EL DORADO TOWNSHIP — CITY OF EL DORADO — LOCATION — EARLY INDUSTRIES — NAME — FIRST POSTOFFICE — FIRST HOTEL — RAILROADS — WALNUT VALLEY TIMES — EL DORADO IN 1870 — FROM THE WALNUT VALLEY TIMES OF MARCH, 1881 — EL DORADO IN 1916.

of the pioneers, many of whom became homesick, were disheartened by drouth that would now be unnoticed because of better farming and better understanding of the time of planting, of crops to plant and their cultivation."

The editors of the "Times" left a record of incipient El Dorado, not full and complete, but giving a fair idea of its small beginnings: "Our town is beautifully located on a rolling prairie in the Walnut valley, and about the center of Butler county. Main, the principal business street, runs parallel with the Walnut river and is level enough to be called a table land, yet with sufficient slope to drain the surface water. By the original survey, the townsite contained but 140 acres, lacking twenty acres in the southeast corner to make it a square quarter section. But the enterprise of our citizens, encouraged and stimulated by an unprecedented flow of immigration developing the resources of our county, soon demanded an enlargement of our borders. E. L. Lower, one of our first settlers, and Judge J. C. Lambdin, who are ever exercising a disposition to advance the interests of the town and community, concluded to make a personal sacrifice for the public good and prepared for the market Lower's addition, comprising eighty acres lying adjacent to the original townsite, which being rapidly covered with all kinds of business and dwelling houses. Twenty-two business lots on Main street and a large number of residence lots have been duly surveyed, the plot recorded as Finley's addition, and lots are now on the market at reasonable prices. While these lots are recorded as an addition, they properly belonged to and should have been surveyed as part of the original townsite; they are a portion of the twenty acres required to make the site square. All owners of property in El Dorado will be pleased to learn that Main street has been continued southward parallel with the streets on the west, not only bettering so essentially the shape of the town, but bringing into market some of the most choice business locations on Main street. Much gratitude is due Mr. Finley's liberality in removing the blockade to allow a large share of our improvement and business to take its natural course southward and we hope our citizens will not hesitate in using the means to the end intended. We are just informed that our fellow townsman. Dr. J. P. Gordon, has laid out a row of lots south of Finley's addition, continuing Main street the full extent of those on the west, thus perfecting the shape of that corner of the townsite. Let us all appreciate the doctor's public spiritedness. Comes last in order, but greatest in point of importance, Wilson's addition. It is eminently more essential to have a location of health and beauty, with salubrious air and water and fertile soil on which to build your residence, grow your orchard and make your home, than to own a whole bulk of business lots on Main street. Wilson's addition offers all these attractions and inducements. It joins the old townsite on the west and contains eighty-six acres of good undulating prairie, affording natural building sites and is especially adapted to parks, gardens and vineyards. Prof. T. R.

Wilson has for this purpose very generously disposed of this land to the following company: Drs. H. D. Kellogg, A. White, J. S. Danford, J. K. Finley and Mr. (A. D?) Knowlton, who have had it surveyed into blocks of two acres each, sub-divided into lots of one-fourth acre, and now offer it in lots of any size to suit customers, and at prices so reasonable that the poorest man may buy a home, while the rich and noble will have all the aid of nature to enrich, magnify and display their improvements. Were they to traverse famous Italy they could not find a building site more surpassing in beauty, loveliness and healthfulness than now offered in Wilson's addition. With all this array of additions the townsite of El Dorado contains less than 320 acres—not quite one-half section of

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land, not yet half as large as the original townsite of Emporia, and needs forty acres to make a square corner on the northwest; there is room for another addition, and we will look to our chief clerk in the State senate for a slice off his homestead when he returns."

