The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-26
LECOMPTON'S FALL.
4 Kansas Town That Recalls Goldsmith Q
Story of Sweet Auburn.


!, LECOMPTON'S FALL.
:, A Kansas Town That Recalls Goldsmith
Story of Sweet Auburn.
, About midway between Lawrence
and Topeka is located the old town OF
, Lecompton, which was the Territorial
capital of Kansas from 1855 to 1861.
Tie Sante Fe railroad skirts the base
of the hills upon which the village is
built, and rs the train nearS the place
, the attention of the traveller is arrested
by large structure of yellow sand
stone. which occupies Il commanding
position on the rising ground south of
the Kaw river. This edifce is Lane
University, an institution of learning
established under the auspices of the
United Brethren church, and which
was erected some years ago upon the
foundation of what was to have been
the State house of Kansas.
The glory of the once ambitious city
has departed. Not a vestige of its early
pride remains to tell of the strange
mutations of its history. Indeed, so
quiet is the spot, so far removed. it
seems, from all the din and strife OF
busy life, that the stranger from the
outside world might almost fancy that
the beautiful and touching story of
Sweet Auburn, Loveliest Village of
the Plain" had been repeated amid the
rural scenes of this somnolcnt hamlet
''The plans for the capitol contemplated
an imposing structure" said Judge El-
lott, of Lawrence. The original APP
preparation by Congress for the con-
struction of the building was $4,000,
and al addition of $4,000 was subse-
quently made to this amount The
money was all used in the purchase of
material and the employment of labor
The building was completed as far as
to the top of the first story. and then
the enterprise was abandoned. An en-
tire boatload of iron pilasters, window
caps. cornices. etc. was brought to the
mouth of the Kansas river and hauled
to Lecompton by teams. l remember
that for years after the removal of the
SipliOl ~ 4OJCAsb VI lIllS
lay scattered over the ground. exposed
to the weather and covered with rust.
The first State Legislature authorized
the sale of this stuff by auction. The
iron was broken up and sold to the
fOundrieS at Lawrence and Leaven-
worth. Part of the foundation of the
building was afterward used in the con-
struction of the Lane University. and
the remainder still marks the grave of
Lecompton's departed hopes.
The triumph of the free-state eIe- |
ment at the election in 1857 was the |
doom of Lecompton. AS the seat of |
the convention which formulated the |
notorious constitution which bears the |
name of the town and the provisions
of which gave Kansas to slavery, the
place was intensely unpopular with the
tree-state people. and from 1857 until
the time of the establishment of the
capital at Topeka in 1861, it was the
custom of the Territorial Legislature to
convene at Lecompton, in accordance
with the lav. and then to forthwith ad-
iourn to Lawrence, where all of the
business of the sessions was transacted.
was named for Judge Le-
who now. resides in Lcaven-
worth. He was Chief Justice OF the
first court appointed under the Terri
torial organization in 1854. The town
in its palmiost days had 4 population
of 1000 people.
Lecompton has a population to-day
Of 800 souls. and no town in the State
has more slightly location. OF the
Did historical landmarks there still
remain the land Office, the Rowona
hotel building, and the residence of
Governor Shannon. The walls of q
stone church built by the Southern
Iethodists are still standing. though
he edilice has long since been given
over to ruin and decay. There is not
. place OF public worship in the town.
outside of the chapel of Lane Univer-
iity. The misanthrope, searching for
paradise. might find it here. aud he
Who would be in the world, but not of
I, may realize all of the conditions of
uch an estate in Lecompton. which, to
he world at large, exists only in the
annals of the past-Kaasas city Star.
.
uuOb Iobpsopfc prupc,vioG Sfaxr.