USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 9
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Prior to 1901 the educational facilities of the post were limited. By an act of the Kansas State Legislature all of the military reservation was organized into a school district and called District No. 81. The Board of County Comissioners compose the school board and it is under the juris- dction of the County Superintendent of Leavenworth County. The revenue derived for defraying the expenses of the school is obtained by taxes on the corporations in the district. The burden falls principally upon the railroads and the Leavenworth Water Company. The valuation of all the taxable property is about $500,000. Tax on this amount together with the State School Fund furnishes ample funds to carry on the school. There are five teachers including the principal. There is a well equipped school building erected by the government just east of Pope Hall on the incline overlooking the Missouri River.
In 1838 Congress enacted a law authorizing the appointment of chap- lains in the United States Army and provided that they serve as school teachers. The Rev. Henry Gregory was appointed chaplain at Fort Leaven- worth and he established what is known as the first school for white children on Kansas soil.
St. Ignatius Chapel, a Catholic Church edifice, was erected in the fall of 1889. The Post Chapel was erected in 1878. The Y. M. C. A.
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
building was built and completed in 1907. It is a most beautiful structure without and handsomely furnished within. Helen Gould furnished the money to erect the building and was present at the dedication. Pope Hall was dedicated in the fall of 1894 and named in honor of Capt. James W. Pope. It is an amusement hall used for entertainments. Union Hall was constructed in 1871. It was built for a Catholic Church. The Post Hospi- tal is a magnificent structure costing about $120,000. The Post Steam Laundry was opened for business in September, 1905. The Mess Hall was established in March, 1877. The postoffice was erected in 1828.
In 1917-1918 during the World War new temporary cantonments were erected along the Fort Road leading to the post proper. Many troops were quartered here and at the regular barracks. Most of the temporary buildings are still used for troops. There are at present 960 soldiers at the post.
Fort Leavenworth has been a base of supplies and rendezvous for troops and expeditions from the time of its establishment. Gen. Kearney's expedition to Santa Fe in 1845 started from here. So also were the expe- ditions of Gen. Joseph Lane to Oregon in 1848; Capt. Stansbury to Utah in 1849; Col. Fremont in 1849. All through the Civil War, the Spanish- American War and the World War troops were assembled, sent out and returned to be mustered out at Fort Leavenworth. It was the seat of government for the Territory of Kansas in 1854, being the only place in the territory having buildings convenient for government purposes.
Commandants of Fort Leavenworth.
1827-1829, Col. Henry Leavenworth 3d Infantry
1829, Capt. Bennett Riley. 6th Infantry
1830, Major William Davenport. 6th Infantry
1832, Capt. Bennett Riley. 6th Infantry
1833, Capt. Wm. N. Wickliff. 6th Infantry
1834, Capt. Bennett Riley. 6th Infantry
1834-1836, Col. Henry Dodge. 1st Dragoons 1
1836-1841, Col. Stephen W. Kearney.
1
1
1st Dragoons
1842, Lieut. Col. R. B. Mason.
1st Dragoons
1843, Col. Stephen W. Kearney. 1st Dragoons
1844-1845, Maj. Clifton Wharton. 1st Dragoons
1846-1847, Lieut. Col. Clifton Wharton. 1st Dragoons 1 1
1848, Capt. W. S. Ketchum. 6th Infantry
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
1848, May 2, Lieut. Col. E. V. Sumner. 1st Dragoons
1850, June 30, Capt. Chas. S. Lovell. 6th Infantry
1850, Aug. 20, Lieut. Col. Joseph Plymton. 1st Dragoons 1
1850, Sept. 6, Maj. Benj. L. Beale. 1st Dragoons
1850, Oct. 8, Lieut. Col. E. V. Sumner. 1st Dragoons
1851, March 12, Maj. B. L. Beale. 1st Dragoons L
1853, March 29, Col. T. T. Fauntleroy. 1st Dragoons
1854, Capt. F. E. Hunt. 4th Artillery
(McCown Hunt, of 421 Chestnut Street, is his son.)
