USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 10
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109
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Mr. Sullivan was succeeded in office by his under-sheriff, Michael Nestor, who grew to manhood in this city. He was re-elected to a second term and was a most capable and high minded official.
The present sheriff, H. C. Lathrap, is a citizen of Blue Rapids, where he served the public as postmaster for a number of years. The sheriff resides in the jail.
MARSHALL COUNTY INFIRMARY.
On April 12, 1895, the county commissioners, J. M. Bradshaw, I. D. Yarick and P. Finnegan, let a contract for a county infirmary to Matt Treinen, of Marysville, at seven thousand four hundred and seventy-five dollars. John Y. Benifer, of Seneca, Kansas, was the architect. The building contains three stories, with eleven large rooms, two wide corridors, the full length of the building and two spacious rooms in the basement. There are at present six- teen inmates.
F. E. Benson. superintendent, and Mrs. Benson, matron, have charge of the institution. Mr. Benson has fine executive ability, combined with a genial temperament, and Mrs. Benson is a very efficient woman.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.
The following is the list of representatives and county officials of Mar shall county, beginning January 1, 1917:
State senator, F. G. Bergen.
Representative, thirty-ninth district, S. F. Paul.
Representative, fortieth district, A. A. Nork.
County clerk, A. J. Harvey.
County treasurer, L. N. Cole.
Register of deeds, Adamantha Newton.
County attorney, James G. Strong.
Probate judge, W. W. Potter.
Sheriff, H. C. Lathrap.
Coroner. R. C. Guthrie.
County superintendent, W. H. Seaman.
County surveyor, R. F. Gallup.
Clerk district court, A. B. Campbell.
Commissioner, first district, T. P. O'Neill.
Commissioner, second district, George B. Layton.
Commissioner, third district, James Kennedy.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
ASSESSED VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY, 1916.
1. Farms, aggregate amount assessed. $28,866,040
2. Land not included in No. 162,780
3. Horses and mules 1,701,780
4. Cattle 1,293.331
5. Hogs 288,637
6. Sheep 7,217
7. Poultry 2,376
8. Grain. all kinds. 1,104.277
9. Hay and forage crops 57,843
10. Machinery and utensils 355-573
11. Automobiles 302,570
VALUE OF CITY AND TOWN PROPERTY, 1916.
I. Real estate $ 4,202,000
2. Personal property, including merchandise in stock 3,823.750
3. .Antos, 1,866; motorcycles, 71 ; total. 1,937
GENERAL TAX LEVY.
Per centum of taxes levied in Marshall county for state, county, city, village, school and other purposes :
Marysville City 19.48
Bigelow 6.69
Blue Rapids City 20.00
Ilome 6.19
Frankfort City 18.65
Vliets ( Noble) 5.94
Axtell
15.50
Vliets (Vermillion ) 7.19
Beattie 15.50
Bremen 6.69
Waterville 16.25
Herkimer 5.94
Summerfield ( Richland) 17.16
Irving 12.10
Summerfield ( St. Bridget) 19.00
Marietta 5.69
Oketo
17.30
Mina 7.19
Vermillion
13.00
Hull
5.94
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
.At a meeting of the county commissioners at Palmetto, Kansas Terri- tery. June. 1850, it was decided "that the county of Marshall, for the con-
.
III
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
venience of transacting county business, and the execution of legal processes, be divided into two principal townships, by a line beginning at the mouth of Elm creek, where it empties into the Big Blue river, and running thence north to the base or meridian line. The section of the county east of said line in Marshall county will henceforth be known as Vermillion township and that portion of the county lying west of the line in Marshall county to be known as Marysville township.
On November 6, 1858, the county commissioners divided the county into four townships, namely: Marysville, Guittard, Blue Rapids and Ver- million. What is now known as Washington county was at that time under the jurisdiction of Marshall county officials and was termed Washington township. From 1869 up to the year 1883, the county was subdivided into municipal townships as follows: Waterville, Center, Elm Creek, Rock, Franklin, Blue Rapids City. Blue Rapids, Wells, Clear Fork, Logan and Noble.
