USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 19
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 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
"Whereas, The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company having decided to locate its machine shops and other important buildings elsewhere than at the junction of its Sedalia and Neosho divisions, thus rendering the build- ing up of any large town at the junction im- practicable :
"Resolved, That the board of directors of the Parsons Town Company hereby abandon all idea of locating or building a town on sec- tions 18 or 19, in town 31, of range 19 east, or anywhere in the vicinity, the decision of said railway company above referred to ren- dering such action necessary.
"Resolved, That the treasurer of said town company is hereby directed to sell all lands intended for town-site purposes at such price as he may deem fit and proper, at the earliest day practicable.
"R. S. STEVENS, President. "JNO. R. WHEAT, Secretary."
SALE OF LOTS.
The difficulties encountered by the company in acquiring title having been overcome, and the plat having been surveyed and placed on record, the sale of lots commenced on March 8, 1871. Prior to this time all who had located had done so without any written permission or promise of obtaining title, but with the un- derstanding that when the company had per- fected its arrangements, they would be entitled to procure their lots at a reasonable price. There was quite a strife for the honor of be- ing the purchaser of the first lot. Colonel Willard Davis was the agent of the town com-
156
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
pany, and Abraham Cary was successful in bringing enough influence to bear to get from him the first deed issued by the town com- pany. It was for lots 14, 15 and 16 in block 42, where the opera house now stands. The other parties on the ground obtained title as fast as deeds could be executed and terms agreed on, and from this time on the per- manency of building and business was as- sured.
BUSINESS HOUSES.
When so many were coming in about the same time, and no records of the names when locations were made having been kept, it is difficult to speak with certainty as to the pre- cise order in which firms were established, and as to who is entitled to the honor of be- ing the first one to open up his line of business in the new town, but the old settlers seem to agree substantially upon the following: Sipple Brothers, from Dayton, and Hayes & Pierson, from Mendota, were on the ground about the same time, and there is a difference of opinion as to which was there first.
Aside from the houses that have been placed by the settlers prior to the location of the town, the first house to be put upon the town-site, probably, was a store building be- longing to William H. and John I. Sipple, which they had put up during the summer at Dayton, some five or six miles below Parsons, and which they moved on wagons and located upon what was afterwards laid off as lots I, 2 and 3, in block 19, subsequently occupied by the Abbott House. They arrived with their building on November 5, 1870, and were the first to open a stock of goods, which consisted principally of groceries and provisions. If I am right in assigning Sipple Brothers the first location, then the next store to be opened was
by Hayes & Pierson, who almost immediately after the arrival of Sipple Brothers, if they did not precede them, removed their little frame building from where Mr. Hayes had at one time kept store, at Steel's mill at the forks of the Labette, as already described, and located it on the east side of the railroad track, just about where the Belmont House now stands, and opened therein a general stock of mer- chandise. The building afterwards formed a part of the Belmont premises. E. K. Cur- rant brought his store building from Dayton and located it upon what became lot I of block 25, on Skiddy, now Washington avenue. He associated with him in business Messrs. Cook and Allen, and opened out the most extensive- stock of general merchandise that was then kept in town. Adam Gebert and Abraham Cary located on lot 2, block 25, next to Mr. Currant, and opened the first hardware store in town. The first lumber yard to be started was put in. by Mellville, Plato & Co .; and the first drugs were sold by T. R. Warren, who came from Leavenworth county, and before the close of the year had put up a small building on the. northwest corner of Washington and Central avenues, and had placed therein a stock of drugs. The houses from Dayton had only just arrived when those from Ladore, located about the same distance north as Dayton was south, began to make their appearance. It was. said that from 50 to 75 houses were moved from Ladore during the winter.
BOARDING-HOUSES AND HOTELS.
At the time of the location of the town,. Henry F. Baker was living in a log house where the roundhouse now stands; and the. town was scarcely located until John Austin. moved his dwelling-house down from Ladore:
THIRD COUNTY JAIL; ERECTED 1890. SECOND COUNTY JAIL; ERECTED 1879, COURT HOUSE; ERECTED 1880.
A VIEW OF THE SOUTH SIDE AND REAR END OF THE COURT HOUSE IS HERE GIVEN, IN ORDER THAT THE VIEW OF THE JAILS MIGHT ALSO BE SHOWN.
