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Derby Dispatch (10/02/1889 - 05/03/1890)
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Biographical Sketch of the Life of Albert Minnich
Few men in this section are more widely or favorably known than the subject of this sketch, Mr. A. Minnich.
Born in Trenton, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 29, 1842, the son of a prosperous merchant (Mr. Jno. Minnich, Sr.) he early inbibed a taste for merchant le pursuits, and the age when most boys are engaged with their marbles, tops, etc., found him behind his father's counter in the capacity of clerk, and, in due course of time, as the Book-keeper for the firm of Minnich & Sons, his father being senior member of the firm, as well as one of the oldest settlers of the Tuscarawas Valley. In 1862 Mr. A. Minnich was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Tucker, and in 1871, with his family, he moved to Derby (then called El Paso,) where he and his brother, John H. Minnich, erected the first store building and opened a full and complete general stock of goods. Later, his brother, J. H., withdrew and Albert continued as sole proprietor of one of the most successful stores of the county. In 1884 Mr. Minnich found his business had increased so as to compel him to provide more room, in consequence of which, he erected, just north of the old site, one of the finest store rooms in the county, where he is still conducting a large and prosperous business.
When Mr. Minnich began business in Derby (then El Paso,) Newton was the nearest Railroad station. Wichita being only a small village of a few small houses, and as El Paso was only a stage station and a little trading post on the old trail, much might be said concerning the struggles incident to those early times, but space will not permit. Although Mr. Minnich may be considered a very conservative man, he is ever found among the foremost in all matters touching the progress and upbuilding of his community, while his hand is alway, wide open to every worthy charity. In politics he is an uncompromising Republican - from principle, not merely from impulse - always taking an active part in local politics. For many years he held the office of Justice of the Peace, and to his honor, it is said that he succeeded in settling, by arbitration or compromise, far more cases than were brought to trial before him.
On the 5th day of Jan., 1888, Mr. Minnich was stricken with paralysis, effecting his right side, and rendering him speechless, since which sad event his business has been under the management of his son, Bert Minnich. In his sad afflict on Mr. Minnich is surrounded by a loving family consisting of a wife, one son and three daughters. As his mind is perfectly clear, and his memory good, nothing pleases him better than a visit from his old friends. He enjoys their conversation quite as well as ever, and through the members of his family (who understand him quite well) he is able to express himself quite fully. He still supervises, in a general way, his business.
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Biographical Sketch of the Life of Albert Minnich
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Derby Dispatch
Derby, KS
Feb. 8, 1890
Page 3
Accessed at Newspapers.com
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Public Domain
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image/jpeg
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Derby Dispatch
A. Minnich
Albert Minnich
Bert Minnich
business
Derby Dispatch
El Paso
general store
J. Hout Minnich
John Hout Minnich
Justice of the Peace
Mrs. Hannah Minnich
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Derby Mimeogram (10/01/1891 - 05/05/1892)
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Derby School House
erected 1886
A Brief History of the Public Schools of Derby, Kansas.
The first school meeting of District No. 6. was held at the house of John Hufbaur in El Paso at 2 p.m. April 6th 1872. At this meeting the district was organized, J. Hout Minnich elected, director; John Hufbaur, clerk; A. G. Burr, treasurer. At a meeting on the 4th of May 1872, the district voted to issue $1,500 in district bonds, for building a school house to be located in El Paso; a proposition to receive bids for building the house was advertised in the Wichita Vidette.
On the 5th of June the bids were considered by the board, and the contract awarded to R. R. Costin at $1129.00, the house to be located on George Avenue. It was occupied by the school in the fall of that year and until 1886 when it was sold to the Evangelical Church.
The first school of the district was taught by E. H. McClung for a term of three months commencing on the 11th of Sept. 1872 for which the teacher received $35.00 per month. Since then 23 teachers have guided the youth of the district with varied success. The highest wages paid was sixty and the lowest twenty dollars per month.
Seventeen different men have served on the board of directors, among which we see the names of A. G. Burr who served six terms; A. Minnich, five terms; H. C. Tucker, four terms.
The present house of which the above is a sketch, stands on a slight eminence at the east side of town, surrounded by a beautiful Blue grass lawn, upon which many young trees are growing. It was erected in 1886, at a cost of Twenty-five hundred Dollars. The present principal Mr. L. Lightfoot is in charge of the school the second time having taught here in 1888.
