Part II, N.B. Rees Remembrances
Jan. 6, 1916
Ezra Hubbard was building a mill at Rocky Hill-- bad blood had come to exist between he and the Haleys who wanted to drive him off his claim. They annoyed him a great deal and meantimes, coming at night and tearing down the buildings. At one time, John Haley burned one of the Hubbards’ freight wagons -- the latter suspected Haley of stealing logs from his timber land. On one occasion when he and his son-in-law, John Cook, went with their teams to haul logs, Hubbard took his carbine with him to stop Haley from trespassing -- Haley was on the Hubbard property and when the men were about to hitch a certain log, he claimed it, saying that it had floated on to Hubbard’s place. From this, a quarrel arose, and Hubbard shot Haley. After the shooting, Hubbard managed to get away from Haley’s friends and gave himself up -- he at first was put in the store building at Abram, and later was confined in a building used for a boarding house. Cook was arrested and kept with him. This building has since been moved to Lincoln, and is now occupied by Fred Dill’s Shoe shop -- Sheriff Metcalf appointed Hubbard’s worst enemies to guard the prisoners, refusing all other help that was offered -- as no two persons exactly agree on the names of these guards, we are not sure that we are absolutely correct in the matter, but it seems most likely that they were John Lyden, Charles Wilson, John Ryan and Tim Murphy -- did their best to protect the two prisoners, but to no avail. A mob of 40 men -- in all degrees of intoxication, took place. They first shot at Hubbard through the window, and later, entered the building and shot again -- suffering from nine wounds, the old man crept upstairs on the cleats of the wall to the loft, and later in the night some members of the mob beat out his brains with a carpenter’s mallet. Cook escaped, including several other parties. All of the guards were arrested, but none were brought to trial except Ira Buzick; he was acquitted. This trial cost the county $10,000; and of course the people grumbled and blamed the officers for not keeping such a disturbance down. Hubbard’s body was taken to Salina for burial. Those who escorted the body were well armed and nobody was considered dressed in those days unless he was sufficiently armed to take care of himself.
Thomas Bennet bought the mill; as the way it looked in the process of building. Mob violence was used as an argument for changing the location of the county seat. On Feb. 19, 1872, an election was held, in which 408 votes were cast. Lincoln Center received 232, and Abram 176 -- the triumphant Lincolnites then loaded Abram on wheels and brought it along with the County’s records to Lincoln -- all the buildings were moved -- Abram was not allowed to die a natural death but was given the distinguishing honor of being translated, while yet in the body -- a building was erected for a newspaper by a deaf and dumb man -- but two issues of the paper came out -- the building which was 10x22 feet, was later moved to Lincoln, and became the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Capt. Wait. Mrs. Wait [can’t read] school in it, but has since been moved away and a stone building erected on the location, where it stood and is owned and occupied by Mr. Loso for a shoe shop -- including rooms for various offices. In 1873 the county headquarters were in the upstairs of the Webster building. The rent on this upper room was $300 per year. April 1 of this same year, bonds to the amount of $4000 were voted for building a courthouse. There were much opposition to these bonds -- for the bonds had been ordered -- County Clerk A.S. Potter was warned that an injunction would be served on him to prevent his signing them -- accordingly the blanks were taken from the express office at Salina by another man so that County Attorney Beatty would not know that they had come.
Jan. 13, 1913
(Continued from last week)
They were privately handed to Mr. Potter, who, with Uncle John S. Strange, retired after night to the lonely habitation of Tom Malone’s, northwest of Lincoln, where they, each, signed their names -- 176 times (to bonds and coupons). The bonds were not sold for face-value but the balance of $300 was made up by private subscription. The Courthouse, which was built at that time, was burned in 1898 -- the present fine building was then built, and dedicated in 1900.
Some of the merchants who done business in Lincoln in 1883 were -- Kinsley and Bushoor (boot and shoe dealers) -- D.E. Coolbaugh (first class goods at bedrock prices) -- Smith & Browning (hardware) -- Brunt & Smith (dealers in flour, feed, lime and hair) -- Shoemaker & Son (groceries) -- Saline Valley Bank -- E.A. McFarland (attorney at law) -- A.G. Hardesty (lawyer) -- Hanson & Jones (bakers) -- Waterman Bros. & Adams (real estate) -- Fleshman & Co. (drug store) -- Wells Bros. (dealers in organs) -- Chicago Lumber Co. -- O.B. Edgett (hardware) -- Gus Shoman (Boston Bakery) -- Lincoln House (Angell & Allen, proprietors) -- W.H. Harris & Co. (real estate) -- W.D. Morgan (merchandise) -- Ed F. Coad (attorney) -- Wetmore & Dunn (barbers) -- Buzick & Minx (attorney at law) -- Tenney & Wingett (dealers in hardware) -- F.N. Kiney (dealer in medicine) -- W.L. Smith & Co. (dry goods) -- H.M. VanFleet & Co. (make the boss harness) -- Lile Bros. (lumber) -- C. Baker and E.E. Quick (Lincoln Meat Market) -- John McElhany (City meat market) -- Mr. Johnson (jeweler) -- Ed Perkins, proprietor (Pioneer House). These were some of the business men in those days in Lincoln, who could not afford deliveries for their customers -- the merchants in 1883 were hauling all their stuff from Salina, Ellsworth and Minneapolis -- the U.P. branch was built in 1886 to Lincoln, and a new light shone on the people of Lincoln - and now the town has made a steady growth from that time on -- now we get the Salina Northern -- Lincoln had ought to make a new start, and try and get some kind of a manufacturing plant established here, or open up a salt work by putting same into operation -- if nothing more or less than a good soap factory -- by having these conditions exist, will furnish employment for everybody who live here.
