Lincoln County KS Archives History - Books .....Pages 92 - 123 1908 ************************************************ 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, 12:37 am Book Title: A Souvenir History Of Lincoln County, Kansas p. 92 Vesper Settlement was begun in Vesper territory in 1869. It is a tradition that a battle occurred in 1868, at Lone Rock three miles south of Vesper between the Indians and some railroad employees, but it is impossible to find anyone who knew the particulars of the matter. When the settlement was once started the country filled up rapidly, and by 1872 all the government land was taken. Wm. B. Cheney was the first settler. The Middlekauff family was the second, and they came when there was only one house between Lincoln and Vesper. Other settlers were A. W. Lewis, H. S. Steele, Mr. Schofield, Troup Hickey, John Tool, Wm. Baird. Mr. Schofield's place was the objective point of all newcomers upon first reaching this part of the country. The first school was taught at H. S. Steele's. The Vesper postoffice was established in 1873 and moved around over the neighborhood for some years. It was first kept at H. S. Steele's farmhouse on section 10, Vesper Township, then in turn at the homes of the following people: Robert Lewis, John Stein, J. P. Harmon, Mrs. Robt. Lewis, whose husband had died in the meantime. While Mrs. Lewis was postmistress the railroad came through and the postoffice moved down near the station. A man by the name of Shoemaker kept the first shoe store. His building was burned later. Mr. Baird, who is a carpenter and architect, built the first wagon ever made in the county in 1873 for Martin Hendrichson. He also built the first windmill for a Mr. Davis. Simon Bough built a store building and kept a stock of merchandise. He sold out to George Elrod, who built an addition to it. Miss Lillie White bought out Elrod. Middlekauff & Gilpin bought out Miss White, and put up the building now occupied by Wick & Jepsen. This firm also built a hardware store. Wick bought out the merchandise part of the business. Thos. Garrity, who had been running a drug store, sold out, built a stone building, bought the stock of hardware. Wick took Mr. Jepsen into partnership and about the same time Porter & Sons put a stock of merchandise in the old Bough building. John Murphy, who bought out Porter & Sons, has gone out of business. Thos. Garrity sold out early in 1908 to Mauris Cromwell. Vesper now has a lumber yard, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, a restaurant, and a meat market, a hardware store and general store and three flourishing elevators. Pictures of two of them are given below. There are two churches, Catholic and Presbyterian. The latter was built by a popular subscription, and is used by all denominations. [photo] Grain Elevator The Farmers Elevator, at Vesper, Lincoln Co., Kans. The above is a view of the Farmers' Elevator at Vesper, the largest in the county, (32000 bu. capacity.) They handle all kinds of grain. Over one hundred stockholders. Organized in 1903. J. A. Twibell, Pre». L. P. Larsen, Sec'y. G. A. Metzger, Mgr. CURRIE WIND MILL CO., Seventh St., Topeka, Kansas p. 94 VESPER STATE BANK Capital Stock $10,000 Surplus $2,000 W. B. MIDDLEKAUFF, Pres. A. F. MORGENSON, Cashier DIRECTORS: H. P. Jensen C. C. Nelson A. V. Broberg W. H. Cheney C. H. Peckham Our Motto: Absolute safety to our Depositors. Our Policy is to insure our own stability and promote the highest interest of the community by confining our business to this immediate vicinity. The following is some of the apparatus in our well equipped blacksmith shop:—Trip Hammer, Drill Machine, Three Emery Wheels, Rip Saw, Band Saw, Two Forges with Blowers, Two Tire Shrinkers, Tire Bender, Tire Bolter, Shears which will cut iron bar 3/4 x4 in., Tool Grinder, Eight Horse Power Engine. We Are Equipped to Do Your Work. Jensen & Guggesberg. p. 95 [photo and advertisement] LEIDIGH & HAVENS LUMBER YARD, Vesper, Kans. We want your business. House bills our specialty. None too large or too small. Our stock includes Coal, American Fence, and Sherwin-Williams' Paints. LEX L. MORGAN, Manager [photo and advertisement] S. D. BRUMAUGH'S ELEVATOR, Vesper, Kans. This Elevator was rebuilt from the Herman Bros, building, the first Elevator in Vesper. Established in 1896. Mr. Brumbaugh is handling his share of the million and a half bushels of wheat raised in Lincoln County this year. p. 96 Denmark One of the most important communities in Lincoln County history is the settlement of Danes on the Spillman. The first entry in this settlement was made on the southeast quarter of section 23 by Lorenzt Christensen in February, 1869. His brother homesteaded beside him at the same time. Eskild Lawritzen and wife Stine, Otto Peterson, John Maihoff, Mr. and Mrs. Wichel all came during the winter and lived near each other. Of course, they faced many hardships, especially those incident to pioneering in the winter. One instance of these must suffice. One cold day in February Lorenzt Christiansen, while hueing logs for a dugout, some distance from any house, had the misfortune to cut his foot very severely with the axe. He was obliged to lay in the open without attention all day before help could arrive. His nephew, who was with him, kept up a fire. In the evening he was rescued by John S. Strange. In the Indian raid which occurred the next May, all the Danes but Peter and Lorenzt Christiansen and their families were killed or captured. These two men fought the Indians all day, and at night made their way with their families, to Schemerhorn's ranch. From there they went to Fort Harker, and later to Junction City, where they remained until January 1, 1871. When they returned they brought with them from Junction City John Larsen, N. Nielson, A. Rasmussen. The next April the ranks of Danish colonists were further swelled by James Morgeson, Peter Nielson, Peter Anderson, August Hansen, C. Bunk, C. Anderson, Mons Swenson, Olaf Holnberg, Ole Peterson, Peter Andreson, and Nels Peterson. All these people lived long, and were prosperous except Cris Anderson, who was killed in a runaway. Those who still remain at Denmark own beautiful and valuable homes. It took a long time in those days to subdue the wilderness and make it bloom as a rose and the present generation whose way is made easier in consequence can not be too grateful. The first school, a log building, was erected in 1875. C. L. Jensen was the first postmaster and storekeeper in the