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 3
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KANSAS HISTORY
ment of Congressmen, Kansas should be entitled to one representative in the lower branch of the national legislature.
Section 3 offered to the people of Kansas the following propositions :
Ist, That sections numbered 16 and 36 in every township of the pub- lic lands in the state should be granted the state for the use of schools ; and in the event said sections or any part thereof should have been sold or otherwise disposed of, other lands, equivalent thereto and as con- tiguous as might be, were to be given to the state instead of the sec- tions prescribed.
2nd, That 72 sections of land, to be selected by the governor of the state, subject to the approval of the commissioner of the general land office, were to be set apart and reserved for the use and support of a state university.
3d, That 10 sections of land, to be selected by the governor, were to be donated by Congress for the completion of public buildings and the erection of others at the seat of government.
4th, That all salt springs, not exceeding twelve in number, with 6 sections of land adjoining each, were to be granted to the state, to be disposed of as the legislature might direct, subject to certain restric- tions imposed by the act.
5th, That five per cent. of the proceeds of all sales of public lands lying within the state, which should be sold after Kansas was admitted into the Union, should be granted to the state for the purpose of construct- ing public roads and making internal improvements.
6th, That the state should never levy a tax upon the lands or prop- erty of the United States, lying within the State of Kansas.
Section 4 provided that from and after the admission of the state, all the laws of the United States, which were not locally inapplicable, should have the same force and effect in Kansas as in other states of the Union. This section also declared the state a judicial district of the United States, established a district court, the same as that in the State of Minnesota, and made it the duty of the United States district judge to hold two terms of court annually, beginning on the second Monday in April and the second Monday in October.
The act of admission was signed by President Buchanan on Jan. 29, 1861, and on Feb. 9 the state government was inaugurated. On Feb. 22, Washington's birthday, the American flag was hoisted over Inde- pendence Hall in the city of Philadelphia, bearing for the first time the star representing Kansas. It was raised by Abraham Lincoln, who was then on his way to Washington to be inaugurated as president of the United States. Mr. Lincoln said :
"I am invited and called before you to participate in raising above Independence Hall the flag of our country with an additional star upon it. I wish to call your attention to the fact that, under the blessing of God, each additional star added to that flag has given additional pros- perity and happiness to our country."
Adobe Walls, Battle of .- In the spring of 1874 a number of Dodge
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City buffalo hunters went south to the Pan Handle country and the "Staked Plains" of Texas to hunt buffaloes, and, invading the hunting grounds of the Indians of that locality, it is said they killed 100,000 buffaloes during the ensuing five months. Their camp was made at a deserted station known as "Adobe Walls," near the ruins of which at the time were three large adobe and log houses, occupied by traders and hunters. The Indians, who had been watching this wholesale slaughter of the animals which constituted their chief food supply were in no peace- ful frame of mind in consequence, and after holding a council, about 900 Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Comanches and Kiowas on the morning of June 27 rode out to make an attack, hoping to take the hunters by sur- prise. At the time of the attack some of the occupants of one of the buildings at Adobe Walls were up on the roof of the building making needed repairs, and while thus engaged discovered the Indians. Seeing they were apprehended, the Indians gave the war whoop and charged -riding 25 or more abreast-firing their rifles and revolvers as they came. Two hunters who had come in during the night and were en- camped about 100 yards away from the buildings were the only ones failing to reach a place of safety. They were quickly killed and scalped. The occupants of the buildings numbered 28 men and I woman, a Mrs. William Olds, of Warsaw, Mo., wife of one of the hunters and the only white woman in all that section at the time. As soon as the hunters reached shelter they grasped their rifles and returned the fire of the Indians with telling effect. The late Quanah Parker, at that time war chief of the Comanches and a noted chief in the tribe since, headed the first charge, but while passing the open door of one of the houses was shot through the breast and put out of the fight almost at the start. The Indians, however, were persistent in their attacks, and again and again returned to the assault, only to fall before the withering fire of the hunters within the buildings. Three casualties among the hunters closed the first days' fight, 2 of these being the men killed in their wagon. Fir- ing was kept up intermittently during the second day, and under cover of darkness one of the hunters was sent for assistance to Dodge City, 175 miles distant, which place he reached some days later without mis- hap. The Indians had lost many men in their charges and after the second day began to do their fighting at long range. On the third day William Olds was killed by the accidental discharge of his gun. By the morning of the fourth day over 100 hunters from the surrounding coun- try had crowded into Adobe Walls, agumenting the fighting force corre- spondingly. Two days later, after two days of quiet, one more hunter was killed, he and a companion having gone out for sand plums. On July 14, the Indians having decamped, the hunters marched out for Dodge City, which place they reached on the 27th. Gov. Osborn sent 1,000 stands of arms to Dodge City in response to the request. The Indians in this fight lost 80 men killed and mortally wounded, besides about 200 ponies. What supplies the hunters could not take with them were appropriated by the Indians who burned the premises.