(German Settlement on Bullfoot)
Henry Wacker came to Lincoln County in 1879 -- landed at Ellsworth with one car of implements, and four head of horses -- and landed in Valley township; north quarter, section 6, where he located his land -- there, he built his buildings, stuck to his land and improved it -- with all the hardships, hot winds and prairie fires -- Mr. Wacker still owns his farm, and lives practically a retired life, by looking after his farms.
Will Noble took his claim in Section 6, southwest quarter -- William Davis moved on Spring Creek and took his claim in 1878 -- Henry Kobbeman moved on his claim in Valley township in 1879. He lived on his farm many years, and improved it; he went through the many hardships and stuck to his land, and now owns and operates it to this day; he reside in Lincoln and owns a fine residence and lives a retired life, like many of the old settlers of today -- this goes to show that the men who stuck to their farms are the gainers -- as the land in their neighborhood is worth from $75 to $100 per acre.
Seth Hamblin then located in Valley township corner, on Spring Creek -- one of the wealthy men in that part of the country. He has made his wealth by sticking to it, and working out his own salvation. Mr. Hamblin is a son-in-law of Ed Culver.
Henry Huehl located on the Bullfoot in 1871 in Indiana township. George [can’t read] came to Lincoln County in 1877, and Rudolph Meili was landed on the Bullfoot in 1881; bought land from the Railroad Company. Charley Steinhaus came over on the Bullfoot in 1879 and bought 80 acres from the Railroad company -- George Wacker landed on the Bullfoot in 18[?]2 [1872 or 1882; likely 1882] and bought out a homestead -- George Mullenkamp bought a "quarter" of Railroad land, one half mile north of the Bullfoot -- William Feldkamp bought a "quarter" of land in 1872 on Bullfoot -- George Feldkamp came in 1885 and settled one-half mile of the Bullfoot -- Henry Lance lived one-half mile of Bullfoot and had a homestead -- Peter Vonada bought a "quarter" of Railroad land on Bullfoot where he landed in 1887 -- old man Raynard lived on Bullfoot and bought 80 acres of school land in 1877.
(The above information was given to the writer by Henry Wacker, one of the old time German settlers of Bullfoot.)
John Jaycox came from Fishohill [sic], Duches [Dutchess] County, New York -- came to Pennsylvania in 1865 -- was married and lived there five years; and then he moved to Illinois and lived there five years -- came from Illinois to Kansas in 1865, and settled on a claim near Tower Springs in 1889, and lived there eight years, and then moved to Ellsworth County -- Pat Cleary and John Cleary lived neighbors. -- Patsy had it "in" for Mr. Jaycox -- "read his title clear" as he made up and down the Elkhorn, and claimed, "that he would leave the traces of blood behind him" -- no doubt Jaycox took him at his word and kept "shy" -- this has been a long time ago, and Mr. Jaycox remembers it well, no doubt. To this day, Mr. Jaycox still lives and resides in Ellsworth county. He was an old soldier and belonged to 18th N.Y. Rifles -- served two years -- in 14 battles and skirmishes, and was wounded at South Mountain -- Two messmates killed and one wounded out of four.
A.S. Potter came to Lincoln County as was one of the early settlers -- he did business with the Abram mill. A.S. Potter settled on the townsite of Pottersburg, up on the Spillman. Mr. John Smith and Mr. Potter had a contest of the land, where Pottersburg is now located. After lawing some considerable time, Mr. Smith won out on the land -- Mr. A.S. Potter then moved back to Lincoln and took up his old trade (jeweler). He done business in Lincoln for some time, and then moved to Ellsworth, Kan. Mr. Potter was a good workman at his trade - he was one of the County officers in the early days.
John Dunton came to Lincoln county in 1871 from Iowa. He had a claim two miles southwest of Lincoln, on the main road to Ellsworth. Mr. Dunton was an old soldier, and belonged to the Iowa Regiment, and served his country well during the war of 1865 -- he had many friends in those days -- he worked at the carpenter’s trade in order to make ends meet, so as to improve his farm. The farm at that time was valued at about $250 and today it is worth from $50 to $75 per acre -- Mr. Dunton done business with the mill from 1871 to 1875. He lived here long before the railroad came through this part of the country.
Lyman Dunton came to Lincoln the year of 1872 -- one year later he homesteaded a claim joining his father, southwest of Lincoln. L.J. was an old soldier and served in the 7th Iowa Regiment, during the war of 1865. Mr. Dunton done business with the Abram mill from 1872 to 1875. Mr. Dunton moved to Lincoln years later and sold merchandise for 19 years (Firm name was Grubb & Dunton). In 1904 Mr. Dunton was elected County Treasurer and served his first term, and then was re-elected in 1905 to serve his second term. Mr. Dunton is a quiet man and liked by all who done business with him in those days as one of the old settlers of 1872 to 1905.
