A HISTORY OF SILVER LAKE, KANSAS, BY EMMA CONES RICHERTER Submitted September 2003 by Barb Boese [sboesesr@cox.net]; transcribed 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A HISTORY OF SILVER LAKE, KANSAS By EMMA CONES RICHERTER The manuscript of this history was submitted to the Kansas State Historical Society for verification of dates and historic incidents. ----- PREFACE History is not mere facts and dates jumbled together, but a true story in which dates are only milestones on the way to progress. Much more could have been written about the history of Silver Lake, but the attempt has been made to give the most interesting and material occurrences and events in as few words as possible not to detract interest. --E.C.R. ----- A History of Silver Lake, Kansas The Little Town of Silver Lake lies in the beautiful and fertile Kaw valley near the body of water for which it was named, twelve miles west of Topeka on the line of the Union Pacific railroad. About half a mile north, rise sloping hills forming a zig-zag line east and west as far as the eye can reach. On the south the level land extends to the Kaw or Kansas river, a distance of about two miles, while beyond the river can be seen high bluffs rising from the waters edge, with a wealth of emerald foliage climbing to the top, and the azure hills beyond; and beyond that, the delicious blue beyond the blue. East and west the level land extends for many miles. Rossville is six miles west of Silver Lake, and St. Marys is six miles west of Rossville. Silver Lake is a quiet little town, almost hidden by a wealth of fruit and shade trees; only the tall church spires rise above and stand as sentinels. There are no street cars clanging at you as you cross the street; the air is not heavy with the smoke of factories, or filled with the germs of disease. I know that city people believe they have all the advantage, but I am sure country-town people are the lords of the earth when it comes to good living. No matter how poor we are, we are always in reach of luxuries: a clear fire, a fresh egg, a pitcher of sweet milk or of pure water--these may see very unimportant things to people who wish to broaden their lives by moving to the city, but you narrow your life immensely when you dispense with anything sweet and natural that goes to sustain it. At ----- present Silver Lake claims a population of about two hundred and fifty inhabitants. It has one hotel, two restaurants, one meat market, two grocery stores, and one general store. One dry goods store, two drugs stores, one bank one hardware store and lumber yard. One barber shop, one blacksmith shop, a carpenter shop, and an elevator. The Oldest Inhabitant in Silver Lake is Mrs. E.R. Kennedy; generally known as aunt Monique. She was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, March 18, 1837, and came from there to Silver Lake with the Pottawatomies in 1847. She lives alone in a part of the oldest house in town. Aunt Monique was the second wife of E.R. Kennedy, a white man who was a trader among the Pottawatomies, and whose first wife, Ke-bi-ah Wa-da-gah (Susan Onedoggie), was the daughter of a medicine man. E.R. Kennedy came to Kansas with the tribe in 1847 and was quite prominent as a free state man during the troublesome times in the border ruffian period; he also help organize Shawnee County. The School House that was built when the town was first laid out does duty yet. The present site of the Silver Lake school was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Palmer in the year 1868. They also donated ground for the two churches. The first school was taught by Mrs. Mary Lewis, a sister to Mrs. Palmer, which she opened at her homes in the basement of the building which for several years has been the home of Dr. and Mrs. Magill; but at that time there was only the basement with a temporary roof over it. Before the ----- term was out, however the school house was completed, and the term was finished in the new shcool house; that was only one room, however, the other room being added several years later. The Baptist Churhc, a beautiful stone building on Railroad avenue, was commenced in the year 1877, through the efforts of Rev. J. Miller, Jim Farris, and Alfred Pratt; the stone being donated by mrs. Ann Mongold from her farm north of town. The