City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage
Axtell is a prosperous city of over 1,175 inhabitants situated at the junction of the St. Joseph & Grand Island and Kansas City Northwestern Railroads, 89 miles west of St. Joseph, 48 miles southeast of Beatrice and 127 miles northwest of Kansas City, and 24 miles east of Marysville, the county seat. In more respects than one Axtell is a model town, being entirely FREE from the deadly influence of saloons and is probably without exception the most law abiding town in the state of Kansas. It is the best town of its size and over 5,000 people receive mail and trade here. Over 75 fine new residences and $75,000 worth of business houses erected in past four years. The Opera House block, completed two years ago, is the finest business block in northern Kansas. Its growth, while not being phenomenal, was steady and healthy, without any appearance of "boom," consequently there was no relapse or depression which is always experienced in towns of more rapid growth.
In the year 1870, the St. Joseph & Grand Island railroad reached the present site of Axtell and in the year 1887 the K.C. N.W. was a second tributary to the commerce of this country which was then one vast expanse of prairie stretching away in gentle undulations until it was lost in the horizon broken here and there by homes of the pioneers, and presenting the most beautiful country imaginable. The earliest trace of Axtell was a small building erected by "Shoestring" Dickson in the year 1872, the year the town site was laid out. It was built in the street but was soon moved to where Dooley & Ford's store now stands. Homer Cone soon afterward bought the building and sold it to Seneca parties who used it as a restaurant. Homer soon afterward built a saloon on the site. The Grand Island depot and side track were built in 1872, also the first school house was built in '72-3. The one which only a few years ago was torn down was built in '83. The houses of N.H. Cone now occupied by A.L. Gilliland, and J. R. Livingston's home, were the first dwellings erected.
Michael Murray's old store room on the north side of the track, is one of the most ancient in the city to day. Mr. Murray moved to Axtell Nov. 4, 1875 and purchased this building. Mr. Livingston came to Seneca in 1870 and to Axtell in 1874. He kept store in the Murray building first and later built where he is now located and enjoying a good trade.
Thomas Hynes came May 1st, 1874, and built his drug store in 1875. The little building between the present drug store and his dwelling was used by him first.
We could go on and give more history and comment on the old land marks and its earliest settlers, but as such has been published by former editors, we mostly aim to give a write up of Axtell's present business men and its advantages.
From the beginning by strong and steady, although slow growth, Axtell has reached her present size, but by no means lost any part of the healthy enterprise she has from the very first possessed.
In 1887 Axtell was incorporated a city of the third class, under the laws of the state of Kansas, with J. R. Sitler the first mayor and Thos. M. Nye, clerk. Since the organization of Axtell, there has been several additions made, the last of which is the South Park addition, which was taken in this summer and of which not one vacant lot remains.
Axtell is in the center of the best corn producing region of the world, and Marshall county has justly achieved the cognomen of the "Garden of Eden," and difficult would it be to find in all this broad land one who has never heard the fame of Kansas and with it closely associated the fame of Marshall county. Murray township is generally conceded to be the most fertile section of this famous county and therefore could be justly named a "paradise on earth."
Axtell can well boast of the most efficient fire department of any city of its size in the country, using only a first class engine and latest improved appurtenances. For the benefit of these equipments the city this summer had a large 400 barrel cistern put in and a band stand erected with an engine room underneath, right in the main business part of the town.
of Axtell rank among the best in the state and are widely and favorably known for excellency in discipline and thoroughness in scholarship. Under the principalship of Prof. J.E. Cook, the schools have been carefully graded and the work systematized. The school population is 287 and there are now enrolled upon the register 244. Five departments are maintained, of which Prof. Cook is principal and instructor in the higher room, while Miss Lizzie Tharpe acts as assistant principal and assists the principal in performing his duties, and Albert Seaman looks after them in the grammar department, Miss Stella Conable the intermediate department and Miss Blanche Griffith the primary department. In the high school an excellent course of study has been provided, embracing algebra, geometry, physics, general history, botany, zoology, latin and other studies of a like order. Three years are required to complete this course, which will fit graduates for admission to the State University.
