Shawnee County KS Archives History - Books .....Chapter II 1905 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 25, 2006, 2:52 am Book Title: History Of Shawnee County, Kansas CHAPTER II. Organization of the County-Township Divisions-Physical Aspects of the County-Rivers and Streams-First Efforts in Agriculture-Topeka and Tecumseh Contest for the County-Seat-Territorial Elections, Judicial System, Roster of Senators, Representatives and County Officers- First Land Transactions-Bridging the Kansas River-County Buildings-Growth in Population-Assessed Valuation, Live Stock and Farm Statistics-Nursery and Creamery Industries-Post Offices and Rural Delivery Routes-A Prominent Landmark. Kansas was admitted into the Union as a Territory in 1854. On the 8th of November of that year the Territory was divided into 17 election districts, the third one of which comprised what was afterwards known as Shawnee County. The first Territorial Legislature, held in 1855, established .33 counties. Shawnee was one of the original 33 and ranked 11th in the list. The original boundary was: "Beginning at the south-east corner of Douglas County; thence west twenty-four (24) miles; thence north to the main •channel of the Kaw or Kansas River; thence down said channel to the northwest corner of Douglas County; thence south to the place of beginning." All of the tract thus described was south of the Kansas River. The boundary lines were changed in 1857, and again in i860. Under the latter change six government townships on the south were detached and became a part of Osage County, and the northern boundary of Shawnee County was extended to include all of the territory formerly belonging to Jackson County lying south of the second standard parallel. This gave Shawnee County two congressional townships north of the Kansas River. In 1868 four other concessional townships were added on the north. BOUNDARIES AND TOWNSHIPS. Shawnee is in the third tier of counties west of the Missouri River and •embraces 357,120 acres of land, forming a square of 24 miles, with the exception that the tract lying north of the river extends five miles further west than that lying south of the river. The north and south lines are parallel, 24 miles in length and the same distance apart, running due east and west. The adjacent counties are Jackson on the north, Jefferson and Douglas on the east, Osage on the south, and Wabaunsee and Pottawatomie on the west. The first subdivision of Shawnee County into municipal townships was made September 14, 1855. Two townships were formed, Tecumseh and Yocum, the dividing line being the Wakarusa River. In 1857 the county was subdivided into the townships of Tecumseh, Topeka, Brownsville, Burlingame and Wakarusa. In i860 there was a consolidation into three townships: Tecumseh, comprising all of the eastern portion of the county lying south of the Kansas River; Topeka, the territory north of the river, and the northwestern portion lying south of the river; and Auburn, comprising the southwestern part of the county. Later in the same year there was another subdivision into six townships, Monmouth being cut off from Tecumseh on the south; Williamsport, from Auburn, on the east; and the new territory acquired on the north of the river erected into the township of Soldier. The change of county lines in 1868 made necessary another division into townships, Silver Lake being detached from Soldier. By another change, in 1871, Rossville was set off from Silver Lake, on the west. In 1879 Men-oken township was set off from Silver Lake, on the east. The permanent arrangement of townships is: Rossville, Silver Lake, Menoken and Soldier, on the north side of the river; Dover, Mission, Topeka, Topeka City, Tecumseh, Auburn, Williamsport and Monmouth, on the south. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY. Most of the territory in Shawnee is prairie land, 69 per cent, being described as upland, and 31 per cent, bottom. The forest area is less than 10 per cent., the timbered portion being confined to the water-courses, and consisting of elm, cottonwood, walnut, oak, sycamore, box-elder, hickory and ash, with elm and cottonwood predominating. All the land is of good quality and valuable for farming, stock-raising and orcharding. The principal stream, the Kansas River, flows directly east through the county, and the principal towns are located on its northern and southern banks. Other streams are the Wakarusa River, and Shunganunga, Soldier, Indian, Cross, Muddy, Mission, Half Day, Deer and Blacksmith creeks. Wakarusa signifies "river of weeds," and Shunganunga "the race course." Mission Creek derived its name from the old Kaw Mission; Soldier Creek was so called because the soldiers passing from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Riley camped upon its banks. Half Day Creek was named for a Pottawatomie chief, and Blacksmith Creek took its name from the old Kaw blacksmith shop. There are several minor creeks,-Stinson, Ward, Martin, Thompson, Colby, Linn and Vesper,-which derive their names from early settlers in the locality. There is an abundance of limestone in the county, suitable for building purposes, and a fine article of brick clay. Some coal has been found but not in continuous or extensive quantities. In the early 'so's the belief obtained that the Kansas River was navigable. The material used in the construction of Fort Riley, 135 miles west of Kansas City, was transported by steamboats in 1853. A boat ascended to Manhattan in 1855. The first shipment of corn from Shawnee County was by water in 1857. Two companies were incorporated in 1857 for building and operating boats upon the Kansas River, and there are numerous accounts of travel and freight shipments by the steamers "Calona," "Emma Harmon," "Gus Linn" and "Kansas Valley," the last named being the last to ascend for a distance of 70 miles from the mouth of the river. This was in April, 1861. In the early treaties with the Indians the government invariably reserved the right of navigation upon this stream. The river eventually became congested with snags and sand-bars, and in 1864 the State Legislature declared it to be non-navigable, thus opening the way for the construction of dams, and limiting the transportation facilities of Eastern Kansas to wagons and railroads. FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT. The actual settlement of Shawnee County by white men was in 1854, although there is abundant evidence of the presence of white men in the locality long prior to that date. Frederick Choteau conducted a trading post on Mission Creek as early as 1830. In the same year Rev. William Johnson commenced his missionary labors among the Kaws. In 1835 a government farm for the benefit of the Indians was established in the valley of Mission Creek, with Maj. Daniel Boone (a grandson of the famous Kentuckian), as instructor in farming. It is believed that this was the first plowing done within the limits of the county, although the Indians had previously performed farm work in a primitive way. The Papan brothers, Joseph, Ahcan and Louis, heretofore referred to, came in 1840, and another brother, Euberie, came in 1841. They were natives of St. Louis, their father, Louis Papan, having moved there from Montreal, Canada, about the year 1780. The Papan brothers started the first ferry across the Kansas River in 1842, to meet the demands of travel between Fort Leavenworth and the Southwest, and later the Oregon and California travel. COUNTY SEAT CONTEST. The Territorial Legislature of 1855 designated Tecumseh as the county-seat of Shawnee County, and appointed a Board of County Commissioners with power to proceed with the erection of the necessary buildings. A site for the Court House was donated by the Tecumseh Town Association, and a substantial brick building was erected in the fall of 1855 and the spring of 1856. Its dimensions were 40 by 50 feet, two stories in height, with a lofty portico in front on pillars of brick, the whole costing $8,500, in payment of which an issue of bonds was resorted to, in the absence of other funds. There were other obligations outstanding against the county and great dissatisfaction was expressed at the character and extent of the expenditures. A protest was also made against the action of the Territorial, or "bogus," Legislature, in respect to the location of the