R. H. WEIGHTMAN.

One of the most interesting and romantic early-day characters in Atchison county was Maj. R. H. Weightman, an ex-major of the United States army, who was associated with a famous frontier tragedy. Major Weightman was a violent pro-slavery man and had been reared in the South. Before coming to Kickapoo, where he was connected with the land office, and subsequently to Atchison, he was the editor of the Herald at Santa Fe, N. M., and also a delegate to Congress from that Territory.

F. X. Aubrey, the other party to the quarrel, was a French Canadian, of great pluck and energy, and had made a reputation on a wager in 1852, riding from Santa Fe to Independence, Mo., in a few hours over eight days. The next year he wagered $1,000 he could go the same distance in less than eight days. His bet was accepted and Aubrey covered the distance in less than five days. Following these rides he engaged in the freighting business over the plains and he and Major Weightman became warm personal friends. Aubrey later made a trip to California, taking a herd of sheep, which he sold at a fine profit. It was upon his return from this trip that he and Weightman had their famous quarrel. The fairest account of this incident appeared in the Missouri Republican, September 28, 1854, which was in the form of a communication from a correspondent of that paper, and was as follows:

“THE CASE OF MAJOR WEIGHTMAN.

“Mr. Editor: The deplorable event by which F. X. Aubrey lost his life and which deprived the West of one of its most energetic and able pioneers, will not be passed lightly over. The name of Mr. Aubrey had become too closely identified with all that is gallant, preserving, and—in a western sense, at least—brave and chivalrous, that his memory and his sudden death should not awaken painful emotions among all those to whom his name had become a household word; emotions too painful to expect that, under his influence, full justice would be done to both parties concerned. When, therefore, an opportunity is afforded by which the facts, as nearly as we can approach them, may be investigated, it would seem injustice to withhold these facts from the public.

“Though, perhaps, less historically known (if the expression be permitted) than Mr. Aubrey, Major Weightman has peculiar claims upon the citizens of Missouri, and especially of St. Louis, for demanding full and impartial justice in this behalf. Without wishing to anticipate the judgment of your readers, or at all commenting upon the evidence which will be found below, your correspondent, in view of the grave charge in which Major Weightman is involved, and the melancholy importance of the event, deems it his duty, notwithstanding, here to state what may be known to most of your readers, that Major Weightman, for years, formerly, was a resident of St. Louis, beloved and respected, almost without any exception, by all with whom he came in contact.

“Amongst the many of Missouri’s citizens who participated in the late Mexican war, Major, then Captain Weightman, at the head of his Light Artillery Company, won laurels which placed his name foremost among the bravest and most gallant in that war. His fellow soldiers still in our midst will cheerfully bear your correspondent testimony, that Captain Weightman’s gallantry as a soldier and officer was only surpassed by his urbanity and true kindliness of feeling as a gentleman; and if the evidence adduced upon his preliminary examination before the examining magistrate should sustain Weightman’s plan of self-defense in the premises, his former friends here and abroad, and his fellow soldiers, will be glad to learn that the qualities of heart, for which they used most to prize Captain Weightman, in former years, remain untainted even now, when his name has become unfortunately coupled with a most grave and serious charge. May the public judge, and may not the unquestioned enviable renown of Captain Aubrey’s name tend to warp calm judgment in pronouncing upon the guilt or innocence of the accused.

“The following evidence, being a synopsis of the process verbatim at the preliminary examination before Judge Davenport, at Santa Fe, have been transmitted to your correspondent from New Mexico by a third person, and, as your correspondent has every reason to believe, may be fully relied on. It is in the main supported by your former notices published in the Republican concerning this same transaction.

“The circumstances are these: Major Weightman, hearing of the arrival of Aubrey, and that he was at the store of the Messrs. Mercure, merchants at Santa Fe, crossed the plaza to see him, and was one of the first to take him by the hand and greet him as a friend. When Major Weightman arrived at the store of the Messrs. Mercure, several persons had already arrived to pay their respects to Mr. Aubrey.

“Aubrey and Weightman met kindly, shook hands, and conversed pleasantly for a short time, when something having been said by a third person about the route by which Aubrey had arrived from California, Aubrey asked the major if he had yet published his paper in Albuquerque. The major said, no; that it was dead—had died a natural death from want of subscribers. Aubrey then said it should have died, because of the lies with which it was filled. This was said without excitement. When Weightman asked ‘What lies?’ Aubrey remarked: ‘When I returned from California last year you asked me for information in respect to my route, and afterwards you abused me.’ This Weightman denied, saying, ‘No, Aubrey, I did not abuse you.’ Aubrey then said, more or less excited, ‘I say you did, and I now repeat, it is a lie,’ at the same time bringing his hand down with force upon the counter.

“At this Weightman, who was sitting on the counter, five or six feet from Aubrey, sprang down and approached Aubrey, who had been standing near the counter, and taking a glass from which Aubrey had been drinking (a toddy), threw the contents in his face. Weightman immediately stepped back, when Aubrey drew a pistol (Colt’s belt pistol), the first shot from which took effect in the ceiling (supposed to have gone off while cocking). Weightman then drew a knife, and before another shot could be fired, closed with Aubrey and stabbed him in the abdomen, and soon after seized Aubrey’s pistol.

“The Messrs. Mercure rushed on and seized the parties. Aubrey rapidly sank, and as soon as he relinquished his pistol Weightman said: ‘I did it in my own defense, and I will go and surrender myself to the authorities,’ which he did, accompanied by his friend, Major Cunningham. Aubrey died in a few minutes. He received but the one blow. Major Weightman has carried a bowie knife for his own protection for a year past, believing it to be necessary for him to do so. This was stated as the cause of his being armed. Aubrey was of the number of those who were inimical to him. The relations between Aubrey and Weightman had been heretofore of the most agreeable character.”

Major Weightman was a resident of Atchison only a few years. At the outbreak of the war he joined the southern army, and lost his life in the battle of Wilson’s Creek.

CHAPTER XIII.
AGRICULTURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT.

AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY—SCIENTIFIC FARMING—FARMERS, THE ARISTOCRACY OF THE WEST—MODERN IMPROVEMENT—TOPOGRAPHY—SOIL—STATISTICS.

Atchison county is distinctively an agricultural community. There have been some earnest efforts made in the past to develop its mineral resources, and it is not beyond the realm of possibility that future efforts in that direction will unlock hidden resources of fabulous value. But in the future, as in the past, agriculture will be the big important dividend producer in this county. Up to this time it is not unfair to say that only the surface of the soil has been scratched. Farming has been the occupation of a very large portion of our people from the days when the first settlers took up their claims and with crude implements, broke the sod, down to this enlightened age, of the riding plow and the traction engine, but scientific husbandry has not been followed on a large scale in this county. Crops have been so easy to produce, on account of rich soil and a favorable climate, that the methods employed in countries not so blessed and of a greater population, have not been followed in the past. This is not an arraignment of the former, for Atchison county has been peculiarly blessed in its possession of an intelligent lot of thrifty farmers. They have toiled and labored early and late; they have built comfortable homes, accumulated fortunes, and are the sturdy, dependable citizens of the county, but for over sixty years they have lacked organization and the prosperous farmers have succeeded because of their own personal initiative, judgment and hard work. As a class they have not made the progress to which they are justly entitled. Those that came early and remained, have in most instances met with rare success, but they worked out their own salvation, unaided by scientific organization.

One hundred and sixty of them have banded together for mutual help and have secured a county agricultural agent to assist them in this direction, as the rich country in the States east of us have been forced to do. The soil also has an abundance of potash and a creditable amount of phosphorus, so with the proper use of legumes and manure, with the addition of some phosphorus, the fertility of the soil may be increased and maintained indefinitely. If soil washing is stopped and the organic matter in the soil maintained, this county has a soil, that agriculturally speaking, is second to none.

The real aristocracy in the West, will, in future generations, trace its ancestry back to the pioneers, who settled on the land and tilled it. Those who went into trade and the professions when they came to Atchison county prior to 1860, and in subsequent years, have prospered, in part, by their wits, but in the main, on the farmer. The farmers were then, as now, the real wealth producers and so it has come to pass, after these many years, that the farmer “has arrived,” and with the increase in population and the general trend of advancement and improvement in all human activities, farming now stands near the top of the big human enterprises. The desire for organization and coöperation among the farmers is growing everywhere, and it has taken hold of Atchison county in recent years.

The farmer’s life in this county, in the late fifties and early sixties, was a hard and lonely one. During those years many homesteads were preëmpted, fifteen to twenty-one miles southwest, west and northwest of Atchison, and onto these the young pioneers took their wives and families. There they built their log houses, “broke out” their land, and put it to corn and wheat. There were few neighbors, fewer creature comforts, and no conveniences. It was a solitary life.

This history contains biographical sketches of many of these pioneers, and in them will be found the intimate stories of hardships, privations and discomforts. They came to conquer the resources of nature, and they accomplished what they came after. There were no highways over which to convey their crops when harvested, and the ways to the nearest market were long and dreary ones. It was a two days’ trip over the prairies to Atchison with a load of grain, and there were few ways to economize time, although, fortunately, time was not an object then, as it is in these restless days.

And yet within the short span of the lives of farmers who are still here, there has been a marvelous development. Log houses have given way to fine commodious homes, steam heated and electric lighted; great barns shelter the stock, and house the grain; the telephone, the rural delivery and the automobile have revolutionized the farmer’s life and the farmer’s wife. Better roads are the order of the day, and it will be along this line that great progress will be made in the immediate future. Meanwhile, land values are on the increase, and the quarter sections that sold from $500 to $800 each, fifty years ago, are now bringing $16,000 to $24,000 each. Within the year 1915 there has been a general trend of sentiment among the more enterprising farmers to put farming upon a more scientific basis. The services of a farm adviser have been secured, whose duty it is to assist in this direction. They are learning more of food values, crop rotation and diversification, soil culture and plant life. As the value of these things become more apparent, the farming industry will thrive more, and in another generation the problem of keeping the young men and young women on the farm will have been solved.

