History of Barton County, Kansas

In 1872 H. H. Kidder realized the necessity for a store at Great Bend and to him belongs the honor of having established the first general store on the townsite. The store was located on the east side of the park square. Mr. Kidder soon became aware of the fact that although he had had the advantage of the merchants who came later, in selecting a location, the greater part of the town's business was done by stores on the west side of the square. Therefore, he moved his building to the corner now occupied by the First National bank.

A. S. Allen opened the first drug store in 1872 on the west side of the square and later moved into the first stone building to be erected in the town in 1876.
B. Negbaur from Leavenworth started in the clothing business in the spring of 1874. Later he added dry goods to his stock and had one of the best lines of goods to be found in the state at that time.

In 1874 J. W. and J. Lightbody started in the dry goods business on the west side of the square and their business grew in volume until the building became too small to answer the purpose of the store. In 1878 a dissolution of the firm took place and J. W. Lightbody built a large store building a few doors to the north and, in connection with W. J. Wilson of Burlington, Kansas, and Saunders & Wilson of Newton, Kansas, put in one of the finest stocks of goods ever shown in Barton County. The store occupied two floors and was known as the "People's Store."

A. W. Gray engaged in the hardware business in 1872 on the west side of the square in partnership with E. Wilcox of Hutchinson, and S. Lehman of Newton, Kan. In the spring of 1876, Mr. Gray erected a large brick building. Some idea of the volume of business done at that time can be gleaned from the fact that during the year 1878 Mr. Gray's total business amounted to $130,000 for hardware and machinery.

In 1874 the firm of Burton & Johnson, which was composed of E. W. Burton of Lansing, Mich., and A. Johnson, bought the E. L. Morphy hardware stock and began business at the northeast corner of the park square. Later they moved to the west side of the square and occupied the T. L. Stone building which was later used by Moses Brothers.

In 1876, W. H. Odell and G. N. Moses bought Mr. Johnson's interest and in the spring of 1877 Mr. Odell sold out to Ed R. Moses when the name of the firm was changed to Burton, Moses & Brother.

In 1878, J. H. Hubbard erected a large stone building 25x140 feet with a basement, and at that time it was said to be the largest hardware store in the state of Kansas. The second floor of the building was used as a hall and was known as Union hall where all kinds of functions were held. The Hubbard store did a total business of $120,000. In 1879 the store was damaged by fire to the extent of $7,000.

None of the stores mentioned above are being operated now by their original owners, about the only firm that remained in business that began in the 70s is the E. R. Moses Mercantile Company.

The first attempt to build a flour mill in the county was made by parties from Iowa in 1875 on the banks of the Walnut, near Dry creek. Various subscriptions in the way of a site, riparian rights, rock, etc., were given to the company. It was required that 30,000 bushels of wheat be loaned to the company by the farmers, they to take their pay in flour at stated intervals. A site was selected for the mill but the wheat loan did not come in and although work was begun on the mill it never was completed.

In the fall of 1875 a mill was built at Ellinwood by Musil & Steckel. It consisted of a single vertical burr and was capable of grinding about 100 bushels per day. During the same year the foundation for a mill was built by the firm of Brinkman & Sooy but was abandoned until 1878 when Brinkman's elevator was built on it.
In 1876 W. P. Clement came to Great Bend from Kalamazoo, Mich., and immediately took steps that resulted in a steam mill being erected near where the depot stands, and by August of that year the mill was ready to begin operations. It was completely overrun with work. The mill ran three sets of burrs and had a capacity of 350 bushels per day.

In 1877 Sooy & Brinkman built a large water power mill on Walnut Creek below the railroad bridge. It was nearly completed when a tornado demolished it. This tornado swept a path about six miles wide and came from the north. It did a great deal of damage from Carr Creek in Mitchell County to No. 3 school house west of Ellinwood. This was on August 16, 1877.

This misfortune did not deter Sooy & Brinkman and before long another mill was erected in a better and more secure manner and it began grinding in December, 1877. This mill was a four-burr and had the best appliances known for the manufacture of flour at that time.

It was soon found that there was insufficient water in the creek at times to keep the mill in operation, but the firm with characteristic enterprise, built a race at a point a mile and a half up the Arkansas river in order to get an additional supply of water. The fall from that point was ten feet in addition to that already attained on the Walnut, and during the high water in the Arkansas the plan worked nicely. When the water fell in the Arkansas, as frequently happened, the head of the race would become filled with quicksand from the bed of the river. After various experiments that had for their object the remedying of this condition the business was finally abandoned and the mill was moved from its site to a point just south of the railroad tracks and it is now one of the biggest and best mills in the state of Kansas and is operated by the Walnut Creek Milling Company.

During the years from 1872 to 1880 there were numerous manufacturing enterprises started in Great Bend but none of them survived any great length of time. These included a broom factory, cigar factory, etc.

In the early days of Great Bend it was the place of residence of a large number of cattlemen who grazed their herds in the valleys of the Ninnescah, Chicaskia and Medicine Lodge rivers. The cattle business seemed to thrive at times when farming life was very discouraging on account of droughts, grasshoppers, wind and other undesirable conditions. The first cattle in the country were from Texas and it was a peculiar fact that high bred stock, natives of northern climates could not live in the vicinity of Texas herds without contracting a fever that oft times proved fatal. However, if the native cattle withstood the first year's contact they were immune there after. The best success in the cattle business was achieved by crossing Texas stock with northern cattle.

An effort was made in the early 70s to establish herds of sheep in the county, but all that were brought here seemed to be unable to become acclimated and the industry never thrived as did the cattle business.

The first to attempt to raise thoroughbred stock in the county was C. Q. Newcombe whose farm was known as Bloomingdale Park and was located in Cheyenne township. He came to the county in 1876 and engaged in breeding fine cattle and horses. His horses were of the Messenger and Black Hawk stock. He had one brood mare, known as Nellie Seeley, that had a record of 2:30 when she was 10 years old. His cattle were of the best shorthorn stock. He was also a breeder of Berkshire and Suffolk pigs many of which he imported.

In 1893, after having lived in Great Bend for about a year, during which time the preliminary work was done, representatives of the Dominician Sisters established St. Rose hospital. No public undertaking in the city of Great Bend ever met with a more hearty response from the citizens than did the work of soliciting aid for the establishment of the hospital. On June 9, 1902, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by the Great Bend Commercial Club:

Great Bend Commercial Club, Great Bend, Kansas, June 9, 1902.-To the Rev. Mother Superior of the Nuns of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Great Bend, Kansas: I have the honor to transmit to you the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted by the members of the Great Bend Commercial Club at their regular meeting on this date, to wit: Whereas, It has come to the knowledge of the general public that the Rev. Mother Superior and the Rev. Sisters of the Nuns of the Third Order of St. Dominic, now residing in our midst, contemplate, or are considering the expediency of establishing and maintaining a general hospital in our city; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, By the Great Bend Commercial Club, that the movement in question is one which commands our hearty support and most cordial endorsement; That we have long recognized the pressing need of such an institution in this vicinity; That there is a large and well-populated district tributary to Great Bend which is entirely without modern facilities where the sick and afflicted may receive proper hospital care, treatment and nursing; That it is a matter of common knowledge that patients from this large expanse of country are continually traveling to and from the cities east of us in search of expert surgical relief and treatment; That it is equally well known that large numbers of people are financially unable to meet the extraordinary expense of such a trip, or are physically unequal to the fatigue of the journey, and hence are compelled to remain at home, there to languish, suffer and die from lack of expert care, treatment and nursing, such as can be procured only in connection with a modern and well-equipped hospital; That neighboring cities and villages have frequently signified their willingness to cooperate with this city, and to lend their moral and financial support to the promotion of such an institution; That in our opinion the movement is a worthy one in every respect, and will command the instant and profound respect and sympathy of all classes of our people; That we confidently believe that a hospital here under the auspices of these Reverend Sisters would receive a cordial and generous patronage from the entire western half of Kansas and from portions of Eastern Colorado; That our railway connections are good, our climate unsurpassed, all local conditions most favorable, and the time most opportune; In consequence of all of which, we believe the proposition would be a pronounced success from the beginning, and that it would be not only a benediction to the general public but a source of revenue to the founders; Wherefore, We bid these Reverend Sisters God-speed in their great and glorious work and give them strong assurances of our cordial sympathy and good will.

