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 40
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It is called the Asiatic cholera because it has for centuries had its home in the East, though some medical writers insist that under another name it has been epidemic in other parts of the world. In his History of India, Mill says: "Spasmodic cholera had been known in India from the remotest periods, and had at times committed fearful ravages. Its effects, however, were in general restricted in particular seasons and localities, and were not so extensively diffused as to attract notice or excite alarm. In the middle of 1817, however, the disease assumed a new form, and became a widely spread and fatal epidemic."
This is said to have been the first great cholera epidemic recorded in history. In 1830 the disease made its first appearance in Europe, where its nature was recognized the following year, and in 1832 it crossed the ocean to the United States. The coast cities in the north- ern states were the first to suffer, after which the disease extended westward to the Ohio river, then descended that stream and the Mississippi to New Orleans, where it wrought fearful havoc, as many as 500 deaths occurring in one day. The disease also reached some
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of the western tribes of Indians, the Sacs and Foxes losing many of their "braves" through cholera. A few cases appeared along the rivers each year until 1835, but at no time was the mortality any where near as great as in 1832.
In 1848 there was another visitation of cholera, beginning at New Orleans late in the year. In April, 1849, it reached St. Louis, and before the close of the year over 4,000 deaths from cholera were reported in that city. Gold seekers, on their way to California, came in con- tact with the malady at St. Louis, and several of the steamboats ascend- ing the Missouri carried cholera patients, thus aiding in the spread of the disease. One of these boats, the "Sacramento," arrived at St. Joseph on April 21 and reported one death on the trip. The "James Monroe" left St. Louis with a large number of California emigrants, but by the time Jefferson City was reached the epidemic on board had become so alarming that the officers and crew deserted the steamer, which lay at Jefferson City for several months before being taken back to St. Louis. In September the news was received at St. Louis that the cholera was raging among the Indians of the northwest as far north as the headwaters of the Mississippi. The Eighth United States infantry, which was on duty in the West, lost about one-third of its members, Gen. Worth being one of the victims. About 900 deaths from cholera occurred at St. Louis in 1850, and a few deaths were reported in 1851. Among those who died in the latter year was Father Christian Hoecken, the Jesuit missionary, whose death occurred on board the "St. Ange" while ascending the Missouri river to the scene of his labors. In the summer of 1855 the steamboat "Golden State" left St. Louis for the trip up the Missouri river with several hundred Mormons on board. Cholera broke out in the steerage and a number of the passengers died.
It was in this year that the cholera appeared among the white peo- ple of Kansas for the first time. On Aug. 1, 1855, a case was dis- covered at Fort Riley. The disease developed rapidly, and on the 2nd there were several deaths. Panic seized the troops and the citizens in the vicinity of the fort, and all who could get away left at the first opportunity. Even the surgeon at the fort abandoned his post, leaving Maj. Ogden to act as both commander and surgeon. Fifteen deaths occurred on the 3d, among them the gallant Ogden. His remains were later taken to New York, but the attaches of the fort erected a monu- ment there to commemorate his fidelity and his unselfish efforts in striving to check the ravages of the disease and administer comfort to the sufferers. Various estimates have been made as to the number of deaths, but at this late day accurate figures are difficult to obtain. It is possible that not less than 100 lost their lives as victims of the scourge in 1855.
Another epidemic, and one more wide-spread and more fatal in its results, occurred in the summer of 1867. On July I the first case was reported at Fort Harker. At that time the population of the town of
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Ellsworth, not far from the fort, was about 1,000. As soon as the news reached the town there was a general hegira, and in a few days the population was less than 100. The Eighteenth Kansas battalion was at the fort, and Company C lost 13 of its members, the other com- panies suffering less severely. About a week later the battalion was ordered to the southwest, and on the 16th encamped on Walnut creek, about 10 miles above Fort Zarah. Col. H. L. Moore, commanding the battalion, in an address before the Kansas Historical Society on Jan. 19, 1897, said :
"The day brought no new cases, and everybody felt cheerful, hop- ing that the future had nothing worse in store than a meeting with hostile Indians. By 8 p. m. supper was over, and in another hour the camp became a hospital of screaming cholera patients. Men were seized with cramping of the stomach, bowels, and muscles of the arms and legs. The doctor and his medicines were powerless to resist the disease. One company had been sent away on a scout, as soon as the command reached camp, and of the three companies remaining in camp the morning of the 17th found 5 dead and 36 stretched on the ground in a state of collapse."
