The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-07-05
Twenty Years Ago.

The first Fourth of July celebration we ever
attended in Kansas, was in 1857, at White Cloud;
and there were more people present than we
have seen together in the County since. The
suuatters were there from all the country round;
Holt County was over in full force; and there
was a steamboat excursion from st. Joe. There
has been some change since that day. The only
railroad track west of the Missississippi River,
-ve he,;eve. was the one between st. Louis and
Jefferson City, the latter place being the termi-
nm. of the Missouri Pacific Road. But steam
heating was then in its glory. Two or three Of
the largest and finest boats on the western wa
ters landed daily at the points above st. Joseph,
going MP and down. Now almost every town
has its railroad, (and its bonded Indebtedness for
the same,) and q steamboat is a curiosity on the
Missouri River. People didn't have to vote
bonds for steamboats,, to encourage them to land;
apy number of boats could run on the same
track, without paying for right of way, and their
competition was wholesome for the public.
But changes ON land have been still greater.
On the road from White Cloud to Hawatha, but
four houses were to be seen-those belonged to
C. G. Scafford, in Doniphan County, Squire Grif-
fth, Just over the line, ]. w. Wilhoit, at Mt.
Roy, and Hr. Matthews, ut Prairie Springs. In
fact, there was no Hiawatha then, but Mr.. 7. j.
Drummond, now of this County, lived near the
present site of the town. Going from White
Cloud to Highland, there were three houses on
the road north of Cedar Greek, and south OF
the Creek, none at ALL but the corner of DR.. Ms
bets field could be seen o little distance to the
right. From Highland to Troy, we believe there
were several houses after leaving the vicinity of
Highland, but we cannot now remember where
they were. We recollect the "bg field" with a
little shanty in it. In May, 1858, We made a
Journey to Kickappo, where the Land Office then
was. From Iowa Point to Wolf River, we pass
ed one house below the Point, (not counting q
vacant house called the town of Iola,) and Lew
is house, on Wolf River; below Wolf River, the
only house was Gabberts now belonging to the
Bell estate. From Troy, which was then the
most miserable looking hole we ever saw, there
was but one house on the road to Doniphan
from Doniphan to Atchison, but one, at Inde
pendence crossing; and from Atchison to Kicka-
poo, about the same ratio as above. Iowa PoinI
was the largest town in Kansas, above Leaven'
worth. Sumner was as large as Atchison, and I
great deal more lively.
In the fall of. 1861, we came to Troy with 6
Irlen0 IN % DuSgy; W attcuu tho hcPoohS",
County Convention. Looking over the vas
stretches of unbroken prairie, and contemplating
the gloomy state of affairs, we both concurred il
the belief that no person then living would evel
see every quarter section of land in DOniphar
County occupied and improved. 1t is not yet
sixteen years since that time, and yet the vacant
quarters in the County are few and far between
Where were tedious stretches of parairie, with
the houses few, small and scattering, and diff
Guilty experienced in keeping the right road, be
cause of so many tracks diverging in every di
rection, now there are miles of lanes where the
roads runs between well improved farms, and
houses dot the country in every direction, as far
as the eye can reach We yet feel that We are
young, and if we have good luck, we shall set
Doniphan County one of the richest and best i'm
proved Counties in the West.
These are the changes of twenty years, and
the Chiefs happy to have been here to see then
all-hoping to be here to congratulate the poo
pie of the County upon the mighty changes Of
the next twenty years.