Later, a redistricting was made and the following now constitute the townships of the county with assessed valuation for the year 1916:
VALUATION OF TOWNS OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Axtell
$ 778,360
Beattie
321,220
Blue Rapids
975.300
Frankfort
1,212,330
Irving
281,860
Marysville 2,335,270
Oketo
181,220
Summerfield
445,120
Vermillion
272,840
Waterville
1,025,230
Total
$7,828,750
VALUATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
Balderson
$ 1,991,820
Bigelow
1,380,930
Blue Rapids
1,187,910
Blue Rapids City
1,321,580
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Center 1,536,530
Clear Fork
1.176.540
Cleveland
1,255,390
Cottage Ilill
1.575.200
Elm Creek
1,331,160
Franklin
2,096,630
Guittard
1,487,050
Herkimer
1,949,570
Lincoln
1,309,690
Logan
1,991,680
Marysville
1.955.420
Murray
1,503,010
Noble
1,483,020
Oketo
1.917.430
Richland
1,935,930
Rock
1,386,720
St. Bridget
1,143.940
Vermillion
1,439.300
Walnut
1,618.720
Waterville
1,251,650
Wells
1,380,130
.
Total
$38.516,950
Total valuation of the county
$51,602,990
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
Balderson township-Trustee. William Smith; treasurer, Carl Linden- berg : clerk, C. L. Willey: justices of the peace. C. T. Guise. C. A. Anderson : constables, G. B. Andrews, Ed DeLair.
Bigelow township-Trustee, Corwin Ballard; treasurer. W. N. Mills : clerk. Henry Brockmeyer: justices of the peace. S. M. Rucker, James W. Seldon : constables. 1. A. Griffis, Emery Colton.
Blue Rapids township -- Trustee. G. L. Austin : treasurer, J. F. Wells : clerk. Theron Van Scoter; justices of the peace. W. W. Dedrick. John Smith ; constables, O. R. Forbes, W. S. Webb.
Blue Rapids City township-Trustee. Neil Robinson; treasurer, F. W. Preston ; clerk. R. S. Dickey; justices of the peace, Mrs. Charles Burket, E. F. Dewey: constables. John Searcy. John Scott.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Center township-Trustee, I. G. Capps; treasurer, Gottfried Keller : clerk, Bert Oakley; justices of the peace, Charles Keller, Harry Smith ; con- stables, J. C. Blackney, W. W. Monteith.
Clear Fork township-Trustee, T. H. McConchie; treasurer, Peter Morrissey ; clerk, William H. Ford; justice of the peace, A. D. Smith.
Cleveland township-Trustee, J. C. Nolan ; treasurer, Paul Junod ; clerk. Matt Kennedy; justices of the peace, Frank Stapleton, W. M. Barker: con- stables, O. Alexander, A. J. Lally.
Cottage Hill township-Trustee, Ed Nelson : treasurer, Henry Webber : clerk, Sanders Larson; justices of the peace. Ben Pugh, J. W. Tuttle, con- stables, Charles Arganbright. Carl Larson.
Elm Creek township-Trustee. Charles Cook: treasurer, William Ungerer : clerk, Arnold Dwerlkotte: justice of the peace, Joseph Barta ; con- stables, Ben Rockwell, John Schilling.
Franklin township-Trustee, Henry Schimmels; treasurer, Charles Noller; clerk. J. C. Lewis; justices of the peace. Robert J. Lewis, R. F. Allgeier : constables, Robert Keller. R. W. Lewis.
Guittard township-Trustee, Harry Jones ; treasurer, M !. W. McReynolds : clerk, Charles Graham: justices of the peace. L. Helvern, A. D. Stosz; con- stables, W. H. Hadder, G. A. Newton.
Herkimer township-Trustee, F. H. Westerman: treasurer, Fred Fried- richs: clerk. Albert Sohl; justices of the peace, Herman Rippe, William Duensing : constables. H. Bartels, Herman Wollenberg.
Lincoln township-Trustee, Andrew Kjellberg; treasurer, Albert Back- man: clerk. R. W. Temple: justices of the peace, Charles Kjellberg. W. G. Swanson: constables. John Stine. Albert Johnson.
