USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Historical and biographical. Comprising a condensed history of the state, a careful history of Wyandotte County, and a comprehensive history of the growth of the cities, towns and villages > Part 34
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The Argentine Real Estate Investment Company and Loan Com- pany, of which Mr. Norton Thayer is manager, has done much to- ward making Argentine what it is to-day. Having under their control
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what is known as the West End Addition, comprising some of the finest residence locations, they have offered inducements that have been readily accepted by parties settling in Argentine. The numerous ad- vantages this addition has, are, that it is situated within the city limits and within easy access of transportation, has the most improved sys- tem of water works and is thoroughly lighted by electricity. The ad. dition has some of the finest residences in Argentine built upon it, and which are now being daily added to, to supply the demand which is increasing rapidly.
The Argentine Bank commenced business on February 1, 1887, from which time it has steadily increased, its "motto" having always been conservative and careful business since the day of commence- ment, which has won the good will and esteem of the citizens of Ar- gentine.
The proprieters are among the oldest inhabitants of the county, and have records worthy of investigation. The officers are: Nicholas McAlpine; G. A. Taylor, cashier, and J. F. Barker, assistant cashier.
The Congregationalists of this city have held services in this town since the summer of 1881, but it was not until May 21, 1882, that the church was organized. It commenced with a membership of forty-five. They were temporarily using a building for divine service while devising ways and means for the erection of a church, when the wind of June, 1882, which destroyed so much church and school prop- erty in Eastern Kansas, almost completely destroyed their house of worship. Then was their opportunity, and in three months they had completed their new church building, corner of Ruby Avenue and Second Street. Other churches since organized and now existing in the city, are the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Colored Baptist, Colored Methodist Episcopal, Protestant Episcopal and Roman Catholic. The following benevolent societies have lodges in the city : Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order United Workmen, Ancient Order of Foresters, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Eastern Star, Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Veterans, Women's Relief Corps, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Daughters of Rebekah.
The Argentine Republic, a neatly printed and well edited seven- column folio, is published every Thursday by Joseph T. Landrey, its editor and proprietor. The thirty-second number of its third volume is dated July 12, 1890. It was established by Mr. Landrey.
The following description of the thriving city of Argentine, show-
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ing what it contains, the value of its property, and its prosperity, was published in the Kansas City Journal of January 1, 1890:
"Since Argentine has become a city of the second class, she has sud- denly jumped into prosperity and has put on metropolitan airs. She now has the finest water-works system possible, while its electric lights shed a radiance that can not be improved upon. The police force has been organized, placing men to guard the city day and night, which causes the best of order to prevail. Next are the electric street cars running through the leading streets in the city, making their terminus for the present at Metropolitan Avenue and Third Street. The Santa Fe road is building a fine new depot, and is now running trains every hour at a 5-cent fare to Kansas City, Mo. The Metropolitan Street Railway are running their electric cars on perfect schedule time, starting at 5:30 A. M., and terminating at 11:30 p. M. This affords ample opportunity for all to live here and attend busi- ness or pleasure in Kansas City, Mo., for a 5-cent fare, making the run in about thirty minutes. It is causing hundreds to flock here, and tenement houses are not to be had. The beautiful locality, fine scenery and easy way of access to and from all points, causes it to be desirable for homes for all. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe have also put on a suburban train, running eighteen trains each day be- tween West Argentine and Kansas City, Mo. The same company is also putting up a new depot for the accommodation of its many pas- sengers. Few have any idea of the great improvements of 1889. They foot up quite rapidly, and may be easily estimated at $750,000. The smelter company alone has expended $100,000 in additions, etc., and the past year exported $18,000,000 in silver bricks, giving em- ployment to nearly 500 men. Among the most notable improvements are Booker's fine residence, Ghrist's residence, Parker's dwelling, Noke's elegant stone opera house, Argentine bank, blocks of fine red brick, Boergstede brick block, one of the finest in the city; Kunze's cut stone block, Probst fine frame block, Rickert's frame building, Chancy's frame dwelling, iron foundry, water works and electric light plant. Argentine in 1888 had 3,264 inhabitants; in the spring of 1889, 4,235, and at present time over 6,000. The school attendance during the year is excellent, as shown as follows: The fol- lowing is the enrollment of scholars at the old school: Total, 415; daily attendance, 325; average, 78 per cent. West End Addition en- rollment, 229; daily attendance, 175; average per cent, 76. North Argentine enrollment, 202; daily attendance, 137; average, per cent,
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75. Total enrollment, 846; average daily attendance, 635. Total school children, male, 409; female, 437. Tardy, females 241; males, 215; total, 456. Number of days in attendance, 12,311.