1855, Lieut. Col. Phil. St. George Cooke. 2nd Cavalry
1856, Col. E. V. Sumner. 1st Dragoons
1856, July 12, Capt. Thomas J. Wood. Ist Cavalry
1856, July 28, Lieut. Col. Joseph E. Johnston. 1st Cavalry
1856, Aug. 21, Capt. S. D. Sturgis. 1st Cavalry
1856, Sept. 21, Capt. Thomas Hendrickson. 6th Infantry
1856, Oct. 13, Col. E. V. Sumner.
1857, Oct. 12, Gen. W. S. Harney.
1857, Oct. 27, Col. Francis S. Belton.
1858, Jan. 31, Gen. W. S. Harney.
1858, May 15, Maj. Thomas W. Sherman. 3rd Artillery
1858, May 16, Lieut. Col. John Munroe. 4th Artillery
1859, June 15, Col. T. Dimmick.
1859, Nov. 14, Capt. Horace Brooks. 2nd Artillery
1859, Dec. 19, Lieut. Col. John Blankhead Magruder 2nd Artillery
1860, Sept. 3, Capt. W. F. Barry. 2nd Artillery
1860, Oct. 2, Capt. Horace Brooks. 2nd Artillery
1860, Oct. 27, Col. John Blankhead Magruder. 2nd Artillery
1860, Oct. 31, Capt. Horace Brooks.
1861, Feb. 3, Capt. William Steel.
2nd Dragoons
April 30, Dixon S. Mills. 2nd Infantry
May 23, Capt. Alfred Sully. 2nd Infantry
May 31, Maj. Delos B. Sackett. 1st Cavalry
June 12, Maj. S. D. Sturgis. 1st Cavalry June 21, Maj. William E. Prince. 3rd Infantry
1862, June 11, Lieut. Col. J. T. Burris 8th Kansas Cavalry
1863, Dec. 24, Col. C. R. Jennison. 15th Kansas Cavalry
1864, July 7. Col. J. A. Goodwin. 138th Ill. Vol. Infantry Sept. 27, Lieut. Col. W. R. Davis. 16th Kansas Cavalry
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
1865, April 27, Lieut. Col. Heinrichs. 16th Kansas Cavalry
June 27, Col. A. P. Carahar. 2nd U. S. Vol. Cavalry
Sept. 14, Lieut. Col. Rufus E. Fleming 6th. W. Va. Cavalry
Sept. 23, Maj. Wm. Clinton. 13th Infantry
Nov. 20, Col. Isaac V. D. Reeve.
13th Infantry
1866-1867, Col. Wm. Hoffman.
3rd Infantry
1868, April 9, Maj. Alfred Gibbs. 7th Cavalry
Sept. 10, Maj. Henry S. Huntington.
Oct. 7, Capt. H. C. Hasbrouck.
4th Artillery
1869, March 26, Capt. W. M. Graham.
4th Artillery
April 22, Capt. Simon Snyder. 5th Infantry
June 13, Lieut. Col. W. H. Lidell. 10th Infantry
Oct. 22 to April 2, 1871, Col. S. D. Sturgis. 7th Cavalry
1871, April 2, Capt. Dangerfield Parker.
3rd Infantry
April 7, to July 12, 1876, Col. Nelson A. Miles 5th Infantry
1876, July 22, Capt. W. Lyman. 5th Infantry
July 22, Capt. A. C. Wildrick. 2nd Cavalry
Dec. 20, to Feb. 5, 1878, Col. Jefferson C. Davis 23rd Infantry
1878, Feb. 5, Lieut. Col. R. I. Dodge.
23rd Infantry
May 19, Col. Jefferson C. Davis. 23rd Infantry
Jan. 27, Capt. George W. Randall.
23rd Infantry
Feb. 20, Col. C. H. Smith. 19th Infantry
1881, to June, 1885, Col. E. S. Otis. 20th Infantry
1885-1886, Col. Thomas H. Ruger. 18th Infantry
1886, to June, 1890, Col. A. McDowell McCook. 6th Infantry
1890, to Sept., 1894, Col. E. F. Townsend. 12th Infantry
1894, to April, 1898, Col. H. S. Hawkins. 20th Infantry
1898, Maj. J. A. Augur. 4th Cavalry
1899, Maj. J. J. O'Connell.
1st Infantry
1900, Lieut. Col. J. M. Lee.
6th Infantry
1902, Col. Charles W. Miner.
6th Infantry
1903, Brig. Gen. J. Franklin Bell.
