F 687 .L7 B26 Copy 1 ^iimi(i' If fY!j.y;^., '■< ■■N.'v- ! A ^^f't Glass Tkii Book. . Lt B^i A Souvenir History OF Lincoln County, Kansas BY Elizabeth N. Barr, (A native and an old settler) 1908 y/^7 4- BcMcation: •I- ^i^ /ly /o /Ae makers of his/orj/ thai t/ie ivri'iers of I'i 4* can most fitii'nff/j/ deeii'caie i/ieir tvor/c. So, here' s to the 4* iP/oneers of ^/ncotn Countu, Sor/ie of t/iem bu/ttted "i* better than thej/ /cnew, others tvorse than they intentted/ •!* 4- but at/ things have worked together for good to those "I* 4- who iove the ri'ffht. 4* 4- + 4- ELIZABETH N. BARR. PREFACE This book has been compiled fioin the writteu and verbal ac- counts of those who ought to know the history of Lincoln Coun- ty. Personally 1 knew nothing of this history when 1 began gathering the material, and when stories contlicted 1 was not prejudiced to either opinion but tried in all possible ways to as- certain the actual facts In the case. 1 have interviewed most of the early settlers and those to whom 1 am most indebted are: .1. .). I'eale, Richard Clark, and C'halmer Smith of Beverly; John S. Strange, N. B. Kees, Anna <". Wait, Fred Erhardt, Adolph Roenigk, E. M. Harris, Martin Hendrickson, Daniel Day, Cris. Bernhardt, C. M. Heaton, Tone Bishop, Ogden Green, .Myron Green of L.incoln: William Baird of Vesper; Mrs. Morgan and A. K. Buzick of Sylvan Grove. Those from a distance who have contributed letters and arti- cles are: b\ A .Schemerhorn, Eli Ziegler, and A. T. Biggs. Oth- ers have been kind enough to loan clippings. Among these clip- pings were articles by .J. K. Mead. .1. J. Peate, Thomas Strange, Washington Smith, Gen. Geo. A. Forsyth, also several important articles by unknown parties. Besides getting the statements of these people 1 have read the tiles of at least one newspaper from '73 down to date and searched the archives of the State His- torical Society diligently and gleaned all 1 could from that source. A special vote of thanks is due the newspapers and others who liave loaned cuts and pictures. 1 wish to make special mention of those who have advertised in this book. They are the fellows who are up-to-date and p''o- gressive or they wouldn't be here. And it is the man who is public spirited, liberal, and broad minded with whom you want to deal, not simply because he will do the best for the com- munity but because he will do the best by you. As you read this book just notice who these men are. I have done my best to give a true account of the happenings of Lincoln Countj'. 1 know there will be some mistakes, and 1 do not anticipate that everybody will agree with even that part of my story which is correct. If vou do not agree with me do not ask mo to change it now. If there is anything left out which you think ought to have been put in you should have spoken of it last summer. In case this book meets with your approval 1 shall be happy. In ea.se it does not I refuse to worry. ELIZABETH X. BARR. History of Lincoln County Geology of Lincoln County Lincoln County lies directly under the ancient coast line of the Triassic age, along which were deposited enormous beds of salt, ranging from seventy-five to two hundred fifty feet in thick- ness, at depths ranging from four hundred fifty feet at Hutchin- son, Kans., to nine hundred twenty-five feet at Anthony, these depths being the least and greatest which have been found. So much for the salt. Stone was found in the neighborhood which when polislied made a very handsome marble surface. The I^incoln Board of Trade then sent for Robert Hay, a geologist, who reported on the geology of Lincoln County as follows: "The Geology of Liucoln County, Kansas, is mainly connected with two sub-divisions of the Cretacious group of formations. These in descending order are Benton series and Dakota series. There is some good building material in the Dakota, formed during ihr- epoch. The marble found in some limited districts may be looked for in other areas. It is quite likely that the Dakota sandstone will yield gas under favorable conditions. Tliese conditions are most likely to be found under the high land forming the divide from Lost Creek around the head of the Prosser and Rattlesnake Creeks. It is possible that similar con- ditions may be found in the southwest part of the county, and on the west line between Wolf and Spillman. Gas must not be sought near the outcrop of the strata, hence the localities indi- cated here. "The lignite at every place we visited was at the same geolog- ical horizon, very nearly at the top of the Dakota. It is useless to look for this bed low down in the Saline Valley. The best guide to its position is ihe lowest layer of Benton limestones. If the boring is begun at some twenty feet below that, the hori- zon of the lignite will be reached at less than one hundred feet. It Avill probably pay to test it on the slopes of Lost Creek, Beaver, Rattlesnake, Upper Bullfoot, and West Elkhorn. The Dakota may yet yield another lignite horizon, and if so, it will be better, being farther below the surface." J. R. Mead gives an account of a legendary tin mine in the History of Lhiculn County %^^ ^V 4-:'C:,:l:' \ •if '.'**■ I V » ^ \ •>. >'.'■ .* HiHtury of Lincoln County vacinity of lOlkhoni or VAm Crook. So far it has nevor boon dis- COVOl'Od. Among the valuable materials which have boon found and used are coal, which was first discovered in wells; marble, red, brown, and purple, s-treaked with white: sail and l)uilding rock, which is still extensively quarried. The above is a piciuie of Table Rock, for which Table Rock Creek was named. For many years it was a great curio io trav- elers who came through this section, but was destroyed by nn- known parties some years ago. 10 History of Lincoln County Pre-Historic Geographically speaking Lincoln ("ounly is in the central part of Kansas, and Kansas is in the center of the Universe, hence the importance of what shall follow. It is watered and drained by the Saline River, and by its tributaries, the creeks. Wolf and Spilhnan, Lost, Beaver, Twelve Mile on the north and Twin, Bull- foot, Spring, Elkhorn, Owl and Table Rock on the south, also by Rattlesnake and Battle Creek, which flow into Salt Creek in the northwestern part of the county. There are seven hundred fifty sections of arable land, most of which is under cultivation. The landscape is just rolling enough to be beautiful, but not to interfere with tillage. The air is so clear that the eye may span many miles, and looking from any high point one may see com- fortable and thrifty farm-yards, shaded by beautiful trees and surrounded by fertile well-kept fields. One can trace the streams by I heir wooded banks, and perhaps see the spires of a village in ihe distance. Withdraw these evidences of civilization from the scene, peo- ple it instead with occasional herds of buffalo, deer, elk, ante- lope, towns of prairie-dogs, packs of gray wolves, flocks of wild turkey and prairie-chickens, with perhaps a band of Indians mounted or afoot, and you have the proper scene for the be- ginning of these chronicles. Some of these herds of buffalo and deer were surprisingly large sometimes, containing tens of thousands. We have it on good authority that a single herd of buffalo crossing the railroad track some time in the sixties held up a train from nine o'clock in the morning till five in the evening. Mr. Erhardt tells of starting out from his home with a friend to get some tallow and killing ninety-two buffalos in one afternoon. This must have been before the year 1S70. In ten years from the time the first settlers came, buffalo began to be very scarce in the county, very few were seen after 1877. Mr. J. R. Mead, in a letter to Miss Clara Green, speaks of seeing a herd of elk between five hundred and a thousand, in number, coming down the valley from Spillman Creek. They crossed the Saline where the town of Lincoln now stands. A hundred great bucks were in the herd, their immense horns History of Lincoln County ' U looking lilvH a forest of dry coltonwood limbs, as they walked through the sunllowers with their bodies partly hidden by the grass and weeds. Mr. Mead also tells of a great herd of deer which he saw in this county. He has given a complete description of this section of the country in its natural state. We quote in brief: ■'In the lowlands along the river the sunflowers grew a dense thicket ten feet high. Along the bluff was a line of drift show- ing the valley had been covered six feet with water. I'his line of drift extended far up the river, and the valley above where Lincoln now stands must have been covered, judging from the drift ten to fifteen feet deep, occasioned by the bluffs on either side and the thick timber forming a gorge." In his letter he says further: "1 and my party were nearly drowned on Wolf Creek in 1861. The water rose thirty feet in an liour. Big logs and trees were left at the foot of the bluffs a quarter of a mile from the creek." Besides the animals above mentioned there were many beav- ers, ravens, eagles, badgers, squirrels, porcupines, raccoons, foxes, otter, and wildcats. The famous Pawnee road which extended from Nebraska to the Big Bend of the Arkansas, thence wherever opportunity af- forded, came through what is now Lincoln County and crossed the Spillman five or six miles above its mouth. This well- watered, well-wooded country, full of big game, offered a happy hunting-ground, and with its ridges and rocks was a bonanza for primitive warfare. Of the tribes which frequented this country, the writer has learned very little except that Pottawatomies, Cheyennes, Sioux, Delawares, Kaws, Otoes, and Pawnees were all seen by early hunters in the valleys of the Saline and Spillman. It seems that these Indians were seldom dangerous if they knew a white man was armed and had the will and ability to defend himself. But J. R. Mead has well said: "The timid and weaklings had no business in that country." The Pawnees in particular were capable of being docilized, and the superior keenness which ages of thieving had taught them, made them valuable govern- ment scouts in the border warfares. They were excellent horse- men, and had a thorough knowledge of the country over which their raids extended, hundreds of miles in width and from Ne- braska to Mexico. The Pawnee road above mentioned was no defined path, but just a route within a strip of country a mile or so in width. They made semi-annual buffalo hunts with this road as a basis. Next in importance, as a means to wealth and honor was their 12 History of Lincohi County thieving expeditions. J. R. Alead describes tlie equipment of one of tliese parties: "Tlie Pawnees invariably went on tliese expe- ditions afoot in parties of from two to tliirty-five, composed mostly of young men. They were lightly armed, all had a very serviceable bow and quiver of arrows, and a knife. Each In- dian carried from four to six extra pair of new moccasins, one oi- more lariats, twenty pounds of dried meat, some pieces of strap to repair their clothing also a pipe and tobacco, an occa- sional light squaw axe and a few trifles. This was all that was necessary for a thousand mile .iourney. Although they went nfoot they expected to come back mounted for when they raided another tribe they depended on stealing enough horses to gel away on. A piece of tanned hide looped around the lower jaw of the horse was bridle enough. They were so successful that they were hated by all other plains tribes. Their hand was against every man and every man's hand against them. All tribes were united in theii' effort to exterminate the thieving Pawnees." Mr. Mead says further: "Periodically the Cheyenne warriors spread out like a net, swept over the rolling country of hills and streams and valleys between the Solomon and Saline in eager search of (he detested raiding parties." The Pawnees avoided conflict wherever possible as il inter- fered with their business, they were out to steal ponies and not to pick quarrels, but once drawn into battle they were among the bravest and most skilled w^arriors of the plains. The Pawnees followed the same program after the coming of the whites. They had once occupied all the territ-ority of Kansas and still claimed it, and thought they had a right to gain their living from it. This worked a great hardship on the set- tlers, which, with other hardships of pioneer life, prompted Wasshington Smith in his history to ask what motives "impelled men to leave ihe scenes of childhood, the surrounding of youth, the love of kindred and associations of home, the tender ties of friendship and the graves of their ancestors to contend with the inclement skies and inhospitable shores of an unknown coun- try" Their riiotives were various, but in any case it was not dangers, hardships, privations, calamity, war and death which Jilled the minds of those who laid the foundations of our present ( ommonwealth. It was rather the opportunity of a new country, a veritable new heaven and new earth, which attracted them. Here was an opportunity to transfer Ihe best of what existed in older settled places and to build to that something more ad- vanced and better, and economically an opportunity to gain History of Lincoln County lunv and i iclior estates tof t licniselvcs. and better advantages foi- their children. Those wlio looked on the right and not the wrong side of the picture had strength, and faith to endure all adversity and were permitted to see with their own eyes all these things come to pass. Such is the reward of the hope tluit "sijrings eternal in the human breast." Il *" —^^^^- ^^^^^^i'"**'^^ mi'- ' 1 ^-^ % '1^ ¥^M ,- ;m,^ -^ 1^4 History of Lincoln County Coming of the White Men It is not possible to go very far back in the history of Lin- coln County, although our introduction has shown that prehis- toric times in this section of the country must have bfien full of interesting events. We have seen that with its superior ad- vantages for food, war and spoit it was the favorite stomping ground of several tribes of Indians. It was claimed by more than one tribe, even after it had become government tana by treaty. The Pawnees, especially, still considered it theirs and thought they had a right to gain their living from it by raids. The first white man on record to visit what is now Lincoln County was Bourgmont and his party in 1724. His line of march has been traced through the county going from east to west. Pike and his party came through in 1806. His line of march extended from the north, and the two routes intersected about the place where Lincoln Center now stands. In the fifties hunting parties going up the Saline and Solomon Rivers operated in the territority which is now Lincoln County. Few of them left any record of theii- findings or their exper- iences. Some of Mr. Mead's adventures appeared in Vol. IX of the State Historical collections from which the following quotations are taken: "There was a battle fought on the plains north of the Spillman Creek in June, 1861. The Otoe tribe from the north, with their families and a letter from their agent, came down for a big hunt. They camped in the valley along the creek. The Chey- ennes found them and sent three or four hundred warriors to drive them out. The Cheyennes were afraid to charge the camp as the Otoes had guns. Both sides fought on horseback with bows and arrows and after the battle arrows could be picked up everywhere. In one instance two young men rushed together at full speed, seized each other with their left hands, stabbing with their right till both fell dead without releasing their hold. The Otoes finally retreated down the river to my ranch with scalps, ears, fingers and toes of their enemies, trophies of the fight, tied on poles. "Once I left a young fellow at a camp I had established while History of Lincoln County 1j I went over to Wolf Creek lo hunt a few days. On returning I found my man hidden out in (he brush nearly frozen, with nothing to wear but his under clothes. Two Indians came along with some stolen horses, saw he was scared, made him cook all they could eat then took off his clothes or whatever else they wanted and leisurely packed their ponies. Back of the camp shelter was my young man with two loaded guns hid under some skins. He was too badly scared to use them. He could easily have gotten away with both Indians, but he lacked grit. "On another occasion (December, 1861), I established a camp on Spillman Creek and after collecting a quantity of furs left one man in the camp and went to hunt with my other man and team. It was very cold and snow deep. In a day or two the man I had left came to my camp; said he heard shooting around, was scared and skipped in the night. I drove back and found my camp plundered and a big trail in the snow leading down to the river. Directing my men to follow I started after them on my pony. In a few miles I saw them ahead on foot. Each one had a big wolf skin of mine hanging down his back, a slit in the neck going over his head. There were thirty-three of the party. I followed them unseen for some distance and saw I could not possibly get around them as my pony could hardly stand, her feet were so smooth; but I had to get to my ranch ahead of them, so I rode into them and was surrounded and captured. I found they were a party of Sioux on maraudin.g expedition, some of them, the most villinanous-looking beings 1 ever saw. I .gave them a good talk, let on I was glad to see them, proposed we all travel together to which they agreed, had a jolly time for half a day, by which time I had so in- gratiated myself with the chief who was a fine fellow, that I was allowed to go on alone. Our conversation was carried on in sign language. I had two men at the ranch and my men with the team got in that night. The Indians came to my place the next morning and built a fortified camp in the timber back of the house. I treated them nicely, gave them tobacco and got all my furs back except an otter skin." "Uncle Mike" Sterns, as he is familiarly known here, used to hunt in this country with Uncle Tom Boyle, Ade Spahn, and a man by the name of Dean, in fifty-eight and fifty-nine. He says that the Moffit ranch house was located about 150 yards down the Saline River from Rocky Hill bridge on the north bank. The evacuation may be seen there at this time. On one of these hunting trips the party camped near the mouth of Beaver Creek under a large oak tree that is familiar i*} Historu of Lincoln County to all of the old settlers and on going to the creek for water t'oiuid it dry. Spahn, being an old hunter, led the party up the creek very cautiously and when near where the Dan Day's barn now stands, they came upon a beaver dam where several hundred beavers were busily engaged in enlarging it. Uncle .Mike says that it was one of the most beautiful sights he has ever seen. On another of these hunting expeditions they pitched their camp on the Blkhorn bottom south of Rocky Hill. One of them carelessly threw a quarter of buffalo meat on the picket pins. That night when they staked the horses out with the pins the wolves were so ravenous that they gnawed the pins to pieces, the horses escaped and they never recovered them, une of the number walked to their home in Salina and brouKln ui) a team of oxen v/ilh which they continued the hunt. On this I lip they saw some wolves surround a cast off buffalo and make a circle around him with relays and after chasing him till he was exhausted they hamstringed him and devoured lilm. This took place around the bluff near where Sam Weigert now lives, southeast of Lincoln. At one tim.e when camped on the .1. W. McReynolds farm in what is now Franklin township, the others of the party went away for the day, as was their usual custom, and left Mr. Sterns in charge of the camp. A party of Indians came up and asked for coffee. lie refused to gel it for them and after repeatedly asking for it they grew angry and one of them IjicUed up a loaded musket, cocked it and placed the muzzle at his bi'east. He then pointed to the bucket and to the si)ring up ilM hill and told them to go. He did so, and upon retuinin?, found the Indians gone and all of !h<> camp supplies stolen. The accompanying illustiation is the scene of a battle-ground of the Pottawatomie and Pawnee Indians, on Bullfoot. Indian bones were found in tlie cave shown in the picture and vari- ous opinions have been advanced as to how they came tlieie. Mr. F. A. Schemerhorn says in a letter: "'As to the battle be- tween two Indian tribes on Bullfoot. I went over there in 1867 and gathered up a sack full of skulls and gave them to Dr. T. B. Fryer then post surgeon at Fort Harker, and nearly every si massage. 