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, Volume II > Part 114
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The portion of Wyandotte county lying south of the Kansas river, with the exception of a tract reserved by the government, which it is supposed was intended for military purposes, once belonged to the Shawnee Indians. (See Indians and Indian Treaties.)
It is not known positively in what year the first white men visited this part of Kansas, but it was early in the 18th century, when the lower part of the Missouri river, as far as the mouth of the Kansas, was ex- plored by the French. A few years later there were at least 100 couriers des bois living and trading with the Indians along the Missouri river. In 1703, Charles Le Sueur was sent to the headwaters of the Mississippi on a mining expedition and on his return in 1705, passed up the Missouri as far as the mouth of the Kansas. Lewis and Clark passed along the eastern boundary of the present county in 1804, on their exploring expe- dition for the government. They discovered a number of old Kansas villages, among them an ancient village site a little east of White Church.
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So far as is known, the first white men who established themselves permanently in the county, were the Chouteau brothers, Indian traders, who built their first trading post in what is now Wyandotte county in 1812. Cyprian Chouteau subsequently built several other trading posts north of the Kansas river, the most important being the famous "four houses." The Methodist mission among the Delawares was founded in 1831, and the Baptist mission the following year. The first church in the county was erected as a mission in 1832, in a beautiful grove lo- cated on the high divide where the town of White Church now stands near the center of the present county, about 8 miles west of Kansas City. The missionaries in charge of the churches and schools were the second whites to locate permanently. The Wyandots were civilized when they came to Kansas from Ohio in 1843. The farms they opened, the homes they built, the schools and churches they established were as good as similar institutions among the whites of the frontier, and in many cases better. The city of Wyandotte (now forming a part of Kansas City, Kan.) was started by the Wyandots soon after they located on the reservation in 1843, by the erection of a company store and a cabin for the United States agency. In fact, within two years this set- tlement was a flourishing frontier town. On July 1, 1844, the first free school in what is now the State of Kansas was opened at Wyandotte by J. W. Armstrong. The first school building was a frame structure on what is now Fourth street, sometimes called the council house, be- cause the Wyandot nation met there. In 1843 occurred a notable event in the marriage of Hiram N. Northrup and Margaret Clark, daughter of the Wyandot chief. Fruit trees were planted on the reservation as early as the spring of 1845, and the members of the tribe continued to make improvements along all lines.
The conflict between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery people began to rage in the Wyandot nation six years before it became the vital ques- tion in the territory. In 1843 their Methodist missionary preached against emancipation, and four years later became active in the organi- zation of a "Church South" among them, a church which was supported by the most pronounced pro-slavery men. The majority of the nation refused to join this church when it was organized, and when the minister appointed from the northern conference was stoned from the church he held services out of doors until another church was built. The hostility between the two branches of the church continued to be that of the op- posing political parties, until it reached its height in 1848, and as a re- sult drunkenness and disorder increased among the members of the tribe. This led to the formation of a temperance society, the first in what is now the State of Kansas, and a log jail was built at Wyandotte. where drunken Indians were confined.
In 1849, when the gold rush to California began, Wyandotte and the trading posts of the Chouteaus became the outfitting posts for many of the parties starting west. Thousands passed through the county, but few settled there, being lured west by the call of gold. Many Mormons also passed through the county.
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It was among the Wyandots that the first agitation occurred looking toward a territorial organization. (See Boundaries.)
The political history of Wyandotte county begins with the first elec- tion, held in June, 1857, for a delegate to the Lecompton constitutional convention. In October of the same year the region came into general notice because of the stuffing of the ballot box and other frauds during the election held at the Delaware crossing, 8 miles west of Wyandotte. By the act creating the county in 1859, Wyandotte was named as the temporary county seat. The county was organized on Feb. 25, when the county commissioners, George Russell, and George Veale (acting in place of Alfred Gray) first met. They appointed Myron J. Pratt sec- retary, canvassed the votes cast at the election of Feb. 22, and issued certificates of election to Jacques W. Johnson, probate judge; Samuel E. Forsythe, sheriff; Marshall A. Garrett, clerk of the board of super- visors ; Vincent L. Lane, register of deeds; Robert Robetaille, treasurer ; William L. McMath, county attorney; Jacob B. Welborn, county super- intendent; Cyrus L. Gordon, surveyor, and George B. Wood, coroner. Rooms in business buildings were rented for the county offices until they were established in the building known as Constitution Hall. From there they were moved to a building on Minnesota avenue, but were changed several times before being established in the brick court-house completed in 1882 at a cost of $35,000.
