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 105
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Lane's Fort." The depredations of the Kickapoo rangers in the fall caused the fort to be abandoned for a short time. A new company was organized in Dec., 1856, and a survey made.
In 1857 several buildings were erected, one being the Holton House by T. G. Walters, and another the Banner Hotel by E. M. Parks. A school house was built by contributions, Squires & Stafford put in a small stock of goods, and J. W. Gordon & Bro. started a general store. The next year Holton was made the county seat. The first child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Walters and named Holton Walters. He was presented with a town lot.
Factional differences were closely drawn in early times, the free-state men and Republicans doing business on the north side of the public square and the pro-slavery men and Democrats on the south side. There were two flag poles, one Republican and the other Democratic. Their differences often came to blows and sometimes to shots, Maj. Thomas J. Anderson being attacked at a convention at one time and injured by a blow on the head. He was also fired upon several times.
The town was incorporated in 1859 by Maj. T. J. Anderson, who was then probate judge. Dr. James Waters was the first mayor and George L. Hamm, city clerk. It became a city of the third class in 1871, and some years later was made a city of the second class.
Holy Cross, a hamlet of Pottawatomie county, is located in Emmett township, 21 miles southeast of Westmoreland, the county seat, and about 2 miles south of Emmett, from which place it receives daily mail by rural route. The population in 1910 was 43.
Holyrood, an incorporated city of the third class in Ellsworth county, is situated in Valley township, about 15 miles southwest of Ellsworth, the county seat. It is the terminus of a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. which connects with one of the main lines of that system at Little River, Rice county. Holyrood is one of the active, thriving towns of the county. It has a bank, a money order postoffice with two rural routes, telegraph and express offices, telephone connec- tions with the surrounding towns, a grain elevator, a weekly newspaper (the Banner), Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist churches, graded and high schools, a hotel, several well stocked mercantile houses, etc., and is a shipping point for a large agricultural district. It was incorporated in 1904 and in 1910 had a population of 361.
Home, a village of Marshall county, is located in Franklin township 7 miles east of Marysville, the county seat. It is on the St. Joseph & Grand Island R. R. and is a shipping point for grain and live stock. All the main lines of trade are represented. There are banking facilities, schools and churches, express and telegraph offices and a postoffice with two rural routes. The population in 1900 was 450. Locally, it is called "Home City."
Homeopthic Medical Society .- (See Medical Societies.)
Homestead, a country postoffice in Chase county, is located 15 miles southwest of Cottonwood Falls, the county seat, and 12 miles southeast
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of Clements, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., the nearest shipping point and railroad station. The population according to the census of 1910 was 40.
Homestead Laws .- An act of Congress "to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, and to grant preemption rights" (ap- proved Sept. 4, 1841), may be considered as the basis of all subsequent legislation in regard to the matter of disposing of the public domain to actual settlers. It provided that anyone settling in person on the public lands to which the Indian title had been extinguished, and who improved the same and erected a dwelling thereon, should be authorized to enter any number of acres not exceeding 160, to include the residence of such claimant, upon paying to the United States the minimum price of such land. But this act contained many limitations and exceptions, and not- withstanding subsequent amendments seemed to be wholly unsatis- factory to those who earnestly desired to see Kansas developed and her population increased. At the Democratic territorial convention, held at Leavenworth, Nov. 25, 1858, the following resolution was passed :
"That in view of the many hardships to which settlers upon public lands are subjected, and the enhanced value which they confer upon the lands held by the government, we would most respectfully but urgently press upon Congress the justice and propriety of selling a quarter-sec- tion of land to every actual settler who shall remain and improve the land for three consecutive years, at the actual cost of survey and issuing a patent, and that all public lands in this territory be withdrawn from the market for three years, and left open to preëmptors."
