USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 5
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"Stockton Hall was located on the southwest corner of Fourth and Delaware streets. It was erected in 1857 by Capt. J. B. Stockton. Abra- ham Lincoln spoke there December 3d, during his visit to Kansas in 1859. It, too, was totally destroyed by fire at a later date.
The original "Turner Hall" was located at the northeast corner of Sixth and Delaware streets. It was erected in 1857 by the Turner Society of which Henry Deckelman, who ran a jewelry store in Leavenworth in early days, was first president. It was equipped with a stage and served the purpose of both public hall and opera house for the society. It stood on this corner for thirty years or more. Later the Turner Society erected a larger and finer hall at the northeast corner of Broadway and Shawnee streets which is still standing. The original structure, after being deserted by the Turners, was used for years as a livery stable.
"Lainge Hall" was located at the northwest corner of Fourth and Delaware streets. It occupied the third floor of what was known as the Lainge building. It was used principally for political and religious meetings
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The "Odd Fellows Hall" was erected in the early '60's at the south- east corner of Sixth and Shawnee streets. It was one of the largest and finest structures of its kind in those days and early became immensely popular. The building is still standing and is still used for lodge purposes, the lower part being at present used by the J. C. Davis Undertaking Co., J. C. Davis of the latter mentioned company, being at the present time owner of this famous old building.
"Chickering Hall" was erected in 1885, by Carl Hoffman. It was located on the south side of Delaware street between Fifth and Sixth streets on what is now lots owned and occupied by the Leavel Motor Car Company. It was very popular as an early day hall and theatre, being equipped with a stage. It passed into the discard as a theatre with the establishment of the Crawford Grand Opera House on Shawnee street. It was totally destroyed by fire November 14, 1914.
"G. A. R. Hall," located immediately north of the court house grounds on Fourth street, and on the south side of Three Mile Creek, long served as a public meeting place and hall. While it can not be linked with the history of the earlier day halls of the city, yet it deserves mention here, owing to the fact that its tearing down in 1912 marked the passing of a familiar landmark.
The banking business became quickly established in the city during its early settlement. The first bank to open for business was located on the north side of Delaware street between Main and Second streets. It was owned and controlled by a party named Bailey and began business operations in the early part of 1855. It operated, however, but a very short time.
Another early day bank was located on the north side of Cherokee street, between Main and Second streets. It was originally owned by Issett, Brewster & Co. Later Lyman Scott, an early day citizen, pur- chased the interests of Isett and Brewster and the institution came to be known as Scott, Kerr & Co. This banking business was later absorbed by the First National Bank now located at the northeast corner of Fourth and Delaware streets.
Among the other early day banks that operated in the city were those of Eaves & Keller; Henry J. Adams & Co .; Clark & Gruber; J. C. Heming- way & Co .; Smoot. Russell & Co .; J. W. Morris; Diefendorf, Hellen & Bliss; Newman & Havens; E. Schoolscoff; E. H. Gruber; The German Bank, and the Leavenworth Savings Bank.
