History of Barton County, Kansas

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS

I came from Wisconsin with a colony to Fossell, now called Russell. About sixty persons came out on the first train. I 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 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 or 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 Arkansas river. So we made up a small party of men, composed of J. H. Hubbard, E. M. Benedict, John Cook, Edward Swan, Edward Dewey, Art Moses and his father, J. E. Dodge and George Towers. The first day we made Walnut 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 completed 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 Cook 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 Walnut 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 country was covered with buffalo. We killed a buffalo near where the court house now stands. 1 looked around and said to the boys: "Well, you have all taken timber claims, so I will put my stake here for a homestead." As there were so many buffalo 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 uhat we had found and done. In a short time the most of the boys returned to make improvements on their claims. As I 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 papers, and sending them to the land office in Salina. I gave him my money and my discharge papers and told him to find out if my stake was on a government section and if so to make out a soldiers homestead. About two months after he came up to Fossell for supplies, 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 Bend. The ones who located and laid out the town were D. N. Heizer, Geo. Moses, Thos. Stone, Morris, and Murphy, A. S. Allen, Edw. Tyler were the first settlers of the colony. In the month of January, 1871, Capt. Ruger came up to Fossell and said that they had laid out a town about one mile east of Fort Zarah and had named it Zarah City and were going to make a railroad town of it, and wanted me to go down there and start a blacksmith shop and they would give me two lots if I would do so. Next day Capt. Ruger and I started for Zarah City. The captain had taken a claim north of Zarah City, where we stayed all night. Next morning we went over to the city. We found a good sized store in operation, owned by Perry Hodgen and Tike Buckley from Salina. They were the head men of the city. There was a two-story hotel and restaurant owned and run by Dick Strew. A livery stable owned by John Roberts and John Moore, and a saloon owned by Lee Herzigg from Ellsworth, and run by Edw. Martz. They gave me a corner lot next to the livery stable. A stockman by the name of Jack Jamieson, who had wintered a thousand head of cattle there and drove them in the spring to Montana, said he wanted me to start in business to do his blacksmithing as he had considerable work he wanted done before he started the drive sometime in June. About the first of March, 1872, 1 moved dawn to Capt. Ruger's where both our families lived together. I put up a small shop and had a good trade while it lasted. The A. T. & S. F. R. R. was then completed to Hutchinson. Then Zarah City and Great Bend got to fighting, over the question as to which was to be the railroad town. Great Bend won out and I never will forget the first dance in Great Bend. It was at the Stoneham hotel, run by Thos. Stone. Capt. Ruger and myself furnished the music; I want to say we had a gay old time. Everyone had a jolly good time while at the dance. I met Sid Crane, one of Jamieson's herders. He told me that he had filed on some land about one and one-half miles west of Ellinwood. He had done a little plowing on it and would take five dollars for his rights. I gave him the money and put my homestead papers on it. They had laid out a town at Ellinwood. Capt. Ruger, Joe Howard and I went down and helped lay out the town. The railroad company gave each of us a lot for doing the work. Capt. Ruger and Howard put up a hotel. They gave me the corner lot where the Cyclone store now stands. I bought the adjoining lot for $40. I put up a small shop and did blacksmithing for the settlers and cowboys. As many of the settlers were people of limited means they soon run through with what they had and could not pay for their smithing. I told them I would do their work and they could break up some land for me on my claim and I would allow them three dollars per acre. In that way I got sixty acres under cultivation. I built a small house and had a good well of fine water and one acre of orchard. The first year I rented it to Jim Wilkinson on shares, each one-half of the produce. We did very well. The next year I rented it to John M. Harris. Each furnished one-half of the seed. I got one-half of the crop of forty acres of wheat which yielded well. The next year I rented to a preacher, Hackensmith. He raised a fine crop of forty acres of wheat which he cut with a header and put it into fine stacks; sixteen acres of roasting ears, when one of the Kansas hail stone storms and blizzards came and destroyed everything I had. Our wheat stack was blown for miles away. The corn and vegetables were all gone when the storm cleared away. I did not have enough left to fill my hat. That sickened me of farming, so I sold out for almost nothing and in 1880 came to Colorado. Although I know now if I had stuck to old Kansas I might be in better circumstances than what I am now in or perhaps I might have been in the pen. My brother, Matt Towers, came to Hoisington since I left Kansas. He has now two hundred acres of land and has made a success of farming, but has had worse luck, losing a good wife, a great deal worse than losing a little old 40 acres of wheat, as I think I might be worse off after all. I made more money in Kansas killing buffalo than I have made in the hills of Colorado hunting gold.