Axtell is, and has been, immensely proud of her school system and many persons have gone out to fight life's battles armed with a diploma of this school and have been eminently successful. With pardonable pride we point to our public schools.
Axtell is a city of churches, there being four denominations represented and holding regular meetings, or a church for every 275 citizens. The churches are the Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist and Congregational, all owning their own houses and, we believe, free from incumbrance.
Axtell has several manufactories among which is the creamery located in the south part of town. Unfortunately it did not run last year on account of the dull season, but is expected to be opened up again this coming season. They make a fine grade of butter and cream.
is proprietor of the cigar factory No. 135, district of Kansas, and makes the famous cigars called the "Club," "Square Deal, " "Spanish Perfecto," "Little Brick," " Bouquet," "Princess," "George Washington," "Mascot," "Pearl of Key West," and "Tutonic. " He is enjoying a fine trade and his cigars are handled by all the business men in Axtell.
is manufacturer of a patent leather suspender which is gaining a wide reputation and is worn by most every person. They are durable and no wear out of them.
is manufacturer of a patent fodder loader, which is just the thing for farmers who have lots of fodder to handle. He is selling them all over the United States and the demand for them is growing greater every day.
located here about two years ago, is another important factor in the make up of the manufacturing interests of the city. They are owned and controlled by P. Johnson and his son Andrew Johnson who are among our most enterprising business men. Mr. Johnson, who, in founding this enterprise, has evinced his faith in Axtell's future. The mill has been steadily running ever since its erection and is oftentime crowded with more work than they can do. They grind feed by the car load for feeders especially, thus being a paying business.
A horse shoeing device, patented by J.L. Ream and J.C. Briggs, is also among the manufacturing concerns. It has been but lately patented and in a very short time will be in use in every blacksmith shop in the country. It not only lessens the labor about shoeing horses but lessens the danger to man and beast while performing this work with vicious horses, locking them safely in a strong harness and lifting each foot and holding it in position while being shod without throwing them to run any risk of injuries is what is claimed for this machine.
is carried on here by Mrs. Jno. Ryburg, who produces a very fine grade of carpets at low prices, made on a flying shuttle machine.
Although coming here about five or six years ago, from the first they created a stir in business circles as they brought with them push and enterprise and also a large stock of dry goods and groceries, and from their square dealing and quality of goods attracted the attention of the farmers and others and by persistent advertising their success was assured. Their stock is fully up to the standard and the popularity with which they were received is evinced by their constantly increasing trade. They realize the value of advertising and their "ads" each week at the head of the local page quotes many good things for bargain seekers. Their business would be an ornament to a city ten times the size of Axtell.
occupies one of the prominent places and ranked at the top of our business men. He located here a number of years ago and was at first in partnership with C.D. Russell, under the firm name of Hayes & Russell and was afterward changed to J.L. Hayes & Co. until recently. Mr. Hayes is well known to our people as one of our most successful business men and is among the most enterprising firms of the city. He handles a very extensive stock of dry goods and groceries; also a fine line of clothing, and occupies two rooms on the ground of his large double building, every available space being crowded with the best goods the market affords.
is another firm whose name is a household word to the people of Axtell and Murray township. They have a reputation of carrying a mammoth stock of goods, which consists of dry goods, groceries and clothing. In the early seventies Mr. Livingston began business here and has since been one of our leading business men, with the exception of about four years that he was out of business. His partner now is Joseph McGrath. This firm has been successful from the very first, and are an important adjunct to the town, being live, energetic and enterprising. They are also constant advertisers and know the value of printer's ink.
is also one of our leading general merchandise dealers, he having recently bought the stock of goods that belonged to Kelley & Ream and was sold at mortgage sale. Since then he has added several thousand dollars more, and today carries about a five thousand dollar stock. He is located in the large and commodious room known as the Waugh building and is enjoying a good trade.