settlement, and his location was next to the present school house site north of the road. Lorenzt Christiansen operated the first blacksmith shop and did work for a very large scope of country. Later settlers in the Danish colony were H. L. Hansen, L. P. Jensen, Henry krrebo, A. P. Jensen, C. Jensen, H. P. Bernhardt, C. Bernhardt, John Bernhardt, Christian Hendrickson, Mrs. Christiansen, Mattsen, and two Krieser families. There was one Indian killing which occurred in Denmark neighborhood, which has not yet been recorded in history. Lorenzt Jonhson, which is the American name of Lorenzt Christiansen (his father's name being Chris Johnson), saw some Indians on the Spillman (date uncertain) and noticed that one of them wore a pair of red-topped boots. He recognized the boots as those formerly worn by a friend and shot the Indian wearing them. The body was buried on a promitory near by. School History The horizon of intellectual progress in any community can be guaged by its educational system and the interest shown in education by the people generally. A history of Lincoln County not containing an account of its institutions of learning would, therefore, be misleading, as we have dealt to some length with the other side of the picture. We are fortunate in securing an article from Mr. A. T. Biggs whom every one will recognize as an authority on this subject. Believing our readers will enjoy this article better than anything the historian might write, it is given here with a few additions: "Settled as Lincoln County was by pushing Western people, along with Irish and Scandinavians, it is not strange that education occupied their first thoughts. As early as 1867 or 1868, while still keeping an eye open for Indians, Mrs. Skinner gathered her own children, Everton, Alfred, and Bing, and two Ziegler boys, Eli and Frank, into her dugout and taught them 'without money and without price.' She afterwards taught district school. In 1868 Marion Ivy, one of Forsyth's famous scouts, taught a school in a dugout in Uncle Mart Hendrickson's door-yard. "John Lyden, a bright, intelligent Irishman, who was murdered and thrown into a well four years later, was appointed •Superintendent of Public Instruction, on the organization of the -county. At the election in 1871 John Harshbarger was elected superintendent, but refused to qualify. Washington Smith, a scholarly old gentleman, served till the election of 1872, being succeeded in 1874 by John P. Harmon. In 1876 A. T. Biggs was elected, and served six years. He was followed in 1882 by H. B. Harris, who served two years. In 1884 James H. Allsworth was elected, and served four years, being succeeded in 1888 by A. T. Biggs, who served tiJl 1892. Horace Trueman, E. D. Smith, W. E. Lyon, and A. J. Stanley, the present incumbent, each served four years. The leading characteristic of each superintendent might be summed up in a single word. Washington Smith, oldest, Wright, handsomest, Harmon, finest presence, Briggs, busiest, Harris, strictest, Allsworth, laziest, Trueman, joiliest, Smith, most dignified, Lyon, most scholarly, and Stanley most forceful. Brains and energy pervaded the office of superintendent for many years, until to-day the county stands without a peer. [photo] The Wait School House. But after all it is to the noble band, of teachers, male and female, (particularly the latter) to which we owe the efficiency of our schools. For the last sixteen years every Superintendent has received the bulk of his training in the schools of the County. That there have been some "school keepers" in the great body of teachers cannot be denied, but the great mass have been conscientious God-fearing men and women. A personal mention of all the worthy ones would be impossible but this history would be incomplete without the names of a few of the principal actors. No one who knows the early history of the County will deny to Mrs. Anna C. Wait the honor of being dean of the faculty. Her influence more than that of any other person has shaped the course of educational thought. She taught the first school in Lincoln in the little old house next to the City Hotel. This little building 10 feet by 22 feet was kitchen, dining room, bedroom and parlor, as well as Captain Wait's law office, but by some sort of magic it was made to contain a school of thirty pupils. This was in 1872, and there are middle aged men and women in Lincoln today who were pupils in this school and who insist to this day that it was the "best ever." She taught many years in Lincoln as well as in Vesper, Lost Creek, Rocky Hill, and No. 63. Her influence in teacher's meetings, institutes and on examining boads was preeminent. It was she and Captain Wait who brought about the organization of the Normal Institute in 1877 when there were only twenty-three "de-fact" teachers to attend. Without a paid enrollment of fifty no sate aid could be had, so by Captain Wait's advice the business men were enrolled. Teaching seemed to run in families. There was the whole family of Skinners, Bing, Fred, Bert, Norah, and Calvin (Vinney). They were educated in the Monroe School where Mrs. Skinner taught in 1870, and which maintained its preeminence as the Hub, educationally. The Bakers, Florence, JtSlla, Ina, Lena, Meta, Edgar, and Eli, all taught acceptably and their father, Congressman Barker, himself a college graduate taught one term in Sunnnyside. The Smith family, Mrs. S. S. the mother, E. D., H. C., and Mabel, left a large impression for good in Lincoln County. It was said by one who ought to know that Anna C. Wait, Hannah McCorkle and Susan Smith were the "first three," Mabel Smith was the champion maker of bricks without straw,. supplying the lack of apparatus by home made contrivances. The work of E. D. and H. C. Smith was good but no better than that of the mother and sister. The Stanley family, Dan, Nora, Sadie, Art, and Eunice all taught acceptably, but it has remained for Arthur to add lustre to the family name as well as; to Lincoln County. For Lincoln is known as one of the leading counties in educational advancement owing to the preeminence of her superintendent in the work of School Law revision, and the more intelligent and practical study of agriculture in the schools. Among the early teachers were John Stubbs, George Page, Viola Boutman, H. Hammer, Callie Scott, Ira W. Russell, Charley Price, William L. Barr, John O. Wilson, now a prominent lawyer of Salina, Sarah A. Cole a leading physician and head of the Sanitarium at Lincoln. Laura