Kansas Township

Kansas Township

The railroad had but just been completed, when towns began to spring up at convenient points all along the line. Quite a number of the towns now found on this road, of course, had been founded years before ; but some of the important ones have been entirely built since that time. Kansas, or " Midway," as it was then called, was laid out for Lovell Wilhoit and John Saunders by County Surveyor Benjamin F. Lodge, assisted by Elijah Boyer and D. W. Zink.

Mr. Zink, to whom we are indebted for almost the entire history of the village, delivered an address to the citizens of Kansas on the 4th of July, 1876, in which he says that the survey was made, as above stated, in June of 1853. The plat was recorded on the 16th of the following month, and thus was the foundation of the village laid. At that time, the site of what is now a flourishing little city, was the secure haunt of the prairie-wolf and the rat¬ tlesnake ; and here could be seen the graceful deer quietly grazing or in playful gambol, and rarely disturbed by the pioneer's rifle.

, The only disturbing element then was the prairie fire, which at times would sweep across the plain with the velocity of the wind ; and frequently for both man and beast it made a race for life, which sometimes resulted in death. The

The growth of the town began much after the fashion, and was attended with the same inconveniences, of all inland towns in a muddy country. A few months after the platting of the village, the*T. H. & A. Railroad was comoleted. As soon as it was certain that a station was to be made here, a number of enter¬ prising men realized at once that this was destined to be a place of importance. "Midway '' as it was between the cities of Charleston and Paris, and with a splendid farming country lying adjacent, with produce to dispose of, and dry goods, groceries and farming implements in demand, it could not be otherwise.

J. W. Hogue was the first to venture into trade here, displaying his w'ares in a small building located between the Kansas House and the railroad. This building differed in many respects from the brick blocks now occupied by the merchants of Kansas. In size it was about 16x30 feet. In its construction but few square timbers were used, the joists and studding being black-jack poles, hewn on one side to make a smooth surface to which boards could be nailed. The building and contents made several changes in ownership in a brief period of time. Mr. Hogue sold out to J. W. Saunders, a subcontractor in the con¬ struction of the railroad. Mills, Herrick and Kester were the next owners, but soon retired from the business, the first two to practice their profession - that of medicine - and the other to preaching. Samuel Birch, J. D. Thrasher and J. K. and W. F. Boyer in turn succeeded as proprietors of the " Midway Store. ' The last named gentlemen, in the spring of 1854, erected a very good two-story building, sufficiently large to accommodate a good-sized stock of goods below, while the upper portion served as a residence for W. F. Boyer.

The following winter Midway grew rapidly, in consequence of the removal of many of the buildings of the town of Hitesville, once a thriving little place, four miles southwest on the State road. It was at about this time that the grade, which raised the whole of the city of Chicago several feet was adopted. Many of the buildings were removed to other parts of the city, and hundreds of the most substantial ones were to be seen perched away up on jack-screws, while new foundations were being laid for them. Correspondents of eastern journals were wont to denominate it the "city on wheels, " and the " city on stilts.'' With as much propriety could we apply the same epithets to Old Hitesville, as it really presented the spectacle of a "town on runners." The moving of the buildings was under the supervision of Uncle James Laugh ead, who took advantage of the deep snow that prevailed that winter; and to place the skids under a building, attach sixteen yoke of oxen and move it four miles, was but the work of a day. Many of these buildings are still in use.

For a period of eighteen years, Messrs. Boyer were the leading merchants of the place, and, by their untiring efforts and strict business integrity, have not only amassed a good portion of the world's goods, but have made a name of which they may well be proud. W. F. Boyer was the first railroad

Postmaster and express agent. Messrs. Boyer & Sefton succeeded in the dry goods trade, and as express agents. Other dry goods houses were -opened, of which Charles Lesure, James Sheron, Hogue & Brown, Hanks, Zink & O'Hair, R. Mosley, Hanks & O'Hair, Mosley & Zink, J. & J. S. Kester, Burson & Edmiston, P. A. Terry & Co., Cash, Jenkins & Co., J. C. & C. W. Owens and Hanks & Tyler were prominent. Many of the earlier merchants suffered greatly on account of the universal credit system then in vogue. For a merchant to refuse a person credit was an unheard-of occurrence. A man's ability to pay was never called in question, and when in need of an article, he went to the store and got it. The crash of 1857 was a hard time for business men all over the country, and many good business men had to sus¬ pend. Added to this the evil to which we have alluded, it is not surprising that some of the merchants of Kansas have failed. Selling goods, and collect¬ ing the pay for them, were two different things, although they belonged to the same business. The footings of a year's sales and the collections were never the same, but showed a difference that would astonish the merchants doing business here at present. Along with the dry goods store, came the grocery ; but time and space will not permit even the mention of all of their names. Closely connected with the early-day grocery, was the whisky trade. In fact, but few did business without that article making part of their stock. The first regular saloon was kept by one Burdette. As he understood the compounding of fancy and mixed drinks, he was looked upon by the drinking payt of the population with admiration ; and after his customers learned the names of his various drinks, and became fully acquainted with their taste, he did a thriving business. Numbers have been engaged in this doubtful business ; but, with this single exception, none have emerged from it in better condition, financially or morallv.

