USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 11
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"It contains a large reception room, with piano, reading tables and easy chairs. Off this is a dormitory where farmers' wives may leave their babies while shopping, a boys' room, a library, a county Y. M. C. A. secretary's
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room, toilet rooms, and a room for the women's clubs. In the basement is a white tiled swimming pool, twenty by fifty feet, with filtered water; shower baths are provided, and in the rear there is a large gymnasium whose floor is used also for a skating rink.
"After eighteen months of trial it has been found that the running expenses of such a building averaged one hundred seventy-four dollars and twelve cents a month. A hostess and janitor are inchided in this expense."
The present officers are: C. M. Chandler, president ; W. W. Hutchin- son, vice-president : J. H. Cavanaugh, treasurer; L. R. Broderick, secretary.
MARYSVILLE TURNVEREIN.
This branch of the American Gymnastic Union was organized on August 29, 1874, with the following original membership: P. A. Kalenborn, presi- dent : Romeo B. Werner, vice-president : August Hohn. secretary : Nickolas Kalenborn, assistant secretary; Fritz Baeuerle, treasurer; Martin Piel. turn- wart: Jacob Kuoni, assistant turnwart: Robert Boehme, custodian, and Mathias Bendel, Franz Weber, John Bohner. John Kempf and Carl Rohde. Of these only two are now living. August Holm, Marysville, and P. A. Kalen- born, Tacoma, Washington.
In the ". Annals of Kansas." published by Hon. D. W. Wilder, this state- ment appears :
"To Leavenworth City, the future giant city of the West, after the terri- tory of Kansas was organized. flocked a large German immigration. The dark and troublesome border-ruffian days of 1855-56 drove them from their homes, but they returned with increased numbers during the year of 1856. and endured all the difficulties throughout that year.
"In the spring of 1857 a few young Germans met and organized the Leavenworth Turnverein. As yet it was dangerous in those days to express even Free-State sentiments. But the nucleus was formed. around which the freedom-loving Germans of Leavenworth could gather.
"The Americans were not long in feeling the work of this association. They are a unit and always ready to defend the right and their cause.
"We cannot here enumerate the acts of the Leavenworth Turnverein : suffice it to say that no action, political or otherwise. was had in Leavenworth county without their power being felt.
"The time had passed when Free-State men could be driven from the polls ; there was always one company ready to protect the ballot box. Kansas now ranks the most loyal of all the states, and with pride can the Turners
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of Leavenworth point to their acts in that struggle which made Kansas what it is today.
"The memorable 'Kickapoo', the cannon which was used to destroy the Eldridge House in Lawrence, is a trophy of the Leavenworth Turners and is yet in their possession." This cannon is now in the museum of the State Historical Society at Topeka.
GROWTH OF THE GYMNASTIC UNION.
The American Gymnastic Union has, since its first appearance, in the United States in 1842, been pledged to the advocacy of liberty for all regard- less of creed or color. Only citizens of the United States, or those who have declared their intention to become such. can become members of the organ- ization.
A leading object of the Union is the teaching of rational physical cul- ture in the public schools along with, and parallel to, culture of the mind, an object which has been accomplished to a great extent.
With this object in view the Marysville branch of this organization immediately set to work and in 1875 it established its first turning school in the building, 1004 Broadway, then an empty store building, now the resi- dence of I. H. Whan, but at that time owned by Doctor McCall.
By 1880 this society had grown to thirty-seven members, who proceeded to build the brick "Turner Hall", forty-two by eighty feet, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, at the corner of Eighth and Carolina streets. This then stately new building was dedicated with considerable ceremony on April 26, 27, 1881.
A trades display pageant was held on one day, in which every business house in town was represented by handsome floats, preceded by a full-rigged ship of state, the work of Henry F. Dryer, who in his younger days had "sailed before the mast." on all the seas of the globe.
The evening of this memorable day closed with a very creditable rendi- tion of "Queen Esther," under the direction of William Becker, later editor of the Marysville Post ( German) and of the Democrat ( English ), and post- master of the city.
From the time of the finishing of this building to the present day, the Turnverein has always furnished a well-equipped gymnasium and competent teachers free of charge to children and adults.
. In 1889 a new brick gymnasium, thirty-six by sixty feet, was erected and fully equipped, an addition to the original building, at an expense of
ยท
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twelve thousand dollars, and this gymnasium has never been without a com- petent director, nor has it ever been closed for any time other than sunimer vacation.
