The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-14

! ton of the departure of, the pioneers
for Kansas.
Prof. Benjamin Silliman of Yale,
also, delivered an address and at its
conclusion he laid down $25 to be used
in purchasing rifles for the men who
were coming west. Henry Ward
Beecher took it up and within a few
minutes sufficient money had been
| raised to equip more than half of the
party with Sharp's rifles. Beecher
went to his home in Brooklyn and
raised enough more money to equip
the remainder of the party. The par
| ty was afterwards known as Beech
er's Bible Rifle Company"
That meeting was held March 20,
| 1856, and the pioneers left for Kan
sas at once. They arrived at Kansas
City the last of that month and after
| purchasing teams entered Kansas near
shutdown April 1. April 5. Mr.. Rice
and the others of the party drove into
| Topeka where he was later to take
such an active part in the esta blish-
ment of the present Washburn col
lege. Here is his impression of Topeka
as he once wrote it:
Topeka In Old Days.
Topeka was sorry looking town
! from the appearance of the buildings.
| Constitution hall was erected and a
| building of poles near Third street and
| Quincy was a hotel and boarding
house. The other buildings were of
shakes and small poles matched with
grass, some log cabins, some of grass
| and some of sod Most of the dwell
| ings had earth floors and those that
were fortunate enough to have board
/ floors had them of green native 1um-
/ Der that shrunk in seasoning so you
/ could put your hands thru the cracks.
The party went on west across Mill
| creek to Mulberry creek and were
|
| caught up with them bearing an order
for them to return to Topeka and join
| the free-state people in defending
Lawrence against border ruffians. The
bearer of that message was the late
| Guilford Dudley.
Most of the party stayed in Topeka.
| Mr. Rice waited until the following
June then returned to Connecticut for
his family.
Old Topeka Students.
The first year book issued by the
| trustees of Lincoln college, the fore
| runner of Washburn, contains the
/ names, in the roster of students, of
many who afterwards became prorni-
| nent in the life of Topeka and of many
| who are still living here The names
will be familiar to most of the pio-
neers of Topeka still living
This year book was issued for the
school year of 1S65-1S66. Under the
head of Gentlemen students are the
following names:
G. r. Anderson, Alexander Bliss
Allen NJ Covell, Alexander F. Grove
| Jasper H. Greer, L. A He'll, L. P. Hun
! toon, Frank w. Jordan. Joseph Mil
Ter, Hale Richie, W. J. Stringham
| Lynes B. Stone, Herbert K Tefft, al
of Topeka; Thomas Ragland, Albert
| Ragland, Henry r. Rice and Levi T
Rice all of Tecumseh; John B. Aud
of Nottingham, Marshall county: Will
liam D. Milne of Rochester: Monroe
C Park of Indianola; c. Walter OF
Wilmington, and James Wilson OF
Leavenworth.
Under the head of Ladies' these
| names appear: Josephine NJ. Hall
| Mary J. Hodges, Fannie Morell, Emma
F. Nichols, Retta Nichols, Emma r
Campbell, Carrie E. Sain. all of To
peka: Carrie E. Collins. Lizzie Rector
Sarah r. Rice, Katie Alkire an6
Asenath c. Benham, all of Tecumseh
Rose Biggers of Mound City, Mo.
Nettie NJ. Ferry of Waveland; Imogene
Mary Wilder of Rochester.
That constituted the entire student
body the first year. The year booI
ninety-two students, among whom
was Jules B. Billiard, afterwards may,
or of Topeka. and still a resident anC
business man of Topeka His name
runs along thru the year books unit
his graduation In his second veal
he is listed as an assistant in the pre-.
paratory department.
The year 1s67-1s6S the total mum