(Indiana Township Settlement)
The Indiana Settlement which settled down on the river east and south of Lincoln round about Bashan school house (or No. 15) -- There was Dave Shaver -- came here from Fayette County, Ind., to Lincoln in 1872 -- located southeast of Bashan schoolhouse. Mr. Shaver done business at the Abram mill --- hauled many logs the year of 1873. Mr. Shaver was an old soldier, and served his country with an Indiana Regiment, during the war of 1865 -- there was Jake Shaver, Silas Shaver, Bill Shaver -- Mrs. Lon Allison, Mrs. Chan Ingham, Mrs. James Northern, Tom Kline [Cline?] and wife; Frank Doolittle -- the Shavers mother and also Kirk Shaver -- these people all came from Indiana.
James Winchell and wife are from Fayette County, Ind. -- Samp Bloomheart and wife are the parents of the Bloomheart Bros., who live at Beverly. -- Smiley Green and family came from Franklin County, Ind.
Jan. 27, 1916
Mr. Smiley Green homesteaded and took a timber claim a mile west of the John La Barr old place -- there were several of the Green family who lived in the Indiana neighborhood. The most of them left that part of the country -- some went to California -- Icam Moor [sic] came from Indiana, and lived in the neighborhood of No. 15 school house and took a good claim -- the best land in the county, land that is now worth $100 per acre -- Mr. Gilmore had one of the best farms on the river bottom -- there was Judge Hedrick, Thomas Hedrick, William Hedrick. Ed M. Hedrick married Judge Hedrick’s daughter. William Webb married Ruth Hedrick -- W.S. Reed married Lora Hedrick -- Judge Hedrick died a few years ago in Lincoln. Mr. Hedrick came here to Lincoln County from Laurel, Ind. -- Bill Steward, Pompa Kline, Tom Kline, all came from Indiana, and all lived down in the Indiana settlement -- there people were all the early settlers -- most of them stood the storms, hot winds, droughts, prairie fires and the grasshoppers, but stuck to their homes, in order to make this country what it is today.
The country down the river, southwest of Beverly, is a beautiful valley; rich fertile dark soil land which produced good wheat, kaffir corn and corn; also alfalfa -- it was the first choice of the country -- this is the Indiana settlement -- the Saline river flows down through this part of the valley and some day, no doubt, will be the means of irrigating that part of the land southeast of Lincoln, down to Beverly. Beverly is located on the line of the branch of the Union Pacific Railroad, 12 miles east of Lincoln, It is a beautiful little town -- it is a prosperous town, and has good hotels, and good banks, and most all kinds of business represented -- more especially, it has a fine school house, which is well represented. The businessmen of Beverly are men who look after their city with interest, and with their lumber yards and elevators, ready to accommodate the demand of the surrounding country, which they have to draw from -- the population numbers 500 -- the most of the population of Beverly are descendants of the old settlers -- more especially than any other town in Lincoln County.
Bullfoot
John Heiser took his claim five or six miles southwest of Lincoln, the year of 1869 on the Bullfoot, and moved here in 1870, and commenced to work on his claim to improve it. The writer was well acquainted with Uncle John -- he made many improvements and built himself a fine stone house and barn, and had his place well broken out, and made a success of farming and raising cattle, and further, he raised a large family (nine children in the family) -- John Heiser, Amelia Heiser, Louise Heiser, Emma Heiser, Charley Heiser, Frank Heiser, Ella Heiser, Clara Heiser and Amanda Heiser. The Heiser family were all prosperous and stayed with the country, and many of the ancestors are living in Kansas today and enjoying the blessed Kansas.
Now comes Johnny Walls, who lived on Bullfoot -- one of the early settlers -- had a fine claim, and went through all the hardships, and raised his family -- Jim Walls had land on the Bullfoot -- Mr. Clark had a claim, and Jim Walls undertook a contest, but Mr. Clark finally won out. There was Tom Walls, who also lived on the Bullfoot and had a farm, and was one of the early sheriffs of Lincoln County, and made a good sheriff, and the people were all satisfied with his work. Mr. Walls was one of the best marksmen in this part of the country in those days, and had the name of killing hundreds of buffalo.
Feb. 3, 1916
Now comes Jacob Grubb, one who battled on the Bullfoot in 1871. Mr. Grubb was the father of J.W. Grubb. Mr. Jacob Grubb had a good farm on the Bullfoot; lived there many years and improved his land before he died.
