USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 32
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And then the Tribune of January 3, 1880, backed down. Witness this: We owe the ladies an apology for misleading them in our last issue by giving the names of young men who would receive on New Year's day. Thev left their names for publication as presented, but from some cause or other very few ad- hered to their promises. But at the same time the ladies are indebted to us for the few who did receive as they felt in duty bound to fol- low the program after their announcements were published.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
A BANQUET IN HONOR OF CASSIUS M. MOSES
I N 1899 the City of Great Bend welcomed Cash Moses baek from the Spanish war with a big banquet, the following aeeount of which is taken from a newspaper of that time. The banquet was held in October and was attended by Great Bend's leading eitizens : "A reception was given to Colonel Moses Tuesday at the Woodman lodge room. Up- wards of 150 people were in attendance. The evening was spent in a free and easy way, the guests being given the liberty to enjoy them- selves in any way they saw fit. The Colored Glee elub furnished inspiring musie during the evening. Various amusements were to be had until the arrival of Cash Moses, in whose honor the party was given. In company with his wife he arrived on the Missouri Paeifie at. 11 p. m. On entering the hall Judge Cole weleomed the eolonel as follows:
There was a sound of revelry by night And Barton's eapital had gathered there Her wit, her wisdom and her chivalry. Then spoke a stranger and he said, What means these aetions rash ?
The answer came all down the line 'We're here to welcome CASH.'
"After receiving a eordial greeting by those who knew her, and after taking a glanee at the hall and its appointments, Mrs. Moses ex- eused herself and withdrew. An elegant lunch was then spread, presided over by Commodore W. B. Corneli, the director general of the ban- quet.
"Colonel Moses made an informal talk to the boys on the war and gave some interesting
details, after which the following was deliv- ered by C. P. Townsley :
" 'Here's to the health of our honored guest, Who visits us for a little rest,
But when he's through with this banquet night
He'll wish he were back in old Cavite, For after all I feel assured
A man ean die from being bored.
That the battle-field with its leaden hail
Is not more risky than Kansas quail- When mixed with other things.
We honor Cash for he bears a sear, Reeeived in this Aguinaldo war
In defense of the flag that proudly floats
Where Dewey plaeed it with his boats,
And in years to eome when things expand
Cash will be glad he took a hand
In helping to save what the fathers left,
And in adding more to give it heft-
When mixed with other things. .
And we drink a health to this jolly erowd
Who'd have gone to war had they been al- lowed
But some were too young and some too old
And the women could not be left in the eold. For the winter was long and the spring was late
And somebody had to eare for the state,
And very properly that was us,
And we tended to it without any fuss- When mixed with other things.'
"The festivities were continued until about 1 o'eloek, though many people left earlier. It was a very pleasant affair and all had a merry time "
FIRST SETTLERS IN GREAT BEND
E DWIN TYLER tells about his arrival here with the first people to locate on what is now the townsite of Great Bend. In speaking of those times Mr. Tyler said: "On October 16, 1871, there eamped upon the present site of Great Bend Mr. and Mrs. Louis Frey, Thompson Frey, James Pond, Lute Mor- ris, Paul Morphy, Henry Sehaeffer, Chris Zeizer, G. N. Moses, John Tilton, W. H. Odell, James and Hi Biekerdyke and those who arrived on that date were Mr. and Mrs. E. Ty- ler, with their three children; Mr. and Mrs. Gromans and two children and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hartshorn. Those who were here gave us a warm welcome. The people began to es- tablislı their new homes and everything went well until the blizzards of November 16 and 17. They eaused a great deal of diseomfort. After the blizzard the Gromans left us. The first buildings consisted of the old Southern Hotel at first called the Drovers' Cottage, and one shaek made of stoek boards. There
were no earpets on any of the floors exeept- ing Mrs. Kate Frey's parlor, which was cov- ered with a layer of grass.
One house consisted of four poles sunk into the ground with three buffalo hides, taeked to them. There were several of the old timers who spent most of their time scout- ing and making things as comfortable as pos- sible for the women folks, some of whom were quite timid.
