Jackson County, Missouri - History of Wyandott, Kansas, 1881 (part 1 of 2)

History of Wyandott, Kansas

The City - The Organization of Kansas Territory - Constitution of the State - The First Settlements in Wyandott - Great Flood of 184.4 - Election in 18^2 - First Churches and Schools - Organization of Wyandott County in J8^g - First Railroad in Kansas - Early Election at Wyandott - Complete Roster of County Officials - Statistical - Financial Report - Early History of Wyandott and Quindaro - Incorporation of tl}e City - Complete Roster of City Officials - Church History - History of Secret Societies - Wyandott the Metropolis of Kansas - NenDspapers.

It contains a population of 7,000 inhabitants, and, from a height of from 200 to 300 feet above the Missouri, commands a view of the most beautiful scenery to be found in this country.

The majestic Missouri coming from the north makes a bold turn to the east at the very base of the city. The Kansas River coming down from the west unites its waters with the larger stream exactly in the curve. Kansas City, with " " its spires and domes, its depots and manufactories, its churches and mansions sitting upon a hundred hills, are each objects of beauty and grandeur in plain view from the city of Wyandott. The streets are wide and macadamized in the most approved manner. The business houses and many of the dwellings are of brick and adorned with the most tasteful surroundings. Churches, schools, newspapers, depots, offices,' and all kinds of business usually carried on in cities of this size are found here well conducted. A double-track street horse railroad connects Wyandott with Kansas City, on which cars are run every fifteen minutes during the day.

The railroads place, it in easy communication with all points east and west, north and south. It being the county seat of Wyandott county brings business of importance here, making it the business center of a large section of country.

The treaty between the United States and the French Republic, by which the land now included within the limits of the State of Kansas, was ceded to the Federal Government was made April 30, 1803. The act of Congress estabhshing the boundaries of the Territory of Kansas, was approved May 30, 1854, and defined its limits as follows : "Beginning at a point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri where the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude crosses the same, thence west on said parallel to the eastern boundary of New Mexico, thence north on said boundary to latitude thirty-eight, thenc^ following said boundary of the Territory of Utah, on the summit of the Rocky Mountains, thence northward on said summit to the fortieth parallel of latitude, thence east on said parallel to the western boundary of the State of Missouri, thence south with the western boundary of said State, to the place of beginning."

The Constitution of the State of Kansas was adopted at Wyandott July 29, 1859. The preamble of that instrument together with the boundaries of the State, being deiined as follows :

" We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges, in order to insure the full enjoyment of our rights as American citizens, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the State of Kansas, with the following boundaries, to-wit : Beginning at a point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri, where the thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude crosses the same, thence running west on said parallel to the twenty-fifth meridian of Ion- ^ ^ gitude west from Washington, thence north on said meridian to the fortieth par- allel of north latitude, thence east on said parallel to the western boundary of the State of Missouri, thence south with the western boundary of said State to place of beginning."

In April, 1832, the Wyandott Indians sold their lands in Ohio to the Government, and removed to the junction of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers in Kansas. These numbered 687 persons. The Wyandotts were of the Iroquois family, called Hurons by the French, but by themselves called " Wendats " or " Yendats." When the French settled Canada they were on the island of Montreal and numbered 40,000. A part went to Quebec and a part south of the gre'atlakes. In 1829 a small band Kved on the river Huron, in Michigan, but the principal portion was collected on the headwaters of the Sandusky River. In 1855, January 31, by treaty this tribe acquired the right to become citizens, and the Kansas lands of the tribe were divided among them, giving to each person about forty acres. On December 14, 1843, the Wyandotts purchased of the Delawares 23,040 acres of land, including the present site of Wyandott. This contract was ratified by the United States July 25, 1848; and on April ist, 1850, they agreed to pay the Wyandotts $185,000 for lands promised them. On January 31, 1855, the Wyandotts ceded to the United States the countr)' purchased by them of the Delawares December 14, 1843, with a few special exceptions.

That portion .of Wyandott county north of the river formerly belonged to the Delaware Indians ; that portion south, to the Shawnees, except a tract in the bottom reserved by the Government for a fort.

The first house built oh the present site of Wyandott was erected by John M. Armstrong and occupied by him and his family on the loth day of December,

1843. It stood a little northeast of Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong's present residence. Doctor Richard Hewitt, now of Shawnee Township, was agent of the Wyandotts from 1845 to ^^49' ^i^d lived in a log house where Dunning's Hall now stands, and which we will have occasion to refer to hereafter. In the winter of 1843 and '44 Wm. Walker camped on Jersey Creek, and gave it its present name. During that winter he built the log house west of Fifth street, now owned by Charles Wyeth. Just west of this and across the ravine was the Methodist Episcopal parsonage. The Rev. James Wheeler was missionary from July, 1844, to May, 1846. The first school house was erected by the Wyandott Nation in

The spring of 1844 was warm and very dry until in May, when it began to rain and continued for six weeks - rain falling every day. The result was the Kaw River rose so high that what is now Kansas City, Kansas, and West Kansas City, Missouri, was covered with fourteen feet of water; the Missouri backed up to the mouth of Line Creek ; Jersey Creek was backed up to the crossing on the Parallel Road. The long continued rains were succeeded by dry and hot weather, and the overflowed vegetable matter decomposing, caused much sickness among the Wyandotts, and by the first of November one hundred of them were dead - being one seventh of the whole number who had come to the country only fifteen months before.

In the summer of 1852 the organization of a Territory claimed the attention of the leading men of the Wyandott Nation, which resulted in issuing a call for an election for delegates to Congress. The election was held on the 12th day of October, 1852. George I. Clark, Samuel Priestly and Mathew R. Walker acted as judges, and WiUiam Walker and Benjamin C. Anderson as clerks.

Thirty-five votes were polled, and the following is the order in which they were received : Charles B. Garrett, Isaac Baker, Jose Antonio Pieto, Henry C. Norton, Abelard Guthrie, Henry C. Long, Cyrus Garrett, Francis Cotter, Edward B. Hand, Francis A. Hicks, Russell Garrett, Samuel Rankin, Nicholas

Mr. Guthrie received every vote cast, and went to Washington as the duly accredited delegate of the Territory to the Thirty-Second Congress; but, we believe, he never received any compensation for his services.

The first white settler within the boundary of what is now Wyandott county was Moses Gritter. He located near where the station of Secundine now stands, in 1831, aiid lived there till his death in the fall of 1878. In May, 1832 a mission school was established among the Delaware Indians by Rev. Thomas Johnson, a Methodist minister, near the white church. In 1837, John G. Pratt located on section 10, Tp. 30, R. 23, about sixteen miles west of Wyandott City, where he still resides. He established a Baptist mission among the Delawares. Mrs. Pratt is still living at the old place and has never visited either Wyandott or Leavenworth. Mr. Pratt has published several hymn books in the Delaware language, one of which was printed at the Wyandott Herald office. Mr. Pratt was appointed agent for the Delawares, by President Lincoln. One of his sons married a daughter of Charles Journeycake, a well known Delaware chief. His eldest daughter is the wife of Col. Sam. Black, of Leavenworth. In May, 1843, Silas Armstrong and George Clark, with their families, and Miss Jane Tilles, now Mrs. William Cook, came to this section to select a reservation for the Wyandotts, who were to be removed from Ohio. Mr. Armstrong was also to build a trading store for the Nation which he did. The town of Armstrong was named after this man. On the 31st of July, 1843, ^^ Si's' party of the Wyandotts came to this section and with them a number of whites; of these there are still living, Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong, Miss Anna H. Ladd and Mrs. Lydia B. Walker. Mrs. Wm. Cook, who came in the May previous, is also still living.

Hiram N. Northrup, now a leading banker and prominent citizen of Wyandott, located here in 1844. He married Miss Margaret Clark. This marriage was the first in the county, and was celebrated at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage by Rev. James Wheeler. Miss Clark was a member of the Wyandott Nation, and by this marriage Mr. Northrup was adopted by that Nation, and was one of the most prominent and trusted men in this section. On the 2d of September, 1854, a convention was held at Wyandott, on the spot where Dunnings Hall now stands, at which a provisional government was formed for the Territory. At this convention William Walker, a Wyandott chief, was appointed Provisional Governor, Matthew R. Walker, Probate Judge, and George I. Clark, Secretary. Col. Russell' Garrett and Isaiah Walker are the only delegates to that convention now known to be living.