Amid the hurry and bustle of business in the spring of 1872, men did not altogether forget their political duties and privileges and, it being the year of a presidential election, the duty of "saving the country" rested with scarcely less weight on the minds of the pioneers of Barton County than on those nearer the center of civilization and political corruption. Meetings were held by the Republicans in each of the three townships-Lakin, Great Bend and Buffalo-in the month of July, to select members of the Republican central committee. At the meeting in Great Bend A. J. Buckland, who had arrived here a short time before from New York state, was chosen chairman of the first political caucus in Great Bend and probably was first one in the county. The committee thus selected soon after met and organized by electing W. H. Odell as chairman and D. N. Heizer, secretary.

The time of holding the county convention was set. It was to consist of twenty members, five from Lakin township, five from Buffalo township, and ten from Great Bend township. The convention assembled in a building then standing at the corner of the court house square. M. V. Halsey of Lakin was elected township chairman. In addition to the delegates already mentioned, five delegates not in the call were sent down from the colony at Pawnee Rock and claimed admission. An angry discussion arose on the question of admitting them, when a large number of delegates, including the chairman, withdrew from the convention. Those remaining reorganized by electing A. A. Hurd, chairman, and proceeded to nominate a county ticket.

During the campaign of that year-1872-Hon. W. H. Smallwood, candidate for secretary of state; Hon. S. A. Cobb, candidate for congress, and Hon. S. C. Pomeroy, candidate for United States senator, addressed the citizens of Great Bend on the issues of the campaign.

The first political discussion in Great Bend was between G. W. Nimocks, a young lawyer from Iowa, on the Republican side and D. S. Copeland, also a lawyer, from New York, on the side of the Liberals. This discussion took place in the old Holland building which, at that time, stood on the north side of the square. The vote for president in that year was as follows: U. S. Grant, 160; Horace Greeley, 64. The county election was held without much friction and resulted, as shown in the table to be found in another part of this book under the heading of "County Officials of Barton County."

The delegates to the state convention at Topeka that year were: T. S. Morton and G. W. Nimocks; and to the congressional convention at Lawrence, J. B. Howard and Amerine.

During the following winter Barton County was detached from the county of Ellsworth and the Fourteenth judicial district, and became a part of the Ninth judicial district.

(In the following article the following abbreviations are used: Tre-trustee; C-clerk; T-treasurer; J-justice;-Ces-constables.)

Independent township was organized in 1875 and originally comprised all that portion of Lakin township north of a line between townships 18 and 19. The following officers were chosen at the first election held in the fall of that year: Tre., J. L. Bangrover; C., A. C. Schermerhorn; T., J. T. Soring; Jus., H. E. Barngrover and Chas. O. Blennis.

South Bend township was organized in 1876 and comprised all that portion of Great Bend and Buffalo townships south of the river except range 23. The officers chosen at the first election in November of that year were: Tre., Ira Brougher; C., George C. Kinkaid; T., S. S. Mitchell and Jus., Wm. Hood and O. Powell.

Walnut township was organized in 1876 and comprised all that portion of Buffalo township north of the line between townships 18 and 19. The first election was held in November of that year and resulted as follows:

Tre., B. I. Dawson; C., Peter Fox; T., T. Harper; Jus., John Pascoe and H. White; Cos., John Westover and H. Nordmann.

Homestead township was organized in the fall of 1876 and comprised originally all that portion of Great Bend township north of the line between townships 18 and 19. The first election resulted in the election of the following officers: Tre., Marsh Meeker; T., D. B. Linder; C., F. Hall; Jus., J. Humphrey and J. Gere.

Union township was organized in July, 1878, and comprised all that portion of land included in township 16, range 13. The first election held in that year resulted in the selection of the following officers: Tre., B. H. Downing; C., Oliver A. Verity; T., Joseph Weatherby; Jus., Jacob Sessler and A. S. Verbeck.

Pawnee Rock township was organized in 1878, but previous to this, in 1872, it had been made a voting precinct. It comprised township 20, range 15. The election resulted in the selection of the following officers: Tre., Geo. Pool; C., Chas. Lewis; T., Reuben Kemmerling; Jus, Joseph Hannon and James M. Depew; C., Frank Hallowell and W. C. Hatter, ter.

Beaver township was organized in August, 1878, and comprised township 16 of range 12. The first election was held in that year and the following officers were elected: Tre., R. Bruce; C., Willis H. Norton; T., P. B. Freeman; Jus., C. Norton and C. W. Hoffmeister.

Cheyenne township was organized in August, 1878, and comprised townships 17 and 18 of range 12. The officers elected were: Tre., C. B. Gillis; C., J. N. Reading; T., Wm. Linder; Jus., Albert Lent and S. S. O. Warren.