Most respectfully submitted,

F. V. RUSSELL, Sec.

The only institution of its kind in Central Kansas. Is a commodious, substantial, fireproof, brick structure, fully equipped for efficient hospital service for forty patients.
Situated on the crest of a high ridge of land on West Broadway the hospital is surrounded with beautiful lawns, shade trees, flower beds, and all that can add to its natural beauty.

The building has two stories and a basement. The arrangement is such that sunlight enters every room. Steam heat, electric lights, elevator and all modern conveniences have been installed. A separate building for the laundry work of the hospital is located on the grounds. A brick addition was constructed and equipped in 1910 at a cost of $25,000.

Both private rooms and wards are available. Private rooms are located on the first and second floors. They are elegantly furnished by various business firms of the city and every effort was made to impart a homelike atmosphere and eliminate the ordinary features of hospital life.

There are several semi-private rooms for patients of more moderate means.

The men's ward is on the first floor and will accommodate eight patients. It is large, well lighted and ventilated. The same nursing and attention will be given as to those occupying private rooms.

The women's ward is on the second floor and is neatly furnished.

The drug room has an ample stock so that all prescriptions can be filled at the hospital.

The hospital is equipped with a Morton-Wimshurst-Holtz machine of the latest design; a new Scheidel sixteen-inch coil X-Ray, capable of taking skin graphs through the body when desired.

An electrical vibrator is used for patients unable to leave their apartments. An electric bath cabinet and hot air apparatus have been installed especially adapted for the treatment of chronic arthritis and rheumatic cases.

On the first floor is located a room equipped for free dispensary work. There are many of the poorer class who take advantage of this and receive both medical and surgical service.

The operating rooms are located on the second floor; the main operating room is used only for non-infective cases and was so designed as to afford plenty of light and be readily fumigated. The second operating room is for all infective cases.

The sterlizing room adjoins the operating room and has all modern equipments. Most careful attention is paid to the dietary. Expense, time and attention are not spared in providing the best. The hospital has two fine ambulances for the service of its patients which can be called at any hour. They are all Sisters of St. Dominic and of long hospital experience. Special nurses will be provided for patients desiring services of same at additional rates.

The Great Bend High School is organized under the Barnes High School Law and therefore belongs to the whole county. The school is well equipped with a splendid modern building, apparatus of latest kind in every department. This year a faculty of nine members, including the superintendent, is necessary to take care of the increased enrollment, and the new departments which are being added.

The school enrolled in 1911 about 200 pupils from Barton County and adjoining counties. This is an increase of nearly forty per cent over the enrollment of the previous year. Prospects for a still larger enrollment are bright for the coming school year.

Some conception of the many lines of work offered in the high school may be obtained by briefly considering the various courses of study.

The college preparatory course is designated for those whose ambitions direct them to a college course. It includes Latin, Mathematics, English, History and Science. Those completing this course are admitted to the Freshman class of the Kansas University and the other colleges and universities of this and other states.
The Normal Training Course is arranged for those who intend to teach. This course includes about the same subjects as those found in the college preparatory course but includes besides Psychology, Methods and Management and a thorough review of most of the common branches. Persons completing this course and passing a state examination in eight subjects indicated above, are given a state certificate good for two years and at the end of that time renewable.
Young people who are contemplating teaching and teachers who wish to become better prepared for their work should make arrangements to take this course. It is possible to complete the Normal Training Course and at the same time complete work sufficient for college entrance.

The Business Course is composed of the regular commercial subjects, book-keeping, shorthand, typewriting, commercial arithmetic, commercial geography, and commercial law, similar to those found in the leading business colleges, and in addition this course includes a greater amount of academic work. A great many difficulties on account of immaturity found among eighth grade graduates who complete a course will be overcome by the time a good high school course is completed. Such a course gives one who enters business life an advantage that is worth securing. Knowledge is power, and the broader the culture the greater chance of success. If a business course without such training is good, a business course with such training is very good.

The Manual Training department which was established two years ago, and which has been in charge of experts during this time has proved very popular as well as profitable to the boys of the school.

No young man whatever his station in life finds the ability to use his hands in the production of some useful article detrimental to his success. All persons are not endowed with power to become proficient in classical or professional courses, hence the popular demand for courses which train for useful vocations along practical lines. The work done in this department has called forth much favorable comment on account of its high grade.

Tables, chairs, tabourets, pedestals and dozens of other useful articles suitable for any home have been made by the students. This work is carried by the pupils while doing regular high school work in English, Mathematics and Science.

A visit to this department would reveal a busy work shop or laboratory filled with busy contented boys, happy in the joy which comes from the conscious direction of muscular effort to the accomplishment of some useful end. No one can well deny that there is just as valuable kind of training coming from this effort as that which comes from the translation of a Latin sentence or the conjugation of a Greek verb. It is not the purpose to turn out finished workmen but young men with the power to direct the hands to execute what the mind constructs.

The coming year will see installed Domestic Science and Art for the girls. A room is being arranged with tables, sinks, cupboards, stoves and cooking utensils of all kinds. There under the direction of a competent instructor the young ladies of the school will be taught household economy. It is doubtful if a more useful or practical line of work can be found than this which teaches the future mothers of our state how to prepare food and care for the home.

The Domestic Art room will be fitted with sewing tables, chairs, machines and rockers. The work in sewing is just as essential as either Manual Training or Domestic Art. It may never be necessary for many young ladies to sew for themselves or others, but it certainly will ever be a source of satisfaction to know when a garment is made correctly and fitted accurately. It is believed these courses will prove very popular among the girls.

Another course for next year, which should reach practical needs in our county is agriculture. It is not the purpose of this study to do demonstrative work, but to teach in a practical way the science of agriculture. The course will be outlined by the state department and will include a thorough study of soil; its formation, kinds, properties, moisture holding power, methods of enriching and tillage; seeds; their structure, selection and planting; rotation of crops; principal crops, dairying, stock raising, etc.

This article should not close without calling attention to the school organization, which go to make up the school life as well as give a very useful training. These are the two library or rhetorical societies, the Y. M. C. A. and the chorus, the orchestra and the entertainment association. The latter conducts a splendid course of lectures and entertainments during the school year.

It is hoped the young people of Barton County will avail themselves of the opportunity to secure an education in this well organized and well equipped school.

It was in the late 70s that the Rt. Rev. T. H. Vail, the first Bishop of the Episcopal church in Kansas, visited Great Bend and baptized the children of some of the church families then living here. Among these pioneer members of the church are found the names of Poole, Grimes, Livingston, Shore, Manning, Ogle and Moss. These all at one time or another have done good work for the church, and of these only Mrs. and Miss Poole are left to recall the early struggle of this Mission.
Several years after Bishop Vail's visit, his successor, Bishop Thomas, came to Great Bend and after looking over the field, arranged for services in the court house, which were held by the Rev. Dr. Beatty of Newton, and, afterward, by the Rev. Kersey Thomas of Larned. These occasional services, however, soon lapsed, but with the advent of the Rev. B. Hartley who gave regular services from Larned, things began to look up. The German-Methodist church was rented for services and the prospect seemed to be very encouraging. Then came, as the first resident pastor, the Rev. W. Richmond, who was followed by Archdeacon Watkins giving occasional services.

