CHAPTER IX. THE NEW ERA. The country adjacent to Kansas City was in comparative peace at the beginning of 1865. Most of the bushwhackers who had infested the country and harassed local residents had gone south with General Sterling Price after his raid in 1864. It was evident that hostilities were drawing to a close and that so far as Kansas City's territory was concerned, there would be no more war. The people were left free to cast about and begin the work of repairing shattered fortunes and crippled business enterprises, and to prepare for the future. The population of the city had been reduced to about three thousand five hundred, the streets were out of repair, the houses were dilapidated and the brisk trade of earlier years was gone. The outlook was anything but encouraging. Leavenworth, Kansas City's formidable rival before the war, had been the headquarters of army operations in the struggle and had prospered while Kansas City suffered. Leavenworth had grown to be a city of about fifteen thousand population and had gained control of the trade with southern Kansas and part of the commerce with New Mexico and Colorado. Kansas City, at the close of the Civil war, appeared to be well nigh out of the race for commercial supremacy, and would have been so regarded except for the town's natural advantages and the fact that it was the terminus of the main line of the Union Pacific railroad that already was in operation to Lawrence, Kansas. These advantages gave hope to the dejected residents; they renewed the activities of earlier years and an era of wonderful development began. On the northwest corner of Missouri avenue and Main street, a small merchandise store was opened in 1863 by Mr. T. B. Bullene and his brother, Lathrop Bullene. Its entire force of employes consisted of but eight persons, and most of the merchandise was bought in St. Louis and brought up the Missouri river to Kansas City. Mr. W. E. Emery of New York became associated with this store in 1867, causing the firm name to be changed to Bullene Brothers and Emery. The little store was patronized and expanded with the city's growth until in January, 1870, it was moved to a new building on the corner of Main and Seventh streets. This was considered a large store for the size of the city. The building was three stories in height, had a frontage of twenty-eight feet upon Main street and ran through to Delaware street. In 1870, L. T. Moore came from Kentucky and purchased the interest of Mr. Lathrop Bullene and was taken in as a partner. The firm name became Bullene, Moore & Emery. Mr. L. R. Moore, brother of L. T. Moore, sold his plantation in Kentucky and became a member of the firm one year later. In 1881, Jos. T. Bird was admitted to the firm and in 1884 Mr. W. B. Thayer was made a partner. In 1890 the phenomenal growth of the business made a great change necessary. The store was moved up town to Eleventh streeth and Grand avenue. Mr. T. B. Bullene died in 1894 and since then the firm has been known as Emery, Bird, Thayer & Co. Doggett & Orrison were also among the early merchants, their store opened in the year 1866 on the southeast corner of Missouri avenue and Main street. The firm built a three story brick building near the corner of Seventh and Main streets and moved into it in 1871. Mr. Orrison retired from the firm in 1873 and joined with Mr. Abernathy and North and formed the firm of Abernathy, North & Orrison Furniture Co., located on the northeast corner of Sixth and Main. The firm then changed to John Doggett until Mr. B. R. Bacon and Mr. Sam Latz were admitted to the firm when it was known as John Doggett & Co. In 1878, Mr. G. Y. Smith bought an interest in the firm and the name changed to Doggett & Smith. In 1880, Mr. G. Y. Smith bought Mr. Doggett's interest and changed the firm's name to G. Y. Smith & Co., Mr. Bacon and Mr. Latz being the company. In 1881, G. Y. Smith & Co. pioneered the corner of Eleventh and Main, which at that time was considered out of the business district. In 1890, G. Y. Smith moved his stock to Ft. Worth, Texas, where he is at the present time. Mr. Doggett after retiring from the firm of Bullene, Moore & Emery, organized the Doggett Dry Goods Company, in 1888. Mr. Doggett retired in 1900 and died in 1903. In 1871 Mr. H. E. Roll came to Kansas City and was employed in the store of Bullene, Moore & Emery. He became manager and superintendent of the store. The Roll, Thayer & Williams Dry Goods house, located on Main between Missouri avenue and Sixth street, was a well patronized store from its beginning in 1878. Later the firm moved to the east side of Main between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. The firm supended business in 1884. Few cities have been so fortunate as Kansas City in escaping disastrous fires. From the time log-cabins fell into disuse and frame business and dwelling houses began to appear, Kansas City has had fire protection. In the "beginning," neighbor helped neighbor. Later fire companies were formed which were also social organizations. The Honorable T. B. Bullene was foreman of the first fire company of the social order. Associated with him both socially and in "time of fire" were Frank Foster, Matt Foster, S. K. Green, James Smith, Adam Long and John Long. After the war with the revival of commercial enterprises and with the erection of new buildings, filled with merchandise, came the need of better fire protection. The first fire company in Kansas City was organized in 1837 and named "John Campbell" in honor of a citizen who contributed generously to the expense of establishing the service. It was a "gala day" in Kansas City when the first fire engine was received with the pomp and ceremony shown an honored guest. A volunteer company of twenty-five men were formed with Colonel Frank Foster as chief, and Colonel T. B. Bullene, foreman. When the boat slowly swung into the landing at the levee, with the new engine abroad, Colonel Foster and his men in uniforms of red shirts with pearl buttons and blue trousers, were drawn up in imposing array to welcome the new arrival, while all the town turned out to applaud. With elaborate ceremony the christening took place and the "John Campbell" became the protector of Kansas City property. From the time of its advent in Kansas City until 1871 the "John Campbell" enjoyed the proud distinction of being the only steam fire engine in a town on the Missouri river, from St. Louis to Kansas City. The McGee Hook and Ladder Truck company was organized in 1869 with Hyatt St. Clair foreman. In 1871, a new steam engine company was formed and a new engine, the "Dr. Lykins," was placed in service. Many innovations were introduced in time, the Babcock extinguishers, new trucks and hose reels, until in 1872, the fire department increased to such an extent that it became a department of the municipality with paid firemen. The "John Campbell" company was reorganized early in 1872. Joseph McArdle was employed as hoseman, the first paid fireman of whom there is any record. He was quickly followed by George C. Hale, who was offered the position of engineer by Mayor William Warner, and accepted. The employment of Joseph McArdle and George C. Hale as paid firemen was one of the results of a conflagation in July 1871 that destroyed a number of buildings at Sixth and Main streets, and when a few months later the west side of Union avenue opposite the depot was almost wiped out of existence, the town authorities concluded to further enlarge the paid department by the employment of Nick Byrnes and Dick Beadle. Three new companies were speedily organized and placed in service, the Washington No. 2, Phoenix hook and ladder No. 2, and the German hook and ladder No. 3. The present fire company employs 280 regular men and 20 substitutes. One hundred and sixteen horses valued at $200 to $250 each belong to the company. Thirty-eight thousand feet of hose are in service. The yearly expenses for the last year 1907 and 1908, including the pay roll and running expenses, were $337,862.53, and $110,000 was spent for improvements in the erection of new engine houses and apparatus. During the year, 1,701 alarms have been recorded. The department also has twenty-four hose companies, of which nine are engine companies, eight hook and ladders, |