Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-03-06

better building than any town "back
east" with ten times the population of
this city, can boast Of. and an edifie a
credit TO the city, satisfaction to the
travelling public and the pride of its
This hotel. the Grand, is
now open and ready for business, and if
its future is to be as bright as its be-
its lessees will have cause to
be glad of having cast their fortunes in
this prosperous and growing city.
EARLY HISTORY.
Ii was in January, 1854 when a num-
Der Of citizens of Medicine Lodge con.
cluded that frst class hotel was need
ed in this city and these citizens started
the work of getting up stock company.
Those who were especially active in
bringing the matter into public notice
were the late George Geppert, the late
L. w. Payne, w. w. Cook, S. f. Stone,
Youmans & Co. and d.
Vanslyke. a public meeting was held
January "a, 1854, which was attended by
parties who had indicated a willingness
to subscribe to the capital stock of a
hotel building association. AT that
meeting articles of incorporation and
bylaws were prepared and adopted
and board of directors elected to hold
Office for the first year. The gentlemen
selected were Z. W. Payne,W. w. Cook,
W. w. Standiford, ID. VanSlyke and
George Geppert. These directors met
on the following day. and organized by
electing Z. w. Payne, president: d.
VanSlyke, vice president; Geo. Geppert,
treasurer aud w. w. Cook secretary.
AT the meeting on the 9th, the ques-
ton of location for the hotel was settled
by the association accepting an offer
made by StandifOrd, Youmans & Co., to
denote lots No. -, "a and % on South
Main street, each having a frontage of
% feet and a depth of loo feet.
From that time on the proposition TO
build hotel was regarded as an assured
fact; and there was no difficulty in Sc
curing the cooperation of the business
men generally of the city, and as the
list of stockholders will show, a num-
Der of parties who did not then have
any property in the city were subscrib-
ers to the enterprise. Notable among
these may be mentioned VIM. Blair, r.
Ii. Clark, G. II. Eldred, W. p. Ewing,
+. w. Flato, G.. w. Hendrickson, A. j.
Johnson, Peak & Colcord, r. Lake, j.
A. LOckard, j. q. 'LemOnt, Geo, f..
Smith-men who did not even live here
but who were interested in having a
first class hotel in the town.
The weather would not permit of
brick being burned during the winter,
and it was at first concluded to erect a
frame structure, two stories high and
complete it at once.
y committee of Nessrs. Cook, Van
Slyke and Payne visited Wellington.
Caldwell and Harper and returned here
impressed with the Importance of hay
ing brick house, or nothing, and also
holding the belief that a three story
building would not be too large. The
stockholders we're generally convinced
of the wisdom of these opinions, and
consented to making these departures
from the original proposition to put up
n smaller building.
1t was then decided to go still further
in the matter of enlarging, and add a
fun story basement under the entire
structure, and by the time the founda-
ton was dug, it became evident that
the new hotel was to be no small village
affair, but a structure worthy Of a
city of ten thousand. And it now
stands completed, towering high to-
ward the heavens, to be seen from any
direction for miles. 1t is a beauty.
And here it may not be inappropriate
to accord to few gentlemen especial
praise for the active part they have ia
ken in the enterprise. There was T..
w. Payne, president and Geo. Geppert,
treasurer, two active workers, who, I'M
til sad misfortunes called them from
sphere of usefulness, never tired in
thier interest in the new hotel. Their
HAhSCo WIZ hAACN Dl ~. duElll NC, WHO
assumed the duties of president, and
Jas. a. Blair, Of the First National
bank, who was elected a director
and treasurer. WV. Cook, as secreta-
ry has given nearly all of his time to the
building and has in reality been the
general superintendent of construction,
and no man should have more praise
than he. Then there is S. E. Stone, w.
w. StandifOrd, +. Youmans, o. G. Ew-
Tt-all have been active and untiring.
WHO ARE STOCKHOLDERS.
Below will be found list of the
stockholders in the Medicine Lodge
Building Association, the parties who
put their money into the Grand hotel.
Blair X Ewart Kessler. s. N.
Blair, VIM. Love, w. III.
Boutwell,, James Lake, Reuben
Cook, W. W. Lockard, J. A.
Cotton, o. III. Lemont, ]. G..
Colcord i Peak, McNeal, J.W.
Caruthers, +. p. McNeal, Il. a.
Chaplin, z. II. McClearey, T. A.
Clark, X. b. Mckinney Bros.
Carl, VIM. lest. of O'Bryan, T. l..
Dark, w. c. Payne, E. W. fest.l