The Early Settlement
Among the early settlers of El Paso the following have possibly been more directly identified with its early growth than any others which we might mention: Geo. L. Gibson, Maj. J. H. Wathen, Geo. H. Camphell, C. Schafer, Thos. McClellan, Dr. S. L. Kerr, W. M. Jenkins and his brothers, Isaac and Robert; W. R. Willis, W. H. McClellan and Rev. W. T. Adams.
The first residence erected in El Paso was built by Thos. McClellan, resident of this city, although having spent a number of years of the intervening time as a resident elsewhere. Before the house was scarcely completed he sold it to Mr. Bain, who many years ago was gathered to his fathers. His widow, Mrs. Caroline Bain, is still living here and occupies her home on the site of this first El Paso residence, the first house having stood until 1890 when it was destroyed by fire. This first residence was built about 1854 and was only antedated by a small shanty which stood on the west "Y" and had been used by the men engaged in building the T., P. & W. road.
The first business house built within our corporate limits still stands on the corner opposite the Grand opera house and is known as the Doyle building. It was erected by W. M. Jenkins in 1856 and there were but two residences here at that time, one of them not finished. Mr. Jenkins had the building framed in Peoria and shipped here on the T., P. & W. and this was the first bill of freight hauled to this place by that road. For four years Mr. Jenkins and his brother Isaac sold all the goods and bought all the grain marketed here.
The City of El Paso was laid out in 1854 by Geo. L. Gibson and Maj. J. H. Wathen, who owned the land, the former owning that on the East side of the Central and the latter on the West side, 160 acres in all. Additions have been made since until a section or more is included within the corporate limits. By a special act of the legislature in February, 1867,
Page2
&
-0