USA > Kansas > Kansas; a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence, Voilume I > Part 102
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
When Gov. Geary arrived in the territory he issued a proclamation,
842
CYCLOPEDIA OF
ordering all armed bodies to disperse. Gen. J. H. Lane was near Topeka, at the time and did not know of the proclamation. With his party, he was starting for Holton, when a messenger arrived from Osawkie, with the news that the border ruffians had burned Grasshopper Falls and intended burning the other free-state towns in the vicinity, to drive the settlers out of the country. The assistance of Lane and his command was asked and they marched to Osawkie, where his force was increased by the local free-state men. Having restored order there, Lane learned that an armed force of pro-slavery men was at Hickory Point and marched there determined to capture them. On arriving, he found about 100 men assembled, under command of Capt. H. A. Lowe, the owner of Hickory Point, assisted by about 50 Carolinians, who had been com- mitting outrages throughout the country. An attack was made, but the pro-slavery men were too well fortified to be driven out. Lane then sent word to Lawrence for Capt. Bickerton, to bring reinforcements and the now historic cannon "Sacramento." The news reached Lawrence on Saturday, Sept. 13. Col. Harvey gathered a company of recruits, started at once, marched all night, stopping at Newell's mills just long enough for breakfast, and arrived at Hickory Point about 10 a. m. Sunday. In the meantime Lane had heard of the governor's proclamation and had started for Topeka, expecting to meet the forces from Lawrence on the road. But Col. Harvey, having taken the direct route, missed Lane. When Harvey and his forces came up the pro-slavery men tried to retreat, but were soon surrounded and took refuge in the log houses. No messages were exchanged. The cannon was placed in position about 200 yards south of the blacksmith shop and commenced firing. It was supported by about 20 men armed with United States muskets. The Stubbs company was stationed about 200 yards to the southeast in a timbered ravine. The first cannon shot passed through the blacksmith shop and killed Charles G. Newhall. Finding it impossible to dislodge the pro-slavery men, Col. Harvey ordered a wagon load of hay backed up to the shop and set on fire. Some of the men were fired upon but got away under cover of the smoke. Soon after a white flag was sent out from the shop asking permission for some of the non-combatants to leave the buildings. Messages were sent back and forth and a compromise was reached by which each party agreed to give up its plunder and all non- residents of each party were to leave the country. One pro-slavery man was killed and 4 were wounded. Three free-state men were shot in the legs, I through the lungs, and I had a bruised head. This ended the battle of Hickory Point.
Highbridge, a hamlet in the southeastern part of Atchison county, about 10 miles south of Atchison. Cummings is the nearest railroad station. Mail is delivered by rural route from Atchison.
Highland, one of the important towns of Doniphan county, is located in Iowa township 14 miles north of Troy, the county seat, and is the terminus of a branch of the St. Joseph & Grand Island R. R. It is the seat of Highland University (q. v.), founded in the early days by the
843
KANSAS HISTORY
Presbyterian church. It is an incorporated city with 2 banks, a weekly newspaper (the Vidette), telegraph and express offices and a money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 825.
The site of Highland was first occupied by missionaries in 1837. In 1855 J. P. Johnson took a claim at this point and drove stakes to locate a town. A year later he was joined in the enterprise by Gen. John Bayless. In 1857 the town company was organized and the site laid out in blocks. The first buildings were erected by the town company. In the spring of 1858 Campbell & Bonesteel erected two buildings. The postoffice was established that year with E. M. Hubbard as postmaster. The first store was opened by Devine & Stevenson, the first drug store by Dr. J. Leigh, and Dr. Palmer was the first physician. The city records begin with the year 1871, when Fred J. Close was elected mayor and J. S. Mar- tin city clerk. A destructive fire occurred in Feb., 1887. Six buildings were destroyed and the town was only saved by a sudden change of the wind.
In May, 1863, two Missourians-Melvin and Shannon by name -- stole a span of mules from Thomas Martin near Iowa Point and a set of har- ness from John Beeler near Highland. They were persued by a party of Highland men, overtaken and wounded near Kennekuk in Brown county. The property was taken from them and they were later caught and brought to Highland. After a speedy trial they were hung in a brutal manner in the presence of a large crowd.
