USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 6
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Nathaniel S. Ward came to Kansas in 1858 and settled on a farm a short distance west of the city of Kickapoo. During the Civil War he served as a member of Company A, Seventeenth Kansas Infantry.
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Delaware .- Another former rival of the city of Leavenworth for political and business prominence, now long since lost and forgotten, stands about two miles east of the present site of Lansing. This city, known in its day as Delaware and sometimes referred to as "Old Delaware", was commenced during the summer of 1854. A townsite was laid out, sur- veyed and platted by the Delaware Town Association of which S. B. Pren- tiss was president. The original plat of the city of Delaware was filed in the office of Scott J. Anthony, Register of Deeds of Leavenworth County, Kansas, on December 15, 1859, and the description of the city from the plat recorded reads as follows:
"Beginning at a limsetone rock 15 inches long by 3 inches thick set for the northwest corner of the town of Delaware on the south bank of the Missouri River, in Leavenworth County, Kansas Territory, from which a cottonwood tree bears South S. 81} degrees W. 68 links and an elm tree bears S. 83} degrees E. 42 links distant, thence S. 35 degrees E. down the south bank of said river 80 chains to a limestone 30 inches long, 10 inches wide and 1} thick from which an oak tree bears N. 78 degrees W. 21 links and an elm tree bears N. 79 degrees E. A5 links distant. Thence South 55 degrees W. 40 chains set a part corner from which a hickory tree bears N. 9 degrees W. 17 links. Thence north 35 degrees W. 80 chains set for a corner a limestone 30 inches long, 10 inches wide and 2 thick. Thence 55 degrees E. 40 chains to the place of beginning. The width of streets, lots, alleys, and depth of lots are as appear on plat. The number of blocks and reserves are as well as the names of the streets laid down on this plat."
The plat referred to above was filed by George Quinby on behalf of the Delaware Town Association. The plat as recorded shows that the streets from east to west were numbered from 1 to 6. From north to south the streets were names as follows: Hazel, Hickory, Hackberry, Elm, Vine, Maple, Mulberry, Walnut, Main, Oak, Linden, Ash, Cherry and Plum.
In 1855 an election was held in the county for the purpose of select- ing a county seat and on November 6, 1855, the County Board of Leaven- worth met for the purpose of canvassing the votes cast. After canvassing the votes it appeared that the city of Delaware had cast 929 votes, the city of Kickapoo, 878 and the city of Leavenworth 726. At the election it is said that large numbers of Missourians had come over to Delaware and Kickapoo and voted for the purpose of securing the county seat to each of these cities. Following the canvassing of the votes Commissioners Hall
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and Walker voted that Delaware city be selected as the permanent county seat. John A. Halderman, one of the county commissioners at that time refused to take any hand in the matter of the selection of Delaware as the county seat for the reason that numerous illegal votes had been cast. A county building was built at Delaware following this election and the county offices were moved there February 20, 1857.
In 1857, however, the legislature ordered the holding of another elec- tion for the purpose of fixing upon a permanent county seat for Leaven- worth County. At this election which was held in October, 1857, the city of Kickapoo received the largest number of votes, polling a vote of 1,004 as against Leavenworth's 968. When the board of county commission- ers canvassed the vote they declared that Kickapoo was to be the county seat and the county records were ordered transferred from Delaware to th city of Kickapoo. After this the matter of the county seat was thrown into litigation and eventually the city of Leavenworth won out. With Leavenworth's winning the cities of Delaware and Kickapoo began quickly to pass into the discard and especially was this true as the Free State sentiment began to grow.
An amusing story is told of the election of October 8, 1855, when Kickapoo, Leavenworth, and Delaware City were waging a hot three- cornered fight for the county seat. On the evening of the election after the votes had been counted it appeared that Kickapoo had won out by a vote of 892 to 860 over Delaware, her closest rival. There was a great celebration held in Kickapoo and Weston where most of the Kickapoo votes had come from during the day. However, the next day, Delaware, not to be outdone, decided that there were several of her citizens who had not voted so they threw the polls open on that day with the result that the Delaware vote grew from 860 to 928, easily outdistancing Kickapoo in the final canvass by the county commissioners.