The richest and most valuable farming land in Atchison county is very generally distributed. There are parts of each township that are rough and broken, but as the population increases land not now regarded as choice will be made to produce abundant crops. The river bluffs, which have stood so long in timber, are gradually being cleared and the bare hills which are left, are admirably adapted to fruit, wheat and alfalfa. Much of this land is as well adapted to fruit raising as is the already famous Wathena district, some of it being exactly the same type of soil. All that is needed is that the fruit growers give their plantations care. The orchard that is properly cared for produces fruit of a quality far superior to that of the famous Northwest. Incidentally, this land returns the grower a greater net profit.

Atchison county lies within the glaciated portion of the plains region. The underlying rocks are buried by the glacial till, but in turn is covered by a deposit of fine silty material, known as loess. Practically all the soil throughout this country is derived from the loess covering. The principal soil is a brown, almost black, silty loam, well adapted to the production of general farm crops. The rainfall is sufficient for the maturing of all crops, the normal annual precipitation ranging from fifteen to twenty-five inches. Atchison county has a population ranging from 28,000 to 30,000 people. There was a slight decrease in the population between the years of 1900 and 1910, yet, in spite of this apparent unfavorable showing, the value of farm land and farm products have increased. About ninety-five per cent. of the land in this county is in farms, of an average value of $69.26 per acre. The proportionate land area is 263,680 acres, of which 249,339 acres are in farms, with an aggregate land value of $17,270,130, which is more than double what it was in 1900, and over two million dollars more than the whole of the Louisiana Purchase cost us in 1803. Figures and statistics are proverbially dry and uninteresting, but there is no place in which they can be more appropriately used than in history, and no language that can be employed could tell a better story of the agricultural progress of Atchison county, than the statistics taken from the thirteenth census of the United States. From this source we find that the total value of improvements on the farms in this county in 1910 was $2,692,755, and that the value of the implements and machinery used by the farmers, not including automobiles, was $499,129. While the value of domestic animals and live stock was $2,149,863, and in these figures poultry is not included. The chicken, duck, goose and turkey census reached 150,127, and these were valued at $77,926. The total value of all crops shown by the census of 1910 was as follows:

Cereals$1,928,065.00
Other grain and seeds3,577.00
Hay and forage281,793.00
Vegetables94,232.00
Fruits and nuts32,297.00
All other crops30,883.00
Grand Total$2,370,847.00

Making a grand total of $2,370,847.00.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRESS.

INFLUENCE OF NEWSPAPERS—PART PLAYED BY THE EARLY PRESS—“SQUATTER SOVEREIGN”—“FREEDOM’S CHAMPION”—“CHAMPION AND PRESS”—PIONEER EDITORS—LATER NEWSPAPERS AND NEWSPAPER MEN.

Of all the mighty powers for good and evil, none can excel the newspaper. Take all the newspapers out of the world today and there would be chaos. Mankind would lie groping in the dark, and life itself would be a vain and empty thing. Newspapers are the arteries through which the lifeblood of the world runs. They carry to our firesides the continued story of civilization.

Early in the history of Atchison county, before the schools and the churches, the newspaper appeared. It received a bounty of the original town company when that association, September 21, 1854, by a resolution, donated $400 to Robert Kelley and Dr. J. H. Stringfellow, to start a printing office, and it was then that the Squatter Sovereign was conceived, and after a brief period of gestation, was born February 3, 1855. By a strange stroke of misfortune this first newspaper in the county stood for a wrong principle and preached bad doctrine, for it advocated human slavery. Yet it was a creature of environment, and reflected the prevailing sentiment of its constituency. It was fearless in its attitude and rabid in its utterances. It was a violent organ of hate and bitterness toward all Free State men, and in it appeared a constant flood of inflammatory comment directed against those who opposed slavery, and were determined that Kansas should be the land of the brave and the home of the free. But as the pro-slavery cause waned, the Squatter Sovereign waned with it, and in the fall of 1857, when saner counsel and the feeling of brotherhood grew, the town company disposed of its interest in the Squatter Sovereign to the New England Aid Society, of which S. C. Pomeroy was agent, and the paper then passed into the hands of Robert McBratney and Franklin G. Adams. Mr. Adams and Mr. McBratney were both Free Soilers, but they did not run the paper long. It was shortly sold to O. F. Short, who ran it until the following February, and on the twentieth day of that month, 1858. John A. Martin purchased the plant and changed the name of the paper to Freedom’s Champion. Under that name Colonel Martin made of his paper one of the leading Free State organs of the Territory. Always a brilliant editor, of courage and deep convictions, Colonel Martin during his whole career never performed a greater service than during the time he shouted the battle-cry of freedom through the columns of Freedom’s Champion, from 1858 to 1861. In September of the latter year, he laid aside his pen and took up his sword in defense of the principles he so stoutly advocated, and thus translated his words into deeds. When he went to the front he left the Champion in charge of George J. Stebbins, who continued in charge until the fall of 1863, when it was leased to John J. Ingalls and Robert H. Horton. These two men afterwards became political rivals. Both were lawyers and both residents of Atchison for many years. Horton was a typical lawyer, smooth and tactful, who enjoyed a successful career in the practice of his profession and on the bench. Ingalls was of a different temperament, being more intellectual, caring little for the law, less tactful, but ambitious. They both met in the arena of politics, and Horton was the vanquished. Following the senatorial election of 1879, at which they were both candidates, they became bitter enemies, and did not speak until they met, by chance, in London, in 1891. While these two men were editors of the Champion. Ingalls did most of the writing and kept things warm until the return of Colonel Martin from the war in January, 1865, one of the Nation’s heroes. Three months after his return, on the twenty-second day of March, 1865. Colonel Martin became the publisher of a daily paper, and on August 11, 1868, the Freedom’s Champion was consolidated with the Atchison Free Press, under the name of Champion and Press. The Free Press was a Republican daily paper, and first appeared May 5, 1864, with Franklin G. Adams as its editor and proprietor. In April, 1865, Frank A. Root became a partner, and subsequently, L. R. Elliott, who had been an assistant editor, became a proprietor, with Mr. Root retiring later, when the paper was consolidated with the Champion.

The office of the Champion and Press was destroyed by fire May 20, 1869, but three weeks later the paper was in running order, with John A. Martin as sole editor and proprietor, and from that date until the death of Mr. Martin October 2, 1889, it remained one of the most influential and prosperous papers in the State of Kansas.

Upon the death of Mr. Martin, the newspaper property was turned over to his father-in-law, W. L. Challiss, as executor of Mr. Martin’s estate, and on the day of Mr. Martin’s death the name of Phillip Krohn appears as managing editor. Krohn occupied that important place until March 29, 1890, when his name appeared for the last time as editor. Dr. Phillip Krohn was a man of brilliant attainments, a fluent writer, and a pleasing public speaker. He was a Methodist minister by profession, but, although he occupied the pulpit upon occasions, his name was seldom taken seriously in connection with religious work. From the date of Governor Martin’s death the paper gradually waned in influence. The paper remained the property of the estate of Governor Martin, and Luther C. Challiss was editor and manager, until October 11, 1804, when A. J. Felt, an ex-lieutenant governor of Kansas, became its editor and proprietor. The paper did not prosper under the management of Mr. Felt, and four years later a company was organized by Charles M. Sheldon, a promoter, and Mr. Sheldon became its editor May 2, 1898. Mr. Sheldon was an enthusiastic and aggressive individual, who had very little respect for the value of money, which he spent so lavishly that two months later, July 1, 1898, his name appeared for the last time as editor of the Champion. On the twentieth of that month the paper was sold to satisfy a mortgage and the property was re-purchased by A. J. Felt, who immediately transferred it to the Champion Linotype Printing Company, a partnership, composed of Edward Skinner, George T. Housen, Charles O. Hovatter, James McNamara and A. J. Felt. Mr. Felt again resumed the editorial management of the paper, and remained in charge until January 1, 1899.

February 3, 1899, Henry Kuhn, who surveyed the townsite of Atchison, returned to the city with his son, James G. Kuhn. They made a heroic effort to restore the lost prestige of the Champion, but soon became discouraged, and in the latter part of May or early in the June following, they gave up the ghost and silently disappeared. The mortgagees continued the publication of the paper, and July 31, 1899, the name of John A. Reynolds appears as business manager. It had no editor until August 23, 1899, when James G. Day, Jr., a young lawyer, occupying a desk in the office of Waggener, Horton & Orr, became editor and manager. Mr. Day ran a daily until January 9, 1900, when it was discontinued. The following March he published a daily for one week, “as the devil would run it,” a piece of cynicism in reply to an effort the Topeka Capital made a short time before, when that paper was turned over to Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, the eminent Congregational preacher, who ran that paper one week, “As Jesus would run it.”

Meanwhile, the Champion had its ups and downs, but did not die. A daily again appeared April 22, 1901, with Ewing Herbert, one of the celebrated newspaper men of Kansas, as its editor and owner. Mr. Herbert was at that time the owner of the Brown County World, at Hiawatha. He conceived the idea that Atchison offered an attractive field for a newspaper venture, and he succeeded in interesting some local capital in his enterprise. Capt. John Seaton was a stockholder, among others, and Jay House, the present mayor of Topeka (1915) and a brilliant newspaper paragrapher, was city editor. Mr. Herbert spent only part of his time in Atchison, and turned over the management of the Champion to Mr. House. It looked for a time as if Mr. Herbert was going to make a success of his venture, but just at the height of his prosperity he was guilty of an editorial indiscretion, which turned some powerful influences against the paper, and on August 17, 1901, Mr. Herbert gave up his effort as a bad job and turned the plant over to one W. A. Robinson, formerly of St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Robinson was a follower of Henry George, the great single taxer, and conceived it to be his duty to spread the single tax propaganda through the editorial columns of the Champion. His efforts in this direction did not prove profitable, and becoming disheartened and discouraged he fled from the city shortly thereafter, a much poorer but wiser man.

