Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-06
The Cities of Kansas.
BY COLONEL c. X. HOLIDAY

ID SS1-oNLL u ~ HOLLlOA1
;, There were very many passenge 8 aboard
the elegant steamer, IF. Y. Aubrey" on her
trip from st. Louis to Fort Leavenworth,
about the middle of the month of October,
1854.
Among those whose acquaintance I made
was an elderly gentleman by the name of
Mcdaniel, whose home was at Weston, Mo-,
but who took lively interest in Kansas
affairs. He had already invested in the new
territory, and was contemplating making it
his future home.
Upon learning that was going to Kansas,
with view of making permanent settle
ment. he was kind enough to give me many
valuable hints and suggestions. "Don.t
make mistake, young man." he said, ''don't
make a mistake" 'Near the great elbow of
the Missouri there is bound to be built the
greatest city of the continent, and that city,
sir, is Kickapoo."
l mildly suggested that I heard Atchison,
Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Kansas City,
or rather Westport, well spoken of. But he
quickly gave me to understand that, if
would become part of, and grow up with
the great city, should lose no time in cast
ing my lot among the Kickapoos.
If, however, l could not reconcile myself
to living in large commercial emporium
like Kickapoo, he would, then, recommend
that should ''stick my stakes at Douglas
or Iecumseh, both of which were bound to
be large interior cities, and one of which
would, doubtless, be the capital.
Strange as it may seem to-day, it is true
that kickapoo, situated on the Missouri
river, some six or eight miles above Leaven-
worth, did aspire to be one of the great cities
of the territory, and hoped to become the
greatest. And it is equally true that Tecumseh
had similar aspirations of becoming the
largest interior city. And not without rea-
son. For Tecumseh came within one vote
of being made the capital by the first legis-
lative assembly, and would, doubtless, have
secured the location, had not the personal
interests of majority of the members infu-
ton. The importance, however, of these
cities was fully recognized by this same leg
islative assembly, in that it established the
county seat of Leavenworth county at Kick
apoo, of Douglas county, at Douglas, and of
Shawnee county, at Tecumseh. Nor would
the friends of these respective cities, for a
moment concede that Leavenworth could
ever successfully compete with Kickapoo,
nor Lawrence with Douglas, nor Topeka,
not even founded at the initial period of this
history, with Tecumseh.
/ should not omit in this enumeration of the
earliest established cities of our territory,
still another, whose hopes, or the hopes of its
friends, scared high above those OF kicka,
poo. Douglas or Tecumseh. / allude, of
course. to the very first prospective capital
the city of Pawnee. This city was founded
by number of prominent and influential
gentlemen, chiefly from Pennsylvania, and
who were supposed to be near the admins
trative authority of the territory. st this
place the first legislative assembly was con-
vened, and it was hoped that an act would
speedily be passed making Pawnee the per-
manent capital. But the political fires which
swept and devastated the territory fer the
next three years had already been kindled.
The assembly. therefore, not only did not
make Pawree the capital but refused to do
any business whatever there, other than
to organize, and then adjourn to the Shaw
nee mission, where the remainder Of ats ses-
sion was held.
Pawnee was situated upon beautiful
plateau on the north bank of the Kansas
river, about a mile eastward from Fort
Riley.
A large and substantial stone building was
erected, by private means, in which the two
houses of the assembly might bold their
sessions, and other buildings for the accom-
mediation of the officers and memberA
Upon investigation. however, ]. was ascer
fained that Pxwnee was located upon The
Fort Riley military reservation. m ~.
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