On May 11, 1859, a Democratic convention at Tecumseh adopted a res- olution declaring, "That the objects of the preemption law would be better effected by giving a homestead to every bona fide settler and cultivator of the public land, without limit as to time, and that we respectively urge upon the president of the United States the propriety of postponing the public sales of the government lands in Kansas for at least twelve months."
At the convention at Osawatomie, May 18, 1859, at which time and place the Republican party in Kansas was organized, it was resolved, "That the passage of a liberal homestead bill, giving 160 acres of land to every citizen who will settle upon and improve it, would be a measure just in principle, sound in policy, and productive of the greatest good to the people of the nation; and that we regard the defeat of Mr. Grow's bill in the senate, by the Democratic party, as a direct blow at the labor- ing classes of the country, and as unworthy of the liberality of a great government."
Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania, as a member of the lower house of Congress, had been for years the champion of a homestead law, and such a bill was finally passed by Congress in 1860. It was vetoed, however, by President Buchanan. The bill was entitled "An act to secure home- steads to actual settlers on the public domain, and for other purposes ;" and it gave to every citizen of the United States "who is the head of a
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family," and to every person of foreign birth residing in the country who has declared his intention to become a citizen, though he may not be the head of a family, that privilege of appropriating to himself 160 acres of government land, of settling and residing upon it for five years; and should his residence continue until the end of this period, he should then receive a patent on the payments of 25 cents per acre, or one-fifth of the established government price. During this period the land was to be protected from all the debts of the settler. The bill also contained a cession to the states of all the public lands within their respective limits "which have been subject to sale at private entry, and which remain unsold after the lapse of thirty years."
This provision embraced a donation to the states of 12,229,731 acres and as to the actual settler, while the bill did not make an absolute donation, the price was so small that it could scarcely be called a sale, being nominally 25 cents an acre, to be paid at the end of five years.
President Buchanan expressed a decided opinion in his veto message that Congress did not have the power, under the constitution, to give away the public lands, either to states or to individuals. He declared that the point was more clear in regard to the public lands in the states and territories within the Louisiana and Florida purchases, for these lands were paid for out of the public treasury with money raised by taxation ; and as Congress had no power to appropriate the money with which these lands were purchased, he contended that it was clear the power over the lands was equally limited. He further objected to the bill upon the ground that it would prove unequal and unjust in its oper- ation among the actual settlers themselves. Those who had already set- tled in the new countries had paid for their lands the government price of $1.25 per acre, and if the new settlers were given their land for a comparatively nominal price, he contended upon every principle of equality and justice, that the government would be obliged to refund out of the common treasury the difference which the old paid above the new settlers for their lands.
Another objection was that the bill would do great injustice to the old soldiers who had received land warrants for their services in fighting the battles of their country, as it would greatly reduce the market value of these warrants. The magnitude of this interest to be affected, he said, appeared in the fact that there were outstanding unsatisfied land warrants reaching back to the war of 1812, and even Revolutionary times, amounting, in round numbers, to 7,500,000 acres. It was further asserted by the president that the bill would prove unequal and unjust in its operation, because, from its nature, it was confined to one class of people, being exclusively conferred upon the cultivators of the soil. The numerous body of mechanics in our large cities could not, even by emi- grating to the west, take advantage of the provisions of the bill without entering upon a new occupation, for which their habits of life had ren- dered them unfit. Another objection was that the bill was unjust to the old states of the Union in many respects. An individual in the older
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states would not pay its fair value for land when, by crossing the Missis- sippi, he could go upon the public lands and obtain a farm almost with- out money and without price. It was further asserted that the bill would open one vast field for speculation, and it was claimed that in the entry of graduated lands the experience of the land office justified that objec- tion. The president further said that it was not, in his opinion, expe- dient to proclaim to all the nations of the earth that whoever should arrive in this country from a foreign shore and declare his intention to become a citizen should receive a farm of 160 acres, if he would only reside on it and cultivate it. Other objections cited by the president were that it would reduce the increase of public revenue from that source; that it would destroy the present admirable land system; and that it might introduce among us those pernicious social theories which have proved so disastrous in other countries.
