USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 11
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 11
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In 1861, the war broke out, and most of the able bodied men having en- listed in the army, but little building was done. Then in September of that year, the town was robbed, and about one month later was burned by rebel raiders. Only a few buildings were left, and until the close of the war, but few new buildings were erected.
The first building of any consequence that was erected after the raid, was the "red store," on the corner of Bridge and Eighth streets, now occupied by E. W. Trego with a hardware stock. The lower storey was built by Col. W. Doudna, and the upper one by the Masonic fraternity. This was followed by a few more buildings.
In 1866, the town began to progress quite rapidly, and a number of fine structures were erected. Among them were the school house, Catho- lic church, the brick block on Eighth street, and a number of other good buildings. During the next three years, the growth of the town was quite rapid.
In 1865, a treaty was effected with the Osage Indians which permitted actual settlers to enter 160 acres each, at $1.25 per acre. This land was sold in 1868, and the landoffice being at Humboldt, brought an immense trade to the town, which made it for some time one of the most thriving business places in the state.
On April 2nd, 1870, the M. K. & T. R. R. was completed to the townsite. To secure this road, the citizens voted $75,000 in bonds. The citizens also bought, for $13,000 160 acres of land on the west side of the river, of which they gave to the railroad company ten acres for depot grounds and right of way, and the remainder was divided into lots, of which the railroad company received one-half.
In October 1870, the L. L. & G. R. R. (now the Southern Kansas divi-
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sion of the A. T. & S. F. )was finished to Humboldt, and the event was cele- brated the following mouth. The years 1870 and 1871, were marked by the rapid growth of the town. Large numbers of buildings were erected, some of them being constructed of brick and stone. Property greatly increased in value until it was almost impossible to buy lots. An iron bridge was built across the Neosho river by the Humboldt Bridge Company, which was composed of sowie of the leading men of the town, and various other im- provements were made
In 1872 the improvements of the town were not so rapid, and the in- flated prices of property began to decrease. In 1873 the great financial crash seriously effected the business of Humboldt, and this was followed by the general devastation of crops by grass hoppers the following year, which resulted very disastrously to the town, some of the merchants failing in bus- iness, while many of the citizens moved away. Then followed a dull pe- riod, but before it commenced the town had arrived at nearly its present proportions. For the last twenty years, while it is true that at no time has there been any great progress, Humboldt has always held its ground as a prosperous business town.
Since the burning of Humboldt by the rebels in 1861, noted in the his- tory of the county, there have been very few fires. The last serious one occurred on the night of January 11, 1883. About 8 o'clock a fire was discov- ered in the brick building owned by Dayton, Barber & Co., on Bridge Street. The lower floor was occupied by the grocery store of Charles Lehman, and the upper story by law offices, and the Independent Press printing office. On the same floor H. D. Smith and family and Mrs. Lydia Sniff resided. All had gone to church and left the lamp burning in the printing office, and it is supposed it exploded. The building was soon in flames, and to prevent the fire from spreading further. the cigar factory on the east side was torn down. On the west was Curdy's double store, over which were law, in- surance, and real estate offices, as well as dental rooms. This building was soon covered with men who, by hard work saved the building. The greater part of the goods, furniture and fixtures, were carried from all these rooms, except Smith's private rooms and printing office, the contents of which were all destroyed. The damage to the goods, as well as to Cur- dy's building, was great, but most of the property, except Smith's, was in- sured for nearly enough to cover the losses.
The ravages of the fire were soon repaired, and the town did not suffer any permanent setback on account of it. The years that followed have been for the most part, quiet and uneventful, marked by but slight changes either in the business or the population of the city. The discovery of gas has resulted in the establishment of a flourishing industry, the Humboldt Brick Company, and the discovery of oil, although as yet not in market- able quantities, leads to the hope that further prospecting may yet develop a large supply which will be of great commercial advantage to the town. For the present Humboldt remains, as it has always been, a good country town, enjoying a much better than usual trade on account of the excellent country around it, and affording a delightful place of residence.
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Gas City
In the summer of 1898 Mr. E. K. Taylor, who owned a tract of land on the line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, sunk a well and developed a large flow of gas. He sold forty acres of the land to the Cherokee-Lanyon Spelter Company and twenty acres to the Prime Western Spelter Company .. These companies at once began the erection of zinc smelters. Mr. Taylor then had the remainder of the tract laid out into town lots, naming the place Gas City and filing the official plat October 27, 1898.