159
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
and placed it on the northeast corner of Cen- tral and Crawford avenues. Both of them at once commenced keeping boarders. Mrs. Catharine Hurton soon after erected a re- spectable-looking building, which she opened up as a boarding-house. W. P. Squires was on the ground about the same time; Finus Smith had a two-story 24 by 40 feet building at Ladore, which he tore down and brought to Parsons, and erected it on the northwest corner of Central and Johnson avenues. The proprietors of all of these houses, as well as several parties who only had tents, were fur- nishing board in November, 1870. It was not long until the Parsons House was opened up by Knapp, Noyes & Chamberlain. On March 8, 1871, E. B. Stevens and U. L. C. Beard commenced the erection of the Belmont House ; the same month the Lockwood was com- menced, and finished so as to be opened on the 8th of May. It was not until June 1, 1872, that J. C. Karr commenced the construction of the St. James, on the northwest corner of Central and Forest avenues. This was a three-story brick-one of the finest buildings in the city. Of the numerous other houses which followed these I will not attempt to speak, only to men- tion that about 1880 the Abbott House became the principal hotel in the city, and thus re- mained until the Matthewson House was erect- ed, in 1886.
SALOONS.
The saloon-keeper was not long behind any- one else who proposed to start business in the new town. John Austin, Wm. Dana, Z. T. Swigert, Chas. Hazard, and probably others whose names I have not learned, were all on the ground engaged in the sale of liquor in November, 1870. Mr. Hazard moved a two- story building from Ladore and located it on 10
the north side of Johnson avenue next to Smith's hotel, which stood on the corner. This was the first building moved from La- dore.
OTHER PIONEER HOUSES.
Conrad Hinkle and wife Lena were the first to furnish meat to the new comers. For a time they brought it in a wagon, but soon had a general meat shop opened. Dr. C. B. Kennedy removed a large livery stable from Ladore and located it on what became block 110, where the Catholic church was later con- structed. J. Moore had the first furniture store; Fred Walker opened the first black- smith shop; and Walker & Thomas were the first real-estate agents. B. Sandercook was the first shoemaker; W. G. Douglas was the first tailor; E. P. Flummer opened the first bakery; A. J. Peabody was the first harness-maker .. Most of these houses were in operation be- fore the close of 1870, and all of them when the sale of lots commenced, in March, 1871.
PROFESSIONAL MEN.
A. L. Hutchison and T. R. Warren were the contestants for the honor of being the first physician in the town; and of attorney, J. G. Parkhurst, T. V. Thornton and E. E. Hast- ings could hardly tell who was there first- but perhaps the race was won by Mr. Park- hurst.
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The first religious services of a public na- ture upon what became the town-site were held in Abraham Cary's log house on the north- west quarter of section 18, in North town- ship, in the summer of 1870, conducted by A.
160
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
W. King, of Osage township. Mr. King preached here frequently during the summer and fall. John Leonard, who lived on the southeast quarter of 19, was a Christian preacher, and sometimes preached in Mr. Cary's house after King had commenced hold- ing services. The first sermon preached in the town proper was over Mr. Hazard's saloon, on December 15, 1870, by A. W. King. Rev. H. H. Cambern was the next preacher on the ground. No religious exercises of any kind were held regularly during the winter of 1870 and 1871. There was no place provided for holding such services, and whenever they were held it was in some business room tem- porarily fixed up for the purpose-probably in a saloon almost as frequently as in any other room. Of the organization and build- ing of the various churches, I speak in an- other part of the work.
GOVERNMENT.
On February 22, 1871, on the petition of Simon Saddler and others, the probate judge made an order incorporating the town of Par- sons, and appointed Abraham Cary, E. K. Currant, J. G. Parkhurst, John I. Sipple and John W. Rhodus as trustees. Thomas V. Thornton was the first clerk' appointed by the trustees; H. L. Partridge was justice of the peace in Walton township at the time of the settlement of Parsons, and became the first justice of the peace in Parsons. From No- vember 8, 1870, to March 8, 1871, he tried seven criminal and 26 civil cases. He also married the first couple in town, they being Z. T. Swigert and Josephine E. Parker.
The town was organized as a city of the third class, and on April 17, 1871, the first city election was held, at which the following
officers were elected: Mayor, Willard Davis; police judge, H. L. Partridge; councilmen, Abraham Cary, William Dana, Charles Wat- son, S. B. Plato, and John W. Rhodus. The first meeting of the mayor and council was held April 28, 1871. On organizing, G. C. West was appointed city clerk. The city hav- ing attained a population of over 2,000 in- habitants, the evidence of which was furnished by a census taken by order of the city council, the Governor issued his proclamation, dated February 25, 1873, declaring Parsons a city of the second class.
