Shawnee County KS Archives History - Books .....Chapter XVII 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 26, 2006, 12:07 am Book Title: History Of Shawnee County, Kansas CHAPTER XVII. Topeka's Educational Facilities—Public Schools, Colleges and Other Institutions—High School and Manual Training Departments—The City's Churches and Their History—Early Pastors and Those of the Present Time—Religious Societies, Fraternal Orders and Club Organizations. If any one thing more than another can be said to have made Topeka famous, it is her magnificent school system, which is hardly surpassed by that of any city in the United States. The founders of Topeka were educated men, some of them coming here directly from college, and after organizing the Topeka Town Association, and reducing the territory to lots, almost their first thought was to provide educational facilities in keeping with the plans they had formed for establishing a large and important city. Early in the month of February, 1856, the association took up a collection for building a school house, and levied an assessment upon its shares for the same purpose, a suitable site having been donated near the corner of Harrison street and Sixth avenue, where the Harrison School now stands. Before the school house could be erected, private schools were opened in convenient locations, so that the school system was practically inaugurated in 1856, before the new city was three months old. In 1857 the New England Emir grant Aid Company erected the first school building. The first direct tax for school purposes was levied in 1862, providing for the running expenses of the schools and for a building fund. The old Harrison street school was the first school building erected at public expense. The first of the school buildings erected in North Topeka was at No. 128 Kansas avenue north, the cost being $1,350. Beginning with the year 1868, the city made liberal appropriations for educational purposes and for additional buildings, the amount for that year being $10,000. In 1869 the sum of $40,000 was appropriated, and buildings commenced at Nos. 50, 52 and 54 Monroe street, and at the southeast corner of Monroe and Fifth—the latter being known as the Lincoln School. The Lincoln School, when completed, cost $55,000. Another school building was erected in 1871 on the southeast corner of Quincy and Gordon streets, North Topeka, at a cost of $28,000. The building occupied by Washburn College, at the northeast corner of 10th avenue and Jackson street, was also purchased by the city, for $15,000, and a small building- for school use erected on the corner of Quincy and 13th streets. From 1861 to 1871 the sum of $155,000 was spent for buildings and equipment, providing facilities for 2,000 pupils and 28 teachers. During the ensuing 10 years several new buildings were constructed and most of the old ones enlarged, the value of the public school property at the close of 1880 being over $200,000, and the school population, 4,728. GROWTH OF SCHOOLS. The school idea which possessed the founders of the city has retained its hold upon their successors, and at the close of the year 1904 Topeka had 23 first-class public school buildings, valued at $700,000, a school population of 10,665, an enrollment of 6,437, and employed 211 teachers. The annual cost of conducting the city schools is $150,000. A model High School building was constructed in 1893 on the northwest corner of Harrison street and Eighth avenue, at a cost of $85,000, and in 1904 a Manual Training School was completed on the southwest corner of the same streets, at a cost of $100,000. These institutions are the culmination of the hopes and efforts of Topeka's progressive and far-seeing Board of Education, which is composed of the following members: First Ward,—C. C. Nicholson and E. E. Miller; Second Ward—F. E. Mallory and W. H. Wilson; Third Ward,—J. W. Gleed and Edward Wilder; Fourth Ward,—Jonathan D. Norton and T. F. Garver; Fifth Ward,—C. F. Hardy and D. L. Hoatson; Sixth Ward,—E. E. Roudebush and L. C. Bailey. F. E. Mallory is president of the board, and T. F. Garver vice-president, and J. E. Stewart, clerk. L. D. Whittemore is the present superintendent