Three of a Kind Photograph by Jon Burch Photography

Three of a Kind

by Jon Burch Photography

Canvas Print

$75

Framed Print

$84

Art Print

$28

Poster

$28

Metal Print

$81

Acrylic Print

$89

Wood Print

$61

Tapestry

$41

Throw Pillow

$24

Fleece Blanket

$48

Duvet Cover

$99

Shower Curtain

$68

Bath Towel

$34

Ornament

$9.50

Jigsaw Puzzle

$38

Tote Bag

$26

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Zip Pouch

$23

Portable Battery Charger

$47

Yoga Mat

$60

Greeting Card

$14

Spiral Notebook

$15

Sticker

$4.00

iPhone Case

$27

Beach Towel

$34

Round Beach Towel

$70

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Coffee Mug

$15

Men's Clothing

$25

Women's Clothing

$25

Youth Clothing

$21

Toddler Clothing

$19

Baby Clothing

$23

Title

Three of a Kind

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture And Enhancement

Description

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

In 1857, Dickinson County was founded. Abilene began as a stage coach stop in the same year, established by Timothy Hersey and named from a passage in the bible, meaning "city of the plains".

In 1867, the Kansas Pacific Railway which became the Union Pacific, pushed westward through Abilene. In the same year Joseph G. McCoy purchased 250 acres of land north and east of Abilene. Upon this land McCoy then built a hotel, the Drover's Cottage, stockyards equipped for 2,000 heads of cattle, and a stable for their horses. The Kansas Pacific put in a switch at Abilene that enabled the cattle cars to be loaded and sent on to their destinations. The first twenty carloads left September 5, 1867, en route to Chicago, Illinois, where McCoy was familiar with the market. The town grew quickly and became the very first "cow town" of the west.

McCoy encouraged Texas cattlemen to drive their herds to his stockyards. The stockyards shipped 35,000 head that year and became the largest stockyards west of Kansas City, Kansas. The Chisholm Trail ended in Abilene, bringing in many travelers and making Abilene one of the wildest towns in the west. From 1867 to 1871, the north end of the trail ended in Abilene, then as railroads were built further south the end of the trail incrementally moved southward towards Caldwell and as homesteaders came to Kansas the trail incrementally moved westward towards Ellsworth and further west. Approximately 440,200 head of cattle were shipped out of Abilene from 1867 to 1871.

Town marshal Tom "Bear River" Smith was initially successful policing Abilene, often using only his bare hands and survived two assassination attempts during his tenure. All good things must come to an end and Smith reached his end when he was murdered and decapitated on November 2, 1870. Smith wounded one of his two attackers during the shootout preceding his death, and both suspects received life in prison for the offense. Replaced by Wild Bill Hickok in April 1871, Hickok's time as marshal was short-lived. While standing off a crowd during a street brawl, gambler Phil Coe took two shots at Hickok, who returned fire, killing Coe, but then accidentally shot his friend and deputy, Mike Williams, who was coming to his aid. He lost his job two months later in December.

Conrad Lebold was one of the early town developers and Bankers in the late 1800's building the Lebold Mansion in 1880. The Hersey dugout can still be seen in the cellar.

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva located 3 miles west of Strong City, through Abilene to Superior, Nebraska. In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

In 1890, Dr. A.B. Seelye founded the A.B. Seelye Medical Company. Seelye developed over 100 products for the company including "Wasa-Tusa", an Indian name meaning to heal.

Abilene became home to Dwight D. Eisenhower when his family moved to Abilene from Denison, Texas in 1892. Eisenhower attended elementary school through high school in Abilene, graduating in 1909. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is the burial site of President Eisenhower, his wife, Mamie, and their first-born son Doud Dwight.

There are many things to see and do in Abilene including a 10-mile excursion train ride through the Smoky River Hill Valley features a 100 year old wooden coach dining car and other vintage equipment. Runs May-October. This train engine was parked by the depot in Old Abilene Town just south of the Eisenhower Museum. I made some photographs of it but had to cut it short as there was a gunfight just about to begin over by the saloon.

Image copyright 2013 Jon Burch Photography