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KANSAS HISTORY
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Adrian, a little hamlet of Jackson county, is situated on the ridge between Cross and Soldier creeks, about 16 miles southwest of Holton, the county seat, and 4 miles from Emmett, which is the nearest rail- road station. Mail is received by rural delivery from Delia.
Adventists .- This denomination belongs to that class of religious. organizations which accepts the inspiration of the scriptures, take the Bible as their rule of faith, and hold to the fundamental doctrines of Christian churches. This belief arose as a result of the preachings of William Miller, in 1831. He taught that the world would come to an end in 1843, and would be followed by the coming of Christ to reign on earth. Mr. Miller's study of Biblical prophecies had convinced him that the coming would be between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. When these dates passed many preachers joined the movement and sev- eral thousand followers were gathered from different churches. On April 20, 1845, Mr.' Miller called a convention of the faithful at Albany, N. Y., which convention issued a declaration of belief and adopted the name Adventists. The declaration was that Christ will come soon, but at an unknown time, as the prophecy for 1843 and also that for 1844, had not been fulfilled. The resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust, and the beginning of the millennium after the resurection of the saints, was set forth in the belief.
The Adventists baptize by immersion, and are congregational in polity, except the Seven Day branch and the Church of God, which have a general conference that is supreme. Since their organization, the Adventists have divided into seven bodies. The Evangelical Ad- ventists began to call themselves by that name in 1845. They believe that all the dead will be raised, the saints first to eternal bliss and the wicked last to eternal punishment. The Advent Christians formed a general association in 1861. They believe that the dead are unconscious and the wicked are punished by annihilation. This body is chiefly lo- cated in New England. The Seven Day Adventists were formed in 1845, in New Hampshire and adopted the obligation of the seventh day as the Sabbath. They believe that the dead sleep until the judgment and the unsaved are destroyed. This body is the strongest and its mem- bers are spread throughout the United States, being especially strong in the west. The Church of God was formed after a division among the Seven Day Adventists in 1864-65, concerning the revelations of Mrs. E. G. White. A general conference is the head of this organization. with subordinate state conferences. It is chiefly located in the western and southwestern states. The Life and Advent Union, organized in 1860, believes that the wicked never wake from their sleep of death. The Church of God in Jesus Christ believes in the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth with Christ as king; the annihilation of the wicked and the restoration of Israel. This sect is established in various parts of the United States and Canada.
The Adventists were not established to any extent in Kansas until the great tide of immigration set toward this state in the '8os, for in
.
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1893, there were but 30 church organizations in the state with a mem- bership of 900. As the country became more densely populated the num- ber of Adventist bodies increased and new organizations were perfected. In 1906 the Seven Day Adventists had 2,397 communicants; the Advent Christian church 247, making a total membership of 2,689.
Aetna, a village of Barber county, is located near the southwestern corner in Aetna township, about 30 miles from Medicine Lodge, the county seat. It is connected by stage line with Lake City, which is the most convenient railroad station. It is a trading center for the neigh- borhood, has a money order postoffice, and in 1910 reported a popula- tion of 25.
Agenda, a village of Republic county, is located in the northern part of Elk Creek township, and is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., 17 miles southeast of Belleville, the county seat. The first house in Agenda was erected by Joseph Cox in 1887, soon after the town was laid out. It has a money order postoffice with one rural delivery route, express and telegraph offices, several general stores and other business establishments, a bank, a grain elevator, and in 1910 reported a population of 200.
Agra, one of the principal towns of Phillips county, is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., 12 miles east of Phillipsburg, the county seat. It was first settled in 1888, was incorporated in 1904, and in 1910 reported a population of 347. Agra has a bank, a money order postoffice which supplies mail to the surrounding country by rural free delivery, grain elevators, a weekly newspaper-the Sentinel-good schools, churches, a considerable retail trade, and ships large quantities of grain and live stock.
Agricola, a village of Coffey county, is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., in Rock Island township, 20 miles northeast of Burlington, the county seat, and 6 miles from Waverly. It has tele- graph and express offices and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population according to the 1910 census was 100.
Agricultural College .- The official title of this institution is the "Kansas State Agricultural College." The Congress of the United States, by an act approved, July 2, 1862, entitled, "An act donating public lands to the several states and territories which may provide col- leges for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts," granted to the State of Kansas upon certain conditions, 90,000 acres of public lands for the endowment, support and maintenance of a college. The leading object of such colleges was to be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life; and when the legislature of Kansas in 1863 accepted the benefits of said act with its provisions, the foundation of the Kansas State Agricultural College was laid.
