USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 16
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Mrs. R. R. Bittman, of Independence, Kansas, is at the present time president of the Federation. Mrs. Sherman Medill, of Leavenworth, is president of the First District of the Federation.
Through the efforts of the organization industrial training was intro- duced in the Beloit School for Girls and Manual Training in the public schools. A traveling arm gallery was started which was a success from the first. A Scholarship Loan Fund feature has been added to the Fed- eration by which girls finishing high school may borrow three hundred dollars with which to finish their education, paying the money back after they have secured positions and are earning money. A continuous cam- paign in the interest of education in general has ever been waged by the Federation.
At the present time the following Leavenworth County Clubs have been federated: Leavenworth Art League, Catholic Literary Club, Lowell Club, Glenwood Community Club, Lansing Community Club, Leavenworth County Rural Life, Easton Improvement Club, Basehor Merry Matrons, Kickapoo Woman's Club, Boling Community Club, Tonganoxie Civic League, and Tonganoxie Reading Club.
The Leavenworth County Chautauqua Association was organized in 1913 with the following officers: Otto Wulfenkuhler, president; Otto Rotherberger, secretary; Amos Wilson, treasurer; Rev. T. W. Harding, platform manager.
Feeling the need of a better organization the citizens of Leavenworth City and County obtained a charter in 1917 with eighty stockholders. A set of by-laws were drawn up making the first Monday in October every year the date of the regular meeting. The corporation is not one for profit but for the purpose of securing a high class of educational entertainments for the community. The programs were first given in the grand stand of the old fair grounds, now the Shrine Park. The place was later changed to the Court House Grounds just north of the building, in a large tent. The program for the year 1921 will be given in the Sales Pavilion at Seventh and Delaware. The programs have been given under the auspices of Redpath-Horner Chautauqua and the contract calls for $1,500 for the year 1921.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
The following are the officers and board of directors: Board of di- rectors: Otto Wulfenkuhler, Clarence McGuire, J. W. Wright, F. R. Beery, H. C. Feller, J. A. Searcy, C. H. Wentworth, A. J. Reno. Officers: Clar- ence McGuire, president; C. H. Wentworth, first vice-president; F. R. Beery, second vice-president; F. M. Potter, treasurer; Jesse A. Hall, secretary.
Yeomen .- Sunflower Homestead No. 1393, Brotherhood of American Yeomen, was organized in Leavenworth, Kansas, March 29, 1906, by Dis- trict Managers West and West with fourteen members. The first officers were as follows: Honorable Foreman, J. A. Downum; Master of Cere- monies, E. E. Lanhan; Correspondent, Etta V. Downum; Master of Ac- counts, Kate Harr; Chaplain, Mary Ludwig; Overseer, Charles Powell. Watchman, Frank Wormer; Sentinel, D. P. Chapman; Guard, Alva Adams ; Lady Rowena, Katherine Drowns; Lady Rebecca, Katie A. Chapman.
The present officers of the organization are as follows: Honorable Foreman, J. F. Casey; Master of Ceremonies, Thomas I. Fowler; Corre- spondent, Etta V. Downum; Master of Accounts, Dr. A. R. Adams ; Chap- lain, Lillian Fowler; Overseer, Roy E. Wells; Watchman, James Connelly ; Sentinel, Herman Levene; Guard, Earl Downing; Lady Rowena, Jennie Biltz; Lady Rebecca, Addie Ramey, and Musician, Myrtle Ledman.
J. A. Downum is first district manager of the organization and has held the position for a number of years. Etta V. Downum has served continuously as correspondent since the organization of the lodge. This organization has a membership at the present time of about 600.