of the city schools. His predecessors in the office have been: W. H. Butterfield, 1867-69; J. A. Banfield, 1869-71; A. W. Haines, 1871-72; W. H. Butterfield, 1872-81; D. C. Tillotson, 1881-86; John M. Bloss, 1886-92; William M. Davidson, 1892-1904; L. D. Whittemore, 1904—. The Board of Education has had the following clerks: L. C. Wilmarth, 1867-69; J. A. Banfield, 1869-71; E. B. Fowler, 1871-72; R. H. C. Searle, 1872-75; T. H. Church, 1875-76; Hiram W. Farnsworth, 1876-99; J. E. Stewart, 1899-1905. The following table shows the designation of the several schools, names of principals and enrollment of pupils: SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL. ENROLLMENT. High School H. L. Miller 897 Grant E. A. Simmerwell 455 Quincy E. F. Stanley 482 Lincoln W. H. Wright 478 Branner H. W. Jones 452 Lafayette E. H. Roudebush 350 Garfield Carrie Goddard 340 Van Buren Elizabeth Guy 61 Jackson Fenella H. Dana 61 Polk Elizabeth Tharp 412 Euclid Madge E. Moore 290 Lowman Hill Lola A. Graham 190 Clay 0. P. M. McCHntock 350 Potwin Eliza Nagle 220 Sumner G. H. Mays 352 Harrison Eli G. Foster 324 Lane S. G. Watkins 131 Madison R. H. Wade 123 Washington J. L. Harrison 145 Monroe Fred Roundtree 139 Douglas Mary E. Langston 51 Buchanan C. F. Clinkscale 134 Manual Training H. L. Miller Total 6,437 WASHBURN COLLEGE. In 1858 John Ritchie donated 160 acres of land directly southwest from the city as the site for a college, which was proposed to be established by the Congregational churches of Kansas. The college was located in Topeka in 1858, changed to Lawrence in 1859, and relocated at Topeka in i860, under the name of Topeka Institute. When the incorporation was effected in 1865, at the close of the war, the name of Lincoln College was substituted. The first building was erected in that year on the northeast corner of 10th avenue and Jackson street,' at a cost of $8,000, and in the month of January, 1866, the institution was opened with Rev. Samuel D. Bowker as principal, and Professors E. D. Hobart and George H. Collier as assistants. The first president was Rev. H. Q. Butterfield, who was succeeded in 1871 by Rev. Peter MacVicar. The catalogue issued in 1867 gave the number of students as 92, and contained the following names of trustees: Lewis Bodwell, S. D. Storrs, J. D. Liggett, Ira H. Smith, Richard Cordley, Harrison Hannahs, John Ritchie, Harvey D. Rice, William E. Bowker, J. W. Fox and Hiram W. Farnsworth. The name of the institution was changed to Washburn College in 1868, in honor of one of the benefactors, Ichabod Washburn, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who contributed $25,000 to the endowment fund. A new building was erected on the permanent site in 1870, at a cost of $60,000, and since that date 10 other large and substantial buildings have been erected, the last one—a Carnegie Library—in 1905. The buildings represent a cost of $300,000, and the campus of 160 acres is one of the most valuable pieces of property in the suburbs of Topeka. Dr. Norman Plass became the president of the college in 1902, after the death of Dr. Mac Vicar. The college is conducted under the auspices of the Congregational Church, through a board of trustees officered as follows: Norman Plass, president; L. H. Greenwood, secretary; James F. Griffin, treasurer; Rev. D. M. Fisk, field secretary; Norman Plass, L. H. Greenwood, Jonathan Thomas, John R. Mulvane, Arthur J. McCabe, Albe B. Whiting. Timothy B. Sweet, Francis L. Hayes, Marcus A. Low, John C. McClintock and William S. Lindsay, executive committee; D. L. McEachron, dean of college; Dr. H. L. Alkire, dean of medical department; Ernest B. Conant, dean of law department; George B. Penny, dean of fine arts department; W. W. Silver, principal of academy; and Dr. A. H. Thompson, dean of dentistry department. The college has well-equipped laboratories, a fine library of 12,000 volumes, and employs 25 professors and instructors in the various departments. The present enrollment is about 700. BETHANY COLLEGE. On a large square of 20 acres fronting Capitol Square, west on Ninth street from the Capitol, stands the College of the Sisters of Bethany, an institution for the education of girls. It