" The following statement, returned by Township Trustee McMahon, who has completed a report of the aggregate value of personal prop- erty and improvements made in Shawnee Township up to March 1, 1889, is as follows: Personal property in Shawnee Township, $102, - 444: improvements on Argentine lots, $80,000; Rosedale improve- ments, $30,000; value of milk sold in Argentine, $40,575; value of horticultural products sold, $39,945; amount of personal property in Argentine, $71,441; amount of Rosedale personal property, $37,605; value of farm implements, $11,177; value of poultry sold, $2,245. The report also gives the number of fruit trees in the township. The above statistics should make every citizen of Argentine feel proud. Prof. Sortor, who has just completed the school census, announces that marriage is no failure in Argentine, as shown by the report that Argentine has 1,112 children for the year 1889, against 700 for the year 1888, an increase of 412.
"The following is a complete list of what Argentine has, and shows that the citizens here lack nothing, for they have 1 bank, 1 florist, 5 hotels, 1 dentist, 5 dairies, no vagrants, 4 tinuers, an Owl Club, 6 churches, 1 plumber, 4 lawyers, 2 bakeries, 1 city park, 6 preachers, 1 post-office, 2 railroads, 8 painters, 1 book store, 6 restaurants, 3 laundries, beautiful streets, 1 union depot, 1 opera house, 5 public halls, 1 notion store, 1 planing-mill, 1 cornet band, 40 machinists, 3 shoe shops, 2 livery barns, I lumber yard, 2 undertakers, 3 telephones, 1 harness shop, 1 cigar factory, 3 drug stores, 1 fire company, 2 wagon shops, 10 meat markets, 9 barber shops, 4 billiard halls, 12 physicians, 2 city draymen, 3 news stands, 60 car repairers, 50 stone masons, 3 stock buyers, 5 stove repairers, 1 telegraph office, 2 jewelry stores, 1 city jail (empty), 2 large foundries, 8 music teachers, 1 carriage factory, 3 clothing stores, 20 brick masons, 4 dry goods stores, 15 grocery stores, 5 real estate offices, 3 millinery stores, 12 stone quarries, 4 blacksmith shops, 3 hardware stores, 12 secret societies, 12 school teachers. 3 fur- niture dealers, 3 insurance agents, 2 express companies, 6,000 popula- tion, cement and paint works, 2 veterinary surgeons, 56 boarding- houses, 5 boot and shoe stores, a home theatrical troupe, an electric street-car line, 8 coal and feed dealers, a band stand in the city park, the Jake White Feather Spring, pays $80,000 per month for labor, 1 steamboat and 12 barges, 1 building and loan association, 1 loan and in-
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vestment company, 8 dressmaking establishments, 2 dealers in music- al instruments, 2 merchant tailoring establishments, 600 scholars in the public schools, 2 new iron bridges (the finest in the State), ex- pended $600,000 in building in the past year, 150 carpenters and con- tractors, 12 city wells that can not be pumped dry, smelts $18,000,000 worth of precious metals per year, the largest smelter in the world and employs 900 men, the only exclusive radiator works in the United States, finer residences than any town in Wyandotte County, the best system of water-works and electric lights in the State, a roundhouse and the finest railroad yard in Kansas and the finest power-house for electric light and water-works in the State. A more prosperous city is not to be seen anywhere.
