The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-22
A Place where Things Happen.

Correspondence of the Chicago Post.l
Congressman Robert Roberts Hit made
a speech in a little church out in Pal
myra township the other day. The church
was the particular edifice in which the
only preachers strike chronicled in his
tory took place. The church. the occa-
sion of the speech and some incidents of
the immediate county surrounding furn-
ish ma terial for a story of more than
usual interest.
Congressman Hit had been invited to
speak at the dedication of a graveyard
The United States government had recog-
nized the occasion by sending a big can
non. to be placed within the Enclosure
of Palmyra cemetery, Besides Mr.. Hit,
other government officials took part in
In the cemetery rested all the pioneers
of the township The burying ground had
been furnished up and rearranged, with
a creditable attempt at landscape and art.
In one corner a great granite block marks
the grave of Charles Page, who during
ent of an eastern paper. and was finally
appointed consul to Switzerland by Presi-
dent Lincoln. While Page was abroad he
learned the process of cOndensing milk.
He sent for two or three of his brothers.
portunity. married Swiss wives, and came
back to America, to make Lee county
known throughout the world. The Pages
beeames immensely wealthy, and some
of them lie buried in this little resting
place. One of the Page family was the
first male child born in the county.
The church in which the speeches were
made is a neat twO-stOry building, the
first floor being used as a district school
house and the second, or upper part, a
substantially furnished church room. This
was the scene of the famous strike of
the preachers, which occurred only few
years ago The congregation was one OF
the union order, in which MethOdists,
Baptists. Presbyterians and Congrega-
tionalists were cOncerned-a preacher of
each denomination rotated in preac ching,
the compensation being s. a Sabbath.
One fateful day the preachers came to-
gether, and after earnest discussion sign
ed agreement not to preach for less
than SO a Sunday The matter on being
communicated q the tiOn
motion It was at once determined that
the increase should not be cOunuenanced.
The four preachers were obdurate and
in consequence the church was closed
for year. An inquiSitive stranger who
happened in the neighborhood during this
interregnum was told the story by one
1t simmered down to a question of hell
or SO, and We Wouldn [ give up the tenn
abode of William Meyers. known to ev-
erybody in Lee county as Prophet Mey-
eFs. who had become impressed with the
belief that he owned the earth. He made
and set up in his dOOryard a number of
pent 1t Is said to nave been motley
collection. People would drive twenty
When Hayes was fnaugurated President
the prophet suddenly appeared in
Washington He called at the White
House, and demanded the KEYS of the
Executive Mansion. saying that the whole
of 1t belonged to him. He was hustled
on to jail, but not before some one from
Lee County had seen and recognized him
be was quietly liberated and sent off to
his home in Palmyra township.
Some time ago a postal inspector was
sent out here to go over a route selected
for rural free delivery. The old Sterling
road forms a part of the route. The Of
fetal was at a loss to know what had
broken loose in the neighborhood. He
saw people walking along on stills, wo-
man wheeling a wheelbarrow and in
Vulnerable ragged and emaciated bicy-
elists. Where on earth are all Of these
people coming from and what ar\ they
doing?' he asked.
'Oh, this is everyday occurrence
was the answer. These are freaks go
ing around the world This is the great
pubic highway across the state, and they
all come this way"