While the Archdeacon was in charge, the congregation purchased the church, and now having a building of their own, church work began to take on a more roseate hue. The Rev. L. G. Morony now came as pastor, and was followed by the Rev. Geo. Belsey, and the Rev. A. H. W. Anderson, all of whom did good work for the Master. Then came days of decline, the church, losing her strength chiefly by removals and the pastors who have come in the later days have been able to do scarcely more than minister to the few faithful ones left. These have been the Rev. H. M. Green, the Rev. J. C. Anderson and B. T. Bensted.

The present pastor of the church is Rev. Robert Francis Hill who is doing good work.

Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in March, 1873, by Rev. A. Hartman, who remained for some time as the first pastor. The Rev. John McQuiston was presiding elder.

The first church building was erected in the fall of 1877, and dedicated on January 20, 1878, by Bishop Bowman. This church was sold in 1887, a new site, the present one was bought and the present church and a parsonage built. The church was dedicated January 16, 1887, by Rev. J. C. Hall, assisted by Rev. Enyart, the pastor. The present membership of the church is 500, and all matters in connection with the congregation are in excellent condition. The present pastor is Rev. H. J. Cockerill.

February 25, 1874, the Odd Fellows lodge of Great Bend gave a grand ball which was the event of the season, and on this occasion there was a cake given to the one who received the largest number of votes at 25 cents per vote. According to old timers who attended the ball it was a swell affair. The following taken from the Barton County Progress, a newspaper published in Great Bend at that time, will give an idea of the event. We also print a likeness of the cake and Miss Typer, the winner. Miss Typer is now Mrs. Crocker of Hoisington:

Of course it was an Odd Fellows ball and if the secret meetings of this order are as pleasant and harmonizing as was the ball of last night the order is truly symbolical of the letters F. L. T. The music was excellent and the Great Bend string band's repertoire would do credit to a musical organization of the largest cities.
Dancing commenced about 8 o'clock and continued until 5 in the morning. The ladies toilets were magnificent. A great many of Great Bend's women were dressed richly and handsomely and exceedingly good taste was displayed. We venture to say that the toilets displayed at the gubernatorial ball at Topeka recently were not superior to those seen at the ball last night. The dancing was in the courtroom at the court house while the refreshments were served in the clerk's office. The refreshments were delicious and ample provision had been made for all who were there.

After supper Judge Martin, at the solicitation of some of his friends, consented to auction off a big cake that had been made by Mrs. Faussel, and presented to the lodge. The cake was a handsome pyramid of the sweetest compounds, weighing about 60 pounds and highly ornamented with symbols of the Odd Fellows lodge.
The cake was offered to be voted for at 25 cents per vote, and was to be given to the most popular young lady in the hal1. The voting commenced with four votes for Miss Hattie Wells. Miss Mollie Typer received twenty votes, and somebody just in fun dug up six bits for three votes for Pollie Parkins, there being no such person in the assemblage. At the end of the first ten minutes the vote stood: Miss Typer, 180; Miss Wells, 170. By this time Mr. Markwort was championing the cause of Miss Typer while G. L. Brinkman was leading the Wells forces in the battle of ballots. After twenty minutes the vote stood; Miss Typer, 500; Miss Wells, 490. Then the voting was fast and furious and, finally after 2,700 votes had been cast, the auctioneer announced that Miss Wells and Miss Typer were tied with 1,350 votes each. Then there were ten votes added to Miss Typer's list and as the other side made no more offers she was announced the winner and the lodge was richer by $677.50.

(From Great Bend Tribune, January 29, 1909.) A couple of weeks ago we received a letter from Dr. Lightfoot. The letter is published first, and is then followed by considerable matter from the Tribune of January 3, 1880, concerning the reception of that date, and other New Year's news:

Mr. Will Townsley, Editor Tribune, Great Bend, Kansas. Dear Sir: In reading your account of the New Year festivities in Great Bend, my mind went back to the beginning of the custom, and I thought it might be of interest to your readers to hear of it.

Eighteen-eighty being leap year I suggested to some of the then young men of the town, that on New Year's Day we entertain the ladles. At that time I had an office over Allen's drug store. Cal Weaver and E. W. Moses had a nicely furnished room near mine, and after some consultation we decided to use these rooms for our purpose - my office being used as a kitchen, presided over by Mose Wells, an old time darkey and the other room was converted into a reception room, by removing the bed and instituting a dining table in its place.

The reception party of five consisted of Cal Weaver. E. W. Moses, Will Moses, Ora Dodge and myself. I was appointed to receive at the door, Ora Dodge and E. W. Moses took charge of the refreshment table, and Will and Cal took a hand where it would do the most good. Quite a number of ladles, married and single, called, also some of the gentlemen. Prominent among the young girls who are still living in Great Bend were Miss Jennie Pursell, now Mrs. Castle and Miss Annie Wood, now Mrs. E. W. Moses.

The next year many of the ladies received calls, and D. N. Heizer originated the idea of a reception in the evening, he inviting those who received and made calls to his home, then the little cottage on the east side next to the Diffenbacher residence. This custom continued for some years, but even when the calling was dropped the evening reception has continued until the present day. It has been a great element in the social life of Great Bend and I hope it may long continue. Of the original five who received in 1880 all are living but Cal Weaver. I am,

Very respectfully yours,
DR. FRANK LIGHTFOOT,

Excelsior Springs, Mo., 1-12-'09.

In his letter Dr. Lightfoot says, the custom of having a ball in the evening originated the next year with D. N. Heizer. D. N. was undoubtedly instrumental in promoting the matter, but that same night of which the doctor writes, a big Leap Year ball was given at which the gentlemen were the guests of the ladies. Many of the couples noted in the write-up of the affair were afterwards married to each other, but we expect the ladies will deny that Leap Year had anything to do with the matter. The write-up of the ball from the Tribune of January 3, 1880, is as follows:

"The Leap Year ball was the most pleasant one of the season. It was gotten up by the ladies who took advantage of the fourth year wherein they enjoyed certain privileges not accorded them often. They managed the affair in a business way, selected their company to suit themselves and for once in their lives - if never before - had things all their way. We give the names of all who took part in the exercises, and will say now, should there be any emission, we hope the ladies will not pounce on us, for it was with much labor and exceeding great embarrassment that we procured the list, in so large an assembly. It is possible that some may have escaped our observation: Mary Birdsell and James Hinchcliff, Mrs. Sooy and husband, and E. W. Johnson, Mrs. E. R. Moses, husband and M. B. Fitts, Miss Zachary and John Cegan, Jennie Pursell, Ed Dunaway and Mr. Losecamp, Ada Birdsell and W. Kelly, Mrs. Frank Wilson and W. W. Kearney, Bessie Johnson and Frank Wilson, May Kelly and Dr. Castle, Mrs. Hulme and Geo. Kellar and Mr. Hulme, Emma Mitchell and Will Webster, Lizzie Dodge and Frank Peffer, Luella Miller and Will Stoke, Nettie Dick and Mr. Osmond, Mrs. Long and D. N. Heizer, Mrs. Heizer and Fred Long. Mrs. Wells and J. M. Fugate, Mrs. Doty and Wm. Maher, Lillie Arnold and G. W. Wells, Mrs. John Lightbody and husband, Mrs. Evans and James Sweet, Mrs. Sweet and G. A. Evans. Mrs. S. B. Stokly and husband, Flo Diffenbacher and Will Dunaway, Ella Brown and John Taylor, Mrs. J. B. Mulks and husband, Mrs. Chaffee and Mrs. A. S. Allen and husband, Jennie Flint and Dr. Gebhart, Grace Buckland and Will Moses, Laura Lewis and W. M. James, Belle Brown and Ora Dodge, Mrs. Chapman and W. W. Winstead, Mrs. Winstead and E. L. Chapman, Anna Wood and Ed Moses, Mrs. Kidder and husband, Stella Eastey and Fred Zutavern, Mrs. Rowell and husband, Maggie Dodge and George E. Mitchell, Mrs. G. L. Brinkman and Dr. Bain, Hattie Wells and G. L. Brinkman, Jessie Prescott and Clarence Birdsall, Mrs. Pickering and husband.