The location of the college may be attributed to the citizens of Man-
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KANSAS HISTORY
hattan, which city was founded in 1855 by the cooperation of two col- onies, one from New England and the other from Cincinnati. In the New England party were several college graduates who were active in the promotion of education. In 1857 an association was formed to build a college in or near Manhattan to be under the control of the Methodist Episcopal church of Kansas and to be called Bluemont Central College. The charter secured in Feb., 1858, provided for the establishment of a classical college but contained the following section "The said associa- tion shall have power to establish, in addition to the literary depart- ment of arts and sciences, an agricultural department, with separate pro- fessors, to test soils, experiment in the raising of crops, the cultivation of trees, etc., upon a farm set apart for the purpose, so as to bring out to the utmost practical results the agricultural advantages of prairie lands."
By a special act of Congress, title was secured to 100 acres of land, about one mile west of Manhattan, on which the institution was located. The growth of the college was slow and unsteady, because both money and students were scarce. In 1861 when locations for a state university were discussed, the trustees of Bluemont Central College offered their site and building to the state but their offer was refused. In 1863 when Kansas accepted the act of Congress giving land for an agricultural college, said college was. established in Riley county, provided that the trustees of Bluemont College cede its land to the state in fee simple. The Agricultural College was organized that same year with a board of trustees consisting of the governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, the president of the college ex officio, and nine oth- ers to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Later the board of regents was reduced to seven members. Four departments were named, to-wit: Agriculture; Mechanic Arts; Military Science and Tactics; Literature and Science.
From 1863 to 1873 the development of the college was much as it would have been, had the trustees of Bluemont College remained in control. The department of literature and science was fostered while the departments for which the school was especially founded were prac- tically ignored. The first faculty consisted of Rev. Joseph Denison, president and professor of ancient languages and mental and moral science; J. G. Schnebly, professor of natural science; Rev. N. O. Pres- ton, professor of mathematics and English literature; Jeremiah E. Platt, principal of the preparatory department; Miss Bell Haines, assistant teacher in preparatory department, and Mrs. Eliza C. Beckwith teacher of instrumental music. The first catalogue gives the names of 94 stu- dents in the preparatory department and 15 in the college. Fifteen stu- dents graduated in the period from 1863 to 1873. In 1867 a large board- ing hall for students was erected by parties in Manhattan. It was a fail- ure financially. The college was urged to buy it and did at a cost of $10,000. In 1868 about 200 varieties of forest and fruit trees were plant- ed. In 1871 a new farm of 155 acres was purchased for $29,832.71 in (I-3)
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, scrip. The city of Manhattan, fearing the agricultural college would be consolidated with the university at Lawrence, gave $12,000 (the re- sult of a bond election) toward the purchase.
MAIN BUILDING, AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
An act of legislation in 1873, reorganizing the state institutions, re- sulted in the appointment of a new board of regents. It elected Rev. John A. Anderson of Junction City to the place vacated by President Denison, who resigned the same year. Mr. Anderson changed the pol- icy of the college immediately. Through him and the board who sup- ported him, the Kansas State Agricultural College started on the mission it was intended to fulfill. Mr. Anderson believed in industrial education, and the reasons for his radical policies were published in 1874 in a "Hand Book of the Kansas State Agricultural College." Briefly told he thought prominence should be given to a study in proportion to the actual bene- fit expected to be derived from it; that, "The farmer and mechanic should be as completely educated as the lawyer or minister; but the information that is essential to one is often comparatively useless to the other and it is therefore unjust to compel all classes to pursue the same course of study." That ninety-seven per cent of Kansas people are in industrial vocations, so greater prominence should be given industrial studies. That each year's course of study should be, as far as possible, complete in itself because many students are unable to take a whole col- lege course. Mr. Anderson's views were unpopular but they met the approval of the board of regents to such an extent that they discontinued the department of literature and organized those of mechanic arts and
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KANSAS IIISTORY
agriculture ; the students were moved from the old farm to the new one; workshops in iron and wood, a sewing room, printing office, telegraph office and kitchen laboratory were equipped that industrial training might be given; and fifty minutes of manual training per day became compulsory for each student. After Mr. Anderson had been president three years Latin, French, German were discontinued; the preparatory course was abolished, thus shortening the whole course from six to four years; the grade of work was adjusted and lowered to connect with that done by the public schools.
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In 1875 the Mechanics' Hall was erected; in 1876 Horticultural Hall and the Chemical Laboratory; in 1877 the main part of the present barn was constructed (it was finished in 1886) ; and in 1879 the main hall, named in honor of Mr. Anderson, was built.
In 1878 Mr. Anderson resigned, and from Feb. to Dec., 1879, M. L. Ward was acting president of the college. Shortage of money made it a difficult year. The legislature of 1877 having voted "that not over $15,000 of the interest on the endowment fund shall be used to pay in- structors and teachers in said college until debts of said college be paid in full, and until said college shall refund to state all moneys advanced by the state to pay for instructors and running expenses of said college." The debt had been decreased during President Anderson's administra- tion but was not cleared until the state legislature passed an act liquidat- ing it.
