USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 11
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In May, 1877, a stock company was formed under the name of the Great Bend Publishing Company, which had for its pur- pose the publication of a Democratic weekly newspaper, under the name of the Arkansas Valley Democrat. Isaac T. Flint of Ottumwa, la., was chosen editor and manager.
The first number of the paper appearel July 21, 1877. After four wecks, Jos. B. Fu- gate, of Ottumwa, Ia., was taken in as a partner and five weeks later Mr. Flint sold his remaining interest to B. B. Smyth of Ellin- wood, who had been an employee of the office since it began business.
Election was approaching and it was dis- covered that a successful campaign would de- pend on Smyth's being ousted from the office. Accordingly possession was demanded by the company and the demand was refused by Smyth. Then a replevin was issued from the circuit court and a re-delivery bond of $2,000 was given by Smyth. Later the company be- came fearful of losing their interest in the con- cern and they made a deal whereby they bought Smyth's interest. He was succeeded by J. B. Fugate.
In 1878 the Kansas Volksfreund, a German Democratic weekly newspaper, was started in Great Bend. It was edited by Phillip Schmitz. This office introduced the first power press in the county, a handsome Cot- trell and Babcock. In 1879 this paper was consolidated with the Stern des Westens, (Star of the West), of Wichita and the two plants were consolidated and moved to To- peka where the new publication was issued under the name of the Staats Anzieger.
The Ellinwood Express was started in 1878 by Sheperd and Sterling, and for some time it was printed in the office of the Sterling Bulletin. During the same year Thomas I. Powers of Sterling took possession of the pa- per and established a printing office at Ellin- wood. The Ellinwood paper now is called the Leader and is published by John McMullin.
The above gives an idea of the early news- papers in the county and since those days there have been a number of papers started that met with indifferent success and were finally either discontinued or absorbed by other publications.
Among those mey be mentioned : The Item, Graphic, Evening News, Rustler and Morning News.
The Register, after A. J. Hoisington scv- ered his connection with it the first time, was
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
owned by E. L. Chapman, Morgan Caraway, J. H. Borders, A. J. Hoisington and Ira Clark. Warren Baker and Ed Vollmer bought the Reg- ister and Daily Item and consolidated with the Tribune August 1, 1908. In 1909 Vollmer sold his interests to Townsley & Baker, the present owners.
In the fall of 1880 Tracy and Adams start- ed the Barton County Democrat. This firm sold to A. Wolf, who in turn sold to W. H. Bright of McPherson. He sold to D. Langford in March, 1886. Will Stoke bought a half in- terest in the paper and later bought the re- maining half from Langford. Mr. Stoke sold a half interest to W. P. Feder in 1904. In 1905 this firm bought the Beacon which was started by D. T. Armstrong in 1895. Stoke
sold his interest in the plant to Mr. Feder in 1906. Later Mr. Feder organized the Feder Printing Co., which has since owned and published the Barton County Democrat.
In January, 1910, the Morning News was started in Great Bend by the firm of Gunn & Wattson. This paper was consolidated with the Great Bend Tribune in September of the same year.
The newspapers now published in the coun- tv are the Great Bend Tribune, daily and weekly, by Townsley & Baker; the Hoisington Dispatch by Roy Cornelius, the Ellinwood Leader by John McMullin, Pawnee Rock Herald by Grant Lippincott and the Claflin Clarion by Bert Fancher. All these papers except the Tribune are weekly publications.