30 History of Lincoln County Indian Troubles of 1868 The Saline and Solomon Valleys were often visited by marud- ing bands of Indians who killed or carried away the settlers, and destroyed property. The territory which is now Lincoln County was considered unsafe and the settlers lived in con- stant alertness for their red foes. While the primary object of these raids was to get food and plunder, the savage- nature of the Indian would not let him stop merely with compelling settlers to cook for them and to give up their valuables. During the raids of August, 1868, the neighbors were gathered at VVm. Hendrickson's place on account of the Indians. Word came that the Indians had hoisted a black flag on IBullfoot. They were badly in need of food. But the women tJiat had charge of the citadel would not allow them to go out while the danger lasted. Among the people were .Martin Hendrickson, Jonn nfrangr, Tom Alderidice, Fred Erhardt, Phil Lantz, and a Mr. Shaw. The married men had their families there. Finally Martin Hendrickson and Fred Erhardt managed to get away and they rode around to see what they could find. They weut south, crossed the river at the Thieman place, went on till they crossed BuUfoot and found the black Hag on the south side of the creek a mile from Erhardt's place. It proved to be a piece of calico put up by some white man for a joke. They then dismounted, and, leading their horses, began to look for Indian tracks. They came up the river to the mouth of the Spillman. crossed to the north side, and came toward home. They saw two people with handkerchiefs on their heads and thought at first they were Indians, but on coming nearer found theia to be two little girls, aged six and eight. The elder said, "The Indians have had us." The younger said, "1 wish 1 had a piece ^f bread and some water." These children were captured on the Solomon in Beloit and carried away by the Indians who, when surprised by the sol- diers, dropped them on the heights northwest of Lincoln. They had spent the night in a deserted house and when found thought they were still on the Solomon. The circumstance was re- ported to Fort Marker. A rumor was out that two children had History of Lincoln County '^^ been taken from Beloit. A telegram was sent from Foil Marker and their father, Allen Bell, came and took them home. They remained a week at Wm. Hendrickson's. A few days before this, about August 8, three women, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. David G. Bacon, and Miss Foster, were capturecl in a raid on the Spillman. Mrs. Bacon had her baby with her. The women were abused terribly and bound with ropes. Mrs. Bacon became insensible by a blow on the head which cut to the bone, and was left on the prairie for dead. Later in the day she was picked up again by the Indians. At nl^ht they placed the women on ponies and told them to go to their wigwams. Mrs. Bacon was so nearly exhausted that uhe fell off her horse and the other women were obliged to go ,on with out her. She was found the next morning by Mail in Hen drickson, who was the advance guard in the searching- party. She still had her baby, but both were suffering intensely. In connection with this raid Mr. F. A. Schemerhorn says: "Our first child was born August S, 1868. The Indians made a raid in there that day." The timely arrival of Colonel Benteen with his troop,* of the Seventh Cavalry, which was Custer's regiment, no doubt saved a general massacre. It is the opinion of many of the old set- tlers that Colonel Benteen just happened to be coming ^through here. We quote from Mr. Schemerhorn on this point. "About three p. m., August 8, 1868, Colonel Benteen with his troops, A and G of the Seventh Cavalry, came to my ranch. The Colonel, being an old acquaintance, came in to call on me, and asked if there were any Indians to shoot. I said I thought not, as they had made a raid a few days ago, and I believed had left the vicinity as usual. He said the Government scouts reported quite a large body of Indians in our vicinity and that he had made a forced march from Fort Zarah, seventy-three miles, since two p. m. the day before. The horses had not been unsaddled since starting. He mounted his horse and said he was going over to the river about a mile and a half to await supplies which were coming to him from the fort. In about a naif hour 1 heard a lot of shooting and yelling and kne\r it was the soldiers. "Pretty soon a young man, Insley, I think was his name, came running his horse, and yelling at every jump that the Indians and soldiers were fighting. 'Give me your revolvers,' he cried. He repeated the request several times but I told him under the circumstances I thought I had better keep them myself. I asked him where he was going and he said down the river after more men to fight the Indians. In about an hour a sergeant and 32 History of Lincoln County tour men came saying Colonel Benteen sent them to tell me tliat everything was O K., that they had driven the Indians across the Saline and there was no further danger at present." It seems hardly possible that this engagement wai on the John Hendrickson place. The Indians are known to iiave at- tacked his house which was near Lincoln, and which was afterward occupied by soldiers, and now forms the corner of the Pioneer House. The Pioneer House of Lincoln, which contains some historic logs. It is known that during this attack some soldiers appeared on the scene and drove them away. It is hard to reconcile dates given by different people. Mr. Schemerhorn says the raid on the outskirts of the settlement occurred on 2d and ;Jd, of August, and that the troops came on the 8th, but if the soldiers drove Ihe Indians out on the sth, how did they become bold enough to come back und raid again between the l(h and i:!th, as we shall note later in E. E. .lohnson's diary? We leave the question for a later historian. It seems probable that some of Black Kettle's men were on the Spillraan about this time and may have been the partj 10 attack the Hendrickson place. Black Kettle's territory was invaded by Custer a short (inie History of Lincoln County 33 afterward, and his whole village was destroyed. One hundred thirty warriors were killed, and the squaws taken captive. Mr. Schemerhorn says further: "General Sully came a few days after and established his headquarters and it was then that the blockhouse was built." General Sheridan, who was in command of this department, came to the headquarters from Missouri. He met Mr. J. J. Peate (August. 1S(3S) at Schemerhorn's store on the l^lkhorn As Mr. Peate was a Government scout for Sheridan, ana a good Indian fighter, the General selected him to help gamer logerncr and organize a company of volunteers from among the settlers and hunters to protect the frontier. Sixty men were enlisted, of which nuniber twenty-three were from the Saline Valley. These were J. J. Peate. Chalmer Smith, E. E. .Johnson, com- mander of the volunteers. D. V. Skinner, Fletcher Vilott, Louis Farley and his son Hutchison, Thomas Alderdice, Thomas Boyle, Eli Ziegler, Geo. Green, John Lyden, and John Haley, of the section which is now Lincoln C^ounty, and G. W. Culver, Frank Herington, Howard Morton, G. H. Tucker, G. B. Clark, A. J. Eutsler, E. E. Tozier, K. R. Tozier, Wm. Stubbs, and J. E. Green, from Ottawa -and Saline Counties. The operations of this body of scouts were not in Lincoln County, and it may seem far fetched to include an account of their campaign in this history, but the writer believes tliat it belongs here for various reasons. The campaign ended with one of the greatest Indiar. battles ever fought on American soil, and the most important part in this battle was taken by Saline Valley men. The buttle ac- complished results important to Lincoln County, wh„ch was scarcely habitable and at least not attractive for settlement so long as the "dog soldiers" remained unchecked. The battle of Heechers Island, on the Arickaree River, was the salvation of a large section of the country which mcluded Lincoln County, and it is only right to acknowledge the debt we owe to those who made the future development of our county possible and drove out the enemy that we mip,ht pos- sess the land. K E. Johnson had the fortunate habit in those days of keep- ing a diary. The following are some of the entries: "Tuesday, August 11. — Went on an Indian scout uIj to the head of Spillman Creek, rode about sixty miles. Got back at eleven o'clock at night, pretty well used up. The Indians had ravished two women and tried to burn one house." "Thursday, August. 13th. — Had another Indian scaie. The Indians came in eleven miles above here and commenced firing 34 History of Lincoln County on the settlers, but luckily enough just then there was a party of soldiers coming over from Fort Harker and happened on the ground just as the Indians commenced firing, and gave chase.' Some authorities say this firing was done at the home of John Hendrickson, the blacksmith, who lived near Lincoln, where the soldiers were quartered, if so, they did not attack the place on the 8th. "Friday, August 14th.^ — Went up as far as Mr. Berry's last night and stayed till morning. The settlers kept coming in all night. Got breakfast and struck out on the trail and followed it about eight miles. Met some of the soldiers coming back; learned from them that they ran the Indians fifteen miles, and it came dark on them and they had to quit." "Saturday, August 15th. — Went up the Spillman Cieek to where the command was camped. The Colonel sent back to Fort Harker to know what he should do. Sent out si^outs to find the Indians. They came back at night, having fouud noth- ing of note. Boys elected me captain to take commanil of the citizens." The scouts Avere soon on their way west, but eignt of them were delayed at Fort Hays, by a mistaken order tmtil it was too late to meet General Forsyth at Fort Wallace, who, with fifty- one men besides himself, was soon pushing ahead into the heart of the enemy's country. Forsyth left Fort Wallace September 5, and followed the Indians trail till the afternoon of September 16, when he camped, expecting to meet the Indians the next day. The Indians who were gathered in this region and It ad been retreating to get the scouts where they could easily annihilate them, planned a daylight surprise. They were in the Deauti- ful valley of the Arickaree and not far away was an island in the river. The attack was made the next morning before the light was clear. This little band of fifty-two men were surrounded by over a thousand warriors, who were armed with Springfield breech- loaders, Spencer and Henry rifles. Their successful cimpaign and ultimate victory over these skilled warriors, theif break- ing of the brilliant charge of Roman Nose, and their eii durance and courage during the terrible days and nights which followed form a chapter scarcely excelled in the annals of warfare the world over. Their first move was to retreat mounted to the little island where, after the first charge was repulsed, they threw up sand heaps and dug little trenches for defense. Charge aftei- charge was made upon them, but coolness and discipline battered the History of Lincoln County 35- ranks of the enemy, and won (he day. The most notable charge was the one lead by Roman Nose, the dog chief, who planned to ride right over the island, protected by the Indian sharp shooters, who were to engage the fire of the scouts. In this he was unsuccessful, as the scouts paid no attention to any- thing but the charging cavalry. Roman Nose was killed and his ranks badly shattered. Colonel Beecher, the man for whom the island was named, received his death wound during this charge. This was the last charge which amounted to anything. Eight days of the most intense suffering from wounds, from day's heat and night's cold, from the stench of the dead horses and the lack of food and attention followed before the rescue. Scouts sent out the first night succeeded in getting to Fort Wallace. Colonel Carpenter, who was in camp on Goose Creek, near the Kansas line, and with whose command the remain- ing scouts were at this time, was ordered to the relief. They reached Beecher's Island the morning of the ninth day. J. J. Peate, of Beverly, was the first one to reach his wounded companions. Half the men were either killed or woui ded. If there was anyone who deserved special praise it was Louis Farley, who saved the day by lying with two others near the edge of the island and killing Indians who were trying to creep up unseen and gain the island. He died of his wounda shortly afterward in a temporary hospital. Now for the results to the border country. Louis A. McLouth- lin, who was in the battle, and afterwards discussed the situation with the Indians, says: "The Indians told me they were concentrating for a grand raid, and at the full of the moon they intended to be in the settlements. They expected to have two thousand warriors, and they intended to spread out on both sides of the Republican and go east until troops drove them out." Spreadin§^ out as they do and covering a large territority, they would ha/e come into the Saline Valley, but this defeat at Beecher's Island set- tled the question of a raid. Besides seventy-five killed, there were a larger number wounded, and they were thrown into con- fusion and disheartened. The raid of May in which they had not lost a man had en- couraged them and prompted them to plan this larg£ expedi- tion, but now they were completely crushed. History of i^.ncoln County The Mulberry Scrap This is tlie name of an encounter wtiicii occurred tlie 2d of February. 