Logan township-Trustee. J. M. Brychta: treasurer, Hugo Rohde ; clerk, George Kruse: justices of the peace, F. Germer, Theodore Lemke : constables, William Crome. F. Prell. Sr.
Marysville township-Trustee, W. J. Kinsley : treasurer, H. Bornhorst : clerk, H. Koppes : justices of the peace. George Koppes. John Schmidt.
Murray township-Trustee. J. H. Carney : treasurer. John H. Allender : clerk. H. F. Detweiler; justices of the peace, C. H. Baker, D. G. Davis: con- stables. S. MI. Huntsinger, Charles Welborn.
Noble township-Trustee. J. L. Rodgers: treasurer, Andrew Johnson : clerk. L. W. Davis: justices of the peace. W. H. DeWalt. William E. Wil- son : constables, L. A. Waxler, C. S. Shafer.
Oketo township-Trustee. John Howes: treasurer, Herman L'bben ; (8)
:14
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
clerk, Ed Dolen; justices of the peace, R. A. Dickinson, Frank Root; con- stables. T. J. Suggett. Ted White.
Richland township-Trustee, J. G. Graham: treasurer. Gus Oehm; clerk, John F. Wagner; justices of the peace, J. W. Winney, S. C. Dugan; constables. Thomas Wendel. Art Volle.
Rock townshipTrustee, C. H. Stowell; treasurer, August Larson ; clerk, Ray S. Pauley: justices of the peace, George Scholz. O. C. Goin: con- stables. Bill Goin, Joe Kooser.
St. Bridget township-Trustee, James F. Menehan; treasurer, J. W. Coughlin; clerk. B. L. Detweiler ; justice of the peace, Henry Maitland; con- stable, John Easter.
Vermillion township-Trustee. Howard Reed; treasurer, W. H. Snod- grass : clerk, D. . \. Brodbeck; justices of the peace, C. A. Blackney, M. J. Welsh: constables. J. M. Bishop. G. D. Osborn.
Walnut township-Trustee, Leonard Berger : treasurer. George Hamil- ton : clerk, H. P. Hanson ; justices of the peace, Martin Holle, E. A. Rowe; constables, James Armstrong, John Hanke.
Waterville township-Trustee, D. O. Parker; treasurer, John Seaton; clerk. C. G. Thomas: justices of the peace, E. A. Adams, R. Smith; con- stables, A. C. Whiteside, George Casey.
Wells township-Trustee, W. C. Netz: treasurer, L. S. Bennett ; clerk, J. L. McConchie: justices of the peace. G. W. Walls, George Miller; con- stables. Grant Ewing, Owen Flin.
City of Marysville-Justices of the peace. Louis H. Eddy, D. P. Arm- strong: constables, M. C. Peters, John Brandenburger.
CHAPTER VI.
CITY OF MARYSVILLE.
THE BLUE RIVER.
By John G. Ellenbecker.
You talk about New Hampshire hills, or dark Wisconsin pines, Or Massachusetts's busy mills, or Colorado's mines, But I will sing of Kansas, the land that's always true,
For there abides my dear old home upon the bonny Blue.
Our winter times are just as gay, our springs are just as sweet ; Our summers truly fine I say, our autumns can't be beat : So I will sing of Kansas,-I've roamed a little, too- Contented with the charming scenes upon the bonny Blue.
You talk about your cotton yields, then I'll sing of our eorn, Those treasure-laden forest fields of blue October morn. I hear the huskers' bong-bong, through the semi-frost and dew, And thus there's music all day long around the bonny Blue.
You talk of California's wine, I'll sing of our wheat. The manna of our genial elimne, for all the world to eat. There is no use in trying, you ne'er ean us outdo, In sunny northern Kansas upon the bonny Blue.
INCORPORATION.
In 1850 the United States government made a survey of the military road from Ft. Leavenworth to the Northwest and established a erossing about one hundred yards north of where the bridge now spans the river, which was known as the Big Blue Crossing.