A FEW INCIDENTS
By Ira H. Clark
I MAY be pardoned for mention of an inci- dent at Hoisington in the summer of 1895, which was largely of a personal inter- est to me. I mention this because it tells of the largest Republican township caucus ever held at Hoisington up to that time and the largest since with the single exception of the caucus held in 1904 about which I will have something to say later. This 1895 caucus was for the purpose of naming delegates to the county convention which was to place in nomi- nation the county ticket. The writer was a
Ira H. Clark
candidate for the nomination of county clerk that year and it may be said that he had some good healthy political enemies in his own baliwick as well as some mighty good and true friends. These enemies were determined to keep me from getting the delegation if pos- sible and in that manner take me entirely out of the running, if the entire delegation could not be secured then it was the desire of these
people to divide it with me so that neither one of us would stand a ghost of a show when it came to the county convention. The man selected to defeat me for the delegation was Tommy Mocre, "a railroad shop man, who was popular with the numerous railroad men and at the same time was quite a lodge man. A stronger man locally for the purpose intended could hardly have been selected. He was practically unknown outside of a small terri- tory but he was well known in Hoisington and generally liked. He would not have had a lcok-in for the nomination even had he se- cured a solid delegation from Homestead-but the purpose of his backers to defeat me would have been accomplished. The attendance at this caucus was about 110 which was very near the voting strength of the party in the township at that time. The test came in the selection of a chairman and my supporters were successful, although by but a small ma- jority. We pushed the fight on the issue of the two candidates for county clerk-my friends demanding that I either be given the entire delegation or none-with the result that a motion prevailed that I be permitted to se- lect the delegates to the county convention. Right here I want to say that I did something that branded me as a novice in politics, some- thing that my later years of experience taught me was a radical mistake. In politics never give back a concession that has been granted, take all you can get and grasp for more. Upon the granting of the usual privilege by the caucus there was a storm of protests from the opposition, chief among which was Col, Wash. Sowards (now gone to his long rest) who loudly-I speak literally-proclaimed that should I secure the nomination after having taken advantage of this unusual privilege he would spend every minute of the time from convention time until election tramping over
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the county electioneering against my election. I did not at that time fully appreciate or real- ize the great favor the Colonel was voluntarily proffering me. I thought by conciliating witlı the opposition and allowing them a fair share of the delegates with instructions that they should support me unanimously for county clerk would make me stronger and bring about a better feeling. And this was the plan followed against the wish and protest of one of my valued supporters-Captain J. P. Francis -who knew politics from A to Z and who though never making a brilliant success him- self had keen foresight and excellent judg- ment on matters of this kind. I found out later that I had made a mistake for it took all the time that I should have devoted to increas- ing my following outside in keeping my own delegation in line and preventing them from violating their instructions. This caucus will always be remembered by those in attendance as the most hotly contested of any held in Homestead township. This was the year that M. B. Fitts was first nominated for county clerk. The writer had the largest following of any individual candidate up to the next to the last ballot when he lacked five votes of a nom- ination. At this juncture practically all the delegates supporting George Gano of Pawnee Rock, were swung into line for Mr. Fitts.
In the spring of 1892 Hoisington had a very bitter city election. The town had been incor- porated for a number of years but there had been no improvements made whatever and a number of the progressives were in favor of electing a city ticket that would mean some much needed sidewalk and street crossings. The moss-back element proclaimed loudly that the city would be thrown hopelessly in debt if this progressive ticket was successful, and this element succeeded in rallying to their aid a certain element in the churches that was made to believe that the progressive ticket was an extreme favorite with the whiskeyites. This was a favorite city election argument, by the way, for a number of years but it mattered not which ticket was successful in any of these years whiskey was sold freely in Hoisington at all times. This progressive ticket was headed by Capt. W. F. Peck and was successful at the polls. The sidewalks and crossings were put in and a great deal in the way of im- provement accomplished. I was identified with the progressives and the morning after elec- tion six men filed up to my office, paid the subscription on their papers and ordered its discontinuance to their address. I did not enter into any argument with them or at- tempt to have them continue taking the paper but as courteously as I knew how took their money and gave them receipts. Some of my friends heard of the incident and before sun- down they came in with thirty-seven new paid
in advance subscriptions to the paper, so I was not very much loser after all.