1869, on the Mulberrj^ between the Indians on one side, and some Lincoln County settlers and soldieris on the other. Of course, the Indians got the worst of it as u^.ual, and this is how it happened: The Kaws from Council Bluffs, and the Pawnees from Ne- braska, used to pass back and forth and steal horses from each other. Sometimes they annoyed the settlers too much, to theii everlasting undoing. On the occasion of which we a.r£ speak- ing, a band of about a score of Pawnees were coming through the neighborhood, and stopping at Tom Skinner's home, com pelled Mrs. Skinner to cook for them. When the settlers heard of this they gathered togetner to see what had best be done. Several suggestions were made, but it was decided to go for the troops that were camped not far from the present site of Lincoln. John Alverson, Eli Zieg- ler, and Chal. Smith went. The captain told them to have the settlers ready by daybreak and he would have some soldiers there at that time. Accordingly, a lieutenant with about a dozen soldlfrs, took up the trail with the settlers the next morning. They followed the Indians to Table Rock Creek, where they found tht'r camp fire, and from there to Mulberry, where they o\eriooK Ihem. The Indians had stopped at the home of Chas. Martin to gel food and tobacco, but the advance scouts did not succeed in holding them until the main body of men came up. The red men scattered and the settlers began hunting them up and down the creek. Some of them went south across the stream to a high bluff. As they stood looking four Indians raised up side by side. They had discharges from tie army, and one of them handed his discharge to the whites. It was passed from one to another. While this was going on Alver- son, who was in the crowd, slipped off his horse and Dhot the Indian leader dead. The Indians began firing, and the troops soon appeared on the scene. There were two or three more Indians killed. The lieutenant wanted to take iliem to Fori Marker imd clvi- History of Lincoln County ■i^ lize lliem. Gen. Isaac ne(JialT sal down on the groiuid and also on the lieutenant's proposition, saying they cou.d nialte good Indian's of them right there. The men disniuunreo, and, leading their horses, followed the Indians down a ravine. The redslvins were shooting arrows, and one of them hit the lieu- tenant's horse, causing the animal to jerlt loose and got away. The lieutenant then said he would kill every Indian. They fol lowed the red men to a rocky gorge where sixteen of them took refuge in a cave. One of the soldiers wbo was not careful to keep out of range was shot by an Indian and died at Martin's house two hours later. Eli Ziegler sustained a slight wound. Finding no other way to get the Indians it was decided to throw hay into the mouth of the cave and tire it. Seeing what was about to be done the Indians dashed out of the ca\'e under a rain of shot. All but three were killed before they get out oi range. The men quickly mounted and persued the remnant. Richard Clark and Vollany Ball shot two of them at one hun- dred fifty yards range. The other was captured and (he lieu- tenant lool< him lo Fort Harker. Raid of 1869 The battle of the Arickaree, or Heecher's Island stopped at least one great raid and relieved the people of the Saline and Spillman Valleys from the menace of the Dog Soldiers. Custer had settled Black Kettle and his tribe forever. Troops were stationed at different points within the present boundr? of the county, yet for the settlers the worst was yet to come. Referring to the soldiers it might be mentioned that a body of them were stationed at Schemerhorn's ranch south of Rocky Hill in 1868. The first Battalion of State troops under Captain Baker was stationed near the present site of Lincoln, some of them at the home of M. D. Green. State troops were encamped in the same place in 1S69. This was part of Company C of the 2d Battalion under Lieutenant H. H. Tucker. The headquarters of this encampment wa^ at the mouth of Lost Creek, west of where Christian College now stands. This was the place where John Hendrickson lived, and was attacked by the Indians in 1868. The place wiiere the log building stood can be found yet. The old pioneer louse, a piet 'ire ot which has been given, contains the logs of the main 558 History of Lincoln County building. Ttiere were some dugouts and a corral. Abuut fifty- six men wer^ quarteded here in 1869. There was a third encampment near Pottersburg. (.'ompany A of the 2d Battalion, under Sapt. H. A. Pliley, occujjied the blockhouse, which was built in the bend of the creeh on the norih side of Spillman, just below the mouth of Bacon Creek. Jt was built after the raid of 1868, and was occupied by the troops that year and the next. It was burned in 1871 or 1872 while unoccupied. it happened that in May of 1869 there were no troops at any of the above mentioned quarters and the Indians saw an op- portunity for a raid. This raid was probably the most horrible thing which ever happened to the settlers of this section of the country. It has been impossible to ascertain what tribe of Indians made the raid. The Cheyennes get the blame for II, but it seems probable that the Dog Soldiers and Sioux we/e there also, as the captives were held by the Sioux and wer ? in the tent of the Sioux chief Tall Bull when rescued. Although Tall Bull was a Sioux, his band was in part made up of outlaw Cheyennes. This raid occurred on Sunday, May 31st. The Indians came without warning, and caught the settlers off theif guard Eli Ziegler and John Alverson, going up Spillman Creek to a claim, saw what they thought to be a body of soldiens, which really was Indians in blue blouses, marching four abreast. They escaped by driving to the nearest timber and gai ling the shelter of the banks of the stream. The Indians attacked the settlement of Danes, near the mouth of Trail Creek, killing Lawritzen and his wife. A young man named Peterson, who was staking oft" a claim, was killed and his face mutilated with a hatchet. Mr. and Mrs. Wichel and their friend Mayershoff were walking over their claim about '.i v. .m. when they were attacked by the Indians. The men defended Mrs. Wichel un- til their powder was all gone, when they were killed and she was captured. During the fight they advanced considerable distance down the valley and were a mile and a half west of Lincoln when the tragedy occurred. They were Germans of Hanovei . They were buried where they met death. On the same evening Mrs. Alderdice was visiting Mrs. Kline, a mile and a half west of Lincoln. The two women, Mrs. Aider- dice with four children, and Mrs. Kline, with one, started down the river to seek safety. In crossing a strip of prairie two Indians were seen. Mrs. Kline crossed the river, which was up History of Lincoln County 39 to her shoulders, with her child. Mrs. Alderdice, overcome with terror, sat down on the ground, as she could not esctpe with her children. The Indians shot the three little boys killing two and leaving the third wounded in the back. They took Mrs. Alderdice and her child and camped that night on Bullfoot Creek, where they choked the child to death, and hung it to a tree. The same evening Harrison Strange, aged fourteen, and a thirteen-year-old boy named Schmutz, who were about a thou- sand yards southeast of Lincoln, saw two Indians riding toward them. The old Indian made friends with them by saying "Good Pawnee," and calmed their fea,rs by tapping them gentl/ with a spear. The young stripling rode up, raising himself high in his stirrups and hit young Strange a blow with a club. The lad saw the blow coming and with the words "Oh, Lord," half expressed he fell dead. The club was broken. Sciimutz ran, but was shot with an arrow. It lodged in his side. He pulled it out, but the barbed end remained. Young Strange's two brothers came to the re- lief and Schmutz was taken to Fort Harker, where ten weeks later he died in a hospital. The next day a posse found the dead and wounded of Mrs. Alderdice's boys. The live child had an arrow in his back. The arrow was drawn by Phil Lance and Washingtca Smith with a large pair of bullet moulds, and he recovere(!r at the home of Wm. Hendrickson. The two captured women, Mrs. Wichel and Mrs. Alderdice, were unable to plan an escape be- cause one talked German, the other English. Mrs. Wichel was about 20 and Mrs. Alderdice about 28. Both were beautiful, refined women. The VVichels were brewers of Hanover, and were quite wealthy. It is reported that Mrs. Wichel had forty silk dresses. They had quantities of tine linen and other elegant h\)Usehold goods. They were both well educated and refined people Wichel was about thirty. All the Germans were kiljea, and only ihree Danes survived. They also plundered and stole among others things, $1,.500 in money from Wichels, belonging to ^Irs. Wichel's father. The escape of Mrs. Kline was almost miraculous. She hid for a time in a clump of dogwood. The Indians, in their search, walked around and around her so near that she could have put out her hand and touched them. She could see theii mocca- sins, but fortunately they did not see her. Her baby was awake but kept very quiet, though i1 smiled, as it was \ina\vaie of the 40 History of Lincoln County danger. This child grew up and lives at the present time in Lincoln. Her name is Mrs. Linker. The next day (Monday, June 1), Mr. Alderdice, with a few neighbors, including Myron Green and Martin Hendrickson, were searching for Mrs. Alderdice. After dark they came upon VVm. Karl and learned that a party of Saline Valley laen had been surprised by the Indians at their hunter's camp beyond Wolf Creek the Saturday before. It was a rainy day, and the men were at the camp when the Indians came. They all jumped into the brush for shelter. Sol Humbarger was wound- ed. They kept in the brush and made their way to the third branch of Wolf Creek, where Earl left Humbarger with Dick Alley and Harry Trask, while he came on for help. He had not eaten anything for two days. Myron Green started at once for Salina, and the cext day came back with a number of volunteers to the rescue, About five that evening a party of twenty started out to find Hum- barger. They camped on the Spillman that night. Wednesday noon they met a crowd from the Colorado neighborhood who had already rescued the hunting party. "Jack" Peate and Day- hoff were among the number. Humbarger had been wounded in the hip with an arrow. For some days after the raid the settlers kept indoortj, as they were afraid to go abroad even to get food. When Harrison Strange was buried the whole funeral procession was armed. The funeral was at Wm. Hendrickson's, and the cemetery was on the Schemerhorn place, south of the river. When the body was lowered into the grave and the ceremony over, a buffalo was seen coming from the south. Those who had guns gave chase, killed the animal, and divided the meat among the set- tlers. The neighborhood was found to be short of ammunition, and Phil Lantz rode to Salina and back seventy-two niles in one day, bringing with him six Spencer carbines and a large amount of ammunition. After the raid the Indians retreated with their captives and plunder to their village on the sand hills between th » Platte and Frenchman Creek, whither they were followed by General Carr, the same summer. While on the Republican River General Carr struck a large lindian trail which had been freshly traveled. At eacU recent camping place there was the print of a woman's stoe. An article entitled "The Adventure of Ma.i. Frank North," bv Alfred Sorenson, in the Nebraska Historical Collections, give:< an ac- count of the recapture of the women. It is from his article and from letters by Hercules H. Price, History of Lincoln County -11 who was with General Carr that this account of the recapture is compiled. As General Carr, wiili Major North and his Pawnee scouts were pushing on north they came across a bit of torn dress, and later found a note saying. 'Tor (rod's sake, come and rescue us." Detachments of the best mounted men from the five compan- ies were selected for a forced march. The wagon trains were left to follow. The next morning, July 11, an Indian village was sighted near the valley of the South Platte. After a care- ful survey it was decided to attack from the north. However, while making the circuit described by Major North, the com- mand keeping a mile and a half from the village, and swinging around the east side, General Carr became afraid that they had been observed by the Indians, and ordered a charge. The Indians, lazy with feasting, and satisfied with booty, were resting in the shade of their tents, and were taken com- pletely by surprise. The charge of the cavalry threw every- thing into instant confusion. The village was admiralily situ- ated for a defense had it not been too late. As the cavalry came riding down the streets of the village, firing volley after volley, the Indians fled in all directions to ravines and rocks. Their ponies were grazing on the prairie,, but very few succeeded in reaching them. The soldiers l:*gan hunting them down in their hiding places and slaughtering them on every hand. Tall Bull, with his squaw and ciiild and eighteen warriors were surrounded in a narrow ravine. He and his followers were all killed and the squaw and child was taken captive. Meanwhile an active search for the white captives under Captain Gushing had resulted in finding Mrs. Alderdice und Mrs. VVichel, both badly wounded, in the tent of Tall Bull, (vho had taken them as wives. Seeing it was impossible to keep them longer he had shot them. Mrs. Alderdice was lying on the ground unconscious, and just as Major North came in «vith the captive squaw and child of Tall Hull, .Mrs. Alderdice drew one or two long breaths and died. Mrs. Wichel was sitting on a mat conscious and suffering intensely from her wound. She wept for joy at the sight of the white men. After soldiers and Pawnees had finished with the Sioux her wounds were tended and she was made comfor- table as possible. Nine hundred dollars of the money was re- covered and returned to Mrs. Wichel. Her gold watch and some other things were also recovered. The village, which v.^as rich in Indian property and booty taken from the whites, was plun- 42 History of Lincoln County dered and burned. The place was called Susannah, which was the Christian name of Mrs. Alderdice. She was buried on the battleground. The suffering of these two women and their cruel treatment is a pathetic and shameful story which we will not go into in detail. During the absence of Tall Bull they were beaten by his squaw through jealousy. The women were not allowed to see each other above half a dozen times during their captivity. Mrs. Wichel married later, but it is not definitely known at this time whether it was a soldier, a blacksmith, or an army surgeon. This was the end of the Indian troubles so far as this section of ihe country was concerned. The Sioux were crippled as the Dog Soldiers and Black Kettle's followers had been the year before. Indians were seldom seen in Lincoln County after that, although it is plain from the attitude of the early newspaper that the people took a keen interest in the warfare against them in other places, and favored the extermination of th* Modocs. In 187o a party of Indians with their squaws, were seen on the Elkhorn. They were advised to move on, and did so. The last Indian seen in bands in this vicinity was in 1879 or 1880. History of Lincoln County 43 County Organization The second epoch of Lincoln County history begins with its organization into a county in 1870. In spite of the drawbacks and dangers of pioneer lite, in spite of the fact that Kansas had not yet out-grown her reputation for being a desert place with hot winds, and the fact that our county was at that time open frontier, exposed to hostile Indians, in spite of famine, flame, Ruins of John S. Strange's House Showing Fireplace by Which the First Commissioners Sat. malaria and fever, people came, and kept coming. The valleys filled with settlers, and the hills with herds, till four years after the first claim was staked, there were five hundred and sixteen people here. The Legislature defined the boundaries of Lincoln County in 1867, and it was first a township of Ottawa and later of Saline County. A petition headed by Tom Boyle, Martin Hendrlck- son, Geo. Green, H. J. Wisner, and Isaac DeGraff, asking for separate county organization, was sent to Topeka. Governor J as. M. Harvey proclaimed separate county organ- ization and established a temporary county seat on the north' west quarter of section 35, township 11, range 8, about wheri Lincoln Center now stands. He appointed temporary officers as follows: Isaac DeGraff, Washington Smith, and John S. 44 History of Lincoln County Strange, County Commissioners, and F. A. Schermerhorn county clerk, on October 4, 1870, and on October 6, the Commissioners met at the house of Jno. S. Strange. They named the county Lincoln in honor of Abraham Lin- coln, and divided it into four townships, Colorado, Elkhorn, Salt Creek, Indiana. They also turned down a petition to have the county seat moved three miles east and one-half mile south of where it was. This was near the place which afterwards be- came the Abram townsite. The petition was headed by M. D. Green, Dick Clark, .Jacob Harshbarger. and Harmon Kingsley. County Seat Contest Few counties have managed to get along without a county seat contest, and this was the beginning of the one in Lincoln. The election in November resulted as follows: Representative, L C. Buzlck; Commissioners, Cornelious Dietz, Jas. Wild, .John S. Strange; County Clerk, A. S. Potter; Treasurer, Vollany Ball; Probate Judge, D. C. Skinner: Register of Deeds, T. A. Walls: Sheriff, R. B. Clark; Coroner, Francis Seiber; County Attorney, iMyron Green; District Clerk, .1. A. Cook; Surveyor, P. Lowe. This was a victory for those in favor of changing the county seat, so it was picked up bodily and taken over the hill, where, in order to make business legal, the county officers met and organized court on the bare and bleak townsite of Abram one cold January day in 1871. They then adjourned to the house of Ezra Hubbard, where the new County Commissioners met in February, 1871. A license to sell liquor was granted, Mr. Strange casting his vote against it. Three petitions for county roads were accepted. The first was to run from section 12, on the east line of the county, to the county seat, the second from Pottersburg to the county seat, and the third was to begin between section 24 and 25, on the east line of the county, and go to Elkhorn Creek, and thence to a point about a half mile west of Twin Groves, corner of section 28. The clerk was instructed to procure seals for the Probate Judge and Register of Deeds, and advertise for proposals to build a court house. The bids were to be filed in the clerk's office up to 12 m. on Saturday, April 1, and the court house was to be completed by .July 1. In March, 1871, the Legislature provided for court in ivincoln County. .Jas. H. Canfield, of .Junction City, judge of the History of Lincoln County 45 bJigmli district, piesided over court on .\oveml)er tith of the same year. The buildings wore pul up tlic next summer. The county eft'ects were housed in the upstairs of .Myron Green's store. A frame building 2r)Xt;o feet. Counly Clerk A. S. Potter had to issue the license to sell licpior which had been granted to Fred Buckner and John Cleary, and is mad yet because he had to. Two petitions were hied with the C'immissioners that year to hold another election on tlu^ county seat proposition. Botli were rejected in .June. There was considerable agitation a' this time about this question, and a tragic affair occurred wiiich really settled the counry seat tight. Ezra Hubbard was building a mil! at Rocky Hill. Bad blood had come to exist between liim and the Haleys, who wanted to drive him off his claim. Tliey annoyed him a great deal, some- times coming at night and tearing down the building. At one time John Haley burned one of Hubbard's freight wagons. The latter suspected Haley of stealing logs from his timber land, so on one occasion, when he and his son-in-law, John Cook, went with their teams to haul logs, Hubbard took his cai'bine with him to stop Haley from trespassing. Haley was on the Hubbard property, and when the men were about to hitch to a certain log he claimed it, saying that it had floated onto Hubbard's place from his. A quarrel arose and Hubbard shot Haley. House in Which Hubbard Was Mobbed. 