There never was a bunch of men who looked more earefully after the welfare of the women than did Barton County's early settlers. On the first evening after our arrival here the Pawnee Indians made the eamp a visit while on their return from an expedition down to Medieine Lodge. Some of us tenderfeet were alarmed but G. N. Moses assured us that there was no danger but to keep near our guns. At that time there was nothing to hinder us see- ing in all directions for many miles. In fact, we could see what was then known as Five
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241
Mile Timber and Twelve Mile Timber. A few days later while we were looking down the trail, G. N. Moses and myself were somewhat excited at seeing a black object coming to- wards us. We watched and patiently waited until it came near enough for us to recognize Judge Morton, dressed in a fine suit of black clothes, black hat, kid gloves and umbrella. The old timers eyed him as an antelope would a red flag. The judge was highly respected by our community. He was a good man for
the times, and he helped many of the old tim- ers over rough pericds of frontier life. The first milch cow on the townsite was brought by W. H. Hartshorn, who led her behind his wagon more than 500 miles across the prai- ries. Louis Frey brought the first mule team. There was but one building between here and Atlanta at that time and that was T. Buckby's at Fort Zarah. The places of note were called ranches in those days.
ROBERT MERTEN
O NE of the men who came here in 1378 and has had a great deal to do with'ı the farming and commercial life of Barton County, is Robert Merten. He was born in Elberfeldt, Germany, December 13, 1839. He came to America with his parents when he was eight years of age, the family first locating in Keokuk County, Iowa. Rob- ert remained there until 1863 when he took up the occupation of freighting across the plains. He continued in this business until
resides on the old home place in this county; Edwin M., who lives in town and is in the farming business, and Susie, who is now Mrs. E. E. Bohl, and lives in Ottawa, Kansas When Mr. Merten arrived in this county he bought railroad land and from time to time added to his holdings and now owns in this county 320 acres of land and also owns 700 acres in Pawnee and Rush counties. Mr. Mer- ten is vice president of the Citizens National Bank of Great Bend and is a director of the
Robert Merten
1865, when he went to Denver and spent one summer, after which he returned to St. Joe, Mo Then he went back to the old home place in Iowa and in 1875 came to Barton County and in the following year brought his family to the new country. He was mar- ried May 1, 1861, to Miss Maria Becker and they are the parents of six children as fol- lows: Albert N., who is farming in this coun- ty in Clarence township; Annie, who is now Mrs. A. B. Willcutt and resides in Clarence township; Mary, who is now Mrs. H. J. Campbell, also resides in Clarence; Frank,
Pawnee Rock and Hoisington State banks. Since his retirement from active farming he has occupied a fine residence at 2423 Forest avenue in Great Bend. Mr. Merten has held township offices and served as county com- missioner for one year. He has always taken a leading part in the development of the county's resources and has been closely iden- tified with its business and agricultural in- terests. All of his land in this county is be- ing worked by renters and is in a high state of development.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
FRED C. LUDWIG
F RED C. LUDWIG was born in Germany, January 1, 1871, and came to America when he was fourteen years of age. He came to Barton County in 1885 and began the business of farming. He with his brother farms a half section of land in section 36, South Bend township. He also owns 640 acres of land in Texas. He was married in Kansas City in 1892, to Miss Annie Alt and they are
barn is 34 by 40 and has a large loft where it is possible to store a good quantity of hay and grain. A small orchard is found on the home place and it contains nearly all varie- ties of fruits that are common to this section of the country. Mr. Ludwig is a farmer that believes in modern methods and his long res- idence in Barton County has given him the ex- perience necessary to get the best results from
Residence of Fred C. Ludwig
the parents of two children: Eliza, 16 years of age and Rudolph, ten years of age, both of
whom are students in the Barton County schools. Mr. Ludwig's home place is located in an ideal spot, the residence consisting of eight rooms in addition to closets, pantries, etc., is well built and neatly furnished. The
his efforts in cultivating the soil. The home place is located about nine miles south and east of Great Bend and Mr. Ludwig is known as an enterprising and progressive citizen. He belongs to several German orders and is one of the best known men in the county.