Among the early settlers of Delaware City and Delaware Township were the following: G. B. Redmond, J. M. Churchill, James Bruce, Will- iam H. Spratt, George Quinby, L. F. Hollingsworth, R. C. Foster, David Churchill, B. H. Twombly, S. D. LeCompte, G. W. Gardner, Eli Macamer, John W. Loar, H. T. Green, Thomas Abshire, Joseph Kelley, Barnabas Gable, Doctor Whiteside, Fred Frye, Matt Boyle, Herman Brandt, Mrs. Hanson, William Patterson, Jonas Edge, Tom Yates and William Sprague.
Practically all of the residents of Delaware and community emigrated to Kansas territory from Platte County, Missouri. They were in the main strongly pro-slavery.
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Of the old-time settlers of the city of Delaware and Delaware Town- ship heretofore named, none are now living. G. B. Redmond, whose name was mentioned afterward, started the little village of Weimer, which was located a short distance south of Delaware on the Missouri River. There he operated a saw-mill and for a time it appeared that the village was destined to blossom out into a real city. All of the former site of this little village has now been carried away by the encroachment of the river.
J. M. Churchill was one of the early day storekeepers. James Bruce was a brother-in-law of Churchill's and lived in the city of Delaware. William H. Spratt ran a saloon there for a number of years.
In the mind of the old timers there still lingers recollections of George Quinby, one of the leaders of the little village in its palmiest days. Quinby ran a livery stable there for a number of years. He was a man of the typical "town boomer" type of the fifties. He came to Delaware when it was nothing but a "wooding up" station for the steamboats and it was largely through his efforts that it gave promise for a time of being the leading city in Leavenworth County. L. F. Hollingsworth was an early day doctor of the little village and had an office there. Later he purchased a farm a short distance from the townsite and removed there following the less strenuous occupation of farming.
R. C. Foster was an early day farmer of the community. His farm was located adjoining the city. David Churchill was associated with his brother in the conducting of a general store there, and B. H. Twombly was an early day attorney of Leavenworth City and County who lived on a farm adjoining the village.
Of Samuel D. LeCompte much could be said. He was the first judge of the district of which Leavenworth County was a part. He was inclined to be a bit radically inclined toward the pro-slavery element and cause. He resided in the city of Delaware for several years and held court there when the county building was located there. When the city of Delaware, in order to defeat Leavenworth and Kickapoo for the county seat, threw open the polls and voted a second day, it is said that when the matter came before LeCompte as a legal controversy, he decided in favor of Delaware. After his retirement as judge here he practiced law for a number of years in Leavenworth but finally removed east where he died.
G. W. Gardener was another early day attorney of Leavenworth city and county who took up an early residence in the city of Delaware. After- ward he removed to a farm in Delaware Township where he followed the
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LEAVENWORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND CADETS
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
occupation of farming. Eli Macamer was another lawyer who resided at Delaware on a farm as well as was H. T. Green. John W. Loar was an early day farmer in the Delaware community as well as was Thomas Abshire and Joseph Kelley.
Barnabas Gable, another early settler of the Delaware community, came to Kansas in 1854 from Platte County, Missouri. At first he took up a claim on Broadway in the city of Leavenworth which he afterward aban- - doned, the same being taken up and afterward platted as Benz' Addition to the city. Mr. Gable died about ten years after locating on his Dela- ware Township farm, leaving a large family. Frank M. Gable of Delaware Township, and John M. Gable of this city, are his sons.
Doctor Whiteside was for years one of the leading physicians of Dela- ware city. He enjoyed a large and lucrative practice and was rated as one of the leading physicians in this part of the country.
Fred Frye was Delaware's baker. He conducted a bakery there dur- ing the fifties and did a large and flourishing business. Matt Boyle ran the leading saloon in the village. He was found guilty of selling liquor without a license after the town boom had died out and was compelled to serve a term in the penitentiary for same. Herman Brandt ran a saloon and a small general store. He later moved to a farm south of Lansing after that city had started.
The hotel which was operated by Mrs. Hanson, referred to as the "Widow" Hanson, was one of the most noted places in the little village. It enjoyed a large patronage and was political headquarters in early days. There was about fifteen rooms in the hotel building as well as a large hall which was often pressed into use as a dance hall. It was conducted under the name of the "Hanson House".
William Patterson was an early day contractor and builder of the vil- lage and later built himself a fine residence there. William Sprague was an early day stone mason and bricklayer who helped build many of the houses and buildings that sprung up when the boom was at its height.
