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 20
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
Rev. Harvey Jones was the first pastor of this church organization and served for nearly three years, holding the early meetings in a tent. A temporary church was shortly after erected and plans discussed for a suitable stone building of sufficient capacity for the needs of the com- munity. After your years of effort the present building was dedicated on May 24, 1862, the General Association of Kansas Congregational churches meeting with the church at this time, and taking a recess to dedicate the new church. During the early days of the church it re- ceived support from various church societies, but in less than ten years from its organization it became self-supporting. In 1860 it reported the largest membership of any church in Kansas, having one more than the Lawrence and eleven more than the Topeka churches. On June 29, 1897, the fortieth anniversary of the church was fittingly observed, and on June 27 and 28, 1907, the fiftieth anniversary was made the occasion of a great celebration, during which an elaborate program was carried out. Hundreds of visitors were in attendance and the semi-centennial of this famous pioneer church was made a memorable one.
Beecher Rifle Company .- Early in the fall of 1855, two residents of New Haven, Conn .; a Mr. Russell and a Mr. English, commenced enlist- ing a party of northern men to go to Kansas to settle and help make it a free state. Winter set in before the company could be organized and the project was abandoned until the following spring. On Feb. 7, 1856, Charles B. Lines, of New Haven, announced at a public meeting that he was making preparations for carrying out the proposed plan. The next day men began enlisting and in less than a week 85 names were subscribed, which was increased to 90 by March 7. Mr. Lines was made president of the colony for the first year. A few days before start- ing for Kansas a meeting of the colonists and other New Haven citizens was held in the North church; where Rev. Henry Ward Beecher de- livered a stirring address. At the conclusion of this address Mr. Lines, as president of the new colony gave a short talk, explaining the origin,
169
KANSAS HISTORY
aim and purpose of the company, and reminding the audience that no provision had yet been made for furnishing the colonists with weapons, and explaining why there was a necessity for calling upon the public to arm them. Prof. Benjamin Silliman, president of Yale College, was the first one to respond to the appeal, heading a subscription list for one Sharp's rifle. Similar subscriptions then came fast. Rev. Mr. Dutton, pastor of the church in which the meeting was being held, then made a statement that Deacon Harvey Hale of his church was a member of the proposed colony, and as his pastor he desired to present him a Bible and a Sharp's rifle. Beecher then made another ringing talk, pledging 25 rifles from his congregation if a like number was raised in New Haven. The meeting closed with 27 rifles assured to the colony. On the evening of March 31 a farewell meeting to the colonists was held, in which a letter from Mr. Beecher to Mr. Lines was read, in which Beecher presented a number of Bibles in the name of one of his parishioners and 25 Sharp's rifles in behalf of several others. At the close of the meet- ing the members of the colony were escorted to the boat by the Elm City Guards and the Croton Engine Co. No. I.
A cooperative organization was formed while on the way west, and on their arrival at St. Louis such garden and other tools as were needed were secured and brought with them on the steamboat Clara to Kansas City, where John J. Walter, E. Dwight Street, T. C. P. Hyde, Amos A. Cottrell and Walter Webb were chosen to push on ahead in search for a suitable location. The remainder of the colonists, having secured wagons and ox teams, pushed on, reaching Lawrence the second day, where they remained for two or three days, being rejoined while here by those who had been seeking a location. The site of Wabaunsee being reported favorably to the colonists, the selection was ratified and on April 28, 1856, the colony reached its destination. Of the original num- ber who started from New Haven, twenty never reached Kansas at all, and a number of others who did come, from some reason or other, left shortly after coming. Forty-one of the original number stuck it out and formed the nucleus of the rifle company that was soon formed under the name of the "Prairie Guards." William Mitchell was chosen captain of the company, which embraced the members of the colony, who were supplied with Sharp's rifles, and some of the surrounding settlers, the organization numbering about 60 men. This rifle company saw active service in Kansas shortly after coming to the territory, volunteering to assist in the defense of Lawrence from an attack of border ruffians from Missouri. A few of the original colonists are living in 1911, but the good they accomplished will live after them.