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The bank operated by Eaves & Keller was located near the northeast corner of Main and Cherokee streets. It began business in 1858 and oper- ated for only a short time. The bank owned and operated by Henry J. Adams & Co., was located in a one-story frame building which formerly stood on the south side of Delaware about the middle of the block between Second and Third streets. It was organized under the territorial laws of the territory of Kansas in 1857 and was sometimes referred to as the Leavenworth City Bank. It, like former banking adventures, continued in business but a short time. Clark & Gruber started a bank during the middle '50's on Delaware street two doors west from the southwest corner of Delaware and Third streets. The original building is now occupied by the Sanitary Bakery, a new business adventure in this city. It, too, oper- ated but a short time when the partnership dissolved and the business was merged into other banking institutions. The J. C. Hemingway & Co. bank was originally located at the northwest corner of Shawnee and Main streets, immediately west of the old Planters House. This bank was the outgrowth of the banking business of Smoot, Russell & Co., which was started in 1855. The bank was later removed to the east side of Main street between Delaware and Shawnee streets and still later was again located at the southwest corner of Shawnee and Main streets. The bank operated and conducted by the banking firm of Smoot, Russell & Co., was originally located at the southwest corner of Main and Shawnee streets. As previously mentioned, it was opened for business in 1855. The original bank building was a two-story frame structure. Russell, one of the part- ners in the firm was heavily interested in the great overland freighting concern known as Majors Russell & Waddell, and when that company removed from the city, the bank was sold to J. C. Hemingway & Co. A banking business conducted by J. W. Morris which was opened for busi- ness in 1857 was located near the northwest corner of Second and Shaw- nee streets. It did business only on a small scale and was early discon- tinued. The banking firm of Diefendorf, Hellen & Bliss which began busi- ness in 1858 was located at the southwest corner of Delaware and Main streets. It discontinued business at an early date. Paul E. Havens and H. L. Newman began a banking business during the late '50's under the name of Newman & Havens. Their bank was located on the northwest corner of Third and Delaware streets in the building now occupied by the Tremont Hotel. This bank operated successfully and on a large scale for a number of years. The banking institution conducted by C. E. Scholscoff
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located on the north side of Delaware street between Second and Third streets, which did business during the late '50's was more of a loan office than bank. It was conducted for a number of years on a very successful scale. The large three-story brick building which now stands at the south- west corner of Main and Delaware streets was built by E. H. Gruber, a partner of the early banking firm of Clark & Gruber who started a bank- ing business a few doors west of the southwest corner of Third and Dela- ware streets at an early date. The former building mentioned was erected in 1859 by Gruber after the dissolution of the Clark & Gruber partnership. Gruber, upon the completion of this building, started a bank there on a large scale known as the "Gruber Bank." He did a large and flourishing business there for a number of years but overstepped the bounds of pro- priety in his desire to outdistance other banks and was finally closed out. A bank known as "The German Bank" was started at the northwest cor- ner of Third and Cherokee streets by Simeon Abeles at an early date. Later it was moved to the southeast corner of Fourth and Delaware streets and occupied the room now occupied by the Reif Drug Company. It was finally merged into the First National Bank which is now located at the northeast corner of Fourth and Delaware streets. The bank known as the "Leavenworth Savings Bank" was established during the late '60's by Hines & Eaves. It was at first located at the southwest corner of Main and Delaware streets. Later it was removed and eventually was located at the Times building on Fourth street. While located there it failed, causing much financial distress to its depositors who were numer- ous and were unfortunately of the working classes. The banks of today in the city are not mentioned, owing to their having no historical signifi- cance in this article which purports to deal only with the early day insti- tutions and early settlement of the city.
That the pioneers who helped establish the city of Leavenworth, al- though typical frontiersmen and soldiers in a sense of civilization's edge, were a God fearing lot and Christians at heart is clearly evidence by the quick establishment of churches and the building of other houses where religious services were conducted. Scarcely had the city been laid out, before religious services were being held in different ways and forms, throughout its limits. The first religious service believed to have been held within the present city limits was conducted October, 8, 1854, by W. G. Caples, a Methodist elder. The services were held on the west bank of the Missouri river near the northeast corner of the city limits. There
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being no appropriate building in the city at that time which could be utilized for church purposes, the first meeting was held under the shade of a large grove of trees which formerly stood at the aforementioned place. Rev. Caples was one of the members of the original Town Com- pany and came here from Missouri. The Rev. Father Fish of Weston, Missouri, officiated at the first Catholic church services that were con- ducted in the city. There being no appropriate building, the residence of Andrew Quinn who resided on the south side of Shawnee street be- tween Second and Third streets was used. A bureau was pressed into service as an altar. This mass, the first Catholic mass to be said in the city, was held during the early summer of 1855.
What is believed to have been the first building erected for exclus- ive use for church purposes was built during the summer of 1855 by the Methodists on Main street. The first Catholic church of the city was built during the latter part of 1855. It was erected at the southwest corner of Fifth and Kickapoo streets where the Catholic school now stands. It was a large frame structure and was erected under the super- vision of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Miege whose pastorate it continued to be for a number of years. The present Catholic Cathedral supplanted it in 1863. Other Catholic churches were later established, a history of which will be found elsewhere in this volume.
