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 53
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failed to distinguish himself, as his friends confidently expected, and at the first election of senators he was a candidate, but was defeated by Samuel C. Pomeroy. In 1862 and again in 1864 he was a candidate for Congress on the "Union ticket" and was both times defeated. In 1872 he joined the "Liberals" but was again defeated. After this defeat he became a Democrat. About 1878 Mr. Parrott was found to be suffering from softening of the brain. He died at the home of his sister at Day- ton, Ohio, in Nov .. 1879.
Parsons, the largest city of Labette county and one of the most im- portant ones in southeastern Kansas, is located in the northern part of the county, at the junction of two lines of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas and the St. Louis & San Francisco railroads. It is a progressive city, having several miles of paved streets, a fine water system, good fire and police departments, modern hotel accommodations, electricity, natural gas for lighting, heating and commercial purposes, 4 banks, 2 daily and weekly newspapers, 2 weeklies, feed and flour mills, ice and cold storage plants, foundry, corset factory, creamery, planing mills, cider mills, and establishments for the manufacture of cigars, mat- tresses, cornices, skirts, brooms, etc. The offices and repair shops of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad company are located here, as is the state hospital for epileptics. Coal, building stone, natural gas and oil are found in the vicinity. There are telegraph and express offices and an international money order postoffice with 8 rural routes. The population in 1910 was 12,463.
The city was located in 1870 and named in honor of Levi Parsons, president of the Neosho division of the Missouri Pacific R. R. The following men were members of the town company: R. S. Stevens, president; O. B. Gunn, H. D. Minck, A. D. Jaynes, J. R. Barrett and N. S. Goss. The news that a town was to be established brought people to this point by hundreds. They came in wagons, slept in tents, and by the time the company's books were opened for the sale of lots the prospects were so good that the first lot was sold for $500. The town of Ladore, Neosho county, whichi had at that time about 1,000 inhabitants, was moved bodily to Parsons. The towns of Montana, also in Neosho county, and Labette contributed a portion of the population. The lots were placed on the market in March, 1871, and the next month Parsons was incorporated as a city of the third class. Willard Davis was the first mayor, and the first council consisted of J. I. Plato, Abraham Carey, W. W. Dana, J. W. Rhodus and Charles Watson. Two years later it became a city of the second class. The growth of the city was such that inside of ten years it had a population of 6,500 and over 100 business establishments.
The Parsons Sun, a newspaper which is still running under that name, was established in 1871. The first school was taught and the first church was established in that year. Henry F. Baker was the first hotel keeper, and Jacob McLoughlin put up the first building suitable for a hotel. Sipple Bros. & E. K. Currant opened the first grocery store.
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Dr. T. L. Warren was the first physician. The first marriage was be- tween Thomas Deckery and Mary J. Kinnison, and the first birth was that of Parsons Dana, in 1871. The library association was organized in 1871. "The Banking House of Angell Mathewson" was started the same year and continued until succeeded in 1872 by the First National bank. The telephone system, the waterworks, and the gas mains were all added to the improvements of the town in 1882; the sewer system was put in during the year 1885, and electric lights were added two years later. Macadamizing the streets began in 1878. The railroad shops were located here in 1873. The business streets were paved in 1878, and a park laid off and improvements begun in 1881. In 1880 a military company, known as the Parsons Light Guard, was organized. Numerous literary and educational societies were organized in tlie '70s and '8os.
Partridge, a thriving little town of Reno county, is located on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific railroads in Center township, II miles southwest of Hutchinson, the county seat. It is an important shipping point for grain, live stock and produce, has a bank, an elevator, telegraph and express offices, and a money order postoffice with two rural routes. It was laid out early in 1886 and was incorporated as a city of the third class in 1906. The population- according to the census of 1910, was 246.
Pate, Henry C., who was leader of a gang of border ruffians during the territorial struggles, was a newspaper correspondent and was par- ticularly bitter in his denunciations of the free-state advocates. He commanded a detachment of the territorial militia which was organized under Gov. Shannon's call, most of this militia being composed of citi- zens of Southern states. Pate was more of a braggart than a warrior, and at the battle of Black Jack, June 2, 1856, surrendered without much resistance. He was released by Col. E. V. Sumner on the 8th. In the following September he again became warlike and wrote to Gov. Geary that he would organize and command the settlers of Lykins (Miami) county, "for the protection of the polls," if the governor would give him a commission. To this proposal Gov. Geary responded as follows : "While thanking you most kindly for your suggestions and for your friendly offer, I have made every necessary arrangement to protect the bona fide citizens of this territory in the exercise of their right of suf- frage."
