The LHS Newsletter Archive

Volume One, Issue Number 1

Originally Published in Lecompton, Kansas : May 1974 Digitally Archived August 2006

\'

May, 1974

II;Clra-

.THE

BALDEAGLE

L vo1. 1. No.1 Lecompton. K~nsas

..

WELCOMETO THE FIRST ISSUE OF "THE BALD EAGLE"...

...published by the Lecompton Historical Society, a non-profit organization,dedicated to the preservation of Lecompton's colorful and historic past.

The Bald Eagle will be published quarterly and mailed to every Boxholder ofthe Lecompton post office. Its pages will contain news of both past and pre-sent, about Lecompton and its citizens. The name, "BALD EAGLE", seems appro-priate since that was the name of our town before old Jodge Lecontpt came ontothe scene over a hundred years ago. Sara Walter suggested this name for ourpaper, and, Sara has been known as the person to see when you want to knowabout Lecompton history these past few years.

The Lecompton Historical Society was originally known as the Community Club.It has been in existence for several years, and its purpose as stated aboveis to preserve for future generations, our colorful and historic past. Wehave found a large number of people living in our area who know very Ii t.tle

of OUl:'community f s history. And, there are really so many important dat:es andevents that occured right here, which had a direct bearing on Kansas State-hood, present day laws, etc. We believe that as a resident of this area, youwould be interested in our coverage of some of these events, and we willbring them to you in each future issue of THE BALD EAGLE.

We plan to cover early settlers, and the events which brought them to our area.We hope to print some up-to-date news as well, to keep you, our neighbors andreaders, well informed about life in our community. All of the articles wIDllbe written by members of the Historical Society, and there will be no chargefor our newspaper. We hope it grows, not only in content, but in size as well,and your help in this will be greatly appreciaLed.

If you find our paper of interest, or would like to become a member of theHistorical Society, we invite your contributions, or to bEcome a member. Ourannual membership dues are only $5.00, and ~{nce we are a non-profit organ-ization, your membership dues or contributions are fully tax deductable.* * * * *YOUWOULDN'TBELIEVE IT...

Lecompton, Kansas,U.S.A. has had a good share of ups and downs. In its hey-day of the 1850's and 1860's, we boasted a population of over 5,000 people,with 5 fine hotels, the Virginia, American, National, Nation, and Rowena...which was used later as a dormitory for Lane University. There were 4 churcheshere, the District Court and the U.S. Court and Land Office. LecoInpton wasalso headquarters for 7 four~horse stage lines, with daily service to KansasCity, Leavenworth and st. Joseph, Missouri. It is said there were more roadsleading to Lecompton than any other city in the territory.

Elmor street (main street) was knwon as the "Wall Street of the t"1est."For, inreality, it was the "money street" of Kansas, lined by the Governor's office,express office, stage headquarters, book and drug stores, Learners generalstore, barber shops, 2 printing shopd, real estate offices, and lawyer andland warrant businesses by the score. In addition, there were 3 saloons, 2newspapers, the Lecompton Union and the National Democrat. There were othernewspapers started, but they only existed a short while. (We hope this paperdoesn't become one of those.) Lots on Elmor street in 1860 sold from $500to $1,000 each, and were all 25-foot lots. All of this was our town...Lecomp-ton, in its days of glory.

In 1974, things are just a bit different. The current population is at 600,and our business district includes an electrical shop, grocery store, beautyshop, service station and garage, and a used furniture store soon to openedjust west of the post office. The Lecompton Methodist church is our onlychurch now, and lots on Elmor street aren't selling for $1,000 each.

One might think this is a bit skimpy as a modern community goes, but just a

I

few years ago we only had 200 people, a grocery store, service station, andthe church. So, perhaps we are once again on the way up.

