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59-714: Elizabeth was born in 1859 to Edward D. Bangs (1827–1899) and Meroe L. Stevens Bangs (1832–1917) while they were living in Atchison, Kansas , and Mary was born there in 1862. Edward was a tinsmith and stove repairman, originally from Massachusetts . Their mother was a medium herself. They moved to Chicago in 1868. By the early 1870s the Bangs family were performing seances as described in an article by Steven Sanborn Jones published on August 3, 1872 in Religio-Philosophical Journal titled "An Evening with

118-535: A Specialty" printed on their business cards. It was not long before they ventured out of Chicago. As reported in the Fort Wayne Sentinel on September 10, 1894, the Bangs conducted a Massachusetts wedding ceremony between a wealthy woman and her dead fiancé. For the next five years, they regularly held seances and performed the spirit slate writings at their home in Chicago. The spirit paintings were

177-450: A bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 15.8% of the population. 22.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 20.4% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 112.4 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that

236-721: A combined 29 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 25 to 52 in (1,300 mm). There are on average 89 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages almost 17 in (43 cm), but the median is less than 16 inches (410 mm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 10 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on 6 of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 23 days per year. The 2020 United States census counted 10,885 people, 3,871 households, and 2,255 families in Atchison. The population density

295-423: A distance of less than 50 miles, would not be completed until May, 1872. The city tried to become a major railroad center, but was surpassed by Kansas City and Omaha , due to the former's greater industrial capability and connections to Texas and the latter's connection to Chicago, rather than St. Louis . Furthermore, Atchison boosters were unable to unite on a single project, instead scattering their efforts to

354-610: A global manufacturing company headquartered in Australia. The city is along the western bank of the Missouri River which also marks the Kansas - Missouri state line. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 59 and U.S. Route 73 , it is 21 miles (34 km) southwest of St. Joseph , Missouri, along US-59 and 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Leavenworth Kansas, along US-73. The section of US-73 between Atchison and Leavenworth

413-553: A key supplier of components to EMD. In 1958 Rockwell purchased the LFM Steel Foundry to make locomotive trucks for EMD and GM (Progress Rail). Rockwell's Transit Truck Design Group was established in 1960. Rockwell Manufacturing and Rockwell International were the owners from 1956 to 1993 and they renamed the LFM to Atchison Casting Corporation (ACC) in 1991. Atchison Casting became a publicly held corporation in 1994. ACC bought

472-545: A license", and while they claimed to be evangelists and such charges could not be brought against ministers, they were fined by the police court the following day. On April 2, 1888, two plainclothes police arrested May and Lizzie during a seance and confiscated all of their props. They were released on bail the next day by William Bangs, their embarrassed brother, and manager of the Chicago Club While they were out on bail, Lizzie's seven-year-old daughter died. At

531-496: A newspaper. Each share of stock in the town company was assessed $ 25, the proceeds to be used to build the National Hotel, which was completed in the spring of 1855, and $ 400 was donated to Dr. Stringfellow and Robert S. Kelley to erect a printing office. The Squatter Sovereign , a paper with strong pro-slavery sentiments, was first issued on February 3, 1855. It had formerly been published at Liberty, Missouri , under

590-493: A number of fraudulent mediums . He employed a secret mirror and caught the medium Henry Slade swapping slates and hiding them in the back of his chair. Krebs exposed the Bangs Sisters by using a secret mirror under the table, which caught them tampering with a sealed envelope. During the séance , the sisters would open the envelope and write in it a reply which they would pretend a spirit had written. He also wrote

649-520: A prominent promoter of both slavery and the idea of popular sovereignty over the issue in the new lands. However, not everyone agreed upon the location he had selected, and on July 20, 1854, Dr. John H. Stringfellow , Ira Norris, Leonidas Oldham, James B. Martin, and Neal Owens left Platte City , Missouri , to decide definitely upon a site. They found a site that was the natural outlet of a remarkably rich agricultural region just open to settlement. George M. Million and Samuel Dickson had staked claims near