1904, Col. J. W. Duncan. 6th Infantry
1905, Col. Charles B. Hall.
18th Infantry
1906, Lieut. Col. Wm. Paulding. 18th Infantry
1907, Col. R. H. R. Loughbourough. 13th Infantry
1907, Col. Thomas F. Davis. 18th Infantry
1909, Jan. 1 to Aug. 23, Col. R. H. R. Loughbourough.
Aug. 24 to Oct. 11, Lieut. Col. Nichols.
THIS WALL WAS BUILT IN 1827 AS A. DEFENCE AGAINST THE INDIANS
PLACED BY CAPT. JESSE LEAVENWORTH CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
à Độ.6
MARKING THE BEGINNING OF FORT LEAVENWORTH
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
1909, Oct. 11 to Dec. 31, 1910 to March 8, 1911, Col. R. H. R. Loughbour- ough.
1911, March 9 to April 20, Capt. James R. Lindsey. April 1 to July 8, Maj. M. J. Lenihan. July 9 to Sept. 30, Col. Loughborough.
1911, Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, Jan. 15, 1912, Maj. M. J. Lenihan.
1912, Jan. 16 to Feb. 23, 1913, Col. Daniel Cornman.
1913, Feb. 24 to Oct. 6, Capt. Johnston.
Oct. 7 to Nov. 8, Capt. Martin. Nov. 9 to Dec. 10, Capt. P. Mawry. Dec. 11 to Dec. 22, Capt. J. F. Barnes.
1913, Dec. 22 to April 28, 1914, Capt. C. C. Smith.
1914, April 29 to Aug. 21, Lieut. W. P. Burnham.
1914, Aug. 22 to March 29, 1916, Colonel Roberts.
1916, March 30 to June 23, Capt. H. E. Comstock, Q. M. C.
1916, June 24 to May 26, 1917, Capt. A. B. Warfield.
1917, May 27 to June 4, Capt. Emerson Eng.
1917, June 5 to June 22, Lieut. Col. M. L. Walker.
1917, June 23 to June 4, 1919, Col. Wm. A. Shunk.
1919, June 5 to July 31, Col. Charles Gerhardt.
1919, Aug. 1 to Aug. 27, 1920, Maj. Gen. C. H. Muin.
1920, Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, Brig. Gen. H. E. Ely.
1920, Sept. 2 to Sept. 4, Col. F. L. Munson
1920, Sept. 5 to Sept. 20, Col. L. R. Holbrook.
1920, Sept. 20 to present time, Brig. Gen. H. A. Drum.
The Army Service School .- The Army Service School was organized in 1881. It is a large stone building consisting of four halls, namely : Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Wagner. It is located near the river bank north and west of the bridge. Wagner Hall is the library over which Col. Ezra B. Fuller has charge. The other three halls are devoted to offices, recitation rooms and other purposes connected with the school. A large clock is located in the tower over Grant Hall. Among the subjects taught are: Military Organization, Field Engineering, Tactics, Solution of Prob- lems, Combat Orders, Discussion of Problems, Map Manuevers, Strategy, Military History, Care of Troops, Care of Animals, Military Intelligence, Leadership, Laws of War, Methods of Training.