is the only man in Axtell who handles exclusively clothing and gents furnishing goods. He located here in Sept. '94, and since that time has gained a reputation as a clothier second to none in the county. He sells clothing to people within a radius of 15 miles around. He has acquired the value of newspaper space and each week can be found represented in the ANCHOR columns with a spicy new "ad." He located here because Axtell was a good trading point and is now well known to our people as a successful business man and is among the most enterprising firms of the city. He handles a very extensive stock and every available space in his room is crowded with the best grades of clothing on the market. His business is an ornament to Axtell and one that we can point to with pride.
is another of the substantial business firms of Axtell. They located here about two years ago, and since that time have gradually increased their business until now they enjoy an extensive trade. They are located in the opera house block, which is one of the finest locations in the city. The boys who run the business here are both perfect gentlemen and square honest men to deal with. They carry in connection with the hardware business an extensive line of furniture and undertaker's goods. This firm does not confine themselves alone to the hardware and furniture business, but run in connection the O'Neil elevator, which is one of the finest elevators on the Grand Island road. They are our most influential grain and commission merchants and we believe have made a showing which cannot be equaled by any house in a city of like size in this state. They also represent the implement business in connection with the other businesses mentioned, and in the last year sold implements of every description to farmers all over this section of country.
is also one of our prosperous hardware and implement firms. The junior member of this firm only formed partnership this spring, while the senior member has been one of Axtell's business men for a number of years. They to-day carry one of the largest hardware and implement stocks in Marshall county, and are well known as business men of integrity, push and zeal. Their business is located on the north side of the track and they thoroughly understand it. They are a square firm and treat everybody right.
with an admirable foresight, located here four years ago the Briggs Bros. lumber yard, and their venture being eminently successful they have increased their stock from time to time until it now contains as much as any yard in Marshall county, and the quality unsurpassed by none, whereby making Axtell achieve great fame as a lumber market. J.T. and J.C. Briggs, the managers of this gigantic enterprise, are both fine gentlemen to do business with, and one great feature to which is probably due the success and fame of the yards is the fact that they allow no one to underbid them on prices. They also carry a large stock of builder's hardware in connection with the lumber, and never fail to make prices that always draw trade.
are the proprietors of the east elevator on the K.C. N-W. track, over which road they ship the majority of their grain. They have done a rousing business ever since their location here, and now they have one of the leading businesses of Axtell. John Endelman is the manager here, while his brother, E.G., is a traveling salesman and lives at Wichita, Kansas.
was organized July 28, 1890, by a financially strong company of farmers, with a capital stock of $50,000, and Daniel Meara as cashier, who has ever since continued in this capacity with a creditable business career, and which he still retains. This bank has one of the finest little banking rooms we know of and is located just north of the Grand Island depot. The majority of the stockholders are solid farmers of Murray township, and the backing of the bank is thus remarkably strong. To the everlasting credit of the bank and the cashier, be it said, many have been the financial crashes that have burst over it, threatening to drag it into oblivion, but it has nobly withstood the storms and now stands a monument of integrity and Axtell's pride.
is another of our solid institutions which is characteristic in the makeup of a good solid community and prosperous farming country surrounding. The bank is the outgrowth of Cone Bros. & Trout, which was afterwards succeeded by J.H. Trout & Co. the 27th day of June, 1884. The bank was then organized as a state bank in 1890, with capital stock of $50,000 and J.H. Trout as cashier, who has efficiently looked after its financial interests in a manner creditable to himself and the institution. This bank is located in the corner of what is called the opera house block, and has one of the finest banking rooms in the state of Kansas. The same can be said of this bank as of the State Bank, that it is made up of the best farmers of the community as its stockholders, thus making it necessarily exceedingly strong. It always [pays] its stockholders good dividends, thus making the stock of this bank gilt edge property.
is the proprietor of the City Drug Store, he having located here about twenty-two years ago, but has been in the drug business only about eighteen years. Mr. Hynes was one of Axtell's first business men and has by close attention to business acquired a fine trade. He is an expert pharmacist of many years practice and can always be found at his place of business just north of the Grand Island depot. His drug business comprises a general and complete assortment of all articles usually to be found in a well regulated establishment.
