USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 9
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C. Schultz, Mrs. Lizzie Rudiger, Andrew P. Unruh, Jacob Seibert, (deceased), Benjamin Unruh, (deceased), Andrew B. Unruh, first schultz, (deceased), Peter Unruh, Cornelius P. Unruh (deceased), Andrew A. Seibert, living in Marion County, Mrs. Susan Unruh, (de- ceased), Benjamin P. Smith and Peter H. Dirks. Henry B. Unruh also purchased his first home from this colony, but as he was not a resident until March, 1876, is not included in the original settlers. It will also be seen that the original intentions of the community were never carried out as the plans were for twen- ty families and only fifteen came under the agreement. The scheme was found impracti- cal in this country after about three of four years trial and the various members became better acquainted with the freedom of the laws in America. As their holdings were inde- pendent of their village agreement they finally decided to become in fact free American citi- zens and one by one sold their first little homes and bought larger and better farms in other localities and are now classed among Barton County's most substantial and best citizens.
At that date there were other German-Rus- sian settlers in this same and other localities in the county, and the Santa Fe system and other railways realized that they were of the proper make-up to make good citizens and provided emigration houses along their lines. There was one at nearly all depots for the ac- commodation of these new arrivals and in these they settled temporarily, lived while they provided permanent homes for their fam- ilies. Where these houses were not yet built box cars were often put to use for temporary homes, and it was in a car on a siding in Paw- nee Rock that Jacob P. Dirks, of "Mount Pleas- ant Hillside Farm" was born, and in an emi- grant house at Newton, Kansas, that Jacob A. Dirks, of "North Slope Farm," first breathed the breath in free Kansas.
SETTLEMENTS
Buffalo Township
T HE U. S. Census of 1870 found two people in what is now Barton County. These were undoubtedly John Reinecke and Henry Schultz who made settlement on the Walnut in April, 1870. Their locations were in section 10-19-14, about six miles northwest of . Great Bend.
The only other settlers within the county's limits in 1870 were: W. C. Gibson, Gideon F. Mecklem and son, Henry Meyer, Wm. Jans, Rudreas Albrecht, Antone Wilkie, George Bar- ry, N. Fields, C. F. Brining, A. Kellar, C. B. Worden, Mike Stanton, E. Warring. These men settled close together in what is now Buffalo and Walnut township. Their residences gen- erally dugouts were from four to seven feet
deep in the earth, covered with grass and earth. They were usually constructed in some secluded place near the creek bank where good drainage could be had, or in some side-hill, so that the roof cr occasional smoke would not be noticed. It is said one might go the entire length of the creek and even pass within one hundred yards of these dugouts without being aware of their presence. There was one log house in 1870 built by Mr. Meck- lem. It was built with loop holes and very small windows and designed as a means of de- fense against the Indians. The principal occu- pation of the settlers during the first years was the slaughter of buffaloes, the flesh of which during the cooler months was marketed
52
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
at Russell and Ellsworth, thirty and fifty iniles distant respectively, but in the summer months aside from the flesh for eating the only available proceeds were from the hides which when dried sold at 50 to 90 cents each. A few plowed and tried to raise crops which were generally destroyed by the buffaloes. Henry Schultz succeeded in 1870 in raising six acres of corn, and two acres of oats.
Attempts at cultivation were made more ful- ly in 1871 since the Indians were not deemed
troublesome any more. In this year some corn was raised but much of the crop was de- stroyed by the corn worm. Spring wheat was a failure and oats but little better.
Corn was then worth $1.00 to $1.50 per bushel but there was very little to sell. Since this time Buffalo township has grown in pop- ulation until in 1912 it has a population JE 467 and is one of the best townships in the county.
Great Bend Township
The first settlements in Great Bend town- ship were made in 1871, the first settlers being E. J. Dodge and sons, D. N. Heizer, A. C. Moses and sons, John Cook, E. W. Dewey, Nicholas Hausherr, J. P. Bissell, J. F. Tilton, G. N. Moses, James R. Bickerdyke, W. H. Odell and others. The earliest settlers located on the banks of Walnut creek which, of course, had the advantage of plenty of fuel, running water, shelter and promised a deeper and a richer soil than could be found in the sur- rounding country. The date and location of tiling declaratory statements as copied from the records are as follows. These entries are all in township 19, range 13.