The grain and hay trade at this point, previous to the building of the Paris & Decatur Railway, was immense, and Kansas monopolized the trade for a distance of twenty miles north, and half that distance south. In the grain trade, J. K. & W. F. Boyer were the pioneers. These gentlemen, being fully acquainted with the producing qualities of our soil, at once made extensive arrangements to handle the vast quantities that they rightly supposed would find a market here, and, to handle it, erected the warehouse just opposite the depot. This building, with a few rail pens, enabled them to handle the grain for a time. Among those since engaged in this business, have been Moses Pierce, Mosley & Zink, William Ross, B. Lord and Ross & Brown. The hay trade has been carried on by a number of persons, all of whom have been more or less successful. George Brown erected the first hay-press, about the year 1858, since which, six others have been erected. This business has furnished employment to a large number of men, at good wages, and given the farmers good prices for thousands of tons of hay. During the war, this was the first point on the line of road in the shipment of hay.

The product was bought by army contractors, for the use of the cavalry and horses used for transportation. A single press can prepare five or six tons a day, or eight hundred tons a year. The business, though still good, has greatly fallen off since then. The Government is not buying hay now, and sales have to be made in the markets furnished by the large cities. Messrs. James Paxton, Calvin W. McVey and D. W. Zink still carry on the business quite extensively.

A business that has lately sprung into prominence in this place, is that of tile-making. It is beginning to be realized by agriculturists that great advan¬ tage is to be derived from having lands properly drained. Doubtless a single wet season would more than pay the cost of putting in the tile. It is estimated by some of the best informed on the subject, that a thorough system of under¬ draining would double the products of the State, to say nothing of the benefit to highways, in rendering them firm and solid at all seasons of the year. To supply this want in this vicinity, Messrs. Paxton & Tichenor, in 1875, em¬ ployed J. W. Miller to superintend the erection and running of a factory for the manufacture of the article. The buildings and machinery cost $3,300, and the manufacture of tile was begun that year. The demand for the goods was so great from the first, that it was impossible to supply it. Accordingly, in the spring of 1877, John S. Paxton erected another factory at an outlay of $4,000.

Each of these establishments turns out about twenty kilns in a season, or about 800,000 tiles. The expense of running each factory is about $1,800 per year. Eight or ten hands are employed at each establishment.

It is estimated that the whole cost of drainage including ditching, does not exceed $1 a rod. Though these factories turn out such a large amount of this article, it is almost all sold in Edgar and Coles Counties.

The shipment of live-stock has been an extensive business. Previous to the breaking-out of the rebellion, Lovel Wilhoit was the chief operator, and handled nearly all of the stock in this vicinity. Since his death Messrs. W. O. and W. I. S. Pinnell, James Paxton and A. Baber have been regularly engaged in the business.

The milling interest first received attention from Robert Downs, since a citizen of Sims Township, who converted a warehouse built by Messrs. Boyer into a mill, on the site of what has since been called the "Old Mill." After a fewT years' run it was destroyed by fire. It was soon rebuilt and passed into the hands of Levi Foulke. After changing owners several times, it finally fell into the hands of W. P. West, who, a few years ago, removed the ma¬ chinery to Scotland, Ill., and sold the building and lot to Thomas Paxton. About 1865, Messrs. Paxton and McVey built the Ensign Mill, one of the best outside of the largest cities.

Shortly after the platting of the " Original Town,'' the Kansas House was erected by William Coffman, and J. R. McDavitt was installed as first landlord. Dr. A. K. Spears, since of Charleston, succeeded Mr. McDavitt as landlord. Dur- ing the war, it passed into the hands of D. W. Zink, who fully sustained the good reputation which it has ever borne. The Kester House has been in exist¬ ence but comparatively a short time, but, under the good management of its proprietor, has worked its way into general favor.

