In 1825, Gen Clark selected lands in what is now Johnson county, as a reservation for the Shawnee Indians, and in 1828, the first band was removed there. In 1832, the remaining members of the Shawnee tribe came to the reservation. In 1831, a deputation of Mormons selected Shawnee township, in this county, as the future abode of the members of that church, but the land had been ceded to the Shawnees, and hence Smith chose Independence, Missouri, as his headquarters, and moved there.
In 1829, Rev. Thomas Johnson, a clergyman of the Methodist church, established a mission for the Shawnees in this county, some six miles west of Westport, Missouri. In 1839, the school was removed two miles southwest of Westport, where a grant of 2,240 acres of land had been secured, and a manual labor school opened. Costly improvement, amounting to about $75,000 were made, all of which expense was borne by the church. The school was kept in successful operation until 1862, when it was closed at the request of the superintendent.
In 1835, the Society of Friends established a mission some five or six miles southwest of Westport. Among the most prominent of its managers were Jeremiah Hadley and James Stanley. The Baptists also established a mission in the same vicinity, of which Dr. Barker was the superintendent.
On the 11th day of July, 1832, Alexander S. Johnson, the first child of Rev. Thos. Johnson, was born at the mission. He is well known in the West as Col. A.S. Johnson, and was the first white person born in Kansas. He is at present land commissioner of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company.
Samuel Cornatzer was among the first whites who came to the county; he married a Shawnee woman and was adopted into the tribe. He went to the Indian Territory, a few years ago. His cousin, Calvin Cornatzer, came to the mission in 1850, and still resides on a farm west of Shawnee. John Owens, who now lives two or three miles northeast of Monticello, is one of the old settlers.
Among the most prominent and influential members of the Shawnees, were Charles Bluejacket and Charles Tucker. The former still resides on his farm near Shawnee. Mr. Tucker removed to the Nation a few years since.
At the election for members of the Territorial Legislature, held March 30th, 1855, Rev. Thomas Johnson was elected to the Council, and his son Alexander S. to the House. That body was organized at Pawnee, July 2d, 1855, Mr. Johnson being elected President of the Council. On the 16th day of July, the Council adjourned to meet at the mission, in Johnson county.
The county was named in honor of the Rev. Mr. Johnson. The first county seat was located where Shawnee now stands, and was then known as Gum Springs. Isaac Parish was the first Sheriff, and William Fisher, Jr., the first Probate Judge.
John Lockhart, who came to the county in 1855, with Jeremiah Hadley, was elected to represent the county under the Topeka constitution.
During the winter of 1856-1857, a treaty was effected with the Shawnees, by which their lands were thrown open for settlement, and large numbers of people at once came into the county.
In 1856, a town company was organized, consisting of John T. Barton, A.G. Boone, Charles A. Osgood, R.B. Finley, W. Fisher, Jr., and H.W. Jones, who laid off the town of Olathe. The Lexington Town Company was also incorporated about the same time, the members being Wm. Alley, J.S. Simpkins, D.A.N. Grover, and R.S. Merchant. In the same year, O.B. Gardner laid out the town bearing his name; Richard McCamish commenced building the town of McCamish; J.B. Hovey and others, the town of Spring Hill, and Col. A. Payne, Judge Reed, Dr. W.D. Bull, G.W. McIntyre and G.W. Goble, the town of Monticello. The town of Aubrey was also incorporated. De Soto was laid off by W.B. Woodward, James f. Legate, James Findley and Mr. Hutchinson. Several other towns were laid out, but none that survived long.
The first house erected in Olathe, was built by Dr. Barton and Charles Osgood; it was a frame, 12x14, and was used as a store, saloon and hotel.
J.B. Whittier opened the first hotel, calling it the Union House. His sister, Miss Emily L. Whittier, was the first white woman to arrive in Olathe. Miss Whittier was afterward married to Jonathan Milliken.
The first marriage celebrated in Olathe, was between D.W. Wallingford and Miss Polly Swartz.