building was completed, and dedicated in August, 1878, Rev. J.G. Mavor being the first pastor. The Methodist Church, a large frame structure on Madore street, was built in the year 1878 through the untiring labors of Rev. R.L. McNabb. The town was platted by Joel Huntoon of Topeka in February, 1868; the original proprietors of the place being M.b. Beaubien and A.S. Thomas--the land belonged to Mr. Beaubien, but he gave Mr. Thomas every other lot for helping lay out the town. M.B. Beaubieu died in 1889, having reached his four score; A.S. Thomas is living a retired life in the old village. The original town plat extended from the lake on the south, to the railroad on the north; and from the M.E. Church, three block [sic] west. The Names of the Streets running north and south, beginning on the west are as follows: Masche, named for an Indian speaker. Beaubien, named for the man who owned the land upon which the town was platted; Madore, was Beaubien's first name. The streets running east and west, beginning at the lake on the south were named Lake; NOTE: Theresa Beaubien was July 4, 1822, in Chicago, and is at this writing living with her daughter in Shawnee, Oklahoma. ----- Theresa, was named for Beaubien's wife. Pottawatomie, was named for the Indian tribe, and Railroad avenue is the street running paralell with the railroad. The part of town east of Madore street, known as Palmer's addition, was added later. The names of the streets in Palmer's addition are, beginning at the east side of the original plat: Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce and Pine. The First Store Building was erected on the townsite in July, 1868, and a store was started by M.B. Beaubien and Chas. Palmer. The First Dwelling House was erected by Chas. Palmer on Railroad avenue and Madore street, where the stone buildings owned by the Odd Fellows now stands. Kellie's general store occupies the lower floors of the stone buildings, while above are the lodge room, and the Silver Lake opera house. He then built the double house on Railroad avenue in 1869; now owned by Mrs. R.W. Eaton. In 1870, J.J. Oliver built a brick and stone building where the hardware store now stands, but it fell down years ago. In 1873, J.J. and J.B. Oliver built the hotel which was known as the Oliver house, and was kept by J.J. Oliver for several years. The substantial stone building on Railroad avenue and Beaubien street was built by P.H. Butler in the year 1878. All the stone buildings on the main street were built in the seventies. In June, 1902, the Masons bought the Butler building with two adjoining lots. They have a well furnished lodge room on the sec- ----- ond floor, while below is their banquet hall. The lots make a beautiful lawn during the summer months. The Woodmen own the hall above the telephone office in the Luthye building. The Union Pacific Railroad reached Silver Lake March 19, 1866. The village was a flag station until 1874-1875, when a frame depot was built some distance east of the present location. The Stone Depot was built in 1880-1881. It was L.C. Cleveland who conceived the plan of getting the people of the town to furnish the stone and sand if the railroad company would build a stone depot. Mr. Cleveland received his appointment as Agent at Silver Lake, August 13, 1879. He resigned that position January 15, 1905, on account of ill health, and he and Mrs. Cleveland are now living a retired life in Osceola, Mo. The Oldest Storekeeper in Silver Lake is J.L. Cutbirth, having started a grocery store in the front part of his residence on Railroad aveneu in 1879. The First White Woman to locate in Silver Lake was Mrs. Mary Coughlan, who arrived with her husband November 1, 1866. For a while they kept the section house, which was located north of the railroad tracks, just west of the stock yards. Mrs. Coughlan now lives on her farm northwest of town, with her daughter. The First White Child in Silver Lake was Dame Oliver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Oliver, who came from Illinois to Leavenworth in 1857. They came from Indianola, about three miles northwest ----- of Topeka, to Silver Lake, in April, 1868. They brought with a corn-crib, of which they made a house (the one in which aunt Monique now lives), in which they kept the first postoffice and store. J.B. Oliver