USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 7
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Buell Trackwell came to Kansas and settled in the Springdale com- munity in 1857. He also was one of the community's leading farmers and citizens until his death. Dr. William B. Wood came to Kansas in the fall of 1855. After his graduation from the Missouri College of Medicine in 1875 he established himself in the practice at Springdale, where for a number of years he enjoyed a large practice.
Tonganoxie .- The city of Tonganoxie, which is the second largest city in Leavenworth County at the present time, was also an early settle- ment in the county. It was named after an old Indian chief who lived along the Lawrence-Leavenworth Road in that community during the early fifties and whose home was a famous early day stopping place for
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travelers in those days. The city of Tonganoxie was platted in 1866. The original townsite at the time of the platting was owned by Magdalena Berry. As platted the city contained forty acres. The first white settler of the village is reputed to have been William H. Fox, who built a log cabin on the townsite in 1862. During the early 60's a postoffice was established there, and James English was appointed the first post- master. It was not until 1866 that a regular merchandise store was opened up there. It was owned by William Dane. A flour mill was put into operation there at an early date, the same being situated several miles southeast of the village and being owned by Mrs. E. Davis & Son.
Among the early settlers of Tonganoxie City and community were the following: Willard S. Angell, Jacob Becker, Wallace A. Brice, Charles Colwell, Francis J. Dessery, John S. Grist, Abner F. Hoskins, Archer J. Jones, Eli H. Linton, A. McLawrence, Ashley A. Moody, Crawford Moore, Axum Newby and Jonathan Winslow. Of these Willard Angell came to Kansas in 1869 and at first located in High Prairie Township. He settled later in the city of Tonganoxie, where for a number of years he conducted a livery stable and a hotel. Jacob Becker came to Kansas in 1867 and located in Leavenworth, where he lived for two years, when he moved to Tonganoxie in 1869. His occupation was that of a saddler and harness maker and for years he followed his trade in that village. William A. Brice came to Kansas in 1869 and landed at the city of Leavenworth. He was an early day farmer of the Tonganoxie community. . Charles Col- well came to Kansas in 1861 and located for a time in Leavenworth. He was a blacksmith by trade and in the year 1866 he located in Tonganoxie, where he conducted an early day blacksmith shop. Francis J. Dessery located in the city of Tonganoxie in 1867. For years he traded in horses and mules there. John S. Grist arrived in Kansas in 1868 and located at Tonganoxie. He was a contractor and builder by profession and many of the early day houses of the city and community as well as the bridges were built under his supervision. Abner F. Hoskins came to Kansas in 1857 and during his first three years in the territory resided in Anderson County. In 1860 he moved to a farm in the Tonganoxie community. He was for years one of the leading farmers and stockraisers of that com- munity. Archer J. Jones came to Kansas in 1859 but it was not until 1861 that he located in the vicinity of Tonganoxie on a farm. In 1866 Eli Linton arrived at the little village of Tonganoxie and located there permanently. He was one of the early day postmasters of the village
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and also worked as an agent for the railroad company there. A. McLaw- rence arrived in the Tonganoxie community in 1866 and located on Big Stranger Creek a short distance from the city. For years he conducted a grocery store at Tonganoxie. Ashley A. Moody located in Tonganoxie in 1868 and for years conducted a general merchandise store there. Crawford Moore came to the Tonganoxie community in 1861 and located on a farm which was situated about a mile northeast of the village. The station of "Moore" on the Leavenworth-Lawrence branch of the Union Pacific Railway is named after him. His farm, which consisted of 900 acres, was one of the finest in Leavenworth County. Axum Newby lo- cated on a farm in the Tonganoxie community in the year 1873 and for years was one of the most prominent farmers of the neighborhood. Jona- than Winslow was another of the early day farmers to settle in that vicinity. He located there in the year 1868.
Reno .- The little station of Reno, which is situated on the Leaven- worth-Lawrence branch of the Union Pacific Railway, was named after General Reno. One of the earliest merchants of the place was John Jacobs, who was also the first postmaster there. Another small station which is situated in Reno Township is named Fall Leaf and is located on the main line of the Union Pacific Railway. It was named after an In- dian chief who lived there in early days.