Wheatland township was organized in August, 1878, and comprised township 16 of range 14. The officers elected at the first election were: Tre., Chas. Hall; C., E. J. Hatton; T., M. Sauser; Jus., N. S. Hayes and Fred J. Spencer; Ces., Henry J. Whipple and O. T. Shook.

Fairview township was organized in October, 1878, and comprised township 16 of range 15. At the first election held in November of that year the following were chosen as officers of the township: Tre., J. W. Brown; C., D. C. Burrows; T., John Johnson; Jus., Will H. Clark and Henry Webb; Ces., Robert Jordan and W. A. Brown.

Clarence township was organized in October, 1878, and consisted of congressional township 19 of range 15. The first election was held in November of that year and resulted as follows: Tre., M. F. Campbell; C., John W. Slinn: T., L. S. Pursell; Jus,, A. M. Button and T. F. Craig; Ces., J. H. Rhoades and W. H. Allison.

Eureka township was organized in 1878 and comprised township 18 of range 18. The first officers elected in November of that year were: Tre., Frank Patterson; C., John R. Harris ;T., Alex. Dennis; Jus., Aaron P. Jones and James Cummins; C., J. F. Smith and C. Plaisted.

Hayes, Seward, Lincoln and Zion Valley townships were organized in 1878 from the territory that originally was a portion of the unorganized county of Stafford. Hayes comprised congressional townships 22 and 23 of ranges 11 and 12. Seward, which was at first called Warren township, comprised comprised townships 21 and 22 of range 13. Lincoln comprised townships 21 and 22 of range 14; and Zion Valley comprised township 23 of ranges 13 and 14. Later they were all included in the organization of Stafford County. County.

Grant township was organized in July, 1879, and was composed of township 18 of range 15. At the first election held in November the following were chosen for officers: Tre., Chas. P. Wunderlich; C., John W. Burke; T., C. Cox; Jus., W. M. Butler and C. Ramsier; Ces., Joseph Gleissner and J. W. Brown.

Logan township was organized in July, 1879, under the name of Calumet. In November the name was changed to Logan. It was composed of township 18 of range 11. No election for officers was held in this township, it being governed by the officers of Independent township.

Comanche township was organized in July, 1879, out of territory formerly in Lakin township and was composed of township 20 of range 11 and 12, south of the Arkansas river. The first officers, elected in November of that year were: Tre., J. . Brewer; C., W. H. Grant; T., J. W. Wilson; Jus., J. S. Province and C. Fields; Ces., Noah Province and D. Hagan.

Albion township was organized in July, 1879, and was composed of township 17 of range 14 and the first officers who were selected at the election held in November of the same year, were: Tre., C. G. Smith; C., C. W. McMasters; T., D. W. Linder; Jus., G. L. Murdock and John W. Linder; Ces., Thomas Murphy and Joseph Shields.

Liberty township was organized in October, 1879, and was composed of township 20 of range 14. The first officers were: Tre., Wm. Howerton; C., Wm. Brady; Ces., Milton Mossberger.

The commissioners districts as arranged in 1878 were as follows: First: Independent, Cheyenne, Lakin and Hayes townships; second: Beaver, Union, Homestead, Great Bend, Seward and Zion Valley; third: Wheatland, Fairview, Walnut, Clarence, Pawnee Rook, Buffalo and Lincoln.