Page Peate, wife of J. J. Peate, of Beverly, W. T. Prescott, who secured a certificate and his wife taught the first school in District No. 23, F. F. Frans taught the second. Probably Hannah Mary Moss for so many years in charge of the primary department of the Lincoln schools, started as many children right in her twenty-five years of experience as any other person. A. A. Songer who has taught acceptably some twenty years in Lincoln County, and fifteen more in other places is a man who understands the secret of success in his profession. For the past five years he has been on the examining board, where he has acquitted himself with great credit. In point of service he is one of the "oldest" teachers in the County, and his characteristic zeal and energy increases with each year. His work in any given branch has always been complete and thorough. He is now willing and abundantly competent to be probate judge. In fact he is extremely well equipped for the duties of this office. John A. Schofield who taught long and successfully was a man of deep convictions, and strong prejudices. Few persons carried into their work a quicker, finer conscience. His only fault was a peppery temper. But being a very blonde-blonde he could not help being "red-headed." He is now clerk of Dewey County, Okla. Probably the youngest teacher that ever taught in Lincoln or any other County was Carrie Matson, now Professor of Latin in Kansas University. About 1880 teachers were scarce, and Carrie who was thirteen but looked any age from eighteen to twenty-five, was granted a certificate and taught successfully at Rocky Point. At Pottersburg her success was repeated but it leaked out that she was under age and the superintendent got the roast that was coming to him. A quarter of a century of successful work has justified the judgment of the examining board. The oldest person who ever taught in the County was Mr. Brown from Ottawa County, who taught in Distirct No. 54, Bam Creek, in the early '90's. James Dengate who taught in the schools of the County for a quarter of a century and was in active demand. He was a bundle of live wires and his clear megaphone tones penetrated not only the uttermost corner of the school room, but also the atmosphere for a quarter of a mile. Then there was Alice Reddingshaffer and Lillie Loy who spoke so low that the pupils had to keep very still to hear them. All succeeded equally well. John McBride is another example of the soft voice but only eternity can tell what an influence for good was in that soft voice and spotless character. The earlier schools were taught in dugouts or vacant claim shanties, without desks, chairs, blackboards or other furniture. In District 21 Laura Peate taught in Rod Wilmarth's kitchen and in District 56 the first school was taught in Fouts cellar and it was out and beyond better than the average. In District 22 Mrs. B. H. Ellsworth taught in the basement with earth floor and two small windows. The seats were blocks of stove-wood that could not be split. Large sheets of brown manilla paper were used for blackboards and to write lessons on to supplement the short supply of books. District 34 started a school in a shanty with nothing but four bare walls, an earth roof and floor and a sad apology for a door. The children were ragged but bright and industrious and many of them, now middle-aged and well to do people can point with pride to their rise in the world. Mrs. William Nash taught the school furinshing her own apparatus, a board painted with lamp-black, some bits of chalk (not crayon) and four or five odd books. Cornstalks and weeds gathered by teacher and pupils were burned in a cast-away stove. And yet this was only thirty years ago! "Ad Astra per Aspera." The Normal Institute provided by the legislature of 1877 has been one of the prime factors in upbuilding the educational fabric. The good results obtained are largely due to the happy selection of the Normal Faculty, many of the very best workers of the State having been employed. E. F. Robinson, Salome Pierson and Anna C. Wait were the first Normal teachers. Robinson received $100.00 for his work, Miss Pierson $60.00, while Mrs. Wait gave equally good service free of charge. C. T. Pickett, once principal of the Lincoln schools, conducted five of the earlier institutes and left the impress of his genial kindly nature, an all precious legacy. At present the institute has a core of instructors equal or superior to any in the state. They are Mr. C. E. St. John, Mr. C. M. Ware, Inez M. Chapman, and Carrie F. Bradley." This is the end of Mr. Biggs' article, but the conclusion of the matter is that he himself is not represented as he deserves. In our educational universe he is one of the immortal gods. When he left the office at the close of his six years' continuous service, he could describe the location of every schoolhouse in the county and he knew the names and faces of all the pupils attending the schools at that time and their rank in their studies. He played ball, ante-over, and pull-away with them, even to the second generation, covering the sixteen years between 1876-1892, ten of which he filled the office of county superintendent. From 1877 to the present (1808) the teachers of the county have been largely of those boys and girls. Do they remember and appreciate him? No Normal institute is complete without him and he has missed but one since 1877. He is always drafted and compelled to come even from the uttermost parts of Kansas. .Last year the Normal institute surprised him with a gold watch in which was the inscription: "With love, from your Lincoln County Girls and Boys." Mr. Biggs organized most of the school districts and upon his leaving the office in 1882 it was found that Lincoln County ;stood above any in the State regards to the per cent of enumeration as to population, of enrollment as to enumeration, and average attendance as to enrollment. The wages of women more nearly approximated that, of men than in any other county. About this time the county had seventy-eight districts with buildings valued at $19,250, and was spending about $11,000 a year. There was an enrollment of 2,267 out of 2,888 people of school age. At the time of Mr. Biggs' final retirement from office there were eighty-five districts employing ninety-four teachers. The school population was 3,600. As compared with the valuation of school property in 1882-3 the high school building as it stands now is worth $18,000. p. 103 [photo] Lincoln High School