The Champion next fell into the hands of Corman H. Young, for many years a successful music merchant, of Atchison, who incidentally acquired a small job printing plant, which he operated on North Fifth street, and which he subsequently merged with the Champion plant, having acquired that by paying off the mortgage which Mr. Robinson gave Ewing Herbert at the lime he undertook to acquire the property. Mr. Young ran a weekly paper for a number of years, until May, 1907, when he employed Walt Mason, the famous prose poet of the United States, to assume the editorial management of a daily. Mr. Mason many years before had been a resident of Atchison, and ran the Globe during the absence of Mr. Howe in Europe. He was not so famous in 1907 as he is in 1915, but he was just as brilliant. He published the daily Champion on pink paper and filled it with columns of editorial matter and humorous running comment on current affairs. Mr. Mason had a wonderful capacity for work and could prepare more “copy” in one day than all the other writers on the paper could prepare in a week. During the summer of 1907, Sheffield Ingalls, having returned from the legislature, where he was a member of the house of representatives, became an editorial writer on the Champion. November 20, 1907, Mr. Young prevailed upon Mr. Ingalls to give up his other work and become editor of the paper. As Mr. Ingalls walked into the office, Mr. Mason walked out, never to return. Mr. Ingalls remained editor and manager of the Champion until October 6, 1909, having been frustrated in plans he had made to acquire the property as his own. Mr. Young continued to run the paper until July 1, 1911, when Mr. Ingalls, with the assistance of J. C. Killarney, succeeded in organizing a company, which purchased the paper and turned it over to Eugene C. Pulliam, as editor. Mr. Pulliam was a young man, who had served his apprenticeship on the Kansas City Star as a reporter. He was a good writer, but lacked experience and business judgment, and while he made a vigorous effort to run the paper, and had the benefit of strong financial connections, he did not succeed, and September 1, 1914, he turned the paper over to Sheffield Ingalls as trustee, and it was subsequently sold to A. S. Andereck and his brother, A. P. Andereck, of Kankakee, Ill. A few months later a company was organized, composed of the Andereck brothers, O. A. Simmons, vice-president of the First National Bank, Wilbur C. Hawk and Sheffield Ingalls, who in 1915 are conducting the paper, and it is enjoying its most prosperous days since the death of its brilliant editor, John A. Martin.

In 1877 there came to Atchison a young man who subsequently became one of the famous editors of the United States, Edgar Watson Howe. Mr. Howe was born in Wabash county, Indiana, May 3, 1854, a son of Henry and Elizabeth Howe. When he was about three years of age his family removed to Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri, where the father, a Methodist preacher, published a newspaper of strong abolition sentiments. The younger Mr. Howe served an apprenticeship at the printer’s trade in his father’s office, and in 1868 started out for himself. He visited various cities, working at the case to earn money to pay his way from one place to another, and at the age of eighteen became the publisher of the weekly Globe, at Golden, Colo. From there he went to Falls City, Neb., where he published a newspaper, subsequently coming to Atchison, and established the Daily Globe. When Mr. Howe reached Atchison, the Champion, under the management of John A. Martin, was the most powerful newspaper organ in the northern half of Kansas, and the field here was none too promising on this account. However, Mr. Howe proceeded to publish a paper of an entirely different type than that published by Mr. Martin. It was a small sheet, and was devoted to “gab, gossip and paid locals,” and for over thirty years this policy was successfully maintained by Mr. Howe. It was unique in the journalistic world, and under the management of Mr. Howe it acquired a National reputation, chiefly because of the quaint, homely philosophy it contained and the unusual treatment he gave the ordinary incidents of human life. As a reporter of this class of news, Mr. Howe was perhaps without a peer in the country. For over thirty years he tramped the streets of Atchison with note-book and pencil, and to practically every item he turned in he gave a peculiar twist, which reflected a remarkable insight of human nature. With Mr. Howe were associated Miss Frances L. Garside, Ralph (“Doc”) Tennal, Miss Nellie Webb and J. E. Rank. To each of them Mr. Howe was indebted for much of the success the Globe attained. The death of Col. John A. Martin and the collapse of the Champion, that followed, gave Mr. Howe his opportunity, and for the greater part of his active newspaper career in Atchison he had the field to himself. The Globe was a great financial success and in one year it has been said that Mr. Howe cleared close to $24,000 on his property. “Doc” Tennal was the first one of Mr. Howe’s faithful associates to break up the Globe family. Mr. Tennal was a remarkable reporter of local news, but being ambitious and realizing the limitations by which he was surrounded, he concluded to acquire a newspaper property of his own, and in pursuance of that plan, he bought the Sabetha Herald in 1905, subsequently relinquishing it to become editor of the Kansas City Weekly Star. He returned some years later to Sabetha, and re-purchased the Herald plant, and is now the editor of that prosperous and progressive paper (1915).

J. E. Rank left the Globe a few years later, and went to Bartlesville, Okla., where he ran a paper a short time, and then returned to Atchison, and his first newspaper love.

Miss Garside, who was one of the most brilliant newspaper women in the country, went from the Globe to the New York Journal, and in 1909 Mr. Howe turned the Globe over to his son, Eugene Howe, who is now (1915) its editor and principal owner. Associated with him are Mr. Rank and Miss Nellie Webb, together with other old Globe employes.

Miss Webb is the society reporter, and in this capacity she has acquired a brilliant reputation among the newspaper women of Kansas. The “policy” of the Globe remains unchanged, and, while it may not enjoy the same prestige it had during the days of the elder Howe, it is still one of the moneymaking newspaper plants of Kansas. Eugene Howe is a young man of much promise. He is still young and has spent his life in newspaper work. He has carried the new responsibilities thrust upon him by his father both gracefully and tactfully, and there is every reason to predict a successful future for him.

Among the early newspaper enterprises of Atchison was The Patriot, established by Nelson Abbott October 25, 1867. In September, 1868, Messrs. H. Clay Park, B. P. Waggener and Mr. Abbott formed a partnership, under the name of H. Clay Park & Company, and purchased the establishment, and in October of the same year, the paper passed into the hands of C. F. and C. P. Cochrane, but shortly thereafter reverted to Nelson Abbott, who remained in control until December, 1875. Dr. H. B. Horn, for many years a respected and honored citizen of Atchison, was connected with the paper as bookkeeper and business manager, and performed much of the editorial work, and when Mr. Abbott finally relinquished control of the paper, it fell again into the hands of H. Clay Park, who together with F. L. Vandergrift and P. H. Peters, assumed control. Mr. Peters did not remain long in the partnership, and in 1877 he sold his interest to E. W. Beall. The paper was Democratic, and Mr. Park, who was very actively identified with the affairs of Atchison in the early days, was an able editor. He left Atchison twenty-five years later, to become an editorial writer on the St. Joseph News and Press. F. L. Vandergrift is one of the famous newspaper men of Kansas, and for many years was the representative in Kansas of the Kansas City Star. He is one of the best loved and best known newspaper writers of the West, and is now (1915) editor of the Earth, a publication devoted to the interests of the Santa Fe railroad.

One of the well known newspaper men of the West connected with The Patriot was Tom Stivers, who was connected with the Champion for eight years, and in January, 1879, became a partner with Mr. Park and Mr. Vandergrift.

The Patriot was an afternoon daily paper, and always stanchly Democratic in politics, and for many years was a successful journalistic enterprise. This paper continued to be published either as a weekly or a daily until about October 12, 1895. It was in a precarious condition many years before that date, and had a number of different editors, among them F. M. Stambaugh and W. J. Montgomery. The Atchison Morning Star and Daily Patriot was built upon the wreck of the original Patriot, its first issue being dated October 13, 1895, and running until February 23, 1896.

The Atchison Union was a Democratic paper, established by Gideon O. Chase, about 1858. It had an office in a frame building at the southwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets, subsequently occupied by the Champion. Mr. Chase came from Waverly. N. V., and his paper, while Democratic, was for the Union and against slavery. Mr. Chase did not remain in charge of the paper very long, and turned it over to W. H. Addoms and G. I. Stebbins. Shortly thereafter Stebbins retired, and Addoms went to Leavenworth, where he started a paper, turning his interest over to A. P. Cochrane, who was an employe in the office. Cochrane did not run the paper but a short time, when a Mr. Leland, Francis J. Marion and Franklin G. Adams assumed control and ran it a short time, when Marion took the plant of Plattsburg, Mo., and junked it, and for many years what was left of the paper was piled up in the court house at that place.

The Atchison Church Visitor was established in 1906, and was published by the pastors of the following churches: English Lutheran, Methodist, Christian, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist.

On January 14, 1911, Paul Tonsing became its editor and publisher. The paper is printed by Mr. Tonsing in the office over 500 Commercial street, so long occupied as the editorial room of John A. Martin, of whom Mr. Tonsing is a son-in-law. Mr. Tonsing is a Lutheran minister by profession, and for a number of years after his graduation from Midland College, he did pastoral work in a number of Lutheran churches in Nebraska and Kansas. Mr. Tonsing is a reformer, and a man not without courage and ability. His views are looked upon as too extreme by the conservative liberal element of Atchison, but all give him credit for being conscientious and honest. He is a hard-working, industrious citizen, and, while he has made inane active enemies in his reform work, he enjoys the personal satisfaction of seeing many of the reforms he has advocated come to pass. He is an avowed foe of the liquor traffic, and has perhaps done more than any other individual in the community to make his views on that question effective. In connection with the publication of the Church Visitor, Mr. Tonsing also prints and edits the Western Chief, a monthly publication devoted to the Improved Order of Redmen.

E. W. Howe’s Monthly was started by Mr. Howe in March, 1911. It is published monthly and contains practically all of the present literary efforts of its editor. Mr. Howe has adopted the use of pink paper for this publication, which is composed of four pages. It contains no advertising matter, but has a large circulation among friends and admirers of Mr. Howe’s peculiar literary type. Mr. Howe has popularized this monthly by making the price so low that no subscriber can afford not to take it, and when he has reached a circulation large enough, he plans to put it on a profitable basis as an advertising medium.