The dance lasted until five o'clock the next morning and the large hall was densely crowded. Supper was served at the Typer house. The managers of the ball will have enough left for new spring bonnets and other absolute necessities. The ladies established a rule forbidding any gentleman from leaving the hall until the close of the ball. Numerous efforts were made during the evening to escape on one pretext or another, but George Moses being doorkeeper, it was a waste of time to plead for 'breath of air.' The ladies set an example for the men in the expeditious manner In which they filled their engagement cards which occupied a remarkably short interval.

The result of it was that those who came late were unable to find partners.

In the Tribune of January 3, 1880, we find the following notices: Cal Weaver, Ed and Will Moses, Dr. Lightfoot and Ora Dodge kept open house Thursday and were visited by all the ladies who made calls. They received in the rooms of these gentlemen in Allen's building up stairs and were elegantly fitted up with a beautiful supply of good things. They were the happiest set of mortals on earth and only regret that they had but one short day in three hundred and sixty-five to throw themselves away on ladies.

The following ladies honored the Tribune sanctum with their presence Thursday: Jessie Prescott, Stella Eastey, Mary Birdsall, Ada Birdsall, Jennie Flint, Emma Mitchell, Mrs. E. R. Moses, Mrs. G. L. Brinkman, Jessie Miller, Belle Zachary, Mrs. Sooy, Mrs. Long, Miss Dick, Jennie Pursell, Ella Brown, Belle Brown, Mrs. John Lightbody, Mrs. A. S. Allen and Mrs. A. C. Moses.

We tender our thanks to the above ladies who won us with a call. We appreciate the compliment greatly, enjoyed their visits and wish them all a happy new year, and fondly hope that each succeeding day of 1880 to its close may be as happy a one to them as the first one was to us.

Signed, Wm. Moses. Cal Weaver, Dr. Lightfoot, Ora Dodge and Ed Moses.

But though these dashing young blades were the ones to follow the idea of a reception, the idea spread, as witness the following notice in the paper of the week before, and which was largely as a joke on the part of the editor of the Tribune: "January the first is the beginning of the Leap Year and we are authorized to announce that the following young gentlemen will keep open house for the accommodation of such young ladies as may feel inclined to assert the privileges which the new year accords to them: Wm. Naher, assisted by his brother, Stanley, and George Stovall; E. W. Johnson assisted by Ed and Will Dunaway; Cal Weaver, assisted by Drs. Gebhart and Lightfoot; W. M. James, assisted by M. D. Skinner and Henry Moore; Frank Eastey, (If he don't go to the country,) assisted by Ora Dodge and Lynn Moses; Ed Moses, assisted by his brothers Will and Cash: (N. B. - Owing to the peculiar circumstances of which the public seem better posted than he does, Clayton will not take an active part in this business.) Clarence Birdsall, assisted by James Hinchcliff and John Cogan; Joe Howard, assisted by Ran Goit - no providential hindrance - and Ira D. Brougher; Will Stoke, assisted by James Clayton and Elrick C. Cole; (this is regarded as a sure thing all around.) Joey D. Fugate, assisted by the following kids: Ned Goit, Albert Kergs and Sammy Keifer; Wm. Webster, assisted by Wm. Kelly and Frank Peffer; Henry Moss, assisted by John, Al and Art; ladies over thirty ruled out; Wm. Osmond, assisted by Tom Clayton and Charley Carney; girls under fifteen strictly. W. W. Carney, no discrimination as to age but brunettes preferred; Wm. Losecamp, assisted by Wm. Teed and others. No reserved seats.

And then the Tribune of January 3, 1880, backed down. Witness this: We owe the ladies an apology for misleading them in our last issue by giving the names of young men who would receive on New Year's day. They left their names for publication as presented. but from some cause or other very few adhered to their promises. But at the same time the ladies are indebted to us for the few who did receive as they felt in duty bound to follow the program after their announcements were published.

Edwin Tyler tells about his arrival here with the first people to locate on what is now the townslte of Great Bend. In speaking of those times Mr. Tyler said: "On October 16, 1871, there camped upon the present site of Great Bend Mr. and Mrs. Louis Frey, Thompson Frey, James Pond, Lute Morris, Paul Morphy, Henry Schaeffer, Chris Zeizer, G. N. Moses, John Tilton, W. H. Odell, James and Hi Bickerdyke and those who arrived on that date were Mr. and Mrs. E. Tyler, with their three children; Mr. and Mrs. Gromans and two children and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Hartshorn. Those who were here gave us a warm welcome. The people began to establish their new homes and everything went well until the blizzards of November 16 and 17. They caused a great deal of discomfort. After the blizzard the Gromans left us. The first buildings consisted of the old Southern Hotel at first called the Drovers' Cottage, and one shack made of stock boards. There were no carpets on any of the floors excepting Mrs. Kate Frey's parlor, which was covered with a layer of grass.

One house consisted of four poles sunk into the ground with three buffalo hides, tacked to them. There were several of the old timers who spent most of their time scouting and making things as comfortable as possible for the women folks, some of whom were quite timid.

There never was a bunch of men who looked more carefully after the welfare of the women than did Barton County's early settlers. On the first evening after our arrival here the Pawnee Indians made the camp a visit while on their return from an expedition down to Medicine Lodge. Some of us tenderfeet were alarmed but G. N. Moses assured us that there was no danger but to keep near our guns. At that time there was nothing to hinder us seeing in all directions for many miles. In fact, we could see what was then known as Five Mile Timber and Twelve Mile Timber. A few days later while we were looking down the trail, G. N. Moses and myself were somewhat excited at seeing a black object coming towards us. We watched and patiently waited until it came near enough for us to recognize Judge Morton, dressed in a fine suit of black clothes, black hat, kid gloves and umbrella. The old timers eyed him as an antelope would a red flag. The judge was highly respected by our community. He was a good man for the times, and he helped many of the old timers over rough periods of frontier life. The first milch cow on the townsite was brought by W. H. Hartshorn, who led her behind his wagon more than 500 miles across the prairies. Louis Frey brought the first mule team. There was but one building between here and Atlanta at that time and that was T. Buckby's at Fort Zarah. The places of note were called ranches in those days.

