USA > Kansas > Atchison County > History of Atchison County, Kansas > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
3II
312
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
fore the death of Captain Seaton, a few years ago, the Locomotive Finished Material Company was organized to put the finishing touches on castings and at the death of Mr. Seaton, H. E. Muchnic became president and general manager of the company, with John C. Seaton, Clive Hastings, W. S. Fer- guson and G. L. Seaton as associate directors. The average number of em- ployees is about 226, when the total horse power is 500. They have a payroll of over $14,000 a month, and are doing a large business with railroads and other big industrial plants throughout the country.
The Manglesdorf Brothers Company is one of the oldest establishments in the city. It began in 1875 as a side line in connection with the retail gro- cery business, by August and William Manglesdorf, and is now conducted by the sons of the founders. It is one of the largest seed houses in the West. The business was incorporated in 1887, and the officers in 1916 are as fol- lows : August Manglesdorf, president ; A. F. Manglesdorf, vice-president ; Ed. F. Manglesdorf, vice-president; F. H. Manglesdorf, treasurer, and F. W. Manglesdorf, secretary.
-MANGELSDORF BROS SEED CO . - SAYLER & SEDDON ARCHITECTY:
The business has grown to such an extent that it was thought advisable to close out the retail end of it and it is now conducted as an exclusively whole- sale seed house. The new warehouse, which the firm now occupies, was erected last year and gives it one of the largest and most complete plants in the West. The new building is modern in every way, strictly fire-proof and
313
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
provides an enormous space for storing and handling the stocks, which are accumulated for the spring trade. The seed line, perhaps more than any other, is a seasonable one, and by far the greater proportion of the year's business must be crowded into a few spring months. It is necessary, therefore, to move goods quickly and in large quantities, when the season is on. For this purpose, the warehouses are equipped with suitable machinery and devices, which are kept up to the highest possible efficiency for handling and cleaning the seed. The stocks are obtained in all parts of the world. When crops fail in one part of the country, it is the business of the seed dealers to supply the deficiency from some other sections, where conditions have been more fav- orable. Thus, the source of supply and the outlet for it are constantly shift- ing and it requires keeping in touch with the progress of the crops and market conditions in many different producing districts.
The firm does a considerable export business also, particularly in blue grass and timothy, which are produced here, cheaper and in better quality than they are in Europe. During each year the firm's travelers cover the States of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, parts of Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. Its line of garden seeds may be obtained from the local merchants in nearly every town in this territory.
The Bailor Plow Company, of Atchison, organized in 1910 with all authorized capital of $50,000. J. M. Schott, president ; Charles Linley, vice- president ; W. P. Byram, secretary; E. V. Jones, treasurer and manager. Manufacturers of a two-row cultivator. S. E. Bailor, then of Beatrice, Neb .. some twenty years since built and began experimenting with a two-row cul- tivator. About 1905, the late David Rankin, of Tarkio, Mo., placed fifty Bailor cultivators in use on his 25,000-acre farm near Tarkio, giving them a thorough test for efficiency. The result was such that he induced Bailor to build a plant for their manufacture at Tarkio. In 1910 the Atchison Commer- cial Club, which had previously investigated the possibilities of Bailor's factory as a valuable addition to this city's industrial institutions, induced him to locate his business in Atchison. The Bailor Plow Company was promoted and in- corporated by the following successful business men : Balie P. Waggener, Henry Klostermeier, T. R. Clendinen, at that time president of the Commer- cial Club; O. A. Simmons, vice-president of the First National Bank ; E. V. Jones, J. M. Schott, W. P. Byram, Charles Linley, at that time treasurer of Atchison county, and S. E. Bailor, inventor of the cultivator. During the year 1910, the first year of operation in Atchison, one hundred cultivators were sold. The year 1915 shows an output of product valued at about $250,-
314
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
000. The company's plant has a floor space of 25,000 square feet ; forty men are on its payroll and it disburses in wages over $50,000 per annum.
The National Poultry and Egg Company. This institution is one of the largest of its kind in the West, and is located on the corner of Fourteenth and Main streets. Under the able management of G. E. Hanna, it has steadily increased its capacity and enlarged its business operations until at the present time it employs an average of fifty-four men and women a month and pays out in wages almost $30,000 each year. The plant and machinery represent an investment of about $70,000 and its sales are over a half million dollars a year. It is engaged in buying and selling poultry, eggs and butter, and ships fancy dressed poultry to eastern markets.