was founded as the Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka, under a charter from the Territorial Legislature. In 1870 a new charter was granted and in 1872 the name was changed to "The College of the Sisters of Bethany," the name not referring to any order of Sisters, but to the scriptural model and example of the two sisters of Bethany—Martha and Mary. The main building is of the Gothic, rock-faced, broken ashlar style. Wolfe Hall and other adjacent buildings are in harmony with the main structure, and, together with the large park, present a most beautiful appearance. The college is under the general management of Bishop Frank R. Millspaugh. The course of study embraces not only a primary and preparatory branch, a scientific and classical branch, but also departments for thorough instruction in vocal and instrumental music, drawing and painting. The original site was donated by the Topeka Town Association in 1857, being a tract at the northeast corner of Topeka avenue and Ninth street. Rev. Charles M. Callaway, a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, conducted the negotiations with the town company, and in addition to the original site the association gave the 20-acre tract now known as Bethany Square, where the permanent buildings were erected. The incorporators were Rev. N. O. Preston, Rush Elmore, Wilson Shannon, Cyrus K. Holliday, J. P. Bodine, George Fairchild and J. E. Ryan. Wilson Shannon was president until September 14, 1864, when he was succeeded by Bishop Thomas H. Vail. The main college building was completed in 1871, and is known as Wolfe Hall, named in honor of John D. Wolfe, of New York, and his daughter, Catharine L. Wolfe, who gave $32,000 to assist the institution. Holmes Hall was constructed in 1882 at an expense of $16,000, the money being contributed by Miss Jane Holmes, of Baltimore. There are five buildings in all, the total value of the property being $450,000. Fifteen teachers are employed, and the average attendance is 200. The building at the corner of Topeka avenue and Ninth street, first occupied by Bethany College, and still belonging to the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, is now used for a theological school, of which Bishop Frank R. Millspaugh is president and dean, and Rev. Irving E. Baxter, Rev. James P. deBeavers Kaye, Rev. Charles B. Crawford and Rev. DeLou Burke, instructors. INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE. The Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute was organized in May, 1895, following the plan of the Booker T. Washington Institute at Tuskegee. It is located three miles east of the city on a tract of land sufficient in extent to afford facilities for instruction in farming. It is non-sectarian and its beneficiaries are the colored youth of Kansas, of both sexes. There are two brick and stone buildings and one frame shop building, the value of the property being $12,000. The enrollment is 140, and 750 pupils have been cared for in the past 10 years. The institution has no endowment, but receives an annual appropriation of $1,500 from the State, in addition to help from other sources. William R. Carter is principal of the school, which is managed by a board of trustees comprised of Joab Mulvane, president; J. B. Larimer, vice-president; Robert Stone, secretary; and John M. Wright, treasurer. OTHER SCHOOLS. A convent of the Sisters of Charity is maintained at No. 723 Jackson street, and in connection therewith is a Catholic parochial school, which has an average attendance of 225. The convent is in charge of Sister Alberta, superior, and five Sisters of Charity make their home in the institution. The German Catholic Church also maintains a school near the corner of Third and VanBuren streets, with accommodations for 200 pupils. Alois Nusang is principal of the school, and Christine Seitz and Minnie Sonderman, teachers. In addition to those named, the following educational institutions are conducted in Topeka: Studio of Voice Culture and Piano Instruction, No. 816 Kansas avenue, Gertrude Tracy, teacher; Dougherty's Shorthand School, No. 118 West Eighth avenue, George E. Dougherty, principal; Standard School of Shorthand