USA > Missouri > Jackson County > The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county > Part 94
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The year 1860 was one of hardships and privation to the settlers. No rain fell for a period of twelve months, and but little was raised. During the fall and winter of that year, an immense amount of supplies of various kinds, were sent to the Territory, by more fortunate parties in the east. The summer was intensely hot, the sun having the appearance of a ball of fire. At 6 o'clock P. M., on the 4th day of July, 1857, a tornado passed over a portion of the county, blowing down a number of houses in Quindaro, and one span of the old Southern Bridge. In the fall of that year, the Whangdoodles, a secret benevolent society, was or- ganized. W. Y. Roberts, Gen. A. C. Davis, Dr. Joseph Speck, T. J. Barker, Henry West, Junius Chaffee, Philip Hescher, J. R. Parr, I. N. White, Isaiah Walker, C. H. Van Fossen, W. P. Overton, Doc. Bowling, and others, were among the leading members of the organization. The initiatory exercises were impressive and sometimes painful.
A vigilance committee was also formed during this year. Parties arrested and taken before it for trial, if found guilty, were tied up and received so many lashes. It caused many a reprobate to leave the county, for its good.
On the breaking out of the Rebellion, Wyandott county responded gallantly to the call for troops. The Kansas First and Second Infantry contained a good portion of these citizens. In May the Second Regiment was quartered in Con- stitutional Hall, a four story brick on the levee. Early in June the regiment re- ceived marching orders. About 9 o'clock A M., the building was vacated, the regiment marching out to the Southern Bridge. A squad of nineteen recruits, under Luke Havens, now of Fort Scott, were ordered to the building, to be sworn into service, and while waiting for an officer to swear them in, Constitu-
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690
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
tional Hall came down with a crash, burying the men in the debris. Every per- son turned out, and in about two hours the last man was rescued. None of them were killed. The building was a complete wreck; not a stone in the foundation was left on top of another.
At the battle of Wilson Creek, John W. Dyer, one of the commissioners of this county was killed, Captain Alden lost an eye, Bryan Henry was shot through the left lung, the ball taking a portion of his ribs through his back, and he was left for dead on the field. Bryan managed to come to and was taken prisoner, but released and returned to Wyandott, arriving at the ferry on the 24th of August, bare headed, bare footed, his pants worn out above the knees traveling through the prairie grass, without any coat, as bloody as a butcher and the vermin gamboling through his wound. It wasn't long until the boys had Dr. Root at work dressing his wound. As soon as the Doctor got through the boys had Henry West fit Bryan out in one of Grautman's best suits.
In August 1863 work was commenced on the Kansas Pacific Railway, and early in the fall track laying commenced. The Wyandott No. I was the first engine received ; as soon as it was landed the engineer, Frank . Tuell, got up steam, and John Hallett managed to run it into the Missouri River.
During the war Wyandott county was infested with a gang of Red Legs, who robbed and pillaged for a livelihood. After the war closed they made this county their headquarters; the result was the crimes of robbery and murder were not infrequent. The numerous crimes committed, and the facilities with which the desperadoes escaped punishment, was occasion for the people taking the law into their own hands.
The first act occurred in the spring of 1866. John Tehan, a section boss on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, went to the livery stable of J. L. Conklin a little after dark and employed Conklin to take him to Kansas City ; before starting Tehan inquired of Conklin what time it was. On the way over Conklin was shot in the groin. Tehan, who was under the influence of liquor, rode on to Kansas City. The next day he was arrested, brought to Wyandott, identified by Conklin, put In jail, taken out that night and hung to the steps of the old court- house. A great many persons are of the opinion Tehan was innocent.
Early in the summer of 1866, Newt. Morrison, a noted red leg and desperado, was found one morning hanging from the same place. In a few months after this two colored men were taken from from the calaboose and shot and hung. These two colored men were hung on suspicion of being implicated in the murder of one McNamara; no one doubts their innocence to-day. Since that time Wyan- dott county has been as quiet and orderly as any portion of the United States.
In the fall of this year myriads of grasshoppers settled down on vegetation, but did little damage to crops.
The Wyandott Herald was established on the 4th day of January, 1872.
In July, 1873, the Wyandott and Kansas City Street Railway was completed, and has been in successful operation since that time.