p. 104 Kansas Christian College In 1884 the Bible Christian Church of Kansas proposed to build a college. The State Conference voted a sum ranging between $6,000 and $10,000 to start the institution providing the city in which it should be located would furnish a like amount. There were some very enterprising citizens of Lincoln who were members of this church, and they set about to secure the college for their locality. A meeting was held in the Baptist Church and a committee was appointed to present resolutions to the city council. The result was that a sum of $7,500 was voted by .Lincoln, and a committee appoitned to secure $2,500 by subscriptions. Those who deserve most of the credit for bringing the college to Lincoln are Rev. E. Cameron, at that time the resident minister of that church, and Rev. Geo. Tenny, who was president of the State Conference and Board of Trustees. The college had its origin in the Southern Kansas Christian Conference. Having decided the location and secured the pledge for money no time was lost in beginning. April 21, 1884, college was opened in the Baptist Church to prepare students for successful work the next year. The enrollment started at twenty-two and increased till it reached forty-nine. Geo. Tenny was principal of this preparatory school. It closed after several weeks of profitable work and plans were perfected for the beginning of autumn term. Thomas Bartlett, A. M., was chosen president. He and Geo. Tenny taught the college classes. Courses were offered in Biblical literature, higher .English, ancient and modern language, economics, ethics, mathematics, and the sciences. Rev. E. Cameron, principal of the preparatory school, was assisted by a full corps of teachers. The cornerstone of the building was not laid until July 23, 1885. It was occupied in 1886. Ten acres had been donated for a building site. The Lincoln College Banner was first published in 1885. At one time 1,800 copies of the paper were issued. In a few years the kindergarten and primary departments were discarded and the institution gave its whole attention to strictly college work. The attendants came to be called students and not pupils as before. By 1890 the prepartory fitted the student for first grade certificates. The college at this time offered normal, scientific, classical, and commercial courses. p. 105 [advertisement] A College Eduction Is the corner stone on which the Twentieth Century man or woman must build success. The plea is no longer "I can not afford it," but "I can not afford to be without it." A Rare Opportunity which comes to a comparatively small per cent of young people is at your door The Kansas Christian College a home college, recognized abroad. Four full courses leading to degrees: Commercial, Normal, Scientific, Classical. The Commercial Course equips the the young person for the business world. The Normal Course gives special attention to subjects leading to state certificate. The Scientific Course takes up the practical side of all the Sciences. The Classical Course gives the student a broad and solid foundation for any work in life. Two year's work in any of the above courses is accepted by the State University, allowing those desiring a diploma from there to take two year's work at home. We also offer a Four Year's Course in Bible Study. GEO. R. STONER, Pres. p. 106 The work of the first president, Rev. Bartlett, extended over a period of eight years and through the early struggles he was a most efficient worker. Rev. Cameron, who succeeded him, served as president three years. His work for the college did not close with his presidncy as he is at present on the board of trustees. President Whittaker, who served for thirteen years, probably did more than any one man for the institution. He found it heavily in debt and the building yet unfinished. He was a man of excellent business qualities, and by push and persistence cleared the college of indebtedness and finished the building. Rev. Geo. R. Stoner, A. M., who has been president for the last two years, is a young man, unusually capable and well educated. During his administration many permanent improvements have been made. Many more contemplated for the coming year. In looking over the courses offered and the splendid faculty secured we feel that Lincoln County ought to be proud of the Kansas Christian College. Yet in our rounds of the country we hardly- heard it mentioned. Lincoln County has a great many advantages to boast of, yet there is one thing which it ought to take pride in above all else—its educational advantages—its public schools and its college. These may not add in any direct way a specified amount to its pile of dollars, but they stand near the goal toward which all material gain ought to aim— namely, intellectual and spiritual progress. Material progress is not an end in itself, but it gives an opportunity for higher progress. When made an end in itself it loses all its value, and is a curse instead of the blessing it might be, if used for the proper purposes. If there was a prospect of getting a new railroad through the county the citizens would put up $75,000 or $100,000, by private subscriptions, or by bonds. There are any number of men who would give a thousand dollars each out of their own pockets without expecting any direct returns, in order to see a new railroad come through their vicinity. Why not invest a like amount in a college? There is a financial as well as a moral and intellectual return in a good, flourishing college and the citizens ought to realize this and act accordingly. The college at the present time is doing most excellent work in a $30,000 building, but it ought to have $300,000 in buildings in order to do the work it is capable of doing for the community and for its students. p. 107 Women's Organizations The .Lincoln Suffrage Association is in some ways the most interesting of all the women's organizations in the county. It was organized in 1880, the first one in the State since the defeat of suffrage in the Legislature of 1876. Four years afterwards (1884) the State Association was organized, and just seven years from the time that three Lincoln County women got their heads together and made up their minds they would vote, the women of Kansas had municipal suffrage. Mrs. Anna C. Wait was the first woman to vote in Lincoln. During the campaign when the amendment was voted on, Mrs. Wait and Miss Eva Corning of Topeka stumped the county in the interests of the amendment Their program was interesting and to the point, and gained a great many votes. Equal to Mrs. Wait in ability and in works was Mrs. E. J. Biggs. For many years both with voice and pen she dealt sturdy blows for equal rights for women. She had the talent for making converts. She organized the Stanton Suffrage Society near the present site of Barnard, lectured throughout the county, and wrote much. She contributed to the Lincoln Beacon in the '80s, over the pen name of Nancy, and did much to silence opposition by her ready wit and keen sarcasm as well as her valid argument. Mrs. Bertha H. Ellsworth, a writer of ability of both prose and verse, held aloft the banner of woman suffrage and prohibition during all those busy years of work and sacrifice for these twin reforms in Lincoln County. In the early days of the Suffrage Association an amusing incident occurred between this organization and Geo. A. Anderson, the famous "horsewhipped," who favored whisky and opposed suffrage. He was at that time editor of the Register and after printing the call for a meeting of the women gave vent to his feelings in a scurrilous article entitled "Woman vs. Man," displaying his ignorance both in thought and composition. The ladies sent him a copy each of a standard English Spelling book and English Language Lessons, together with very appropriate resolutions. The same group of ladies were much amused upon one occasion by a lawyer trying to explain the constitution to them, and: the law governing presidential elections. Many of these aspirants for political rights could have told him things about the law. In 1884 a petition signed by 226 Lincoln County people was sent to the Legislature. Representative R. T. Bryant from Lincoln made a speech against allowing Mrs. Gougar to speak in the House. His motion to lay the question on the table was defeated 93 to 18. Eight members of the Lincoln Suffrage Society and Helen M. Gougar of the Ellsworth Society went to -Topeka, and on June 26, 1884, organized the State Equal Suffrage Association. Two years later Kansas placed the municipal woman suffrage law among her statutes. The Lincoln Beacon helped the good work along by devoting a full page each week to suffrage. Mrs. Wait organized associations all over the county. The Kansas W. C. T. U. joined hands with the suffrage society to aid in securing this law. The W. C. T. U. in Lincoln was organized July 24, 1880, and is now, as it always has been, active and alert. From the start it assumed and has always maintained an aggressive attitude and the comparative freedom of Lincoln Center from the baneful liquor traffic is largely due to the efforts of the W. C. T. U. There has been but one licensed saloon in town and it only held its license a year. Sylvan Grove and Beverly also have active W. C. T. U. locals. There have been when especially needed other temperance organizations in the county. The Radical Reform Christian Association, a temperance, purity, and equal rights association all in one, was organized in. 1883 by Mrs. A. G. Lord and held a two-day annual picnic each, year for twenty-five years in Christiansen's Grove. The influence of this organization and its founder upon the young people in the northwestern part of the county has been a matter of note for years. The R. R. C. A. attracted attention abroad. Mrs. Lord was a tireless worker. She often preached four sermons a day, driving eighteen or twenty miles to do it. On one occasion she rode eighty miles to the Bunker Hill vicinity. She was the author of a petition to the State Legislature to amend the school laws, so as to forbid issuing a teacher's-certificate to any one using profanity, intoxicating liquors, or tobacco. It was signed by five hundred teachers at their State meeting. Mrs. Lord removed to Topeka to educate her son and while there did prison work, and was instrumental in getting the Crittenden home established in that city. All the men's fraternal societies have large, active, and helpful woman's auxiliaries. The Woman's Relief Corps has a large membership and in its quiet "let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth" way does a large amount of charitable work besides giving their brethren, the G. A. R., many a lift. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. The Soldiers' Union was organized June 28, 1879. The first •officers were: R. S. Wilmarth, post commander, W. S. Wait having declined to serve; A. T. Biggs, post adjutant; John Med-• craft, chaplain; J. D. Gilpin, surgeon; G. W. Cruson, quartermaster; company officers, J. F. Smith, captain; W. F. Limpus, first lieutenant; T. A. WeJis, second lieutenant; sergeant, first, W. E. Marsh; second, E. Halcomb; third, Samuel Donley. This union was finally succeeded by the G. A. R. Farmers' clubs of different sorts began very early in this county and by 1893 the county was a perfect network of them, each one a live wire. There was a central Farmers' Alliance with thirty-five thriving locals. Back in the '80s there was a strong Prohibition Club, and in 1888, Rev. Geo. Tenney, Anna C. Wait, and W. S. Wait represented Lincoln County in the State Prohibition Convention. The old settlers are organized for the purpose of preserving county history, and have an annual reunion and barbecue where they feast, smoke the peace pipe, and "swap yarns." Native born citizens or those who have lived in the county twenty years are eligible to membership. p. 110 Newspaper History The first newspaper was the Lincoln County News, published in Lincoln Center in 1873. The editor was F. H. Barnhart. April 3, of the first year of its publication, W. C. Buzick bought an interest in it. In December Barnhart sold his interest to Rev. P. Baker, who assumed editorial management and published it till December 22, 1874. Later it was passed on to J. W. Newell, who moved it to Stockton in Rooks County. Barnhart began the publication of the Farmer, July 16, 1874, and the next January moved it to Osborne County, where it is now the famous Osborne County Farmer. The Western Democrat was started late in 1874, and June 15, 1875, was sold to G. W. Wellman. The name was changed to the Saline Valley Register. It was the county paper till January, 1879, when it was sold to Watson and Kimes. In September of the same year it was sold to Geo. W. Anderson, who was proprietor until 1883. Mr. Anderson sold his plant and in 1884 his successor published a paper called the Lincoln Banner. In 1886 it was changed to the Lincoln Republican. Late in 1879 Ira Lutes began publishing