Although a border county, where both pro-slavery and free-state men strove for control, Wyandotte never took a conspicuous part in politics, yet it was in this county that one of the most important political events in the history of the territory occurred, when on July 5, 1859, a consti- tutional convention met in the town of Wyandotte and framed the con- stitution under which Kansas was admitted to the Union.
At the outbreak of the Civil war meetings were held at various points in the county and a number of companies were rapidly recruited. Among them were the Kansas Mounted Riflemen from Quindaro and Wyan- dotte, and the county was represented in many of the Kansas regiments. During the years of warfare the residents of the county suffered from the raids of organized bands of guerrillas who ran off cattle and horses. Jayhawking on the part of both sides raged through the country and un- offending citizens suffered. The close of the war did not see a cessation of these conditions in Wyandotte county. Murders and lynchings went on for some two years, before the passions aroused by the terrible con- flict died away and peace. again reigned along the border.
One of the first things accomplished in Wyandotte county after the establishment of the territory was the survey and grading of good roads. The first laid out was that from Quindaro to Lawrence, a val- uable highway because it connected two of the most important free-state settlements. It was in good condition as early as 1857. Ferries across the Missouri were established at both Quindaro and Wyandotte in that vear. The first bridge in the county was built in 1858 about 3 miles above
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Wyandotte, the funds for it being obtained by private subscription. In 1859 a territorial highway was established by the legislature from Wyan- dotte to Elwood in Doniphan county, running through Quindaro, Leav- enworth and Atchison. As early as 1857, the people of Quindaro began agitation for a railroad to connect that town with St. Joseph, but the first actual grading for a railroad was done at Wyandotte on the Kan- sas Valley line in 1859. In 1863 the Kansas Pacific railroad was put in operation through the county along the north bank of the Kansas river. In 1866 the Missouri Pacific was built through the eastern and northeastern part of the county. Since then other roads have been built, all of which diverge, fan-like, from Kansas City to all parts of the country.
The earliest churches in Wyandotte county were the missions among the Indians, established by the Methodists and Baptists. The pioneer Episcopal parish of the territory-St. Paul's-was established at Wyan- dotte in 1857. The following year the Congregational church and St. Mary's Catholic parish were established. By 1870 several other de- nominations liad perfected organizations and erected churches. The state legislature located the state school for the blind in Wyandotte county, the first building being erected in 1867, in the northwest part of the city then known as Wyandotte. The medical department of the Kansas University is located at Rosedale. The Kansas City University, the Kansas City Theological Seminary and eight Roman Catholic in- stitutions are also located at Kansas City, and Western University, a state industrial school for negroes, is located at Quindaro.
Kansas City (q. v.), originally called Wyandotte, is the seat of justice of the county, and also the largest and most important city in the state. The population of the county in 1910 was 100,068.
Wyandot Floats .- (See Floats.)
Wycoff, a discontinued postoffice in Lyon county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R. about 7 miles from Emporia, the county seat, and 6 miles from Hartford, whence it is supplied by mail by rural route.
Wyoming, a hamlet of Marshall county, is located in the extreme southeastern part of the county, 24 miles from Marysville, the county seat. The population in 1910 was 27. It receives mail by rural route from Frankfort.
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Xenia, a post village of Bourbon county, is situated in the northwest- ern portion on the little Osage river, about 20 miles northwest of Fort Scott, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice and in 1910 had a population of 115.
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Yale, a mining town in Crawford county, is located in Washington township on the Missouri Pacific R. R., 12 miles east of Girard, the county seat. It has general stores, telephone connections, telegraph
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and express offices, boarding houses, and an international money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 862.