Knights of Columbus .- Leavenworth Council No. 900 of the Knights of Columbus was organized and instituted in the city of Leavenworth, May 30, 1904. A constitution and by-laws was adopted October 10, 1904. The following were the charter members of the local organization at the time of its institution in Leavenworth: Frank X. Aaron, Ed. R. Bannon, J. J. Brown, Frank E. Carroll, Frank J. Dougherty, Edward T. Dicks, James H. DeCoursey, Jacob L. Everhardy, Charles M. Fenning; Simon Flynn, Arnold Frana, T. H. Hannon, Anton Hartwig, Joseph D. Hurley, Frank J. Hurley, Michael P. Kearney, Charles M. Mullen, James McAu- liffe, W. G. Mclaughlin, John Mclaughlin, M. J. McDonald, John McGuire, Peter W. Nichola, William A. O'Kane, John J. Roche, Leo J. Roche, R. F. Thayer, Joseph F. Wallace, J. P. Wallace, F. J. Wincheck, A. J. Wohlfrom, J. F. Wohlfrom, Thomas E. Walsh, Simon Collins, Edward Carroll, George M. Christ, Jr., M. J. Cunningham, A. E. Dempsey, L. A. Dougherty,
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Thomas E. Dougherty, E. E. DeCoursey, Rev. I. Eliselade, James H. Foley, Rev. R. B. Groener, John J. Glynn, John J. Hartnett, William A. Hannon, McCown Hunt, John Hannon, Thomas Jones, Rev. T. H. Kinsella, W. F. Koel, Aloysius Meyers, M. B. Murray, Stance Meyers, William K. Miller, M. S. McCarthy, Rev. Francis M. Orr, John J. O'Donnell, Patrick O'Brien, Patrick F. Roche, W. B. Reilly, William B. Shaughnessy, and W. E. Thomas.
The first officers chosen for the organization were as follows: Grand Knight, J. D. Hurley ; Deputy Grand Knight, J. J. Brown; Chancellor, Dr. M. S. McCarthy ; Recorder, James McAuliffe; Financial Secretary, Ed. R. Bannon; Treasurer, Frank E. Carroll; Lecturer, John J. Hartnett; Advo- cate, A. E. Dempsey; Warden A. J. Wohlfrom; Inside Guard, Arnold Frana; Outside Guard, Charles M. Fanning; Chaplain, Rev. Francis M. Orr; Medical Examiner, Dr. Joseph F. Wallace; Trustees, McCown Hunt, Edward Carroll and John J. Roche.
The present officers of the organization are as follows: Grand Knight, T. J. Cahill; Deputy Grand Knight, J. J. O'Connell, Jr .; Chancellor, George Collins; Recorder, Raymond Thayer; Financial Secretary, J. P. Wallace ; Treasurer, Edward Keane; Lecturer, Edward Van Grino; Advocate, John T. O'Keefe; Warden, Thomas L. Medill; Inside Guard, Joseph Hurley, Jr .; Outside Guard, George O'Donnell; Chaplain, Rev. B. S. Kelly ; Medical Examiner, Dr. J. L. Everhardy, and Trustees, A. F. Miller, A. E. Becker, and J. C. Reick.
CHAPTER XIV
NATIONAL AND STATE INSTITUTIONS
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NATIONAL MILITARY HOME-UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY-STATE PENITEN- TIARY.
The National Military Home .- By Act of Congress March 3, 1865, the National Military and Naval Asylum for disabled officers and men of vol- untary forces was established. It was located at Dayton, Ohio. Since then branches have been established at various places over the country. A movement was started in Leavenworth to secure a branch of the home. S. F. Neely, ex-Gov. George T. Anthony, Gen. Chas. W. Blair and Hon. Alexander Caldwell were the prime movers. A meeting was called at which the following committee was chosen: J. B. Johnson, Maj. W. B. Shockley, Thomas Ryan, Charles W. Blair, George T. Anthony and S. F. Neely. This committee met with the Congressional representative at the various places viewed and examined. Five states were after the prize. Iowa offered $50,000 and Kansas delegation $50,000 and a section of land. After careful deliberation the present site overlooking the Missouri River was chosen. The Leavenworth branch was established by Act of Con- gress March 7, 1877. The first disabled soldier was admitted September 1, 1885. Fifteen years later there were 4,000 veterans in the home. Nearly all of these were Civil War veterans but in the early '90s there were some from the Mexican War. Beginning a few years after the Spanish-American War a few veterans from this war began to enter the home. At present a large number of the World War soldiers are enter- ing. So that the members now enrolled may be classified as follows: Civil War, 1,811; Spanish-American War, 354; World War, 133; Mexican Border War, 1; total number enrolled April 15, 1921, 2,299; total enrolled since beginning of the home till June 30, 1920, 40,080.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
There are some sixteen or more barracks, a large hospital, a hospital for epileptics, a general mess hall, a library, administration building, a theatre, a chapel, greenhouse, power plant, several fine residences for the officials and other buildings. There is a fine lake to the south of the hospital, at the east edge of which stands a band stand. Here the Soldiers Home band plays during the summer months on Sunday afternoons. A band stand also is located in front of the mess hall. A cannon is placed near by and is fired every evening at sundown and during the lowering of the flag. A more beautiful place for a soldiers' home probably could not be found in this section of the United States. The governors of the home to the present time are as follows: Col. Andrew J. Smith, Col. J. G. Row- land, Col. S. G. Cooke.