The first mayor of the city was Thomas Yates, a typical town boomer who saw visions of big things in store for his infant city.
Henry Foreback was the first shoemaker to locate in the city. For a time he was a political "boss" there, controlling the German vote.
During its palmy days town lots in the city of Delaware sold for fabulous prices. An improvement company was organized to grade and make streets. The townsite was on very hilly ground and they cut one (6)
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
street down to the river landing. The street was about a quarter of a mile long and in many places it was necessary to make cuts as deep as twenty feet.
An amusing incident relative to the county seats being established there is still recalled by some of the old timers. After the building of a temporary structure there for the purpose of housing the county offices, it became necessary to hold a term of court. Judge Samuel D. LeCompte was at that time judge of the district of which this county was a part. During the trial of a case in the Delaware court house and while the jury was in the box, the floor of the building collapsed and the jury all fell into the basement. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.
Frank M. Gable, who came to Delaware Township as a small boy with his father, Barnabas Gable, tells that it was a practice during the early days of the town for the real estate agents to have emissaries down at the river who hailed passing steamboats in search of immigrants, cry- ing out: "Hear ye me! Hear ye me! Come to my town. It is the best located."
Easton .- The city of Easton, situated about twelve miles west of the city of Leavenworth, was another early day settlement in the county. This city was originally called "Eastin" and was named after Lucien J. Eastin, one of the early editors and owners of the "Kansas Herald," a weekly Leavenworth newspaper. It was located and named in the fall of 1854 by Andre Dawson, William G. Mathias and L. J. Eastin. It is said the the name "Eastin" was changed to "Easton" owing to the fact that Governor Reeder, the first territorial governor of the territory of Kansas, was originally from a city in Pennsylvania named "Easton" and the change in the spelling of the name was done in his honor.
The first known white settler in the immediate vicinity of Easton is believed to have been Andre Dawson, who at first lived a short distance to the southeast of the present site of the city. Dawson's Creek Cross- ing on Stranger Creek was a famous early day fording place where trains traversing the Fort Riley Road crossed the stream. Dawson Creek, a small creek running through the south part of the city of Easton, was named after Dawson. Dawson was married to an Indian squaw. There was one son born to their union, a son named John.
The plat to the city of Easton was recorded May 8, 1855. It was recorded by Jesse Connell, administrator of the estate of Andre Dawson, deceased.
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The plat of the city of Easton shows the city to be divided into six- teen square blocks. The streets are numbered from east to west, be- ginning with one and ending with four. From north to south the streets are named as follows, beginning at the north: Dawson, Riley, Kickapoo, and Broad Street. The blocks, as laid out, are divided into twelve lots each.
Among the earliest settlers in the city of Easton and its immediate community were Stephen Minard, who bought out Andre Dawson's hotel there and operated it as early as 1855; Samuel J. Kookagee, who operated a store there for several years during the middle fifties; John Large, who lived two miles south of the city and whose daughter married Andre Dawson, and John McNeesh, who also operated a hotel there during the early fifties. Samuel Pearson was also an early resident of the city. It was he who in company with Merrill Smith, then the proprietor of a hotel and saloon in Salt Creek Valley, engaged Martin Klien in an alter- cation in the Number Six neighborhood one day and shot the latter, seri- ously wounding him.
Other early day settlers included William H. Bristow, William N. Borden, John L. Bristow, Robert Fevurly, A. E. Cleavinger, Joshua Hall, Robert Kelsey, M. H. Langley, G. H. Loughmiller, C. D. Oliphint, J. H. Seever, Stephen Sparks, Joshua Turner, E. K. Adamson, H. B. Gale, Rob- ert Bishop, Thomas Snoddy, Charles Foster, John Thornburg and Jackson Crane ..