116
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
F. J. Marshall established a ferry at that point and for a time the place was known as Marshall's Ferry. Business thrived and Marshall brought his wife, Mary Williams Marshall, to live here and named the place Marysville in her honor. It will be recalled that in his letter to Judge Magill, Marshal! says: "There were five to ten thousand people at this point daily." . careful research shows that about seventy-five thousand people traversed this county and crossed the Blue river either at the lower crossing or at the cross- ing here, from 1846 to 1856. So that it is safe to say Marysville has never had an equal number of inhabitants since that time.
The Marysville Town Company originated in western Missouri, John and James Doniphan and FF. J. Marshall being the leading men interested. The state records show that the Marysville Town Company was incorporated by the territorial Legislature on August 27. 1855. The incorporators were A. G. Woodward, David Galispie, John Doniphan, R. T. Gillespie, F. J. Marshall, James Doniphan. Robert C. Bishop and M. C. Shrewsbury. ( Statutes, Kan. Terr .. 1855. p. 803.)
Marysville City was incorporated by the territorial Legislature of 1861. "The incorporation of the same lands as were formerly known as towns of Marysville, Palmetto, Ballard and Morrall is hereby erected into a city by the name of Marysville City." The act was passed by a two-thirds vote after being returned by the governor with his objections thereto, and became a law on February 2, 1891. A. E. Lovell. Jacob Weisbach and Thomas W. Waterson were appointed inspectors of the first election to be held on the first Monday of April. 1861. ( Private Laws, Kan. Terr., p. 52. )
In 1855 F. J. Marshall and Albert G. Woodward were given exclusive privilege to establish a ferry across Big Blue river at the crossing of the mili- tary road from Leavenworth to Forts Kearney and Laramie. also the cross- ing of the Independence and California road across the Big Blue. ( Statutes, Kan. Terr .. 1855. P. 777.)
FIRST SAW-MILL ERECTED.
The following notice was published in the Squatter Sovereign. Atchison. March 25, 1856:
"Grand Speculation.
"Marysville, Kansas Territory.
"I hold in my hand an obligation upon the Marysville Town Company obligating the company to donate to the first person that will put up a steam
BROADWAY, MARYSVILLE, IN 1862.
-
B.PRICE
BROADWAY, MARYSVILLE, LOOKING EAST, 1917.
.
1
1
1
117
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
saw-mill in said town, seven shares in the town, which are worth in value each, $200. The putting up of the saw-mill will make them worth $250 each, making the donations $1,750, which will very nearly pay for the mill. Marysville is the best location in Kansas for a steam saw-mill from the fact that it is located immediately on Big Blue river, where the timber can be rafted to the mill. and the lumber rafted below to supply the great Kansas river valley. So you bring on your mill, set it running, and I will give you the stock.
"Signed. F. J. MARSHALL."
The above liberal inducement was accepted by Messrs. Shibley and Quarles, who erected a steam saw-mill in the spring of 1857 and operated it until 1861, when it was destroyed.
There is no doubt that the first man who lived on the townsite of Palmetto was Dr. J. P. Miller. He also had the distinction of being the first physician in the city and it is said became very proficient in dressing gun- shot wounds. He died here in 1862.
F. J. Marshall kept the first store in Marysville. It was located near the ferry and he sold supplies to the travelers, among other commodities, whiskey at eighteen cents a gallon.
The first hotel was built by A. G. Barrett in 1859. It was called the Barrett House. Afterwards the name was changed to the American, then to Tremont House. It was the stopping place for a number of years for the members of the bar and other celebrities who visited Marysville. Later it was dismantled to make room for the brick building of White Brothers, crected in 1896.
In 1859 Ballard & Morrall opened a drug store in a small building on the present site of Waterson's block and in 1870 moved to the site of the building now occupied by C. Langlitz.
BRIDGE ERECTED.
On November 30, 1863, a meeting was held at the court house by the citizens of Marysville and vicinity for the purpose of organizing a company to build a bridge across the Blue river.