In the fall of 1874 the grasshoppers appeared for the second time, doing great damage to the fruit trees, the shrubbery, late vegetables, and in some places partially destroying the fruit. During the fall they deposited their eggs, and early in the spring of 1875 the eggs began to hatch. For a time vegetation struggled with the young hoppers for the ascendency, but the latter increased so rapidly that all vegetable matter succumbed to the voracious appetites of the pests. The first, second, and in some instances even the third planting of crops was destroyed. Thousands of bushels of the insects were driven into ditches and killed. In June they took flight to the northwest. On the 17th day of that month the whole face of the country was bare, with no sign of vegetable life. Good crops of corn were raised after they left.
691
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
At the expiration of six months, from the time of the first purchase, Wyan dott had a population of 1, 200 inhabitants, including five hundred buildings.
The universal depression in business, which pervaded the entire country in the fall of 1857, seriously interefered with the growth of Wyandott.
The city was incorporated and trustees appointed in the spring of 1858, of which William McKay was chairman.
Early in the spring of 1857 Mr. Dickenson was employed by the Wyandott Company to build a first-class wagon road from this city to Lawrence, on the north side of the Kansas River. He performed his work in approved style, Quindaro building most of the bridges. It was the best road ever built in the State of Kansas. It was perfectly easy to drive on a trot from the levee at Wyan- dott to the city of Lawrence. A Concord coach, drawn by four horses, left each of the above named cities in the morning and at noon of each day. Mr. Dicken- son is now street commissioner of the city of Wyandott. Unfortunately, some years after this, the splendid road was cut up in obedience to the desire of Quin- daro, who secured a bill from the Legislature appointing commissioners to lay out a road running west from the city of Quindaro. These commissioners were Hon. W. A. Phillips, since member of Congress, now of Salina, Kansas, Hon. O. B. Gunn, now of Kansas City, and Charles Chadwick, Esq., then a resident of Quindaro, but now and for many years a Justice of the Peace in Lawrence. This commission obeying the wishes of Quindaro laid out the new road on an air line running west from the landing at Quindaro on the Missouri River, regardless of the topography of the country, and thus was commenced a system of roads in direct lines which not only destroyed the old road, but seriously interfered with easy and rapid travel in different parts of the county.
INCORPORATION.
The following is a copy of the order of court in reference to the incorpora- tion of the city :
In the matter of the Inhabitants of the Town of Wyandott :
Be it known that on this 8th day of June, A. D., 1858, in open court came Charles S. Glick and presented the petition of B. Gray, A. B. Bartlett, Daniel Killen and other resident tax payers of the following described territory, the same being in the Township of Wyandott, in the County of Leavenworth and Territory of Kansas. To wit, commencing on the eastern boundary of the Territory of Kansas where the same is intersected by the second standard parallel, thence west on said parallel line to the northwest corner of section four (4), township eleven (11), range twenty-five (25), thence south to the southwest corner of section nine (9), township and range above said, thence east to the middle of the Kansas River, thence by the middle of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers to the place of beginning; asking that they be incorporated by the name and style of the "Inhabitants of the Town of Wyandott," within the above metes and bounds, and that they may have a local government established therein. And the court being fully satisfied that said petition is subscribed by two-thirds of the resident tax payers and voters therein, does hereby make and incorporate the petitioners and all others residing in said described territory, as a body, corporate under the name and style of " The Inhabitants of the Town of Wyandott," of the above metes and bounds and do hereby appoint as trustees thereof William McKay, George Russell, Daniel Killen, Charles S. Glick and William F. Simpson, and do hereby order said persons so appointed to be duly commissioned by the clerk of this court. All of which is accordingly done.
G. W. GARDNER,
Judge.
692
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
TERRITORY OF KANSAS, SS.
COUNTY OF LEAVENWORTH.
I, Henry C. Fields, clerk of said court, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of proceedings of said court, 3d day of June term, A. D., 1858, held at the city of Leavenworth.
Witness my hand and the seal of said court this 9th day of June, A. D., 1858.
SEAL
-
HENRY C. FIELDS, Clerk.
Filed in office of Town Clerk June 14th, 1858, by
RUFUS HALL, Deputy Clerk.
The first meeting of the board of trustees appointed by the probate court of Leavenworth county for "The inhabitants of the Town of Wyandott," held June 12, 1858.
The board being all present subscribed to the following affidavit, and were then duly sworn in office by William L. McMath, Justice of the Peace.
"COUNTY OF LEAVENWORTH, Territory of Kansas. SS.
William McKay, George Russell, Daniel Killen, William F. Simpson and Charles S. Glick, hereby duly sworn say, that they will support the Constitution of the United States and the act to organize the Territory of Kansas, and faithfully demean themselves in office as trustees of 'The Inhabitants of the Town of Wy- andott.'