46 History of Lincoln County After the shooting Hubbard managed to get away from Haley's friends and gave himself up. He was at first put in the store building at Abram, and later 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 John Kyle's tin shop. Sheriff Medcalf appointed four of Hubbard's worst enemies to guard the prisoners, refusing all other help that was offered. As no two persons exactly agree The Hubbard Mill. 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, ('has. Wilson, John Ryan, and Tim Murphy. John Lyden did his best to protect the two prisoners, but to no avail. A mob of forty men, in all degrees of intoxica- tion, took the place. They first shot at Hubbard through the window and later entered the building and shot again. Suffer- ing from nine wounds the old man crept up the cleats on the wall to the loft. Later in the night some members of the mob beat out his brains with a carpenter's mallet. Cook escaped. Several parties, including all of the guards, were arrested, but none were brought to trial except Ira Buzick. He was ac- History of Lincoln County 47 quitted. This trial cost the coanty $10,000, and, of course, peo- ple grumbled and blamed the otHcers for not keeping such dis- turbances down. Hubbard's body was taken to Salina for burial. Those who escorted the body were well armed, but then, nobody was con- sidered dressed in those days unless he was sufficiently armed to take care of himself. Thomas Bennett bought the mill. This is the way it looked in process of building. Mob violence was used as an argument for changing the lo- cation of the county seat. On February 19, 1872, an election was held at 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 archives 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 only two issues of the paper came out. This building, which was 10x22 feet, was later moved to Lin- coln, and became the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Anna C. Wait. Mrs. Wait taught Lincoln's first school in it, and it is now used for a shoeshop. BUILDING THE COURT HOUSE. In 187o the county headquarters was in the upstairs of the Webster building. The rent on this upper room was $300 per year. 48 History of Lincoln County April 1st of this year bonds to the amount of $4,000 were voted for building a court house. There was much opposition to these bonds, and after the blanks for the bonds had been ordered. County Clerk A. S. Potter was warned that an in- junction 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 they had come. They were privately handed to Mr. Potter, who, with John S. Strange, retired after night to the lonely habitation of Tom i\Ialoue, northwest of Lincoln, where they each signed their names one hundred and seventy-six times to bonds and coupons. The bonds were not sold for face value, but the balance of three hundred dollars was made up by private subscription. The court house, which was built at that time, was burned in 1898. The present fine building shown in the picture was then built, and dedicated in 1900. History of Lincoln County 49 THE GRASSHOPPERS. This brings us down to a famous period in the annals of Kansas — 1874 — "grasshopper year." In the diary of E. E'. John- son is an account of the grasshoppers in August, 1868. They came from the north, commenced at the edge of his corn field and cleaned it as they went. But in 1874 they made their big raid through Kansas and did not slight Lincoln County. It made times extremely hard everywhere, especially for the new settlers who had nothing but their crops. The Government sent out some blankets and army overcoats and for many years afterward the grasshopper sufferer could be picked out of a crowd by his coat. Relief was also sent out by private parties in the East. Many people were left abso- lutely destitute and the township trustees spent the winter dis- ributing supplies. Not a green leaf was left. Everyhing was eaten up but castor beans. The grasshoppers drew the line here as does the small boy. THE LYDEN MURDER. The next year a very mysterious murder occurred. A well educated and cultured Irishman, John Lyden by name, who had been one of the armed guards placed over Ezra Hubbard, was the victim of foul play, the full secret of which will probably never be unearthed. The facts so far as they developed at the time are as follows: John Lyden, a wealthy stock owner of the Elkhorn was shot as he sat at breakfast one morning, by an unknown party, the shot being fired from under the table. The body was hid under the bed all day and at night taken in a wagon to the vacated home of Dr. Seiber, who had built one of the finest houses in the county and later left it. Here the body was thrown into the well, the house was burned down and some of he charred timbers thrown into the well. The body remained in the well about a month before it was discov- ered. In the meantime a young man by the name of Millard Eaton who was working for Lyden at the time rounded up his cattle, drove them to Ellsworth and shipped them to John Lyden , at Kansas City. Eaton went to Kansas City and re- turned by way of Salina, leaving $1,000 in a box with a certain doctor there. He went out home and had a big party and seemed to have plenty of money to spend. By this time people began to wonder what had become of Lyden. Eaton then came to Lincoln Center on Sunday. A certain already notoriously l)ad character attracted sus- picion to himself by driving from Salina to Lincoln in two and History of Lincoln County a half hours, and taking Millard Eaton away with him, at'tor which Katon was seen no more in I^incoln, but rumor had it that he was seen in Kentucky by the Lincoln County sheriff who went there ostensibly to bring him back, which he did not do. All sorts of surmises and rumors were current but the incident was closed without any one being bright to trial. After Baton disappeared a searching party comprised of F. A. Schermerhorn, Tone Bishop, Wells, and Grubo found the body in the well. Mr. Bishop climbed into the well and saw blood on the side of it. The body was under water. Some of the citizens employed a private attorney to look into the matter. Several parties were suspected of being implicated. It was not supposed that Eaton did the shooting himself but seems probable that he was there wiien it was done. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. It is a relief to turn from the above tragic facts to something more agreeable. Lincoln County was en.1oying continual growth and prosperity. In 1873 there were five hundred families or about 2,500 people. Stone buildings, bridges, mills, and other improvements were being built. A fine new school house the best this side of Junction City was put up in 1872. The next year the Rees Mill was built. It is still one of the most beautiful spots around Lincoln Center. It was buiii by Elias Rees and after his death was operated by his son, 1^. J. Rees, who is the present owner. At present .Mr. T. F. Brann and Mr. Howard Rees operate it. History of Lincoln County 51 In this same year a six tool vein of coal was found a mile from Lincoln Center. There were also coal mines in the Elk- horn and Spillman, the vein being 314 feet thick. A vein 3 feet thick was discovered underlying the whole Danish settle- ment. Twenty-tive men were employed in the Spillman mines and more were being put in as fast as room could be made. This coal was worth $3.50 to $3.75 per ton at the mines. Lincoln had great prospects for a mining country. For further discus- sion read the article on "'xeology" in another part of the book. PRAIRIE FIRES. Lincoln County has had prairie fires, cyclones, and floods which brought more or less disaster with each visitation. The first big fire on record was in 1871. The fire originated on the railroad track near Fort Marker, and came into Lincoln County from the south. It burned up ranges and destroyed many thousand head of cattle. No lives were Iost| The most disastrous fire was in March, 1879, when the northwestern townships were burned over. Three deaths occurred about a mile north of where Prairie Grove Church now stands. The victims were Kobt. Afontgomery and his fourteen-year-old son, Robert, and Isaac Pfaff. These men were caught out on the prairie and overtaken by the fianies. The Montgomery home was also destroyed. RAILROAD HISTORY. The population in 1880 was 8,572. The work of organizing townships which had been in progress since 1875 was finished about this time and the county was redistricted as follows: F'irst District, Indiana, Valley, Franklin, Colorado, and Mad- ison; Second District, Marion, Beaver, Salt Creek, Logan, Scott, and Battle Creek; Third District, Orange, Cedron, Grant, Pleas- ant, Highland, and Golden Belt. It was "about this time that railroad agitation began. The Topeka, Salina and Great Western organized in 1880, and se- cured a right of way in Lincoln County in 1881, without oppo- sition. Then the Kansas Central put up a good talk and wanted $60,000 for a narrow guage. Later the Kansas Central was ab- sorbed into the Union Pacific. The Union Pacific had surveyed a Saline Valley route in 1866, when Junction City was the terminus of the Kansas Pa- cific, but when the Union Pacific became a candidate for Gov- ernment subsidies its projects naturally took the route along History of Lincoln County the Smoky Hill, which was the old "Pikes Peak" trial and along which were the military posts of Fort Harker, Fort Hays, and i tlic piess over the State and in other States, these comments all favoring the de- fense. Had he been tried at home be would have undoubtedly been acquitted in the first trial. But Saline County was t'livided. The jurors were all farmers and at the end of seventeen hours they stood equally divided. On being told that they absolutely must agree ihey returned a verdict of guilty with a recom- mendation of jiominal i)unishment. Mi-. Moler made a speech recommending light punishment and .Mr. Wait was fined $10. and court costs amounting, to $f500. An appeal was taken and granted. History of Lincoln County 55 The supreme court reversed the decision of the lower couri and Mr. Wait was acquitted. The General Statutes of Kansas for 1897 contained the followina; decision concerning this case- "A part of an alleged libelous article was that the person alleged to be libeled who was an attorney-at-law assisting in tho 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 man- ner of conducting" the trial showed that he relied upon hanging the jury by a 'fixed man,' or in other word 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 a right to show the conduct of said juror in the jury room, while the jury was deliberating on their ver- dict, and what said juror then and there did, and what he omit- ted to say and do, how he voted and how the other members of the jui-y voted." (State vs. Wait, 44 K. 310.) Ill beginning this work it was not the intention to lay stress on the crminal history of Lincoln County, but since three mur- ders have already been extensively written up it seems best since one man's life is as important as another's to at least mention the other murders. In 1882 a farmer by the name of Wheeler was shot from the back of his, wagon as he was driving home from town one night. A stranger was arrested for the murder but later broke jail and escaped. Wesley Faulk, a single man, was killed at night by unknown parties. No arrests were made. Mike Haley, brother to the Haley killed by Ezra Hubbard, killed his nephew, a young man by the name of Barrett. He was tried and acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. The killing was done in Haley's house. ".Jack" Peate says that if you are going to point out the places in Lincoln County where people have been killed that it will be a long job, as violent deaths have occurred on nearly every acre of it. So I think we will stop here and discuss something else. 5« History of Lincoln CouiJy On the Roll of Honor The following men represented Lincoln County in the State Legislature in the years indicated: 1872, F. A. Schemerhorn; 1873, Geo. Green; 1874, Vollany Ball; 1875, Jas. B. Goff; 1876, E. S. Pierce; 1877, Reuben Wil- liams; 1879, W. S. Wait; 1883 to 1886, R. P. Bryant; 1887, also 1889, J. D. Miller; 1891 and 1893, A. N. Whittington; 1895 and 1897, J. J. Lambert; 1899, Arthur J. Stanley; 1901, F. G. Dun- ham; 1903, J. D. Miller on resignation of D. E'. Books; 1905 to present time, E. T. Skinner. Ira C. Buzick was the first Representative, also State Senator in 1881. Geo. W. Anderson was also a representative from Lin- coln County. In 1895 A. P. Gilpin was Journal Clerk at the State House. He held this office two terms. William Baker, of Lincon, was a Congressman and repreesnted the Sixth District in Washington. D. C. HON. E. T. SKINNER, Representative from Lincoln County, \\ lio secured an appro- priation for the Beech- er's Island monument. He belongs to one of the oldest and best families in the county, his people having mov- ed here in 1866. His mother was the first school teacher in Lin- coln County and his un- cle, D. C. Skinner, was one of the Forsyrh scouts. History of Lincoln County A. J. STANLEY, County Superintendent of Schools, The man who made Lincoln County famous. Born and raised here. Went to the Legisla- ture and helped make laws while still in knee pants. As County Superin- tendent of Schools he introduced the study of agriculture. Helpe'd re- vise the school laws. The fact that he once lived at Colbert could not keep a good man down. ARTHUR ARTMAN, Probate Judge. His title should be "The Marrying Judge," or "The Lightning Knot-Tier." He was born and raised in New York State at Hunter. Came to Kansas in 1879. Taught school for a number of years. Elected to his presen*^ office in 1902. He ha? married a great many people and everybody that he married voted for him, so he will probably be there as long as he wants to stay. 58 History of Lincoln County J. W. MEEK, Clerk of the District Court. Here is a man witii some real history. Born in Meigs County, Ohio, November 2, 1841. En- listed in Company E, 75th Ohio Volunteers in 1862. Taken prisoner at the Battle of Gaines- ville, Florida, August 17, 1864. and was in Andersonville and Flor- ence prisons until Feb- ruary 26, 1865. Came to Lincoln County, Kan- sas, in 1879, and took a homestead. Elected County Clerk in 188!!, and served four years. GEO. E. HUTCHISON, Register of Deeds. He was born in Mis- souri, but please don't hold that against him, for he has been in Lin- coln County long enough to be an old settler, and has lived it down. Came to Kan- sas at the age of eight and his home was at Beloit till he came here. ^Ir. Hutchison is one of the jolly men ot the court house crowd, and has plenty of friends. Histoiy of Lincoln Comity 59 S. H. BRUNT, County Surveyor. Born and raised in Iowa. Took a special course in surveying in Gi'and Island, Neb. Be- came a government surveyor and surveyed tlirougli W y o m i n k, Colorado, and New .Mexico. Came to Lin- coln County and served a number of terms as deputy County Survey- or, and was appointed to fill a vacancy. Has been elected four times since. As there is no; much surveying to do Air. Brunt makes ab- stracting his main busi- ness. W. H. TAYLOR, County Commissionc-. One of the Barons of the Spillman. fie lives in one of the finest homes of the county. He is giving eminent satisfaction in his oftic' as the people of th" west side consider he has done more for them 1han any other ma'.i they have had. He is the good looker among the county officeis. Tliis picture does not do him justice. 60 History of Lincoln County S. H. LONG, County Commissioner. He is a Democrat, but the Democrats are a majority on the Board of Commission- ers, so it is all right. He was born in Penn- sylvania in 1850, and came to Lincoln Coun- ty, Kansas, in 1878, ami engaged in farming. His home is on his fine farm not far from Lin- coln. He was elected to otTice four years ago. C. H. BERRY, County Commissioner. Born in England in 1859. Came to Lincoln County, Kansas, in 1872. His business and official career is as fol- lows: Farmer thirteen years, merchant ten years, auctioneer a number of years, city councilman, deputy sheriff and county com- missioner. He is small- er than the other two commissioners, but he can hold is own ami ably represents the Frist Distrct. History of Lincoln County 61 Here is wliere the other county otlicers disappeared when they saw us coming after their pictures for this book. They'll never come back any more; they're dead ones. Some Old Settlers MR. N. B. REES. Mr. Kees is one of our old settlers, having come to J^incoln County in 1872, and lived here ever since, except for a short time when he was in Oklahoma. He has the honor of having 62 History of Lincoln Cowity made the tirst picture made in ttie county, and was in tlie pliotograpli and jewelry business for ten years. He is now in the laundry business. Mr. Kees is a civil war veteran, and his native home was Hlooniington. 111. ADOLPH ROENIGK. This is one ol the old timers who was born in "Der Vater- land" in 1847. His birthplace was Prussia, and he is the son of Gotlob and Marie Roe- niglv, who were honest thrifty farmers in good circumstances. He re- ceived a common school education, at- tending school until the age of thirteen, when he came to Amer- ica, leaving his parents in the old country. He settled first in Wisconsin and later went to St. Louis, where he learned the trade of saddler and harness making, attending night school. In 1866 he made a tour of Kansas, visiting Lawrence, TopeUa, and Manhattan, returning by way of Leavenworth. In 186f> he came to Kansas to make his home, working for the Government during the Indian troubles of the year. These pioneer days were the most enjoyable of his life, although he saw the usual hardships and sometimes came near loosing his life, being shot through the lungs once. But judging from his writings he appreciated the freedom of the plains. He and some of his companions were in a tight with the Indians in 1868. Two of them were killed. .Mr. Roenigk came back the next year and put up headstones of limestone and cut their names and the inscription "Killed by the Indians May 28, 1868." He was one of the tirst white men in what is now Russell County, having come there at the time the tirst railroad was History of Lincoln County 63- buili Iroin Kansas ("ity to Denver. He settled in Clay Counly in 1S70, and the next year his parents from Germany joined him. He engaged in the saddle and harness business in Clifton, Washington County, and was worth $20,000 at this time. He came to Lincoln County and engaged quite extensively in manufacturing, and has always done a prosperous business. He built several business blocks, but was burned out in 1 investment company, a dii-eetor of tlie Bank of Barnard, ami president of ttie Barnard Toleplione Companj'. Mr. McCurry tells us that tlie chief industry in Kansas in the early days was cattle raising, which greatly held back the farming industry. But the herd law of 1874 came to the re- lief of the farmers, althou.