Under the head of business men of El Dorado, the first "Times" says: "Henry Martin came to the Walnut valley in 1857, before there was a house in Butler county. His means of transportation was a yoke of oxen to a wagon, his entire stock in trade, his home being wherever he said so. Mr. Martin could then see in the resources of this country its immense riches, and, being a plucky Englishman of 28 years, began work for his share. He built the first store in El Dorado, which he now occupies, with everything in the line of general merchandise. It is

22x46 feet, two stories, with a good cellar; three rooms on the second floor and well finished throughout." (This building stood on what is now the site of A. G. Haberlein's clothing house—known as the Sunderland block, and built by N. F. Frazier in 1878. Mr. Martin lost his life by having his limbs severely frozen while on a buffalo hunt in 1870 near Medicine Lodge). "Mr. Martin," says the "Times," "has, of course, seen some hard times, and while he has paid strict attention to business and accumulated his own fortune he has never forgotten or neglected the interests of the citizens of Butler county; has served one year as probate judge, as justice of the peace five years, and county treasurer four years, to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He now owns within two miles of town 200 acres of all first-class bottom land in a high state of cultivation; a good saw mill in town, and one-fifth of the original townsite of El Dorado. We mention these things to show what the Walnut valley can do for a poor man in a short time if he is possessed of the energy, endurance and integrity that has made Henry Martin the man he really is.

"Judge J. C. Lambdin also came to Butler county in 1857, and in the fall of 1859 was elected to the Territorial council, where he served with much honor for two years. The judge and his two sons entered the war in 1862 and valiantly served in the cause of the Union to its close, when they located in Emporia, Lyon county. Knowing by experience the advantages of the Walnut over the Neosho valley and by the earnest request of their old neighbors they all returned to El Dorado and in April, 1869, they built the large two-story frame house on the northwest corner of Main street and Central avenue (the site of the old Boston store—later Haines Brothers' store, now Hough's cash store) where they are extensively engaged in general merchandising in the firm name of J. C. Lambdin & Sons. Their store is 22x40 feet with four rooms upstairs and contains a stock of about $6,000. Their goods are purchased at the fountain of eastern markets and in quantities so large that they can not be undersold. Since the judge's return he has done much for the interests of El Dorado; his influence being always extended in the cause of churches, schools and the cause of temperance, and should ever he remembered by the good people of Butler county.

"Next came Messrs. Betts and Frazier from the city of Leavenworth and opened a first-class grocery, provision store in their (frame) building 26x38 feet on Central avenue. Their business has increased so rapidly that they are preparing to build a large store building on Main street. These gentlemen have a full stock of goods and are quite gentlemanly and accommodating in their dealings.

"On lot one, block one, on Central avenue (the house now owned by Mrs. Vincent Brown), is located the only drug store in the Walnut valley. It is 40x40 feet, with a proprietor about five feet by 240 pounds, which is to say, Doc White. When gathering the notes from which to prepare this article the doctor said: 'I make no pretensions financially

but physically I am as big as any of 'em.' The doctor has been a long time in Southwestern Kansas, having succesfully practiced medicine in Lyon county nine years before coming to Butler. He commenced business here in the fall of 1868 by opening as fine a stock of dry goods and groceries as has ever been offered in this market, which, together with the doctor's plain, honest and outspoken manner of dealing, soon won a full share of the people's patronage, and his trade went on swimmingly until last July, when, actuated by the want of the people, he concluded to sacrifice his flourishing trade in dry goods and groceries and put in his extensive stock of drugs. This is the first drug store in El Dorado, and to judge from the amount of its trade, we conclude our citizens fully appreciate it is for the public good and will not allow its generous proprietor to be sacrificed. His trade is increasing rapidly and the doctor is compelled to enlarge or rather build a new store room, which he proposes to do at an early date. He is also dealing in real estate considerably. Besides his Emporia property he owns 150 acres of Wilson's addition and quite a number of lots in the old town site. Our citizens are all pleased at the doctor's success in business, for to "do unto others as he would have others do unto him," has ever been the motto of Dr. Allen White.