died December 1, 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. Mrs. Oliver lives in the house, a part of which they built in the 1868, later adding several rooms. Two granddaughters live with her. The First White Child Born in Silver Lake was Mamie Palmer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Palmer, who came from Illinois to Silver Lake in April, 1868. Mr. Palmer died June 16, 1905, at the age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Palmer having disposed of her interests in Silver Lake, has gone to live with her children. The Country Adjacent to Silver Lake can doubtless lay claim to being the oldest settlement in Shawnee County. As early as 1835 the Government, through its Indian agent, Major Richard W. Cummins, selected for the Kaw tribe a tract of three hundred acres just east of Silver Lake. A superintendent was subsequently placed in charge of the land; a number of persons being employed by the Government to teach the Indians the art of agriculture. In 1846 a treaty was effected, resulting in the Pottawatomies being granted the eastern portion of the old Kansas Reservation. Naturally many white men came to this locality and intermarried with the tribe, became actual settlers on the lands or remains as traders or other Government employes [sic] ----- among the Indians. The Pottawatomies had long been neighbors of the white people, and many bore French names and showed French blood. In Kansas they were divided; those desiring to live as civilized people settling about the Missions, those who preferred the old ways of going apart, as the Prairie band. Joseph Lafromboise, father of Aunt Monique and Abe Lafromboise, was Chief of the Pottawatomie tribe when they came to Kansas inthe spring of the year 1847. When they arrived at their destination they camped along the banks of the lake--a clear and beautiful horseshoe-shaped body of water about two miles long. It is said to have been at one time the bed of the river. The island was thickly timbered, in which deer, wild turkey, and smaller game abounded; while the lake furnished plenty of fine, large fish. It is generally believed that Silver Lake derived its name from its clear and silvery waters; but it is said by some of the Pottawatomie that it was named for a valuable bird dog owned by Chief Lafromboise. This wonderful dog had white curly hair, and was named Silver. He hunted about the lake a great deal, even catching wild ducks upon it. Some of the Pottawatomies soon commenced building houses--they built them all alike, two log houses a few feet apart with a porch roof connecting them, and a large fireplace in each room. Chief Lafromboise built his house on the highest point of ground on the east bank of the lake. When the Pottawatomies went away on hunting trips they sometimes came in contact with other ----- tribes; then there was war. They brought the scalps of those they killed to the Chief. They could be seen coming in great numbers a long way off, with fluttering flags, singing a song of triumph. The scalps were fastened to a long pole, which they proudly carried high in the air. The Chief would show them where to plant the pole, then there would follow two or three days and nights of merry-making, dancing and feasting. They would dance around the pole, singing war songs, frequently emitting blood-curdling war-whoops, while at the same time going through all kinds of motions used in killing. Abe Lafromboise has for several years lived on the old stamping ground--the very spot where those dances were held when his father, Joseph Lafromboise, was Chief. His father's house was built just across the road. When an Indian died he was buried in any position requested by him before his death. Sometimes he was buried sitting; sometimes standing; sometimes his horse was killed and stood in shallow grave, the dead Indian mounted on his back, with bow and arrow, gun and tomahawk; with sometimes a jug of whiskey fastened to the saddle horn; in this position he was supposed to be fitted out for the "Happy Hunting Ground". Then there was a roof built over him. They brought their provisions from Weston, Mo., a train of wagons making the trip twice each year, crossing the Missouri river on a ferry boat. Chief Lafromboise had two wives and eighteen children. He was given, by