In 185s the Wyandotts made a treaty with the Government by which their lands were divided in severalty and most of them became citizens, the heads of families being allowed to sell their lands ; as soon as this was done, white settlers came in rapidly

On the 8th of April, 1856, two churches which had been, built imder the auspices of the Methodist church at Wyandotte were burned down. Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong was teaching a school in one of these churches at the time. The first school opened in the county was taught by John B. Armstrong in-a building standing on the east side of Fourth street, between Kansas and Nebraska avenues.

The first frame building in the county was the Methodist parsonage erected in 1844, in the northern portion of Wyandott City, and its first occupant was Rev. James Wheeler.

house in 1848. Its first occupant was locked up for being drunk. In those days when a woman got drunk her head was shaved, while a man was imprisoned. The following located at Quindaro, early in the spring of 1857 : George W. Veale, now of Topeka, V. J. Lane, now editor of the Wyandott Herald; S. N. Simpson, now residing at Riverview; Charles Robinson, now of Lawrence; A. D. Richardson, author of "Beyond the Mississippi;" John M. Walden, now agent of the Methodist book concern of Cincinnati; S. C. Smith, who was private secretary of Gov. Robinson; P. T. Colby, appointed United States Marshal by President Buchanan; Fielding Johnson, agent of the Delawares; Alfred Gray, who was the first mayor of Quindaro; M. B. Newman, Perley Pike, Charles Chadwick, Morris Sherman and Owen C. Russell. About the same time the following persons located at Wyandott: Col. Daniel Killen, now of Miami county; Dr. F. Speck, E. L. Busche, John E. Zeitz, Hester A. Halford, Mrs. J. W. Huskins, Nicholas, McAlpine, Dr. J. P. Root, Col. S. W. Eldridge, L. H. Wood, Thos. J. Barker, John M. Funk, M. W. Delahay, William Y. Roberts, N. A. Rheinecker, Col. J. R. Parr, C. S. Click, Geo. D. B. Bowling, Joseph Halford, Dr. G. B. Wood and others. The first postmaster at Wyandott was Thomas J. Barker, he used to brin_g the mail on horseback from Kansas City to his office. There have been only four postmasters in the city altogether, T. J. Barker, R. B. Taylor, E. G. Vedder, A. D. Downs.

A steam ferry was established at Quindaro in 1857, and one at Wyandott in 1858, but at present neither is in existence. The first steam flouring mill was built in 1858 by McAlpine and Washington.

Silas Armstrong and Matthew R. Walker, erected the first brick buildings in Wyandott, the first at the corner of Minnesota and Fifth streets, afterward the Eldridge House, which was burned in 1865; the other is still standing on Third street. The "first bridge across the Kaw River was erected in 1858 by private subscription, it was located about three miles above Wyandott, and cost $15,000. In i860 a tornado passed over this section and tore out one span of this bridge and the remainder soon disappeared.

The Territorial Legislature that provided for a constitutional convention af Wyandott city also organized Wyandott county. The act providing for the constitutional convention passed the Legislature first, and the number of delegates for each county having been fixed, when in a few days thereafter the act organizing the County of Wyandott, the matter of delegates to the convention from the new county was overlooked, and resulted in no representation in the constitutional convention from this county ; though delegates were elected from Wyandott county and were refused admission to the convention. The delegates. Dr. J. E. Bennett and Dr. J. B. Welborn, were elected by a small majority, being Democrats. The candidates on the Republican ticket, Gov. W. Y. Roberts and Col. Fielding Johnson.

"Section i. That a county to be called Wyandott be hereby erected, including that portion of Leavenworth and Johnson counties, within the following limits: Commencing at a point in the middle of the channel of the Missouri River where the north line of the Delaware reserve intersects the same, running thence west on said reserve line to the line between ranges twenty-two and twenty-three, south on said range Hne to the, south boundary of Leavenworth county, thence easterly on said boundary to the main channel of the Missouri, thence northwesterly with said main channel to place of beginning. Also that portion of Johnson county lying north of the township hne between townships eleven and twelve east of range twenty-three.

" Section 2. That an election shall be held in the various precincts of said County of Wyandott on the fourth Tuesday of February, 1859, for the election of county officers, who shall hold their offices until the next general election of county officers as prescribed by law.

"Section 3. That it shall be the duty of the present supervisors of each township in said County of Wyandott to appoint two clerks and provide places to hold said election and to act as judges of the same, observing the general election laws, except as herein otherwise provided, and on the first Friday of the election the chairman of all the boards of judges shall meet in Wyandott city at the Eldridge House and canvass the votes and issue certificates to the persons duly elected, and transmit to the secretary of the Territory a true copy of the canvass, showing who was elected to the various offices in said county.

" Section 4. That the tenure of all other than county offices within said county shall, in no way, be affected by the provisions of this act.

" Section 5. That it shall be the duty of the clerk of Leavenworth county, as soon as practicable, after the organization of Wyandott county, to transmit to the clerk of said county the papers in all suits which may be pending in the probate court of Leavenworth county, wherein both parties reside in Wyandott county, together with a certified transcript of all the entries on record in each case which causes, when so certified, shall be tried and disposed of in the same manner as though they had been commenced in the County of Wyandott. It shall further be the duty of the clerk of Leavenworth county in like manner to transmit to the clerk of Wyandott county the papers and documents, together with a certified transcript of all entries in said cause pertaining to probate business in all cases wherein the defendant's last place of residence was, within the limits of said County of Wyandott therein to be disposed of according to law.

Section 6. That it shall be the duty of the clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for Leavenworth county, as soon as practicable after the organization of the County of Wyandott, to transmit to the Clerk of the District Court, in and for said County of Wyandott, a certified transcript of the record and all the papers in each and every case pending in said court wherein the parties thereto reside in said County of Wyandott, to be disposed of in the same manner as though the same had originally been commenced in the County of Wyandott.

Section 7. That it is hereby made the duty of recorders in the Counties of Leavenworth and Johnson to make out and transmit to the recorder of Wyandott county, as soon as practicable, a true copy of the records of all deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust,bonds and other writings in relation to real estate of anyinterest therein, being within the limits of Wyandott county as above described; and the said recorders are authorized to purchase suitable books for that purpose and such clerks and recorders shall be entitled to compensation for said services from the County of Wyandott at the usual legal rates.

Section 9. That at the next election for members to the Territorial Legislature, the people of said county shall vote for a permanent county seat, and the place receiving the highest number of all votes cast shall be the permanent county seat of Wyandott county.

Section 10. That portions of any precincts divided by the county lines and being within Wyandott county shall be attached to the precinct adjoining in said County of Wyandott for election and other purposes until otherwise ordered.

Section 11. That the County of Wyandott shall be liable for all the money appropriated by the county of Leavenworth to be expended within the limits of said county of Wyandott and that all taxes assessed with said County of Wyandott shall be paid into the County Treasurer of said county.

Samuel Medary

As given in the above legislative act, Wyandott county was formed from territory previously belonging to Leavenworth and Johnson counties; and the first election under the new organization was held on the 29th of February of that year, when J. W. Johnson was elected probate judge ; Marshall A. Garrett, county clerk ; W. L. McMath, county attorney ; Samuel E. Forsythe, sheriff ; Robert Robitaille, county treasurer; V. J. Lane, register of deeds; J. B. Wilburn, supt. of schools, and Cyrus L. Gorton, surveyor.

The first bank in the county was established by Davis & Post in 1857. It was called the Exchange Bank, and the first store established after the county was open to settlement was by Barker & Walker. In February, 1857, Colby & Parker opened the first hotel in the county, it was at Quindaro in a building five stories high, and 60x80 feet. The first brick church built in the county after it was opened for settlement, was erected at Quindaro by the Methodists in 1857.

