WINCHESTER ARGUS
April 18, 1878

HISTORY SKETCHES

As there is just now a mania for History and Sketches of early Kansas, we purpose satisfying it in a small way, like our neighboring contemporaries in furnishing our readers from time to time, with no attempt at currency or completeness, such sketches and items of history as we can procure.
There yet remain in our midst several of the old settlers, who can materially assist us in making this feature interesting, in relating to us stories of the events and incidents of those early days, and we hope to hear from them.
This history can be easily preserved for future generations, without any expense, by each family. If you do not wish to keep a file of the paper entire, you can cut out the columns containing the sketches, and paste them in a book a la scrap book, and in a short time you will have a little volume that will grow more and more valuable, and we would be glad to know how many will apply the suggestion.
Coming to Kansas in March, 1855, when only six years old, our recollections, of course, are not so extensive as those of older heads, but we cast in our mite willingly.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP HISTORY
About the development of the State of Kansas cluster some of the most important events of American history–but we only aim to give, and briefly, so much of it as relative to this town.
Its territorial organization, by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, in 1854, re-opened the agitation of the slavery question, which, seeming to have acquired fresh vigor and violence from the sleep it had enjoyed under the Missouri Compromise, thoroughly aroused the annosities between the pro-and anti-slavery elements of our national politics, and from the time of its first settlement in the summer of 1854, to 1856 it was the theater of political tragedies, the bare mention of which we shall hereafter speak.
In June, 1854 the claims were made in the township, by parties from Mo., after which they returned to their homes, to take care of their crops, and make preparations to remove to their new Kansas homes.
A few families settled here in the fall of 1854, the first being Charlie Harte, who built a log cabin on the old military road, at what was once known as Hickory Point, where two important battle--skirmishes–were fought in September, 1856. The Point is now owned by Andy Wilson, a stirring well-to do farmer.
One by one the pioneers, with their families kept dropping in and taking possession of their new homes, indeed a proud moment of their lives, little dreaming of the “troubles” in store for them until the spring of 1855 no less than a hundred persons had settled in this township. At the end of twenty two years but few of those first settlers are remaining to tell the old story of those eventful days. Here they are: Simeon Hull, Alpha Simmond, Isaac Hull, Charles Hedrick, Jas. T. Gardiner, and Wm. M. Gardiner, and their families. If there are others we do not now recall them. Well do we remember the pleasant evening of the 25th day of March 1855, when two covered wagons appeared on the boundless prairie and we were told by a proud father, –proud of his new home and bright prospects of the future–as the wagon left the military road perhaps not ten rods from where we now write, and turned southward into a pathless valley, presenting to our view a handsome grove of trees only a mile away, that “there is where we are to make our home.”
Though by seven years old, the wild picturesque and limitless scenes, gave us impressions never to be forgotten, and our greatest fear was Indians. The wagon rolled smoothly over the even prairie, until we soon caught sight of the little log cabin 12 x 16, in the woods apparently awaiting our coming; and ere the curtains of night had fallen upon us, we took shelter under that humble roof. What change have been wrought since then. How wonderful, swift bewildering our pen could not tell it all in brief, imperfect sketches in these columns.
The First Elections, held in this township came off at Hickory Point, on the 30th of March 1855. The election board appointed by the Governor for some reason did not serve, and the electors chose a board and the polls were open. Political discussions ran high that day, and plenty of bad whisky did not help the matter. Ephemeral–resident Missourians attended in great numbers, many of them having arrived the day before, made their claims the morning of the election. Several of them camped in the woods near “our cabin” and against the protests of the residents, before sun-rise that morning there were more than a dozen claims, on a forty acre tract. These claims were indicated by miniature foundations made of “hazel brush” and the claimant’s name badly written on a piece of paper fastened to a stick stuck in the ground, within the foundation. The student of history understands why these people were so disposed. Over a hundred votes were polled that day, but the voting was badly one-sided, there being only seven Free State votes cast. But when those fearless men marched boldly to the polls in a body and voted, the triumphant pro-slavery men gave them cheer after cheer as each vote was taken.
N. Hopewell, ---------- Jones, and W. M. Gardiner were Judges of the election.
Be it said that while there were many greatly in earnest in their endeavors to carry the election, were none that were violent that day, no blood was shed–no fights or knock-downs.
The large pro-slavery majority was not unexpected. The illegal voting was against the protests of the leading residents–persons who had come here for the purpose of making this a real home and abiding place. Yet, it could not be helped. Had none but actual, “bona fide” residents voted, the Pro-slavery majority would have been greatly decreased, for, taking Sim Hull as authority, there was a gentle Southern breeze kept up here till ‘57.
For some time after this, all was quiet in this township, and now settlers arrived every week.
And while the hardy pioneers were busily engaged during that summer in all that pertains to making new farms and homes in the West, they hoped to succeed undisturbed and unmolested.
 

