USA > Kansas > Ford County > Dodge City > Dodge City, the cowboy capital, and the great Southwest in the days of the wild Indian, the buffalo, the cowboy, dance halls, gambling halls and bad men > Part 25
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
For ten long years, Dodge City was suspended in reverses. But during this poverty-stricken period, the process of liquidation was slowly being carried out. Dodge
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City had had so much faith in her progress and former wealth, that a calamity was unexpected; she lost sight of the fact that the unnatural extravagance of that former wealth and progress was bound to bring a reaction, soon- er or later. In this depression, property went down to five and ten cents on the dollar, in value, or you could buy it for a song and sing it yourself. People would not pay taxes, and the county became possessed of much valuable real estate, while hundreds of speculators were purchasers of tax titles. Many of the business houses closed, and large numbers of residences were without tenants. Parties were invited to live in them rent free, so the insurance could be kept up. And the same depression was felt in land and cattle. Good cows sold for eight to ten dollars. Land around Dodge sold as low as fifty cents per acre. The writer's land, a tract of seven thousand acres, was sold under the hammer, at less than fifty cents per acre; and some for less than that price.
A good story is told of an Irishman, passing through Dodge City, from Morton county in the southwest part of Kansas, on his way to his wife's folks in the East, with a little old team of horses, a wagon, and a small cow tied behind the wagon. He stopped to water his team, and, when someone asked him where he was from and what were the conditions out there, he said, "It is a beautiful country for prospects, bless your soul!" "Why did you leave?" he was asked. "Got tired; and my wife wanted to see her folks," he replied. "What is the price of land out there?" He said: "Come here! you see that little cow behind the wagon; I traded a quarter section of land for her, and by gobs; before I made the deed, I found the critter I sold to couldn't read, so I just slipped in the other quarter section I had into the deed, and the fellow didn't know it."
Our town and country was likened to a rich family which, through extravagance and bad management, was reduced to extreme poverty. When they were down to
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the lowest ebb and everything was gone, the head of the family caught the eldest son in tears. He said to him, "My son, what are you crying for?" "My God, father!" he replied, "we have nothing left, whatever." "That is so, my son; but cheer up!" the father said: "Don't you see? we are at the foot of the ladder and we can go no further down; so we are bound to climb."
Thus it was with Dodge City. She was at the very foot of the ladder, and was bound to climb; and so she did, after she started-slow, at first, but after we caught our second wind, then by leaps and bounds. We com- menced to go up. Our wheat which had been selling for 40 cents per bushel went up to 60 cents; our seasons began to improve, and our farmers take fresh heart and put in a larger acreage of wheat and other crops; and cattle be- gan to go way up. Our people sold their wheat and in- vested in cattle; and sold their increase in cattle and bought cheap lands; and so it went, until our country got to be the third largest wheat county, two or three million bushels each year. In the harvest of 1912, Ford county was second in Kansas, in wheat production. With the proceeds from their wheat, farmers bought more land and erected business houses in Dodge City. And now Dodge can boast of the second finest courthouse, if not the finest in the state, a handsome city hall, a great sys- tem of waterworks and electric lights in splendid build- ings, while our jail is a modern building, and our schools and magnificent churches are second to none.
Out of a great conflict rises a period of prosperity. To have gone through this endurance of adversity, equip- ped the people with courage and a sense of stability and prudence, which not only gives them caution, but nerve, in making Dodge City the commercial city of western Kansas.
As a close to this work, in addition to what has al- ready been said in the same vein, a glimpse of the Dodge City of today, lying in the brilliant summer sunshine of
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1913, must be given, or our subject will fall short of re- ceiving complete justice. A marked change from the feverish commotion of its first great boom, or the terrible stagnation and desolation of its time of depression, is apparent. The happy medium, in its perfection, has been struck by the town, at last. It is now a busy, bustling, city of 5,000 people, all push and energy, building up and reaching out and making every other sort of steady prog- ress toward development and improvement, socially, fin- ancially, and esthetically, without any wild clamor about it. Nor is this general progress dependent upon any transient traffic or local condition, as was the first great era of prosperity. It is founded on the broader, firmer foundation of the development of territory and the na- tural pressure of modern civilization, and must, in the very nature of things, continue indefinitely and be per- manent, with nothing mushroom like in its nature.