JIM GAINSFORD
W HAT little is known about Jim Gains- ford is what such men as John Tilton and other old timers have been able to remember. Jim is chiefly noted as far AS this country is concerned, for his having been marshal of Great Bend at a time when it ro- quired a great deal of nerve to control the lawless element. He was marshal during the years 1871-72-73, and was also deputy sh "iff under G. N. Moses, and at one time held t.'e office of deputy U. S. marshal He had been a soldier in the civil war and after the war was over he came west, first to Abilene and from there to Great Bend. He was not the kind of a man who cared for farming so never took up
a government claim, in fact he was never known to do a day's work, but preferred the job of an officer where he could exercise his authority and at times show his skill with a gun. He was a good marksman and had plenty of courage, although he was known too as being a big bluffer, and proud of dressing as a fierce frontiersman with a belt of car- fridges about his waist and a whole battery of guns displayed about his body. Jimi accompa- nied G. N. Moses on many of his trips after criminals and was never known to show the white feather. However he backed down one time for G. N. Moses. John Tilton tells the incident as follows: "In those days soldiers
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243
were equipped with needle guns and none but government employees were supposed to carry them. Jim had been blustering about a great deal as a deputy marshal and had taken needle guns from many of the settlers and buffalo
needle gun. George told him that we had those guns over there in our dugout and if he wanted them to come and get them, but he thought he would find a warm reception. It is needless to say Jim never came after those
Jim Gainsford
hunters, although it is doubtful if the govern- ment ever realized from them. George Moses and I, each bought a gun from the soldiers at Fort Dodge. Jim went up to George when he learned of this and told him he wanted that
guns." As the county filled up and things be- came a little more civilized Jim moved west- ward where his wild spirit could have freer rein. He is now an old man, an inmate of the National Soldier's Home in California.
JOHN TILTON
J OHN TILTON was born in Noble County, Ohio, May 28, 1841. He was married to Mrs. Adeline Eastey in Barton County, Kansas, November 26, 1872, and Mrs. Tilton is the mother of two children by a former mar- riage, their names being Frank H. Eastey and Estella Eastey, ( now Mrs. Elmer H. Dean of Kansas City.) Mr. Tilton enlisted in the U. S. Army in September, 1861, as a private in Company G., 10th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served in many important en - gagements during the war; among them may be mentioned the campaign against Vicksburg, Jonesboro, Evacuation of Atlanta and other important engagements. He was honorably discharged from service August 16, 1865. Mr. Tilton came west in 1867 and was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Co., having had numerous contracts for grading and for furn- ishing timber for bridge work, etc. He went
to Denver in 1869 and was employed in Go- mer's Mills in Bijou Basin near that city. It was here that he met George Moses the first time. In March, 1870, he and George Moses bought two yoke of oxen and in company with Bill Leak, Joe Townley and W. H. White- better known as Heck White-started for Kan- sas following the U. P. right of way. They finally landed at Ellsworth after encountering a terrific storm near Cheyenne Wells. It was by the merest chance that they were not all frozen to death. They located claims near Ellsworth in the form of soldiers' homesteads and made some improvements, but threw them up and came to Barton County after hearing of the wonderful country near the big bend in the Arkansas. George came ahead to the new country while Tilton remained and looked after a big hay contract they had secured. John pre- empted the northeast quarter of 32 on the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
southwest outskirts of Great Bend while Geo. was to take the southwest quarter of section 28, which is now in the townsite of Great Bend. While John was on his way to Salina to file he was overtaken by George who told him not to file on the quarter originally picked for him as it had been decided to locate the town on it. George later filed on the north- west quarter of 32. This was in July or Au- gust of 1870. They hunted buffaloes until 1874, but John could not pay out on his preemptions,
fit, two yoke of oxen for which they had been offered $500. These were the same oxen that brought them from Colorado. They had but little more than started when a band of about fifty Indians came charging up about an hour after sundown, but when they saw that the hunting party was ready to fight they laid down their arms and became very docile. That night the hunters' oxen were stolen. They hunted for days but were unsuccessful. George Moses who was using Gilmore's horse came
J. F. Tilton
so he got Bill Leak to homestead who then gave John the north eighty acres of it as his share. John laid out the Ireland's addition to Great Bend in 1887. He was the first consta- ble in the county and served Great Bend as city marshal. He hunted a great deal with George Moses and W. C. Gibson and can tell of some mighty interesting incidents. In 1871 he with George Moses, Jim Gilmore, Jim Travers and W. W. Winstead was hunting buffaloes on Bluff creek. He and George furnished the out-
upon a party from east of Wichita who were camped on the Ninnescah and got them to go after the other boys who were marooned cn Bluff creek. The party finally were reunited but the oxen were never found. A claim was later allowed by the government for the loss of the oxen. Mr. Tilton is one of the really old timers of the county who are still here and knows the early day history of Barton County and Great Bend.
