USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 18
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The present site of Winifred was made the county seat of Marshall county in 1858 by the Territorial Legislature, and was named Sylvan. A body of men representing the Nebraska Town Company came to Sylvan at that time with twenty-four oxen and wagons loaded with lumber to build the town: they also brought some mercantile goods which they sold in a tent. No buildings were erected. however, as the county seat was changed to Marysville through the direct influence of F. J. Marshall and the crowd of men who followed his bidding.
After Sylvan was abandoned as the county seat. the Nebraska Town . Company left their lumber on the ground and departed. The lumber was at once confiscated. No direct charge is made as to who took it. but as a certain self-styled county seat was badly in need of lumber, that useful . building material may have found its way there. Among those who settled on the Vermillion in 1856 were Isaac Walker and family, who settled on
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the land adjoining where Winifred now stands and the old homestead called "West Fork" is still maintained by the family. The town is named Walk- ersburg, after Isaac Walker and the postoffice is named Winifred after Mrs. Isaac Walker. Mr. and Mrs. David B. Walker reside in Winifred, being among the first residents and helped to lay out the townsite.
The present town of Winifred has a population of about seventy-five people, and has a large farming community surrounding it.
SCHOOL OPENED.
The school house was built and opened in 19H at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. It has two rooms, the first graded from the primary de- partment to fifth grade, and the second graded from sixth grade to second- year high school course. The first teachers were Mrs. Trosper and Miss Waymire. The present teachers are Miss Waymire, principal, and Miss Rose Seematter, assistant. The enrollment is thirty-two.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
Mr. S. C. M. Smith, the present postmaster, erected the first store in Winifred with a capital of three hundred dollars, and the business has so increased that his capital invested is three thousand dollars. The stock con- sists of general merchandise and the business is thriving.
The Winifred State Bank is a sound institution and well patronized.
A hardware store is owned by F. K. Barrett, with stock valued at four thousand dollars and an average business of eighteen thousand dollars annually.
Two elevators carry on an extensive business. One, owned by Isaac Walker and F. K. Barrett, called the Winifred Grain Company, shipped in the year 1916 one hundred thousand bushels of corn and one hundred and fifty thousand busheis of wheat to Kansas City and to various points in Iowa.
The Farmers Union Elevator, managed by J. Tilley, does practically the same amount of business.
I garage, also owned by F. K. Barrett, carries the Oakland car and sold in 1916, eleven cars, at from eight hundred and forty dollars to one thousand five hundred dollars, each.
The general merchandise store owned by A. F. Yaussi is managed by Arthur Stauff, who is also a stockholder. This store opened in April. 1916.
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with a capital of seven thousand dollars, and by January 1, 1917, had increased to eight thousand dollars.
B. W. Solt has a neat barber shop and opened business in 1911. His business averages one thousand dollars yearly.
A restaurant owned by the Farmers Union, managed by A. and R. Crevier, opened business on July 15. 1916. To January 1, 1917, the busi- ness netted six hundred dollars.
The Foster Lumber Company, of Kansas City, began business in 1909 with a capital of ten thousand dollars. The average yearly business amounts to fifteen thousand dollars. R. E. Grutzmacher is manager.
M. R. Dickinson is the station agent, and has been in charge of the station since it was established. He reports the following business for 1915 : Corn, 47 carloads ; wheat, 25 carloads; oats, I carload ; live stock, 30 car- loads; walnut logs, 2 carloads; emigrants, 2 carloads. 1916: Corn, 74 carloads : wheat, 36 carloads ; live stock, 19 carloads.
FLAG STATIONS IN COUNTY.
Nolan .- Topeka branch, Union Pacific railroad, located on southeast quarter, section 34, Cleveland township.
Sullivan .- Topeka branch, Union Pacific railroad, located on northeast quarter, section 36, Vermillion township.
Summit .- St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad, located on northwest quarter, section 7, Murray township.
Upland .- Junction St. Joseph & Grand Island and Topeka branch Union Pacific railroad, located on the northeast quarter, section 6, Center township.
LOST AND ABANDONED TOWNS OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Horace Greeley said : "It takes three log houses to make a city in Kan- sas, but they begin calling it a city as soon as they have staked out the lots." But "three log houses" were enough in those days to make much history.
This list of names of towns now lost or abandoned, tells a story of plans that came to naught and hopes that were unfulfilled. Most of the towns now live only in the archives of the State Historical Society, while the pro- moters, like the towns, are buried and in many instances forgotten. The list follows :
Ayersville, a village or feed station in 1855. twenty miles south of the Nebraska line on the Little Blue, probably Cedar Falls.
