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Sketches of Early History
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Sketches of Early History
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The KSGenWeb Project logo Copyright©1996- by Tom & Carolyn Ward, All Rights
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Transcribed by
J. Richardson, 09-August-2000
Originally published in the Humboldt Union, Humboldt, Allen County, Kansas
04-Apr-1918
Sketches of
Early History - Part 5
In the Settlement of Humboldt and Allen County
By Watson Stewart
(continued from last week.)
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Mail Facilities.
The settlers of 1855 generally obtained their mail at Osawatomie; in 1856 we
went to Fort Scott. We made arrangements for some one to go each week and bring
over the mail for all the settlers in the county. Three days were usually taken
to go to the postoffice and return. In the fall of 1856 a postoffice was
established at Cofachiqui, but no service was put on the route for about a year,
but arrangements were continued by the settlers for carrying the mail over once
a week. S.J. Stewart made frequent trips for the mail, and a young Dotson
carried it for some time.
A postoffice was established in Humboldt some time in 1858. A. Irwin was the
first postmaster. A weekly service was put on the route from Lawrence to
Humboldt. Zack Squires had the contract for carrying the mail; it was let as a
horseback route, but he put on a hack and did a considerable business in
carrying passengers and parcels for persons on the route. He was a very
accommodating, gentlemanly man.
Our mail was weekly until in 1865, when we had tri-weekly a few months, then
daily. After Squires, Reynolds and Hard carried the mail, then Tisdale, until we
had railroads. R.T. Thompson was the second post master, then H.W. Signor and
Eli Gilbert. In 1865, Charles Baland, to 1870, from then to the present, J.W.
Patterson. The office was established as a money order office Oct. 1, 1868.
------------
Schools.
The first school taught in Humboldt was by S.W. Clark, in 1858. Prof. Hand
followed, and in 1859-60 commenced the building of an academy. e had the
building under, on the ground where Wm. Lassman resides, but I think the drouth
of 1860 caused his abandonment of the enterprise. Miss Mira Pilcher taught in
1860; Wm. Hart in 1861; afterward, probably in 1862, Miss Kate Burnett. In 1865
Miss Nellie McCullough, now Mrs. W.C. O'Brien, Taught. Prof. J. Bryson Torbert,
in 1866; then we had Mrs. Newton, Mr. and Mrs Hurd. From 1869 to 1871 H.J.
Sampson was principal of the schoold, now having four departments. In 1872 Prof.
J.B. Smith was principal, and during the past three years Prof. L. Van Fossen
has been principal.
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Churches and Ministers.
Among our earliest ministers was C.R. Rice of the M.E. Church, South. He
preached through this county in 1856; probably the next year a Rev. Thompson of
the same church. Prof. Serenbets, of the Humboldt Town Company, preached the
first sermon in Humboldt; he preached in both German and English. In the south
part of the county we had Woodward, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He
lived on Village creek, near where Chanute not is, and preached through the
county.
Also at Osage City was Rev. John Russill, of the Protestant Methodist Church.
In 1859-60 the father of J.A. Coffey, Edd A. Coffey, preached through the
county. He was what was called a Hard Shell Baptist, and was a man of more than
ordinary talent.
Old Father Garrison of the United Brethren used to preach here -- also Father
Cabal, a Baptist minister. S.M. Webb, an old settler on Owl creek, a Baptist,
was also an early preacher; also, I. Knott and W.W. Witten were local Methodist
ministers.
Father Witten was from Arkansas, and was said to be rather fond of his dram.
During war times he used to always carry a soldier's canteen, tied on his saddle
-- it might have been used to carry water -- but some of the boys were
uncharitable enought to suggest something stronger. It was said of him, in
remarking of the relative advantages of this state and Arkansas, that "it
required more stimulants here than in Arkansaw".
The first church building erected was what was known as the United Brethren
church, now occupied by the colored friends. It was commenced in 1859 and
finished in 1860. N.B. Blanton and family and Evert DeWitt and family were
leading members.
This building was used by all religious denominations, as well as for other
public meeting, and also for a school room until other buildings were put up.
The first Sunday School was organized in this house on the 13th of May, 1860. It
was a Union School, organized by S.M. Webb and I. Knott. Dr. Wm. Wakefield was
its first superintendent. It was kept up during the summer seasons, except in
1862, until 1867.
