History of Butler County Kansas, Part 29

Author: Mooney, Vol. P
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan. : Standard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 946


USA > Kansas > Butler County > History of Butler County Kansas > Part 29


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Rose Ilill State Bank, capital, $10.000 ; surplus, $10,000; James Mc- Cluggage, president; W. N. Harris, vice president; J. F. McCluggage. cashier ; F. J. McCluggage, assistant cashier. The controlling interest is owned by the McCluggage family, one of the oldest and strongest in the county. Elbing State Bank, capital. $10.000; surplus. $5.000; H. Jansen, president ; E. W. Melend, vice president ; D. C. Crosby, cashier. Mr. Crosby is one of the most careful and thorough business men, and the condition of his bank reflects his ability.


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Rosalia State Bank, capital, $10,000 ; surplus, $3,000; R. II. Hazlett; president ; F. S. Liggett, vice president ; J. 11. Liggett, cashier. This is one of the new banks of the county and is under able management. Cassoday State Bank, capital, $10,000; surplus, $3,000; L. Harsh, presi- dent ; O. S. Reed, vice president ; Lyman D. Benton, cashier. Mr. Harsh is one of the old pioneers of the county and a very wealthy man. Mr. Benton is a very capable young man with more than usual business ability, and while Cassoday is an inland town the bank is prospering, and the town is growing.


Beaumont State Bank, capital, $10,000; surplus, $6,000; James Ed- gar, recently deceased and one of the splendid men of Butler county, president ; W. H. Squires, vice president ; F. T. Hopp, cashier ; J. C. Squier, assistant cashier. Mr. Ilopp was trained in a Kansas City bank, and is making a fine success of the Beaumont Bank, which is one of the new banks of the county. The Andover State Bank is just started. S. B. McClaren is president and is one of the successful business men of Butler county, recently removed to Wichita.


Butler county is fortunate in the kind and character of her banks. They are well officered and well managed and command the confidence of the people. Every bank, though many are small, is strong, the bank- ers of the county are friendly and co-operative and work together for the strength of their respective institutions and for the general welfare. The old bank fights of early days are a thing of the past and the banks co-operate for the public good and the general welfare, better perhaps than in any other county in the state.


I have written into this record the exact facts as nearly as they can be ascertained and trust that any inaccuracies that might possibly be found will be but very slight, as I am firmly convinced they are.


Butler county is signally honored at this time in having the bank commissioner of Kansas, in the person of Hon. William F. Benson, who, for many years, was active vice president of the Citizens State Bank of this city. Mr. Benson was appointed to this position two years ago by Gov. George H. Hodges, who had served in Kansas State senate with Mr. Benson when Mr. Benosn represented Butler county. Mr. Benson has made an ideal commissioner, his knowledge of practical banking, his long experience and sound common sense, being the necessary requisites to the proper conduct of his office.


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CHAPTER XXII.


TELEPHONE SYSTEM.


By F. S. Allen.


MYSTERIOUS SWITCHBOARD-FIRST TELEPHONE EXCHANGE AT EL DORA- DO-BUTLER COUNTY TELEPHONE AND ELECTRIC COMPANY-GROWTH OF BUSINESS-MISSOURI AND KANSAS TELEPHONE COMPANY-OFFI- CERS-CHARLES H. PARKER.


About the year 1883, a certain electrical construction company, located in the eastern part of the United States, was manufacturing a telephone switchboard which was an infringement on the then existing patents covering such apparatus, and a far-sighted Uncle Samuel, ever mindful of the protection granted to struggling inventors, decided that the switchboard above mentioned should not be allowed to endure and thrive. So an order was sent out that these boards should be confis- cated, wherever found. It so happened that there was, at that time, in use at Peabody, Kansas, equipment of this make, and in order to destroy it. government agents one day went to Peabody to take the board, but when they arrived there, there was not a sign of any such apparatus. These officials hunted high and low for several months and finally gave up their search, and the disappearance of the old Peabody switchboard became one of the mysteries of early day telephony in southern Kansas.