One of the men who came here in 1875 and has had a great deal to do with the farming and commercial life of Barton County, is Robert Merten. He was born in Elberfeldt, Germany, December 13, 1839. He came to America with his parents when he was eight years of age, the family first locating in Keokuk County, Iowa. Robert remained there until 1863 when he took up the occupation of freighting across the plains. He continued in this business until 1865, when he went to Denver and spent one summer, after which he returned to St. Joe, Mo. Then he went back to the old home place in Iowa and in 1875 came to Barton County and in the following year brought his family to the new country. He was married May 1, 1861, to Miss Maria Becker and they are the parents of six children as follows: Albert N., who is farming in this county in Clarence township; Annie, who is now Mrs. A. B. Willcutt and resides in Clarence township; Mary, who is now Mrs. H. J. Campbell, also resides in Clarence; Frank, resides on the old home place in this county; Edwin M., who lives in town and is in the farming business, and Susie, who is now Mrs. E. E. Bohl, and lives in Ottawa, Kansas. When Mr. Merten arrived in this county he bought railroad land and from time to time added to his holdings and now owns in this county 320 acres of land and also owns 700 acres in Pawnee and Rush counties. Mr. Merten is vice president of the Citizens National Bank of Great Bend and is a director of the Pawnee Rock and Hoisington State banks. Since his retirement from active farming he has occupied a fine residence at 2423 Forest avenue in Great Bend. Mr. Merten has held township offices and served as county commissioner for one year. He has always taken a leading part in the development of the county's resources and has been closely identified with its business and agricultural interests. All of his land in this county is being worked by renters and is in a high state of development.

What little is known about Jim Gainsford is what such men as John Tilton and other old timers have been able to remember. Jim is chiefly noted as far as this country is concerned, for his having been marshal of Great Bend at a time when it required a great deal of nerve to control the lawless element. He was marshal during the years 1871-72-73, and was also deputy sheriff under G. N. Moses, and at one time held the office of deputy U. S. marshal. He had been a soldier in the civil war and after the war was over he came west, first to Abilene and from there to Great Bend. He was not the kind of a men who cared for farming so never took up a government claim, in fact he was never known to do a day's work, but preferred the job of an officer where he could exercise his authority and at times show his skill with a gun. He was a good marksman and had plenty of courage, although he was known too as being a big bluffer, and proud of dressing as a fierce frontiersman, with a belt of cartridges about his waist and a whole battery of guns displayed about his body. Jim accompanied G. N. Moses on many of his trips after criminals and was never known to show the white feather. However he backed down one time for G. N. Moses. John Tilton tells the incident as follows: "In those days soldiers were equipped with needle guns and none but government employees were supposed to carry them. Jim had been blustering about a great deal as a deputy marshal and had taken needle guns from many of the settlers and buffalo hunters, although it is doubtful if the government ever realized from them. George Moses and I, each bought a gun from the soldiers at Fort Dodge. Jim went up to George when he learned of this and told him he wanted that needle gun. George told him that we had those guns over there in our dugout and if he wanted them to come and get them, but he thought he would find a warm reception. It is needless to say Jim never came after those guns." As the county filled up and things became a little more civilized Jim moved westward where his wild spirit could have freer rein. He is now an old man, an inmate of the National Soldier's Home in California.

John Tilton was born in Noble County, Ohio, May 28, 1841. He was married to Mrs. Adeline Eastey in Barton County, Kansas, November 26, 1872, and Mrs. Tilton is the mother of two children by a former marriage, their names being Frank H. Eastey and Estella Eastey, (now Mrs. Elmer H. Dean of Kansas City.) Mr. Tilton enlisted in the U. S. Army in September, 1861, as a private in Company G., 10th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served in many important engagements during the war; among them may be mentioned the campaign against Vicksburg, Jonesboro, Evacuation of Atlanta and other important engagements. He was honorably discharged from service August 16, 1865. Mr. Tilton came west in 1867 and was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Co., having had numerous contracts for grading and for furnishing timber for bridge work, etc. He went to Denver in 1869 and was employed in Gomer's Mills in Bijou Basin near that city. It was here that he met George Moses the first time. In March, 1870, he and George Moses bought two yoke of oxen and in company with Bill Leak, Joe Townley and W. H. White - better known as Heck White - started for Kansas following the U. P. right of way. They finally landed at Ellsworth after encountering a terrific storm near Cheyenne Wells. It was by the merest chance that they were not all frozen to death. They located claims near Ellsworth in the form of soldiers' homesteads and made some improvements, but threw them up and came to Barton County after hearing of the wonderful country near the big bend in the Arkansas. George came ahead to the new country while Tilton remained and looked after a big hay contract they had secured. John pre-empted the northeast quarter of 32 on the southwest outskirts of Great Bend while Geo. was to take the southwest quarter of section 28, which is now in the townsite of Great Bend. While John was on his way to Salina to file he was overtaken by George who told him not to file on the quarter originally picked for him as it had been decided to locate the town on it. George later filed on the northwest quarter of 32. This was in July or August of 1870. They hunted buffaloes until 1874, but John could not pay out on his pre-emptious, so he got Bill Leak to homestead who then gave John the north eighty acres of it as his share. John laid out the Ireland's addition to Great Bend in 1887. He was the first constable in the county and served Great Bend as city marshal. He hunted a great deal with George Moses and W. C. Gibson and can tell of some mighty interesting incidents. In 1871 he with George Moses, Jim Gilmore, Jim Travers and W. W. Winstead was hunting buffaloes on Bluff creek. He and George furnished the outfit, two yoke of oxen for which they had been offered $500. These were the same oxen that brought them from Colorado. They had but little more than started when a band of about fifty Indians came charging up about an hour after sundown, but when they saw that the hunting party was ready to fight they laid down their arms and became very docile. That night the hunters' oxen were stolen. They hunted for days but were unsuccessful. George Moses who was using Gilmore's horse came upon a party from east of Wichita who were camped on the Ninnescah and got them to go after the other boys who were marooned on Bluff creek. The party finally were reunited but the oxen were never found. A claim was later allowed by the government for the loss of the oxen. Mr. Tilton is one of the really old timers of the county who are still here and knows the early day history of Barton County and Great Bend.

The firm of E. R. Moses Mercantile Company is an evolution of the firms of Burton & Johnson, Burton, Odell & Moses, Burton, Moses & Brother and C. N. & E. R. Moses. The first named firm came here from Argonia, Kansas, and bought out the store of Mr. Morphy who owned a stock of hardware in a building on the north side of the square on lot 18, block 20. This was in 1874 and in the following year Mr. Johnson sold his interest to Odell and Moses, the firm name being changed to Burton, Odell & Moses. This firm was composed of E. W. Burton, W. H. Odell, Geo. N. Moses. In April, 1877, E. R. Moses bought out Mr. Odell and the firm name became Burton, Moses and Brother. In 1881 Mr. Burton retired and the firm became G. N. & E. R. Moses. In 1900 George N. sold his interest in the business to E. R. Moses and since that time the business has been run under the name of E. R. Moses Mercantile Company. This firm is the result of many ups and downs with the latter in the minority and the men who helped in building up the business had to contend with all the hardships and trials incident to all pioneer firms in a new country. This business was built up in a part of the Great American Desert where sand and wind, grasshoppers, and crop failures prevailed in the early seventies.