In April, 1867, a Methodist Sunday School was organized, with Dr. Wm. Wakefield
as the first superintendent. It has been kept up since, and at present has for
its superintendent, Mrs. W.C. O'Brien, with sever teachers and eighty-one
scholars.
The first organization of the M.E. Church was in the summer of 1860, John Tripp,
Class leader. Mr. Bukey was the minister. Its church building, on New York
street, was built in 1870. The present minister is D.H. Snowden.
The Germans built the house on Bridge street, east of the public square, in
1860. It was built under the ministerial charge of Rev. ---- Dubbs. Title
afterward was made to the Evangelical Association. This being against the wishes
of many of the Germans, in 1863 the brick, with stone front, was built for the
Evangelical Lutherans. Wm. Lange was thier first minister.
In 1865 Colonel Thurston led in the erection of the Catholic church, in the
north part of town. Other citizens contributed liberally -- with a view to give
an impetus to building -- and indeed this was about the beginning of building in
Humboldt after the fire.
The Presbyterian Church was organized July 12, 1868, by Rev. A. T. Norton and
Rev. James Lewis, with six members -- Mrs. Eliza Savercool, Emma Wakefield,
Naomi Goodin, H.A. Curdy, Mr. C.P. Ives and James Blyth. James Lewis, pastor,
from organization until July 1, 1875. Present pastor, Rev. A.G. Daniels.
Membership, 127. Sunday School organized in 1868; first superintendent, Rev.
James Lewis. Present superintendent, J.W. Risley.
The Baptist Church had an organization here in 1864-65 wtih Elder H.K. Stimson
as pastor. Dr. Miller and wife and A.L. Dornbergh and wife were prominent
members. Since that time until 1870 they had only occasional preaching. The
church was re-organized Jan. 30, 18780, with eleven members. Rev. A. Hitchcock
was pastor. Present pastor, Rev. J.K. Dixon. The church on Ninth street, north
of the square, was erected in 1872, dedicated May 19. Sunday School was
organized in 1872. Present superintendent, N.B. Rouse.
The Christian (or Campbellite) Church at one time had an organization here, and
I remember several ministers as having preached here at different times, among
whom may be mentioned Elders Brown and Shaw. E.H. Young and wife, J.B. Yound and
wife and Phineas Cox and family were members. I think no organization exists at
this time.
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Business Men of Humboldt.
In the early days, as merchants, we had J.A. Coffey, W.C. O'Brien, Moses Neal,
Marsh & Coffey, Neal & Signor, Scott and O'Brien; later we had Young & Wakefield
and E.C. Amsden in 1865. In the spring of 1866 Young & Wakefield sold to W.W.
Curdy, and the fall of that year Amsden sold to Smith & Fisk. Then we had the
hardware store of J.C. Redfield & Co.
Charles Fussman was in the tin, hardware and grocery business until his death in
1871.
For several years Hysinger & Rosenthal have been in the dry goods business.
Wright & Walker, then W.A. & O.S. Redfield, in the hardware; also Lewis Haines
and Davis & Co. in the same business now.
E. Hewett, and then Hewett & Edwards, and now W.I. Edward, in the Star Grocery.
C. Lehmann in the same business; and now, Eldridge & Moss, O.M. Dye and P.S.
Shelley.
N. Kemmerer is one of our oldest saddle and harness makers. J.P. Degenhart and
C. Geissler are in the same business.
James Blyth was in the boot and shoe business for several years, and afterward
in the grocery line.
In 1869 Pratt and Ten Eyck were the bankers. In 1870 Pratt & Dayton associated
in the Humboldt Bank. And Bacon & Ten Eyck started the Allen County Bank, which
failed in January, 1871. In 1875, Dayton, Barber & Co. became the successors of
Pratt & Dayton.
Amos & Bro. opened a lumber yard in the spring of 1871; also Eldred & Co. S.H.
Stevens & Co. oopened a yard in the fall of the same year. S.H. Stevens sold out
to S.A. Brown & Co., iin 1874. And in 1876 was opened the yard of the Humboldt
Lumber Co.
John Record burned the first brick in 1859, on the land adjoining town -- now
owned by Capt. O.S. Coffin -- and built the house he lives in.
(Concluded next week.)
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