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708-466: A rail line was constructed from St. Joseph, Missouri to Atchison between 1857 and 1859, funded in large part by $ 150,000 raised by the citizens of Atchison and connected to the Hannibal & St. Joseph R.R. at its eastern end. The Atchison and Topeka Railroad was founded in 1859 with Atchison as its eastern terminus and the intention of connecting Kansas to the southwest by rail. Although construction

767-554: A revolutionary diesel locomotive piston ring. In 1924 the John Seaton Foundry built an electric arc melting furnace for efficient smelting. In 1924 Atchison began the transition from iron to steel which paved the transition from steam locomotives to diesel locomotives. The first steel locomotive truck assembly was designed, cast, and assembled in 1934. In 1938 LFM was making 18 locomotive assemblies every day for General Motors-Electric Motive Division (EMD) and continued to be

826-446: A sealed letter. He received a reply signed by Jane from the sisters. Psychical researcher Paul Tabori noted that Carrington "also analysed their way of producing 'spirit paintings' or 'portraits'. The ladies simply substituted one canvas for another, under the cover of their voluminous dress, the table or window-curtains." The Bangs sisters were defended by the spiritualist writer William Usborne Moore . He stated in his book Glimpses of

885-405: Is also the home of Benedictine College . Atchison was founded in 1854 and named in honor of Missouri senator David Rice Atchison , who, when Kansas was opened for settlement, interested some of his friends in the scheme of forming a city in the new territory. Senator Atchison was interested in ensuring that the population of the new Kansas Territory would be majority pro-slavery , as he had been

944-643: Is part of the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway which follows K-7 northward from Atchison. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 8.29 square miles (21.47 km ), of which, 7.83 square miles (20.28 km ) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.19 km ) is water. Under the Köppen climate classification , Atchison falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if

1003-420: The 480 acres (1.9 km ) and made a plat, and the next day was fixed for the sale of lots, an event of great importance as it had become understood that Senator Atchison would make a speech upon the political question of the day, hence the sale would be of political as well as business significance. At his meeting on the 21st, two public institutions of vital interest to a new community were planned for—a hotel and

1062-613: The 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm is used or a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of nearly 18.4 °F (−7.6 °C) in January to an average high of nearly 87.6 °F (30.9 °C) in July. The maximum temperature reaches 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 38 days per year and reaches 100 °F (38 °C) an average of 3 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below

1121-606: The 1912 death of John Seaton. After his arrival in 1872, John Seaton became one of the leading citizens of Atchison. Besides establishing the foundry which became the center of the town's industry, he also owned the local theater, served on the school board, was elected to the Kansas Legislature in 1889, served on the Kansas Penitentiary Board, and was nominated for Governor of Kansas. He died on January 12, 1912. In 1914, Harry Muchnic invented

1180-540: The Atchison Foundry and Machine Works in 1872. It soon began turning out decorative wrought iron fences, spiral staircases, and hitching posts for horses. The foundry expanded quickly, as Seaton transported his entire Alton operation to Atchison to establish the Seaton Foundry. It employed over 200 men and had a payroll of more than $ 14,000 per month in 1872. Expanding rapidly in the coming years, it

1239-484: The Atchison Public Schools closed six of its neighborhood school buildings to open one large elementary school. Although schools had been desegregated for more than 50 years, this move ensured more diversity and equality of education by uniting different segments of the city's children into one school. A few of the old neighborhood schools still stand - one, known as Lincoln school at 810 Division Street

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1298-527: The Bangs Children." People paid to be entertained at the Bangs home. It is alleged that messages from the dead appeared on slabs of slate as chairs and furniture moved about the room. The children were tied up in a cabinet, then a guitar inside strummed and hands waved from within. For the finale, Mary brought forward a cat, said to be a "spirit kitten" from the afterworld. In the summer of 1881, May and her mother were arrested for "doing business without

