USA > Kansas > Shawnee County > History of Shawnee County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 17
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"This was accomplished by the men on the bridge getting loose a tele- graph wire that yet extended across the current, and then signaling the men on the car to get hold of the same wire. The men on the car tied a rope
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around one of their number and let him get into the water and wash across the street to a place where the wires were entangled. This being done, he broke loose the same wire our boys were holding, and was then hauled back through the water to the car, and our communication was established. We soon had a half-inch steel cable extended across the chasm, and fearing that it might not be strong enough, we sent over an inch-and-a-half rope to be used with it. To keep the rope out of the water we fastened it to the cable with short pieces of wire about every six or eight feet. Then we put a pulley around the wire cable and rope, and Fred Ritchie, who, as well as his brother, Frank, has the same sort of courage that old John Ritchie possessed, was swung onto the cable and pulled over. He had to stop about every six feet to take off the little wires that held the rope and cable together, and this made it a slow journey.
"After the apparatus was in working order, and a number of persons had been brought over, the large rope parted at a splice and let R. A. Beyrans, who was then on the cable, drop into the swift current as far as the steel cable would stretch. The boys dragged him through the water, and over timbers and wires, as they would haul in a catfish, and landed him on the bridge in safety. A heavier cable was then put up and it worked without accident as long as needed. Early on Monday morning I was stationed at the north end of the cable, and in addition to sending out boats we organized a force to extend a cable north on Kansas avenue. J. E. Wilson had charge of this crew, and they worked hard all day in a terrible current, and succeeded in running a cable straight up Kansas avenue past the fire station, and as far as the Methodist Church. I remained at the car all day Monday. Monday night and Tuesday, directing the boats in going after persons who were in distress and bringing them to the bridge. The boats also took out a large quantity of food to people who could not be removed from the houses.
MAJOR HARVEY'S HELPERS.
"On Tuesday evening I was relieved by E. L. Overton, who took charge and stayed on the north side all of that night. I relieved him Wednesday morning and kept up the same work all of that day, he again relieving me on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning the water had fallen so that our landing had to be established several blocks from the car. Thursday even- ing we were relieved by the regular authorities of the city and county. While at work we made no attempt to take the names of those who assisted, and the list can never be given entire, as it embraced many men whose names I never learned. I give the following as a partial list of those who worked with me: E. L. Overton, Prof. Orwell B. Towne, Frank Ritchie, Fred Ritchie, Hugh
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McFarland, C. A. Steele, George Anderson, P. Anderson, Hugh Reed, Conrad Biorke, Carl Stahl, Harden B. Leechman, J. E. Wilson, Ray Gregg, R. A. Beyrans, Ray Gill, Omar Mehl, H. H. Donahue, Samuel Percy, J. Cooper, William Haynes, H. W. Banks, Henry Ogee, Dr. Buck, George W. Reed, Jr., Luther Nellis, Harvey Parsons, Paul Adams, Harry Nichols, Clifford Cun- ningham, Edward McCann, Jerome Stahl, Frank Stahl, A. B. Smith, Ralph Stahl, K. W. King, J. A. Zimmerman, Louis Hauck, Lu VanLiew, W. C. Goodman, C. O. Fletcher, R. M. Breezy, L. J. Brown, James Faucht, Robert Stone, W. M. Cowles, Kay Miles, Merrill Mills and Lewis Strauss."
In concluding the flood chapter, it is only necessary to add that in the two years' lapse of time since the occurrence of the great calamity nearly every trace of its damaging effect has disappeared, most of the houses have been rebuilt, or new ones erected in their place, a system of dikes has been established for protection against future overflows, and both from a business and residence point of view North Topeka has been fully restored.
CHAPTER XIX.
Brief Historical Notes of City and County-Some of the First Happenings
in Topeka-Social, Literary and Musical Events-Native Kansans in Shawnee County-Commercial Features of Fifty Years Ago-Accounts of an Early Flood-Col. Richard J. Hinton's Reminiscences-Two Morning Scenes in Topeka.
Topeka's first Christmas was in 1854, and its first Fourth of July in 1855.
The Kansas Freeman, Topeka's first newspaper, appeared July 4, 1855, published by E. C. K. Garvey.
Miss Sarah C. Harlan taught the first school in Topeka, in a little shanty on lower Madison street, near the river.
The first death was recorded in 1855-a case of cholera. The first cemetery was at the intersection of Kansas and Ioth avenues.
The first liquor-smashing crusade in Topeka occurred July II, 1855, about $1,500 worth of beverages being destroyed in four saloons.