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Bennetts Station, a postoffice in 1859, probably at the home of Moses Bennett on Coon creek, where he kept a feed and supply station.
Blanchville, postoffice named for Horatio Blanchard, postmaster and early settler, on northeast corner section 22. Walnut township.
Big Blue City, chartered in 1858; can find no trace of it.
Cedar Falls, two and one-half miles northwest of Waterville on Little Blue. In 1858, William Pearsoll built a combination grist- and saw-mill at Cedar Falls, later acquired by Rufus R. Edwards, of Marysville. There is nothing left of this mill.
Elm Creek, a postoffice located on south Elm creek at the home of John Means, postmaster, an early settler.
Elizabeth, one mile northeast of Bigelow, feed and supply station near Inmans quarries.
Fairland : unable to locate it.
Franks-Fort, is now Frankfort. named for Frank Schmidt, of Marys- ville, one of the founders of the town.
Gertrude, founded January 2, 1861, vacated, 1864, was located one mile northwest of Marysville on the hilltop, west of the mill: it consisted of a small frame house: its owner sold "necessaries" to the emigrants.
Granite Falls, established on Little Blue near mouth of Fawn creek on section 24. Waterville township: later also known as Marble Falls.
Guittard Station, a postoffice established in 1861 and taken up in 1901 by a rural route. Xavier Guittard was its postmaster for forty consecutive years. This was the most noted stage station on the Ben Holladay Overland stage line between the Missouri river and Denver, Colorado.
Heasleyville, a stage station in Center township, named for Jerry Heas- ley. a stage driver and early-day "character."
Independence Crossing, a trading post six miles south of Marysville in 1848, located at the point where General Fremont forded the Big Blue in 1842, and where the Mormons crossed in later years. Still known as the "Independence crossing," though no longer a ford.
Lagrange, a postoffice located on section 21. Clearfork township.
Lanesburg, or Lanes crossing, was on the Big Blue between Irving and Bhie Rapids.
Marble Falls, established in 1867 by Judge Lewis, father of Mrs. E. . 1. Berry, of Waterville. When the railroad located Waterville, the buiklings were moved from Marble Falls to Waterville.
Merrimac, located southeast of Irving in 1858 and abandoned in 1864: was at the present location of the Merrimac school house.
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Merrimac, platted in 1867, ten miles west of Irving.
Nottingham, second postoffice established in county, located on the homestead of D. C. Auld, section 23, Vermillion township, in 1857; moved to Frankfort in 186S.
New Dayton, located northeast of Barrett; it never lived.
Ohio City was located in 1855 on the quarter section joining Barrett on the southwest.
Otoe, a stage station on the Oketo cutoff in the Otoe Indian reserve. Palmetto is the north half of Marysville. Incorporated in 1857.
Raemer Creek, a very short-lived postoffice, now Herkimer; it was named for the Raemer Brothers, the early permanent settlers.
Reedsville, a postoffice in Center township named for Allen Reed, post- master, keeper of a store and prominent settler.
Stolzenbach, a postoffice located on section 1. Balderson township, at the home of Peter Merklinghaus.
Sylvan, located in 1858, abandoned in 1860. Andreas' history states : "As early as 1859 efforts were made to move the county seat from Marys- ville to Sylvan a new town located on section 25, township 3, range 8 (now Center township. ) The prime mover in this affair was T. S. Vaile, a mem- ber of the Free State Territorial Legislature from Marshall county. Marys- ville at that time was reputed a pro-slavery town, and Vaile had an act passed removing the county seat to Sylvan. The only official business transacted at the new county seat was the canvassing of the vote of 1859. There being no house at Sylvan, the county commissioners, J. D. Brumbaugh. George G. Pierce and S. Ostrander held their session in the house of George D. Swear- ingen, a mile distant. In 1859. Marysville was again made the county seat by a vote of the people'." For fifty years the name of Sylvan was but a memory until 1909, when the Union Pacific railroad was extended from Topeka to Marysville, and on the site selected for Sylvan now stands the thriving little town of Winifred.
Swede Creek was located one mile north of Cottage Hill in Cottagehill township.
Vermillion City, located in 1859 near where the Vermillion creek empties into the Big Blue river, abandoned in 1859.