"Mr. (Thomas G.) Boswell, who owns the beautiful farm connected with the original townsite on the northeast, has laid out an addition of ten acres making fifty lots adjoining Lower's addition on the east. The grocery store of J. B. King, 16x36 feet is situated on the west side of Main street. Mr. King came here in '63 and except the time he served in the Union army army has been engaged in general merchandise. J. C. Fraker & Company began business here about the first of last December. Their store is built of first class pine with latest style of glass front, is located on the northeast corner of Main street and Central avenue. April 1, they will increase their stock to $10,000 which will necessitate the enlarging of their store house to the size of 23x50 feet. Chas. M. Foulks (Mr. Fraker's partner) has charge of the store. Mr. Foulks has had a great deal of experience in this line of business, having clerked for Governor (C. V.) Eskridge of Emporia for a number of years. Messrs. A. D. Knowlton and Ed C. Ellet, formerly of Bunker Hill, Illinois, located here in the hardware business in the latter part of December. They built one of the best buildings in town on lot one in block two. It is 16x44 feet with glass front. They have everything from a needle to an anchor.

Messrs. H. H. Gardner and John Gilmor, late of Chicago, have located in El Dorado and are preparing to wholesale and retail dry goods, groceries and hardware on a larger scale than any house in southern Kansas. These gentlemen bring with them Chicago ideas of improvement and are building their store house accordingly. It will cost about $3200, is two stories, made of good pine timber, with latest style glass front, heavily corniced windows, etc. For beauty and durability they

can safely challenge comparison with any building in the southwest. Our citizens can justly feel proud of this grand structure and we hope they will reciprocate by giving a liberal patronage to the new firm. Mrs. M. J. Long (Mrs. E. H. Clark) and Miss Close are preparing to open a complete stock of millinery in their new building in Lowers addition.

Jacob Gerhart, Esq., who has been here about a year, is doing a successful business. He keeps on hand a large stock of saddlers' hardware and is an energetic and industrious worker. . . . Here too, we find the shoe shop of Henry Rohrs. He is a good mechanic and is always busily engaged at his bench. Messrs. Holt and Wagner (butchers) buy nothing but fat stock and keep the market constantly supplied with the best fresh meats. Messrs. Strickand & Son are doing an extensive business ironing wagons, shoeing horses, etc. R. Hallett is just completing large livery stable which he will soon have open for business.

Messrs. Bronson & Kellogg are doing a thriving real estate business. They are among the first settlers and are of course thoroughly acquainted with the real estate of the Walnut valley. Dr. H. D. Kellogg came here when an isolated log cabin marked (if he could have seen it through the sunflowers) the present site of our more than flourishing town. She was young and feeble and of course needed a physician. . . . . D. M. Bronson has served the citizens of Butler county as register of deeds, which has given him a thorough knowledge of all the titles in the county. He is now county attorney, besides serving the State of Kansas as journal clerk of the senate. Our citizens all agree that whatever greatness in point of progress and improvements El Dorado may claim today is in a large degree owing to the energetic efforts of Dr. H. D. Kellogg and D. M. Bronson. Salee, Gordon & Company are also doing a lively real estate business. W. A. Salee is the present register of deeds. The law firm of (William) Galligher & Moulton have connected with their practice a real estate agency. W. P. Campbell, attorney-at-law, came here from Kentucky last fall and is gaining a large share in the practice of his profession. Mr. Campbell has taken a homestead, 160 acres, two miles west of town. Dr. J. C. McGowan came here a short time since and could get a good practice if this climate was not so unfavorable for his profession. Dr. E. Cowles, homeopathic physician, has a fair practice. He is principal of our high school. Messrs. Sleeth Bros. have located their saw mill on West Branch at the north end of Main street. Their machinery is all new. Burdett & Sheeler are putting in a saw mill five miles south of town. John Wayne & Company, who are doing such an extensive lumber business all over southern Kansas, have established a branch yard at El Dorado under the supervision of their accommodating agent, M. B. Raymond. S. P. Barnes is building a neat little office at his lumber yard on lot No. 1, on North Main street. The following are architects and builders: McFeely & Gordon, Ward & Potts; and Crimble & DeLong. Each of these firms is prepared to take contracts. D. A. Rice & Company and Eli Corliss carry on masonry

and plastering. John Cook, Esq., is an old settler in Butler county. He opened the first hotel in El Dorado, has handled considerable real estate property and made lots of money. Mr. S. Langdon (Sam) came here in an early day and has devoted his exclusive energy to the interest of El Dorado, having among other things built the El Dorado House, the largest stone structure in Butler county. . . . He is a sharp and shrewd trader and while keeping an eye to his own business is ever seeking to benefit the community.