Beecher's Island .- (See Arickaree, Battle of.)
Beeler, one of the minor villages of Ness county, is located in Eden township and is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 17 miles west of Ness City, the county seat. It has a money order post- office, an express office, telephone connection, Protestant churches, a school, and is a trading and shipping point for the western part of the county. The population in 1910 was 75.
170
CYCLOPEDIA OF
Bellaire, a thriving little town of Smith county, is located in Blaine township and is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. 6 miles east of Smith Center, the county seat. It has a bank, a money order postoffice with two rural routes, telephone connection, telegraph and express offices, Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant churches, a good retail trade, and in 1910 reported a poulation of 200.
Bellefont, a village of Wheatland township, Ford county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. 22 miles east of Dodge City, the county seat. The population was 40 in 1910. It has a money order postoffice with one rural delivery route, and is a shipping and supply point for that section of the county.
Belle Plaine, an incorporated city of the third class in Sumner county, is located on the Ninnescah river at the junction of the Missouri Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads, 12 miles northeast of Wellington, the county seat. The population in 1910 was 849. a gain of 298 during the preceding ten years. Belle Plaine has two banks, a weekly newspaper (the News), good public schools, flour and planing mills, churches of the leading Protestant denominations, an opera house, telegraph and express offices, a telephone exchange, and is an important shipping point and trading center. From its international money order postoffice three rural delivery routes supply mail to the surrounding country.
Belleville, the county seat of Republic county, is located a little east of the center of the county and is an important railroad center and shipping point, having three lines of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific system and one line of the Union Pacific system. The population in 1910 was 2,224. All business activities and professions are represented in the business directory. There are banks, flour mills, grain elevators, creameries, mercantile houses and newspapers. It has good graded and high schools, all denominations of churches, telegraph and express . offices, and an international money order postoffice from which eminate five rural routes. The county buildings include a $25,000 court-house and an $11,000 jail.
Belleville is beautifully situated on a gently rolling upland in the midst of a rich and prosperous farming country. The main articles of export are grain, live-stock and creamery products. The town was es- tablished on Sept. 25, 1869, with the following charter members of the company, James E. VanNatta, A. B. Tutton, W. A. Means,, J. H. Frint. T. C. Reily, W. H. H. Reily, W. A. Dugger, John McFarlane, John Har- ris, G. H. Jackson and N. T. VanNatta. A "town house" was built by the company on the northwest quarter of section 2, town 3 south, range 3 west, in which a general store was kept. The upper floor was used as a public hall. The place was named Belleville after Arabelle Tutton, the wife of A. B. Tutton. It was incorporated as a city of the third class in 1878, and the first election, held on Jan. 26 of that year, resulted as follows: Mayor, W. H. Woodward ; police judge, William Haskett; councilmen, Chauncy Perry, Edwin Knowles, Daniel Miller, Ed. E.
1
171
KANSAS HISTORY
Chapman and F. N. Munger. The officers appointed were, city marshal, Willis C. Allen; city attorney, A. E. Taylor; city clerk, Charles H. Smith; city treasurer, Columbus Taylor; street commissioner, W. C. Allen.
By 1873 Belleville had become quite an important business center. The main stage thoroughfare from Hanover, Mo., connecting with St. Joseph, Mo., and Denver, Col., and with the Central branch from Water- ville, passed through Belleville, and stages ran daily. A number of sub- stantial business structures had been built and the improvements in- cluded city waterworks. As early as 1888 the enterprising citizens of the town convinced the state authorities that Belleville was of sufficient size to be a city of the second class and it was made such. For many years this little city was a gateway to the homestead country, to the settlement of which it owes much of its present growth and prosperity.
Belmont, a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. in Kingman county, is located 12 miles southeast of Kingman, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, a public school, some retail trade and in 1910 reported a population of 150.