Beecher's Sharp's rifle company came up the Missouri River in the spring of 1856, and this was the first and only armed company who were permitted to land near the present site of Wyandott.

In December, 1856, J. P. Root and Thomas _B. Eldridge came from Lawrence, on the north side of the Kansas River, and arrived at the present site of Wyandott about ten o'clock the second night, and stayed with Silas Armstrong, the principal chief of the Wyandott Indians. The next day they examined the situation, and at night went to Kansas City, where they found several parties with whom they had made arrangements to form a company, before leaving Lawrence, and other parties, also, who intended to form a separate company. They also found parties from Pennsylvania with money for the purpose of entering into some enterprise where there appeared an opening. The night following they made a consolidated company, consisting of J. P. Root, T. B. Eldridge, S. W. Eldridge, W. Y. Roberts, Thos, H. Swope, R.obert Morrow, Daniel Killen, Gains Jenkins, John McAlpine, and James M. Winchell. This new company sent a committee to Wyandott to represent them, and, if necessary, to take members of the tribe into the company. This committee consisted of W. Y. Roberts, John McAlpine, Thos. H. Swope, and Gains Jenkins, while the remainder of the company stayed at Kansas City, that they might not disturb the negotiations with the Wyandott Indians. This committee made no report for several days, while the portion of the company at Kansas City stayed on that side of the river in accordance with their agreement. When the committee reported at last it was found that they had formed a new company while in Wyandott, consisting of this committee, and Silas Armstrong and Isaiah Walker, of the Wyandott tribe. A strong effort was made on the part of some portion of this committee to totally ignore the portion of the company remaining in Kansas City, but after the warm deliberations of one night a compromise was made and an agreement entered into whereby the original company was to share alike in all the profits connected with the formation of the city of Wyandott, while this committee should remain with the company, with whom they were to share equally. On this basis the purchases were made. Under the direction of the foregoing organizations the site was platted and the property divided into shares of ten lots each, and held for sale by the proprietors. This was the origin of the city of Wyandott.

smoothly together, great complaint being made by the outside or original company that in order to make a settlement some years afterward, it was taken into the courts and finally settled in a compromise and division of property, but not until after its value had greatly depreciated.

Of the members of the original town company, four have died, and the others, as far as known, are still alive; of the second, or inside company, Thos. H. Swope and Isaiah Walker are the only ones now living.

From this time (1856) there commenced a great rivalry between Quindaro and Wyandott. Quindaro was named after a prominent Indian woman. Each point claiming that it was to be the future great city of this vicinity. The moving spirits of Quindaro preeminently were Gov. Chas. Robinson and S. N. Simpson, and they were assisted by as enterprising men as ever engaged in any enterprise. They boasted of their rock landing, their hills made expressly to fill up their valleys, their nearness to Lawrence; and on the other hand, to the mud landing of Wyandott. Almost as by magic first-class hotels sprung up, four-story brick, ironed-columned stores and other enterprises in comparison. At one time it contained a thousand inhabitants ; lots sold for a thousand dollars each, and all kinds of real estate were exceedingly high, and for many months the local appearance of the city argued in favor of the final fulfillment of the wildest promises of its most sanguine projectors. The charter when finally passed by the first free State Legislature was found to be nearly the exact reading of the charter of the city of Buffalo, being so voluminous that it was only read by title in Legislature. And it was found on the day before an election was to transpire under it, that in describing its boundaries they commenced on the Missouri River, and after encompassing a large amount of territory returned to the Missouri River. But the eastern boundary of the city was not defined, so it required a hasty journey to Lawrence where the Legislature was in session to get the charter amended before the election should transpire.

Aside from daily coaches running to Lawrence, the beautiful steamer "Lightfoot, built and commanded by Thaddeus Hyatt, of New York, plied regularly or advertised and attempted so to do between Q uindaro and Lawrence, but the failures proving more numerous than the successes the Lightfoot was taken to another place. One of the things promised for this boat was that she would run on a heavy dew.

The Chindowan, a weekly newspaper, was issued by the enterprising editor, John W. Walden. But the fading of Quindaro's glory was almost as sudden as its up-building, so that for years in the business portion of that once prosperous city there has not been a single habitation. In the vicinity back of the old town there are some of the finest fruit farms in the State of Kansas, also a store and post-office.

Miss Vinnie Ream, now Mrs. Hoxie, who designed the statue of Admiral Farragut, unveiled with so much ceremony at Washington, was a resident of Wyandott, Kan., for a number of years. Her father kept the first hotel in Wyandott in 1857, and the little Vinnie of those early days was one of the sparkling little jewels whose bright winning ways and charming smiles made the pioneer's hotel home so attractive. Who thought in those primitive days that the petite black-eyed, laughing beauty of Ream's hotel in Wyandott would so soon become immortal as the author of Lincoln and Farragut in enduring marble?

In the fall of 1858, V. J. Lane, G. W. Veale and Alfred Gray took the office of the Chindowan in Quindaro and published the Kansas Tribune during the fall and winter of 1858-9. George E. Buddington, James A. White and M. W. Bottum were also publishers of the Kansas Tribune. The Tribune was pubHshed for the benefit of the town company by the above named proprietors, Francis and

Davis being the editors. Mr. Davis retired after three months' connection vsrith the paper, and Mr. Francis continued the publication till the spring of 1861, when he removed the office to Olathe, where it has been used to print the Olathe Mirror.

The first survey for a railroad was made from Quindaro to Lawrence under the charter of the Missouri River & Rocky Mountain Railroad Company. The first grading for a railroad in Kansas was done at Wyandott on the Kansas Valley Railroad. This was about twenty feet higher than the present road bed of the Kansas Pacific (now the Union Pacific). The Kansas Pacific Railroad was put in operation in 1863, and the first locomotive was called the Wyandott. The Missouri Railroad was put in operation in 1866.

In 1867 the county built a fine bridge across the Kaw about two miles above the town of Armstrong at a cost $165,000. There is also a fine iron bridge across the Kaw connecting Wyandott with Kansas City, Kansas, which cost $62,500. A street railway from the center of Wyandott City to the State Hne of Missouri, a mile and a half long, was put in operation in 1873. The convention that framed the present state constitution met at Wyandotte July 29, 1859. The hall in which its meetings were jheld was afterward used as quarters for the first Kansas regiment raised for the late war. It was a four story building. The regiment moved out of it at half past ten on the morning of June i, 1861; at twelve o'clock the same day the building tumbled into a heap of ruins. At the time it fell Captain James H. Harris was in it, with nineteen recruits, some of whom were so seriously injured that they afterward died, though none were killed outright.

For the last ten years the growth of the county has been a substantial one, and the improvements of the solid character needed by its rapidly increasing business. The population in i860, 2,609; i" 1870, 10,015, increase in ten years 7,406; , population in 1875, 12,362, increase in five years 2,347; population in 1878, 13,161, increase in eighteen years 10,552; in 1880, 19,152. The rural population is about 11,500, and the population of Wyandott City 6,500.

Timber abounds to a greater or less extent throughout the county. The entire county was formerly heavily timbered except the extreme northern limit. The varieties are cotton wood, walnut, oak, hickory, sycamore, pecan, hackberry, etc. Bottom land includes about 20 per cent, and upland the remaining 80 per cent., forest 25 per cent and prairie 75 per cent. The average width of bottoms one or two miles, and the general surface of the county is undulating and bluffy. The Missouri River forms the northeastern boundary of the county, flowing in an easterly and southeasterly direction. The Kansas (Kaw) river forms part of the southern boundary, then flows north and east into the Missouri at Wyandott ; each has numerous tributaries distributed through the county. The county abounds in splendid springs, good well water obtained at a depth of from 20 to 50 feet.