United States Penitentiary .- June 10, 1898, Congress set aside 700 acres adjoining Leavenworth City for a site for a prison. Work was be- gun on the present penitentiary during this year. Prison labor was used in the construction of the walls and buildings. From 1895 to 1906 the penitentiary occupied the military prison at the fort. In 1906 the United States Penitentiary was moved to the present site. It is inclosed by a wall about thirty feet high, built of stone. The west wing cell house is under construction at the present time. The entrance to the prison is on the south. A fine lawn extends to Metropolitan Avenue, and is planted in shade trees and sodded in blue grass. The warden's residence is lo- cated on the east side of the east driveway and the deputy warden's resi- dence is located on the west side of the west driveway. Band concerts are held on the lawn in the summer time and the music is furnished by a band composed of prisoners. A small railway leads from the prison to the hills on the west, over which stone is hauled from the quarry.
The prisoners are employed at various occupations inside, such as carpentering, blacksmithing, stone cutting, brick making, building and many other trades. Strict discipline is maintained within, although the inmates are allowed many privileges at stated times. Baseball games are played within the inclosure. When the Federal League had a team in Kansas City an exhibition game was played between the Kansas City team and a picked team from the prison and it proved to be an interesting game, although the Kansas City team won by a handsome score. Many amusements are provided for the inmates. Picture shows are given in the chapel at times. The writer recently attended an entertainment in the chapel given by members of the prison. Among the numbers on the
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
program was a boxing exhibition between Jack Johnson, a former heavy- weight champion pugilist, and three other members.
A school is maintained and is in charge of the chaplain. The Rev. Harmon Allen is the present chaplain.
A prison cemetery is located to the west of the institution at the foot of the hills and here are buried those who died while in prison and not taken in charge by relatives.
The penitentiary was first in charge of Warden French. In 1895 R. W. McClaughery became the warden and held this position till 1913, when Thomas W. Morgan became the warden. In 1919 A. B. Anderson was chosen warden and holds the position at the present time.
State Penitentiary .- The first move toward establishing a peniten- tiary was February 11, 1858. A commission was appointed and the next year John Ritchey, E. B. Prentiss and Fielding Johnson were selected commissioners to erect and maintain a prison for Kansas. They were given power to select a tract of land on which were good building stone and erect temporary buildings for prisoners and officers. Twenty thou- sand dollars was appropriated for the purpose of a prison building ade- quate for twenty years. No action was taken immediately and the pris- oners were kept in an inclosure at Lecompton and at the various county jails. Later they were kept in the Leavenworth County jail.
In 1861 the Legislature passed an act authorizing the state prison to be located in Leavenworth County. Governor Robinson appointed M. S. Adams, C. S. Lambdin and Charles Starne commissioners as required by law. In the fall of 1861 the commissioners selected the present site for the prison. The land was purchased from Mr. Whitney for $600 and the deed was executed November 25, 1861. No appropriation had been made for locating the prison so the total sum to be met by the Legisla- ture was given by the commissioners in their report as follows:
Expenses of the penitentiary for 1862
$4,271.29
Land for site with one year's interest 660.00
Expenses of locating same and service of commissioners 305.75
Total $5,237.04
The commissioners also recommended the employment of convicts in the construction of the prison and pointed out that the judgment of the courts was that they should be employed at hard labor and that there was no labor they could perform while confined in a jail.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
In 1863 the Legislature passed an act for the regulation of the peni- tentiary and made an appropriation therefor. Under this act William Dunlap, John Wilson and S. S. Ludlum were appointed directors of the penitentiary, the term "commissioners" having been dropped. The di- rectors visited the state prisons in New York, Michigan and Illinois, for the purpose of obtaining views to be embodied in a penitentiary. They found that Joliet, Illinois, the best and this one was followed as a model. The Illinois prison was just nearing completion at the time. Erasmus E. Carr was chosen architect May 22, 1863. He prepared plans on the order of the Joliet prison and they were accepted.
The contract for the construction of the prison was awarded to John McCarthy and Calvin Adams. They began work in the summer of 1864 and put in the foundation of the first wing, known as the north wing. Owing to the conditions in Kansas growing out of the Civil War, work was then stopped for two years.
In 1866 the contract was awarded to Flory and Caldwell for building the penitentiary. The buildings were to be completed on or before Octo- ber 1, 1867.