The change is great and keenly apparent to any ob- server of recent years; how infinitely greater, then, it must be, and how much more apparent to us who have watched the progress of Dodge, from its very beginning. Rich, green fields of alfalfa, and others of golden wheat, now surround the town, in place of the bare prairies of old; farm houses, handsome and commodious, with orch- ards, gardens, and pastures, occupy the place in the land- scape once filled by the humble cabins, and 'dobe or sod houses, where the pioneer settler lived so long, in daily fear for his life at the mercy of murderous Indians; the primitive fording places of the river, and their successor, the rude wooden bridge of early days, have been replaced by a steel and concrete bridge, double-tracked and electric lighted, across which are continually whirring smart ve- hicles and elegant automobiles, in place of the lumbering ox wagon or the spur-driven cow pony; the weather- worn, blood-stained, old Santa Fe trail is now being honored as a distinguished historical highway and having its course marked, at intervals, by granite tablets, and a
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FIRST SOD HOUSE IN DODGE CITY
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fine automobile road alongside; even the river shows change, its channel being narrowed and volume dimin- ished by its contribution to irrigation projects above Dodge City, but this slight defection is more than repaid by the additional verdure and bloom and wealth produced by the stolen waters.
Though enormous crops of wheat and alfalfa are raised, without artificial aid, and the bulk of these staples are produced without it, irrigation is quite common in the vicinity of Dodge City. Many of the irrigaton plants are private property, consisting, mainly, of deep wells, sunk to tap the underflow of the river, and fitted with pumps to bring the water to the surface. This underflow is practically inexhaustible, and the amount of water a farmer wishes to use need be limited only by the number of wells he is able to put down.
In contrast to these small systems, is the largest irri- gation project in Dodge City's neighborhood, the great Eureka Ditch. This enterprise was first conceived by the Gilbert brothers, John and George, two of the most en- terprising and go-ahead citizens that ever struck this or any other country; and they were backed, financially, by the great "Hop Bitters" man, Mr. A. T. Soule, of Roch- ester, New York, who was also the founder of our big college.
By the side of the river is Wright Park, which it was the pleasure of the writer to donate to the city, in 1897, and which, in 1880, was a piece of land newly set with young trees. It is now a large grove of magnificent trees, the only indication of their not being natural forest being the somewhat regular manner in which they stand. Of this park, a local paper is good enough to say: "The Wright Park is an institution of the city, highly valued for its use in the purposes for which it was intended. In this city park, public gatherings of all kinds are held, free of charge. The public spirit of Mr. Wright was mani-
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fested on many occasions, but in none, will be surpassed that of the park donation, which will be a living monu- ment to his memory. The only reservation Mr. Wright made, in donating the park, was that it was to be called, 'Wright Park,' always. Mr. Wright also donated thir- teen acres of land where the Harvey eating house stands, to the railroad company, on condition that a park be es- tablished; and also that citizens of Dodge City should be charged only fifty cents a meal. But the latter agree- ment was carried out for a short time only; and the lay- ing out and cultivation of a park is still deferred-now nearly seventeen years having elapsed."
The changes and growth in Wright Park is dupli- cated in many other institutions of Dodge City. Every- where, brick, stone, and concrete supplant the frame structures of former days. And even good brick and stone structures of earlier times, have been replaced by others of more elegant quality or design. An example is the courthouse which, first built of brick and stone, was recently torn down and replaced by the just completed elegant structure of white stone and marble, a delight to the eye in every line and detail. The contract for the building of the city hall, a beautiful architectural speci- men of brick and white stone, in the midst of spacious, well-kept grounds, was given in October, 1887, to Messrs. Sweeney and Toley, for the sum of $19,800. The work on the Methodist college was under way, at this time, up- wards of thirty-seven thousand dollars being expended; but, in the time of depression, the building was discon- tinued, and the property finally abandoned as a college. Just recently, however, it has been bought entire by the Roman Catholics, and is now being overhauled and re- fitted, preparatory to the opening of a large school there at once.