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245
E. R. MOSES MERCANTILE CO.
The firm of E. R. Moses Mercantile Com- pany is an evolution of the firms of Burton & Johnson, Burton, Odell & Moses, Burton, Moses & Brother and G. N. & E. R. Moses. The first named firm came here from Argonia, Kansas, and bought out the store of Mr. Mor- phy who owned a stock of hardware in a build- ing on the north side of the square on lot 18, block 20. This was in 1874 and in the follow- ing year Mr. Johnson sold his interest to Odell and Moses, the firm name being chang- ed to Burton, Odell & Moses. This firm was composed of E. W. Burton, W. H. Odell, Geo. N. Moses. In April, 1877, E. R. Moses bought out Mr. Odell and the firm name became Bur- ton, Moses and Brother. In 1881 Mr. Burton retired and the firm became G. N. & E. R. Moses. In 1900 George N. sold his interest in the business to E. R. Moses and since that time the business has been run under the name of E. R. Moses Mercantile Company. This firm is the result of many ups and downs with the latter in the minority and the men who helped in building up the business had to con- tend with all the hardships and trials incident to all pioneer firms in a new country. This business was built up in a part of the Great American Desert where sand and wind, grass- hoppers, and crop failures prevailed in the early seventies. The life of the business was as uncertain as the crops and when the crops were continued failures the different lines of business were a continual nightmare and many of them finally changed hands or petered out. All have gone when this business was started in 1874 as have also many who came after- wards. It is hard to think of those brave fel- lows who worked early and late, hard and earnestly and left too soon to reap where they had sown, having grown tired of waiting in vain for good crops and better times that never came. In those days class distinction played no part in the work of upbuilding and every- body aided in making things as pleasant as possible for his neighbors. The senior mem- bers of the firms that ran the E. R. Moses Mercantile Company business before this time have all passed away. Mr. Burton died in 1886, Mr. Odell a few years later, Geo. N. Moses in 1911. The business carried on by the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co. is a department store and one of the largest in the west and carries everything in the the general merchan- dise line from a pin to a piano, and supplies everything that is needed by the people of this county from the cradle to the grave. The principal lines are hardware, stoves, tin, cop- per, granite, nickle and aluminum ware, dishes, novelties, watches, clocks, jewelry, silver and cut glass ware, kodaks, furniture, carpets, cur- tains, trunks and valises, sewing machines, pianos and organs, and smaller musical instru- ments, farm implements and machinery, wagons, buggies, pumps, windmills, tinning,
plumbing and heating, paints, oils, glass, un- dertaking and embalming. They say it takes three classes of people to settle a country, the pioneer, the tenderfoot and the sticker. There are many more chances than this in a busi- ness life. In the hardware and implement line we count the following names that have come and gone: A. W. Gray, Dodge & Co., William Friend, John Frank, Brinkman and Gwinn, Balm and Balm, Sterrit and Co., J. A. Sterrit, Charles Culver, Hulme, Patterson, Kern and Co., Cook and Panning, S. P. Bell, F. H. Miller and Fred Hemker and several transient ones who are coming and going all the time. In 1880 the firm of Burton, Moses & Brother opened a branch store in Gunni- son, Colorado. Mr. E. W. Burton and G. N. Moses took charge of this store and E. R. Moses ran the Great Bend store. Two years later the partnership of Burton, Moses & Brother ceased, Mr. Burton taking the Gun- nison store and G. N. and E. R. Moses the Great Bend store. In 1891 G. N. Moses and E. R. Moses opened two branch stores; one at Hoisington and one at Claflin. Mr. D. J. Lewis was put in as manager of the Hoising- ton branch and Mr. John A. Barth as a man- ager of the Claflin store. These stores were developed into large department stores. In 1901 Mr. E. R. Moses sold the Claflin store to Barth and Herthel on account of engaging in the banking business and not wanting the care of it. Having organized the Citizens National Bank of Great Bend and later on the Pawnee Rock State Bank and the Peoples State Bank of Hoisington, all of which he is president of. The store at Hoisington has been increased from time to time until it is one of the most complete stores in the state of Kansas. Car- rying goods in addition to what they carry in Great Bend, boots, shoes, hats, caps, gents' furnishing goods, and they also manufacture harness. It has a frontage of 150 feet with a building 125 by 100 feet, two stories with a nice plate