Anderson County KS Archives History - Books .....Chapter XIII 1877
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Book Title: THE HISTORY OF ANDERSON COUNTY, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1876.

CHAPTER XIII.

  Bright Prospects in 1858-9—Organization of Railroad Company—Gloomy Forebodings
of 1860 —Relief Committees—Organization of Volunteer Companies—Hardships Endured
by the Women of the County—Organization of New Party, Called "Farmers' and
Mechanics' Union Association"— Election of 1861.

  IN the din of politics, mind struggling with mind, one to establish on Kansas
soil the best institutions known to the civilized world, and the other
endeavoring to establish and perpetuate a curse the most oppressive known to
man, we had given but little attention to the industrial resources of the
country until the spring of 1858, when there was a lull in the storm, and hope
inspired in the minds of watching millions. Then immigration in great numbers
from the free States set in. The Pro-Slavery men of the slave States gave up
their cherished idea of establishing slavery in Kansas, and became so disgusted
with their ill-success that they did not spend any more money or blood for the
cause of the South. The result of the election for county officers and members
to the Legislature, and the vote on the Lecompton constitution, satisfied them
that the friends of freedom could not be thwarted in their designs by force or
fraud. The result was a healthy immigration and great increase in the population
of the country. The filling up of Kansas with the champions of freedom was the
most glorious achievement which the historian of the country is able to record;
a new exhibition of popular power, and a guaranty to free institutions: it was
the power of freedom crushing the wicked institution of slavery. It was the
first throe in that great struggle that made every American citizen a freeman.

  After the elections of 1857 and 1858 the Free State Legislature convened, and
passed some wholesome laws, and repealed the laws of 1855, known as the "bogus
laws." Business began to prosper; the settlers commenced improving their Claims
and the country presented a livelier appearance; all doubts as to success were
removed, and a new era for Kansas set in.

  About this time two railroad enterprises were organized: The Leavenworth,
Lawrence & Fort Gibson railroad company, now Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston
railroad company; and the Jefferson City & Neosho Valley railroad company. The
former was organized on the 8th day of December, 1857. John B. Chapman was
elected president; J. C. Green, Adam Fisher, F. P. Witcher, M. H. Hann, James
Darrah, Hudson Burris and H. C. Justice, directors; H. Allen, secretary; L. L.
Todd, treasurer, and John C. McCarty, chief engineer. The charter of the company
was granted on the 12th of February, 1858, with John B. Chapman, Hudson Burris,
H. C. Justice, F. P. Witcher, Milton H. Hann, Henry J. Adams, G. A. Reynolds, E.
D. Ladd, John Speer, L. F. Hollingsworth, S. B. Prentiss, G. W. Deitzler, H. G.
Blake, Robert B. Mitchell, John Mathias, Darius Rogers, J. M. Black, R. B.
Jourdan and W. Douran as charter members, with a capital stock of two million
dollars. The charter authorized the company to locate its road from the city of
Leavenworth, on the Missouri river, on the most convenient route, via Lawrence,
Minneola, Osage City, and down the Neosho river, through the Osage nation, to
Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas river. In the summer of 1858 the company made a
preliminary survey to the fourth standard parallel, one mile south of Garnett;
in 1859 it made a. preliminary survey for its road to Osage City, ten miles
south of Humboldt. John B. Chapman was re-elected president, for several terms.
In 1863 this road received a land grant from Congress for every alternate
section, designated by odd numbers, for ten sections on each side of the road;
but where any of the land had been sold prior to the fixing of the line of the
road, then in lieu of the amount so sold the company was to receive from the
public lands of the United States an equal amount from the nearest tiers of
sections, in alternate sections, provided such lands should not be located more
than twenty miles from the road. The lands so granted were to be devoted
exclusively to the construction of the road. And in 1866 the Legislature
appropriated one hundred and twenty-five thousand acres of the five hundred
thousand acres given the State under the law of Congress of 1841, for internal
improvements, to aid in the construction of this road. The counties along the
line of the road voted municipal bonds to aid in its construction, as follows:
Douglas county, $300,000; Franklin county, $200,000; Anderson county, $200,000;
Allen county, $150,000: Montgomery county, $200,000.

  The work of construction on this road commenced in 1867, and the road was
built and in operation to Ottawa the following winter, and completed to Garnett
in March, 1870, and to Coffeyville in 1871. It is a first-class road, furnished
with excellent engines and rolling stock. For the first five years the road paid
but little more than running expenses; but the business of the country has so
improved that the road is now doing a good and paying business.