The town has grown rapidly and several hundred people now make it their home. It has a post-office, and is connected with Iola by teleplione. The Missouri Pacific suburban train service also puts it in close touch with Iola, and it is on the line of the electric street railway which is projected as this chapter is written and will doubtless be in operation when this volume appears.
Labbarpe
BY J. Q. ROBERTS
The building of the Fort Scott Wichita and Western (now the Missouri Pacific) railway was responsible tor the birth of the town of LaHarpe, the plat of which was filed in 1881. J. C. Reeder was the first station agent, and he was succeeded by C. H. Hackney.
The first businesss house in the village was built by Hackney & Sons, who engaged in the business of buying grain.
For many years the growth of the town was very slow, and until 1898 it remained a mere hamlet, with a post-office and a few small stores.
The discovery of gas, however, gave a splendid impetus to the town, and since then it has grown rapidly under the stimulus of the great zinc smelters of the Lanyon Zinc Company. By the spring of 1899 the in- crease in population was such as to warrant incorporation as a city of the third class, and the first officers elected were the following: S. S. Forney, mayor; C. H. Hackney, G. G. Fox, J. E. Stansbury, F. M. Davis, L. H. Daggett, councilmen; S. Malcom, treasurer ; E. L. Runyan, clerk; J. Q. Roberts, attorney; E. C. Moore, police judge; Lee Chew, Marshal.
In 1898 a new school building was built, a commodious structure re- placing the small district building, and excellent schools are maintained.
The first church building was erected by the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination in 1885. In 1890 the Presbyterian church was erected, and in 1901 the Protestant Methodist church building was completed. All three societies are reasonably strong.
LaHarpe is situated near the geographical center of Allen county, is apparently right over the strongest gas pressure iu the state, is surrounded by a rich agricultural country, and her citizens feel that there is a bright future in store for their town. Why not?
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Elsmore
BY JESSE. P. DECKER.
In the spring of 1887, the present busy little town of Elsmore was not in existence. At that time its site was an open prairie, and people who wanted more than a sack of flour or a package of coffee, must necessarily go to Humboldt, Iola, or Fort Scott for their needs, or go without. The coun- try surrounding at that time was sparsely settled, most of the land being owned by non-residents, and lying open and uncultivated, except now and then a leaguer had broken out a small patch, built a cheap box house and settled down to fight the railroad company through the courts for the land, believing, true or not, that the land had never been honestly earned by those claiming ownership, and that some day it would be opened by the govern- ment for settlement.
At this time Old Elsmore was the center of attraction for people in Elsmore township They went there for their mail, to vote, to buy grocer- ies from the little country store that was run by different men at different times among whom were W. D. Cox and J. G. Kenyon, both of this place . at the present writing. Along in the fall of 1886, the talk was heard that a railroad might be built from Kansas City to Parsons and that it would pass through Allen county, and forthwith the representative men of Els- more* township began to figure on getting it through this township. After the usual preliminary survey, resurveys and talk of better routes, the pro- moters of the Parsons and Pacific Railway Company decided that if Osage, Marmaton and Elsmore townships would each vote to take twenty thous- and dollars of common stock in the company, at par and pay for it in twenty year 6 per cent bonds, they might be able to build the road this way; any way, they would like for the people to vote on the proposition, and they did. The result was favorable to the bonds. Among the consider- ations, however, the Parsons and Pacific Railway Company was to build a depot and maintain a station, telegraph office and stock yards within one- half mile of the center of Elsmore township, and when this agreement is considered, it is easy to account for the present location and town of Els- more.