"

'1'})ecurrent project of the Historical Society is restoration of Lane Univer-sity, the main building which is still standing, and is pictured above. Inthe left photo, new window frames installed this Spring on the 2nd floor canbe seen, and in the photo on the right, the large auditorium being renovatedon the 2nd floor is shown. (Photos by Chuck Wright)

Lane University was "a project of the United Brethren church. The man most re-sponsible for the University was Rev. Soloman Weaver, ex-president of WesternCollege. He met a Rev. Thornton, H.M. Greene, H.D. Heatly and J.H. Bonebrake,at a nleeting in Big Springs. After reaching a decision to start a University,they held an open public meeting to further discuss the matter. They took a ccollection totalling $2.18, to get underway, with Bonebrake being named thetreasurer, a position he held for the next 18 years.

Rev. Soloman weaver was president of the school when it opened in the fall of1865. Weaver was a czar-like man; he overruled and was disliked by many of thechurch people and students alike. Students carne; a number of young women, and"husky young men wearing hickory shirts with their breeches tucked into boots.

~ A statewide cmnpaign was started to raise funds for the yet unnamed school.Lane University derived its name from Jim Lane, who made the largest pledge,and was an ardent abolitionist whom people of the former pro-slave capitolhated. But, Lane's ship never came in. His promised endowment was never paidby the man who had figured so conspicously in Kansas history.

Until 1882, the old Rowena Hotel on Elmor street served as the college. Gradeschool was held in the basement and Lane University occupied the rest of thebuilding. After a great deal of effort from some local citizens, the presentbuilding was completed in the Spring of 1882. Sixty-five per cent of themoney was raised by the people of Lecompton.

Thireteen acres of Territorial Capitol ground (the present school grounds)andthe remains of the old Capitol, had been donated to Lane University in 1865.On this plot of ground, the church built the new school building, consistingof a basement and two stories. The building partly rests upon the foundationof the original Territorial Capitol of Kansas. President Buchanan's admini-stration had appropriated $50,000 to build the original Capitol, which neverrose above the first floor.

When the University building was completed in the Spring of 1882, the dedic-ation was held June 21st. The Hon. T.D. Thatcher of Topeka gave the address.Thatcher said, a few people possess ~he land, a people who prize educa~ion,who love freedom, and who worship God. These people have seized upon ~hesefoundation walls and have erected upon them ~his temple of learning, whichwe have dedicated this day. Could any~hing more appropria~e mark the vastchange which has come over the country since ~he days of '56 and '57.A templeof learning erected upon the foundation walls of the pro-slave Capitol ofKansas.

Lane University operated in this building for the next 20 years.

(TO BE CONTINUED IN SUCCEEDING ISSUES)* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* You and your .family are invited to attend the next meeting of the Lecompton ** Historical Society.. .Thursday eve~ing, May 16th. Whether you are a member or ** not...bring your family and a covered dish for supper at 6:30 p.m...meeting ** starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and usually lasts only about an hour. We'll look ** for you then. ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

.---- .~.~~-

OUR EARLY SETTLERS...By. ..Walter B. Stauffer

George Washington Brown came to Lecompton, Kansas Territory about 1850, andsettled on the Big Muddy branch of the Delaware river. He married Sarah Mor-gan, daughter of General Morgan, the raider. They had two sons, David, whodied of_typhoid when nearly grown, William Otterheim, and two daughters,Mary, who married Ed (Eldred) Day, and Martha, who married Mark Renfron.They lived near Perry.

William Otterheim Brown married Sara Matilda Williams (whose father was apreacher, a farmer near Holton, and later a state senator.) They had adaughter, Eva Mae, who married Lester E. Stauffer, and their~on, WalterBrown Stauffer, who presently lives on the Stauffer farm one mile west ofLecompton.

George W. Brown had a quarterly _conference license to preach, but did nothave a charge. He was once president of the Lane University Board of Trust-ees.

j

William Otterheim Brown had two sons, Edward"who moved to Topeka, and BertGeorge, who moved to Hoiton', and had a fruit wholesale house there. They hada daughter, Elsie, who married Glen Person, and lived in Lecompton severalyears. They had three sons, George, who works at a garage in Lawrence, May-nard, who works in a bank in California, and Henry, who teaches at KansasUniversity. . .