is the manager of the Opera House Drug Co., which was organized only a few months ago when the company that Phil is now manager of purchased the G.E. Ott & Co.'s stock of goods. Phil is a young man of exceptionally good quality and acquired his education at the state school of pharmacy at Lawrence, Kansas. As a pharmacist he is hard to beat. He deals exclusively in first class articles, to be found only in a well regulated establishment, and prescriptions are compounded with promptness and accuracy.
jeweler and watchmaker and general dealer in all kinds of watches, clocks, silverware, spectacles, music, etc., is located in the corner store opposite the Sherman House. He was educated and learned his trade in his native country, which has the reputation of turning out the most expert and skillful jewelers in the world, and after mastering his trade and working at it for ten years he came to America in 1870, locating in Paxton, Ill., engaging in general work. In 1876 he went to Strawn, Ill., where he remained three years, and also conducted the jewelry business for some length of time in Gibson City, same state. In 1888 he moved to Seneca, Kas., and had a shop in J.H. Pecham's drug store where the excellence of his work became known, and in 1890 he commenced business for himself in Axtell, where he has built up a good and substantial trade.
watchmaker and jeweler, moved to Axtell about four weeks ago from Hubbell, Neb., where he has been in business for thirteen years. He carries a nice new stock of watches, jewelry, silverware and optical goods, guarantees all his goods as represented, does all kinds of watch, clock and jewelry repairing and guarantees satisfaction. He is located directly opposite Hayes' store. It was through correspondence of friends and a wholesale jewelry house that recommended Axtell to him as a good thriving town, that caused him to locate here.
is a native of New York, born in Binghampton, Broome county, June 22, 1860. He received an education in his native town, and in 1878 went to Cincinnati to study and become proficient in his chosen profession, dentistry. He went into the office of Dr. J.C. Case, the leading dentist of that city, where he remained five years. In 1883 he came west, continually practicing his profession until 1890, when he came to Axtell where he has remained since, and by skill in his profession has built up a large and constantly increasing patronage. He makes a specialty of the best work, having all the modern appliances, and constantly keeping up with the improvements in the profession. He is located over the Citizens Bank and has the finest dental rooms in the state of Kansas.
a graduate of the Western Dental College of Kansas City, Mo., is located in the Hayes building. He has had over five years experience in the dental profession, two years under a preceptor and three years in one of the best dental colleges in the west. His work is warranted to be first class in every particular. Dr. Gamble uses a local anesthetic for the painless extraction of teeth, and gives special attention to crown and bridge work.
was born in Frederick, Maryland, forty-one years ago. Was educated in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, and came to Kansas in 1881. He was a resident of Baileyville for seven years and has resided in Axtell since September, 1892. For a number of years he was secretary of the Northern Kansas Medical Society and at present is assistant surgeon to the St. Joe & Grand Island R.R., and is member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons, the Association of the St. Joe & Grand Island Railway Surgeons, the Western Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Northern Kansas Medical Society and a number of other medical organizations. He is medical examiner for eleven different insurance companies and enjoys a large practice. He makes a specialty of surgery and consultation.
is one of the leading physicians of this city. He has been practicing in this country for the past thirteen years and has been in Axtell since Feb., 1887. He is a graduate from the Sterling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, one of the leading colleges of that country, and was in the class 1878. The success which attends him verifies the assertion that he is one of the most successful practitioners in the state. His patrons are numbered among the leading families of Axtell and vicinity, and his high social standing in the community is recognized and appreciated. An other evidence of his skill in his profession is the fact that his services are often called for consultation in complicated cases in the hands of other physicians. He is at present our county health officer.
is one of the oldest and best known physicians of this city. He located here about three years ago and since that time has had a steady practice until now he is one of our leading physicians. He is a graduate of Miami Medical College, Cincinnati. He has a well equipped office on the north side of the track with a library of carefully selected and leading medical publications. As a country practitioner in its true meaning, he is thoroughly abreast with the times and has ever had a high appreciation of the grave responsibilities devolving upon all who engage in the practice of the "healing art."