Several years later, sometime in the late nineties, O. R. Cline, now a resident of Long Beach, Cal., after considerable hard work and many vicissitudes, started a small telephone exchange at El Dorado. county seat of Butler county, Kansas. "Started" is the right word to use in this connection, for as far as we can learn, there was never a real organization of a company or formal opening of the exchange. Our pioneers in the telephone game were untutored in the profession, and for the most part, men of small means, and their exchanges grew only as they accumulated the money to extend their lines. Well, any way, when the exchange started at El Dorado, there, as natural as life and just as crude as ever, stood the old outlawed switchboard which years before had disappeared from Peabody. It is said that to this day, never a man has been found that could tell of the "doing's" of the old board from the time it "strayed" from Peabody. until it was "discovered" at El Dorado.


And that, dear reader, is about all that I can tell you of the begin- ning of what has, until recently, been known as the Butler County


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Telephone and Electric Company. It is known that for some years Mr. Cline conducted an exchange at El Dorado, and that the exchange grew under his management, and then the possibilities of the new industry beginning to make themselves known, a company was organized, on a sound financial basis, and this company bought out Mr. Cline. The exchange at El Dorado thuis became the nucleus and headquarters of the Butler County Company.


The stock of the Butler County Telephone and Electric Company was all held by parties in Butler county. The organizers and officers were not telephone men, and it soon became apparent that someone with a broad knowledge of the business should have active management of the affairs of the company and about this time there was recommended to them a young man then connected with the Central Union Telephone Company, operating in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, who desired to avail himself of Horace Greeley's famous advice, and came west where there was to be found health, wealth and happiness. After certain encour- aging correspondence, this young man came to El Dorado, and as he and company decided that they should be mutually benefitted by the connection he was offered the superintendency of the company, and accepted it, and Charles H. Parker thus became associated with the strong directorate of men in charge of the affairs of the organization.


Under Mr. Parker's supervision, proper construction, operating and maintenance methods were put into effect and with good service and extensive toll connections and courteous treatment, it was soon found that the company was taxed to. its utmost to provide facilities for the ever-increasing business, but it has always endeavored to take care of the demand for rural service and toll business. Toll circuits were con- structed to reach every point in Butler county, and were met at certain points by lines of the Missouri & Kansas Telephone Company thereby giving the local organization long distance service to all Bell points. In time it was necessary to build a modern plant at El Dorado, and in addition exchanges were opened at Augusta, Douglass, Towanda, Ben- ton, Leon and Chelsea. From the sixty stations purchased from Mr. Cline, the company grew, in a few years, to over 2200 stations, and over 400 miles of toll circuits.


It was about this time that oil and gas activities began to manifest themselves in Butler county, and the company, realizing that they could not hope to keep up with the growth of business and population, and believing that the interests of the people could best be served by a larger and more extensive operating company, an offer was made to the Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company, which purchased the entire holding of the Butler county company. The deal was closed early in March, 1916. The Butler county company operated the property until April 1, at which time the active management was taken over by the Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company.


A word should be said regarding the men who for years so success-


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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


fully conducted the affairs of the old Butler county organization. The president was A. J. Holderman, president of the Farmers and Mer- chants National Bank of El Dorado, and for years a member of the State legislature : vice president, John Ellis, retired farmer and vice president of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank; secretary, F. S. Allen, abstractor, and Superintendent Charles H. Parker. Besides these men. on the Board of Directors were: W. F. Benson, state bank examiner ; R. H. Hazlett, president, El Dorado National Bank; W. I. Shriver .. cashier, Farmers and Merchants National Bank, and R. H. Julian, a druggist. These men are all substantial business men of El Dorado and have the entire confidence of their neighbors and associates. They have helped to make El Dorado the thriving commercial and agricul- tural center that it is.


Charles H. Parker, who has been retained by the Missouri & Kan- sas Telephone Company as district manager of the newly created El Dorado district of the western division, began his telephone career at the age of sixteen as a groundman for the Central Union Telephone Company in central Illinois, and remained with that company for twelve years, acting in many capacities, having been local and district manager at several exchanges. He came west because he thought there were better opportunities for a young man, and has never regretted that he took the step.


CHAPTER XXIII.


BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOLS.


By H. I. French.