A Christian of Campbellite Church was erected during the summer of 1855 on Shawnee street between Second and Third streets which was destroyed by fire several years later. Shortly after this the congregation erected another church building on the east side of Sixth street between Shawnee and Seneca streets. This building is still standing and is still used for religious purposes.
A Methodist Church, south, was erected in 1855 on the north side of Choctaw street between Second and Third streets. It stood near where the Great Western Manufacturing Co. now has its offices. In 1859 the Methodist Church which stood for so many years at the northwest corner of Fifth and Choctaw streets was erected. It was purchased in 1912, by the J. C. Lysle Milling Company and was torn down, its present site being converted into a lawn to the East of the milling company's offices. In the late 50's or early 60's another Methodist church was erected at the southwest corner of Sixth and Osage streets.
A Presbyterian Church was erected in the fall of 1855 at the south- west corner of Sixth and Miami streets. Rev. A. W. Pitzer was pastor
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of this church for about five years after its erection. Later and during the year 1871 a First Presbyterian Church was erected near the north- east corner of Seventh and Delaware streets on Delaware street. It was eventually purchased by the Goodjohn Sash and Door Company and converted to their business. Part of the old original building is still stand- ing and is incorporated into the new building which they recently con- structed for the carrying on of their business.
Other branches of the Presbyterian Church included the "West- minister Presbyterian Church" which formerly stood at the corner of West Seventh and Oak streets; the "Second Westminister Church" which was built on the north side of Walnut street between Fourth and Fifth streets; the "Cumberland Presbyterian Church" which was erected on the north side of Cherokee street between Fourth and Fifth streets, and the "United Presbyterian Church" erected in 1866 between Fifth street and Second avenue on Arch street, often referred to as the "Flatiron Church."
The first Episcopal Church erected in the city was built near the southwest corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets. It was erected in 1858 and was abandoned later when the congregation erected a new church at the northeast corner of Seventh and Seneca streets.
A German Lutheran Church was erected in 1857 at Seventh and Miami streets. The first Congregationalist Church was located on the northwest corner of Fifth and Delaware streets in 1859. The congrega- tion sold their property at this location in 1887 and built their church which at present stands at Fifth and Walnut streets, the northeast corner. The Jewish Synagogue which stands at Sixth and Osage streets was first erected in the year 1866. In 1916 it was completely overhauled and remodeled and the new synagogue now stands on the old original location. The first Baptist Church which is at present still standing and still used for religious purposes was dedicated in 1871 at the southwest corner of Sixth and Seneca streets. For years it was one of the most massive and imposing looking church buildings in the city. A Colored Church was erected in 1868 on the south side of Kiowa street between Fourth and Fifth streets. It was of the First Methodist denomination. The First colored Baptist church was erected in 1868 at the corner of Seventh and Pottawatomie streets.
CHAPTER IV
EARLY SETTLEMENTS CONTINUED.
KICKAPOO-DELAWARE-EASTON-SPRINGDALE-TONGANOXIE-RENO.
Kickapoo .- One of the most bitter of rivals of the city of Leaven- worth during its fight for the supremacy of the cities of the county was waged by the little city of Kickapoo, situated several miles northwest of the government reservation on the Missouri River. Kickapoo is in reality a much older city in point of settlement than the city of Leavenworth. It was for a time a very bitter rival of Fort Leavenworth in a business way.
The name of the city, "Kickapoo", was derived from that of the Kick- apoo Indians, who came there and settled in 1832 upon grounds that had been allotted them by the United States Government.
The original townsite was composed in all of three hundred and nine acres of land and covered ground and land located principally in the north- west quarter of section thirty-three, and the north one-half of the south- west quarter of section thirty-three, township seven, range twenty-two. The townsite was surveyed in July, 1854, and Josiah Elliott, who was selected the first mayor of the city acknowledged the plat of the city in October, 1854. The townsite was re-surveyed in May, 1858, and on Sep- tember 10, 1858, the plat of the city as it was re-surveyed was recorded with Scott J. Anthony, Register of Deeds of Leavenworth County at that time.