Highland University .- Of all the educational institutions in Kansas, this is the oldest. Its origin may be said to date back to 1837, when the Presbyterian board of foreign missions started a mission among the Iowa and Sac Indians in what is now Doniphan county. Rev. S. M. Irvin was the first missionary sent out. He was soon joined by Rev. William Hamilton and they worked together in establishing an Indian school. The country was opened to white settlement in 1854, and in 1855 the town of Highland was laid out, 2 miles west of the old mission. As early as 1856 a school for white children was commenced in a log cabin, the first house on the premises. This cabin was replaced by a frame building, the management of the school was transferred to the "Highland Presbytery," and it became known as the "Highland Presby- terian Academy." At this time it was a classical academy, not large but quite well organized. In Nov., 1857, the Highland Presbytery appointed a board of nine trustees to take charge of the institution, with a request that they apply to the legislature for a charter. In response to their petition the legislature of 1857, granted a charter under the name of the "Highland University."
By this charter the control of the institution was given to the presby- tery, but an act passed in 1866 transferred the control to the synod of Kansas, thus securing it to the Presbyterian church. The synod was to appoint nine trustees, who were to assume the active management of the school. The first college building, a substantial brick structure, was located on a tract of 8 acres, and in addition to this the university owned
811
CYCLOPEDIA OF
some 200 lots in the town. In 1868 the property was valued at $15,000 and the school had over 100 students. Since then the institution has grown until it now has a preparatory and an academic department. The endowment has been increased and it is one of the leading denomina- tional schools in the state.
High Schools .- (See Public School System.)
Highways .- (See Roads.)
Hill City, the county seat and largest town of Graham county, is located in the central part, on the Union Pacific R. R. and on the Solo- mon river. It is in the midst of a prosperous farming country, has 2 banks, 2 opera houses, 3 newspapers (the New Era, the Reveille and the Republican), 2 hotels, a mill and elevator, which is one of the best plants of its kind in the state, a county high school, a number of churches and retail stores dealing in all lines of merchandise. The town is supplied with express and telegraph offices and has an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population according to the census of 1910 was 983. Hill City was founded in 1876 and was the first town in Graham county. The postoffice was established in 1878. In 1880 it was made the county seat. Business and professional men came in and soon made a town, which was incorporated as a city of the third class before the close of the year.
Hill, Joseph Henry, educator, son of Joseph and Betsey (Moffatt) Hill, was born at Stockton, Pa., May 21, 1858. He came to Kansas in his boyhood and at the age of 18 years graduated at the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia and began teaching. In 1886 he received A. B. from the Northwestern University and the A. M. degree from the same institution in 1889; was professor of Latin from 1887 to 1906; mar- ried Frances Meldrum of Austin, Kan., in 1892; received the degree of D. D. from Baker University at Baldwin, Kan., in 1906, and the degree of LL. D. from the Kansas State Agricultural College in 1909; was vice- president of the Kansas State Normal College at Emporia from 1901 to 1906; and has been president of the state normal schools of Emporia, Hays and Pittsburg since 1906. Dr. Hill was president of the Kansas Teachers Association in 1901 ; vice president of the National Educational Association in 1907, and in 1909 was chairman of the normal school department of that organization. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Beta Kappa fraternities.
Hillsboro, one of the thriving litttle cities of Marion county, is located in Risley township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. and on French creek, 10 miles west of Marion, the county seat. The surrounding country is devoted to agriculture and stock raising. There are 2 banks, and all lines of business pursuits. Most of the people are German and the Hillsboro Journal, which is the weekly newspaper, is printed in that language. The town is supplied with express and telegraph offices and has an international money order postoffice with five rural routes. The population in 1910 was 1,134.
Hillsboro was laid out in 1879. In 1882 one of the best steam mills in
845
KANSAS HISTORY
the west was established here. The Phonograph, the first paper, was started by J. T. Groat.