The first school building was erected by the New England Emigrant Aid Company in 1857, on lots 145, 147 and 149 Harrison street, fronting on Fifth street.
Rev. S. Y. Lum, a Congregational minister, preached the first sermon heard in Topeka, at the residence of A. A. Ward, in the winter of 1854.
Coal was found in 1856, in the river bluff, two miles from town-not in commercial quantities, but sufficient to keep the blacksmiths' forges going.
January 28, 1858, was the date of the first city election in Topeka, and the first levy of taxes for city purposes was made in that year, Howard Cutts being designated as collector.
Wilson L. Gordon, first city marshal, was directed March 24, 1858, to grade the first block south from the river on Kansas avenue, at an expenditure not to exceed the sum of $150.
The first well dug was at the southeast corner of Kansas avenue and Third street, water being found at a depth corresponding to the level of the river.
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BUILDING OPERATIONS.
Dr. Franklin L. Crane opened the first lime-kiln, and the first stone building was erected at Nos. 133 and 135 Kansas avenue, afterwards known as Constitution Hall.
Guilford G. Gage had charge of the first brick-making plant on the town-site, and his product entered largely into the construction of the earlier buildings in the town.
The first sidewalks were laid in the town in 1863, on Kansas avenue between Fourth and Seventh streets, and on Sixth avenue between Monroe and Van Buren. They were built of oak lumber.
The first sawmill was located on the river bank at the foot of Madison street, an engine being drawn by wagon from Kansas City. The first grist mill was at the northwest corner of First and Kansas avenues.
The first telegraph line reached Topeka November 15, 1865, in con- nection with the building of the Union Pacific Railroad. For several years thereafter North Topeka was the only telegraph office in Shawnee County.
On July 4, 1866, the first soldiers' reunion was held in Topeka, orations being delivered by Gen. James G. Blunt, Governor Samuel J. Crawford and Judge Samuel A. Kingman.
Thomas N. Stinson, the founder of Tecumseh, received from his Pro- Slavery friends of 1855 a silver pitcher in recognition of his services to the cause. It bore an engraved representation of negroes cultivating sugar cane.
Cyrus K. Holliday was Topeka's first justice of the peace, Daniel H. Horne the first constable, and T. W. Hayes the first census enumerator. John Horner, of Tecumseh, was the first tax assessor in Shawnee County.
The first hotel in Topeka was built of poles and "shakes," at the south- east corner of Kansas avenue and Third street. It was called the "Pioneer House," and locally known as a "receiving house."
J. T. Jones, an immigrant from Missouri, established the first store in the town, a grocery, located on lower Kansas avenue-then a river path. The first brick store building was erected near the comer of Kansas avenue and Fourth street, and occupied by Allen & Gordon.
During its brief existence as the county-seat of Shawnee County, the town of Tecumseh had three local newspapers : the Southerner, the Settler and the Note-book.
CAPITOL SQUARE.
Col. Cyrus K. Holliday is credited with the suggestion of setting apart a square in the center of Topeka for State Capitol purposes, long before his
11
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pioneer comrades entertained an idea that the city could win the seat of government.
The popular subscription habit fastened itself upon Topeka in a very early day. In 1861 the sum of $500 was raised to assist in the construction of a wagon road by the Smoky Hill route to Pike's Peak-the first money donated by the city to a public enterprise.
Topeka's first band was composed of Samuel Hall, L. W. Horne, John B. Horne and D. H. Moore. It consisted of two violins, a tenor drum and a fife. The band was a power in all of the Free-State meetings.
The first application of lynch law in Topeka was in the winter of 1860, the victim being Isaac Edwards, who had fatally stabbed a Pottawatomie Indian. The stabbing was done while both were riding up Kansas avenue on the same pony. Edwards was hanged at night from the rafters of the jail.
The first destructive fire in Topeka occurred June 10, 1859, destroying a building at No. 146 Kansas avenue, owned by E. C. K. Garvey. Later fires of greatest consequence were the burning of the State Record office and the Ritchie Block.
During the last week in May, 1855, the first steamboat arrived at the Topeka levee, after a turbulent voyage of six days from Lawrence. The sound of the whistle caused greater excitement than the shriek of a calliope in after days.
Anthony A. Ward built the first blacksmith shop on the town-site in the fall of 1854. He settled in Shawnee County some time in advance of the founders of Topeka, and owned one of the city's most desirable suburban farms.