The society has spent thousands of dollars for teachers' salaries, but has never charged tuition for the privilege it extended in its school. It has sent its classes to all of the district and to many of the national Turnfests or field days, where they have always taken high rank in athletics.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
At its best this society had a membership of more than two hundred and fifty. On January ist. 1917, it had one hundred and twenty-five mem- bers with officers as follow: President, Charles F. Woellner ; vice-president, August Hohn : secretary. A. W. Kersten; assistant secretary, Carl Hanni; treasurer. George T. Mohrbacher : Anton Kienlen, financial secretary ; Walde- mar von Riesen, first turnwart ; Charles Wiedemeyer, second turnwart : John Luther, Jr., custodian, and Hugo \. Hohn, H. Ackermann and August Leifheit, trustees.
The Turners were the pioneers in the field of physical education in the United States and have to a great extent accomplished their purposes in the firm establishment of physical culture in our public schools and the Marysville Turnverein was no small factor in fostering the same in its sphere of usefulness.
Hugo Rohde, now a farmer near Herkimer, was the first instructor for the Turners at Marysville. Twice a week for several years. he came seven miles from his father's homestead to donate his services.
Paul Witte, now of Home City, a graduate of the Hanover, Germany, College of Physical Culture, had charge of the school for two years.
Samuel Forter, of Marysville, was the instructor for fourteen years. At one time during his tutelage a class of thirty ladies attended the school.
Mr. Carl Hanni, of Marysville, was for several years the instructor. Emil Heuler is in charge of the school at present. August Holm has served as president of the Marysville Turnverein for a period of twenty-five years and has at all times given freely of his time and energy to the upbuilding of the society.
PROMINENT PERSONS WHO H.WE VISITED MARYSVILLE.
The citizens of Marysville have for many years had the opportunity of hearing the best speakers of all political parties who have visited Kansas.
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All the governors for the past forty years have included Marysville in their campaign itineraries.
Hon. W. J. Bryan and Theodore Roosevelt have addressed our citizens here, and state candidates never fail to give Marysville a call.
The citizens support an eight-day Chautauqua course.
In the year 1892 Marysville was visited by a detachment of Coxey's Army en route to Washington, D. C. Among the "unwashed throng" was a youth with deep-set, inquiring eyes, who afterwards became known to the people of two continents. His name was Jack London. He died in October, 1916.
OLD-TIME THEATRICALS.
Prior to the erection of Turner Hall, traveling troupes were obliged to produce their dramas in the Waterson Hall.
In the fall of 1873 a number of people came out from Boston. The men were going farther West hunting buffalo and the ladies came to see the Western country. They put up in Marysville at the Tremont House and during the week gave the citizens their first real taste of fine dramatic talent. With that company was "Cy" Robinson, a son of Yankee Robinson, the great circus man, and McDermott, who starred as "Marks," in "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
The plays given were standard and the hall was crowded at every per- formance. Kendalls from Boston also "made Marysville." After the Tur- ner Hall was erected many leading actors looked in on us. Jolin Dillon played "The Road to Selzerville," and Louie Lord appeared in "Leah, the Forsaken," in that hall.
Since the erection of the Theater Grand the people of the city have had presented many of the leading dramas and traveling artists express. surprise at finding this bijou theater in a town of this size. Mr. Frank Yaussi, the owner and proprietor. is one of the big, public-spirited men of the city, and the theater is always under excellent management.
MARYSVILLE BANDS.
One of the first men in the city to plan for the systematic study of music was Capt. William Lofinck, who is still a resident of Marysville.
In the summer of 1872 Marysville began putting on metropolitan airs. Captain Lofinck at that time owned and operated a saloon in the building now occupied by the farm bureau agent.
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The sunken garden on the east afforded a cool, retired place for practice and also was near the saloon. Captain Lofinck agitated the formation of a band and the ubiquitous Pete Peters, editor of the Locomotive, pushed the idea and soon the band was an institution.
William Becker, then of Sabetha, was the leader and made semi- monthly visits to Marysville as band instructor.
In January, 1873, John D. Walters, who for the past forty years has been actively associated with the great Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan and who is at present dean of architecture and drawing in the college, became the leader of the band. The members were: P. H. Peters, William Lofinck, Smiley Waterson, M. W. Samuels, Billy Linn, Billy Cott- rell, Il. S. Clark. Sam Ryser, M. J. Duigenan, Henry Kauzman and "Buck" Swearengen. The band, which gave open-air concerts in Lofinck's garden, was very popular and lived several years. Finally, Walters went to the col- lege ; Ryser, Sammels and others left and the band ceased to meet.