The recorded plat of the city of Kickapoo, according to the re-survey shows a city with streets beginning at the west bank of the Missouri River and numbered north to south from one to thirteen. The names of the streets from east to west are as follows, beginning at the north:
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Locust, Chestnut, Walnut, Main, Washington, Jefferson and Madison. All streets were eighty feet in width with the exception of Main street which was one hundred feet wide. The alleys as laid out were sixteen feet in width and all lots were 124 feet by 44 feet in dimension.
For a number of years it appeared that the city of Kickapoo was destined to outstrip Leavenworth in growth and political prominence. As early as September 20, 1853, a convention was held there for the purpose of selecting a delegate to go to Washington and urge the organization of Kansas and Nebraska as territories. A Catholic Mission was established there in 1833 under the supervision of Fathers Van Quickenborn and Hoecken. A trading post was doing a large business there at that date. The old mission building that was erected by the Catholics was later con- verted into a hotel and operated for a number of years. Later it was used as a land office and was also used as an office for the "Kansas Pioneer," a newspaper published there under the management of Saxton & Hazzard. A part of this old building remained standing until a few years ago when it was torn down by O. L. Spencer into whose hands this property had eventually passed.
One of the most flourishing industries of early day Kickapoo was a saw mill which was operated there under the management of Capt. Elijah Wilhite and Captain Dennis. The lumber out of which many of the early day buildings in this city were constructed was made at this mill. Nearly all of the early day frame buildings at the fort were constructed from lumber sawed at the Wilhite & Dennis mill. Wilhite later sold out the interest which he owned in the mill and moved to the city of Leavenworth and started a flour mill which stood on the river bank along the South Esplanade. George A. Sharp, father of William F. Sharp, a prominent farmer of Kickapoo at the present time, was an early employee of the Wilhite & Dennis saw mill at Kickapoo.
A postoffice was established in the city of Kickapoo in 1855 and T. D. Armond was appointed the first postmaster. For years the mail was received at Kickapoo, coming across the river from Weston, Missouri. Kickapoo then in turn acted as a distributing point for all points further west in the surrounding country.
Among the early day settlers of the city of Kickapoo and vicinity were Rev. Joel Grover, Major Robert Wilson, Major R. P. Rively, William Finley, John Freeland, Jesse Connell, George O. Sharp, Captain Dennis, Isaac Cody, Lawrence Kennedy, Merrill Smith, David Herley, T. D. Ar-
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mond, A. B. Hazzard, Elijah Wilhite, John Baker, Francis M. Beagle, Ben- jamin F. Edwards, Frederick Hoberg, Jackson Hundley, Henry Clay Squires, and Nathaniel S. Ward.
Rev. Joel Grover was a missionary to the Kickapoo Indians and came to Kansas in 1851. He settled on a farm a short distance south of the village of Kickapoo. He was the father of D. A. N. Grover and C. A. Grover, both of whom were early day attorneys in the city of Leaven- worth. C. A. Grover was the first County Attorney of the city and county of Leavenworth.
Major Robert Wilson was the first white settler in Kickapoo Town- ship, coming there in 1844. He settled on what is now known as the Cad Flint farm which is located a short distance west of the station called Miocene on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. He kept a trading post there for several years and sold out in 1852 to Major R. P. Riveley, who conducted a general store and hotel there for several years. Rive- ley's place of business was one of the most noted on the Fort Riley Road and Oregon Trail. One of the first "Squatters" meetings ever held in Kansas territory was held there June 10, 1854. It was at this meeting that the famous "Salt Creek Valley" resolutions were drawn up, a copy of which appears elsewhere in this volume. Riveley conducted a general store and inn at this place until July, 1857, when he sold out to Hiram Rich.
William Finley settled on a farm in the Kickapoo community during the middle '50's and for years took an active interest in the affairs of the city of Kickapoo and the surrounding community. John Freeland was also a farmer who lived in the Kickapoo community during the early '50's. He took an active interest in early day politics and was elected a county commissioner at an early date occupying the position of chairman of the county board from August, 1858, until March 30, 1860. Jesse Connell was also an early day farmer in the Kickapoo community. He served several years as state senator also.
