Mrs. Kate Pingery
Neodesha Register 1946
Brought in by Jean Sweeney
ED: These articles are compiled from items in the Neodesha newspapers on file at the Kansas Historical Society at Topeka, from clippings from our local paper, and from personal reminiscences of pioneers. There will be a series of articles on Neodesha history published in subsequent issues of the Register, written by Mrs. Kate Winter Pingrey. They will cover our schools, churches, business, cultural development and other phases of Neodesha life. Better clip them for future reference.
The seeds of the City of Neodesha were sown on October 1867 by Dr. Allen McCartney and Alex K. Phelon who had already experienced pioneer life at Neosho Falls. These brave souls, like many other ambitious young men had come west to carve out a fortune for themselves and to help build an empire on the virgin prairie lands, which were here for the taking. They established a trading post made of rough-hewn logs at the foot of Little Bear mound. These young men did a profitable business trading with the Osage Indians who had established a village at the junction of Verdigris and Fall rivers. Dr. McCartney had learned the Osage language and by treating the bodily ills of the tribe had won their good will, which went a long way in the friendly relations between the Osages and the white settlers. In due time this favorable location drew the interest of two other young men, John B. Keys and R. S. Futhey, who were looking for a suitable location for a townsite and this place looked good to them, so in the fall of 1868 they bought a section of land on which was to be built one of the most thriving little cities of the new state.
Right
here I wish to note an example of high finance on the part of some enterprising
settler – name unknown – who had traded a pony probably worth $10.00 for the
land some time previous. He made a nice profit on it for he sold it to Keys and
Futhey for $500.00. McCartney and Phelon, whose trading post had become a going
concern, realized that it would be to their advantage to join forces with these
two men, so on July 12, 1869, a survey was made and the town company composed
of these four men launched a new town. Keys and Futhey at once started a saw
mill to furnish lumber for the incoming settlers whom they confidently
envisioned and their first customers were the other two members who put up a
building at the northwest corner of Fourth and Main where the Texaco station
stands and moved their trading post to this location late in December 1869. The
establishment of a town gave a great boost to the value of the surrounding
claims and other settlers began pouring in. Lots began to sell freely and the
building of residences and business buildings strained the capacity of the sawmill
to furnish lumber fast enough. By 1871 Neodesha ran far ahead of any other town
in Wilson County or nearby counties. In a short time there were 50 business
buildings and 150 dwellings and had a population of 1,000 people. Most of the
lines of business of that day were represented and a newspaper established.
John Gilmore established the Neodesha Citizen in November 1870 as a Republican
paper.
In
March 1871 a charter was obtained for the incorporation of the town as a city
of the third class and April 3rd the first city election was held.
A. K. Phelon was elected mayor, councilmen were Dr. Thomas Blakeslee, John
Gilmore, W. A. Hampton, S. L. McQuiston and Charles Derry. 167 votes were cast.
In August 1871, the townsite consisting of 240 acres was entered at the U. S.
land office at Humboldt. It was the first townsite on the Osage Diminished
Reserve entered at the Humboldt office so said the Citizen of August 18, 1871.
It also speaks very highly of the integrity and ability of the four men who
founded the town. In those days the land office was quite a drawing card for
any towns, as it brought in settlers who wished to prove up on their claims,
hence as it gave prestige to the town fortunate enough to secure its location.
Neodesha with its characteristic enterprise, went after it and in December 1871
was lucky enough to get the coveted prize, which was immediately moved here and
located on the second floor of the building so long occupied by the Joe Eson
drug store. But sad to relate, this glory was ours for only a few months for
Independence evidently had a stronger political pull than we did and as this
was one of the political plums of that day we lost it and it was moved to that
city in March 1872.
All
this growth came about without benefit of railroads, which were not to come
until several years later. All settlers who did not come in covered wagons came
by train, the L. L. and G. road to Thayer, which was the terminus of the road
at that time. From Thayer, newcomers finished the journey by stagecoach. Four
horse Concord stagecoaches carried the mail and passengers. One of the
interesting exhibits at the Kansas State Historical building at Topeka is one
of these stages in a good state of preservation. Six passengers can ride inside
and the driver’s seat can also accommodate two more passengers. A trunk carrier
in the rear has a leather cover to protect baggage from the weather. A card
with this exhibit says “This Concord stage wagon was one of the first of its
kind to be used in Kansas. It was own by Henry Tisdale and was used by him to
carry mail, express and passengers through the States until 1900.” I was
greatly interested for I had often heard my father and mother speak of riding
into Neodesha in a stagecoach. Before Neodesha was established, settlers
received their mail by carrier from Verdi postoffice, but by June 1871, we had
one of our own with A. K. Phelon as postmaster.
Most
every line of small business of that day was represented but it was not until
1879 that the Frisco railroad came to Neodesha. This brought many new people to
town, giving more jobs and more money to spend, so every one prospered. But in
1892 came Neodesha’s big chance for development; for this was the year oil was
discovered, and later natural gas. Soon a refinery was located here which gave
employment to many people and the large payroll stimulated all lines of
business. In addition to that, drilling activities boomed and Neodesha was on
the map as an oi and gas center.
Copied from newspaper clippings in an album at the Norman No. 1 Museum, October, 2003
By Kerry Elkins.