Although the county was professedly organized in 1855, yet the machinery of government had never been put in running order, and the county was not really organized till March, 1857, when Gov Denver appointed John P. Campbell, Probate Judge, John T. Ector, John Evans and Wm. Fisher, Jr, County Commissioners, with Pat. Cosgrove, Sheriff.
In March, 1858, the first election for county officers was held. There was but little contest.
Among those who became citizens of Johnson county during 1858, were John M. Giffen, L.S. Cornwell, M.J.P. Drake, F.W. Case, J.E. Hayes, Col John T. Burris, Wm. Roy, A.J. Clemens, J.E. Sutton, B.P. Noteman, Capt. J.W. Parmenter.
In June, 1859, a destructive tornado visited Olathe, destroying much property and doing vast damage to buildings and crops, but no lives were lost.
Johnson county was represented in the first Legislature, which convened after Kansas was admitted as a State, by John Lockhart in the Senate, and J.E. Corliss, J.F. Legate and J.E. Hayes in the House.
Quantrill, afterwards the guerilla, came to Johnson county in 1857, and took a claim in Spring Hill township, but not being of legal age he could not hold it. On the night of 6th September, 1862, he made a raid on Olathe, killing several of the citizens, demolishing the Mirror and Herald printing offices, and destroying much other property. On the 17th of October following, Quantrill and his band burned the town of Shawnee, destroying nearly every house in that place.
In the latter part of May, 1865, a tornado and hail storm swept over the county, doing fully as much damage as the one in 1859, and great destruction of property of all kinds was caused by it.
In 1866, the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb was established by the Legislature and located at Olathe. The contract for erecting the building was awarded to J.E. Hayes.
The Agricultural and Mechanical Fair Association of Johnson county was organized during the summer of 1867, and the first county fair held October 1st, 2d and 3d. In December of this year, steps were taken to build a railroad from Lawrence to Pleasant Hill, via Olathe.
In 1868, Olathe was incorporated, and a board of trustees elected. A public school building was erected, at a cost of $10,000.
The township of Aubrey was organized by the Board of Commissioners May 11, 1858, but it was pretty well settled by claim takers in 1857, the first claim having been taken by William H. Brady on the 22d of February of that year.
The town of Aubrey was surveyed and the Town Company organized in March, 1858, Mr. A.J. Gabbart being President and Greenbury Trekle, Treasurer. The first township election was held May 22, 1858, at which Wm. H. Brady was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Burton Olney, Treasurer, and W.W. Rice, Clerk. The first school district was organized in the summer of 1858, a building 20x24 erected, and Sylvester Mann taught the first school. The first sermon was preached at the house of A.J. Gabbart, in February, 1858, by Rev. Mr. Duval, a Methodist minister. The first church was organized in May, 1859, by Rev. A. Clark, of the Christian denomination. Samuel Medell and Miss Nancy Middleton were the first couple married, the ceremony occurring in September, 1858. The first birth was in the family of Sylvester Mann, to whom was born a daughter in 1859. A son of A. Purdy died in the spring of 1859, being the first death in the township.
The first white settler in Spring Hill township was James B. Hovey, who settled there in 1857. The town site of Spring Hill was surveyed and the town located May 18, 1857. In January, 1858, a Town Company was organized, consisting of A.B. Simmons, W.A. Jenkinson, J.P. Lockey, E.Walker, James McKoin, H.E. Brown, and J.B. Hovey. The first building was erected in the summer of 1857. It was a two-story frame building, 40x30, and was used as a hotel. Mr. George Sprague is the oldest farmer in the township; he put up the first board fence; raised the first Osage hedge, and built the first frame barn. The first election was held October 5, 1857. In the fall of that year, a post office was established at Spring Hill, and J.B. Hovey appointed postmaster. The first sermon was preached in the spring of 1858, by a Methodist minister named Baldwin; this meeting was such a success as to numbers that arrangements were at once made to build a church, everything was prepared, and the building completed and used in one week from the time it was commenced. L.B. Dennis was the first presiding elder. In the winter of 1857, the first store was opened by W.G. Davidson.