Speaking of persons stopping their sub- scription to a newspaper reminds me of an incident when Jerry Simpson was making his second campaign for congress. When Simpson made his first campaign of course I had more or less to say through my paper-the Dispatch -cf a disparaging nature relative to Simpson and his fitness for the position he sought. When Simpson was making his second cam- paign his followers got up a monster demon- stration at Hoisington, there was a great par- ade and the affair was about the biggest polit- ical event that ever happened in the county. There was an Irish lady living in Hoisington by the name of Grandma Johnson who had been a constant subscriber to the Dispatch and was a very good friend of the writer. She was, however, an ardent Democrat and a strong believer in the perfection ot Jerry Simp- son. A grandson was assisting in the Dispatch office on press day having the important po- sition of roller boy for the Washington press in use in the office. Immediately after the big Simpson political demonstration Grandma Johnson sent word by this boy to the editor that if he wrote up Simpson in as lying and contemptible manner as he had done two years before she was coming in and would stop her paper. Of course the Dispatch that week had a great deal to say about Simpson and the Car- away-Simpson episode that was pulled off on the occasion of that particular meeting, and in the editor's own weak way Simpson got his. The next morning after the paper was issued Grandma Johnson went to the postoffice and getting her copy of the paper examincd it and found what she was looking for in refer- ence to Simpson. She immediately ascended the steps to the printing office and tearing the paper to shreds, threw the remnants at the face of the editor, placing the amount of her delinquency on the desk said, "There is your cld paper, it's the damndest lienest shate in the state, except the Great Bend Register." I was glad she made one exception in the case.
By way of explanation I will say that at that time the Register was in the hands of Morgan Caraway, who was chairman of the Republican congressional committee, and was about as virulent writer and hard a fighter as ever showed up in these parts. Grandma Johnson's temper did not last long and she was soon a valued subscriber to the Dispatch and the writer always counted on her and her family as among our best friends.
During the campaign of 18SS there were two papers published at Hoisington. The Echo, published by Chas. R. Vert, espoused the Re- publican cause, while the Mascot, published by Tom Shaughnessy upheld the Democratic ban- ner. During the coursing meet, which at that time was the most noted annual meeting in the county, the two papers issued daily edi-
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tions. Neither one of the editors were gifted with an over-abundance of editorial gray mat- ter and as this was in the midst of a heated campaign in the nation, state and county, and the two papers were ultra partisan and it was necessary that each edition contain a number of good strong editorials calculated to inform the common voter as to his duty on election day. Neither editor was capable for the task, and be it said to their credit, they both real- ized this fact. It was therefore necessary to get someone to furnish this necessary copy. The Echo secured the services of Hugo Car- lander, a Swedish gentleman who ran a har- ness shop and who was a rabid Republican who usually expressed himself in very force- ful language. The Mascot secured the services of A. H. Baker who at that time, and is yet, a land agent at Hoisington. Mr. Baker was a Missouri Democratic of the rock-ribbed va- riety and could go some when it came to tell- ing his side of the political story. The editor of the Echo did not know that the Mascot had an assistant in the way of an editorial writer but thought the political stuff appearing in the Mascot was from the pen of the editor. The controversy in the two papers became personal to such an extent that they engaged in personal combat over the accusations, charges and counter charges that were daily appearing in the two papers. It is needless to say that the personal combat of the two editors was a source of much merriment to the two writers who were furnishing the ammunition for the. fracas while they themselves were engaged in a bloodless warfare.
There is an interesting story connected with the first nomination of the late Senator L. Chapman that not gen- erally known. This story reveals how very close cur present townsman, Joe Walters,then the candidate of Stafford county for the sena- torial nomination, came to being the nominee of that convention, or I might better say how very easy it would have been for him to have secured the nomination had the delegates from his county had any idea of the intention of Mr. Chapman. A little history of the condition of things is necessary before going on with the real story. Senator Robert Findlay had been in the senate but one term and it was gener- ally conceded that he was a one term man. He and General Chapman were very good friends at that time and before General would enter the race for the senatorship he had as- surances from Bob Findlay that he would not be in his way but would assist in the nomina- of Chapman. Assurances of support were also secured from other prominent Republicans of Rice county. Senator Findlay wanted to be let down as easily as possible, as it had been the custom to give an office holder two terms and the retirement of Senator Findlay at the ex- piration of his first term was a divergence from this usual custom. It was thereforc agreed that in the selection of the delegates to
the senatorial convention from Rice county that these delegates should ostensibly be for Senator Findlay for a renomination, and then the program was that after a vote was taken and the Rice county delegation cast a vote for Senator Findlay-Senator Findlay was to come forward and after thanking his home county for their loyalty was to withdraw from the race. This was the thought of a number of the dele- gates from Rice county, but it seems that Bob was smooth enough to tie them up with some sort of an agreement by which they were to stay by him until he would personally release them from any allegiance to him. After he had secured the Rice county delegation and had this agreement Bob concluded that he would like to stick in the senate for another term and became a fullfledged and bonafide candidate for nomination.