" The West End Addition to Argentine promises, at an early day, to become the center of the business portion of the city, and why? Be- cause of its rapid growth, its fine buildings, excellent roads and streets, nice sidewalks and its general central locality, and, especially, its close proximity to all the packing-houses, foundries and other manufacto- ries located in Armourdale just across the river, connected by two fine bridges. In fact, the larger portion of the citizens of Argentine live in the West End portion of the city, and if the dividing line was drawn, there is but little doubt but the bulk of the population would be found in the West End. It is here the Santa Fe's large freight houses, machine shops, roundhouses, depot, telegraph and freight offices are located. The cement works have also a large plant here. Here are the canning factory, planing-mill, radiator works, corrugated iron works, lumber and coal yards, and other smaller industries, employ- ing about 400 men, while within a mile, on a direct, excellent road, good all the year round, is situated the Turner Furniture Factory, also the mammoth Turner Smelter, which will employ about as many more hands, making a total of not less than 800 to 1,000 people employed, all mechanics, showing at a glance and in a few words that there need be no idle hands in the West End Addition. Much has been said about the getting to and from Kansas City, Mo. This has now all been ob- viated by the completion and running of the electric street cars through to Argentine, they running from 5:30 A. M. to midnight to Kansas City, Mo., for a 5-cent fare, landing one in the heart of the city in about thirty-five minutes from the time of leaving home. This line is universally acknowledged to be the finest equipped in the United States. Independent of this, the Santa Fe road has put on special trains at greatly reduced fares between here and Kansas City, Mo.,
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thus showing that rapid transit is now in full working order. In addition to this the West End is lighted with electric lights, has a per- fect water-works system, and now has a regular police force, is fully represented in the council and school board, and in general is metro- politan in everything except taxes, which are but a mere nominal amount. Its excellent schools, churches etc., cause property here to be highly desirable for the working man to purchase and build his home. Property is not held as yet at fancy figures, although it possesses so many advantages which are now in actual force, and not a promise of what might or will be. Manufactories are now commencing to lo- cate here rapidly, and negotiations are pending for a number of plants which will build this summer. Property in this addition is held at less than half the price of equally as well located property the same distance from Kansas City, Mo. Investors and home seekers are sure to find here a safe and profitable investment. The company's offices are in rooms 16 and 17, Gibraltar Building, Kansas City, Mo., and on the ground, at Argentine."
During the early part of the year 1889, a number of local capital- ists, among whom were Col. W. N. Ewing, H. H. Reynolds, James D. Husted and Mr. John Lovelace and his sons, perfected the organization of the Turner Smelting Company, with a capital stock of $300,000. Donations of land amounting to 150 acres, a short distance west of Ar- gentine, were secured, and during the summer work was commenced on the extensive smelting works. The buildings are completed, and the works have been in operation since July, 1890. The works have a capacity about equal to the Kansas City Smelting & Refining Com- pany's Works at Argentine, and when well under operation 500 men will be employed. It is estimated that this company will turn out a product of from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 annually. This company was first organized with a capital of $300.000, and it was deemed best, instead of bonding its property, to increase the capital stock $200,000 in order to raise the requisite operating capital, the directors feeling confident that no industrial stock was ever offered here having a brighter future for earning good dividends, or as a safe investment. The property of the company consists of 150 acres of land, worth at least $150,000, and the works costing $100,000, all free of debt, aggregating a total valuation of $250,000, for which stock has been issued, leaving in the treasury an unissued 500 shares, which with the increase, makes 2,500 shares for sale, with which to buy ores and operate the plant. These works were planned by and built under
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the personal supervision of Mr. H. Webb, one of the leading practical experts of the United States in this line (this being the seventh smel- ter he has built), and the directors spared no pains to make this smelting and refining plant one of the most perfect, effective and economical in the world. Every valuable improvement in the art is taken advantage of, and the most competent and successful smelters and refiners in the country who have visited this new plant do not hesitate to say that they can suggest no improvement at any point; that the location selected is the best they ever saw for the purpose of economy and dispatch. The best of lime rock for fluxing, and an abundance of clear water, are immediately at hand. The pitch of the hill and the firm foundation it affords, together with the advan- tage of using gravitation, instead of men and machinery, to do the heavy work, contribute largely toward making this plant exceptionally economical in its operation. The directors of the company are L. E. Irwin (president), W. N. Ewing, N. McAlpine, S. C. Douglas, J. D. Husted, R. K. Pitkin, E. E. Richardson, Charles Lovelace, P. H. Tiernan, John Smith and H. H. Reynolds.
A new enterprise of importance, started in 1889, is the Turner Furniture Manufactory. The company was organized in the spring, and a $10,000 plant was completed some time in July and placed in operation. The manufactory has been running at its fullest capacity with twenty-five men employed, and has been unable to keep up with orders. Large additions are contemplated as a means of increasing the capacity.