That morning the quartermaster and commissary stores were thrown away, the sick were loaded in wagons, and the battalion resumed its march. Strange as it may appear, not a man died during the day, and when the command went into camp that night near Pawnee Rock some one shot a buffalo calf, from which soup was made for the invalids. This gave them additional strength and hope, and a little later they vere all turned over to the surgeon at Fort Larned.
Concerning the epidemic at Fort Hays this year the official records of the surgeon-general's office say: "The first case at Fort Hays was a citizen who had just arrived from Salina. On the same day, July II, a colored soldier of the garrison was taken sick and died next day. During July, August and September 33 cases and 23 deaths are reported among the colored troops, whose mean strength during the three months was 215 men. Sept. I a white soldier was attacked, but recovered; the rest of the white troops, averaging during the three months 34 men, escaped." '
This report does not include any account of the ravages among the citizens, but it is known that the settlements along Big creek were stricken with terror and that many of the people abandoned their homes. Rumors of the fatality have no doubt been greatly exaggerated, but the epidemic was a severe one all over the western part of the state. R. M. Wright, in his "Personal Reminiscences," in volume VII, Kan- sas Collections, says: "The cholera was perfectly awful that summer on the plains ; it killed soldiers, government employees, Santa Fe traders and emigrants. Many new graves dotted the roadsides and camping places, making fresh landmarks."
Gen. Custer was at Fort Wallace when the news of the epidemic reached him. Fearing for the safety of his wife, who was at Fort
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Riley, he left his regiment under command of a subordinate officer and, with an escort of 100 men, under Capt. Hamilton, hurried toward Fort Riley. For thus abandoning his command without orders, Custer was tried by a court-martial and sentenced to "loss of rank and pay for one year," though part of the sentence was afterward remitted upon the recommendation of Gen. Sheridan.
· The disease broke out among the Wichita Indians, where the city of Wichita now stands, and in what is now the northern part of the city early settlers found over 100 Indian graves, one being that of Owaha, the hereditary war chief. About the middle of the summer orders came from Washington for the Indians to remove to their old homes on the Washita, but they refused to go until their crops were gathered. In the fall they started for the Washita, but the scourge accompanied them, and at Skeleton creek so many of their dead were left unburied that their bleaching bones gave name to the stream. Other Indian tribes also suffered. The cattle trade was seriously inter- fered with, whole herds sometimes being left without any one able to look after them because herders were stricken with cholera. This was especially true along what was known as the Abilene cattle trail, and also along the old Chisholm trail.
For a long time cholera was supposed to be as contagious as small- pox, but in the latter 'Sos the investigations of such eminent physicians as Koch and Emmerich of Germany, and Jenkins of New York, have demonstrated that the disease is due to certain forms of bacilli, that it is not contagious, and that it can easily be prevented from becom- ing epidemic by proper sanitation and the prompt isolation of cases. The theories of these men were thoroughly tested in 1892, when four vessels arrived about the same time in New York harbor, each report- ing deaths from "cholerine" during the passage. The vessels were detained at quarantine, and by order of President Harrison a large num- ber of tents were sent to Sandy Hook early in September for the accommodation of the passengers until the danger was past. The epidemic was quite severe on board the ships and in the isolation camp, but the quarantine officers were so strict in the enforcement of the regulations established that only two deaths were reported in the city of New York, thus demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed methods in dealing with the disease.
While the above mentioned conditions prevailed at New York, the Kansas State Board of Health was not idle. On Sept. 15, 1892, a cir- cular was sent out to the local boards of health, in which was the fol- lowing statement: "Asiatic cholera is today kept from our midst only through the excellence of our maritime quarantine service. The danger to us is imminent. If it does not eventually elude the vigilance which has thus far kept it at bay, it will be a fortunate exception to the usual history of the disease."