Deer Creek Creamery Company. This company has a capital stock of $10,000 ; employs eight men and four girls, with an annual payroll of $8,000. In addition to the employees in the local office, it also employs twenty men in the country to operate its numerous cream stations. The company manufac- tures over a half million pounds of butter a year, and it puts up and sells in Atchison from 80,000 to 100,000 gallons of milk every year, in addition to 6,000 or 8,000 gallons of ice cream. Over $125,000 annually is paid out to Kansas farmers for cream; about $25,000 of this amount going to farmers in the immediate vicinity of Atchison. It is one of the growing institutions of the city, and the excellence of the products it turns out is the cause for its constant increase of business.
Atchison is also the home of two large manufacturers of saddlery. The Atchison Saddlery Company is the successor to Louis Kiper & Sons and occu- pies a large building on Kansas avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. Its officers are George Diegel, president : George T. Lindsey, vice-president, and Henry Diegel, secretary-treasurer. It has a capital stock of $150,000; em- ploys seventy-nine people. It ships its products into many States of the West and has been doing an exceedingly large business in the past few years.
Kessler-Barkow Saddlery Company was incorporated several years ago, with G. T. Bolman, president; F. A. Barkow, vice-president, and H. B. Kes- sler, secretary and treasurer. This company has a capital and surplus of $85,000, and employs sixty-five people, and has an average annual payroll of about $40,000.00. It manufactures harness and saddles for the jobbing trade exclusively and has large accounts with the Blish, Mize & Silliman Hardware Company, Montgomery, Ward & Company and Sears, Roebuck & Company.
The Atchison Leather Products Company is another growing institu- tion of Atchison, the officers of which are the same as that of the Kessler-
315
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
Barkow Saddlery Company. This company are producers of cut leather parts of all kinds, and are large buyers of scrap leather. It has a capital stock of $7,000.00 and employs fifteen people. Its sales for 1915 amounted to over $65,000.00, and it also handles various leather specialties and automobile accessories.
Atchison is also the home of three large mills. The Blair Milling Com- pany, the Cain Milling Company and the Lukens Milling Company, and these mills handle an average of 20,000 to 25,000 cars of grain annually, and ship out finished wheat and corn products of 4,000 to 5,000 cars every year. The Lukens Milling Company has recently erected cement storage tanks for stor- age of grain, of the capacity of 125,000 bushels, and the Blair Elevator Com- pany, which is operated by J. W. and W. A. Blair, in 1915, also erected cement storage tanks to the capacity of 200,000 bushels. The growth of the mills of Atchison is logical, for they are located in a rich agricultural section, and consequently the mills are among the most important enterprises in the city. In each case the mills of Atchison are being operated by the sons of its founders. The Blair mill was established by E. K. Blair, in an early day of the history of Atchison, and is now managed by his sons, J. W. and W. A. Blair. The Lukens mill was founded by David Lukens, who came to Atchi- son in 1857. He operated a sawmill and raised corn in Missouri bottoms un- til 1877, when he built the Diamond Mills, now conducted by his sons, Arthur Lukens, Edwin Lukens and David Lukens. The original Cain Mill Company was established by John M. Cain and Alfred Cain, and its successor, the Cain Milling Company, is operated by Douglas M. Cain, the son of Alfred Cain.
Atchison is also the home of two of the largest wholesale hardware stores on the Missouri river, both of which began operations here at approxi- mately the same time. The operations of the Blish, Mize & Silliman Hardware Company are the largest of the two companies. This company travels thirty men and has an office and store force of eighty-eight men and women. It has an annual payroll of $115,000.00. It was founded by D. P. Blish, E. A. Mize and J. B. Silliman, who were all related by marriage. The company be- gan in a small way as a successor to J. E. Wagner & Company, and has branched out in its business until it covers several States and territories. It occupies a magnificent re-inforced concrete fire-proof structure at the corner of Fifth and Utah avenue, and its business has been increasing from year to year.
The A. J. Harwi Hardware Company is owned and controlled largely by F. E. Harwi, the son of its founder, and a full account of its operations appears in a sketch of the life and career of A. J. Harwi in this history.