The Effingham New Leaf was started about April 12, 1894, with M. C. Klingman, editor, and his wife, Mrs. Ima L. Klingman, as associate editor. The New Leaf was the successor of the Effingham Times, founded in 1887, and the Effingham Graphic, founded in 1891, and the Effingham World, founded in 1893. After the death of M. C. Klingman, at the Missouri Baptist sanitarium, at St. Louis, Mo., May 5, 1899, Mrs. Klingman took charge as editor and publisher, and employed W. W. Cahoon, associate editor. January 4, 1901, J. W. Coleman became the editor and publisher, and W. W. Cahoon, associate editor. In December, 1903, W. W. Cahoon purchased a one-half interest and the firm became Coleman & Cahoon. Mr. Coleman re-purchased the paper October 16, 1903, and continued its publication until September 8, 1903, when Mr. Cahoon and C. E. Sells became the editors and publishers. May 4 of the following year Mr. Cahoon sold his interest to W. H. Sells, and August 31, 1906, C. E. and A. J. Sells took charge of the paper, and in 1915 were still its publishers.

The Effingham New Leaf is a successful country newspaper, serving its readers faithfully and satisfactorily.

The Muscotah Record was founded about October 1, 1884, by F. M. Bonham, who ran the paper until about 1886, when on August 18 of that year the Miller brothers became its editors and publishers. They sold it to Claud Martin and Coleman Martin December 4, 1889, who subsequently sold the plan to M. C. Klingman, editor of the Effingham New Leaf, May, 1890. Mr. Klingman turned the property over to Fred W. Badger July 18, 1890, who continued the paper until December 8, 1893, when he disposed of it to John Ford. Ford published the paper until November 1, 1894, when he sold it to James S. Martin and Guy L. Stotter, the latter assuming entire control March 6, 1896. Mr. Stotter sold the Record to J. W. Campbell August 17, 1905, but assumed control of it again November 23, 1905, and remained in control until June 6, 1907, when J. A. Shoemaker, who afterwards became county superintendent of Atchison county, appeared as its editor and publisher. When Mr. Shoemaker was elected county superintendent, he turned the property over to A. W. Huntis, who on February 3, 1910, sold it to P. J. Cortelyon, and March 7, 1912, the property was purchased by R. M. Dunlap, who is now (1915) its editor and publisher.

The Huron Herald started January 7, 1892, with Frank I. White as editor and publisher. On May 16, 1895, Messrs. Priest & Priest took charge and were in control October 18, 1896, when the office was destroyed by fire. The paper was suspended for a few weeks and the next issue was dated November 6, 1896, with W. E. Johnson, editor and publisher. The Herald suspended publication in February, 1897, and was again resurrected by W. A. Huff by the issue of April 9, 1897. Mr. Huff discontinued the paper in 1900, and went to Brown county, where he was active in newspaper work in that county. The Huron Herald was revived again April 12, 1907, by J. E. Smith, who published it until March 12, 1914, and March 19 of that year. J. M. Delaney announced that through no fault of his, he was forced to take control of the paper, and had employed Herman Van. On August 19, 1915, T. A. Cur became editor, and on November 11, 1915, Orvil L. Pancake was in charge.

The Potter Kansan was originally known as the Potter Leaf, which started November 22, 1900, by Eppie L. Barber and Norene Barber, his wife. Mr. Barber surrendered control of the paper September 17, 1903, turning it over to his wife, who became its publisher. Shortly thereafter, Charles B. Remsburg, who for many years was a well known newspaper reporter in northeastern Kansas, appeared as its editor and publisher, and remained in charge until May 11, 1905, when he turned it over to J. W. Thompson and his wife, Mrs. J. W. Thompson. On August 17, 1905, the Thompsons leased the paper to R. J. Wilson, but in the following December Mr. Thompson resumed control again and placed Howard C. King in charge as local editor and business manager. On March 22, 1906, W. A. Remsburg became proprietor and in the following September, J. E. Remsburg purchased the plant, and is now its editor.

The Potter Kansan is one of the best known country weekly papers in Kansas and the contributions from the pen of George J. Remsburg, the noted archaeologist and newspaper paragrapher and poet, are frequently quoted by the newspapers of the State.

Atchison county, perhaps, has been the graveyard for as many newspapers as any other county in the State. The State Historical Society has reserved the record, and in many instances, the files, of newspapers, which have been born, and after a brief existence, have died in this county.

The first rival newspaper of the Champion, then the Squatter Sovereign, was the Sumner Gazette, published at Sumner in 1857. It survived only a short time, as also did the Western Spy, which lived a few months in 1860.

In 1857 The Kansas Zeitung was started by Kab & Sussman, but was moved to Leavenworth in 1859.

Half a dozen papers sprung up in 1862 and 1863, among which were: The Pleifer, The Bulletin, The Union-Banner, The Anti-Jayhawker, The Standard, and Die Tackle.

In 1873 the anti John A. Martin crowd, headed by John M. Price, started a Republican daily and weekly, called the Globe, with A. W. Wagnhals, J. B. Dutton, Rev. E. Cooper, T. F. Smith and Franklin G. Adams as the principal writers. It lasted but a few months. Wagnhals subsequently changed his name to Wagnalls, and moved to New York City, where he became a great publisher as a member of the firm of Funk & Wagnalls, which published the Standard Dictionary and a number of other well known publications.

The following list shows the different publications received by the Historical Society from Atchison county at the end of the year 1915:

Among the numerous publications that have enjoyed a brief existence in this county, are the following:

Kansas Churchman, published at Atchison from November, 1891, to December, 1892. Rev. E. K. Brooke was editor. This publication had been published at Salina, Kan., previously, and from Atchison was removed to Lawrence.

Arrington Argus, started by T. W. Gardner, and was suspended after the tenth number.

The American Journal of Education was published at Atchison and St. Louis, Mo., by Messrs. J. B. Merwin and I. C. Scott, in 1870.

The Atchisonian, established March 24, 1877, by the Atchison Publishing Company. This paper was a six column, eight page affair, with a patent inside. The last issue appeared May 26, 1877.

Atchison Daily Times was started February 3, 1887, by John N. Reynolds, but after the seventh issue the paper was changed to a weekly, and called the Atchison Weekly Times, from March 19 to July 2, 1887. The next issue was dated July 11, 1887, and was again called The Atchison Daily Times, and ran as such until August 6, 1887, when it suspended. John N. Reynolds was in many ways, a unique character. He came to Atchison as the organizer and manager of a live stock insurance company. He was at one time a preacher, and his career in Atchison was remarkable for its violence and his disregard for both the proprieties and the ethics of the newspaper profession, he was looked upon by many as an irresponsible demagogue, and it was supposed that he ran his paper for blackmailing purposes. The story goes that during his management of the live stock insurance company, he incurred an advertising bill with one of the local papers, and failing to pay the bill, the editor of the local paper, instead of having recourse to the courts, began to heap abuse upon Reynolds, and using this as a pretext, Reynolds established the Times, for the purpose of retaliation. As the result of this episode, Reynolds became very violent in his denunciation of many men of established reputations in the community, and during the time that he published his paper there was much excitement of an undesirable character in the city. Reynolds finally landed in the Kansas State penitentiary, having served a term previously in the Missouri State penitentiary. He wrote a book subsequently, relating largely to his treatment in these two institutions, which he entitled “The Twin Hells.” For a short period he edited his paper from the county jail in Atchison, but in 1888 J. A. Sunderland took hold of the Times, and it was published up to January 31, 1891.

The Sunday Morning Call was started by the Call Printing Company, with Frank Pearce as editor and publisher, and was first issued in magazine form February 8, 1880. March 28, 1880, Barton Lowe & Company became editors and publishers, enlarging the paper to a five column folio. January 3, 1881, Luther L. Higby appears as a member of the firm, but with the issue of October 9, 1881, Luther L. Higby became sole owner. November 6, 1881, C. F. Cochrane became one of the editors, and January 18, 1882, Chris Rutt became a partner of Mr. Higby, and this firm sold the plant to Herman J. Rodman October 22, 1882, who continued it until November 18, 1883, when the name was changed to The Western Mercury, with E. J. Van Deventer and H. J. Rodman as publishers, and it was continued until about 1886.

The Missouri Valley Farmer was published by A. J. Felt during the time that Mr. Felt was editor of the Champion. The first issue of the Farmer was dated January 5, 1893, and it continued until August 18, 1898, at which time it was sold to C. M. Sheldon, who also became owner of the Champion, and the Missouri Valley Farmer was moved to Kansas City.

The New West was a monthly journal of immigration, published by the Immigrant Union, that was established in Atchison in August, 1878. It was issued in magazine form and contained about sixteen pages of reading matter. The earlier numbers of the publication were printed at Hannibal, Mo., and in 1878 H. H. Allen, who was for many years a real estate operator in Atchison, became the editor of this paper. Mr. Allen subsequently sold the property to J. G. P. Hilderbrand, who later turned the property over to two men by the names of Berry and Henry. The last issue appeared about July, 1880.

Atchison Baptist was a monthly magazine, printed by the City Mission Publication Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa., in the interests of the First Baptist church, of Atchison. It lasted about three years, and W. H. Park was the local editor.

Kansas Agriculturist was a weekly publication, which was established July 18, 1898, and probably died about March 20, 1899.

The Atchison Blade was established July 16, 1892, and published by the Blade Publishing Company, composed of Dr. Grant Brown, Natt G. Langston, and Will Harris, three prominent negroes of Atchison. It was a four page, six column paper, and was operated, after several changes in the management, until about January 20, 1894. It again resumed publication November 5, 1897, and was run until September 19, 1898, by H. Lewis Dorsey.

The Kansas Statesman, Atchison, was established February 15, 1901, by G. W. Myers & Sons, office, 315 Commercial street. This paper was absorbed by the Atchison Champion, after the issue of October 11, 1901.

The Trades Union, Atchison, was founded September 5, 1885, by Frank Hall, R. Tompkins, and James W. Reilly. This paper was the official paper of the Kansas State Assembly of the Knights of Labor, office, 521 Commercial street. The last issue on file is dated November 6, 1886, and the paper moved to Topeka after this date.

The Atchison Banner was a German paper, and C. F. Ruth was editor and publisher. This was a seven column, four page paper, and was founded March 1, 1878. It was enlarged to an eight column paper the same year. It supported the Republican State ticket in 1878. The paper was suspended after the issue of July 12, 1879.