As precautionary measures, the state board recommended : Ist. Thorough sanitary inspection of every city, town and village; 2nd, The
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drainage of stagnant ponds and low, wet grounds ; 3d, Careful cleansing and disinfection of all sewers, public drains, privy vaults, slaughter houses, pig pens, etc .; 4th, The destruction, entire and complete, of all accumulations of filth that may be discovered; 5th, Inspection of markets as to quality of food offered for sale; 6th, Advising the people not to eat unripe, partially decayed or indigestible fruit or vegetables.
On March 10, 1893, Gov. Lewelling approved an act of the legislature then in session authorizing the state board to establish and maintain quarantine stations whenever any part of the state was threatened with Asiatic cholera, and appropriating $10,000 for the fiscal years 1894-95. The act also provided severe penalities for failure to observe the regulations prescribed by the board of health. The stringency of the quarantine at New York prevented the disease from spreading to the interior, and by the act of Feb. 13, 1895, the Kansas legislature ordered the unexpended balance of the cholera appropriation of 1893 covered into the general fund. Since the successful quarantine at New York but little has been heard of the cholera in this country, and it is highly improbable that the United States will ever again experience a severe epidemic-a splendid illustration of the truth of the old adage, "Knowledge is power."
· Choteau, a hamlet of Johnson county, is located in the northern part on the south bank of the Kansas river and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. about 12 miles southwest of Kansas City. It was named from the trading post established in this locality by the Chouteau brothers about 1827, but has never lived up to early expectations. The mail for the town is received at Holliday, about three-quarters of a mile east.
Chouteaus, The .- Among the early French traders and trappers who operated in the country from St. Louis west in the latter part of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth, the name of Chouteau stands preeminent. Auguste Chouteau, one of the founders of the city of St. Louis, was born at New Orleans on Aug. 14, 1750. In the early part of the year 1764, although not yet 14 years of age, he was sent up the Missouri river from Fort Chartres by his step-father, Pierre Liguest, with a company of 30 men to select a site for trading post, and it is said that the boy's suggestions led to the selection of the spot where St. Louis now stands. After Liguest's death, Auguste succeeded to the business, and later formed a partnership with John Jacob Astor which was the inception of the American Fur company. In 1794 he built Fort Carondelet in the Osage country; was commissioned colonel of the militia in 1808; and in 1815 was appointed one of the commissioners to make treaties with the Indians who had fought on the side of the British in the War of 1812, the other two commissioners being Ninian Edwards and William Clark. He was one of the first trustees of the town of St. Louis; served as justice of the peace and as judge of the court of common pleas ; was the first president of the Bank of Missouri, and held other important positions. His policy in dealing with the Indians was
(I-22)
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to treat them fairly, and he enjoyed the confidence and friendship of the red men until his death, which occurred on Feb. 24, 1829. His tombstone in the Catholic cemetery at St. Louis bears the epitaph: "Sa vie a ete un modele de vertus civilles et Sociales."
Jean Pierre Chouteau, a brother of Auguste, was born at New Orleans on Oct. 10, 1758, and as soon as he was old enough he engaged in the fur trade. He established several trading posts in the Indian country, one of which was on the upper Osage river in what is now southwestern Missouri. Soon after Louisiana was ceded to the United States, he gave up the fur trade and became a merchant in St. Louis, where he died on July 10, 1849.
About 1825 Frederick, Francis G. and Cyprian Chouteau, three brothers of a younger generation, received a license to trade with cer- tain Indian tribes west of the Missouri river, and immediately set about the establishment of trading posts in their new domain. As there were no roads at that time, their goods were transported through the woods on the backs of pack-horses. Chittenden, in his American Fur Trade, says that Francis G. Chouteau started a post on an island 3 miles below Kansas City, but that the flood of 1826 washed it into the river. He then went about 10 miles up the Kansas river and established a new post. For some time he was superintendent of the trading posts of the American Fur company. In 1828 he established his residence in Kansas City, where he passed the remainder of his life, his son, P. M. Chouteau, succeeding to the business.