and Typewriting, No. 630 Kansas avenue, Anna E. Canan, principal; Topeka Business College, No. 523 Quincy street, L. H. Strickler, superintendent; Pond's Business College, No. 521 Kansas avenue, M. A. Pond, principal; Homeopathic Night School, No. 704 Kansas avenue, Dr. Eva Harding, president; Art Studio, No. 630 Kansas avenue, George O. Beardsley, instructor; School of Dramatic Art, No. 816 Kansas avenue, Nellie Lincoln, instructor; Music Studio, No. 109 West Sixth avenue, Kate B. Whittlesey, instructor; School of Pianoforte Playing, No. 722 Kansas avenue, Annie Parry Bundy, principal; Violin Studio, No. 704 Kansas avenue, W. C. Stenger, instructor; Reid-Stone School of Art, No. 501 Jackson street, Albert T. Reid and George M. Stone, directors. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES. There are 80 separate church organizations in Topeka, representing 17 different denominations. The First Congregational Church is the pioneer, its organization dating from October 14, 1855. The first deacons were Hiram W. Farnsworth and James Cowles, and the first trustees, Milton C. Dickey, John Ritchie and H. P. Waters. Meetings were held in Constitution Hall and other places, occasional sermons being preached by Rev. S. Y. Lum, Rev. Paul Shepherd and Rev. Jonathan Copeland. The first regular pastor was Rev. Lewis Bodwell, who assumed charge in October, 1856, and on Sunday, November 2nd of that year, the communion of the Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time in Topeka. A donation of lots by the Topeka Town Association, and a popular supscription at home and in the East, enabled the Congregationalists to begin the first church structure in Topeka, at the northwest corner of Harrison and Seventh streets. The walls were twice blown down by wind storms, but the building was finally completed in 1861, at a cost of $7,000. In the year 1880 a new and more substantial church building was erected at a cost of $35,000. Since its organization, the church has had the following pastors: Lewis Bodwell, Peter Mac Vicar, James G. Merrill, Linus Blakesley, D. M. Fisk and Francis L. Hayes. Rev. Mr. Blakesley was pastor from 1870 to 1899—nearly 30 years—the longest continuous service ever performed by any of the Topeka pastors. The Central Congregational Church, at the corner of Huntoon and Buchanan streets, is one of the most famous in the West, by reason of the personality of its pastor, Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, who came to the city in 1889, and is best known perhaps, as the author of "In His Steps," a semi-religious novel which has had a remarkable circulation. Rev. Mr. Sheldon also established a library and kindergarten in what is known as "Tennesseetown," a colored settlement in Topeka, and added to his fame in 1900 by editing the Topeka Capital for one week as a distinctly Christian daily. There are four other Congregational organizations in the city: North Congregational, Rev. T. J. Pearson, pastor; Seabrook Congregational, Rev. P. B. Lee, pastor; Swedish Congregational, Rev. Peter Persson, pastor; and the Mission or Central Congregational Church, B. E. Crane, superintendent. METHODIST CHURCHES. The Methodist Episcopal Church had an organization in Topeka in 1855, but was not regularly established until a later date. In 1859 the Topeka and Tecumseh circuit was formed, and in 1861 Topeka was organized as a station, with Rev. J. Paulson as pastor. Religious services were conducted prior to that date by Rev. J. S. Griffing. Other pastors of the church have been: J. V. Holliday, T. A. Parker, John D. Knox, T. J. Leak, Ira Blackford, James E. Gilbert, J. J. Thompson, O. J. Cowles, D. P. Mitchell, S. McChesney, D. J. Holmes, W. G. Waters, J. A. Lippincott, A. S. Embree and J. T. McFarland. Rev. W. C. Evans is the present pastor. A church building was commenced in 1857, on lots numbered 157 to 169 Quincy street, donated by the Topeka Town Association. The lots so donated were at the time covered with stone fortifications, which had been erected to defend the town. against an invasion of border ruffians. The church was built during the period between i860 and 1867. It was enlarged in 1870 and continued to be the home