Mr. Hundertmark lived south of the Bullfoot and was the owner of several hundred acres of land and built one of the best houses in that part of the country, which burned down and was a heavy loss to him. Mr. Hundertmark came to this county from Pennsylvania in an early day, and settled on his land and he raised a very large family. While living on his farm, several years ago, he was attacked by a bull, and the bull got him down, crushed in several of his ribs, and came nearly getting away with him, and the result was, that he was several years getting over the effects of it -- in later years he moved to Lincoln and lived there rather a retired life for several years, and built several houses, and done a "loan" business, and also helped people who would help themselves, in order to get a home and was a man who did not want a big percent for the use of his money. Some people thought that Mr. Hundertmark was a hard-hearted man, but the writer knows that he was a fair-minded man; all he wanted, was his own, to this end. Mr. Hundertmark was an old soldier and served his country well during the war of 1865, and passed this life and was laid to rest in the Lincoln Cemetery, in his own vault.
Mr. Farquharson lived on the Bullfoot and came here in the early day and owned land and had control of a tract of land which belonged to Jack Rich, of which he operated for several years -- this tract of land now belongs to John Lewick and his sons, and there is no better land in Lincoln County.
John Hildebrandt was an old settler on the Bullfoot -- there is Charley Hildebrandt and Fred Steinhaus, who also lived in the Bullfoot neighborhood.
Mr. Rowher (transcriber’s note: believe the name was Rohwer) was a settler in that part of the country -- P.B. Stover was a settler southwest of Lincoln and came from Pennsylvania and was well known in this part of the country for years. There was John Erickson who was a prosperous farmer and lived southwest of Lincoln, and Andrew Erickson still survives his parents by staying on the farm, and has stood the hardships of the country up to the present day. There is L.V. Gravener and George Gravener; men who have stayed with the country, and men who have won out by sticking to their land. There was Mr. Veitengruber had a good farm southwest of Lincoln; he was the father of George Veitengruber, the man who operates the Lincoln Ice plant every summer season for J.C. Cooper, and he also operates the "green house" during the winter for F.W. Herman.
There was Mike Healy; he owned a good farm on the south side of the Salina, three miles southwest of Lincoln, and was one of the early settlers. I remember I bought some timber in 1874 of Mr. Healy, and rafted it down the river to the Abram mill and sawed it out and built a house in Lincoln, on the lot east of the Lincoln House, where the white barn stands today.
Christ Kruse was a man who was well known over on the Bullfoot; a man who lived a number of years; he sold out and moved to Sylvan Grove and carried on a real estate business for several years, and then sold out and went to the state of Washington, and lived there until his death.
Mr. Stites, Mr. Rickett, John Walls, James Askey, Bob Askey, Conrod [sic] Dinkey and Charles Nelson were also old settlers of this neighborhood.
There was Mr. J.R. Wolford; he came from southwest Virginia, in 1871, and joined claims with Henry Wacker, and run his farm for many years, and then moved to Lincoln, and is one of the old settlers of Lincoln County. There is Mr. S.C. Wolford, one who has been sheriff of Lincoln County, and who is now a resident of Lincoln; there was Fred Erhardt who lived south of Lincoln two miles, near the German church, and one of the old settlers. Mr. Erhardt was one of the old settlers who served in the war of 1861.
There was John Ryan [can’t read several words] Ryan who lived south of Lincoln about three miles, and also Joe Lopshire -- John Duewell was also one of the old settlers. Mr. Duewell has been dead for several years, and his son, Carl Duewell, owns and operates the old farm, and is one of Lincoln County’s most prosperous farmers -- these people were all early settlers; also Mr. Hurlock -- all these people lived practically in the same neighborhood.
Feb. 10, 1916
On the morning of Jan. 3, 1889, the community was thrown into great excitement over the killing of Jessie Turner by a neighbor named Pat Cleary. The two men had quarreled more or less over a watering place, where both men wished to water their stock, and as Mr. Turner was driving his stock to water Cleary shot him. Cleary then came to town and gave himself up, and claimed he acted in self defense. Coroner DeArmond summoned a jury and repaired with the sheriff to the scene of the shooting. The facts as they appeared to this jury did not stop Cleary’s plea of self-defense. He was tried and found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 20 years. After a few months of his term, a new trial was granted him by the Supreme Court. Accordingly Pat was brought back to Lincoln, and a jury was impaneled, and the trial begin May 16, 1889. The state proved out even to have a better case than it had before, but from some words which were let dropped from time to time, the public was not sure that Cleary would be convicted. The jury was sent out on Wednesday, May 31. They were not able to come to an agreement and by Friday, the citizens began to think that some one or two men were persisting in voting for acquittal. Saturday night the jury was sent out until the judge should ask for their report. The people had now become convinced that the jury was spiked. Sunday night there were open threats made, of lynching, and an extra guard was placed over the jury. Monday morning the jury was still unable to agree, and they were discharged. Cleary might have gone free. Now the only thing the state could have done was to take a change of venue, which can be taken in criminal cases and another lawful jury could not have been secured in the county, but as soon as the jury was discharged, the prisoner, through his attorney, Ira C. Buzick, entered a plea of "manslaughter" in the third degree, and was sentenced by the judge to three years imprisonment, which is the maximum punishment for that degree of crime. As soon as it became known that one man had persistently voted for acquittal, the wrath of the citizens burned higher and higher. J.P. Harmon, who voted for acquittal, was intercepted by an unorganized mob on the street who demanded to know why he "hung" the jury; he placed himself under the protection of the sheriff and was taken to the courthouse for safety; all day long, hundreds of men from all over Ellsworth and Lincoln counties, who knew Cleary, and believed the ends of justice had been defeated, and the law made a travesty, poured into Lincoln. It is believed that Cleary had attempted to kill John Lyden and that he killed his brother-in-law, Cornelious Dits; other stories of his vengeful and blood-thirsty nature were afloat. The jurors and those who had testified against him in the two trials were especially alarmed, learning he would finally be released, and that he would get his revenge.