George Washington Brown was number one on.the United ~rethren church rollsrwhich was started here in 1865. They had sold the land at Holton and boughta "forty" at the west edge of town (now the Sylvester Bothwell place). Hehad a large orchard and operated a butcher shop in Lecompton; also an icehouse and later a cream station. He sold ice cream in the summer and chiliand pies in the winter. His business was located just south of Old Const- .tution Hall.

Sarah Brown Morgan had a sister who married John Deever, a United Brethrenpreacher. They had three sons, all preachers, Otterheim, Arley and Alvin.Alvin's son, Paul, is now preaching at Shawnee Heights.

I have an antique music stand bought from Indiana in 1850 by George Washing-ton Brown; also a clock from Ireland, which ha~ been in the family for sevengenerations. . .

* * * * *

COMMENTSBY OUR PRESIDENT Dale Gregg

Lecompton is one of the most historic t9wns in the state, with.more important.historical monuments than.any other city in Kansas.

. .

I There is Old Constitution Hall, where ou~ _first Constitution was-~aw~Andr- the fotmdation of what:was to be our pro-slave Capitol, and later was to be-I come Lane University.

These buildings should be preserved. THEY MUST BE PRESERVED, since they aresome of the last of our irreplaceable historic treasurer. People in this areaare slowly awakening to the value of these historical structures.

We invite your help and company as we work and plan to make Lecompton one ofthe great historical centers of Kansas and the midwest. Wouldn't it be wonder-ful if we could have the Lane University building all renovated and restoredby June 21, 1982. Then we could hold a rededication marking the 100th anni-versary of the original dedication...and bring hundreds of visitors to ourcommunity from allover the country.

gy interest in Lane University. comes from my .involvment in the HistoricalSociety, and my intense interest in local history. I also had an uncle whowas a graduate of Lane in the class of 1889. His name was John B~es, and heearned a degree in Phrenology. His professor in the course-was W.T. Johnson.Uncle John went from Lane University into medical practice at Lawrence, withhis father (my great grandfather) .

DON IT FORGET TO ATTEND OUR NEXT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING...A COVERED-DISHSUPPER AT LECOMPTON CITY HALL, THURSDAY, MAY 16th, 6:30 p.m.

:1./.,

)I.,

'"

EASTER EGG HUNT A ROUSING SUCCESS....

Officers of the LecomptonHistorical Society recentlyviewed work being done at LaneUniversity. Pictured, from leftto right, Dale Gregg, president,Betty Wood, secretary, LomaGregg, treasurer, and BillSmith, vice president. ChuckWright, editor of The Bald Eagle,took the picture.

More than a hundred kids from the Lecompton community braved the wind andcold weather to have fun in the Historical Society's Annual Easter Egg Hunt,Saturday morning, April 13th.

Candy, suckers, and dyed Easter eggs covered the City Hall grounds, and at9:30, Betty Smith climbed to the top of the bell tower to ring the bell tostart the hunters on their search for the hidden eggs.

Prize eggs were found by Richard Powell, Mindy Sanford, Millie Mathe andBrenda Kibbee.

Society members who assisted in the project were Bill and Sue Maxwell, Billand Evelyn Smith, Betty Rose Smith, and Dale and Lorna Gregg.

While the Society holds several fund raising activities during the year tohelp in the restoration of Lane University, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt isone community activity for our future generation we are proud to sponsorwithout charge to anyone.

WHERE DO WE GET OUR FINANCES????

People in the community often ask where we get the money to do the work we,do. Our answer:

The Douglas County Historical Society makes an annual contributionand various private funds are also contributed. Then, we supplementour annual financial needs with fund raising activities, and ourmembership dues. We are a fully non-pro~it organization, and everycent we receive, regardless of from whatever source it may come, isfully accounted for.

WATCHFOROURNEXT FUNDRAISING EVENT...WHICH IS....

Our Annual ICE CREAM SOCIAL

SATURDAY, JULY 6

CITY HALL GROUNDS...LECOMPTON

5 P.M. until 111? STREET DANCING...FUN FOR ALL...PLAN NOWTO ATTEND* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *