Andreas, A. T. History of the state of Kansas (Supplementary History and Description of its Counties Cities Towns and Villages)

(Chicago :  A.T. Andreas,  1883.)

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RILEY   COUNTY
 

1301
 

the State. Daring the territorial days of Kansas steamboats eaiiie ii|> tlie
river In .Manhattan and as far as Junction (.'ily; and should the .Mississi[ipi,
Missouri, and Kansas rivers, under the fostering care of the General Gnv-
eriiment, receive bountiful appropriations, the bulky [irodiicts of I he soil
are likely lo be ti'aiis]iorteil in floating barges down these improved naviga¬
ble sl reams to the (riilf ot Mexico, where they may be readily shipped tothe
Old World. The Kaw, this noblest of Kansas rivers, is on the north line
of Zeandale Township; it runs very irregularly through Jlaiihatlaii. and
forms considerable of the north and the nortliwestern boundary ot Asliland,
anil the southwestern boundary of Ogden Township.

The Big Blue,forming Ihc larger portion of the eastern boimdary of the
county, has fewer sharp bends than the Kaw, into which it flows at the east
of Maiiliatlaii, and it is so bountifully furnished with water-power as to
cause it to be designated the "Merrimac" of Kansas. It is dammed at
Roek> Fold, some three miles above Manhattan: thefall is ten feet, and
the dam 1142 feet in length, is built of heavy oak timbers bolted into the
solid rock foundation. The Rocky Ford mill was built here in 1.8li(i. It is
a four-story stone building,40x60 feet. Its foundations are laid on the solid
rock, and its walls, laid in cement, are four feet thick from the bottom of
the river to the second floor. The river can be dammed below at .Alanhattan
and above at Stockilale, Randoljih. and Jlariadahl. Swede Creek. Jackson.
Grant and Manhattan townships are the Riley County townships border¬
ing on the Big Blue. Fancy and Mill ciceks, flowing southeast into tho Kan¬
sas, water the center of the county, anil Madi.son, Timber and Three INlile
creeks running west into the Republican, water the western portion; while
south of the Kansa.s, McDowell, Deep and School creeks, traverse thescaith-
ern part, Ihe two latter in Zeandale Township. The " Zeandale Bottoms "
are regarded as thc choice bottom-lands of the county. Besides these.there
arc other small creeks, which, with their liraiiehes, give the county a most
bountiful water-supply.

There are quite a varieiy of kinds of timber of which the most abundant
are cottonwood. several kinds of oak and elm, blaek walnut, soft maple,
hackberry, hickory, locust, a.sh, linden, sycamore, mulberry, box elder, and
coffee-bean. Ofthe cultivated grovi-s. soft maple predominates, though
black walnut, locust and cottonwopd are quite common. Outon the high
prairies, the groves of forest-trees, and the cultivated orchards which now
hear in copious quantities some ot the choicest of apples, pears and |ieaclies,
all attest to the assiduous care of the lover of horticulture, and the most
excellent climate for various fruits.

E.VI{I,\    SETTI.EKS    ANI)   SETTI.E.M i:.NTS.

In the latter part of 185:!.a Tennesseean by the name of Samuel D. I Iyer,
was running a government feny at Juniata, about onemile below Koeky
Ford, on the Big Rlue. Soon after, the (iovei'ument built abridge at this
point, but in 18.55 it was swe|it away by a flood. Mr. Dyer, the first \\'hite
inhaViitant of Rilev County, died in l''ebruary, 1HT.5. llis politics were Pro-
slavery; he was of good, eonimon sense, excellent judsmcut,and gi'eal kind¬
ness oi'heart, llis liouse has been ilcscribeil as " one story high and two
stories long."

Rev. ('harles Eiin'rson Blood, i native of Alason, New Hainpshiie,eom-
mertced his labors as a Home Missionary, at Juniata, Novemlier, 4, 1854.
having with others in his own words, "left their homes in the States
not simply to improve their worldly iuterests, but to fight the battles of
freedom and save I his beautiful country from the blighting curse of slavery."

Zeimtliilr TowiiKliiii.—Mr. J. II. Pillsbury, whosettled in this town¬
ship in 18,55, gave this name to it, vvhich is a combination of the (rreek word
:«(, iiieani'ig corn or spelt, and the Knglish word dale, the signification
Iieing corn-dale or corn-valley. Us location is the extreme southeastern
[larl of file county. It borders on the Kansas River and is intersected by
")eep Creek. Originally a part of Davis County.it was I ransfcrreil to Waliaun-
.sce. and it became a part of Riley t'ounty by an aet of the Legislature of
1871, compensating for the loss oi' the territory in the southwest part of the
county, that became a portion of Davis Counts. In 1S54, John M. McCor¬
mick, ('. P. McDonald, and William Wilev located their elainis; Daniel S.
Bates. J, M. Burleigh, H. D. Hall, E. R. 'McCurdy. and John C Mossmau
seitled in the township in 1855. .\bner Allen. Jesse Allen, Kobert Earl
and G. R. Moses in 1850: I). M. .Vdams and Harvey Marshall in 1857. A
town vvas laid out. Mr. .\daiiis was appointed Postmaster; the firsl post-
office was kept at the house of J. II. Pillsbury.

