USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. I > Part 46
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At the death of Mr. Taylor, his son, William B. Taylor, condueted the Gazette until October, 1879, when Russell B. Armstrong and Asa N. Moyer bought the office with all its appurtenances, and, under the firm name of Armstrong & Moyer, published the paper for a number of years. In the spring of 1888 the Gazette Printing and Publishing Company was formed and took charge of the office and paper, and, in January following, Mr. George W. Martin, now secretary of the Kan- sas Historical Society, assumed control of the editorial department,
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while W. L. Witmer and D. W. Witmer assumed the business manage- ment. With Mr. Martin, in 1890-3, were associated P. W. Morgan, editor of this historical work; F. D. Coburn, now secretary of agricul- ture in Kansas; James E. Keeley, managing editor of the Chicago Tribune ; J. J. Maxwell and the late Thomas Henchall. After Mr. Martin's retirement the paper was cdited for a few years by Josiah Copley and the business management continued by the Witmer brothers. In 1908 the Globe, a daily newspaper which had been organ- ized three years, consolidated with the Gazette and the paper has sinec been published as the Gazette-Globe. It is the only daily newspaper in Kansas City, Kansas, and has a large circulation.
A FRIEND OF THE INDIANS.
Russell Biglow Armstrong, for many years connected with the Gazette and the editor and founder of the daily edition, was a member of the famous family of Armstrongs who came to Wyandotte with the Indians in 1843. His father, John McIntyre Armstrong was the first school teacher in Wyandotte and his mother, Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong, the daughter of an early Methodist missionary, was a leader in relig- ious and educational affairs until her death on January 1, 1891. Russell Armstrong was a power in Wyandotte eounty for many years and did much for the uplift of the people. He was a friend of the Indians, and many times went to Washington to plead their cause. Shortly after he sold his interest in the paper to George W. Martin, he fell under the wheels of a rapid-transit train at Fifth street and New Jersey avenue, losing both legs. He recuperated in a few months and started a job printing shop in Armourdale, which he conducted a few years until it was destroyed by fire. Ilis death on June 9, 1901, was mourned by many thousand men and women of Kansas.
A. N. Mover, who retired from the newspaper business with Mr. Armstrong, was for many years after engaged in the banking business in Kansas City, Kansas, until obliged to retire on account of illness. Ile died, a few years ago, at his residence in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Kansas Post, a German weekly, was removed from Kansas City to Wyandotte in the early part of the war period, and remained one year. It was published by A. Wuerz and John Haberlein, the latter being principal editor. The Kansas Real Estate Herald was issued at Wyandotte, by E. F. IIcisler, from November, 1868, to July 1869. The first number of Die Fackel (The Torch), was issued in Wyandotte, September 12, 1866, by Kastor, Fischer & Co., H. W. Kastor, editor. It was first printed on the Gazette press. On Jan- nary 1, 1868, it was moved to Atchison. The Kansas Pilot was estab- lished in Wyandotte, in 1879, by William Caffrey, and published for a season.
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From 1861 to 1866 there was no Democratic paper in Wyandotte county, but in the latter year J. A. Berry started the Wyandotte Democrat, issued it about thirteen months and then abandoned it and left the city. The next Democratie paper in the place was the Herald.
THE "WYANDOT HERALD."
The first number of the Wyandot Herald was issued January 4, 1872. Vineent J. Lane and Fred G. Jackson were its founders, the former being its editor. It was first published on the corner of Minne- sota avenue and Fifth street. In 1872 the office was moved to the corner of Third street and Minnesota avenue, where it remained a year and a half, until it was removed to Hescher's building, on the north side of Minnesota avenne, between Fourth and Fifth streets, where the paper was published till January 1, 1880. Then it was moved to the Masonie building, on the corner of Minnesota avenue and Third street. In September, 1881, it was removed into quarters belonging to its proprietors, on the north side of Minnesota avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets, No. 512. B. R. Lane, son of the editor, bought an interest in the Herald in April, 1880, and has since been partner with his father. Mr. Lane's last move was to a substantial building on Seventh street adjoining the post office building. He conducted the Herald until January, 1911, when he retired from aetive work and, rather than suffer the paper to fall into the hands of others-his son having no ambitions as an editor he suspended its publication and ended its eareer of thirty-nine years.
