The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-07-08

ed Florence was located north of Deer
Creek and east of Carlyle by the original
projectors of the L. L. & G. R. r. was
interested at q point on the road. J. B.
Chapman, Harvey Allen, J. B. Justus,
D. c. VanBrunt, D. Rogers, NJ. NJ. Haun.
w. s. Eastwood, F. NJ. Power, r. B.
Jordan and others were interested in it,
but it soon went the way of Carlyle,
hardly 80 fortunate indeed, for the latter
has succeeded in attaching its name to q
post office and railroad station, while
Florence is only remembered in this
veracious history. The site is now occu-
pied by the farms of L. Whitaker and
Mr.. Stricken, and the neighborhood
now known as Deer Creek is second to
no other in intelligence. thrift, and NOR
atty.
During this summer the second mail
route in the county was established, and
the first that furnished direct communi-
cation with Lawrence and Leavenworth,
and the northern portion of the Terri
tory. L was to run from Lawrence to
Humboldt via Garnett, Hyatt, Carlyle
and Cofachique. The contract was let
in April, and service was to begin on
the first of July. A few days before j.
NJ. Evans, II. Scott and J. w. Scott
took wagon load of poles and laid out
and marked trail from Carlyle to
Hyatt, and on June 30th, the writer
went to Hyatt and returned next morn
ing with the mail carrier, Zach Squires,
mounted on a little mule. The trail
across the prairie marked out at this
time is now the main wagon road lead
ing from the county north, and is very
near the route followed by the l.. L. &
G. Railroad. At first the service on
this route was weekly, but was afterward
increased to tri-weekly. Squire's little
mule soon became two horse hack,
then a ierky or two horse stage and
finally four horse coach, which was in
its turn superseded by the railway and
the passenger train. Squires was one
of the most popular men that ever drove
stage. Pleasant, accommodating, and
trustworthy, his hack became a volun-
teer express wagon, bringing from Law
renee small packages for the men and
knick knacks for the ladies at every
point along the route. These innumer-
able commissions were never neglected
or forgotten, and were executed for the
most part without fee or reward.
This was the era of elections in Kansas
when the people voted early and often.
In fact with town meetings and political
conventions, and, almost monthly cleo
tons, it is surprising how they found
time for anything else.
On March 9, occurred the election for
membcrs of the Leavenworth constitu-
tioaal convention. A. G.. Carpenter was
elected from Allen county. This was
the third convention that had been cleo
ted to form 4 constitution for the State,
and like both of the Others it proved an
abortion. In this year also WAS submit
ted to the voters for ratification or rejec-
ton the Lecompton constitution under
the English bill. The vote in Allen
county stood, for %, agains. 26S, show
ing a very decided performance of the
Free State sentiment. The regular cleo
ton for members of the Territorial Leg
iSlature and county officers, occurred Oct.
i. The same 10 disfr anchised counties
sent three representatives as before.
This time Allen county failed to secure
a member, VIM. Spriggs of Anderson
being the nearest.
The Free State Legislature had abol-
ished the old Missouri system of county
court or commissioners, and provided
for the election of township supervisors,
three from each township, the chairmen
of these together constituting the coun-
ty board. Those elected at this time
and serving at different times during
the year we're B. l.. G. Stone, J. +. Col
born, d. B. Stewart, w. w. Miles, John
Hamilton, Elias Copelin and J. S. Bar
bee. The other county officers held
over from the previous year.
As before stated the Legislature of
1858 had without consulting tae people
and without the previous knowledge,
except of few particularly interested,
removed the county seat to Humboldt.
The first meeting of the new board or at
least the first of which there is any rec.
ord, was held at that place Feb. s, 1859.
The only business transacted was the
election of b. L. G. Stone, Chairman,
when the board adjourned to meet at
Cofachique; but why or by what au-
thority they did so does not appear.
They met again at Cofachique Feb. A.
organized the new township of Geneva,
and appointed judges Of the election to
be held on the fourth Monday of March,
to ratify the Leavenworth constitution.
The judges appointed were as follows:
Geneva, at the house of Levi Ross L. L.
Northrup, VIM. Noble, J. H. Spicer.
Deer Creek at Thos. Days; Thos. Day,
Henry DOren and J. w. Scott. Cofa-
Clique, James Faulkner, u. J. Wisner
and j. N. Bear. Humboldt, Thos. H.
Bashaw, P. Cox and Elias .Copelin.
Cottage Grove, Thos. Jackson, J. NJ.