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 83

Author: Blackmar, Frank Wilson, 1854-1931, ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Standard publishing company
Number of Pages: 954

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 83

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Freemasons .- The first meeting of a Masonic lodge in Kansas was in the hall of the Sons of Temperance at Wyandotte (now Kansas City), Aug. 11, 1854. This was a meeting of Grove Lodge, which was organized under a dispensation from the Missouri grand lodge, dated Aug. 4, 1854. In that dispensation John M. Chivington was named as worshipful master; Matthew R. Walker, senior warden; and Cyrus Ganett, junior warden. In the petition asking for the dispensation, the residence of Matthew R. Walker was named as the meeting place, but it was later decided to hold the meetings in the Sons of Temperance hall. The name of the lodge appears in the records of the Missouri grand lodge as "Kansas Lodge," though the name Grove was given in the dispensation. The name was subsequently changed to Wyandotte.

On Oct. 6, 1854, the Missouri grand lodge issued a dispensation to Smithfield (afterward Smithton) Lodge, with John W. Smith, worship- ful master; S. Reinheart, senior warden; and D. D. Vanderslice, junior warden. The first meeting of this lodge was held on Nov. 30, 1854, on a high hill overlooking the Missouri river, not far from the residence of John W. Smith. A burr oak stump was used for an altar, and the tyler, who guarded against the approach of outsiders, was mounted on a horse. The lodge continued to meet on this hill until after it received its charter in June, 1855, when a meeting place was found "in a warehouse at the residence of Brother John H. Whitehead, secretary of the lodge, about 10 miles from Smithton." On Nov. 8,. 1856, the lodge was removed to the Nemaha Indian agency, near the present village of Sparks, Doni- phan county, where meetings were held until June 5, 1857, when a hall was secured at Iowa Point. On Jan. 20, 1872, the lodge was removed to Highland, where it still remains.

The third lodge organized in the territory was at Leavenworth, the dispensation from the Missouri grand lodge being dated Dec. 30, 1854. with Richard R. Rees, worshipful master; Archibald Payne, senior war- den ; and Auley Macauley, junior warden.

On May 30, 1855, the Missouri grand lodge adopted the report of the committee on lodges under dispensation, which recommended that

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charters be issued to the three Kansas lodges. In compliance with this action of the grand lodge, Smithton Lodge was chartered as No. 140, Leavenworth, No. 150, and Kansas (afterward Wyandotte), No. 153. Had the charter numbers corresponded to the dates of the dispensations, Kansas Lodge would have been No. 140, Smithton, No. 150, and Leaven- worth, No. 153.

A dispensation was granted to Lawrence Lodge on Sept. 24, 1855, with James Christian as worshipful master; James S. Cowan, senior warden; and Columbus Hornsby, junior warden. Kickapoo Lodge received a dispensation dated Nov. 5, 1855, in which John H. Sahler was designated as worshipful master; P. M. Hodges, senior warden; and Charles H. Grover, junior warden. Both these lodges received charters from the Missouri grand lodge on May 26, 1856.

In the meantime, however, the Kansas Masons had decided to cast off their allegiance to the grand lodge of Missouri and organize a grand jurisdiction of their own. On Sept. 15, 1855, the following resolution was adopted by Leavenworth Lodge: "Resolved, that the several chartered lodges in this territory be requested to send in delegates to Leavenworth on the second Monday in November next, for the purpose of organizing a grand lodge in the territory, and that the secretary forward to each lodge a copy of this resolution."

Leavenworth and Smithton Lodges were the only ones represented at the meeting in November, and an adjournment was taken to Dec. 27, following. At the adjourned meeting Leavenworth and Smithton were again the only lodges represented, but those present adopted a reso- lution to organize a grand lodge, "and that a copy of the proceedings of this convention be forwarded to Wyandotte Lodge, No. 153, with a request that they cooperate with us and approve the proceedings of this convention ; and that so soon as Wyandotte Lodge shall inform the grand master-elect of their approval and cooperation in the proceedings of this convention, then the grand master-elect shall be installed as grand master and immediately issue his proclamation declaring this grand lodge fully organized."