Among the early settlers of Reno Township are the following: R. C. Taylor, John Jordan, Gavin Allan, Smith Benedict, William Bruce, John C. Canary, John Develbess and Christian J. Halstead. Among these R. C. Taylor was one of the earliest settlers of Reno Township, the other oldest settler being John Jordan. They both were farmers and took up their claims in the township at a very early date. Gavin Allan came to Reno Township in 1869 and located on a farm there, where he lived for a number of years. He specialized in the raising of fine hogs and cattle. Smith Benedict was another early day farmer to locate in the Reno community. He came there in 1867 and for years conducted one of the finest farms in the neighborhood. William Bruce came to the community in 1869 and located on a farm. John Canary also located there at an early date and followed the occupation of farming. John Divelbess located on a farm in the township in 1867 and devoted most of his time to the raising of fine cattle. In 1880 he was elected state representative from his district. Christian J. Halstead located in Reno in the year 1866. He was one of the early day postmasters of the place. He also served his district as a state representative for a number of years.
CHAPTER V
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PIONEER LIFE AND HOMES
TYPES OF PIONEERS-THEIR HOMES-HOW HOMINY WAS MADE-HOSPITALITY- IMPLEMENTS AND CLOTHING-THE TYPICAL PIONEER-THE PIONEER WOMEN.
"Home of our childhood! how affection clings, And hovers round thee with her seraph wings. Dearer thy hills, though clad in autumn brown, Than fairest summits which the cedars crown." -0. W. Holmes.
There were several different types of men found among the early day settlers of Leavenworth City and Leavenworth County. There was the type which came here mainly for political purposes with but one object in view and that to make the new territory of Kansas pro-slavery. Many of these were in the employ of Southern agencies. Their names are found connected with many of the early atrocities which were committed in the county in its early days. After it became apparent that they had lost their fight and that the territory was destined to be free state they gradually dwindled and slunk away. There was another type who came here for the purpose of establishing homes for themselves and their pos- terity. It is indeed a grateful thought that the latter were in the ma- jority. Those it was that made up what might be truly termed the pio- neers of our city and county. They were a people who despised the coddling ease of luxury, ruddy of health, fired with an ambition of service to their progeny, true soldiers of civilization's edge. Their first care was to protect themselves from the elements. The first cabins that they erected were a cross between a hoop cabin and Indian hut. Soon after, however, the men assembled for what in those days was termed "log
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raisings." The forests furnished the timber and the strong arms of the pioneer with his ax fashioned out the logs. The earth supplied the clay. None of these first cabins are now in existence but the following is a fair description of the way and manner in which they were constructed.
These cabins were generally built of round logs, notched together at the corners, ribbed with poles, and covered with boards split from a tree. A puncheon floor was then laid down, a hole cut in the end and a chimney run up through. A clapboard door was then made, and a window was made by cutting a hole through at the end or side two or three feet square, and finished without glass or transparency. The house was then "chinked" or "daubed" with mud and the cabin was ready to go into. The household and kitchen furniture was adjusted and life on the frontier really began in earnest. Much of the furniture used by the earliest of these pioneers was "home made," being fashioned out of the timber by the husband with no other instrument than an ax. The doors were fas- tened with old fashioned wooden latches, and the latch string always hung out for friends and neighbors. The convenience of stoves was a thing at first unheard and unthought of, the housewife doing all-of her cooking by means of pots and kettles over and above the fireplace, which was usually later constructed. The acquisition of glass windows was im- possible for these first settlers. White paper was pressed into service, being greased and thus admitting a small portion of light.