Wells, named for John D. Wells, the earliest permanent settler in the county. It was a postoffice in Wells township, and John D. Wells was the postmaster.
White's Quarry was located on a branch of Spring creek : it was a stone
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quarry used by the railroad in the early seventies; it had a few tents and a shack, located southwest of Home City.
.Ash Point, a stage station ou the Overland trail between Seneca and Guittard station, a few miles north of where AAxtell now stands.
Afton-Ten miles southwest of Marysville.
Armour-Near Summerfield.
Ewing-Three miles west of Vermillion; named for Ewing family. Jett's Town-Near Guittard.
Kantanyan-Probably where California trail left Marshall county.
Pleasant Hill-Same as Swede creek.
Westella-Seven miles north of Beattie.
Woodson-Same as Jett's town. Taos, where Salem church now stands. W. F. Robinson was postmas- ter.
Robidoux, old station. section 19. range 9. township 2.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN PECENKA, SR. First Bohemian Settlers in Marshall County.
BOHEMIAN CEMETERY.
CHAPTER IX.
FOREIGN ELEMENT IN MARSHALL COUNTY.
BOHEMIANS.
Far across the Atlantic ocean where the kingdoms, empires and republics of Europe are now at war, John Pecenka was born, June 14, 1825, in the village Ridky, near Litomysl, district of Chrudim, in the southeastern part of Bohemia.
Pecenka was of rural parentage, but of a cultured family. His brother, Josef, was educated for the Catholic priesthood and another brother, Vaclav, held a degree as Professor of Sciences and Doctor of Law. John Pecenka was a miller by trade and a musician by nature. Every moment not occupied by business, was devoted to the study of music, which was his greatest delight. He operated a small grist-mill, propelled by overshot water power and ground the golden grain for his neighbors. After the day's toil he dexterously wielded his bow in church, hall and opera. He had three sisters, who. after some years of schooling, married neighboring peasants.
Jan. as written in the Cesky tongue, married at eighteen years, Katrina Kasper. To this union was born on April 21, 1847. John. and two years later, Anna, who died in infancy.
Shortly after this the mother and wife died and Jan married a second time, choosing for his bride, Anna Flidbborn, born on October 31, 1830, in the village of Osyk, in Chrudim, near Litomysl. This lady was of Swobodnik parentage. The Swobodniks enjoyed peculiar privileges, being exempt from taxation on real estate and were full citizens. To this union were born in Bohemia, Joseph, Francis A., Anna, Vaclav and Katherina. The young parents felt the responsibilty of their growing family and knowing their sons would be claimed for military duty. they decided to come to America.
They with some other families left Bohemia in the month of August, 1861. leaving from Janovicek, via Prague, Dresden and Leipsic to Bremen, where they took passage to America. In Bremen a sad event occurred.
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Katherina nine months okl, sickened and died and as the ship was about to sail they were compelled to leave the body with the undertaking authorities for burial.
With sad and heavy hearts they embarked and after eight weeks of rough sailing the little colony arrived in New York City late in October and proceeded by rail via Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to Chicago, Illinois, arriving there on November 1, 1861. Here they spent a few weeks and Jan Pecenka visited his sister. Anna Dosedel, and her husband. Vaclav Dosedel, who had preceded him six months, bringing with them his son. John. At the time of their arrival the War of the Rebellion was raging. Funds were low and the men of the party looked for work. Jan Pecenka was tendered the leadership of a military band. but declined. Bohemian friends in Chicago advised the colonists that eastern lowa was opening for settlement and the next move was to the counties of Linn and Johnson, near Shueyville, Iowa.
They found no government land, but some bought, and others rented. land on shares. Winter was spent working at odd jobs. Jan, being a musician. found employment teaching vocal and instrumental music and made a living for his wife and family of four children. On one occasion having played for a ball at Cedar Rapids, lowa, he carried a sack of flour on his shoulders for eight miles, hokling his violin case carefully and plowing through snow three feet deep, while the storm raged with fury. But the little ones had to be fed and he braved the storm.
At that time wages were very meager and the country undeveloped. Two weekly papers, Slovan Ameriky a Cesky Casopis, published in Iowa City, and Slavic, published in Racine, Wisconsin, gave the news that Bohemian colony clubs were being formed to promote the interests of Bohemians and that a convention would be held in Chicago, Illinois, soon. John Pecenka and a Mr. Bures were sent to this convention as delegates to acquire definite information relative to settling on government land. Very little good resuited from this convention. The colony remained in Iowa for eight years and established a permanent colony there. But the desire to own their homes prevailing, and the homestead law having been enacted. those settlers paid heed to the advice of Horace Greeley, "Go West, and grow up with the country."