This was not to Pate's liking. It was not the "bona fide" settlers he wanted to protect, but the voters who would come over from Mis- souri to carry the election, as they had done on previous occasions. Finding that the governor would not aid his scheme, he dropped out of Kansas affairs. When the Civil war broke out, he enlisted in the Con- federate army and was killed in the spring of 1864 in a fight between Sheridan's cavalry and the Confederate cavalry under Stuart.
Pathfinder, The .- (See Fremont, John C.)
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Patrol Guard .- After the Cheyenne raid of 1878, the people in the western counties of Kansas, fearing another invasion, insisted that the state authorities should adopt some measures for their protection. As a result of the agitation the legislature of 1879 appropriated $20,000 as a military contingent fund, "to be placed at the disposal of the governor, and to be used at his discretion, for the purpose of protecting the set- tlers on the frontier against Indian depredations," and the governor was required to submit a full report to the next session of the legislature.
Soon after the passage of the act, Gov. St. John instructed Adjt .- Gen. P. S. Noble to organize a military company to patrol the frontier. A company was accordingly organized early in April, with the following officers: Captain, J. H. Hibbetts; first sergeant, John J. Webber ; sec- ond sergeant, F. L. McIntyre; third sergeant, J. W. McWilliams; fourth sergeant, John McGrath ; quartermaster sergeant, N. P. Dawson; saddle sergeant, E. M. Dixon; surgeon, Dr. C. T. Rigg; corporals, Al- bert Russell, F. D. Place, Lee Copes and D. B. Howland. A complete roster of the guard, as reported by the adjutant-general, shows the following privates: L. D. Collier, Charles Coffin, J. W. Chambers, E. H. Copes, Joseph Curry, W. O. Cochran, William Ditto, J. B. Elmore, J. F. Grismore, C. F. Gatliff, J. C. Gowdy, N. W. Hall, Frank Herbert, H. J. Hiatt, J. S. Lane, C. A. Martin, F. Meacham, Mike Meagher, C. J. Mullis, W. L. Parker, M. G. Potter, N. D. Settle, W. T. Slatten, Charles Smith, M. Thompson, Charles Warren, Walter Walker, W. P. White, G. R. Wheeler and C. A. Zapp.
On April 28, 1879, the entire company of 40 officers and men went into camp on the line between Kansas and the Indian Territory, about 35 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge, and from that time until No- vember they were engaged in patrolling the border from Barber county west to the state line of Colorado. The men composing the guard were selected for their reliability and power of physical endurance. Most of them had seen service in the Union army during the Civil war. They were equipped with good horses and saddles and were armed with Pea- body-Martini carbines and Colt's revolvers, both of 45 caliber. C. M. Scott, a man who knew the Indians well, was employed as an extra scout-a sort of secret agent-to stay in front and by keeping watch on the movements of the Indians be in a position to give warning to the patrol. By autumn the Indian scare was over and on Nov. 15, 1879, the guard was mustered out. In his message to the legislature of 1881 Gov. St. John reviewed the work of the company. (See St. John's Administration.)
Patrons of Husbandry .- At the close of the great Civil war in 1865 the agricultural interests of the country were in anything but a pros- perous condition. In the West the farmers were struggling to find a market for their surplus products, but found a serious obstacle in the high freight rates charged by the railroad companies. In the North- western states many of the farms were mortgaged, the price of agricul- tural implements and the freight rates were high, and at the end of each
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year the average farmer was little if any better off than he had been at the beginning. In the South the country had been devastated by four years of conflict, the farmers were poor and discouraged, the freed negroes showed little inclination to work, and efficient labor was exceed- ingly difficult to obtain. Letters from all parts of the country came pouring into the agricultural department at Washington, begging for relief. William Saunders, of that department, suggested organization of the farmers, and O. H. Kelley, an attache of the department, was sent on a tour of investigation through the Southern states. Upon his return to Washington he gave his indorsement to Mr. Saunders' idea and sug- gested a secret society as having more attractions than an open organ- ization.