^h it was at first feared that it would be a detriment to thorn on account of having a tendency to drive the caitJe out of the State, but such was not the case. Cattlemen were compelled to herd their cattle, and the farm- ing industry took en a boom, and it has been booming ever since. Anothe>' red letter day for Kansas was when the agricultural department introduced Russian hard wheat. It is a good thing and a money maker for the farmers, and has stayed with them ever since. Mr. and INIrs. iMcfurry have rt ised a family of five daugh- ters and one son. Three of the daughters are married: Mrs. Wlla Borgan, Mrs. Ida Richardson, and Mrs. Esther Lenhart. The first two live not far from Barnard, the last one at Fly- mouth, Kans. RESIDENCE OF T. J. IVIXURRY. NEAR MILO. 66 History of Lincoln County Lincoln This is a ciiy, beautiful for situation. One can see it for miles nestled down between the hills and among its beautiful trees, with the town pot the only natural curio in the vicinity, towering like a big black watch-tower that guards from harm. The streets of this city are not paved with gold owing to the fact that there is but one man in town who can fit crutches to lame eyes, but they are lined up and dow^n with delightful shade trees. Lincoln has city waterworks, electric lights, excellent public schools, a college, fine residences, two blocks of flourishing busi- ness houses, a sanitarium, and a lot of automobiles. It is in the center of a large and prosperous farming territory, without a rival for many miles on either side, and the largest town on this branch of the Union Pacific between Salina and the State line. Nearly all the business houses in Lincoln are built of native rock, and except for the few frame structures brought over from Abram, they have always been. We get the early beginnings of Lincoln in the county seat fight, so it is not necessary to dwell on it here. The town was plotted May [\ 1871, and included the northwest quarter sec- tion 6, town 12, range 7. The town company were W. L. Gill- more, D. W. Henderson, J. S. Strange, Washington Smith, Thom- as Boyle, S. M. Babellette, and James Askey. Judge Prescott ordered a city election which resulted as fol lows: Mayor, Geo. M. Lutes; police judge, Mortimer Gragg; clerk, Lon A. Minx; councilmen, D. E. Coolbaugh, Geo. Green, Luther Stewart, H. Holcomb, Jos. K. Cheney. September 23, 1879, Lincoln became a city of the third class. So much of the history of Lncoln Center has been given under special articles that there is not much left to say here. Being the county seat it was the scene of many remarkable and ex- citing incidents during the days when it was customary to make strenuous remarks and punctuate them with bullets. Some of these incidents might prove interesting if told. But there is another side to the picture and another spirit which stood in sharp contrast to lawlessness. Lincoln from the very first was a hot-bod of progress and reform. Never was History of Lincoln County 6'' liquor legally sold in the town except in the year 1879. The State-wide suffrage campaign which had lain dormant after the defeat of 1876 was renewed by Lincoln women. Some of the most earnest and successful exponents of new reformatory measures, in politics, religion, and social life, have been Lin- coln people. It is evident from the outcome, most people were of the right, sort, so it is hardly worth while to elaborate on the sneak-thief, cowardly acts of a few adventurers when there was real work being done. There is a list of the business people in Lincoln in 1879 which we wish to mention in passing: H. Holcomb and E. B. Bishop, hardware; C. W. Perkins, grocer; Mr. Z. Burton, drugs; Frank Cogswell, M. D. ; .J. P. Cunnings and G. M. Lutes, partners in banking business; E. S. Pierce, furniture and undertaking; Hay- den & Greer, tin and hardware; Joseph Cheney, harness and saddles; M. M. George, harness and saddles; Otto Olson, shoe- maker; Luther Stewart, merchandise; Mrs. L. Stewart, mil- linery; R. H. Thompson, restaurant; Legett Bros., grocers. The early postmasters were, in their order, John S. Strange, Dr. Bal- lard, D. W. Henderson, J. M. Wellman, editor of the Register, and J. Z. Springer. There was a joint stock company formed in Lincoln in ISSl to tunnel the Saline River south of town. At another time bonds amounting to $3,000 were carried by a vote of sixty-one to six, to be used in prospecting for valuable minerals under the auspices of the Lincoln Mining and Pros- pecting Company. The town had a slow growth until the College was built and the railroad came through. Then new buildings sprung up like mushrooms in a single night. From March to May one hundred twenty-five buildings were erected. During the year (1886) Lin- coln doubled in population and trebled in wealth on account of these two new institutions Some time in the eighties a library was founded by the Lin- coln women. They went on from year to year building it up, aided only by the dog-tax generously donated by the city dads. Until the year 1897 it was owned by stockholders but at that time the books together with all property belonging to the association was given to the city. In 1899 it was made a public city library. January 1, 1908, there were 1,407 volumes in the library. The recently added books bring the total up to 1,526 volumes. «8 History of Lincoln County THE PENNSYLVANIA STORE rPENING THE BE5T s^ EVERYTHING" THE PENNSYLVANIA STORE. The Pennsylvania store was established in Lincoln by Jas. K. Logan and John V.. Patton, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and named by them in honor of their native State. The store was first opened for business on the 29th day of March, 1886, in the Swinburn block, the room now occupied by the Lincoln Fire Deparment. This room soon becoming too small, the stock was moved in January, 1887, to the room now occpied by the Skan- dia Furniture Company. Mr. Logan acquired Mr. Pattoi'i's inter- est in July, 1888, after which he added several departments, including men's clothing. Several men, now in business for themselves in Lincoln County, have been connected with the store in capacity of salesmen at different itmes, among them Dan B. Day, H. D. Hall, and Harry U. Porter, the latter having been with Mr. Logan for nearly fifteen yeais, and is still connected with the store as part owner and manager. A great many amusing things have happened in this store, a great many of which Dan Day was mixed up in. One of these being a supper given in the store on the evening of July 4, 1891. There was an extraordinary large crowd in town and a hard rainstorm coming up about the time people were ready to start home, had swolen (he waterways to the extent that they were impassable. J)an conceived he idea and soon had two long counters the full length of the store filled with biead and History of Lincoln County 69 butter, cheese, crackers, pickles, hot coffiee, etc. As »oon as the crowd had surround(>d tlie tables Dan went to the gun store, and, taking out a couple of Colt's six shooters, and mounting a stool with one in each hand, he informed the crowd that he did not care to hear any slighting remarks concerning «ny part of the spread or he would be obliged to call the offt-nder to account. It is needless to say that every remark was very complementary. Mr. Logan was a Bryan elector in 1896 and always took an active interest in anything that was "For Lincoln." H\! moved the store to its present location in July, 1901, and alter sell- ing the stock to Porter & Sons in June, 1904, he removed to Kansas City, Mo., whe:e he still lives, being engager in the wholesale notion business. The picture here shown is of the store In Its prestnt loca- tion, having afrontage of twenty-five feet on Lincoln Avenue and sixty feet on Fourth street. The furniture and fixtures are all finished in very light oak, Including the show-windows, which are all enclosed and electric lighted, making them the finest windows in the city. The departments, or lines of goods carried, embrace general dry goods, ladies' ready-to-wear, ladies' furnishings, hats, gents' furnishings, and groceries. The motto of the store, "the Best of Fverything," aptly represents the character of merchandise handled, and it has been said that this store has more "satis- tied customers ' than any store In Lincoln County. This is probably largely due to the fact that it Is the only store in the county that has always Insisted that "Every man's dolI&.r Is the same size," in other words, to have only one price- -that In plain figures, and RlCxHT. It has taken considerable uerve at times to maintain this idea in the face of pressure fov a con- cession — not of price alone, but principle, but the management has never weakened and have a good business and tfie con- fidence of the community as their reward. The twenty-two years since Its establishment has setn other stores spring into existence, Hourish for a time and pass into history, others have changed hands, sold out and left, some to come back and leave again, but In the face of all this, the Pennsylvania store has been making a steady gain and a sub- stantial growth. The firm consists of John E. Porter and his two sons, Harry U., Fred L., and Oscar V. Stewart, a son-in-law. Thti senior Mr. Porter settled on a farm on upper Spillman Creeh in Lin- coln County in February, 1874, Harry being a boy of 7 years. Fred was born on the same farm about three years later. 70 History of Lincoln County Boatinq on the Saline River. THE WINDSOR HOTEL ESTABLISHED 18 YEARS RATES. $2.00 PER DAY. ELECTRIC LIGHTS MRS. H, ALLEN, Proprietor- History of Lincoln Cowity THE MASTERWORKMAN MOUNTED. ]V. FRYE, FEED, GRAIIN8, OIL8. A^ent for the Masterworkman. Easiest Gas Engine Mounted for Farm Uses. G. F. Shimeall The Clothiers LINCOLN, - KANSAS Hintory of Lincoln County A Matter of Interest to Those who Wish to Sell Lands or to Buy Lands. Mr. N. J. Davidson, of Lincoln, Kansas, has secured a membership, with the Cental Real Estate Dealers' As- sociation, which has headijuarters at Topeka, Kansas. By this membership Mr. Davidson has 1,000 Real Kstate firms representing' him in diiferent parts of the United States, and he is likewise representive for the same num- ber. Farmes desiring to sell or buy lands should call on Mr. Davidson. THE HALL DRUG CO., Drugs, Books, Stationery, Paints and Oils. LARGE LINE OF TOILET ARTICLES. '^ e - i -. '^o • th Celebrated Nyals Remedies. Every bottle Guaran- teed to ffive absolute satisfaction or money refunded. LINCOLN, KANSAS. % Don*t neglect your most ;F Important Sense For neglect often causes diseases of the e3'e which cannot be cured. S^nnptoms of eye trouble are of such diversity that a thoroug^h discussion of the efiFects of e3'e strain would necessitate a volume. Eye Sight a Specialty. Full line of Electric Instruments for Defective hearing. B. F. SPENCER, Optician. Lincoln, Kans. Sewing Machine Perfection Is recognized the world over in i'HE SINGER SEWING MAC H INK. For Sale by SCANDIA FURNITURE CO. Lincoln, Kansas Also the Wheeler & Wilson and the White. History of Lincoln County T'i Do You Want To jjfet the best of everything: in the Meats, Fancy and Staple Groceries. There is no better place where you can gfet Good Things to Eat than at our store; cleanliness and jjfood (juality is paramount with us. Remember the place The Star Grocery & Meat Market. "Good Things to Eat" pc/SL""" ■ LINCOLN, KANSAS. LISTEN TO THE BIG RACKET— Combes and brushes, pocket books; pictures, wash- tubs, buttonhooks; jewelry-, cut class, silverware; sunbonnets, beads and puffs of hair; work baskets made of Ratan; hand-painted china from Japan; col- lars, cuffs, ties, dolls and toys — school supplies for girls and boys; fancy yarn of every hue; hats and thread and lanterns too. Christmas gfoods for all our callers; ten cents up to tiftv dollars. THE RACKET, Lincoln, Kan. The Chicago Lumber Co., Highest grade of building Material, American Field Fence of all Sizes, Iowa Patent Gate, Building Hardware. J. D. BROCKETT, Agent Lincoln, Kansas 74 History of Lincoln County "Buy It Ready to Wear" We have added to our stock a department of LADIES' READY-MADE GARMENTS. Why fuss around getting sewing done when you can buy your CLOTHES REAOY TO PUT ON, The Only One Priced Store in Lincoln County. The Pennsylvania Store, "The Best of Everything." LINCOLN, KANS. History of Lincoln County 75 The above is a picture of the White elevator of Lincoln owned and operated by Mr. F. W. Herman who has been in the g-rain business since 1886. Mr. Herman built an elevator in Sylvan Grove which he operated for several years and later sold. The elevator in the picture was built by Mr. Herman ten years ago. TELEPHONE Mr. Herman is also the Lincoln telephone man. A number of years ago he bought the telephone system from the Rees Tele- phone Co., who had just put in the equipment. The business started with less than sixty subscribers but now it has over six hundred and is growing so fast it can't be stopped. The system has country lines all over the county and connects with all other lines. The Saline Valley Bank Was chartered July li-8]. Ccmmenced busitiess August 1881, and has been open for business everj' da)' since, except Sundays and Legal Holidays — receiving deposits, loaning money, buying notes, School Dist., Township and County warrants— buying and selling both Foreign and Domestic Exchange. Trying to to serve its patrons courteouslj' and with fidelity; and advance the interests of Lincoln Countv. 76 History of Lincoln County ITOR. WATERMAN & SMITH ^^-^^^^^ Windmills, Pumps, Tanks and Supplies Phone 27 LINCOLN, KANSAS C. JVl. HEATOJN -Dealer in- BUGGIES, WAGONS AND FARM IMPLE- MENTS Lincoln, Kansas Hardware Stoves and Ranges, PAINTS, WINDOW GLASS AND KODAKS ~at~ Lincoln. Kansas Smnh & BfOWning'S ARCHIE HAZEN, The Leading Tinner and Plumber. LINCOLN, - KANSAS, History of Lincoln County PIANOS: 77 Chickering Bros. Baldwin Howard Story & Clark Ellington Packard Smith & Barnes Shuman Williard Hamilton Strohber All Pianos sold on Easy Payments^ get our Catalogue and Price List* A. R. HALL, Lincoln, Kansas. Both Phones 486 Bell Night Phones 470, 1065 78 History of i^.ncoln County Farmers National Bank LINCOLN, KANSAS. E. T. Skinner, President W. B. McBride, Vice President D. C. Stelson, Cashier Bernice Mc Curdy, Asst. Cashier. We do a strictly Banking Business and ask for a share of your patronage. Histofy of Lincoln County 7D Sylvan Grove One of the things which this little city has to be proud of, is her annual carnival and fair. Live stock and farm produce are shown and a three-days' good time is enjoyed by the people of the surrounding country. There is always a large showing of thoroughbred stock of all kinds which would do credit to any county fair in Kansas. The following is a brief hii^tory of Sylvan. The first settlers to come into this neighborhood were Louis Farley and son Hutchison about 1867. The Farley homestead was called Twin Groves. It is now owned by Charles Whittey. The Buzicks, who came in 1870, were the next family to move in. They have always been prominent in the county. Ira Buzick was the first representative to be elected from Lincoln County. W. C. Buzick has been county clerk and editor of a Lincoln paper. A. R. Buzick, who is at present a resident of Sylvan Grove, is one of the wealthiest men in the county. C. :\I. Heaton and the Meyers boys came in 1871. A postoffice was established at an early date which was called The Sylvan Grove Mill. so History of Lincoln Cou7dy Sylvan Grove. The name -was suggested by William Buzick. C. M. Heaton was postmaster, and the office was at his home two miles south of the present Sylvan Grove until about the year 1877, when it was moved to the home of H. S. Merriman near where the town now stands. About this time E. B. Cross and W. F. Morgan built a small store. The next year Merriman put up a stone building into which tJie goods were moved. When the railroad come through the business was sold to Berger Bros. & Wilson. Later an interest was bought by Schemerhorn & Co. This was the only store before the coming of the rail- roads, and people came thirty miles to do their shopping and to get their grain ground at the mill, which had been built by Merriman & Mesterson in 1875. The mill went dowii in the flood of 1886. 'the old stone store is still standing. The town was platted in 1887 by the Sylvan Grove Town Com- pany. The land belonged to Wm. Bender and H. S. Merriman. A new store was built by .John Hoover. Sylvan has had a steady growth ever since, and has been especially prosperous during the last three years. There is an excellent telephone system owned by resident stockholders, three elevators, two large lumbers yards, and about forty other flourishing business houses in Sylvan Grove. Bi Old Stone Store at Sylvan. History of Lincoln County 81 The Sylvan State Bank, SYLVAN GROVE, KANSAS. Capital and Surplus, - $30,000 A Bank that during the sixteen years of its existence has ahvays heen in postion to care for all legitimate needs of its customers, extending every ac- commodation consistent with con- servative, safe hanking. We solicit the accounts of farmers, treasurers, merchants, business men or any one wishing to become con- nected with a good, strong bank. Total resources $225,000; Individual responsibility of Stockholders over half mill- ion dollars. A. R. BUZICK, H. S. BUZICK, Jr., President. Cashier. 