Barton County KS Archives History - Books .....Settlements - Buffalo Township 1912
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 2, 2005, 1:05 am

Book Title: Biographical History Of Barton County

SETTLEMENTS
Buffalo Township

THE 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 Barry, 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 generally 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 or 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. Mecklem. It was built with loop holes and
very small windows and designed as a means of defense against the Indians. The
principal occupation of the settlers during the first years was the slaughter of
buffaloes, the flesh of which during the cooler months was marketed at Russell
and Ellsworth, thirty and fifty miles 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 fully in 1871 since the Indians were
not deemed troublesome any more. In this year some corn was raised but much of
the crop was destroyed 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 population until in 1912 it
has a population of 467 and is one of the best townships in the county.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/barton/history/1912/biograph/settleme7gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/

File size: 2.9 Kb