county-seat and the appointment of officers, and, in 1857, when the Free-State element came into power, the Legislature provided for submitting the county-seat question to a popular vote. The election was held October 4, 1858, the contesting towns being Tecumseh, Topeka, Auburn and Burlingame-the last named town subsequently became a part of Osage County. The election resulted in favor of Topeka, which became the permanent county-seat. The hopes of Auburn and Tecumseh took sudden flight, and instead of developing into cities of prominence and v distinction they lapsed into mere hamlets of purely local renown. A. slight change in the vote might have made Auburn or Tecumseh the county-seat and a future great city-perhaps the capital of the State. But- The owl upon Afraisiab's tower hath sung her watch-song, And round the imperial throne the spider weaves his web. The contest between Tecumseh and Topeka for the county-seat honors was really a struggle between the Pro-Slavery faction and the Free-State men. The latter were largely in the majority at Topeka, and the former in control in Tecumseh. The Pro-Slavery party elected Gen. J. W. Whitfield as delegate to Congress at the election held in November, 1854, the Free-State party declining to vote. At the legislative election of March 30, 1855, the Free State faction voted for Jesse D. Wood for member of the Council, and C. K. Holliday for representative, the Pro-Slavery candidates being H. J. Strickler for councilman and D. L. Croysdale for representative. Owing to protests and dissatisfaction, Governor Reeder ordered a new election to be held at Tecumseh, May 22, 1855, at which Wood and Holliday again received the support of the Free-State voters, but the election was contested, and the seats awarded to Strickler and Croysdale by the Legislature which met July 2, 1855, at Pawnee. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. The first election for members of the Territorial Legislature was held March 30, 1855. Shawnee County was not then in existence, but the territory it covered was included in the Third Council District. At this election H. J. Strickler was chosen (Senator) Councilman. Under the apportionment of 1857 Shawnee was included in a district of 17 counties, and in the election of that year Oscar E. Learnard of Coffey and C. K. Holliday of Shawnee were elected to the Council. In 1859 Shawnee was included in a district with Osage and Breckenridge (now Lyon) counties, and Chester Thomas was chosen to represent it in the Council. On the 6th of December, 1859, the first election of members of the State Legislature was held, Shawnee being in a district with Jackson and Jefferson counties. H. W. Farnsworth was Shawnee's Senator. C. K. Holliday was elected November 5, 1861, to fill a vancancy [sic] caused by the resignation of H. W. Farnsworth. Since that date the Senators from Shawnee County have been: David Brockway, 1863; Daniel H. Horne, 1865; George W. Veale, 1867; W. H. Fitzpatrick, 1869-71; N. C. McFarland, 1873; William Sims, 1875; D. C. Metsker, 1877-81; Silas E. Sheldon, 1885; Thomas A. Osborne, 1889; William E. Sterne, 1893; Thomas J. Anderson, 1897; John T. Chaney, 1901; Joseph B. Betts, 1905. At the election held March 30, 1855, Shawnee being then included in the Fourth Representative District, D. L. Croysdale was chosen as the first representative in the Teritorial [sic] Legislature. Croysdale was followed by M. W. McGee, James A. Delong and Charles S. McKinney. George B. Holmes was elected in 1858. In 1859 Shawnee was given two representatives, and elected W. H. Fitzpatrick and S. R. Caniff. In 1860 W. H. Fitzpatrick and William E. Bowker were elected. Under the State constitution, Shawnee, Jackson and Jefferson counties composed the Sixth District, and elected eight representatives. Those from Shawnee were S. R. Caniff, H. H. Heberling, H. W. Curtis and William E. Bowker. John P. Greer and William E. Bowker served as representatives in the last Territorial Legislature. In 1861 H. W. Martin and C. H. Welch were the Shawnee representatives. The Legislature of 1862 divided Shawnee into two districts, and the representatives chosen were W. P. Douthitt and John T. Ward. The