Frederick Chouteau was born in St. Louis in 1810. When he first came to the Kansas valley in 1825, he and his brother Cyprian first built trading houses about 5 miles above Wyandotte (Kansas City) on the south side of the Kansas river, where they traded with the Shawnee and Delaware Indians. A little later another post was established farther up the river. Daniel Boone, in a letter to W. W. Cone of Topeka, dated Aug. II, 1879, says: "Frederick Chouteau's brother established his trading post across the river from my father's residence the same fall we moved to the agency, in the year 1827." Two or three years later Frederick Chouteau went up the river to the mouth of Mission creek, about 10 miles above the present city of Topeka, and opened a trading house there, taking his goods up the Kansas river in keel boats. This post was maintained until about 1842, when it was abandoned, and a new one was started on Mill creek in Johnson county. Here the floods destroyed practically everything he had in 1844 and forced him to move to higher ground. He was then engaged in the Indian trade at Council Grove until 1852 or 1853, when he returned to Johnson coun- ty. He was burned out by Quantrill in 1862, but rebuilt and passed the remainder of his life in that county. Frederick Chouteau was married four times, two of his wives having been Indian women, and by his four marriages became the father of eleven children.
Pierre Chouteau, Jr., a grandson of Auguste, was born at St. Louis on Jan. 19, 1789. In 1813 he entered the fur trade in partnership with
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a man named Berthold, and later was a member of the firm of Bernard Pratte & Co., which still later took the name of Pratte, Chouteau & Co. This firm purchased the western department of the American Fur com- pany in 1834. In 1831 Pierre Chouteau, Jr., was a passenger on the steamer "Yellowstone" up the Missouri river. About the last of May the steamboat was compelled to tie up just below the mouth of the Niobrara river on account of low water. While waiting there it was Mr. Chou- teau's custom to go ashore each day and pace up and down the bluffs looking for signs of rain. From this the place took the name of "Chou- teau's Bluffs," by which it is still known.
Chouteau's Island, an island in the Arkansas river, was one of the landmarks of the old Santa Fe trail. It may seem strange that a land- mark of such a character would get lost, but Chouteau's island has been located in several places. Probably the earliest mention of it in any written account was that made by Jacob Fowler in his journal of Glenn's Expedition. Coues, in a note on page 32 of Fowler's journal, says: "If there has been but one of this name, Chouteau's island has floated a good many miles up and down the river-at least, in books I have sought on the subject."
Inman's "Old Santa Fe Trail" (p. 40) says: "The island on which Chouteau established his trading post, and which bears his name even to this day, is in the Arkansas river on the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. . . . While occupying this island, Chou- teau and his old hunters and trappers were attacked by about 300 Pawnees, whom they repulsed with the loss of 30 killed and wounded. These Indians afterward declared that it was the most fatal affair in which they were ever engaged. It was their first acquaintance with American guns."
He also describes the island as a "beautiful spot, with a rich carpet of grass and delightful groves, and on the American side was a heavily timbered bottom." On page 42, in referring to Beard's party being obliged to remain for three months "on an island not far from where the town of Cimarron, on the Santa Fe railroad is now situated," he identifies the island as Chouteau's.
Capt. P. St. George Cooke, when parleying with the outlaw Snively (See Santa Fe Trail), said: "Your party is in the United States; the line has not been surveyed and marked, but the common judgment agrees that it strikes the river near the Caches, which you know is above this ; some think it will strike as high as Chouteau's island, 60 miles above the Caches."
Thwaites, in his "Early Western Travels," locates the island "In the upper ford of the Arkansas river, just above the present town of Hart- land, Kearny county, Kan.," and further says: "The name dates from the disastrous expedition of 1815-17, when Chouteau retreated to this island to withstand a Comanche attack." (Vol. 19, p. 185.)
This coincides with the statement of Capt. Cooke, that the island is 60 miles above the Caches. In the notes accompanying Brown's original
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survey of the Santa Fe trail is the following statement regarding this island: "It is the largest island of timber seen on the river, and on the south side of the river at the lower end of the island is a thicket of wil- lows with some cottonwood trees. On the north side of the river the hills approach tolerably nigh and on one of them is a sort of mound con- spicuous at some miles distant."
