USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 23
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Going and Coming of Autos, Pawnee Rock, May 24, 1912
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
ing worked by renters and in addition to these holdings he has a fine ten room residence in a most desirable location in Pawnee Rock. He is one of the boosters of the town who never tires of speaking a good word for Pawnee Rock and Barton County. He has served the town as councilman and always taken an ac- tive part in all public matters and is an enter- prising and progressive citizen. Mr. McDou-
gal is one of the men who came to this sec- tion at a time when it required nerve to stay and battle it out with the many adverse con- ditions with which the old timers had to con- tend. He did so however and his success is due to good management and an unfailing faith in the future of this section and could see this county where it is today, one of the best in the State of Kansas.
FARMERS AND MERCHANTS STATE BANK
B OWNS and cities are often judged by their their banking institutions, and in the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Pawnee Rock, the people of that section of the county have an institution that meets every demand made upon it, and by straightforward business methods has gained a most enviable reputation in all parts of Barton County. This bank was organized in 1908 by gentlemen who have had a great deal to do with the develop-
cd by this establishment, and in addition to this the deposits are guaranteed by the Bank De- positors' Guaranty Fund of the State of Kan- sas. This is a strictly home institution, all the stock in the bank being owned by men who have made this section of Kansas one of the most important in the state. The officers of this bank are men who stand high in the com- mercial and financial life of Barton County and are known for their progressive methods
Farmers and Merchants State Bank
ment of the county's resources and the up- building of Pawnee Rock. This bank was cr- ganized with a capital of $15,000 and the de- posits have grown larger each year and when the April, 1912 statement was issued it showed a total of approximately $132,000, the capital and surplus at the same time being $20,000. This bank occupies a fine brick building in the center of town. The building was arranged especially for banking purposes and contains modern, up-to-date fixtures. The latest style Manganese stech vault assures the safety of all money and valuables left at this bank. All the safeguards that are usually found in a pro- gressive banking establishment are maintain-
and public spiritedness. Customers of this bank are granted every accommodation that is consistent with safe banking methods. The officers of this bank are: H. H. Woodbury, president; D. R. Logan, vice-president; F. C. Woodbury, cashier. The directors are: W. H. Bowman, T. H. Brewer, G. F. Spreier George Smith, George Washer, D. R. Logan, and H. H. Woodbury. This bank has won its high standing in the county by conducting a general banking business according to the most approved methods, and by making of the establishment a bank for all the people of the territory adjacent to Pawnee Rock.
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157
PAWNEE ROCK STATE BANK
B ARTON County is noted for its sound, substantial banking institutions and there is none that stands better with the people of the county than the Pawnee Rock State Bank which was organized in August, 1901. It was the first bank in the town and was made possible by E. R. and G. N. Moses, Robert Merten, Peter Bloom, Charles Gano, J. T. Kell, M. E. Heynes and other well men who took a leading part in the commercial life of the county. All of the organizers with the exception of the first two named are pioneers of Pawnee Rock while the Moses Brothers helped develop that part of the county lying closely adjacent to Great Bend. The bank was
steel safe and as additional protection the bank is equipped with an electric burglar alarm system which renders it absolutely im- pregnable to burglars. On top of all this the depositors in this bank are secured by the Bank Depositors' Guaranty Fund of the State of Kansas. This bank offers exceptional ad- vantages to new depositors. It pays liberal interest on savings and time deposits and grants to customers every favor that is in keeping with safe banking methods. These features have made this bank popular with the people of Pawnee Rock and vicinity and is a great aid in teaching the young people that the only dollars worth two hundred cents are
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Pawnee Rock State Bank
organized with a capital of $5,000, which has been increased to $25,000 from the earnings and not by assessment of the stockholders. It now has a surplus of $3,000 and deposits cî approximately $95,000. The bank has grown steadily since it was organized and has gained the confidence of its patrons by square deal methods and untiring efforts in meeting every demand made upon it by customers. The bank occupies a fine brick building on the Main street. It has a modern steel lined vault, which contains the latest improved Manganese
those saved in youth. The officers of this bank are: E. R. Moses, president; Peter Bloom, vice-president; A. Dring, cashier and A. S. Gross, assistant cashier. The directors are E. R. Moses, Jr., J. T. Kell, E. R. Moses, Peter Bloom and Robert Merten. All of these are men who enjoy the utmost confidence of the people of Barton County as they are among the men who made this county one of the best in the State of Kansas and are well and favorably known in the commercial and financial life of the state. This bank has en-
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
joyed its growth from the fact that it is a home institution officered and owned by home people and conducted for the people of Pawnee Rock and this section of the county. The suc-
cess of this bank is due to the enterprise of its stockholders and officers who have gained the confidence of the people.