graduated in 1861 from the Ontario Veterinary school. He was assistant inspector of stock for two years in Sioux City (Iowa) stock yards, came to Axtell, Kansas, two years ago and has given good satisfaction in all his work. He is thoroughly reliable and understands his profession. His diploma may be seen any time upon request. He also has a recommendation from Bennell Sawyer, B.S. of the Ottawa Business College, where he went to learn some technical words which his profession requires.
dealer in boots and shoes, harness, saddles, whips, collars, brushes, robes, blankets, fly nets, & etc. Mr. Berry is a good workman, and all kinds of repair work in his line of business is neatly and satisfactorily done.
is the whole souled proprietor of the meat market just south of the Summit House, which business he has for the past few years conducted with credit to himself and satisfaction to his patrons.
is the proprietor of the meat market just opposite the Ely Bros. & Axtell building. Several beeves and many fat porkers are slaughtered each week by him to feed the hungry of this city.
runs what is known as the "Racket Store." He is only a new man here in the business, having located here this spring. He is a good business man. His wife also runs a millinery business in connection with the store which is a marked enterprise.
Self praise is not always best, consequently what I say I hope will not be deemed egotistic. October 18, 1883, the ANCHOR was started by the Axtell publishing company in this city with Milt L. Singry editor, which immediately gave an additional impetus to the city, always advocating for the right, and it received from the first the hearty support of the citizens which it has ever since enjoyed. The present editor assumed control the first of last February and has built upon a solid foundation one of the main enterprises of the city.
our hustling real estate, loan, Insurance and collecting agent, and attorney-at-law is the one man in Axtell who is always busy. Since starting business here two years ago, Mr. Sharpe has sold more real estate, wrote more insurance, collected and settled more claims, and won more law suits than any other agent or attorney in northern Kansas. He has been a resident of this neighborhood since his boyhood. He has served the county as county surveyor and occupied the office of register of deeds with credit for four years. He is familiar with all the cornerstones, roads and section lines in Marshall county, and is an expert in examining titles to its lands. No man in this community has done half what Mr. Sharpe has done in advertising both town and county. He has spent hundreds of dollars in showing its advantages and spreading the great truth of the fertility and beauty of the fields that surround it. He has scattered paper and circulars over a large territory and caused Axtell to be known, discussed and visited by people that never knew of us before. There was a vacuum here two years ago and Mr. Sharpe was just the man to fill it. He has been successful from the start, beyond his most sanguine expectations. Business has come to him from all the points of the compass until his whole time as well as that of his efficient assistant, Ed Hanna, is taxed to the utmost to attend to it, and the keynote of his success is that he attends to business at once. There are no to-morrows or sweet by-and- by's in his business vocabulary. Mr. Sharpe is a staunch believer in the potency of printer's ink as a successful factor in the prosecution of any business that depends on the public for success and hence the noise of his footsteps on our stair is a familiar sound. If you have any business to transact whether it be the selling or renting of real estate, the insurance of a house, the collection of a bill, the enforcement of a claim in court, the payment of taxes or the making of a deed, mortgage or lease, go to H. K. Sharpe and it will be done for you promptly legally and reasonably.
the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article is one of the best known and influential citizens of Axtell, he having located here this summer. He conducts a large real estate business and any one wishing to invest in any kind of property in the county, or has real estate to dispose of, will do well to give him a call.
merchant tailor, located here with his son, L. Yauslin, four weeks ago, his former residence being at Clermont, Iowa, where he lived about fifteen years. He learned his trade from his father when quite young, and has followed the business ever since. He always carries a nice line of woolen goods, which he makes up at the lowest living prices. When in need of any clothing he invites you to call and see him. Clothing cleaned and repaired on short notice.
proprietor of the Sherman House is a native of Indiana. He came to Axtell in 1893 and took charge of the Sherman House, which is a strictly first-class hotel, with all modern conveniences. Mr. Casady has been in the hotel business for some years and has made it a study. That he is successful may be seen from the good patronage he always has.