Soon after the erection of the first few houses, William Brown made an addiof thirty-seven lots. Since then, additions have been made by others, until now, there are over one hundred and sixty acres occupied by business houses and residences.

The name "Midway," as before intimated, was given this place from its being located about half way between the cities of Paris and Charleston. A change in name was found necessary, from the fact that another post office was in existence in the State bearing the name.

Educational

The citizens of Kansas take a just pride in referring to their schools, which they claim are second to none in the county or neighboring cities. The first school-building, since used as a harness-shop by John Arterburn, was situated on an acre of ground, the present site of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was donated by William Brown. The first teacher was John McDavitt, since,, one of the wealthy farmers of the township. This first was a country school, in every sense of the word. It was, of course, small, and the children, com¬ ing as they did from several different neighborhoods, brought almost as great a variety of books as equaled the number of scholars. For the commodious and convenient building in use since the abandoning of the little primary building the community is indebted greatly to the influence of J. K. Boyer. But for his strenuous efforts, a building would have been erected sufficient for the wants of that time, but entirely inadequate to the demands of the present.

Religious

Hand in hand with the schools came the churches. In 1853-54, the Methodist Protestant Church was erected on the lot since occupied by the Kester House. This building was, for a number of years, generously opened for the free use of other denominations, until they had also made arrangements to build ; and, in the early days of the village, it also served the purpose of a towrn hall. As in all country churches, a quarter of a century ago, the brethren and sisters occupied different sides of the house during service. A good story is related which illustrates the change in fashion in regard to church matters. No such thing as a church organ, or any kind of a musical instrument, was then thought of for use in the sanctuary. The substance of the story is that, soon after the dedication of the church, a young man from New England appeared in the community who, having a good voice, was pleased to assist in the singing. This young man was the possessor of a tuning-fork, and, when the hymn was announced, produced the sound from that instrument which was to guide the singers in that part of the service. This, at once, brought to his feet an " old father in Israel," who informed the young man that he "must put up the pinciting thing, and that, if he disturbed the meeting again, he would be for¬ cibly ejected."

The society worshiping in this house was organized forty-one years ago, at Walnut Grove, southeast of the village about three miles. A log church and parsonage were erected, and services regularly held until the town of Kansas was started. The society was organized by Rev. R. McDaniels, then an old man, and long since dead. The first members of the church were John and Mary Simpson, Enoch Mayfield and wife, James Laughead and wife, and Andrew Thompson and wife. Of these only James Laughead and Mrs. Mayfield are still living. Isaac Wait was the first regular minister. He preached a year for the congregation when he died, and was buried near the Gap.

The Christian Church was erected in 1856-57. Its building was brought about by a rather odd and amusing circumstance. Mrs. Catharine Brown was one of the thirteen original members at the organization of the Church. Her husband was not a member of any denomination, nor was he noted for his piety, though he was a liberal contributor toward the preaching of the Gospel. Mrs. Brown, on a certain occasion, went to the M. P. Church - then used by the Christian denomination - to hear Elder A. D. Filmore, of Cincinnati. The Methodists also had an appointment for the same hour, and, being the owners of the building, would not give way. On her return home, Mrs. Brown reported the conflict of appointments, when Mr. Brown, in his English style and in language more forcible than elegant, said, "D - n 'em, we ll 'ave an 'ouse of our hown"! The next morning he was in town early, and a subscription paper was started with his name at the head donating a town lot and a certain amount in cash. The congregation here have had as Pastors some of the most eminent men in that denomination. This denomination also have a neat and substantial brick church in the southeast part of the township, which was built at the instance of Reinhart Ratt, Harvey Hinds and a few others, on the dis¬ solution of the old Christian Church, as mentioned in Grand View.

The Presbyterian Church was built in 1862. A number of its original members were formerly members of the Grand View Presbyterian Church. The house of worship erected by this society is the largest and best finished in the village. This denomination has maintained a healthy and steady growth since its organization. The society has also erected a very neat and conven¬ ient parsonage.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1863, the organization of the society having taken place five years before. Among the original members were James Owens, D. W. Zink and E. J. Rinker, with their wives, Rebecca and Sarah Owens and Mary Allhands. Rev. Jesse Cromwell was instrumental in organizing the Church and was the first Pastor. The congregation worshiped, at first, in E. J. Rinker's carpenter-shop, and afterward, for a time, in the Protestant Methodist Church and the hall. This society is in a very flourish¬ ing condition and wields a large religious influence in the community.