The Weekly Spy was established in the former city of Kansas City, in 1880, by its proprietor, B. M. Drake. In September, 1882, Charles H. Van Fossen and Felix G. Head bought the material of the office and began the publication of the Daily Evening Globe, which was continued for a time.
The American Citizen, formerly established at Topeka, Kansas, was moved to Kansas City, Kansas, July 26, 1889. It was a six column folio, all home print, and published by the American Citizen Publish- ing Company, with W. T. MeGuinn, editor, and George A. Dudley, business manager. These gentlemen were eolored, and looked well to the interest of their race.
The Kansas Catholic was established at Leavenworth and published there until April, 1890, when it was moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where it was issued weekly for several years by the Kansas Catholic Publishing Company. It was a very neat six-column quarto, contain- ing much reading matter which embraced general, local and foreign news.
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THE "REPUBLIC."
The first issue of the Argentine Republic appeared December 8, 1887. It was established by Joseph T. Landrey. When the paper was first published it was printed in Kansas City. Two years later Mr. Landrey put in a well equipped plant and the paper, as well as all kinds of job work, were printed here. Mr. Landrey was an honest and fearless man. He stood for everything that was good for Argen- tine. He accomplished much by his pen for this city. He died of paralysis August 30, 1905. After Mr. Landrey's death, his son, Joseph L. Landrey, took charge of the paper. He sold the plant October 1, 1907, to E. P. Curran. The paper is now edited by Grant Landrey, a son of the founder.
THE "WEEKLY SUN."
In the month of February, 1888, Mr. E. F. Heisler, a pioneer citizen who had been connected with the educational and journalistic affairs of Wyandotte since the organization of the state, began the publication of the Weekly Sun in Kansas City, Kansas. The Sun has been a persistent advocate of the best interests of the people, its editor working day and night for the public good. It has been a valuable medium for the publication of accurate local history. Many of the facts appearing in the two volumes of this work were obtained from the files of the Sun, and some of the illustrations herein are from that paper. Mr. Heisler is associated in the publication by a son, Will Heisler. Another son, Fred Heisler, is employed in the government printing office in Washington. The Sun is Democratie and has been a valuable aid to William J. Bryan in his presidential candidaeies.
THE "PRESS."
In July, 1889, John B. Hipple came out from Pennsylvania and established the Weekly Press in the Armourdale district of Kansas City, Kansas. The paper has been published continuously since the date of its first issue. In 1903, when the Armourdale distriet was flooded to a depth of eight to ten feet on Kansas Avenue, the enter- prising editor of the Press published his paper on Minnesota avenue and did not miss an issue, although his submerged and wrecked print- ing plant was not fit for use for several weeks. The Press is inde- pendent in politics and is a staneh upholder of the interests of the county and the city. Its championship of the interests of the drainage distriet had much to do with the victory of the Drainage Board over the corporate interests, which led to the expenditure of $1,750,000 for flood protection. The Press is the official organ of Wyandotte county.
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Among other newspapers in Kansas City, Kansas, is the Labor Record, the organ for several years of the Central Trades Union in the eity, published weekly by W. S. Orr.
Of the newspapers that once were published in Kansas City, Kan- sas, was the News, daily and weekly, which flourished from 1901 to 1904 under the management of Charles M. Dunham.
The Bec is a weekly paper published in Rosedale.
The Bonner Springs Chieftain, established fifteen years ago, is an influential weekly paper under the editorial management of Emri Zumwald. It reflects the life of the enterprising eity in the western part of Wyandotte county and has proved valuable as an aid to its development. It has a large circulation.
THE CAREER OF MARK DELAHAY.
Judge Mark W. Delahay was one of the heroes of journalism in Kansas during the territorial days. He was a native of Maryland, born to slave-ownership and the only white child on three plantations, yet in his young manhood he proved to be a tower of strength to anti- slavery movement and his career in Kansas makes him one of the most conspicuous leaders of his time.