is the new proprietor of the Summit House who recently moved here from Solomon City, Kas. to take charge of that house. He has proved himself a hotel man of no small ability as he has continually increased his trade by setting one of the best furnished tables in the state of Kansas. This is a good house and one Axtell might be well proud of. Mr. Daily is a genial good fellow and one thoroughly qualified for such a position.
is Axtell's leading lady photographer, she having located here this summer, from Marysville. She thoroughly understands all branches of her art and makes a specialty of cabinets, outdoor views, groups, crayons, etc. Her prices are liberal according to the times and her social standing in the community makes her popular with the best element of society.
is the firm name of our liverymen, but is conducted by Herman and Elmer, the two sons. They have one of the finest barns in the county and do a rustling business and as they have good teams and good buggies they are exceedingly popular.
is the most important caterer to the public palate. He owns and operates the Palace Bakery in connection with one of the nicest restaurants in the country, and one can find there almost everything that he would desire in the way of confectionery of any style.
also owns a first class restaurant, first door north of J. S. Montgomery's meat market, where he carries a fine stock of candles and cigars, and serves lunch at all hours during the day. His line of confectionery is complete.
are a firm who maintain a large assortment of queer looking headgear with which they decorate their sex, while
who was one of the first milliners to the field and who dresses the fair sex in the latest fads of fashion.
is the name of the firm who run a very fine tonsorial business here in Axtell with the best results. They are both fine gentlemen and good business men.
another barber, is one of our business men who is numbered with the good men of Axtell.
have since their location here, made an astonishing success of the venture in which they are engaged. They have from the first been pushed with work. They run a large blacksmith shop and are now placing in operation a lot of new machinery of latest design.
who runs the blacksmith shop on the north side has since his location here a number of years ago made a financial success of his business. He has constantly in his employ, Professor Harry Brock, who carries a rabbit foot every day and to this can be attributed considerable of their success. Mr. Mack is a thorough blacksmith and gives excellent satisfaction.
successfully runs a woodworking establishment on the north side, and being a good workman does a rousing business. He makes wagons or anything you might want in the wood line.
is another wood worker and has his shop over Moriarity's & Kellum's blacksmith shop where he is doing a good business.
is the name of our efficient shoemaker. He is located in the Opera House block in one of the office rooms up stairs. He is a first class workman and gives excellent satisfaction.
There are two Opera Houses here which are known as the Citizens Opera House and G.L. Barnes Opera House. The Citizens Opera House is as fine as any in the state of Kansas, and is the means of many good shows stopping here. J.H. Trout is the efficient manager. The Barnes Opera House is mostly used now as a skating rink and dance hall and affords a place of amusement for our young people.
has for a number of years past been engaged in the business of well-drilling and during this time has sunk hundreds of wells which are in daily use and are yielding all the water necessary. He has had remarkably good luck in getting water and has in consequence a large business.
runs the feed grinding machine in Gus Ruden's building. He also does all kinds of tin work and repairing.
is our rustling windmill and pump man, who since his establishment here has sold windmills all over the country and put them in successful operation. He does good work at the right price and he has met with immense favor and rapid sales.
is under the supervision of John Murray, who, with a few exceptions of chronic kickers, is satisfactory to all. He carries in connection with the Post Office a fine line of stationery.
We could go on here and mention many more of the minor businesses such as carpenters, contractors, dressmakers, etc., but our space being limited we cannot give each of these a personal mention alone, but suffice it to say that we can boast of having the very best of these kind of people right among us.
A history of the town would be incomplete without a mention of the musical talent we possess.
Among the most prominent organizations of this class the famous
ranks very high and many music loving souls have been charmed with their delightful music.
comprise a quartette and as entertainers they are unexcelled. They all thoroughly understand music and require complimentary notice in this write-up.
is also another musical organization that deserves mention. They are among the best of the country as indeed few can excel them.
Axtell has secret societies of every description, and they are all prosperous. To name all of them and give names of the main officers is impossible; however, there are about twelve societies in all.
In conclusion, I will say that although Axtell is now a city of much audible enterprise, yet there is always room for one more.