Name-
Date
Sec ..
E. J. Dodge
. 6-23-71
10
David N. Heizer
. 5-23-71
22
Wallace H. Dodge
.6-20-71
4
Chas. E. Dodge
.6-20-71
1
Amasa C. Moses
. 6-28-71
10
Arthur H. Moses
. 6-28-71
10
Thomas B. Morris
. 7-12-71
26
Ed. W. Dewey
7-19-71
4
N. Hausherr
.8-10-71
10
Julius P. Bissell
8-18-71
10
J. F. Tilton 8 25-71
32
W. H. Odell
8-29-71
30
J. R. Bickerdyke 8 29-71 15
H. B. Bickerdyke 9- 3-71 32
G. N. Moses
9-14-71
30
Henry Schafter 9-18-71 30
Warren Peck 9-22-71 14
Edwin P. Reynolds
12-16-71
14
S. S. Dennis 3 --- 72
22
E. B. Cowgill 3 --- 72 22
John Cook 4- 8-72
8
There were about thirty other filings made during the year 1871 by people who shortly afterwards abandoned their claims and moved.
The first settler in the township was D. N. Heizer, the second one being E. J. Dodge, wilo first came in May, 1871. He stopped at Heiz- er's ranch during the latter's absence, and went back to the Smoky and returned in June, taking out homestead papers on the twenty- third of the month, his being the first entry in the township. This township now has a population of 435 and adds greatly each year to the products of the county.
Lakin Township
On May 20, 1871, there were six different exploring parties on the Walnut, near the site of old Fort Zarah. Among those were D. N. Heizer, M. W. Halsey, Dr. Prescott and Can- tain Guffin. Most of these outfits went into camp Saturday, a few having been in camp for several days.
About September 20, 1871, a party of five from Atlanta, Rice County, came to look for claims in Lakin township, near where Ellin- wood now stands. Considerable trouble was had in finding section corners, the settlers finally going to Fort Zarah reservation where they commenced running east, and continued as far as section 10, township 20, range 11 W. M. W. Halsey selected the first location, the southwest quarter of 32-19-11. Then followed locations by the following:
Name-
Date.
Location 28-19-12
Aaron Burlison 10-14-71
32-19-11
Andrew Mckinney 1-15-72
28-19-11
Wm. N. Halsey 1-19-72 32-19-11
Lee M. Colline .3-15-72 4-20-11
Thos. Corbett
3-21-72 20-19-11
Albert C. Corbett
Same
A. Merrifield
3-30-72
26-19-12
John H. Duncan
4- 9-72
18-19-11
Moses D. Fletcher 4-20-72
25-19-11
Edwin Sew and
James Saw 4-29-72
30-19-11
Benj. Halley
5-13-72
30-19-11
Eneas Pendergast
-18-72
2-20-11
Geo. T. Gill
6- 3-72
14-19-11
Wm. W. Shannon 6- 5-72
26-19-11
Alex. Forsyth 7- 1-72
18-19-1L
Jos. B. Howard
7- 72
34-19-12
Nelson Davis 7-16-72
4-20-11
Geo. Towers
8-26-72
26-19-12
Aaron Strong" .10- 6-71
John C. Smith
10-11-72
22-19-12
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
Austin B. Lynch 10 -..- 72
26-19-11
Mort. B. Fitts 11-15-73
22-19-12
David J. Whitten
11-15-72
24-19-12
Wilson E. Chalfent .11-30-73
26-19-11
Chas. Grant
2- 5-73
28-19-11
Jas. E. Reaugh 11-26-73
8-20-11
Grabil Landis
2-20-73
28-19-11
David N. Howard 12- 4-73
22-19-12
R. A. Avery
3-22-73
6-20-11
Amos McDowell 12-19-73
14-19-11
James Thompson
5- 1-73
10-19-11
John J. Maydole 1-17-74
22-19-12
Wm. H. Misner
5-10-73
14-19-12
W. L. Robbins
1-20-74
24-19-12
Mahlon Ward
5-19-73
10-19-11
Robert Robe
1-22-74
22-19-12
Geo. Bacon
5-23-73
24-19-11
John Salmon
3-26-74
26-19-12
Emil Kwamp
5-23-73
5-19-11
Luman W. Storey 3- 4-74
4-19-11
Sam B. Hamon
3-14-74
12-19-12
Win. Blair
6-16-73
