
There was a kind of caste among the people in those days, indi- cated by the make of wagon used on the claim. In Indian nomen- clature, William Horne would merit the title of High-muck-a-muck, or the-man-with-the-sure-enough-wagon.
Wagons of the Palenske pattern would indicate that the owners were in moderate circumstances, unless they owned a cow. Still lower in the line of eligibility to a place on the front seats with the aristocracy of the frontier settlements was the man compelled to
71
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
steer a stone-boat (made of the fork of a tree) over the prairies with a pair of oxen for a motor.
Then, in order, came a fellow with a blind horse or the family cow for a beast of burden, followed by the man with all his earthly be- longings tied in a handkerchief, on the end of a stick, looking for a claim. He was bringing up the tail end of the procession then, but as he sits cozily by the grate in the big stone house, you might fail to recognize our old pioneer friend with the stick and handkerchief. But he is one and the same, nevertheless, and not a whit better or worse, by reason of his circumstances.
Sometimes these old pioneers are just as kind hearted and Chris- tian like as in their days of adversity-when they were swelled up with pride over the ownership of one of Henry Palenske's wagons, but not always. Somehow the canker-worm of prosperty has gnawed a hole in their hearts and blinded their eyes to all the good in the world except that measured by the almighty dollar.
He Gathered Them In.
In 1880, when the M. A. & B. track was laid to Eskridge there were several young men in the south part of Wabaunsee county and near the north end of Lyon who were inclined to be sporty. They were of that type of young men who start out in life imbued with the idea that the world owes them a living and it required several hard knocks to drive the notion out of their heads. These boys had seen something of the world-just enough, in fact, to create the desire for further experience in the same direction.
They had traveled west as far as the Panhandle country and had made several trips to the Kansas City stock yards, and had even ventured as far as Chicago on a cattle train. Besides the customary pass the boys on these occasions carried with them, as part of their equipment, a large stick with a sharp nail in the end-to give the cattle a punch when they would persist in lying down in the car. For this reason, probably, the boys considered themselves entitled to the honor of being called "cow-punchers" or as they preferred, "cowboys."
About the time referred to another young man put in his appear- ance at Eskridge. Having passed the greater part of his life in the shadow of the Cumberland mountaius the boys of sporty tendencies dubbed him a tenderfoot and at first were inclined to guy the new-
72
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
comer. But later on they began to treat him with respect and on further acquaintance to even admire the man they had prematurely dubbed "tenderfoot."
Somewhere and somehow the young man had acquired proficiency iu the use of the gloves and after he had several times in quick succes- sion sent the bully of the crowd sprawling into the corner he was voted a tip-top fellow. He also carried a handsome revolver of the navy pattern and when he proved himself an expert in its use it was the unanimous verdict that a false estimate had been placed on his valne as a friend. When they had about concluded to adopt the young tenderfoot he suddenly left the country.
But the boys heard from him again. It wasn't long before they received letters postmarked Cincinnati. Then in quick succession others came from Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and other large cities-in each case on the letterheads of a different firm. Later on, another letter came. This time he wanted to meet the boys and if they would go to Burlingame on a certain date he would be there.
The boys went down and if the walls of a little two roomed saloon in the town could be induced to impart the secrets divulged at that meeting an interesting story would be unfolded. While on his rambles in the East he had struck a sure thing and his old time friendship for the boys prompted him to seek them out and share with them his good fortune. Like Barkis, they were "willin."
Then he produced some crisp five dollar bills, just from the press. Not the best samples, he said, but he had better "stuff" at head- quarters in Chicago. It was a ticklish business and he couldn't trust the mails. The detectives were always on his track. He sold them five crisp new five dollar bills for one dollar each. After swearing each one to secrecy he told the boys to try their Inck with the bills and report. He would remain in concealment and under no circumstances must his presence in the town be revealed.
In a short time the boys returned clamoring for more of the "queer.". It was "hot stuff." "It was good at thet bank." That set- tled it with the boys. But he wouldn't trust them. They must select one of their number to meet him in Chicago. It was so arranged.
So the boys went home. Only a few confidential friends were let into the secret-friends they wanted to share with them their good fortune. Never did these young fellows work so hard to raise funds for investment in a "sure thing." One sold a team, another his saddle horse and a third his tine Mexican saddle and a pair of Navajo blankets-and all, away down. After a few days of strenuous effort and much sacrifice the sum of $1,400 was raised.
But that would bring them $7,000. Then they could again buy
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN. 72a
their outfit and take their long anticipated trip to Texas, where they would launch out in the cattle business.
In due time the committee of one went to Chicago, meeting, as per agreement, their former acquaintance at the depot. But not until a friendly tap on the shoulder turned his attention that way was his presence suspected. He was in disguise. He said that was the only way to throw the government detectives off his track.
He was taken in a roundabout way to his room. Up five flights of rickety stairs, and through dark, winding passages they went. Two well dressed men with revolvers lying on the table in front of them were there. They counted out $7,000 in crisp, new bills-just like those at Burlingame. He saw the money safely packed in his sachel and departed. But his old acquaintance would see him off. He was going down the road anyway.