82 History of Lincoln County Calene & Berger -DEALERS IN- Dry Goods, Ladies^ Furnishing Goods, Notions, Clothing, Hats and Caps, Shoes, Queenswares, Groceries* SYLVAN GROVE, - KANSAS, History of Lincoln County 83 Barnard The Barnard territory, namely Sail Creek and ScoU Town- ships, was settled by cattlemen about 1868. In 1880 the lands were opened by the government to settlers. Houston & Son, of Concordia, acted as agents. These were the days of sod shan- ties, dugouts and lonesome bachelors, poor and homesick. The Barnard Bee gives a history of the town and we quote verbatim from that paper as it is hard to change history, and our write-ups would have to be the same at all events: "In the spring of 1887, when what Is now called the Barnard branch of the Santa Fe v/as being graded, it was first thought that a town would be started near the center of Salt Creek Township, as that township voted bonds and this one did not. No one thought for a minute that the road would plant a depot just across the line in Scott, a bondless township. So those in- terested located the probable site for the new town on the land where the late Dan Saunders farm is located, in Salt Creek Township, about three and one-half miles east and one south of the present site of Barnard. "The Baker Bros, came over from Asherville and started a lumber yard just across the road from the Saunders residence. W. D. Snapp and G. A. King were engaged to build an office for the company. A man named Ross Wilcox was the lumber company's manager. "But the railroad people had other views, and it became evi- dent that their depot would be located in Scott Township. Im- mediately two townsites were plotted, one on the west edge of Salt Creek Township, the other just across the township line in Scott Township. "The town plat in Salt Creek Township was on land belong- ing to Mrs. Kate Nealeigh; the one in Scott Township on land belonging to A. A. Ballard. "An interesting rivalry sprung up between the promoters of the two townsites, and the township line dividing them was soon dubbed the neutral strip. The Nealeigh site was faceti- ously styled "Slabtown." In this article we will distinguish be- tween the two i)laces by using the terms now in general use — ■84 History of Lincoln County East Barnard referring to the Nealeigh site, and Barnard, mean- ing the Ballard site. "The first business enterprise secured by either of the two rival sites was the Baker Bros, lumber yard, which wau moved from the Saunders place to Barnard on its present site. "The first general store was opened in East Barnard by W. D. Snapp and his son-in-law, Marion Loy. Lew and Lee Morse had been running a store in Old Milo, two and one-half miles northeast of Barnard. Marion Loy and Geo. Snapp bought out the Morse boys at Old Milo when they found there would be no town started on the Saunders place. Five months later (summer of 1SS7) W. D. Snapp bought out his son George in the store at Old Milo and he and Marion Loy moved the stock of goods to East Barnard where Geo. Saine's house now stands. In a short time W. D. Snapp sold out to Lee Morse, and event- ually Mr. Loy retired, which once more left the Morse boys in possession of the business. They failed in business soon after. "The first residence built in East Barnard was the one now occupied by S. A. Duree, and was built by W. D. Snapp. "The first building built in Barnard was the one now occu- pied by Geo. Hiserote and family. It was built by Mr. Snapp as a residence for Ross Wilcox, manager of the lumoer com- pany. "In the summer and fall of 1887 East Barnard seemed to hold the edge over its neighbor across the way. Buildings were moved in from Old Milo and some new ones were put up. A man by the name of Gleason opened a general store; a livery stable was also started, operated by John Clark and hi,5 father. "David Metzgar ran first store in Barnard; kept a small stock of flour and feed in building now occupied by J. J. Preo's barber shop. The building then stood about where E. V. Wine's resi- dence is located. Doc Ballard opened up a small stock of groceries in the building now occupied by W. F. Burns and f£.mily. Barnard's first postoffice was established in the Ballard store, a man with the unusual name of Smith being the first postmaster. "Wm. Gill, father of Mell Gill, built the corner store now occupied by C. Coffman. For a while he ran a restaurant and boarded the men who were building the railroad. He later put in a large stock of groceries and general merchandise. This Tvas the first stock of goods of any importance that was put on sale in the new town. Wm. Gill is now located in Holly, Colo., and is still engaged in the same line of business. "A man named Jim Hoffman built and operated (he first hotel, the one now known as the Barnard hotel. History of Lincoln Coiudy 85 "J. T. Crowl built one of the first residences and still lives in the same building. Mr. Crowl's house and the hotel were built at about the same time, and by the same crew of men. "All this time the railroad graders were hurrying toward Barnard as fast as they could, and on or about the fourth day of December, 1887, the track was completed. On January 15^ 1888, the road was turned over to the operating department, and it is presumed that regular train service went into effect that day. "But the Barnard of to-day is a busy, bustling reality, and once again we invite you to come and visit our little city, loolc over the beautiful, prolific Salt Creek Valley, and if you know a good thing when you see it you'll camp right here indefi- nitely." The Barnard School. ^»6 History of Lincoln County FARMERS STATE BANK CAPITAL, - $15,000 OFFICERS JAMES WILD, Pres. FRANK COLE, Vice Pres. J. A. LOUNSBURY, Cashier W. S. SWANK, Asst. Cashier DIRECTORS H. L. HINCKLEY JOHN VENARU JOHN JOHNSON WILLIAM WEST ORGANIZED, 1904 The Business of Merchants and Farmers Solicited. THE FARMERS STATE BANK, BARNARD, KANSAS. Barnard Lumber Co. DEALERS IN Lumber, Coal, Lime, Cement, Windows, Doors, Building Paper, Mixed Paints, White Lead, Linseed Oil, Alahastine, Wood Water ^Kanks and Smithing Coal Come in and have us Our motto is figure your bills. THE GOLDEN RULE. A. M. GRIFFETH, Manager. The above concern is made up strictly of home people busi- ness men and farmers of Barnard. They wish to thank their many friends for the ^ood business they have enjoyed since buj'ing out the Barker Bros. Lumber Co., in 1892. History of Lincoln County 87 J0HIN80IN BROS., BARNARD, KAIN8A8 Dealers in General Merchandise. Our Motto: Honest Goods, Honest Dealini^s. Messrs. Stephen J. and John W. Johtison of this firm were born in Hawkins County, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Cumber- land mountains. The3' moved with their parents to Appanoose county, Iowa, in the j'ear 1868, and in the spring' of 1874 removed from there to Mitchell county, Kansas, and located with their parents on a homestead about twelve miles west of Barnard. They started in the mercantile business in Barnard about seven years ago, and have enjoyed a splendid business and made many warm friends in and around town. They are well known throug-hout Lincoln and Mitchell counties through their long residence in both. THE MODEL DRLG STORE, GEO. W. HOLLAND, Proprietor. Pure Drugs and Medicines Toilet Articles, Wall Paper and Paint. Barnard, - - Kansas. FIRST NATIONAL BANK BARNARD, KANSAS Capital, $25,000 Surplus, $12,500. M. S. ATWOOD, Pres. J. W. BKIDENSTINE, Vice Pres. F. F. BRACKEN. Cashier, M. I. STAUFFEN, Asst. Cashier. 88 History of Lincoln County Beverly Beverly is the successor and sole heir of the promising burg (in embryo) of Colorado, which gracefully gave up the ghost in 18S6. The postoffice was moved in this year, and the town plotted. The land belonged to Volany Ball. The railroad came through about this time, and stores began to be built. D. R. Kernohan, who built the first general merchandise es- tablishment, was succeeded by his son and daughter, who are still in business. A hotel was built and run by Mr. Tussel. The hardware store was owned by Welsh Bros. C. M. Adamson, who was a doctor and was postmaster at Colorado, kept a drug store in Beverly in the same building with the postoftice. The first people to settle on or near the site of Beverly was the Colorado boys, in the bend of the river. They have al- ready been mentioned in the county write-up. Anyway, they baffle description, so we will pass on. The next settlers were Smiths and Greens. Mrs. Skinner taught the first school which has been mentioned in the "School History." The next school near this place was taught in a dugout by Mattie Seger. In 1905 the town was organized as a city of the third class. It is protected by a council of five wise men, and a big chief, whose name is T. F. Webb, Sr. Things have always run so smoothly in Beverly that there has never Deen a dog light, much less a town row, or a killin'. So it is up to the big chief to furni-^h enough excitement to keep the people from getting too fat. Accordingly he went out one day and shot a rabbit. The council had the day before passed an ordinance against shoot- ing' and the chief was fined $1.00. A little later he went out on the streets and hit a man. This cost him $5.00. His salary is $12.00 per year, but he was public spirited enough to return one-half of it to the treasury in lines. Some of the early settlers are still here. Dick Clark, alias R. B. Clark, the only one of the Colorado boys still living, Chalzmerz Smith and J. J. Peate, two of Forsythe's scouts; and Waldo Hancock, a protege of the Colorado boys. We know a little story about Jack Peate, and take this oppor- tunity to tell it. He came to Kansas at the tender age of sixteen. He was with a companion. When they got to the end of the railroad they bought a horse apiece, and started out to History of Lincoln County 80 ride across (he country. In the vicinity of Cawker City, they were surprised and captured by a band of Indians, dog soldieis probably, because Roman Nose was the leader. They were not killed on the spot, as the band was taking a circuitous route to their camp up the Solomon. The captives looked forward with pleasure to the honor of being tortured to death at the camp of this famous Roman Nose. But when they came near the bluff of Wacoanda they ran into a party of buffalo hunters. The captives escaped and went on their way rejoicing. They came down to Saline Valley and met some of the Colorado boys chasing some government mules and a beautiful little pony. Now this being Jack Peate's first experience on horseback he did not know how to capture a pony, though his intentions were good enough. So when his horse made a quick, vigorous turn, Mr. Peate went skyward. He landed near the town site of Beverly and has made it his headquarters ever since. Then there is the Skinner family who were early settlers, and are still one of the most prominent families in the community, and own a large amount of property in and about Beverly, ill. T. Skinner is our present legislator. He has shown great inter- est in preserving historical landmarks. One of the Rude Dwellings of Our Forefathers. IK) History of Lincoln Coiitity The Beverly State Bank, BEVERLY, - KANSAS. J. J. PKATK, Pres. A. K. SKINNP:R, Vice Pres. K. T. SKINNER, Cashier A. K. SKINNKR, Asst. Cashier A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS. We take Good Care of Money Deposited with Us WE CARRY BURGLAR INSURANCE. History of Lincoln County ■)1 Waldo Hancock has a large list of Real Property For Sale Near Beverly, Ks. Ask him for prices before bu3'ing-, for he will try and save you nionej', and will g"uar- antee a perfect title. Four of the Best Fire Tornado and Hail In- surance Companies car- ried, with rates the low- est. A Matter of Interest to Tliose Wlio Wisli to Sell or Buy Lands, Mr. Waldo Hancock, of Beverl}-, Kansas, has secured a mem- bership with the Central Real Estate Dealers Association » which has headquartere at Topeka, Kansas. By this member- ship Mr. Hancock has 1,000 Real Estate Firms representing him in different parts of the United States, and he is likewise repre- sentative for the same number. Farmers desiring to sell or buj' lands should call on Mr. Hancock. ]. E* Gall Commission Co^ Receivers and Shippers of Grain, Seeds and Feeds Buyers and Sellers of R. R. Stocks and Grains on margin. no West Sixth St. If you've got it it, we want it If you want it, we've got it Topeka, Kansas i>2 History of Lincoln County Vesper Settlement was begun in Vesper territory in 1869. It is a tradition that a battle occurred in 1868, at Lone Rock three miles south of Vesper between the Indians and some railroad employees, but it is impossible to find anyone who knew the particulars of the matter. When the settlement was once started the country filled up rapidly, and by 1872 all the government land was taken. \Vm. B. Cheney was the llrst settler. The Middlekauff family was the second, and they came when there was only one house be- tween Lincoln and Vesper. Other settlers were A. W. Lewis, H. S. Steele, Mr. Schofield, Troup Hickey, John Tool, Wm. Baird. Mr. Schofield's place was the objective point of all newcomers upon first reaching this part of the country. The first school was taught at H. S. Steele's. The Vesper postoffice was es- tablished in 1873 and moved around over the neighborhood for some years. It was first kept at H. S. Steele's farmhouse on section 10, Vesper Township, then in turn at the homes of the following people: Robert Lewis, John Stein, J. P. Harmon, Mrs. Robt. Lewis, whose husband had died in the meantime. While Mrs. Lewis was postmistress the railroad came through and the postoffice moved down near the station. A man by the name of Shoemaker kept the first shoe store. His building was burned later. :Mr. Baird, who is a carpenter and architect, built the first wagon ever made in the county in 1873 for Martin Hendrichson. He also built the first windmill for a Mr. Davis. Simon Bough built a store building and kept a stock of mer- chandise. He sold out to George Elrbd, who built an addition ta it. Miss Lillie White bought out Elrod. Middlekauff & Gilpin bought out Miss White, and put up the building now occupied by Wick & Jepsen. This firm also built a hardware store. Wick bought out the merchandise part of the business. Thos. Gar- rity, who had been running a drug store, sold out, built a stone building, bought the stock of hardware. Wick took Mr. Jep-- sen into partnership and about the same time Porter & Sons put a stock of merchandise in the old Bough building. John Murphy, who bought out Porter & Sons, has gone out of busi- ness. Thos. Garrity sold out early in 1908 to Mauris Cromwell. History of Lincoln County 93 Vesper now has a lumber yard, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, a restaurant, and a meat market, a hardwarfe store and general store and three ttourishlng elevators. Pictures of two of them are given below. There are two churches. Catholic and Presbyterian. The latter was built by a popular subscription, and is used by all denominations. The Farmers Elevator, at Vesper, Lincoln Co., Kans. CThe above is a view of the Farmers' Elevator at Vesper, the largest in the count)', (32000 bu. capacity. ) The)' handle all kinds of grain. COver one hundred stockholders. Organized in 1003. J. A. Twibell, Pres. L. P. Larsen, Sec'y- G. A. Metzger, Mgr. 0in-opSweep Feed VBU Grinder. $14 00 GaWanized Steel Wind Mill. We manufacture aU sizes styles. It Willi pay you to in- ^ veatlg:ate. Write ' [cuopirjomoolf or catalog and / price list. CURRIE WIND MILL CO., Seventh St,, Topeka, Kansas H4 History of Lincoln County VESPER STATE BANK Capital Stock $10,000 Surplus $2,000 W. B. M1DDI.EKAUFF, Pres. A. F. Morgenson, Cashier DIRECTORS: H. P. Jensen C. C. Nelson A. V. Broberg- W. H. Cheney C. H. Peckham Our Motto: Absolute .safety' to our Depositors. Our Policy is to insure our own stability and promote the highest interest of the community by confininir our business to this immediate vicinit3'. CThe following is some of the apparatus in our well equipped blacksmith shop:- Trip Hammer, Drill Machine, Three Emery Wheels, Rip Saw, Band Saw. Two Forges with Blowers, Two Tire Shrinkers, Tire Bender, Tire Bolter, Shears which will cut iron bar 3x4 in., Tool Grinder, Eight Horse Power Engine. We Are Equipped to Do Your Work. Jensen & Guggesberg. History of Lincoln County 95 LEIDIGH & HAVENS LUMBER YARD, Vesper. Kans. We want your business. House bills our specialty. None too larg^e or too small. < )ur stock includes (^oal. American F^ence. and Sherwin-Williams" Paints. LEX L. MORGAN, Manager S. D. BRUMAUGHS ELEVATOR, Vesper, Kans. This Elevator was rebuilt from the Herman I>ros. buildinij^, the first Elevator in Vesper. Established in 1896. Mr. Brumbaugh is handling his share of the million and a half bushels of wheat raised in Eincoln Countj' this 3'ear. 96 History of Lincoln Cou7$ty Denmark One of the most important communities in I^incoln County history is the settlement of Danes on the Spillman. The first entry in this settlement was made on the southeast quarter of section 23 by Lorenzt Christensen in February, 1869. His broth- er homesteaded beside him at the same time. Eskild Lawritzen and wife Stine, Otto Peterson, John Maihoff, Mr. and Mrs. Wiclael all came during the winter and lived near each other. Of course, they faced many hardships, especially those incident to pioneering in the winter. One instance of these must suffice. One cold day in February Lorenzt Christiansen, while hueing logs for a dugout, some distance from any house, had the mis- fortune to cut his foot very severely with the axe. He was obliged to lay in the open without attention all day before help could arrive. His nephew, who was with him, kept up a fire. In the evening he was rescued by John S. Strange. In the Indian raid which occurred the next May, all the Danes but Peter and Lorenzt Christiansen and their families were killed or captured. These two men fought the Indians all day, and at night made their way with their families, to Schemer- horn's ranch. From there they went to Fort Harker, and later to Junction City, where they remained until January 1, 1871. When they returned they brought with them