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP HISTORY
WINCHESTER ARGUS
 Thursday, April 25, 1878

The summer and fall of ‘55 passed away with “troubles” few and far between. New claims and new farms were the order of the day. These were located mostly on Walnut and Crooked Creeks, as the early settlers being from a timbered country choose timbered claims rather than prairie. They “reckoned” that a farm could not be made without timber.
The first Garden spots and fields were commonly opened out in brush lands and the old slow, laborious way of ‘grubbing’ was at first much practiced. But the wide awake, progressive farmers soon learned an easier plan, rigged up their ‘prairie teams’, and soon had acres of sod ready for planting. As may be observed today, it soon proved to be the popular way. The first cabins were generally built of round logs, chinked with blocks of wood, stone, &c., and daubed with mud inside and out, and roofed with clap-boards nailed to “ribs”. Some contained “puncheon”floors, and some boards, while not a few were dirt. The “first” cabins were usually windowless, the doors low but wide. The last, but not the least, important attachment to this rustic, humble domicile, was the fireplace, the jams and back-walls of stone, surmounted by a wooden chimney, made fire-proof, by being bedaubed and plastered with mud. These specimens of architecture ere long were superseded by structures of more imposing appearance, in that windows were added; stone chimneys took the place of wooden ones, the logs were hewn, and the cracks “plated” with lime, and lined on the inside with dressed clapboards. In those primeval days the pioneer here began at the bottom round, despising not the days of small things, and slowly but surely climbed the steep accent. Those possessed of large continuity, knowing no such word as fail, devoting their all to the work before them, who put their land to the plow and never turned backward, have their reward.
The drouth which prevailed in the Missouri Valley in ‘54 was very severe. The corn crop in Missouri was simply a failure, and the pastures withered and died under the scorching sun, while here the grass was yet green. So under those circumstances many of the pioneers drove their cattle here in the fall, when they came over to build their cabins. Their stock were left here through the winter, and “lived fat” on the dry grass, vines and browse without ever having a single feed from the hand of their owners. This spoke volumes for Kansas. But the next winter, ‘55-6, notwithstanding considerable corn had been raised, much of that same stock starved to death or died of the mad itch. As in the days of the Revolution, “this was the time that tried men’s souls”. That severe winter will ever be remembered by the early settlers. It was bitter and cheerless. Early in December, ‘55, a deep snow fell, which lay all winter. For six long weeks the sun was powerless to melt a particle of ice or snow. Even on the “sunnyside”, when the odds were against him, the icy giant loosened not his grasp. Travel was almost suspended, communications few, and they were not of an agreeable kind. Mutterings of discontent, soon came unwelcome, from the welcome from the headquarters of the agitated political parties. Threatening clouds of war hung gloomily in the horizon. All was not well. From the Wakarusa came rumors of war. Stories of death, rapine and plunder were more frequent. Every one felt that his life was at stake.
Those dread resolutions, directly opposite to make this a Free or Slave State, peaceably if it could, or forcibly if necessary, respectively passed by both political parties, were working sad and much to be lamented results. Happily hostilities reached not this far, the almost unendurable winter passed away, spring opened, immigration set in, and the work of a new country was pushed forward rapidly, while the politicians busied themselves gathering the elements of a storm that burst upon them in the summer and spent its fury at Hickory Point.

