USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 24
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TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
No formal organization of the teachers of the county was had prior to 1872, although teachers' institutes had been held since 1869. On November 28, 1872, the teachers' insti- tute having just closed, the teachers who had been in attendance came together and organ- ized a county teachers' association. Miss Mary A. Higby, who had just been elected county superintendent, was elected its first president, and Mrs. E. Williams, secretary. An asso- ciation has been maintained most of the time
since then, a part of the time in a very efficient condition, but sometimes indications of life were scarcely discernible. The meetings have been sometimes quarterly, and sometimes not so frequently. Nearly all parts of the county have been favored with these meetings, and they have done much toward unifying the work in the county and maintaining a sympa- thy between the teachers and the patrons of the schools.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
A number of parties at one time or another have started private schools in various parts of the county, some of which have run for quite a length of time, and others have been short-lived. At the close of Miss Mary A. Higby's term as county superintendent she conducted a private school for a number of months. Subsequently Mrs. J. R. Boulter taught a private school for quite a length of time. C. C. Robins started a school in Os- wego, but only conducted it a short time, be- cause of its not being sufficiently attended to justify its continuance. B. R. Cunningham as well as other parties in Chetopa conducted classes for a greater or less length of time. Several similar enterprises have also been had at Parsons. In 1884 Lyman N. Judd opened an institute at Altamont, but failing to get a sufficient amount of patronage removed it to Oswego, but here, too, he met with less suc- cess than he had hoped, and after a short time abandoned it.
COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
On September 15, 1892, a private school was opened in one of the rooms of the public school building in Altamont by T. B. Hanna, who had been secured by the county superin-
197
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
tendent to make the experiment, with the hope that it would develop into a county high school under the provisions of the general law. The school continued during the year and was measurably successful, reaching a total enroll- ment of 64 pupils. Mrs. Lucy Best, the coun- ty superintendent, not being of the opinion that a proposition to establish a county high school could be carried, if submitted to a pop- ular vote, as required by the general law, se- cured the passage of a private act by the Legis- lature, in 1893, establishing a high school at Altamont. When this action became generally known, it was strongly condemned in many parts of the county, and the opposition to the carrying out of the project was very decided, and came from a large proportion of the people.
However, as required by the act, the county commissioners at their April (1893) session, appointed a board of six trustees, to prepare for and open the school, selecting two from each commissioner's district, viz. : Nelson Case and J. E. Van Sant, of Oswego, from the first district: W. A. Huff, of Altamont, and Ben- jamin Johnson, of Mound Valley, from the second district ; William Scott, of Dennis, and J. M. Birt, of Parsons, from the third dis- trict. Soon after their appointment, this board met and organized and decided to open the school the following September. The board at the proper time made a tax levy for the purpose of erecting a building and of paying for the running expenses of the school. A suit was thereupon brought by those who were opposing the establishment of the school, to enjoin the collection of this tax, and there- by to test the validity of the law establishing the school. The defense of this case was con- ducted by Nelson Case, assisted by W. B. Glasse, who were employed by the friends of the school. At the conclusion of the trial in
the district court, a judgment was rendered for the defendants, dissolving the temporary injunction. The case was carried on an error to the supreme court, where the judgment of the district court was affirmed.
· Notwithstanding the fact that the injunc- tion proceedings had prevented the raising of any revenue the first year, the teachers em- ployed proceeded with their work, with no as- surance of receiving any compensation other than the faith they and their friends had in the successful outcome of the litigation in favor of the school. All understood that if the law was held valid, the school would go on and the teachers would be paid; but, on the other hand, if the courts held the law invalid, the school would fail and the teachers would have given a year's work without compensation. Rooms were rented in Altamont and the school was opened with appropriate ceremonies September 4, 1893. Addresses were made by Nelson Case. Mrs. Lucy Best and some others. On the following day the work of the school was put into practical operation, with an enroll- ment at the opening of 84 students. During the year the attendance reached 147. The validity of the law establishing the school hav- ing then been declared by the highest court, the trustees proceeded with the erection of the building. The structure was commenced in the fall of 1894 and was completed the fol- lowing spring. The dedicatory address was delivered by Nelson Case May 4, 1895. The entire cost of the building, furnishings, and improving of the ground was as follows :
Building proper
$18,22I 50
Architect .