Since the organization of the city it has had the following mayors and clerks : Mayors- April 17 to November 22, 1871, Willard Davis; November 22, 1871, to April, 1874, E. B. Stevens; April, 1874, to April, 1875, Angell Matthewson; April, 1875, to April, 1877, G. W. Gabriel; April, 1877, to April, 1879, P. Y. Thomas; April, 1879, to April, 1881, J. W. Thompson; April 1881, to April, 1885, G. W. Gabriel; April, 1885, to April, 1887, A. O. Brown; April, 1887, to April, 1889, G. W. Gabriel; April, 1889, to April, 1891, A. F. Neely; April, 1891, to April, 1895, J. M. Gregory; April, 1895, to April, 1897, E. B. Stevens; April, 1897, to April, 1899, C. K. Leinbach; April, 1899, to April, 1901, C. Rockhold. Clerks-April to November 22, 1871, G. C. West; November 22, 1871, to April, 1872, H. L. Partridge; April, 1872, to April, 1873, Edgar E. Hastings; April, 1873, to April, 1875, G. W. Hawk; April, 1875, to April, 1876, A. M. Fellows; April, 1876, to March, 1877, Frank L. Gage; March, 1877, to April, 1878, E. S. Stevens; April, 1878, to April 1882, A. A. Osgood; April, 1882, to April, 1883, R. T. Halloway; April, 1883, to October, 1884, Ira F. Adams; October, 1884, to May, 1885, Will W. Frye; May, 1885, to
161
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
April, 1887, N. F. Mills ; April, 1887, to April 1889, Mrs. Mary S. Outland; April, 1889, to April, 1891, R. D. Talbot; April, 1891, to April, 1895, A. H. Tyler; April, 1895, to April, 1897, Maurice Davis; April, 1897, to January 8, 1901, James T. Weaver ; January 8, 1901, Maurice Davis was appointed to fill the vacancy.
LITERARY, MUSICAL, ETC.
On November 2, 1871, a meeting was held which decided upon organizing a literary so- ciety and library association. On the 8th of the same month the organization was completed by electing W. H. Maxwell president and A. B. Truman secretary. During the winter liter- ary exercises were maintained, participated in by the leading men of the town. On Decem- ber 29th the library received its first donation of books, amounting to 22 volumes, and dur- ing the next few weeks several other dona- tions were made of a like character. On Oc- tober 26, 1872, the association held its first an- nual meeting, and re-elected W. K. Maxwell president, and elected E. B. Stevens vice-presi- dent, and James Wells, Jr., secretary. This seems to have ended the efforts at that time for the establishment and maintenance of a library.
In the summer of 1879 a new lyceum was organized, and Rev. P. M. Griffin elected pres- ident. Literary exercises were conducted by it for some months.
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
In 1877 Mrs. Ella B. Wilson, Mrs. Kate Grimes and Mrs. Polly L. Cory secured the formation of a library association. In this as- sociation they remained, as I am informed, the controlling spirits, Mrs. Wilson taking the
principal part in its management. She trav- eled over a large part of the United States, soliciting funds for the erection of a building, as well as books and works of art for the foun- dation of a library. Large sums of money were contributed, and very fine donations of books, statuary and other articles of interest and value were gathered. Practically it was a gift of the country generally to Parsons at the earnest solicitation of one woman. With the funds thus contributed as a basis of operation, a site was secured on the southeast corner of Forest avenue and Nineteenth street, on lots 14, 15 and 16, in block 53, and the erection thereon of the building started. A loan of $10,000 was procured, and the lots and building mort- gaged to secure the payment of the same. A very fine three-story building was erected and finished, which, on December 25, 1883, was formally opened by appropriate exercises, among which was an address by Governor Glick.
In the second story of this building were placed the books and works of art which had been contributed, and it was believed the hard- est part of the work was then accomplished of securing a large, prosperous and permanent library. But times changed ; contributions of money did not come in; there was no means provided for paying the indebtedness contract- ed in the erection of the building; the mort- gage was foreclosed, the property sold, and the seeming bright prospect for a great library vanished from sight.
BAR ASSOCIATION.
On January 24, 1872, the attorneys in town established a bar association, and for some weeks thereafter had public lectures from its members on different phases of law.
