William T. Soden, (Bill - as he was called by his friends) the son of William and Angeline Smith Soden, was born in County Cork, Ireland, on 22 November, 1835. He came to the United States with his parents, settling in Mooresfork, Clinton County, New York at approximately one year of age. He worked in logging camps and at flour mills in the New York area until his 21st birthday. In November of 1856, he headed west with $3,000.00 that he had saved, sewn into a belt around his waist. He spent that winter working in a grocery store in Iowa. In the spring of 1857 he joined with three other men, and headed further west, still in possession of his $3,000.00 and looking for a mill site.
More can be found on the genealogy of William, and his descendants in the profiles and trees area.
Hitching rides on prairie schooners, he went through Emporia, when the town was only 2 weeks old, continuing on to the Cottonwood Falls in Kansas. One night, while at Cottonwood Falls, he awakened to find one of his three traveling companions trying to remove his money belt. At that point, Bill left the party and turned back, stopping southwest of Emporia, and taking a job at the Haworth Saw and Grist Mill. This mill, owned by Joel Haworth, was situated two miles south of Plymouth on the Cottonwood River. Mr. Haworth, a the time of Bill's employment, was in poor financial condition. Bill lent him the $3,000.00 taking a half interest in the mill. Working at the Haworth mill for 2 years, Bill had saved enough money to buy a farm in Pike Township, which was a part of the estate after his death, and to purchase the other half of the mill when Haworth decided to leave the business to take up farming.
After Bill went to Emporia, in 1860, the reputation of the Haworth Mill stuck with him. This reputation involved the farmers accusing him of stealing their grist. One day, John Moon, who was the local minister, asked Bill to give up his evil ways. He said, "William, is it true, as everyone says that thee is dishonest with the farmer's grist."
"Uncle John," Bill responded, "if you had your way, would you have every man in the county to be truthful or untruthful?"
"Thee knows, William, without asking that I would have every man in the county tell the truth if I could choose." said John
"So would I, Uncle John, and since they all say that I am a thief, I have to cheat them to keep them from being liars." said Bill.
In 1859, a man and his son, with their wives, decided to build a mill on the Cottonwood River, and dam that river. The river was almost 3 feet high when the father of the family was stricken with typhoid fever, and died with a few weeks, causing the remaining members of the family to desert the dam and move back to Iowa.
Bill saw this as an opportunity, and in 1860 bought the unfinished dam and mill.
In 1862, the Haworth Mill burned to the ground, and Bill lost his investment, never rebuilding it.
In 1867, Bill, in cooperation with Captain Lemuel T. Heritage and J. R. Swallow, established the first bank of Lyon county chartered in 1872 as the Emporia National Bank. Bill served as the vice president until his death, except for the 10 year period between 1878 - 1888 when Major Calvin Hood held the position.
In 1873, Bill helped a Mr. Arnold purchase an old saw mill located directly across the river from his own. In 1874 the mill was remodeled to a single one story building covering an area of fifty by seventy feet. Bill and Mr. Arnold, a furniture manufacturer, used 2 water wheels to power this mill. The furniture factory was a thriving business and in 1877 enlarged to a 3 story building. It was a fine factory until 1878, when a tornado completely demolished it, never to be rebuilt.
In 1875-1880, Bill supervised and saw the completion of the Emporia Gas Works. For the next five years, he served as the company's president. In 1881 he erected a hotel that later became known as the Kynaston Hotel.
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| Soden's
Flour Mill
(Cottonwood River in flood) Located: South Commercial St. at Cottonwood
River Image Source: early 1920s family
snapshot Built: 1859 Burned: 1930s |
Soden's Grove,
Emporia, Kansas Early 1900's, Mailed 1909 |
Soden's Mill,
Emporia. Kansas Early 1900's
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There is a wonderful 1880 county map on the Lyon county page that depicts the area Soden's Mill was located, on the Cottonwood River across from the Furniture Manufacturer.