An effort was made to pass the bill over the president's veto, but it failed in the senate. Renewed efforts were then made to enact such leg- islation, and on May 20, 1862, the "Homestead Bill" became a law with the signature of President Lincoln, and with the amendments since enacted it is now a part of the United States Revised Statutes (Sections 2289-2317). The policy of these laws is to give portions of the public lands to those who will settle, cultivate, and make permanent homes upon them. Any person who is the head of a family, or who is twenty- one years of age and is a citizen of the United States, or who has filed his declaration of intention to become such, may acquire a tract of unap- propriated public land, not exceeding 160 acres, on condition of settle- ment, cultivation, and continuous occupancy as a home by him for the period of five years, and of the payment of certain moderate fees. It is expressly declared that no lands acquired under this statute shall in any event become liable to the satisfaction of any debt contracted prior to the issuing of the patent therefor by the government to the settler. This provision was inserted for the purpose of protecting debtors and of inducing them to settle upon the public domain. Its constitutionality . was questioned, but was sustained by the courts. It would be difficult to point to any enactment of Congress more wise in conception, just in policy and beneficial in its results than this homestead statute and its amendments.
Under their provision it is safe to say that 100,000,000 acres of unoc- cupied public lands have been transferred by the United States to home- stead settlers. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, the commis- sioner of the general land office reported that "the original homestead entries aggregated III,390, and embarked 15,455,057.46 acres for actual bona fide honies to American settlers."
The term "original entry" refers to the proceedings by which a person enters a tract of land as his homestead. Its important features are the filing of an affidavit, prescribed by statute, with the register of the land office in which he is about to make the entry, and the payment of a fee of $5 if his entry is for not more than 85 acres, or of $10 if it is for more than
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that amount. The "final entry" refers to the proceedings connected with the issue of a certificate of title or patent by the United States to the person making the original entry, or to his widow, heirs, or devisees. Ordinarily the patent does not issue until the expiration of five years from the date of the original entry, and then only upon furnishing the evidence required by statute of the actual occupancy of the land and its cultivation by the claimant during that period. Provision is made, how- ever, for shortening this term by "commuting," that is, paying the minimum government price for the land. Upon such payment, the homesteader may obtain a patent at any time. It also provided that the term which a homestead settler served in the United States army, navy or marine corps. "during the Rebellion," or in the "Spanish war," or "in suppressing the insurrection in the Philippines," may be deducted from the five years required to perfect his title and to receive a patent for his original entry.
The effect of the passage of the homestead law upon the settlement of Kansas was marvelous. During the first year following its enactment there were 1,149 entries, with a total of 173,725.70 acres. In the eight years ending with 1870 there were 13,168 entries for 1,661,894.23 acres, and at the next decade, in 1880, there had been made 79,961 entries, call- ing for 10,762,353.69 acres of land. The mind of the reader will more readily grasp the immensity of these transactions when it is stated that in these eighteen years there was taken up in Kansas, by actual settlers under the homestead law, an area of land equal to more than three times the area of the State of Massachusetts. The homestead act is now the approved and preferred method of acquiring title to the public lands. It has stood the test of fifty years, and it stands as the concentrated wisdom of legislation for the disposition of the public domain. It has protected the government, it has filled the state with homes, and it has built up communities by giving ownership of the soil, in small tracts, to the occupants thereof.
Homesteaders' Union Association .- This association was formed in Sherman county (q. v.), shortly after settlement began there in 1884. A county seat contest arose, several towns claiming to be the seat of justice, and the settlers did not know where to pay their taxes. The homesteaders also had trouble with the cattle men, who resented the breaking up of their ranges, and as a step toward the adoption of some protective measure, an informal meeting was held to consider what was best to do. The first actual meeting, for the purpose of organiza- tion, was held at Eustis on June 18, 1887, when a committee was appointed to frame a constitution. Prior to that time protective societies had been formed in thirteen different neighborhoods, and the committee was made to consist of one member from each society or lodge. The committee met on June 25, 1887. A. M. Curtis was chosen president; E. E. Blackman and W. J. Colby, secretaries, and a con- stitution was drafted.
