68 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY were acquired from the federal government, and subsequently the title to school lands was secured by patents from the Territory, and in this way the town company secured a clear title to all lands which they had heretofore con- veyed, and re-conveyed the same to the settlers and purchasers. Dr. J. H. Stringfellow, proprietor of North Atchison, an addition to the city of Atchi: son, employed J. J. Pratt to survey that addition in October, 1857. It con- sisted of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 36, township 5, range 20. Samuel Dickson, who was the proprietor of South Atchison, had that addition platted in May, 1858, and John Roberts, who was the proprietor of West Atchison, had his addition surveyed in February, 1838, a few months before Samuel Dickson surveyed South Atchison, C. L. Challiss’ addition was surveyed about the same time. Other additions to the corporate limits of Atchison have been made, and are as follows: Branchton, Bird's addition, Brandner’s addition, Bakewell Heights, Batiste addition, Florence Park, For- est Park, Goodhue Place, Garfield Park, Highland Park, Home Place, How- ard Heights, LaGrande addition, Lincoln Park, Llewellyn Heights, Lutheran Church addition, Mapleton Place, Merkles addition, Parker's addition, Park Place, Price Villa addition, River View addition, Spring Garden, Style’s ad- dition, Bellvue Heights, and Talbott & Company's addition. Atchison was incorporated as a town by act of the Territorial legislature, August 30, 1855, but it was not incorporated asa city until February 12, 1858, after which the charter was approved by the people by special election, March 2, 1858. In the fall of 1856, Atchison had obtained a great many advantages over other towns along the river, by a judicious system of advertising. The Squatter Sovereign printed a circular November 22, 1836, which was scat- tered broadcast. The circular was as follows: “To the public, generally, but particularly to those persons living north of the Kansas river, in Kansas Territory: “It is well known to many, and should be to all interested, that the town of Atchison is nearer to most persons living north of the Kansas river, than any other point on the Missouri river. The country, too, south of the Kansas river above Lecompton, is also as near Atchison as any other Missouri river town, The roads to Atchison in every direction are very fine, and always in good repair for wagon and other modes of travel. The country opposite Atchison is not excelled by an section of Missouri, it being portions of Buch- anan and Platte counties, in a high state of cultivation, and at a considerable distance from any important town in Missouri, making grain, fruit, provisions and all kinds of marketing easily procured at fair prices; a matter of no small consideration to settlers in a new country.‘HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY 69 “The great fresh water lake, from which the fish markets of St. Joseph and Weston are supplied, is also within three miles of Atchison. “Atchison is now well supplied with all kinds of goods; groceries, flour, corn, meal, provisions and marketing of all kinds are abundant, and at fair prices. To show the compatibility of Atchison to supply the demands of the country, we here enumerate some of the business houses, viz: Six large dry goods and grocery stores, wholesale and retail; six family grocery and pro- vision stores, wholesale and retail; one large clothing store ; one extensive fur- niture store, with mattresses and bedding of all sorts; one stove, sheet iron and tinware establishment, where articles in that line are sold at St. Louis prices; several large warehouses sufficient to store all the goods of emigrants and trad- ers across the plains, and to Kansas Territory; one weekly newspaper—The Squatter Sovereign—having the largest circulation of any newspaper in Kansas, with press, type and materials to execute all kinds of job work; two commodious hotels, and several boarding houses; one bakery and confection- ery; three blacksmith shops; two wagon makers, and several carpenter shops; one cabinet maker: two boot and shoe maker shops, and saddle and harness maker shops; one extensive butcher and meat market; a first rate ferry, on which is kept a magnificent new steam ferry boat and excellent horse boat, propelled by horses; a good flat boat, and several skiffs; saw mills, two pro- pelled by steam and one by horse-power; two brick yards, and two lime kilns. “A fine supply of professional gentlemen of all branches constantly on hand equal to the demand. “A good grist mill is much needed, and would make money for the owner.” The first business house in Atchison was established by George T. Chal- liss, at the corner of the Levee and Commercial streets, in August, 1854. The National Hotel was not built at that time, so Mr. Challiss established a tem- porary camp, and his workmen were accommodated under an elm tree near the river. The Challiss store building was torn down in 1872. George T. Chal- liss and his brother, Luther C. Challiss, were clerking in a dry goods store at Booneville, Mo., in the spring of 1854. George T. Challiss returned to his old home in New Jersey on a visit, and upon his return, in August, he came direct to Atchison. He came by boat to Weston, Mo., where he met P. T. Abell, president of the town company, and Abell prevailed upon him to come to Atchison in a buggy, crossing the river here on George Million’s ferry. Mr. Abell donated Mr. Challiss the lot upon which he built his store, and he went to Rushville and bought enough cottonwood lumber to build it. When he arrived in Atchison, he had $4.50 in money, but later on borrowed $150.0070 HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY from his brother, Luther C. Challiss, at Boonville. He ‘enjoyed,a good busi- ness from the beginning, and carried a large stock of both dry goods and groceries, The town of Atchison was the one big outstanding factor in Atchison county when the territory was organized, but at the same time that Abell and Stringfellow and others “were shaping up the town,” others were busy organ- izing the county. As the city was named for General Atchison, so likewise was the county at the time of its creation by the first Territorial legislature that assembled at Pawnee. The first board of county commissioners was selected and appointed by the Territorial legislature, August 31, 1855, and was com- posed of William J. Young, James M. Givens and James A. Headley. The first meeting of the board was held September 17, 1855, at the home of O. B. Dickerson, in the city of Atchison. At this meeting Ira Norris was appointed clerk and recorder; Samuel Dickson, treasurer; Samuel Walters, assessor. William McVay had received an appointment as sheriff of the county prior to the meeting of the board, direct from the governor, to fill the office tem- porarily until his successor was subsequently appointed and qualified. On the 18th of September, 1855, being the second day of the session of the first board of county commissioners, Eli C. Mason was appointed as sheriff to succeed McVay, and Dudley McVay was appointed coroner. Voting precincts were established in three townships preparatory to an election of a delegate to Congress, which was to take place the first Monday in October, 1855. At the October meeting of the board of county commissioners, block 10, in what is now known as Old Atchison, was accepted by the board as a location upon which to erect a court house. This property was offered to the county by the Atchison town company for the purpose of influencing the board to make Atchison the county seat. ‘The conditions of the gift were that the court house ‘was to be built of brick and to be at least forty feet square. In the following spring ihe town company donated fifty town lots, and the proceeds of these lots were to be used in the construction of the court house. In June, 1857, the court house was ordered built and it was to be two stories high, the first story to be of rock and the second story of wood. It was 24x18 feet square ; how- ever, the plans were subsequently changed, and, because of the gift of an additional fourteen lots by the town company, of a value of $6,000.00, a more pretentious building was erected in 1859, with a county jail adjoining it. Prior, to the erection of the court house, there was a spirited contest:between ‘Mt. Pleasant, Monrovia, Lancaster and Sumner over the question of the