316
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
Atchison is particularly proud of the fact that it is one of the best job- bing centers in this part of the country, and in this connection the wholesale grocery business is well represented in the two splendid firms of the Dolan Mercantile Company and the Symns Grocery Company. The Dolan Mercan- tile Company was established by W. F. Dolan, one of the pioneers of Atchison, who started in a small way as a retail grocer merchant, and died leaving a splendidly established wholesale grocery business, which is now conducted by M. J. Horan and Leo Nusbaum. This house, under the able management of these two young men is rapidly making for itself a big reputation among wholesale dealers and grocers. In addition to jobbing regular lines of mer- chandise this company has recently installed its own plant for the manufacture of fluid extracts, baking powder and pancake flour, and also roasts its own coffees. It has a large traveling force, visiting the States of Nebraska, Mis- souri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and the Dolan brands are well known through- out this whole territory.
The Symns Grocery Company was established by A. B. Symns, who came to Kansas from West Virginia, with his three brothers, in 1858, where he set- tled in the town of Doniphan and engaged in mercantile pursuits, until he removed to Atchison in 1872. He opened a wholesale and retail grocery here in that year, and continued in business without a partner until March, 1878, when the firm became Symns & Turner, under which name it was run until 1880, when it was changed to A. B. Symns & Company. It was subsequently incorporated into the Symns Grocery Company, and at the death of A. B. Symns, the business was run by J. W. Allen, J. E. Moore, C. A. Lockwood and Tom Gray. It operates in about the same territory that the Dolan Mer- cantile Company operates in, and its present enterprising management is keeping up the splendid reputation established by its founder.
The Odell Cider & Vinegar Company is a new institution in Atchison. A. Leo is manager, and $30,000.00 is invested in the plant and equipment here. This company pressed out over 200,00 bushels of apples in 1915, and made 650,000 gallons of vinegar. Forty men are employed during the press- ing season, and over $30,000.00 a year is paid out for apples, which are converted into 150,000 gallons of vinegar, which is shipped to various points in the United States during 1915.
The Stevenson planing mill employs twelve men, with a payroll of about $10,000.00 a year and annual sales aggregating $27,000.00. S. R. Steven- son, who for many years was employed by the old Atchison Furniture Com- pany, is at the head of this business. He settled in Atchison in 1865, and learned cabinet making with Dickinson & Company, of this city.
317
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
It would require a volume to properly elaborate upon the operations of the various commercial enterprises of Atchison. What has been given is the merest outline of the industrial activities here. The brief reference to the several business houses and manufacturing plants is made merely for the pur- pose of showing the character of the industrial life of the county.
In addition to those enumerated there are other jobbing and manufac- turing interests operating, in some instances on as large a scale, and in other instances on a smaller scale, but which in themselves are just as important. Reference has not been made to the Klostermeier Hardware Company, one of the largest jobbers in hardware in northeastern Kansas, or to L. W. Voigt & Company, large shippers of fruit, vegetables and produce, or to Kean & Tucker, operating along the same line; neither has the James Poultry Com- pany been mentioned, which is one of Atchison's growing concerns. There are also manufacturers of cigars, brooms and barrels; large distributors of automobiles and automobile accessories, and candy manufacturers. The Rail- way Specialty Company, manufacturers of gasoline propelled railway track cars is making substantial progress. From a small beginning it has forged ahead, under the able management of Clive Hastings, until it has reached a point where it will soon take its place among the leading track car manu- facturers of this country. Already the company has shipped its cars to for- eign parts, and it has also supplied many of the large railroads of the United States with its cars. The Weiss Cornice Company is the latest arrival in Atchison. This company makes metal cornices, window frames and other builders' fire-proof specialties. It recently moved here from Kansas City and is already a large employer of labor. The Washer Grain Company, estab- lished by Maj. S. H. Washer, does a large grain business, and is still managed by Major Washer, who recently passed his eightieth birthday. He is ably assisted by his son, W. R. Washer, who is also otherwise prominently identi- fied with the commercial and shipping interests of the county.
Atchison also is a fine retail center, and draws trade from the surrounding territory for a distance of from fifty to seventy-five miles. It has fine dry goods stores, which carry the latest merchandise; good shoe stores, millinery shops, grocery and hardware stores and shops of all kinds, all of which are run by enterprising merchants. Atchison is a good town in which to live; a city of beautiful homes ; fine paved and well lighted streets ; a good water system and adequate street car service, and a fine, prosperous set of people. The future of Atchison, as a commercial center, is particularly bright, and it may look back with a justifiable pride to what has already been accomplished, and forward to a better day that is yet to come.