of the church until 1881, when a new building was erected on the southwest corner of Harrison street and Sixth avenue, at a cost of $30,000. Other Methodist churches and their pastors at this time are the following: Kansas Avenue, Rev. J. A. Stavely; Oakland, Rev. J. W. Reed; Walnut Grove, Rev. F. E. Adell; Parkdale, Rev. J. T. Sawyer; Lowman Hill, Rev. J. R. Madison; German, Rev. H. Bruns; Asbury, Rev. J. D. Smith; Mount Olive, Rev. J. S. Burton; Brown Chapel, Rev. J. M. Pope; Euclid, Rev. J. J. Skinner; St. John's African, Rev. J. F. C. Taylor; Wesleyan, Rev. C. F. Carkuff; Second Wesleyan, Rev. William Walters; Free Methodist, Rev. C. J. Chaney; St. Mark's, Rev. J. W. Williams; and Lane Chapel, Rev. J. W. Jacobs. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. Rev. A. T. Rankin organized the First Presbyterian Church, December 9, 1859, but it made indifferent progress until the following year, when Rev. John A. Steele, assumed the direction of its affairs. After his death, in 1864, Rev. S. T. McClure became the pastor, and he was followed by Rev. John Ekin in 1866. Rev. Francis S. McCabe, D. D., became the pastor January 1, 1869, and his long pastorate of 15 years was the most flourishing in the history of the church. He was succeeded in 1883 by Rev. H. W. George. Following Rev. Mr. George, the church had the services of Rev. Edward C. Ray, Rev. S. B. Alderson, Rev. J. D. Countermine, and the present pastor, Rev. S. S. Estey. In 1864 the Presbyterians built a small brick church at No. 230 Kansas avenue, which was afterwards sold to the city for a school. In 1868 they built a chapel in the rear of the lots now occupied by the building of the Topeka Capital, enlarging it and adding a spire in 1870. The present church, on Harrison street, was dedicated April 12, 1885. The Second Presbyterian Church is located on Quincy street, North Topeka, Rev. John S. Glendenning, pastor; and the Third Presbyterian Church on Fourth street, Rev. William M. Cleaveland, pastor. Other Presbyterian churches in the city are: Westminster, Rev. Frank Ward; Oakland, Rev. S. A. Alt; Cumberland, Rev. A. H. Kelso; Second Cumberland, Rev. J. E. Cary; First United, Rev. J. A. Renwick, and Second United, Rev. J. P. White. A new building for the First United Presbyterian Church has just been completed, at the northeast corner of Topeka avenue and Eighth street, at a cost of $12,000. BAPTIST CHURCHES. About March 1, 1857, the First Baptist Church was organized by Rev. David Seagraves, Joseph C. Miller, Jesse Stone, J. F. Merriam and William Jordan, assisted by Rev. J. Gilpatrick, who had charge of an Indian mission near Auburn. The first regular pastor was Rev. C C. Hutchinson, author of "Resources of Kansas." Services were held in i860 on the second floor of a mercantile building at No. 191 Kansas avenue. A permanent site for the church was donated by the Topeka Town Association, being the lots at the northeast corner of Jackson and Ninth streets, where a building was erected in 1871, at a cost of $15,000. This continued to be the home of the church until 1905, when a more commodious structure took its place, upon the same site. It is a magnificent edifice, built of bowlders of varying shades, and crowned with a stately and symmetrical dome. The cost of the new church was $40,000. The several Baptist pastors have been the following: E. Alward, Isaac Sawyer, H. P. Fitch, E. O. Taylor, C. Monjeau, C. C. Foote, T. R. Peters, J. B. Thomas, M. L. Thomas, P. W. Crannell and Thomas S. Young, the last named being the present pastor. Rev. J. Barrett organized the North Topeka Baptist Church, April 4, 1869, and was its pastor for many years. There are 10 other churches of this denomination in the city, the principal ones being: First German, Rev. Jacob Albert; Swedish, Rev. Gustaf Nyquist; Second Baptist, Rev. C. H. Duvall; Third Baptist, Rev. W. P. Banks; "B" Street, Rev. W. H. Hart; Central, Rev. H. W. White; Shiloh, Rev. C. G. Fishback; and Mount Hope, Rev. A. B. Stoner. CATHOLIC CHURCHES. The Church of the Assumption was organized and the first building erected in 1862, the first service being held on Christmas Day of that year, conducted by Rev. James H. Defouri. The church