George Thompson Fairchild, who succeeded Mr. Anderson, entered upon his duties as president of the college in Dec., 1879. He had been an instructor in the Michigan Agricultural College, so came well pre- pared to improve the college at Manhattan. He believed in a school that would combine the culture of a classical education with the useful- ness of manual training. He rearranged the course of study to combine theory and practice, added literature, psychology, etc., divided the school year into three terms, inaugurated a series of lectures, and appointed committees to take charge of the various branches of school life.
In 1890 the Federal government passed an act for the further endow- ment of agricultural colleges established under the provisions of an act of 1862. The act provided, "the sum of $15,000 for the year ending June 30, 1890, and an annual increase of the amount of such appropriation thereafter for ten years by an additional sum of $1,000 over the preced- ing year, and the average amount to be paid thereafter to each state and territory shall be $25,000, to be applied only to instruction in agriculture. the mechanic arts, the English language, and the various branches of mathematics, physical, natural and economic science, with special refer- ence to the industries of life and to the facilities for such instruction."
In 1907 the income of the agricultural college was further increased by what is known as the Nelson amendment to the agricultural appro- priation bill. "In accordance with the act of Congress approved July 2, 1862, and the act of Congress approved Aug. 30, 1890, the sum of $5,000, in addition to the sums named in said act, for the fiscal year end-
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ing June 30, 1908, and an annual increase of the amount of such appro- priation thereafter for four years by an additional sum of $5,000 over the preceding year, and the annual sum to be paid thereafter to each state and territory shall be $50,000 to be applied only for the purposes of the agricultural colleges as defined and limited in the act of Congress approved Aug. 30, 1890, provided, that said colleges may use a portion of this money for providing courses for the special preparation of in- structors for teaching the elements of agriculture and the mechanic arts.
A valuable adjunct to the Agricultural College is the Experiment Sta- tion. Some experiment work in forest planting was commenced by the college as early as 1868. In 1874 experiments in the cultivation of tame grasses were started by Prof. Shelton. These were followed by experi- ments in subsoiling, feeding, etc., but all work was carried on in a small way at the expense of the college until Congress passed the Hatch bill in March, 1887, providing for the organization of a station for experi- ments along agricultural lines in each state. This station was located at the Agricultural College by the state legislature and the management vested in a council consisting of the president, the professors of agricul- ture, horticulture and entomology, chemistry, botany, and veterinary science. The Hatch bill provided for an annual Congressional appro- . priation of $15,000 for experimental work.
In 1906, another appropriation was made for the Experiment Station, under what is known as the Adams act, which provided "for the more complete endowment and maintenance of the agricultural experiment stations," a sum beginning with $5,000, and increasing each year by $2,000 over the preceding year for five years, after which time the annual appropriation is to be $15,000, "to be applied to paying the necessary expenses of conducting original researches or experiments bearing di- rectly on the agricultural industry of the United States, having due re- gard to the varying conditions and needs of the respective states and territories." Under the Adams act only such experiments may be en- tered upon as have first been approved by the office of experiment sta- tions of the United States department of agriculture. In 1908, the legis- lature of Kansas appropriated $15,000 for further support of the Ex- periment Station.
The work of the station is published in bulletin form, of which there are three classes: The first are purely scientific, the second are sim- plified to meet the intelligence of the average reader and include all other bulletins in which a "brief, condensed and popular presentation is made of data which call for immediate application and cannot await publication in the regular bulletin series." In addition to these the sta- tion publishes a series of circulars of useful information not necessarily new or original. The station has issued 167 bulletins, 183 press bulle- tins and 8 circulars.
While the main division of the station is at Manhattan it has branches at Fort Hayes, Garden City, Ogallah and Dodge City. The land at Fort Hays is of the high rolling prairie variety and was originally part
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KANSAS HISTORY
of the Fort Hays military reservation, which from disuse was turned over to the department of interior in. 1889 for disposal. In 1895 the Kansas legislature asked Congress to donate the whole reservation of 7,200 acres to the State of Kansas for agricultural education and re- search, for the training of teachers, and for a public park, but it was not until 1900 that Kansas secured the land. The work of this station is con- fined to the problems of the western part of the state. This land is suitable for experimental and demonstration work in dry farming, irri- gation and crops, forest and orchard tests. This station is supported by state funds, and sales of farm products.
The station at Garden City is located upon unirrigated upland which the Agricultural College leased from the county commissioners of Fin- ney county for 99 years. "It is an experimental and demonstration" farm operated in conjunction with the United States department of agri- culture for purpose of determining the methods of culture, crop varieties and crop rotation best suited for the southwestern portion of the state, under dry land farming conditions.
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