Those settlers who thus faced the hardships of the new territory were indeed true home builders, the very foundation of our nation, the true root of patriotism and love of country. They appreciated the fruits of their own industry, and manufactured practically everything they used. The home made hominy-block is doubtless not within the memory of our oldest citizens. This was made after this fashion:
A tree of suitable size was selected in the forest and felled. If a cross cut saw was convenient, the tree was butted, that is the large end was sawed off so that it would stand firmly when ready for use. If there were no saws in the neighborhood the ax was used to do the work above mentioned. Then the proper length, generally four or five feet, was measured off and again cut off. After this the block was raised on end and the work began of hollowing out one of the ends. This was generally done with a common chopping ax. When the cavity was adjudged to be large enough a fire was built in it and carefully watched until the ragged edges were burned away. When completed it somewhat resembled a
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druggist's mortar. Then a pedestle or something was necessary to crush the corn. This was as a rule made from a suitably sized piece of timber with an iron wedge attached large end down. This completed the ap- paratus. The block was then ready for use. Sometimes one hominy- block accommodated a whole neighborhood and acted as a means of stay- ing the hunger of a number of mouths.
One of the most noted of characteristics of the early day pioneer when contrasted with the people of today was the spirit of helpfulness and hospitality. Men and women everywhere assisted each other. Aris- tocratic feeling was unknown. Log raisings, brush clearings, hunts and such things were participated in by the entire neighborhood, each one doing his share. When a neighbor butchered, his neighbors were sure to come in for a portion of the meat. What one had all had. There is a difference today when if we look over a neighbor's fence we are charged for it. There are many who for these reasons decry the progress we have made in the last three-quarters of a century and long to go back to the years gone by when hospitality was a part of the human make-up. On Sundays and holidays the pioneers would as a rule go visiting, gen- erally to one of the more important neighbors, who as a rule would kill a hog or sheep to provide eating for his visitors over Sunday. It was the custom for the whole family to partake of these visits, generally coming in the farm wagon and staying all day, sometimes several days.
The farming implements of the early county pioneers were very crude and have long since passed into the discard and disuse. The "bull" plough and mould board plow were early pressed into use. These plows were then made of wood. The "cradle" was an improvement on the com- mon scythe of today and was used in harvesting early grain crops. When the "dropper" and "reaper" came into use in the early 80's their advent was heralded as one of the greatest advancements in the agricultural implement age. Previous to this but little wheat was grown owing to the fact that there was no way to care for it during harvest season. With the invention of the latter two machines wheat growing was given a new impetus, although even at that time the use of twine for the tieing of the sheaves was unknown, they, before this, being tied by a handful of the sheaf ingeniously twisted and tied about it. A good "binder," after the use of the "dropper" came in, was always in demand during harvest season. The original way of preparing the soil for seeding by the pioneers was to plow or "root" it up with a "bull" plow and then drag it down with
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brush or logs. Later a harrow in the shape of the letter "A" was de- signed, it being constructed by mortising three heavy pieces of timber together in the form of a triangle and then boring holes through at cer- tain distances apart and inserting therein at first wooden and later iron teeth or plugs. Rollers were designed by the early day farmer, being made out of a large log into each end of which there was mortised a heavy steel pin upon which a frame work was constructed which con- nected with a tongue and means by which it could be drawn by oxen or horses. The fences that usually surrounded the pioneer's domicile were constructed of rails which his ax had fashioned from the timber on the premises. When not of rails they were usually made of stone. Both forms entailed a great amount of labor when compared with the manner and form as used in these latter days. The family clothes were made entirely by the mother through the use of her needle and spinning wheel. Boots were worn more than shoes. Every pioneer was his own cobbler and the yarn hose knitted by the mother for the family for the winter months were repaired over and over again. The straw hats which the members of the family usually wore during the summer months were made by the mother from the wheat straw after its being threshed. There was nothing wasted; there was nothing fastidious. Life was lived in a sensible, homely, common-sense way.