About Aug. 25, 1888, Messrs. W. D. Cox, H. W. Cox, N. L. Ard, O. P. Mattson, J. L. Roberts and J. A. Nicholson, purchased of the owners of the S. E. quarter of section 7, 26, 21, twenty acres in the southwest corner of said land, and proceeded to lay off and plat the town of Elsmore. The first business to be established was that of W. D. Cox, who moved his country store from Old Elsmore to the right of way near the southwest cor-
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ner of town and sold goods of every description to citizens of the commu- nity, as well as furnishing the contractors who were building the road many of their supplies. As soon as the town site was platted, W. D. Cox moved his store to the place where he now carries on business. E. Peters followed with a little store on the south side and later built where the M. L Decker residence now stands, and carried a very good general stock. The business changes of the town have been many, but in almost every instance the change has been to the advantage of the town. L. T. Donoho was the first post- master, J. L. Roberts the first hotel proprietor. The Fisher Lumber Co. were first to open a lumber yard, securing free lots from the town company, but losing them through failure to fulfil their part of the agreement. On their withdrawal came J. H. Osborn & Co., of Humboldt, who opened and maintained a yard that has been one of the strong firms of the town and at the present time one of our best firms. Winfield Samuel was our first drug- gist. Following him were Springer; Butler, Barton, Braden & Rees, and then S. H. Braden, who at present owns the fine brick building occupied with his large stock, equal to that of almost any store in the county. In the fall of 1890 Thos Bettes built a block of four large business rooms, which were occupied by Lardner, Love Bros., general merchandise, E. Butler, drugs, and Martin & Adams, general merchandise. In 1892 J. P. Decker & Co. purchased of Martin & Adams their stock of merchandise and con- tinued in the Bettes block until 1895, when the Decker block on the south side of the street was built and occupied by them.
By this time the town was making a strong growth and despite the hard times of '95, '96 and '97, new buildings were built and new firms con- tinued to locate until at the present time we have four general stores as fol- lows: Smith & Sons, McCaslin & Kincaid, the Elsmore Cash store, (J. P. Decker) and A. M. Tippie. W. D. Cox & Son now handle hardware and implements, grain, coal, furniture and undertaking goods. Krokstrom & Nelson have a large stock of hardware, implements, wagons, buggies, harness, etc. H. S. Richards is our harness maker and carries a good stock of goods. Mrs. H. S. Richards and Miss Carrie Rice each have a choice line of millinery. J. H. Ward does the barber and laundry work of the town; W. S. Samuels provides the soft drinks, candies and cigars to the trade and also feeds the hungry short order lunches. Mrs. Sparks conducts our hotel and enjoys a splendid trade; G. H. and H. E. Blakely recently purchased J. G. Kenyon's livery business and combining it with that of the Star livery barn, built a large new barn and do a thriving business. Besides W. D. Cox & Son. W. W. Moffitt and W. L. Higin- botham each do a grain business and find plenty to keep them busy. C. W. Nelson, J. T. Barron and C. W. Mosier are our blacksmiths; C. H. Woodard and A. C. Snyder our carpenters; Milton Watson our painter; Palmer and Rogers, our masous.
The fraternal societies of the town are the A. O. U. W., M. W. A., K. and L. of S., and the F. A. A., all flourishing insurance societies with a membership of about 250 persons. The Elsmore Creamery Company, composed of about twenty of our farmers and two or three town men, was
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HISTORY OF ALLEN AND
organized in 1896. B. F. Ludlum was its first president and J. P. Decker its first secretary. At the present time J. M. Hill is president and J. P. Decker still continues as secretary. The company has its main plant here and has stations at Bayard, Kansas, and Stark, Kansas, and does a large amount of business in a year. The State Bank of Elsmore was organized in 1899 and opened for business in August of that year. A. F. McCarty, of Humboldt, was its first president and still retains that position. S. H. Braden was the first cashier, but resigned his position January 1, 1900, to better look after his drug business, Frank Goyette purchasing the larger part of his stock and becoming cashier, still retaining the position. B. F. Ludlum is vice president and Mrs. Nannie Goyette, assistant cashier of the institution, which is doing a conservative, safe business, its deposits at the present time exceeding $20,000, its loans about $15,000 and its surplus and undivided profits reaching about $600. The capital stock of the bank is $6,000.
In the early days of the town the Elsmore Eagle made its appearance . and while a creditable country paper, did not pay its way and was finally allowed to die, the Iola Register getting its subscription list. Mr. L. E. DeHaven was editor and publisher and made the money to keep it going during its life teaching the local school. In 1896 A. F. McCarty came from Mapleton and started the Elsmore Enterprise and it soon became popular with the people of the community and was doing a fair business, when in 1897 Mr. McCarty secured control of the Humboldt Herald, abandoned the Enterprise and moved to Humboldt. In February 1899 A. F. McCarty and J. P. Decker concluded to revive the Enterprise and formed the Enterprise Publishing Company, Mr. McCarty furnishing the plant and Mr. Decker managing and conducting the paper. In February, 1900, Mr. Decker became owner and proprietor of the plant and paper and is conducting it at the present time, business being very good with him.