Miss Mary E. Delahay of Leavenworth, a daughter, contributes the following sketch of her father and his career to the Kansas State Historical Society, published in Volume X, page 638: "My father's maternal ancestors were Friends, and he, too, was averse to buying and selling slaves. £ His paternal grandfather was the first person to mannmit slaves in Maryland. My father had scarcely attained his majority when he was imbued with the spirit of emigration and wended his way to Illinois. Having inherited quite a fortune for those days, he embarked in numerous enterprises, and from all accounts Colonel Sellers did not surpass him in the number of his speculations, or meet with greater success. After investing his money he turned his attention to journalism, solicited for the Battle Ar, and wrote articles for the paper while traveling. Then he studied law, was admitted to practice in the various courts of Illinois, and was soon taken into partnership with Edward D. Barker, the eminent jurist, statesman. and soldier. Ile spent a portion of the winters at Spring- field during the session of the legislature, and associated with such men as Jesse K. Dubois, Lyman Trumbell, Gen. James Shields, Gen. John A. McClernand, Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Judge Henry E. Dummer, Judge Nathaniel Pope, Richard Pope, Richard Yates, Murray MeConnel and many other old timers I cannot now re- call. In 1853, at the solicitation of his cousin, R. D. Hopkins, he moved to Mobile, Alabama, formed a partnership and entered upon the practice of law. During his residence there, Mr. Douglas paid a
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visit to Mobile, and was banqueted by the lawyers of the city at the old historie Battle House. (Mobile has wakened up and rubbed off the moss at an astonishing rate in the past few years, thanks to Kansas money and energy).
"The winter of 1854-5 my father went to Washington, where he had cases in the supreme court and a claim in congress for clients. Mr. Douglas' Squatter Sovereignty bill, cutting off the territories of Kansas and Nebraska from the Indian territory and opening them to settlement, had then become a law. Illinois friends argued with my father that he was too young a man to settle down in a staid old town like Mobile. He had better 'go west and grow up with the country.' Being fond of pioneer life he readily contracted the ' Kansas fever,' and wrote to my mother to get ready to emigrate to Kansas in March, 1855. Like the good wife she was and a true pioneer's daughter, she proceeded to buy of muslin and other goods and set to work sew- ing early and late by hand, to get her little family ready for the long trip by boat up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Kansas. The family embarked in April, at New Orleans. On reaching St. Louis, after a two weeks' journey, friends there who were more familiar with the new country told my father that if he took his family with him he would have to camp, as there were no houses to be had; that Leavenworth contained only a few dozen shanties and one barn-like hotel. So he sent the family up the Illinois river by boat to the home of my grandfather, Joshua Hanks, in Scott county, Illinois, while he proceeded up the Missouri river with a printing press and other re- quisites for a printing office. ('Twas while fishing on the banks of the Illinois river that Mr. Lincoln and my grandfather Hanks traced and elaimed relationship.) The first issue of the paper appeared July 7, 1855.
"Father was then a Douglas Democrat, and through his paper, the Kansas Territorial Register, was to espouse the cause of slavery in the new territory on these lines, i. e., the settlement of the territory by emigration from all quarters of the country, then to abide by a vote of the people as to whether it should be a slave or a free state. But the south was not so minded. My father then came out flat-footed for a free state. On October 23, 1855, he, with other free state men, met at Topeka to frame a state constitution to present to congress, and he was chosen delegate to congress under that constitution. From Leaven- worth there was also at this convention Marens J. Parrott and S. N. Latta. During his absence from Leavenworth to attend a convention at Lawrence for the nomination of offieers under the constitution, December 22nd, and very cold weather, our neighbors on the east side of the Missouri river, being highly ineensed at the position my father had taken in politics, crossed over the ice, mobbed the office of the Territorial Register, demolished the press, carried it to the river, cut
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a hole in the ice and slid it into the Missouri. They then strewed the type in the street, and would have burned the office but for the friendly intervention of Colonel William Russell, of the firm of Majors, Russell & Waddell, overland freighters, who elaimed the building as his own. On the return of the delegates from Topeka they were warned to leave the territory. Five hundred dollars was the price offered for my father's head. These brave men were in the minority, and, while the river was bridged with ice, had a poor show for holding their own; so, coneluding that prudence was the better part of valor, they departed New Year's eve in a wagon by night, all armed to the teeth, to drive overland, traveling by night and spending the day at Indian huts, until they reached Jefferson City, Missouri, where they eould take the railroad to St. Louis, thence east. The family eould not follow until navigation was open on the Missouri river.