Situated as we are, in a stock and grain raising section, there is room for many enterprises which depend on such a foundation.
Corn is our main production, and were a starch factory established here, corn, of which starch is made, would be plentiful at low prices, and would save cost of transportation both ways.
Were a beet sugar factory located here we believe it would be profitable to both the factory and the farmers.
A good laundry and a picket fence machine would also be paying industries in Axtell.
Many are the factories that could with profit be placed in operation in this city, and we believe several would be established were the effort made.
In writing this edition of the "ANCHOR" I have tried to hold strictly to the truth and believe I have used no brighter colors than the town deserves and without any attempt at exaggeration.
I have not, merely to make a brilliant showing, given one more word to any article than I believe it deserves; some, in fact, I have been obliged to shorten on account of space and none have received the praise I would like to bestow. It is no easy matter to write a history of a city and of its businesses without making a mistake and should any of the readers of the "ANCHOR" notice one or more, I hope I may merit their sympathy.
A charter was approved February 17, 1857, for the building of a railroad from Roseport, opposite St. Joseph to Palmetto, now Marysville, in Marshall County, Kansas. The name of the Company was the Palmetto & Roseport Railroad Company, and the road to be built was intended as an extension of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. Governor Stewart, Jeff Thompson, John Corby, John Severance and John R. Boyd, of Missouri, and Frank Marshall, of Kansas were the first Board of Directors. The work of constructing the road was commenced in the summer of 1859, opposite St. Joseph, and on the 20th of March, 1860, the first bar of railroad iron ever laid in Kansas was placed on this road, and the track was completed to Wathena, five miles west of St. Joseph on the 28th of April, 1860. The projectors of the road had absolutely nothing certain to build a railroad with, the work of construction being commenced without a dollar in the treasury of the company.
The individuals who organized this Company believed that the magnificent country west from St. Joseph ought to be penetrated by a railroad, and, acting on this idea commenced its construction, trusting that the city of St. Joseph and the counties and individuals on the line of the road would assist in its completion. Five miles of the road from St. Joseph west, was completed by private subscription and on the 28th of April, 1860, the pony engine, "Albany," was placed on the track and run to Wathena. The war intervening, nothing farther was done in the construction of this road until 1866. The charter of the company, however, was kept alive, and on the 17th of April, 1862, the corporate name of the company was changed to the St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad Company, and under the general railroad law of Nebraska, the company obtained the right to maintain a railroad from the border line of Kansas to Ft. Kearney, in Nebraska.
By the terms of an agreement made on the 11th of August, 1866, a corporation organized as the Northern Kansas Railroad Company, was consolidated with the St. Joseph & Denver City Company, and by this consolidation the right to certain lands granted by the general government in an act approved July 23, 1866, was vested in the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad Company; also this company acquired the title to certain lands by reason of an act of the legislature of Kansas, approved February, 13th, 1865. Under these two acts the amount of land received was 373,162 acres in Nebraska and 64,672 in Kansas. The company also received the proceeds of the sale of 125,000 acres of land granted by the general government to the State of Kansas, to aid in the construction of railroads in the state. The sale of this land amounted to $164,528. The company also obtained subscriptions to its capital stock, payable in city and county bonds as follows: City of St. Joseph, $500,000; Doniphan County, $200,000. Brown County, $100,000; Nemaha County, $125,000; Marshall County, $100,000. All the above stock was taken and paid for in bonds except the $125,000 subscribed by Nemaha County. This county refused to take its stock and issue its bonds. Assuming the lands granted to the company to have been worth three dollars per acre and the county and city bonds to have been worth eighty cents on the dollar and we think this is a low estimate the amount of aid per mile in the construction of the road was $9,600, or certainly more than one-half of the actual cost of the road.