GRANT LIPPINCOTT
C NE of the well known newspaper men of Western Kansas, and one who is al- ways working for the interests of his paper and the town in which it is published is Grant Lippincott, publisher and proprietor of the Pawnee Rock Herald. Grant, as he is best known, was born in Atchison County, Kansas, February 7, 1884; his father being J. H. Lip- pincott who had a great deal to do with mak- ing the history of Grant's home county until 1893 when he went to Oklahoma where he now resides. Grant came to Barton County in 1904
and established the paper known as the Her- ald, in Pawnee Rock and since that time has taken an active part in the affairs of his town and county. He learned the printing trade in Hutchinson where he spent four years as an employee cf the Hutchinson News. He is an expert printer, a brilliant writer and stands for the principles which he thinks are best for the majority. He was married September 2, 1908, to Miss Myrtle L. Woelk whose parents live seven miles southeast of Pawnee Rock and are old timers of that section of the state.
The Editorial Twins
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159
Grant Lippincott, Proprietor of The Pawnee Rock Herald
Grant and his wife are naturally proud of their twin boys, Virgil Alvus and Wilbur Alfred. They were born August 25, 1910, and are children of whom anybody could be proud. Mr. Lippincott has been a member of the city council and has also served the town as clerk for two terms. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and belongs to the lodge at Larned. He is also a member of the Great Bend Lodge of Elks, is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Yeoman lodge. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen and took an active part in the work that final- ly resulted in having Pawnec Rock, or what remains of it, in 1912, preserved as a historic point cn the old Santa Fe Trail. Since he came to Pawnee Rock he has done a great deal to further the interests of the town not only through the columns of his newspaper but by his personal efforts.
THOMAS HENDERSON BREWER
T HOMAS HENDERSON BREWER was born October 5, 1844, in Morgan Coun- ty, Indiana. He left there when hc was twelve years of age and went to Iowa with his parents where he remained until the family came to Kansas in 1857. They first located in Nemaha County where the elder Brewer engaged in farming. In September, 1862 Mr. Brewer enlisted in the 13th Kansas regiment and was a member of Co. G. He served throughout the war and in addition to service that was most active in Arkansas and Missouri he took part in the battle of Prairie Grove one of the big engagements in the State of Arkansas. Shortly after the war he went to Nebraska where he remained for seven years. In the fall of 1876 he came to Barton County and located at Great Bend where he engaged in the blacksmithing business. He was there for two years and in the spring of 1878 he purchased railroad land in Pawnee Rock township, buying the southeast quarter of section 23. He farmed until a short time ago when he retired and now occupies one of the nicest residences in Pawnee Rock. He was married December 22, 1867 to Miss Mar- garet E. Cummins of Nemaha County and they are the parents of six children: Ora A.,
41 years of age, is now in Helena, Ok .; Eunice, 39 years of age, is now Mrs. Albert Lile cf Pawnee Rock; Emma, 38 years of age, is now Mrs. Charles Ross also cf Pawnee Rock; Charles, 36 years of age, is living at Pryor, Ok- lahoma; Maggie, 31 years of age is now Mrs. H. E. Purlee of Red Bluff, California; Jessie, 29 years of age, is Mrs. C. T. Belt and re- sides a short distance north of Pawnee Rock. Mr. Brewer owns a half section of land well improved in this county and a half interest in a half section in Hodgeman County. He is one of the directors cf the Farmers and Mer- chants Bank and owns in addition to his res- idence another house and lot in the west part of town. Mr. Brewer takcs an active part in all public matters and was probate judge of this county from 1890 to 1895. His residence contains eight rooms in addition to batlı, closets, pantries, etc. Mr. Brewer is one of the best known men in this part of the state and has done a great deal in developing the resources of the county and making of Paw- nee Rock one of the important towns of the county. He is one of the really old timers who saw this county grow from an almost barren waste to its present high state of cul- tivation.