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Derby School House: A Brief History of the Public Schools of Derby, Kansas
Subject
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Derby School
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Derby Mimeogram
Derby, KS
Oct. 30, 1891
Page 8
Accessed at Newspapers.com
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Public Domain
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image/jpeg
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Derby Mimeogram
A. G. Burr
A. Minnich
Albert Minnich
Derby Mimeogram
Derby School
Derby School District #6
Dr. Henry Clay Tucker
Evangelical Church
Georgie Avenue
history
J. Hout Minnich
John Hout Minnich
John Hufbauer
L. Lightfoot
newspaper
school
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Maps
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Plat map of El Paso, Kansas
Description
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Digital image of the original plat map of El Paso, Kansas filed with the Sedgwick County Register of Deeds in July 1871 by J. Hout Minnich and John Hufbauer.
All blocks 300 feet square. Baltimore & Georgie Avenues Main & Market Streets 100 ft wide. All other Streets 75th wide. All alleys 20 ft. wide. Lots 28 x 140 ft. fronting on Main & Market Streets except between Water & Buckner Streets and except opposite the square. Fronting on Avenues between the squares fronting on Water & Buckner Streets between Washington & Emma Streets. All other lots 25 x 140 ft. Scale 200 ft = 1 inch.
I, John A. Sroufe Deputy County Surveyor for Sedgwick Co, Kansas, do certify that the accompanying plat is a correct survey of the Town of El Paso, To 29, Rang 1 E in Sec. 1 & 1 & 12.
Jno A. Sroufe,
Dept. Co Surveyor
for Sedgwick Co. Kansas
State of Kansas
Sedgwick County
On this 11th day of July A.D. 1871, before me a Notary Public in and for said County personally came J. Hout Minnick and John Hufbauer, known to me to be the owner of the town of El Paso and acknowledged the within to be an accurate map of the town of El Paso, Sedgwick County Kansas, particularily setting forth the streets & allies and all the avenues streets and alleys reserved for public use. And all lots mentioned by number are for sale.
Witness our hands and seals this the day and year last above mentioned.
J. Hout Minnick (seal)
John Hufbauer (seal)
Signed and sealed in my presence at Wichita Kansas this 11th day of July A.D. 1871.
D. A. Bright Notary Public (seal)
State of Kansas
Sedgwick County
This play filed to record July 11, 1871 and duly recorded in book of plats A, page 6 Jan 9th 1872.
L. F. Buttles, Register
by D.A. Bright Depty
I, Joseph Bowman, Register of Deeds of Sedgwick County, Kansas, do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the plat of, or map of El Paso, that the original, of which above is a copy, is on file in my office and that I have the legal custody thereof. Witness my hand and the seal of my office this 11 day of Sept 1911.
Joseph Bowman
Register of Deeds
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Sedgwick County, Kansas Register of Deeds
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Sedgwick County, Kansas Geographic Information Systems (https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/gis/)
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Sedgwick County, Kansas Geographic Information Systems
El Paso
J. Hout Minnich
John Hufbauer
plat map
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Wichita City Eagle (04/12/1872 - 11/26/1909)
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For Immigrants.
El Paso.
The town of El Paso is located on the east bank of great Arkansas River, in the southeastern park of Sedgwick county, Kansas. It has many advantages, among which are its beautiful and healthy location, situated on a high, gently sloping prairie, surrounded by one of the largest bodies of the most fertile land in the state, which is all taken up by actual settlers, who are energetic, industrious and practieal farmers. They are at work in earnest, opening up their farms and making themselves good, comfortable and permanent homes.
Rock Bottom.
There is a rock bottom in the river, extending about three quarters of a mile up and down the stream. On the east bank the rocks are about fifteen feet above low water mark, and on the west bank about twelve feet below the surface of the ground.
Bridge Facilities.
A good substantial bridge, two hundred and seventy-five feet long, spans the Arkansas River at this place, thereby giving the farmers on the west side of the river access to the town at any stage of water and at all seasons of the year. The bridge rests on stone abutments on either bank, and on two iron piers, which stand firmly on the bed rock in the river. It is naturally the best place on the river in this state for a railroad bridge across the great Arkansas River.
Railroads.
Two railroads have already been surveyed to this place; one from the northeast, via Eureka and Augusta, crossing the river at this rock bottom, the other from the city of Wichita to Arkansas City, which proved to be almost an air line, and a very favorable route. No doubt, both roads will soon be completed.