Beloit, the county seat and largest town of Mitchell county, is located northeast of the center of the county, on the Solomon river and at the junction of the Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads. It has an altitude of 1,381 feet and is 162 miles from Topeka. It has an electric light plant, water works, public library, an opera house, two daily and three weekly newspapers, 3 banks, and all lines of business activity. The state industrial school for girls is located here. Beloit is supplied with telegraph and express offices and an international money order post- office with 8 rural routes. The population in 1910 was 3,082.
The first settlement here was made by A. A. Bell in 1868, with the idea of improving the water power. It was first called Willow Springs. The next year T. F. Hersey purchased the mill site from Mr. Bell, put up a saw mill in 1870 and a grist mill the next season. A school build -. ing was erected in 1871 and Rev. O. N. Fletcher, the preacher of Ash- ville, took charge of the school which was the first in the county. In 1870 Beloit was made the county seat and has remained so ever since. The plat of the site was made in 1872. The promoters were T. F. Her- sey, A. A. Bell, George Campbell, Alexander Campbell, C. H. Morrill, Edward Valentine, W. C. Ingram and Daniel Kepler. In July of that year it was incorporated as a city of the third class and in 1879 Gov. St. John proclaimed it a city of the second class. At the first city elec- tion the following officers were chosen: T. F. Hersey, mayor ; W. C. In- gram, M. R. Mudge, H. H. Lyon, Joseph Baughman and J. R. Vaughn, councilmen. The town was growing very rapidly at this time. As each building went up and became ready for occupany a dance was held in it first, then a religious meeting, after which it was turned over to the owner for his use. The postoffice was established in 1870 with A. A. Bell as postmaster. The first newspaper was the Mirror, established in 1871 by A. B. Cornell. The first bank was opened in 1873 by F. H. Hart.
172
CYCLOPEDIA OF
Belpre, an incorporated city of the third class in Edwards county, is situated in the township of the same name, and is a station on the Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 17 miles east of Kinsley, the county seat. It has a bank, a weekly newspaper (the Bulletin), a good retail trade, a money order postoffice that is authorized to issue international orders, telegraph and express offices, telephone connection with the adjacent towns and cities, and does considerable shipping. Belpre was incor- porated in 1906 and in 1910 the population was 485.
Belvidere, a village of Glick township, Kiowa county, is located at the junction of two divisions of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail- way system, about 18 miles southeast of Greensburg, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, telephone connection with the surrounding country, and in 1910 had a population of 30. Its railroad facilities make it an important shipping point.
Belvoir, one of the old settlements of Kansas, is located in Douglas county about 13 miles southwest of Lawrence, in the valley of the Wakarusa river. The town site was laid out on the old Santa Fe trail (q. v.) in 1855, and the following year the Catholic church was estab- lished. Several houses were built and a tavern was erected for the accommodation of travelers going west. On account of the proximity of Belvoir to Twin Mound, no postoffice was established until 1868. The village has rural free delivery from Richland, the nearest railroad town, and in 1910 had a population of 30.
Belvue, a'village of Pottawatomie county, is located in Belvue town- ship on the main line of the Union Pacific R. R., 25 miles southeast of Westmoreland, the county seat. It has banking facilities and all the main lines of business activity, a money order postoffice with two rural routes, telegraph and express offices, and the population in 1910 was 200. The town was laid out in 1871 by A. J. Baker and Malcolm Gregory:
Beman, a little hamlet on one of the tributaries of the Neosho river in the northeast corner of Morris county, is about 13 miles from Council Grove, from which place the inhabitants receive mail by rural free de- livery. Alta Vista is the most convenient railroad station.
Bendena, one of the villages of Doniphan county, is located in Wolf River township, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., 7 miles south of Troy, the county seat. It has a bank, express and telegraph offices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The popula- tion in 1910 was 150. This town was established in 1886 and for a time called Albers in honor of John Albers, a pioneer of the neighborhood. When the postoffice was established the name was changed to Bendena. In 1861 Miss Strode taught one of the early schools of the county on the site of the town. The only furniture in the room was rude benches fastened to the wall.
Bender Family .- About the close of the year 1870 a family of Hol- landers, or Germans, consisting of four persons-father, mother, son, and daughter-moved into Osage township, Labette county. The father was William Bender, and the son and daughter were John and Kate.