was dedicated August 16, 1863, by Rt. Rev. J. B. Miegie. Rev. Elmira Fourmont, Rev. Eugene Bonoveini, Rev. Felix Swembergh and Rev. Sebastian Favre were Father Defouri's assistants during the early years of the church's history. The present church building on Eighth avenue, opposite the Topeka Free Library, was erected in 1882 at a cost of $20,000. One of the first workers in behalf of the church was Daniel Handley, afterwards killed in the battle of the Blue. A relic of the church is a bell presented by E. C. K. Garvey in 1862, now used in the Catholic school. Father Defouri continued in charge of the church for 14 years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Cunningham, who remained until 1882, and was then succeeded by Rev. James O'Reilly. Very Rev. Francis M. Hayden became dean and rector of the church in 1887 and is still in charge. His sacerdotal silver jubilee was celebrated here May 17, 1900, and was attended by four bishops and 60 clergymen. St. Joseph's German Catholic Church was established in 1889 through the instrumentality of Rev. Francis Henry, who has since served continuously as its pastor. He has not only organized a large congregation but has caused to be erected one of the finest church buildings in the city, at the northwest corner of VanBuren and Third streets—a massive brick structure, with double towers and cathedral chimes. Father Henry has been prominent in the charitable work of the city, and his general influence in the community is as strongly felt as that of any citizen of Topeka. GRACE EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL. A mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church was begun by Rev. Charles Callaway in 1857, resulting in the organization of Grace Episcopal Church, September 9, 1860, with Rev. Mr. Callaway as rector, the first vestrymen being Charles C. Kellam, James Fletcher, John W. Farnsworth, Cyrus K. Holliday and Joseph F. Cummings. Rev. N. O. Preston succeeded to the rectorship December 7, i860. From 1864 to the present time the church has had the following rectors and deans: R. W. Oliver, John N. Lee, John Bakewell, Henry H. Loring, J. F. Walker, Richard Ellerby, James W. Colwell, Percival Mclntire, Assistant Bishop E. S. Thomas, Henry I. Bodley, John W. Sykes, and James P. deBeavers Kaye, the last named being the present dean. Rev. J. F. Walker was the first dean, the church having been accepted as a cathedral chapel in 1879. Services were first held on the third floor of the Ritchie Block, corner of Kansas and Sixth avenues, and then at the old Episcopal Female Seminary, corner of Topeka avenue and Ninth street. A building was erected in 1863, at the southwest corner of Jackson and Seventh streets, known as Grace Church. The building was enlarged in 1874, and while the. improvements were in progress services were held in Union Hall. The property at the corner of Jackson and Seventh streets was subsequently sold and a guild hall and chapel erected on Bethany square, where the permanent cathedral is to be built in the near future. In connection with the cathedral are the churches of the Good Shepherd, Calvary Mission, and St. Simon the Cyrenian Mission, conducted by Rev. DeLou Burke, canon. LUTHERAN CHURCHES. The English Lutheran Church, now known as the First Lutheran, had its beginning April 7, 1867. It was organized by Rev. Morris Officer, and had as its original members Rev. Josiah B. McAfee, John Guthrie, C. H. Ellison, A. P. Benson, George Rubble, A. S. Halmburg and Hugo Kullak. Rev. A. J. Hasson was the first pastor, followed by Rev. B. F. Alleman and Rev. T. F. Dornblazer. Services were first held in Germania Hall. A small frame church was built in 1871 on lots 163, 165 and 167 Topeka avenue. In 1885 a large brick structure was erected at the northeast corner of Harrison and Fifth street, which is the present home of the church, with Rev. H. A. Ott as pastor. The German Lutheran Church, evangelical, has a building at the corner of VanBuren and Second streets, Rev. H. F. Eggert, pastor. The Swedish Lutheran Church has its home at the northeast corner of Fourth and Tyler streets, with Rev. A. M. L. Herenius as pastor. This church was organized in