following were subsequently chosen in the same districts: J. F. Cummings and Henry Fox, 1863; S. D. Macdonald and James Fletcher, 1864; C. K. Holliday and W. W. Lawrence, 1865; James M. Spencer and S. E. A. Palmer, 1866; John Guthrie and James Fletcher, 1867; John Guthrie and Perry Tice, 1868; John Guthrie and John W. Brown, 1869; George W. Veale and Jacob Haskell, 1870; S. C. Gregg, C. K. Holliday and H. E. Bush (three districts), 1871; Daniel M. Adams, George W. Veale and Wesley Gregg, 1872; Ira C. Johnson, John Martin and Jacob Welchans, 1873; James Burgess, John Martin and F. R. Foster, 1874; Daniel M. Adams, P. I. Bonebrake and F. R. Foster, 1875; Golden Silvers, P. I. Bonebrake and F. R. Foster, 1876; M. T. Campbell, George W. Veale and Thomas Buckman, 1877; Thomas M. James, Thomas J. Anderson and W. D. Alexander, 1879; J. H. Foucht, T. J. Anderson and J. B. Johnson, 1881; Thomas M. James, George W. Veale and J. B. McAfee, 1883; David Overmyer, A. H. Vance and J. B. Johnson, 1885; C. P. Bolmar, George W. Veale and J. B. McAfee, 1887; H. C. Safford, George W. Veale and J. B. McAfee, 1889; D. M. Howard, William C. Webb and F. M. Stahl, 1891; A. C. Sherman, William B. Swan and James A. Troutman, 1893; A. C. Sherman, George W. Veale and S. M. Gardenhire, 1895; A. L. Brooke, Edwin D. McKeever and Harry G. Larimer, 1897; A. L. Brooke, Edwin D. McKeever and W. C. Stephenson, 1899; J. B. Sims, J. B. Betts and Edwin D. McKeever, 1901; J. B. Betts, A. F. Williams and John B. Sims, 1903; Robert Stone, W. A. S. Bird and John Howerton, 1905. JUDICIAL OFFICERS. Shawnee County's judicial system had its beginning in 1855, when the Territory of Kansas was divided into three judicial districts. Shawnee was in the southwestern district, and Rush Elmore was appointed judge. There were two justices of the peace appointed,-John Horner at Tecumseh, and C. K. Holliday at Topeka. Daniel H. Home was one of the constables. The other district judges, in the order of their service have been: Jacob Safford, 1859-63; C. K. Gilchrist, 1864-68; John T. Morton, 1868-83; John Martin, 1883-86; John Guthrie, 1887-92; Z. T. Hazen, 1893-1904; A. W. Dana, 1905-. The Superior Court of Shawnee County was created in 1885 and expired by limitation in 1887. W. C. Webb was judge of this court during its existence. In 1891 the Legislature created the Circuit Court of Shawnee county. J. B. Johnson was judge of this tribunal until it was abolished in 1895. The Court of Topeka was established in 1899. Arthur J. McCabe was appointed judge of this court in March, 1899, and was elected for three successive terms to succeed himself. He is still filling the position. The clerks of this court have been: E. L. Good, 1899; M. F. Laycock, 1895; E. L. O'Neil, 1895, present incumbent. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The first Board of County Commissioners was elected in 1855 by the Territorial Legislature and consisted of W. O. Yeager, chairman; Edward Hoagland and William Yocum. The second board was composed of Harvey W. Curtis and Hiram Shields, with Probate Judge Edward Hoagland as ex-officio chairman. The third board consisted of John Martin and C. B. Clements. They served until 1858, when the Legislature provided for one commissioner from each township. The first board under this plan consisted of: Jeremiah Murphy, Topeka township; Eli Hopkins, Tecumseh; P. T. Hupp, Wakarusa; A. H. Hale, Brownsville; George Bratton, Burlingame. In 1860 the county was given three commissioners, those elected being William E. Bowker, George W. Spencer and J. M. Haywood. The commissioners thereafter were Hiram C. Coville, chairman, George W. Spencer and Francis Grasmund, 1861; Hiram C. Coville, chairman, Samuel Kozier and Henry K. Winans, 1862; B. F. Kistler, ,chairman, Samuel Benham and Jacob Haskell, 1865; B. F. Kistler, chairman, Samuel Kozier and H. L. Shumway, 1865 (Shumway resigned in 1867 and was succeeded by Reuben Struse); A. G. Miller, chairman, George W. Spencer and E. Carriger, 1867; William Wellhouse, chairman, Golden Silvers and Harvey D. Rice, 1869; E. Carriger, chairman, Golden Silvers and B. J. Ricker, 1871; Golden Silvers, chairman, Harvey D. Rice and Bradford Miller, 