The Bible Investigator was a monthly publication, started about July, 1881, by William Kirby and A. D. Stevens. It was printed by W. H. Haskell & Son, who for many years conducted a prosperous printing business in Atchison. The editor was William Kirby, and a Mr. Stevens was the manager, both of whom were residents of Doniphan, and a notice in the paper asked that communications for either one should be addressed to that place. It was in operation about five months.

Atchison’s Monthly was published by W. H. Haskell & Son, and the managing editor was Herman J. Rodman. It did not last long.

Sentinel of the Northwest was a monthly publication, of which Dr. A. H. Lamphear was editor. The only issue of which there is any record was Volume 1, No. 1, date January 1, 1883.

Sunday Morning Facts was published by E. W. Beal from September 2, 1883, until about February 3, 1884.

Der Humorist, was as the title indicates, a German publication, with L. Willstaedt as its publisher. This paper, or magazine, was also short lived, lasting less than a year.

Atchison Sunday Morning Sermon, published by J. W. and J. M. Tanner. First issue was June 1, 1884, and the last issue about July 27, 1884.

Atchison Advance, published by Frank Hall and Dr. H. B. Horn. The first issue of the paper was November 5, 1884, and the last issue was January 3, 1885.

The Messachorean was started in 1887, and issued about every two months. It was devoted to the interest of Midland College, and edited by the faculty. It died about June, 1888.

The Atchison Daily Bee was one of John N. Reynolds’ enterprises, which started March 25, 1889, and suspended April 4, 1889.

The Tradesman was a monthly publication, devoted to the trade unionism, and was edited by Robert Tompkins, the veteran editor and publisher.

Stebbins & Talbot’s Real Estate Record, established in 1869, by C. I. Stebbins, W. R. Stebbins and J. H. Talbot. This was, as its name implies, a publication devoted to booming real estate in Atchison county and vicinity.

Kansas Monthly Souvenir was published by Fitch Rice & Company from February, 1873, to sometime in June of the same year.

Gardner’s Real Estate Bulletin was another real estate journal, published monthly, by C. V. Gardner in 1873.

The Short Line Advocate was issued by the Atchison & Denver Railroad Company in 1879.

Der Courier was another German publication, published at Atchison and Topeka, by Edward F. Fleischer in 1879.

The Public Ledger was started August 19, 1880, by W. J. Granger. It supported the National Greenback ticket of that year, and October 30, 1888, Granger turned the paper over to E. A. Davis & Son, who ran it a short time. Mr. Granger returned to Atchison eighteen years later, and became a reporter on the Atchison Champion, and during the interval published papers in Effingham and other places. In 1915 he was the publisher and owner of the Nettawaka Talk.

The Western Farm Home was a continuation of the New West Monthly. Its first issue was in January, 1881, with James P. Henry and George H. Pardee as editors and publishers. It suspended publication in October, 1881.

High School Quarterly was published at Effingham for the first time January, 1895, with S. J. Hunter, editor, and John W. Wilson, business manager. This magazine was published in the interests of the Atchison high school. It was subsequently changed to The High School Bulletin, after which it was issued regularly once a month during the school year. It suspended publication about September, 1902.

The Oracle was another Effingham publication, started December, 1901, which was conducted by Guy Hendrickson and the students of the Atchison high school, in the interests of that institution. It suspended publication about May, 1902.

The A. C. H. S. Newsletter was a monthly publication, started in February, 1901, by John W. Wilson, principal of the Atchison county high school. There were only three numbers of this paper, which was a monthly.

The Atchison County Visitor was still another Effingham publication, started by W. J. Granger March 10, 1905. Guy C. Hendrickson became business manager June 8, 1906, and the paper suspended during the year 1907.

The Potter Press, started April 8, 1898, with E. Campbell as editor, and Jewell & Campbell as publishers. It lasted until September 30, 1898, when it was consolidated with the Easton (Leavenworth county) Light. January 27, 1899, it resumed publication, with M. L. and K. Lockwood as editors, and E. E. Campbell as local editor, but again consolidated with the Easton Light September 1, 1899.

The Atchison County Recorder was started June 1, 1900, and published by the Lockwood Printing Company, of Atchison. Its last issue was dated October 26, 1900.

The Muscotah News was filed April 5, 1880, by Nash & Walkup, and lasted about three months.

The Weekly Journal was started by G. W. Messigh in Effingham September 2, 1892, who ran it until February 23, 1893, when it died.

The Arrington Times was started May 28, 1896, by W. A. Huff. In September of the same year its name was changed to The Atchison County Times, and it suspended sometime in 1897.

The Prairie Press was started in Lancaster May 12, 1888, with W. C. Adkins as editor and publisher, and it was run until March 7, 1890, when it was succeeded by the Huron Graphic.

The Huron Headlight, started March 13, 1884, and died on the same date.

The Huron Messenger was started July 2, 1884, by J. M. Warton, and also died on the same day it was born.

The Weekly Graphic, which succeeded to all the rights and privileges of the Prairie Press, of Lancaster, was started by W. C. Adkins April 5, 1890. Mr. Adkins ran this paper until March 28, 1891, at which time he sold it to J. A. Sunderland, of Atchison, who ran it until May 2, 1891, when Mr. Adkins again took control of the paper and ran it until the following fall.

The Huron Times was a kind of continuation of the Atchison Times, and Volume 4, No. 1, of this paper, was dated April 4, 1891. There were but four issues of the Times, after the plant was moved from Atchison to Huron, the last issue being dated April 25, 1891. J. A. Sunderland was also editor and publisher of this paper, after he moved it from Atchison to Huron. The Huron Times was a weekly publication, by G. E. Nichols, and was started February 22, 1901, and published seventeen times, when it died.

The Effingham Enterprise was founded about July 1, 1895, by W. H. Bright. It was short lived, and little is known of its history after the date just mentioned.

The Peoples’ Press was a party organ, started in August, 1883, by the Peoples’ Press Association, and suspended September 15 of the same year.

The New Kansas Magazine was started by Dr. W. H. Wynn, for many years a much beloved and greatly respected professor of English literature at Midland College. Dr. Wynn conceived the idea that there was a place for a monthly magazine in Atchison, to be conducted along the lines of the original Kansas Magazine, published in 1873, which contained some of the best literature that had ever been produced in Kansas. Associated with Dr. Wynn were Dr. W. W. Campbell, R. M. Manley, B. P. Waggener, H. M. Jackson, H. H. Allen, and A. J. Harwi. The first issue appeared February 18, 1892, and the last issue appeared September 30, 1893.

Midwest Moose Review was the official organ of the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, published monthly by Frank L. Danforth, editor. It was founded in 1912, and ran only a few months.

The Atchison Tribune was started in 1896, but the name of the editor and publisher are unknown.

The Western Chief is a monthly publication, devoted to the Order of Redmen, and was founded about April, 1909. Paul Tonsing is editor and publisher.

Benedictine Parish Monthly, started in Atchison, in March, 1907, and published by St. Benedict’s College, until January, 1910.

The College Review was published monthly in Lawrence and Atchison, by A. G. Coonrod and G. T. Smith, from 1891 to 1900. Coonrod & Smith were the owners of business colleges at Atchison and Lawrence.

Kansas Telegraph was a German paper, started by H. Von Langen December 23, 1880, and was published in Atchison until 1881, when it was removed to Topeka, where it was published for many years.

Atchison Journal was another German publication, started by John Hoenscheidt in 1880, but was short lived.

The Kansas Staats-Anzeiger was started in Topeka in 1879, and published until 1881, when it was moved to Atchison. It was also short lived.

Plain Facts was a weekly publication, started in Atchison October 4, 1897, and published by authority of twenty-five Atchison Populists, who were opposed to the election of George W. Glick, the so-called Populist candidates for State senator. It lasted three issues.

The Atchison Journal was the official publication of the Trades and Labor Council of Atchison. It started early in the year 1903, by W. J. Granger, and discontinued the last of November of the same year.

The Atchison Morning Star was a daily paper, published by J. A. Roulston, and started June 14, 1905, lasting until August 30, 1905.

The Atchison Tribune was a weekly publication, started March 27, 1896, by W. H. Higgins, and suspended publication July 16, 1896.

CHAPTER XV.
BANKS AND BANKING.

EARLY DAY BANKING—PIONEER FINANCIERS—THE OLDEST BANK—PRIVATE, STATE, AND NATIONAL BANKS—ATCHISON COUNTY BANKERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BANKING INSTITUTIONS.

Banking was a precarious business during the Territorial days in Kansas. There were no banks, as we know them, until January 29, 1857, when the Territorial legislature passed an act providing that every company or association of persons formed for banking purposes within the Territory, and without an act of legislature authorizing the same, should be deemed unlawful. Upon the passage of this act, the first bank authorized to do business under it was The Kansas Valley Bank, of Leavenworth, with an authorized capital stock of $800,000.00, with five branches, at Atchison, LeCompton, Doniphan, Ft. Scott and Shawnee. The authorized capital stock of each one of the branches was $300,000.00, and under the terms of the act, each branch was independent of the Leavenworth institution. The great Government Overland Transportation Company of Majors Smoot-Russell & Company was the big financial power behind this organization. The Leavenworth bank was never formed, and the Atchison branch was the first to start out under this act of the legislature, being authorized to begin business February 19, 1857, with securities amounting to $100,000. Dr. John H. Stringfellow, Joseph Plean and Samuel Dickson were authorized to open subscription books. The board of directors included Samuel C. Pomeroy, who was president: W. H. Russell, L. R. Smoot, W. B. Waddell, Franklin G. Adams, Samuel Dickson and W. E. Gaylord. Shortly after the bank began business there were rumors emanating from the rival towns of Sumner and Doniphan that the Atchison institution was about to suspend, and for the purpose of allaying any suspicion on the part of the public, created by these rumors, the directors published a statement of its condition, showing that the assets were $36,638.00, with liabilities of $20,118.00. In July or August, 1857, L. S. Boling, of LeCompton, was appointed to examine and report on the financial condition of the Atchison branch of the Kansas Valley Bank, and this is the first record in Kansas of a proceeding of this kind.