September, 1869, by Rev. A. W. Dahlsten, the succeeding pastors being Rev. C. J. Scheleen, Rev. C. V. Vestling and Rev. John Holcomb. Another of the Lutheran organizations is the St. Paul's German Evangelical, corner of Monroe and Fourth streets, of which Rev. Silverman is pastor. Swedish Bethel, on Polk street, is conducted by Rev. Mr. Peter Persson. CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. The First Christian Church is located in a handsome stone building on the east side of Topeka avenue, between Sixth avenue and Seventh street, the present pastor being Rev. Charles A. Finch. The church was established January i, 1881, by Rev. S. T. Dodd, with the following officers: Dr. S. T. Dodd, pastor; Willard Davis, clerk; Alfred Ennis and W. D. Stone, elders; J. A. Mullen, W. M. Hess and J. O. Leary, deacons; Ira Miller, David Eckert, William Niccum, E. H. Roudebush and G. W. Fought, trustees ; and Buel Shuler and A. A. Stewart, ushers. There are four other Christian churches in the city, known as the North Topeka, Rev. J. T. Purvis; Second, Rev. B. C. Duke; Third, Rev. F. E. Mallory; and Oakland, Rev. N. Overman. UNITARIAN CHURCH. The First Unitarian Church had its beginning in June, 1883, when the society was organized by the following persons: Mr. and Mrs. George W. Wood, Dr. O. B. Morse, Robert Pierce, Mrs. Anna G. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Wilder, Mr. and Mrs. George R. Peck, Miss Belle Wilder, John A. Dailey, F. M. Hayward and Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Foster. The first pastor was Rev. Enoch Powell. The present pastor is Rev. Abram Wyman. The church building at Nos. 302, 304 and 306 Topeka avenue was erected in 1885 at a cost of $8,200. NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH. In 1880 the Topeka Society of the New Jerusalem, Swedenborgian, was organized, the first meetings being held at the home of Edward Wilder. In the following year a chapel and parsonage were erected at the southeast corner of Topeka avenue and Harrison street. The first ministers were Rev. Howard C. Dunham and Rev. Frank L. Higgins. The church is now without a pastor and regular services have been discontinued. CHURCH OF CHRIST—SCIENTIST. Topeka has two Christian Science organizations, with a rapidly growing affiliation. The First Church of Christ is located at the corner of Huntoon and Polk streets, in its own building, with W. C. Fisk as first reader. The Second Church of Christ occupies leased rooms at No. 108 West Ninth street, with Willis D. McKinstry as reader. MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. A church of the Evangelical (Albright) German denomination is maintained at the corner of Fourth and Monroe streets, with Rev. Peter Schuman as pastor, and the Seventh Day Adventists have a church at the corner of Fifth street and Western avenue, with Rev. E. T. Russell in charge. The Salvation Army conducts a shelter at No. 312 Kansas avenue, in charge of Captain and Mrs. E. Stinnett, and its splendid work among the poor is cordially cooperated with by the churches. CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS. The officers of the Young Women's Christian Association are: Mrs. C J. Evans, president; Mrs. J. B. Larimer, vice-president; Mrs. A. Vander-pool, recording secretary; Mrs. W. H. Holmes, treasurer; Miss M. E. Reid, .general secretary; Anna H. Waldron, house secretary; and Miss Ethel Estberg, physical director. The organization was formed February 10, 1887, and has rooms in the Masonic Building. Topeka is the Kansas headquarters of the State Executive Committee •of the Young Men's Christian Association, of which Andrew Baird is state secretary and Charles Fenstamacher, office secretary. The Y. M. C. A. Central Department of Topeka is located at Nos. in to 117 East Eighth avenue. It is managed by a board of directors consisting of J. B. Larimer, Harold T. Chase, H. B. Lautz and H. S. Morgan. The officers are: George E. Lerrigo, general secretary; F. G. Mitchell, assistant secretary; J. E. Manley, assistant secretary; J. L. Montgomery, office secretary; and J. A. Augustus, physical director. The Railroad Branch occupies a fine building on Fourth street, near