The mob filled the courthouse square and demanded the J.P. Harmon show himself and be interviewed; he came to the window and gave his reasons, but his answer failed to satisfy the crowd. There was nothing to do now but wait for night; it was said that a guard was stationed every 50 feet in Lincoln, to prevent any possible escape of the prisoner. Toward night the excitement was so tense, as to be felt in the atmosphere; comparatively few people were seen on the streets at dark, and shortly afterwards, Harmon escaped by way of the back of the courthouse. Sheriff Boyle placed guards over the prisoner, and about 9 o’clock went home, leaving the door unlocked; soon after the sheriff was gone, Cleary took a hatchet from the stove and made a desperate attempt to escape; several shots rang out as he ran out across the courthouse yard. He was lodged and captured in the wire fence at the northwest corner of the square. One shot had penetrated his left side. In the course of the short trial given him, before his execution, he is said to have confessed to killing three men, and trying to kill two more, but said it was in self defense. He was taken down the Fourth Street bridge; a new rope provided for the occasion, was tied around his neck, and he was dropped off the bridge, and fell at a distance of 15 1/2 feet.
There were three or four hundred men on the ground, [can’t read several words] the verdict of 90 percent of the people that it was the only thing to do, under the circumstances. It looks like a brutal thing to drag a fatally wounded man to a bridge and hang him, but once into the business, the lynchers could not afford to quit until the job was finished.
Feb. 17, 1916
The sequel to the Cleary case was a libel suit for $10,000 damages, brought against Anna C. and Capt. W.S. Wait, proprietors of the "Beacon," by Jerry Moller of Salina, one of Cleary’s attorneys. This gentleman came nearly being lynched with his client, and he was warned never to come to Lincoln County again. The Beacon had previously remarked, concerning Moler’s conduct of the Cleary case, that he was an all-around villain. Mr. Wait charged him with "fixing" the jury. A short time afterward, on complaint of Moler, Mr. Wait was secretly arrested, and conveyed to Salina at once. It was feared that if the news of his arrest became public, it would be impossible to take Mr. Wait from Lincoln, as the people would demand that he be tried in his own county. On learning of his arrest the people were very indignant, and when the train came in that evening, Mr. Wait was met by a hundred or more of citizens, in buggies and wagons, and afoot (business suspended for the time being). A subscription had been already started to pay the costs of the trial. Mr. Wait was taken to the center of town, and asked to make a speech, telling the public all about the day’s experience in Salina. The trial had been set for October. The Republican of Saturday, Oct. 27, 1889, contained an account of the trial, in which it spoke of, as the most noted trial ever held in Saline County. The affair stirred up Lincoln to the depth as nothing had for years and the people stood by Mr. Wait, regardless of party or personal affairs. The case was widely commended on by the press over the state, and in other states, these comments, all favoring the defense. Had he been tried at home, he would have undoubtedly been acquitted in the first trial, but Saline County was divided. The jurors were all farmers and at the end of 17 hours they stood equally divided. On being told that they must absolutely agree, they returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation of normal punishment. Mr. Moler made a speech, recommending light punishment, and Mr. Wait was fined $10 and court costs, costs amounting to $600. An appeal was taken and granted, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the lower court, and Mr. Wait was acquitted.
The general statutes of Kansas contained the following decision concerning this case:
"A part of the alleged libelous article, was that the alleged to be libeled, who was an attorney at law, assisting in the defense in a criminal prosecution for murder, had at the time no possible hope of being able to clear his client with a fair jury but his only hope lay in a packed jury, and that his manner of conducting the trial showed that he relied upon "hanging" the jury by a "fixed" man, or in other words, by a bribed juror, and after evidence has been introduced, tending to prove these matters, the defendant has the right to show that one of the jurors was fixed or bribed--that he did in fact "hang" the jury, and the defendant has the right to show the conduct of said juror in the jury room, while the jury was deliberating on the verdict, and what said juror then and there did, and what he omitted to say and do, how he voted, and how the other members of the jury voted."