From this description, coupled with information from other sources, the island has been located by later writers in section 14, township 25, range 37 west, which brings it near the town of Hartland, as suggested by Thwaites, and which is no doubt the correct location. There is also a difference of opinion as to whether Chouteau had a trading post on the island. Inman states positively that he established a post there, and other writers make the same statement, but Chittenden, in his "Amer- ican Fur Trade" (p. 540), says: "Chouteau's island was a well known point on the upper Arkansas. The name dates from the Chouteau-De Munn expedition of 1815-17. While on his way to the Missouri in the spring of 1816 with the furs collected during the previous winter, Chou- teau was attacked by a war party of 200 Pawnees and lost I man killed and 3 wounded. He retreated to an island in the Arkansas where he could more effectually defend himself and the name arose from this incident. Chouteau did not have any trading post here, as asserted by some authorities."
Christadelphians, or Brothers of Christ .- In 1844 John Thomas came to America from England and soon after landing in the New World became identified with the Disciples of Christ (q. v.), but within a short time his views on religion changed. He became convinced that "the cardinal doctrines of the existing churches corresponded with those of the apostolic church predicted in the Scripture; that the only authori- tative creed was the Bible, the originals of which were inspired of God in such a manner and to such an extent as to secure absolute truth- fulness; and that the churches should strive to return to primitive Christianity in doctrine, precept and practice."
He soon began to publish these views and organized a number of societies in the United States, Canada and England. No name was adopted until the outbreak of the Civil war, when the members applied to the government to be exempted from military duty because of con- scientious scruples, and finding it necessary to have a distinctive name adopted that of Christadelphians. They do not accept the doctrine of the trinity, holding that Christ was son of God and son of man, mani- festing divine power and working out man's salvation, of which he was the only medium; that the soul is by nature mortal and that eternal life is given by God only to the righteous; that Christ will come to earth personally to raise and judge his saints and set up a Kingdom of God in place of human governments. Admission to membership is upon con- fession of faith in the doctrines of the church and baptism by immersion. The policy of the church is congregational, each congregation conduct- ing its own affairs. They have no ordained ministers, those who speak
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and conduct services being called lecturing or serving brethren. Usually their meetings are held in halls or private residences. There are no associations of the congregations or ecclesias as they are called, although they have fraternal gatherings. In 1890 there were four organizations in Kansas, one each in Barber, Cherokee, Elk and Shawnee counties, with a total membership of 39. By 1906 the organizations had dropped to 3 but the membership had increased to 58.
Christian Church, or Diciples of Christ, sometimes called Campbellites, is one of the distinctively American church organizations. It grew out of a great revival movement which began in northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky about the beginning of the nineteenth century. One of the centers of this revival was Cane Ridge, Ky., and John Allen Gano, one of the earliest of the disciples, at a meeting held June 22, 1845, said, "The first churches planted and organized since the great apostacy, with the Bible as the only creed or church book, and the name Christian as the only name, were organized in Kentucky in the year 1804. Of these the Cane Ridge was the first."
The organizers of this church decided to take the Bible as the standard of faith to the exclusion of all creeds, and believed the name "Christian" to have been given the disciples by divine authority. Similar move- ments took place in other sections of the country about the same time. Thomas Campbell, a Presbyterian minister, arrived in the United States and began to preach in western Pennsylvania, where people of various Presbyterian denominations resided and he invited all to his communion. This caused dissention and charges were preferred against him. He insisted that he was acting according to the Bible and began to preach a restoration of apostolic Christianity, protesting against creeds and advocating the sufficiency of the scriptures, but at no time advocated separation from the fellowship of the church. Many were converted to the new belief and the Christian Association was formed. Campbell asked for admission to it but there was so much controversy over his admission that the members of his church formed an independent Church of Christ on May 4, 1810, under the name of "The First Church of the Christian Association of Washington." In 1812, the question of baptism came up. The Campbells, father and son, were immersed and at the next meeting of the church other members of the organization expressed a desire to be immersed upon confession of faith. From that time the church accepted baptism as a divine ordinance and the custom has been maintained.
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