Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-07-28
Southeastern Kansas.
Correspondence Belmont Chronicle.


PARSONS, Kansas, July IA, 1881.
This charming little metropolis is sit
uated on the Kansas and Texas division
of the Missouri Pacific R'y, about 3e2
miles from st. Louis. 1t is in the north
ern part of Labette county. Labstter
county is in Southeastern Kansas. 1t Is
little over 10 years of age, and was
laid out by parties interested in the
building of the late Missouri, Kansas s.
Texas R'y. The town was named in
honor of Levi Parsons, Of New York,
then President of the railway company
The site is beautiful one, and is in the
forks of the Big and Little Labette riv-
ers, which streams flow south ward on
the east and west, forming junction
just south of the. town. These streams
are heavily timbered with native forests
The town site is just sloping enough to
let the water run off as it falls from
heaven. The growth of Parsons from
the start has been very healthy, and to-
day it contains in the neighborhood of
5000 souls. Many fine large business
houses and residences have been erected
which would ornament any city. In
looking over the place many moro can
be seen in course Of construction. The
inhabitants of Parsons seem thoroughly
in love with their town, and no differ
ence where you meet one of its people,
he or she will always have a word Of
praise for their town. They believe in
and we think this to be the
secret of Parsons success. The town |
does splendid business, and enjoys a
good country trade. Country people for
many miles around Parsons flock thith-
er to lay in their supplies, and its mer-
chants are kept very busy all the time.
The town has three large school build
ings, and some six or eight church edi-
fee. The. business portion Of Parsons
is built of brick, but the residences are
principally frame, but finished off in
handsome shape. NJ. w. Reynolds, one
of the leading journalists of Kansas, re-
sides in Parsons-we believe published
the first paper. We named the place the
Infant wonder" on account of its rapid
growth. E. H. Edwards, one of Parsons
public. spirited citizens, invested $685.
900 in an opera house, which is said to
be ahead of similar buildings in Leayen-
worth, Atchison or Topeka. Parsons is
a live railroad town,an gets much Of its
support from railroad employees. The NJ.
K. & T. located shops at this place, and
expended several hundred thousand
dollars in buildings and machinery. The
buildings are of stone, and present a
handsome appearance. Several hundred
men are kept busy in the different de-
partments. At this point the Neosho
which starts at Junction City
and runs southeast 157 miles through
she beautiful Neosho Valley, intersects ,,
,he Kansas & Texas division of the I.
Pacific, which runs from Han =
nibal, Mo-, to Denison, Texas. 1t Is the
end of three divisions of the Pacific, and
several hundred railway employees have
aiken up their residences here, A mar ,
railway crosses the Missouri .
Pacific at this point, but It is of little
benefit to Parsons. The land which
surrounds Parsons is excellent for sgri-
horticultural and stock raising
purposes. Good wells can be secured
with little digging. and water is found
n abundance. Wood, and an excellent
quality of coal is delivered at your resi- =.
ience at about the same figures you !,
Ohioans pay. aa 4
One thing the people of Parsons pride
on, and that is their new
post Office, which just opened out the 1st y
If this month in new building erected 4
'or that purpose. 1t is furnished with 4
he latest improved Yates locks and .