USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 4
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Douglas for the nomination to the presidency. In 1860 the paper was again sold to William P. Fain, a former U. S. marshal, who in turn sold it to R. C. Satterlee, B. R. Wilson and C. W. Helm. The financial status of the paper at this time had gotten low and the publication of the paper was no longer prosperous. Publication was suspended in June, 1861, the last issue being under date of June, 27, 1861. Only two weeks previous to this R. C. Satterlee, one of the owners, was shot and killed by Col. D. R. Anthony.
The great influx of emigration into the territory surrounding the city and the city itself in those early days necessitated the opening of hotels and other places where the emigrants might be housed. George Keller, commonly known and referred to in those days as "Uncle George" and one of the most resourceful of the town's citizenry at the time took advantage of the opportunity and opened up the first hotel erected in the city as well as in the new territory. The hotel which was erected in 1854 was a frame structure and was located at the northwest corner of Main streets and Delaware. It was a two-story affair and was situated upon much higher ground than is found at the location this day, the ground thereabout having been submitted to much grading and excavating since those days. A. T. Kyle, a son-in-law of Keller, was associated with him in the conducting and managing of the institution. Before coming to Leavenworth and Kansas territory Keller was a Missourian and lived near Weston. When the town was platted and mapped out by the Town Com- pany Keller was given the job of cleaning the brush from the townsite as well as opening up the various streets. The Keller and Kyle hostelry was operated for about a year when it was sold. Kyle soon after removed to Weston, Missouri, where he engaged for a number of years in the con- ducting of a general merchandise store. Later he returned to Leaven- worth County and settled at Lansing, Kansas, where he and his wife conducted a boarding house for the officers of the Kansas penitentiary.
After selling out his interests in the "Old Leavenworth Hotel," "Un- cle George" Keller subsequently engaged in the hotel business in various parts of the city. At one time he was connected with the management of the "Fisher-Parry" Hotel which was later remodeled and re-named the "Old Mansion House". This famous old hostelry was located at the south- east corner of 5th and Shawnee Streets. It early became such a ren- dezvous for Free State men that it earned the title "Abolition Hill" and Abolition Hotel by those of Southern sympathy.
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Keller for years took an active interest in early day politics. He served as a member of the First Free State Territorial Legislature of 1857-1858, and also later after the building of the State Penitentiary at Lansing he served as warden from 1867 to 1869. After leading a very active life in the city during its early days and associating very much in the building up of the county he retired to his farm a short distance south of the little village of Springdale in the western end of the county where he died.
While the "Old Leavenworth Hotel," under the managership of Keller and Kyle, was always well conducted, yet it came into early disrepute especially so by those of Southern sympathies. "Uncle George" Keller, while a Missourian in every sense of the word, never approved of the tac- tics of the South in trying to force slavery upon the newly organized territory of Kansas. Consequently his attitude was frowned upon by all Southerners who had emigrated to Leavenworth in those days. It was this feeling that led several radical Southerners to organize a company and solicit subscriptions for the purpose of erecting a new hotel in the city of Leavenworth. The city was growing very rapidly and the proposition met with much favor as the accommodations of the "Old Leavenworth Hotel" were more or less limited. H. P. Johnson, known as "Hog" John- son, a rabid pro-slavery advocate of those days, solicited the subscriptions. With the funds that were thus raised the "Old Planters Hotel" which is now situated at northeast corner of Main and Shawnee streets ,was erected in 1855.
One of the terms and conditions of the membership of the Associa- tion was:
"That the hotel was to be owned by Southern men and was to be conducted on exclusive Southern principles."
This was looked upon with much disfavor by the Abolitionists and Free State men of those days and for several years there was much antag- onism shown toward the hotel on their part.