Practically all of these parties named in the last paragraph settled on farms in the vicinity surrounding Easton. William H. Bristow, for a number of years conducted a general merchandise store until it was destroyed by border ruffians during the fall of 1856. William N. Borden came to Kansas in 1842 and located in what is now Kickapoo Township. He later moved back to Platte County, Missouri, but again moved back to Kansas several years later, locating in the village of Easton, where he engaged in the grocery business for several years before moving to his farm north of Easton. Joshua Turner conducted a grocery store in the city for a number of years during its early days. Stephen Sparks, one of the earliest settlers in the Easton community, came to Kansas in 1854 and located on his farm on Walnut Creek a short distance to the south of Easton, where he lived until his death. A. E. Cleavinger came to Kansas in 1851 and located on a farm northeast of the city of Easton several miles. Until his death he ranked as one of the leading farmers
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
of Easton Township. E. K. Adamson came to Kansas in 1854 and at first located on a farm in Alexander Township. Several years later he moved to Easton, where he engaged in the mercantile business. M. H. Langley came to Kansas in April, 1854, and located on a farm to the northwest of the city of Easton a short distance. He was a prominent farmer and stock grower there during his lifetime. C. D. Oliphint, another of Easton's most prominent old timers, came to Kansas in August, 1856, and located in Easton, where he resided until his death. He took an active interest in early day politics and served as a member of the State Legis- lature during the session 1877-78. J. H. Seever, H. B. Gale, Robert Bishop, Charles Foster, John Thornburg and Jackson Crane were all early day farmers in Easton Township and community. They all lived to the north and northeast of the city and all came to their respective homes during the early and middle fifties. There are none of those old timers heretofore mentioned living at this date.
An early day incident showing to what extent the pro-slavery forces willingly went in order to carry out their purposes is illustrated in the election which was held in the territory on January 17, 1858. Easton was at that time one of the polling places. The home of T. A. Minard was used as a voting place. A number of pro-slavery men sent word to Minard that they wanted the ballot box. A number of Free State men from Fort Leavenworth under the leadership of Capt. Reese P. Brown, a newly elected member of the State Legislature, had gone out to see that the election was conducted fairly. The Free State men of the vi- cinity were under the leadership of Stephen Sparks, who lived a short distance south of the city of Easton. The election went along quietly until the morning after, when the Free State men from Leavenworth learned that Sparks and his son had been taken prisoners. They imme- diately set out to rescue them. On reaching the village they found Sparks and his son and released them. Trouble followed. A pro-slavery man named Cook was killed and several Free State men were wounded. Capt. Brown set out with his party on their return to Leavenworth. On the way back the party was met by two bands of pro-slavery men, one under the leadership of Capt. Martin, and another under the leadership of Capt. Dunn. Most of both parties were "Kickapoo Rangers." Seeing that they were outnumbered the Free State men surrendered and were taken back to Easton. A mock trial was held and all the prisoners were turned loose with the exception of Brown. He was locked up. The mob, be-
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came unruly and broke open the jail, dragged Brown out and one of the party struck him in the head with a hatchet. He was stabbed and hacked from head to foot and thrown into a farm wagon and taken to his home, where he was thrown out at the door. His wife shortly after this went violently insane and later died from the direct effect of the shock.
Another incident is illustrated in the raiding of the store which was conducted at Easton by William H. Bristow. Bristow had been engaged in the mercantile business there during the years 1855 and 1856. In the fall of 1856 border ruffians from Missouri came to the little village of Easton and robbed the store of all the provisions they were able to carry. They then set fire to the building and set out on their return. The old store book kept by Bristow is still preserved and contains many items of interest. Among the first pages appears the heading: "Easton K. T. October 10, 1855." Among the first customers appears an Indian, who paid a balance on account of $1.00 for pantaloons. Several Indians' names are found in the record, showing a great deal of trade among them.
The following is a copy of some of the original items as they appear in this old account book:
"Saturday, Oct. 13, 1855; George W. Messersmith, to gallon of mo- lasses, 75c; to 8 pounds of sugar, $1; to one gallon whiskey, 75c. Another bill: Tuesday, October 30, 1855; John Large, to 25 pounds flour, $1.37; to 50 cents coffee, 50c; to 1/2 gallon whiskey, 40c. Another bill: William Sparks, Dec. 3, 1855; to five pounds of nails, 60c; to set of knives and forks, 50c; to 8 yds. calico @ 121/2c, $1.00; to matches, 5c."