NEWTON PHILLIP SMITH
N EWTON PHILLIP SMITH was born Sep- tember 7, 1856, in Woodford County, Kentucky. He remained in his native state until he was fifteen years of age at which time he came to Barton County. This was in 1872 and he saw the county grow from an abode of buffalo and Indians to its present high state of cultivation. After he had been here a few years he pre-empted a claim of 80 acres in section 10, Pawnee Rock township and also the same amount of land in section
25 of the same township. He ran a threshing machine and farmed for a number of years and in 1890 established a blacksmithing and repairing shop in Pawnee Rock. This is the pioneer shop of that section of the county and the work that is turned out there is known all over the county as the best that can be obtained. It was while he was constable, an office that he held for several years that he broke up the Taylor gang of outlaws and horse thieves. This gang, led by George Taylor,
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
terrorized this section of the country for a long tinie until Mr. Smith took up their trail, and finally located them south of Fort Supply where he rounded up the gang and recovered
of age, a contractor and builder who has built some of the finest buildings in Pawnee Rock among them being the school building and all the good buildings in the town; Garfield, 32
Threshing Outfit of Newt. Smith, Taken in the Early 80's
a number of horses belonging near Pawnee Rock. This was one of the most desperate gangs that ever infested this part of the state and before they were captured it was neces- sary to kill their leader. For this excellent work Mr. Smith received many words of praise and the heartfelt thanks of the entire community. He also served as city marshal of Pawnee Rock an office in which he made a most enviable record. He was married in 1878 to Miss Mary Jane Lile and they are the parents of four children: Edwin G., 33 years
years of age, aids his father in the blacksmith shop and is a skilled workman; Earl, 25 years of age, is manager of the Rock Mill and Ele- vator Company's interests in Great Bend; Blaine, 28 years of age, is a clerk in one of the biggest stores in Pawnee Rock. Mr. Smith has always been an enterprising and pro- gressive citizen and is one of the really old timers cf this section of the state and has had no small part in making of Barton County ons of the best in the State of Kansas.
JAMES H. FLICK
I F the men who have taken an active part in the upbuilding of Pawnee Rock and the development of Barton County none is better known than the subject of this sketch, James H. Flick. Mr. Flick was born October 10, 1851, in Lycoming County, Pa. When he was thirteen years old the family moved to Illinois where James remained for twenty years. He came from there to Barton County in 1887. He took up a homestead and bought land near Pawnee Rock and at once took a part in the development of the county's resources. His old home is now known as the Fish place, he having disposed of all his farmi- ing interests several years ago when he moved to Pawnee Rock and went into the hotel busi- ness, and it is safe to say that there is no hotel
in the state that is better known than the Rock Hotel of Pawnee Rock. He still owns the hotel building but gave up the operating of it six years ago. In addition to the hotel Mr. Flick owns a nice residence and consider- able other town property. He was married il; Illinois to Miss Sarah Keith. They had two children, Daniel and Florence, the latter of whom is dead. Mr. Flick survived his first wife and in 1884 was married to Miss Sarah David and to this union there were born seven children all of whom are deceased except Jes- sie who is now lving in Pawnee Rock. Mr. Flick has always been one of the leading citi- zens cf Pawnee Rock and has had a great deal to do with its upbuilding and making it one
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
161
of the important towns of the county. He en- joys a wide acquaintance in all parts of the state of Kansas and is well known among the traveling fraternity. He is one of the really
old timers who saw this county when it was struggling with the hard times and has seen it grow to its present high standing in the State of Kansas.
Rock Hotel, Pawnee Rock
FRANCIS T. BELT
F RANCIS T. BELT, who now lives in To- peka, Kansas, is one of the really old timers of Barton County, he having come here in 1878 from the State of Illinois. He took up the occupation of farming imme- diately upon his arrival and his home place is located in section 21, township 20, range 15, where he resided for a number of years and cultivated the land. He remained here un- til 1901 when he retired and took up his resi- dence in Topeka where he now lives. He was married June 14, 1880, in Brussels, Illinois, to Miss Mary Jane Flanagan and they are the parents of four children: George F., 32 years of age, is in the real estate business in Kansas City; Charles T., 27 years of age, is engaged in the farming business in Barton County; Nellie A., 26 years of age, resides in Topeka and Caroline, who died when she was one year of age. Mr. Belt is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and served his country in the civil war from February 28, 1862, until April 9, 1865. He was a member of the 5th Missouri Cavalry which for a time was actively en- gaged in the capacity of body guard to Gen-
eral Schofield, and saw much service in skirmishes in Missouri and Arkansas. Mr. Belt was born in St. Louis, Mo., July 23, 1842, and during his residence in Barton County was one of the most active in the upbuilding of the town and the development of the soil. Mr. Belt's family now owns 1,520 acres of land in this section of the state and are among the best known people who had a part in making Barton County one of the best in the State of Kansas. Mr. Belt says he held one public of- fice while living in this county, that of justice of the peace but he resigned after a short time because he could not spare the time from his private affairs and when his first case was brought to him he acted as adviser and suc- ceeded in settling the case of out of court. Mr. Belt is one of the few men who turned down a senatorial nomination in the Seventh congressional district of Kansas. He can re- late many interesting incidents of the early days and is one of those men to whom this part of the state owes its present high state of cultivation and high standing as one of the most productive counties in the country.
P. H. WILLIS
I N writing up the history of Barton county the Pawnee Rock department would be incomplete without mention of P. H. Wil- lis who is one of the best known men in Bar-
ton County. He was born October 23, 1845, in Hartford, Conn., and came to Barton County in 1876 and went through the hard times with which the early day settlers had to contend.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
He took up a homestead near Pawnee Rock and farmed for ten years. He then moved to town and for the past twenty-five years has been closely identified with the upbuilding of Pawnee Rock. He was married in 1866 to Miss Christina Wrisle of Glastonbury, Conn., and they are the parents of four children. Albert, 41 years of age, lives in Pawnec Rock, Nellie 38 years of age is now Mrs. Cal Reid of California, Earnest, 30 years of age, is in Pawnee Rock and Rosie, 28 years of age, is now Mrs. B. Rose of Anthony, Kansas. Mr. Willis is a veteran of the civil war and was a member of the 6th Connecticut, having been enlisted in Company B. He was in the service
sixteen months and saw much active duty most of it being in skirmishes. Since his rcs- idence in Pawnee Rock he and his sons have been engaged in the painting business and by doing only first class work and using the best of material they have gained the confidence of the people and enjoy a large patronage. Mr. Willis owns a nice residence in the town of Pawnee Rock and is one of the town's most en- terprising and progressive citizens and is one of those old timers who has seen this county grow from an almost barren waste to its pres- ent high standing among the best counties of the State of Kansas.
THOMAS HENRY MORRIS
T HOMAS HENRY MORRIS was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, February 16, 1860. He came to Barton County from his native state when he was twenty-three years of age, and took up the occupation of farming one and one-half miles west of Pawnce Rock.
Pawnee Rock, a beautifully surrounded home, with eight rooms in addition to bath, closets, pantries, etc. Mr. Morris' country place cou- sists of 320 acres of good farm land which is being farmed by renters. He is also interest- cd in the Farmers and Merchants Telephone
Residence of Thomas Henry Morris
He has always been closely identified with the development of that part of the county and is one of those men who came to this section at a time when only the stout hearted and those who had faith in the future could re- main and overcome the adverse conditions with which they had to contend. He was mar- ried in Pawnee Rock, July 25, 1883 to Miss Ella M. Williams and they are the parents of three children as follows: Mabel N., 26 years of age, is now Mrs. A. S. Gross, residing in Pawnee Rock; Beatrice, 23 years of age, is now Mrs. E. B. Duncan of Liberty, Mo., and Leland, 16 years of age, is living at home. Mr. Morris owns one of the nicest residences in
Company, the Farmers Elevator Co., the Paw- nee Rock State Bank and owns a large nun- ber of town lots. Although Mr. Morris has always had a large number of private inter- ests to look after he has found time to take an active part in the affairs of his home con- munity. He has been a member of the city council, served as a member of the school board and is known as an enterprising and progressive citizen. His home place in Paw- nee Rock is located south of the depot and is surrounded by beautiful shade trees and neat well kept lawn and it is one of the pleasing sights that greets a stranger when arriving in Pawnce Rock.