The Elsmore mill, J. T. Ralston proprietor, is another enterprise that is doing a successful business, dealing in grain and feed as well as doing grinding and a custom business. The trade of the town extends west half way to Humboldt, east into Bourbon county and north and south easily meets Moran and Savonburg half way, doing an especially large grain, broom corn, produce and life stock business. A list of the leading business firms would include J. A. Nicholson who knows more about broom corn and hauls more of it than any other Allen county firm and Elsmore easily ships more of this commodity than all other towns in the county and more than any two other towns in Southeastern Kansas, the shipments from here the past season being more than 400 tons.
In 1883 Wood Hull school district was organized, the school house being built at a location one-half mile south of the present town site and H. W. Cox taught the youthful mind such branches as are common to our country schools, and in 1889 the district voted for removal to Elsmore and favorable to another room, which was built and L. E. DeHaven and Miss Etta Alford were the first teachers. (They afterward married ) Again, in 1895, the room for our young became too crowded and a third
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room and teacher were added, new studies taken up and our school made rapid growth. In 1899 the patrons of the district realized that the schools might be improved and Prof. Ramsey, of Redfield, was employed. He at once took up the matter of a course of study that could be carried on systematically, and prepared one which was accepted by the board of education and which, when completed, fits the graduates of the Elsinore schools for entering the State University.
About the first of January, 1889, the U. B. society with Bro. Ayling as pastor met and organized and elected a board of trustees and circulated a subscription paper for a church, but failed to get enough subscribed and the matter was dropped. The same spring they organized a Sunday school. Rev. Ayling was followed by Revs. Finch and Cleaver, when in 1891 another effort was made to build a church and failed till in the summer of 1895 the corner stone was laid, and under the Rev. Kirk- patrick the following May the U. B. church of this place was dedicated. The following year they built a parsonage under Rev. Christlieb who was followed by Rev. Stone. The first Methodist minister who preached at this place was R. S. Barber whom the Moran charge under W. Emmerson sent here as a supply in the spring of 1890. In the fall of the same year B10. Barber resigned to go to school at Baker University at Baldwin, Kansas. By special request Rev. C. H. Ganntz, of the Erie circuit, came in November of the same year and preached the remainder of the con- ference year, holding services on Saturday evenings. On the 9th of January, 1901, the Methodist church was organized with thirteen charter members, namely: C. D. Willoughby and wife, W. B. Tramell and wife, Timothy Hurlbert and wife, H. W. Cox and wife and daughter, Lizzie, G. W. Smith and wife and Marry Bettes. The following members were elected as trustees: C. D Willoughby, W. B. Tramell, H. W. Cox, W. D. Cox and Timothy Hurlbert. It was decided at once to erect a church and, accordingly, Rev. Gramly and H. W. Cox were directed to solicit subscriptions which met with hearty response and in the following February the corner stone was laid, Rev. Brant, of Parsons, officiating. About the same time L. W. Keplinger, of Kansas City, Kansas, donated four acres of ground one-half mile east of town to the M. E. board of trustees for a cemetery. Early in the same spring the cemetery was platted and ready for use and on July 10, 1891, Thomas Davis was carried there the first to his last resting place. September 27, 1891, the M. E. church, size 28x48, costing $1,300, was dedicated, President Quayle of Baker, offi- ciating. The following Sabbath an M. E. Sunday School was organ- ized and has been an evergreen Sunday School. The following year under Rev. B. F. Cargy a parsonage, 24x24, was built at a cost of $200. By some delay and the sale of the parsonage, owing to a change in the circuit and the pastor residing at a more central point, the church was released from all debt in the spring of 1900 and papered and repainted. The church has had the services of the following pastors: C. H. Gramly, B F. Cargy, Wm. Leaser, J. K. White, J. S. Budd, J. H. Carter. The present pastor is H. I. Dolson.