"The winter was one of the longest and most rigorous in the his- tory of the state, and we were isolated from our neighbors weeks at a time. My mother was brave and fearless, and did not want to give up her new home. As it was not safe for my father to return, the family had to go to him. Accordingly, we left in July for Alton Illinois, the nearest point to St. Louis and the Missouri river, where we sojourned nearly three years. In the meantime the fury of the border war had abated, and my father returned to Kansas in the spring of 1857, with another printing press and located in Wyandotte. Here he published a new paper, the Wyandotte Reporter, practiced law and ran a hotel for a year or two, while the boom lasted there. When it waned, he removed to Leavenworth.
"During the Fremont and Dayton campaign, my father returned to Illinois as frequently as he could, to take a hand, as it were, on the old stamping-ground. He once took my eldest brother and me up to Springfield to a grand Fremont and Dayton meeting. There was speaking in the open air during the day, and at night in one of the legislative halls of the capital. We were seated in the gallery for safety while my father went below in the hall. While the band played and the cheering was going on, we children were entertained, but when the political argument was in progress we soon wearied, grew sleepy, and wanted to go home. Suiting the action to the longing, we left the gallery and found a way out to the street, but did not know the way to the home of our host, Dr. Lord. Someone seeing our dilemma, conducted us to our abode. My father found us safely tueked in bed when he returned home with his friend.
"Then came the famous campaign of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas. They came to Alton while we were still sojourning there and held their last joint debate from the balcony of the new city hall October 15, 1858. My father was in Kansas at the time. Mr. George T. Brown, editor of the Alton Courier (later sergeant-at-arms of the United States senate
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during Mr. Lineoln's administration), was master of ceremonies on that occasion. He was a warm personal friend of the family, and, knowing that .the speakers also were our friends, he invited me to aecompany him to the speaking, which I did, being the only little girl in the balcony. While Mr. Douglas spoke, Mr. Lincoln held me in his arms, and while Mr. Lincoln spoke Mr. Douglas held me in his arms. I remember, also, that Mr. Lincoln received the largest number of bouquets. In the spring of 1859 we returned to Leavenworth. On May 14th of the same year Mr. Lincoln wrote to my father at length on the formation of the Republican party in Kansas. This letter I
have in my possession. In December of 1859, at the earnest request of my father, Mr. Lincoln came to Kansas, the only time he ever was west of the Missouri river, and was my father's guest for one week. He spoke at Elwood, Doniphan county, in Atchison, also in Leaven- worth, on the politieal situation, and met many politicians of the state during his stay. One day there were invited half a dozen gentle- men to dinner to meet him. Among them were Judge Pettit, Marcus J. Parrott, S. N. Latta, Gen. J. H. Lane, and others I do not recall. In keeping with those early days, the maid of all work took care of the baby in the kitchen, while I assisted my mother in the dining room. I remember an ineident during the meal while conversation waxed warm on the subject of politics. My father rose to earve, as was his habit, and pausing, knife in hand, remarked 'Gentlemen, I tell you Mr. Lincoln will be our next president.' Mr. Lineoln replied 'Oh, Delahay, hush.' My father retorted 'I feel it, and I mean it.' After this prediction was verified, in Kansas it was spoken of as Delahay's prohecy.
"In 1864, when the nominating convention met in Baltimore, my father was one of the Kansas delegates. A little incident occurred at this time. In his room at the hotel one evening, with his son Willie and a number of his friends after an ardnous day, he proceeded to re- move one of his shoes (they were congress gaiters and of ample size), remarking to his son he felt like there was something in the toe of his shoe. Willie tapped the heel of the shoe on the floor and shook out a full grown mouse, much to the amusement of all present.
"After the nomination of 1860 my father visited Mr. Lincoln at Springfield and received instructions for campaign work. He and Gen. J. II. Lane spent several weeks in the autumn working like Tro- jans in the doubtful districts of Indiana and Illinois, and carried them in November for Mr. Lineoln. The election over, my father came by Springfield to congratulate him in person. In acknowledg- ment of my father's service, Mr. Lincoln presented him with the largest and finest banner he had received in the memorable campaign with Mr. Douglas. This banner is now in one of the rooms of the State Historical Society of Topeka. IIe offered my father the Chilian mis-
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sion, which he deelined. Then he appointed him surveyor general of Kansas and Nebraska, and later to the United States distriet judge- ship, to succeed Judge Archibald Williams.