The ward school buildings of Dodge, of which there are three, are large and substantial structures of brick
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and stone. The handsomest, the present high school build- ing, occupies the site of old "Boot Hill," a mute but ever present and immutable witness of how thoroughly culture and education has replaced violence and lawlessness in that locality. Roomy as are her school facilities, however, they cannot accommodate the continually growing num- ber of Dodge City's school population, and plans are now under way for the building of a new high school building, larger, handsomer, and more strictly modern than any of the others, admirable though they certainly are.
The good old Santa Fe Railroad has also redeemed itself in the public mind, and resumed its part in the up- building and advancement of Dodge City. Its great roundhouse and machine shops of a division are located here, a handsome station has taken the place of the box- car and small station house of early days, an elegant 'Harvey House" hotel is maintained, and a ten thousand- dollar freight depot of brick and stone has just been com- pleted by the road. This last statement, alone, is proof that the freight traffic over the Santa Fe, at Dodge City, is still highly important, while the passenger service is equally important, and perfect in appointment and con- venience.
Among the churches, the Christian denomination was the first to erect a large and handsome church build- ing of brick and stone, which is an ornament to the city. The Methodists have just completed an elegant twenty- five thousand-dollar edifice of brick, stone, and concrete; while the Presbyterians contemplate the erection of an equally handsome building, in the near future. The Episcopal church, though small, is a little gem-the most artistic building in Dodge City. With its brown stone walls, colored glass windows, and square bell tower, it is delightfully suggestive of the chapels of rural England. The Baptist church, though large, is of frame; but it oc- cupies the most centrally located site of any church in
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town. It is directly opposite the Public Library, another handsome, modern building of brick and stone, wherein a large free library is maintained for the edification and education of the people of the city.
However, among all the handsome buildings of mod- ern Dodge City, from her perfectly appointed signal sta- tion, to her huge grain elevators, there is not one which she cherishes more highly nor of which she is more proud, than of a modest little cottage in the heart of the city. This is the oldest house in town, though it is so well preserved that no one would suspect it to be Dodge's oldest house in point of service. It is as strong and sub- stantial as it was thirty years ago, and is still doing splen- did service as a residence. I wrote a brief description of this house for the "Dodge City Globe", of November 9th, 1911, which follows. Said the "Globe":
"It is a cold day when R. M. Wright, pioneer plains- man and freighter, cannot get up a good story about Dodge City. His latest one is about the oldest house in the town. In writing this little sketch for the 'Globe', Mr. Wright lets the house tell its own story, in the follow- ing language:
" 'Not many houses can tell a story like mine. I am by far the oldest house in Dodge City. Mine has been a checkered career. I was first built in Abilene, then taken down and moved to Salina, and from there to Ellsworth. Nothing doing in the way of excitement up to my advent in Ellsworth. There my trouble as well as my festivities began. From that time on, I led a gay and festive life, interspersed with some sad tragedies. Many fights and scraps were inaugurated there, in the wee small hours of the night; and once a murder was committed, as well as several duels started. I said murder; in those days we called it "shooting" and the man who did not get the drop was the "unfortunate." Then I was moved to Fort Dodge and first occupied by Charles F. Tracy, who was
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OLDEST HOUSE IN DODGE CITY Built in Abilene, taken down and moved to Ellsworth, from Ellsworth to Fort Dodge, thence to Dodge City
succeeded by John E. Tappen, and he by R. M. Wright, post-trader, and he by James Langton and his delightful sister, who was a great entertainer.
"'Here is where I had a gay time, as night after night, the officers of the post congregated there, to have a good time. And they had it; never were they disap- pointed in this. Cards, dancing, and music were the principal programme features, ending with sumptuous repasts about midnight. There have I entertained lords, dukes, and other great men of Europe as well as America. Among those who have sat at the festive board were Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Miles, Forsythe, and Pope; and brigadiers, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and majors too numerous to mention. Once I was graced by the presi- dent of the United States, President Hayes.
"'From Fort Dodge, I was moved to Dodge City, where I have led a very peaceful life, in my old age. I am now occupied by W. B. Rhodes and family. Under all my owners, I have never been changed, but remain exactly the same building as when I was first erected, even to the two ells and porch. I now stand on the corner of Vine street and First avenue, a venerable relic of my past days of glory and splendor.'"