Shawnee is the oldest settled locality in Kansas, and here the first mill built west of the Missouri line was located; it was washed away by the great flood of 1844.
Population in 1860, 4,364; in 1870, 13,684; increase in 10 years, 9,320; population in 1875, 14,580; increase in five years, 896; population in 1878, 18,139* [footnote: * Estimated]; increase in eighteen years, 13,775. Rural population, 14,511; city or town population 3,628; per cent. of rural to city or town population, 80.
Face of the Country. --- Bottom land, 10 per cent.; upland, 90 per cent.; forest (Government survey) 16 per cent.; prairie, 84 per cent. Average width of bottoms, from one-half to two miles; general surface of the country undulating.
Timber. --- Average width of timber belts, one-half mile. Varieties: oak, walnut, hickory, hackberry, sycamore, ash, and some others in samll quantities.
Principal Streams. --- Indian and Blue creeks run east. Turkey, Mill, Cedar, Clear, Captain's and Kill creeks run north. Two forks of Bull creek run south. All the creeks have their source near the centre of the county. The Kansas river forms two thirds of the northern boundary of the county. The county is well supplied with springs; good well water obtained at a depth of from 10 to 40 feet.
Coal. --- John M. Giffen, of Olathe, states that by boring to the depth of 530 feet a three and one-half foot vein of bituminous coal has been found. It is not worked. A seven-inch vein crops out in several places in the county.
Building Stone, etc --- Building stone crops out at convenient places all over the county. It is claimed that hydraulic cement, red ochre, fire and pottery clay, have been discovered, but the discoveries have not been utilized.
Railroad Connections. --- The Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad runs through the county from northeast to southwest. The Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad occupies the same track to Olathe; thence extends directly south through the county. The St. Louis, Lawrence & Denver Railroad (Pleasant Hill road) enters the county at its northwest corner and extends southeastwardly through the county. The Kansas Midland Railroad (Topeka & Kansas City) uses for the present the track of the Pleasant Hill road to De Soto, thence to Kansas City.
Agricultural Statistics. --- Acres in the county, 307,200; taxable acres, 260,639; under cultivation, 170,312.74; cultivated to taxable acres, 65.34+ per cent.; increase of cultivated acres during the year, 10,057.24.
Value of Garden Produce, Poultry and Eggs Sold during the Year. --- Garden produce, $8,827; poultry and eggs, $15,365.
Old Corn on Hand. --- Old corn on hand March 1st, 1878, 722,791 bushels, or an average of 199 bushels to each family.
Dairy Products. --- Number of cheese factories, 1; capital invested, $8,000; manufactured in 1875, 15,925 lbs.; in 1878, 14,465 lbs.; decrease, 1,460 lbs. Butter manufactured in 1875, 190,629 lbs.; in 1878, 348,559 lbs.; increase, 157,930 lbs.