Hillsdale, one of the largest villages of Miami county, is located on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. 7 miles north of Paola, the county seat. It was surveyed and laid out as Columbia in 1869. Late in the year, when the railroad was completed to this point, the name Columbia was changed to Hillsdale. In 1871 a postoffice was located in the town, and the same year the first public school was opened. It grew rapidly until the middle of the 'zos, since which time the population has been about the same; there was an estimated population of 300 late in 1879 and the population for 1910 was 270. There are several general stores, a drug store, harness shop, blacksmith and wagon shop, hotel, grain ele- vator, two churches, and a good school building. It is the supply town for a rich agricultural district, has a money order postoffice with one rural route, express and telegraph offices, telephone connections, etc.
Hilltop, a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. in Green- wood county, is located in Shell Rock township 29 miles northeast of Eureka, the county seat. It is merely a country trading point, having a population of 50 according to the 1910 census, express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice.
Hilton, a hamlet in McPherson county, is a station on the Union Pacific R. R. 5 miles north of McPherson, the county seat, from which place its mail is distributed by rural delivery.
Hinton, Richard J., journalist, who was for many years intimately connected with Kansas affairs, was born in London, England, Nov. 26, 1830. His early life was a struggle with poverty. He learned the stone- cutter's trade, and notwithstanding the hardships to which he was sub- jected, managed to secure through his own efforts a good, practical education. He became interested in social and political problems, with the result that he wanted to be a citizen of a republic, and in 1851 he came to the United States. In New York he learned the printer's trade and studied medicine and topographical engineering. On Aug 31, 1856, he arrived in Lawrence, Kan., and for some time after that was engaged as a correspondent for various newspapers in New England, New York and Cleveland, Ohio. Early in 1862, he was commissioned first lieu- tenant to recruit and drill colored troops, being the first man in the United States to receive such a commission. Mr. Hinton held several positions of trust and responsibility. He was the reporter of the Leaven- worth constitutional convention and of the impeachment court of 1862. In 1867 he was appointed commissioner of immigration; was later made inspector of United States consulates in Europe, and in 1873 he was President Grant's special agent at Vienna. He wrote a great deal on subjects relating to Kansas, and was the author of a historical work entitled "The War on the Border." About the beginning of the present century Mr. Hinton returned to his native land and died in London on Dec. 20, 1901.
846
CYCLOPEDIA OF
Historical Society .- This was the first incorporated society in Kansas. At the first session of the territorial legislature an act was passed incor- porating the "Historical and Philosophical society of Kansas," which had for its subject "the collection and preservation of a library, mineral- ogical and geological specimens, historical matter relating to the his- tory of the territory, Indian curiosities and antiquities, and other mat- ters connected with and calculated to illustrate and perpetuate the his- tory and settlement of Kansas." By the provisions of the act the incor- porators were to organize within a year, but the time was afterwards extended three years. The incorporators were William Walker, chair- man, D. A. N. Grover, David Lykins, John Donaldson, James Knyden- hall, Thomas Johnson, William Vaughn, L. J. Eaton and A. J. Isacks.
The turbulent condition of Kansas interfered with the development of the society. In Feb .. 1860, after the close of the pro-slavery regime, a "Scientific and Historical Society of Kansas" was organized at Law- rence, with Judge S. A. Kingman as president. William Hutchison, a member of the executive committee was a moving spirit. This organiza- tion was prosperous for a time, but its library and collections were destroyed in Quantrill's raid, Aug. 21, 1863. Still another attempt that did not prove permanent was made in the formation of the Kansas His- torical Society at Topeka, in March, 1867. Chief Justice Kingman was also president of this society. Editors were made exempt from the $5 membership fee, but even with these provisions the society did not pros- per, and with its last meeting in Feb., 1868, it ceased to exist.
