USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 14
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In 1909 A. J. Ingram started the Axtell Produce Company, a large concern, doing a wholesale egg, butter, poultry and feed business. Labbe Brothers conduct an up-to-date moving picture show. Two modern garages are under construction by I. W. Kerr and Joseph Severin.
AXTELL PROGRESSIVE.
In the forty-five years of its existence AAxtell has reached fourth place in the county in population and business importance, having passed a num- · ber of the older towns.
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THE DRUGS
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SAM
BUSINESS SECTION IN AXTELL.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Axtell has seven hundred and eighteen inhabitants. It stands one thou- sand four hundred feet above sea level, affording a beautiful view of the surrounding county for many miles, in all directions. Summerfield is the only town in the county which has a higher altitude.
Axtell has an abundance of shade trees, well-kept streets and cement walks to all parts of town.
All branches of business are well represented by proprietors who are abreast of the times; stores and shops that would do credit to a town much larger.
One of the leading industries is the Axtell telephone exchange, of which A. W. Rundle is president and D. O'Neil, manager. This company operates two hundred and twenty-one city phones and twenty-seven rural lines.
BUSINESS INTERESTS, 1917.
Hardware-Thomas Keegan, John Lichty.
General merchandise-Gaylord's Department Store.
Cash Mercantile Company-O'Neil & Ager, managers.
Merchandise-Waymire Brothers.
Restaurant and bakery-Jacob Rothfelder.
Restaurant-Pierson and Barnes.
Gent's furnishings-William Johnson.
Billiards and pool-George Branson.
Photographer-F. B. Strathman.
Axtell Produce Company-J. A. Ingram.
Farmers Union Produce Company-Ed Bergman, manager.
Elevators-D. C. O'Neil. Harold Connett, Farmers Union.
Implements-Farmers Union.
Implements-D. C. O'Neil.
Lumber, lime and coal-Robe & Brawner.
Boyd Lumber Company-Jos. Medlack, manager.
Garages-T. W. Kerr.
Garages-Labbe Brothers.
Hotel-Commercial House. Charles Ross, proprietor.
Drugs-J. R. Sidwell.
Jewelry-L. W. Sterling.
Blacksmiths-Ernest Mack, Jeff Davis.
Auto repair shop-D. Pierce.
Furniture-T. M. Keegan, R. W. Motes.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Ilarness, shoes and repairing-Jolin Fisher.
Undertaking-D. C. O'Neil, R. W. Motes.
Barbers-Everet Alexander, Frank Wright. Planing mill-O. A. Ivers.
Electric theater-Labbe Brothers.
Clothes cleaners-Herbert Scott. W. M. Johnson.
Newspaper-Axtell Standard, Frank .\. Werner.
Marble yard-William Werner.
Dentist -. Audley Gaston.
Physicians-D. Piper, C. M. Newman.
Veterinary surgeons-Doctor Piper and Dr. P. J. Cavanaugh.
Axtell Telephone Exchange-A. W. Rundle, president; D. C. O'Neil, manager.
CEMETERY.
Rose Hill cemetery, Axtell, is located one-half mile west of the town. This cemetery is well cared for and beautifully kept by the Axtell Cemetery Association, of which Mrs. N. H. Cone is president. The ladies have paid for having a cement walk laid to the grounds, by giving dinners, bazaars and other entertainments.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Ed E. Hanna is the present postmaster of Axtell, and there are three rural mail routes from the postoffice.
The best residences in the town are those of .\. L. Simpson, Charles Phillips, Mrs. Martha Farrar and Mrs. Euphemia Strayer.
The best business blocks are those of D. C. O'Neil, Daniel Meara, S. S. Simpson, I. W. Kerr, Joseph Severin, and Gaylord's department store.
Many men and women of Atxell are worthy of special mention in the history of the town and it would be a pleasure to record something of their worth to the town and the county.
Among others who have helped make .Axtell the splendid little city of today. Dr. William Strayer, George Delaney, the Cones, Michael Murray, the HI. K. Sharpe family, the Farrars, the Thomases, the Sitlers, Frank Gaylord and the Axtells may be mentioned. Many of them are gone from the town, some sleep in Rose Hill cemetery, but they are not forgotten by their towns- people.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
BARRETT.
One of the earliest settlements made in the county was that at Barrett. or as it was then known, Barrett's Mill.
A. G. Barrett, in 1857, carrying out an agreement with the Ohio Town Company, set up and operated a saw-mill, and the same year he put in a grist-mill. This mill was brought from Leavenworth to Barrett by ox team. The grist-mill was the only one in the county and deserved to be called the leading industry.