For the object of testing the practicability of reaching coal at Wyandott, boring was commenced in 1875 under the direction of a company organized for that purpose. The diameter of the bore is 4^ inches. At the depth of 250 feet gas was struck. A constant issue of gas has escaped since it was reached in May, 1875. It is estimated that 10,000 cubic feet of gas escaped hourly, affording 240,000 feet every twenty-four hours; a sufficient quantity, it is estimated, to light a city of double the population of both Wyanjdotte and Kansas City. The boring has reached salt water, and the escaping gas forces up a constant stream of this water at a height of from 12 to 15 feet. The gas roars hke the escape of steam from an engine, and when ignited, as it has been at night, a continual column of flame of several feet in diameter is seen shooting into the air to the height of from 30 to 40 feet. This gas has not been as yet utilized only in an experimental way. A

The engine which is used in the boring for coal is constantly run by a portion of the gas as its only fuel. The gas burns with a strong, clear, white flame, and is free from sulphurous smell. The salt water yields 4j^ ounces of salt per gallon of water, the salt being free from impurities. At the depth of 500 feet, coal had not been reached.

Fine quarries of white magnesian limestone extend for five miles along the Kansas River. It is similar to the Cottonwood Falls stone; also an excellent quality of blue limestone for building purposes. The abutments and piers of the Union Pacific Railway bridges near Wyandott, are constructed of this stone.

The Missouri Pacific Railroad follows th6 bank of the Missouri River under the bluff, and the principal stations in this county are Wyandott, Quindaro, Pomeroy, Barker's Tank and Connor. The Union Pacific Railroad crosses the Kansas River near Wyandott, and follows along the north bank of the same, on its course west. The principal stations in this county are Wyandott, Armstrong and Edwardsville.

The Union Pacific Railroad

The following is a copy of an invitation sent to Mr. V. J. Lane, now editor of the Wyandott Herald, to attend the celebration and excursion, starting from Wyandott, which, at that time, was the eastern terminus of the U. P. R. R.

"The Government of the United States, a little more than a year ago, with a wisdom looking far beyond the burdens and anxieties of the hour, provided aid for the construction of a railroad from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. Stimulated by its liberality, and by the spirit of American enterprise, the work has been undertaken, and already the first section of forty miles is approaching completion. The opening of this section, giving earnest to the people of the country that within the time prescribed by law, the great highway will be built to San Francisco, bringing into closer union the States of the Atlantic and Pacific, and offering to the industrial enterprises of our people, the incalculable wealth of a continent, is an event worthy of commemoration by the leading men of America.

' ' You are respectfully invited to attend the celebration, and will be received by the committee of arrangements at Weston, Missouri, on the i8th day of August next, on the arrival of the morning train from the east. Upon the - receipt from you of an acceptance of this invitation, addressed to me, at 58 Beaver street. New York, you will be furnished with a free pass to Kansas and return, good over all the principal intermediate roads. Faithfully yours,

"The Union Pacific Railway Company, Eastern Division, invite you to be present, as per letter of Mr. Samuel Hallett, to celebrate the opening of the first section of forty miles of their road west from the Missouri River."

It is an interesting fact that before the Government built Fort Leavenworth, trees were felled and preparations made to build the fort near the mouth of the Kaw. Many stumps and trunks of trees for years after the founding of Wyan-

Historv Of Wyandott, Kansas Early Election At Wyandott

The following is a copy of the returns of the votes in the Wyandott Nation at an election held in 1852, from a manuscript copy contributed to the collections of the Kansas Historical Society by Mrs. Lydia B. Walker; one of the survivors of Wyandott immigration in 1843 :

" The following is the return of votes polled at the election held in the Wyandott Nation, Nebraska Territory, October 12, 1852, for a delegate to represent the aforesaid Territory in the Thirty-second Congress of the United States: Abelard Guthrie was the only candidate and received all the votes. The following are the names of the voters: Charles B. Garrett, Isaac Baker, Jose Antonio Pieto, Henry C. Norton, Abelard Guthrie, Henry C. Long, Cyrus Garrett, Francis Cotter, Edward B. Hand, Francis A. Hicks, Russell Garrett, Samuel Rankin, Nicholas Cotter, Joel W. Garrett, Isaac Long, Thomas Coonhawk, James Garlow, William Walker, George I. Clark, Benjamin N. C. Andrews, Matthew R. Walker, Samuel Priestly, Henry Garrett, William Gibson, Presley Muir, Joel Walker, Isaac Brown, James Long, John Lynch, William Trowbridge, John W. Ladd, Daniel McNeal, Edward Fifer, Peter D. Clark, Henry W. Porter. Total number of votes given thirty-five.

We, "the undersigned sworn clerks of the election, held in this place on this day, certify that Abelard Guthrie, of the Territory aforesaid, received thirty-five votes for delegate to the Thirty-second Congress of the United States. (Signed), WILLIAM WALKER,

Benjamin N. C. Andrews

We the undersigned sworn judges of the election held in this place on this day, certify that Abelard Guthrie, of the Territory aforesaid, received thirty-five votes for delegate to the Thirty-second Congress of the United States. (Signed), GEORGE I. CLARK,

Matthew R. Walker

Charles S. Ghck, Senator. Henry W. Cook, Representative. Thomas Feeny, Representative. Isaac B. Sharp, Probate Judge. John B. Scroggs, County Attorney. James A. Cruise, Clerk of the District

Vincent J. I^ane, Representative. John T. McKay, Representative. Joseph C. Welsh, Treasurer. James A. Cruise, Register of Deeds. Edward Riter, Sheriff.

Stephen A. Cobb, Representative. Hiram Malot, Representative. Andrew B. Hovey, County Clerk. Nicholas McAlpine, Treasurer. James A. Cruise, Register of Deeds. Edward S. Drought, Sheriff. Robert E. Ella, County Surveyor. Bryant Grafton, Coroner. William P. Overton, Commissioner to

Statistical

According to the United States census returns for the year 1880, the State of Kansas has a population of 995,666 of whom 952,056 are white and 43,096 are colored; 886,261 native born and 109,705 of foreign birth; 536,725 are males and. 459,241 are females. The cities containing over 10,000 inhabitants are as follows: Leavenworth, 16,556; Topeka, 15,451 and Atchison, 15,106. The population of the county is 21,342.

Below we give a comparative table showing the population of the city on the first day of March, 1880, as shown by the report of the City Assessor, and the population on the first day of June, 1880, as shown by the government enumerators :

From this it will be seen that the population has incred,sed 759 in the past three months - a rapid growth indeed. The figures in this table reveal the fact that the city has 156 more families than houses, and that there is an average of nearly 5)^ persons to the house, including both dwelling and business houses. The death rate for the past year has been about twenty-six persons to the thousand. In the First and Fourth Wards the percentage of deaths is only about one-third that of the Second and Third Wards. The population north of Nebraska avenue is 3,049 ; south of it, 3,101. The deaths on the north side of that avenue have been 117 ; on the south side of it, 38. The increase of population in the three months from March ist to June ist on the north side has been 309; on the south side, 450.

The following is the report of Wyandott county, Kansas, of receipts from October 15th, 1879, to October 12th, 1880, and expenditures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1880 : one-quarter July ist, 1881, and the balance in January and July, 1882. The funds are now in the treasury for the payment of those due January ist, 1881.

The jail will be wholly paid for the present year. One-half the cost of building being due January ist, 1881, and one-half July ist, 1881. This indebtedness is also certificates and bears the same interest, 7 per cent per annum. There will be some additional expense in building fences, outbuildings, etc., which will be paid out of the general fund.

There are now outstanding bonds to the amount of $170,000, of which amount $120,000 are funding bonds; of these $5,000 become due July ist, 1882, and an increasing amount each year thereafter, for ten years until all are paid. $50,000 are for building the iron bridge across the Kansas River, these all become due in 1885. For the purpose of providing for the redemption of these, it would be well to levy a sinking fund of two mills each year until they become due. $5,000 in bonds, known as asylum bonds, were redeemed the past year.

The large increase in the valuation of the county in the past year, is evidence of solid growth and prosperity. This increase is over $600,000, about 26 per cent, with an estimated increase the present year of $50,000, giving assurance that with a wise and judicious expenditure of the revenues of the county, the burdens of taxation will be lightened each year.

The item of building and repairing bridges during the past year has aggregated the large sum of $3,700.00, over 17 per cent of the entire expenditure for general purposes These have seemed to be much needed public improvements, and much economy and decision have been exercised by the Board to keep the expenditure on bridges and repairs within the limit.