CHAPTER XXI.
-
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS.
ATCHISON POSTOFFICE-COURT HOUSE-COUNTY HOSPITAL-YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-STATE ORPHANS' HOME-ATCHISON PUBLIC LIBRARY-ATCHISON HOSPITAL-MASONIC TEMPLE.
The first postoffice in Atchison opened in a small, one-story, stone building, on the south side of Commercial street, between Second and Third. The room was about 20x26 feet in dimensions, but large enough for the purpose for which it was intended at that time. The location of the post- office was removed in 1856 to the store of Messrs. Woolfolk & Cabell, on the levee. During the war in Kansas, in August, the headquarters of the United States mail service were removed to the law office of P. P. Wilcox. From there the office was removed to a building on the north side of Commercial street, between Third and Fourth, and it was there that in July. 1882, the free delivery system was inaugurated in Atchison, which, with her money order department fully equipped the postoffice. A number of years later agitation was started for the erection of a new postoffice, and through the efforts of Senator Ingalls a site at the northeast corner of Seventh and Kan- sas avenue was purchased from Dr. Cochrane by the Government, and the contract was awarded for the erection of the postoffice June 24, 1892, at a cost of $61.703.17.
The names and terms of the postmasters of Atchison since the founding of the office are as follows : Robert S. Kelly, March 15, 1855: John H. Blas- ingham. December 20, 1855 : Henry Addoms, July 28. 1857; John A. Martin, April 26, 1861 ; Benjamin B. Gale, March 5, 1874; John M. Price, February 6, 1879: Melleville C. Winegar, March 10, 1882; H. Clay Park, March 30, 1886: Solomon R. Washer, March 20, 1890; Edgar C. Post, June 7, 1894; James M. Chisham, June 3, 1898: William D. Casey, December 14. 1910; Louis C. Orr December 29, 1914, who is postmaster in 1916.
318
319
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
COURT HOUSE.
The present court house of this county occupies lots 1, 2 and 3, in block 65, Old Atchison, and the contract for the building was entered into on the twenty-first day of May, 1896, and accepted by the board of county com- missioners September 13, 1897. The total cost of building and fixtures was $83, 154.48.
COUNTY HOSPITAL.
The present county hospital for the poor is located on the southeast quarter of section 14, township 6, range 20. The farm was purchased from R. A. Park October 7, 1903, for $9.540, and the hospital was erected Jan- uary 3, 1905, at a cost of $27,501. The average cost of operating the hos- pital and farm of 160 acres is approximately $2,109.16 per year, and the average number of inmates is thirty. The present superintendent is J. S. Clingan.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
On December 2, 1911, there met in the office of C. S. Hull a small group of men interested in securing a modern Young Men's Christian Association building for the city of Atchison. Although this is the first formal meeting of which there are any minutes recorded it is known that the idea of an organization and building had long existed in the mind of William Carlisle, and that encouragement was given him by many others. At the meeting held on December 2 the Atchison Y. M. C. A. Promotion Club was formally launched with Claude B. Fisk as president.
At the next meeting, held January 1, 1912, an executive committee, com- posed of R. W. Ramsay, W. B. Collett, Fred Oliver, and C. S. Hull was elected and the secretary was authorized to invite John E. Manley, State secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, to be present at the next meeting of the club.
On March 6, 1912, the club met at the Byram Hotel for luncheon. Mr. Manley was present at this meeting and outlined a plan for a campaign to raise the necessary funds to erect a modern building. The luncheon meeting adjourned to meet at the office of H. H. Hackney at 4 p. m., at which time a business committee of twenty-five men was appointed. The following com- posed this committee : H. B. Mize, Fred Oliver, Eugene Howe, W. B. Col- lett, C. S. Hull, George Guerrier, R. W. Ramsay, Sheffield Ingalls, D. M.
320
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
Cain, F. W. Woodford, A. F. Heck, August Manglesdorf, Jr., T. A. Moxcey, Eugene Pulliam, E. W. Clausen, Clive Hastings, H. H. Hackney, N. T. Veatch, W. P. Waggener, W. J. Bailey, Charles Linley, Roy Seaton, Claude Fisk, J. A. Shoemaker, Holmes Dysinger. This committee was later in- creased to twenty-seven, and the names of W. A. Carlisle and W. A. Jackson were added.