4-19-11
Benj. H. Prescott
4-16-74
12-19-12
Royal Harkness
6-28-73
34-19-11
Jas. B. Patrick
7-23-74
28-19-12
Daniel Hodge
1- 2-73
34-19-11
John F. Lewis 9- 2-74
2-10-12
Henry Strohmeyer
7-15-73
20-19-11
Bernard B. Smyth
9 -..- 74
28-19-12
Sam S. Avery
7-32-73
34-19-12
Calvin A. Loomis
10-11-74
34-19-12
Philander Reed
7- 5-73
8-19-11
Thos. M. Bailey 10-20-74
30-19-11
Wallace C. Bay
73
8-19-11
Lakin township now has a population of
Stephen A. Shilling
9-25-73
28-19-11
Otto C. Lebbin
11- 4-73
10-19-12
J. E. Robe
11- 5-73
14-19-11
O. M. Botson
.11- 6-73
10-19-11
Wm. Joy
11-11-73
14-19-11
633 and with one or two exceptions has the largest population of any of the townships in the county. Very few of the old timers are left, most of them having died or moved away.
Walnut Township
In this township some of the first settie- ments in the county were made. It was orig- inally a part of Buffalo township. The first to take a filing in this terriotry was Rudreas Albright, he having made his entry November 26, 1870, cn 32-18-15. This entry was fol- lowed by those of Alex Kellar, on section 24; Christian F. Brining, on section 30 and Nar- sene Graves on section 28. These filings were made during the month of December, 1870. Those who came during the following years were: Charles Roudebush, S. M. Basham, Martin Brining and Edwin C. Rest, all of
whom arrived in 1872. Adam Krause came in 1873. The year 1874 saw Henry Halderman, Sylvester E. Demming, C. E. Dean, Leonard Krause, Daniel Leininger, Cyrus J. Fry and A. Kellar located in this township. In 1875 Jo- seph Zimmer, Anton Springer, Ambrose Baier, Johann Schneider, Josef Baier, Karl Kriessel, Francis Keast, Johan Zimmerman, Otto Bur- ger and Henry Nordmann were added to the township's population. Walnut township now has a population of 693 and contains among its list of residents some of the most enterprising and successful farmers in the county.
Eureka Township
The first settler in Eureka township was Charles B. Worden, who located on township 18, range 14, in 1871. The next entries follow- ing were: George Barry, John W. Pascoe, John K. Humphrey and James Mecklem, who came in 1873. They were preceded by L. G. Mecklem, who arrived in 1872. In 1874 Elbert Warring, Wyland D. Robbins, Wm. Humphrey, Nathaniel White, David F. Spires, Benj. I.
Dawson and Frank Patterson arrived and made locations. They were followed in 1875 by Aaron P. Jones, James C. Powers, Rhoda H. Keeney, James Hughes, Stephen Power, John Corrigan, M. M. Shields, John R. Harris, Richard Caxon, John Jones, John Lynch, Elizabeth Smith, Alexander Dennis and James W. Brown. Eureka township now has a por- ulation of 302.
Clarence Township
T. S. Morton was the first settler in Clar- ence township and he located on section 14, in 1871. He first engaged in the cattle busi- ness but he soon gave it up for farming. Dan- iel Curry and E. M. Chapman located on sec- tion 14, in 1873. Julius Both settled on section 20 in 1872 and for the first few years after his
arrival was one of the best known and most successful buffalo hunters in this part of the country.
In the same year John Bennet and L. S. Pursell settled on section 30. They were soon followed by T. J. Byrne. During the same year D. C. Stephens, G. S. Bennet and T.