LYON POST BAND.
In the winter of 1879 Lyon Post band was organized and Captain Lofinck was responsible for this band. Eugene Scherer was the leader, but proved a failure.
MARYSVILLE CORNET BAND.
In January, 18So, Sam Forter hunted up the members of the first band, found some new talent and B. Price was the leader.
In the spring of 1881 C. F. Barks and his son, Herman, came to Marys- ville. Both were professional musicians of good class. The Marysville Cornet and Lyons Post bands were consolidated, with Herman Barks as leader, under the name of Lyon Post band, Lyon Post, Grand Army of the Republic, having furnished some of the instruments. Herman Barks was a strict taskmaster and the band made rapid progress. In 1882 William Barks, brother of Herman, arrived in Marysville and accepted the leadership and from that time the band became known as the Barks Military band.
The Barks Military band had a long and successful career and its mem- bership reached thirty-six in number and its reputation extended beyond local limits. It was by far the biggest and best band at the Grand Army of the Republic encampment at Grand Island. Nebraska, and played in many of the larger towns in northern Kansas and southern Nebraska. For three suc- cessive years this band was called to Enid, Oklahoma, to play for the "strip
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opening celebrations." The membership of this band consisted of William Barks, leader: Herman Barks, second leader; C. F. Barks and William Barks, Jr., Sam Forter, president ; Arthur Holin, secretary ; N. S. Kerschen, treasurer : William Becker, B. Price, H. W. Hagar, J. R. Allen, Auldice Hale, William Binding, Nick Grauer, Walter Draheim, E. J. Felirenkamp, John and Frank Moser, Charles Shaw, L. E. and Charles Davis, Henry Wolff, Henry Bodenner, Frank Knipp, II. Selz, Scholl Brothers, Thrommi Brothers, G. Brauchi, Herbolsheimer Brothers, Theo. Hammett and H. E. Clark. Ernst Lange was drum-major.
In 1900 William and Herman Barks moved to Tacoma, Washington, and since then the band has been known as the Marysville cornet band. It has had many different leaders and an ever-changing membership.
MARYSVILLE CEMETERY.
"The clock beats out the lives of men."
The Marysville cemetery was incorporated with a capital stock of two thousand dollars in September, 1878, by Perry Hutchinson, F. Linn, G. F. Hamilton, T. Hughes, J. A. Griffes, W. H. Smith, J. S. Magill, L. W. Libby, D. P. Clark and C. T. Mann. The officers were: P'resident, Perry Hutchin- son ; secretary, C. T. Mann ; treasurer. W. H. Smith.
In October of that year a tract of forty acres adjacent to the city was purchased and platted. About fifteen hundred dollars were spent on improve- ments, the ground was fenced and some trees planted.
Since that time the grounds have been beautified, wells have been sunk and avenues laid out, the principal ones running from the Soldiers monu- ment, which stands in the center of the grounds. In 1887 this monument was erected to the memory of the soldiers who fell in the Union ranks. On May 30, hundreds of people gathered from all parts of the county ; Lyon Post No. 9 led the procession from Broadway. Hon. W. A. Calderhead delivered the address and Edna Calderhead unveiled the monument and placed a wreath on the statue, which is a life-size soldier in uniform.
In 1912 a committee from the Woman's Relief Corps of Marysville solicited money from the general public and raised six hundred dollars with which a cement walk was built from the cemetery gate to the city limits. Mrs. E. E. Forter was chairman of the committee and managed the work. Plans are now under way for erecting a chapel and receiving vault near the west gate of the main entrance.
It is a beautiful spot and while hearts have broken at its portals and
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hopes have flown as loved ones have been laid to rest, yet there is consolation In the thought --
"That nothing walks with aimless feet, That not one life shall be destroyed. Or cast as rubbish to the void. When God hath made the pile complete."
The first cemetery in Marysville was located on blocks 39 and 40. Palmetto, and was used by the city for a burial place until 1879, when the new forty-acre grounds were ready for occupancy.
The city authorities then ordered the disinterment of the old cemetery and for some years the work was carried on until at the present time there are but a few graves remaining within the old grounds. The city has extended and built up around the old cemetery grounds and this necessitated its removal.
MARYSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Since the organization of the first fire department in Marysville. the town has been exceptionally fortunate in having a full corps of willing. efficient and unselfish men with capable officers, who have at all times and in all circumstances responded promptly to every call. It is no exaggeration of facts to state that, for thirty years the Marysville volunteer fire department las stood at the head of all such organizations in the state as a fire-fighting force.
A feeble attempt at organizing a bucket brigade was made in 1876, but failed, after a series of incendiary fires which cleaned out several business blocks in the town. The first actual steps taken toward protection against fire came on July 9. 1883. when the mayor appointed a committee to confer with the county commissioners relative to the purchase by the city of two Babcock extinguishers, for which the county had no use in its court house. The extinguishers subsequently became the property of the city.
After that date, about once a month. some member of the city council. generally John B. Logan, brought up the matter of fire apparatus. Finally. a committee of citizens, not members of the council, was appointed to con- fer with the chief of the fire department of St. Joseph. Missouri, relative to the kind of apparatus which would be the most suitable for Marysville.
The city records show next that on February 4. 1884. the city clerk was ordered to pay five hundred and forty dollars for the hook-and-ladder truck and rubber buckets just received.
OLD STONE SCHOOL HOUSE ON THE HILL, MARYSVILLE, BUILT IN 1866 AND PULLED DOWN IN 1915 TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
HICII SCHOOL BUILDING, MARYSVILLE.
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FIRST FIRE COMPANY.
On March 17, 1884, Mayor John A. Broughten made the following appointments : Paul Witte, fire engineer ; Samuel Forter, foreman, hook- and-ladder company, and Lapier Williams, Ben Linley, D. N. Kelley, Lewis Scott. Walter Scott, Rollin Allen, A. B. Ayers, Christ Moser, Frank Shaffer, William Sipple, Hiram Hagar, Fred. Saup, Oliver Wheatley, N. B. Carden, J. W. Potter, Auldice Hale, Sam. A. Harburg, Robert Hohn, O. D. South- worth and Martin Kessler, as firemen. The appointments were confirmed by the council.
The city now had a hook-and-ladder truck, two dozen rubber buckets, two Babcock extinguishers and twenty-two able-bodied men, who immediately went into training by scaling buildings and passing buckets.
To Sam. A. Harburg, now of Denver, Colorado, then foreman of Gen- eral Becker's printing plant, belongs the honor of getting up this first fire department of Marysville. This organization held for about two years, when dissatisfaction with some of the members of the city council, broke it up.
On August 6, 1888, the city council requested Samuel Forter to present a list of names of good men who would volunteer to organize a fire com- pany, at the next meeting. On August 13, 1888. Forter presented the fol- lowing :
"Marysville, Kansas, August 13, 1888.
"To the Hon. Mayor and City Council, of the City of Marysville :
"We, the undersigned, hereby voluntarily offer our services to the city as a fire company, subject to such rules and orders as you may see fit to make. "Signed-Sam. Forter. Paul Smith, Will Ecks, Stanis Van Meensel, T. D. Grimes, Fr. Schriefer, J. C. Moser, D. N. Kelley, Oliver Ellis, F. P. Gatchell, Alf Von Wald, Nick Grauer. W. R. Cottrell, Tom E. McCoy. Jolin Luther, R. M. Lehnhardt, Frank Auhl, W. M. Life, H. C. Cottrell. O. H. Morse, Beny Campbell. A. J. Mohrbacher, Owsley Lonergan, C. B. Batterson, Lee Gilbert."
The council rejected the names of Will Ecks, Oliver Ellis and W. M. Life, for the reason that twenty men and two officers were a sufficient num- ber. Mayor Andrew Fluhrer then appointed all of the others as members of the fire company, placing at their head Samuel Forter as chief of the fire department and Stanis Van Meensel, foreman of the hook-and-ladder company, all of which was duly confirmed by the council on August 13, 1888.
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On August 13, 1889, ordinance No. 95 was passed, granting the Marys- ville Water Company a franchise for the construction and operation of a system of waterworks. On February 14, 1890, the plant was completed and the "water was turned on" for the first time in the presence of thousands of people, and the city council accepted the waterworks as satisfactory.
FIRE COMPANY INCREASED.