The political campaign in Barton County in 18S0 was a warm one and among the various gatherings held that year, the barbecue at Daizeil's grove was, perhaps, the largest political gathering ever held in the county until the advent of the Populist party. At that time the Republican party, locally, was suffering severe defeats and the struggle for delegates from the state to the national convention had intensified party differences. That was the year when the great meeting of Arkansas valley politicians took place in Great Bend and the patriots gathered from Topeka to Coolidge and fought out the proposition of Grant or Blaine and ended in a draw. The rival candidates for the Republican nomination for representative were A. J. Buckland and D. N. Heizer and a count of the delegates after the holding of the caucuses showed that Dave Heizer was the winner. When this fact was ascertained Buckland declined to have his name used in the convention and after an ineffectual attempt had been made to draw the delegates to some third man, he bolted the nomination of Heizer. Hon. F. A. Steckel of Ellinwood was the Democratic nominee, and the Republicans nominated P. G. Donewitz, who was prominent in politics at that time, for representative, and Judge Townsley for attorney against G. W. Nimocks. This made a three-cornered fight and at that time every vote counted. It must be remembered that in 1880 we had no railroads in this county except the main line of the Santa Fe. Ellinwood and Pawnee Rock were the only points which could be reached save by wagon road, but one could travel angling then from the time you crossed the Walnut until the northeast or the northwest corner of the county was reached. Of course there were no towns aside from those on the railroads, but the rural population was almost, if not fully, as large as now, and an effort was made to reach nearly every school house in the county to hold a meeting. Up in Wheatland was Frank Millard, Charles Hall, Smead Wilkinson and others. In Albion W. H. Rice, Captain Peck, Murdock, Dave Gray and others. Over in Fairview lived Kirk Barrows, John W. Brown and his son; over in Independent, which then included Cleveland township, were Al Schermerhorn, Jude Sping, Jim Daiziel and Charles Montgomery and the Dugans. In Buffalo, Levi Gunn, always true and faithful, the Everetts and L. H. Link and in Pawnee Rock were the Bowmans, Tom Brewer, Aaron Garverick and many whose names I do not now recall. Ellinwood was the Democratic stronghold and was only canvassed quietly but the rest of the county was alive with Republican meetings. I remember there was a sod school house called Alliance school house over near where Claflin now stands, where a large meeting was held. The crowning rally, however, was held at Dalziel's grove, the clans gathering from all the surrounding country. Great preparations were made for this meeting and the grove was filled with people. There was roast ox and everything else in the eating and drinking line in abundance. Among the speakers was a man named Minear, from Illinois. He was interested in the campaign by reason of the fact that his nephew, named Anderson Williams, at Pawnee Rock, was the candidate for commissioner from the Third district. Minear was a powerful speaker on the common homespun order and he reached the people in great shape. The crowd was so large that there were two speakers talking at the same time in different parts of the grove. I can see the old man now standing in a header barge, tall, angular and bony. His powerful voice and plain talk pleased his hearers and he received a hearty ovation at the close of his speech. There was a good glee club present and between speeches it sang popular campaign songs. It was way in the night before the meeting closed and many camped in the grove until the next day before returning to their homes. This was one of the most successful political meetings ever held in this county, and, while feeling was high, there was the utmost good nature and hearty enjoyment of the occasion. It was a day of pleasant meetings for people who seldom met as the means of travel were few and far between, and much slower than now. The place was ideal and the day a perfect one.

There is no single institution that has more to do with the development of a new county than the newspapers. People look to a newspaper for a true story of what one may expect to find in a community or settlement where the paper is published.

Barton County has been fortunate in having had gentlemen in the newspaper business who have done a great deal of work in helping to bring new blood and energy to the county, as well as capital, essentials that are so needful in a new country that is being developed from its virgin state. The first newspaper published in the county was "The Arkansas Valley," edited by S. J. McFarren. There were but a few issues of this paper, the first edition being published in July, 1872. It was a seven-column paper, well ruled with interesting news reading matter, local news and advertisements. It was printed at the office of the Tribune in Lawrence. Kan., and was owned by T. L. Morris and others. The salutatory editorial in the paper consisted chiefly of an apology for publishing a newspaper in the heart of the Great American Desert. The principal articles were those under the following headings: "Kansas," from the Pittsburg, Kan., Real Estate Register; "Enormous Cost of Fencing Land," "Stone Houses," "Tree Culture," "Swindling Immigrants," from the Kansas Farmer; "Exemption Laws of Kansas," "Barton County-Soil, Climate, Rainfall, Health," "Information to Immigrants," "New Homestead Law," "Homesteads," "Tree Planting," "Bounty for Tree Planting," "Bounty for Hedges," "How to Come to Kansas," and various miscellaneous articles and useful information. Its local columns made mention of T. L. Stone's Great Western Hotel-the Southern; E. L. Morley, hardware dealer; A. S. Allen, druggist; Dahm Brothers, bakery; Rice and Brinkman, lumber merchants; Yoxall Sons and Company, lumber; Poole and Bell, livery stables; John Typer, restaurant building, a 20x60 foot hotel; Markwort's store to have a glass front; A. C. Moses and Sons running the store of W. D. Hart and Company on the north side of the square; Harpham and Giddings, blacksmiths; Samuel Maher, banker; John Cook, grocer; T. L. Morris, postmaster; W. H. Odell, county clerk; A. A. Hurd, M. S. Ketch and others, many of whom have long since passed away.