1873; Bradford Miller, chairman, E. T. James and John Grice, 1875; David Brockway, chairman, M. M. Hale and Avery Washburn, 1877. After 1877 one commissioner was elected annually for a term of three years, and those who served in this position were: A. C. Sherman, 1878; John S. Branner, 1879; Avery Washburn, 1880; J. Q. A. Peyton, 1881; H. C. Lindsey, 1882; Thomas Buckman, 1883; John M. Wilkerson, 1884; H. C. Lindsey, 1885; Bradford Miller, 1886; John M. Wilkerson, 1887; J. Lee Knight, 1888; Samuel Kerr and J. L. Campbell, 1889; Samuel Kerr, 1890; J. Lee Knight, 1891; J. L. Campbell, 1892; D. A. Williams, 1893; T. P. Rodgers, 1894; Scott Kelsey, 1895; D. A. Williams, 1896; T. P. Rodgers, 1897; Scott Kelsey, 1898; S. H. Haynes, 1899; Silas Rain, 1900; Frank W. Harrison, 1901; S. H. Haynes, 1902; W. E. Sterne, 1903; Frank W. Harrison, 1904. ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS. Sheriffs.-The first sheriff was George W. Berry, elected by the Legislature in 1855, but he declined to serve, and John Horner was appointed in his stead. The other sheriffs in succession have been: Benjamin D. Castleman, 1856; Jehial Tyler, 1857; Thomas W. Maires, 1858; Alonzo H. Hale, 1859; Charles C. Whiting, 1863; Sherman Bodwell, 1867; Chester Thomas, Jr., 1869; Spencer P. Wade, 1873; W. D. Disbrow, 1877; H. E. Bush, 1881; Chester Thomas, Jr., 1883; A. M. Fuller, 1885; J. M. Wilkerson, 1889; D. N. Burdge, 1893; R. B. Kepley, 1895; Porter S. Cook, 1897; A. T. Lucas, 1903-. Probate Judges.-William O. Yeager, 1855; Philip C. Schuyler, 1857; Edward Hoagland, 1858; S. A. Fairchild, 1860; Alfred L. Winans, 1863; John T. Morton, 1867; Louis Hanback, 1869; D. C. Metsker, 1872; G. W. Carey, 1876; D. A. Harvey, 1880; A. B. Quinton, 1886; G. N. Elliott, 1890; J. G. Wood, 1894; L. S. Dolman, 1896; Walter E. Fagan, 1900; R. F. Hayden, 1903-. Treasurers.-Thomas N. Stinson, 1855; A. Polley, 1857; Loring W. Farnsworth, 1859; L. G. Cleveland, 1860; Jacob Smith, 1861; William E. Bowker, 1863; Hiram T. Beman, 1867; W. E. Bowker, 1868; Hiram T. Beman, 1869; Thomas M. James, 1871; Avery Washburn, 1876; Chester Thomas, Jr., 1876; Bradford Miller, 1879; A. J. Huntoon, 1883; Byron Roberts, 1887; A. K. Rodgers, 1889; Francis M. Stahl, 1893; H, M. Philips, 1897; F. C. Bovven, 1903-. Clerks.-John Martin, 1855; Fry W. Giles, 1858; G. W. Sapp, 1860; Hiram McArthur, 1862; P. I. Bonebrake, 1865; J. Lee Knight, 1875; George T. Gilmore, 1881; Charles F. Spencer, 1883; D. N. Burdge, 1885; John M. Brown, 1889; Charles T. McCabe, 1893; John M. Wright, 1897; A. Newman, 1903-. Recorders and Registers of Deeds.-John Martin, 1855; Fry W. Giles, 1857; Loring W. Farnsworth, 1860-62; George B. Holmes, 1863; William P. Thompson, 1865; James M. Harr, 1873; S. M. Wood, 1879; Albert Parker, 1883; James Burgess, 1885; S. J. Bear, 1889; Frank Brooks, 1893; Frank L. Stevens, 1897; John B. Marshall 1902-. County Attorneys.-John Martin, 1857; John P. Greer, 1858; Justus Brockway, 1859; E. E. Chesney, 1864; John G. Otis, 1865; A. L. Williams, 1866; Thomas Ryan, 1867; A. H. Vance, 1875; Charles Curtis, 1885; R. B. Welch, 1887; B. M. Curtis, 1892; H. C. Safford, 1893; A. P. Jetmore, 1897; Galen Nichols, 1901; Otis E. Hungate, 1903-. Superintendents of Public Instruction.-R. M. Fish, 1859; Peter MacVicar, 1861; J. S. Griffing, 1862; Peter Mac Vicar, 1864; John D. Knox, 1866; W. H. Butterfield 1868; D. G. Evans, 1869; Eunice Hebron, 1875; John MacDonald, 1876; L. T. Gage. 1880; John MacDonald, 1882; Josiah Jordan, 1888; W. H. Wright, 1892; J. W. Stout, 1895; S. F. Wright, 1901; John C. Carter, 1905-. Coroners.-G. W. Spencer, 1860; E. Tefft, 1862; Americus Ashbaugh, 1866; Silas E. Sheldon, 1869; A. M. Eidson, 1872; Silas E. Sheldon, 1873; W. B. Gibson, 1879; J. B. Hibben, 1883; F. W. Bailey, 1889; J. M. Westerfield, 1895; H. B. Hogeboom, 1899; H. H. Keith, 1905-. Clerks of the District Court.-E. B. Smith, 1859; L. McArthur, 1860; James Fletcher, 1861; Hiram McArthur, 1863; Arthur B. McCabe, 1874; R. E. Heller, 1878; B. M. Curtis, 1883; W. E. Sterne, 1887; S. M. Garden-hire, 1891; E. M. Cockrell, 1895; A. M. Callahan, 1899; I- S. Curtis, 1902-. Surveyors.