Washington, Kansas – Washington County Seat

 

 

Washington, Kansas, is the largest city and the county seat of Washington County. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,071, and its total area was 0.91 square miles, of which 0.87 square miles is land and 0.04 square miles is water.

In 1845, Mormons passed through the county on their way to their new home in Utah. One of their favorite camping grounds was at “Mormon Springs,” on Ash Creek, three miles south of where Washington would be established. Close to these springs was a high rock composed of red sandstone, upon which the names of many of these Latter-day Saints were carved along with the date of their visit. All traces of these are now obliterated.

In the Spring of 1860, when Washington Township was changed into a county, Washington was established by a town company of which George G. Pierce was president, David E. Ballard was clerk, H. Lott, J. W. Darby, and Thomas Bowen. George G. Pierce platted the new town and was assisted as chairman by E. Woolbert. A  “company house” was built, and each company member contributed seven logs.

Soon after the “company house” had been erected, two shanties were built, and Chris Straum and Elgin Richards resided there. These men proved their claims and then deeded the land to the Townsite Company. Thomas Bowen occupied the second house on the townsite, erected by M.G. Driskell, who had settled near him. In July 1860, Thomas Bowen put in a stock of dry goods and groceries.

A partial drawing of city lots was made in August 1860, some to be owned by the Town Company, and others were given to the county as an inducement to locate the county seat here at the November election. On the second Monday in November 1860, Washington was selected as the county seat. E. Woolbert had erected a building of perpendicular logs as a hotel, which was used as the first courthouse, known as the “Stockade Courthouse.”

Miss Agnes Hallowell opened the first school in 1861 in the “company house.” The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized that year with Reverends R.I. Hartford and Robertson, missionary circuit riders, who were the pastors in charge.

When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, George G. Pierce and Thomas Bowen entered the United States Army, leaving the town governed by D.E. Ballard. Unfortunately, George Pierce was wounded in the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, toward the war’s end. He was taken to Washington, D.C., where he was cared for by James H. Lane but died in about a week. During the war, the city’s growth was stopped. Two stockaded buildings, the Washington Company House and Woolbert’s Stockade Hotel protected the city during the War.

The post office was established on November 14, 1861.

E. Woolbert erected the first mill in the county for A. Cubison in 1865 on the south side of Mill Creek, just south of Washington.

The city’s growth did not begin again until the spring of 1866 when significant immigration occurred. Dr. Williamson, the first physician, and George W. Shriner were among the new arrivals. That year, Reverend Gary Hickman, a missionary of the Presbytery of Highland, Kansas, organized the First Presbyterian Church. The society had ten members, but before Mr. Hickman’s services could be obtained, its members had scattered. Some members had moved out of the county, and others joined the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1867, the county bought the Stockade Courthouse and established county offices, forming the first Washington County Courthouse. It housed offices for the clerk, treasurer, commissioners, sheriff, surveyor, school superintendent, probate judge, district judge, district court clerk, assessor, and coroner.

In the spring and summer of 1868, a significant immigration came into the county, many of whom were drawn to Washington. Among them were James F. Tallman and Charles Smith.

The first issue of the Western Observer newspaper appeared on March 11, 1869. It was the first newspaper in Washington County, edited and proprietor by Mark J. Kelley. The paper was a small 7×9-inch sheet, and its office was in the old Stockade courthouse. The same year, bonds of $9,000 were issued to build a stone schoolhouse, the first in the county. J.W. Cullimore opened his pioneer hardware store, Thomas Haak started a lumber yard, A.C. Baumbarger was the first shoemaker, J.C. McCew was a furniture dealer, and A.S. Wilson opened a law office. That year, a flour mill was with two runs of burrs erected by S.S. Penwel about a mile northeast of the city. In October 1869, Reverends W.B. Thomas and Edward Cooper’s efforts affected a second Presbyterian organization, which had a membership of 15.

The first meeting to vote bonds for a railroad was held on January 29, 1870. These early meetings eventually led to the Central Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad.

In the early morning hours of March 31, 1870, the first courthouse was lost to fire. The building was a total loss, all records of school lands, titles, and deeds to property were destroyed. Sometime later the retiring county treasurer was charged with arson and embezzlement but was acquitted.