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Biographies
L EONARD B. PEARSON .- It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a state lies not in its machinery of government, nor even in its institutions, but in the sterling qualities of its individual citizens, in their capacity for high and unselfish effort and their devotion to the public good. The goal toward which he has lastened during his many years of toil and endeavor is that which is attained only by such as have by patriot- ism and wise counsel given the world an impetus toward the good; such have gained the right and title to have their names enduringly inscribed on the bright pages of history.
Leonard B. Pearson, who is interested in agricultural pursuits in Allen County, his home being in Salem township, was born July 2, 1832, in Jefferson county, New York, and traces his ancestry back to one of the old Quaker families of Connecticut. In 1637 John Pearson was driven from England on account of his religious belief. He landed at Lynn, Mas- sachusetts, and shortly afterward went to Rowley, Massachusetts, where he established the first fulling mills in America. Several families of the Pearsons also came from England to escape the Quaker persecution at about the same time and settled in the Penn colony. The early Pearsons inter-married with the families of Cowdrys, Fosters, Dexters, Morrows and Kendalls. Edward, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer. Two of his maternal uncles, Harmon, were soldiers in the Revolutionary Edward Pearson had war. One was killed in the battle of Cowpens. four sons and four daughters: Austin was born in 1811 and died a few years ago in New York, leaving a family; Leonard, who made his home in Jefferson county, New York, also passed away a few years ago, survived by his family: Ira, the father of our subject; Edward, the youngest brother, died in Tiffin, Ohio, leaving two children. Of the sisters, Hattie was born in 1793, Sally was born in 1794, Almira was born in 1797 and Anna was born in 1806. All have now passed away.
Ira Pearson, the father of our subject, was a native of Otsego county, New York. His birth occurred October 11, 1799. At the age of twenty- four he was united in marriage to Eliza Ann Harmon who became the mother of five sons and two daughters. The father was a Democrat in early life, but on account of his opposition to slavery he became a staunch Abolitionist. He and Cortez Overton and Chas. Dickey wrote their ballots
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and marched in line to vote for Birney for president, when to be an Aboli- tionist was to incur ridicule. When sixty-four years of age Ira Pearson offered his services in the detense of Washington, but on account of his advanced years he was not received as a member of the army. Charles Edwin Pearson, his eldest son, was born September 2, 1826. During the Civil war he joined the Union army and was killed in the battle of Gettys- burg while faithfully serving his country. Adelia, the second child, was born March 8, 1828, and died unmarried; Leonard B .; Lydia E. was born November 15, 1834, and resides with her brother Leonard. Horatio C. was born November 28, 1837, and fell in the second battle of Bull Run August 30, 1862. Albert and Alfred, twins, were born March 22, 1841, The former was wounded and captured at the second battle of Bull Run, but was again with his regiment at Gettysburg. Soon afterward he returned home broken down in health by his experiences in a Confederate prison. Alfred died in 1874 at his home in Downer's Grove, Illinois.
Leonard Bloomfield Pearson, whose name introduces this review, spent his early life assisting his father in his blacksmith shop. In winter he attended the district school. His early privileges were supplemented by studying in the Belleville Academy in Jefferson county, New York, which he entered when twenty years of age, working his way through four years of school by his own efforts. In 1862 he removed to Illinois and for ten years, at intervals, sailed on the great lakes. The family was noted for loyalty and during the progress of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Pearson of this review joined the boys in blue of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-second Illinois Infantry under Captain Baker, Colonel T. J. Pickett. It was supposed when he enlisted that his soldier brothers were all dead and now he placed himself at the front willing to give his life, if need be, as a ransom to his country. He was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant and was on duty in Kentucky and Missouri, being kept on scouting and outpost duty until the time of his discharge in 1864. Soon after he was discharged he was offered one thousand dollars to re-enlist. but he had entered the army from patriotic impulses and would not re-enlist for money. Returning to Illinois he was for some time a resident of Du Page county and on the 18th of November, 1870, he started from there to Kansas. He reached Allen county November 22 and located on the O. J. Johnson farm in Humboldt township. There he remained one year when he traded his team and wagon for an eighty-acre farm in Section thirty Salem township. When he took up his abode there the total of his improvements was a ten by twelve box house. He now owns three hun- dred and twenty acres of valuable land, a greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation, yielding to him an excellent income. Many modern improvements and accessories have been added to the place which indicates his careful supervision.
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