720 00
Heating apparatus
2,000 00
Blackboards
493 97
Furniture
1,378 68
198
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
Piano $ 350 00 Outhouses, walks and other ex-
penses on grounds. 730 95
Total cost of the plant. . .$23.805 10
The faculty has consisted of four teachers until the present year ; five are now employed. T. B. Hanna was principal the first five years; since then W. M. Kyser has been principal. The enrollment for the seven years has been as follows: 146, 176, 178, 151, 179. 183, 146. The first graduating class went out in 1896, and the several graduating classes have been as follows: 1896, boys 8, girls II, total 19; 1897, boys 7, girls 13. total 20; 1898, boys 9. girls 17, total 26; 1899, boys 9, girls 27, total 36; 1900, boys 16, girls 17, total 33; whole number of graduates, boys 49, girls 85, total 134.
PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES.
Herewith is shown a condensed table giving the graduates of the common and high schools of the county :
HIGH SCHOOLS
COMMON SCHOOLS
WHOLE NO. OF GRADU- ATES BY YEARS
PARSONS
CHETOPA
OSWEGO
MOUND VALLEY
COUNTY
YR.
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
| Male
¡ Total
Male
Female
| Total
Male
Total
Male
| Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
1881
1
0
1
1
1882
0
1883 1
6
1884
1
9
10
3
1
-
3
1
2
1
5
6
5
21
1888
0
¢
3
4
2
7
9
2
1
0
1
0
5
23
32
22
34
24
45 40
63
1895 5
8
13
5
4
1
13
16
2
2
4
19
37
44
29
75
104
1897
5
15
20
1
0
7/13
20
19
26
45
35
68 103
1898 16
12
28
1
3
7
10
2
3
5
9.17
26
37
58
95
68 104
172
1899 10
13
23
0
H
1
0
9
16.17
33
9
23
99
36
79 115
71 156 227
44
141 27
99 126
15 35 50 49 85
134 191 358 549 398 830 1227
HOBSON NORMAL INSTITUTE.
The Friends' Yearly Meeting of Iowa hav- ing decided to establish a school for colored children, a committee by them appointed to locate the same decided upon its location at Parsons, and on March 23. 1882, the school was opened. The basis of the fund for start- ing this school was $1,000, from a legacy left by Mr. Hobson to be used for the benefit of colored people, and in his honor the school was named Hobson Normal Institute. Prof. D. W. Boles had charge of the school from its organization until his death, July 8, 1890, since which time during the remaining life of the institution A. W. Hadley was principal. Both Messrs. Boles and Hadley were assisted by their wives, and also scholars in the higher grades taught some. The institute had a fine two-story frame building on the corner of Gandy avenue and Twenty-fourth street. It was furnished with maps, charts, reference books, and other material adapted to the in- struction in the common branches and the natural sciences. A score or more graduated from the teachers' advanced course, and a larger number completed the teachers' ele- mentary course. Many of these themselves be- came teachers in schools at other points. How- ever, the parties having charge of this institu- tion, after an experience of a few years, found the patronage was not sufficient to justify its continuance. When the Home for the Friend- less was started in 1896, the building which had been erected for this school was sold to the Home, and Hobson Normal Institute ceased to exist.
SACRED HEART ACADEMY.
1900
15
21
1
7 8 -1 00 -1
C
10
12
9
=
0
2
2
30
54
84
41
73
114
1896
13
- 1
8
3
4
4
0
1
4
2
6
14
15
29
23
51
73
1892
3
13
16
5
-1 Ch
13
1
3
4
12
69
1894
3
13
5
9
9
1
5
29
34
51
57
1891
2
5
-1
0
0
8
14 26 19 29
1887
1
11
2
5
5
3
1
12
19
1885
2
8
10
11
22
1886
2
-3
12
21
1890
0
9
9
12
10
2 18
122
1893
5
11
16
0
10
10
0
10
1
16
34
50
22
34
64
98
1
2
1
3
4
4
2
5
10
1
4
0
2
9.27
36
19
28
47
39 84
123
This institution is located at Parsons and
0
1889 1
12
0
2
| Female
I Female
| Male
55
8
8 11
199
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
is under the control of the Catholic church. From 1890 to 1896 the Sisters of Loretta had charge of it, with Mother Mary Bernard, prin- cipal. Since then it has been under the care of the Sisters of Charity.