the Argus. It was bought by Hon. Walter S. Wait and his wife, Anna C. Wait, in 1880, who assisted by their son, A. H. Wait, published it until the death of W. S. Wait. A. H. Wait continued the publication until the office was burned in 1901. The Beacon was in many ways the most remarkable paper ever published in Lincoln 'County, and in fact one of the most remarkable county papers it has ever been the writer's privilege to peruse. The Waits all had a natural sympathy for the under dog, and provided said dog was in the right, always stayed with him to the end of the battle, no matter how many times they were bitten by opposition. A great deal has already been said about Mr. and Mrs. Wait, so we will only mention in this connection their son, Alfred H. Wait. He was (and still is) a practical printer, having learned the trade in the office of the Junction City Tribune in the early seventies. He was connected with the Beacon during the twenty-one years prior to its total destruction by fire (incendiary). He was always local editor, the last seven years editor-in-chief, and the last five also owner and publisher. p. 111 [photos] MR. W. S. WAIT. MRS. ANNA C. WAIT. MR. A. H. WAIT. The Beacon started as a Republican paper advocating prohibition, anti-monopoly, and woman suffrage. It supported the Republican party nationally until 1888, when it became convinced that the Republicans were beyond reform. That year it supported the Labor Party and the ticket of this party was elected in Lincoln County. In 1892 it became Populist and remained so as long as the paper was punblished. It never missed an issue. [photo of building] This is the office which was built in 1885 and occupied by the Beacon until it was burned in 1901. It was 20 by 56 feet, and. the only building ever erected in Lincoln as a printing office. We have already mentioned that the Lincoln Republican was established in 1886. This gives it the dignity of the oldest paper in the county. It is consistently Republican and true to its name. E. A. McCullum is proprietor and editor. The Sentinel, which is the Democratic paper of the county, was established in 1894 by. Ira Troup. It is owned at present, by C. C. Stoner. Both the papers in Lincoln are alive and up-to-date, and are a great help to the town. In fact, they are an absolute necessity. p. 113 SYLVAN GROVE NEWSPAPERS. The Sylvan Grove Sentinel, a neutral paper, was founded in 1887. The present Sylvan paper, the Sylvan Grove News, began in 1895 as the Alert. A man by the name of Hower was editor and publisher. May 4, 1900, the name was changed to what it is at present. Since then it has had various owners, St. Clair & Haffer, Smith & Cross, Harder & Poor. Harder bought out Poor and for a time A. J. Graves edited the paper for Harder. Tell Peterson recently became proprietor and editor. BARNARD NEWSPAPERS. The first paper in Barnard was the Barnard Times, published by S. M. Figge, date uncertain. The Barnard Bee was started six years ago by Will DeVinney. This paper is certainly a live wire in every way. It is responsible for some of the unusual prosperity which has come to the town in the last few years. A good paper can help a town, and this editor knows it. It has a good circulation and the subscription list is constantly growing. In politics it is Republican or otherwise, it has convictions and sticks to them. Resources It is estimated by the elevator operators that the wheat yield in Lincoln County this year will run a million and a half bushels. Wheat is eighty cents this year, and is turning out 20 to 30 bushels to the acre. The crop next in importance is corn. We saw some in our rounds which was twelve to fourteen feet high with ears large accordingly. Whoever has a hundred acres of corn in Lincoln County is a rich man. Alfalfa, the Kansas hay crop, is a moneymaker here. The fourth crop is now being harvested, and it is a big crop, too. Vast quantities of cream and eggs are shipped daily from every station in the county. Vesper shipped out 55 cans of cream of 100 pounds each and 36,000 dozen eggs, and this was nothing unusual either. Better probably than words or figures would be a look at the county. The farm houses are large and well kept. The sons and daughters of these farm establishments are being educated in the Kansas colleges and abroad. In making our rounds we found that if we happened to mention unemployed or poor people in the city the people would exclaim, "Why don't they come out here. We can give them a job any time." The most up-to-date machinery is used for planting and harvesting crops and to save household labor. The latest thing which we noticed in the way of farm machinery was a corn binder which will probably soon be in general use, solving to a great extent the-problem of harvesting corn and making it possible to raise a larger acreage. [photo] A Lincoln County Wheat Field. The above is a picture of a Lincoln County wheat field showing the grain so thick as to make it difficult to harvest. p. 115 WILLARD E. LYON. [photo] In this connection we wish to mention Mr. Willard B. Lyon, who is familiar with the resources of Lincoln County, and the advantages it offers to home seekers, as well as interested in everything in the way of public improvements and progress. Mr. Lyon was born in Chilton, Wis., March 30, 1874. Two years later the family moved to Lincoln County, where they have since made their home. The subject of our sketch attended common and high schools here. He began teaching in 1894, and two years later served on the county examining board. The next year he went to the State Normal and graduated from this institution in 1900, as a valadictorian of a class of one hundred and eight members. The same year he was elected county superintendent of schools and served two terms. In 1904 he edited the Sentinel and could always .be counted on to support the right side of any public problem. The next year he became associated with his father in the land business, and since that time has sold property amounting to three-fourths of a million dollars. This year Mr. Lyon bought out the Star Grocery and Meat Market, and is making a success of this business, as he does everything. Mr. Lyon has been a member of the State Text Book Commission since 1905. He is also a member of the Lincoln school board. As a citizen Mr. Lyon is always willing to support in a substantial way everything which will be of benefit to the community. As a real estate dealer he can show you just what you want at the right