Before the building of the Federal Penitentiary, military and Federal prisoners were kept at the State Prison. The Oklahoma prisoners were also kept there for a number of years. The last of these were removed to Oklahoma on January 31, 1909. Until 1909 contracts had been made to furnish convict labor to private employers, but since then no more contracts have been let.
The north wing cell house burned down on election day in November, 1917. It is now being rebuilt and the east wall of the wing is being moved farther east so that more room is added. It is being rebuilt in the most modern style with all the conveniences of up to date cells. The dining hall was built in 1872. Over the dining hall is the chapel, where services are held and entertainments furnished for the prisoners.
Amusements of various kinds are furnished. In summer there is baseball and in winter are picture shows, boxing and wrestling. There is a band which furnishes music inside and also plays at times during good weather in front of the administration building. .
There are four departments of industry. The coal mine, twine plant, brick plant and the farm. The state owns a part of Stigers Island in the Missouri River and on this a large amount of farm products are raised.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
The State Industrial Farm is located on the prison farm overlooking the Missouri River. It was established in 1918.
The records show that there are confined at the prison and at the industrial farm on February 9, 1921, 1,026 prisoners.
The following wardens have served: J. L. Philbrick, Maj. Henry Hop- kins, W. C. Jones, John H. Smith, George H. Case, S. W. Chase, J. B. Lynch, H. S. Landis, J. B. Tomlinson, E. B. Jewett, W. H. Haskell, J. K. Codding, J. D. Botkin, J. K. Codding.
CHAPTER XV
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THE PRESS
"THE KANSAS HERALD"-"TERRITORIAL REGISTER"-"THE JOURNAL"-"YOUNG AMERICA"-OTHER PIONEER NEWSPAPERS-LATER PUBLICATIONS-THE LEAVENWORTH TIMES-THE LEAVENWORTH POST.
From the very inception of the city of Leavenworth as a city, the newspaper industry has been one of the leading industries. Even before there was a house in the city to shield the presses from the elements, a paper was being published. An account of the publication of this first paper in the city, "The Kansas Herald," will be found elsewhere in this volume in more complete detail. The first publication was under the management of Adams and Osborne and the paper was printed under the shade of a large elm tree that stood near the foot of Cherokee Street and Levee or Water Street. The date of this publication was September 15, 1856. This paper eventually passed into the hands of R. C. Satterlee and several others. When Satterlee was shot and killed by Col. D. R. Anthony, the paper suspended publication. It was later merged with "The Inquirer," a publication of this city in those days but was totally destroyed by a mob in October, 1861.
The next early day newspaper to begin publication in the city was published under the name of the "Territorial Register." It was strongly Free State and came quite early into disrepute in the eyes of the pro- slavery element of the city and territory. It was owned and published by a partnership known as Severe & Delahay. After a few months of exist- ence the office was raided by Kickapoo Rangers and the presses and type were thrown in the Missouri River.
Another early day paper was published under the name of "The Journal." Col. S. S. Goode was the first editor of this publication. It
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
was an evening paper and owing to the bitterness displayed toward its publication by the "Herald" interests, it was forced to quit publication within a short time.
A paper named "Young America" was published for a short time by George W. McLane. It had a tendency to be Free State and consequently met with considerable resistance at the time of its publication. McLane was registered on the attorney roll of the city of Leavenworth but there is no record of his ever practicing law here. He was the auctioneer at the sale of the first town lots sold in the city of Leavenworth, October 9, 1854. McLane left the city during the middle '60s and never after- ward returned. His paper, "Young America," was published but a short time and was finally merged with the "Daily Ledger."
The "Daily Ledger" was the first daily paper to begin publication in the city of Leavenworth, in fact it was the first daily paper published west of the Mississippi River at the time of its beginning publication, September 1, 1857. Conditions at that time were not favorable to the publication of a daily paper and the "Ledger" was forced to suspend pub- lication in 1859.
"The Weekly Times," one of the foremost of the early day publica- tions, began publication in the summer of 1857. The first editor of this paper was Judge Robert Crozier, who for years held the position of judge of the District Court here. The "Times" was at first owned by a stock company. Eventually this paper began a daily publication, the first daily being issued February 15, 1858. The ownership finally passed into the hands of the late Col. D. R. Anthony, who published it until his death, when it passed into the hands of D. R. Anthony, Jr., his son, the present owner. For years this paper has ranked among the foremost of its kind, occupying one of the strongest positions in the newspaper business in the Middle West. The paper since it came in the hands of the Anthonys has always been strongly Republican in policy and politics.