OSWEGO COLLEGE. -
The first private school of a high grade es- tablished in the county was planned and inaugurated by Rev. R. P. Bukey, under the above designation. It was located on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 17, township 33, range 21, a little northwest of the city of Oswego. In the sun- mer of 1870 Mr. Bukey erected a very nice-ap- pearing two-story frame building, 20x36 feet, which contained two good school-rooms. Un- der his employment Miss Mary E. Claypool opened the school the first week in Septem- ber, 1870. She remained in charge of the school until the close of the school year the following June, and was the only teacher till the close of December. After the school opened the attendance was so good and the prospects were so flattering that Mr. Bukey planned to largely increase its capacity and to provide for the boarding of those who came from a distance. He secured the cooperation of John D. Gillette, who was a man of some means, and during the fall and winter of 1870 erected a two-story 20 by 26 feet frame ad- dition, and also a kitchen and accompanying rooms, which were ready for occupancy in Jan- uary, 1871. The teaching force was increased by securing Prof. Allen C. Baker as teacher of mathematics. Rev. J. H. Leard was also elected president of the college, but his rela- tion to it was only nominal that year. The following year the faculty consisted of Rev. J. H. Leard, president; Prof. A. C. Baker,
teacher of mathematics; Miss P. D. Bullock, teacher of languages ; Miss Ella School teach- er of music. Judge S. P. Moore was also an- nounced as teacher of commercial law, but nothing was ever done in his department. There were several boarding students. Neither of the owners had any practical knowledge of school matters, nor was the president able to add any strength to the school. The college opened with very bright prospects, and its first year's history gave promise of its becoming a permanent and flourishing school. Nothing but the inability on the part of those in control to comprehend and provide for its wants pre- vented its success. After the second year the school hardly had an existence. The original building was purchased by Mrs. Bettis, who removed it to town and transformed it into a residence. The addition was also brought to town, and out of the material a store was con- structed.
OSWEGO COLLEGE FOR YOUNG LA- DIES.
At a meeting of the Neosho Presbytery, held at Garnett, Kansas, October 3. 1882, a resolution was adopted looking to the estab- lishment of a college within the bounds of the presbytery, and a committee was appointed to report thereon. The committee having re- ported favorably, Rev. Austin Warner was ap- pointed a committee to lay the matter before the synod, which he did at its October meeting at Ottawa, 1882; and on October 6th, upon the report of the committee, the synod authorized the presbytery to proceed with the establish- ment of a school as by them proposed. The next day, at a called meeting of the presbytery, a committee of five was appointed to take into consideration the matter of the establish-
200
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
ment of such school. A special meeting of the presbytery was called, to be held at Oswego, May 8, 1883, at which it was voted to estab- lish the school at Oswego, and the following were elected as a board of trustees, viz. : Rev. C. H. McCreery, Rev. D. M. Moore, Rev. W. C. Porter, Rev. A. Warner, Rev. John Elliott. B. W. Perkins, C. M. Condon, C. O. Perkins, and Porter Sawyer. Of this board of trustees, B. W. Perkins was elected president, Rev. John Elliott, secretary, and C. M. Condon, treasurer. A few changes were subsequently made in the board. Rev. W. S. Davis was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Mr. Moore, and upon his removal from the State, E. P. Allen was elected to fill the va- cancy. C. O. Perkins having died, on October 4, 1887, Nelson Case was elected to fill vacancy caused by such death.
On December 23, 1883, the college was in- corporated. a charter therefor having on that day been filed in the office of the secretary of state. On October 4, 1884, on the request of the presbytery therefor, the Synod of Kan- sas took the college under its jurisdiction.
In the fall of 1885 the citizens of Oswego purchased the N. W. 1/4 of S. W. 1/4 of N. E. 1/4 of S. 21, T. 33, R. 21, and presented it to the college as a site for the school. This prop- erty was at the time valued at $17,000. It had upon it a large brick residence, which was considered one of the finest in the county. In December, 1885, Miss Louise Paull was elected principal of the school, and authorized to se- lect other members of the faculty ; and with the faculty thus chosen the school was opened in the brick residence above referred to, January 14. 1886. In 1886 C. H. McCreery was elect- ed (nominally) president of the school, with the view of his taking entire charge of its financial management, and devoting his time
to the raising of funds with which to make improvements and provide an endowment. His employment was in no way to affect the con- trol of the principal in the management of the school proper. Mr. McCreery had served but a few months when family afflictions compelled him to resign. Miss Paull continued in charge until the close of the spring term, in June, 1887. Miss Susan H. Johnson was thereupon elected principal. In the summer of 1887 a large, new frame building was erected upon the college grounds, at a cost of about $12,000, exclusive of furniture. Miss Johnson contin- ued to serve as principal until the spring of 1893, when Dr. J. F. Hendy was elected pres- ident of the college. Dr. Hendy resigned the presidency at the close of 1895, and Dr. Will- iam Bishop acted as president during the last half of the school year. At the opening of school, in September. 1896, Dr. M. H. Reasor took charge and served as president two years. During the school year of 1898-99 the college was under the presidency of Miss Delia Proc- tor. She was succeeded by Miss Margaret L. Hill, who served one year. At the close of the school in 1900, the board of trustees did not see their way open to provide a faculty for the next year, and the school was closed. It is hoped that this suspension is to be but temporary, and that the work of the college may soon be resumed.