Yates Center, the county seat and leading city of Woodson county, is located near the geographical center of the county. It is the railroad center of the county, having three lines of the Missouri Pa- cific and one of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe systems converging here. It is an incorporated city of the third class, has 2 banks, 2 news- papers, all lines of mercantile enterprise, good schools and churches, an opera house and an auditorium, electric lights, waterworks, fire de- partment, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with five rural routes. The population in 1910 accord- ing to the government census was 2,024.
Yates Center was founded as a place to locate the county seat, which was at that time (1867) at Neosho Falls in one corner of the county. Nothing was done for several years toward building up a town although the business interests of Kalida and Defiance, two nearby towns and rivals for the county seat, had repeatedly made propositions to Abner Yates, the non-resident owner, to found a town at that point. It was not until the county seat matter was settled and Yates Center was vic- torious in 1876, that any growth was attained. Then the people of Defiance and of Kalida moved their towns bodily to the "center" and the town was established. It was not made independent of the town- ship until 1904.
Yeager Raid .- (See Guerrillas.)
Yocemento, a country postoffice in Ellis county, is located on the Union Pacific R. R., 6 miles west of Hays, the county seat. It has an express office and some local retail trade, and does some shipping. The population in 1910 was 75.
Yoder, a hamlet in Reno county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R., 8 miles from Hutchinson, the county seat. It has an express office and an international money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 35.
Yorktown, a country hamlet in Lincoln county, is located 16 miles northwest of Lincoln, the county seat. It has a general store, and re- ceives mail from Hunter. Vesper, 12 miles south, is the nearest shipping point. The population in 1910 was 60.
Young, I. D., lawyer and Congressman, was born on a farm near Pleasantville, Marion county, Iowa. At the age of six years he went with his parents to Adams county in the same state, where he attended the common and high schools until the age of fifteen, when he began teaching. He remained in that profession for ten years, married in Iowa, and in 1874 removed with his wife to Mitchell county, Kan., where he entered a homestead and farmed for about twelve years, dur- ing which time he studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1888 he removed to Beloit and engaged in the practice of law. He was elected county superintendent of public instruction in 1876, and reëlected two
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years later. He has been elected twice to the state senate on the Re- publican ticket, the last time in 1904. In 1910 he was elected to Con- gress as representative of the Sixth district, defeating Frank S. Rocke- feller, the Democratic candidate, by a vote of 21,220 to 18,985.
Young Men's Christian Association .- The originator of this organiza- tion was George Williams, who went to London from Dulverton, Eng- land, in 1841 and became a clerk in a drygoods house employing about 80 young men. Williams was of a religious turn of mind and conceived the idea of forming a society among clerks. It was organized on June 6, 1844, and Christopher Smith suggested the name of Young Men's Chris- tian Association, the object of which should be "to promote the spiritual and mental improvement of young men engaged in the drapery trade." The first missionary was employed in Jan., 1845. The association was introduced in America in the fall of 1851 at Montreal, New York and Boston about the same time.
The first Y. M. C. A. organization in Kansas was formed at Topeka on Dec. 31, 1879, in the English Lutheran church and was the result of the efforts of five young men, Charles F. Loweth, E. M. Sheldon, W. W. Bollard, Theodore S. Mason and George T. Coxhead. In 1881 the To- peka association sent a delegate to the Missouri convention at Kansas City. In the early part of 1882 enough interest in Y. M. C. A. work was created in Topeka to hire a general secretary and the first one was W. N. Fisher. In the course of the year associations were formed at Law- rence, Leavenworth, Emporia, Manhattan and one or two other places. The first Kansas convention was held in Nov., 1882, with an attendance of 52. F. H. Clark was made the first president, a state committee of 16 was appointed, of which R. B. Gemmell was chairman; James F. Griffin, treasurer, and W. N. Fisher, secretary. The sum of $516.60 was sub- scribed for state work.
The greatest question before this convention was whether or not to admit women. It was decided to exclude them as delegates. This ques- tion came up more acutely at the 3d annual convention at Leavenworth in 1884. Some of the associations had departed from "the fundamental principles of the organization" by admitting women, and resolutions were passed barring such associations from representation in future con- ventions. There were then 18 local associations, 4 of these being student organizations.