The original structure was of brick and was four stories in height. It was first managed and conducted by McCarthy & McMeekin, both of whom were originally from Missouri and of strong pro-slavery tenden- cies. In 1857 the hotel was sold to Len T. Smith and Col. Jepp Rice who operated it for a period of seven years. Both Smith and Rice were North- erners and not wishing to entirely change the policy of the business they strove to strike a happy medium. They catered to both the Northern
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and Southern trade and assured each of equally fair and honest treatment, a policy which boomeranged against them from both sides for some time. An amusing incident of the Smith and Rice policy is mentioned by the late H. Miles Moore in his work, "Early History of Leavenworth City and County," in which he tells of the proprietors hiring two bartenders, one pro-slavery, the other Free State. When a thirsty citizen of the South would happen into the place of business and between drinks proceed to give vent to his opinion on matters of importance of the day he immedi- ately found an interested listener and sympathizer in the person of the Southern barkeep. When a Free State man of like inclinations and con- trary opinion happened along he found a friend in the barkeeper at the other end of the bar.
Numerous incidents of note attended the operation of the famous old hostelry in its early days. At one time a negro slave that had escaped from his master in Kentucky was apprehended while working in the bar- ber shop there. He was arrested and was going to be returned to his master when Free State men interfered. Controversies and altercations immediately arose between the various factions which finally resulted in the Free State men's refusing to allow the negro to be placed in jail to await his hearing before the U. S. Commissioner, James McDowell. As a sort of a compromise the negro was finally placed in a room on the fourth floor where he was under a guard consisting of two Free State and two pro-slavery men. During the night the Free State men in numbers made an assault upon the room and after liberating the negro, he refused to accompany them. This attempt at liberation so enraged the pro-slavery adherents that they immediately brought out the "old Kickapoo Cannon" and planted it facing the hotel, at the same time passing the word down the line that unless the slave was turned over to them they would pro- ceed to destroy the hotel. The negro was finally spirited away under a heavy guard and appeared before the U. S. Commissioner the following day for a hearing. During the hearing some one called the commissioner outside and during his stay the negro was spirited away. He was never re-captured.
During the days when the Civil War was at its height more or less guerilla warfare was carried on across the river. It was not an uncom- mon thing for the windows on the east side of the building to be shot out by guerillas under the leadership of Cy Gordon who would gather his men together on the Missouri River sandbars and fire at the hotel and the
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building south of it owned by Col. D. R. Anthony. On March 17, 1879, Dan Smith, a brother of the proprietor, Len T. Smith, was shot and killed on the west steps of the hotel by a party named Lattin following an alter- cation over a horse. Smith had attacked Lattin with a hatchet, cutting him in several places before he was shot by the latter. Lattin was after- ward acquitted of the crime of murder.
Probably no other western hotel can boast of having entertained in its day more notable early day characters as can the old Planters House. Stephen A. Douglas, the author of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Senator from Illinois, made one of his famous speeches from the balcony there. Abraham Lincoln stopped there on his visit to Leavenworth. Gen. Will- iam T. Sherman, famous for his march through the Southern states dur- ing the latter part of the Civil War and who later came to Leavenworth to practice law, stayed at the old Planters while he remained here engaged in legal practice.
Among other hostelries that sprang into existence during the early days of the city of Leavenworth was that one located at the Southwest corner of what is now 5th and Shawnee streets. The original owner of of this hotel was George Keller, the original owner of the old Leavenworth Hotel at Main and Delaware streets. In 1857 Keller sold out his interest to Adam Fisher, one of the oldest settlers of the city, who at once proceeded to remodel the place and enlarged it some. It was then named the Fisher House. Subsequent to this the place was leased to a party named Parry and came to be known as the Parry House or "Fisher-Parry" House. Insley and Kiser later purchased the place and it began operations under the name of "The Mansion House". It rapidly came in favor as a hotel, being especially favored by Free State men which led the Pro-Slavery forces to refer to it as Abolition Hill. At that time the ground was much higher at this particular point than now, it being graded down some fifteen or twenty feet when the present build- ings were erected on the site and the streets paved.