A postoffice was established in 1857 and H. W. Swift was appointed postmaster.
School district No. I was organized in 1858 and a small school house, fourteen by twenty-four, was built. The material and work were donated. Religious services were first held in the saw-mill, which was lighted by lanterns. After the school house was built, services were held in it by "circuit riders."
A small store furnished some necessary supplies to the settlers. With a school house, saw- and grist-mill, and a postoffice, Barrett's Mill became an important place. It was a little settlement of kindly, hospitable pioneers, and a gathering point for people from all parts of the county.
In 1869 A. G. Barrett deeded one-half of the townsite-forty acres- to the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad Company, the company agree- ing to erect a depot and build a side track. One thousand two hundred dol- lars was donated by neighboring farmers to have Barrett named as a sta- tion. That same fall a new school house, costing three thousand dollars, was built. It was the largest one-teacher school house in the county. Some new buildings were erected, but the town never grew greatly in importance. Many of the early-day settlers have long since gone to their reward and the advent of the railroads diverted trade to the larger towns of the county.
The one store in the town is now kept by William Montgomery. The old mill has been partially dismantled, only the frame work remaining. Mrs. Phoebe Van Vleit, a daughter of A. G. Barrett, lives there on the old place, and Mrs. Cy. Barrett, a daughter-in-law, is also a resident. A few years ago a Fourth of July celebration was held at Barrett and many old settlers visited the place which, during the years from 1856 to the breaking out of the war, was the most prominent "free state" settlement west of the border counties. The names of Barrett, Leavitt, Auld, Osborne, Wells and Smith will always be historic names in Marshall county.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
BEATTIE.
Beattie is located on the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad one hun- dred miles west of St. Joseph. The townsite was platted in June, 1870, by the Northern Kansas Land Company of St. Joseph, Missouri, on land owned by James Fitzpatrick and J. T. Watkins. The townsite comprised one hundred and sixty acres and the name Beattie was given in honor of A. Beattie, then mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri.
H. M. Newton, James McElroy, R. Shields and J. J. Sheldon were the first to settle in the town.
One reason for locating the town was the stone quarries. The stone from the quarries was for many years the finest in Kansas or Nebraska for building purposes. They are now partially abandoned.
Prior to 1865 Hugh Hamilton, H. C. Smith, Eli Goldsberry, E. Cain, J. Totten, G. Thorne. James Fitzgerald, P. Jones and some others settled near what is now Beattie. Joseph Totten came to Marshall county in 1858 and settled on a farm three miles north of Beattie. His daughter, Elizabeth Totten, was married to George Thorne in 1860.
George W. Thorne had the distinction of being the only man who voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 in Guittard township. Mrs. Thorne is still living and attended the old settlers reunion in Marysville, September, 1916.
SOME FIRST EVENTS.
John Watkins erected the first building in Beattie.
In the spring of 1871 a depot was moved to Beattie from Elwood, Doni- phan county, and that same summer J. J. Sheldon moved a house on the townsite and lived in it.
In the spring of 1872 A. J. and L. Brunswick opened the first store. The first hotel was built by a man named Putcamp in the year 1873, and named the Sherman House.
The first marriage was that of S. M. and Charles Keiper, who married daughters of Carl Scholtz. J. J. Sheldon performed the ceremony.
The first birth was that of Beattie, a son of H. M. Newton, named in honor of the town.
A child of Mrs. Mahoney died in 1873, which was the first death in the tow.11.
In 1873 Brunswig & Baer put up a steam elevator, twenty-four by sixty by thirty feet, at a cost of two thousand dollars. In 1880-81 the elevator
OPERA HOUSE AT BEATTIE.
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STANDARD SCHOOL, DEER CREEK.
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MARSHALL, COUNTY, KANSAS.
was remodeled at an expense of four thousand dollars, to give a capacity of fifteen thousand bushels. This elevator had a corn-sheller attachment with a capacity of five thousand bushels per day. A. J. Brunswig is still owner of the elevator, and P. A. Willis, is manager.
The Farmers Co-operative Association also own an elevator in Beattie, of which Patrick Reilly is the manager.
During the summer of 1881 the Beattie cornet band with ten pieces, was organized, W. F. Beckett, leader. He was succeeded by F. Smith. Beat- tie has not had a brass band for some years.
POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice at Beattie was established in 1881 and J. J. Sheldon was the first postmaster. He was succeded by A. J. Patterson, A. J. Brunswig, H. C. Smith, F. W. Hutchinson, J. C. Reed, T. C. Menehan, John O'Neil, Elizabeth O'Neil, S. L. Wilson, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Roy Wilson, M. A. Tucker and W. E. Ham.