One of the most flourishing churches in this part of the county is the old Harmony Church, just north of the village. This Society was organized, about thirty years ago. Joseph Welch, William Lucas and William Blood, with their wives, and Sarah Welch were the original members. In 1857, the congrega¬ tion erected a neat and substantial house of worship, costing about $1,300. Rev. J. A. Burks is present Pastor of the last two mentioned congregations.

Benevolent Institutions

Kansas Lodge, No. 280, A., F. & A. M., was instituted October 6, 1858, with Orson Q. Herrick as Worshipful Master, Isaac N. DeLong, Senior Warden, .and William L. Laughead, Junior Warden. J. R. McDavitt, J. H. Hockett, Robert Mosley and George Brown were also charter members. Since its organ¬ ization, W. F. Boyer and Samuel Shy have each served the Lodge as Master three years; W. H. Brown, six years; Cyrus Stout and Dr. G. A. Ringland, each one year; and the present Master, D. W. Zink, five years.

Kansas Chapter, No. 125, R. A. M., was chartered October, 1869, with A. P. Forsyth, High Priest; Samuel Shy, King, and A. J. Hogue, Scribe. D. W. Zink, Nelson McCullom and W. S. Brown were also charter members. The present principal officers are: W, H. Brown, H. P. ; G. A. Ringland, King ; Isaac Comstock, Scribe ; W. F. Boyer, Captain of the Host, and D. W. Zink, Principal Sojourner. Meetings are held on each Monday evening, on or before the full moon. The membership numbers twenty-seven.

Kansas Lodge, No. 633, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized October 10, 1877, and a charter granted to William Dulin, Abraham Kline, William M. Lauher, John W. Miller and John F. Bailey, who were also the principal officers at its first opening. The Lodge meets in Masonic Hall every Saturday evening. The present membership is about fifty-five. The officers at present writing are : W. C. Pinnell, N. G.; George H. Gordon, Y. G. ; John W. Miller, Per. Sec.; James F. Hogue, Rec. Sec., and James Brading, Treas.

The Press

In 1868, E. F. Chittenden began the publication of the Kansas Citizen. The paper was published under that name for nearly four years, when its publi- cation was suspended. Soon after this, W. W. Bishop commenced the publica¬ tion of the Kansas News, the first nmnber appearing in October, 1873. The News is a newsy paper, and has a good circulation and advertising patronage, It is independent in politics and religion, but claims to be neutral in nothing, defending or ^combating whatever question may be sprung, as suits the opinion of its proprietor. The Republican Sun commenced to cast its refulgent rays on the village of Kansas only a few months ago, its first appearance being April 15, 1878. S. TV. Rose is editor and proprietor. The Sun seems to have a good patronage, both in subscription and by way of advertising. It is a Republican paper in politics. May the dawn of that day be far distant when it shall be said, 44 The Sun Rose not."

The only fire of consequence that ever occurred here was the burning of Mosley k Zink's store, with several other business houses, on the night of the 10th of January, 1862. The fire broke out in Mosley k Zink's store, and con¬ sumed the building and goods, entailing a loss of about $10,000. It then spread to a restaurant east, then to a tin and stove store, consuming, finally, a saloon and grocery store. The whole loss was estimated at $20,000. The fire was supposed to be incendiary, but no certain clue was ever discovered to the perpetrator. A significant coincidence, however, points strongly toward a man named Charles Brooks. A few months before the fire, Brooks was caught in the act of burglarizing Mosley k Zink's store, and, while attempting to break open the safe, was shot in the neck and captured. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to the Penitentiary for seven years. He was, however, pardoned by the Governor three months after his incarceration. While confined in the Jail, before his trip to Joliet, he swore that he 44 would live long enough yet to burn out Mosley & Zink.'' Ten days after his release from prison, the fire occurred, indicating that Brooks had carried his threat into execution.

Organization

The village of Kansas was incorporated in 1858. Dr. John Mills was President of the meeting, and the Councilmen selected were J. K. Boyer, E. J. Rinker, E. A. Boyer, J. R. McDavitt and Daniel Curd.

In 1871, the organization was changed to correspond to the general law of the State, and under this organization the authorities have been elected and acted until the present.

The present Board of Trustees consists of W. F. Boyer, President, and James Braden, Samuel J. Payne, W. W. Barr, Joseph Sallee, and D. W. Zink, Councilmen. W. S. Pinnell is Treasurer; E. G. Rose, Clerk; David Cham¬ berlain, Police Magistrate, and John Laughead, Marshal.