[Signed.]
WILLIAM McKAY, CHARLES S. GLICK, GEO. RUSSELL, WILLIAM F. SIMPSON, DAN'L KILLEN.
Sworn to before me this 12th day of June, A. D., 1858,
WM. S. McMATH, J. P."
The board then organized by unanimously electing William McKay, chair- man, and appointing William F. Simpson, temporary clerk.
On motion of Charles S. Glick, Joseph W. H. Watson was nominated clerk of the board and unanimously elected.
On motion of George Russell, Charles W. Patterson was nominated as town assessor and duly elected.
On motion of George Russell, Walter N. Canfield was nominated town collector and duly elected.
On motion of Charles S. Glick, Samuel E. Forsythe was nominated town constable and duly elected.
Charles S. Glick, moved that a committee of two be appointed to prepare rules and regulations for the government of the Board, and appoint times and provide place of meeting; the motion was adopted, and William McKay and Charles S. Glick, appointed as the committee.
On motion of Charles S. Glick, W. F. Simpson was instructed to procure a full bound record-book to keep the record of the proceedings of the Board.
On motion of George Russell, the Board adjourned to meet on the next Monday at 3 o'clock p. m., at the office of Bartlett & Glick.
WM. F. SIMPSON, Clerk, pro tem.
WILLIAM MCKAY, Chairman.
The act to incorporate and establish the City of Wyandott, was approved
693
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
by the Legislative Assembly and Governor of the Territory of Kansas, January 29, 1859.
CITY OFFICERS.
The following is a complete roster from organization of the city to the pres- ent time.
1858.
Wyandott incorporated June 8, A. D. 1858, under the name of
"The Inhabitants of the Town of Wyandott."
Trustees, William McKay, George Russell, Daniel Killen, Charles S. Glick, Wm. F. Simpson. Wm. McKay, Chairman. Jos. W. H. Watson, Clerk.
Charles W. Patterson, Assessor.
Walter N. Canfield, Collector. S. E. Forsyth, Constable.
1859.
James R. Parr, Mayor.
Aldermen, W. P. Overton, I. N.
White, B. Judd, D. Killen, Isaiah Walker, and H. McDowell.
Clerk, E. T. Vedder. Assessor, David Kirkbride.
Treasurer, J. H. Harris.
Attorney, W. L. McMath.
Marshal, N. A. Kirk.
Engineer, W. Miller. Street Commissioner, H. Burgard.
I860.
Mayor, George Russell.
Alderman, Joseph £ Speck, Philip Hescher. A. D. Downs, B. Wash- ington, S. A. Bartlett, C. R. Stuck- alager. Clerk, T. J. Darling.
1
Assessor, J. W. Dyer.
Treasurer, C. H. Van Fossen.
Attorney S. A. Cobb. Marshal, H H. Sawyer. Street Commissioner, David Leavitt. Engineer, W. Miller. 1861.
Mayor, George Russell.
Aldermen, Jacob Kerstetter, E. L. Buesche, James Sommerville, C. R. Stuckslager, O. S. Bartlett, and C. Schneider. Clerk, Francis House. Assessor, W. Hood.
Treasurer, I. D. Heath. Attorney, S. A. Cobb.
Marshal, P. S. Ferguson. Street Commissioner, W. Curran. Engineer, Gustavus Zeitz.
1862.
Mayor, S. A. Cobb.
Aldermen, Jacob Kerstetter, Robert Halford, J. P. Hanrion, N. A. Reinecher, W. H. Schofield, and J. M. Funk. Clerk, W. B. Bowman.
Marshal, P. S. Ferguson.
Assessor, W. Hood.
Attorney, J. S. Stockton.
Treasurer, I. D. Heath.
Street Commissioner, G. Knipfer.
Engineer, Horatio Waldo.
I 863.
Mayor, J. M. Funk.
Aldermen, Matthew Splitlog, W. P. Holcomb, J. P. Hanrion, B. Wash- ington, J. Grindle, and R. Chalk, Clerk, W. B. Bowman.
Treasurer, I. D. Heath.
Attorney, J. S. Stockton,
Assessor, - Hance.
Street Commissioner, G. Knipfer.
Marshal, P. S. Ferguson.
1864.
Mayor, J. M. Funk.
Aldermen, W. Cook,' E. L. Beusche, Fred. Weber, R. Chalk, I. Moore, and S. A. Cobb.