FIRST SCHOOL-DIFFICULTIES OF EARLY ORGANIZATION-EARLY NORMAL INSTITUTES-FIRST TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS-COURSE OF STUDY PROVIDED-FIRST COMMENCEMENT-FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN EL DO- RADO-BARNES LAW SCHOOLS-SPECIAL COURSES-BARNES HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE-RURAL SCHOOL CONTESTS-EARLY TEACHERS-EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOL-SUPERINTENDENTS- CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDING BURNED-DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLS.


The first school was held at Chelsea in 1860. Miss Sarah Satchell was the teacher. It was a private school which interested families sup- ported. Other communities grouped themselves similarly and after D. L. McCabe, the first superintendent, was duly qualified for duty, these groups were organized according to law as school districts with indefi- nite boundaries, and were numbered in order of organization from one to ten. The attitude of the early settlers on the school question is thus set forth in an annual report of 1870: "Our citizens have shown a com- mendable spirit in making provision for the support of schools. Scarcely has the settler built his cabin and planted an acre of ground before he has inquired, 'Where is the school?' And, forthwith, as by the touch of some magic wand a district has been organized and a school com- menced."


The succeeding superintendents continued the formation and or- ganization of school districts. But the work grew more difficult as the number increased, and the first districts were reduced to form them. The paralyzing effect of these perfunctory matters on the school work of the early superintendents is set forth by Samuel S. Shotwell in his second annual report (September, 1871) : "The organization of school districts and the alteration of district lines should be in the hands of the county commissioners. The superintendent's usefulness is much im- paired by this duty, as it is hardly possible to make the lines of dis- tricts suit all. Some one must be in a corner, and those who feel espe- cially aggrieved charge the superintendent with the whole blame and are ready to oppose any measures he may suggest for the betterment of the schools." And in 1874, at the close of the "grasshopper year," Superin- tendent S. L. Roberts reports : "Districting is still a bone of contention


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here. One year more-had times remained prosperous-and this un- pleasant work would be finished." It took six years longer, however, for it was not until about 1880 that the 168 districts of the county took their present form and were outlined by Superintendent J. W. Shively in the record book still in use.


The State law made it the duty of the county superintendent to hold a normal institute. The first one was held at El Dorado the last week in September, 1871. Prof. Lee of Leavenworth was present two days and forty teachers were in attendance. Several of them renderd valu- abl assistance in the conduct of the exercises. The normal institute has been held annually since that time. It has been a wholesome force in the intellectual growth of the county. Except for one session held at Augusta in April. 1872, the meetings have always been held at the county seat. There has been considerable variation in attendance, in purpose, and in methods of work. About 1892 saw the high water mark in attendance, when over 300 were enrolled. The work then was purely academic. The young people came from the common schools. Very few had any high school or college training. The efficiency of the times in this way kept pace with the needs and requirements. A few years later such preparation did not satisfy the modern requirements of edu- cation. Now at least 95 per cent. of the attendance have had high school training and many have college work to their credit. The summer ses- sions of the State schools and colleges have become successful rivals for the attendance of the teachers, and the laws of 1915 provide for a change from the four-week to a five-day institute, with a consequent re- arrangement of the course for methods and professional work alone.


The first County Teachers' Association was held at the close of the first institute in 1871. Its purpose was "to advance the educational interests of the county, to aid in educational reforms and to disseminate correct views of education and create a public sentiment in their favor." It has persisted through the years for its value was soon seen. It pro- vided for the personal contact and direct discussion of the teacher's daily problems as well as for inspirational talks from educational leaders. In later years it has been more directly influential in the daily work than ever before. Attendance is required as a part of the professional work of the teacher and the school boards pay $i as expense to the teacher for each meeting attended. It has been broken up into grade, rural and high school sections, with discussions adapted to each section; and the teachers feel a personal interest and responsibility.


Courses of study were provided by the State in the early seventies. but in the true sense of the word there were no grade schools in those days. At El Dorado and Augusta in 1874 there were more than one de- partment and a consequent separation of pupils according to age, but the course was not followed according to law. Gradually the two- teacher schools, or graded schools, were able to follow the courses of study, but it was long the custom in the rural schools to begin at the


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first of the book at the opening of school and read through the readers and work as far as possible in the arithmetic; and next term to repeat the process. The adoption of a uniform series of text books and the lengthening of the school term from three months to seven, in IQUI, at last enabled the rural schools to get on a grade basis. Now the course of study is closely followed and pupils complete the common school work in nine years inthe rural schools.