The item for costs in criminal cases, with the attendant expenses, as board of prisoners, guards, etc., is a large and constantly increasing one, lying, as our county does, on the line of Missouri, and affording criminals easy means of escape from one side to the other.

With these exceptions, and considering the large increase in wealth and population of the county, thus increasing the cost of government, the year 1880 will bear favorable comparison with any since the organization of the county.

The total valuation of taxable property in Wyandott county as returned by the assessors of the different townships amounts to $2,242,772.94.

On the loth day of September, 1855, General Calhoun landed in Wyandott with the surveyor general's office. Robert Ream, father of Vinnie Ream, the sculptress, was chief clerk, Sam. Parsons was chief clerk in the Indian department, Edwin T. Vedder, Robert Ream, Jr. , and Pennymaker were clerks in the office. The land office was opened in a double log house that stood in front of where ex Mayor Stockton now lives ; across the road and where Dunning Hall now stands, was a double log house where Isaac W. Brown kept an Indian hotel, which was subsequently dubbed the Catfish Hotel, by its patrons, on account of the liberal manner in which its bills of fare were garnished with this species of the finny tribe. Just in the rear of the surveyor general's ofificestood a log pen 10x12 feet in which a Wyandott Indian, named Peacock, was confined for murder. Peacock had a reed flute of Indian manufacture, with which he kept up a constant strain of terrible music. In time the boys in the land office took compassion on him and, not having the fear of the Indian Nation's law in their mind, broke down the prison door and told the prisoner to "scoot," which he lost no time in doing. Peacock was subsequently pardoned by the Wyandott Nation and returned. Silas Armstrong lived in a two story brick which stood about on the ground now occupied by E. L. Buesche's store, on the corner of Minnesota avenue and Fifth street. Joel Walker resided in a double log house on the west side of Third street, on the high ground south of Jersey Creek. H. M. Northrup resided in the log house on the corner of Wyandott avenue and Armstrong street. Mathew R. Walker, one of the largest hearted men in the Wyandott Nation, resided in the brick cottage, now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Lydia B. Walker, on the high ground north of the city. John Armstrong a talented, educated Christian gentleman, resided in a log house about 200 yards northeast of where his widow, Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong, now resides. Matthias Splitlog resided in a log house a short distance southeast of Peter Connelly's residence, and had a grist and saw mill which stood near where St. Alois Academy now stands. Gov. William Walker lived in the log house now standing on the north side of Jersey Creek and west of Fifth street. Charles Graham, blacksmith for the Wyandott Nation, lived in a log house on the site now occupied by Jerome C. Ives's residence, on Third street, and the blacksmith shop now stands on the alley in the rear olF Odd Fellows' Hall, Nebraska avenue. The old ferry house stood on the east side of what is now known as Ferry street, and a little east of Barnett street. " Irish Molly" lived in a cabin just back of and a little to the east of August Walter's meat shop on Minnesota avenue. The first school house erected in Wyandott then stood on the alley on Fifth between Kansas and Nebraska avenues, and was used for a Council House by the Wyandott Nation. Uncle Charley Garrett lived north of Jersey Creek on what is known as the Garrett farm. At this time Isaiah Walker, without whom no history of the early days of Wyandott would be complete, lived in the old Moravian Mission house, built for the Stockbridge Indians, at Muncie town. Mr. Walker married a Miss Mary Williams who was educated in Cincinnati, by Hon. Nicholas Longworthy, of that city, and at the time of which we write was one of the most handsome and accomplished ladies of the Wyandott Nation.

The above, we believe, were all the houses at that time on what is now Wyandott City, except the old Mission House on the Governor Walker farm, and the Southern Methodist Church, a brick structure which was burnt during the Kansas war. It stood where G. K. Grindrod now resides. The greater portion of the town site at that time was covered by a heavy growth of timber. In the winter of 1856 and '57, John McAlpine, Isaiah Walker, Joel Walker, Silas Armstrong, Gaius Jenkins, W. Y. Roberts and Thomas H. Swope organized the Wyandott Town Company, and proceeded to lay off the town ; John H. Miller, of Girard, Pennsylvania, making the survey. The future metropolis was advertised extensively, and shares rose in a few weeks from $500 to $1,000. The original town company are all dead except Isaiah Walker, who at present resides in the Indian Territory and Swope, who lives in Kansas City. Joel Walker died suddenly at Leavenworth in the summer of 1857. Gaius Jenkins was murdered by General Lane in Lawrence in tlie summer of '58. Silas Armstrong died in December '65. John McAlpine fell between the cars in passing from one coach to another and was killed while on a visit to Pittsburg. W. Y. Roberts died in Lawrence a few years ago from the effects of exposure while in the army. The war raging in Kansas at that time affected this portion of the Territory, and on the night of April 8, 1856, the Methodist church at what is now the Quindaro cemetery, and the one at Grindrod's place, were burned. Early in the spring of 1857 John McAlpine built a large warehouse on the levee between Washington and Nebraska avenues, and carried on an extensive forwarding and commission business. The upper story of this warehouse served as a town hall up to the time Dunning erected the one on Fourth street. The levee at that time extended fully as far out as the sand bar in front of the city. The frame building on the corner of Third and Nebraska, Hains's shoe store, the old court-house, McAlpine's cottages, since torn down, were built in the rear of Fred Kramer's bakery, the old Mansion House on Nebraska avenue, and four other buildings consumed by fire early in '66. Capt. I. N. White's tin shop, on the corner of Third and Nebraska avenue, the Garno House, and a host of other buildings, sprang into existence during the summer. In order to accommodate the immigration during the spring and summer of 1857, the Eldridges opened a hotel in Silas Armstrong's residence, which has been before referred to in this article, and Col. F. A. Hunt purchased the "St. Paul," an old Missouri River steamboat, anchored it at the foot of Washington avenue, and fitted it up for a hotel and warehouse. During the spring of '57, Thomas J. Barker was appointed postmaster, and opened the office in the old court-house building on Nebraska avenue, in which he and Isaiah Walker were engaged keeping store. Barker held the office until 1863, when he came out in favor of George B. McClellan for President of the United States ; this cost him his ofificial head; he was succeeded by R. B. Taylor, who held the office until 1866, when Andrew Johnson appointed Edwin T. Vedder, who was succeeded in a few months by A. D. Downs. Barker built the building now occupied by the Gazette and moved the post-office into it, where it remained until the appointment of Vedder in '66, who removed it to the building now occupied as a bakery by P. Kaiser. When Downs was appointed he removed it to what is now the ^^ra/(^ office, where it remained until '72, when it was moved to its present quarters.

A. C. Davis and P. Sidney Post opened a bank on Kansas avenue, just west of Commercial alley, and Byron Judd and William McKay opened a bank and real estate office in the building adjoining the Augusta House.

The population of Wyandotte at that time was represented by nearly every State in the Union, and by almost every nationality on the face of the earth. The result was a geat laxity in morals ; and we have frequently seen a half dozen men in the street shooting at the white knob on Henry Burgard's door, for the drinks. Henry at that time run a bakery and . saloon where Fred Kramer now lives.

In May, 1857, Judge Delahay began the publication of the Wyandotte City Register. The first number was issued in a tent on the corner of Nebraska avenue and Third street. Delahay sold to Eddy & Patton. It finally passed into the hands of Abbott, who changed its name to The Citizen.

About the same time the Register was started, Edmund Babb and John M. Walden commenced the publication of the Quindaro Chindowan. In June, 1858, Mr. Walden retired from the paper, and it suspended. In January, 1859, a company was organized, consisting of George W. Veale, Alfred Gray, George E.