A paper named the "Kansas Zeitung" was started in the city of Leavenworth during the year 1858 by Dr. Kopph. This was the first German paper to be published in this city. In 1869 another German paper was published by Major Haberlein under the name of the "Frie Presse." This paper was published by Major Haberlein for a number of years until his death, when the publication of it was taken up by his son.
"The Conservative," one of the foremost of early day Leavenworth papers, was started by D. W. Wilder, who was also editor of the publica-
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
tion. Wilder continued the publication of the "Conservative" for some time, eventually selling out his interests to Col. D. R. Anthony. About this time Anthony also bought out a stock company's interests in the publication known as the "Evening Bulletin," a Republican organ as well as "The Conservative." Another publication known as the "Leavenworth Commercial," which was published about this time by Prescott and Hume, also passed into the hands of Col. Anthony. A paper that had been published for a short time by J. C. Clark & Co., known as the "Evening Call," suspended publication when the owners became interested in the publication of the "Leavenworth Commercial," which as aforementioned later passed into the hands of Col. D. R. Anthony.
Another early day paper that lived but a short time was published by Emory & Co. and was known as the "Daily Appeal."
Among other papers that began publication in this city and met with indifferent success were the "Home Record," "The Daily Public Press," "The Evening Commercial," "The Kansas Farmer," "The Cosmopolitan," "The Evening Ledger," "The Daily Standard," "The Daily Evening Press," "The Chronicle," "The Labor Review," "The Kansas Churchman," "The Advertiser," "Western Life," "Leavenworth Post" and "Leavenworth Times."
The "Home Record" was a small publication published in the city here for a number of years in the interest of the "Home of the Friend- less." It was a monthly journal and has long since suspended publi- cation.
"The Daily Public Press" was a daily publication under the manager- ship of F. J. Wendell and under the editorship of Dr. H. B. Horn. It was published but a short time when it suspended publication.
H. Miles Moore, one of the pioneer citizens of the city Leavenworth, was the editor of a publication for a short time known as the "Evening Commercial." The publication was Democratic in politics and was forced after a short time to suspend publication due to the lack of financial success.
On October 17, 1877, Frank Hall and J. W. Remington began the publication of an evening paper known as the "Evening Ledger," Being Democratic in politics it soon went the route of all early day Democratic papers.
The "Kansas Farmer" was published here but a short time. It was under the editorship of George T. Anthony, who afterward was elected governor of the State of Kansas.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
One of the strongest adventures in the way of a Democratic news- paper in the city of Leavenworth was began here in 1870, when a publi- cation known as the "Daily Standard" was begun. This publication was under the managership of Frank T. Lynch and the editorship of ex-Sena- tor Ross. It was owned by a syndicate of leading Democrats of this city. After fighting the fight of a Democratic paper against heavy odds for about twelve years it was finally consolidated with the "Daily Eve- ning Press" and was issued as a morning paper. After this consolidation Lynch became part owner and editor. Upon his death the paper was gotten control of by Col. Anthony, who published it for a time as an evening paper. Not succeeding in this, the publication was suspended.
"The Chronicle" was another Leavenworth paper owned and con- trolled by a syndicate of Leavenworth men. It was under the editorship of R. M. Ruggles and quickly became one of the leading publications of this city. The majority of the stock in the concern, however, eventually found its way into Col. Anthony's hands and when the publication became involved to some extent, publication was suspended.
"The German Tribune" was a weekly publication for years pub- lished in this city. It was originally owned and published by Capt. Met- cham and enjoyed a very successful business under the captain and Sig Kuraner, into whose hands it eventually passed. Publication was sus- pended several years ago.
In 1902 George Davis started a publication known as the "Labor Review." For a number of years it was under the editorship of J. F. O'Conner. It was and still is devoted exclusively to the cause of labor.
"The Advertiser" was another newspaper adventure entered into by Capt. Metcham, the first editor of the "German Tribune." Shortly after its publication began it was purchased by Fred Jameson, who changed its name to the "Western Life." Under the editorship of Jameson the "Western Life" grew rapidly in favor with the people of this city and county. The outgrowth of this publication was the "Leavenworth Post," a publication originally owned and controlled by Fred Jameson and Albert T. Reid. The "Leavenworth Post," Leavenworth's evening paper at this time, is owned and controlled by a stock company. Wallace F. Hovey is at the present time editor and manager of the publication. It enjoys a large circulation and stands well in rank with other evening papers in the state.
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