A month later stock subscriptions were taken at twenty-five dollars each for three hundred and twenty-five shares. In April, 1864. the following officers were elected: J. Samuels, president ; A. E. Lovell, treasurer; J. D. Brumbaugh, secretary; directors, T. W. Waterson, J. S. Magill; architect,
118
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
A. G. Jones. This bridge was completed in November, 1864, and served tintil 1882, when it was replaced by an iron structure by Marysville town- ship.
FOURTH OF JULY. 1862.
The first celebration of the Fourth of July was held at Marysville. July 4. 1862.
About five hundred people gathered in the town and a procession was formed and marched to Spring Creek, preceded by a band.
J. H. MeDougal read the Declaration of Independence and Rev. Charles E. Parker delivered a stirring address. A fine picnic dinner was served. at which R. S. Newell acted as toastmaster and prominent citizens who were present responded. The toast. "The Union Forever." was responded to with rousing cheers.
The festivities of the day closed with a ball in the evening.
NOT "BONE DRY."
In 1857 and 1858 many rough and even desperate men harbored in the towns of Marysville and Palmetto. Liberty to them meant license and revolvers were handy and brought into action at the least provocation. There was no "bone-dry" law in those days and whiskey was sold as a commodity in all the stores, besides being retailed from saloons. Liquor in those days was as much an article of merchandise as flour or meat. Practically all of the men engaged in business in Marysville sold liquor along with other sup- plies. AAdvertisements in the Blue Valley Union of 1864 contain. "Foreign and Domestic Liquors for sale."
Open saloons were plenty and it may be truly said that a number of the fortunes which were later achieved by residents of the city had their beginning in the profits from sales of liquor. Then it was not an uncommon sight to see a would-be "bad man" riding wildly through the streets shooting in all directions but the right one, and yelling furiously and defiantly at the onlookers. Indian squaws rode astride their scrawny ponies, their little I cady eyes glancing furtively about, the papooses swaying on their backs. from one side to the other. all dirty and repulsive. When it is recalled that hundreds of people passed through daily, and that sensational scenes of gambling, shooting and fighting were constantly occurring. it is not difficult to believe that Marysville was a "noted." even "notorious" stopping place on the great Overland trail.
119
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Andreas' history of 1883 says: "When Marshall established a ferry at Marysville he did not abandon the ferry at Independence Crossing, but continued it for several years, the travel being divided between the two points. At the ferry at Marysville teams would gather by the hundreds waiting their turn to cross. Some impatient ones would ford the stream at considerable risk. The capacity of Marshall's ferry was only three wagons at a trip for which he charged five dollars per wagon. In June, 1856, the county commissioners fixed the rate of ferriage as follows: For crossing a loaded wagon, three dollars; an empty wagon, one dollar and fifty cents ; man and horse. fifty cents : footman, twenty-five cents, and all stock, twenty- five cents per head. The board again decreased the rates of ferriage to one dollar for crossing a six-horse wagon, and other vehicles in like proportion."
The Marysville ferry was in operation until the bridge was built in 1864. This was a wooden truss toll-bridge, costing eight thousand dollars, located where the present steel bridge now spans the river. After the bridge was built the ferry was dismantled and discarded.
INDUSTRIES.
Marysville has always been to some extent a manufacturing city. Before the days of prohibition, P. H. Kalenborn owned a brewery on the site now occupied by the residence of Mrs. John Tracy. The storage cellar for the brewery was under the bank south of where Mrs. Elliott now resides.
At the foot of the hill west of Mrs. Elliott's home, John McChesney manufactured coarse pottery, crocks, jugs and jars.
In close proximity Thomas Cooper had a brick yard. The clay not proving of good quality, the pottery plant was abandoned and Cooper moved his brick yard near where O. W. French lives. Later he moved it to the western part of town near R. Y. Shibley's, in the bottom land. In time lie sold out and the Clayes Brothers operated the plant.
The Wakefields owned and operated a brick vard in the north part of town for awhile. The brick never proved of first-class quality. At pres- ent Marysville is without this industry.
EXCELSIOR MILLS.
One of the largest manufacturing industries of Marysville was estab- lished in 1864 and known far and wide as the Excelsior Mills. No man in northern Kansas was better or more favorably known than genial, whole- souled Capt. Perry Hutchinson.