-Joel Huntoon, 1858; J. B. Whitaker, 1861; W. Tweeddale, 1870; D. A. Harvey, 1871; Jacob Welchans, 1875; C. H. Barton, 1879; Frank J. Baker, 1883; Robert Giles, 1885; A. H. Wetherbee, 1886; B. A. Bailey, 1889; John P. Rogers, 1897-. Auditors.-Howel Jones, 1881; J. G. Wood, 1885; Walter E. Fagan, 1895; Clad Hamilton, 1900; C. D. Welch, 1901; R. H. Gaw, 1904-. THE FIRST REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. According to the public records the first transfer of real estate in the county of Shawnee was for "one seventh of 320 acres of land situated in the forks of the Tecumseh and California roads, including the Big Springs." This deed was recorded February 9, 1856, the consideration being $100. The California road referred to was the main highway west from Lawrence. "The forks" was the junction of the California and Tecumseh roads, the former continuing west to the Kansas River, and the latter leading to Tecumseh, thence west to Topeka, connecting with the Kansas River ferry and the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Riley. "Big Springs" became a small town in Douglas County, near Lecompton. It was so named because of the ever-flowing springs in the locality. The deed to this property was recorded by John Martin, first county clerk and recorder of deeds. The parties to the transaction were R. W. Custard and William Carter, the former conveying to the latter. While this was the first transfer to be regularly recorded, there were other real estate transactions in the county which antedated it. Fry W. Giles of Topeka had provided a set of records at his own expense, and carried on the business for nearly a year before the regular record books were opened, his acts being legalized by the Legislature at a later date. The first transfer appearing in the Giles record was the conveyance, April 7, 1855, by W. C. Linaker to J. T. Jones, of lot No. 8, block 54, O. S., city of Topeka. The consideration was $30, and the transaction was witnessed by Thomas G. Thornton. The lot described is now the northeast corner of Harrison street and Sixth avenue, Topeka, for many years the home of the Topeka Club. It was recently sold to B. M. Davies for $9,500. OLD AND NEW BRIDGES. Shawnee County had the first bridge that spanned the Kansas River. It was constructed by a company organized in Topeka, under a charter issued in 1857 to F. L. Crane, Thomas G. Thornton, Milton C. Dickey, S. F. Walkley and Loring G. Cleveland. F. L. Crane was president, Fry W. Giles, treasurer, and J. Fin Hill, secretary. Jones, Kidney & Company were the contractors, the contract price being $10,000. The location was from near the foot of Kansas avenue, in the city of Topeka, to the north bank of the river, 925 feet in distance. The bridge was completed May 1, 1858. It was built on oak piling braced with cottonwood planks, with heavy oak caps spiked to the piles, then cottonwood stringers running from pier to pier, and floored with loose cottonwood boards. A draw, 100 feet in length, was provided, in the event of the use of the stream by boats. The structure was 16 feet wide, and would accommodate 20 emigrant teams, or 250 head of cattle, at one time. It was a very busy and popular crossing while it stood, but the entire structure was washed away July 17, 1858, by the heavy rains of that year. Seven years later, at the same point, a pontoon bridge was constructed. This rested upon 13 flat-boats, each 15 by 25 feet, placed 50 feet apart, and held in position by a wire cable. It cost $15,000, and was completed October 12, 1865. The pontoon crossing lasted until 1870, when a toll bridge of iron was built by Mortimer Cook. This was purchased jointly by the city and county in 1871, and made a free bridge, the purchase price being $100,000. In 1895 the county voted bonds to the amount of $150,000 for the construction of a larger and more substantial bridge, made necessary by the increase of population and the great growth of business and travel between Topeka and the northern part of the county. The plans adopted by the commissioners provided for a Melan arch bridge, of Portland concrete and steel, consisting of five spans varying in length from 97 to 125 feet each, and of a total length of 540 feet. The