Thomas Blair and
54
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
F. Craig located on section 20, and by the fall of 1873-4 that part of the county was well set- tled and farming was in full swing. Two of the largest wheat growers in the county were added to Clarence's population in 1874. They were Robert Campbell and Joseph Patterson. Mr. Campbell located on section 14 while Mr. Patterson located on section 17. By 1876 there was no unoccupied land in the township and it had three good schools, the first hav- ing been built in 1874 on section 20, the sec- ond in 1875 on section 11 and the third on sec- tion 34 in 1876. The following names are
found among those who settled in this town- ship in the early days: W. A. Chapman, David Curry, David C. Stephens and W. H. Brown in 1873; Peter Schlim, Almon M. Button, Wesley E. Loomis, M. F. Campbell, Geo. S. Bement, Tammen C. Tammen and Isaac Goatley in 1874. During the year 1875 the following set- tled in Clarence township: Wm. Morris, Jas. K. Grier, Mahala Allison, John H. Rhodes and Thomas Irons. The township now has a pop- ulation of 374 and contains within its borders rich, fertile and well cultivated agricultural land.
Comanche Township
Comanche township includes within its borders land that in the early days a great many thought was practically worthless but this was proved to be untrue by the results obtained after the soil had been cultivated. The first settler in Comanche was Josepli Plaisted, who located just across the river from Ellinwood in 1871. Among others who
followed Mr. Plaisted's lead were Carl Herter, John Herter, Chas. B. Darr, Will H. Gran", John C. Proctor, David T. McIntyre, John Hamilton, J. S. Province, all of whom made good and made of this township one of the best and most productive in the county. It now has a population of 688.
South Bend Township
The settlement of South Bend township was begun in 1872, the first person to locate government land being Samuel Maher, Mat- thew Schmitz, Henry F. Schriddle and A. J. Buckland. They were followed in 1873 by W. H. H. Keeney, J. M. Albright, Hallis Chaffee, H. H. Kidder, Theo. Dahm, James Barke and Peter Lefevre. Those who located in this part of the county in 1874 were: T. C. Coker, T.
Vancil, Fred Dahm, Daniel Shuhl, Richard S. Atkins, Georg^ Denna, James G. Dawson, Win. Torrey, Richard L. Howell and Edwin C. Ren- kin. In 1875, A. C. Sowle, Carlton D. Alford, Hiram Brownell, Ira D. Brougher, Wm. Hood and C. J. Mackenroth made entries on land in this township. It has always added its share to the production of the county and now has a population of 422.
Pawnee Rock Township
The first settlement was made in this township when the Kentucky colony, consist- ing of twenty persons arrived. In the party were T. C. Polk, John W. Smith and George M. Jackson, who was the leader of the col- ony. Mr. Jackson first located near Ellin- wood but at a meeting which was attended by all the members of the colony it was decided that the land in Pawnee Rock township was the best to be found in the county. Accord- ingly it was decided that they would take up their land there. On March 23, 1872, a cele- bration was held in honor of their arrival at the historic pile of stone known as Pawnee Rock. In addition to those already named the following were among the first set- llers in this township: Wm. C. Hatter, Dennis I ogan, S. P. Leitner and D. M. Sutherland. In 1874 the following were added to the town- ship's population: W. M. Jenks, F. J. Jason, Charles C. Lewis, Eli, Wm. H. and Hiram Bowman, Robert J. Smith, Aaron F. Miller,
Joseph Hanon, John W. Graves, John Rea, Isaiah Pelsor and J. F. Pearce. This township now has a population of 356.
Settlement was begun in this township early in 1872. Among those who selected claims were the following: 1872, Wm Hartshorn, Ed. Tyler, Luther Frost, John Mc- Mullin, Evan Thornberg, Nelson H. Richie, Willis M. Howerton, Henry Fruit, Eliza Hartshorn, Wm. H. McGreevey, John H. Doel, Joshua Lyle. In 1873, Charles B. Rose, All- drew J. Acton, George N. Welch, Oscar O. Hartshorn, Wm. H. Quincup, Frank Sheldon, Thomas Keenan, and in 1874, Sample S. San- ford, John Lyle and Lorenzo Leach. That portion of the township known as Washburn precinct was settled in 1874 by A. C. Barnes, Wm. Hayes, Vincent Coale, Samuel H. Mitch- ell, Chas. B. Morgan, Robert M. Shields, Win. Dunn and Wm. R. Julian. This township now has a population of 387.