Clerk, W. B. Bowman.
Treasurer, W. P. Holcomb.
Attorney, W. B. Bowman. Assessor, Joseph Hanford.
Marshal, Matthew Clary.
Engineer, W. Miller. .
1865.
Mayor, I. B. Sharp.
Aldermen, W. Cook, J. R. Parr, J. M. Chrysler, E. T. Hovey, Dan. Cable, and J. J. Hughes. Clerk, W. B. Bowman.
-
694
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
Marshal, John Bolton. Attorney, C. S. Glick.
Treasurer, W. P. Holcomb.
Assessor, Joseph Handford.
Street Commissioner, W. Bucher.
Engineer, J. A. J. Chapman. 1866.
Mayor, I. B. Sharp.
Aldermen, W. Cook, R. Anderson, C. Hains, D. Cable, B. Washing- ton, and N. A. Kirk. Clerk, J. A. Cruise. Attorney, C. S. Glick.
Marshal, M. Clary.
Assessor, Joseph Handford.
Engineer, J. A. J. Chapman.
Street Commissioner, G. A. Schrei- ner.
1867.
Mayor, J. McGrew.
Aldermen, G. P. Nelson, H. West, J. H. Haris, B. Washington, Joab Toney, P. Lugibihl. Clerk, J. A. Cruise.
Attorney, J. B. Scroggs.
Engineer, S. Parsons.
Treasurer, N. McAlpine.
Marshal, J. Lecompt.
Street Commissioner, G. A. Schrei- ner. Assessor, E. F. Heisler. I868.
Mayor, S. A. Cobb.
Councilmen, J. Hennessy, A. Jost, H. Grautman, R. E. Cable, J. Townsend. Police Judge, J. M. Funk.
Marshal, Thomas Redfield.
Attorney, F. B. Anderson. Treasurer, Byron Judd. Clerk, J. A. Cruise.
Engineer, C. Pinney. Assessor, E. F. Heisler. Street Commissioner, John Hosp. I869.
Mayor, Byron Judd. Alderman, F. Castring, O. K. Serviss, J. Hennessy, R. E. Cable, N. Kearney, P. Knoblock. Police Judge, W. B. Bowman. Marshal, H. C. Johnson. Assessor, E. F. Heisler.
Clerk, J. A. Cruise.
Attorney, F. B. Anderson. Road Overseer, T. Purtill. Engineer, J. McGee. Treasurer, J. C. Welsh.
I870.
Mayor, J. S. Stockton.
Councilmen, F. Bell, J. Bolton, R. E. Cable, F. Castring, P. Knob- lock, O. K. Serviss.
Police Judge, W. B. Bowman.
Marshal, H. C. Johnson.
Assessor, E. F. Heisler.
Clerk, H. L. Alden.
Engineer, S. Parsons.
Street Commissioner, John Hosp.
Attorney, H. W. Cook.
I871.
Mayor, J. S. Stockton Councilmen, Frank Bell, John Bolton, Peter Connelly, H. C. Johnson, N. Kearney, P. Knoblock.
Treasurer, O. K. Serviss.
Police Judge, W. B. Bowman.
Marshal, H. T. Harris.
Attorney, E. L. Bartlett.
Clerk, H. L. Alden.
Engineer, Francis House.
Assessor, G. P. Nelson.
Road Overseer, S. Balmer.
1872.
Mayor, J. S. Stockton.
Councilmen, D. W. Batchelder. P. Connelly, E. M. Dyer, C. C. Gerhardt, A. Jost, D. W. McCabe, Jacob Meunzenmayer, M. W. Phil- lips.
Police Judge, W. B. Bowman. Marshal, H. T. Harris.
Treasurer, O. K. Serviss.
Clerk, William Albright. Attorney, W. J. Buchan.
Engineer, Francis House.
Assessor, G. P. Nelson.
1873.
Mayor, James McGrew.
Councilmen, D. W. Batchelder, W. Cook, B. Grafton, James Hennessy, E. T. Hovey, J. C. Ives, A. Jost, L. Schleifer. Police Judge, M. B. Newman Treasurer, O. K. Serviss.
695
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
Clerk, William Albright. Marshal, H. T. Harris.
Engineer, Francis House.
Assessor, J. J. Keplinger.
Street Commissioner, W. B. Garlick.
Attorney, W. J. Buchan. 1874.
Mayor. G. B. Wood.