CHAUTAUQUA LITERARY AND SCI- ENTIFIC CIRCLES.
Among the organizations of a literary char- acter which have been formed in the county, there has probably been no other that has maintained such a permanent existence and done as much good work as have the several branches of the Chautauqua Literary and Sci-
201
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
entic Circle which have been organized and carried on in the county. Small circles were organized at Chetopa and Mound Valley, and regular work was done by these for two or three years, but neither circle awakened as much interest as did those of Oswego and Par- sons.
CASE CIRCLE.
This was the first C. L. S. C. to be formed in the county. It was organized at Oswego, September 26, 1878, and was maintained for the next ten years. Three of its members graduated in the first class in 1882. This cir- cle had an average of about 20 pursuing the work designated by the general officers.
GRECIAN CIRCLE.
This circle was organized at Parsons, April
28, 1885, with a membership of 12. Its offi- cers were as follows: President, W. J. Wirt; vice-president, Minnie Merriman ; secretary, E. G. Roberts. In October following the circle took up the regular course of study, and had an enrollment of 35 members; many of its members graduated, and for a number of years the circle quite regularly attended the Ottawa Assembly.
CARNATION CIRCLE.
In the summer of 1889 a new circle with the above designation was organized, the num- ber pursuing the course having become too great to do effective work in the Grecian cir- cle, as was thought. This new circle had nearly as large membership as its parent, the Grecian, and has done effective work.
RAILROADS
RAILROADS ATTEMPTED TO BE SE CURED.
Before speakng of the railroads that have been constructed, it may be interesting to briefly consider some of the projects which were formed on paper, but which never proceeded far enough to materialize into a road composed of wood and iron. If Labette county had suc- ceeded in securing a large number of miles of railroad within her limits, it has only been after repeated efforts and many failures. I shall not attempt to speak of all the projects that have been instituted for bringing roads to this coun- ty, but will mention a few on which some work of a preliminary character was done.
O. FT. S. & S. R. R.
On December 19, 1868, J. F. Newlon and other citizens of the county obtained a charter for the Oswego. Fort Scott & Sedalia Railroad Company, the purpose of which was to secure the building of a road from Sedalia to Oswe- go. So far as I know, this was the first rail- road charter obtained by our people. The sub- sequent building of such a line of road to Par- sons shows that this first attempt on the part of our citizens was not without some basis on which to rest.
O. P. & E. P. RY.
On June 30, 1870. a charter was obtained by R. W. Wright, C. H. Bent, and others, for the construction of the Oswego, Parker & El Paso Railway. The intention was to secure a
road from the northeast to.Oswego, and thence southwest to Parsons and through the Terri- tory. A great many public meetings were held in the interest of this contemplated road, and in the fall of 1870 a preliminary survey was made from Cherokee through Oswego to Par- ker. All that seemed lacking to secure the success of this enterprise was the necessary financial aid.
F. M. & C. R. RY.
Among the visions of the eccentric Colonel Hartshorn was one of a railroad running from Florida to the Columbia River through Labette county. John Elston, R. D. Hartshorn, and others associated with them, procured a char- ter on October 27, 1870, for the construction of the Florida, Memphis & Columbia River Railway. It was some time before the defi- nite location of this road through the county was agreed upon, and such location was to de- pend upon the aid that could be secured, but it was finally decided to locate it from Colum- bus through Montana and Parsons. During 1871, a number of townships voted bonds to aid in the construction of this road.
M. & N .- W. RY.
My impression is that the Memphis & Northwestern Railway Company was a reor- ganization of the F. M. & C. R. Ry. Co., of which I have just spoken, or at any rate, that
203
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
the two were in some way covering the same territory. This company did quite an amount of work in the winter of 1872-73 on the line of road from Columbus to Parsons. Watson Bros. & Co., of Montana, were the contractors, and secured a large amount of grading to be done and the abutments to be put in for a bridge across the Neosho at that point. This was as far as the work went, and the contrac- tors lost what they had expended in pushing it thus far.
S. FT. & S. F. RY.
Among the many efforts to secure a road from Sedalia or some other point to the north- east of this county, was one by the town of Labette, soon after its location, in 1870. The Sedalia, Fort Scott & Santa Fe Railway Com- pany was organized, and in September, 1870, a preliminary survey was made from Fort Scott to Labette. Arriving at the latter place, the surveying party received a warm welcome, and were feasted at the principal hotel.