The last entry made in the store book was under date of December 1, 1856. The following are names of some of the customers recorded: Wansuck Indian, Esquier Indian, John Thomas, Witousa Indian John, Pacnocca Indian, Jim Thomas, Kawhuk Indian, Joel Crook, James Kain, W. Sparks, James Novel, M. Langley, Steven Sparks, Mathias Ralston, F. G. Braden, L. White, Mr. Mayfield, J. Brady, William Linck, K. Adamson, David Large, S. J. Kockogee, Robert Whitehead, John Large, Levi White, George Messersmith, Christopher Linvil, Jacob Adamson, John Wilfly, Daniel Shiply, William McLain, Thomas Carson, Peyton Bristow, James T. Roberts, Daniel Nickson, Anthony Reader, Joseph Langley, E. K. Adamson, Thomas W. Brooks, Thomas Gwartney, W. R. Tubbs, Thomas Turner, Augusta White, James Novel, William Sparks, James Ready, Greenville Thompson, A. D. Jones, William Gabard, Charles Hedrick, Zachariah Sparks, David Merphy, J. C. Brown, James Bradley, James
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Hugens, Henry Ready, Henry Price, S. C. Sumpter, Taswell Rose, John Higgins, L. Minard, John Menech, Levi White, John Tritt, M. H. Langley, Thomas Minard, Daniel Rose, William Rose, William Jones, Patrick Orr, Benjamin Hicks, John Foular, Amber Jones, Moses Sparks, M. Coomstock, John Large, M. Mackey, R. W. Chinnly, N. Taylor, Louisiana Lockmiller, Chester Ferry, Lance Woodward, John Thompson, Robert Thompson.
The following is the contract for the first school house at Easton. The original contract with other papers of William H. P. Bristow, includ- ing the old store book, are at present in possession of William P. Hall, grandson of Mr. Bristow, and to him we are indebted for this information:
"Know all men by these presents, that: We, G. C. Linvill & D. L. McMickle, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and Twenty five Dollars to be paid in manner following do agree to build and complete a school house in the Town of Easton of the following dimensions, viz: twenty four by eighteen feet, and nine feet between joints with one door and four twelve light windows eight by ten, floor to be laid of plank with a square edge drove up tight; sleepers and joice to be placed two feet apart, the house to be chinked and pointed inside and out with lime and set upon a good foundation one foot above the ground. When the house is up and covered the sum of twenty five dollars will be paid and the re- mainder one hundred dollars when the house shall be completed and fully finished in a good and workmanlike manner.
"(Thos. A. Minard "C. C. Linville "D. L. McMickle."
"Trustees (Wm. H. P. Bristow
"(Joseph Langley"
"Easton Nov. 14th A. D. 1855
"Received of W. H. P. Bristow and T. A. Minard, Trustees of the Easton School House the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars in full of all demands against the Easton School House.
"C. C. Linville® "D. L. McMickle"
The foregoing contract and receipt are written on a sheet of lined foolscap paper and is plainly legible to the present day.
Springdale .- The city of Springdale was platted and surveyed in 1860 by Hiram Rees and Eli Morris. It is located in the center of Alex- ander Township and about sixteen miles west of the city of Leavenworth. It has no railroad connections. John Wright was reputed to have been
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
the first settler in the township, coming there in 1854. A postoffice was established there in 1860 and P. F. Walker was appointed the first post- master. In those days the mail was hauled overland by stage on the Fort Riley Road, Springdale getting its mail from the station at Easton, and Easton in turn getting its mail from Leavenworth, where it was brought by steamboat. The township of Alexandria, in which Spring- dale is located, was settled to a large extent by the Friends' Society. They built a church and schoolhouse there at an early date. Among the earliest industries of the little village was a sawmill operated by Henry Ready and a grist mill operated by Thomas Ashby.
Among the earliest settlers of the village and community were the following: Robert E. Courtney, Garrett V. Keller, James Medill, Alfred B. Powell, Buell Trackwell and Dr. William B. Wood.
Robert Courtney came to Kansas April 7, 1855, and located on a farm near the village of Springdale. He soon acquired considerable real estate and was a prominent and prosperous farmer of that locality until his death. Garrett V. Keller, another early day settler, located in the Springdale community in January, 1859. He also was a farmer and resided there for a number of years, operating one of the leading farms of the community.
James S. Medill came to Kansas April 15, 1857, and did not until 1864 move to the Springdale community. He took an active interest in early day politics and served four years in the State Legislature and two years as railroad assessor. On his farm, which was one of the leading ones of the community, he specialized in the raising of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He was the father of a large family and was one of the county's foremost citizens until his death.
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