The advertisements in the first newspaper consisted of a three-column ad from the Western Homestead Co.-A. A. Hurd and T. L. Morris; a column of solid reading matter for the Illinois and Kansas Colony association, and smaller ads from W. D. Hart & Co., grocers; Hubbard and Heizer, groceries, lumber and real estate; John Typer, restaurant; S. Amryne, boots and shoes; Dahm Brothers, bakers; Jacob Collar and Co., millinery; Stone and Williams, dry goods; Great Western Hotel, which was run by Stone and Hudson; John Cook, groceries; Pioneer Grocery, Edward Markwort, Poole and Bell, livery stable; Mrs. J. Holland, news depot; James Holland, furniture; M. S. Ketch, gents' furnishing goods; Ed Tyler, restaurant; A. S. Allen, drugs; E, L. Morphy, hardware; Rice and Brinkman, lumber; Yoxall Sons and Co., lumber, etc.; Samcox and Fry, bakers; A. A. Hurd, lawyer, and Valley Printing office, and a number of smaller ads. The second number was issued in 1873. The outside was printed by A. N. Kellogg of St. Louis and was dated January 14, 1873, the inside-printed later-was dated January 27, 1873, and the advertisements were nearly all dated in April, 1873. It contained a directory of Barton county and Great Bend, articles on society in the country, articles favoring the erection of a court house and the Arkansas river bridge, forest trees, three election notices, an account of the farmers meeting for the organization of the County Agricultural society and a number of local raiders. The new advertisers were: G. W. Nimocks, lawyer; D. N. Copeland, lawyer; J. C. Martin, justice of the peace and police judge; J. H. Hubbard and Co., real estate; Samuel Maher, banker; W. H. Odell, county clerk; Typer House; Wilcox, Lehman and Gray, hardware; Benedict and Moffat, painters; A. Giddens, horseshoeing; E. J. Dodge, blacksmith; J. H. Hubbard and Co., dry goods, and a big advertisement telling about the job office of the paper.

The price of the paper was $2.00 per year and since it was published only twice a year, the paper cost the subscribers $1.00 a copy. Mr. McFarren did not remain in the business very long, his place being taken in the publication of the paper by Samuel Maher, who continued the paper under McFarren's name until March, 1873, when McFarren's name was dropped.

In April, 1873, the name of the paper was changed to the "Barton County Progress." Mr. Maher moved the office to the Dubois building on the east side of the square. In May, Mr. Maher discontinued the publication of the paper on account of his inability to secure competent help. No paper was published until the following June, when H. Perrine Stults purchased the office for $1,000 and continued publishing the Progress until the fall of 1873 when he grew weary and sold out the paper to J. F. Cummings of Topeka. Cummins paid $1,100.00 and assumed a debt of $750.00 against the plant which was held by Samuel Maher. At first Cummings improved the paper and at the fall election was elected to represent this county in the legislature. During Mr. Cummings' absence the paper was in charge of D. M. Sells.

After Cummings returned from Topeka he did not give the paper the attention necessary to make it a success, and it was but a short time until G. L. Brinkman bought the mortgage against the plant, held by Samuel Maher and took possession. The plant was moved to the old Holland building which had just been moved to the north side of the square. A company was organized for the purpose of publishing a newspaper and conducting a job printing shop. The company was composed of G. L. Brinkman, G. W. Nimocks, D. N. Heizer, W. H. Odell, Joseph Howard and A. S. Prescott.

Cummings, the former editor of the paper, is said to have died of yellow fever at Memphis in 1878.

In 1873, Frank Sheldon started a monthly publication under the name of the Farmers' Friend. It was made up mainly of reprint matter from the Progress and had but a short existence.

The next paper to be published in Great Bend was the Register, which was built upon the ruins of the Progress, which in 1874, had ceased publication. It was first edited by W. H. Odell with A. J. Hoisington as business manager. In June, 1874, Mr. Hoisington was placed in full charge as editor and manager. He got out a good paper and made it a powerful influence for good in the community.

In August, 1876, the 12th, to be exact, the first number of the Inland Tribune made its appearance as a weekly paper, it was edited and published by C. P. Townsley who had been circuit judge of the Fifth judicial district of the state of Missouri. For several weeks it was composed of all home print, but finally the "patent inside" was adopted. This paper was the beginning of the present publications known as the Great Bend Daily Tribune and the Great Bend Weekly Tribune Published by Will Townsley, a son of C. P. Townsley, and Warren Baker.

In May, 1877, a stock company was formed under the name of the Great Bend Publishing Company, which had for its purpose the publication of a Democratic weekly newspaper, under the name of the Arkansas Valley Democrat. Isaac T. Flint of Ottumwa, la., was chosen editor and manager.

The first number of the paper appeared July 21, 1877. After four weeks, Jos. B. Fugate, of Ottumwa, Ia., was taken in as a partner and five weeks later Mr. Flint sold his remaining interest to B. B. Smyth of Ellinwood, who had been an employee of the office since it began business.

Election was approaching and it was discovered that a successful campaign would depend on Smyth's being ousted from the office. Accordingly possession was demanded by the company and the demand was refused by Smyth. Then a replevin was issued from the circuit court and a redelivery bond of $2,000 was given by Smyth. Later the company became fearful of losing their interest in the concern and they made a deal whereby they bought Smyth's interest. He was succeeded by J. B. Fugate.