.\ Congregational Church was organized in 1858; achurch edifii-e was
begun but never completed, Rev. Ilai\ey Joiie.s, of Wabaunsee, preached
hei-e alternate Sundavs during 1851;, Mrs. M. Pillsbury taught at her home
the fir.st Iirivate school in 18.58. .Miss JIattie Keyes. in'l859. taught thefirst
district school in a small building on the farm of Mr. Abner Allen. In
18(!'.i the first schoolhouse wa.s built. It was made of hewn logs, ami called
the " (.'onie Seetion, " because of its hexagonal .shape. Mrs. K. Van .Vnt-
werp taught the first school in the building.

KrnesI McCurdy, son of E. R. McCurdy. was the first cllild liorn in the
lovN'nship.    The birth occurred April '^(i. 185(1.

Rev. Harvev Jones performed thefirst marriage ceremony. I)ei ember
11, 185(i.    The parlies united vvere C   P.   McDonald and Al.iry K. MiCurdy.

Clinton II. Pillsbury, infant son of J. II. Pillshnry, died early in 1H.5'T,
the first death in the township.

The recorder of Ihc weather from ( lirislinas, 1855.to Felirnary 11. lS.5(i,
gives till' average temperature, at eitilil degrees below zero: the coldest stood
81 dei;rees below.    The snow. February 1. lH5li. was three feet dee|i.

.Uhlaiiil Ttiii'ti'<liip.—This township, originally a partot Davis Connlv.
WIUS traiisl'eried to Riley by an act of the legishilure of is::i. Its area is
some thirty square miles. Thomas Keynolds. one of the first Couniy Com¬
missioners" and tt Probate Judge, made the first settlement early in IS55. on
Section  10. Township 11. Range 7.    .Vfiril '.'','. 1S55, a colony mtwle up in
 

k:
 

Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati, llliio, arrived, cnsisfin;.' of ihirtv-ti\e
members. It eaine by steamer fnnn I'ineinnali to K'ansas City, and from
there in emigrant wau'oiis. .Vnioni: these .-oloni-ts were many ardent
admirers of the great Commoner. Heniy Clay, and l,< honor his niemory
tliey gave the name of his late residence lo the tovviis|ii|i and citv vvhich tlie\
attempted to build. The settlement was made on .Mell,.u,.11 Creek. F. li.
.\daiiis was President; Kev. X. H. White, N'ice I'lvsidenl: Henrv J. -\danis.
'I'reasnrer. C X. liarclay, W. II. .Mackay. John I-:. Kos,, (' j;. .S.mford.
William Stone. ."\f. Wei:,'lit man, and .1. s^. Williams were aniong tlie members.
In March, ls.57. .Vshland beeame the county-seat of li.ivis County; and re¬
mained so until Novemlier. INiiii, when il gave way to Junction Ciiv.    There

were several terms of the Ti^rritorial Di-trict C.....is held here, Kush Klmore,

Judge. In 1S.5S, it pnst-.,tliee w.is established; ,M. D. Fisher. Posimaster.
Dr. E. I,. Patee was the first Connt v ('lerk. He seilled in the lownshioin
|S.5(i.     lie was County Treasurer of Riley County in 1S(14 and lsr,5.

Miss Alareia Wooihvard taught the  liist  sej.....1.     It   was   m   IS57. and

thelirst sehoolhouse was erected in ts(15. Iu.\. N. B. White married the
flrst |iair. William Stone aud Matilda Williams, lleceinlier bl, ls.57. John
McDonald, of the .-Vshland (.'oloiiv, died on the dav after his arrival, A|iril
•i'.;. 1H55. Clarence Patee, son of'Dr. K. L. Patee, was the first eliild born,
.March (1, 1«5T.

In 181(11, a Christian Cliui-h was organized, hut it has e,..isi.|| to be.
Oi/tlrii TiiiiiiKliiji.—This township olitained its name from Alaj. (linden
of the United States .Vrmy. Thoinas KeynoMs ereeteil ,1 IIKl;.' log eabin,
withonl glass for its w'inilows, in .lune, ls.54. on the southwest quarter of
Seetion (1. Township II. Range 7. It was the fii-sj dwelling in the present
limits of the count V. Ibivwas held an election for the first Territorial
Delegate, Novemlier 2!l. 1854. The site is on the knoll a little east ol where
the iron bridge crosses Si'ven .Mile Creek. Dr Daniel I;. Chandler isthe
owner of the tract at this time. ISSJ. Dr. Chandler, the Dixon brotheis—
James, .lohn, I'at rick and Thoma—(.1. M. Dvehe, B. B. l-lilinonds. Robert
Malloii, Daniel Mitchell. ('. K. .Moblev. K.'D. Moblev, .John M. Morris.
Joseph Myers. P. O'.Mallcy. J. L'. Parsons, Jacob Theirer. Moses Walker
Josephus Warner. M. I). Waters and S. B. While were among Ihe lirst
settlers, .lohn Dixon died in .Viigiisl, IS.5.5, and a Mr. .Vllen the same
inonth.     In .July eiyiit died of cholera at Pawnee.