Feb. 24, 1916
(Prosser Creek -- Rattle Snake)
Hall and Boblet were early settlers and lived over on Prosser Creek, and owned a farm, and done an extensive business in the way of handling cattle for several years, and then sold out and moved to the state of Washington. Mr. Charles Stover came here from Maryland and bought the place and owned it for several years, and carried on an extensive business in farming there, and then sold out and went to Beloit, and built a livery stable there and done business there for several years and then sold out and moved to Florida. W.V. Hackenberg was an old settler, and lived on Prosser Creek, and had a good farm and sold out, but still lives in the county. Joe Harper was another old settler who lived farther down the creek. Mr. Harper was a friend to all who came along for many years, and then sold out and left the country, just like a great many others did. Now comes Bob Gilkinson, close in that neighborhood, and had a good farm, but after moved to Lincoln, and indulged in the harness business for many years after, and made a success of this occupation, and now lives a retired life. Frank Louis lived on Dry Creek, and owned a farm, but lately moved to Lincoln to live, and bought him a comfortable home. John Pierce lived near the mouth of Rattle Snake, and was an early settler, and kept post office, when the mail used to be carried overland across to Beloit from Lincoln. Mr. Kirkpatrick, was another old settler over in that part of the country, and in later years, sold out and moved to the state of Washington. Thomas Feakes is one of the old "standbys" who has tilled the soil for many years, and stood the test and stemmed the tide through the hardships of grasshoppers, prairie fires, and hot winds. Thomas Feakes is man who is well posted in the government of Kansas and has a good word for all his passersby. Capt. Smith was one of the men who stood up for this county, and owned a good farm, now where the U.P. Railroad Depot stands. He also owned a good farm over on Prosser Creek, and was afterward owned by Bill Smith, and operated for several years. There was Mr. Prouty, who lived on the Rattle Snake, six miles north of Lincoln, who owned a good farm, but of late years have moved to Lincoln. D.L. Merst also lived in that part of the country. J.B. Hunt also lived in that part of the country, and he came from Ohio in 1887.
I will say that the land on Rattle Snake and on Prosser Creek is a rich fertile soil, and produced abundantly in the way of all kinds of grain, and taking it as a whole, is as good a farming country as you will often find.
(Lost View Schoolhouse)
J.H. Bloyd came to Kansas from West Virginia and settled at Ottawa, Kan., and lived there two years and then moved to Lincoln County, and settled on the Elkhorn, three miles south of Abram; then and there, he homesteaded a claim and lived there 15 years, and then sold out and went to Jewell County, and from there back to Ohio, but now resides in Michigan; had a family of six boys and three girls, viz: W.H. Bloyd, S.W. Bloyd, R.E. Bloyd, J.H. Bloyd Jr., Laura Bloyd, Lydia Bloyd, Bell died when young; Willis Bloyd, R.E. Bloyd lives in Colorado; W.H. Bloyd lives in Washington State.
Thomas Walls had a claim, and was a neighbor to Lon Schermerhorn. Sol Bishop was an old settler down on the Elkhorn and lived there for many years, and I think he came from Virginia to this part of the country. There was Irvin Farnsworth, also another old settler, who came in an early day, and was known by many. There was S.A. Mathews who had a claim south of the river and lived there for years. Mr. Mathews was an old soldier and served in the war of 1865. There was Dan Mason, another old settler who lived south of the river and stood the storms of Kansas and lived here all these many years. Now comes Uncle Hi Hammer, another old settler who lived over on the Elkhorn for many years, and had one of the best farms in that part of the country. Sam Donley was another old settler, who lived in the same neighborhood and owned a large tract of land and was a faithful farmer, and is also an old soldier and served his country well in the war of 1865. Mr. Donley moved to Lincoln several years ago, and now lives a retired life, spending his time of leisure hours with "the boys," playing games, such as "Dominoes" and "horseshoes". Now comes Amos Foy, who lived in the same neighborhood; was another old settler, and a prosperous farmer, and raised plenty of stock and went through all the hardships, and then sold out and moved away from this part of the country.
March 2, 1916
(Lost View Schoolhouse continued)
Pete Moss and Lew Moss lived over on the Elkhorn and had a Broom-corn farm, and indulged in a large business for several years in the business, and worked a large amount of hands. There was the old man Oaks and Jerry Murphy and Dick Keating and Mike Keating were old settlers and all lived in the same neighborhood, I remember well. Uncle Davy Jones was a man who was well known in this part of the country and a man who was well liked by all who knew him. [can’t read the name, probably Farnsworth] was another old standby who was an old settler and stood the storms through this part of the country. Jud Farnsworth was another man who was well known in this part of the country. Ambrose Doolittle was well known and had one of the best farms on the bottom south of the river and lived there until his death. Old Mr. Achterberg, Mr. Linch, Bill Weigert and old man Park all lived in the same neighborhood. The writer was personally acquainted with all these people in this part of the country, and they went through the many hardships and toil that it took to settle up a new country. They were all good citizens, but many of them are gone to their long home beyond the river. Otto Olson came to Lincoln County in 1879 and settled down on Spring Creek and had 10 children; all were raised up in Lincoln County. The writer knew Mr. Olson for many years after he moved to Lincoln; he done shoemaking, and made many a pair of fine boots for the people around Lincoln. There are several of his family still living in Lincoln County, but Otto now resides in Texas. There was Goodman Nuton [Newton?], who was one of the early settlers and will be remembered by many. Nat Hazel, Charley Kelly, Joe Magiby and Sam Shaffer lived on the Elkhorn. W. Burris, Will Wise, A. Carpenter, Frank Edenberg, John Donough [McDonough?] all settled on the Elkhorn. John Garvis, an old soldier, moved to Ellsworth. All these people who lived in this part of the country carried on business with the Abram mill here in an early day and have the credit of settling up the country through the hard times from 1871 to 1875.