In the merry month of May, 1855, occurred the first wedding in Topeka, the contracting parties being S. J. Thomas and Harriet N. Hurd. The cere- mony was performed by Rev. Mr. Poole.
THE FIRST VOTERS.
At the first election in Topeka the qualified electors included "every white male person, and every civilized Indian who has adopted the customs of the white man, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards."
In the year 1854 Tecumseh was "boomed" as the most desirable resi- dence point in Kansas, the attractive claim being made that a number of aristocratic families from the South had already settled there with their slaves.
The Papan brothers operated the first ferry across the Kansas River
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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near Topeka in 1842. Other ferries were established at different points on the river in the same year.
Fry W. Giles established the first banking house in the city in 1864. In 1866 the firm was known as F. W. Giles & Company, and in 1872 it be- came the Topeka National Bank.
Daniel Boone, a grandson of the famous Kentuckian, was the first actual farmer in Shawnee County, and instructed the Indians in the arts of agri- culture.
Topeka's first city directory appeared in 1870, compiled by Sam Radges, who has compiled all of the Topeka directories from that date to 1905, the volumes being of increasing size and usefulness.
Maj. Thomas J. Anderson was president of the first Topeka Base Ball Club, in 1869, and William J. Stagg, secretary. Charles N. Rix was captain of the field. Topeka now maintains a team in the Western Base Ball Asso- ciation.
Topeka had an earthquake shock April 24, 1867-its first and only seismic disturbance of noteworthy extent. It was felt in all parts of the city, and most noticeably at the Methodist Church, where the funeral services of H. S. Herr were being conducted by Rev. John D. Knox.
REAL ESTATE ON THE MOVE.
The first piece of property transferred in the city, of which record was made, covered the lots at the northeast corner of Sixth avenue and Harrison street. Date, April 7, 1855; consideration, $30.
The first $1,000 transaction in Topeka city lots was the sale in 1857 of the property on the northwest corner of Kansas and Sixth avenues, 80 by 130 feet, the purchase price being paid in gold.
The first school building erected at the expense of the city was the Harri- son street school, in 1865-which was afterwards changed into the present Harrison School, one of the largest in the city.
Illuminating gas was first used in Topeka in 1870, and the Brush elec- tric light in 1882. One electric street-lighting tower was erected at the inter- section of Kansas and Ioth avenues, but was soon discontinued. Incandescent lights came in 1886, and the telephone in 1880.
On the 8th day of September, 1874, a colony of Menonites to the number of 1,100 arrived in Topeka. They subsequently purchased 100,000 acres of land in Southwestern Kansas, on the line of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
On February 1I, 1856, President Pierce threatened to employ the army and navy of the United States in dispersing the Free-State Legislature in
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Topeka. The army executed the threat on July 4th, of that year, without the intervention of battleships.
The first child born in the city was Topeka Zimmerman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Israel Zimmerman, whose birth was recorded in the spring of 1855. In recognition of the important event, the boy was given a valuable lot by the Topeka Town Association.
Topeka's first Fire Department was organized in 1870, with one engine, two carts and 1,500 feet of hose. Tobias Billings was chief of the company, and George W. Veale, foreman of the hook and ladder company.
The public water-works system was introduced in July, 1882, being built by a local corporation at an expense of $200,000. Extensive additions were made in later years, and in 1905 the city purchased the plant for $620,000.
In his "Thirty Years in Topeka," Fry W. Giles states that in the year 1862 he issued a policy of marine insurance upon a cargo of freight to be shipped from the city of New York to Topeka, via New Orleans and the Mississippi, Missouri and Kansas rivers.
EARLY RAILWAY FACILITIES.
Topeka first enjoyed the benefit of a street railway in the month of June, 1881-a horse-car line, with five 12-foot cars. It was later changed into a steam dummy line, and then to the present very complete electric system.
The Union Pacific was the first railroad built into Topeka, arriving January 1, 1866. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road was built from Topeka to Burlingame in 1869, and the line from Atchison to Topeka was opened May 16, 1872.
The first real estate office, independent of the Topeka Town Association, was operated by Asaph Allen and Harris Stratton, in 1856, with headquarters in the Topeka House.
Topeka's first academy of learning was opened January 2, 1856, by James Cowles, A. B., for a term of 12 weeks, offering instruction in the elementary grades and in Greek, Latin and French, the tuition ranging from $3 to $6 for the term.