"The portrait of Mr. Douglas in my possession was painted in Illi- nois before the Civil war, by an artist named Lasseur. Unele Johnnie Wilson, as he was familiarly called, kept a hotel in a small town in Illinois where the artist boarded, and in lieu of the money for his board left the Douglas portrait with Mr. Wilson, promising to redeem it sometime, but never did so; so Mr. Wilson brought the portrait to Topeka, Kansas, and my father bought it from him about thirty-five years ago.
"Early in the unpleasantness between the north and south in 1861, before troops could be brought to Washington, Gen. J. H. Lane formed a military company of men from Kansas then in the city, under the name of 'The Frontier Guard,' of which he was captain. My father was first lieutenant and Col. J. S. Stoekton was second lieuten- ant. They guarded the White House, sleeping with their arms in the east room, also doing guard duty at the Chain bridge and other points in and around Washington, until troops were sent from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, etc.
"Also, in 1844, my father was interested in raising a regiment of soldiers in Illinois to help drive the Mormons from Nauvoo, whence they emigrated to Salt Lake, Utah."
Vol. I-28
CHAPTER XXXVI.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
FIRST KANSAS MASONIC LODGE-ORGANIZERS OF THE FIRST LODGE -- OTHER MASONIC BODIES-THE SCOTTISHI RITE MASONS-BUILDING THE TEMPLE-THE ODD FELLOWS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-THE A. O. U. W. LODGES-GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-THE ELES LODGE-THE EAGLES-OTHER SECRET SOCIETIES.
Fifty-seven years ago Wyandotte Lodge No. 3, Aneient, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted in the Indian village of Wyandotte now Kansas City, Kansas, under a dispensation from the grand lodge of Missouri. It was the first Masonie lodge organized in the territory of Kansas, although Leavenworth and Smithton lodges, instituted a few days afterward, were designated as Lodge No. 1 and No. 2.
FIRST KANSAS MASONIC LODGE.
The first communieation of a Masonie lodge in what is now Kansas was held in the home of Matthew R. Walker, a brother of William R. Walker, the territorial governor of Kansas, in the old village of Wyan- dotte. The lodge room was Mr. Walker's house, which occupied the site of the George Fowler mansion in Fowler Park, which has been recently converted into the Kansas City Baptist Theologieal Seminary.
In July, 1854, a dispensation was issued from the grand lodge of Missouri to J. M. Chevington, worshipful master; Matthew R. Walker, senior warden, and Cyrus Garrett, junior warden, to meet and work under the dispensation. The meeting in Matthew Walker's house was on August 11, 1854, and the officers were installed by Mr. Piper, deputy grand master of Missouri.
It is related that at the first meeting there were not enough Masons present to fill the ehairs, and Mrs. Matthew R. Walker officiated as tyler.
The lodge has, however, eontinned its labors uninterruptedly from its inception to the present time and is now not only the oldest, but one of the strongest and most influential Masonic bodies in Kansas. Its membership rolls show a total of nearly seven hundred Master Masons sinee organization.
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ORGANIZERS OF THE FIRST LODGE.
The three men to whom the dispensation was granted for the organization of Wyandotte lodge were among the early pioneers. John Milton Chevington was a Methodist missionary, sent from Ohio to work among the Indians, and his services to Masonry are matters of record in the jurisdiction of Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. Leaving Wyandotte in 1856, he was a presiding elder of the church at Omaha, afterward going to Nebraska City and later to Colorado, where he was first presiding elder, and then in command of the Colorado troops at Fort Weld. He was not only the first worshipful master of Wyandotte Lodge No. 3, but was a eharter member, in 1857, of Lodge No. 3 at Omaha, and later, in 1861, was the first grand master of the grand lodge of Colorado. IIe died at Denver in 1904.
Matthew R. Walker was a member of the Big Turtle clan of the Wyandots. His Indian name was Rah-hahn-tah-seh, meaning "the twisting of the forest." IIe was a leading citizen and business man of Wyandotte and served as probate judge when Leavenworth county included all of Wyandotte county. He died in October, 1860.
Among the oldest living members of Wyandotte Lodge No. 3 are Thomas J. Barker (1857), and Vincent J. Lane (1861).
Mendias Chapter No. 1 was the first chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Kansas. It was organized in July, 1856, and was named for Mrs. Lydia R. Walker whose Indian name was Mendias. It exists today as one of the most powerful influences in Kansas.
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