162
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
THE PIONEER ASSOCIATION
Was organized in the Sun office, March 8, 1872. Dr. T. R. Warren was the first presi- dent.
ALPHA LITERARY SOCIETY.
On November 17, 1880, a number of ladies met at the home of Mrs. T. P. Atchison and organized a society under the name given above. The following officers were elected: Mrs. David Kelso, president; Mrs. M. F. Stevens, secretary; Mrs. W. H. Wagoner, treasurer. The society has maintained a con- tinuous existence, and has done a great amount of literary work.
MACAULAY CLUB.
This society was organized December 8, 1881. Miss Phrone Emery was its first presi- dent, and Mrs. Jennie Davis, secretary. It was at first called the Young Ladies' Reading Society, but in September, 1885, was named the Macaulay Club. Since then it has been an active factor in the literary work of Parsons.
ATHENEUM READING CIRCLE.
The existence of this circle dates from the spring of 1883, when five ladies began reading together without any formal organization. On October 24th of that year a number of new members were admitted to the circle, a formal organization was had, and the following offi- cers elected : Mrs. Wells H. Utley, president ; Mrs. B. B. Brown, vice-president ; and Miss Emma June, secretary and treasurer. The active membership is limited to 16. Its ob- ject is purely literary.
BANKS.
BANKING HOUSE OF ANGELL MATTHEW- SON .- On June 6, 1871, S. P. Crawford and Angeli Matthewson, of Parsons, and W. P. Bishop, of Oswego, formed a partnership, and on June 19th opened the bank of Crawford, Matthewson & Co. The first depositor was Oliver Duck; the first draft was issued to Cur- rant, Cook & Allen. On July 31st Mr. Mat- thewson purchased the interest of the other two partners, and the business continued un- der the name of the Banking House of Angell Matthew son.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK .- On April 8, 1872, Matthewson's Bank was succeeded by the First National Bank, of which A. D. Jaynes, of Sedalia, Mo., was president, and Angell Matthewson, cashier. This bank had a paid-up capital of $50,000, and started with over $37,000 in deposits turned over to it by Matthewson's bank. On January 19, 1875, R. S. Stevens succeeded Mr. Jaynes as presi- dent. During January and February, 1877, while Mr. Matthewson was in the Senate, George W. Hawk, the teller, performed the duties of cashier. January 1, 1879, Lee Clark succeeded Mr. Matthewson as cashier, and held the position until October, 1890, when he be- came president, F. C. Stevens having been president immediately preceding him. E. B. Stevens became cashier on July 1, 1890, and still retains the position.
THE PARSONS SAVINGS BANK was or- ganized in May, 1874, with Augustus Wilson president, and Joshua Hill, cashier ; having a paid-up capital of $50,000. The first draft was issued to A. W. Gifford. On July 1, 1878, this bank was reorganized as
THE PARSONS COMMERCIAL BANK, of
163
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
which Joshua Hill was president and George W. Hawk cashier. The latter has continued to fill the position of cashier ever since. For sev- eral years past E. H. Edwards has been presi- dent of the bank. It has long been one of the established institutions of the city.
CITY BANK OF ANGELL MATTHEWSON & Co .- This bank was organized May 1, 1879, with a capital of $20,000; Angell Matthewson and Merrit Noyes being the owners. On Oc- tober 1, 1880, F. H. Snyder was admitted to the partnership and made cashier. Mr. Noyes died in 1883, and in November, 1884. Wm. H. Taylor was admitted to the partnership and the capital stock made $60,000, which was in- creased to $100,000 on February 1, 1888. L. E. Weeks was appointed cashier September I, 1891. The firm failed in 1893, and the bank went out of existence.
THE STATE BANK OF PARSONS was or- ganized in 1900 with a capital stock of $25,- 000. O. H. Stewart is president and F. H. Foster is cashier.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
On July 14, 1879, the Parsons Building and Loan Association was organized, of which C. A. King was president, and J. G. Gray, secretary.
INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
There are several parties engaged in loan- ing money, among them being Angell Mat- thewson and George H. Ratcliff.
SANITARY.