The present postmistress, Miss Alma Helvering, is a sister of Hon. G. T. Helvering the present member of Congress from the fifth congressional district of Kansas.
BUSINESS INTERESTS IN BEATTIE, JANUARY, 1917.
Drugs-W. B. & M. Hawk.
Pharmacy-M. W. McReynolds, proprietor.
Banks-First National, Beattie State.
Hardware-E. C. Potter.
Hardware and implements-W. E. Bachoritch.
Grain, coal and implements-D. C. O'Neil.
General Merchandise-Olson Mercantile Company, George and Robert Olson, owners.
Beattie Mercantile Company-James T. McMahon, manager.
Lumber and coal yard-Peter McMahon.
Implements-D. C. O'Neil, W. E. Bachoritch, L. E. Helvern.
Grocery and meat market-Burnside and Falk.
Shoe repair shop-A. D. Stoz.
Restaurant and bakery-O. Krotzinger. Bakery --- George Giles. (II)
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Hotel-Mrs. M. B. Waters.
Dentist-Dr. J. E. Eden.
Garage-C. F. Earhart.
Printing office-The Beattic Eagle; Fred Reed, publisher and owner.
Physicians-Dr. W. E. Ham, C. F. McFarland and E. H. Gist.
Produce market and feed store-M. McMahon.
Photo studio-Charles Lenington.
Gents' furnishings-George Schneider.
Blacksmith shops-M. C. Giles, F. W. Weis. Bishop Barber.
Beattie Electric Light Company. David Hockman, owner, furnishes Beattie and Home City with light and power.
The Farmers Mutual Telephone Company operate one hundred and five telephones in town and has fourteen country lines.
BIGELOW.
Bigelow is a small village in Bigelow township, on the central branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad, between Barrett and Irving, named for Gen- eral Bigelow, an official of the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
In 1881 Jacob Inman opened work in the fine limestone quarries. A few houses were built and in order to provide homes for those who operated the quarries. Inman platted forty acres of his farm into town lots and sold the lots at a nominal price. on condition that the purchaser of one lot. on putting up a house, should receive free of charge an adjoining lot. This was known as Inman's Addition. Corner lots were reserved by the owner. Many men took advantage of the offer and secured homes. Some of the original settlers live on the property thus acquired. In 1883 a school house containing two rooms was built from the native limestone. The first teacher was Thomas Colliers and only one room was used. The next year E. Carrico taught the grammar grade and a Miss Tweedy, the primary. Since that time two teachers have been regularly employed. The present teachers are Robert Shope and Eva Johnson : enrollment, forty.
In 1884 Christ church was built. Jacob Inman and DeWitt Griffes were the men who were foremost in the effort and they contributed largely to the cost of the building. In memory of their faithful work and gifts. the doors of this church are never closed on the Lord's day and services are held at all times possible.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
In 1894 Mrs. T. W. Mead agitated the question of building the First Methodist church, and it was largely through her efforts that the fine build- ing, of limestone taken from the quarries, now is enjoyed by members of that faith as a church home. The church is thirty by forty feet in dimen- sions, and is a building of which the citizens of the town are justly proud.
H. A. Carpenter built and lived in the first house in Bigelow. John Watters was the first blacksmith.
The quarries have been exhausted and many of the old settlers have gone to their rest, but Bigelow has grown and at present has the following business houses : J. W. Seldon, general store ; J. P. Canaday, general store ; J. F. Chitty, president, State Bank ; C. O. Musser, lumber and coal dealer ; Griffee Chitty, grain and stock buyer; A. J. Turley, blacksmith ; Mrs. James Milgate & Son, hotel.
A. J. Harvey, a prominent young man of Bigelow, was elected county clerk of Marshall county, November 7, 1916.
TOWN OF BREMEN.
Bremen is located on the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad, nine miles northwest of Marysville and one mile from the Washington county line, in the center of as rich a farming community as there is in the county. The latest census gives it a population of one hundred. In 1886 Henry Brenneke laid out the town and built the first house on the southeast corner of his farm, adjoining the railroad. He named the new town after a seaport in Ger- many, near which he was born. The same year he erected a store building in which he carried on a general mercantile business and was appointed post- master. For a time, Otto Peicker was his partner in the store, but Mr. Brenneke carried on an extensive live stock and grain business on his own account.
Carl Schultz built a blacksmith shop in 1888, which he has been con- ducting continuously ever since. In 1890 Joseph Sedlacek built a hardware store with a spacious hall in the second story. Charles Fischer started a restaurant and lodging house soon after, and Louis Pralle built a store for general merchandise. William Raemer, from Herkimer, opened a lumber yard, which he later sold to the Dursee brothers, and which was still later owned and conducted by Gus. Dursee until his death.