Mr. Kelley, J. R. Thompson and W. M. Ireland, all prominent mem- bers of the Masonic fraternity; Rev. A. B. Grosh, a high official in the Odd Fellows; Rev. John Trimble and Mr. Saunders set themselves to work to evolve a ritual for a secret order, and on Aug. 5, 1867, com- pleted the ceremony of initiation for the first degree. As yet no name for the organization had been selected. Mr. Saunders made a trip to the West, taking a copy of the first degree ritual with him, and suc- ceeded in interesting a number of prominent agriculturists in the work. The ritual for the other degrees was completed in due time, and on Dec. 4, 1867, a number of persons met in Mr. Saunders' office in Wash- ington and organized the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, with the following officers: William Saunders, master; J. R. Thomp- son, lecturer; Anson Bartlett, overseer; William Muir, steward; O. H. Kelley, secretary ; William M. Ireland, treasurer; Edward P. Faris, gatekeeper ; Rev. A. B. Grosh, chaplain:
The "Declaration of Principles" set forth that "Profoundly impressed with the truth that the National Grange of the United States should definitely proclaim to the world its general objects, we hereby unani- mously make this Declaration of Purposes of the Patrons of Hus- bandry : United by the strong and faithful tie of agriculture, we mu- tually resolve to labor for the good of our order, our country and man- kind." Then follows a long list of specific objects, the principal of which were: "To develop a better and higher manhood and woman- hood among ourselves; to enhance the comforts and attractions of our homes, and strengthen our attachment to our pursuits; to foster mutual understanding and cooperation ; to reduce our expenses, both individual and cooperate; to avoid litigation as much as possible, by arbitration in the Grange; to endeavor to suppress personal, local, sectional and national prejudices, all unhealthy rivalry and selfish ambitions."
The preamble to the constitution declared that "The ultimate object of this organization is for mutual instruction and protection, to lighten labor by diffusing a knowledge of its aims and purposes, expand the mind by tracing the beautiful laws the Great Creator has established in the universe, and to enlarge our views of Creative wisdom and power. To those who read aright, history proves that in all ages society is frag-
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mentary, and successful results of general welfare can be secured only by general effort. Unity of action cannot be acquired without discip- line; and discipline cannot be enforced without significant organization ; hence we have a ceremony of initiation which binds us in mutual fra- ternity as with a band of iron; but although its influence is so powerful, its application is as gentle as that of the silken thread that binds a wreath of flowers."
The plan of organization provided for four degrees in the local or subordinate societies, which were to be called "granges"; a fifth degree was to constitute the state grange, and the sixth and seventh degrees the national grange. The motto adopted by the national grange at the time of its organization was: "In essentials, U'nity ; in non-essen- tials, Liberty ; in all things, Charity."
On Jan. 1, 1868, Master Saunders sent out a circular to a large num- ber of intelligent farmers in various parts of the country, but for a time the order made slow progress. Mr. Kelley, who owned a farm in Minnesota and was a resident of that state, resigned his position in the postoffice department, to which he had been transferred, and started out to organize granges, with the understanding that he was to receive a salary of $2,000 a year, provided he collected enough in organization fees to pay it. During the month of April, 1868, he organized four granges, and then went to Minnesota, where he organized six more, remaining in that state until Jan. 1, 1871, pushing the work with all the vigor possible.
In the meantime Master Saunders and his associates had been devot- ing their attention to the Southern states, where a number of the lead- ing citizens had become interested in the order. When Mr. Kelley returned to Washington in Jan., 1871, about 90 subordinate and three state granges were in existence. During the year 1871 some 125 sub- ordinate granges were established, and from that time the growth of the order was more rapid. By 1876 there were about 30,000 subordinate granges with nearly 2,500,000 members. By organization the farmers of the country had been able to secure a better rating on their grain- which dealers had been in the habit of classifying as No. 2 or No. 3, no matter how good it might be-and also to secure a reduction of from 25 to 50 per cent. in the price of agricultural implements, sewing machines, etc.