I73
KANSAS HISTORY
They erected a small frame house, which was divided into two parts by studding, on which hung an old wagon-sheet for a partition. In the front part they had a few articles for sale, such as tobacco, crackers, sar- dines, candies, powder and shot, and just outside the door was a plain sign, "Groceries." In the front room were also two beds. The family pretended to furnish lunch and entertainment for travelers. Little was known of them generally, and they repelled rather than invited com- munication with their neighbors. Kate traveled over the country some- what, giving spiritualistic lectures and like entertainments, but created very little stir or comment. The two young people occasionally went to church and singing school, and the men frequently attended public meetings in the township. The place was on the road, as then traveled, from Osage Mission to Independence.
During 1871 and 1872, several parties traveled the road, making in- quiries for persons who were missing, and who had last been heard of at Fort Scott or Independence. A public meeting was held at Harmony Grove schoolhouse to discuss the herd law, about March 10, 1873, when the matter of so many people being missing and the fact that suspicion rested upon the people of Osage township were discussed. It was de- cided that a vigorous search should be made under the sanction of a search-warrant. Both of the male Benders were present, but when oth- ers expressed a willingness to have their premises searched the father and son remained silent. About ten days before this meeting Dr. Wil- liam York had left his home in Onion creek, Montgomery county, in search of a man and child by the name of Loucher, who had left Inde- pendence for Iowa during the previous winter and had never thereafter been heard of by their friends. Dr. York reached Fort Scott and started to return about March 8, but never reached home. In the early part of April, Col. A. M. York, with some 50 citizens from Montgomery county, started from Independence to make a thorough search for his brother. They went as far as Fort Scott, but could get no clue to the missing man. On their return they visited the Bender place and tried to induce Kate, who professed to be a clairvoyant, to make an effort to help dis- cover the doctor. But Kate was able to elude their efforts without throwing any suspicion on herself. That night the Bender family left the place and went to Thayer, where they purchased tickets to Hum- boldt and took the north-bound train at 5 o'clock on the following morn- ing. A day or two thereafter their team was found hitched a short dis- tance from Thayer, apparently nearly starved.
It was about May I that a man passing the Bender place noticed the stock wandering around as though wanting care. On going to the stable he found the team gone, and a calf dead in a pen, evidently having starved to death. He then went to the house, but found no one there. He notified the township trustee, who, with other parties, went to the premises and broke into the house, where they found nearly everything in usual order, little if anything aside from clothing and bed-clothing having been taken. A sickening stench almost drove them from the
I74
CYCLOPEDIA OF
house. A trap-door in the back room was raised, and it was discovered that in a hole beneath was clotted blood which produced the stench. The house was removed from where it stood, but nothing further was found under it. In a garden near by a depression was noticed, and upon dig- ging therein the body of Dr. York was found buried, head downward, his feet being scarcely covered. His skull was crushed and his throat was cut from ear to ear. On further search seven more bodies were found, all of whom, except one, were afterward identified by their friends. They were Mr. Loucher and his little daughter, seven or eight years old, buried in one hole; William Boyle, and three men named McCratty, Brown, and Mckenzie. The other body was never identified, and it is altogether probable that other parties were murdered and their bodies never found.
It seems that in the back room of the house, almost up against the partition studding, a hole just large enough to let a man through had been cut in the floor, the door to which raised with a leather strap. Under this an excavation had been made in the ground, leaving a hole some 6 or 7 feet in diameter and about the same in depth. It is sup- posed that when a victim was killed in the daytime he was thrown into this hole until night, when he would be taken out and buried. From the victims the Benders seem to have procured, so far as could be ascer- tained, about $4,600 in money, two teams of horses and wagons, a pony and a saddle. The Benders made good their escape and were never ap- prehended, although detectives thought they were able to trace their wanderings through Texas and New Mexico. Parties supposed to be the Benders were apprehended in many parts of the country and several were brought to Labette county for identification, but they proved to have little if any resemblance to the persons sought. Two women, sup- posed to be Mrs. Bender and Kate, were arrested in Michigan in 1890, and brought to Labette county on requisition, but on habeas corpus pro- ceedings they were released, the court being satisfied that they were not the Benders, and these horrible crimes remain unavenged.