In August, 1907, the State Bank of Bremen was organized and did a
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
flourishing business in the building formerly occupied by Mr. Fischer, who had died.
During the night of March 17, 1908, the little town was entirely wiped out by fire causing a loss of more than twenty thousand dollars. But undis- trayed ly this calamity, the good people proceeded at once to rebuild in a more substantial manner and soon a much better town was erected.
LARGE SUM IN BANK NOTES DESTROYED.
The following incident growing out of this fire is well worth recording in this history. On the close of business the day before the fire, the banker ¡ laced all of the paper currency, several thousand dollars, in the little wooden box where it was always kept, and placed it in the safe which was burglar proof, but did not prove to be fire proof. When the safe was opened it was found that the wooden box containing the paper money had burned to ashes. but that the currency, though burned to charcoal, was still intact and not even broken.
William 11. Smith. of Marysville, who was a stockholder in the bank, carefully packed this charcoal in cotton and in a leather satchel, which never left his hand until he placed it on a table at the treasury department in Wash- ington, D. C., where the chief of the redemption division turned it over to Mrs. Brown for identification. After working on this little pile of charcoal for four days, Mrs. Brown reported that every bill could be redeemed except- in one five-dollar lank note, on which neither the number nor the name of the lank was discernible. Needless to say that when Mr. Smith left Wash- ington with the lot of brand new treasury notes, which were given him for the charcoal, which he carried all the way to Washington so gingerly, lest it might go to pieces, he was a very happy man.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The following are the business interests represented in Bremen in 1917: Postoffice, fourth class, money order office with two rural routes, John Sedlacek, postmaster.
Sedlacek & Son, hardware, furniture and auto supplies.
Rengstorf Brothers, hardware, implements and autos.
Prell Merchandise Company, general merchandise.
Bremen State Bank, F. II. Pralle, cashier.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
Elevator, Fred. Crome.
Blacksmith, Carl Schultz.
Lumber yard, Mrs. Dursee & Son.
Hotel, Fred. Prell, proprietor.
Telephone exchange, Hanover and Odell, Nebraska connection.
Bremen Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, William Rabe, president ; F. H. Fralle, secretary, and F. W. Stohs, treasurer.
The latter company was organized on March 26, 1888, at which time a few German farmers associated themselves for mutual protection against fire losses. From this very humble beginning the organization has grown to be one of the biggest and most reliable mutual insurance concerns in the state, withi agents in thirteen counties, insuring farm property against fire. lightning and tornado accidents. On December 31, 1916, the company had one thousand five hundred and forty-one members and carried three million two hundred sixty-eight thousand eight hundred and fifty-two dollars in risks.
TOWN OF CARDEN.
Carden is a busy little town, located on the Union Pacific & Grand Island railway, four miles east of Marysville. It was founded about fifteen years ago on the farm of Mrs. Ottilia Carden. now Mrs. Peter Dugdale. The town was named Carden in her honor.
The first building in town was the elevator erected by J. E. Andrews.
Ed. Crevier next built a store and a blacksmith shop. A few years later Andrews took possession of the store and a Mr. Thomas, the blacksmith shop. Later. J. E. Andrews sold the store to T. J. Menzel, who conducted it up to three years ago, when C. A. Taylor bought it and is still the owner.
The postoffice has been established fourteen years and fifteen families are served with mail. The office does about seven hundred dollars worth of business a year. .
Carden kas twenty-five daily trains and ships from two to three hun- dred cars of grain and stock each year.
There are four families living in the town. There is no church, but a fine school, with Mabel Tays, of Marysville, in charge.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
CITY OF FRANKFORT.
Frankfort is the third city in size in Marshall county and is located eighty-seven miles west of Atchison and twenty-three miles south of Marys- ville.
In 1867 the Frankfort Town Company was organized in Marysville with the following members: F. Schmidt, C. F. Koester. J. S. Magill, John McCoy. P. Il. Peters, John Bollinger, Perry Hutchinson, R. S. Newell and James E. Smith. In August. the same year, the company purchased section 16, township 4. range 9, and laid out a townsite, which they named Frank- fort. In consideration of receiving a depot and a side track, the town com- piny gave the Central Branch Railroad Company one-half the townsite. The railroad reached Frankfort in 1867 and that fall a depot was built. The first houses in Frankfort were built by Frank Schmidt, J. S. Magill and R. S. Newell. O. C. Horr built and operated the first store in 1867. In 1868 seven dwellings were built and two business houses were erected, which were owned by Jacob Weisbach and O. C. Horr. In 1869 fifty-four substantial buildings were erected and one of the best hotels in the country was built and opened to the public. The town made rapid progress and from that day to this has been a splendid business center. The residence portion of the city was for many years far in advance of any town in the county and the sub- stantial farmers of the Valley of the Vermillion gave the town strong patronage.
