The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-27
Only One of Leayenworth Town
site Party of 32, Living.
At Eighty, He Is a Citizen OF
Platte County, Missouri.
ERECTED FIRST HOTEL
Indianian First Came to Kansas
in the Year 1854.
Had Experience in Fights Of
Free and Slave State Men.

Leavenworth. Kan. Dec. 27.-The only
living member of the 80 who laid out
the city of Leavenworth, A. T. Kyle,
so years old and of Platte county, Mo-,
is losing his sight. One eye now is
partly destroyed.
With Colonel Guest, Mr.. Kyle came to
Leavenworth in 1854 and surveyed the
south line of the military reservation.
From this, they then found the south
line of the city in the laying out OF
the city of Leavenwo Mr.. Kyle was
at the head of the townsite company
with from 40 to 80 men working I'M
der him
The First Hotel in Leavenworth.
Mr.. Kyle came to Leavenworth in
June of 1854 and in September of that
year he began the work of building the
first hotel that ever was erected here.
1t was known as the "IeaVenWorth Ho-
tel The work was begun with the OBJ
ject of completing it within month in
order that there might be some place to
accommodate the large number OF
strangers which was expected to attend
the first public sale of land ever held
here. The building was a two-story
frame structure and stood on the north
west corner of Main and Delaware
streets. At that time that section was
a high bluff.
OF the barbarism and outrages which
only between the Indians and the whites
but among the whites themselves. Mr..
Kyle tells some interesting stories.
The feeling of animosity existed most
fiercely between band of Kentuckians
and GeorgianS, who rendeZvouSed on
the old levee. Many lives We're lost
through their brutality and Mr.. Kyle,
himself, narrowly escaped being butch
cred. The Georgians and Kentuckians
formed a band of men who would stop
at nothing when incensed by a Free
State man. There were about twenty
five men in the gang.
\ Gang to Greet Him.
''One night when l was in the hotel
with only d bell boy, a knock came q t
the door and some one asked for me- -
and Mr.. Kyle settled back in his chair
for story. 1T was after midnight
and l Immediately suspected that no
one other than James Lysle, the ring
leader of the bandits was at the door
with murderous intent because of my
intense efforts to subdue them and TO
help the free state cause. So before
going to the door, I armed myself with
one of my navy revolvers. On cautious
ly opening it, I saw Lysle, who stood
with his arm under his coat. Out in
the street, lined up single column as
if to surround the house, was the re-
mainder of the gang. They did not
see me so 1 went inside to await de-
NelOpnlenIS. nearQ nufflod talking
for about an hour and then quiet
reigned and l knew they had gone, not
daring to break into the house.
This was not the end of it. The next
morning as l walked along the street
ran straight into this man Lysle and
dared him for an open fight, drawing my
revolver. AS it miraculously happened
he was unarmed and begged ME to allow
him to go. But these men, Haunting their
motto, To intimidate and drive off Free
State men, continued their fight through
the years of 1854 to 1856. Those were the
worst years ever experienced in this sec
ton.
Mr.. Kyle a Native of Indiana.
Another instance occurred when a law
yer, free state man, named William
Phillips, was taken from his home over
to a small place formerly called the
Rialto near Weston, Mo, and tarred and
feathered. In some way, he managed to
escape and return to his home. Tie sac
part was the fact that when his wife saw
him in that condition, she lost her mind
men and shot to death Phillips was one
of the strongest Free State men in this
| vicinity and did much for the cause"
The man Dysle was stabbed by jewelel
named Heller at the election the following
! spring He was not apprehended because
| flowing with people AS at all of the
| elections during those times, it was i'm
! possible to tell who had voted and the in
habitants from Platte county flocked ovel
here to cast votes. There was no system
| then whatever.
Kyle was born in Davis county, Indiana
! February s, 1890 He has one daughter
Mrs. w. R. Reynolds, living at MeLouth
COTTEGE TTTT.T, COMPLAINS