T. R. Pittock is truly one of the leading spirits of El Dorado. He is making money rapidly but is keeping it invested in such a manner as to benefit the public as well as himself. His new mill compares favorably with any in the state. He has recently purchased the El Dorado

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House and proposes to enlarge it by an east and west ell 24x30 feet, two stories, with twelve rooms, which together with the large stone building and the old house repaired will make a first class hotel. William Jewell, who owns so much land in Butler county, located here in about a year ago. He purchased one-fifth of the original townsite of El Dorado. Many of the lots he has disposed of at a sacrifice to induce immigrants to locate and build our town. He very generously donated one of the best lots on the west side of Main street to the newspaper enterprise, for which he will accept our thanks." And these were the business men of little El Dorado. The population in 1870 could not have exceeded 400 people. There were about fifty business and professional men.

The county officers at this time were: W. R. Brown of Cottonwood, district judge; H. D. Kellogg, county clerk; Henry Martin, county treas-

urer; W. A. Salee, register of deeds; W. E. Harrison, probate judge; James Thomas, sheriff; J. W. Strickland, coroner; Daniel M. Bronson, county attorney; T. R. Wilson, county surveyor; S. C. Fulton, M. A. Palmer and Martin Vaught, county commissioners. A. G. Bailey notified that his wife had left his bed and board and he disclaimed all responsibility for her; and L. A. Phillips gave notice that he had sued Mrs. Phillips for divorce.

The lumber price list was: First and second clear, one to two-inch, $6 per 1,000 feet; select, $55; common, $45; flooring, $72; common, $40; ceiling, $55; siding, $27.50 to $32.50; fencing, $40; dimension lumber, 2x4 2x6 2x8 and 2x10, $40 to $42.50; "A" sawed shingles. -6.25; No. 1 warranted, $5 to $5.50, mouldings, battens, etc., manufacturers' prices—freight added. Kellogg & Bronson and other agents advertised land and lots thus: Dwelling, on lot 2, block 15, North Main street; one story, four rooms, $700. One hundred sixty acres adjoining El Dorado on the north, all bottom or second bottom timber and water, $3,000; eighty acres, a mile northeast of town, half bottom, on Emporia State road, $10 per acre; eighty acres on Whitewater, adjoining town of Towanda, fine bottom, $8 per acre; the southwest of 21-24-6, all choice bottom near Chelsea, price $1,200; 240 acres, thirty-five cultivated, forty-seven fenced, hewed log house, No. 1 spring, good timber and water, in section 3-25-5. $3,150; 1,440 acres, part of section 7-8 and 9-25-6, forty acres broken and hedged, thirty acres of timber, $6 an acre; eighty acres in 2-25-5 on West Branch, forty acres broken and under fence, $1,600; 320 acres, the north half of 22-25-5, $5 per acre; southwest of 3-23-7, $3 an acre; west half of 10-23-7, $3 an acre.

"Stock in Butler county is doing exceedingly well, has required a little feed this winter. There are about sixty boarders at the El Dorado House. The building is crowded to its utmost capacity all the time. A. M. Burdett is putting up a beauty of a residence at 39 Central avenue. It is 16x28 feet with an addition on the north—cost $3,000. School district No. 2 built the first stone school house in Butler county. It has a sightly location, six miles north of town, is 20x30 feet and ten feet between floor and ceiling. E. L. Lower has just moved into his new residence in block three, Settler street. Mr. Lower has surely grown up with the town, at least he vacates the oldest house in El Dorado. Having built it before the town was surveyed, it happened to be located in the middle of Main street and last week he moved the relic to his new home for a stable. (This cabin stood in front of and a little north of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank.)