Among the numerous other hotels that operated in the city of Leaven- worth during the middle and late '50's was the "Shawnee Hotel" which began operations in 1856. It was owned by Miles Norton and was located on the north side of Shawnee Street between Main and Second streets. The "Rennick House" was built in 1857 on the southwest corner of Main and Seneca streets by Doctor Rennick, an early day physician. It was a three-story frame building. Later the name was changed to the "Brevort
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House". The "Woodward House" was built in 1858 on northeast corner of 4th and Seneca streets. It was afterward known as the "Morris House" and later as the "Washington House". It is still standing though much the worse for wear and tear. It has long since been abandoned as a hotel and has been unoccupied for the past seven or eight years. The original "Pennsylvania House" was built in 1856 on northwest corner of Main and Cherokee streets. It was burned down at an early date. A hotel by the same name was later started on the north side of Shawnee street between Second and Third streets. It was on the identical site of the present site of the "Wilkins Hotel". Still later an early day hotel by the name of the "Pennsylvania House" began operations at the southeast corner of Broad- way and Sioux streets. It was owned and operated by Hubbard Frazier and was built in the late fifties. The "Pittsburg House" was also built during the late fifties at the southwest corner of Cherokee and Front or Levee streets. It was operated by a famous early day character known as "Pap" Hancock. The "Merchants Hotel" was built in 1858 by Adam Fisher on the south side of Cherokee street between Main and Second. It was a brick structure three stories in height. It was operated as a hotel for a number of years by Adam Fisher who was an experienced hotel man, having previously operated the old Fisher Hotel at Fifth and Shawnee street and the "Fisher-Parry" House at the same place. "Har- mony Hall" was built and operated as a hotel and public hall in 1855 by an old Swiss by the name of Jean-de-Arms. It was located at the north- east corner of Second and Choctaw streets. Among other famous early day hostelries were the "Railroad Hotel" located near Walnut and Main streets ; "Poor Jake's House" situated on the southeast corner of Main and Choctaw streets, conducted by Jacob Stroble, an early day politician ; "The Leavenworth House" located at northwest corner of Fourth and Cherokee streets, now known as "The Imperial Hotel; the "McCarthy Ho- tal," owned and operated by an early day politician named Timothy Mc- Carthy; the "Second Ward House" located on the south side of Cherokee street about the middle of the block between Second and Third streets, operated by William Cranston; the "St. George Hotel" located near the northwest corner of Second and Delaware streets; the "Balensloe House" located at the northwest corner of Seventh and Kickapoo streets, operated by Capt. John J. Murphy, and the "Half-Way House" located on Sioux street about the middle of the block between Seventh and Broadway on the south side.
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Scarcely had the city of Leavenworth got well under way of exist- ence when flour mills began operations, being at the time a very neces- sary industry, yet meeting with great obstacles in the carrying on of their business. The first flour mill to be erected was built in 1857 at the north- west corner of Main and Short streets by Earle & Bunbing. It was a two- story- brick structure approximately forty-five by one hundred feet in dimension. It was not the roller type of mill prevalent these days but the flour was made through a process of crushing between stones or what was known as "burrs". There was not a great deal of wheat grown in the community hereabout at the time and as the mill required considerable money to be invested to get it on an operating basis, it did not prove to be a profitable enterprise. After a short time it was abandoned as a flour mill and the building was occupied as a furniture factory by Woods & Abernathy. Among the other flour mills that were later started was one by Capt. Elijah Wilhite, known as the "Wilhite Mill". It was located along the river under what is now known as the South Esplanade. The "Koehler Mill" was built in 1865 on Delaware street near Broadway by Philip Koehler. It was a brick structure three stories in height. The business failed a number of years later and passed into the hands of Hines & Eaves who later sold it to H. D. Rush. Rush enlarged the capacity of the mill and built the elevator that stands to the west of the original struc- ture. This mill was later destroyed by fire. It stood on the site where the Vogel Box Factory is now located. The "Plummer Mill" was built near the intersection of Kickapoo and Main streets in the year 1872. This will was also sold out later to H. D. Rush who enlarged it. It too was burned down in the year 1878. Possibly one of the most successful of early flour mill industries was that engaged in by A. B. Havens and Paul Havens who built what was known as the "Havens Mill" a short distance south of the bridge over Three Mile Creek on Main street. The location originally taken up by this mill site is now occupied by the railroad tracks of the local terminal company. The mill was a three-story frame building and was equipped with all of the latest machinery available in those days. It was burned down like a great many other early day business institutions, the fire occurring May 28, 1882.