In May 1870, the Western Observer was sold to George W. Shriner and James F. Tallman, and its name changed to the Magnet. The first issue of the Washington Republican newspaper appeared on August 25, 1870, under editors and proprietors M.J. Kelley and J.O. Young. James F. Tallman Tallman soon retired from the Magnet.

In January 1871, J.O. Young purchased that journal from George Shriner and Kelley’s interest in the Republican, consolidating the two papers under the name Republican and Magnet. After a few months, it was called the Republican. John I. Tallman and W. P. Day successively became proprietors the following year. Mr. Young purchased Mr. Day’s interest in February 1872 and sold the same to J.C. Martin and Perrine Stultz the following July. J.C. Martin afterward bought out Mr. Stultz.

The second County Courthouse was a two-story frame structure completed in 1871.

Hallowell and Bowersox erected the Eureka Mills in 1871-1872. The property was worth about $15,000 in the early 1880s, and Nathan Woodbury operated the mills, which had two runs of stone.

In the summer of 1872, J.B. Snider erected a hotel on the west side of the square. It was opened in September of that year.

The second County Courthouse also burned down in the early morning of December 15, 1872. Once again, all the county records were lost. The third County Courthouse was a large, elaborate, ornate brick building. In the mid-1890s, it survived an earthquake that shook down its highest tower. The tower was never replaced.

The Washington County Bank was organized in September 1878 with A.W. Moore as president, F.A. Head as cashier, and John W. Barley as assistant cashier. The bank’s capital was $50,000, and its average deposits were $30,000.

In May 1873, Washington was organized as a city of the third class, and the following officers were elected: Mayor J. S. Vedder; Clerk E.N. Emmons; Police Judge T.J. Humes; City Attorney J.W. Rector; Treasurer Charles Smith; and Marshal M. Patrie.

J.C. Martin sold his interest in the Republican newspaper to John Guinn in January 1874. E.N. Emmons, who had been associated with Mr. Martin for several months in the publication of the Republican, purchased half of the establishment of Mr. Guinn in June 1874. In July, he enlarged the paper to a seven-column folio. In October 1876, J.B. Besack bought Mr. Emmons’ interest in the Republican and enlarged it to an eight-column folio. Its name indicates its politics.

A new Presbyterian Church was dedicated in January 1874, and Reverend Edward Cooper preached the sermon.

The first bank in Washington was started by George W. Shriner, John J. Shriner, and W.H. Collins in July 1874.

Upon the petition of George Shriner and 55 others to Judge Wilson of the District Court, Washington was incorporated as a city on May 3, 1875. The first election was held on May 10, resulting in Mayor J. S. Vedder, Clerk E. N. Emmons, Police Judge T. J. Humes, City Attorney J. W. Rector, Treasurer Charles Smith, and Marshal M. Patrie. Mr. Vedder has acted as Mayor for three years and is the City Clerk. Thomas Groody is serving his third term as Mayor. Charles Smith, present City Attorney, is serving his fifth term, having acted as Treasurer for three years.

By about 1876, Snider’s hotel was purchased by G.W. Sharp and named the Commercial House. It was a popular resort for travelers. The building was 52 by 40 feet and could accommodate 60 guests. In the early 1880s, the property was valued at $6,000. The same year, R.E. Foote came from Wisconsin, purchased the George Wilkes building, and opened the Central House Hotel.

In January 1877, the Central Branch of the Union Pacific road reached Washington, and the city experienced a revival in business prosperity. Afterward, nearly all her brick business structures were erected, and her streets presented a solid metropolitan appearance.

In September 1878, a Methodist Episcopal Church was erected.

By 1880, Washington had many general stores and others devoted to specific lines, with nearly 1,000 residents. In August 1880, the Washington Register, started in Palmer by Dr. Charles Williamson and Samuel Clarke, was moved to Washington.

By the early 1880s, the Presbyterian Church had nearly 100 members and grew in strength and usefulness. By then, R.E. Foote had turned his Central House into a first-class hotel after adding to his building and improving his property. Commercial men flocked to the hotel, which had 30 rooms, measured 40 by 70 feet, and was valued at $8,000.

The Washington State Bank was organized on April 1, 1881. Its capital was $50,000, and average deposits were $100,000. General banking business was transacted, and special attention was paid to collections. Its officers were Edwin Knowles, president; Thomas Haak, vice-president; E.C. Knowles, cashier; and O.L. Taylor, assistant cashier.