WINCHESTER ARGUS, Thursday, May 9, 1878
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP HISTORY

Winchester is an important and flourishing village of Jefferson county, and we deem this a fitting chapter to attempt giving our readers, what we know about it. It was our privilege to witness the “raising” of the first cabin, more than twenty years ago, on the present site. It was a small cheap log structure and excepting perhaps for the nails, it did not cost the proprieter, Mr. Joseph Best a dollar in cash. Economy was the strict rule. The cost and appearance of that “first house” does not compare in the least with the (last) one we see being built to-day on Broad way, and others sheltering well-to-do inhabitants. On the 18, June 1854, W. M. Gardiner halted on this high ridge, and made it his claim, driving his stake near where is now the Winchester Hotel. In the spring of ‘55 he broke and fenced a small field in the southwest corner of the quarter near the Winchester Academy Addition, and planted it in corn. It yielded a good crop; but Huntington’s breechy prairie team, destroyed it, nearly all.
After the survey in the latter part of ‘55 he sold his claim to Joe. Best, who early in the next year continued opening out the farm, and built his first cabin near where now stands the dwelling of Johnson Adams, which was built soon after, and the two became a hotel, soon doing a good business as the old military road was daily lined with travelers. Early the next year, 57 the thought of starting a town was favorably entertained. Some suggested starting it at a big spring, a mile and a half southwest of here, and calling it Savannah. But, Alvin Best, who formerly was from Winchester, Virginia, preferred the present location, and the name of his native town, and being the oldest man his wishes were honored.
The original town plat was laid in the N. E. 1-4 of section 26, township 8, range 19 of Delaware Trust Lands, in the spring of ‘57 by the proprietor Joseph Best; 4 additions have been made to it since that time; viz; Trower’s, Dodds, Marletts and the Academy Addition.
About the time the town was laid out, and named Wm. Reboe, arrived full of enterprise and “push,” built a small frame house, on the spot the same now occupied by Mr. Dill near the stone building, and put the first stock of dry goods into it ever brought here. It was a very small invoice of goods compared to that we find in one corner of our stores today, which sell more goods in one day than our pioneer merchant sold in a year. That summer Reboe built the stone building which in after years, as run by other merchants was the big store in town. Conner “kept store” in it, and whisky was the principal commodity. In 1860 and for several years after, Henry Elson was doing a big business within its walls; he took in Isaac Hull as partner at a later date. This is the place Wilhelm and Gorham got their start, commencing about ‘67.
Dr. A. R. Cantwell, a jolly good natured man was the first to peddle pills, and feel pulses, on these prairies wide, and built a “first house,” perhaps in ‘58 where the fine residence owned by Hon. Levi Wilhelm now stands.
Winchester was without religious influence for more than two years, and during that time it is reasonable to state that the moral atmosphere was at times, at least quite unwholesome. But ever since Vincent Jones, the pioneer preacher, a southern Methodist came first among us, and opened the battle of Light against Darkness, morals have improved, till now it has a reputation of which the villagers are proud.
Joe Head sold out his first shop, and opened out a more extensive grocery establishment in his new building, the same one A. V. Barnes now lives in–located near Trower’s cellar, and after doing business a few months sold out to W. M. Gardiner who continued the business a short time and sold out to D. H. Wright, early in ‘59. Wright died about a year afterward, and to the best of our knowledge he is the first and only Winchester merchant who has yet been called to the city of the dead.
In the summer of ‘58 Mr. D. H. Wright, a native of Virginia, taught the first (subscription) school in Winchester in a small tax house that stood near the Winchester hotel. The school district was organized in September, ‘58, the first annual meeting, by the election of the following Board: Jas. Best, Director; N. W. Taylor, Clerk; and W. M. Gardiner, Treasurer. And they contracted with Samuel Betts to teach the (first) public school in ‘59, in the temporary building. A commodious school house was erected in the fall of the same year, on the present site, and Mr. B. First wielded the birch within it cherished walls in the spring of ‘60.
William Phillips, a “busted” Pikes Peaker, taught the first singing school there the winter previous. He was a “numeral” man, and taught “me” to make very good music out of the old Christain Psalmist.