price. p. 116 N. J. DAVIDSON. [photo] Mr. N. J. Davidson, one of the real estate and loan men of Lincoln, has been in the county twenty one years. He was county clerk for four and one-half years, after which he went into real estate business. His long residence here has made him familiar with the lands all over the county and he can show his customers these lands to good advantage. Mr. Davidson is a member of the National Co-Operatlve Realty Company, and by this means can sell lands in any part of the United States and Canada, He is also a member of the Central Real Estate Dealers' Association, by which he is in cooperation with the real estate dealers all through the West. It will be to the advantage of any one leaving Lincoln County to have a talk with Mr. Davidson, and let him know where they intend to locate, as he can be of assistance to them in buying property in any locality, which they may select. To any person desiring to locate in Lincoln County he can show the best farm and town properties in the market. Mr. Davidson is making a specialty of the loan business. He has an unusually good loan proposition by which he makes loans running from one to five years. These loans are made bearing annual interest and with the privilege of paying back all or part of the loan at the end of any one year without regard to the length of time the loan was supposed to run. In addition to loans and real estate Mr. Davidson has an abstract and an insurance business. p. 117 The Stock Business Lincoln County used to be a great grazing section, but the land is now too valuable for agricultural purposes to be used extensively for grazing. The limestone hills, however, are still used for this purpose, and the grass is said to be the best in the world for producing bone and beef. It grows in great abundance in May, June, July, and August. Instead of shipping cattle to pasture for other people for so much per head the Lincoln County people buy stock on the Kansas City market, pasture it a season, and sell in the fall. The farthest point of pasturage is not over ten miles from the nearest loading point. When pasture is hired it is generally bought at $3 per head. The gain per steer runs from 350 to 400 pounds for the feeding season. Most of the farmers keep a small herd of native grade cattle, but an increasingly large number have thoroughbred cattle and hogs. The raising of pure-bred animals for the market is a matter of education and the people of Lincoln County are finding out that it pays better to raise them for the ordinary market than to raise the best grade stock obainable. The stock-breeders find a ready market for their animals at home, but some of them who have taken prizes at the State fairs have filled orders from all parts of the country. Horse-raising is also an important industry in Lincoln County, and there are several men in the west side of the county engaged in this business. The following is a partial list of thoroughbred stock breeders in the county: A. J. Hinkley, Milo, Poland-Chinas. Thomas Collins, Lincoln, Poland-Chinas. John Black, Barnard, Poland-Chinas. Henderson Howe, Barnard, Poland-Chinas. E. A. Woods, Lincoln, Poland-Chinas. Grant Crawford, Lincoln, Poland-Chinas. F. L. Brown, Sylvan Grove, Herefords. C. H. Errebo, Denmark, Herefords. James Williams, Sylvan Grove, Polled Angus. H. P. Bacon, Sylvan Grove, Poland-Chinas and Shorthorns. Chas. Tilton, Lincoln, Poland-Chinas. Henry Aufdemberge, Lincoln, Shorthorns. G. K. Smith, Lincoln, Shorthorns and Red Polls. C. H. Williams, Sylvan Grove, Shorthorns. Lee Skiles, Sylvan Grove, Herefords. p. 118 This Cut shows one of A. J.Hinckley's Hogs, Mr. Hinckley has been a breeder of Poland China Hogs since 1901. He always has young stock for sale at reasonable prices. P. O. Milo, Kansas 5 Miles North of Beverly. p. 119 V. A. PLYMAT, SHORTHORNS. Mr. Plymat who has been in the stock business for five years has a herd of twenty-five head. He believes it is better to keep stock in good growing and utility condition, so has avoided the practice of fattening his animals for shows. His stock is low, blocky and short-legged. Mr. Plymat owns about a section of land three miles north of Barnard and sells all his stock from this farm. He makes no special sales, but farmers and others wishing good, useful animals, will find them always in salable condition at the right prices at the Plymat Farm, three miles north of Barnard. C. H. ERREBO, Thoroughbred Hereford Cattle, Established in 1902. [photo of steer] Head of the Herd—HARRISON. Cows—BELINDA and ELSIE. Mr. Errebo has a fine herd of 100 head. He began by buying 40 head of Whittaker's best animals. The cattle are raised for sale purposes and sold from the farm. Stock already for sale.—C. H. ERREBO, Denmark, Kans. p. 120 Topeka Business College 111, 113, 115, 117 EAST EIGHTH AVE TOPEKA, KANS. FURNISHES: A Complete Business Education, A Course in Commercial Law, Telegraphy, R. R. Office Work, Civil Service Instruction. Special Courses for advanced work in Expert Accounting, Verbatim Reporting, Telegraphic Newspaper Work, Civil Engineering, English Course, Teachers' Course. Night School Lectures Students are trained not according to theory but according to the actual demands of practical business life. Enrollment Seven Hundred Per Year. 104 page Illustrated Catalogue FREE, by mentioning this book. L. H. Strickler p. 121 The Evolution of Business Methods The business methods of pre-historic days consisted mostly in trading and stealing. The Pawnee Indians employed the latter to a considerable extent, and did it in a businesslike way. J. R. Mead tells of a party of them being out on a raid and on running into a party of white men began to swap knives, thereby getting into a quarrel. Their chief rode up and restored order, saying: "You are out to steal ponies and not to raise quarrels." Another primitive business method was trickery. An Indian came to "Uncle Mart" Hendrickson and asked to buy some meal. As Uncle Mart measured it out the Indian took off his shirt and had the meal poured onto it. Then he said he didn't have any money. He knew that nobody would want the meal after it being in the dirty, sweaty shirt, so picked it up and walked off chuckling. But these primitive business methods have passed away and so have the people that used them, before the tides of civilization and system. In their place have come new methods which are learned by a thorough scientific training. No one expects to get through the world on native ability