the Government, a section of land, besides eighty acres for each of his children. Twice each year he was ----- given two hundred and fifty dollars besides twenty dollars for each of his children. Aunt Monique says, "We had plenty of money and plenty of fun.: Indian mothers carried their babies (pappooses) on their backs, strapped to a board made for the purpose. They kept count of the age of their little ones by cutting notches on the edge of the board. Madore B. Beaubien, whose mother was an Ottawa, was for a long time the oldest resident of Shawnee County. He came to Kansas in 1847 and settled on Soldier creek, where he started a small store. In 1850 he was a trader at Uniontown, and 1854 he settled at Silver Lake. He was married to Therest [sic] Hardin Lafromboise, daughter of Chief Lafromboise, June 2, 1854, at the Baptist Mission. As a result of their marriage they had three children. He continued an active and influential member of the tribe until they were naturalized and allotted land in severalty. He was interpreter of the Pottawatomies and one of the six commissioners appointed by the Nation, and approved by the Government, in 1851. At the allotment under the treaty of 1861, he received three hundred and twenty acres of land at Silver Lake, and extending north; his wife, Theresa, received eighty acres adjoining the townsite on the west. he also received half a section on Soldier creek. In 1854 he built a double log houes as a store and residence on his allotment at Silver Lake, which, until a few years ago, could be seen standing in A.L. Entsminger's orchard near the east bank of the lake. Here it was that the Butterfield state route made its stopping place in the early days; while the Kan- ----- sas stage route made its stopping place at Chief Lafromboise's. The California and Orgon trail joined the Military road from Ft. Leavenworth just a little east of Silver Lake, passing through this section as the great highway north of the Kansas river, making it particularly desirable as a location. Among the names of the Pottawatomie or their descendants who received allotments, and for a long time resided in the vicinity of Silver Lake, are Beaubien, Ogee, and Kennedy. Three ferries were established across the Kaw or Kansas river in 1852-53, at a point a short distance east of the confluence of Mission creek. While they were in operation, the locality was known as the great crossing; the ferries all being located within a distance of three or four miles, the main crossing being at the Baptist Mission. An immense amount of travel passed over these ferries, much of the rush to California and Oregon by the route from Independence, Mo., crossing at this point. The first of the three ferries at the great crossing was established by Sidney W. Smith in 1852, the boat being built at Uniontown by Kennedy and Freeman. The second one, started in 1853, was a deck boat 10x60, said to be the only deck boat that ever crossed the Kaw. It was owned and operated by Hiram Mills and John Ogee. The third, also established in 1853, was operated by Joseph and Lewis Ogee. The first trading post was at Uniontown, which was located about half a mile east of Willard on a ridge of sixteen acres overlooking the river. In 1852 one street ran lengthwise on the top of the ridge, and fifty building made Uniontown. There were fourteen stores; this being the largest settlement in the territory. Here is was that the California trail crossed the Kaw river at the only rocky ford. When the town of Silver Lake was laid out, M.B. Beaubien reserved a block near the lake for a home, upon which he built a residence in 1870 at a cost of six thousand dollars. The streets surrounding the Beaubien home are Madore on the east, Beaubien on the west, Theresa on the north, and Lake on the south. The building is 46x20, two stories, containing eight rooms large, airy rooms they are and at present, and for some time past, this historical old place has been the home of J.E. Guild. The Silver Lake Mills was built north of the railroad tracks in 1881. It was a large stone structure with engine room, and was run by Dearborn and Hutchins for a few years, then stood idle for some time, when it was bought by the Reicherter Bros., who stored it with baled hay. It took fire from spark form a locomotive engine one