The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-08
ABILENE.
The Prairie Queen" OF Central and
Western Kansas.
Its beautifully shaded streets and
handsome residences.
Its churches, schools and cultured
society,
ALI combine to make it a desirable
and delightful place Of residence.

In 1867, ter years after the organiza-
tiOn of the county, Abilene did not ex-
list except in the shape of few tents,
several log business houses and the
Cottage hotel. The county seat was 10
Gated at Abilene III 1862, but at the
election which decided this question
there were only 101 votes polled. Of
which number UniOntown had 2S, Abb
lene had 66 and Smoky Hill had Z.
These votes will be understood by those
who have had experience in new cOun-
tries as representing the full population
Of the county. 1t would not be surpris-
ing if the l01 votes did not represent
more than the actual number of settlers.
The history of Abilene dates from
1867, the beginning of the Texas cattle
trade. Abilene was the first northern
market established for the sale and
shipment of Texas cattle, and the rep
utatiOn it gained then was the founda-
ton of its present size and prosperity.
The average reader will imagine for
himself the tumult and exciting scenes
attending the receiving and shipping
of thousands and thousands of cattle.
There is no need of entering into detail.
Abilene had the cattle trade for five
years, and prOfited immensely from it.
In, ln =, ~ 49,
county seat to Detroit was agitated,
and an election was held on the second
day of March Of that year. There
were 300 votes cast, of which number
Abilene received 1S9 and Detroit I2O.
In 1872 the town site passed by pur-
chase into the hands of Augustine &
LebOld. This same year witnessed the
decline of the cattle business, and for a
time Abilene was depressed and the
outlook was anything but hopeful. But
pluck and perSeveranceW won. The town
passed safely through its season of trial.
and has doomed along, especially during
the past three years. until it has
reached solid basis and a population
of 5000 souls.
Abilene is a handsome. well built
city. Its streets are lined with shade
trees; an unusual number of its resi-
dences are architecturally beautiful: its
churches are numerous and well Sus-
tanned; its school privileges the best in
the country; its people intelligent. cul-
tured, generous and hoSpitable What
more cana person ask of community?
What other desirable qualities can be
expected?
Abilene'S business men are Young.
live and energetic. There is nothing
dead about them. To prove this we
might cite the reader to the fact that
when the disastrous fire of January.
1882, burned the court house and both
sides of Broadway, a portion of the
citizens of the county, led by Enter
prise, tried to prevent the building of a
new court house at Abilene. The
county seat question was again and for
the last time voted upon, and Abb
lene received 1911 votes to 1897 given
to the opposition. But at what cost
to the business men of Abilene was this
result obtained. Besides rebuilding
their own burned business blocks in a
very modern and substantial way. they
went down into their pockets and gave
$4,000 to build court house for the
county. The present fine brick Struc-
ture, costing So, 00O-the insurance on
the old building and the lot on which it
stood bringing S6,900-waS built and
given to the county by the enterprising
business men of Abilene.
The same spirit pervades the people
of the city now. Everyone has conf
deDce in the town, and last year at
least $500, 900 found their way into new
and Improvements. The Re-
during its brief life of is
has witnessed an almost phe-
advancement. 1t has seen |
brick business blocks-full plate glass
and handsome-begun and finished: it'll
has seen at least It's houses, many of |
them costly and elegant residences,
built and occupied; it has seen business
increase; it has its own remarkable sue