The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-15
KANSAS NEWS.
First White Child Born in
LeayenwOrth Talks.
Saws He Was Born There on
January IA, 1857.
BEEN ABSENT 80 YEARS
His Father Was Brewer OF
the Early Days.
Old School He Attended Is a
Thing Of the Past.

Leavenworth, Aug. 15.-The Times
saws: John A. Grund, who claims to De
the first white child born in Leaven-
worth, Tuesday revisited the city aIter
an absence of almost 80 years. Mr
Grund was on his way back to his wire =
home in Illinois, as she was not eX-
pected to live. Learning she was I'M
proving, he came to his old nome 10
revisit the scenes of his boyhood and
to see old friends of the days when TINS
city was a mere settlement in the
brush.
John A. Grund was born January Ia.
1857 a mile northwest of town on the
Salt creek valley road. His father, J. G.
Grund, was for many years brewer
in the city, for a time using an old
building where Chickering hall now
operating the old stone brewery on
Lawrence avenue, SO historic for It's
ghost stories and caves. The old build
ing is still to be seen from the Spruce
street cars, a dilapidated ruin of what
was once considered a fine building.
The reminiscent stories Grund tells OF
early eastern Kansas are very interest
ing. Pueblo. Colo. is now his home.
In that city he is connected with a large
livery business.
Grund remen bers several of his old
schoolmates, among them Albert Haug,
Herman Schott and Charles Welsch.
John Seeker and Jake Rodenhaus are
other old settlers whom he has met
since his return.
Il was born about a mile west Of
town on January A. 1851" he told a
Times reporter. 1.-THE house stood out
near the road towards Salt creek val
ley. OF course the town has changed
a great deal since 1 was here last in
1873. The town was more clustereo
around tie levee and railroads were q
comparatively new thing.
Il was the first white child born in
Leavenworth. Mrs James Allen, a
daughter of A. T. Kyle, of Lansing.
was the second, and Clara Cass was the
third. There was always some dispute
about the second and third children.
Tom Cass claim ed the honor for his
daughter, and Kyle was equally sure
that Cora was older. I myself am rea-
sonably sure that Mrs. Allen was born
earlier than Miss CaSS, now Mrs. Rus
sell, who lives on Shawnee street in
this city.
Father built his old Lawrence ave-
nue. brewery here in 1868 and operated
RADIO. The old building is still standing,
they tell me- I guess it's pretty web
done up, though.
II also remember the last time was
in Kansas City. That was about 1860.
There was a creek running through the
main street with a log to cross on.
There were no railroads then. so we
went down on a steamboat. There were
lots of boats on the river at that time
many more than now, they tell me
Il remember one of the floods brought
on by the Three Mile creek. 1 don't
know what Year it was just now,r but
it was along in the sixties. The creek
cane up so high that we found drowned
men hanging in the limbs of trees near
the Latta house on Broadway and
Cherokee street
The old Lutheran school where
was educated is gone now. I remember
1t as well as though I had been there
yesterday. From here 1 will go to
Atchison to see ST. Benedict's college
which 1 attended, and from there L will
go back to Pueblo
Mr.. Grund is now stopping at the
Planters After looking over the town
Tor few days he will leave with his
wife on their way home.