But why continue further with the enumeration of the noteworthy features of our city, and the description of the transformations that have taken place on every side within her boundaries, since the time when the Lady Gay dance hall was the center of social Dodge, and Boot Hill the boundary line of the great buffalo range. Change, change, everywhere change, and for the better, is all that can be seen. Did I say everywhere? I don't quite mean that. There is one place where Dodge City has not changed; her spirit of hospitality and benevolence, of liberality and justice, of kindliness to strangers and good cheer to unfortunates, is the same today as it was when
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the people cheered and exulted over the privilege of send- ing aid to the yellow fever sufferers; or when they risked life itself to rescue some frail woman from the horrors of Indian captivity. There is an indescribable, feeling of kindliness, good fellowship, and homelikeness in the very atmosphere of Dodge. The stranger feels it, immediately upon his arrival, and no matter how long he stays, he finds it continually made good. Snobbery and arrogance are little known in her social circles. Her wealthiest and most influential citizens are simple, hearty, whole-souled human beings, with the human quality pronounced in its degree; and there is a warmth and freedom of social intercourse among her residents, or extended from the residents to sojourners in the town, that seems the very manifestation of the western spirit of our dreams, or as if Dodge City might be the ideal, "where the West be- gins," as described in Arthur Chapman's lovely little poem:
"Out where the hand clasps a little stronger; Out where a smile dwells a little longer; That's where the West begins: Out where the sun is a little brighter ; Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter; Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter; That's where the West Begins.
"Out where the skies are a trifle bluer; Out where friendship's a little truer; That's where the West begins: Out where a fresher breeze is blowing; Where there's laughter in every streamlet flowing; Where there's more of reaping and less of sowing; That's where the West Begins.
"Out where the world is in the making; Where fewer hearts with despair are aching; That's where the West begins:
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Where there's more of singing and less of sighing; Where there's more of giving and less of buying; And a man makes friends without half trying; That's where the West begins."
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APPENDIX
I. Robert M. Wright (see frontispiece) was born at Bladensburg, Prince George County, Maryland, Septem- ber 2, 1840. His father was born at Alexandria, Virginia, in 1800, and when a mere boy was on the battle-field of Bladensburg, administering to the wounded soldiers. His great-grandfather was a Presbyterian minister, and dur- ing the Revolutionary war raised a regiment of militant plowboys, at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, of which he had command at the battle of the Meadows. The British set a price on his head and destroyed all his property. His wife was shot by a Hessian soldier, as she sat at her window with a babe in her arms. Her husband was killed by Tories. His grandfather on his mother's side was Elias Boudinot Coldwell, for many years clerk of the United States supreme court, whose residence, and private library, which had been loaned to Congress, were destroyed by the British in the war of 1812. When sixteen years old, Robert M. Wright took a notion to come West. He settled in Missouri and worked on a farm near St. Louis until 1859. He made an overland trip with oxen in that year, reaching the town of Denver in May. He crossed the plains four times by wagon and twice by coach. He worked for three years for Sanderson & Company, and then became a contractor for cutting hay, wood, and hauling grain. He was appointed post-trader at Fort Dodge in 1867. He has been farmer, stockman, contractor, postmaster, and merchant. He has four times represented Ford county in the legislature. In 1899 he was appointed commissioner of forestry, and was reappointed in 1901. He resides in Dodge City.
The July, 1912, number of the "Santa Fe Employer's Magazine" says of Mr. Wright:
"No account of Dodge City is quite complete without
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C
THE OLD BURRELL FARM AND SOD DWELLING OF OLDEN DAYS Located 12 Miles Southwest of Dodge City
reference to R. M. Wright. Going into western Kansas in a very early day, this gentleman was, in 1866, appointed post trader at Fort Dodge. During a long and prosperous career, he has been successively a stockman, freighter, contractor, merchant, politician, farmer, county treasurer, state forest commissioner, postmaster, and representative of Ford county four times in the legislature, and once mayor of Dodge City. No man has been more closely identified with the remarkable history of Ford county than Mr. Wright. He is now living in feeble retirement in the old town which he helped make famous, while his experiences would fill an interesting volume. The follow- ing is given as a characteristic anecdote of his early life. It happened while Bob was serving as mayor of Dodge.