The first mania^es in the mwiisliip were that of Tliomas Dixon and
.Marv llottman. Mav I 1S5I1: C M. Dyihe and Miss B. A. (I'Mallevin
December, ls5(l. .Vila, daughter of C. b'. Mobley was the |ii>t birth. Imr.i
in 1S5(). Kobert Wilson, at Pawnee in 1H55. opened the lirst s|(n-e in the
township: a Air. Johnson, of Kansas Cit v. the hist store at (igden. D. L.
Chandler, B. B. Kdmonds, J. {'. Paisous mihI .Moses Walker brought in the
first saw and corn-mill in 18511. and they inanufael ured considerable meal
and luinber. Mrs. E. Myers taught the lirst school in 1S5!l: James Weston
taught the second one. In IS57. reliLrioiis services were held, and a Congre¬
gational Church was organized: Rev. .1. I'. Parsons preached, and 1 neat
stone ediliee was erected iu 1S5II. In tSS-J. the church is partiallv supplied
by services from Rev. M S. Riddle, the |iiistor at .'\Iilford. Thelirst Roman
Catholic Chureh in thecounty w.asoriianized at Ogden in ISil.l. The church
proiierty is valued at 8'i'-OII. Fathers De.Matlier. Keinley. Vaiiderlniig and
Cairns have been the [laslors.               ^

T'he (li;den Town Company w,-is cliaitcrcd li\ thc Leeislatiire uf 1H57.
and the lown was at oiiee laid out in blocks and lots. The streets
running north and soulh are named Klk. Walnut. Park and (lak. There
are scNeiitcen streets running east .and west; Riley, whieli is the business
one, is 110 feel wide; Park is 150and Water, wlneli runs along the river, is
1.50 feet.

(Igdeii has one liotid, the Union I'aeific House. West ,]f il was the
resilience of Daniel Mitchell, one of its earliest and most prominent citizens;

east of it was the log residence of Governor   II.....ler,   moved  from   I'awnee

after its extinction. Theodore VV'eiselielbaiim, its proraiin'iit mereli.inl. eaine
ill 1800, and for years did a large frei^'litiiig business across the plains, and
had five stores out   at   Wi-slei-n birts.     He   lias   been  an  extensive   brewer.

Thomas Dixon has a huge st.....■ warehouse north of the railroad traek. and

he has heretofore been an exti'iisive  shipper.    Henry  KoIhtIs  hikI  (i|.iir-^'e

Michollanil are merchants;  L. Baihy is Ihi' lilaeksmith ; .V.J. Turner, sh.....

maker;   William  Fc.ster.  carpenter and   wagi.....inker;   Fiederie   Kelifield.

saddler, and A. Kiiedeiisii'in. general mechanie. Here is an exeellent slone
sehool building: the school is graded. I''rank Easiman is auetioiieer forthe
town and country.

(lirden Div ision. .\'o. :>, ^oiis of Temperauee, eommeneed Febrnarv 111,
IS77. Its first ollieers were; Williain J. Rich. W'oilhv I'.il rian-h; S.J.
Engle. Worthy .Vssistant; H. Ilaucke. Ree.irding >.-. retary; M. White,
.Assistant Reeoi.ling Seeretary; R. W. Ksl res. Finaiieial S.iretaiy. Its
members exceed fifty.

Ogileii, since ls7ll. has been a (it vol the second elass. Its Mavms have
been j'ledeiie Unbelt, Theodore \\ eiehselbaiim. I'r.derie Kehfiehl and C.
C- Emerson.

In (letober. is."'(7. the Uniteil Slates Land Ofliee wa- Iruated here, but
soon thereafter it went to Junetinu City.

The (l^-deii peistmaster is (ieorge W. ('ampbell; the me at Viiiloii.
which is near the home of K.x-Seiiator Ilarvey. is.i.  B. Keynolds.

Mtidi.,itiii 7'tiirii.<hi/i.—This towusliip. ,,rganized .\pril 5. |s7','. luok its
name from the creek, wbichwas ..nvcn it in honor ol tlie fourth President
of the United Slates. Its area is fifty-nine sipiare miles. .\l its longest
place from north to south, il is ei-ht miles; from east to west nine miles.

The first claims were near llie head of  Wild  Cat   Oeek;   laken   by the
" drs in Mm\.  I'-55.    .lonas ILui  huated on the-.>utliwes| ipi,iii,.|-,,f ^,-, t j.,,.
Township "I, Raiii;i(l; T. K. llair on the soul least   inaiierof s,ccii,,n 1'.'.
d J. P. llair on the noith'.Vi-t quarter of -.,, 1 i„n 7.  I'^w nslnp '.1, K.oiec 11.
1S5I1.  (ieorge   Lyall  settled   on   the   norlliwesi   (jnarler  "f   ^ccinui   IJ.
 

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