Budington, James A. White, M. W. Bottum, and V. J. Lane, who revived it, and continued its pubHcation for six months, when an arrangement was made with John Francis, whereby he was to publish it for twelve months for the type and presses. Francis changed the name to Tribune, and after carrying out his contract, removed the office to Olathe, and established the Olathe Mirror. The Argus was issued on the 25th of March, 1858, by A. C. Davis and P. Sidney Post, and run until April, 1861. In 1858, S. D. McDonald purchased the Citizen^ and changed the name to Commercial Gazette. McDonald run it until i860, and sold to R. B. Taylor. In January, t86i. the office was burned, and in April following, Taylor bought the Argus office. In 1867 two new ventures were inaugurated - the Die Fackel, a German paper, which run a few months, and was removed to Atchison. J. A. Berry started the Wyandotte Democrat. The Democrat "bilked" the people for thirteen months, when it "pegged out" because the people refused to be robbed further.

The election for Delegates to Congress and for county officers in '57 was held under the "bogus laws," and the voting was done viva voce. There was but one precinct north of the Kaw River, in what is now Wyandott county. The election was held in the McAlpine cottages, on Third street, on the sth day of October. A squad of soldiers were stationed at the polls, to protect the voters and preserve the peace and dignity of the Territory of Kansas. Each voter walked up to the window at the west end of the building, climbed in, announced his vote to the judges, passed through the room, and jumped off a high porch at the rear of the cottage.

About the same time the Wyandott Company was organized. Gov. Robinson, Abelard Guthrie, Joel Walker and Samuel N. Simpson formed the Quindaro Town Company. It was surveyed by Judge Bassett, now of Lawrence, and was probably better advertised than any other town in the Territory. Shares sold very rapidly, commencing at $100 and running up as high as $1,500 for a single lot. At that time Leavenworth, Quindaro, Wyandotte and Kansas City were rivals. The Town Company built a large and magnificent hotel which was opened early in March by Colby & Parker; its register frequently showed the arrival of 150 guests in twenty-four hours. Alfred Robinson built a livery stable and put on a daily line of Concord coaches between there and Lawrence. Quindaro prospered up to the breaking out of the war, when the Kansas Second Cavalry under Col. Davis was quartered in the city. The "boys in blue" literally gutted it before they left.

The spring and summer of 1857 the people of Quindaro built a road to Lawrence, and laid one out to Osawatomie, and established a free ferry over the Kansas River at what is now John H. Matton's place, with a view to competing for the wholesale trade of the Territory. The mail this summer was carried by steamboats ; there were sixty-five first class steamers in the Missouri River trade that season, all of which did a good paying business. In the fall after the election, hundreds of men who had come to Kansas under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Society returned to the States, many of them taking the first boat that came along after they voted.

The Quindaro Company went to Cincinnati and had the Lightfoot, a light draft sreamer built and estabhshed a steamboat line to Lawrence; Wyandotte followed suit, and Kansas City not to be outdone also embarked in navigating the raging Kaw.

As an instance of the straits to which early settlers were reduced in order to make ends meet, we will give one incident which will serve as an illustration ; One of the leading business men of to-day found himself a stranger in a strange land, without money and with a small family on his hands. How to manage to ' 'keep the wolf from his door" was the problem that vexed his soul. Happening out at Lewis M. Cox's place, who at that time lived on what is now known as the

Riley Judd farm, he saw a very fine cow, the milk of which he concluded would relieve him from the embarrassment of hunger in the household. How to get possession of that cow was soon the uppermost thought in his mind. He finally remembered that down in the bottom of his wife's trunk at home was an elegant dress pattern of silk, which had been purchased east of the AUeghanies. He at once offered to exchange it for the cow ; Cox assented on condition that the quality of the silk should prove as represented ; our friend went home to get it. On the way he came to the conclusion that it would be a greater sacrifice on the part of his wife than she would be wilHng to make, so he determined to get hold of it surreptitiously, with the hope that fortune would favor him, when he would replace it and his wife be none the wiser for the transaction. There was joy in that family on the arrival of "bossy," and the head of it had the proud satisfaction of knowing he had a sure thing on keeping the "wolf" away, even if it was at a sacrifice of the silk that formerly reposed at the bottom of his wife's trunk. Before he was able to replace it the wife made the discovery of its loss and thpre was music in the air. He was reluctantly compelled to own up, when harmony was once more restored.

During the summer and winter months of '57, S. C. Smith, Charles Chadwick, Owen A. Bassett, A. D. Richardson, J. M. Walden, P. t. Colby, G. W. Veale, C. L. Gorton, Dr. Budington, Alfred Gray, A. J. Rowell, J. G. Fisk and others, organized a Shanghai Court and made it a rule to arrest some person or other every night and try them for some alleged misdemeanor. When court opened the sheriff brought in the prisoner (intended victim) empaneled a jury, called the prosecuting attorney, and the court appointed counsel for the prisoner. A regular trial was had, the jury invariably found the prisoner guilty and assessed a fine of a box of cigars or bushel of apples.

Up to January 29th, 1859, Quindaro and Wyandott were, both in Leavenworth county. C. S. Parker was appointed postmaster in May and had the position until in the fall, when he resigned and V. J. Lane appointed to succeed him, and held the position until June 1861, although having repeatedly tendered his resignation it was not accepted until the postmaster general was informed that if a successor was not appointed, the office would be shipped to Washington. In February of last year V. J. Lane succeeded in getting a settlement and receive $75.00 the balance due him from the Government.

In 1859 the County of Wyandott was erected out of a portion of Leavenworth and Johnson counties. The first election was held on the 22nd of February of that year, it resulted in a complete and sweeping Democratic victory.

The commissioners rented a building for county officers that stood on the corner of Nebraska avenue and Third street, since burned down ; from there the offices were removed to Constitution Hall on the levee, from there to Judd's building, on Minnesota avenue, and from there to their present quarters.

The first term of court held in Wyandott county convened in Constitution - Hall on the 6th day of June 1859, at 10 o'clock a. m. His Honor Jos. Williams, associate justice of the Territory of Kansas presiding, James A. Cruise, clerk, W. L. McMath, prosecuting attorney and S. E. Forsythe, sheriff. A grand jury was empaneled, consisting of Gov. WiUiam Walker, foreman, R. M. Gray, Christopher Schneider, John Collins, B. L. Vedder, G. W. Veale, J. H. Cole, Valorius Rice, James McGrew, Frank H. Betton, Charles E. . Sawyer, S. S. Bradey, Alfred Robinson, George Parker, J. W. H. Watson, Chester Coburn, David H. Toomb, Darius Crouch and James W. Craft.

The first petit jury empaneled in the county was composed as follows : V. J. Lane, foreman, Mathew Mudeater, Hugh Gibbons, Perley Pike, Elisha Sorter, Elias S. Busick, Leonard Lake, David Pearson, W. D. Ferguson, Daniel Croyle, Thomas Sherman and C. H. Carpenter.

Among other proceedings had at this term of court David E. James, Nat. C. Clairborn, E. N. O. Clough, S. A. Cobb, Jacob S. Boreman and M. D. Trefner appHed to the court for admission to the bar as practicing attorneys, and having produced to the court satisfactory evidence of qualification as such they were admitted.

Court was held on the second floor of the building, which was divided into two rooms, the east room was occupied by the probate court and the west room by the district court. On the third day of the term a little episode occurred which afforded considerable merriment to the bar as well as to the spectators. At that time there was no statutory provision prohibiting county officers from indulging in intoxicating beverages, and it was nothing unusual for His Honor, Jaques W. Johnson, then judge of probate, to open court while under the influence of alcoholic liquorst On the morning in question D. B. Hadley and " Billy" Mc- Dowell were earnestly engaged in arguing an important case in the district court when Judge Johnson called the case of Lewis M. Cox as administrator vs. Margaret Getsler, in the probate court. This case elicited great interest as two women appeared in court each claiming to be the lawful wife of the deceased, Andrew Getsler. The assets of the estate consisted of one small house, several barrels of Monongahela whisky, besides numerous jugs, bottles and demi-johns of liquor. The little house just west of the old Brevator building was the one owned by the deceased, but possession of that portion of the estate had but little attraction in comparison with the desire to secure control of the liquid portion of it. The attorneys were Gen. A. C. Davis, now a resident of Brooklyn, New York, and Col. G. W. Glick, of Atchison. These gentlemen entered into the contest with spirit, and the case was conducted in such a manner as to create a feeling of bitterness in the minds of counsel toward each other; the result was the trial partook more of the nature of a personal quarrel between attorneys, than of a trial in a court of justice. General Davis was probably one of the finest orators that ever addressed a court in Kansas, and as he warmed up with his case he became very eloquent. Glick fearing the impression Davis would make on the court, if permitted to proceed with his argument, attempted to badger him. As counsel grew excited it was impossible to proceed with business in the district court, on account of the noise. Judge Williams ordered the sheriff to notify the probate judge if he did not keep better order he would arrest him for contempt. Judge Johnson on being so informed by the sheriff, sent back word to Judge Williams that he did not recognize his authority to interfere in affairs of his court, and that he had better not, if he did not want to be sent to jail for 30 days. Just at this juncture of affairs Vol Rheinecher and John Moody, at that time boys about 17 years of age, passed by the hall playing Yankee Doodle, on a drum and fife ; Judge Wilhams being passionately fond on music sang out, " Mr. Sheriff adjourn court until ro o'clock to-morrow morning," making a dive for his hat, at the same time disappeared down the stairs and followed the boys around in the hot sun until he was literally exhausted, thus happily preventing a conflict of authority between the federal and probate courts.