glass front. For two years G. N. and E. R. Moses were engaged in the real estate business with W. M. Gunnell, but when G. N. retired from business E. R. Moses having enough to attend to, sold his interest with G. N. Moses to W. M. Gunnell. This business was a success. When Mr. Gunnell died the firm of Dawson & Zutavern bought the busi- ness and made it a much greater success. The Great Bend store occupies two rooms on Main street 50 by 140 feet, two stories and a base- ment, another building on Williams street 300 by 100 feet. E. R. Moses believes if anybody wants to make a success of his business he must stick to it, hng it closer and watch it more when times are hard and after a num- ber of years he can take it easier, but he must stick to it for there is nothing he can do so well as to keep busy watching his business grow as long as he lives. He also believes
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that too many changes are liable to cause fail- ure. E. R. Moses, jr., looks after the mer- cantile business at the present time while E. R., sr., advises with him. He is a young man who has made good by close application and constantly sticking to it, backed by a good edu- cation and right living. He knows what it is as he has passed through every department and has learned every detail. He is pleasant,
whole-souled, kind and generous and well liked by all who know him.
The E. R. Moses Mer. Co. is an incorporated firm. The officers are E. R. Moses, sr., pres., E. R. Moses, jr., vice-pres, W. W. Nimocks, scc- retary, D. J. Lewis, treasurer. Mr. Nimocks sold his interest to Mr. E. R. Moses, jr., who was made vice-president and secretary.
E. R. Moses Mercantile Co., Hoisington, Kansas
(Illustration on page 198.)
the fall of 1891, G. N. Moses, E. R. Moses and D. J. Lewis bought the little two story 25x70 frame building, and the hardware business it contained, of Alex. Dennis. The next year they added a two story building of steel 50x100 and filled it with good new goods. Almost each year since they have added new buildings and equipment until now the store has a frontage of 125 feet of modern plate glass show windows and the building con- tains over 25,000 square feet of floor space, and over fifteen men are employed the year round.
In May, 1905, this store, with the one at Great Bend, were incorporated, and the name changed from Hoisington Hardware and Im- plement Co., to the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co.
The management of the store has been in charge of Mr. D. J. Lewis since its founding, and the firm has always been ready to aid and assist in Hoisington's growth and development. They have full confidence in Hoisington and her people and see nothing but a bright fu- ture for the town.
Mr. Lewis was born in Wales, coming to America when a young man, first working in Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade of contractor and builder. From there he went to Cleveland, Ohio, then to Wisconsin and Il- linois, and finally came to Kansas in the 70s. He farmed and contracted in Rice County and later in Barton, until taking up the manage- ment of the business at its beginning.
The business began with hardware and this department has always been kept up in first class shape. One of the most complete
and best arranged paint stocks in the state is a part of the department.
The jewelry department has charge of the Missouri Pacific Railway watch inspection for Hoisington to Pueblo and carries a fine stock of railroad watches, diamonds, cut glass, fine china and silver. A fully equipped optical department, in charge of a graduate optician is a feature of the department.
The shoe and furnishing department is ful- ly stocked and the very best lines of goods produced in the country are well represented in the stock.
The furniture department contains a com- plete stock of house furnishings of all kinds and the finest equipped and stocked undertak- ing rooms in Kansas west of Kansas City on the Missouri Pacific.
The heating and plumbing department is in charge of thoroughly efficient mechanics, and their strongest bid for new work is the sat- isfied customers they have worked for in times past.
The harness department make all kinds of harness and leather work, and is in charge of a first class harness maker. A large stock of harness, nets, collars, whips, etc., is carried.
The implement department carries a bix display of farın implements and wagons, wind- mills, fencing, scales, gas engines, buggies and cream separators.
The store's policy has been liberal and progressive, and ever abreast of the times. No worthy man ever asked credit or help, without receiving it, and the great business the store does year after year shows that it merits the confidence of the people.
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
E. R. MOSES, Sr.
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