Water Privilege.
There is not the least doubt that here is the best water privilege in the state of Kansas. The great Arkansas River, its source in the Rocky Mountains, is supplied with water in the summer by the melting snows in the mountains, by rain and its many tributaries in winter. The water is always highest from spring until fall, yet it has never been known to overflow its banks at this point. There is an abundance of water during the whole year to run all the machinery that can be placed on the bank of several miles below.
Feasibility of a Dam.
The feasibility of a dam across the river is not questioned, a solid rock bottom all the way across to build upon, the width only two hundred and seventy-five feet from shore to shore, a high bank of clay and rock on the east side, and on the west side a bed of tough clay covered with sand, extending for some ways up the river above the rock bottom. This water privilege must and will shortly be improved. El Paso will be a manufacturing town. The experiments last season in raising cotton demonstrated that this soil and climate are adopted to cotton growing; then why not manufacture it here where the corner stone and foundation have been naturally laid.
The Town.
The town is new, the buildings are substantial, erected for permanent business houses and homes. It contains one dry good store, a drug store, two grocery stores, one Hotel, a wagon maker and blacksmith shop, one shoe store, a meat market, two feed stables, a good school house, and a number of dwellings.
School Privileges.
There is a good school from seven to nine months each year. A Sabbath-school has been organized and is now in a flourishing condition.
Churches.
Two church organizations have been effected, viz: the Methodist and United Presbyterian, each having regular services.
Junction of Stages.
By recent arrangements the Town Company has suceeded in obtaining at this place a junction of the stages of the Southwestern Stage Company. A daily stage runs from here to Wichita, a tri-weekly from here to Fort Sill, a tri-weekly to Wellington, a daily, via Winfield, to Arkansas City.
Timber.
The timber in this vicinity consists of cottonwood, oak, ash, hickory, walnut, mulberry and elm. Cord wood is delivered in town at four dollars per cord.
Business Openings.
There is here a good opening for business men of all kinds, mechanics of all trades; honest, industrious, temperate and energetic men are respectfully invited.
The policy of the town company heretofore has been to donate lots to those who built houses on them. Now, for the first time, they advertise lots for sale.
Home Seekers.
Persons seeking homes or wishing to engage in business of any kind, or desiring to locate in a healthy, pleasant and prosperous new place, among a good class of society, would do well to pay this place a visit before settling elsewhere.
For further particulars address
John Hufbauer, or
J. Hout Minnich
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For Immigrants
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An ad in the paper explaining the resources available for people to move to El Paso, Kansas
Source
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Wichita City Eagle
Wichita, KS
Apr. 9, 1874
Page 4
Accessed at Newspapers.com
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Public Domain
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Wichita City Eagle
Arkansas River
blacksmith shop
bridge
business
drug store
dry goods
El Paso
feed stable
grocery store
hotel
immigrants
J. Hout Minnich
John Hufbauer
meat market
Methodist Church
newspaper
Presbyterian Church
railroad
rocky bottom
school
Sedgwick County
settlers
shoe store
stage
timber
wagon maker
Wichita Eagle
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Wichita Daily Eagle (05/20/1884 - 03/27/1927)
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“Death of Old Settler.”
R. A. Neely Was a Pioneer in Wichita.
Another one of the early settlers of Wichita has joined the larger number who have passed to the beyond. R. A. Neely died at his home, 1431 North Market street at 7 a. m. yesterday. Notice of the funeral will be given later.
R. A. Neely came to Wichita in the summer of 1870. He took a claim on the east side of Chisholm creek, south of the Black place, and proved it up. He afterwards sold the place and went to derby to engage in the grocery business with L. E. Vance.
Neely & Vance did a large business with the first settlers in that section of the county. After Mr. Neely went to Derby, then called El Paso, he was elected to the office of county commissioner, which was the only office he ever held. His success as a merchant in these early days was limited because of his liberality. Many of the early settlers were not very well fixed in the wealth of this world’s goods, but they all had credit at R. A. Neely’s store.
In the early seventies the business men of Derby were John Hufbauer, J. Haut Minnich, Albert Minnich, R. A. Neely, L. E. Vance, Dr. H. C. Tucker and George H. Litzenberg. Hufbauer, Neely, J. Haut Minnich and Dr. H. C. Tucker are dead. Albert Minnich is in Ohio and George H. Litzenberg lives in this city. L. E. Vance came to Wichita with a team in the early eighties, since which time he has never been heard from.
