The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-05


men still residents of Topeka who as
sisted in laying out the streets and
building the first houses in Topeka
They are f. w. Giles, G. X. Holiday aud
James Hickey.
Mr. Giles enjoys nothing more than
to talk about the early days Of the city.
To JOURNAL reporter today. he said
Five men from Boston arrived here al
Pappan's ferry on Nov. 30. 1884. They
were M C. Dickey, EnOch Chase,
Jacob B. Chase and George Davis. They
came here in search Of farms. At Kan
sas City they bought yoke Of oxen and
by that means reached PappAn's ferry
at the date before mentioned.
HThey proceeded to build a log house
at the northwest corner Of First street
and Kansas avenue On the Sunday
morning after their arrival they found
that their oxen had run away, and sup
posing that they had gone back to their
pro-slavery friends in Missouri, Colonel
Dickey started east to lock for them.
At Tecumseh he met some army officers
who told him that another party from
the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid society
had arrived at Lawrence. He concluded
to go on and attempt to induce them TO
live here, and walked TO Lawrence
that evening. He found Governor Rob
inson, Colonel Holiday, myself and sew
eral others in consultation about what
could be done with the surplus popula-
tion, for the city of Lawrence was
already full Robinson and Holli-
day had before travelled up and
down the country from Ft Riley and they
were pleased with the site at Pappan's
ferry for town or free state fort they
were then called.
"The conclusion Of the consultation was
that a committee should be sent to
Pappan's ferry to spy out the land and re-
port Col Holiday. Col Dan Horne,
myself and one other man were APP
pointed and on the succeeding morning
Gov. Robinson said he would take his
wagon and 20 along with the committee
enabling them to ride part Of the time
for the ground was very rough.
THAT is all there is To it. We arrived
here and in consultation with Col.
Dickey aud his associates. the idea Of
building d town was discussed and agree
ably considered and the nucleus Of our
beautiful city was established.
1T has often been asked how Topeka
happens to have such wide beautiful
streets They were laid out after care
fal deiiberatiOn. We knew the disad-
vantage Of the little, narrow crooked
streets in Boston and also knew that we
had found a. beautiful q place as God
ever made and with the land to be had at
1926 an acre. there was a feeling that
we should make Kansas avenue the finest
street in the country. The town was first
laid out only up to Sixth street. We hal
to proceed very rapidly and notify the
holding the land for town pnf poses for
the Missourians then had a way,
soon as they heard that a town
was to be founded. of run
ming in and taking up the
land for farm purposes
sIn the spring Of 1S55, and even in the
winter the town commenced 70 fill up
and people came in every week. BY
April /, there must have been fifty ~peu-
pie here. The first woman 70 come was
Miss Harriet HartWell and she after
ward married J. j. Bunker.
Jacob Chase preempted the 100 acres
now owned by Douthiff. in the southern
part Of the city, and built house lie
worked the team Of oxen which had been
recovered, and we had our first fun as a
result. Chase was an OLD sea captain
and had probably never seen a yoke Of
oxen until he came west Most people
used a rope tied to the horns of the
animals to guide them, but Chase didn't
do that and they would run away nearly
every dav and the old wagon would 60
rafting and humping over the ground,
with Chase after it. He would swear at
the IarbOard OK and say that he couldn't
starboard the helm, and we had no end
of fun at his expense Chase became
mad at the government because was al a
lowed to take up the quarter Imme-
diately south of him. which i'm
cluded Shunganunga creek. and sold out
to Douthitt for 800 and went back to
catching Goldfish on the banks Of New
foundland
Colonel Holiday. Hickey and myself
are about all that are left Of the crowd"
Col Holiday Talks.
There are a. great many incidents
connected with the early history of To-
peka which have never been told by
any one said Col G. \. oHoIliday to
JOURNAL reporter today.
i remember one day shortly after ws
had established ourselves here that
land%is now located. " hile / was walk
ing along / spied a cabin through the
timber. / entered il and the occupant
rose to greet me. lie started 10 talk to
me in French and 1 replied iii English
and he could not understand
word said word
he uttered Suddenly happy
thought struck me- ! could sing
a little those days and / started TO sing
the Marseillaise. His eyes frightened
and he Joined in with me in French and
we sang the song through together and
ended il by hugging each other. We
had found a common ground. His name
was Billiard and he was a French
refugee"
The old settlers Meeting.
The Old Settlers association is in ses-
sion today in Odd Fellows hall at 70S
Kansas avenue.
There are 175 people in attendance in-
cIuding the wives and daughters of the
men who helped build Kansas.
But little was done this fore
noon, but at noon the ladies
opened the anteroom, where a sumptu-
Gus feast was spread. There was enough