The land over on the Elkhorn and its tributaries is some as good land as there are in this county; rich fertile soil adapted for all kinds of grain. The streams in this locality naturally flow to the east and the land receives the morning sun and the rich dew which fall from the heavens, making the land produce most wonderfully. I notice that part of the country in the last 40 years has had its share of the rainfall and frequently hail.
(Rocky Hill Settlement)
Lon Allison was an old settler and came from Indiana. He had a claim east of Rocky Hill and lived there for several years on his farm and made quite a success of farming, also indulged in the trade of plastering and followed the same trade in Lincoln, and became a permanent citizen and lived in Lincoln until his death and his wife still survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Allison had many friends in this part of the country, during their stay and will long be remembered. Mrs. Allison lives in Salina. Dan Day is another old settler who came here in an early day, and owns a large track of land which joins up close to Rocky Hill. Uncle Dan has lived in Lincoln for many years and superintends his farming business, and he was in the war of 1865 and served his country well. He was in the store business in Lincoln for many years, and was also county treasurer of Lincoln County two terms and made good. There was Herman Smith, who lived at Rocky Hill and done blacksmithing for years and was an old settler too. George Mullenkamp lived in the same locality and was also an old settler. Dolph Hardesty owned a farm northeast of Rocky Hill. He was a lawyer and lived in Lincoln for years and had his office joining the city hall. Now comes Mike Sterns, who lived north and owned a good farm little east of The Devil’s half-acre. Mike moved to town and lived a retired life until his death. There was C.C. Page, who lived on Red Rock and done a successful farming business and was also a good shoemaker in his day. Now comes Walter Page, who owns the same place; he lived in Lincoln and run the blacksmith business for a number of years. Edwin Blake came here in an early day and owned a place east of Rocky Hill. Pat English came from the same place, and these people were all well known around Rocky Hill and Lincoln Center. James Dobson was a man who was well known around Rocky Hill in an early day. Mr. Doolittle was another old settler; all these farmers were there when Hubbard was killed, traveling north from Rocky Hill. Uncle Johnny Ryan and Rod Wilmarth owned the farm where the poor farm is. Mr. Wilmarth was a man who had but one arm and hauled all the stone to fence his farm, which stands there yet to this day. John Downs joined farms on the north of the poor farm and lived there many years and carried on an extensive business, raising wheat. Praither lived northeast of the Downs place and coming southeast were John Parker, Mr. Michels, E.B. Bishop, John Rearwin and Tommy Jones. All these men nearly joined farms over on the creek and by going east a few miles John Dart who was the father-in-law of George Green, lived for years.
March 9 and 16, 1916
(Washington Smith History of the Indian Raid)
[These two installments were an exact reprint of part of the text of a speech made in 1876 by early settler Washington Smith and are available by clicking here.]
March 23, 1916
J.D. Miller is another old settler of Lincoln County, Kan., who came here as principal of the Lincoln City Schools in the year 1876. There were then only two grades. The writer was then clerk of the school board. At that time it was a hard matter to find a teacher who could control a school such as we then had, because of a number of boys who were trying to run the school, so much so, that it became necessary for the Board to go to school about once a week, and read the law to the unruly boys. A Mr. Brown, who came here from Pennsylvania, recommended Mr. Miller of Bellefonte, Pa., as a successful teacher who could control our school. The Board, through the writer, secured the services of Mr. Miller, who came here and took charge as principal and succeeded so well that we had no further trouble. Later, Mr. Miller located on the quarter-section on which the German Church, south of this city, is now located. Where he and his family resided until about the year 1884, when he purchased the farm 1 1/2 miles south of town, where he resided with his family until the fall of 1904. In May 1880, Judge Prescott, who was then judge of the District Court, appointed Mr. Miller Clerk of the District Court, to which office he was afterward elected a number of times and served until [can’t read], when he went to Topeka to fill the office of representative from Lincoln County, in which capacity he served three separate terms. He also served four terms as a clerk in the Kansas House of Representatives. In the year 1889, he was appointed a special agent of the General Land Office at Washington, D.C., in which capacity he served in the Secret Service Division of the General Land Office, and while in the field, he worked in California, Oregon, Colorado and Wyoming, with headquarters at Eureka, Calif., Denver and Sundance, Wyo. Served as such under the Harrison administration until Cleveland was elected President, and he was succeeded by a Democrat, when he again returned to the farm. Later he was offered and accepted a position at the World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, where he remained in charge of an exhibit until the fair ended. From there he went to Rochester, N.Y., and accepted a position as bookkeeper in one of the numerous factories of that city. When the factory was closed for the season, he returned to his family on the farm south of Lincoln, where he remained as a farmer until sometime in the year 1904, when he accepted a Government Clerkship in the Dawes Commission, in the Indian Territory. Now a part of Oklahoma. While thus engaged, he removed his family temporarily to Siloam Springs, Ark., for the benefit of his wife’s health and to be nearer to his family while engaged in the allotment of land to the Indians. In the year 1907 most of the Indian allotments having been completed, Mr. Miller severed his connection from the Dawes Commission and returned with his family to Lincoln, where he is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business. Mr. Miller is an old soldier, having served in Co. G, 210 Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Generals Grant, Warren and Sheridan, and was present at the surrender of Lee on April 9, 1865, at Appomatox Courthouse, Virginia, and was honorably discharged from the United States army on the 30th day of May 1865.
