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Two years later, they established the first ferry
across the
Kansas River, long
known as Pappan's Ferry to accommodate travelers between
Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas and
New Mexico.
Afterwards, it also became a favorite crossing for the
California
and
Oregon
traders and emigrants. Soon, more ferries were established in the area to
accommodate the many travelers heading westward. In the early 1850s, traffic
along the
Oregon
Trail was supplemented by trade on a new military road
stretching from
Fort
Leavenworth through Topeka to the newly-established
Fort Riley.
 In October, 1854,
Cyrus K.
Holliday, a
young Pennsylvanian, arrived at
Lawrence, and
the following month, in company with
Dr. Charles Robinson,
agent of the New England
Emigrant Aid
Society, proceeded up the valley of the
Kansas River to
locate
Free-State town
sites for the fast coming Eastern emigrants. Among others, the present site of
Topeka was selected as one especially desirable.
On December 5, 1854, nine men met on the banks of
the
Kansas River and
drew up an agreement, which later became the basis for the Topeka Association,
the organization mainly responsible for the establishment and early growth of
Topeka. These men included
Cyrus K.
Holliday, F.W.
Giles, Daniel H. Horne, George Davis, Enoch Chase, J.B. Chase, M.C. Dickey,
Charles Robinson
and L.G. Cleveland. Soon the townsite was surveyed and lots divided, and early in
1855 a meeting was held to choose a name for the new town. After debating
several names, Topeka was selected because it was novel, of
Indian origin, and sounded good.
Some of the first buildings constructed were sod
huts by Daniel Horne and L.G. Cleveland. More emigrants soon followed and soon
about 36 people joined the new settlement.
F. J. Case built a log house, with blacksmith shop
in the rear; more sod huts and shake cabins were put up by spring, and A.W.
Moore established the first boarding-house. On January 13, 1855, the town was
promoted in the Herald of Freedom, published in
Wakarusa,
Kansas:
“Topeka - A new town site with the above name has
been selected, and is now rapidly filling up with Eastern people. It is located
about twenty-five miles above this point, on the
Kansas River, and
will probably be a place of considerable importance. Several of our most active
business men are connected with the movement, and they are bound to make it 'go
ahead.' It is said there is fine country around it, and nature has been prolific
in her bounties. A steam saw-mill and all the various appliances of civilization
will be introduced there, upon the first renewal of navigation in the spring.
The name is said to be the original
Indian one for the
Kansas River.”
In January, 1855, M.C. Dickey and
Cyrus K.
Holliday made
a journey to Kansas City as agents of the
Emigrant Aid
Society, to bring up the steam engine for the new sawmill which was
completed and put in operation in the spring.
In March, a post office was established in a log
cabin that also served as a blacksmith shop. Fry W. Giles appointed Postmaster.
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Also in
March, the first church in town was organized by the Methodists with
Reverend A. Still at the “pulpit.” The first religious service was held in
a grove on the bank of the
Kansas River.
Early in the spring another party of 42 emigrants arrived and the town was
dotted with the camps, wagons, farming implements, and household
furniture. To accommodate the increased population, another boarding-house
was opened --The Pioneer Hotel. A simple long cabin with berths one above
another, around the sides, and a long table in the center, it was busy in
the short-term but soon outlived its usefulness as better buildings took
its place. Afterwards, it continued to stand for several years, serving as
a shelter for cattle and known as the "Pine-away House."
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Topeka,
Kansas in 1856.
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In April, two new stores were established, one by
J.T. Jones and the other by the Farnsworth Brothers (afterwards famous as
Constitution Hall.) That same month, Enock Chase built the first house with a
wooden floor and J.C. Miller began to construct the first brick home in the
city. A brick-yard was established by L.W. Horne just outside of town and Daniel
Horne found enough men to form a military company, which he organized and called
the Topeka Guards.
When the settlers of 1854 came to the banks of the Kansas
at Topeka, there was no road directly up the river, that part of the country
being broken by ravines, ridges and streams. To encourage settlement a new road
was laid out early in May, 1855 branching off from the
California Trail, a little east of Big Springs, and running east
to Topeka.
Continued Next Page
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LEGENDS
OF KANSAS