The first class was graduated in 1883 and consisted of thirty-five members. The class of 1916 consisted of thirty-two members. The Army
(8)
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Staff College is located in the Service School as is also the Army Signal School. Theses bring to the post every year a large number of army officers for training and as instructors. The following is a list of the Com- mandants of the school:
Otis, E. S., Col., 20th Infantry Nov., 1881 to June, 1885
Ruger, T. H., Col., 18th Infantry June, 1885 to May, 1886
McCook, A. McD., Col., 6th Infantry May, 1886 to Aug., 1890
Townsend, E. F., Col., 12th Infantry Aug., 1890 to Oct., 1894
Hawkins, H. S., Col., 20th Infantry
Oct., 1894 to Apral, 1898
Miner, C. W., Col., 6th Infantry Sept., 1902 to June, 1903
Bell, J. F., Brig. Gen., U. S. Army July, 1903 to June, 1906
Hall, C. B., Brig. Gen., U. S. Army Aug., 1906 to April, 1908
Morrison, J. F., Maj., 20th Infantry April, 1908 to Aug., 1908
Funston, Fred, Brig. Gen., U. S. Army Aug., 1908 to Jan., 1911
Potts, R. D., Brig. Gen., U. S. Army Jan., 1911 to Feb., 1913
Burnham, W. P., Lieut. Col, Infantry Feb., 1913 to Aug., 1914
Greene, H. A., Brig. Gen., U. S. Army Sept., 1914 to Aug., 1916
Swift, Eden, Brig. Gen. U. S. Army Aug., 1916 to -, 1917
Shunk, Wm. A., Col. 1917 to -, 1919
Muir, C. H., Maj. Gen. July 1, 1919 to Sept. 1, 1920
Drum, H. A., Brig. Gen. Sept. 1, 1920 to date
United States Disciplinary Barracks .- The United State Disciplinary Barracks is a post separate and distinct from Fort Leavenworth and is managed by a Commandant, an officer of the United States Army. It was formerly called the Military Prison. The first buildings were erected in 1874-1875. The walls, which inclose about seven acres of ground, are from fifteen feet to thirty feet high, five and one-half feet thick at the base and two and one-half feet at the top. There are confined within the walls 1,559 prisoners and 110 on parole. Those who are convicted of violating the military law and all who have been convicted of charges not greater than a felony by the laws of the Federal Government are confined at this prison. The prison was discontinued in 1895 and continued again in 1906, during which time the Federal Penitentiary was located here. In 1906 the Federal Penitentiary was moved to its present location as is shown elsewhere. The farm is operated by the prisoners as is also the hog ranch, dairy, chicken ranch, brick plant and many and various trades inside the prison. It was here that many conscientious objectors, slackers and alien enemies were confined during the World War. Trades
179
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
and occupations of all kinds are taught the prisoners. There is a dry cleaning plant, dye house, harness shop, shoe shop, tailor shop, laundry, salvage department, building department, farm, rock quarries, saw mill, brick plant, machine and blacksmith shop, carpenter and paint shop, broom shop, plumbing shop. electric shop, tin shop, road construction, ice plant. In these various departments the men are employed. On being restored prisoners are allowed to re-enlist in the Army. Any valuables he may have had are returned to him at his discharge together with a small amount of money and transportation to his former home. About all the building work around the prison is done by the prisoners with the aid of overseers. While under strict discipline they receive manly and consider- ate treatment. They are drilled in the manual of arms and calisthenics. Any Friday they may be seen drilling on the parade grounds. It has been said that they are the best drilled men outside of West Point.
The Prisoners Conference Committee was in effect in 1919. This committee incited the prison body to make extraordinary demands on the Commandant on July 22, 1919. Among them were the following:
1. A general amnesty for all military prisoners and that a telegram be sent to President Wilson demanding same.
2. Better mess, that the prisoners take over the mess.
3. Better living conditions, more time for mess and two issues of tobacco per week.
There was a general mutiny following. The committee was abolished and the prisoners locked in their cell wings on bread and water diet. The prisoners set fire to the Barracks Exchange and about all the buildings were destroyed. The fire started at night and there was ample oppor- tunity for the prisoners to escape but when morning came not one was missing.
The following have been Commandants of the Prison or Disciplinary Barracks :
Gen. Thomas Francis Barr, U. S. Army 1871
(Known as the father of the U. S. Military Prison.)
Major James M. Robertson (first Commandant) 1875 to 1877 Major Asa Peabody Blunt June, 1877 to Dec. 1, 1887
Col. James Worden Pope Jan. 1, 1888 to June 30, 1895
Lieut. Col. George S. Young Feb. 1, 1906 to June, 1908
Major Thomas H. Slavens
June, 1908 to Jan. 12, 1914
Col. H. J. Slocum Jan. 13, 1914 to Aug. 31, 1914
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Frank A. Barton, Cavalry Sept. 1, 1914 to Dec. 19, 1914 Col. Sedgwick Rice Dec. 20, 1914 to Aug. 26, 1919
Brig. Gen. J. H. McRae Aug. 26, 1909 to Sept. 4, 1920
Col. Malvern-Hill Barum Sept. 4, 1920 to present time
CHAPTER IX
-
ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY.
TERRITORIAL ACT OF 1855-BOUNDARIES DEFINED-TOWNSHIPS ORGANIZED- COURT HOUSE-COUNTY OFFICERS.