John Pecenka took out naturalization papers on February 23. 1869. at Marion, Linn county, Iowa; rigged up two prairie schooners each drawn by a team of horses and a yoke of oven and, in company with Matthias Mozis, who had a like equipment, led a caravan across the prairies, plains and swamps of lowa into the eastern part of Kansas.
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FLAG INCIDENT IN 1869.
On this journey while passing through Oregon City, Missouri, on the Fourth of July, an incident occurred worth relating.
In honor of the day the wagons were decorated with the national colors ; citizens of the town objected to this and demanded of the leader, Pecenka, that the American flag be hauled down. The leader refused to remove the fags from the wagons, leaped into his prairie schooner, took down his double- . barreled shotgun and laid it across his knees and commanded "Buck" and "Bright" to proceed. They did; other teams followed, and the performance was over. Our "show me" friends on the eastern border were not success- ful in their attempt on Uncle Sam's colors and the flag was defended by the Bohemians. The next day the party crossed the Missouri at White Cloud and landed on Kansas soil on July 5, 1869.
Bleeding Kansas had been pictured to these people in the most horrible manner, as the home of the grasshopper, chinch bug, perpetual and hot winds, drought and the like, so that these homeseekers were almost persuaded to believe these fallacious stories. But they were hopeful, persevering and trusted in Providence that the "promised land" would be realized to them in a different way, and would bestow on them happiness, prosperity and con- tentment.
On scanning the beautiful landscape, the undulating prairies, bedecked with tall blue stem, and luxuriant verdure waving with the gentle swell of the breeze, every nodding flower beckoning to these pioneers and whispering, "Welcome, thou weary travelers, abide with us and make a home on this, God's footstool."
FUTURE GOVERNOR WELCOMES BOHEMIANS.
That evening brought the party to the small town of Morrill, on the Grand Island railroad and filled with happiness even unto tears, this little band manifested their joy with merry-making, music and dancing, as there were fourteen in the party.
The landlord of the farm paid a visit to these strangers and invited them to his house to play for his wife. A few choice selections were rendered and the visitors were royally treated. After taking the party through the new residence in construction, he invited them to locate in that vicinity. Many inducements and favorable propositions were offered these prospective set- tlers, as he had large tracts of land and would have sold to them on the best
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possible terms. But the party were unable to buy and they were seeking free government land homesteads "homeseds." in the native tongue.
The offer of the kind and generous man was not accepted. After twenty-five years of toil. developing the plains of Marshall county, there came to the city of Marysville a candidate campaigning the state for the position of state executive. After the speech, with a hearty handshake. the men who camped at his dooryard met the future governor of Kansas. Hon. E. N. Morrill.
BOHEMIANS ARRIVE IN MARSHALL COUNTY.
The caravan reached the little city of Irving in time to help friends who had preceded them to harvest and the party had their first experience in the harvest fields of Marshall county on the Black Vermillion. After receiving reliable information that Congress had given all odd numbered sections to the Central Branch, Missouri Pacific railroad. and after building a log cabin for the editor of an Irving paper, the party moved north, coming to Marys- ville, where, while there was no railroad. there was a good grist-mill on the west bank of the Blue river. In Marysville. Samuels kept a grocery, Frank Schmidt, a dry-goods store and Charles Koester clerked for him; Brum- baugh and Magill were lawyers, and David Wolf kept a saloon. They traveled west over the California trail into now Logan township and located on the preesnt site.
FIRST HOMESTEAD ENTRY.
The first homestead entry of government land ever made from this part of Marshall county, in the Junction City land office, by a Bohemian- Amer- ican, was made by John Pecenka on August 13, 1869. on the southeast quarter of section 30. township 2. range 6 east, containing one hundred and sixty acres. His son. John. made entry on the southwest quarter of section 30, township 2. south of range to east, containing one hundred and sixty acres. This land bordered on Washington county on the west.
"We started in a strange land among strangers, but hope kept our cour- age up and we went right on building a new home in the wilderness." Mr. Pecenka, with the help of the family, made a dugout in the side of a hill. about fourteen by sixteen feet, and set native uprights or crotches for beams or pole support, upon which were laid split rails for rafters, covered with slough grass, this in turn being covered with a layer of virgin sod, making a warm and comfortable shelter. This was their first habitation on the hillside.
