REPUBLICAN CITY, CLAY COUNTY Excerpted from "Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1911-1912", Edited by Geo. W. Martin, Secretary. Vol XII., State Printing Office, Topeka, Kansas 1912, pages 440-441. submitted by Teresa Lindquist (merope@radix.net); (copyright) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist ----------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- REPUBLICAN CITY, (21) CLAY COUNTY. There was a time when Republican City was a rival of Clay Center, but to-day it is a mere memory of the men who fondly wished and hoped to make it the leading town of Clay county. Although Clay Center became the county seat when the county was organized, it too was barely more than a town upon paper. The founders of Republican City, scanning the future, believed, no doubt, that push and enterprise would secure to them the county seat. A division of the county into two parts by the Republican river materially aided the projectors, for it was very natural for those living south of the Republican to be interested in securing this much coveted prize-- the county seat. But it was a question of votes, and if the influx of settlers preponderated over those north of the river, then it could be secured. Although for several years there was considerable rivalry between the two sections of the county over the relocation of the county seat, ultimately the population increased faster north of the river, and Republican City was destined to survive only in name. In 1868 A. C. Stickney, of Junction City, a business man of that place, filed on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 8, range 2 east, for town-site purposes, and that year surveyed and platted eight blocks in the south half of this tract, one of which was designated on the plat as the courthouse square. Mr. Stickney also erected a business house and opened a general store, with W. E. Payne, of Wakefield, in charge, the business being continued until 1872. On March 12, 1873, the Junction City & Fort Kearney railroad reached Clay Center. That forever ended the hopes and attempts to build up Republican City. At one period, though, the latter possessed some advantages which Clay Center did not have. A daily stage route between Junction City and Concordia was established by the Southwestern Stage Company, carrying passengers and the mail, and Republican City became a relay station. Sometimes important letters were mailed by Clay Center people at Republican City, because mails only reached Clay Center semi-weekly. The various lines of business, too, were better represented there for a short time than at Clay Center. No one could foresee the events of the future, and evidently Doctor Millen, who only a short time ago died, must have balanced probabilities and solved them in favor of Republican City as a future business point. Anyway, he began the practice of his profession--dentistry--there, and, I presume, was the first dentist in Clay county. Amos Reeder, an early settler, sold his dwelling house to the school district, and it was moved from the Reeder homestead into the village. It was a small building, 14x20, and served as a schoolhouse, church and public hall--a convenience that for some time Clay Center did not possess, the latter using the old stone courthouse that stood on the northeast corner of the square for all public meetings. The first school was taught by Mrs. Porter Sargent, wife of one of the early homesteaders on Five Creeks, and now remembered only by the early settlers remaining in the county. This school was taught during the winter of 1868-'69. The schoolhouse was moved to its present site about 1874, and was long known as the Hand schoolhouse. Mr. Stickney built a second store room, in which James Shaffer, for many years, a resident of Clay Center, conducted a harness shop. Afterward M. E. Clark opened a grocery store in this building, with Charles H. Horton in charge. This stock, the business probably not being very profitable, was moved back to Junction City, from which place it came. Then Blattner & Blakely occupied the building with a stock of hardware, stoves and tinware. In 1870 E. B. Marvin, another homesteader, opened a blacksmith shop, which he ran until 1874. Of the men who were originally interested in Republican City, Doctor Gillespie is probably the only one still residing in that vicinity. He was engaged in selling drugs and practicing medicine. He also carried a stock of groceries. At one time there was a Grange store, with J. W. Reeder in charge, but the business kept dwindling until it opened only on Saturdays for the benefit of its customers. Mr. Reeder also conducted a hotel, this building now forming part of the house on the Marshall farm. Republican City became a post village in 1868, J. W. Reeder being postmaster. He was succeeded by W. E. Payne, Doctor Gillespie, Smith Beatty and George Neill, who served until the office was discontinued. Whether it was because of the exalted patriotism of the residents of the place or not I do not know, but daily they kept the stars and stripes floating to the breezes upon a tall flagstaff, the flag at all times being plainly visible at Clay Center, seemingly bidding defiance to any schemes of that town to retain the honor of being the county seat. But that was forty years ago or more. About all that now remains--a continuing reminder of the scenes and associations of bygone days--is the church that was established there. As of yore, its congregation still assembles, but few, indeed, of the "old familiar faces" of the men and women of forty years ago will be found there. == NOTE 21.-This article, by W. P. Anthony, was first published in the Clay Center Times of June 6, 1912, from which paper we copy it.