from Junction City John Larsen, N. Nielson, A. Rasmussen. The next April the ranks of Danish colonists were further swelled by James Morgeson, Peter Nielson, Peter Anderson, August Hansen, C. Bunk, C. Anderson, Mons Swenson, Olaf Holnberg, Ole Peterson, Peter Andreson, and Nels Peterson. All these people lived long, and were prosperous except Cris Anderson, who was killed in a runaway. Those who still remain at Denmarlv own beauti- ful and valuable homes. It took a long time in those days to subdue the wilderness and make it bloom as a rose and the pres- ent generation whose way is made easier in consequence can not be too grateful. The first school, a log building, was erected in 1875. C. L. Jensen was the fii'st postmaster and storekeeper in the settle- ment, and his location was next to the present school house site north of the road. Lorenzt Christiansen operated the first History of Lincoln Cou7ity 97 blacksmith shop and did work for a very large scope of coun- try. Later settlers in the Danish colony were H. L. Hansen, L. P. Jensen, Henry Errebo, A. P. Jensen, C. Jensen, H. P. Bernhardt, C. Bernhardt, John Bernhardt, Christian Hendrickson, Mrs. Christiansen, Mattsen, and two Krieser families. There was one Indian killing which occurred in Denmark neighborhood, which has not yet been recorded in history. Lorenzt Jonhson, which is the American name of Lorenzt Chris- tiansen (his father's name being Chris Johnson), saw some Indians on the Spillman (date uncertain) and noticed that one of them wore a pair of red-topped boots. He recognized the boots as those formerly worn by a friend and shot the Indian wearing them. The body was buried on a promitory near by. School History The horizon of intellectual progress in any community can be guaged by its educational system and the interest shown in edu- cation by the people generally. A history of Lincoln County not, containing an account of its institutions of learning would, therefore, be misleading, as we have dealt to some length with the other side of the picture. We are fortunate in securing an article from Mr. A. T. Biggs whom every one will recognize as an authority on this subject. Believing our readers will enjoy this article better than anything the historian might write, it is given here with a few additions: "Settled as Lincoln County was by pushing Western people, along with Irish and Scandinavians, it is not strange that edu- cation occupied their ftrst thoughts. As early as 1867 or 18C8, while still keeping an eye open for Indians, Mrs. Skinner gath- ered her own children, Everton, Alfred, and Bing, and two Zieg- ler boys, Lli and Frank, into her dugout and taught them 'with- out money and without price.' She afterwards taught district school. In 18(38 ]\Iarion Ivy, one of Forsyth's famous scouts, taught a school in a dugout in Uncle Mart Hendrickson's door- yard. "John Lyden, a bright, intelligent Irishman, who was mur» dered and thrown into a well four years later, was appointed tJuperintendent of Public Instruction, on the organization of the •county. At the election in 1S71 John Harshbarger was elected History of Lincoln Cou^tty superintendent, but refused to quality. Washington Smltti, a scholarly old gentleman, served till the election of 1872, being succeeded in 1874 by John F. Harmon. In 1876 A. T. Biggs was elected, and served six years. He was followed in 1882 by H. B. Harris, who served two years. In 1884 James H. Allsworth was elected, and served four years, being succeeded In 1888 by A. T. Biggs, who served till 1892. Horace Trueman, E. D. Smith, W. E. Lyon, and A. J. Stanley, the present incumbent, each served four years. The leading characteristic of each superintendent might be summed up in a single word. Washing ton Smith, oldest, Wright, handsomest, Harmon, tinest presence, Briggs, busiest, Harris, strictest, Allsworth, laziest, Trueman, The Wait School House. jolliest. Smith, most dignified lyvon, most scholarly, aud Stan- ley most forceful. IJrains and energy pervaded the office of superintendent for many years, until to-day the county stands without a peer. liut after all It Is to the noble band of teachers, male and fe- male, (particularly the latter) to which we owe the efficiency of our schools. For the last sixteen years every Superin- tendent has received the bulls of his training in the schools of the County. That there have b^^en some "school keepers" in the great body of teachers cannot be denied, but the great mass have been conscientious God-fearing men and women. A personal mention of all the worthy ones would be impossible History of Lincoln County 9^ but this history would be Incoraplete without the names of a few of the principal aciors. No one who knows the early history of the County will deny to Mrs. Anna C. Wait the honor of being dean of the faculty. Her influence more than that of any other person has shaped the course of educational thought. She taught the first school in Lincoln in the little old house next to the City Hotel. This little building 10 feet by 2'A feet was kitchen, dining room, bed- room and parlor, as well as Captain Wait's law office, but by some sort of magic it was made to contain a school of thirty pupils. This was in 1S72, and there are middle aged men and wo- men in L,incoln today who were pupils in this school and who insist to this day that it was the "best ever." She taught many years in Lincoln as well as in Vesper, Lost Creek, Rocky Hill, and No. 63. Her influence in teacher's meetings, institutes and on examining boads was preeminent. It was she and Captain Wait who brought about the organization of the Normal Insti- tute in 1S77 when there were only twenty-three "de-fact" teach- ers to attend. Without a paid enrollment of fifty no sate aid could be had, so by ('aptain Wait's advice the business men were enrolled. Teaching seemed to run in families. There was the whole family of Skinners, Bing, Fred, Bert, Norah, and Calvin (Vinney). They were educated in the Monroe School where Mrs. Skinner taught in 1!^70. and which maintained its preeminence as the Hub, educationally. The Bakers, Florence, Flla, Ina, Lena, Meta, Edgar, and Eli, all taught acceptably and their father, Congressman Barker, himself a college graduate taught one term in Sunnnyside. The Smith family, Mrs. S. S. the mother, E. D., H. C, and Mabel, left a large impression for good in Lincoln County. It was said by one who ought to know that Anna C. Wait, Hannah McCorkle and Susan Smith were the "first three," Mabel Smith was the champion maker of bricks without straw,, supplying the lack of apparatus by home made contrivances. The work of E. D. and H. C. Smith was good but no better than that of the mother and sister. The Stanley family, Dan, Nora, Sadie, Art, and Eunice all taught acceptably, but it has re- mained for Arthur to add lustre to the family name as well as. to Lincoln County. For Lincoln is known as one of the lead- ing counties in educational advancement owing to the pre- eminence of her superintendent in the work of School Law re- vision, and the more intelligent and practical study of agricul-" ture in the schools. iOO History of Lincoln County Among the early teachers were John Stubbs, George Page, Viola LJoutman, H. Hammer, ("allie Scott, lia \V. Russell, Charley Price, William L. Barr. John O. Wilson, now a promi- nent lawyer ot Salina, Sarah A. Cole a leading physician and tiead of the Sanitarium at Lincoln. Laura Page Peate, wife of J. J. Peate, of Beverly, W. T. Prescoll, who secured a certificate and his wife taught the first school in District No. 2?,, F. V. BYans taught the second. Probably Hannah Mary Moss for so many years in charge ot the primary department of the Lin- coln schools, started as many children right in her twenty- five years of experience as any other person. A. A. Songer who has taught acceptably some twenty years in Lincoln ('ounty, and fifteen more in other places is a man who understands the se- cret of success in his profession. For the past five years he has been on the examining board, where he has acquitted himself with great credit. in point of service he is -one of the "oldest" teach- ers in the County, and his characteristic zeal -and energy increases with each year. His work in any given branch has always been complete and thorough. He is now willing and abundantly competent to be probate judge. In fact he is ex- -tremely well equipped for the duties of this office. John A. Schofield who taught long and success- :rully was a man of deep convlclions, and strong prejudices. Few persons carried into their work a quicker, finer conscience. His iOnly fault was a peppery temper. Hut being a very blonde- blonde he could not help being "red-licaded." He is now clerk of Dewey County, Ukla. Probably the youngest teacher that ever taught in Lincoln or any other (.Jounty was Carrie Matson, now Professor of Latin in Kansas University. About 1880 teachers were scarce, and Carrie who was thirteen but looked any age from eighteen to History of Lincoln CouKty 101 twenty-five, was siiaiited a eeititicate and taught successftilly at llocky Point. At ir'otleisburg lier success was repeated but it leaked out that slie was under age and the superintendent got the roast thai was coming to him. A quarter of a century of successful work has justified the judgment of the examin- ing board. The oldest person who ever taught in the County was Mr. Brown from Ot'avva County, who taught in Uistirct No. 54, Elm Creek, in the early '9l)'s. .lames Dengate who taught in the schools of the County for a quarter of a century and was in active demand. He was a Ijundle of live wires and his clear megaphone tones penetrated not only the unermost corner of the school room, but also tHe atmosphere for a quarter of a mile. Then there was Alice Reddingshaffer and Lillie Loy who spoke so low that the pupils had to keep very still to hear them. All succeeded equally well. John McBride is another example of the soft voice but only eternity can tell what an influence for good was in that soft voice and spotless character. The earlier schools were taught iu dugouts or vacant claim shanties, without desks^ chairs, blackboards or other furniture. In District 21 Laura Feate taught in Rod Wilmarth's kitchen and in District 56 the first school was taught in Fouts cellar and it was out and beyond better than the average. In Dis- trict 22 Mrs. B. H. Ellsworth taught in the basement with eartb floor and two small windows. The seats were blocks of stove- wood that could not be split. Earge sheets of brown manilla paper were used for blackboards and to write lessons on to supplement the short supply of books. District 34 started a school in a shanty with nothing but four bare walls, an earth roof and floor and a sad apology for a door. The children were ragged but bright and industrious and many of them, now middle-aged and well to do people can point with pride to their rise in the world. Mrs. William Nash taught the school furinshing her own apparatus, a board painted with lamp-black, some bits of chalk (not crayon) and four or five odd books. Cornstallcs and weeds gathered by teacher and pupils were burned in a cast-away stove. And yet this was only thirty years ago! "Ad Astra per Aspera.' The Normal Institute provided by the legislature of 1877 has been one of the prime factors in upbuilding the educational fabric. The good results obtained are largely due to the happy 102 History of j^.ncoln County selection of the Normal Faculty, many ot the very best workers of the State having been employed. E. i^\ Robinson, Salome Fierson and Anna C. Wait were the first Normal teachers. Robinson received $100.00 for his work, Miss Fierson $60.00, while Mrs. Wait gave equally good service free of charge. C. T. Pickett, once principal of the Lincoln schools, con- tlucted five of the earlier institutes and left the impress of his genial kindly nature, an all precious legacy. At present the institute has a core of instructors equal or superior to any in the state. They are Mr. C. E. St. John, Mr. ('. M. Ware, Inez M. Chapman, and Carrie F. Bradley." This Is the end of Mr. Biggs' article, but the conclusion of the matter is that he himself is not represented as he deserves. In our educational universe he is one of the immortal gods. When he left the office at the close of his six years' continuous service, he could describe the location of every schoolhouse in the county and he knew the names and faces of all the pupils attending the schools at that time and their rank in their stud- ies. He played ball, ante-over, and pull-away with them, even lo the second generation, covering the sixteen years between 1876-1892, ten of which he filled the office of county superintend- ent. From 1877 to the present (1908) the teachers of the county have been largely of those boys and girls. Do they remember and appreciate him? No Normal institute is complete without him and he has missed but one since 1877. He IS always drafted and compelled to come even from the ut- termost parts of Kansas. Last year the Normal institute sur- prised him with a gold watch in which was the inscription: "With love, from your Lincoln County Girls and Boys." Mr. Biggs organized most of the school districts and upon his leaving the office in 188^ it was found that Lincoln County stood above any in the State regards lo the per cent of enumeration as to population, of enrollment as to enumeration, and average attendance as to enrollment. The wages of wo- men more nearly approximated thai of men than in any other county. About this lime the county had seventy-eight districts with buildings valued at $19,i!;jO, and was spending about $11,000 a year. There was an enrollment of 2,267 out of 2,888 people of school age. At the time of Mr. Biggs' tinal retirement from otlice there were eighty-tive districts employing ninety-four teachers. The school population was 8,600. As compared with the valuation of school property in 1882-iJ the high school building as it stands now is worth $18,000. History of Lincoln County 103 o> I'H History of Lincoln County Kansas Christian College In 1S84 the Bible Christian Church of Kansas proposed to build a college. The State (Conference voted a sum ranging between $6,000 and $10,000 to start the institution providing the city in which it should be located would furnish a like amount. There were some very enterprising citizens of Lin- coln who were members of this church, and they set about to secure the college for their locality. A meeting was held in the Baptist Church and a committee was appointed to present res- olutions to the city council. The result was that a sum of |7,;'.00 was voted by Liincoln, and a committee appoitued to se- cure $2, .500 by subscriptions. Those who deserve most of the credit for bringing the college to Lincoln are Rev. E. Cameron, at that time the resident minister of that church, and Rev. Geo. Tenny, who was president of the State Conference and Board of Trustees. The college had its origin in the Southern Kan- sas Christian Conference. Having decided the location and se- cured the pledge for money no time was lost in beginning. April 21, 18X4, college was opened in the Baptist Church to pre- pare students for successful work the next year. The enroll- ment started at twenty-two and increased till it reached forty- nine. Geo. Tenny was principal of this preparatory school, it closed after several weeks of profitable work and plans were perfected for the beginning of autumn term. Thomas Bartlett, A. M., was chosen president. He and Geo. Tenny taught the college classes. Courses were offered in Biblical literature, higher Kngiish, ancient and modern lan- guage, economics, ethics, mathematics, and the sciences. Rev. E. Cameron, principal of the preparatory school, was assisted by a full corps of teachers. The cornerstone of the building was not laid until July 23, 1885. It was occupied in 1886. Ten acres had been donated for a building site. The IJncoln College Banner was first published in 188.5. At one time ],S00 copies of the paper were issued. In a few years the kindergarten and primary departments were discarded and the insiitution gave its whole attention to strictly college work. The attendants came to be called students and not pupils as before. By 1890 the prepartory fit- ted the student for firpt grade certificates. The college at this History of Lincoln County 10r> A College Eduction Is the corner stone on which the Twentieth Century man or woman must huild success. The plea is no longer "I can not afford it," hut "I can not afford to be without it." A Rare Opportunity which comes to a compar- atively small per cent of young people is at your door The Kansas Christian College a home college, recognized abroad. Four full courses leading to degrees: Commercial, Normal, Scientific, Classical. The Commercial Course equips the the young person for the business world. The Normal Course gives special attention to subjects leading to state certificate. The Scientific Course takes up the practical side of all the Sciences. The Classical Course gives the student a broad and solid foundation for any work in life. Two year's work in any of the above courses is accepted by the State University, allowing those desiring a diploma from there to take two year's work at home. We also offer a Four Year's Course in Bible Study. GEO. R. STONER, Pres. 106 History of Lincoln County time ottered normal, scientific, classical, and commercial courses. The work of the first president, Rev. Bartlett, extended over a period of eight years and through the early struggles he was a most efficient worker. Rev. Cameron, who succeeded him, served as president three years. His work for the college did not close with his pres- idncy as he is at present on the board of trustees. President Whittaker, who served for thirteen years, prob- ably did more than any one man for the institution. He found it heavily in debt and the building yet unfinished. He was a man of excellent business qualities, and by push and persist- ence cleared the college of indebtedness and finished the build- ing. Rev. Geo. R. Stoner, A. M., who has been president for the last two years, is a young man, unusually capable and well edu- cated. During his administration many permanent