George O. Sharp, another of Kickapoo's oldest residents, came to Kansas in 1855. He held the position of postmaster for a number of years at that place and was also the first station agent there. He took an active interest in the early day politics of the little village and served one term as police judge there, and held the office of mayor from 1858 to 1861. He was the father of William F. Sharp who at present lives a short distance south of the little village.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Captain Dennis operated a saw mill. For a time Elijah Wilhite was associated with him. Practically all of the lumber that was used in the construction of the stables at Fort Leavenworth during the early days was sawed at this mill.
Isaac Cody, the father of the world famous "Buffalo Bill" also was an early day settler in Kickapoo Township. There is no record of his ever having lived in the village of Kickapoo. Cody's farm was situated on the south side of the Fort Riley road and Old Oregon Trail and was a short distance west of the Hund farm of today. His property eventually passed through different hands and it is now part of the Weisinger and Seymour farms.
Lawrence Kennedy, sometimes referred to as the "Mayor of Pleasant Ridge," the father of M. C. Kennedy and L. V. Kennedy, prominent farm- ers of Kickapoo Township, at the present time was also an early settler in the township. His farm was located a short distance to the northwest of the Cody farm.
Merrill Smith conducted a saloon and hotel in what might be properly called Salt Creek Valley, a small early day village situated south of Kick- apoo. His place was located on the Fort Riley Road and old Oregon Trail and was a famous early day stopping place for freighting trains passing over these trails.
David Herley operated the famous early day tavern and saloon known as the "Eight Mile House". It was located approximately eight miles northwest of the city of Leavenworth in Kickapoo Township at a point where the Fort Riley Road and Old Oregon Trail branched. Part of the old building is still standing and the place is now owned by Mrs. Patrick Burns.
T. D. Armond was a resident of the village of Kickapoo during the early '50's. He was the first postmaster at that place, being appointed in January, 1855. At that time the mail was brought across the river from Weston, Missouri, by ferry.
A. B. Hazzard was the editor of the "Kansas Pioneer", a radical pro- slavery weekly published in Kickapoo. He published the "Pioneer" for a period of about three years and when it became evident that Kickapoo had lost the fight for the county seat and the territory-was destined to become Free State the publication was suspended. He later published a paper in Savannah, Missouri.
Elijah Wilhite was also an early day resident of the city of Kickapoo.
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For a time he was interested there in the operation of a saw mill with Captain Dennis. After selling out his interests he removed to Leaven- worth where he opened a flour mill.
John Baker came to Kansas in 1857 and located in Kickapoo. He was at various times engaged in the manufacture of brooms there and also at farming. He served as police judge of the city of Kickapoo one term, as a member of the council three terms and as mayor of the city one term.
Francis M. Beagle came to Kansas in 1852 and at first settled on Kickapoo Island. About two years later he moved to the city of Kickapoo where he engaged in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Dennis, Lewis & Co. A short time afterward he moved to Colo- rado but later returned to Kickapoo.
Benjamin F. Edwards, one of the early and prominent farmers and stock raisers of Kickapoo Township, came to Kansas in 1855 and located on a farm northwest of the city of Kickapoo. During the Civil War he served as a sergeant of Company A, Seventeenth Kansas Infantry. Mr. Edwards took an active interest in early day political affairs. He was an ardent Free State man and was one of the foremost farmers of Kickapoo Township during his lifetime.
Frederick Hoberg, another early day resident of the city of Kickapoo, came to Kansas in June, 1854. His original claim constituted a part of the original townsite of the city. After selling it to the town company he moved to a farm a short distance outside the city.
Jackson Hundley came to Kansas in September, 1854, and at first settled in Salt Creek Valley, a short distance south of Kickapoo. He farmed quite extensively in Kickapoo Township for a number of years.
Henry Clay Squires was another early day settler of Kickapoo Town- ship. He came to Kansas in 1858 and for a number of years engaged in the freighting business on the plains. During his lifetime he was one of the largest and most influential farmers in Kickapoo Township. He took an active interest in politics and served several terms as County Commis- sioner of Leavenworth County. His beautiful home is still well preserved and is located a short distance northwest of the little vilage of Lowemont on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
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