The first regular meeting of the provisional committee, as it was now called, was held at the Blish, Mize & Silliman offices March 13 and a perma- nent organization effected. State Secretary Manley was present. R. W. Ramsay, the present incumbent, was made president at this meeting; Charles Linley, vice-president ; C. S. Hull, recording secretary, and George Guerrier, treasurer. T. C. Treat at this time tendered the use of a room in the Simp- son building for an office for the organization, which was gratefully accepted.
At a meeting of the executive committee, held March 18, 1912. L. V. Starkey was employed as general secretary and took active charge of the building campaign April 15.
At the meeting held April 22 it was decided to raise $100,000 by public subscription, and the following team captains were elected: S. R. Beebe, O. A. Simmons, H. B. Mize, John R. Taylor, F. M. Woodford, L. M. Baker, Charles A. Brown, W. D. Casey, W. W. Hetherington, and W. A. Jackson.
The charter for the organization bears the date of April 6 and was duly acted upon and signed by the committee of twenty-seven at a meeting held April 22.
In a ten days' campaign conducted May 15-25, 1912, an amount approxi- mating $85,000 was raised by popular subscription. The headquarters of the campaign were in a room furnished by J. C. Killarney at 105-107 North Fifth street.
The latter part of June, 1912, the site at the northeast corner of Fourth and Commercial streets was contracted for and work begun at once on the building. On December 4, 1913, the splendid building which now occupies that corner was formally opened for the regular work of the association. The membership soon reached 450, and has been maintained at about that point ever since.
The entire cost of building, including site and furnishings, amounted to $113,000.
The Y. M. C. A. building contains thirty-four living rooms with a capacity for fifty men. These rooms are now kept filled practically all the time. A restaurant is operated on the ground floor and there are excellent
321
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
facilities for handling banquets and committee meetings. The building is always at the disposal of church societies and other organizations for gather .. ings of any kind.
There is a gymnasium, 44x72 feet, thoroughly equipped with all neces- sary apparatus and a white tile-lined swimming pool, 20x50 feet. With a separate entrance on Fourth street, there is a special game room for boys ten to fifteen years of age.
The present board of directors is composed of R. W. Ramsay as presi- dent; B. L. Brockett, vice-president ; H. H. Hackney, recording secretary ; Charles Linley, treasurer ; Messrs. W. B. Collett, M. T. Dingess, Claud B. Fisk, J. A. Fletcher, C. C. Ham, W. W. Hetherington, Martin Jensen, J. F. Krueger, H. P. Shepherd, and F. M. Woodford.
The present general secretary, Ira J. Beard, came to the association in April, 1914. Emmett T. Ireland is the present physical director, and George Kassabaum is the assistant secretary.
On the fourth of December, 1914, an anniversary banquet was held in the gymnasium, celebrating the first year of the association in its new build- ing, and the reports of the work accomplished at that time dispelled any feel- ing there may have been on the part of some that such an institution could not be successfully maintained in Atchison. This banquet was attended by 200 enthusiastic friends and members of the asociation, and Governor Arthur Capper was a guest of honor.
Membership in the Young Men's Christian Association is open to any boy or man of good character who is over ten years of age. Membership in the Atchison association is accepted and honored in all other Young Men's Christian associations throughout the country. The dominant purpose of the association is the building up of Christian character.
STATE ORPHANS' HOME.
The legislature of the State of Kansas at the session of 1885 enacted the first law for the establishing of a Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Atchison, Kan. For the purpose of erecting the first building the legislature appropriated the sum of $24,300 on condition that the land should be donated to the State.
The act of the legislature provided that said Soldiers' Orphans' Home "shall be an institution for the nurture, education and maintenance, without charge, for all indigent children of soldiers who served in the army and navy of the Union during the late rebellion, and who have been disabled from
2I
322
IIISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
wounds or disease, or who have since died in indigent circumstances, and other indigent orphan children of the State." The institution was located at Atchison, Kan., on the present site which was purchased from the late J. P. Brown and donated to the State. In pursuance of the act of the legislature a portion of what is now the main building was erected and by a subsequent appropriation was finished, and the first children were admitted on July 1, 1887.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.