Among other mills which might in a way be termed later day mill- ing industries was the "White Mill" which was erected and operated by a party named White. This mill was located on Choctaw street, south side, near Fifth street. It was later sold to H. D. Rush. This is the same mill
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as is now known and operated as The Leavenworth Milling Company. The Kelly & Lysle Milling Company owned and operated a mill on the north side of Choctaw street near the intersection of Sixth street. This mill site is now occupied by the Lysle Milling Company. Another mill of the '80's was located near the intersection of Fifth and Oak streets. It was built in 1886. This mill operated at considerable loss for some time owing to its not being on a railroad and having to go to the expense of having the wheat hauled to the mill and the finished product. It was later sold to Thomas Ashby and has been operated as a corn meal mill for a number of years past. An oat meal mill was constructed during the early '80's at the northeast corner of Main and Delaware streets. It was very success- ful from its inception. The mill was operated by S. F. North and occupied a building which stood immediately north of the Union Station. It was destroyed by fire a short time after its beginning operations. A woolen mill was put in operation during the early days of the city known as the "Leavenworth Woolen Mills." It was erected in 1857 on a location imme- diately across Cherokee street from what is now known as the Klemp Fur- niture Factory. The original promoters of this industry were L. N. Latta and W. H. Hastings. It met the fate of many other early day mills, being destroyed by fire at an early date. The old "Latta" House originally owned by Judge L. N. Latta, one of the proprietors, is still standing near the former mill site. The Leavenworth Carpet Mills began operations in the city in 1870 on the south side of Choctaw street near where the Great Western Foundry now stands between Second and Third streets. It pros- pered for a time and was destroyed by cyclone May 24, 1878.
Among other industries that put in their appearance early in the city of Leavenworth during its early settlement was the brewing industry. The first brewery to be built in the city was that built in the fall of 1855 by Fritzen & Mundee. It was a two-story stone structure and was located along the bank of the river immediately adjoining what is now the South Esplanade. This brewery was operated for a number of years and was later sold out to Capt. Elijah Wilhite who used the building for the opera- tion of his flour mill known as the "Wilhite Mill." Another early day brewery was that known as the "Kuntz Brewery." It was located on South Fourth street along the south bank of Three Mile Creek immedi- ately across the creek from the present site of the Fisher Machine Works. The large square stone house standing on the bank overlooking the former site of this brewery was built by the proprietor, Joseph Kuntz, for his
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family. Underneath the present location of the house which has been known for some time as the Ferrill property immense subterranean vaults were constructed for holding the beer until it had reached certain stages of fermentation and aging. A road to the brewery building proper led in from Fifth street on the west. A large veranda and grove adjoined the house in early days and was a favorite resort of summer evenings to which thirsty citizens of the city flocked for refreshments and an even- ing's entertainment, music generally being furnished in the nature of some first-class band. After the death of the proprietor the property fell into the hands of his nephew, Charles Kuntz, who married the widow. Lack of proper business management soon brought the business into litigation and it was finally closed out.
The "John Grund Brewery", owned and operated by John Grund, was erected in 1857 on Delaware street between Fifth and Sixth streets, south side, and on the location of the former building which was known as Chick- ering Hall and what is now known as the "Leavel Motor Company". Henry Foot, one of the wealthiest of Leavenworth's citizens in those days, was associated with Grund in the enterprise. The brewery was a brick struc- ture two stories in height. Its operation at this location was never a com- plete success, owing to the fact that they could not provide suitable con- ditions under which to have their beer age and the place was sold out, the partners buying out a small brewery which was located on the west side of what is now Shoemaker avenue, and which was operated under the name of the "Little Cannon Brewery", and run and operated by an old German on a small scale. The Grund interests at the same time also pur- chased a tract of land on the east side of what is now Shoemaker avenue and proceeded to erect an up-to-date brewery, the building itself being of stone and the ruins of which are to this day standing. This brewery con- tinued to do a flourishing business until the early '60's when it was closed out by Lucien Scott, then president of the First National Bank, from whom Grund had borrowed heavily.