| CROPS. | 1872. | 1873. | 1874. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877. | 1878. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Wheat | 9,474.00 | 9,474.00 | 13,220.00 | 2959.60 | 5,063.00 | 10366.00 | 21,759.00 | |
| Rye | 478.00 | 478.00 | 832.00 | 350.09 | 2874.00 | 2086.00 | 1,837.00 | |
| Spring Wheat | 189.00 | 556.00 | 356.00 | 77.00 | 87.00 | 42.00 | 30.00 | |
| Corn | 55,284.00 | 52,474.00 | 55,686.00 | 81,845.00 | 79,672.00 | 74,952.00 | 65,713.00 | |
| Barley | 166.00 | 300.00 | 479.00 | 8.00 | 99.00 | 129.00 | ...... | |
| Oats | 16,088.00 | 14,511.00 | 16,926.00 | 10,021.00 | 19,002.00 | 12,923.00 | 11,883.00 | |
| Buckwheat | 251.00 | 209.00 | 49.00 | 1,409.00 | 192.00 | 119.00 | 92.50 | |
| Irish Potatoes | 1,082.00 | 1,614.00 | 1,205.00 | 1,764.58 | 1,682.67 | 1,390.00 | 1,349.00 | |
| Sweet Potatoes | 49.00 | 51.00 | 57.00 | 74.00 | 64.00 | 67.00 | 71.88 | |
| Sorghum | 137.00 | 278.00 | 310.00 | 467.27 | 319.00 | 467.00 | 330.12 | |
| Castor Beans | 158.00 | 158.00 | 163.00 | 1,157.50 | 1,724.25 | 2,056.00 | 743.500 | |
| Cotton | ...... | ...... | 7.00 | 45.50 | 13.00 | 10.00 | 40.12 | |
| Flax | 231.00 | 777.00 | 1,896.00 | 1,137.23 | 7,700.00 | 8,851.00 | 9,981.00 | |
| Hemp | 52.00 | 167.00 | 211.00 | 52.00 | 66.00 | 81.50 | 51.00 | |
| Tobacco | 15.00 | 46.00 | 18.00 | 8.50 | 52.87 | 12.00 | 18.12 | |
| Broom Corn | ...... | ...... | 261..00 | 680.87 | 819.75 | 657.75 | 334.25 | |
| Millet and Hungarian | 433.00 | 681.00 | 815.00 | 1,561.00 | 1,871.75 | 1,669.00 | 859.00 | |
| Timothy Meadow | 4,799.00 | 4,799.00 | 6,287.00 | 4,399.75 | 4,512.25 | 5,516.00 | 8,188.50 | |
| Clover Meadow | 2,243.00 | 2,243.00 | 1,700.00 | 788.50 | 622.50 | 972.00 | 2,063.75 | |
| Prairie Meadow | 15,753.00 | 12,886.00 | 16,491.00 | 19,377.50 | 24,953.00 | 20,298.00 | 17,874.00 | |
| Timothy Pasture | 598.00 | 578.00 | 1,293.00 | 673.50 | 100.00 | 893.00 | 2,277.00 | |
| Clover Pasture | 663.00 | 663.00 | 830.00 | 320.00 | 14.00 | 310.00 | 714.50 | |
| Blue-Grass Pasture | 3,026.00 | 3,036.00 | 958.00 | 3,556.00 | 2,977.00 | 3,647.00 | 5,272.50 | |
| Prairie Pasture | 13,171.00 | 13,171.00 | 9,131.00 | 12,983.00 | 19,450.00 | 12,742.00 | 18,830.00 | |
| Total | 124,350.00 | 119,150.00 | 129,181.00 | 145,664.49 | 173,931.49 | 160,255.50 | 170,312.74 | |
Increase in six years, 37- per cent.
Average increase per annum, 6.16- per cent.
the years mentioned in the foregoing table.
| CROPS. | 1872. | 1873. | 1874. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877. | 1878. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 9 | 15 | 18 | 51 | 52 | 32 | 28 |
| Corn | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Total Acreage in all Crops | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
the Increase and Decrease as compared with 1877.