  A railroad convention was held at Hyatt on the 27th day of July, 1858, to take
preliminary measures to organize a railroad company, to be styled the Jefferson
City & Neosho Valley railroad company; and it was organized at Hyatt on the —
day of October, 1858, with A. Wattles, J. O. Wattles, G. W. Deitzler, W. F. M.
Amy, G. W. Brown, W. H. Ela, B. F. Allen, R. Gilpatrick, J. L. Coy, P. B. Plumb
and John T. Cox as directors. The board of directors elected W. F. M. Arny
president. The company went to work in October, soon after the organization, to
make a preliminary survey from the State line to the Neosho river, and had the
plat and profile all made. The company spent much time and money in trying to
get land grants to aid in the,construction of the road, but failure to secure
the same proved fatal to the enterprise.

  During the first five years of the early settlement of the Territory it
required the greater portion of the time of the settlers to defend the border
against the frequent raids made by Pro-Slavery men from the slave States,
consequently .but little improvements had been made; so when the drouth of 1860
came it was like a blight, the people being without money, and depending on the
productions of the soil for sustenance. They had no surplus of grain or other
necessaries of life to tide them over the season. As soon as it was ascertained
that the crops were a failure, steps were taken to secure aid from the States to
supply the necessities of the people. Committees for this purpose were appointed
in almost every county in the Territory, and the citizens of our sister States
responded nobly to the cry for assistance, by donations of such articles as
would keep the people from starvation. But although a large amount of provisions
was sent to the Territory, but little was received in Anderson county. The
struggles and drouth of 1860 reduced the population to about one thousand in
Anderson county; and those who remained were reduced almost to a state of
pauperism.

  At the outbreak of the rebellion our people were in this destitute condition;
our men were accustomed to the hardships of a soldier's life, but to go to the
defense of the country and leave their families in such circumstances was
distressing: but when the call came for volunteers they responded nobly; a whole
company volunteered in one day, and was on the march to the front in three days
thereafter. Anderson county was represented in almost every regiment of Kansas
troops; about three-fourths of her able-bodied men entered the army for the
cause of the Union.

  The year 1861 was a fruitful one for Kansas. Fine crops were raised, and in
many instances the crops were planted, cultivated and harvested by our brave and
patriotic women, while their husbands and fathers were fighting the battles of
their country. Most nobly did our women till the soil and support their
families, and gave up their husbands to the service of the country, many of them
to fill bloody graves in Southern climes. The names of the heroic dead who fell
in the defense of the country will be given in another portion of this book.

  In October, 1861, a new political organization was made in Anderson county,
known as the "Farmers' and Mechanics' Union Association," headed by J. Y.
Campbell, Samuel Anderson, J. B. Lowry, W. H. McClure, W. G. Nichols and some
others. The object of this organization was set forth in their platform.

  This party was clamorous for reform. Their convention assembled on the 17th
day of October and made the following nominations: For State senator, Alexander
Stewart (then of Iola, now of LeRoy); for representatives, J. B. Lowry and W. H.
McClure; for probate judge, Samuel Anderson: for treasurer, J. Y. Campbell; for
sheriff, John Anderson; for register of deeds, M. Puett; for county clerk, N. A.
Porter; for clerk of district court, N. A. Porter.

  The Republicans held their convention on the 10th of the same month, and
nominated for representatives, John T. Lanter and Mathew Porter; probate judge,
B. F. Ridgeway; treasurer, H. Cavender; sheriff, Zach. Norris; register of
deeds, Wesley Spindler; county clerk, A. McArthur; and clerk of the district
court, A. Simons.

  The canvass was conducted on the part of the new organization by J. Y.
Campbell and Alex. Stewart: on the part of the Republicans the canvass was made
by G. W. Iler, B. F. Ridgeway and W. A. Johnson. The campaign was one of the
most bitter ever had in the county. The Republicans elected their senator, J. G.
Reese, treasurer, county clerk and clerk of the district court. The opposition
elected two representatives, probate judge, sheriff and register of deeds.


Additional Comments:
THE HISTORY OF ANDERSON COUNTY,
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1876.
BY
W. A. JOHNSON,
CHAIRMAN OF HISTORICAL COMMITTEE.

PUBLISHED BY KAUFFMAN & ILER, GARNETT PLAINDEALER,
1877.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1877, by
KAUFFMAN & ILER, In the office of the Librarian of Congress,Washington, D. C.


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