55
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
Logan Township
This township was originally a part of La- kin township and the first settlements werc made within its borders in 1872. During that year, and in 1873, the following took up their residence in this part of the county: Richard Yielding, Henry Galloway, W. D. Fairbairn, Wm. Landman, Thos. F. Mahan and John L. Barngrover. In 1874 a number of new set- tlers were added to the township's popula- tion. Among those who came after 1873 were: Geo. W. McClimans, Chas. C. O'Bleness, Geo. .
M. O'Bleness, Joseph Ozenberger, Benj. F. Moore, James B. Montgomery, Stephen Branch, Myron H. Young, Christopher Bock, Edward H. Grizzle, Aaron W. Ward, Joseph N. Ward, Frank Nichols, Joseph Lunz, A. Barngrover and Theo. F. Harris. This was one of the first townships in the county in which the railroad land was all bought by the settlers and all the government land was taken up. It now has a population of 370.
Homestead Township
J. H. Burnham was the first settler in Homestead township and he, with his father- in-law, A. Baker, settled in 1873. During the summer and autumn of that year, F. A. Speece and family, S. P. Coan, O. Beisyle, J. M. Hughes, F. M. Phillips, S. uhn and E. D. Campbell arrived and made locations. Some of these were frightened away by the grass-
hopper scare of 1874. The hoppers retarded the settlement of this part of the county and and it was some time before the bad impres- sion was changed to one of confidence. Since the carly days this township has come to the front and is now one of the most important ones of the county and has a population ot 699.
Fairview Township
This township is located in the northwest corner of the county and the first to make settlement within its borders were: James
and John Johnson, Henry McCorkle, James Cox, Oliver A. Martin, M. V. B. Hedrick and J. J. W. Sutcliff, all of whom arrived in 1877.
Beaver Township
The first settlement in Beaver township was made in 1876 and among those who lo- cated during this year may be mentioned: Abraham R., John and George H. Dressler, John H. Beard and Robert S. Bruce. In 1877
John M. Rearick, Miranda Fothergill, John F. Dale, James and L. H. F. Brinson and John and Thomas Bryant took up locations in this township. It now has a population of 318.
Union and Wheatland Townships
The first settlements in the townships of Union and Wheatland were made in 1877. In that year Union had three resident families, but within a little more than a year there were fifty-seven voters within its borders. Wheatland enjoyed about the same kind of a growth. The first settlers in Union township were: Joseph Weatherby, Daniel R. Wyatt and John Dundas, who came in 1876. They were followed by Jacob, Michael ., and Martin J. Sessler, James H. Butler, Anna S. Verbeck, Benj. and Oliver P. Dunning, Benj. H. and Wright F. Downing, Geo. M. Gillet, Stanley F. Prindle, Jerome B. Huntley, P. B. Leigh, James Welty, J. Wonsetler and Richard Wehr
who came in 1877.
Among the first to arrive in Wheatland township were: Washington Spencer, James Galbraith and Wm. B. Mitchell, who come in 1875. During the following year the follow- ing located in Wheatland: George W. Watson, Francis Millard, Dr. Norman Baker, Howard N. Fordham, Rial R., Henry J., and John Whipple, Geo. C. Gray, Silas S. Wilkerson, Is- rael D. Spencer, James E. Savage, George Keil, Richard Kittle, John W. Beaman and Charles Hall. The township of Wheatland now has a population of 443 while Union las 347.
56
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Cheyenne Township
The first settlers in Cheyenne township were Phillip Smith, Henry Smith and J. G. Hine, who came in 1873. In the following year, 1874, J. G. Lewis and family and A. Go- lay and family, made a location on Cow creek making a total of four families residing on the creek banks, in that section of the county. In the spring of 1875 C. Frankie settled on sec- tion 14 and a man by the name of Miller took up a location on section 30. By the year 1875 nearly all the government land in this town-
ship was taken up and among the early set- tlers not mentioned above may be mentioned the following: J. A. Krum, 1874; Henry J. Gifford, Herman Hesse, N. A. Miller and W. Kliesen, 1875, and the year 1876 saw the ar- rival of Jolin Machin, W. N. Godren and Henry Smith. Mr. Newcomb was the first resident in the county to take up the raising of thor- oughbred stock. This township now has a population of 710.
