Hanover, Kansas

Taken from William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas 

First Published in 1883

In the spring of 1869 Gerat H. Hollenberg laid out the town of Hanover Kansas, on Section 9, Township 2, Range 5. William Kalhoefer and August Jaedicke were the first to settle upon it. The town was named by Mr. Hollenberg in honor of his own native Hanover, and for the five years that he resided here previous to his death, it is not too much to say that he was at the head of all the best improvements of the village, and that he was most ably assisted by Messrs. Kalhoefer and Jaedicke. He abandoned his ranch, removed the post office to the new town, and Mr. Jaedicke, the present incumbent, was appointed. In 1870 W. Wendell, Jr., started a blacksmith shop, his uncle having taken a homestead in the spring and returned East for him. The same year the Hanover House was built by H. Marguard, Charles Jockers started a brewery, Deviman & Smith a lumber-yard, and other noticeable improvements were made. The first term of school was also taught this year in the old building which had been erected the previous fall. John Turk was the teacher.

Hanover was incorporated as a city of the third-class July 5, 1872. Mr. Hollenberg died July 1, 1874, while on passage to visit his native city of Hanover. His will bequeathed $600 towards building a city-hall, provided the citizens of Hanover, Kan., would contribute an additional $1.000. This was done, and in 1875 the city hall was erected. A fire company was organized the same year. In 1872 Hanover was made the end of the first division of the St. Joe & Western Railroad, and a round-house and machine shops erected here. Under Mr. Kalhoefer's several administrations as Mayor the town has greatly prospered. It has eight general stores (Aug. Jaedicke occupying a handsome two-story brick building which cost $10,000), two hardware stores, three butcher shops, three harness shops, two drug stores, three livery stables, two boot and shoe stores, one jewelry store, one marble yard, one bakery, two restaurants, two hotels, one brewery, two furniture stores, one land office, one barber-shop, one elevator, two lumber-yards, two tailors, two grain buyers, one brick yard, four blacksmith shops, and one paint shop. W. A. Gilson, proprietor of the Washington House, also runs the stage line and carries the mail between Washington and Hanover.

The Catholic Church was organized in 1870 by the Herman Brothers and others. The east half of the old church was then built. Occasional mass was said, but a resident priest did not come until 1874, when Father Weickman took charge. In July, 1876, Father John Pichler assumed control. Through his energy a schoolhouse and residence was built during this summer and fall. The school opened in November. In 1877 the old church was enlarged to twice its regular size, and the fine brick church now occupied was commenced. Because of financial incapacity the structure was not entirely completed until the fall of 1880, the building was dedicated by Bishop Fink, of Leavenworth. A new schoolhouse, to cost $8,000, is now being built. Father Pichler's congregation is the strongest in the county, numbering about 250 families.

The Evangelical Association of North America in Hanover and at or in the vicinity of Washington was formed in 1870. Missionaries had been preaching for a year previous, but at that time Jacob Warner and wife, Jacob Gehring and Conrad Geothring, C. Berner P. E., and others organized the first class in Hanover. Rev. Messrs. Mortell, Troyer, P. Fricker, and Schesser had charge from 1870 to 1873. Mr. Fricker organized a second class in 1873 about eight miles southwest of Washington. A number of traveling missionaries succeeded Mr. Fricker in his work, and finally, in 1879, a church building was erected at Hanover. In 1880 Rev. D. R. Zellner was appointed to the mission, and a parsonage erected. In 1881 he was re-appointed.

The German Lutheran Church was organized in 1874 by Rev. Henry Roeoer, William Kalhoefer, Aug. Jaedicke, Henry Brockmeyer, Fred Runger, Jacob Mosen, B. Wolfe, Henry and Fred Allerhielegen and others being among its first members. In 1875 a church edifice was commenced, and completed in 1883 at a cost of $1,500. Rev. Charles Hawes was the first pastor, Rev. J. G. Groenmiller the present. Membership about thirty.

The Methodists have a good society, erecting a brick church in 1880. Rev. J. N. McNulty, of Hollenberg, is their present pastor. The Baptists have an organization, worshipping in the Methodist Episcopal Church building.

Hanover has a population of nearly 700, and besides it business is blessed with a number of churches and societies and a weekly newspaper. The Democrat, established by A. B. Bowman, was the first paper published in Hanover. Its first number was issued November 7, 1871. In January 1872, he removed it to Canon City, Col. Messrs. Baker & Moore started the Caucasian soon after, and in May. 1872, G. H. Hollenberg purchased it. The name was changed to Enterprise, and when P. D. Harman purchased it in August, 1872, it became the Western Independent. In November, 1877, E. N. Emmons, who had purchased the paper, re-christened it the Sun. J. M. Hood came into possession in April, 1878, and named his purchase the Democrat. The paper is a neat six-column paper, is of home print, and is well patronized as a local and a county paper.

The new Hanover schoolhouse was built in 1878 at a cost of $3,000. It is attended by about 200 pupils. Principal, J. G. Binder.

The Hanover German Society was organized March 1, 1872, August Jaedicke, August Neugebauer, William Brandt, W. Wendell, Jr., and H. Marguard being charter members. In 1874 they partially built a hall, making an addition and completing it in 1881. It is of brick, and its substantial appearance is an index of the society's condition. About thirty regular members form the society.

The Masons in Hanover are represented by the Star Lodge No. 69, organized under dispensation, March 2, 1881, and granted a charter, February 15, 1882. The membership is about twenty. Present officers: W. J. Nevins, W. M.; D. Spence, S. W.; H. W. Heagy, J. W.; H. Marguard, Treas.; R. Wald, Sec'y; W. Jacobs, S. D.; Aug. Jaedicke, J. D.; D. Michelson, Tyler; H. O. Janicke, S. S.; H. Osendorf, sic J. S.

The Odd Fellows Lodge was organized in February, 1879, Aug. Jaedicke, Dr. W. Moll, W. Jacobs, Ch. Zabel being charter members. The present membership is about twenty -- W. J. Nevins, N. G.; H. Ostendorf, sic? V. G.; Jacob Straub, Sec.; Aug. Jaedicke, Treas.

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