Stafford county had not been getting hardly her share of district honors and therefore felt -and very justly too-that she was entitled to the nominee for senator. Findlay knew very well just how the Stafford county folks felt about this and there rested his hope for secur- ing the nomination. While the Stafford county delegates personally felt much more friendly to Chapman than they did to Findlay their sore- ness for Barton county not coming to their aid might take on such a form as to cause them to go to Findlay before they would to Chap- man through a feeling of revenge. This was Chapman's danger and it was right here that a plan was evolved whereby Findlay became an impossibility if the Stafford delegation would be alert and onto their job. By necessi- ty this plan had to be kept very quiet and I may say there were only two persons besides General Chapman that knew of the plan. One prominent delegate on the Stafford county del- egation was told to keep a very close watch on the proceedings and be ready to act quickly should anything transpire that needed quick action. Nothing more could be said, and al- though this delegate could not figure out just what the purport of this intelligence was it is needless to say that he paid mighty strict at- tention to the proceedings until a nomination was made. This convention was held at Ellin- wood and was presided over by Sam Jones of Lyons. By a rule of procedure in conventions of this character when a vote is being taken on a nomination any delegation has a right to change its vote already cast provided the change is made before the vote is announced by the secretary. A large number of votes were being taken with little difference.
In the roll call of counties Barton always cast the first ballot. The plan was that should Stafford county get so sore at Barton as to prefer the nomination of Findlay to Chapman and the Rice county delegates persisted in their support of Findlay then the chairman of the Barton county delegation would immedi- ately, before the announcement of the ballot, change the vote of Barton county to Walters
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and then it would be up to the Stafford county chairman to quickly announce a change of vote from Findlay to Walters. Had the Stafford county folks had any idea of this intention they could easily have brought about the nomina- tion of Walters.
One of the most prominent men in the early history of Hoisington was A. S. Cooke, who was the cashier of the first bank established in the town. Mr. Cooke was not one of the first men in the town but was one of the pushers when he did come. It was through him that the writer was first induced to locate in Hois- ington in February, 1889. Mr. Cooke took an active part in all things of a public nature and
was a very social fellow. After retiring from the bank he became interested in the lumber business with the late Henry Wildgen. Soon after the hard years in the nineties he sold out his interests and went to Pittsburg to take charge of the Pennsylvania business of a Chi- cago electrical supply business. I am inform- ed that he has prospered greatly in his new home and now has his country home, two au- tomobiles and his city residence. While in this county he was active in Masonic circles but has since renounced all allegiance to secret orders and is now a devout and active worker in the Catholic church, his oldest daughter having taken the veil in that church.