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
WILLIAM M. LEWIS
A MONG the old timers of Pawnee Rock and Barton County, none is better known than William M. Lewis wilo came to this part of the state in 1874. He was born at Morrison, Illinois, April 12, 1862, and came here with his parents when he was twelve years of age. His father located a liomestead two miles west of Pawnee Rock
is becoming sole owner in 1908. Mr. Lewis owns 260 acres of land in Pawnee County which is worked by his boy, a fine residence in Pawnee Rock which contains eight rooms in addition to closets, pantries, etc., a number of town lots and private interests. He has served the town as mayor, has been a member of the council, police judge and has been one of the
W. M. LEWIS.
Lewis Elevator Pawnee Rock
and began the work of developing the soil. William attended school in this county and when he was twenty-one years of age began farming near Pawnee Rock. He farmed for six years and then accepted a position with the Santa Fe Railroad Company, and was with them for twelve years. One year of this time he was employed in Rice County and the re- mainder of the time was agent at Pawnee Rock. In 1900 he left the railroad company's employ and established a grain elevator at Pawnee Rock which he has operated since that time. The elevator has a capacity of 10,000 bushels and when established was owned by the firm of Logan & Lewis, Mr. Lew-
most popular citizens of the town, always standing for its best interests and advance. ment. He was married in this county June 6, 1884 to Miss Della Hall and they are the par- ents of four children: Edna, 27 years of age, is now the wife of Dr. Button of Great Bend; Harry, 25 years of age, is in the postal ser- vice; Charles, 23 years of age, is farming on his father's land near Pawnee Rock and Ruth, 20 years of age, is living at home. Mr. Lewis is one of the men who came here at a time when the county was in its infancy as far as agriculture goes and has seen it grow from an almost barren waste to its present high state of cultivation.
WILLIAM T. WARNER
W ILLIAM T. WARNER was born in Ohio March 22, 1859 and came to Pawnee Rock when he was twenty-one years
of age. This was in 1881 and since that time he has been one of the best known men in that part of Barton County. He first worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and for twenty-four years was foreman of the section in which Pawnee Rock is located. Mr. Warner was mar- ried in 1880 to Miss Martha Booze in Ohio and they are the parents of seven children: Ber- tha, 32 years of age is now Mrs. A. M. Thom- as and lives in Colorado; Lena, 28 years of age is now Mrs. W. H. Franklin of Pawnee Rock; Eva, 26 years of age, is now Mrs. I. S. Brady residing two miles east of Pawnee Rock; Geo. L. is employed as traveling representative of the Merritt-Schwier Creamery Company; Ever- ettt E., 20 years of age, is in the produce bus- iness in Pawnee Rock; Wm. J., Jr., 16 years of
age and Herold, 13 years of age, are living at home with their parents. Last April Mr. War- ner opened a modern meat market in Pawnee Rock and since the beginning it has enjoyed a good trade. He handles only the very best of fresh and salt meats and has his shop equipped for the proper handling and keeping of meats of all kinds. Mr. Warner owns a fine modern residence in Pawnee Rock. It consists of six rooms and is located on two acres of land. During Mr. Warner's residence in Pawnee Rock he has taken an active part in the affairs of the community and has held the office of mayor, has been a member of the city council and has also held township offices at different times. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen and enjoys a wide acquaintance in ail parts of Pawnee Rock and Barton County.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
STEPHEN J. WILLIAMS
S TEPHEN J. WILLIAMS was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., October 17, 1850. He resided in his native state until 1866 when he moved to Iowa where he remained for ten years before coming to Kan- sas in 1878. His parents came here four years before his arrival and the Williams fam- ily is one of the best known in this part of the state. Mr. Williams bought railroad land three miles east of Pawnee Rock and at once began the development of the soil. For a num- ber of years he lived on a rented farm and farmed it in addition to his own. Then he bought a half section north and east of Paw- nee Rock and about five miles from his home place. He farmed for a number of years, and seven years ago moved to town and now lives in a nice residence in Pawnee Rock. He was
married in August, 1867, to Miss Myra McDavid and they are the parents of eight children as follows: Margaret M., 36 years of age, is now Mrs. S. P. Hill of Pawnee Rock; Mary L., 34 years of age is now Mrs. G. E. Conkle of Colo .; Lydia C., 31 years of age is now Mrs. Jamcs A. Lowhorne of Wichita; Andrew E., 29 ycars of age is farming near Pawnee Rock; Wil- liam E., 26 years of age lives in Pawnee Rock; John J., 23 years of age and Thelma, 16 years of age and Esther, 13 years of age, are also living in Pawnee Rock. Mr. Williams served his district as county commissioner for four years, has held township and school board offices and is one of the best known men in the county. He is one of the men who helped to make this county one of the best in the State of Kansas.
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