In the early days when the merchants above named held forth in Derby it aspired to be the big city of the Arkansas valley. They have a rock bottom in the Arkansas river at that point in the early seventies the Derbyites used to worry the Wichita town builders by writing letters to the Eagle and claiming that all of the railroads that came into this valley would have to come to Derby to cross the river at the only rock bottom ford on that stream between the mountains and the gulf of Mexico. The people actually had faith in that rock ford and were surprised when the Santa Fe finally came and crossed the Arkansas where Mulvane is now located and at the widest place in the stream. They found out that the railroads did not care for rock fords and did not go an inch out of their way for the Arkansas river, but crossed it wherever they pleased.
R. A. Neely finally, like many others, concluded that Derby, or El Paso, was not going to make the big city of the Arkansas valley and he sold his property there and moved back to Wichita and went into the nursery business. He was generous and made friends wherever he went and has many of them in this county and city who will regret to hear of his death.
R. A. Neely was born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1836. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his loss—William Neely of the Johnston-Larimer Dry Goods company, Harry C. Neely, commercial traveler, and Mrs. Gene Ketzler.
Mr. Neely came to this part of Kansas at the time when men who did not possess nerve of the necessary strength for a frontiersman remained in the east. He was here when such men as Ledford, Curley Marshall, Rowdy Joe and Red were characters of the town, and he was an eye witness to some blood curdling scenes in the early frontier town. He was never the man to take the life of a fellow man, but the men who did not value human life were all about him. He had associated with the worst men on the frontier but he never lost that goodness of heart which was a part of his nature. When R. A. Neely is laid to rest the soil of this valley will cover the remains of a man who never betrayed a friend or intentionally injured a neighbor.
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Death of Old Settler - R. A. Neely Was a Pioneer In Wichita.
Source
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Wichita Daily Eagle
Wichita, KS
Aug. 22, 1903
Page 6
Accessed at Newspapers.com
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Public Domain
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image/jpeg
Creator
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Wichita Daily Eagle
Albert Minnich
Arkansas River
County Commissioner
Dr. Henry Clay Tucker
George Litzenberg
grocery
J. Hout Minnich
John Hufbauer
L. E. Vance
Neely & Vance
newspaper
obituary
R. A. Neely
railroad
Wichita Eagle
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People
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Thomas D. "T. D." Wardell
Former Mayor of El Paso
Member of the First City Council of El Paso/Derby
Hardware Merchant 1888 - 1931
Description
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Term as Mayor <br />1917 - 1921 <br /><br />Term as El Paso City Council Member At Large <br />Jun. 1903 - Apr. 1905 <br />
<p>Thomas D. Wardell came to El Paso around 1878 as a young man at age 20. Like many other people who arrived during El Paso’s early years, he came from Tuscarawas Township, Ohio, the former home of El Paso co-founder, J.H. Minnich, who promoted the new town heavily to residents of his previous home state.</p>
<p>Being young and single, T.D. Wardell was probably in search of a place to make his fortune, as he is found in the 1880 U.S. census living in Leadville, Colorado, a hot-spot due to its active mining. But his occupation is listed as a farmer in the census instead of a miner, while apparently living in a boarding house with other young men, some of whom did work in the mines. And, like most of those hoping to strike it rich in Colorado, Wardell didn’t stay long.</p>
T.D. Wardell was back in Rockford Township, Kansas, by 1885, where he had married Carrie Moon and they had a one-year-old son. Carrie was the daughter of one of Sedgwick County’s early settlers, Arnold Moon, who preempted his quarter-section farm in 1871, three miles east of the new town of El Paso. Unfortunately, Carrie died a few months after the census was taken in 1885. Wardell remarried two years later, to Carrie’s older sister, Hester Moon, who had also been married previously. <br /><br />
<p><a href="https://derbykshistorymuseum.org/blog/f/td-wardell-community-leader" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here to read more about T. D. Wardell</a> by the Derby Historical Society and Museum.<br /><br />(Image is a slide created in 1969 of an original photo)</p>
Source
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Derby Historical Museum
Arnold Moon
Carrie Moon
City of El Paso
Colorado
Derby Historical Museum
El Paso City Council
El Paso Mayor
farmer
hardware store
Hester Moon
J. Hout Minnich
mining
Ohio
Rockford Township
slide
T. D. Wardell