In 1878 the Kansas Volksfreund, a German Democratic weekly newspaper, was started in Great Bend. It was edited by Phillip Schmitz. This office introduced the first power press in the county, a handsome Cottrell and Babcock. In 1879 this paper was consolidated with the Stern des Westens, (Star of the West), of Wichita and the two plants were consolidated and moved to Topeka where the new publication was issued under the name of the Staats Anzieger.

The Ellinwood Express was started in 1878 by Shepherd and Sterling, and for some time it was printed in the office of the Sterling Bulletin. During the same year Thomas L. Powers of Sterling took possession of the paper and established a printing office at Ellinwood. The Ellinwood paper now is called the Leader and is published by John McMullin.

The above gives an idea of the early newspapers in the county and since those days there have been a number of papers started that met with indifferent success and were finally either discontinued or absorbed by other publications.

Among those may be mentioned: The Item, Graphic, Evening News, Rustler and Morning News.

The Register, after A. J. Hoisington severed his connection with it the first time, was owned by E. L. Chapman, Morgan Caraway, J. H. Borders, A. J. Hoisington and Ira Clark. Warren Baker and Ed Vollmer bought the Register and Daily Item and consolidated with the Tribune August 1, 1908. In 1909 Vollmer sold his interests to Townsley & Baker, the present owners.

In the fall of 1880 Tracy and Adams started the Barton County Democrat. This firm sold to A. Wolf, who in turn sold to W. H. Bright of McPherson. He sold to D. Langford in March, 1886. Will Stoke bought a half interest in the paper and later bought the remaining half from Langford. Mr. Stoke sold a half interest to W. P. Feder in 1904. In 1905 this firm bought the Beacon which was started by D. T. Armstrong in 1895. Stole sold his interest in the plant to Mr. Feder in 1906. Later Mr. Feder organized the Feder Printing Co.. which has since owned and published the Barton County Democrat.

In January, 1910, the Morning News was started in Great Bend by the firm of Gunn A. Wattson. This paper was consolidated with the Great Bend Tribune in September of the same year.

The newspapers now published in the county are the Great Bend Tribune, daily and weekly, by Townsley & Baker; the Hoisington Dispatch by Roy Cornelius, the Ellinwood Leader by John McMullin, Pawnee Rock Herald by Grant Lippincott and the Claflin Clarion by Bert Fancher. All these papers except the Tribune are weekly publications.

I may be pardoned for mention of an incident at Hoisington in the summer off 1895, which was largely of a personal interest to me. I mention this because it tells of the largest Republican township caucus ever held at Hoisington up to that time and the largest since with the single exception of the caucus held in 1904 about which I will have something to say later. This 1895 caucus was for the purpose of naming delegates to the county convention which was to place in nomination the county ticket. The writer was a candidate for the nomination of county clerk that year and it may be said that he had some good healthy political enemies in his own baliwick as well as some mighty good and true friends. These enemies were determined to keep me from getting the delegation if possible and in that manner take me entirely out of the running, if the entire delegation could not be secured then it was the desire of these people to divide it with me so that neither one of us would stand a ghost of a show when it came to the county convention. The man selected to defeat me for the delegation was Tommy Moore, a railroad shop man, who was popular with the numerous railroad men and at the same time was quite a lodge man. A stronger man locally for the purpose intended could hardly have been selected. He was practically unknown outside of a small territory but he was well known in Hoisington and generally liked. He would not have had a look-in for the nomination even had he secured a solid delegation from Homestead-but the purpose of his backers to defeat me would have been accomplished. The attendance at this caucus was about 110 which was very near the voting strength of the party in the township at that time. The test came in the selection of a chairman and my supporters were successful, although by but a small majority. We pushed the fight on the issue of the two candidates for county clerk-my friends demanding that I either be given the entire delegation or none-with the result that a motion prevailed that I be permitted to select the delegates to the county convention. Right here I want to say that I did something that branded me as a novice in politics, something that my later years of experience taught me was a radical mistake. In politics never give back a concession that has been granted, take all you can get and grasp for more. Upon the granting of the usual privilege by the caucus there was a storm of protests from the opposition, chief among which was Col. Wash. Sowards (now gone to his long rest) who loudly-I speak literally-proclaimed that should I secure the nomination after having taken advantage of this unusual privilege he would spend every minute of the time from convention time until election tramping over the county electioneering against my election.