Samuel C. Pomeroy resigned as president of the bank in 1858, and was succeeded by William H. Russell, of the contracting firm of Majors-Smoot-Russell & Company. G. H. Fairchild was made vice-president, and R. L. Pease, cashier.

In 1861, this bank, then called the Kansas Valley Bank, had its name changed by act of the legislature, to the Bank of the State of Kansas, and it was conducted under that name until 1866, when the stockholders wound up its affairs.

The legitimate successor of the Bank of the State of Kansas was Hetherington’s Exchange Bank, which was founded in 1859 by William Hetherington.

The Exchange National Bank, of Atchison, Kan., is the oldest banking institution in the city of Atchison, having been established in 1859, while Kansas was a Territory. The bank was then named the Hetherington Exchange Bank. That bank became the successor of the Bank of the State of Kansas, which was organized in 1857. The founder of the Hetherington Exchange Bank was William Hetherington, and, except for one year during the Civil war, it has been in successful operation since it was established. It passed through the period of its existence during Territorial days, and the depressing financial conditions as a result of the war, and business reversals incident to the reconstruction period, and its management was at all times conducted upon the theory of its motto adopted by William Hetherington in an early day that “Safety First” in all of its business transactions was the secret of success.

The bank’s first business home was in the Otis & Glick building, opposite the Byram Hotel. In 1869 it was moved to the Hetherington building, at the northwest corner of Fourth and Commercial streets. Later on, and in 1885, the bank was moved to the southwest corner of Sixth and Commercial streets, into the building erected by its president, William Hetherington, where it has since been located.

In 1876, William Hetherington admitted into the firm, as a partner, Webster W. Hetherington, his eldest son, and in 1881, Clifford S. Hetherington, his youngest son, became associated with him. In the year 1882 the Hetherington Exchange Bank was incorporated under the laws of Congress, as a National bank, under the name of The Exchange National Bank of Atchison, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, and surplus of $20,000, and at once took high rank as one of the strongest and most conservative banks in northeastern Kansas, and has ever since maintained that reputation.

The Exchange National Bank was organized with William Hetherington as president, August Byram, vice-president, Webster W. Hetherington, cashier, and C. S. Hetherington, assistant cashier. In 1890, upon the death of its president, William Hetherington, Webster W. Hetherington was elected president, B. P. Waggener, vice-president, and C. S. Hetherington, cashier. In 1892, upon the death of its then president, Webster W. Hetherington, B. P. Waggener was elected president, A. J. Harwi, vice-president, W. P. Waggener, vice-president, C. S. Hetherington, cashier, C. W. Ferguson, assistant cashier, and Webster Wirt Hetherington, teller. In October, 1906, C. S. Hetherington, the cashier, died, and C. W. Ferguson was elected cashier, and Webster Wirt Hetherington, assistant cashier, and Edgar Mattocks, teller. In April 1907, the capital stock of the bank was increased to $200,000.00 with a surplus of $50,000, and ex-Governor W. J. Bailey was elected vice-president and managing officer of the bank, which position he has since held. Upon the death of A. J. Harwi, his son, Frank E. Harwi, was elected director, and succeeded his father, A. J. Harwi, as vice-president, which position he now holds.

In 1892 the bank adopted a by-law, which prohibited any officer or director of the bank from borrowing any money from it, or becoming an endorser or surety on any obligation or note to the bank, since which time no officer or director of the bank has been permitted to borrow any of its funds on deposit. The wisdom of this by-law adopted in 1892 has repeatedly been approved by the comptroller of the currency. The management of the Exchange National Bank has adopted and adhered to this policy, because it believes that a bank officer or director should not be permitted, under any circumstances or in any emergency, to use any of its deposits in any of his own personal speculations or ventures.

In February, 1914, Webster Wirt Hetherington was appointed cashier, and Edgar Mattocks was elected assistant cashier, and George L. Wolfe, teller.

While the bank is known far and wide throughout the State of Kansas for its conservatism, yet it makes an effort to accommodate all business institutions in the city of Atchison entitled to assistance and credit. It aims to be a distinctive Atchison institution.

Luther C. Challiss appeared as a banker in the city directory of 1859 and 1861, operating his bank at the corner of Second and Commercial streets, but not much is known of this institution.

First National Bank was organized on the first day of October, 1866, by David Auld, with the following as the first board of directors: David Auld, Henry Kuhn, H. H. Moulton, George Scarborough, C. G. Foster, D. C. Newcomb, and J. M. Linley. David Auld was elected president, George Scarborough, vice-president, and W. R. Stebbins as cashier. For thirty-eight years this bank was under the careful and conservative management of David Auld, who died in October, 1904, and was succeeded by his son, David Auld, Jr. The bank began business in July, 1867, and since that time has been one of the strongest financial institutions in the West. It has always had the benefit of the services of experienced men in the banking business, and has followed a conservative policy during the whole of its existence. In 1910 the controlling interest in the First National Bank was purchased by the Commercial State Bank, which was organized in Atchison in 1906 by Sheffield Ingalls and O. A. Simmons. In the merger that took place the Commercial State Bank was absorbed by the First National Bank, and has continued under the latter name to maintain its high standard of conservatism, and with the introduction of new blood and new methods, it embarked upon a policy of service which has redounded to the lasting benefit of the community. The present officials of this institution are as follows: Edward Perdue, president; J. H. Barry, chairman of the board; O. A. Simmons, first vice-president and manager; J. M. Schott, second vice-president; Charles Linley, cashier; George H. Edwards, assistant cashier; F. J. Ledoux, assistant cashier.

The directors represent varied business interests of this city and county, and are as follows: Edward Perdue, J. H. Barry, O. A. Simmons, Charles Linley, J. M. Schott, C. C. McCarthy, August Manglesdorf, Leo Nusbaum, Sheffield Ingalls, A. E. Mize, M. Noll and W. T. Hutson.

The Atchison Savings Bank claims the distinction of being “The Oldest State Bank in Kansas,” having enjoyed a continuous corporate existence of over forty-six years.

R. A. Park was its organizer and first cashier, and in June, 1869, it opened its doors for business in a brick one-story building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets. At that time most of the business was centered close to the river, and this was considered quite an “up town” location, but time has vindicated the judgment of its early director in anticipating the westward growth of the town. With the expectation of building thereon the bank early acquired title to the lot at the southwest corner of Fifth and Commercial streets, but subsequently disposed of it to the late Ex-Governor John A. Martin, who built the Champion building thereon, and the bank moved to its present quarters, which it had acquired, and still owns, at the southeast corner of Fifth and Commercial.

William C. Smith (father of Henry T. Smith) was the first president but the late Judge A. G. Otis soon thereafter succeeded him and remained president until 1891.

Thomas Murphy (father of John Murphy and one of the builders of the present Cain Mill Company mill), W. W. Guthrie, Julius Kuhn, C. J. Drury, Col. Wm. Osborn, J. W. Parker, and other men prominent in the business and social life of that period were among its early stockholders and directors, while for seventeen years the late T. C. Platt served as teller, and by his affability and faculty of remembering people, made many friends for the institution. A baseball bat, kept under the counter, was his weapon for defending the funds in his care. Courtney Challiss, George H. Lawton, “Vode” Kathrens, Lowenholt, O. Orlopp and Will H. Bryning and others also served varying terms as early employees and will be remembered for their distinctive personalities. An apothecary’s scale for weighing gold dust was part of the early equipment, but one trial was sufficient to prove the presence of too much dust and too little gold in the commodity offered. For almost twenty years the bank ran with but few restrictions from the State, the law simply requiring it to file an annual statement of its capital, surplus, etc., with list of stockholders and officers, and publish a statement of its financial condition as of some one day in the year. Needless to say the day selected was usually one on which the deposits, loans and resources would make a satisfactory showing, but about 1890 the legislature enacted a banking law, which has since been several times perfected by amendments, which brought this and all other State banks under its provisions, and the supervision of a State bank commissioner, with cast iron restrictions as to the relative amounts of loans, cash reserves, etc., and although some of the requirements seemed unduly severe to those accustomed to the former unrestrained exercise of their own individual judgment, few would now deny that it was wise and much needed legislation.

Following the retirement from the bank in 1891 of Judge Otis, Col. William Osborn became president, serving until his death, when R. A. Park succeeded to the office and served until his death in 1902. C. J. Drury being elected his successor and giving the institution his services for about a year, seconded by J. T. Hersey as vice-president, but both these gentlemen then retired upon the acquisition of a majority of the stock by Messrs. T. M. Walker, J. C. Fox and F. M. Baker. Of later years the growth of the bank has been marked, the capital and surplus having repeatedly been enlarged, and deposits and loans having shown a corresponding increase. The late Theodore Bartholow added his ripe experience as a successful banker to the board of directors, while F. G. Crowell, Joseph W. Allen, William Carlisle, with Messrs. Walker, Baker and Fox and others as stockholders and directors gave the institution a State-wide prominence.

R. A. Park, the second, who resigned as vice-president in 1911 to engage in business elsewhere, entered the bank in 1881; became cashier in 1892; elected vice-president in 1910, being succeeded as cashier by F. M. Woodford, who entered the bank’s employ in 1900 as bookkeeper.

C. W. Ferguson, formerly cashier of the Exchange National Bank, has recently been elected a vice-president of the Savings Bank, and the present officers and directors are as follows: T. M. Walker, president; Joseph W. Allen, vice-president; C. W. Ferguson, vice-president; F. M. Woodford, cashier; W. T. Fox, assistant cashier.

The German-American State Bank of Atchison was chartered May 15, 1912, and began doing business June 21, 1912. Its original board of directors was composed of Louis W. Voigt, Henry Klostermeier, William Klostermeier, F. A. Manglesdorf, L. A. Libel, G. T. Bolman, and F. A. Manglesdorf. Three months later the charter was amended and Charles Haase and W. A. Dilgert were added to the board of directors. This bank was organized with a capital stock of $50,000, and a surplus account of $10,000. At the first meeting of the board of directors, the following officers were elected: Louis W. Voigt, president; Henry Klostermeier, vice-president; William Klostermeier, vice-president; F. A. Manglesdorf, cashier.