In 1890, fifty pupils took the examination for a common school diploma; in 1900 there were 143. The first commencement for these pupils was held by C. W. Thomas, in 1903. There were sixty graduates. Exercises have been held each year since that time. By 1914 the attend- ance and interest in these occasions had so increased that it was neces- sary to hold them in the park. In 1915 there were over 400 applicants, including those carrying grades, and 236 graduates. The commence- ment exercises were held in Gordy park in June and were attended by a large number of pupils and patrons from all parts of the county. Col- lege presidents, senators and governors have given addresses at these occasions.


The first school house in El Dorado was a log cabin. In 1872, there were twenty-eight log school houses and five of brick and stone. By 1874 there were seventy-four frame and thirteen stone school houses. At the present time there are 136 rural school houses. The frame build- ings of those earlier days were suited to their times. That many of them should be still in use is the inconsistency. The towns changed readily to buildings of the modern type. The Barnes law requires certain material equipment in buildings and apparatus. The ten schools meet- ing these requirements all have good modern structures. The five other grade schools have very satisfactory buildings. The legislature of 1915 arranged for a rural school inspector to give State recognition to districts maintaining standard rural schools. Modern buildings, with walks, trees, shrubs, proper lighting, and in all ways approaching the sanitation and conveniences of the town school are required. Five schools are meet- ing these requirements at the present time.


Butler county did not embrace the opportunity to organize a county high school under the provisions of 1897. This left it free to profit by the provisions of the Barnes law of 1905. This gave a great impetus to secondary education and existing high schools were enlarged and strengthened. One or two-teacher schools at Rose Hill, Andover, Lath- am and Towanda have in the ten years developed into fully accredited high schools, with three or four teachers in the grades. Barnes schools are democratic, providing free high school courses almost at the door of pupils and keeping the pupils in touch with the farm home instead of educating them away from it. Barnes schools, with two courses and fully accredited, are now maintained at El Dorado. Augusta, Douglass, Rose Hill, Andover, Towanda, Potwin, Leon, Latham and Whitewater. State funds for maintaining courses in agriculture, domestic science


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and normal training in these schools are also provided. In the six years since the normal training classes have been organized scores of young teachers, graduates of high schools and recognized by the State by normal training certificates, have taken up the work of teaching. This has raised the professional standard for teachers and given a higher pro- fessional ideal.


In 1911 and 1912 the superintendents of the Barnes schools organ- ized the Barnes High School League for contests in debate, oratory. reading and track work. The first president was H. I. French, then of the Leon schools. The first meet was held at El Dorado. This has been an incentive to the intellectual development as well as to the physi- cal development of all pupils in these high schools and, reflexly, to all pupils in the county. It has sharpened the respect of one school for another. Douglass especially has profited by the opportunities offered, for. in 1904, the superintendent of that school arranged for the first track meet ever held in the county between the high school and a team from Southwestern. And the little boys who watched that day have carried off the lion's share of the honors for Douglass, but trophy cups and pennants have gone to every part of the county.


The rural schools have had their contests, too. In 1913 and 1914 a county-wide contest in spelling was arranged for both grade and rural schools. In 1914 and 1915 a high school section was added and an inter- county meet held at Wichita. The young people of Butler had become so thorough in the work that they took all the honors in this contest with representatives from Cowley, Sumner, Sedgwick and Harper. Agri- cultural contests, reading contests, school displays of various sorts have also been had. We mention these things because it shows the deeper interest of our people in the more vital side of educational training. The vision now is not the letter of the text book, but an efficiency, a comprehension of what it requires to make life worth living, home a pleasure, the State and nation a benefactor to every individual, regard- less of wealth or social position.


