The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-07-07

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his place, at Agues City, during the
war, by band of Missouri guerril-
las; the first death recorded was
that of Joseph Patterson, formerly
of Ontario, N. Y; fret accident, the
killing, at Columbia, of Joseph R.
Cole, whose horse fell upon him ;
first marriage, that of Joseph w.
Ketchum, and Eliza III. Shockley, of
Eagle creek, Dec. Is, 1857. OF
course we had our political con-
tests that year. There was 8 con-
ventiOn or an election almost every
week. The people of Emporia
were radical to the core. They
were that frat year true to the To-
peka movement. The result of the
two ideas, the one of going fast and
the other Of going slow, was two
conventions, and two tickets. The
cOnserVatviesSheld a convention at
Americas and put q ticket IN the
field. The only persons who are
now living and still here who were
upon that ticket are G. v. Eskridge,
who was the nominee for recorder
and clerk" and John Hammond,
the nominee for constable. OF
course another ticket was put in the
field. The convention was held at
Kansas Centre, which was in Wat
erlOo township. e. P. Bancroft
was the nominee fOrProbate Judge,
o. Phillips, of Duck creek, for one
commissioner, and DR.. Thos. Ar
NOR for Coroner. The contest
was brief, and the "regular," or
Americas ticket, was electedl by
small majorities. There were 266
votes cast in the county, 137 of
which were cast by Emporia town
ship, which then embraced q large
strip Of country. The voting was
ViVG Voce.
The important events of the next
year were few. One was an attempt
to start an academy. It never got
beyond newspaper talk and resOlu-
lions of public meetings. 1t simply
showed that at even that early day
the public mind was taking the
right direction for future accom-
plishments. Several new buildings
went up that year, and the populs-
ton was considerably increased,
and several new business establish
ments were opened.
Eighteen years ago to-day En-
poria had her first 4th of July cele-
bration. It was grand success in
every way, and was probably the
first celebration of this anniversary
ever held in the Neosho valley.
In May 1853, the erection of sew
eral new buildings is announced,
and new store, the third one was
opened by E. P. Hndley, in a build
ing erected on the lot now occu-
pied by the Hall Bros. E. Borton
opened q stove and tin store in the
old News building. The water
question had been a troublesome
one in Emporia, as it had been to
several other towns, and q fine well
of water is announced, which was
dug on Mechanics street by John
Hammond. Several previous fail
ures to find water made Mr.. Ham
mond's success an occasion of joy.
A meeting of Odd Fellows was
called for the 9Th of June at the
Emporia house to organize lodge.
By this time -four had declined to
81 per 100; meal to 81; potatoes to
-75cts !; molasses to S5cts; sugar to
12cts lumber to $25 to $50, etc.
The NEWS of July oath has an arti-
Gle on the crops which gives the
yield Of wheat as good, although it
had been injured by wet weather.
The editor had in his Office stalk
Of corn 16 feet high. The following
is . forcible description of
the weather that week: "Thurs-
day hot; Friday hotter; Saturday
hottest /; Sunday hottentot; Monday
Observation-Disclosures: Tuesday hot
as-." In the same issue is the
advertisement of the "Emporis Un-
ion Academy" at the head of which
was Rev. G. q. Morse, a congrega-
tional minister who had arrived
the fall before, and who then, and
ever afterwards, as long as he lived,
was thoroughly imbued with zeal in
that cause, and one of its most &C.
tive promoters in the new town.
The academy was advertis ed to
open Sept. 9TH, '5S. 1t was to teach
almost everything necessary to
learn. The newness of the country
and the extreme scarcity of money
prevented it from ever opening.
In September q meeting was held
to take steps to bridge the Neosho
north of town, while a county fair
and q Touring mill were subjects of
general discussion. We mention
these to simply show that the set.
tiers were at all times alive to their
interests, and it was this sort of
talk and work which gave Emporia
Its advantage over surrounding
towns.
That fall the county-seat question
was agitated. Emporia, at that
time, laid within half mile of the
south line of Breckenridge county.
Though it was the largest town in
the county, and its citizens were
wide-awake and plueky, this I'M
favorable location put it at great
Disadvantage. Americas was also
enterprising, and had gritty and
smart fellows to back it. 1t was
the policy of EmpOria to put of the
election until they received the
coveted ''three mile strip" ad.
joining Breckenridge on the south,
which would give her big lift in
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