The records do not show that the grand master then elected was ever installed, but in Feb., 1856, the Wyandotte Lodge signified its approval and cooperation, and on March 17 another meeting was held at Leaven- worth, at which all three of the chartered lodges were represented, when the organization of the grand lodge was completed. The charters. received from the Missouri grand lodge were deposited with the grand secretary and new charters were issued, Smithton Lodge becoming No. I, Leavenworth, No. 2, and Wyandotte, No. 3. On July 14, 1856, Kick- apoo Lodge was chartered as No. 4, Washington Lodge at Atchison, the first organized by the Kansas grand lodge, as No. 5, and Lawrence Lodge as No. 6. Since that time the growth of Masonry in Kansas has kept pace with her growth in other directions, the reports of the grand lodge in Feb., 1911, showing 390 chartered lodges and 4 working under dispensation, with a total membership of 35,496 on Dec. 31, 1910.

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Following is a list of the grand masters since the organization of the grand lodge : Richard R. Rees, 1856-59; George H. Fairfield, 1860; Jacob Saqui, 1861-65; Moses S. Adams, 1866-67; John H. Brown, 1868-70; John M. Price, 1871-72; Owen A. Bassett, 1873-74; Isaac B. Sharp, 1875; Jacob D. Rush, 1876; John Guthrie, 1877; Edwin D. Hillyer, 1878; Joseph D. McCleverty, 1879-80; William Cowgill, 1881-82; George S. Green, 1883; J. J. Buck, 1884; M. M. Miller, 1885; Silas E. Sheldon, 1886; Henry C. Cook, 1887; Watson M. Lamb, 1888; George C. Kenyon, 1889; J. C. Postlethwaite, 1890; Andrew M. Callahan, 1891 ; David B. Fuller, 1892; William D. Thompson, 1893; George W. Clark, 1894; James H. McCall, 1895 ; Chiles C. Coleman, 1896; William M. Shaver, 1897; Maurice L. Stone, 1898; Henry C. Loomis, 1899; Charles J. Webb, 1900; Perry M. Hoisington, 1901; Thomas E. Dewey, 1902; Bestor G. Brown, 1903; Thomas G. Fitch, 1904; Samuel R. Peters, 1905; Thomas L. Bond, 1906; E. W. Wellington, 1907; Henry F. Mason, 1908; Fred Washbon, 1909; M. K. Brundage, 1910; Alexander A. Sharp, 19II.

C. T. Harrison was the first grand secretary, holding the office but one year. Charles Mundee then served until 1860; E. T. Carr from 1861 to 1870; John H. Brown from 1871 to 1893, and since then the office has been held by Albert K. Wilson.

The first Royal Arch chapter was organized at Atchison and named Washington Chapter, No. I. Chapters were soon afterward instituted at Leavenworth and Fort Scott. On Jan. 27, 1866, representatives of the three Royal Arch bodies met at Leavenworth and organized the grand chapter, with Richard R. Rees as the first grand high priest. In IgII there were 90 chapters in the state.

The grand council was organized at Leavenworth on Dec. 12, 1867, by delegates from the councils at Leavenworth, Lawrence and Atchison. Richard R. Rees was elected the first most puissant grand master. Thirteen councils were reported in 1911.

By 1868 there had been organized in the state four Knights Templars commanderies. They were Leavenworth, No. 1; Washington, No. 2, at Atchison ; Hugh de Payen, No. 3, at Fort Scott ; and DeMolay, No. 4, at Lawrence. On Oct. 21, 1868, delegates from these four. commanderies met at Lawrence and organized the grand commandery. In 1911 there were 54 commanderies in the state.

Kansas has six Scottish Rite consistories-at Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, Salina, Fort Scott and Wichita-and four temples of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, located at Salina, Leavenworth, Pittsburg and Wichita. There are also a number of chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star, a degree to which the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of Master Masons in good standing are admitted. The Eastern Star originated in New York in 1868, and in 1910 there were over 500,000 members in the United States, of which Kansas had a fair proportion.

Freeport, one of the smaller incorporated towns of Harper county, is located on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 12 miles northeast of Anthony, the (I-44)

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county seat. It has a score of business houses, a bank, an elevator, a money order postoffice with one rural route, and is supplied with express and telegraph offices. The population in 1910 was 250.

Freighting, Overland .- Prior to the advent of the railroads west of the Missouri river, the transportation of freight to points in the remote west was an important problem. The immense traffic had its inception with the Santa Fe traders over the trail that led from Independence, Mo., to the southwest. This business was greatly increased a few years later when the Oregon, Utah and California emigrants pushed into the heart of the far west When the discovery of gold near Pike's Peak became known the rush that followed was almost unparalleled in the annals of history. This subject has never been thoroughly written up and it is impossible at this date to give any approximate estimate of the under- taking.

The Santa Fe trade grew from the start and as early as 1854 as much as $1,000,000 worth of goods annually were transported to that place, which figures were greatly increased before the era of railroads. Josiah Gregg, of Independence, was one of the earliest freighters, and in his "Commerce of the Prairies," published in 1840, gives a good description of those early times, though it was published a little prior to the great freighting era. Bent, Aubrey and Maxwell were other well known freighters on this great trail. These men with loaded wagons averaged about 32 miles a day, and about 42 with empty ones, always stopping at noon and taking the harness off their mules and allowing them to run loose to graze and roll while the men cooked and ate dinner. Wagon trains along the Santa Fe trail numbered from six to fifty wagons each, every wagon being drawn by from six to eight spans of mules or as many yoke of oxen. During the period when Indians were trouble- some the smaller outfits always travelled in company with the larger ones, and at one time no wagon trains with less than fifty wagons were allowed to pass Fort Larned. At night these wagons were arranged in a circle and the stock placed inside to prevent stampeding by Indians.

With the opening of the Oregon trail (q. v.) an immense business developed in that quarter. This trail had its start from Independence Mo., and up to the time of the Mormon emigration was practically the only route to the Pacific coast. On the completion of the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney, considerably shortening the haul from the Missouri river to that point, the transportation of freight and passengers was almost entirely abandoned over the Independence road, starting west from Fort Leavenworth, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs.

In the early fifties the firm of Majors & Russell, freighters, of Fort Leavenworth, obtained a contract for the transportation of all govern- ment freight that was sent from this post to other military outposts in the western country. Some idea of the extent of this undertaking may be gleaned from the fact that in 1856 this firm had 350 wagons employed and their profits for the year amounted to about $350,000. In 1858 this

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firm, then known as Russell, Majors & Waddel, obtained the contract for the transportation of supplies to Utah for the army of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. Up to this time the most of the government supplies had been forwarded west from Fort Leavenworth, but with this con- tract it became imperative to have another base of supplies, as the load- ing and unloading of hundreds of thousands of pounds of freight at any point would seriously retard business, and accordingly Nebraska City was chosen. This year the freight offered by the government amounted to over 16,000,000 pounds and the firm had to increase their transporta- tion facilities to 3,500 wagons and more than 40,000 oxen. To handle this immense business it required over 4,000 men and about 1,000 mules. All this freight was finally gotten through to its destination, and the wagons after being unloaded were taken to Salt Lake City and placed as closely together as they could be. After remaining there for a year they were sold to the Mormon authorities for $10 each, having cost at the factory from $150 to $175. The oxen were carefully looked over and about 3,500 were selected to drive to California to place on the market there. They were first driven to Ruby Valley, Nev., which was thought to be a good place to go into winter quarters. Soon after reaching there, however, a great snow storm set in and continued for several days with unabated fury. In less than forty days after reaching the valley all but about 200 of the animals were frozen to death, not being able to obtain any subsistence. About $150,000 was lost in this disaster. In 1857 · Indians attacked a herd of about 1,000 oxen owned by the firm that were being grazed on the Platte river west of Fort Kearney, killed the herd- ers and scattered the animals. This was also a complete loss. This firm employed six yoke of oxen to each wagon which contained from 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of freight. Trail wagons were not then used. Twenty-five wagons and the necessary teams constituted a "train," and these trains were scattered along the road at intervals of from 2 to 10 miles apart, so as to keep out of each other's way. This firm finally failed in 1863 and much of their equipment fell into the hands of Augus- tus and Peter Byram, who took the same to Atchison and conducted a freighting business from that place. These gentlemen had previously been employed by the firm as yard and wagon master, respectively.

Atchison from early days was one of the most important points for freighting along the Missouri river. Cutler's history of Kansas says : "In June, 1855, Atchison was selected by a number of Salt Lake freight- ers-the heaviest in the country-for their outfitting and starting point on the Missouri river. This is what gave the place its first business start, and the great channel through which this immense traffic poured- the great overland route to Utah and California-brought Atchison into intimate communication with the whole west." In 1860 the following firms were doing a freighting business with headquarters at this place : Irwin, Jackman & Co., government freighters, with 520 wagons, 75 mules, 6,240 oxen, and 650 men ; D. D. White & Co., with 125 wagons, 22 mules ; 1,542 oxen and 52 men; Livingston, Bell & Co .; Jones & Cartwright ; J.

