City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
When the emigrant caravans used, a few years ago, to roll across our beautiful prairies, laden with numberless adventurers, it is hardly probable that any of those seekers after wealth in the great Western Eldorado ever paused to think of the boundless resources of the beautiful land through which they passed. It waited only for the hand of man to work the changes which should transform it into thriving farms and bustling villages, filled by happy and peaceable citizens. The transformation has taken place, and what a change it is. Where Axtell now stands was then an unknown and not yet showing that it was to be the location of as beautiful and business like little village as can be found in the state of Kansas. Axtell is situated on the St. Joseph & Western railroad, near the eastern line of Marshall county, and is about seventy-nine miles west of St. Joseph.
It is in the midst of a well-settled and prosperous country, and is growing rapidly and substantially, and affords a good market for all kinds of produce.
Axtell has a live, go ahead population of nearly 800 hundred, and the business interests of the town are represented by more than a score of businessmen and firms. We have four church organizations, three of them having neat and commodious buildings; an excellent school; a large and general export trade and a spirit of personal and public enterprise, which with our large and productive tributary territory, is sure to carry the town to three or four times its present proportions.
Among the dealers in
we find the Branch Store of L. Cohen, of Seneca, occupying a prominent position. It is under the management of Messrs. T. J. Leeds and J. P. Wilson, two very clever and energetic businessmen, a credit to any town.
Mr. T. Biddle occupies the large store under the ANCHOR office with a large line of general merchandise, including dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, queensware, and everything kept in a general store. Mr. Biddle is a native of Pennsylvania and has earned a very honorable name, in this, his adopted home.
J. R. Livingston, our popular postmaster, one of the founders of the town and probably its oldest inhabitant, is a man of unusual public spirit and business ability, has a large and growing trade in general merchandise, and by his energy and tact has acquired a fine property here in the last eight years. He holds several other offices of trust and is a sterling man. He has promised to furnish the ANCHOR, in the near future, an account of Axtell from its first settlement down to the present time.
Jesse Axtell occupies a large store building with a first class stock of general merchandise, and is one of our substantial citizens and enterprising businessmen. He also keeps a good lumber yard.
James Ewing has recently opened out a fine stock of general merchandise and millinery goods, which will compare favorably with any in the town. Mr. Ewing also sells a standard line of farm wagons. He is a good businessman and a valuable addition to our town. Mrs. Ewing presides over the millinery department in a business-like manner.
Hayes & Russell carry one of the largest stocks of general merchandise in the town, and know how to sell it, too, judging by their numerous visitors. These gentlemen are solid businessmen and have added much to the wealth and advancement of our town.
is conducted by Cone Bros. & Trout in good style. They have a neat and substantial building, which is fitted up with a good fireproof vault furnished with a steel safe and improved time lock, and is a first-class institution in every respect. They do a general banking, loan and land business, and have done a great deal toward the advancement of Axtell.
Brooks and Parks is the firm name of another law, land and loan agency, and is composed of W.W. Brooks, of Axtell, and A.E. Parks, of Marysville. They are reliable men and deserve the large patronage, which they are receiving.
Mrs. Wm. Lucas, located in the Postoffice block, is proprietor of a handsome millinery establishment, and by her taste and business ability has built up a first-class patronage, which she most assuredly deserves.
Edward Shaughnessy came here from St. Louis, about four years ago, and in that time has built up a good trade in boots and shoes, which is to his credit.
is represented in good style by T. Hynes, who has a very good building well filled with everything pertaining to his line. Mr. Hynes is a representative self-made man, and has earned his way to his present high position by his own labor, and stands very high with his fellow citizens.
Greenlee & Paul, our other druggists have only been in the city a short time, and are building up a trade in drugs and groceries very rapidly. Mr. Greenlee was senior member of the old drug firm of Greenlee & Clawson and is well known in Axtell. Mr. Paul is a reliable man, It is a strong firm.
W.J. McAtee is proprietor of a very good livery stable and supplies the wants of customers with a very neat outfit of teams, buggies, etc.
J.E. Sharpe's stable is one of the institutions of the town and deserves the patronage, which it receives. Mr. S. is an old citizen and is here to stay.