1357-733: The Bangs Sisters. By November 1890, May was on her second divorce, from wealthy chemical manufacturer Henry H. Graham . They had been married under the pretense that his dead wife had told him to do so. According to the Chicago Daily Tribune , in March 1890, a Chicago grand jury declined to bring charges against the Bangs Sisters, but in May 1891, the Illinois Senate passed a bill: ...prohibiting anyone from personating

1416-668: The Chicago School of Psychology. Krebs was a one time president of the American University of Trade and Applied Commerce of Philadelphia and a pastor in the Reformed Church . He married the actress Marjorie Main on November 2, 1921. He was the president of the American Institute of Mercantile Art, Philadelphia, where he worked as a salesmanship lecturer. Throughout his career, he exposed

1475-515: The Next State that Carrington had never visited their house. After Carrington gave incontrovertible evidence he had visited the sisters and caught them in fraud, Moore had to publicly retract his charges in a letter for Light , December 14, 1912. Magician Milbourne Christopher has written: In 1913, David P. Abbott published a booklet on the subject The Spirit Portrait Mystery, Its Final Solution , revealing fraudulent methods of producing

1534-603: The Old Canadian Steel Foundry in Montreal, Canada from Hawker Siddeley in 1995. The foundry has primarily become a producer of rail transport components, including commuter rail truck frames for commuter rail systems in San Francisco, Chicago , Atlanta , and Washington, D.C. It has also undergone various mergers, reorganizations, and renamings, most recently after it was purchased by Bradken ,

1593-580: The age of 18 and 11.4% of those ages 65 or over. As of the census of 2010, there were 11,021 people, 3,933 households, and 2,447 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,407.5 inhabitants per square mile (543.4/km ). There were 4,442 housing units at an average density of 567.3 per square mile (219.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 87.9% White , 7.2% African American , 0.6% Native American , 0.5% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.7% from other races , and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of

1652-406: The average family size was 3.00. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males. The median income for a household in the city

1711-580: The basis that established Atchison as a commercial center. Early merchants to establish businesses in the new town were George Challis, Burns Bros., Stephen Johnston and Samuel Dickson. On August 30, 1855, Atchison was incorporated. Dr. Stringfellow had North Atchison surveyed and platted in the fall of 1857. This started a fever of additions. In February 1858, West Atchison was laid out by John Roberts, and in May Samuel Dickson had his property surveyed as South Atchison. Still another addition

1770-573: The block later occupied by the Otis house. In July 1883, the free-delivery system was inaugurated. For years there had been considerable trade up and down the Missouri River, which had naturally centered at Leavenworth , but in June 1855, several overland freighters, such as Livingston, Kinkead & Co., and Hooper & Williams were induced to select Atchison as their outfitting point and formed

1829-438: The city. The population density was 1,498.2 inhabitants per square mile (578.5/km ). There were 4,220 housing units at an average density of 617.9 per square mile (238.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 88.56% White , 7.80% Black or African American , 0.51% Native American , 0.41% Asian , 0.09% Pacific Islander , 0.65% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of

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1888-505: The civil authorities in suppressing raiding and the lawless bands of thieves that infested the border counties. During the war, Atchison was also the headquarters of numerous bands of jayhawkers including the notorious Charles Metz, who was known as Cleveland. Metz, a former prisoner at the Missouri State Penitentiary, selected Atchison as his headquarters for raids into Missouri and was accepted with open arms by

1947-608: The completion of the connector to St. Joseph, which later became part of the Missouri Pacific, and the final connection to the growing AT&SF system, industrialization reached Atchison. Grain elevators, flour mills, and a flax mill were all erected in Atchison in the late 1860s and early 1870s. Several prominent businessmen in town lured Captain John Seaton, who operated a foundry in Alton, Illinois , to town to improve

2006-433: The freezing point (32 °F (0 °C)) an average of 107 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs between the second week of October and the first week of November, and the last spring freeze occurs between the end of March and the third week of April. The area receives nearly 36.38 in (924 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received in May, June, and July—with