Another prominent early day brewery was opened for business in 1857 near the northeast corner of Choctaw and Sixth streets upon the present site of the Lysle Milling Company. It was owned and operated by Keim & Wehrle, and while it did business upon a smaller scale than the other breweries heretofore mentioned, nevertheless for the amount of capital invested, the business was a very profitable one.
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In 1858 John Brandon and David Block started the manufacture of soda water at the southeast corner of Second and Kiowa streets. A few years later M. Kirmeyer bought out the interest in the business and he first operated under the name of Brandon & Kirmeyer and the business was changed to that of brewing. This industry was finally forced to cease operations through the interference of the law as administered under the Prohibitory Act. A still later adventure at the brewing industry was set upon when John Brandon and George Beal formed a partnership and engaged in the manufacture of beer under the firm name of Brandon & Beal. Their brewery was located on Kickapoo street, north side, between Second and Main streets. This was the last brewery to do business in the city of Leavenworth.
Schools were not so quickly to be established in the city. This was due principally to the fact of the unsettled condition of the slavery ques- tion in those days. As soon as it became apparent that the new territory was to be Free State the establishment of schools took on a new impetus. Previous to this about the only schools existing in the city were those that were privately conducted. The first school of this nature to be estab- lished was located on the southeast corner of Fifth and Delaware streets. It was opened during the summer of 1855 and was conducted by Rev. J. B. McAfee. He conducted the school at this place for several years. Later McAfee was ordered out of the territory owing to the color of his political views and not wishing to make a contest of the matter he left. It was not until after the year 1858 when the first organized system of schools was perfected, that the education of the children of the territory and city ceased to be neglected.
A large two-story frame building was erected in the fall of 1856 at the southeast corner of Third and Delaware streets which was used as a public hall and theatre. It operated until the fall of 1858 when it was destroyed by fire. Another building was erected in 1863 on Shawnee street, north side, about the middle of the block between Fourth and Fifth streets by the Goddard Bros. It was operated as an opera house and theatre, playing vaudeville principally and was very popular until destroyed by fire. The next early day theatre established in the city was that which was located on the southeast corner of Fourth and Delaware streets. It was known as the "Thorn Theatre", being named after a party named Thorn who, with his family, were actors and generally made up the stock company that played there. Thorn, himself, owned and operated the
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place for a number of years. The old Crawford Grand Opera House was erected in 1880. It, while not in any sense being an early day house of amusement, will be remembered by many of the old timers of the pres- ent day. It was located on Shawnee street, south side, between Fifth and Sixth streets, and was erected by a stock company of which H. D. Rush was president. It played for years to large audiences and always showed the very best bills. In 1910 the building was sold to the Abdallah Shrine and after being thoroughly overhauled, has been since used as a Shrine Temple. Recent theatres are not mentioned here, owing to the fact that this article is supposed to deal with only the earlier history of the city of Leavenworth.
A number of buildings used as public halls were erected and conducted during the days of early settlement in the city. In 1855 a large two-story frame building was erected on the north side of Delaware street between Second and Third streets which was used for public meetings and for church services. Melodeon Hall, Stockton Hall, Turner Hall, Lainge Hall, Odd Fellows Hall, and Chickering Hall, were also famous in their day and enjoyed equal popularity as places of public meeting and entertainment.
"Melodeon Hall" consisted of the third floor of a large three-story brick building which was located on the north side of Cherokee street between Main and Second streets. It was erected in 1851 by Springer & Fries, a Cincinnati firm. It was one of the most famous as well as the finest of early day halls. It was totally destroyed by fire at a later date.
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