ORGANIZATION.
Frankfort was organized as a city of the third class on July 24. 1875. The first city election was held on August 10. 1875. R. S. Newell was clected mayor. The first city officials were: R. S. Newell, mayor : E. Brady, 1. C. Legere, J. Marksman, W. Schmicker and F. B. Taylor, Sr., councilmen : J. Gano, police judge: S. B. Todd. city clerk: S. D. McKee, treasurer : G. D. Osborne, marshal.
A postoffice had been established two miles southeast of the present townsite of Frankfort. and was called Nottingham. D. C. Auld was the first postmaster : he was succeeded by O. C. Horr. The postoffice was moved to town and the name changed to Frankfort.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
SCHOOLS.
School district No. 35 was organized in March, 1869, at the home of O. C. Horr. At the first election held, W. Trosper was elected director ; J. Weisbach, treasurer, and R. S. Newell, clerk.
In the spring of 1870 bonds to the amount of one thousand six hundred dollars were issued and a frame school building, twenty-four by forty feet, was erected. This building was used until 1880, when it was sold and used for a private residence. During this same year a new edifice built of lime- stone was completed at a cost of four thousand dollars. In 1884 an addi- tion was made to the main building and it was used for primary purposes. Since then many improvements have been made and Frankfort now has a well-equipped school, with a full high school course and a splendid corps of teachers. R. S. Hazard is the present superintendent, with seven high school teachers and six grade teachers.
The high school includes college preparatory, general and commercial course, domestic science and art, and a course in agriculture.
The present board of education is: Dr. M. A. Brawley, director ; J. M. Rhodes, treasurer; George B. Heleker, clerk. G. B. Heleker, the clerk of the board, is a practical educator, having served as superintendent of the Marysville and Hanover schools for several years. He is at present engaged in the mercantile business in Frankfort and always takes a deep interest in the schools.
BUILDINGS.
One of the finest buildings in Frankfort is the garage recently built by James Kennedy, present county commissioner. Mr. Kennedy is a son of William Kennedy, one of the early settlers on Irish creek. The garage was opened in December, 1915, and is one of the best in the state. It is open day and night ; trained mechanics are employed and an extensive business is done. In connection with the garage, which is modern in every particular, is a well-furnished rest room, with Catherine Ryan in charge. Miss Ryan is a daughter of J. H. Ryan, one of the early settlers.
An art studio is conducted by C. E. Koentz, who is a son of Dr. J. P. Koentz, a pioneer Kansai1.
The Crevier elevator is owned by William Crevier and managed by George Gano. An extensive business is done.
C. J. Haskett owns and operates the elevator built in 1901 by William Perkins. It ships four hundred thousand bushels of grain annually.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, KANSAS.
ELECTRIC LIGIIT PLANT.
Frank Dwindell owns and manages the light plant which is one of the best industries of the town.
J. C. Mason, who is a brother of the poet, Walt Mason, of Emporia, is a resident of Frankfort and a big property owner. Mr. Mason travels for Hawk Brothers, of Goshen, Indiana, but maintains business interests in Frankfort and has been a resident of that city since 1882.
William Raemer, a former resident of Herkimer and a member of the state Legislature some years ago, is now a resident of Frankfort. He is engaged in conducting a modern garage and automobile business.
D. C. Brodbeck is one of the influential citizens of Frankfort and has been a member of the city council for years and is always interested in public affairs.
Dr. William M. Green is one of the practising physicians of the city and, with Dr. J. L. Brady, has a large practice. Doctor Brady has served as vice-president of the Marshall County Medical Society and served as coroner in 1916.
C. W. Brandenburg is one of the leading Democrats of both county and state. He is a dentist by profession. His wife is the present postmistress of Frankfort.
COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Frankfort has a live commercial club of one hundred members. The meetings are held in a large room in the Mason block. This room is also used by the Frankfort band for a practice room. AAnother room of the same block is used for the ladies library.
HOTELS.
The Savoy Hotel, which was built by Doctor Bailey in 1869-70, is now managed by Mrs. A. J. Lewis and continues to be a favorite stopping place for the older residents of the county and surrounding territory.
The Blodgett House is owned by Charles W. Blodgett, and is the family hotel of Frankfort. The host is a genial and kindly pioneer.
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