"One day a cow-puncher came to town, bent on hav- ing a good time, so he sauntered into the Green Front saloon and played his money on a sure thing game. In a short time, he and his little pile were parted. Sore at his ill luck, he determined to prefer charges against the proprietor for running a gambling joint, so he hunted up the Honorable Bob Wright, at that time mayor, and after introducing himself, presented his case in this manner:
"'A feller in that 'ere Green Front has just robbed me of more'n sixteen dollars, an' I wants ter have 'im pulled.'
" 'Been gambling, have you?' retorted the Honorable Bob. Then addressing the city marshal, Bill Tilghman, who was just crossing the street, he yelled: 'Here, Bill, is a fellow that has been gambling. Run him in.' So they hauled the prisoner to the police court, where he was fined ten dollars and costs, as an object lessen to those who might presume to violate the anti-gambling ordinance of Dodge City."
2. The Dodge City Town Company (see Chapter I, page 9) was organized in 1872, with R. M. Wright,
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president; Colonel Richard I. Dodge, commanding Fort Dodge; Major E. B. Kirk, post quartermaster; Major W. S. Tremaine, post surgeon; and Captain T. C. Tupper. The county of Ford was organized in 1873. Dodge City, according to the census of 1901, had 2,199 population, and the county of Ford, 5,302, since when, however, said population has probably doubled. The town is four miles west of the site of the fort.
3. Jim and Bill Anderson (see Chapter I, page 11) killed Judge Baker and his father-in-law, George Segur, at Baker's home on Rock Creek, a few miles east of Coun- cil Grove, on the night of July 3rd, 1862. Baker kept a supply store near the Santa Fe trail. The Andersons were hard characters from Missouri. At the commence- ment of the war they took to the brush. On one of their marauding expeditions in the spring of the year, they stole two horses from Mr. Segur. Baker and friends gave chase, and, overtaking the party west of Council Grove, recovered the horses. Baker swore out a warrant for the arrest of the Andersons. Old man Anderson, hearing of this, swore he would take Baker's life, and, arming him- self with a rifle, started for Baker's home. Baker had been informed, met him prepared, and, getting the first shot, killed Anderson. July 2nd, the Andersons skulked around Baker's home, but the latter was at Emporia. He returned on the night of the 3rd. Baker and Segur after dark, were called out, both were wounded, and, retreating into the house, took refuge in the cellar. The house was fired, and Baker burned to death, and Segur, who escaped, died the next day.
4. Fort Lyon, Colorado, (see Chapter I, page 12) was originally established August 29th, 1860, near Bent's Fort, on the Arkansas River, and called Fort Wise. The name was changed June 25th, 1862. June 9th, 1867, the post was newly located at a point twenty miles distant, on the north bank of the Arkansas, two and one-half miles
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below the Purgatory River, in latitude 38° 5' 36", longi- tude 26° 30 west.
5. Fort Larned (see Chapter I, page 12), was estab- lished October 22nd, 1858, for the protection of the Santa Fe trade, on the right bank of the Pawnee Fork, about seven miles above its mouth, 38° 10' north latitude, longi- tude 22° west. It was named, June, 1860, for Colonel B. F. Larned, then paymaster-general, though first called Camp Alert.
6. Fort Dodge (see Chapter I, page 12), was located in 1864, by General G. M. Dodge, United States volun- teers, the site being an old camping ground for trains going to New Mexico. It is in latitude 37° 50' north, longitude 100° west. A Colorado regiment camped there before the establishment of the post. It was a four-com- pany post, and was abandoned in 1882.
7. Colonel Aubrey (see Chapter I, page 14), was a French Canadian by birth, and made two trips on horse- back between Santa Fe and Independence; the first in eight days, in 1850; and the second, on a wager of one thousand dollars, in five days, in 1852. He was killed by Major R. H. Weightman, once editor of the Santa Fe "Herald." See "The Overland Stage to California," (by Frank A. Root, 1901), pages 54 and 425.
8. Fort Atkinson (see Chapter I, page 12), a gov- ernment post on the Arkansas River, twenty-six miles below the crossings of the Arkansas; established August 8th, 1850; abandoned October 2nd, 1854. According to Gregg's "Commerce of the Plains," issued in 1854, Point of Rocks was six hundred and ten miles out from Inde- pendence, Missouri, and the crossing of the Arkansas was about Cimarron station, on the Santa Fe railroad.