| CROPS. | ACRES IN 1878. |
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM 1877. |
PRODUCT IN 1878 |
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM 1877. |
VALUE OF PRODUCT IN 1878. |
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM 1877. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Wheat - bu. | 21,759.00 | 11,393.00 in. | 391,662.00 | 184,342.00 in. | $274,163.40 | $66,843.40 in. |
| Rye - bu. | 1,837.00 | 249.00 de. | 27,555.00 | 9,993.00 de. | 8,266.50 | 4,875.30 de. |
| Spring Wheat - bu. | 30.00 | 12.00 de. | 300.00 | 456.00 de. | 189.00 | 468.72 de. |
| Corn - bu. | 65,713.00 | 9,239.00 de. | 2,234,242.00 | 763,838.00 de. | 446,848.40 | 152,767.60 de. |
| Barley - bu. | ...... | 129.00 de. | ...... | 3,354.00 de. | ...... | 1,173.90 de. |
| Oats - bu. | 11,883.00 | 1,040.00 de. | 463,437.00 | 118,098.00 de. | 92,867.00 | 5,457.15 de. |
| Buckwheat - bu. | 92.50 | 26.50 de. | 1,850.00 | 422.00 in. | 1,480.00 | 337.60 in. |
| Irish Potatoes - bu. | 1,349.00 | 41.00 de. | 37,772.00 | 31,728.00 de. | 13,220.20 | 31,954.80 de. |
| Sweet Potatoes - bu. | 71.88 | 4.88 in. | 9,560.04 | 2,860.04 in. | 5,736.02 | 963.98 de. |
| Sorghum - gall. | 330.12 | 136.88 de. | 37,963.80 | 15,741.20 de. | 18,981.90 | 7,870.60 de. |
| Castor Beans - bu. | 743.50 | 1312.50 de. | 11,152.50 | 19,687.50 de. | 13,940.63 | 16,899.37 de. |
| Cotton - lbs | 40.12 | 30.12 in. | 6,820.40 | 5,120.40 in. | 613.84 | 443.84 in. |
| Flax - bu. | 9,981.00 | 1,130.00 in. | 139,734.00 | 33,522.00 in. | 139,744.00 | 28,211.40 in. |
| Hemp - lbs. | 51.00 | 30.50 de | 46,920.00 | 28,060.00 de | 2,815.20 | 1,683.60 de. |
| Tobacco - lbs. | 18.12 | 6.12 in. | 13,408.80 | 4,528.80 in. | 1,340.88 | 452.88 in. |
| Broom Corn - lbs | 334.25 | 322.75 de. | 267,400.00 | 258,200.00 de. | 10,027.50 | 9,682.50 de. |
| Millet and Hungarian - tons | 859.00 | 810.00 de. | 2,577.00 | 2,430.00 de. | 11,596.50 | 10,935.00 de. |
| Timothy Meadow - tons | 8,188.50 | 2,672.50 in. | 13,101.60 | 4,276.00 in. | 72,058.80 | 23,518.00 in. |
| Clover Meadow - tons | 2,063.75 | 1,091.75 in. | 5,159.37 | 2,729.37 in. | 28,376.53 | 17,441.53 in. |
| Prairie Meadow - tons | 17,874.00 | 2,424.00 de. | 32,173.00 | 4,363.40 de. | 104,562.25 | 14,181.05 de. |
| Timothy Pasture - acres | 2,277.00 | 1,384.00 in. | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
| Clover Pasture - acres | 714.50 | 404.50 in. | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
| Blue-Grass Pasture - acres | 5,272.50 | 1,625.50 in. | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
| Prairie Pasture - acres | 18,830.00 | 6,088.00 in. | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
| Total - | 170,312.74 | 10,057.24 in. | ...... | ...... | $1,246,638.95 | $110,750.62 de. |
Farm Animals. --- Number of horses, in 1877, 6,588; in 1878, 6,236; decrease, 352. Mules and asses, in 1877, 1,099; in 1878, 1,159; increase, 60. Milch cows, in 1877, 5,836; in 1878, 5,563; decrease, 273. Other cattle, in 1877, 11,474; in 1878, 12,075; increase, 601. Sheep, in 1877, 2,802; in 1878, 2,144; decrease, 658. Swine, in 1877, 24,300; in 1878, 35,635; increase, 11,335.
Sheep Killed by Dogs. --- Number of sheep killed by dogs, 82; value of sheep killed by dogs, $246.
Wool. --- Clip of 1877, 5,880 lbs.
Value of Animals Slaughtered. --- Value of Animals slaughtered, and sold for slaughter during the year, $272,363.39.
Horticulture. --- Number of acres nurseries, 30.25. Number of trees in bearing: apple, 70,657; pear, 1,710; peach, 81,782; plum, 2,567; cherry, 28,087. Number of trees not, in bearing: apple, 82,841; pear, 3,876; peach, 39,355; plum, 2,338; cherry, 24,437.
Herd Law. --- In this county they have had a night herd law in operation for about fifteen years, and a correspondent says: "It has a good effect upon the prosperity of the county."