2065-422: The median household income was $ 47,742 (with a margin of error of +/- $ 3,419) and the median family income was $ 60,939 (+/- $ 2,957). Males had a median income of $ 30,093 (+/- $ 6,798) versus $ 12,464 (+/- $ 4,601) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $ 17,399 (+/- $ 8,087). Approximately, 13.0% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.7% of those under

2124-400: The most commanding of price, with people paying anywhere between $ 15 and $ 150 per portrait. Dr. Isaac K. Funk of Funk and Wagnalls paid $ 1,500 for a number of departed portraits. In 1907 came the next victim of May's marriages. Millionaire leather manufacturer Jacob H. Lesher was "told" to marry May by his dead mother, and according to a July 16, 1909 story in the Chicago Daily Tribune ,

2183-472: The name of the Democratic Platform . In the spring of 1857 it was purchased by Samuel C. Pomeroy , Robert McBratney and F.G. Adams, who changed its policy and published it as a free-state paper until the fall of the same year, when Pomeroy became the sole owner. The first post office in Atchison was established April 10, 1855, with Kelley as postmaster. It was opened in a small building in

2242-594: The people of the town. During his period of operations, he stole hundreds of horses from Missouri farmers and sold them in Kansas. He robbed any suspected southern sympathizer and threatened several leading citizens with murder and robbery if they remained in town. He even had the audacity to run off the first president of Atchison, P.T. Abell, who was forced into exile until after the Civil War concluded. He defied all authorities who attempted to rein in his excesses, but

2301-409: The population. There were 3,863 households , out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and

2360-442: The population. There were 3,933 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

2419-401: The portraits. Atchison, Kansas Atchison is a city and county seat of Atchison County, Kansas , United States, along the Missouri River . As of the 2020 census , the population of the city was 10,885. The city is named in honor of US Senator David Rice Atchison from Missouri and was the original eastern terminus of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . Atchison

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2478-417: The psychologist Stanley LeFevre Krebs exposed the sisters as frauds; he employed a hidden mirror and caught them removing a blank letter sealed between two slates and writing a reply which they would pretend a spirit had written. Hereward Carrington who sat with the sisters in 1909 found their slate-writing to be fraudulent. He had also set up a trap by inventing a fictitious mother named "Jane Thompson" in

2537-489: The river; Dr. Stringfellow staked a tract north of Million's. Million sold his claim for $ 1,000—an exorbitant price. Eighteen persons were present when the town company was formally organized by electing Peter T. Abell, president; James Burns, treasurer; and Dr. Stringfellow, secretary. The site was divided into 100 shares by the company, of which each member retained five shares, the remainder being reserved for common benefit of all. By September 20, 1854, Henry Kuhn had surveyed

2596-507: The same time, an article in The Washington Post published on April 17, 1888 reported that Lizzie and May Bangs had created the very lucrative firm, the "Bangs Sisters", which operated spiritualistic parlors in the Chicago area. That year, one of their wealthy clients, photographer Henry Jestram , reportedly paid vast amounts of his fortune for their seances. When Jestram died after being committed to an insane asylum, many blamed

2655-508: The southwest, west and northwest, none of which proved successful. A proposed "Atchison and Pike's Peak" line was eventually taken over by the Union Pacific, while a speculative Atchison-Nebraska connector was eventually finished and taken over by other investors. Bickering delayed the building of bridges, stockyards, elevators, warehouses and railroad yards, revealing the disharmony that plagued Atchison's entrepreneurs. However, with

2714-489: The spirits of the dead, commonly known as spirit-medium séances, on penalty of fine and imprisonment. According to the Los Angeles Times , the two sisters even fooled G.W.N. Yost , one of the main investors in the typewriter, with their "spirit typewriter" which produced messages from everyone from Moses to James Garfield . In late 1894, Lizzie and May began "spirit painting", with "Life Sized Spirit Portraits

2773-507: The town to protect it in case of invasion from Missouri, and on the 15th of the month another company was raised, which was subsequently mustered into a state regiment. In 1863 the city of Atchison raised $ 4,000 to assist the soldiers from the county and after the Lawrence Massacre a like sum was subscribed to assist the stricken people of that city. Citizens of the town also joined the vigilance committees that so materially aided