P. & S. F. RY.
Parsons was never content with her rail- road facilities. There are few points in any of the adjoining counties to which she has not at some time had a projected railroad. In 1872 the proposition was to build a road southwest to Independence, and a very large amount of the paper work was done to secure it, and some propositions for municipal aid were voted upon.
P. & M. RY.
The preliminary work for this road was legaly done in 1876. It was to run southeast from Parsons through Montana.
C. O. & W. RY.
In 1883 a company was organized to build
a road from Oswego through the county in a southwesterly direction, and thence on west. Some municipal aid was voted to this road, but not enough to secure its construction.
S. C. & S. E. RY.
In 1886 the Salina, Colorado & Southeast- ern Railway Company was organized, with a view of running a road through Parsons, Mon- tana and Columbus, extended from these points both northwest and southeast. A right-of-way was secured, and some grading was done. Municipal aid was voted along the line to quite an extent.
CHETOPA'S PROJECTS.
Chetopa was scarcely behind Oswego in her efforts to secure railroad advantages. At a very early day steps were taken by her citi- zens to induce the building of a road from some point on the Kansas City & Gulf Rail- way so as to give her an outlet to Kansas City and northeastern points. Representatives of Mr. Joy visited Chetopa, and delegates from that place went to Kansas City, and negotia- tions were conducted for a long time. Pos- sibly we may say the building of the Minden branch was a realization of these anticipations. Chetopa also made an effort to secure the At- lantic & Pacific, and has always had in view railroad connections with Baxter Springs and the east.
RAILROADS CONSTRUCTED.
From these ineffectual attempts at railroad- building, I wish now to turn to those which resulted in securing the end sought. From the first settlement of the county, two lines of road were confidently expected : one from the north and the other from the east. What
204
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY
course they would pursue on entering the coun- ty was only a matter of conjecture. Both Os- wego and Chetopa expected these two roads, and each took active steps toward securing them. While the first efforts of our people were made toward securing an eastern outlet, the road from the north was the one which their efforts seemed the most likely to secure first.
M. K. & T. RY.
The Union Pacific, Southern Branch, had received a large railroad grant with the view of securing its construction down the Neosho valley, and it was now in process of building from Junction City in a southeasterly direction. R. S. Stevens was now the general manager, and had under him a corps of enthusiastic lieutenants. The chief, with one or more of his aides, was early on the field to see what could be secured from the municipalities of this county through which it was proposed to con- struct the road. Their expectations of aid were very large. There were no bounds to the promises they were ready to make as to what the road would do for the various com- munities through which it was to be built, and the demands made of these communities were proportionate to the benefits promised. It seemed improbable to secure county bonds, nor was there much hope of obtaining aid from any township which did not have within it a town of some importance. The railroad offi- cers had finally to look to Oswego and Cheto- pa, and the townships in which they were sit- uated, as the chief if not the only points in this county from which they could expect to receive any aid. These places were repeatedly visited, and the matter of railroad municipal bonds was very largely discussed. Both places felt that they were unable to meet the demands
which the officers were making upon them. Where the railroad officials failed to win through the promises of benefits to be derived, they were more successful in securing a com- pliance with their demands by the disaster which seemed likely to follow their threatened change of route. It being apparent that these municipalities were not likely to extend to the road the amount of aid which they had de- manded, the railroad officials proceeded to change the line which had been originally designated along the Neosho river, and a sur- vey for a new route was made, commencing near the north edges of the county and going west of the Labette river, and. striking the State line several miles west of Chetopa. The citizens of Oswego and Chetopa became alarmed. It was evident, as they thought, that the construction of a road where thus located would build up towns on its line which would compel the abandonment of the sites occupied by them. The result was what the railroad officials undoubtedly supposed it would be. These towns were now ready to meet all the demands the company might make upon them. On February 25, 1870, an immense railroad meeting was held at Chetopa, which favored $100,000 county bonds, and if they could not be secured, then township bonds. But one man in the town was opposed to the project. About this time Messrs. Stevens, Walker, Goss and other railroad officials visited Oswego and Che- topa, and arrangements were finally entered into for the construction of the road at-or, as it afterwards proved, near-these places, on condition of their issuance of bonds as agreed upon. Oswego township, which could with her assessed valuation legally issue bonds to the amount of perhaps $50.000 cr $60,000, was called upon and did vote bonds to the amount of $100,000 to aid this road; Rich-
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