When the committee of one arrived at Eskridge he was met at the train by the boys. All were there. They had parted with their last dollar and it had been nearly a week of long and weary waiting. They repaired to a room at the - hotel to make a division of the funds.
The carpet-saek was opened and inside were seven neatly tied packages-just as they had been packed in Chicago-but in another carpet-saek. His friend had made the exchange at the depot. The boy had bought seven packages of sawdust at $1,400 a pound.
It is needless to say that that trip to Texas was indefinitely post- poned. The boys took their summer vacation in the corn field -walking behind a two-horse cultivator-longing for a shot at that tenderfoot, who had been raised in the shadow of the Cumberland mountains.
Were Their Fears Groundless?
The stranger to pioneer conditions finds it difficult to realize that within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, to say nothing of others not so far advanced in years, there was ever any real danger to the early settlers of Wabaunsee county from Indian raids. Perhaps not.
But before rendering our verdict let us ask the sturdy German farmers of Templin, who put forth all their efforts in building the old stone fort in 1864, if there was cause for fear. Ask the Swedish set- tlers of Marion county who, four years later, slept for weeks in their corn fields. Ask them if their fears were groundless and the antici-
726
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
pated Indian raid but a chimerical conception of a disordered brain.
While their bones lie mouldering under the sod we will not taunt them with cowardice, nor desecrate their memories by the accusation that they were other than they seemed-pioneers in the truest sense of the term.
Let us give them proper credit. If ever there was an inkling of fear indicated, it was due to the love a parent bears to his child. It was from the fear of compulsory separation-either by death at the hands of the merciless foe, or capture, followed by death, torture, or worse. Ask not the meaning of this-lest you betray your ignorance of a captive's fate.
There were those who laughed at the fears of the settlers in the vicinity of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and at New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1862- eight years later than the first settlers came to Kansas-but it re- quired several regiments of cavalry and years of campaigning to render the pioneer homes of Iowa and Minnesota secure from the raids of wandering Indians.
In 1868, fourteen years after the first settlers came to Wabaunsee county the old pioneers of Council Grove-men who never knew the meaning of the word "fear" hurried their wives and children to a haven of safety. Was their act an exhibition of cowardice? Were their fears groundless?
The dead Kaw brave and the seven Cheyenne warriors who lay dead on the hill almost in sight of the town say "No!" The presence of the raiding Indians in plain view of the people is equivalent to a most emphatic denial of the baseless charge of cowardice.
Because Price Perrill, the lone surveyor, hadn't enough of the coward in his makeup, his bones lay bleaching in the sun for weeks on the plains of McPherson county. The Kaw Indian charged with his killing, gloated over, rather than denied, the accusation, and yet there are those who would say the fears of the hardy pioneers were ground- less. It is our duty to tell the story, and the reader's privilege, to refuse to be convinced.
73
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
Our Stone Fences.
In traveling over Wabaunsee county the miles of stone fences, especially in the Mill Creek Valley, impress everyone favorably, and reminds the old settler of that period in our county's history when the easy and rapid method of enclosing a farm by a wire fence was unknown.
To encourage the building of stone fences and the growing of hedges the legislature of 1867 passed a law giving a bounty of five cents per rod for stone or hedge fences, the bounty to continue for eight years. As the bounty would amount to forty cents per rod many of our farmers availed themselves of the benefit of the law.
As early as 1869 thousands of rods of stone fence had been built, the tax roll for that year making the following exhibit:
Mr. Herman Meseke had built 350 rods of stone fence and Mr. I. L. French, 300 rods. Mr. Joseph Thoes came next with 230 rods, followed by Mr. Ed. Krapp with 210 rods.
Others had built stone fence as follows:
Eli and Carey Walton, 180 rods; M. Walton, 160 rods; John Schrouder and John Schwanke each 120 rods; R. J. Marrs, 110 rods; A. Fetting, 106 rods; Joseph Treu, 100 rods; Ang. Weber, Aug. Wolgast, Rudolph Arndt, John Copp, Aug. Gerloch, L. Grunewald, F: Ricker- shauser and H. Schultheis, each reporting between 50 and 100 rods, in nearly every case, increasing their fence bounty in accordance with the provisions of the statute.
The fact that in nearly every instance the fences are as substantial today as when first built speaks volumes of the value for building purposes of Wabaunsee county stone-everywhere abundant, and yet not presenting any serious obstacles to the farmer in the use of his land for agricultural purposes.
THE LAST LOG SCHOOL HOUSE, DIST. NO. 24-"JAKETOWN." BUILT IN 1869: REPLACED BY STONE BUILDING IN 1884.
74
EARLY HISTORY OF WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KAN.
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The County Seat Question.
Our State motto with but a slight variation might well apply to Alma in the effort to secure and hold the county seat.
When the county was organized Wabaunsee was designated as the county seat, and being the centre of a large settlement the people acquiesced in the location. At that time Alma had no place on the map, but later on the settlers in the southeast part of the county raised objections to the inconvenience arising from the distance and expressed themselves desirous of a change.
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