The Legislature of 1859 and '60 remodeled the Judicial Districts, and Wyandotte county was transferred from the Fort Scott to the Leavenworth District. The Spring term of court was held in May, His Honor John Petit, Chief Justice of the Territory presiding, James A. Cruise clerk, S M. Emmerson attorney, and Luther H. Wood, sheriff. Petit was ill-natured, petulant, high-tempered, profane, tyrannical and abusive, but withal was as clear headed and able a jurist as ever donned the judicial ermine in Kansas. It was nothing unusual for him to go to Kansas City and play poker and drink whisky all night. The bar generally had to suffer for it the next day. In this connection we cannot refrain from giving an incident that occurred at the Game House, during one of his terms of court. S. L. Norris, a young man from Vermont, who lived by his wits, brought out a carpet sack of bank notes on the St. Alban's bank, which had bursted in the crash of 1857. Judge James, Col. Weer, Norris and one or two other parties set up a job on Petit and got him to playing poker. The old man was permitted to win nearly every game, and every time he won, the boys shoved out a $20 bill on the broken bank of St. Albans, Petit paying change in good money. At the close of the term the old Judge was in high glee as his capacious wallet was filled with $20 bills. But when he came to pay Mrs. Halford his hotel bill and shoved out one of his $20 notes, he learned the bank was broken ; a second and third tender meeting a refusal on the same grounds, he saw that he had been sold. He returned to Leavenworth minus about $300 in cash; with about $1,000 in worthless money, a sadder but wiser man.

One of those- delightful zephyrs peculiar to Kansas, was making everything "hum" the morning Judge Petit first opened court in Wyandott, and after climbing up to the court room, which was on the fourth floor, he was nearly out of breath, being a much fatter man than Philip Hescher, though not so tall. Just as he began to call the docket, an unusually stiff breeze sprang up, which made the building tremble from foundation to turret. When the building began to vibrate he said, " Mr. Sheriff, can't you get some room on the ground in which to hold court?" The Sheriff replied that there was no room large enough, unless he took one of the churches. Just then a little stififer breeze came, and the Judge fairly roared, " Mr. Sheriff, adjourn court till two o'clock, and get a church, g - d - it, take a church !" and started for the street, but had scarcely got half way down when some one cried out, "The building is falling !" The crowd made a rush for the stairway, and soon the old Judge found himself crowded and pushed to the door, where he barely escaped injury from the brick and debris of the falling building.

On the 5th day of July, 1859, the delegates to the constitutional convention assembled in Constitutional Hall, in this city, and on the 29th of the same month the present constitution of the State was completed.

The year i860 was one of hardships and privation to the settlers. No rain fell for a period of twelve months, and but httle 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 organized. 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 Constitutional Hall, a four story brick on the levee. Early in June the regiment received 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- tional Hall came down with a crash, burying the men in the debris. Every person 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 Conkhn 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 courthouse. 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 oneMcNamara; no one doubts their innocence to-day. Since that time Wyandott county has been as quiet and orderly as any portion of the United States.

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 ^^%^ 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.

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.

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 Wyandott 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. Dickenson 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 Quindaro, 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

Be it known that on this 8th day of June, A. D., 1858, in open court came Charles S. Click and presented the petition of B. Gray, A. B. Bartlett, Daniel Killen arid 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.

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.

Seal I A. D., 1858 Rufus Hall

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.

William McKay, George Russell, Daniel Killen, William F. Simpson and Charles S. Click, 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 Wyandott. '

Charles S. GUck, 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.

City Officers

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. .

Wyandott The Metropolis Of The West

The locality of Wyandott is. thought by many to pre-eminently fit it to become 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 manufacturing 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 purpose 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 meeting, and become our guests.

On motion the following five persons were appointed as an Invitation Committee : 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, consisting 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.

" 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 industry, 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 c itizens 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, ^^ ^^^ evening, to consider the subject. To such as come they pledge a hearty welcome 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 : Douglas, 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 indorsement 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 QXXy Journal ; S. M. Ford, of the Kansas City Times ; H. Wilcox, of the Kansas City JVews and Chronicle; R. B. Taylor, of the Wyandott Gazette, and V. J. Lane, of the Wyandotte 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-presidents : 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.

Speeches were made by Colonel Cobb, Senator Harvey, Gov. J. P. St. John, Gov. George A. Crawford, Gen. J. A. Halderman, Hon. T. C. Bowles, Hon. John K. Wright, Hon. L. J. Worden, Judge Williams, Hon. W. J. Buchan and others. Letters and telegrams were read from other parties, among them Hon. J. J. Ingalls, Hon. J. R. Goodin, Hon. Byron Sherry, Governor Osborn, George W. Veale, Chancellor Marvin, Hon. John Frazer, P. I. B. Ping, Esq., and H. P. Dow.

"The terminus of one great trunk line of railroad, the Kansas Pacific, her trade extends westward beyond our limits to the mining camps of Colorado, and the grazing fields of New IVJexico. On the north of this line of railroad, her supplies and goods minister to the wants of the settlers in the counties of our State lying west of the district drained by the Central Branch Union Pacific and the St. Joseph & Denver Railroads, until she reaches the neighborhood of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad of Nebraska. Then extending westward under the advantages of the pro rata bill passed at a recent session of Congress, by way of Denver and Chyenne, her influences are felt, as the competitor of Omaha, on the plains of Wyoming and the valleys of Utah. On the sftuth of the Kansas Pacific Railroad she has practically no competition in the field of trade, and her business men solicit and receive exchanges over the whole expanse of country southward to the northern boundary of Texas, and westward to the limits of settlements this side of the Rocky Mountains. Confining the question to our own State, the railroads which extend westwardly from the mouth of the Kansas River drain every section of Kansas, except the Counties of Leavenworth,. Atchison, Doniphan, Nemaha, Brown, Marshall, Jackson and portions of Jefferson, Pottawatomie and Washington. The Republican Branch of the Kansas Pacific, which extends northward up the valley of the Republican River to Clay Center, in Clay county, takes the trade of the northwestern counties, which would otherwise go to the Central Branch or St. Joseph & Denver Roads to the line of the Kansas Pacific. The Kansas Midland Road between this point and Topeka, and the line between here and Ottawa, are the lines over which the trade of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Roads will respectivdly pass with the same facility with which it will pass to Atchison or Leavenworth.