The first grange in Kansas was organized at Hiawatha, Brown coun- ty, in April, 1872. A little later Osage Grange was organized in Craw- ford county, and by the close of the year there were nine granges in the state, but during the winter the cause languished and many of the members became discouraged. A new impetus was given to the move- ment by a call for a meeting at Lawrence on July 30, 1873, for the purpose of organizing a state grange. Between the time the call was issued and the date of the meeting, several new local granges formed at least a tentative organization, so that on July 30 sixty counties were represented at Lawrence and the secretary of the meeting reported 975
(II-29)
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granges in the state, either fully or partially organized, with a total membership of over 27,000. A state grange was organized with T. G. Boling as master; M. E. Hudson, overseer; John Boyd, lecturer; E. D. Smith, steward; J. B. Richey, assistant steward; W. S. Hanna, chap- lain; H. H. Angell, treasurer ; G. W. Spurgeon, secretary; C. W. Law- rence, gatekeeper; Mrs. Mattie Morris, Ceres; Mrs. M. H. Charles, Flora ; Mrs. Amanda C. Rippey, Pomona; Mrs. Jennie D. Richie, lady assistant steward; F. H. Dumbauld, W. P. Popenoe and J. B. Schaeffer, executive committee.
The following year (1874) "The Patrons' Hand Book" was issued by J. K. Hudson, editor of the Kansas Farmer, giving the constitution and by-laws of the national and state granges, together with many facts concerning the aims and purposes of the order. This hand book says : "In the business phase of the grange a new education is given the farmers. The subjects of cooperation, purchase of supplies and mate- rials, sale of produce and stock are receiving attention they should have gotten generations ago. Millions of dollars will be saved to the Patrons of Husbandry through their cooperative efforts and purchasing and sell- ing through their business agencies. This influence will break up the present oppressive, grasping combinations, and result in a general good. The 1,200 granges in Kansas today represent a membership of over 30,000 citizens in earnest to help themselves. It is their sacred duty to protect their order from the encroachments of designing poli- ticians and prevent the order now doing such noble service from being prostituted for base personal and political purposes. . . We
say to the great army of Patrons, take courage at the great results already achieved and so labor that in the next generation our sons and daughters may not be known as the 'hewers of wood and the drawers of water.'"
It was one of the fundamental principles of the order that it should take no part in politics, Article 5 of the Declaration of Principles of the national grange declaring that "We emphatically and sincerely assert the oft-repeated truth taught in our organic law, that the grange, national, state or subordinate, is not a political or party organization. No grange, if true to its obligations, can discuss political or religious questions, nor call political conventions, nor nominate candidates, nor ever discuss their merits in its meetings."
Although there are still numerous granges of the Patrons of Hus- bandry scattered over the country, the order is far less active than it was in the latter 'zos, and it is quite possible that the organic provision prohibiting political action or discussion is in some degree responsible for the lack of interest in recent years. The organization of the Farmers' Alliance (q. v.), which became an aggressive factor in the politics of the nation, doubtless had much to do with the decline of the "Grange Movement" by drawing into its ranks the large number of farmers who believed that the salvation and perpetuation of the agricul- tural interests must depend upon laws to encourage the industry, and
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that political action was necessary, in order to elect men who would enact the required legislation.
Patterson, a hamlet in Harvey county, is a station on the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. in Lake township, 20 miles southwest of Newton, the county seat. It has an express office and a money order postoffice. The population according to the census of 1910 was 30.
Pauline, a hamlet in Shawnee county, is located in Topeka township on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R., 7 miles from Topeka, the county seat. It has telegraph and express offices and a money order postoffice. The population in 1910 was 40.
Pavilion, a hamlet in Wabaunsee county, is located 7 miles north of Alma, the county seat, 4 miles from Wabaunsee, the nearest shipping point, and 6 miles south of Wamego in Pottawatomie county, the post- office from which it receives mail by rural route.