Edwardsville is a station on the Union Pacific Railroad, located on the southeast quarter of Section 26, in Township 11 south, Range 23 east, in Wyandotte County, being about three miles south and eleven miles west of the month of the Kansas River. It was named for Hon. John H. Edwards, then general passenger and ticket agent of the road, since then a State Senator from Ellis County, Kas. The land where this rural village now stands was once the farm of Half-Moon, a chief of some degree among the Delawares. He sold the land to Gen. T. Smith, of Leavenworth, and others, who in turn sold it to William Kouns. A post-office was established in 1867. The Methodist Episcopal Church effected an organization in 1868, and had quite a large membership. In 1868, through the personal influence and direct labors of William Kouns, the county commission- ers created the town of Delaware, in which Edwardsville is located. It was platted in 1869, the proprietor being Mr. William Kouns.
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HISTORY OF KANSAS.
Some time in 1870 the Christian Church was organized here. Com- posit Lodge No. 152, A. F. & A. M., was organized here in 1872. but in 1877 surrendered its charter. The village now contains three general stores, a railroad depot, express and telegraph offices, stock yards, a blacksmith and wagon shop, two church edifices-Methodist Episcopal and Christian-a brick school-house, etc., and has a popula- tion of about 500.
Edwardsville Cemetery, containing three acres, was laid out in 1879. Ivy Walk runs through the center from the entrance, and Dak Avenue is a circular street through the grounds, departing from and returning to the entrance. There are numerous other walks, and the grounds contain 342 burial lots.
In November, 1870, John McDanield and his wife, Ellen, laid out the village of Tiblow on the north bank of Kansas River, on the line of the Kansas Pacific Railway, on parts of Sections 29 and 32, in Township 11 south, Range 23 east. The site was surveyed to contain ten blocks, each being subdivided into lots. There being very fine springs of medicinal waters at this point, the idea was conceived to make it a summer bealth resort and a suburban residence town for people doing business in Kansas City, it being seventeen miles from the Union Depot in that city. To this end the Bonner Springs Com- pany was organized, and in November, 1885, the town of Bonner Springs, adjoining Tiblow on the northwest, was surveyed and laid out to contain nineteen blocks of various sizes, each subdivided into lots of different sizes. D. R. Emmons was president and James D. Husted secretary of this company.
Subsequently the property in the town site remaining unsold was transferred to the Saratoga Springs Town Company. This company also purchased lands adjoining, and laid out some additions, and fitted up Saratoga Park, including the springs. A thousand acres in all have been subdivided into 7,038 lots. Many lots have been sold and many residences have been erected. The place contains several stores, the railroad buildings, good church and school privileges, and about 500 inhabitants. It is a beautiful place with pleasant surroundings, and is free from smoke, dust and all nuisances. The park contains sixty acres, which is supplied with flowers, foliage, springs, streams and lake. Daily excursion trains run between the Union Depot in Kansas City and Bonner Springs. A large hotel-the Coranado-is open at the park. The offices of the company are at 809 Main Street, Kansas City,' Mo., and 523 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kas.
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White Church, on the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern Railroad, about nine miles west of Kansas City on a direct line, is a pretty little hamlet, and is the historical scene of the old Delaware Mission and the building of the "White Church," for the benefit of the Indians. It is about three miles south of Pomeroy, which is on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It contains one general store, a school- house, a church-Methodist Episcopal, South-and a few dwelling houses, with a population of about 50. A Masonic lodge was char- tered here October 20, 1870.
Bethel, on the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern Railway, and on the northwest quarter of Section 32, Township 10 south, Range 24 east, was laid out by the White Church Town Site and Im- provement Company, in May, 1887, when D. D. Hong was president and W. H. Young, secretary. It lies nine miles west by rail from the mouth of Jersey Creek, at Kansas City, and 300 feet above that place. It is also about three-fourths of a mile northeast of White Church. It now contains a large general store, brick and terra cotta works, a railroad depot, telegraph and express office, a town hall, blacksmith and wagon shop, etc. It is very pleasantly situated, and, lying on the ridge, as it does, above the mosquito line, it is never in- fested with these troublesome insects. From this point can be seen Kansas City, Leavenworth, Parkville, and other points in the distance. Bethel is designed as a suburban residence town for the two Kansas Cities. Many lots have been sold to parties in the cities, who contem- plate building residences here.