March 30, 1916
(Vesper Old Settlers Settlement)
In 1870, a colony came from Iowa and first settled in Pleasant Township, but after and what is now better known as Vesper Township. Wilson Schofield settled on the southwest quarter of Section 10, Township 12, Range 9. The colony consisted of Wilson Schofield, Frank Schofield, Lile Watterman [sic], H.S. Steele and John Troup, and others, all settled in the same neighborhood. Now comes the Maryland people, who settled on Lost Creek, better known as Grant Township. William Cheney came here from Maryland in 1872. Mr. Cheney was a man of considerable capital and very energetic; this land known as the Cheney ranch, consisting of about a thousand acres of land and was located northwest of Vesper. Mr. Cheney’s family consisted of Robert Cheney, Will Cheney, George Cheney, Sam Cheney, Shelby Cheney, the youngest of the boys (girls) one married John Shradder [sic]; one married Wayne Brumbaugh; one married John Yost. The writer was well acquainted with Uncle William Cheney the many years he lived in this part of the country. In those early days his home was open to all passersby, who were taken in at all hours, day or night, and fed and housed; there were no [more] clever people than the Cheney family who ever lived in the state of Kansas. There is a monument that stands to tell the passersby, who once lived a friend to all. Robert Lewis, A.G. Lewis and George Lewis were half brothers to Mrs. William B. Cheney. Mrs. Jake Middlekauff was also his half-sister. Mr. Bruce Middlekauff married Miss Minnie White of Vesper; Jake Middlekauff married Miss Mason, daughter of Dan Mason. Miss Bessie Middlekauff, now Mrs. Bert Gilpin, who is a merchant at Colby, Kan., now. Now comes the Brumbaughs and they came from Maryland in 1875 to Lincoln County. Bill Brumbaugh, Sam Brumbaugh, Wayne Brumbaugh, one girl, Mrs. Harl Swisher, who came in later years. J.P. Harmon came to Lincoln County in 1874 from Maryland and settled in Vesper. Mr. Harmon was Justice of the Peace, and all these people lived in the same neighborhood, and were all prosperous people.
The town of Vesper is located on the branch line of the U.P. Railroad seven or eight miles west of Lincoln. Vesper is one of the most enterprising towns on the U.P. Line. Mr. Bruce Middlekauff built one of the best store and bank buildings west of Salina; the building is 100 feet by 80 feet, three stories high, and contains one good store, a bank, and a large hall upstairs. Vesper has one good hotel, of which belongs to J.F. Schnel, who now lives in Washington, D.C. Morris Cromwell is now proprietor. Mr. Schnel is an old soldier and served in the war of 1865. Vesper has three elevators, which hold more grain than any other town of its size in the state of Kansas. Vesper has two churches, one Catholic and one Presbyterian; also has one of the finest schoolhouse buildings that you will find anywhere; it cost $15,000; one dry goods store (Jepson & Cromwell, owners); one hardware store, Powers & Morgenson, proprietors; one harness shop, John Galiger [sic; I think it’s Gallagher], proprietor. Mr. Maliger [sic, Gallagher again?] is an old settler and lived many years in Lincoln and run the harness business there and made a success of the business before he went to Vesper. Frank Cromwell runs a blacksmith shop and also does all kinds of carpenter work; one livery barn and garage in connection with it, owned by Billy Flaherty. Now comes the Loy family: B.F. Loy came to Kansas from Hagerstown, Md., in 1872 and settled in Vesper Township, Section 2, Township 12, Range 9; he had a large family of 10 children, seven boys and three girls, namely: John Loy, James Loy, Alf Loy, [can’t read one name], Jennie Loy, Maude Loy, and Mollie Loy; also Charles Loy, and all living but Charles Loy, and Mollie Dunn. The writer knew Mr. B.F. Loy for many years and he was a successful farmer and was one of the best wheat raisers in the Vesper neighborhood; some years as high as 40 and 50 bushels to the acre. The Loy family are all prosperous people and good citizens. They have stood the storms, the droughts and hot winds and grasshoppers and stuck to the country, and have been living under the sunny skies of Kansas for over 40 years. H.S. Steele came from New York to Kansas in 1871 and settled near Vesper, and homesteaded 160 acres in Vesper Township. His wife, Hattie Steele, taught the first school in Vesper Township, now known as Old Vesper. Mr. Steele was a well educated man and a worthy citizen to all who knew him, while a resident of that neighborhood. He then sold out and moved to Tescott and remained there for some time and then moved to Topeka, where he is now enjoying his old days. Wilson Schofield built a large double log house and entertained many newcomers who came to Kansas, and he was a man who was known all over Lincoln County. Frank Schofield was Wilson Schofield’s son. He and his father owned a ranch on Oak Creek and handled a large amount of cattle.
Part I
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