120
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
He was a keen, careful business man and his mill was patronized by farmers within a radius of seventy-five miles. Probably no industry added more to the rapid growth and prosperity of the county than the Excelsior Mills.
Captain Hutchinson's death was deeply deplored. His widow and their two sons. Frank and Wallace, are citizens of the city he helped to build up. Wallace and Frank Hutchinson have lived all their lives in this community. Wallace succeeded to his father's business, but owing to ill health was obliged to retire from business. Frank conducts a general grocery and supply store at the corner of Ninth and Broadway.
PROMINENT BUSINESS FIRMS.
Emil G. Draheim arrived in Marysville October 18, 1874, and was in the employ of T. W. Waterson for one year, when he took a position with George C. Dargatz. In 1876 he entered into partnership with a Herman Dargatz, the firm of Draheim & Dargatz having purchased the store of the senior Dargatz. This firm soll out to Arand & Ziegler in 1877, and the same year Mr. Draheim bought out Mr. Rommel of the firm of Hohn & Rommel. The firm was then Hohn & Draheim and so remained until March 21, 1890.
On the 10th of November, 1890, Mr. Draheim opened the present busi- ness house under the name Emil G. Draheim and in February, 1912, Mr. Draheim associated his two sons, Walter E. and Arthur G., as partners and the firm name is now E. G. Draheim & Sons.
The firm conducts a general store and employs four lady clerks in the dry goods and three men in the grocery department. Mr. Draheim is one of the popular merchants of Marysville and has always stood for the best things in the life of the city.
The drug store of David von Riesen was established on October 15, 1897, and has, by the time that this history will get into the hands of the subscribers, a career of twenty years. Mr. von Riesen has been a resident of the state since 1876, when he landed with his parents from Germany at Halstead in Harvey county. From his report the outlook after opening his store was everything but glorious on account of unclean competition. The family of Mr. von Riesen is composed of his wife and five children, the eldest a son, Waklemar, has been in constant connection with the store ever since he was eight years old, and has now for a long time taken care of the active part of the business, commercially as well as scientifically. Waldemar was
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BANK
BROADWAY, MARYSVILLE.
EXCELSIOR MILLS, MARYSVILLE.
I21
MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
at the time he passed the state board of pharmacy examiners less than eighteen years old, and was the youngest American licentiate. Besides conducting the pharmacy, Mr. von Riesen has been a consistent and patriot citizen, has served the city as councilman, and in other capacities. In 1908 the Kansas Pharma- ceutical Association honored him for valuable service rendered, with the presidency, and for the last six years he has been the active secretary of that association.
THE COMMUNITY HOUSE.
Marysville has solved the community house problem in a practical man- ner. The building, which was first erected under the auspices of the Christian church as an athletic hall, scon grew in favor beyond denominational limits and owing to the kindness of Alex. Schmidt, the women of Marysville took the initiative in making it a community center. At a public meeting called for the purpose of putting the project under proper business management, Mrs. E. E. Forter presided as chairman and appointed a committee, the members of which, George T. Mohrbacher, Erskine Davis and W. D. Holloway, formulated a set of rules which have been the basis of management since that time.
The following items appeared in the New York Independent, October 20, 1916:
"The town of Marysville, Kansas, has tried out this plan in a practical manner, and the Marysville idea deserves careful study. It is especially instructive because in this case the experiment was first launched under the auspices of a church, a wealthy banker furnishing nineteen thousand dollars for the erection of the building. Fully equipped and admirably managed, it failed as a social center because it was looked upon as a religious enterprise- though not at all so intended. After two years of experiment it was turned over to the citizens of the town, who established a community house associa- tion, non-sectarian, non-partisan, with a managing board of eleven men and eleven women, with membership dues ranging from ten dollars a year for men and boys to two dollars and fifty cents a year for girls, with trifling fees for the pool and skates. Its success was immediate and it has become the center of social activity for all ages and all classes. This typical community house is located in the central part of town, which is the place where such a building should be located.
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