Cleveland Township
Cleveland township was not organized un- til long after the early days, that is the really pioneers times were passed. However, it is
now one of the good townships of the county and has a population of 305.
Albion and Grant Townships
The first settlement in these townships was made in 1873 by Hugh Henry and John Boyle and they were followed in 1874 by Henry and Putnam White. Those who fol lowed closely with locations in these town- ships were: Joseph Bahr, D. Linder, Robert Benton, Chas. Chamberlain, Isaac T. Flint, A. Stiver, John Hancock, Carl Wonderlich, Jo- hann Schneider and J. O. C. Rathbun. Blood Creek traverses these townships from the northwest and is said to have derived its name from the fact that after the close of the Mexican war Colonel Doniphan and his troops engaged the Cheyenne Indians in a battle that caused the banks to be spotted with blood which colored the waters for several miles. This is said to have occurred in 1849 and was one of the most terrific Indian battles of those times. These townships
are now among the important ones of the county, Grant having a population of 341 and Albion 318.
Early Blood Creek Settlers
Independent Township
The first settlement made in this township was in 1874 by A. C. Schermerhorn, Jacob T. Spring, James Dalziel, Arthur Dougan, Frank Lorence, Gustav Toepke, Geo. W. Arters,
Henry Rohlfing and Wm. H. Travis. It is a most productive section of the county and has a population in 1912 of 351.
GEORGE TOWERS
I CAME from Wisconsin with a colony to Fossell, now called Russell. About sixty persons came out on the first train. us each a business lot and a residence lot. l think it was about April 15, 1871, at 3 p. m., we landed at Fossell. A section house and a
water tank of the K. P. railroad were all the buildings we found there, and these were run by the section foreman. His name was John Cook. Many of the old settlers know him now. Before we got there the Indians killed two of the section men and they were
57
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
Captain Ruger and myself were partners. It cost us $20 each to join the colony. That gave buried on what is now Main street, Russell. We all took homesteads cr pre-emptions and broke up land and planted sod corn, beans, potatoes and other vegetables, but the dry weather set in and hot winds prevailed, and farming was not a success. Some of us heard what a fine valley there was on the Arkali- sas river. So we made up a small party of men, composed of J. H, Hubbard, E.M. Bene- dict, John Cook, Edward Swan, Edward Dew- ey, Art Moses and his father, J. E. Dodge and George Towers. The first day we made Wal- nut creek, Barton County. There we found the only two settlers of the county. Their names were Mecklem and John Reinicke. We camped that night with them. They told us about the land down the creek and said the A. T. & S. F. R. R. surveyors were coming west laying out the road. It was only com- pleted at that time to Newton. They told us the number of the section they were on, so we very soon knew what section we could locate on. As the odd sections were claimed by the railroad John Cock staked the first claim down the creek, Edward Dewey the next and then J. E. Dodge, Benedict and Swan the next ones in rotation. Hubbard staked the Goforth ranch. The next night we camped at Wal- nut creek at old Fort Zarah, which had just been abandoned. All the other. boys staked claims on the creek or as near as they could. The second morning they said: "George, where did you put your stake?" I told them I had found no place to put it. I said "Let us go up the river and see how it looks." When we got to where Great Bend now stands the whole counttry was covered with buffalo. We killed a buffalo near where the court house now stands. I looked around and said to
the boys: "Well, you have all taken timber claims, so I will put iny stake here for a homestead." As there were so many buf-
falo around I
told
them while they
had staked timber claims I had staked a stock ranch. My stock soon disappeared. We then started back for Fossell. When we got there we reported what we had found and done. In a short time the most of the boys returned to make improvements on their claims. As 1 was in partnership with Nick German in a blacksmith shop I would not then get away to make my improvements. John Hubbard and Capt. Ruger went into partnership and put up a little above on Hubbard's claim. Capt. Ruger run the store, while Hubbard went into the land business making out filing pap- ers, and sending them to the land office in Salina. I gave him my money and my dis- charge papers and told him to find out if my stake was on a government section and if so to make out a soldier's homestead. About two months after he came up to Fossell for sup- plies, when he told me he was sorry he had not made out my homestead papers and that a colony from Quincy, Ill., had jumped my claim and had laid out the town of Great
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