WINCHESTER ARGUS, Thursday, May 16, 1878

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP HISTORY
RELIGIOUS

Among the first, if not the first, religious organizations of this township, was that at Fairfield, organized by Rev. Chas. Lovejoy early in 1857. The class of the M. E. Denomination numbered 50 or 60 in a short time, and was in a flourishing condition, under the leadership of E. McClure, who continued as leader of that class for 21 years.
The first camp-meeting was held in this neighborhood in the fall of ‘57 by Lovejoy in a grove on the Donahue farm, now owned by Mrs. Thos. Booth. This is just across the line in Delaware township.
Another camp meeting was held at this same place in ‘58 under the charge of Rev. Bowman, when Rev. Fisher was presiding elder.
A Sunday school was organized at the residence of Uncle Thos. Booth in the summer of ‘60 or ‘61.
Rev. Lovejoy and Rev. N. W. Taylor preached several times as early as ‘56-7 at Peacock’s on Walnut creek, southeast of Winchester. Later, perhaps in ‘59 Preacher Arrington held meetings near the “old Indian Field,” on the head waters of Walnut creek in what is now the timber quarter belonging to F. M. Johnson. At his meetings Joseph Walker was converted, and immersed, as was his preference, (I don’t know but father had preached–talked–to him some on that subject) in a body of beautiful water on the prairie, about a mile and a quarter south of our old school house, which water we boys called “The Swimming Hole.” It was something new in these parts, and attracted everybody around about to witness the scene, and beside, there happened an amusing incident not down on the regular programme, in which the minister and the candidate slipped, in a sitting posture, down into deep water, overwhelming them before the usual ceremony was said, when the numerous witnesses–though trying to suppress it–headed by Will Ellis, burst into a hearty laugh as a kind of chorus to the hymn being sung. We might name some of those who laughed at this solemn scene.
We are not prepared to note the dates of all the religious organizations in this township since then.
The Methodists had the first organization in town prior to ‘60. The Christian church was organized in ‘64; the Reformed Presbyterian in ‘69; the United Presbyterian shortly afterward. Each of these organizations has a comfortable house of worship in which services are held regularly.
An organization of the Missionary Baptists was effected at an early day on Fall creek, in the neighborhood of the Marshall school house, Rev. Henry W. Marshall, then a young man, and well known to many of our readers now, preached as early as ‘55. There was an organization abouth ‘67 or ‘68 which, shortly afterward, united with the one at Fall creek, and organized at the Marshall school house, what is known as the Hebron church.
The Regular Baptists have an organization at Wilhelm’s school house.
The Methodists, United Presbyterians, and Presbyterians have organizations at Nortonville, and a house of worship.
There are M. E. classes at Haskell’s school house and at Spring Grove, with regular services. Other school houses have preaching semi-occasionally.
In the primitive days of christianity in this township the leafy grove was dedicated to religious worship, but was used only in the summer time. Since the building of school houses and churches, we have services the year around, like other civilized people.
A Methodist organization, South, was maintained in Winchester, but moved to Plum Grove some 12 or 15 years ago.
A Catholic organization exists in the northeast part of the township, and has for 8 or 10 years. They have a place of worship and regular services.
We estimate the number of church members in this township at 700–about one- third of the population.