One of the patents to the land covered by the city of Topeka bears the date of February 14, 1859, and is signed by President James Buchanan. A second patent, issued in 1861, covering an additional 62 acres on the Kansas River bank, is signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
In 1855 the stage fare from Kansas City to Topeka was $5 for each passenger. The freight rates from St. Louis to Kansas City averaged from 30 cents to $2.50 per hundred pounds, according to the stage of the water, being highest in March, October and November, and lowest in May and
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June. Transportation by wagon from Kansas City to Topeka was very ex- pensive.
The first State Fair in Topeka was held September 9-12, 1871. On the last day of the fair an inebriated stranger was riding down Kansas avenue at a furious pace and reined his horse against Sheriff Sherman Bodwell, throw- ing him to the ground and causing his death. The drunken man rode away and was not apprehended.
ARBOR DAY.
April 22, 1875, was designated as Arbor Day in Topeka, by Thomas J. Anderson, then mayor of the city. In response to the mayor's proclamation, business was suspended and the citizens planted 800 trees in the State House grounds. Most of the trees were subsequently cut down by a landscape gardener in the employ of the State.
Five of the Presidents of the United States have been entertained in Topeka, viz: Grant, Hayes, Harrison, Mckinley and Roosevelt. Vice-Presi- dent Henry Wilson was here May 19, 1875. He also visited the city May 25, 1857, and upon his return to Massachusetts raised $2,500 to be expended in behalf of the Free-State cause in Kansas.
The first literary organization in the town was The Kansas Philomathic Institute, whose members gave the first dramatic performance, the piece being "The Drunkard." The same society collected the first public library in Topeka, which was lost in the burning of the Ritchie Block in 1869.
At an old settlers' meeting held in Topeka in 1904, after some of the pioneers of 1854 had signed the roll and boasted of being first on the town- site, a colored man named John E. Allen smashed all of their records by stating that he crossed the Kansas River near Topeka in 1842 with John C. Fremont's expedition, the crossing being made in rubber boats.
The Methodists erected the first church spire in Topeka, and had the first bell of commanding size. The bell weighed 1,068 pounds, and was given to the church in 1866 by John Paisley, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. It was given during the pastorate of Rev. John D. Knox, to commemorate the centennial year of American Methodism.
OUTDOOR CELEBRATION.
The first Topeka picnic was held May 17, 1855, on the river bank west of Kansas avenue and north of First avenue, now known as the City Park. A roast pig and a 20-pound catfish graced the table. At this picnic Mrs. F. J. Case was toasted as the first woman to grace Topeka with her presence,
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early in 1855. Miss Harriet Hartwell, of Massachusetts, had the honor of being the first unmarried woman on the town-site, also in 1855. She after- wards became the wife of James G. Bunker.
Topeka's first production of grand opera was that of "Martha," at Costa's Opera House in 1873, by a small company headed by Mme. Anna Bishop. The local critic was esthusiastic over her "trills caught of skylarks, and love-notes learnt of robins." The Templeton opera company gave the first performance of comic opera in Topeka.
J. Butler Chapman, of Ohio, who spent the years 1854 and 1855 in Shawnee County, was one of the original boomers of Kansas pasteboard towns. His wife was one of the original woman suffragists, and visited the Territorial Legislature in the interest of that cause. The Chapmans returned to Ohio in 1856, and, instead of living happily ever afterwards, were divorced.
GRASSHOPPER RAIDS.
The first grasshopper raid in Shawnee County was in 1860. The insects arrived September 15th of that year, entirely destroying crops and vegeta- tion. A second and worse visitation of this plague occurred in the summer of 1874, causing another appeal for aid, a general issue of bonds, and a special session of the Kansas Legislature in the following winter. The Kansas Central Relief Committee was organized in Topeka to distribute aid throughout the State, Lieutenant-Governor E. S. Stover being chairman and Henry King, secretary. The committee disbursed money and supplies to the value of $131.313.65.
The first school in Topeka for colored children was started in 1865 in a small building on the south side of Sixth avenue, between Kansas avenue and Quincy street, in charge of Miss Mabee. The following year the school was divided, the colored pupils occupying the upper floor, and the white chil- dren the lower floor-the white pupils being taught by Miss Gilbert (after- wards Mrs. G. C. Foss).
NATIVE KANSANS.
Various claims have been put forth to the honor of being the first white person born in the territory comprising the State of Kansas, but the pre- ponderance of history is in favor of Col. Alexander S. Johnson, who was born July 11, 1832, at the Methodist Indian Mission, in Johnson County- at that time in charge of his father, Rev. Thomas Johnson. Col. Alexander S. Johnson died at Dallas, Texas, in 1904, and was buried in Topeka, which for many years had been his home.