Article I provided that the association be known as the "Home-
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steaders Union Association" of Sherman county, Kan., and that the association "shall be to protect the laboring classes in our county, and for the advancement of their interests financially, morally and socially." Article II provided for the usual officers and defined their duties. Article IV provided that "every male citizen over the age of twenty- one years shall be eligible to membership;" and every member was required to take the following obligation: "I do solemnly pledge my sacred word and honor that I will not divulge any of the signs, grips, passwords, or any of the secret workings of this order, and that I will not vote against any case at issue on personal grounds and that I will in all my acts do that which I believe to be to the best interests of Sherman county, and that I will do all in my power to promote justice, equity and morality."
The constitution was accepted at the first meeting of the grand lodge, composed of three delegates from each of the thirteen lodges, held at Eustis July 12, 1887. At the first election of officers J. N. McDaniels was chosen president ; Alexander Martin, vice-president ; E. E. Black- man, recording secretary; W. J. Cobby, treasurer ; David Robinson, chaplain, and S. Poff, captain. The second meeting of the grand lodge was held on Aug. 30. It was devoted chiefly to organization and edu- cation, and it developed that the living issue of the association was not so much the protection of the settlers as the settlement of the county seat contest, and, as a matter of fact, it did wield considerable influence in the final adjustment of that question.
The secret work of the order was never written, and after the elec- tion which decided the location of the county seat a meeting was held to celebrate the result. Another meeting was called for Dec. 10, 1887, but few responded, and the Homesteaders' Union Association evidently died a quiet death, as no further record of it can be found.
Homewood, a village in the southwest part of Franklin county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. II miles southwest of Ottawa, the county seat. It has general stores, a public school, a money order postoffice with one rural route, telegraph and express facilities, and in 1910 had a population of 100. Situated in a rich agri- cultural district, it is the supply and shipping point for the vicinity.
Hooker, a little settlement of Decatur county, is located on Sappa creek, 8 miles southwest of Oberlin, the county seat and nearest rail- road station, whence mail is delivered by rural route.
Hooser, a village of Dexter township, Cowley county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 27 miles southeast of Winfield, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice with one rural route, telegraph, express and telephone facilities, some general stores, and in 1910 reported a population of 23.
Hope, an incorporated city .of Dickinson county, is located in the township of the same name and is an important railway town, being situated at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe lines, 22 miles south of Abilene, the county seat. It is
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equiped with electric lights, has well kept streets and sidewalks, 2 banks, an international money order postoffice with four rural routes, a weekly newspaper (the Dispatch), telegraph and express offices, two telephone companies, a hospital, flour mills, a gypsum plaster works, and in 1910 reported a population of 567. The business buildings are substantial structures and the residences are better than the average usually found in cities of similar size. Excellent educational facilities are afforded by the graded public schools and a high school.
Hopewell, a discontinued postoffice of Pratt county, is located in the Rattlesnake creek valley, about 18 miles northwest of Pratt, the county seat, and I0 miles south of Macksville, which is the nearest railroad station. A rural route from Haviland supplies the people with mail.
Hopkins' Battery .- When Capt. Crawford's company captured a Con- federate battery at old Fort Wayne on Oct. 22, 1862, Company B of the Twelfth Kansas cavalry was detached to man the captured guns and became known as "Hopkins' Battery." It took part in the engage- ments at Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, and some minor actions, and was then stationed at Fort Gibson until July 17, 1863, when it participated in the fight at Honey Springs. On Oct. 1, 1863, by order of the war department, it was made the Third Kansas battery. (See War of 1861.)