Benedict, an incorporated town of Wilson county, is located on the Verdigris river in Guilford township, 8 miles northeast of Fredonia, the county seat, and at the junction of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads. It has a bank, telegraph and express of- fices, and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 215. The town was surveyed about the time the Missouri Pa- . cific and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads were built through this county. Substantial iron bridges were built over the Verdigris at this point in 1887, and a $4,000 school house was erected. The Wilson county old settlers society was organized at Benedict in 1897. The town was piped for gas in 1898.
Bennington, one of the incorporated towns of Ottawa county, is lo- cated on the Union Pacific R. R. and on the Solomon river, in Benning- ton township, 9 miles southeast of Minneapolis, the county seat. It has two banks, an opera house, two grain elevators, flour mill and a weekly
175
KANSAS HISTORY
newspaper, as well as all the main lines of business. There are tele- graph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with two rural routes. The population in 1910 was 386. The community was settled in 1870 and a store opened in 1873 by George Parker. When the rail- road was built in 1878 the town was laid out. The promoters were Dan- iel Struble and C. Nelson. An iron bridge was built over the Solomon at a cost of $4,500; Markley Bros. put up a flour and saw mill run by water power at a cost of $20,000, and in 1880 a $2,000 school house was built.
Benson, Alfred W., lawyer and United States senator, was born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., July 15, 1843, a son of Peleg and Hannah (Washburn) Benson. He received an academic education at James- town and Randolph in his native state, and in 1862 enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth New York regiment ; was severely wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, and at the close of the war was mustered out with the rank of major. In 1866 he was admitted to the bar at Buffalo, N. Y., and in 1869 removed to Kansas, locating at Ottawa. On May 10, 1870, he married Miss Unettie L. Townsend of Manchester, Vt. Mr. Benson served for four years as a member of the Kansas state senate; was district judge from 1885 to 1897, and on June II, 1906, was appointed United States senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Joseph R. Burton. On Aug. I, 1907, Gov. Hoch appointed Mr. Benson one of the associate justices of the Kansas su- preme court to complete the unexpired term of Adrian L. Greene, de- ceased, and upon retiring from the supreme bench he resumed the prac- tice of law.
Bentley, a town of Sedgwick county, is located near the Arkansas river in Eagle township, and is a station on the St. Louis & San Fran- cisco R. R., about 20 miles northwest of Wichita. It has a bank, a weekly newspaper (the News), a money order postoffice, telegraph and express service, telephone connection, and is the principal trading and shipping point for that section of the county. The population in 1910 was 200.
Benton, a town of Benton township, Butler county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 14 miles southwest of Eldorado, the county seat, and not far from the Sedgwick county line. It was settled in 1884. incorporated in 1908, and in 1910 had a population of 240. Benton has a bank, a money order postoffice with two rural delivery routes,. express and telegraph offices, telephone connections, a number of well appointed mercantile establishments, Methodist, Christian and Presbyterian churches, good public schools, and is a shipping point of considerable importance.
Bent's Fort .- (See Fort Lyon.)
Berlin, a hamlet of Bourbon county, is located 15 miles northwest of Fort Scott, the county seat. It has rural free delivery from Uniontown and in 1910 had a population of 15. Devon, on the Missouri Pacific, is the nearest railroad station.
176
CYCLOPEDIA OF
Bern, a village of Nemaha county, is located in Washington township on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., 14 miles northeast of Seneca. It has a bank, a weekly newspaper (the Gazette), express and telegraph offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 375.
Bernal, a money order postoffice of Reno county, is situated in Lin- coln township, and is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R., 7 miles south of Hutchinson. The railroad name is Elmer Station. Bernal has telephone connection with the adjacent towns, is a trading point for the people of that part of the county, and in 1910 reported a population of 40.
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.