The people of Wyandott county contend that the mass of trade carried by these roads will follow the valley of the Kansas River to its junction with the Missouri. They contend, other things being equal, that the companies owning these roads can afford to deliver freights cheaper at the mouth of the Kansas River than at any other point on the Missouri, because the grades of the roads are uniform and decending after they touch the valley of that river, while to carry their freight to the original terminus requires them to pass over elevated tracts of country with heavy gradients. But things are not equal. Any great city in the Missouri Valley will be tributary either to the greater cities of St. Louis or Chicago. The State of Kansas is by nature tributary to St. Louis. To re-distribute passengers and freight bound to St. Louis from the principal portion of Kansas northward of this point, is to take them out of a direct line for redistribution. But the mass of the producers of Kansas will not engage in the business of re-distribution. They will dispose of their products where they can find the buyers and seldom go further from home in quest of them than to the Missouri Valley. The people of this county contend that they will go there where the greatest competition may be had, and that to-day no man can question that the grain elevators, the packing houses and the stock yards at this point all demonstrate that the buyers of the staple products - of grain and cattle - are far more numerous here than anywhere else on the Missouri River. They contend that the mouth of the Kansas River is the natural site for the metropolis of the Missouri Valley, and that all efforts to build it elsewhere will be futile. They believe that the failure of other places to become the metropolis is owing to no mistake on the part of the citizens of those places, but they simply lacked the thousand and one natural advantages that this spot so happily possesses. It is said, "facts are born, not made." So of these great marts that spring up in the march of civilization across the continent. The people of Kansas would gladly have made their metropoHs elsewhere, but this spot was born to be it, and they must accept the fact.

In all I have said I have not spoken of the eastern connections of railroads with this point. To name them is sufficient. The Missouri Pacific and the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern furnish rival lines and some competition to St. Louis. The Hannibal and St. Joseph and the Kansa's City and Northern to Moberly, and then the Missouri, Kansas and Texas supply the like facilities to Chicago. Keeping in view these competitive lines alone, no other place in the valley of the Missouri approaches these advantages.

Letter From Hon. Byron Sherry

Gentlemen: - Your invitation of the loth inst., inviting me to visit your city on the 23rd September was duly received, and in reply, beg leave to say, I regret very much that I cannot on account of professional engagements, be pres- ent at the time indicated. While I am not unmindful of the many difficulties attending the building up of a metropolis within the State of Kansas, I cannot but wish you God speed in the great and important undertaking. You have the advantage of location, and I believe that it would insure to the benefit of the whole State to assist in making Wyandott the commercial center. With my best wishes for the prosperity of your city.

Gentlemen : - Until this morning I had expected to be with you at your meeting to-morrow, but an urgent business engagement calls me in another direction at that time. I am exceedingly sorry to be deprived of the pleasure of mingling with the citizens of Wyandott, with whom my relations are so friendly, and to interchange views, in a spirit of true devotion to the interests of our State, as to the future commercial metropolis of this growing Commonwealth. As a citizen of Kansas I never hear of the prosperity of one of her cities without feeling within me proud emotions, and a desire, in some humble way, to aid in promoting still greater growth. From my first settlement in Kansas - nearly a score of years ago - I have confidently looked forward for the time when somewhere within our boundaries there would spring up, out of the irresistible necessities and laws of commerce and trade, a business center, which, while it would serve as a commercial mart, and, by the contribution of revenues largely diminish the high taxes usually incident to a State during its early years of development, at the same time awaken just pride among the people who would ever be found willing helpers in its advancement.

The same desire I yet feel; and I confess my gratification when I see that at Atchison, Lawrence, Topeka, and at other cities in the State, the people are coming together with the earnest endeavor to meet face to face the stern logic of the times, and devise some practical plan to invigorate their growth. Kansas has to-day quite a number of gromng towns and cities, which, with the speedy development of her own resources, will continue on in the march of permanent improvements and commercial consequence.

But it is hardly to be anticipated that all of our towns are to become commercially great ; yet every one admits the possibility of a city within our borders of fifty or seventy-five thousand inhabitants, and just now the mind of the wideawake Kansans, peering into the future, is bent on discovering the situs of this coming city, which is to cast its lengthened shadows far out upon the peaceful prairies of the State.

By "your invitation I observe that the leading men of the State," who are to be the guests of your city, will have pointed out to them the advantages presented at the mouth of the Kaw {ox hv^-^dxag \h& commercial metropolis, not only of Kansas, but the Missouri Valley."

For several years I have not doubted that Kansas City, in the not distant future, would become one of the leading cities of the west in population, as it now is in point of business importance ; and the close proximity of Wyandott to it, may justly arouse the assurance that the two cities may yet " clasp hands across the Kaw bottom," and, like two loving souls, peacefully blend in one.

The rapidly increasing business of Kansas City, and the steady, substantial growth of Wyandott, show the demand for more territory ; and while the rugged hills, frowning upon both cities, seem repulsive to the eye of civilization, the quie plain sandwiched so willingly, awaits the heavy tread of the advancing metropolis, and, like the youthful Isaac of bibUcal renown, is ready to be offered up as a sacrifice to metropolitan ambition.

I do not feel, gentlemen, like attempting to advise you what course you should pursue at your meeting. If you could ' ' resolve " Kansas City over into Kansas, I should certainly suggest that you do it, for surely nine-tenths of her business nien would be pleased with such a result, while Kansans everywhere would rejoice at it. But I fear that the transaction will be fraught with many difficulties, if ever accomplished, and while not absolutely dispairing of a change in State boundaries, whereby she may become one of us, I am far from being sanguine of it.

In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to say, that I trust a large number of the "leading men of the State," from other cities, may be with you to-morrow; that your deliberations may be marked by wisdom ; that your expressions and actions may be broad-gauged and generous, and that the result of your meeting may ultimately work advantage to the State of which we are all proud.

Again expressing my regret at the necessity which deprives me sharing the hospitality of the large hearted people "at the mouth of, the Kaw,"

John R. Goodin First Congregational Church, Wyandott

The first record of this society was made July 7, A. D. 1858, and reads as follows : "In pursuance to a call, all persons desirous of organizing a Congregational Church in Wyandott city, Leavenworth county, and Territory of Kansas, met at the Methodist Church, North, in said Wyandott.

"The meeting was called to order by the Rev. S. D. Storrs; opening prayer by Dr. J. P. Root. On motion of Brother Samuel Crosby, Rev. S. D. Storrs was made chairman, also by vote, D. A. Bartlett was made secretary of the meeting. On motion of Brother D. C. Collier, a committee consisting of Brothers D. C. Collier, Samuel Crosby, Dr. J. P. Root and W. F. Downs were appointed by the chair to draw up and present to our next meeting a constitution for a church, articles of faith and covenant. After singing and closing prayer by Rev. S. D. Storrs, adjourned."

Among the earliest members were the following: W. P. Winner, S. F. Mather, Dr. J. P. Root, Rev. S. D. Storrs, W. F. Downs, D. A. Bartlett, Samuel Crosby, D. C. CoUier, J. S. Stockton, Mrs. Mary Walcott, Mrs. Frances E. Root, Mrs. Mary E. Stockton, Mrs. M. Louisa Bartlett, Mrs. Louisa K. Downs, Mrs. M. A. Mather, John Furbish, Mrs. R. B. Taylor, A. D. Downs, E. T. Hovey and wife, Mrs. C. M. Downs, O. S. Bartlett, Jesse Cooper, Mrs. Hester A. Garno (now Mrs. Halford).

The present membership of the church is 83, and in a prosperous condition. The names of the pastors are as follows: Rev. S. D. Storrs, 1858; Rev. R. D. Parker, 1859, and continued eight years; then succeeded Rev. E. A. Harlow, 1869, and remained three years; then the church was without a pastor for over one year, and Rev. James G. Dougherty was called, and served the church and congregation for three years. The present pastor. Rev. R. M. Tunnell, came to this charge in the fall of 1875, and has since discharged the duties of spiritual adviser and pastor in a most acceptable manner.

The present church is a large and commodious frame structure built in i860, at a cost of about $2,500, and will seat 300 persons. The church was dedicated August I, i860, and the services were conducted by Rev. R. D. Parker, the pastor. Rev. J. G. Roberts, of Kansas City, Rev. J. D. Liggett, of Leavenworth, and several other Congregational ministers of the State of Kansas. The

There has always been a good Sabbath-school connected with the church. The present average attendance is one hundred, with C. E. Wilcox as Superintendent, and W. B. Spencer, Secretary.

The early history of this church was very happily prepared by Rev. R. D. Parker, January 9th, i860, who was at that time the pastor. It was embodied in a report of the church committee, at their second annual meeting January 9th, i860. The report says :