Horace, an incorporated town in Greeley county, is located on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 2 miles west of Tribune, the county seat. It has a number of mercantile establishments, telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 189. The town was founded in June, 1886, and soon had 300 inhabitants. In 1888 it had a newspaper and a bank. It was one of the rival towns for the county seat.
Horners, a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., in Marion county, is located between Florence and Peabody, 10 miles south of Marion, the county seat. It receives its mail from Peabody by rural route.
Horse Thieves .- (See Anti-Horse Thief Association.)
Horticultural Society, State .- In the early part of 1867 a letter appeared in the Kansas Farmer, written by a man who signed himself "Pomologist." The writer suggested that the fruit growers and vine dressers of the state form a society to be known as the "Kansas Pomological Society." John S. Brown, the editor of the Farmer, recom- mended the organization of such a society and asked all who favored it to respond immediately. Twenty-five persons sent in their postoffice addresses and 25 cents each to the editor to assist in the organization. Their names appeared in the April issue of the Farmer. An organiza- tion was soon after effected with the following officers: William Tan- ner, 'Leavenworth, president; William Maxwell, Lanesfield, vice-presi- dent; William E. Barnes, Vinland, treasurer ; John S. Brown, record- ing secretary ; and S. T. Kelsey, Ottawa, corresponding secretary. In the May number of the Farmer was published the president's address,
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in which he asked every member to collect all the information upon fruit culture in the different counties of his district, and send to the corresponding secretary, to be submitted at the first meeting. The society was organized and incorporated under a charter from the state on Dec. 15, 1867.
The State Horticultural Society, an outgrowth of the Pomological Society, was formed at Ottawa, Franklin county, with George T. Anthony, William M. Hansley, J. Stagman, William Tanner, G. C. Brackett, S. T. Kelsey and Charles B. Lines as charter members. Its object was the advancement of the art and science of horticulture. It consisted of annual members, who paid a fee of $1 ; of life members, who paid a fee of $10; and honorary members, who were distinguished as horticulturists.
By article V, of the constitution, annual meetings were to be held in December and semi-annual meetings in June of each year, "at such time and place as the society may direct." An appropriation was made in 1869, for the society to use in making a complete collection of the fruits grown in Kansas and exhibiting them at the Pomological Con- gress, held at Philadelphia, Pa., in Sept., 1869. At that Congress Kan- sas was awarded the gold medal for the best display of fruit.
The society has been active in improving the species of fruits in the state ; in introducing improved methods of horticulture; in the scientific care of orchards; and the cause and treatment of diseases of trees. The officers of the society for 1911 were: E. G. Hoover of Wichita, president ; J. T. Tredway of La Harpe, vice-president; O. F. Whitney of Topeka, treasurer; and Walter Wellhouse of Topeka, secretary.
Horticulture .- Literally, the word horticulture means the art of cultivating gardens. In its broader sense it includes the cultivation of all varieties of fruits, flowers, vegetables and nursery stock. Conse- quently horticulture embraces the divisions of pomology, or fruit cul- ture; floriculture, or the raising of flowers and decorative plants ; gardening, or the cultivation of vegetables; and nursery culture, or the cultivation of fruit-bearing plants and trees until they are ready for transplanting.
Before white men came to Kansas the Indians made use of the wild native fruits, gathering and drying for domestic purposes cherries, plums and grapes. Of these native fruits there are several varieties of plums, the wild plum or sloe being the most common. In the western part of the state, the sand-hill plum, a shrub rarely over six feet in height, grows in abundance upon the sand hills along the Arkansas and Smoky Hill rivers. The wild blackberry is found in the skirts of timber which border the streams and the northern dewberry grows in some. localities. Grapes are common in the eastern part of the state and are found in many places on the sand hills in the central and western part of the state. The wild gooseberry is found in every part of Kan- sas, and in the western part of the state may be found the wild cur- rant, of which there are three varieties. The wild strawberry is found
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