This line is represented by B.S. Stanley in a first-class manner. Mr. Stanley also runs a large lumber yard in connection with his hardware business, he is a go-ahead young man, a credit to any town.
J.T. Ely also keeps a good hardware store, and has a good tin-shop connected with it. Mr. Ely is too well and favorably known to need any further mention from us.
is manufactured by Gillispie & Burge, who have, by good workmanship and strict attention to business taken a front rank among our solid institutions.
J.J. Axtell keeps the only exclusive grocery store in Axtell, and, being, a good business man is succeeding well. Success to him.
Axtell and her surrounding country is to healthy to support many doctors. Dr. William Hunter is our oldest physician, and is well known to most of readers.
C.A. Cole, physician and surgeon, is rapidly coming to the top of the medical profession.
The Summit House, conducted by Stout and Trask, successfully caters to the wants of the hungry people, and by whom it is highly appreciated.
Wm. Brown's Restaurant, also is also well patronized by the traveling public.
Mrs. Rylander also keeps a good restaurant.
Funk Bros. furnish our citizens with good meat at fair price. They keep a neat shop and are doing well.
N.H. Cone's "Red Front" billiard hall is another well patronized institution. Mr. Cone was one of the first settlers in Axtell and has grown up with the country.
The "Little Brick" billiard hall is owned by R.B. Westfall, another of our enterprising young business men. Mr. Westfall keeps a very pleasant and quiet resort.
Hynes "Palace" billiard hall is an established feature of the town, and is a very orderly resort. It is greatly frequented by a good class of citizens.
Fred Parnell runs a good photograph gallery with excellent success.
James Hughes conducts the only furniture store in town, and has established a good trade. He was raised in and near this town, and is very popular, being the favorite candidate for Sheriff of Marshall county, this year.
Richard Barnett shaves the faces of his fellow men, in a very neat little shop.
is located in a commodious building in the northern part of town. It is presided over by Misses Belle Rundle and Mattie McAtee; is well attended, and seems to be progressing very nicely. Our town may well be proud of it.
King's blacksmith and wagon shop is a comparatively new institution. All kinds of blacksmith and wagon work is here turned out in good style.
The old and well known shop of A.T. Schell is still in full blast, and does a large amount of blacksmith, wagon and plow work to the satisfaction of a host of customers.
Manker & Wasser are the leading dealers in grain, and are doing a vast amount of business.
We understand J.R. Stitler will soon enter the grain business.
The Congregationalists have a neat church, and are in a very prosperous condition under the lead of Rev. Holyoke.
Methodism is well represented in Axtell, having a very good organization, under the ministrations of Rev. Amos. They have a good church building.
The Catholics have a fine church building which is a credit to the town. Father Martin is pastor.
The Presbyterians have a nice parsonage at this place, but no church building. Rev. H.B. Hawkins is the minister.
Mr. Stout is proprietor of a very fine nursery and is doing a good business.
A.M. Billingsley furnishes school supplies of all kinds.
L.C. Wasser has a good wagon, carriage and repair shop, and is kept busy all the time.
J. A. Fisher represents the jewelry business in Axtell. He is a good workman and is located in Greenlee & Paul's store.
D.A. Searing, house and sign painter has a very good patronage.
Abner H. Johnson does all kinds of house and sign painting.
R.J. McInter is another painter and is doing well.
Our list would hardly seem complete without a notice of the band and orchestra of Prof. George Barnes, which is one of the most popular musical organizations in the state.
P. Loob is building a large business house, with basement, the latter to be used as a billiard hall.
Harry Wasser is busy from daylight to dark, rushing around with our town dray, and has all the work he can tend to.
Chester Frost, one of Marshall county's solid farmers, came to this country from Harrison County, Mo., a few years ago, and located on 240 acres of land about four miles northwest of town, and now has a very fine farm.
We might add more concerning the businessmen of our town, but the foregoing is enough for the present. It simply desired to give in a short sketch, sufficient to show the growth and development of Axtell in the last few years. At some future time, we have the promise from Mr. J. R. Livingston, of an article giving the history of Axtell from the date of the first settlement down to the present time.
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