he life of the business was as uncertain as the crops and when the crops were continued failures the different lines of business were a continual nightmare and many of them finally changed hands or petered out. All have gone when this business was started in 1874 as have also many who came afterwards. It is hard to think of those brave fellows who worked early and late, hard and earnestly and left too soon to reap where they had sown, having grown tired of waiting in vain for good crops and better times that never came. In those days class distinction played no part in the work of up-building and everybody aided in making things as pleasant as possible for his neighbors. The senior members of the firms that ran the E. R. Moses Mercantile Company business before this time have all passed away. Mr. Burton died in 1886, Mr. Odell a few years later, Geo. N. Moses in 1911. The business carried on by the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co. is a department store and one of the largest in the west and carries everything in the general merchandise line from a pin to a piano, and supplies everything that is needed by the people of this county from the cradle to the grave. The principal lines are hardware, stoves, tin, copper, granite, nickel and aluminum ware, dishes, novelties, watches, clocks, jewelry, silver and cut glass ware, kodaks, furniture, carpets, curtains, trunks and valises, sewing machines, pianos and organs, and smaller musical instruments, farm implements and machinery, wagons, buggies, pumps, windmills, tinning, plumbing and heating, paints, oils, glass, undertaking and embalming. They say it takes three classes of people to settle a country, the pioneer, the tenderfoot and the sticker. There are many more chances than this in a business life. In the hardware and implement line we count the following names that have come and gone: A. W. Gray, Dodge & Co., William Friend, John Frank, Brinkman and Gwinn, Balm and Balm, Sterrit and Co., J. A. Sterrit, Charles Culver, Hulme, Patterson, Kern and Co., Cook and Panning, S. P. Bell, F. H. Miller and Fred Hemker and several transient ones who are coming and going all the time. In 1880 the firm of Burton, Moses & Brother opened a branch store in Gunnison, Colorado. Mr. E. W. Burton and G. N. Moses took charge of this store and E. R. Moses ran the Great Bend store. Two years later the partnership of Burton, Moses & Brother ceased, Mr. Burton taking the Gunnison store and C. N. and E. R. Moses the Great Bend store. In 1891 G. N. Moses and E. R. Moses opened two branch stores; one at Hoisington and one at Claflin Mr. D. J. Lewis was put in as manager of the Hoisington branch and Mr. John A. Barth as a manager of the Claflin store. These stores were developed into large department stores. In 1901 Mr. E. R. Moses sold the Claflin store to Barth and Herthel on account of engaging in the banking business and not wanting the care of it. Having organized the Citizens National Bank of Great Bend and later on the Pawnee Rock State Bank and the Peoples State Bank of Hoisington, all of which he is president of. The store at Hoisington has been increased from time to time until it is one of the most complete stores in the state of Kansas. Carrying goods in addition to what they carry in Great Bend, boots, shoes, hats, caps, gents' furnishing goods, and they also manufacture harness. It has a frontage of 150 feet with a building 125 by 100 feet, two stories with a nice plate glass front. For two years G. N. and E. R. Moses were engaged in the real estate business with W. M. Gunnell, but when G. N. retired from business E. R. Moses having enough to attend to, sold his interest with G. N. Moses to W. M. Gunnell. This business was a success. When Mr. Gunnell died the firm of Dawson & Zutavern bought the business and made it a much greater success. The Great Bend store occupies two rooms on Main street 50 by 140 feet, two stories and a basement, another building on Williams street 300 by 100 feet. E. R. Moses believes if anybody wants to make a success of his business he must stick to it, hug it closer and watch it more when times are hard and after a number of years he can take it easier, but he must stick to it for there is nothing he can do so well as to keep busy watching his business grow as long as he lives. He also believes that too many changes are liable to cause failure. E. R. Moses, Jr., looks after the mercantile business at the present time while E. R., Sr., advises with him. He is a young man who has made good by close application and constantly sticking to it, backed by a good education and right living. He knows what it is as he has passed through every department and has learned every detail. He is pleasant, whole souled, kind and generous and well liked by all who know him.

The E. R. Moses Mer. Co. is an incorporated firm. The officers are E. R. Moses, sr., pres., E. R. Moses, Jr., vice-pres, W. W. Nimocks, secretary, D. J. Lewis, treasurer. Mr. Nimocks sold his interest to Mr. E. R. Moses, Jr., who was made vice-president and secretary.

In the fall of 1891, G. N. Moses, E. R. Moses and D. J. Lewis bought the little two story 25x70 frame building, and the hardware business it contained, of Alex. Dennis. The next year they added a two story building of steel 50x100 and filled it with good new goods. Almost each year since they have added new buildings and equipment until now the store has a frontage of 125 feet of modern plate glass show windows and the building contains over 25,000 square feet of floor space, and over fifteen men are employed the year round.

In May, 1905, this store, with the one at Great Bend, were incorporated, and the name changed from Hoisington Hardware and Implement Co., to the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co. The management of the store has been in charge of Mr. D. J. Lewis since its founding, and the firm has always been ready to aid and assist in Hoisington's growth and development. They have full confidence in Hoisington and her people and see nothing but a bright future for the town.

Mr. Lewis was born in Wales, coming to America when a young man, first working in Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade of contractor and builder. From there he went to Cleveland, Ohio, then to Wisconsin and Illinois, and finally came to Kansas in the 70s. He farmed and contracted in Rice County and later in Barton, until taking up the management of the business at its beginning.

The business began with hardware and this department has always been kept up in first class shape. One of the most complete and best arranged paint stocks in the state is a part of the department.

The jewelry department has charge of the Missouri Pacific Railway watch inspection for Hoisington to Pueblo and carries a fine stock of railroad watches, diamonds, cut glass, fine china and silver. A fully equipped optical department, in charge of a graduate optician is a feature of the department.

The shoe and furnishing department is fully stocked and the very best lines of goods produced in the country are well represented in the stock.

The furniture department contains a complete stock of house furnishings of all kinds and the finest equipped and stocked undertaking rooms in Kansas west of Kansas City on the Missouri Pacific.

The heating and plumbing department is in charge of thoroughly efficient mechanics, and their strongest bid for new work is the satisfied customers they have worked for in times past.

The harness department make all kinds of harness and leather work, and is in charge of a first class harness maker. A large stock of harness, nets, collars, whips, etc., is carried.

The implement department carries a big display of farm implements and wagons, windmills, fencing, scales, gas engines, buggies and cream separators.
The store's policy has been liberal and progressive, and ever abreast of the times. No worthy man ever asked credit or help, without receiving it, and the great business the store does year after year shows that it inherits the confidence of the people.

The subject of this sketch, Mr. E. R. Moses, has had a more varied life than falls to most people. He was born in Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York. At an early age his parents moved to Pechonica, Ill., where he lived until eleven years of age, when they moved to Sedalia, Mo. Here he graduated from the common schools and was admitted to practice law in the courts of Missouri. In 1873 he went to California overland with three other young men, camping out for a few months for their health, notwithstanding it was very dangerous at times with the Indians, there being no railroads built at this time south. For a while they despaired of all hope of ever arriving in California because of the Indian outbreaks. He arrived in San Diego, California, December, 1873, and for three years made his home in California, Oregon and Washington. In 1876 he went east to attend the Centennial at Philadelphia, and from there he came to Great Bend, having visited this place in 1873. He came back to Great Bend to go into business with the firm of Burton, Odell & Moses. He bought an interest in this firm, Mr. Odell retiring. Then G. N. and E. R. Moses bought out Mr. Burton in 1881. In 1900 Mr. Moses bought out his brother G. N. Moses who wished to retire from business. Since then the business has been conducted under the name of the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co. Mr. Moses has given the greater part of his life in building up this business and has today stores in Great Bend and Hoisington, that are second to none in the State of Kansas. In 1901 he, with others started the Citizens National Bank of Great Bend which is one of the most progressive and solid institutions in the state. The year after he started, with others the Pawnee Rock Bank, and the year following started The Peoples State Bank of Hoisington. All of the banks are prosperous and not a dollar's worth of stock is for sale in either one of them.