Councilmen, R E. Cable, W. Cook, N. McAlpine, F. W. Meyer, J. Reid, W. H. Ryus, Louis Schleifer, F. Speck. Police Judge, M. B Newman. Treasurer, O. K. Serviss.
Clerk, W. Albright.
. Engineer, F House. Street Commissioner, J. P. Faber.
Assessor, J. J. Keplinger. Marshal, H. T. Harris.
Attorney, W. J. Buchan. 1875.
Mayor, C. Hains.
Councilmen, Russell, Burdette, R. E. Cable, G. Grubel, F. W. Meyer, J. Reid, T. B. Roberts, L. Schleifer, F. Speck. Police Judge, M. B. Newman.
Marshal, H. T. Harris.
Attorney, W. J. Buchan.
Treasurer, J. C. Stout.
Clerk, W. Albright. Assessor, G. W. Bishop.
Engineer, F. House, Street Commissioner, J. P. Faber. 1876.
Mayor, C. Hains.
Councilmen, C. Anderson, Russell Burdette, H. E. Chadborn, J. L. Conklin, G. Greubel, J. Handford, H. C. Long, M. M. Stover. Police Judge, M. B. Newman. Marshal, M. Collins. Clerk, W. Albright. Treasurer, J. W. Wahlenmaier.
Assessor, G. W. Bishop. Engineer, F. House. Street Commissioner, F. Kramer. Attorney, F. B. Anderson. 1877.
Mayor, F. Speck. Marshal, Mike Collins. Police Judge, R. E. Cable.
Treasurer, J. W. Wahlenmaier. Treasurer Board Education, Perley Pike.
City Attorney, F. B. Anderson. Justices of Peace, R. E. Cable, M. B. Newman.
Constables, C. D. Shrader, M. Col- lins.
Councilmen, L. Cook, Dan. Williams, R. Burdett, J. C. Welch.
Members Board of Education, R. Halford, J. P. Denison, J. H. Gadd, A. M. Moyer.
I878.
Mayor, Fred. Speck. Marshal, Michael Collins. Treasurer, O. K. Serviss. Treasurer Board Education, Perley Pike.
Attorney, F. B. Anderson.
Councilmen, John E. Zeitz, M. M. Stover, J. Lecompt, James S. Bell. Members Board Education, C. Croth- ers, W. R. Chapman, James Furga. son, H. C. Darby.
1879.
Mayor, J. S. Stockton. Treasurer, Chris. Bernhard.
Police Judge, R. E. Cable.
City Attorney, J. A. Hale.
Treasurer Board Education, Chris. Bernhard. Justices of Peace, F. B. Anderson and J. S. Stockton. Constables, D. M. Ward and C. Pat- terson. Councilmen, Lawson Cook, J. W. Wahlenmaier, Dan Williams, V. S. Lucas and John Burk. Members of Board Education, J. L. Conklin, P. H. Knoblock, Jas S. Gibson, G. W. Bishop.
1880,
Mayor, J. S. Stockton. Marshal, H. T. Harris. Councilmen, Louis Burnett, Daniel Williams, D. E. Cornell, James S. Bell.
Members Board Education, H. C. Darby, W. R. Chapman, James Furgason, C. Anderson. Constables, C. Patterson, O. K. Ser- viss.
696
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
City Attorney, J. A. Hale. Police Judge, R. E. Cable. Treasurer, Chris. Bernhard. 1881.
Mayor. R. E. Cable. Marshal, V. S. Lucas. Police Judge, F. B. Anderson.
Justices of Peace, F. B. Anderson, Wm. Caffrey.
Treasurer, Chris. Bernhard. City Attorney, Henry McGrew.
Councilmen, Louis Bernett, Peter Lugibihl, T. B. Roberts, D. E. Cor- nell, James S. Bell, Daniel Williams, J. C. Stout, George A. Dudley. Board Education, Emile Kreiser, H. C. Darby, P. H. Knoblock, W. R. Chapman, J. Furgason, C. D. Shra- der, W. C. Lyman, C. Anderson.
WYANDOTT THE METROPOLIS OF THE WEST.
The locality of Wyandott is. thought by many to pre-eminently fit it to be- come the site of the greatest city in the Central States of the Union. Meetings have been held and plans devised, and it seems probable that the aspirations of the people will be realized either in the growth of Kansas City reaching out and taking into its vast proportions Wyandott and the territory extending far west of the mouth of the Kaw, or Wyandott itself expand till its commercial and manu- facturing importance shall outstrip any other city in the valley. In pursuance of notice given in the Wyandott newspapers, a mass meeting of the citizens of Wyandott county was held at Dunning Hall, September 4th, 1875, for the pur- pose of discussing the views set forth in the Ingalls-Cobb open letters, and to devise ways and means to assist in building up the commercial metropolis of the State of Kansas at the mouth of the Kaw.