It is not the purpose of this article to discuss what might have been in building the St. Joseph & Western railroad. It is true of this road as of all the roads in Kansas, that the general government and the people on the lines of the roads, furnished more than one-half of the means necessary to build them; and it is equally true, that the stock issued by the railroad companies in payment of the money advanced is worthless. A history of the manner of manipulating railroad stock will explain this. The primary object to be accomplished in constructing the St. Joseph & Western railroad as well as all other railroads in Kansas was the development of the country. That object has been accomplished and Northern Kansas is beyond all question a much greater country than it would have been if no railroad had been constructed through it.
About the close of the war the proposition to go ahead with the construction of the railroad west from St. Joseph was actively agitated, and in the summer of 1867 negotiations were made with capitalists in St. Joseph, to borrow $100,00 to complete the road from St. Joseph to Troy, in Doniphan County, or a distance of fifteen miles. To secure the payment of this $100,000, a first mortgage was given on all the assets the company would come in possession of on the completion of this fifteen miles of road. Col. Severance agreed to complete and did complete this fifteen miles of road for the $100,000. The completion of the first division, fifteen miles, gave the company this much of completed road that could be used in the construction of more road, besides giving it the possession of a part of St. Joseph and Doniphan County bonds that were to be issued on the completion of the first division of the road.
Having completed the first division of the road and secured the land grants and city and county subscriptions before mentioned, the company was able to negotiate a mortgage on its franchise and all the property it possessed with parties in New York, for the completion of the whole road. First mortgage bond on the road were negotiated by Tanner & Co. and Donald, Lawson & Co., brokers, in New York, and with money realized from the sale of those bonds, the road was completed from Troy in Doniphan County to Hastings, in Nebraska, about two hundred and sixteen miles. The whole road through to Ft. Kearney might have been completed in this way, but it was found that Donald, Lawson & Co., and Tanner & Co., were not only brokers for the sale of the securities of the company, but they were also the contractors, in fact, for the construction of the road, and parties who were buying these first mortgage bonds found they were getting a mortgage on property that had cost and was costing entirely too much money. Donald, Lawson & Co., and Tanner & Co., were paid for building the road more than double the actual cost of the work, and when it became clear to the parties who were paying the money, arrangements were made as soon as possible, for the foreclosure of the mortgage, and the sale of the road. The sale of the road on mortgage, of course, wiped out the original stock. The road went into the hands of Gould & Co., who completed the road, making Grand Island the terminus instead of Kearney, and changed its name from St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad, to St. Joseph & Western Railroad.
The local management of the St. Joseph & Western Railroad will compare favorably with that of any road in the west, but this road like all other roads in Kansas, was built that the public might be benefited. Large donations were made by the people to accomplish this object, and the people have the right to regulate by law the manner of running these railroads, and the representatives of the people will fail in their duty if they do not see to it that this is done.
St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad passenger train at the depot in
Seneca, Kansas in 1911. The train is heading westward. Next stops on
the route were Baileyville, Axtell, Beattie, Home City and finally
Marysville, before heading on to Grand Island, Nebraska.
A short visit with Supt. E. E. Barnard on New Year's Day revealed the fact that plans are under way to move into the new school building by Feb. 1st, the deadline for WPA projects all over the nation. While not exactly definite, there is reason to believe that the change can be made by that time.
Supt. Barnard stated that with the exception of transferring the blackboards from the old to the new class rooms, which was being done at the time, and the completion of installing window-stops and trim, the class rooms were ready. The two men who are to finish the floors were expected to begin work Monday.
The northeast corner basement floor was yet to be finished, but it will probably be completed by the end of this week. Carpenters now working are John, Paul and Porter Grove, Robt. VanHyning, Oren Sarver. Roy Neff is busy painting; Ed McDonald is doing the cement work. There are a few WPA laborers still on the job.
The auditorium and gymnasium will be the last part of the building to be completed. The razing of the old building and landscaping is another matter; to be taken care of later.
Both Supt. Barnard and Director A. L. Anderson have put in a great deal of time working at school, filling in where ever possible and helping to bridge the labor shortage.
In the same issue of Axtell Standard, there appeared an article called "Review of the News" [of 1942]. It lists in April section the following paragraph:
"Review of the News" July section included:
"Review of the News" August section included:
"Review of the News" October section included:
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