day and burned. Other buildings have also burned; and, so, for a long time the new buildings have hardly replaced those that were destroyed, keeping the town at a standstill; but within the last few years there has been a marked improvement in the town. At the school meeting in April a committee was appointed to circulate petitions for a new schoolhouse; and forty acres of land joining the town on the south have been bought for the purpose of making a resort. The Bell Telephone System was established in Silver Lake in 1885; but it was not until February 12, 1907, that a switchboard was put in. The Independent Telephone System was incorporated for $15,000 in 1905, and has three hundred miles of wire. The building of the line was commenced in 1901 by Chas. Williams, proprietor of the system in Silver Lake, Rossville, and northern Shawnee county. Chas. Williams came from Ohio with his parents in the year 1870. They located on a farm near Silver Lake, where they lived until December, 1907, when they moved to Rossville, Charles establishing a home of his own at Silver Lake. The Flood was an interesting event in the history of Silver Lake. Nearly every year there is, about the first of June, a rise of the river, which, when it is up, flows into the lake through a channel; but never before was it known to get so high; and on May 29, 1903, it had already passed all previous high water marks and telephones were busy all over the country telling the threatening news and warning people who might be in danger to escape with their lives while yet there was time. The river was rising amazingly; the great iron bridge which had spanned the river just west of the lake was gone, and we could see that the water was one great, angry, boiling, moving river from the north bank of the lake to the great bluffs of the river on the other side a distance of about three miles. The water was sweeping over the east bank of the lake a little farther south, out across the bottom land, and reports were coming to us from the west that a four-foot rise was coming. All the home on the higher land were thrown open to the less fortunate, and were filled to overflowing. Water that at that time was supposed to be coming from Cross creek, but which proved to be mostly surface water, was flowing between Silver Lake and the hills, and for fear of being surrounded as so many others had been, all but a very few of the people of Silver Lake fled to the hills. The rise came that night; and many people living on the lower land were forced to the roofs of their houses, or to barn lofts, or clung frantically to the limbs of trees; while all the time a cold, steady rainfall made it most disagreeable for those who were exposed. The next day rescue parties were formed and much heroic work was done. Many lives were lost in North Topeka and the water flowed freely through the streets of Rossville; but the little town of Silver Lake remained high and dry through it all. The high water mark of the flood of 1903 is shown by a spike driven in a hedge fence-post on J. Henrie's place; it was put there by J.E. Guild and M. Widner. The postmasters of Silver Lake have been as follows: J.B. Oliver, appointed in the spring of the year 1869. Mr. Oliver was succeeded in the office by James Smith, Chas. Palmer, W.F. Johnston, Fred Thomas, Ed. Thompson, S.F. Cones, Miss Lucy Johnson, Chas. Koons, Chas. Newkirk, A.D. Hollister, James Vanorsdol, Geo. Albee and Clarence Henry. The officers of the town have been as follows: April 18, 1870, M.B. Beaubien, Mayor; J.B. Oliver, Clerk. May 15, 1871, E.N. Couch, Mayor; J.L. Essay, Clerk. Mar. 5 1873, J.B. Oliver, Mayor; N.T. Noble, Clerk. June 3, 1873, M.B. Beaubien, Mayor; N.T. Noble, Clerk. April 3, 1876, M.B. Beaubien, Mayor; J.B. Oliver, Clerk. 