the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Depot, which was erected in 1902, the corner-stone being laid by President Roosevelt. Other branches are maintained at Washburn College and the Kansas Medical College. Negotiations are in progress for the erection by the Central Department of a new $80,000 building. FRATERNAL AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. There are 34 Masonic organizations in Topeka, the parent body, Topeka Lodge No. 17, having been chartered October 18, 1859. Most of the organizations have their headquarters and hold their meetings in the Masonic Building at Nos. 619, 621 and 623 Jackson street. The Grand Lodge offices are in the Real Estate Building at No. 701 Jackson street. A Masonic library and office building is now in process of construction at the northeast corner of Eighth avenue and Harrison street, to cost $20,000. Lincoln Post, No. 1, is the parent organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in Kansas. There are five other posts in Topeka, a camp of the Sons of Veterans and three women's auxiliaries of the G. A. R. Topeka is the headquarters of the National Council of the Knights and Ladies of Security, of which W. B. Kirkpatrick is president; C. A. Gower, vice-president; J. M. Wallace, secretary; W. M. Forbes, treasurer; and H. A. Warner, medical director. The council owns the Security Building at the southwest corner of Kansas avenue and Seventh street, representing an investment of $50,000. There are five local councils. The total membership throughout the country is more than 50,000, and the total insurance in force exceeds $60,000,000. Topeka Lodge, No. 204, was the first lodge organized in Kansas of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. It has 450 members and occupies the whole of the third floor of the Masonic Building. The officers are: Leroy M. Penwell, exalted ruler; Henry Ruff, esteemed leading knight; Arthur M. Mills, esteemed loyal knight; Harry W. Donaldson, esteemed lecturing knight; Joseph E. Morgan, secretary; Clarence S. Bowman, treasurer; and H. B. Hogeboom, esquire. The Kansas Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has its headquarters in Topeka, in charge of W. H. Kemper, grand secretary. There are 12 subordinate organizations in the city, inclusive of the Rebekah lodges. Shawnee Lodge, No. 1, the oldest of the Topeka organizations, owns a business block at No. 523 Quincy street, in which its hall is located. Topeka has six lodges of-the Ancient Order of United Workmen, four lodges of the Degree of Honor and two of the Select Knights and Ladies. The Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World have seven distinct organizations; the Knights and Ladies of the Maccabees, six; Knights of Pythias, six; the Patriotic Legion of America, three; and the Independent Order of Red Men, two. Most of the other fraternal and benevolent societies of the country are represented in Topeka by one or more lodges, the total list running into the hundreds. The labor organizations and trades unions are numerous, covering nearly every vocation and industry. The Catholic societies embrace the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association and the Catholic Knights and Ladies of America. CLUB ORGANIZATIONS. Of clubs and societies, from the field of athletics to the arena of philsophy and politics, there are probably 100 organizations. In addition thereto the women of the city have a total of 46 separate organizations, which are grouped with the Topeka Federation, with the following general officers: Mrs. Clement Smith, president; Mrs. James W. Going, 1st vice-president; Miss Lucy D. Kingman, 2nd vice-president; Mrs. Eli G. Foster, secretary; Mrs. E. D. Robertson, treasurer; and Mrs. George A. Huron, auditor. Had the founders of Topeka known what was coming, they might have christened the new town "Clubville," instead of delving into aboriginal lore to find a name with a purely vegetable significance. 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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/shawnee/history/1905/historyo/chapterx19nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ksfiles/ File size: 34.3 Kb