I did not at that time fully appreciate or realize the great favor the Colonel was voluntarily proffering me. I thought by conciliating with the opposition and allowing them a fair share of the delegates with instructions that they should support me unanimously for county clerk would make me stronger and bring about a better feeling. And this was the plan followed against the wish and protest of one of my valued supporters-Captain J. P. Francis-who knew politics from A to Z and who though never making a brilliant success himself had keen foresight and excellent judgment on matters of this kind. I found out later that I had made a mistake for it took all the time that I should have devoted to increasing my following outside in keeping my own delegation in line and preventing them from violating their instructions. This caucus will always be remembered by those in attendance as the most hotly contested of any held in Homestead township. This was the year that M. B. Fitts was first nominated for county clerk. The writer had the largest following of any individual candidate up to the next to the last ballot when he lacked five votes of a nomination. At this juncture practically all the delegates supporting George Gano of Pawnee Rock, were swung into line for Mr. Fitts.

In the spring of 1892 Hoisington had a very bitter city election. The town had been incorporated for a number of years but there had been no improvements made whatever and a number of the progressives were in favor of electing a city ticket that would mean some much needed sidewalk and street crossings. The moss-back element proclaimed loudly that the city would be thrown hopelessly in debt if this progressive ticket was successful, and this element succeeded in rallying to their aid a certain element in the churches that was made to believe that the progressive ticket was an extreme favorite with the whiskeyites. This was a favorite city election argument, by the way, for a number of years but it mattered not which ticket was successful in any of these years whiskey was sold freely in Hoisington at all times. This progressive ticket was headed by Capt. W. F. Peck and was successful at the polls. The sidewalks and crossings were put in and a great deal in the way of improvement accomplished. I was identified with the progressives and the morning after election six men filed up to my office, paid the subscription on their papers and ordered its discontinuance to their address. I did not enter into any argument with them or attempt to have them continue taking the paper but as courteously as I knew how took their money and gave them receipts. Some of my friends heard of the incident and before sundown they came in with thirty-seven new paid in advance subscriptions by the paper, so I was not very much loser after all.

Speaking of persons stopping their subscription to a newspaper reminds me of an incident when Jerry Simpson was making his second campaign for congress. When Simpson made his first campaign of course I had more or less to say through my paper-the Dispatch-of a disparaging nature relative to Simpson and his fitness for the position he sought. When Simpson was making his second campaign his followers got up a monster demonstration at Hoisington, there was a great parade and the affair was about the biggest political event that ever happened in the county. There was an Irish lady living in Hoisington by the name of Grandma Johnson who had been a constant subscriber to the Dispatch and was a very good friend of the writer. She was, however, an ardent Democrat and a strong believer in the perfection of Jerry Simpson. A grandson was assisting in the Dispatch office on press day having the important position of roller boy for the Washington press in use in the office. Immediately after the big Simpson political demonstration Grandma Johnson sent word by this boy to the editor that if he wrote up Simpson in as lying and contemptible manner as he had done two years before she was coming in and would stop her paper. Of course the Dispatch that week had a great deal to say about Simpson and the Caraway-Simpson episode that was pulled off on the occasion of that particular meeting, and in the editor's own weak way Simpson got his. The next morning after the paper was issued Grandma Johnson went to the postoffice and getting her copy of the paper examined it and found what she was looking for in reference to Simpson. She immediately ascended the steps to the printing office and tearing the paper to shreds, threw the remnants at the face of the editor, placing the amount of her delinquency on the desk said, "There is your old paper, it's the damndest lienest shate in the state, except the Great Bend Register." I was glad she made one exception in the case.

By way of explanation I will say that at that time the Register was in the hands of Morgan Caraway, who was chairman of the Republican congressional committee, and was about as virulent writer and hard a fighter as ever showed up in these parts. Grandma Johnson's temper did not last long and she was soon a valued subscriber to the Dispatch and the writer always counted on her and her family as among our best friends.
During the campaign of 1888 there were two papers published at Hoisington. The Echo, published by Chas. R. Vert, espoused the Republican cause, while the Mascot, published by Tom Shaughnessy upheld the Democratic banner. During the coursing meet, which at that time was the most noted annual meeting in the county, the two papers issued daily editions. Neither one of the editors were gifted with an over-abundance of editorial gray matter and as this was in the midst of a heated campaign in the nation, state and county, and the two papers were ultra partisan and it was necessary that each edition contain a number of good strong editorials calculated to inform the common voter as to his duty on election day. Neither editor was capable for the task, and be it said to their credit, they both realized this fact. It was therefore necessary to get someone to furnish this necessary copy. The Echo secured the services of Hugo Carlander, a Swedish gentleman who ran a harness shop and who was a rabid Republican who usually expressed himself in very forceful language. The Mascot secured the services of A. H. Baker who at that time, and is yet, a land agent at Hoisington. Mr. Baker was a Missouri Democratic of the rock-ribbed variety and could go some when it came to telling his side of the political story. The editor of the Echo did not know that the Mascot had an assistant in the way of an editorial writer but thought the political stuff appearing in the Mascot was from the pen of the editor. The controversy in the two papers became personal to such an extent that they engaged in personal combat over the accusations, charges and counter charges that were daily appearing in the two papers. It is needless to say that the personal combat of the two editors was a source of much merriment to the two writers who were furnishing the ammunition for the fracas while they themselves were engaged in a bloodless warfare.

