Atchison County Biographies
E. W. Howe's Historical Edition of the Atchison Daily Globe
These biographies were originally published in 1896 in the Atchison Daily Globe, written by the editor and publisher, E. W. Howe. In 1916 the biographies were reproduced in Sheffield Ingall's "History of Atchison County, Kansas," with a few updates such as death information.
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DR. W. L. CHALLISS.
Dr. W. L. Challiss came to Atchison June 3, 1866, on the steamboat
"Meteor" from Moorestown, N. J., where he had been a practicing physician.
At that time John Alcorn was operating a horse ferry on the river and Dr.
Challiss, in company with his brother, L. C. Challiss, purchased a three-fourths
interest in the ferry franchise after operating a little rival ferry for
a time, which was known as the "Red Rover." The price paid for the franchise was $1,800.00.
In the fall of 1856 Dr. Challiss went to Evansville, Ind., and contracted
for the building of a steam ferry. This was completed in November and
started for Atchison. In December it was frozen up in the Missouri river
at Carrollton, Mo., and left in charge of a watchman. The crew was made
up of old acquaintances of Dr. Challiss in New Jersey, and these he brought
to Atchison in two stage coaches hired for the purpose.
On February 7 of the following year Dr. Challiss started down the river
on horse back after his ferry boat, accompanied by George M. Million, Granville Morrow and John Cafferty. There had been a thaw and a rise in the
river, and when the men reached the vicinity of Carrollton they learned that
the boat had gone adrift. They followed it down the rivet, hearing of it
occasionally and finally came up with it in sight of Arrow Rock. The boat
had grounded on a bar and a man was in possession, claiming salvage. Dr.
Challiss caught the man off the boat, took possession and settled with him
for $25.00. A story was circulated that there had been small-pox on the
boat and it narrowly escaped burning at the hands of the people living in the
vicinity. Dr. Challiss went on down the river and met his family at St. Louis.
When the steamer on which they were passengers reached Arrow Rock, the
captain was induced to pull the ferry off the sand bar, and within four days
it arrived in Atchison.
This boat was named the "Ida" for Dr. Challiss' oldest daughter, who
became the wife of John A. Martin, editor of the Atchison Champion, colonel
of the Eighth Kansas regiment and governor of the State two terms. The
"Ida" was brought up the river by George Million and Granville Morrow,
pilots, and John Cafferty, engineer. George Million was the captain when
it began making regular trips as a ferry, receiving originally $50.00 per
month. During the last years of his service he received $125.00 a month.
The ferry boat business was very profitable and $100.00 per day was no
unusual income. In i860 Dr. Challiss built a larger ferry at Brownsville,
Penn., and called it the "J. G. Morrow." When it arrived at Atchison the
Government pressed it into service and sent it to Yankton with Indian supplies.
Bill Reed was pilot and Dr. Challiss, captain. A quick trip was made to
within seventy miles of Yankton where the pilot ran the boat into a snag and
sank it. The boat cost $25,000.00 and nothing was saved but the machinery.
This was afterwards placed in the ferry "S. C. Pomeroy," which was operated
here until the bridge was completed in 1877. After this the "S. C. Pomeroy"
was taken to Kansas City, where it sank during a storm. S. C. Pomeroy
owned a one-fourth interest in the "J. G. Morrow" and "S. C. Pomeroy" and
the wreck of the "Morrow" cost him $5,000.00.
The "Ida" was taken to Leavenworth on the completion of the bridge
and was in service there many years.
In the early days Dr, Challiss was a Free State man and for years he
had in his possession a letter warning him to leave the country, which was
written during the exciting period before the war. Dr. Challiss remained
active in the affairs of the town for many years but practiced his profession .
only spasmodically. He died in Dayton, Ohio, at the home of his daughter,
on April 23, 1909.
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This website created Jan. 24, 2012 by Sheryl McClure.
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