V. J. Lane was appointed Chairman and N. McAlpine Secretary. After the chairman stated the object of the meeting, Colonel S. A. Cobb, in furtherance of said object, introduced the following resolution, which passed unanimously :
Resolved, That a meeting of the citizens of the State of Kansas be held at Dunning's Hall, on Thursday, the 23d day of September, in the afternoon and evening, and that prominent citizens of the State be invited to address the meet- ing, and become our guests.
On motion the following five persons were appointed as an Invitation Com- mittee : Messrs. H. W. Cook, John B Scroggs, R. B. Taylor, V. J. Lane and Sanford Haff.
On motion a Committee on Arrangements and Finance was appointed, con- sisting of Messrs. S. A. Cobb, Mayor Hains, Mayor Teed, of Kansas City, Kansas, E. L. Bartlett, Dr. Thorne, Thomas Vick Roy, L. H. Woods, J. S. Stockton and W. J. Buchan.
On motion a committee of five on Assessment and Taxation was appointed, viz : Messrs. L. H. Wood, Mayor Hains, H. M. Northrup, J. J. Keplinger and N. McAlpine.
The following is a copy of the call for a meeting to be held September 23d, 1875, and published in the newspapers :
To the People of Kansas .
" The citizens of Wyandott county, mindful of the fact that the increasing commerce of the Missouri Valley must concentrate somewhere on the bank of our great river for general exchange, and build up a great emporium at the point where such general exchange shall be made, believe that the necessities of trade, the laws of nature, facts not to be denied, have fixed that point at the mouth of the Kansas River ; this commerce, for the most part, is the product of the in- dustry, the intelligence and the resources of Kansas, the city, which is its offspring, they believe should be on Kansas soil, subject to her laws and tributary to her wealth. They believe that city may be planted by wise and judicious action on the part of the people within the borders of their State. They believe a generous interchange of sentiment on the spot by citizens of Kansas, with their fellow
697
HISTORY OF WYANDOTT, KANSAS.
citizens who reside at the mouth of the Kansas River, will convince the most skeptical and win him to their belief as to where that great mart shall be seated. Therefore, in no spirit of rivalry, as citizens of Kansas, solicitous of her welfare, they cordially invite as many of the people of their State as can attend a public meeting, to be held at Wyandott, on Thursday, September 23d, 1875, in the evening, to consider the subject. To such as come they pledge a hearty wel- come to their homes."
The invitation extended to the people of Kansas to meet the citizens of Wyandott in mass convention on the 53d inst. as guests of the city, with a view of examining the advantages presented at the mouth of the Kaw for building the commercial metropolis of the State, met with a liberal response, three hundred persons from abroad being present. The guests were met at the depot by the citizens and escorted through the principal streets of the city in carriages. The meeting was composed of representative men of the State.
The following counties were represented by their delegates in person : Doug- las, Riley and Davis to the west ; Leavenworth on the north; Johnson, Miami and Bourbon on the South ; Franklin, Anderson and Allen on the southwest; and Jefferson on the northwest. The following counties sent words of indorse- ment and cheer by letter : Shawnee, Jewell, Crawford, Coffey, Linn, Osage, Pottawatomie, Saline, Ellis, Republic, Ellsworth and Atchison.
The press was represented by W. H. Miller, of the Kansas City Journal ; S. M. Ford, of the Kansas City Times ; H. Wilcox, of the Kansas City News and Chronicle ; R. B. Taylor, of the Wyandott Gazette, and V. J. Lane, of the Wyan- dotte Herald.
The ladies had decorated Dunning Hall where the meetings were held. Col. S. A. Cobb was elected president, and the following gentlemen as vice-pres- idents : Gen. W. H. M. Fishback, of Johnson county ; Theodore C. Bowles, Esq., of Franklin county; Hon. John T. Lanter, of Anderson county ; Hon. L. J. Worden, of Douglas county ; Dr. George B. Wood, of Wyandott county ; Judge Williams, of Jefferson county ; Gen. John A. Halderman, of Leavenworth county, Hon. George A. Crawford of Bourbon county, Judge Hiram Stevens, of Miami county ; Judge N. F. Acres, of Allen county, and Hon. John K. Wright, of Davis county.
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