There is an interesting story connected with the first nomination of the late Senator G. L. Chapman that is not generally known. This story reveals how very close cur present townsman, Joe Walters,then the candidate of Stafford county for the senatorial nomination, came to being the nominee of that convention, or I might better say how very easy it would have been for him to have secured the nomination had the delegates from his county had any idea of the intention of Mr. Chapman. A little history of the condition of things is necessary before going on with the real story. Senator Robert Findlay had been in the senate but one term and it was generally conceded that he was a one term man. He and General Chapman were very good friends at that time and before General would enter the race for the senator ship he had assurances from Bob Findlay that he would not be in his way but would assist in the nomination of Chapman. Assurances of support were also secured from other prominent Republicans of Rice county. Senator Findlay wanted to be let down as easily as possible, as it had been the custom to give an office holder two terms and the retirement of Senator Findlay at the expiration of his first term was a divergence from this usual custom. It was therefore agreed that in the selection of the delegates to the senatorial convention from Rice county that these delegates should ostensibly be for Senator Findlay for a re-nomination, and then the program was that after a vote was taken and the Rice county delegation cast a vote for Senator Findlay-Senator Findlay was to come forward and after thanking his home county for their loyalty was to withdraw from the race. This was the thought of a number of the delegates from Rice county, but it seems that Bob was smooth enough to tie them up with some sort of an agreement by which they were to stay by him until he would personally release them from any allegiance to him. After he had secured the Rice county delegation and had this agreement Bob concluded that he would like to stick in the senate for another term and became a full fledged and bonafide candidate for nomination.

Stafford county had not been getting hardly her share of district honors and therefore felt -and very justly too-that she was entitled to the nominee for senator. Findlay knew very well just how the Stafford county folks felt about this and there rested his hope for securing the nomination. While the Stafford county delegates personally felt much more friendly to Chapman than they did to Findlay their soreness for Barton county not coming to their aid might take on such a form as to cause them to go to Findlay before they would to Chapman through a feeling of revenge. This was Chapman's danger and it was right here that a plan was evolved whereby Findlay became an impossibility if the Stafford delegation would be alert and onto their job. By necessity this plan had to be kept very quiet and I may say there were only two persons besides General Chapman that knew of the plan. One prominent delegate on the Stafford county delegation was told to keep a very close watch on the proceedings and be ready to act quickly should anything transpire that needed quick action. Nothing more could be said, and although this delegate could not figure out just what the purport of this intelligence was it is needless to say that he paid mighty strict attention to the proceedings until a nomination was made. This convention was held at Ellinwood and was presided over by Sam Jones of Lyons. By a rule of procedure in conventions of this character when a vote is being taken on a nomination any delegation has a right to change its vote already cast provided the change is made before the vote is announced by the secretary. A large number of votes were being taken with little difference.

In the roll call of counties Barton always cast the first ballot. The plan was that should Stafford county get so sore at Barton as to prefer the nomination of Findlay to Chapman and the Rice county delegates persisted in their support of Findlay then the chairman of the Barton county delegation would immediately, before the announcement of the ballot, change the vote of Barton county to Walters and then it would be up to the Stafford county chairman to quickly announce a change of vote from Findlay to Walters. Had the Stafford county folks had any idea of this intention they could easily have brought about the nomination of Walters.
One of the most prominent men in the early history of Hoisington was A. S. Cooke, who was the cashier of the first bank established in the town. Mr. Cooke was not one of the first men in the town but was one of the pushers when he did come. It was through him that the writer was first induced to locate in Hoisington in February, 1889. Mr. Cooke took an active part in all things of a public nature and was a very social fellow. After retiring from the bank he became interested in the lumber business with the late Henry Wildgen. Soon after the hard years in the nineties he sold out his interests and went to Plttsburg to take charge of the Pennsylvania business of a Chicago electrical supply business. I am informed that he has prospered greatly in his new home and now has his country home, two automobiles and his city residence. While in this county he was active in Masonic circles but has since renounced all allegiance to secret orders and is now a devout and active worker in the Catholic church, his oldest daughter having taken the veil in that church.