At the 4th annual convention at Emporia in 1885, the Railroad Y. M. C. A., which had been started in 1880, was organized into a department of the state association with a special secretary. The object of the rail- road branch of the organization was to "provide a home for employees who were without home privileges," and giving them a wholesome home environment, baths, libraries, etc. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad company appropriated $1,200 per annum for this work and gave the use of a two-story brick building.
The next two conventions were held at Ottawa and Wichita, both
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showing an increase in the number of associations and in the membership of all the old ones. In 1888 there was great activity in the Y. M. C. A. movement. A large number of new associations were formed, 7 new assistant state secretaries were added, making 14 in all. The convention that year was attended by 603 delegates, and $14,408 was raised for state work. The convention of 1889 was held at Topeka and was attended by 912 delegates. The international committee, which had for- merly withdrawn because it believed the fundamental principals of the Young Men's Christian Association were being violated in Kansas, there being women's auxiliaries connected with some of the associations, was again represented.
In the convention of 1890, held at Leavenworth, it was mentioned that Kansas was the first state to establish a summer school ; to employ trav- eling secretaries for Bible, evangelistic and college work; and to make contributions to the Y. M. C. A. work in other states. For a few years there was a lull in the activity of Y. M. C. A. work in the state, and on account of a confliction of opinions the chairman of the state committee, the secretary and all his assistants resigned in Dec., 1891. The state committee was then reorganized by electing J. B. Larimer chairman and \V. R. Johnson temporary state secretary.
In the year 1894 it was found that there were but 33 organizations in Kansas as against 69 in 1889. Topeka had at that time the best rented quarters in the West. A conference of college men was held that year in Topeka. In 1896 the interest had not yet revived, and only $2,557 was raised for state work. In 1898 the sum of $10,000 was raised to erect a railroad Y. M. C. A. building in Argentine. The state association fur- nished a Y. M. C. A. tent for the Twentieth Kansas when the regiment was ordered to Manila.
The year 1902 saw a great revival in the work. A building canvass was inaugurated at Fort Scott. For the same purpose Winfield raised $8,000 ; Hoisington, $12,500 ; Parsons, $10,000, and Topeka, $30,000 for a railroad building. For the first time in 12 years a secretary for student work was employed, and the number of associations had grown to 42. The railroad branch held an international convention in Topeka in 1903, which was addressed by Theodore Roosevelt and at which the corner- stone of the new building was laid. In 1904 there were 50 associations with a total membership of 8,252, and the sum of $68,000 was spent in buildings that year. At the convention of 1905, held at Salina, it was an- nounced that a railroad building had been erected at Horace, and that an army Y. M. C. A. organization had been effected. A new $40,000 build- ing was dedicated at Lawrence in December of that year. In 1906 the fund for the building at Topeka had reached $64,000, Miss Helen Gould donated $40,000 toward a building at Fort Leavenworth, and the prop- erty of the association was increased by new buildings to the extent of $100,000. The year closed with 64 associations in the state, having a total membership of 12.416, an annual running expense of $90,000 and property worth $500,000. At the close of 1910 there were 76 local asso-
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ciations in the state, 22 of which owned buildings, the total value being $850,000, and a number of new buildings were in the process of con- struction. The activities of the association is divided into departments as follows: College, high school, railroad, city, county and foreign.
Young Women's Christian Association, an undenominational organiza- tion to promote the religious, intellectual, moral and social development of young women, had its beginning shortly after the colleges were opened to women, and at first was almost entirely a college institution. By 1886 the movement had spread to 17 different states and there were 88 local organizations, 7 of which were in Kansas, one in each of the following towns: Topeka, Highland, Newton, Ottawa, Fort Scott, and two in Lawrence. On Nov. 5, 1886, they all sent delegates to Ottawa, where a state association was formed. The first state convention was held the next month at the same place. The government of the state association was vested in an executive committee made up of one mem- ber from each local organization, and the first committee was composed of Lyda Locke, A. May Churchill, Mabel A. King, Anna S. Campbell, Eunice A. Lyman and Mabel Crawford. . The committee elected its own chairman, who chose a secretary from her own local association.