On April 7 and 8, 1875, the Kansas state editorial convention met at Manhattan. At this meeting, D. W. Wilder offered a resolution pro- viding for the organization of a State Historical Society, and F. P. Baker, D. R. Anthony, John A. Martin, Sol Miller, and George A. Crawford were appointed to carry it out. The committee met and organized on Dec. 13, 1875. "The society was organized on non-partisan lines, independent of changing administrations, subject to the control of those who had a taste for the work, with a single purpose of gathering the records and results of all classes, elements, associations and sympathies." The first appropriation was $1,000 made by th legislature of 1877. This policy has been affirmed by each succeeding legislature, until the society is one of the most important departments of the state. In 1879 the legislature passed a law governing the historical society, which read in part :
"Section 1: The State Historical Society heretofore organized under the incorporation laws of the state, shall be a trustee of the state, and as such shall faithfully expend and apply all money received from the state to the uses and purposes directed by law, and shall hold all its present and future collections and property for the state, and shall not sell, mort- gage, transfer, or dispose of in any manner or remove from the capital any article thereof, or part of the same thereof, without authority of the law ; provided this shall not prevent the sale or exchange of the duplicates that the society may have or obtain.
847
KANSAS HISTORY
"Section 2. It shall be the duty of the society to collect books, maps, and other papers and materials illustrative of the history of Kansas in particular, and the west generally; to procure from the early pioneers. narratives of events relative to the early settlement of Kansas, and to the early explorations, Indian occupancy and overland travel in the terri- tory and the west ; to procure facts and statements relative to the history and conduct of our Indian tribes and to gather all information calcu- lated to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and the past and present con- dition, resources and progress of the state; to purchase books to supply deficiencies in the various departments of the collection, and to procure by gift and exchange such scientific and historical reports of the legis- latures of other states, of railroads, reports of geological and other scientific surveys, and such other books, maps, charts, and materials as will facilitate the investigation of historical, scientific, social, educational and literary subjects, and to cause the same to be properly bound ; to catalogue the .collections of said society for the convenient reference of all persons who may have occasion to consult the same; to prepare biennially for publication a report of its collections, and such other mat- ters relating to its transactions as may be useful to the public; and to keep its collections arranged in convenient and suitable rooms, to be provided and furnished by the secretary of state, as the board of direc- tors shall determine; the rooms of the society to be open at all reason- able hours on business days for the reception of the citizens of the state who may wish to visit the same, without fee, provided, that no expendi- ture shall be made under this act or expense incurred except in pursuance of specific appropriations therefor, and no officer of said society shall pledge the credit of the state in excess of such appropriations."
Section 3 has to do with the duties of the directors who are appointed by the society, and provides for the exchange and collection of the pub- lications of the state, and of its societies and institutions. The society is not permitted to duplicate the publications in the state library. In 1901 a state law was passed prohibiting the secretary "from permitting or allowing any of the files. documents or records of said society to be taken away from the building where its office and rooms are or shall be located : Provided, "that the secretary in person, or by any duly author- ized deputy, clerk or employee of his office, may take any of said files, documents or records away from said building for use as evidence or for literary or historical purposes; the same to be left while so away in the personal custody of said secretary, deputy, clerk, or employee."
The constitution of the society as amended in 1902 decrees that "this society shall consist of active, life and honorary and corresponding mem- bers, who may be chosen by the board of directors of the society at any regular or special meeting of the society-the active members to consist of citizens of the state, by the payment of $1 annually ; the life members by the payment at any one time of $10; the honorary and corresponding members, who shall be exempt from fee or taxation, shall be chosen from persons in any part of the world distinguished for their scientific
848
CYCLOPEDIA OF
and literary attainments, and known especially as friends and promoters of history. County or city historical societies may elect one delegate member, who shall have all the privileges of the state society, and who shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues."
There is a board of 99 directors of the society, elected from the mem- bers. No member of the board of directors, or other officer, except the secretary receives pay for his services. The secretary aside from pre- serving a record of all meetings and conducting the correspondence of the society, collects all moneys and has charge of all books, manuscripts and collections of the society. George W. Martin has occupied this position since 1897. The society has published II volumes of Historical Collections, biennial reports, and I volume extra in 1886, as well as many pamphlets and circulars. Its collections in 1910 consisted of 36,868 books, 38,816 newspapers and magazines, 115,242 pamphlets, 44,265 manuscripts, 7,555 pictures, 6,428 maps and 9,230 relics.