The typical pioneer man was in the majority of cases strong and robust of physique. His face was usually bearded and his hair was allowed to grow long. As a rule the face was firm and seamed. His eyes were clear, strong and piercing, the sense of sight being developed to a wonderful degree as well as that of the other senses. He had vices and traces of barbarism in his makeup peculiar to the situation in which he was found. His manners were rough and appearance uncouth, yet under- neath the rough veneer one generally found a true spirit of generosity and a sympathetic side to the nature rarely found in these later days. When one entered the door of the pioneer's cabin seeking shelter for the night his request was generally answered with: "I reckon you can stay, or I suppose we better let you stay." The welcome would indeed seem ungracious, yet it was generally the harbinger of every kindness and comfort his cabin afforded. Coffee, corn bread, butter, pork, wild fowl or wild game were generally set before one at the mealtime. The wife and mother, timid, silent and reserved but constantly attentive to your comfort did not as a rule sit at the table with the guest, but like the wives
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of the patriarch's stood by and attended. One seeking shelter was gen- erally given the best the house could afford in the way of a bed. When this kind of hospitality had been shown the stranger as long as he cared to stay and when he was ready to depart and proceeded to speak of his bill he was generally told that they were not running an inn or board- ing house, with some slight mark of resentment, and that he was indeed welcome to the accommodations such as they had been able to afford him.
The true pioneer woman and mother was a type of woman that is rapidly and lamentably passing out of existence. She was mild of man- ner and as a rule spoke but very seldom. She was generally strong and healthy of physique and met unflinchingly the hardships and perils of her situation. She was ever alert to the care and duties of her house- hold and was seldom idle. Her house was always kept neat and tidy regardless of the nature of the structure. About it she drew no social lines based on the simplicity or grandeur thereof; she valued her friends and neighbors at their true worth and all were welcome to visit with her. Resolutely and cheerfully she bore her heavy burdens and met the many vicissitudes cumbent to her life. There was a whole-souled opti- mism and a spirit of buoyant laughter ever present in her heart. She was not adverse to the bearing of children and found solace in the care and homely attentions which she lavished upon them in her simple way. The "homey" instinct was deeply embedded in her. She was not a dis- ciple of vogues, styles of the fashion plates and the relief offered her front her work in the divorce courts held no lure. She worshipped her God in the simple way, her Bible being her constant companion and her greatest pleasure being to gather her children about her of evenings and read to them therefrom and teach them simple prayers. With the establishment of churches at a later period she always tried to raise her family in her church. About this true mother and her rude pioneer home there has ever centered a magic enchantment. Recollections of the sacrifices which she unflinchingly made; of her many kindnesses, her honest toil and brave heart still clings and pays homage to the memory of many of the older citizens of today, touching their heart strings with angelic fingers. The influence which she exerted was stronger than death. She is gone but the spirit which she animated in the breasts of our fathers and mothers and their forefathers still lives in the progress and greatness, the ad- vancement and worth of our city and county as it has established itself in the years that have gone by.
CHAPTER VI
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FIRST THINGS IN CITY AND COUNTY
History has been said to be nothing other than a record of events. The older the event, in reality the more valuable information it is from a historical standpoint. A history that does not go back to the beginning of things and events loses much of its value as a historical work. Leav- enworth City and Leavenworth County had to be started. A city or county is nothing in itself; a state is nothing in itself, neither is a nation ; it is the people that constitute them that make them what they really are. The first settler in the city of Leavenworth and the first "squatter" in the county together with the industries which they started really form the nucleus around which our present day city and county grew. In con- sequence of this the present chapter, a chapter which deals with the first things of the city and county, has been inserted in this work.
In a former article it will be noted that the first white settlers of the county were mechanics and laborers who lived in and very close to the fort, where they were employed by the government in various ca- pacities. Just who was the first white settler in the county is a matter which has long since been lost in the maze of antiquity. It is a historical fact that the first land staked out and occupied after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act on the present site of the city of Leavenworth was that staked out and occupied by John C. Gist and Samuel Farandis. Gen. George W. Gist also staked out a claim on the present site of the city but was never an actual resident of the territory.
The first sale of the town lots into which the city of Leavenworth had been divided and which was held in the city of Leavenworth took place on October 9, 1854. G. W. McLane, of Weston, Missouri, and W. S. Palmer, of Platte City, Missouri, were the auctioneers.