At the time the membership of the board was increased, Guy Elwell was elected assistant cashier. This bank occupies handsome quarters at the southeast corner of Eighth and Commercial streets, and has shown a remarkable growth since its organization. The only change in the board of directors that has been made since its organization was the substitution of E. F. Manglesdorf for his brother, A. F. Manglesdorf. At the close of the first business day of the bank it had deposits aggregating $25,000, and at the end of one year the deposits had increased to $248,000, and at the end of the second year it was $323,000, and at the end of the third year it was $425,000, and in 1915 it boasted of total deposits amounting to $525,000, with a surplus and undivided account of $21,000. This bank has had an able set of officers, and its directors are among the most influential and substantial citizens of the community. It started in by making an aggressive campaign for business, and it accomplished what it went after. The institution is conducted along broad and conservative lines, and renders not only good service to its many patrons, but to the community as well.

German Savings Bank.—This institution was organized in 1873, with the following officers: George Storch, president; Robert Forbriger, vice-president; John Belz, cashier.

The capital stock of the bank was $10,000 and its deposits were about $100,000. It conducted a general banking business, together with a regular savings department in connection therewith. This bank was located at 406 Commercial street, and wound up its affairs in 1886, when it was merged with the United States National Bank and the Dime Savings Bank, both of which failed.

The Atchison National Bank.—This bank was organized April 1, 1873, by John M. Price as president; M. Barratt as cashier. G. D. Harrison succeeded Mr. Price as president, in which capacity he served until 1878, at which time he was succeeded by C. J. Drury, with R. H. Ballentine as vice-president. When this bank commenced business it had a capital of $100,000, but in 1877 it was reduced to $50,000. It was located for many years at 503 Commercial street, afterwards moving to what is now the Simpson building, in the corner occupied by the Barth Clothing Company, where it failed in 19—.

The Atchison State Bank.—This bank was organized prior to 1891, and went into voluntary liquidation March 24, 1898, at which time John M. Cain was president and cashier, and John H. Murray was secretary. It was located on West Main street, near the corner of Thirteenth street.

The Commercial State bank was chartered September 8, 1906, and began business October 31 of the same year, and subsequently merged with the First National Bank March 24, 1910.

The Union Trust Company was chartered February 28, 1907, and was organized by B. P. Waggener, with a paid-up capital stock of $100,000. March 24, 1909, his charter was amended and it became the Exchange State Bank of Atchison, the officers of which are: F. E. Harwi, president, and Edward Iverson, cashier. This bank has a paid-up capital of $50,000, with surplus and undivided profits of $34,776.91, with average deposits of $350,000. It is one of the strong State banking institutions of Kansas, and is doing a prosperous business.

Atchison county has a number of strong, flourishing banks, located at Effingham, Muscotah, Potter, Huron, Lancaster and Cummings.

The Farmers and Merchants State Bank, at Effingham, was organized in 1905, with a capital of $12,000 by A. J. Smith, U. B. Sharpless, Fred Sutter, R. M. Thomas and J. W. Davis. Since its organization there have been a few changes among the officers and the board of directors, and in 1915 the officers were: Fred Sutter, president; L. T. Hawk, vice-president; E. J. Kelley, cashier; D. R. Gerety, assistant cashier. The present board of directors is as follows: Fred Sutter, L. T. Hawk, Alex. McKay, U. B. Sharpless, E. J. Kelley.

The capital stock and surplus in 1915 exceeds $15,000, and the bank’s average deposits are about $120,000. In 1910 a handsome and commodious brick building was erected at the corner of Main and Howard streets for its new home, and it was fitted with attractive new fixtures and a burglar-proof vault of modern structures, at a cost of $4,000. This institution is purely a local concern, financed by local capital; all of the stockholders reside in Effingham and vicinity, and comprise leading merchants and farmers of the Effingham district.

The State Bank of Effingham was organized in 1889, and occupies its own quarters in a substantial and commodious brick building on the Main street of Effingham, which was erected in 1897. In 1912 handsome new fixtures and a burglar-proof vault were purchased at large cost. The first president of this bank was Wesley Cummings, and the first cashier was Gilbert Campbell, with Harvey Sharp as assistant cashier and bookkeeper. Mr. Cummings continued as president until his death in 1899, and was succeeded by L. A. Murphy, who in turn was succeeded by T. J. Bohannon, who served until his death, August 29, 1915. A. M. Ellsworth became cashier in 1892, and was succeeded by W. M. Walker, who served in that capacity until 1905, when he is turn was succeeded by Clarence L. Cummings, the present cashier of this substantial and growing institution. The president officers of the bank are as follows: R. G. Bohannon, president; A. E. Mayhew, vice-president; C. L. Cummings, cashier; Carl B. Searls, bookkeeper. The directors are: H. A. McLenon, A. E. Mayhew, R. G. Bohannon and C. L. Cummings. The capital stock is $20,000, with surplus of $13,500 and deposits average $100,000. This institution is one of the most flourishing banks in the county, and its officers and directors are substantial business men and farmers, who are not only highly regarded in Effingham and vicinity, but throughout all of northeastern Kansas.

The State Bank of Lancaster was organized March, 1896, by W. W. Stepp, Mark S. Cloyes, C. L. Cummings, T. J. Bohannon, and Dr. A. L. Charles. T. J. Bohannon was elected its first president, and C. L. Cummings its first cashier. It had a capital stock of $5,000, which subsequently was increased to $10,000, and in 1915 it had a surplus of $5,000, with deposits aggregating $80,000. The present directors of this bank are as follows (1915): M. J. Hines, C. E. Smith, A. J. Smith, J. F. Shell and M. E. Smith, and its present officers are: M. J. Hines, president; C. E. Smith, vice-president; A. J. Smith, cashier, and C. G. Stickler, assistant cashier.

The State Bank of Cummings was organized by H. J. Barber and E. W. Kaufman in 1908, with a capital stock of $10,000. E. W. Kaufman was elected president; B. F. Cline, vice-president, and H. J. Barber, cashier. The capital stock in 1915 was $10,000, with a surplus of $5,000 and deposits aggregating $60,000. A neat and substantial brick building was erected for banking quarters and equipped with handsome fixtures and burglar-proof vault, at a cost of $3,500. The officers of the bank in 1916 were as follows: President, John Ferris; cashier, H. J. Barber, and the directors were John Ferris, H. J. Barber, C. A. Lewis, William Hegarty and F. W. Kaufman. The bank is in a thrifty condition, and has shown a steady increase in growth from the date of its organization.

The Farmers’ State Bank of Potter, Kan., was organized in 1905 by B. C. Daum, C. K. Hawley, P. C. Grenier, Arthur Davis, James Grapengieszer, Fred Potter, John Niemann, C. L. Cline, J. H. Glancy, who subsequently became directors of this enterprising institution. The capital stock was fixed at $12,000 and the first president of the bank was B. C. Daum, and the first cashier was C. K. Hawley. There are thirty-two stockholders in this institution, who are practically all farmers, residing in the immediate neighborhood of Potter. In 1916 the officers were as follows: President, P. C. Grenier; cashier, A. H. Manglesdorf; vice-president, C. E. Hudson, and the capital stock was $12,000, with a surplus of $5,500 and deposits aggregating $80,000.

It is unusual to find two substantial banking institutions in a town the size of Potter, as it is supposed that one bank in such a community would meet all the requirements of its citizens.

The Potter State Bank preceded the organization of the Farmers’ State Bank five years. It was organized in 1900 by O. A. Simmons, L. M. Jewell and Fred Ode, with a capital stock of $5,000. O. A. Simmons remained the active cashier and manager of the bank for two years, being succeeded by L. M. Jewell in 1902, who served until 1906. Mr. Jewell was succeeded by H. A. Ode. A new brick building was erected for this very enterprising financial institution in 1909, and equipped with new modern fixtures and a fine burglar-proof vault. The capital stock of this bank in 1916 was $10,000, with a surplus of $10,000 and deposits aggregating $125,000. The officers for that year were as follows: President, L. M. Jewell; vice-president, Fred Ode; cashier, H. A. Ode, and in addition to the officers, the following prominent farmers of Walnut and Mount Pleasant townships are directors: C. N. Faulcomer, C. W. Carson, E. H. Blodgett and Adam Ehart. There are over seventeen stockholders, all of whom are prosperous and well to do farmers, living in the vicinity of Potter. This bank has grown rapidly, both in prestige and strength since its organization, and its average net annual profits since its organization have been about $2,000.

The Muscotah State Bank was organized by George Storch in 1870, as a private bank, who remained in charge until about 1890, when Mr. Storch sold his interest to Harvey and Calvert. This firm conducted the bank as a private institution until about January 1, 1902, when it was organized into a State bank, with A. B. Harvey, president, and J. H. Calvert, cashier. Mr. Harvey remained president until about 1910, and in that year C. C. Hart became its cashier. The officers of this institution in 1916 were as follows: A. D. Wilcox, president; C. C. Hart, vice-president; R. A. Allison, cashier. The directors are: A. D. Wilcox, C. C. Hart, A. H. Calvert, M. E. Bevens, R. A. Allison and Thomas Ryan. The capital stock is $10,000.00, with a surplus of $10,000.00, and deposits aggregating $100,000.00. This institution is the oldest bank outside of the city of Atchison, and remains today one of the most substantial financial institutions in this part of the State.

The Huron State Bank was organized in 1891, with a capital stock of $10,000. The first directors were Edward Perdue, John Swartz, John Drohan, John English, David Rouse, David Rouse, Jr., and T. B. Marshall. Its first officers were Edward Perdue, president; John Swartz, vice-president, and W. C. McLain, cashier. This is one of the substantial banks of the county, and showed by one of its last statements a capital stock of $10,000, with surplus fund of $5,000.00 and deposits aggregating $80,000.00. Its officers in 1916 are as follows: Edward Perdue, president; David Rouse, Jr., vice-president, C. E. Smith, cashier, and Cloyd Smith, assistant cashier. In addition to the officers, T. B. Smith, Jr., is the fifth director.

