Johnston Lykins
Encyclopedia
Johnston Lykins was a prominent figure in the early history of the United States frontier settlement which became Kansas City, Missouri
. He was the city's second Mayor.
. He became involved with the work being performed among the area's American Indian tribes by Isaac McCoy
, joining the McCoy mission to the Wea
peoples in northern Indiana
in 1819. Lykins was hired as a schoolteacher, not a missionary (he had not been baptized into the fold at that time), and he spent more time traveling for supplies and assisting the mission's functions than he did teaching school. He quit several times over the first several years, but kept returning.
In 1820 McCoy moved his mission to Fort Wayne, Indiana
, and in 1822 moved again to Michigan Territory
, founding the Carey Mission
among the Potawatomi
people. Lykins was baptized in 1822 and was soon appointed as a missionary by the Baptist Board of Missions for the United States.
Lykins applied himself diligently to his calling, and by 1824 could read religious discourses in the Potawatomi language. He continued in Michigan until 1831, and in 1828 he married Delilah McCoy, Isaac's daughter.
The Indian Removal Act
of 1831 forced many of the mission's constituents to be moved westward, and in 1831 Lykins followed them, founding a mission in Missouri
near the Shawnee
reservation.
The Baptist mission board approved funds for printing religious tracts in native-American languages, so in 1833 Jotham Meeker brought the first printing press to the Shawnee Mission. Books in Shawnee, Potawatomi and other native languages were rapidly produced, to be used in missionary educational programs. Lykins was actively involved and edited the Sinwiowe Kesibwi (Shawnee Sun), a small newspaper published entirely in Shawnee.
In 1843 Lykins founded a mission among the Potawatomi near Topeka, Kansas
.. In that same year, some of the tribal elders requested that he be named their tribal physician, a government post that provided him with a salary that was necessary to support the mission. His appointment was opposed by the Jesuits and the Potawatomi allied with them, but was granted in 1844. However, in that area quarrels abounded between clergy of the different Christian religions and even clerics of the same faith. Lykins was an enthusiastic participant in these, and made many enemies. This, compounded by their criticism of his lack of medical credentials, led to his dismissal from the government post (Physician to the Potawatomi) in 1851.
In 1848 Lykins began a trade school at the mission, and after three years he had 90 students.
Lykins left the Potawatomi mission soon after losing his medical position, returning to the Shawnee mission until 1855, when it was closed. At that time he moved to Kansas City, to be near his son.
to Fifth and Broadway). He later expanded his holdings to 12th and Pennsylvania on Quality Hill
.
While residing in Kansas City, Lykins functioned as a medical doctor, apparently self-taught. He was also named president of Mechanics Bank.
He married again in 1851. His second wife was Martha A. Livingston, who wrote a manuscript entitled "Recollections of Early Times in Kansas City" which is now in the collection of the Jackson County Historical Society.
Kansas City after being incorporated in 1853 first elected William Samuel Gregory. Gregory served only 10 months when it was discovered that he was not eligible to be mayor because he did not live within the city limits. Lykins who was first president of the city council became mayor. After completing two months of Gregory's term he was elected to another one-year term.
During the American Civil War
he maintained loyal Union ties while his new wife had to move to Clay County, Missouri as a result of General Order No. 11 which required loyalty oaths for those living near the Kansas border south of the Missouri River.
Lykins continued to reside in Kansas City until his death in 1876. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He was the city's second Mayor.
Biography
Lykins was born in Franklin County, VirginiaFranklin County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,286 people, 18,963 households, and 13,918 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 22,717 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
. He became involved with the work being performed among the area's American Indian tribes by Isaac McCoy
Isaac McCoy
Isaac McCoy was a Baptist missionary among the Native Americans in present-day Indiana, Michigan and Missouri. He was an advocate of Indian removal from the eastern United States, proposing an Indian state in what is now Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma...
, joining the McCoy mission to the Wea
Wea
The Wea were a Miami-Illinois-speaking tribe originally located in western Indiana, closely related to the Miami. The name Wea is used today as the a shortened version of their many recorded names...
peoples in northern Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1819. Lykins was hired as a schoolteacher, not a missionary (he had not been baptized into the fold at that time), and he spent more time traveling for supplies and assisting the mission's functions than he did teaching school. He quit several times over the first several years, but kept returning.
In 1820 McCoy moved his mission to Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, and in 1822 moved again to Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
, founding the Carey Mission
Carey Mission
The Carey Mission was established by Baptist missionary Isaac McCoy among the Potawatomi tribe of American Indians on the St. Joseph River near Niles, Michigan, USA in December, 1822. It was named for William Carey, a noted English Baptist missionary...
among the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
people. Lykins was baptized in 1822 and was soon appointed as a missionary by the Baptist Board of Missions for the United States.
Lykins applied himself diligently to his calling, and by 1824 could read religious discourses in the Potawatomi language. He continued in Michigan until 1831, and in 1828 he married Delilah McCoy, Isaac's daughter.
The Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.The Removal Act was strongly supported in the South, where states were eager to gain access to lands inhabited by the Five Civilized Tribes. In particular, Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in...
of 1831 forced many of the mission's constituents to be moved westward, and in 1831 Lykins followed them, founding a mission in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
near the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
reservation.
The Baptist mission board approved funds for printing religious tracts in native-American languages, so in 1833 Jotham Meeker brought the first printing press to the Shawnee Mission. Books in Shawnee, Potawatomi and other native languages were rapidly produced, to be used in missionary educational programs. Lykins was actively involved and edited the Sinwiowe Kesibwi (Shawnee Sun), a small newspaper published entirely in Shawnee.
In 1843 Lykins founded a mission among the Potawatomi near Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
.. In that same year, some of the tribal elders requested that he be named their tribal physician, a government post that provided him with a salary that was necessary to support the mission. His appointment was opposed by the Jesuits and the Potawatomi allied with them, but was granted in 1844. However, in that area quarrels abounded between clergy of the different Christian religions and even clerics of the same faith. Lykins was an enthusiastic participant in these, and made many enemies. This, compounded by their criticism of his lack of medical credentials, led to his dismissal from the government post (Physician to the Potawatomi) in 1851.
In 1848 Lykins began a trade school at the mission, and after three years he had 90 students.
Lykins left the Potawatomi mission soon after losing his medical position, returning to the Shawnee mission until 1855, when it was closed. At that time he moved to Kansas City, to be near his son.
Kansas City activity
In 1831 Lykins purchased 16 acres (6.5 ha) in what would become the initial plat for Kansas City (his property extended south from the Missouri RiverMissouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
to Fifth and Broadway). He later expanded his holdings to 12th and Pennsylvania on Quality Hill
Quality Hill
Quality Hill is a historic neighborhood near downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, situated on a 200-foot-high bluff which overlooks the confluence of the Kansas River and Missouri River in the West Bottoms below....
.
While residing in Kansas City, Lykins functioned as a medical doctor, apparently self-taught. He was also named president of Mechanics Bank.
He married again in 1851. His second wife was Martha A. Livingston, who wrote a manuscript entitled "Recollections of Early Times in Kansas City" which is now in the collection of the Jackson County Historical Society.
Kansas City after being incorporated in 1853 first elected William Samuel Gregory. Gregory served only 10 months when it was discovered that he was not eligible to be mayor because he did not live within the city limits. Lykins who was first president of the city council became mayor. After completing two months of Gregory's term he was elected to another one-year term.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he maintained loyal Union ties while his new wife had to move to Clay County, Missouri as a result of General Order No. 11 which required loyalty oaths for those living near the Kansas border south of the Missouri River.
Lykins continued to reside in Kansas City until his death in 1876. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.