1880, Ed. Thompson, Mayor; Geo. E. Clark, Clerk, Pro term. April 18, 1885, R.A. Richards, Mayor; S.F. Cones, Clerk. Aug. 19, 1886, G.W. Petro, Mayor; S.F. Cones, Clerk. June 23, 1887, A.G. Magill, Mayor; J.M. Clayland, Clerk. Aug. 13, 1889, G.W. Ellinger, Mayor; S.F. Cones, Clerk. Mar. 15, 1890, G.W. Ellinger, Mayor; S.A. Johnson, Clerk. May 5, 1890, J.M. Clayland, Mayor; F.A. Mitchel, Clerk. Aug. 26, 1890, J.M. Clayland, Mayor; J.H. Dearborn, Clerk. July 1891, F.M. Neiswender, Mayor; R.A. Richards, Clerk. Aug 1, 1892, J.B. Oliver, Mayor; R.A. Richards, Clerk. May 1893, J.B. Oliver, Mayor; A.D. Hollister, Clerk. Dec. 22, 1893, F.M. Neiswender, Mayor; A.D. Hollister, Clerk. May 7, 1894, J.F. Johnston, Mayor; A.D. Hollister, Clerk. Mar. 6, 1895, Easton Johnson, Mayor; A.D. Hollister, Clerk. June 7, 1895, W.C. Maddox, Mayor; A.D. Hollister, Clerk. June 8, 1898, John F. Fowler, Mayor, A.D. Hollister, Clerk. May 8, 1900, Peter Pelle, Mayor; D.A. Salley, Clerk. Aug. 10, 1901, Peter Pelle, Mayor; Will Vanorsdol, Clerk. Aug. 7, 1905, J.S. Kelley, Mayor; W.R. Frisby, Clerk. June 3, 1907, T.R. Johnson, Mayor; Edna Seltzer, Clerk. Aug. 5, 1907, Chas. Alexander, Mayor; Edna Seltzer, Clerk. Mar. 1, 1909, Chas. Alexander, Mayor; Clarence Henry, Clerk. June 7, 1909, W.A. Luthye, Mayor; Clyde H. Hale, Clerk. June 1910, W.A. Luthye, Mayor; J.S. Kelley, Clerk. Those who were in business in Silver Lake, July 1, 1910, were as follows: J.L. Cutbirth, groceries and notions. C. Henry, postoffice, groceries and notions. C.F. Mattmiller, meat market and restaurant. Mrs. Hattie Palmer, hotel and lunch counter. J.W. Warner, in charge of the Thomas hardware store and lumber yard. Chas. Alexander, depot agent. The Silver Lake State Bank was established October 14, 1909, with I.B. Alters, president, and J.R. Wilt, cashier, in an ornamental cement building built for the purpose on Railroad avenue. Geo. B. Harper, elevator, coal and feed. Dr. D.P. Dudley, druggist. Dr. A.G. Magill established a drug store in Silver Lake in 1879, which he kept until his death, February 27, 1910, since which time Mrs. Magill and her daughter Mina have kept the store. Misses Mabel Landis and Alta Coulter, operators of the Independent switchboard; Edna Greening, assistant. A.D. Enstminger, photographer. Albert Reicherter, contractor and shipper of baled hay. H.L. Hunley, auto., livery and feed. Wm. Sneller, blacksmith in Wm. Reicherter's stone shop. The Helms Bros., carpenter shop and planing mill. Other carpenters, Frank Perry and Isham Jeffries. Wm. McKelvey, stone mason and cement work. Mr. McKelvey came to Silver Lake in 1870, and is well known in the vicinity. John Ealusek, shoe and harness shop. Van Gion, barber. John Burns (colored) barber. This history would hardly be complete without the mention of his name. He was born in slavery in Platt County, Missouri, August 3, 1844. He was sold three times; the last time he was sold from the block in New Orleans in 1859 for the sum of $1,650.00. At the close of the Civil War he came to Johnson County, Kansas, where he found his mother and sister. He came to Silver Lake, November 6, 1877. During the first two days of July, 1910, the people of Silver Lake were in a state of expectancy (July 3rd was Sunday and quiet). Cement pillars were erected on each side of the lake drive at the south edge of town, and the traveling public was directed a little farther east almost to Chestnut street where a new road had been opened through the old Ensminger orchard. The lake drive was closed to the public; and preparations were made for a Fourth of July celebration in the new park. The cement walk on Beaubien avenue was finished; the street commissioner, Chas. Maupin, had seen to it that the town was in order for company, and a band stand was erected near the elevator on Railroad avenue. The Glorious Fourth dawned bright and clear, and was appropriately celebrated by the people of Silver Lake and surrounding country and towns; the Granges of northern Shawnee County being in charge. On July 21, 1910, and election was held to vote for bonds to the amount of $9,000 for a new brick school house of four rooms; the election carried, one hundred and twelve to seven. Explanation of Plat. This is a copy of the plat of the town of Silver Lake, found in an old Atlas owned by Mrs. J.B. Oliver, published in 1873. The property owners of that time, however, are replaced by those of the present time. The city limits extends from the west side of the townsite to Madore street on the south block, then to Chestnut on the next block taking in the M.E. Church; then to the east side of the townsite north of the Pottawatomie street to the railroad, indicated by dotted line. The Economy Store, carrying dry goods, shoes and notions was established by Mrs. J.W. Kellner, May 6, 1910. J.S. Kelley, general merchandise, established January 1, 1889.