In 1879 Mr. Moses married Miss Retta I. Newel of Ottumwa, Iowa, who at this time was visiting her sister, Mrs. G. W. Nimocks. To this union were born two children, Mr. Edward R. Moses, Jr., who is manager of the Mercantile business, and Miss Grace Moses, who married Mr. Chas. Lee of Salina, Kansas, and now lives there.
Mr. Moses has been quite successful and has often been asked why he did not move to Chicago, Kansas City or some other large city. He has always given the reason that he liked to live in the city and state where he made his money, and that he was too old to start in a new business. That he wanted to work as long as he lived, and he could work best in the business he had started in and worked up from the very beginning. Mr. Moses is a loyal Kansan and like his wife likes the sunshine and the climate of Kansas, and would prefer to live in the country that had less rain than in one that had all rain and no health.

Mr. E. R. Moses, Jr., is a Kansas product. He was born in Great Bend, Kansas, and has lived here all his life, save the time he spent at the State University and the Musical Institute of Warren, Ohio. He was a member of the Phi Delt Fraternity and boarded there while attending the State University at Lawrence. He is a graduate of the Great Bend High School and State University of Law of Lawrence. He passed a creditable examination before the supreme court to practice in the State of Kansas. Alter considering whether to practice law or to go into business with his father, he chose the latter and is now vice-president, secretary and general manager of the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co., of Great Bend and Hoisington. He has worked himself up from every department to this position in order that he might understand how to make it a greater success, which he is doing. He puts most of his time into this business. He is also director af the Citizens National Bank of Great Bend, Kansas, Pawnee Rock State Bank of Pawnee Rock, Kansas, and of the Peoples State Bank of Hoisington, Kansas.

In 1908 he married Miss Jessie Isabel of Iowa. They have two girls, one eighteen months old and the other three years old. He is nicely located in one of the nicest homes in Great Bend, Kansas. He is a thorough Kansan and nothing is too good for the city, county or state in which he lives. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Elks and the Business Men's Club.

He is a young man that does things. Not waiting for them to turn up. He goes to work and turns them up himself. He is courteous, frank and open, which makes him a friend to everyone.

The Citizens National Bank of Great Bend, Kansas, was organized March the 11th, 1901, with the following directors: E. R. Moses, Robt. Merten, G. N. Moses, John Sterett, M. F. Sowards, and Jos. Troilett. The officers were E. R. Moses, president; Robert Merten, vice-president; R. H. Moses, cashier and F. A. Moses, assistant cashier.

The bank started business in the room occupied by the J. V. Brinkman Banking Co., for many years located back of the Allen Drug Store. They remained here until December, 1906, when they moved into their beautiful and capacious quarters, which has the very latest of modern furniture and fixtures, with ladies' waiting room, directors room, safety vaults and everything to make it the very latest ot modern banks.

It is located on the corner formerly occupied by the Allen Drug Store, which the bank bought at this time.

The officers are the same as before with the addition of Edward Opie as assistant cashler and Hylas Butler book-keeper and stenographer. The directors at the present time are E. R. Moses, sr., Robt. M. Merten, Edward Merten, O. W. Damson and E. R. Moses, Jr.

The bank has been prosperous from the very start, which is credited to the progress and energetic ways in which it has been run. Today it stands as one of the most solid institutions in Western Kansas. It is a great believer in grasping hold of everything and anything that is good for the people's interest. They not only believe that it is absolutely necessary to treat every man, woman and child courteously and kindly and look after their interest with fidelity and zeal but to protect their money just as far as they can get means to do so. For this reason they insure in one of the best insurance companies in the United States.

Every dollar deposited in their bank is insured against loss of any kind and from any source. The people can rest assured that their money is secure in this bank in hard and panicy times as well as good times.

The officers of this bank started the Pawnee Rock State Bank of Pawnee Rock, Kansas, and the People State Bank of Hoisington, Kansas, and have ever since been connected with it. They are promoters in everything that benefits the community in which they live. They stand up first, last and always for Great Bend, Barton County and the State of Kansas. The depositors of this bank are not confined to this community in which they are located but they have depositors in several states of the Union. They are members of the State Bankers' Association and the American Bankers' Association. Some officer attends each one of these associations each year, in order that they might keep up with the times. It would do one good to visit this bank and see how nicely it is equipped for business. They do not take a back seat to any bank in the State of Kansas in this way.

MR. Banta was born in Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas, January 23rd, 1887, and has studied music since the age of 8. His first musical studies were given him by his mother at the piano. Not satisfied with the piano, his longing for something more to his temperament was cleared upon the hearing of an artist violinist and from that time on this instrument has claimed his attention. He is an artist pupil of Signor Guido Parisi of the Royal Conservatory of Music, at Milan, Italy, and taught the two years prior to his return to his home, at the residence of Judge D. A. Banta of this city, in the Strassberger Conservatories of Music at St. Louis, as assistant to Signor Parisi. He was a favorite of this great teacher, who wished to take him to Europe for study, and even wished to will his $3,000 Gagliano Violin to him. Signor Parisi said of him:

"Mr. Dan Worth Banta has been a pupil of mine for the last four years. He is a good performer and teacher, having appeared in concerts here in St. Louis, and taught the violin as assistant teacher in the Strassberger Conservatories.

GUIDO PARISI,
Dir. Violin Dept. Strassberger,
Cons. St. Louis."
Mr. Banta was a pupil of Richard Poppen, one of the greatest harmony teachers who have come to this country, and under whom he received his knowledge of Musical Theory, Composition and Harmony. He was a pupil, also, of "Hugo Oik" a great pupil of "Joachim," and Concert-Meister of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and of "Rose Reichard' who is, with Maud Powell, one of the greatest of our few great lady violinists in America, and who was a favorite pupil of "Isaye," the greatest living violinist, and of Marteau, the great French master.

In speaking of Mr. Banta, Miss Reichard said: "Dan Worth Banta is a violinist of ability, and a young man of high ideals. During his study with me, he made rapid progress, proving himself a student of talent and intelligence. Possessing good technique and artistic temperament, together with an attractive personality and stage presence, he is assured of success.

I am very glad to recommend him to the music loving public.
"ROSE REICHARD."
Dir. Violin Dept, of
Drake Cons. Des. Moines, Ia.

Has played with the St. Louis Symphony orchestra, and has directed his own orchestra the last four years, and holds graduate, postgraduate and artist medals and diplomas, with the medal of honor from the Strasaberger Cons., under Parisi.

He has a growing class of bright pupils in Great Bend, and is developing an orchestra of a class above the average.

He has had numerous calls for his services, both as a teacher, and as a performer, but has decided to carry on his work here until September, 1913.

This will benefit all who wish to study the violin, and harmony, under an artist, for this length of time, here, as it is taught by European teachers.