Pawnee .- The old town of Pawnee, where the first territorial legisla- ture was convened in 1855, was located in a beautiful valley, just east of the Fort Riley military reservation. It was laid out in the fall of 1854, Col. Montgomery, the commander of the post at Fort Riley, being the chief promoter of the enterprise. There is abundant evidence that the town was established with the knowledge and consent of the na- tional authorities at Washington, but when Gov. Reeder took shares in the town company and issued his proclamation for the legislature to meet there, the pro-slaveryites became dissatisfied, because such ac- tion removed the seat of government so far from the border that they could not conveniently control the affairs of the territory. Holloway says that Jefferson Davis, who was then secretary of war, "on receiv- ing complaints from Missouri, caused another military commission to make a survey, which again reported One Mile creek as the eastern boundary of the reserve. A map of this survey was prepared and sent to the department, with red lines showing where the boundaries would be to exclude Pawnee.' The secretary of war, seeing the town still ex- cluded, took a pen and drew a red line around it, and wrote on it, 'Accepted with the red lines,' took it to the president and secured his signature to it. He then issued orders for the removal of the inhab- itants from that part of the reserve."
When it became known that the legislature would be convened at Pawnee, immigration turned in that direction. Several hotels were started for the accommodation of the members of the legislature and visitors, a large warehouse and a number of stores and dwellings were erected, so that by the time Davis' order was issued, Pawnee was a town of some importance. The order was not enforced until late in the fall of 1855, when Maj. Cook and about 1,000 dragoons arrived at Fort Riley from Texas, charged with the duty of removing the set- tlers. Some of the people left peaceably, but others refused to vacate and their houses were torn down by the troops.
Thus it was that the town of Pawnee, which the founders hoped to see the capital of Kansas, was "wiped off the map" for political reasons,
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while other towns laid out under similar circumstances were permitted to grow and flourish. To quote again from Holloway: "At Leaven- worth the town was laid off and settled contrary to the most sacred treaties, but all such irregular proceedings were 'winked at,' because the leading property holders were pro-slavery men." (See also the arti- cles on Capital and Reeder's administration.)
Pawnee County, in the western part of the state, is the fourth county north of the Oklahoma line and the fifth east from Colorado. It is bounded on the north by Rush and Barton counties; on the east by Barton and Stafford; on the south by Stafford and Edwards, and on the west by Hodgeman and Ness. The county was created in 1867 and named for the Pawnee Indians. As originally defined the boundaries were as follows: "Commencing where the east line of range 16 west intersects the 4th standard parallel; thence south to the 5th standard parallel; thence west to the east line of range 21 west; thence north to the 4th standard parallel : thence east to the place of beginning."
The present boundaries were fixed in 1873. Gov. James M. Harvey issued the proclamation organizing the county on Nov. 4, 1872. It provided for a temporary county seat at Larned and appointed the fol- iowing officers: County clerk, D. A. Bright; commissioners, A. H. Boyd, George B. Cox and W. A. Russell. At the general election, which occurred the next day, officers were chosen as follows: County clerk and clerk of the district court, George Nolan; register of deeds, county attorney and probate judge, D. A. Bright ; sheriff, F. C. Hawkins ; treas- urer, W. A. Russell ; superintendent of public instruction, Henry Booth ; commissioners, A. H. Boyd, George B. Cox and W. S. Patton. Henry Booth was the first representative.
Fort Larned was established by the government in the fall of 1859 and the buildings completed in 1860, but no settlement was made until 1864. In that year Samuel Parker established a ranch about a mile and a half above the mouth of Pawnee Fork. The next year he built another ranch house farther up the stream, which he sold to Tortat & Fletch- field. In 1867 this ranch was in the hands of a Mr. Wagginer, whose wife was the first white woman in the county. The Indians ran off the stock and burned the buildings, and the ranch then came into the hands of A. H. Boyd, who was also harassed by the savages. In. 1868 they ran off all his live stock. He took a man by the name of McGinnis witlı him to Fort Larned where they bought a team. On the way home the Indians killed McGinnis, took the horse which he rode, and Boyd barely escaped with his life. The last raid was in 1871, when 10 mules and 6 horses were run off from the Boyd ranch. Among other early settlers were John Haney, William White, Henry Booth, F. C. Hawkins, F. S. Burleson, T. McCarthy and George Nolan.
The first term of the district court was held in Oct., 1873, with Judge W. R. Brown on the bench. The same day that the grasshoppers vis- ited Pawnee county in 1874, there was an Indian scare and the people from the outlying settlements traveled to Larned by night. A proposi-
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