Hoch, Edward W., governor of Kansas from 1905 to 1909, was born at Danville, Ky., March 17, 1849. After attending the common schools he entered Central University at Danville, but did not graduate, leav- ing the institution to enter a newspaper office, where he spent three years in learning the printer's trade. He then came to Kansas and preëmpted 160 acres of land near Florence, Marion county, where he engaged in farming. The fascinations of the newspaper office were too strong to be resisted, and in 1874 he gave up farming and bought the Marion Record. Mr. Hoch now had a taste of the troubles of the country editor. That was the great grasshopper year and for some time his paper had a struggle for existence. With the passing of the grasshopper plague times began to improve, and by 1876 he had paid his debts. On May 23, 1876, he celebrated his success by marrying Miss Sarah L. Dickerson of Marion. Mr. Hoch soon became one of the active editors of the state in proclaiming Republican doctrines, which brought him into prominence in the councils of that party. In 1888 he was elected to the lower house of the state legislature, and in 1892 was again elected a member of that body. That was during Gov. Lewelling's administration, when there were two houses of representa- tives, and Mr. Hoch was an influential factor in the settlement of the vexed question, so that the state supreme court recognized the Re- publican house. His conduct on this occasion won him many friends within his party, and in 1894 he received considerable support in the state convention for governor. In 1934 he was elected governor, and at the close of his first term was reelected. He retired from the office in Jan., 1909, when he was succeeded by Gov. Stubbs. Since that time Gov. Hoch has devoted the greater part of his time to the lecture plat- form. He is a pleasing and forcible speaker, and is in demand by Chautauqua assemblies, etc. The active management of his paper has devolved upon his son, Homer Hoch.
Hoch's Administration .- Gov. Hoch was inaugurated on Jan. 9, 1935, and on the Ioth the general assembly met in regular biennial session,
849
KANSAS HISTORY
The senate organized with Lieut .- Gov. David J. Hanna as the pre- siding officer, and Walter R. Stubbs was elected speaker of the house. As soon as the two honses were organized the governor's message was submitted through his private secretary, Thomas A. McNeal. In the introductory paragraph of his message the governor referred to the prosperity of the state by saying :
"The mortgage debt, which fifteen years ago aggregated 240 million dollars, has been liquidated with remarkable rapidity, until now it is no longer a serious burden upon our people. Our banks are overflow- ing with money, largely the accumulation of our prosperous farmers. Our laborers command remunerative wages, and all of our business interests are prosperoous. That your legislative labors may advance rather than retard this upward movement, I am sure will be your highest ambition, as it is my most earnest desire."
He urged the passage of a primary election law, and called attention to the primary law recently enacted by the legislature of Wisconsin, particularly that feature of it which provided that candidates for the United States senate should run for the nomination at the primary election and the one who received a majority of the votes would be recommended to the legislature as the party's nominee. "Of course," said he, "this recommendation is not compulsory, because the constitu- tion of the United States provides that senators shall be chosen by the legislature, but it is hardly probable that a legislature would be found which would disobey the wishes of the people thus expressed. I sin- cerely trust that this subject will receive your careful attention, and that a wise bill will be finally agreed upon and promptly enacted into law."
Another matter upon which he dwelt at some length was the reap- portionment of the state into eight Congressional districts. The census of 1890 allotted eight members of Congress to Kansas, but the state had never been divided into eight districts. "Successive legislatures," said the governor, "have failed to perform their duty in the reapportion- ment of the state into eight Congressional districts, and I earnestly hope that this legislature will not neglect this duty. The people expect it, and will be greatly disappointed if it is not done." The legislature disappointed the governor in the enactment of a primary law, but on March 9, one day before the final adjournment, Gov. Hoch approved a bill dividing the state into eight Congressional districts. (See Con- gressional Districts.)
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.