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There is abundant evidence showing that Elizabeth Simmerwell was the first white female born in the Territory of Kansas, the date of her birth being December 24, 1835. Her father, Rev. Robert Simmerwell, was then located at the Baptist Shawnee Indian Mission, in Johnson County, and was one of the best known of the early missionaries to the several Indian tribes in Kansas. Elizabeth Simmerwell married John Carter, of Williamsport township, Shawnee County.
The following excerpt from the Topcka Tribune of April 6, 1856, shows that the editor of that day was as enthusiastic as all of his successors have constantly been : "The immigration continues to pour into the Territory with increased volume. So great is the rush that it is impossible at all times to secure suitable accommodations or conveyance to the different parts of the country. We had anticipated a very large immigration but the realization is beyond all our preconceived ideas. They come like the locusts of Egypt, not however to destroy, but to save, and right welcome they are. A large pro- portion, too, have come to stay, and will add vastly to our strength, both for defense against usurpation, and in developing the resources of the country."
The cost of breaking prairie in the early years of Topeka's history was from $2.50 to $4 per acre. Lumber was worth from $25 to $30 per thousand feet. Oxen were worth about $100 per yoke, mules from $100 to $200 per head, and horses from $75 to $150 each. Sheep sold for $2 a head, and chickens for 25 cents each. Masons and carpenters received from $2 to $3 per day in wages. Wheat was worth $1.50 per bushel, and flour $4.50 per hundred weight.
AN INDIAN SEAL.
The original seal of the Probate and County Court of Shawnee County bore the words, "Shawnee County Court, Tecumseh, Kansas," and above the word "Tecumseh" was the figure of an Indian chief, in hostile attitude, about to strike with his tomahawk, his rifle trailing on the ground-the figure intending to represent Tecumseh, the celebrated Shawnee chief, at the battle of the Thames. The county commissioners subsequently ordered the removal of the word Tecumseh, and the Indian figure, from the seal.
The first mail under lock was received at Topeka May I, 1855. A regular service was established in that year, by four-horse coaches, between Kansas City and Fort Riley, via Topeka. In 1859 Topeka had a daily mail from Leavenworth, and from St. Joseph via Lecompton; a tri-weekly mail to Rulo, Nebraska; and a weekly mail to Grasshopper Falls, Burlingame, Emporia, Council Grove, Williamsport and Brownsville, Nebraska.
In September, 1882, when the Grand Army of the Republic held its annual encampment in Topeka, many distinguished visitors were present.
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The local newspapers made record of the assignment of the following visitors to Topeka homes : Hon. James G. Blaine and wife, and Col. Clark E. Carr and wife, at George W. Wood's; Hon. Walker Blaine, at C. C. Wheeler's; Gen. and Mrs. J. Warren Keifer, at Thomas Ryan's; Gen. John Pope at Joab Mulvane's; General Bingham, at M. Bosworth's; Hon. William Warner, at M. H. Case's; Hon. John A. Anderson, at Dr. Silas E. Sheldon's; Senator and Mrs. John J. Ingalls, at Henry King's; Senator and Mrs. Preston B. Plumb, at Floyd P. Baker's; and Gen. John S. Marmaduke, at W. G. Dickinson's.
A POET'S FELICITY.
Upon the occasion of his visit to Topeka in 1881, Robert J. Burdette wrote a characteristic letter descriptive of the activity and energy of the growing city, introducing his letter with the following paraphrase of Tenny- son's "Gate of Camelot :"
So, when their feet were planted on the plains
That broaden to the swiftly rolling Kaw,
Far off they saw the silent misty morn
Rolling the smoke about the Capitol,
And piles of stone and brick were in the streets, And men were shrieking "Mort" from scaffoldings-
The mort, perhaps, of Arthur,
But more liken of Mike.
Then those who went with Gareth were afraid,
One crying : "Let us go no further,
Here is a city of enchanters, built
By fairy kings." Gareth answered them, That it was built more liken by
Descendants of Irish kings, the hod fellows
Co-operaten with the Free And Expected Masons.
So he spake, and loffen Did enter with his train (The eastern bound U. P. Express) Topeka, a city of modern palaces.
AN EARLY FLOOD.
In the year 1844, where Topeka now stands, there was a flood quite similar to that of 1903, although its consequences were less destructive and fearful. The river went out of its banks, and the bottom lands were sub- merged with eight feet of water. The Indian settlers were terribly frightened, many of them loading their tents on ponies and departing hastily for higher ground. Most of them returned in the spring of the following year. The
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