The First Territorial Legislature of 1855 formed Leavenworth County. Under Section 27 of the Territorial Act the boundaries were as follows: Beginning at a point on the southern boundary of Atchison County due north of a point four miles west of Dawson's crossing of the Fort Riley road, on Stranger Creek; thence due south to the main channel of Kansas River; thence down said channel to where said channel crosses the chan- nel of the Missouri River; thence up said channel of the Missouri, to the southeast corner of Atchison County ; thence along the southern boundary to the place of beginning.
The boundaries as then defined included the present county of Wyan- dotte. January 29, 1859 the Territorial Legislature Wyandotte County was detached and formed into a separate county, leaving Leavenworth County essentially as it now exists.
The General Statutes of Kansas for 1915 defines the boundaries as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of Atchison County; thence west with the south boundary of Atchison County, to the corner of sec- tions twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-seven and twenty-eight, of township seven south, of range twenty east; thence south with the section lines between the third and fourth tiers of sections, to the middle of the main channel of the Kansas River; thence down said Kansas River, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the intersection with range line between ranges twenty-two and twenty-three east; thence north on said range line to the old Delaware reserve line, the same being the dividing line between the original Delaware reservation and Delaware trust lands;
182
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
thence east with said reserve line, to the western boundary line of the state of Missouri; thence northerly with said boundary line of the state of Missouri, to the place of beginning.
It is bounded on the north by Atchison County; east by Missouri River and Wyandotte County; south by Wyandotte County and the Kansas River; and west by Jefferson County and Douglas County.
The Board of Supervisors of Leavenworth County met February 10, 1859, at 10 o'clock a. m. and adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, By the Board that from and after the 28th day of Febru- ary A. D. 1859, the County of Leavenworth be and is hereby set off and organized as follows:
Easton Township .- "All of Fractional Township number seven south range number twenty east and the west half of fractional township num- ber seven south range number twenty-one east, and so much of township number eight south range number twenty east, and of the west half of township number eight south range number twenty-one east, as lies north of the section lines dividing sections 27 and 34, 26 and 35, and 25 and 36 in T. 8, R. 20 and sections 30 and 31, 29 and 32, and 28 and 33, in T. 8, R. 21, to constitute the township of Easton."
Kickapoo Township .- "The east half of fractional township number seven south, range number twenty-one east, and fractional township num- ber seven south of range number twenty-two and twenty-three east, also so much of the east half of township number eight south, range number twenty-one east, as lies north of the section lines dividing sections 27 and 34, 26 and 35, 25 and 36 and of fractional township number eight south, range number twenty-two east as lies north of the section line dividing sections 30 and 31, 29 and 32, and 28 and 33 to constitute the township of Kickapoo."
Leavenworth Township .- "All of fractional townships number eight and nine south of range number twenty-two and twenty-three east em- braced within the corporation of Leavenworth City and the Leavenworth Military Reserve, to constitute the township of Leavenworth."
Delaware Township .- "So much of the east half of township num- ber nine and ten south of range number twenty-two east and fractional townships number nine and ten south of range number twenty-three east as lie south of Leavenworth City and north of the Delaware Reserve line, to constitute the township of Delaware."
183
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Stranger Township .- "Sections 34 and 35, and 36 of township number eight south, range number twenty-one and sections numbers 31, 32 and 33 of township number eight south, range number twenty-two east and the east half of township number nine south, range number twenty-one and the west half of township number nine south, range number twenty- two east, and so much of east half of township number ten south, range number twenty-one east and of the west half of township number ten south, number twenty-two east as lies north of the Delaware Reserve and all of the Delaware Reserve lying east of Stranger Creek and west of the range line dividing ranges number 22 and 23 to constitute the township of Stranger."
Alexandria Township .- "Sections 34, 35 and 36 of townships num- ber eight south, range number twenty-one east and the east half of township number nine south of range number twenty east, and the west half of township number nine south, range number twenty-one east, frac- tional sections 1, 2, and 3 of township number ten south, range number twenty, and fractional sections 4, 5 and 6 of township number ten south, range number twenty-one east, and so much of the Delaware Reserve as lies within the county south of the Reserve line and west of Stranger Creek to constitute the township of Alexandria."