2832-477: Was $ 31,109, and the median income for a family was $ 37,100. Males had a median income of $ 31,027 versus $ 20,262 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 14,441. About 9.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over. The community is served by Atchison USD 409 public school district, which operates four schools, and serves more than 1,600 students. In 1997

2891-505: Was 1,358.4 per square mile (524.5/km ). There were 4,361 housing units at an average density of 544.2 per square mile (210.1/km ). The racial makeup was 82.33% (8,962) white or European American (80.89% non-Hispanic white ), 6.84% (745) black or African-American , 0.55% (60) Native American or Alaska Native , 0.71% (77) Asian , 0.06% (6) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian , 2.26% (246) from other races , and 7.25% (789) from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race

2950-445: Was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age in the city was 31.6 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 18.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female. As of the U.S. Census in 2000 , there were 10,232 people, 3,863 households, and 2,437 families residing in

3009-426: Was 4.69% (511) of the population. Of the 3,871 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 39.2% were married couples living together; 32.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 36.4% of households consisted of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with

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3068-568: Was delayed by the Civil War, a land grant similar to the one given the Union Pacific to construct the first transcontinental railroad was made by the federal government to Kansas in 1863, which was transferred to the newly reformed Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF). Finally, in 1868, construction was begun on the line in Topeka, but was aimed west and south towards the Colorado border. The connection between Atchison and Topeka ,

3127-463: Was divorced and penniless in less than 24 months. Regarding the sisters' drawings, magic historian David Witter has noted that "experts have surmised that sketches were made beforehand, hidden and slowly moved forward into the light by a free hand while the subjects were not looking." Skeptical investigator Joe Nickell has written that "the Bangses were exposed as tricksters many times." In 1901,

3186-526: Was elected mayor. The German element, largely Catholic, opposed the Sunday closing laws of the new city government, but a satisfactory compromise was reached that allowed the sale of beer on Sundays after church services. The first schools in the town were private, including parochial schools operated by the Germans. One of the first English schools was opened in 1857 by Lizzie Bay. The first school district

3245-587: Was established in October 1858, and a month later the Atchison free high school was opened at the corner of Atchison and Commercial streets. At the outbreak of the American Civil War there were three militia companies organized in Atchison, whose members enlisted in the Kansas regiments. They were known as Companies A, C and “At All Hazards”. Early in September 1861, a home guard was organized in

3304-480: Was finally shot and killed at some point in 1862. He is buried in St. Joseph, Missouri. In the late 1850s, plans were underway to connect California to the rest of the country by rail. The logical location for a western terminus was in or around San Francisco, California , but an eastern terminus had yet to be chosen. Atchison was in fierce competition to be selected as the terminus, and in order to bolster its position,

3363-498: Was historically a segregated school for black children. Many entities have attempted to restore Lincoln School, which is on the Kansas State Register of Historic Places. Private schools in the city include: Stanley LeFevre Krebs Stanley LeFevre Krebs (January 14, 1864 – September 26, 1935) was an American psychologist and salesmanship lecturer. In 1889, he received a Doctor of Psychology degree from

3422-687: Was known as Seaton Lea for most of the 1870s, becoming the Atchison Foundry and Machine Works in 1880. A branch location was constructed in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1881, but closed in 1887. In 1905, the Locomotive Finished Materials Company was established by Harry E. Muchnic, formerly of the AT&;SF railroad, which produced finished materials for the construction of railroad locomotives in close conjunction with Seaton's foundry. The companies eventually merged in 1914 after

3481-410: Was made by John Challis. Until 1858, the city was a pro-slavery bastion, but by that year, the anti-slavery forces took control of the city. On February 12, 1858, the legislature issued a charter to the city of Atchison, which was approved by the people on March 2 at a special election. The first city officers were elected at a second special election on March 13, 1858, and Republican Samuel C. Pomeroy

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