extreme length of the bridge, including embankment approaches, is 900 feet; width of roadway, 40 feet, with walks on either side six feet in width. No handsomer or better bridge can be found in the whole country, and at the time of its construction it was the largest Melan arch bridge in the world. The bridge stood the severest test in the great flood of 1903, and while numerous other bridges up and down the river were swept away, the Melan structure defied the storm and drift, sustaining no other damage than the washing out of the approaches. These were promptly restored, and, to avoid future damage, another span was added to the bridge in 1905, making it a complete, harmonious, enduring and magnificent highway. COURT HOUSES AND JAILS. Following the settlement of the county-seat controversy, the records of the county were removed to Topeka. Sessions of the District and Probate courts were held in the Ritchie Block, the Gale Block, and a business building at No. 104 Sixth avenue east. The county offices were scattered about town, wherever suitable accommodations could be obtained. A Court House was built in 1868, the county having voted bonds for that purpose to the amount of $65,000. The bonds drew 10 per cent, interest and were sold for 82 1/2 cents on the dollar of their par value. The proceeds, with $15,000 added from other funds of the county, were sufficient to erect the largest and best building to be found in the State of Kansas at that date. It was built of stone and brick, two stories in height, with a basement jail. The court room occupied most of the second floor, and the various county offices the main floor. In addition to providing amply for the county business, the building for many years accommodated the United States District Court, and the jail was utilized for United States prisoners from Kansas and Indian Territory. In 1886 a separate jail building and sheriff's residence was erected at the northeast corner of Van Buren and Fifth streets, at a total cost of $40,000. On the opposite side of Van Buren street, directly west of the jail, the county commissioners in 1884 purchased six lots as a site for a new Court House, which was completed in 1895, the cost of the site and building being $180,000. It is a fine stone edifice, three stories in height, with basement, all splendidly fitted up, and spacious enough to accommodate the business of the county for many years to come. TABLES OF POPULATION. Nothing can better illustrate the growth of Shawnee County than the following table of population, covering the years 1855 to 1904: Year. Population. Year. Population. 1855 252 1885 40,579 1860 3,513 1890 49,018 1865 3,458 1895 47,968 187o 13,121 1900 55,372 1875 15,417 1904 57,036 1880 29,092 It will be observed that each five years' period shows a substantial increase with the exception of that between the years 1890 and 1895, when there was a small decrease, caused by the opening of Indian lands to settlement in Oklahoma, a movement which drew heavily upon the citizenship of the whole State of Kansas. The population of the county by townships for the year 1904, according to the latest available report, was as follows: Township. Population. Auburn 1,028 Dover 1,148 Menoken 824 Mission 1,092 Monmouth 1,300 Rossville city 502 Rossville township 941 1,443 Silver Lake city 267 Silver Lake township 716 983 Soldier 2,710 Tecumseh 1,041 Topeka township 5,465 Williamsport 853 Topeka City- 1st ward 7,525 2d ward 10,193 3d ward 7,278 4th ward 6,987 5th ward 4,194 6th ward 2,972 39,149 Total 57,036 PROPERTY VALUATIONS. The assessed valuation for the several townships and the city of Topeka, for the year 1904, is given in the following table: Townships. Land. Personal. City Lots. Railroad. Total. Auburn $252,770 $65,540 $9,065 $327,375 Dover 255,820 73,940 6,530 $85,421 401,711 Menoken 315,550 69,325 49,720 434,595 Mission 299,285 84,990 27,205 58,300 469,780 Monmouth 295,480 78,540 7,875 30,321 412,216 Rossville 357,335 76,715 58,675 81,367 574,092 Silver Lake 351,365 76,750 27,350 56,027 511,492 Soldier 643,085 94,920 56,322 231,873 1,026,200 Tecumseh 291,350 46,820 830 115,602 454,602 Topeka twp 622,955 154,580 467,945 167,875 1,413,355 