improve- ments have been made. Many more contemplated for the com- ing year. In looking over the courses offered and the splendid faculty secured we feel that Lincoln County ought to be proud of the Kansas Christian College. Yet in our rounds of the country we hardly heard it mentioned. Lincoln County has a great many advantages to boast of, yet there is one thing which it ought io take pride in above all else — its educational advantages — its public schools and its college. These may not add in any di- rect way a specified amount to its pile of dollars, but they stand near the goal toward which all material gain ought to aim — namely, intellectual and spiritual progress. Material progress is not an end in itself, but it gives an opportunity for higher progress. When made an end in itself it loses all its value, and is a curse instead of the blessing it might be, if used for the proper purposes. If there was a prospect of getting a new railroad through the county the citizens would put up $75,000 or $100,000, by private subscriptions, or by bonds. There are any number of men who would give a thousand dollars each out of their own pockets without expecting any direct returns, in or- der to see a new railroad come through their vicinity. Why not invest a like amount in a college? There is a financial as well as a moral and intellectual return in a good, ttourishing col- lege and the citizens ought to realize this and act accordingly. The college at the present time is doing most excellent work in a $ao,000 building, but it ought to have $300,000 in buildings in order to do the work it is capable of doing for the commun- ity and for its students. History of Lincoln County 107 Women's Organizations The Lincoln Suffrage Association is in some ways the most interesting of all the women's organizations in the county. It was organized in ] MR. A. H. WAIT. 112 History of Lincoln County diary). He was always local editor, the last seven years edi- tor-in-chief, and the last Ave also owner and publisher. The Beacon started as a Republican paper advocating prohi- bition, anti-monopoly, and woman suffrage. It supported the Republican party nationally until 1888, when it became con- vinced that the Republicans were beyond reform. That year it supported the Labor Party and the ticket of this party was elected in Lincoln County. In 189i! it became Populist and re- mained so as long as the paper was punblished. It never missed an issue. This is the office which was built in 1885 and occupied by the Beacon until it was burned in I'JOl. It was 20 by 56 feet, and the only building ever erected in Lincoln as a printing office. We have already mentioned that the Lincoln Republican was established in 1886. This gives it the dignity of the oldest pa- per in the county, it is consistently Republican and true to its name. K. A. McCullum is proprietor and editor. The Sentinel, which is the Democratic paper of the county, was established in 1894 by ha Troup. It is owned at present by C. C. Stoner. Both the papers in Lincoln are alive and up-to-date, and are a great help to the town. In fact, they are an absolute ne- cessity. History of Lincoln County 113 SYLVAN GROVE NEWSPAPERS. The Sylvan (Jrove Sentinel, a neutral paper, was founded in 1887. The present Sylvan paper, the Sylvan Grove News, began in 1895 as the Alert. A man by the name of Hower was editor and publisher. May 4, lyoo, the name was changed to what it is at present. Since then it has had various owners, St. Clair & Hafter, Smith & Cross, Harder & Poor. Harder bought out Poor and for a time A. J. Graves edited the paper for Harder. Tell Peterson recently became proprietor and editor. BARNARD NEWSPAPERS. The first paper in Barnard was the Barnard Times, published by S. M. Figge, date uncertain. The Barnard Bee was started six years ago by Will DeVin- ney. This paper is certainly a live wire in every way. it is responsible for some of the unusual prosperity which has come to the town in the last few years. A good paper can help a town, and this editor knows it. It has a good circulation and the subscription list is constantly growing. In politics it is Re- publican or otherwise. It has convictions and sticks to them. Resources It is estimated by the elevator operators that the wheat yield in Lincoln County this year will run a million and a half bushels. Wheat is eighty cents this year, and is turning out 20 to 'M bushels to the acre. The crop next in importance is corn. We saw some in our rounds which was twelve to fourteen feet high with ears large accordingly. Whoever has a hundred acres of corn in Lincoln (bounty is a rich man. Alfalfa, the Kansas hay crop, is a moneymaker here. The fourth crop is now being harvested, and it is a big crop, too. Vast quantities of cream and eggs are shipped daily from every station in the county. Vesper shipped out 55 cans of cream of 100 pounds each and ;-)6,000 dozen eggs, and this was nothing unusual either. Better probably than words or figures would be a look at the county. The farm houses are large and well kept. The sons 114 History of Lincoln County and daughters of these farm estahlishments are being educated in the Kansas colleges and abroad. In making our rounds we found that if we happened to men- tion unemployed or poor people in the city the people would exclaim, "VVhj^ don't they come out here. We can give them a job any time." The most up-to-date machinery is used for planting and har- vesting crops and to save household labor. The latest thing which we noticed in the way of farm machinery was a corn binder which will probably soon be in general use, solving to a great extent the problem of harvesting corn and making it pos- sible to raise a larger acreage. ^. A Lincoln County Wheat Field. The above is a picture of a Lincoln County wheat held show- ing tlie grain so thick as to make i( difficult to harvest. History of Lincoln County WILLARD E. LYON. 115- In this connection wv wish to mention Mr. Willard B. Lyon, who is familiar with the re- sources of Lincoln County, and the advan- tages it offers to home seekers, as well as in- terested in everything in the way of public improvements and pro- gress. Mr. Lyon was born in Chilton, Wis., March 30, 1874. Two years later the family moved to Lincoln County, where they have since made their home. The subject of our sketch attended common and high schools here. He began teaching in 1894, and two years later served on the counLy examining board. The next year he went to the State Normal and graduated from this institution in 1900, as a valadictorian of a class of one hun- dred and eight members. The same jear he was elected county superintendent of schools and served two terms. In ll!04 he edited the Sentinel and could always be counted on to support the right side of any public problem. The next year he became associated with his father in the land business^ and since that time has sold property amounting to three-fourths^ of a million dollars. This year Mr. Lyon bought out the Star Grocery and Meat ■ Market and is making a success of this business, as he does^ everything. Mr. Lyon has been a member of the State Text Book Com- mission since 1905. He is also a member of the Lincoln school board. As a citizen Mr. Lyon is always willing to support in a sub- stantial way everything which will be of benefit to the com- munity. As a real estate deahn- he can show you just what you want at the right price. ll« History of Lincoln County N. J. DAVIDSON. Mr. N. J. Davidson, one of the real estate and loan men of L.in- -coln, has been in the county twenty one years. He was county clerk for four and one- half years, after which he went into real es- tate business. His long residence here has made him familiar with the lands all over the •county and he can show his customers these lands to good ad- vantage. Mr. Davidson is a member ot the Nation- al Co-Operative Realty Company, and by this means can sell lands in any part of the United ;States and Canada. He is also a member of the Central Real Kstate Dealers' Association, by which he is in cooperation with the real estate dealers all through the West. It will be to the advantage of any one leaving l^incoln County to have a talk with Mr. Davidson, and let him know where they intend to locate, as he can be of assistance to them In buying property in any local- ity, which they may select. To any person desiring to locate in Lincoln County he can show the best farm and town properties in the market. Mr. Davidson is making a specialty ot the loan business. He < oas an unusually good loan proposition by which he makes loans running from one to Hve years. These loans are marie bearing annual Interest and with the privilege of paying back all or part • of the loan at the end of any one year without regard to the 'length of time the loan was supposed to run. In addition to loans and real estate Mr. Davidson has an ab- stract, and An Insurance business. History of Lincoln County 117 The Stock Business Lincoln County used to be a great grazing section, but the lan 4-1 o o b£ I rt CO !U ^ C! , ^ £ 3J CJ CO ■4-) d: c/; c rs >-, X 3 < o 3 3J >— o^ ■J-, u H c/: u (—1 ■ l— ' 1; CJ Q CO u > CQ Mm o o 2 (A in (A c O Qu History of Lincoln County 119 V. A. PLYMAT, SHORTHORNS. Mr. Plymat who has been in the stock busi- ness for five years has a herd of twenty-five head. He beUeves it is better to keep stock in good growing and utility condition, so has avoid- ed the practice of fattening his animals for shows. His stock is low, blocky and short-legged. Mr. Plymat owns about a section of land three miles north of Barnard and sells all his stock from this farm. He makes no special sales, but farmers and others wishing good, useful animals, will find them always in salable condition at the right prices at the Plymat Farm, three miles north of Barnard. C. H. ERREBO, Thoroughbred Hereford Cattle, Established in 1902. Head of the Herd HARRISON. Cows BELINDA and ELSIE. Mr. Errebo has a fine herd of 100 head. He began by buyinjif 40 head of Whittaker's best animals. The cat- tle are raised for sale purposes and sold from the farm. Stock already for sale. — C. H. Erricbo, Denmark, Kans, 120 History of Lincoln County TOPEKA ^ Ili.ll3.ll5.il7 EAST EIGHTH AVE r KANS. FURNISHES: A Complete Business Education, A Course in Commercial Law, Telegraphy, R. R. Office Work, Civil Service Instruction. Special Courses for advanced work in Expert Accounting, Verbatim Reporting, Telegraphic Newspaper Work, Civil Engineering, English Course, Teachers' Course. Night School Lect ures Students are trained not according to theory but according to the actual demands of practical business life. Enrollment Seven Hundred Per Year. 104 page Illustrated Catalogue EREE, by mentioning this book. History of Lincoln County 121 The Evolution of Business Methods The business methods o\. pi-e-historic days consisted mostly in trading and stealing. The Pawnee Indians employed the latter to a considerable extent, and did it in a businesslike way. J. R. Mead tells of a party of them being out on a raid and on running into a party of white men began to swap knives, thereby getting into a quarrel. Their chief rode up and restored order, saying: "You are out to steal ponies and not to raise quarrels." Another primitive business method was trickery. An Indian came to "Uncle Mart" Hendrickson and asked to buy some meal. As Uncle Mart measured it out the Indian took off his shirt and had the meal poured onto it. Then he said he didn't have any money. He knew that nobody would want the meal after it be- ing in the dirty, sweaty shirt, so picked it up and walked off chuckling. But these primitive business methods have passed away and so have the people that used them, before the tides of civiliza- tion and system. In their place have come new methods which are learned by a thorough scientific training. No one expects to get through the world on native ability alone, or to live on his wits. He knows that in the present highly organized com- mercial world, he must haA'^e a special education to prepare him for filling his place. So he selectes an institution which makes a specialty of Training men for business life, and one which has years of success behind it to recommend it and justify its meth- ods — the Topeka Business College for instance, whose graduates, thousands in number, go out daily from the school to responsible, well-paying positions all over the United States, many occupying some of the most important positions in large business establish- ments and receiving salaries which would make a king look like thirty cents. Still others have large business establishments of their own. The graduates of the Topeka Business College who are at work in the Santa Ke ottices in Topeka alone number 182. Scores of others have gone to the Santa Fe offices in other cities from Chicago to San Francisco. This is the largest list of students from any school in any one office in the United States and is the highest endorsement for the methods of this school. Not only are all graduates placed in positions but many of the undergraduates have been found capable of performing the most difficult kinds of office work and one hundred and twenty such persons have been placed in good positions during the past year. 122 History of Lincoln County There are plenty of opportunities tor competent young business people in Topeka. TJiere are tiie general offices of the great Santa Fe system, the headquarters of the Rock Island's Western system, offices of the Union and Missouri Pacific, the various United States, State, county, and other offices, besides the com- mercial establishments of all kinds. There is nothing haphazard about these modern business methods. There are no its or ands to your success if you get the right kind of training, it paves the road to wealth. You will be sure to get it at THE TOPEKA BUSINESS COLLEGE. To Late to be Classified 1 saw a man the other day who had three ears of corn each as long as his forearm. That's pretty good corn. Back in the '80s a Lincoln County woman living over on Spring Creek used to eat ten that size every day for dinner. When the body of John Lyden was taken from the well after being there three weeks it was taken to the court house. That was the winter after gras.shopper year and there was grain and meal piled up which was being doled out to the destitute. The body was placd among these supplies. A man, Davis by name, said he thought it ought not to have been put there. Mr. Priest spoke up: "Well, all that ails you is that you're not hungry enough. I've seen the day when 1 would have rolled that fellow over to get meal under him." In the church history, which failed to be included in this book, there is an account of how "Uncle Uan " Day went to church and instead of going in stood on the outside and knocked on the door. Uncle Martin Hendrickscn, one of our oldest settlers, has lived through a great deal. Some years ago his wife gave him some carbolic acid by mistake and he drank a large amount of it. Ev- erybody thought he would die, but Uncle Mart, having lived through all the terrors incident to pioneer days was not to be killed by such a small thing as a dose of carbolic acid. He ral- lied and was much better the next day, and to the surprised re marks of the neighbors the doctor answered: "You would have to cut Uncle Mart's head off and hide it before he would die." Pioneers of Lincoln County used to practice economy. It was the cardinal virtue in those days. The following story Is told History of Lincoln Ceunty 123 ot a prominent man who lived on the east side of the county. Mr. H. used to make molasses and had a pair of pants which he always wore when into such a job. The pants got so stiff with molasses and dirt that they would stand alone. After the sea- son was over he had vinegar to sell and the neighbors bought liberally. One day a family, Hughes by name, had a harvest hand to dinner. Mr. Huges passed the vinegar but his man did not take any, whereupon Mr. Hughes remarked, "Have some vin- egar, 1 guess It is pretty good." "it ought to be," replied the other, "it was made of the soak- in's of Mr. H.'s molasses pants." There was a scare sent out over the State that the sunflowers -were about to be exterminated. Not in Lincoln County. A wo- man living on the east side of the county planted some climbing beans beside sunflower stalks. After the beans had begun climlv ing up the stalks there came a good rain. The next morning she found that the sunflowers had grown so fast that they had jerked the beans out of the ground and the fresh, moist earth was still dining to their roots. Many funny things have happened in the Lincoln County courts, some of which are not dignified enough for print even in this book, but here is one which happened in the year 1872 which will past muster. Lawj^er: "Did Smith strike Brown with malicious Intent?" Witness: "Su-r-r?" Lawyer: "Did Smith strike Brown with malicious intent?" Witness: "No, su-r-r, he hit him with a cottonwood limb." A few people in Lincoln County have committed suicide, some 'by drowning, some by hanging, and some by shooting ,but a cer- tain very original man stuck his nose in his ear and blew his head off. We heard a man say the other day that he would believe any kind of a cyclone story. Here is one for him: A cyclone once lifted and carried half a mile a man who was so fat that on ■coming down his shadow killed a full-grown buftalo. Now go and patronize our advertiseio. Table of Contents IBarnard 83 Beverly 88 Building tlie Courthouse 47 doming of the White Men 14 County Organization 43 County Seat Contest 44 Dedication 3 Denmarlv 96 Evolution of Business Methods 121 Geology of Lincoln County 7 Grasshoppers 49 Growth and Development 50 Indian Troubles of 1868 30 Kansas Christian College 104 Lincoln 65 Newspaper History 110 On the Roll of Honor 56 Organizations 107 Prairie Fires 51 Pre-historic 10 Pennsylvania Store 68 Preface 5 Haid of 1869 37 Railroad History 51 Resources 114 School History 97 Settlements 21 Some Old Settlers 61 Stock Business 117 Sylvan Grove 79 The Cleary Case 52 The Lyden Murder 49 The Medicine Man ." 23 The MofRt Boys 18 The Mulberry Scrap 36 Too Late to be Classified 122 Vesper 92 KANSAS I'ARMEK JOU Ol'KlCE, TOPKIvA, KANSAS.