WILLIS W. WINSTEAD
T HERE are few men who had more to do with the early history of Barton Coun- ty, and especially that part of it that has to do with the City of Great Bend. He was the second sheriff of Barton County and filled the office of city marshal of Great
W. W. Winstead
Bend at a time when it required a man of strong nerve and a determined nature to deal with the vicious element that made up a part of the town's population. He was born in the
little town of Dukedom, Tenn., in 1844, and came to Barton County in 1873. He married Miss Georgia Stone, a daughter of T. L. Stone for whom Stone street was named. She, with her sister, were the first young ladies to ar - rive in Great Bend. Mr. and Mrs. Winstead were the parents of three children as follows: Wirt W., who died when he was 24 years of age; George M., who for some time was in the jewelry business in Great Bend, but abont a year ago moved to Hutchinson and estab- lished one of the largest and most complete stocked jewelry stores in this part of the country ; Thomas E., who is proprietor of the Duncan Bottling Works in Great Bend. Mrs. Winstead's father ran the old Southern hotel which, when it was first built, was known as the Drovers Cottage, and was the first build- ing on the townsite of Great Bend. At this time Mrs. Winstead was 15 years of age aud her two sisters, who are now Mrs. Honnen and Mrs. Crath, were 5 and 13, respectively. Mr. Winstead was deputy marshal for some time and in all his public duties proved him- self a man whose nerve enabled him to deal with delicate conditions with forethought and determination. He had to deal with some mighty tough characters during his terms as marshal and sheriff but the evil-doers learned that Mr. Winstead was a man who placed his duty above everything else. He was a kind and considerate father and his death, which occurred a few years ago, caused a great deal of sorrow among his relatives and friends who knew him for a man in every sense of the word.
JOHN EVERS
T IE improvements just completed at "Wheat Valley Farm," the home of
John Evers, 12 miles west of Great Bend has made such a change in its appearance that one hardly recognizes it as the same place, although the land is just as rich and
the same care has been given to the cultiva- tion of the crops. A large two story frame, containing ten rooms and a kitchen, has taken the place of the former residence, and it will stand as a monument to the skill of Mr. Evers as a carpenter for many long years, as
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he has been both its architect and builder. That it is well built, and that the lumber of its construction is first class is an admitted fact, because Mr. Evers served an apprentice- ship at the builders' trade in the Old Country before coming to America, and then worked as a journeyman carpenter for a number of years. Since coming to Kansas he has worked at his trade while farming, and has kept in touch with the improved methods in vogue in this country. He therefore felt that he was competent for this task and the building stands to prove that he made a just estimate of his ability. The barn, sheds and other outbuild- ings are in keeping with the home and care for the grain and stock of the farm. There is an abundance of shade and the whole presents a beautiful appearance.
John Evers was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, on May 11th, 1857. He worked on the farm and at his trade until March 5th, 1882, when he came to America and first settled in Nebraska City, Nebraska. There he again farmed and worked at his trade, but in May, 1893, came to Barton County, Kansas, and purchased the one hundred and sixty acres where he resides. He also owns a half sec- tion in Pawnee County which is farmed by his son John Herman Evers. He was married in June, 1884, to Miss Johanna Ekhoff, of Ger- many, and thirteen children have blessed them: all of whom remain at home and assist the parents except John Herman, who is married and lives on the farm in Pawnee County.
AMEND BROS, DENTISTS
I N writing the different articles for the history of Barton County and Great Bend, there is none that is more a story of suc- cess and enterprise than this one, which re- counts the building up an establishment of which the people of Great Bend and Barton County, as well as those of surrounding coun- ties, are justly proud. This establishment is known as the Amend Brothers Dental Par- lors which are located over 1417 1-2 Main street. Those who visit the parlors for the first time, after having become'accustomed to
Brothers consists of Walter A., Eldon R., and Leslie L. These young men are sons of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Amend, who were early set- tlers in the eastern part of Kansas, having come to this state from the state of Missouri.
Mrs. Amend was left a widow twenty-two years ago and it is largely due to her guid- ance and pride in her boys that they have made a success in their work.
Walter was born in Brown County, Kan- sas, in 1884, and when he arrived in Great Bend in 1901, he accepted a position in the
Amend Bros., Sanitary Dentists
the ordinary dentists' office, are compelled to exclaim, "Wonderful!" And it is wonderful when it is taken into consideration that with- out any attempt at flattery, or stretching the imagination it can be truthfully said that no- where in the state of Kansas nor in Kansas City or St. Louis, can there be found a den- tal parlor that will excel the Amend Brothers establishment when it comes to completeness of equipment, sanitary methods or general beauty and convenience. The firm of Amend
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