Williamsport 227,285 66,000 4,920 88,233 386,438 Topeka City 2,309,390 8,413,688 501,834 11,224,912 Totals $3,912,280 $3,197,510 $9,080,405 $1,446,573 $17,636,768 Of live stock, the county had in 1904 the following: Horses, 10,379, valued at $778,425; mules and asses, 1,292, value $113,050; milch cows, 10,100, value $252,500; other cattle, 23,728, value $467,442; sheep, 816, value, $2,448; swine, 26,130, value $195,975; total value, $1,809,840. INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS. The value of the farm products of the county for the year 1904 was $4,002,982.45; value of live stock for the same period, $1,809,840. The principal field crops are winter wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, hay and sorghum. The garden products marketed in 1903 amounted to $66,883; and the horticultural products, $79,748. Shawnee is one of the heaviest fruit producing counties in Kansas. The number of fruit trees in bearing in 1904 was 318,279, of which 214,628 were apple; 5,345 pear; 91,565 peach; 6,741 plum; and 16,058 cherry; number of fruit trees not in bearing, 92,604. More than 1,000 acres are devoted to the raising of nursery stock, much of which is shipped to the older States of the Union, where it is considered superior to the native stock. The principal nurseries are conducted by L. R. Taylor & Sons, F. W, Watson, Oliver Brothers and D. F. Wickman. One of the greatest industries of the county is the manufacture of butter, many farmers having gone into dairying within the last ten years. The Continental Creamery Company, which controls the dairy products of the State to a considerable extent, has its headquarters in Topeka, and the bulk of the business is transacted from this point. Its product is shipped to all parts of the State, the United States and many foreign countries. It has also filled many large government contracts, especially in supplying the American Army in the Philippines. In the year 1904 the dairy products of Shawnee County were: Cheese, 1,014,556 pounds, valued at $101,455.60; butter, 8,541,560 pounds, valued at $1,683,018.40; value of milk sold, $08,914; total value, $1,883,388. The creamery butter manufactured in Shawnee County by the Continental Creamery Company received the gold medal award at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904. POST OFFICES AND RURAL ROUTES. The present post offices of Shawnee County are: Auburn, Berryton, Dover, Elmont, Kingsville, Menoken, Oakland, Pauline, Richland, Rossville, Shorey, Silver Lake, Tecumseh, Tevis, Topeka, Valencia, Wakarusa, Wanamaker and Willard. No county in the State is better served in the matter of rural free delivery. There are 25 routes, averaging 24 miles each, so located that every section of the county is reached with a daily mail. Routes i to 8, inclusive, start from Topeka and Stations A, B and C; routes 9 and 10 start from Elmont; routes 11 and 12 from Silver Lake; routes 13 and 14 from Rossville; routes 15 and 16 from Tecumseh; routes 17, 18 and 19 from Richland; route 20 from Berry ton; routes 21 and 22 from Wakarusa; routes 23 and 24 from Auburn and route 25 from Valencia. One of the interesting as well as the most conspicuous landmarks of the county is known as Burnett's mound, a conical peak two miles southwest from Topeka, which took its name from Governor Abraham Burnett, a celebrated chief of the Pottawatomie Indians, and the last to rule over his scattered tribe. In early territorial days he made his home at the base of the peak, and continued to live in the county for many years after the land had been wrested from the Indians. The peak was at one time called Webster mound, in honor of Daniel Webster, but custom finally settled upon the Indian name given to it by early travelers. It is the highest point of land in Eastern Kansas. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS EDITED AND COMPILED BY JAMES L. KING TOPEKA, KANSAS "History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples" PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND & ARNOLD, GEORGE RICHMOND; C. R. ARNOLD. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 1905. 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