The first school house in El Dorado was a log cabin, which was built by public subscription, perhaps in 1869. in which Jane Wentworth taught a class of about fifteen pupils. In 1869 and 1870 the old stone building which stood on the corner of First and Washington, opposite the residence of Mrs. George Ellis, was erected at the cost of about S2,000. The first regular school was conducted in this building in the winter of 1869, by Dr. Edwin Cowles. From that time on the teachers in charge of the city schools have been : 1870, T. R. Wilson ; 1871, John Snyder: 1872, Charles Moore; 1873. J. C. Elliott ; 1874 and 1875. E. C. Brooks: 1876. Z. M. Riley : 1877. George Edwards; 1878, 1879 and 1880. E. W. Hulse.


The El Dorado high school was organized in 1881, under the super- intendency of E. W. Hulse, who continued as the superintendent through the year of 1882. The superintendents since the organization of the high


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IIISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY


school have been : 1882, E. W. Hulse ; 1883. Alfred McCaskey; 1884 and 1885, O. E. Olin; 1887 and 1888, H. C. Ford; 1889, C. F. Gates; 1890 and 1891. W. H. Ferich ; 1892 to 1898, inclusive, Lemuel Tomlin ; 1899 to 1903, inclusive, W. M. Sinclair ; 1904, Ida Capen Flemming ; 1905, C. A. Strong ; 1906 to 1909. inclusive, Warren Baker; 1910 to 1912, inclusive, B. F. Martin ; 1913 and 1914, J. B. Heffelfinger ; 1915 and 1916, J. W. Murphy.


The Central school building was discovered to be on fire at 2:30 o'clock a. m., Thursday, by E. B. Cook and others, who immediately noti- fied the neighbors. H. W. Schmucher, who lives just north, says the. fire was burning fiercely in the west room of the lower story when he was called at 2:30 o'clock. The Central office notified the boy at Stin- son's barn, but it was nearly 3 o'clock before the fire bell rang. Hose carts arrived, but too late to be of any avail. The night was very cold, with a biting northeast wind. Many people in the immediate neighbor- hood knew nothing of the fire until the building was completely en- veloped, while two-thirds of the town knew nothing of it until after school hours this morning. Dozens of children went to school this morn- ing who knew nothing of the fire until they saw the blackened ruins of their school house. while many went home with the tears streaming down their faces as they in their little hearts mourned the disaster.


El Dorado boomed mightily along in 1870, 1871 and 1872. The little walnut frame house, that stood back from Main street, and near where the Haines store now is, had been abandoned and a one-story stone building, 24x40, was put up on lots 6 and 7, costing $1,000 dollars. . School opened in this building in October, 1870, with seventy-six pupils, with William Price as teacher. Bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted in 1871. Charles Wait drew the plans for a square, barn-looking building, with peep holes for windows, and a man by the name of Richards, of Humboldt, came over and put up the building. It was partly finished and ready for occupancy in the summer of 1872, and on Septem- ber 23 sixty-five teachers attended the county institute, held in the new building. S. L. Shotwell was county superintendent. Dr. Gordon, H. T. Sumner and E. L. Wheeler were the school board. Before school opened. in September, the building was used for dances. Mrs. Murdock, who was then unmarried, came out from Maryland to organize and take charge of the school. She opened the first schools in the building, there being no stoves and but few seats, the upper room being unfinished. Charles Moore and Miss Hattie Gartman were the assistant teachers. They found it rather hard sledding that winter, as the building was as cold as a barn. In November, 1872, S. L. Robards was elected county superintendent ; in January he appointed Nettie O'Daniel and Rev. W. M. Stryker as associate county examiners.


Mrs. Nettie O'Daniel, "principal of the El Dorado Academy," called a public meeting for the purpose of raising money to buy a school bell. Henry Fall, mayor, and others signed the call. W. M. Stryker and Mrs.


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O'Daniel pushed it along and raised the money to buy the bell that has been so long in use in the Central building, which went to destruction this morning.


The school house was used for Sunday schools, church services, political meetings and dances for some time; and. if we mistake not. the first Episcopal Sunday school meeting in the town was held there. For years it had been used for the annual meetings of the county insti- tutes ; and, we might add, that many boys, who afterward turned out to be useful citizens, got their jackets tanned within its historic walls.




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