During the early part of 1884 much com- plaint had been made about the condition in which the private and public premises, as well
as many of the private alleys and yards, were kept, and the Eclipse was especially vigilant in looking after and giving publicity to these grievances. In July of that year the mayor and council appointed J. B. Lamb health offi- cer. It was thought by some that this ap- pointment was made rather as a burlesque in retaliation for the frequent appeals to the authorities to do a general cleaning up; but whatever was the spirit that prompted the move, it turned out to be a very wise one. The Doctor went at the work vigorously, and did good work in securing the cleaning up of the filth which had been allowed to accumulate, and probably saved the place a great amount of sickness. The work thus commenced showed the advisability of having some per- manent arrangement for removal of filth and the preservation of the public health.
SEWERAGE.
In 1885 steps were taken to put in a sys- tem of sewerage, and this was pushed forward until the business part of the city was well sup- plied with the means for the removal of all filth and the carrying away of the waste wa- ter. Later the system was made general for the city, so that now most of the inhabitants are favored with this convenience.
WATER WORKS.
During the summer of 1882 the matter of supplying the city with water was discussed, and a company was formed for the purpose of carrying out the contemplated project. On September 15th, by an almost unanimous vote of the electors, the city gave its assent and promised aid. During the following year the works were put in under the general direction
164
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
of C. W. Hill, but it was not until July, 1884, that they were completed and accepted by the city. Reservoirs were made upon the banks of the Labette some distance above the city, from which stream the water was procured. The city paid $3,000 per year for 50 hydrants. Soon after the completion of the works, C. H. Kimball and E. H. Edwards became the principal owners of the stock of the company and had the general management of its busi- ness. The operation of the works under the original construction never gave general satis- faction, and they were believed to be far in- adequate to meet the city's needs. Early in 1892 steps were taken to secure a better supply by obtaining water from the Neosho instead of from the Labette. Mains were laid from the Neosho to the old reservoirs on the Labette and into the city. A new stand-pipe, one of the largest in the State, was erected in the city, and under the present arrangements the water system is very complete.
GAS.
On December 1I, 1882, the city council passed an ordinance giving an exclusive fran- chise for twenty-one years to Angell Matthew- son to construct and operate gas works. The franchise was assigned to the Parsons Light & Heat Company, and in 1883 the works were completed, since which time those who de- sired it have been supplied with gas.
NATURAL GAS.
Since 1898 the city has been supplied with natural gas piped from Neodesha, which gas is largely used for heating and lighting.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
On May 25, 1887, an ordinance was passed authorizing J. J. Everningham to erect electric
works in the city of Parsons, and within a month thereafter this franchise was transferred to the Parsons Light & Heat Company, which was operating the gas plant. A system of arc lights was at once put in, and put in operation on September 25th. In the summer of 1892 the incandescent system of lights was added, and the capacity of the plant much enlarged.
TELEPHONE.
In 1882 a system of telephones was put in providing for communication in the various parts of the city, and also a line was built con- necting the city with Oswego; and on July 20th of that year Mayors Gabriel and Condon ex- changed congratulations. The line between Parsons and Oswego was not maintained for any great length of time, nor was the city sys- tem very largely used after a few months of trial. In 1896 the telephone communication with other towns was again inaugurated, since which time the system has become quite pop- ular.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
One of the wisest investments made by the city in the way of improvement was that of building sidewalks and macadamizing its streets. The work of macadamizing com- menced in 1878, and was gradually pushed forward for the next two or three years, until the streets in the principal business part of town were all macadamized, and good side- walks have been laid in nearly all of the streets that have any large amount of travel. During the past few years the macadamizing of the streets has been very greatly extended, as well as the improvement and construction of new sidewalks.
STONE AND BRICK BUILDINGS.
The first building to be erected of material
165
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
other than wood was put up early in 1871, on block 25, on the north side of Johnson avenue, by Ed. Foley. It was constructed out of cut sandstone, and made a very creditable appear- ance. The first brick buildings in town were erected in 1872. They were the passenger depot, the First National Bank building, the . St. James Hotel on the corner north from the First National Bank, and the second ward school-house. The same year two or three brick business houses were put up-one by W. C. Calkins, on lots 13 and 14, block 33, and one by A. Royer, on lot I, block 34. During this year T. C. Cory tore down his brick resi- dence at Ladore and rebuilt it on the south- east quarter of section 24. This was the first brick residence in town.
THE HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS
Was incorporated January 15. 1896. A. A. Osgood served as president the first two years, and Dr. C. Rockhold since then. The State has made an annual appropriation of $700 for sev- eral years past to help support this institution. The building formerly used for the Hobson In- stitute was purchased for and is now occupied by the Home.
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.