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B. Doyle & Co .; M. Elsback & Co .; John Dold & Bro .; Robert & Lauder- dale; Hugh Murdock, and others. In that year there were 1,328 wagons, 502 mules, 15,303 oxen and 1,549 drivers employed in the business out of Atchison. In 1865 over 21,500,000 pounds of freight were received at Atchinson for shipment, a considerable portion being destined for Denver. The Butterfield Overland Despatch (q. v.) was started this year and at once became a formidable competitor, but on account of troubles with the Indians was soon forced out of business. Wagon trains running out of Atchison carried from 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of freight each, and averaged their owners about $400 for the trip to Den- ver, making an average of 14 miles a day and consuming 90 days in a round trip. The slow gait of oxen precluded their making over three round trips a year. Mules, however, made much better time, requiring from thirty to forty days for the trip and return. From 12 to 16 cents a pound was the charge for freight hauled by mule teams during the sum- mer months, while in winter as much as 25 cents a pound was asked and obtained. During the '6os as many as five steamboats at one time have been at the Atchison levee discharging freight for western points.

Leavenworth was also an important point as a freighting center. In 1855 Majors, Russell & Co. were the largest freighters, the bulk of their business being transportation of government supplies. Clayton & Lowe, Powers & Newman, and others were engaged extensively in the business during the latter '50s. In 1862 Toussant & Boucher, Burris & Trow- bridge, John S. Hamill, Lewis H. Hershfield, Lawrence Page, David W. Powers, Everett Stanley and Thomas H. Young were doing a freight- ing business. The following year eleven firms were similarly engaged. In 1865 no less than forty-seven firms were employed in freighting, among whom were A. Caldwell, J. C. Irwin, David Powers, B. L. Burris and others.

With the discovery of gold near Pike's Peak, on Cherry creek, the real rush begun. Every trail, road and short cut leading towards these new diggings was soon crowded with freighting outfits of every sort, loaded down with stocks of merchandise intended to supply every possible human want; lined with adventurous individuals in lighter vehicles, who pushed on as fast as horse flesh could endure the strain ; men on horse- back; men with push carts; toy wagons and wheelbarrows, and last but not least, an ever increasing army on foot, with their earthly possessions tied in a package and slung over a shoulder. This rush started in 1858 and by 1859 had reached the flood stage. The greater part of this travel went over the California road, while much went up the Kaw river and up the Smoky Hill valley; up the divide between the Republican and Chapman creeks; and much by way of the Sante Fe and Pike's Peak trails.

With the advent of the railroads the prairie schooners gradually dis- appeared and fragmentary portions of the old trails are the only remain- ing vestiges of a mighty commerce that has disappeared.

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Fremont, a post-hamlet of McPherson county, is located in the north- western part, on a branch line of the Missouri Pacific R. R. about 13 miles northwest of McPherson, the county seat. It had a population of 15 according to the census of 1910. The nearest important town is Lindsborg, about 7 miles east.

Fremont County, one of the early counties of Kansas territory, was created in 1859, with the following boundaries: "Commencing at the southwest corner of Broderick county and running thence due west to the western boundary of the Territory of Kansas; thence northeasterly along the summit of the Rocky mountains, to the southwest corner of Montana county, thence due east to a point 20 miles west of the 105th meridian of longitude, thence due south to the point of beginning." T. C. Dixon, A. G. Patrick and T. L. Whitney were appointed commission- ers and authorized to locate the seat of justice near the geographical center of the county. When the Territory of Colorado was erected. Fremont county became a part of the new territory.

Fremont, John Charles, soldier and explorer, whose early expeditions to the Rocky mountains brought to the notice of the American people the region of which the State of Kansas is a part, was born at Savannah, Ga., Jan. 21, 1813. His father died in 1818 and the widow removed with her family to Charleston, S. C., where John C. entered college at the age of fifteen years, but was expelled for absence and inattention to his work. He then became a private teacher of mathematics, in which he excelled, and later a teacher on the sloop of war Natchez, upon which he made a two years' cruise. He then passed an examination for a professorship in the United States navy and was assigned to the frigate Independence, but declined to become assistant engineer in the United States topo- graphical corps. In 1838 he was commissioned second lieutenant by president Van Buren, and on Oct. 19, 1841, secretly married Jessie, daughter of Thomas H. Benton, her parents objecting to the union on account of her age. The next ten years Fremont spent in exploring the country between the Missouri river and the Rocky mountains (See Fre- mont's Expeditions) and his reports gave to many their first knowledge of what is now the State of Kansas. His work also won for him the sobriquet of "Pathfinder." In 1850 he was presented with a gold medal by the King of Prussia for his discoveries. The first Republican national convention in 1856 nominated him for the presidency, and he received 114 electoral votes, Buchanan receiving 174. Soon after the Civil war began he was made major-general and assigned to the command of the Western Department, with headquarters at St. Louis. On Aug 31, 1861, he proclaimed martial law and the emancipation of the slaves belonging to those in arms against the government. President Lincoln indorsed the proclamation, except that part concerning emancipation, but this Fremont refused to rescind, and it was finally annulled by order of the president. This, and other complaints, caused him to be relieved of his command, but the following spring he was placed in command of the mountain district in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. When his