The second annual convention was held at Lawrence in 1887. Five new locals had been added, Lecompton, Baldwin, Garden City, Man- hattan and Marion. It was voted that the executive committee should be composed of not more than 17 members and not less than 9, five of whom should reside at the state headquarters. Topeka was chosen as the permanent state headquarters. The convention of 1888 was addressed by Rev. Anna Shaw, who was doing suffrage work in Kansas at the time. The following locals had been added to the state association ; Belleville, Winfield, Oswego, Concordia, Wesleyan University at Salina, Winfield College, Great Bend, Agricultural College, McPherson, Garnett and Co- lumbus.
Kansas was the first state where the Y. W. C. A. hired a regular secre- tary and kept her working in the interests of the organization all the year. In 1889 there were 26 local associations, with a membership of 887. In 1890 the work was divided into city, college, neighborhood, junior, for- eign missions and home missions departments. There were in that year, 15 city and 15 college locals. From that time on the number of city or- ganizations were on the decrease and those of the colleges increased. In 1893 all the city locals except Topeka and Arkansas City had been dis- banded, while 3 college associations had been added. In 1895 Topeka was the only city organization, but many individual members in different towns remained affiliated with the state organization. The Y. W. C. A. work was carried to the academies and high schools and in 1899 there were 28 college, high school and academy organizations. In 1903 the number had been increased to 35, besides Topeka, which were affiliated with the state organization, 4 of which were in Oklahoma.
In 1911 there were 38 student organizations, with a membership of about 3,500, and 4 city organizations-at Topeka, Iola, Kansas City and
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Wichita-with a combined membership of 1,500. Topeka and Kansas City own association buildings, the one at Topeka having been com- pleted in 1911 at a cost of $75,000. Topeka was the headquarters of the state association until in the early part of 1910, when it was merged into the territorial organization with Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the head- quarters of which are at Denver. The provisional state committee hield over until Sept., 1911, when the territorial committee took its place. The work of the Y. W. C. A. has been very much extended from the original field. It is a young woman's club in every sense of the word, providing not only religious, moral and social training, but rooms, meals, physical training, employment bureau, assistance in a material way to young women out of employment, study classes in all academic branches, read- ing and rest rooms and a home for working girls.
Youngsville, a country postoffice in Greeley county, is located 14 miles north of Tribune, the county seat and nearest shipping point.
Youngtown, an inland hamlet and trading point in Marion county, is located 7 miles northeast of Marion, the county seat, from which place it receives mail by rural delivery. The population, according to the cen- sus of 1910, was 51.
Yuma, a hamlet in Cloud county, is located on the Missouri Pacific R. R., 5 miles west of Concordia, the county seat and the postoffice from which it receives mail.
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Zarah, a village in the northern part of Johnson county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. and an electric line, 10 miles north of Olathe, the county seat. It has a money order postoffice, tele- graph and express facilities and in 1910 had a population of 50.
Zeandale, a village of Riley county, is located on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. in Zeandale township, 8 miles east of Manhattan. the county seat. It is supplied with telegraph and express offices and has a money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 75. ' The name is taken from the Greek and means corndale. It was named by J. H. Pillsbury, who settled the township in 1855.
Zella, a country hamlet in Stevens county, is located in Harmony town. ship, 14 miles northeast of Hugoton, the county seat, and 7 miles east of Woodsdale, the postoffice from which it receives mail.
Zenda, one of the villages of Kingman county, is located in Rochester township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 17 miles from King- man, the county seat. It has a bank, telegraphi and express offices, a number of mercantile establishments and a money order postoffice with one rural route. The principal shipments are live stock and grain. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 275.
Zenith, a hamlet in Stafford county, is located on the Atchison, To- peka & Santa Fe R. R., 8 miles east of St. John, the county seat. It has
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2 general stores, telegraph and express offices, and a money order post- office with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 40.
Zinc .- (See Lead and Zinc Mining.)
Zurich, a little town in Rooks county, is located in Logan township, on the Union Pacific R. R., 20 miles southwest of Stockton, the county seat. It has a hotel, a grain elevator, a telephone exchange, owned by a local company, a number of general stores, a telegraph office and a money order postoffice with two rural routes. The population in 1910 was 200.
Zyba, a hamlet in Sumner county, is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., 12 miles north of Wellington, the county seat, and 6 miles south of Peck, in Sedgwick county, whence its mail is dis- tributed by rural route. The population in 1910 was 27.
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