Fences. --- Stone, 15,123 rods; cost, $22,684.50. Rail, 249,347 rods; cost, $324,15.10; Board, 97,875 rods; cost, $137,025. Wire, 18,701 rods; cost, $13,090.70. Hedge, 495,301 rods; cost, $297,180.60. Total rods of fence, 876,347; total cost, $794,131.90.
Apiaculture. --- Number of stands of bees, 1,407; pounds of honey, 13,848; wax, 543.
Value of Agricultural Implements. --- Amount invested in agricultural implements, $58,322.
Manufactures. --- McCamish township: cheese factory, capital, $8,000. City of Olathe: steam flouring mill, capital, $15,000.
Valuation and Indebtedness. --- Assessed valuation of personal property, $670,109.60; railroad property, $520,803.85; total assessed valuation of all property, $3,480,105.45; true valuation of all property, $5,800,1775.75. Total indebtedness of county, township, city and school districts, $322,300.61; per cent. of indebtedness to assessed valuation, .09+.
Newspaper History. --- The first newspaper published in the county was the Olathe Herald, established September 8, 1859, by John M. Giffen and A. Smith Devinney. In October, 1859, Mr. Devinney retired. In August, 1861, the publication of the paper was suspended. On the night of September 6, 1861, the office was completely destroyed by Quantrill.
The Kansas Tribune was established in the fall of 1859 by Francis & Davis. Mr. Davis remained in the office only three months. Mr. Francis continuing the publication till the spring of 1861.
May 9, 1861, the first number of the Olathe Mirror was issued by John Francis. September 6, of that year, the office was "pied" by Quantrill. The publication was suspended till the spring of 1862, when it was again issued by Mr. Francis until August, 1863, when he sold to Mr. S.E. McKee.
The Kansas Central was established at Olathe, October 9, 1867, by W.F. Goble. September 29, 1868, C.F. Gates purchased the office, and changed the name to the Johnson County Democrat.
The Olathe News Letter was established February 28, 1870, by J.A. & H.F. Canutt. It is a Republican journal, and is still published by the original proprietors.
The Spring Hill Enterprise was started at Spring Hill, December 7, 1870, by Buel & Sprague as a Republican journal. January 24, 1871, Buel bought the interest of Sprague, and soon associated with himself Dr. Parker, who soon after bought out Sprague, and the paper was issued for a while as a Democratic paper. Early in 1872, W.H. McGown became the owner. He changed the name to the Western Progress, and the politics to Republican. James Wilson bought the office in the spring of 1873, and took sides with the Independents. In September, 1873, Mr. Wilson moved the office to Olathe, and published the Progress there for some time, when it passed into the hands of George Higgins, who is now the publisher.
The Kansas State Register made its appearance at Spring Hill, April 13, 1878, C.F. Hyde, editor and proprietor.
The Shawnee Monitor was issued at Green Springs (now Shawnee), for a few weeks in the fall of 1857. It was published by James H. Noonan, at Westport, Mo., and was suspended when the county seat was removed to Olathe. Dr. John T. Barton was interested in the Monitor.
Schools. --- No. of organized districts, 92; school population, 6,398; average salary of teachers, per month, males, $41.45; females, $29.43. School houses built during 1878,: frame, 3. Total number of school houses, 95; log, 2; frame, 81; brick, 5; stone, 7. Value of all school property, $88,003. No report on shade trees.
Churches. --- Baptist: organizations, 4; membership, 206; church edifices, 1; value of church property, $2,500. Congregational: organizations, 1; membership, 82; church edifices, 1; value of church property, $3,000. Episcopal: membership, 12. Methodist Episcopal, organizations, 18; membership, 775; church edifices, 6; value of church property, $$10,000 [sic]. Presbyterian: organizations, 5; membership, 250; church edifice, 5; value of church property, $14,500. Roman Catholic: organizations, 4; membership, 1,500; church edifices, 3; value of church property, $2,000. United Presbyterian: organizations, 1; membership, 140; church edifices, 2; value of church property, $5,000. Universalist: organizations, 1; membership, 17.