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The first industry of note to begin operations in the city was the saw mill owned and operated by Capt. W. S. Murphy ond Capt. Simeon Scruggs on the north side of "Three Mile Creek" where it empties into the river. This mill began operation in the fall of 1854. A more detailed account of this industry is found in the Chapter on Early Settlement and institu- tions of the city of Leavenworth.
The first newspaper published in the city of Leavenworth and in the territory of Kansas was set up and published under the shade of a large elm tree which stood a short distance to the southwest of the corner of Cherokee and Main Streets. The first edition of this paper, which was named the "Kansas Herald," bore the date of September 15, 1854. The first editors of this paper were Adams & Osborne.
The first storeroom erected in the city was located at the northwest corner of Delaware and Levee or Front Street. It was erected in the summer of 1854 by Lewis N. Rees and was operated as a general store and later used for the first postoffice building in the city.
The "First Squatter's Meeting" held in the territory was held at the store of H. P. Rively, a short distance west of the Salt Cleek Valley Bridge over Salt Creek. This store was located on the farm now owned by Cad Flint. About two hundred "Squatters" were present at this meeting and it was then that the famous "Salt Creek Valley Resolutions" were drawn, a fuller and more detailed account of which appears elsewhere in this volume. This meeting was held May 9, 1854.
The first church services held in the city of Leavenworth were con- ducted by W. G. Caples, a Methodist elder on Sunday, October 8, 1854. The services were conducted along the west bank of the Missouri River near the northeast corner of the present city limits and there being no building adequate for the purpose, the services were held under the shade of a grove of trees which stood at the aforementioned location.
The first postmaster of the city of Leavenworth was Lewis N. Reese. The postoffice conducted by him first was located in his store at the north- west corner of Delaware and Levee or Front Streets. He served as post- master here for several years without pay, the mail being brought down from the fort postoffice. Later he was officially appointed by the gov- ernment.
The first postoffice of the territory was established May 29, 1828, and was known as Cantonment Leavenworth. Phillip G. Rand was the first postmaster there. Up until and even after the establishment of
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Kansas as a territory this postoffice handled the mail of the earliest settlers as well as the official government mails at the fort or as it was then known, Cantonment Leavenworth. For several years after a post- office was opened in the city of Leavenworth by Lewis N. Reese, the mail was brought down from the fort to the local office.
The first dwelling house erected in the city of Leavenworth was built by Jeremiah Clark. It was located at the southwest corner of Walnut and Fourth streets in the fall of 1854. Later it was moved to a place on the alley between Olive and Spruce Streets near Fifth Street, where it stood until a few years ago when it was torn down.
The first territorial election held in the territory of Kansas was held November 29, 1864. This was for the purpose of selecting a delegate to Congress. The voting place in the city of Leavenworth for this elec- tion was the basement of the old Leavenworth Hotel, situated at the corner of Main and Delaware Streets. It was at this election that such a large crowd of Missourians came over and by the casting of their votes made it possible to secure the election of the pro-slavery candidate, Gen. John W. Whitfield.
The first hotel in the city of Leavenworth was situated at the north- west corner of Main and Delaware Streets. It was erected in 1854 and was a frame building. It was operated and conducted by George Keller and his son-in-law, A. T. Kyle, and was known as the "Leavenworth Ho- tel." The building was torn down in 1859.
The first well ever dug and known to exist in the city of Leaven- worth was dug immediately south of the old Leavenworth Hotel by its proprietors in the year 1854. It was situated about the middle of what is now Delaware Street and almost at its conjunction with Main Street. It was filled up when Delaware Street was graded.
The first child born in the city of Leavenworth was born in the Leavenworth Hotel. She was a daughter of A. T. Kyle, one of the early proprietors of the hotel and was christened Cora Leavenworth Kyle. She was born December 5, 1855. After growing to womanhood she was married to James N. Allen, who for years was Rock Island ticket agent in the city of Leavenworth.
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