alone, or to live on his wits. He knows that in the present highly organized commercial world, he must have a special education to prepare him for filling his place. So he selectes an institution which makes a specialty of training men for business life, and one which has years of success behind it to recommend it and justify its methods—the Topeka Business College for instance, whose graduates, thousands in number, go out daily from the school to responsible, well-paying positions all over the United States, many occupying some of the most important positions in large business establishments and receiving salaries which would make a king look like thirty cents. Still others have large business establishments of their own. The graduates of the Topeka Business College who are at work in the Santa Fe offices in Topeka alone number 182. Scores of others have gone to the Santa Fe offices in other cities from Chicago to San Francisco. This is the largest list of students from any school in any one office in the United States and is the highest endorsement for the methods of this school. Not only are all graduates placed in positions but many of the undergraduates have been found capable of performing the most difficult kinds of office work and one hundred and twenty such persons have been placed in good positions during the past year. There are plenty of opportunities for competent young business people in Topeka. There are the general offices of the great Santa Fe system^ the headquarters of the Rock Island's Western system, offices of the Union; and .Missouri.Pacific,, ttefe.various United States, State, county, and other offices, besides the commercial establishments of all kinds. There is nothing haphazard about these modern business methods. There are no ifs or ands to your success if you get the right kind of training. It paves the road to wealth. You will be sure to get it at THE TOPEKA BUSINESS COLLEGE. To Late to be Classified I saw a man the other day who had three ears of corn each as long as his forearm. That's pretty good corn. Back in the '80s a Lincoln County woman living over on Spring Creek used to eat ten that size every day for dinner. When the body of John Lyden was taken from the well after being there three weeks it was taken to the court house. That was the winter after grasshopper year and there was grain and meal piled up which was being doled out to the destitute. The body was placd among these supplies. A man, Davis by name, said he thought it ought not to have been put there. Mr. Priest spoke up: "Well, all that ails you is that you're not hungry enough. I've seen the day when I would have rolled that fellow over to get meal under him." In the church history, which failed to be included in this book, there is an account of how "Uncle Dan" Day went to church and instead of going in stood on the outside and knocked on the door. Uncle Martin Hendrickscn, one of our oldest settlers, has lived through a great deal. Some years ago his wife gave him some carbolic acid by mistake and he drank a large amount of it. Everybody thought he would die, but Uncle Mart, having lived through all the terrors incident to pioneer days was not to be killed by such a small thing as a dose of carbolic acid. He rallied and was much better the next day, and to the surprised remarks of the neighbors the doctor answered: "You would have to cut Uncle Mart's head off and hide it before he would die." Pioneers of Lincoln County used to practice economy. It was the cardinal virtue in those days. The following story is told of a prominent man who lived on the east side of the county. Mr. H. used to make molasses and had a pair of pants which he always wore when into such a job. The pants got so stiff with molasses and dirt that they would stand alone. After the season was over he had vinegar to sell and the neighbors bought liberally. One day a family, Hughes by name, had a harvest hand to dinner. Mr. Huges passed the vinegar but his man did not take any, whereupon Mr. Hughes remarked, "Have some vinegar, I guess it is pretty good." "It ought to be," replied the other. "It was made of the soak-in's of Mr. H.'s molasses pants." There was a scare sent out over the State that the sunflowers were about to be exterminated. Not in Lincoln County. A woman living on the east side of the county planted some climbing beans beside sunflower stalks. After the beans had begun climbing up the stalks there came a good rain. The next morning she found that the sunflowers had grown so fast that they had jerked the beans out of the ground and the fresh, moist earth was still dining to their roots. Many funny things have happened in the Lincoln County courts, some of which are not dignified enough for print even in this book, but here is one which happened in the year 1872 which will past muster. Lawyer: "Did Smith strike Brown with malicious intent?" Witness: "Su-r-r?" Lawyer: "Did Smith strike Brown with malicious intent?" Witness: "No, su-r-r. he hit him with a cottonwood limb." A few people in Lincoln County have committed suicide, some by drowning, some by hanging, and some by shooting, but a certain very original man stuck his nose in his ear and blew his head off. We heard a man say the other day that he would believe any kind of a cyclone story. Here is one for him: A cyclone once lifted and carried half a mile a man who was so fat that on coming down Ms shadow killed a full-grown buffalo. Now go and patronize our advertiser. Table of Contents Barnard 83 Beverly. t 88 Building the Courthouse 47 Coming of the White Men 14 County Organization 43 County Seat Contest 44 Dedication 3 Denmark 96 Evolution of Business Methods 121 Geology of Lincoln County 7 Grasshoppers 49 Growth and Development 50 Indian Troubles of 1868 30 Kansas Christian College 104 Lincoln 65 Newspaper History 110 On the Roll of Honor 56 Organizations 107 Prairie Fires 51 Pre-historic 10 Pennsylvania Store 68 Preface 5 Raid of 1869 37 Railroad History 51 Resources 114 School History 97 Settlements 21 Some Old Settlers 61 Stock Business 117 Sylvan Grove 79 The Cleary Case 52 The Lyden Murder 49 The Medicine Man 23 The Moffit Boys 18 The Mulberry Scrap. 36 Too Late to be Classified 122 Vesper 92 Additional Comments: From: A Souvenir History of Lincoln County, Kansas Elizabeth N. Barr Topeka, Kan.: Farmer Job Office (1908) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/lincoln/history/1908/asouveni/pages9214gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 53.6 Kb