Tonganoxie Township .- Tonganoxie Township was organized on April 1, 1867, with the following boundaries: Commencing at the north- east corner of section number nine (9), township ten (10), range twenty- one (21), and running thence due west along the section lines dividing sections 4 and 9, 5 and 8, 6 and 7, range 21, and sections 1 and 12, 2 and 11, and 3 and 10, range 20, to the county line of Jefferson County; thence southward along the line between the said county of Jefferson and the county of Leavenworth to the southern boundary of the county of Leaven- worth on the Kansas River; thence eastwardly along the southern boun- dary of Leavenworth County to the present line between the townships of Alexandria and Stranger, both of the county of Leavenworth; thence northwardly along the said line between Alexandria and Stranger town- ships to the place of beginning."
Fairmount Township .- Fairmount Township was organized on July 1, 1867, with the following boundaries: Commencing at the northwest cor- ner of section ten, township ten, range twenty-two, and running thence south following section lines about five miles; thence west to the north- west corner of section three, township eleven, range twenty-two; thence
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HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
south following section lines about ten miles to the banks of the Kansas River; thence eastwardly following the banks of said Kansas River about three miles and a half to a point where said river intersects the line dividing ranges twenty-two and twenty-three; thence north following said range about nine and a fourth miles, to the northwest corner of section six, township eleven, range twenty-three; thence east to the southwest corner of section thirty-one, township ten, range twenty-three; thence north following section lines about five miles to the northeast corner of section twelve, township ten, range twenty-two; thence west following section lines about three miles to the place of beginning.
High Prairie Township .- High Prairie Township was organized on September 16, 1867, as follows: All that part of Stranger Township lying north of the section lines dividing sections 4 and 9, 5 and 8, 6 and 7, in township ten, ranges twenty-one and twenty-two and sections 1 and 12, 2 and 11, and 3 and 10, in township ten, range twenty-one was declared to be a new and distinct township known as High Prairie Township.
Reno Township .- Reno Township was organized on January 4, 1869, with boundaries as follows: To be taken from the territory of Tonganoxie Township to be bounded as follows: Beginning at the southwest corner of section twenty-two, township eleven, range twenty, and running east on the section line between sections 22 and 27, 23 and 26, 24 and 25, 19 and 30, 20 and 29, 21 and 28, thence south commencing at the northeast cor- ner of section 28 and running on the section line between sections 28 and 27, 33 and 34, 4 and 3, 9 and 10, 16 and 15, 21 and 22 to the Kansas River ; thence by said river to the east boundary line of Douglas County ; thence north by the dividing line between Douglas and Jefferson and Leaven- worth counties to the place of beginning.
Sherman Township .- Sherman Township was organized on January 4, 1869, with boundaries as follows: To be taken from the territories of Stranger and Fairmount Townships as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of section thirty-four, township eleven, and range twen- ty-one, thence east on the section lines between sections 27 and 34, 26 and 35, 25 and 36, 30 and 31, 29 and 32, 28 and 33, 27 and 34, 26 and 35, 25 and 36, to the west boundary line of Wyandotte County; thence south by the boundary line between Wyandotte and Leavenworth County to the Kansas River; thence west by the Kansas River to the southeast corner of Reno Township; thence north by the east boundary line of Reno town- ship to the place of beginning.
185
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Later on a strip one section wide was taken from Stranger Township and added to Fairmount Township, making the townships of Fairmount and Stranger conform to the present boundaries. With this change the various townships attained the boundaries which they have at the pres- ent time.
Court House .- After the removal of the county seat from Kickapoo to Leavenworth the county offices were located at the northwest corner of Third and Delaware streets where they remained during some time and then removed to the City Hall at the northeast corner of Fifth and Shawnee streets, remaining there for many years. April 22, 1858, Jere- miah Clark offered the county part of the present site of the court house, under the following proposal:
"To the Board of Supervisors for the County of Leavenworth K. T. Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit the following proposition for your consideration. I hereby propose to donate to the County of Leaven- worth, in perpetuity, the following described tract of land, viz .: The East half of Block Thirteen (13) known as Court Square lying 300 feet on Third street by 180 feet on Central avenue, and Walnut street, exclu- sively for the purpose of being occupied, as the site for Court House, public offices and such buildings as the county may require.
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