Mr. Perdue, who is the president of this bank, is one of the leading citizens of Atchison county, and in addition to being president of the Huron bank, is also president of the First National Bank of Atchison.

C. E. Smith, the cashier, is also one of the well known and most conservative bankers of the State, and the officers and directors of this institution have reason to be proud of the splendid growth and standing of their institution.

The Farmers State Bank of Muscotah was organized and opened for business February 21, 1910, with a capital stock of $10,000. It now has a surplus and undivided account of approximately $5,000, and its deposits average $70,000. The first directors were L. Cortelyou, A. T. Cortelyou, L. Cortelyou, Jr., and H. M. Turner, who came from Moberly, Mo. W. M. Walker, of Atchison, was one of the organizers of this institution, but he sold his interest a few weeks after organization and was succeeded by William Buckles on the board of directors. L. Cortelyou was elected president, and H. M. Turner, cashier, and they have continued as the active officers of the bank. The present board of directors consists of L. Cortelyou, William Buckles, M. C. Vansell, John Sullivan, J. W. A. Miller and H. M. Turner. As this history is written it is said that there has been a consolidation of the two Muscotah banks, under the name of the Farmers State Bank. A charter has been granted and the new institution will have a capital of $15,000. L. Cortelyou is to be the president, H. M. Turner, cashier, and Ralph Allison, assistant cashier. The bank will continue to occupy the present quarters of the Farmers State Bank, and the merger, when effected, will give Muscotah one of the best banks in the county.

The Commerce Trust Company of Atchison, with a paid-up capital stock of $100,000, received its charter from the State February 11, 1916. The first meeting of the board of directors was held in the office of the Commerce Investment Company on the evening of February 19, 1916, at which time the following officers were elected: President, Sheffield Ingalls; vice-presidents, Henry Diegel, A. J. Schoenecker, M. J. Horan; treasurer, Ellsworth Ingalls; secretary, Frank H. Manglesdorf; trust officer, H. A. Schoenecker; general counsel, J. M. Challiss. The following named citizens were the first directors of the company: H. A. Schoenecker, Henry Diegel, J. C. Killarney, O. A. Simmons, A. J. Schoenecker, Ellsworth Ingalls, T. E. Snowden, Clive Hastings, M. J. Horan, F. H. Manglesdorf, H. E. Muchnic and Sheffield Ingalls. The company is a development of the Commerce Investment Company, established in 1910, and does a general trust business, as provided by the laws of Kansas. It began business March 2, 1916.

CHAPTER XVI.
CHURCHES.

METHODIST—CHRISTIAN—PRESBYTERIAN—BAPTIST—SALEM CHURCH—GERMAN EVANGELICAL ZION CHURCH—FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST—ST. PATRICK’S, MT. PLEASANT—TRINITY CHURCH, EPISCOPAL—ST. MARK’S, ENGLISH LUTHERAN—ST. BENEDICT’S ABBEY—FIRST GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Methodism was introduced into Atchison by the Rev. James Shaw, who had been a prominent member of the Detroit conference, both as pastor and missionary among the Indians along the Lake Superior district, and also as presiding elder. Being in poor health and desiring a new location, he came to Leavenworth in March, 1856, and finding that Leavenworth was already provided with a pastor, he proceeded to Atchison. He did not find Atchison very friendly toward preachers when he arrived, and the Pardee Butler incident was fresh in the minds of the people at that time. So the Rev. Mr. Shaw went farther north, to Doniphan and Geary City, which were Free State towns. He soon thereafter went to Detroit for his family, and soon after his return to Geary City, he was appointed as pastor at Atchison and Monrovia. He preached his first sermon in May, 1857, in the office of S. C. Pomeroy, which was located on the corner of Third and Commercial streets, and this was the first sermon from the lips of a preacher of any denomination that was delivered in Atchison. He organized the Methodist Episcopal church in January, 1858, with members from various denominations. The first services were held in a room in the building on the southeast corner of Second and Commercial streets. He later raised $2,000 for a new church building, S. C. Pomeroy, O. F. Short and Robert McBratney each pledging $500, on condition that the new building should be located on the north side of Parallel street, near Fifth street.

Rev. I. F. Collins succeeded Mr. Shaw, and Rev. C. H. Lovejoy, who had been preaching at Lawrence for two years, was sent to Sumner. Upon the arrival of Mr. Collins, he at once began the erection of the new church building on Parallel street, the two lots on which the building was subsequently erected being donated by the Atchison Town Company. The trustees of the church at that time were: John T. Dougherty, Edwin O. Collins, Archie C. Master, David F. Beagle, William A. Butler, Joseph H. Gilbert, Robert Hancock, Cyrus A. Comstock and Calvin W. Phelps. The church building was completed in April, 1859, and was fifty-eight feet long and thirty-two feet wide. It had a seating capacity of 350 people, and cost $3,075. The structure was dedicated May 8, 1859, and Rev. Hugh D. Fisher, the famous Free State Methodist preacher, came up from Leavenworth and assisted in the dedication. During the first year in the new church, two young men came to Atchison, who afterwards became successful and honored citizens of the town, Samuel Gard and D. C. Newcomb. They subsequently formed a partnership and conducted a drygoods store under the name of Gard & Newcomb, which for many years remained one of the leading firms of the city. Mr. Gard died many years ago, and in 1915 Mr. Newcomb still lives. The Methodist church, perhaps, owes more to D. C. Newcomb than any other man who was ever identified with it. His money, business sagacity and consecration have made possible the success of Methodism in Atchison. His motto has always been, “It is safe to do right, and unsafe to do wrong.”

Butcher, Auld & Dean, famous contractors of an early day, who built the first railroad between Atchison and St. Joseph, with their families, united with the Methodist church and became stanch supporters of it. J. C. Reisner, who came to Atchison in 1858, and his wife, Rebecca, were also prominent early members of the church. They built the Tremont House, which for a great many years was the leading hotel, located where the Burlington freight house now stands. Rev. Dr. Christian F. Reisner, pastor of Grace Church, New York City, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Reisner. The fourth session of the Kansas-Nebraska conference, which met in Omaha in May, 1859, returned Rev. Collins to Atchison, and during that year Mr. and Mrs. John M. Crowell and the McCulley brothers united with the church. In December, 1859, Abraham Lincoln, on his visit to Kansas, spoke in the little church edifice on Parallel street, reference to which has already been made in this history. In the fifth session of the Kansas-Nebraska conference, Rev. Milton Mahen was appointed to Atchison. It was a critical period in the history of the town, and the Rev. Mahen was admonished to be very cautious on the question of slavery, but he had courage and patriotism enough to order the Stars and Stripes hoisted on his church. That year T. B. Davis and his wife, Kathryn, came to Atchison and became useful members. “Grandma” Davis is living in 1916, and on February 21, 1915, celebrated her ninetieth birthday. Owing to the great drought that visited Atchison in 1860, the church did not prosper greatly during the period of Mr. Mahen’s pastorate, but in the succeeding session of the Kansas conference, which met March 21, 1861, Mr. Mahen was returned to Atchison, and it was during this year that a severe storm, which destroyed Sumner, wrecked the church building so that extensive repairs were necessary. In the seventh session of the Kansas conference, March, 1862, the Rev. Mr. James Shaw was returned to Atchison.

W. M. Davies was the superintendent of the Sunday school, having been elected in 1859. In 1863 Rev. W. Marlatt was appointed for Atchison, and March 10, 1864, Mr. Marlatt was succeeded by Dr. W. R. Davis, who had been president of Baker University. Rev. Mr. Davis was retained in March, 1865, by the tenth session of the conference, and was succeeded by Rev. W. K. Marshall. Mr. Marshall was returned to Atchison in 1867, and in March, 1868, Rev. Hugh D. Fisher, who was known during the war as the “fighting chaplain,” was made pastor at Atchison. He found conditions rather discouraging, but went to work to pay off the debts on the church property and repair the building. He created a great deal of interest in the town in religious matters, and the little church building on Parallel street having become too small, two lots on the corner of Fifth and Kansas avenue were purchased in 1870, and the basement of the present building was erected and dedicated by Dr. Fisher, who remained pastor of the church for three years. Dr. Fisher was one of the strong preachers of Kansas in that day, and a strong anti-slavery sympathizer. He built the church at Leavenworth in 1859, which was one of the famous churches of the State, and popularly known as the cradle of prohibition. He was in Lawrence when Quantrell sacked the town, and after an eventful life as pastor, chaplain and missionary, Dr. Fisher died at Baldwin, Kan., October 23, 1905.

Rev. T. J. Leak succeeded Mr. Fisher, and it was during Mr. Leak’s pastorate that the new church was dedicated, October 26, 1873. Three years later the Rev. Mr. Leak was succeeded by Dr. George S. Dearborn. Rev. William Friend succeeded Dr. Dearborn in March, 1876, who was succeeded by E. W. Van Deventer. Dr. Philipp Krohn became pastor in 1882. He was succeeded by Rev. A. H. Tevis. Dr. J. W. Alderman came to Atchison in 1887 and remained until March, 1893, and was succeeded by Dr. E. H. Brumbaugh, who became pastor in March, 1893. Rev. S. V. Leach followed Dr. Brumbaugh in 1897, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. G. W. Grines, and since that time Dr. H. E. Wolf, Rev. W. T. Stott, Dr. I. B. Pulliam and Dr. John W. Scott filled the pulpit of the church down to the year 1914, when Rev. Thomas E. Chandler, who for five years previous had been superintendent of the Ottawa district, became pastor of the church. Dr. Chandler is one of the best informed, most eloquent and beloved pastors the church has ever had. He is not only popular among his own church people, but has made numerous friends outside his fold. In September, 1915, through the efforts of Dr. Chandler, assisted by Dr. C. F. Reisner, pastor of Grace Church, New York City, together with C. D. Walker and others, $42,000 was raised for the erection of a new church. When it is completed it will be one of the finest church edifices in Kansas.