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command was made a part of Gen. Pope's army of Virginia, Fremont asked to be relieved. His request was granted, and this practically ended his military career. In 1878 he was appointed governor of Arizona and served until 1881. Gen. Fremont was the author of various works, most of them relating to his explorations. He died at New York on July 13, 1890.

Fremont's Expeditions .- The explorations of John C. Fremont, made under an act of Congress, were of much importance in placing before the people a faithful description of the region west of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. His first was made in 1842 with only 21 men, collected in the neighborhood of St. Louis, principally Creole and Canadian voy- ageurs who had become familiar with prairie life in the service of the fur companies in the Indian country. Charles Preuss, a native of Ger- many, was his assistant in the topographical part of the survey ; L. Max- well of Kaskaskia was engaged as hunter, and Christopher Carson (more familiarly known as "Kit" Carson) was the guide. From St. Louis the party proceeded to Cyprian Chouteau's trading house on the Kansas river, about 10 miles west of the Missouri line. The start was made from that point on June 10, 1842. In about 10 miles they reached the Sante Fe road, along which they continued for a short time, "and encamped early on a small stream, having traveled about II miles." They traveled the next day along the Sante Fe road, which they left in the afternoon, and encamped late in the evening on a small creek, called by the Indians, Mishmagwi. On June 12 the party seems to have camped near the site of Lawrence, for in Col. Fremont's narrative he says: "We encamped in a remarkably beautiful situation on the Kansas bluffs, which com- manded a fine view of the river valley, here from 3 to 4 miles wide. The central portion was occupied by a broad belt of heavy timber, and nearer the hills the prairies were of the richest verdure." On the 14th he crossed to the north side of the river, probably near the point where Topeka is now located. On the 16th he says: "We are now fairly in the Indian country, and it began to be time to prepare for the chances of the wilder- ness."

The party continued its journey along the foot of the hills which border the Kansas valley, and on the 20th crossed the Big Vermilion, "which has a rich bottom of about one mile in breadth, one-third of which is oc- cupied by timber." After a day's march of 24 miles they reached the Big Blue, and encamped on the uplands of the western side, near a small creek, where was a fine large spring of very cold water. At noon on the 22nd a halt was made at Wyeth's creek, in the bed of which were nu- merous boulders of dark, ferruginous sandstone, mingled with others of the red sandstone variety. At the close of the same day they made their bivouac in the midst of some well-timbered ravines near the Little Blue, 24 miles from their camp of the preceding night. Crossing the next morning a number of handsome creeks, with water clear and sandy beds. at Io a. m. they reached a beautifully wooded stream, about 35 feet wide, called Sandy creek, "and, as the Otoes frequently winter there, the Otoe

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fork." After another hard day's march of 28 miles they encamped on the Little Blue, "where our arrival made a scene of the Arabian Desert." Thence their route lay up the valley, and on the night of the 25th they halted at a point in what in now Nuckolls county, Nebraska. "From the mouth of the Kansas, according to our reckoning, we had traveled 328 miles, and the geological formation of the country we had passed over consisted of lime and sand stone, covered by the same erratic deposits of sand and gravel which forms the surface rock of the prairies between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers." They marched up the Platte valley, but upon reaching the forks, the main party was sent up the north fork, while a few men under Fremont passed up the south fork to St. Vrain's fort. From here they marched northward to the north fork and joined the main body at Fort Laramie. Although the Indians were on the warpath farther up the river, Fremont determined to proceed. They continued to advance without serious interruption, arrived at the Sweetwater river, marched through South Pass, and a little later as- cended the highest peak of the Wind river mountains. The return journey down the Platte was made without notable incident.

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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 83

Author: Blackmar, Frank Wilson, 1854-1931, ed Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Standard publishing company Number of Pages: 954

Author: Blackmar, Frank Wilson, 1854-1931, ed
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Standard publishing company
Number of Pages: 954