Piper, also situated on the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern Railroad, on the southwest corner of Section 28 and the northwest corner of Section 33, in Township 10 north, Range 23 east, was laid out in September, 1888, by L. E. Scott, Margaret Scott, John Wald- ron, Ella L. Waldron, W. S. Brown and S. A. Brown, the proprietors of the town site, embracing forty acres. The village contains two gen- eral stores, a blacksmith and wagon shop, railroad depot, telegraph and express office, etc., and a population of between 200 and 300.
The town of Pomeroy, on the Missouri River, and on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, on Section 20, in Township 10 south, Range 24 east, was laid out in May, 1871, by William P. and Sarah M. Over- ton, and Frank H. and Susanna Betton. It has never risen above the dignity of a village, containing at this writing a railroad depot, a general store, a flouring-mill, school-house, union church and a few dwelling houses. It is about ten miles distant from Kansas City.
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Connor City was laid out in February, 1868, by Alfred W. Hughes and William Hughes, on the southwest quarter of Section 12, in Town- ship 10 south, Range 23 east. All the streets were made sixty feet wide and the alleys sixteen feet wide. The lots in size were 42 feet front by 126 feet in length. The town is platted on both sides of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and Connor's Creek passes through it. It was surveyed and platted by Samuel Parsons in January, 1868. It contains a railroad depot, telegraph and express office, a school- house, dwelling-houses, and a population of between 200 and 300.
In addition to the foregoing there are a number of post villages throughout the county, each containing a post-office and store.
Of the civil or municipal townships of Wyandotte County, Quindaro and Wyandotte were originally organized while the territory compos- ing them belonged to Leavenworth County. Quindaro was re estab- lished April 5, 1869. It now comprises all that part of the county lying immediately north of the second standard parallel south, and east of the line dividing Ranges 23 and 24 east, being all of fractional townships in Township 10 south, in Ranges 24 and 25 east, and being bounded north and east by the Missouri River. Wyandotte Civil Township embraces all the land in Township 11 south, in Ranges 24 and 25 east, which lies north of the Kansas River; and Shawnee Civil Township embraces all the land in the same township, and ranges lying south of the river. The latter township was organized as here described April 5, 1869. Delaware Civil Township was established January 4, 1869. It embraces all of Townships 11 and 12 south, lying north of the Kansas River, in Range 23 east. Prairie Civil Township was established March 8, 1869. It embraces all of Town- ship 10 south, in Range 23 east, and is in the northwest corner of the county, Delaware adjoining it on the south and forming the southwest part of the county.
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CHAPTER XIX.
ORIGIN OF WYANDOTTE-INDIAN OCCUPANCY-UNITED STATES INDIAN AGENCY-FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETY-FIRST JAIL-WYANDOTTE INDIAN CONVENTION-TREATY OF 1855-LAND OFFICE-SURVEY OF WYANDOTTE-RUSH OF IMMIGRATION-RAPID GROWTHI-FIRST EN- TERPRISES-ELECTION IN 1857-SCENE AT THE WYANDOTTE CONVEN- TION IN 1859-FIRST POST-OFFICE-DEATH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE WYANDOTTE CITY COMPANY-INCORPORATION-ROSTER OF OFFICERS -CITY ADDITIONS-FORMER KANSAS CITY-ARMOURDALE-PRESS- MEETINGS AT WYANDOTTE SEPTEMBER 4 AND 23, 1875-PREDICTIONS AS TO THE FUTURE METROPOLIS-CONSOLIDATION-GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION.
" We have no title deeds to house or lands; Owners and occupants of earlier dates From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands, And hold in mortmain still their old estates."
OT without truth may it be said of the city of Wyandotte (now a part of-Kansas City, Kas.), 3 that it had a double origin, one by the Wyan- dotte Indians, when they settled its site in 1843, and one by the whites when it was sur- veyed and platted by a body of men known as the Wyandotte City Company, in 1857. As heretofore mentioned in connection with the settle- ment of the county, the Wyandotte Indians occupied the site of Wyandotte City in the fall of 1843. J. M. Armstrong erected his log-cabin (the first house on the site) and moved into it December 10 of that year. One week later Mrs. Catharine Long and her family moved into their cabin on the north side of Jersey Creek. John W. Grayeyes was at this time building a hewed- log house on the west side of the present Third Street. This afterward became a part of the residence of Joel Walker. Dr. Grayeyes built a cabin on the opposite ยท side of the road, and Robert Robitaille built and resided on the same
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