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AN UNREIIEARSED SCENE.
It had a door and two small windows on the south side and one side of the roof was level with the surrounding ground, making it easily accessible from that side. What might have been expected, happened. In most cases the first settlers made the tracks, both foot and wagon road, and one of these paths led right in front of the door across Walnut creek. One night a friend and neighbor, Mike Casey, a benighted traveler, going home from Marys- ville, got off the track and drove on to the roof of the dugout. The horses began to fall through the roof, the children screamed, some lamented, others cursed, some thought the devil was trying to crawl through the roof. After the catastrophe, with some apologies, the wrong was righted and Casey pro- ceeded on the right trail and all sat and felt that while not injured, they were badly scared.
John Pecenka procured a breaking plow and broke about six acres of prairie for sowing down to spring wheat. The colony was strengthened from time to time by the addition of other settlers. Albret Kaprel, a veteran soldier of Bohemia, and Frantisek Kerhat came from Irving and, later, Jan Vavruska came direct from Bohemia. On March II, 1871, the first child of Bohemian parents was born in this part of the county, Anna Vavruska, now living in Nebraska.
There are two distinct Bohemian settlements in Marshall county. One is located west of Marysville and south of Bremen, in Logan and Walnut townships, and the other south of Waterville and Blue Rapids and southwest of Irving, chiefly on the Game Fork creek.
Although Bohemians are found in almost every township, they are most numerous in the above mentioned localities.
FURTHER INFLUX OF SETTLERS.
On June 5, 1870. a large caravan of prairie schooners arrived from Cedar Rapids. Among the settlers were Jiri Zabokstsky and a large family. He bought a relinquishment from Asa Parks, of Marysville. With him came Josef Houder and a family of eighteen children. Vaclav Dosedel and wife came from Racine, Wisconsin. Dosedel and John Pecenka were brothers-in- law. John Brychta came from Cedar Rapids. Josef Stehlik came direct from Bohemia: he was a tailor and pursued his trade until his death. Josef Cejp bought out the claim of McChesney. Vaclav Kutis came from St. Louis. In 1869 a colony of sixty-five homesteaded near Hanover.
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In June, 1874. Vaclav Cejp and family came direct from Bohemia, He bought ont the claim of Dan Stuckey. John Brychta and Cejp were brothers- in-law. On November 7, 1871, Josef Swoboda came from the sable pineries of Racine, Wisconsin. He bought ont the claim of Michael Quigley. Later on, came Josef Sedlacek from the village of Sedliste. Bohemia, primarily for the purpose of scrutinizing the country. He came, he saw and was conquered. went back with a favorable report and returned with a large family, bringing many other families with him.
Late in the autumn of 1873 came Jan Alexa and a large family from Minden, Michigan, and with him came Mr. and Mrs. Tuka, his wife's par- ents. In autumn came Marie Pacha ( also written Pejsa). a widow with a large family of marriageable sons and daughters, from Minden, Michigan. They settled in Logan township.
Frank Sedlacek, the eldest son of Josef Sedlacek, married and settled in Marysville township, buying out the farin of George Bachoritch. In 1876 and 1877 Josef Bruna and Josef .A. Sedlacek came direct from Bohemia and settled in Walnut township. With them came Frank Holota, wife and chil- dren, locating in Logan township, and Maty Hlons settled in Walnut.
POSSESS QUALITIES MAKING FOR SUCCESS.
The history of the Bohemians in Marshall county resembles in many respects that of other first settlers. They came for the purpose of acquiring homes of their own. While not wealthy. they possessed hope. endurance, perseverance and industry in unlimited quantities. . All of these qualities were essential for the success of the first settlers and have brought them wealth, happiness and contentment. Some of the pioneers came from the respective states of their mother country and settled a short time in the East before moving West, while others came to Kansas direct from Bohemia or Moravia.
One of the first acts of an alien Bohemian is to take out his naturaliza- tion papers. The Bohemians speak with pride of their newly-adopted country. Naturally, they think well of the mother country -- and who does not of his native land ?- but they realize the great advantages and beneficent laws of the United States and speak of it as "our new. beloved country."
The Bohemian people are industrious, upright and frugal, possessing the utmost integrity of character and are scrupulous in all their dealings. They take great pride in enjoying their religious and political freedom. They make good, loyal, law-abiding American citizens and have contributed largely to the political and social development of the county. Bohemians, like all
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