"Our office is located in the second story of Martin's building (southwest), corner of Main street and Central avenue. We issue 2,000 of the "Times," dating the paper for several days in advance of our issue to give us time to get out our next issue. Our paper is printed in brevier and nonpareil. We have about forty fonts of display and job type. Our double medium Washington hand press is entirely new and of the

most approved pattern. We will have a new job press soon. Are prepared to do all kinds of job work cheaply and expeditiously. Our entire office cost $2,000.

"Persons have asked us how far we were from Indians and buffalo. We will state that we are on the verge of civilization. About three hours ago the last Indian might have been gathering his blanket around him and silently departing for more genial climes. He was closely followed by his squaw and faithful dog. The last buffalo, of the male persuasion, after gazing for a few moments at The Walnut Valley "Times" office, silently dropped a chip or two, or perhaps three, and departed thence, not, however, until we had securely fastened 100 copies of the "Times" to his tail. We will say to Eastern readers that the civilizing and enlightening influences of the papers thus scattered will prevent any more shedding of blood on the border.

"Chelsea, a beautiful town on the Walnut, about nine miles north of El Dorado, was laid out a year ago. There are eleven houses on the townsite. A new school house, 26x38 feet, one story high, of pine lumber, has been put up this winter and will be ready for occupancy in a short time. Saddler & Becker (O. E. Saddler and John C. Becker) are engaged in the merchandizing business. J. B. Shough owns and runs the hotel. The building is a two story frame of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the traveling public. We understand Mr. Shough is making arrangements to start a county seat here soon.

"Knowlton and Ellet in connection with their hardware have a tinshop . . . and have secured the service of Wm. M. Rinehart, with an experience of thirty-five years and cannot be excelled by any tinner in the West. J. B. Parsons, painter, glazier and paper hanger, has permanently located in El Dorado. Presbyterian Church: Rev. J. Gordon, pastor; M. E. Church, Rev. Garrison (S. F. C. Garrison?) pastor. Services alternate twice every Sabbath at the new stone school house." This school house was about 22x30 feet—one story, and stood on the southwest corner of the block corner First avenue and Washington street.

Murdock & Danford, the editors, advertised themselves as also in the real estate business.

"The first settlement in Butler county," says a description that was run for months and months in the paper, "appears to have been made in 1857 and '58 on Walnut river, but owing to the drouth of 1860 and the unsettled and exposed condition during the four years of war succeeding there was no substantial growth until about 1864, when Butler county was organized. The county as at present constituted is forty-two miles long and thirty-four and one-half east and west. Since 1864 the country has been filling up rapidly, by hardy, industrious people, representing almost every state and nationality. Butler is the last organized county in southeastern Kansas, is about 100 miles south of Topeka and 125 west of Fort Scott. There is very little waste. The county lies entirely west

of a chain of semi-mountains known as the Flint Hills. There are no swamps or other accumulation or stagnant water in the county, hence no malaria. Coal has been found in various places, but is yet undeveloped. The county seat is permanently established at El Dorado, a young but flourishing town, located very near the geographical centre of the county and scarcely two years elapsed since the organization of El Dorado and she now numbers about forty-five houses with as many more contracted for building this spring; but a number are now in process of erection. Several business houses are going up. We now have three stores of dry goods and general assortment, one drug store, a hardware store, two grocery stores, a large stone hotel, a fine stone school house—just completed, livery stable, harness shop, meat shop, four saw and grist mills, two lumber yards, two real estate offices, three law offices, two practicing physicians, a blacksmith shop, etc. It is possible to become quite excited over the marvelous rapidity with which our young town is growing into a city; but you need not deem its extravagant when we predict that at least 125 good buildings will go up here within the present year."

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