In the fall of 1881, a fine brick schoolhouse, three stories in height, was erected for $15,000. It was conducted more like an academy than a common school, and it obtained a reputation outside the county. The building could accommodate 500 children and was constructed to erect an additional wing without marring the imposing structure’s symmetry.

The Opera House block, completed in 1882, was a credit to Washington and evidence of its citizens’ enterprise and confidence in its permanent prosperity. It is an imposing three-story brick structure ornamented with galvanized iron cornices and a fancy tower. The Opera House proper occupies the two upper stories and is finished neatly and tastefully without being gaudily embellished. It measured 52 by 90 feet, with a 24-foot ceiling and a seating capacity of 900. Washington is an amusement-loving town; hence, the enterprise has been and will be supported. The block was erected for $20,000 by a stock company consisting of Thomas Haak, G. M. Parks, E. C. Pickard, J. G. Lowe, Frank Wolf, Robert Burns, and J. B. Besack. Mr. Haak has been elected president; G. M. Parks, secretary; E. C. Knowles, treasurer. One side of the lower story of the block is occupied by the post office, the other by a store. In connection with the amusement-loving nature of the Washingtonians, it must be stated that the city’s young men have organized a cornet band, obtaining more than a local reputation.

In July 1882, W.A. Clark became associated with Samuel Clarke, and Dr. Charles Williamson retired from the Washington Register. In September 1882, the Register began to issue a small daily devoted to the wants of the city. This was claimed to be the first regular daily paper ever issued in the county, its only possible competitor for this honor being a campaign sheet issued by M.J. Kelley and J.O. Young from October 19 to November 8, 1870. It was not the intention to make the latter enterprise permanent. The Daily Register was suspended after a brief season. The Register was Republican in politics, a seven-column folio in form, and was edited and published by an energetic and practical firm of young men.

In September 1882, A.H. Foote assumed charge of the small but comfortable and homelike hotel called the American House, which he ran in connection with a first-class livery stable. Besides these establishments, Washington also had private boarding houses and several restaurants. By that time, the Methodist Church membership was about 130. The society was out of debt and was one of the most flourishing religious organizations in the county.

The Concordia branch of the Burlington Railroad came to Washington in 1884, giving the town two railroads.

Washington’s population peaked in 1890 at 1,613.

In 1910, Washington was at the junction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the Missouri Pacific Railroads. At that time, it was an incorporated city of the third class, had municipal waterworks, electric lights, an opera house, a $15,000 high school building, a public library housed in a $5,000 building, three banks, two weekly newspapers — the Republican-Register and the Palladium, first-class hotels, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order post office with six rural routes. All lines of retail establishments and professions were well represented. The population in 1910 was 1,547.

In the next years, the community’s population gradually declined.

A deadly tornado struck Washington on July 4, 1932. Leaving a path of death and destruction from Kansas through Nebraska, at least four persons were killed in Washington, and hundreds were left homeless. About 150 homes were leveled to the ground or were so damaged as to be placed beyond repair. Business places were demolished; the upper stories of the courthouse were destroyed; one church was razed to the floor, another racked and moved; a high school building only two years old was partially demolished and cracked severely.

The fifth Courthouse’s cornerstone was laid on March 11, 1933, and dedicated on March 4, 1934. Today, the simple and elegant Art Deco-style courthouse continues to be utilized as the judicial center.

Today, Washington’s downtown business district offers a variety of shopping experiences, several merchants, and an industrial park. The Washington County Historical Society offers the opportunity to step back in time and browse through our area’s history. It is also a valuable resource for genealogical research.

Washington City Park showcases a playground, a walking fitness trail, a swimming pool, a fishing area, softball diamonds, tennis, basketball, sand volleyball courts, fairgrounds, a rodeo arena, a tennis court, a basketball court, a small car racetrack, and an RV parking with hookups. The town also boasts a beautiful, up-to-date library, a 9-hole grass-green golf course, and an 8-lane bowling center.

Washington, Kansas, is at the junction of Highways U.S. 36 and K-15, in North Central Kansas

©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, December 2024.

Also See:

Extinct Towns of Washington County

Mormon Trail

Washington County, Kansas

Washington County Photo Gallery

Sources:

Blackmar, Frank W.; Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Vol I; Standard Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1912.
Cutler, William G; History of Kansas; A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL, 1883.
Washington, Kansas
Washington County, Kansas
Washington County Historical Society and Museum – Facebook
Wikipedia