The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-23
MARK The SPOT.
Location of Topeka's First
Stood at Intersection of First
and Kansas Avenue.
A TABLET is PLACED.
Embedded in Wall of New Park
hurt-Davis Building.
Daughters of American Revolu-
tion Are the Promoters.

A tablet has been placed In the
masonry for the building now being
erected for Parkhursr & Davis by Joab
Mulvane on which a suitable inscription
viii be placed to mark the spot where
the log cabin stood in which the Topeka
townsite company was formed and did
business during the first months of its
existence.
About three months ago the members
Of the local chapter Of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution decided to To-
cate the site Of this first log cabin, and
authorized Mrs. A H Thompson, regent
of the local chapter to investigate the
records at the State Historical society
rooms and discover the information
that was 50 much desired, so that the
site could be properly marked
Mrs. Thompson began search in the
Historical society rooms and was sur
prised to learn that no records had
ever been gathered by the Historical
society.
She then enlisted the aid of Sam
Radges and by investigation among
the first settlers Of Topeka who are now
living here it was decided beyond
doubt that the cabin which served for
the home Of the men who formed the
Topeka Townsite company and which
served for their headquarters stood in
what is now known as Kansas avenue
opposite the corner on which JOab Null
yane is building a new wholesale house.
The matter was brought to Mr.. Null
yane's attention and permission asked
to have a suitable tablet built in the
wall Of the building He agreed to the
plan provided the facts could be veri-
fed.
The ladies at once began taking the
affidavits of all those who were con
nected with the first work of locating
the city of Topeka and a tablet has
been placed in the masonry. An inscrip
ton has not yet been decided upon. but
upon the completion of the building it
IS planned to unven the tablet with ap
propriate ceremonies.
The founders of the city of Topeka
came here in 1854 and on the night of
December 5. 1854 the day upon which
the charter OF the ToWnsite company
was taken out the headquarters of the
company came near being destroyed by
fire. The roof of the cabin caught fire
and the ten or a dozen men who in
habited the cabin formed themselves in
to a volunteer fire department and
finally succeeded IN putting out the
flames after -cCnfining them to the roof.
The cabin was repaired and continued
to serve as the headquarters for about
year The building was afterwards
used as a boarding house
When the town was laid out the build
ing was found to be in the street that
IS now called Kansas avenue. 1t was
allowed to remain there for several
years but was finally torn down.
Afhdavits have been taken from Cope
land Gordon. Mrs. Weymouth John Arm
strong and Weston Gordon Others will be
secured from all other old settlers who
are alive and can be found
The Daughters of the American Rev
olution decided at the meeting held last
December when Mrs. A. H. Thompson
was chosen president to make the work
for the coming year one of research in
historical matters relative to the state
Of Kansas and more particularly to To-
peka- This is the first result Of their
efforts.
The members of the local chapter will
yelling of the monument erected on the
site of the place where Zebulon Pike first
raised the United States flag in Kansas.
ty, July T.