The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-05
Topeka 81 TODAY
Three Hundred Old Settlers
Celebrate Birthday of City.
FF eu.r
Nine Men Founded the City De-
cember 5, 1854.
I'm MEADE GIVES DETAILS
M. MEADE GIVES DETAILS
Captain Waters and Others Tell
of Early History.
Hrs. StimsOn Recalls Time " hen
/ Tecumseh Had IA Saloons.

More than 500 old settlers gathered
in the First Presbyterian church today
70 celebrate the sixty-second birthday
anniversary of Topeka. Pictures were
shown of early Topeka, and score OF
Oldest inhabitants contributed their
recolIections this morning and after
noon. The morning meeting was fol-
lowed by luncheon in which oldest
Inhabitants" Toasted on chicken, ham,
Dies, cider, doughnuts and a dozen
other Kansas dainties for all times
Nearly 800 old settlers of Shawnee
county. varying in age and length OF
residence from Mrs. Stimson, OF To-
cnmseh. So years old, and resident
Of the county since 1S49, TO natlVe
sons and daughters born In the 81 5,
The features of the annual meeting
were the showing of stereopticon slides
this afternoon made from pictures OF
early Topeka from the collections or
H. o. Carney and others AS eacn
picture was shown on the screen oid
settlers arose from their seats and told
of the recoIlections that they stirred.
For nearly two hours the Topeka OF
80. 40 and so years ago was brought
back to life by the pictures ana the
memories of the old inhabitants
At the mornings meeting talks were
made by Capt Joe Waters, Mrs. slim
son of Tecumseh, Joe Hanlon and ).
Al Meade. Captain Joe's" speech
was a eulogy of Kansas and the
spirit of peace and progress that
breathes over the state.
+ Mrs. Stimson told of the Quantrlll
raid and the wild days of the squatter
sovereignty "At one time" she told
her audience, "Tecumseh boosted IA
saloons all doing a thriving business
Hanlon. present fire chief, and the
oldest fireman in Topeka, described
fire-fighting in the '7Os.
Founding of Topeka.
]. NJ. Meade described the found
ing of Topeka sixty-two years ago to-
day as follows:
n ION Tuesday, December ., 1854,
nine strangers met in little log cab
ID at the foot of Kansas avenue, or
ganized and founded the city of Tope-
ka. This log cabin stood at the north
west corner of Kansas avenue and
First avenue. where the brick build
ing of the Davis Mercantile company
now stands-the cornerstone of the
above building refers to this fact. The
names of these nine strangers and
founders of Topeka were: c. K. Hol-
liday, +. w. Giles, Daniel H. Horn,
George Davis. Enoch Chase, J. B'
Chase. NJ c. Dickey, Chas. Robinson
and l.. C. Cleveland.
F"They had no chairs and used
sack of flour for the chairman. c. K.
holiday. to sit on The first presi-
dent of the Town company was c. K.
holiday. elected December IS, 1854.
6. X. Holiday was also the first JUS
ice of the peace. Daniel H Horn
vas the first deputy marshal. Both
Of these men were appointed by Gov
ernor Reeder in January. 1853 The
Charles Robinson mentioned in the
list of the nine founders of Topeka
afterwards became the governor of
Kansas. On the first day of January.
1855. the question of naming the town
came up but no definite action was
taken until the following day, when
the Rev. S. Y. Lum suggested Topeka,
which was approved. The word is of
tato.' The Kaw river bottom lands
near the town site were full of small,
Wild potatoes. hence Mr.. Lum's rea-
sons for presenting such name.
Land for the Town.
"on the second day of January
1855, the town trustees appointed six
men to pre-empt land for the town
site as follows: James A. Hickey
Edwin S. Dexter, c. X. Holiday, r. L.
Mitchell, Abel f. Hartwell and Harvey
G. Young.
"A. d. Searle of Lawrence made
the first legal survey of Topeka. He
began his work December 20. 1855,
and completed it April H. 1856"
The government surveys covering
the tOwnsite of Topeka were made in
February, 1856. These surveys showed
the variation of the north and south
streets as Is feet 40 inches east of
the meridian. 1t also showed the ex-
act area of the original townsite as
6S4 acres. Being the four quarter sec
tons, of section 81, township II S.
range 16 east, containing by this Uni
ted States survey 621.S0 acres. and the
southeast fractional quarter of section
80. containing 1920 acres-total-6S4
acres"
The first public entertainment Civ
en- in Topeka was in the nature of a
barbecue. May IT, 1855. Everybody
in town and county were invited, ex-
cept the Indians. Mrs Mary j. Ward
contributed a roasted pig of ample
size, and a friendly Kaw Indian con-
tributed 2Opound catfish for the
other end of the table. The articles
left over from the barbecue were sold
at auction, to be given to the first
church that should be built in Topeka.