9. Pawnee Rock (see Chapter II, page 24). This story was first written for and published in "Echos from Pawnee Rock," a small book from various authors' writ- ings, compiled by the ladies of Hutchinson, in honor of
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the historic spot. In a letter to Mr. Wright, from one of the ladies who had charge of the book, the lady says:
"I hear many complimentary comments upon your article. A Hutchinson business man, who is something of a literary critic, bought the first copy of the "Echos" sold here and remained away from his store in the after- noon to read the book. When he next saw me he said, 'Robert M. Wright is the whole thing in your little book.'
"If there were time I could mention other apprecia- tive remarks about your popular contribution.
"I am very grateful for your support during the months I worked on the book. In spite of some discour- agement, the work was very enjoyable, and I have been paid a thousand times by the appreciative interest of patriotic Kansans.
"I hope you may be present when the Rock is formally transferred to the State.
"Yours very sincerely, "MARGARET PERKINS."
10. The Chivington fight (see Chapter III, page 59) occurred in the autumn of 1864. In the summer of that year a band of Cheyenne Indians, under the control of Black Kettle and White Antelope, about four hundred and fifty in all, together with about fifty Arapahoes, under Left Hand, known to be friendly Indians, came to the vicinity of Fort Lyon, Colorado, in compliance with the order of Governor Evans, acting superintendent of Indian affairs. This was done with the understanding that they were to be protected from the soldiers who were to take the field against hostiles. They remained in this camp for some time, giving up their arms, and depending upon rations for their food. Their weapons were then restored to them by Major Scott J. Anthony, who had in the meantime superseded Major E. W. Wyn- koop in the command of that military district, and they were told to go into camp on Sand Creek, about thirty- five miles from Fort Lyon. This they did, relying on
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BATTLE OF LITTLE COON CREEK, WHERE FIVE SOLDIERS WERE ATTACKED BY ABOUT 500 INDIANS
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the hunt for food, and maintaining friendly relations with the whites. On the morning of November 29th, about daybreak, they were surprised by United States troops, under Colonel J. M. Chivington, the commander of that district. An indiscriminate slaughter of men, women, and children followed. The three principal chiefs were killed. Many of the Indians escaped on horseback and on foot, though followed by the mounted soldiers. Of the five hundred in camp, about one hundred and fifty were supposed to have been killed, two-thirds being women and children. (See U. S. Spec. Com. on Indian tribes. Re- port 1867, B. F. Wade, chairman; Official Records' War of the Rebellion, vol. 41, pt. I, page 948.)
Rev. John M. Chivington came to Denver in May, 1860, having been assigned, the previous March, to the Rocky Mountain district, by the Kansas and Nebraska conference. He had already served that conference in Nebraska. In the fall of 1861 the first regiment of Colo- rado volunteers was organized; John P. Slough, colonel; Samuel F. Tappan, lieutenant-colonel; and John M. Chiv- ington, major. April 13th, 1862, Colonel Slough resigned, and Major Chivington was appointed to the command of the regiment, in recognition of his efficient service in New Mexico. In June, 1862, he was placed in command of the southern district of New Mexico, from which his regiment was relieved at his own request and returned to Colorado the following January. November 29th, 1864, he led the Colorado troops in the massacre of Black Kettle's band of Cheyenne Indians at Sand Creek, Colo- rado.
In 1858 and 1859 there lived in Lecompton a harness- maker by the name of John Fribley. Years after the war the writer met Fribley, who said he was with Chiv- ington at that massacre. He was asked why the soldiers committed such an awful thing. He responded that on their march from Denver to Lyon the command called at the house of a popular ranchman, where travelers and
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soldiers frequently stopped, and they found the whole family murdered, the wife and mother lying on the floor with he entrails covering her face. He said the soldiers took an oath to kill every Indian they came across.
II. Fort Zarah (see Chapter V, page 91) was estab- lished September 6th, 1864, by General Samuel R. Curtis, then in command of the military district, and named in honor of his son, Major H. Zarah Curtis, who was killed at the Baxter Springs massacre, while on General Blunt's staff, October 6th, 1863. Fort Zarah was about five miles east of Great Bend, in the present Barton county.
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