Johnson County KS Archives History - Books .....Chapter IX Edgerton 1915
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 22, 2008, 7:56 pm

Book Title: History Of Johnson County Kansas

CHAPTER IX. 
EDGERTON. 

Location—Churches—Commercian Enterprises—Cemetery—The Press.

  Edgerton has a population of 450, is located on the Santa Fe railroad,
fourteen miles southwest of Olathe, and is in a fertile farming country. It has
three churches. The Methodist Episcopal church has a fine $10,000 building which
was dedicated in October, 1913. Rev. A. L. Day is pastor. This church is located
on the corner of Fourth and Hulett streets, and the congregation has a fine
parsonage which was erected at a cost of $1,500.

  The Presbyterian church is located at Third and Nelson streets, and is a
handsome frame building, costing $7,000. Rev. J. S. Swagger is pastor. A $2,000
parsonage is owned by this church, also. This church has a membership of 140.

  The Catholic church is in charge of Rev. L. E. Kramer. The building is an
elegant frame structure, costing between $7,000 and $8,000, wtih a fine
parsonage also.

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES.

  The Edgerton State Bank has a capital stock of $20,000, and a surplus of
$14,000. The following are the officers: President, Frank Braun; vice-president,
J. R. Whitla; cashier, Martin J. Kelly; assistant cashier, W. F. Braun. The
Edgerton people take a pride in their schools, and are now agitating the
question of building a district high school, as the present building is
inadequate for the increasing needs of the district.

  The Edgerton Hardware Company does a large business in hardware, implements
and automobiles. J. R. Whitla is the manager.

  The Farmers Store with C. E. Harlow, manager, does an excellent business, and
carries a general stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware and implements.

  Pearce & Cordell are dealers in groceries and dry goods. E. J. Runner,
druggist. Thomas S. Greer, physician and surgeon. Hale & Dwyer are general
merchants. Besides these, all smaller lines of business are well represented.
The town has a large lumber yard and an elevator with a capacity of 50,000
bushels. A new modern hotel, band, thirty-acre natural park adjoining the city
on the east, and as Mr. Mayes puts it, "four Killarney lakes which furnish
boating." The Odd Fellows hold an annual picnic in the park and a Chautauqua is
held every year. Natural gas is supplied by the Kansas Natural Gas Company. The
two cemeteries, Catholic and the one belonging to the Edgerton Cemetery
Association, are well kept and present a neat appearance.

  The following is a list of the firms doing business in Edgerton: W. H. Kelly,
elevator and corn mill; Edgerton Lumber Company, D. R. Hale, manager; Edgerton
State Bank, M. J. Kelly, cashier; Edgerton Hardware Company, J. R. Whitla,
manager, hardware and implements; Farmers' Store, C. E. Harbour, manager,
general merchandise; Pearce & Cordell, general merchandise; Hale & Dwyer,
general merchandise; Ernest Crow, barber; L. J. Roller, restaurant and bakery;
E. J. Runner, drugs; Edgerton Creamery Company, C. E. Todd, manager; S. B.
Ewart, painter and paper hanger; S. M. Lard, blacksmith; G. E. Leberman,
blacksmith ; P. E. Wolfley, real estate and loans; J. C. Crawford, painter and
paper hanger; L. E. Walker, painter and paper hanger; F. O. Grahm, barber; J. M.
Collins, dray and transfer; J. S. Edenfield, horse and mule buyer; J. F.
Hastings, postmaster; The Edgerton "Journal," Charles W. Mays, publisher.

CEMETERY.

  The people of Edgerton and vicinity are proud of their cemeteries, one of
which lies one mile south and four miles west, while the other, the Catholic, is
one mile south and an equal distance to the east.

  A few years ago it was thought the present cemetery would shortly be too small
for their needs, so the late C. M. Dickson sold to the board of trustees a
number of acres adjoining the old cemetery on the east and south, so that the
plot was more than double in size.

  The cemetery board takes care of the ground and all the graves, no one being
obliged to look after their own lots.

THE PRESS.

  Mr. Charles Mayes publishes the Edgerton "Journal," a live newspaper. Mr.
Mayes is a Kansas product, born in Pleasanton, Kan., in 1873, and began learning
the printing trade when eight years old. He worked in many newspaper offices
before he embarked in business for himself. He established the "Journal" in
December, 1906, bringing the old Washington press formerly used by the "Greeley
News," Mound City "Democrat" and LaCygne "Standard," which he purchased from
Bruce Dennis of the La Cygue "Journal." Mr. Mayes is the father of eight
children, a gain of seven since he came to Edgerton, and is not only educating
his flock, but is making the financial end show up in a substantial way. He is a
good town booster, and is appreciated by the good citizens of Edgerton and
surrounding country. His office is located in the historic Methodist Episcopal
church that was removed from Lanesfield to Edgerton after the railroad
established the town of Edgerton. The main part of the Hotel DeTar building at
Edgerton was formerly the United Presbyterian church at Lanesfield, and was
brought here at the same time. The studding in this building is 4x6 oak, and the
building is still substantial, notwithstanding the fifty years or more of
service. The old Ft. Scott and Leavenworth military road, as well as the Santa
Fe Trail, passed through Edgerton.

  David M. Evans located here in 1857, when he was six years old. On the way
here, he with his uncle, later Judge David Martin, camped at Jonathan
Millikan's, at Olathe. They erected a log house on his farm at first, and,
shortly afterwards, a stone house. During the border trouble Mr. Evans remained
here alone, Mr. Martin being called away to duties connected with the home guards.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF Johnson County Kansas
BY
ED BLAIR

AUTHOR OF
Kansas Zephyrs, Sunflower Sittings and Other Poems and Sketches

IN ONE VOLUME

ILLUSTRATED
STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
1915


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