WINCHESTER ARGUS
May 30, 1878

In ’58 a postoffice was established here and Alvin Best appointed postmaster. A mail route from Leavenworth to Topeka was established, giving us a daily mail each way, with Winchester the halfway point, where the coaches met at the Jefferson House, Joseph Best, proprietor. The coaches drawn by four spankin good horses, were generally loaded with passengers. This mail route was continued till the Kansas Pacific railroad was built, and then it was changed to Perry, via Oskaloosa, as it is today. Another mail route was established in ’60 or ’61 via Winchester, from Atchison to Lawrence, but was soon discontinued. It made things lively then for four stages to drive into town per day.
John Huntington built the Winchester Hotel in ’58 or ’59. Could its walls but speak they could furnish volumes of history, that never will be written by human hands.
About this time a notorious character settled in town. He was acquainted with all the vices, and was morally cheap. He was familiarly known as Bill Clarke, and his sad fate will not be uninteresting. We distinctly remember the first time we met him. While on an errand to town one morning, late in autumn, we met, and he asked us if we had seen any stray cattle, describing them. Fortunately for him we had, that very morning, and thus informed him, telling him where he might find them. He asked us to show him the place, and he said he would give us a quarter if we would. We found his cattle for him and helped him drive them to town, but did not get our quarter. Several months afterward we “dunned” him for it and he said “that was old.” His tragical end came next. One Saturday afternoon, in August, ’59 the people from round about came to town to listen to a discussion of constitutional questions. Among them there existed a family difficulty of long standing. During the progress of the speaking, which took place out of doors on the east side of the stone building, the two parties met for the first time since Pitcher was but a lad, and revived the feud, and aroused old animosities, in a few pointed remarks. The talk began in the stone store, or saloon, kept by Conners. They agreed to settle the difficulty in a fair fight, as proposed by Pitcher, who after getting on the street, was in the act of pulling off his coat, when Clarke cowardly fired at him, the ball passing through his hat-rim near the crown, into the street. Pitcher recovered himself, and drawing his revolver coolly fired at Clarke, who had retreated into the store, exposing only a hand’s breadth of his person at an angle through the door. The ball cut the edge of the door frame and passed straight on in its mission of death. The victim of sin was carried home and died the next day, regretting the manner of his life and terrible death.
Pitcher gave himself up and was acquitted after a brief trial. The shooting put an end to the speaking and doubtless but few can tell what the speaker said that day.
For ten years, or from the beginning of the great civil war, which had its birth in Kansas, the growth of Winchester was slow, but sure. On the 7th of June 1872, the iron pony steamed up into its limits, and from that time dates its most remarkable growth.  A month later, and regular trains were running. During the year great improvement were made. Today there are seven stores, two hotels, one large blacksmith and wagon shop, six physicians, one photo car, one meat market, one lumber yard, one boot and shoe shop, two livery and feed stables, one broom factory, one agricultural implement store, &c. &c.
The Winchester Academy, founded in 1875, is a flourishing institution, and a fine building is in course of erection.
We cannot better close this imperfect sketch of our village, than quoting this article, which appeared in substance in the News two years ago. Read it carefully:
Winchester is situated on the Kansas Central Railway, on a high, rolling prairie, and commands a delightful view of the surrounding country. Besides these natural delights, which have excited the admiration of thousands and been rightly named, “The famed prairies around Winchester,” it has a central, commercial and market location that is of incalculable value. It is the center around which is situated, at an average distance of twenty-three miles, five of the most important cities of Eastern Kansas, viz: Atchison, Leavenworth, Lawrence, Topeka and Valley Falls, where is found a ready market for all kinds of produce. But Leavenworth, having the most accessible—the initial point of the Kansas Central—is our best market. Winchester has a population of over five-hundred inhabitants. Besides the business firms that are above indicated, there are four church buildings completed—Methodist, Christian, Covenenter and United Presbyterian, with their respective organizations and numerous devoted members; a fine two story school house, in which a graded school of two departments is taught nine months in the year. There is here an excellent opening for a grist mill, and a banking institution of some kind, is desirable. Winchester is the most important shipping point in Jefferson county. Nearly $200,000 worth of stock, grain, &c., for the year ending March 1, 1877, have been shipped from this place. The trade at Winchester is almost enormous. The books of the different firms showed that fully $140,000 worth of general merchandise was sold last year, and we have no indications of a decrease. It is remarkable that it is the liveliest town in the county. The society of town and vicinity is good, and in accordance with the highest standard of civilization and enlightenment. A very erroneous idea prevails in the East, that to be in Kansas is to be associated with savages and rude western people. Let such an idea be immediately dismissed. In enduring the privations of a new country, and in the wild, eventful scenes of primeval pioneers, we have not forgotten our social and moral culture, nor the advantages and benefits of education.
Our agricultural resources are unsurpassed in the State. Jefferson township is large, and nearly ever acre of it is tillable, but only about one half of it is in cultivation, some as choice land as ever delighted the eye of man and his wife. Nowhere is honest industry better rewarded with bountiful harvest. The soil is a rich black loam, from one to two feet deep, and adapted to all kinds of grain usually raised in this latitude. Our great resources remain undeveloped for lack of labor and capital. While we have no room for idlers, we welcome ever honest, live man, who acts as though he means business to and in developing our unimproved hills and dales. Lands of a good quality are selling at from $7 to $35 per acre. Wood and coal cheap. Pine and native lumber, very reasonable. Everything the farmer and mechanic has to buy, is about as cheap as in Eastern markets. Educational advantages and facilities, excellent. Our healthful location is unsurpassed. The Kansas Central is “our” road commodation. With these advantages and natural resources—but barely outlined in this brief space—we hope to please all who may cast their lot amongst us, feeling happy in the hope that ere long we will see the Eden of Kansas in full bloom, and Winchester the “Queen of the Prairie.”