Charles Andress is one of the many old timers of Barton County who left here and journeyed afar, but still retained a material interest in the county, and has made frequent trips back to look after his interests and renew the acquaintances formed in the early days. Although Mr. Andress has traveled all over the world, most of the time being engaged in the show business he has always owned land in Barton County and it was while here on one of his frequent trips that we got the information from which to make the article for this book. He was born in Brockville, Canada January 15, 1852-also his mother's birthday-and when Charles was two years of age his parents moved to Chesaning, Michigan, a lumber and shingle camp in Saginaw County. His father was a turner and cabinet maker by trade and he had a very strenuous time making both ends meet, and to make things worse after the family had been there about two years the elder Andress was injured in the machinery and died after three weeks of suffering. This left Mrs. Andress with five boys, the oldest not quite sixteen at that time and the youngest only two years and Charles about four years of age. The family was fourteen miles from the nearest railroad station and money was mighty hard to get. The country was sparsely settled, the nearest town being Owosso. We quote from Mr. Andress' interview:

"My mother certainly had a very hard time of it raising her boys and I well remember the many trials she went through to hold the family together. Why, I have known her to sit up all night to finish knitting a pair of socks so she could trade them for groceries the next morning to prepare our breakfast so we could go to school and as she could not buy shoes for us she would wrap our feet in cloth rags and send us to school and when we arrived at the school house we would take off the rags and lay them by the fire to dry out so we could have them ready for wearing home at night after school. The two older brothers of course helped all they could and as we were all more or less musically inclined we soon found considerable income from playing for country dances, but enough of this, for I know you are anxious to know how I started in the show business. I was always gifted with the power or knack of imitating birds and animals and doing different stunts in so-called ventriloquism, and in those days every hotel had a hall over head in which all dances and shows were given and the shows all traveled by stage or private conveyance, and in 1862 a magician came along by the name of Prof. Hertz, a foreigner, and offered my mother $10 a month if she would consent to my traveling with him and would send her the money in advance every month and would clothe me, etc., and as the two oldest brothers were now enlisted in the army she very much disliked to part with me but finally consented to let me go. Well I had been out with this magician nearly two years when he was taken sick and died in Pontiac, Michigan, and his wife soon left for England and left me to shift for myself. My two years schooling with him had advanced me very materially as he was a good violinist and we always played for a dance after the show and I was a good "fiddler" for a boy and he bought me a violin and made me a present of it, and this, with a fairly good suit of clothes, was all I possessed when Mrs Hertz left for England. I soon joined bands with an old minstrel performer by the name of Zeke Filliman who played a banjo and with him I used to play for dances in and around Pontiac until he went into retirement on a farm, which left me to shift as best I could for myself. It was then I organized my first show which consisted of a few tricks in magic, which I had learned from the professor, and my ventriloquist act. A set of cambric curtains and the "fiddle," and 500 little programs which I had printed in Lapeer, which cost me $3.50, and the outfit when packed consisted of a sack containing a small cambric curtain, some small tricks in magic and my talking figure. With this equipment in the sack which I carried over my shoulder, and my fiddle in one hand I would travel on foot from one place to another giving shows and occasionally playing for a dance after the show."

From this primitive beginning Mr. Andress by dint of hard work and careful management his possessions grew until he finally had gotten together a good opera house show, consisting of trained birds, dogs, monkeys, goats, ponies and other animals. In 1874 he decided to go to California with a little show. It was when he was making this trip that he came to Great Bend and put on a show. There being no opera house he got permission from the sheriff to show in the court house for four nights. He stretched a rope across the street from Allen's corner and gave an exhibition with the birds. One of the feathered creatures walked the rope wheeling in front of it another bird in a wheel barrow. Mr. Andress gave presents away at the inside performance and although times were very hard just at that time the show made a big success. This show will always be remembered by the old timers who were here at that time as having been one of the big events of the year. The show was a novelty for the town and was well patronized. At the hotel-the Old Drovers' Cottage - Mr. Andress was seated at the same table with Mrs. T. L. Stone whose husband had recently died. She told Mr. Andress that she would sell her farm which consisted of a homestead and timber claim of 320 acres with a granary and other improvements for about what the improvements cost, about $1000. Mr. Andress bought the property but it was only a few days when he began to realize that he had paid a good price, as he was besieged on all sides by farmers who wanted to sell him their holdings on practically the same basis. One man who made an offer to Mr. Andress is best told in his own words:

"Are you the man who bought Widow Stone's property? Was asked by the farmer. I told him I was, and he remarked, that he would have done better by me had he seen me first, and when I asked him what he had for sale in the way of farm land, and he said he said he had a good quarter two miles nearer town than Mrs. Stone's with eighty acres in wheat, a small house and granary, etc. He said he had a good team of mules which he said cast him $150. He said if I would buy his mules he would throw in the farm, implements and improvements. I bought the mules and the remainder of the things mentioned. I had several similar offers and one farmer who was anxious to leave the country had a half section as good as any in Barton County and he offered either one of his quarters for $150 and would throw In the other quarter for good measure. These same quarters are worth $100 per acre today."

Mr. Andress has been offered $100 an acre for his holdings in Barton County but he says he will not sell yet awhile at any rate. In fact the last time he was in Great Bend he practically closed a deal for three more quarter sections of land in the county. Mr. Andress says although he might spend a great deal of his time in other parts of the country he always calls Barton County his home and is going to continue in the future as in the past to do all that is within his power to make it bigger and better in years to come.

One of the institutions that flourished for awhile in the eighties in Great Bend, and afterwards became only a part of the history of the town, was the American Coursing Club. This club was the first of its kind to be organized In America and had for its purposes the racing of greyhounds and by these tests bring out the good points, and by eliminating the bad ones improve the breed of these fleet footed animals. The club was organized in 1886 after a meeting had been held at Topeka when the following were present: Dr. Royce of Topeka, Col. Taylor of Emporia, D. C. Luse of Great Bend, A. Allison of Hutchinson and John Kelly of Dodge City. After the club was organized the officers immediately began looking for a suitable site for a course. They went all over the western part of the state but found nothing that was so well adapted for the purpose as Cheyenne Bottoms in Barton County. Therefore this site was selected and in October, 1886, the first meet was held. The meet was attended by people and dogs from all parts of the country and the entries included some of the fastest dogs in the world. The first officers of the club and the ones who had charge of the meeting were: Colonel Taylor of Emporia, president; Dr. Royce of Topeka, secretary and J. V. Brinkman of Great Bend, treasurer. There were two stakes run at each meet, one of them being for dogs of all ages, a free for all, with a dollar entrance fee. The entrance money was divided into prizes and for the all age course a cup and a hundred dollars in cash was given by Dr. N. Rowe, editor of the sportsmen's magazine, "American Field." To this was added a silver medal for the winner given by the National Greyhound Club of New York City. D. C. Luse of Great Bend also donated a silver cup which had to be won twice by the same kennel to gain permanent possession. The winner of the first all age stake was "Midnight," owned by Colonel Taylor of Emporia. The other stake run at the annual meetings was known as the Puppy Stake for which similar prizes were given as were awarded the winners in the all all age stake. These meets brought thousands of people to Great Bend and during the coursing at the Cheyenne Bottoms the country was literally alive with men and women on horseback and in buggies. D. C. Luse of Great Bend at one time owned seventy-five dogs and his animals won the prizes at the second meeting of the club to be held In Great Bend. Among those who were keenly Interested In this sport were: D. C. Luse, Ira Brougher, J. V. Brinkman, D. N. Heizer, W. W. Carney and many others of Great Bend; C. S. Page of Aurora, Illinois; H. C. Lowe, at Lawrence, Kansas; Robert Smart of Ellinwood; Dr. N. Rowe of Chicago; August Belmont of New York; H. W. Huntington of Brooklyn; John E. Thayer of Lancaster, Massachusetts; A. C. Lightall of Denver, Colorado; Colonel R. S. McDonald of St. Louis; Colonel David Taylor of Emporia, and Alfred Haigh of Cable, Illinois. All of the names mentioned held offices in the club at different times during the time the club's coursing grounds were in Barton County. The winner of the all age stake was known as the Champion of America. After the meets had been held in Great Bend ten successive years the club was reorganized and the meets are still continued but are held at different points each year, the town or city offering the best financial inducements being given the preference. Many of the old timers will remember the exciting times that attended meets in Great Bend when numerous bets were made on the outcome of the different races.

TOWNSHIP	FOR	AGAINST	TOTAL
Lakin	1	32	33
Great Bend	156	1	157
Buffalo	5	3	8
Total	162	36	19