Prior to this the fire department had been enlarged to forty members divided into one hook-and-ladder company and two hose companies of twelve men and a foreman for each, who, with the chief, made forty men. Stanis Van Meensel remained foreman of the hook-and-ladder company and P. J. Hindmarsh and C. H. Cottrell were selected as foreman of the hose com- panies.
Some time before the opening of the waterworks, the city had purchased two hand hose carts with five hundred feet of hose for each.
Thus fully equipped for business, the Marysville fire department has never let a fire get away from them from that day to this and our fire losses have been by far the lowest of any city in Kansas, as shown by the statistics in the office of the state fire marshal.
For more than twenty years the fire department has taken active part in the state firemen's tournaments, many times winning championship troph- ies and also establishing records which have not been broken. It is little wonder then, that some of its members should be honored by the State Fire- men's Association with high office. Sam. Forter was twice elected president of the state association and served as chairman of the legislative committee for the National Firemen's Association during the fifty-sixth Congress.
George T. Mohrbacher, for the last ten years, chief of this department, served as secretary of the state association for five years; he was then elected treasurer, which office he has held for three years and is still hokling. He has been chairman of the legislative committee for the last four years and as such has succeeded in getting much beneficial legislation for fire protection for the state. His name is familiar to all the prominent insurance men and firemen in the United States, because of his activity in the matter of fire protection.
RESUME.
Paul Witte was fire engineer from March 17, 1884, to the summer of 1885. There was no organization from that time to August 13. 1888. Sam.
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Forter was chief of the Marysville volunteer fire department from August 13, 1888, to November 1, 1899. Charles Shaw, chief, from March 29, 1900, to June, 1901. Stanis Van Meensel, assistant chief, acting chief, June, 1901, to March 31, 1902. J. C. Moser, chief, from March 31, 1902, to March 26. 1006, when he refused re-election. George T. Mohrbacher elected chief on March 26, 1906. still serving in same capacity on April 1, 1917.
Of the members of the original Marysville volunteer fire department of 1884, J. C. Moser and Sam Forter are still residing in Marysville, and still running with "the machine" when the alarm sounds.
On April 1. 1917, this fire department consisted of one hook-and-ladder and two hose companies. The hook-and-ladder truck and one hose cart are kept for ready service at headquarters in the city building, and the other hose cart at station "A", corner of Tenth and Alston streets.
The officers of the department on April 1, 1917, are George T. Mohr- bacher, chief and president; Albert Kersten, assistant chief and foreman, hook-and-ladder truck; Pete Smith, foreman, hose company No. 1; Jack Parks, foreman, hose company No. 2; Frank Olson, secretary and Alex. Campbell, treasurer.
As this history is being written. the city is arranging to fully equip its fire department with modern automobile apparatus.
BUSINESS LIFE OF MARYSVILLE.
It may be truly said of Marysville that it has never had a boom. Its progress along business lines has been a steady healthy growth. In the history of the business life of the town changes have taken place, but there have been few failures.
In many instances the business established by the father is now carried on by the sons. This is true of Hohn & Sons, Draheim & Sons, the Exchange Bank and a number of others. The Kansas Store is the old Tracy & Com- pany, now carried on by Mr. Tracy's brother-in-law and nephew. In this respect Marysville has the marked characteristic of the New England towns.
Among the succeessful business men of the town are: E. D. Brolyer, who conducts a plumbing business; G. L. Rice, owner of a furniture store ; H. R. Fisher, considercd the finest florist in this section of the state: N. S. Kerschen, manager of the Farmers Union Elevator, has always been promin- ent in public affairs and has represented the county in the Legislature.
Dr. J. A. Beveridge, a leading dentist, is a Marshall county product, and his father, Jacob Beveridge, of Home City, is one of the best known men
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in the Northern tier. Ile i- a half-brother of former Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, and like his relative, has a taste for political life. He served dur- ing the war and is an active business man today. Doctor Beveridge, his son, who has lately come to Marysville, is of the same sterling type and is winning a place in the life of the city.
Mr. and Mrs C. M. Stewart are pioneers of the county and their daugh- ter is the wife of Clarence Rice. superintendent of the schools of Kansas City, Kansas.
Marysville has its quota of women in business and one who has made a success of her work is Miss Ora Lamb. This very energetic woman has by her own efforts as stenograf her, solicitor and law clerk acquired a competence. Her familiar figure on the streets of Marysville. quietly pursuing her busi- ress. is proof that a woman may succeed even under difficulties.
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