COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
GRASS OF FLINT HILL COUNTY KNOW NO FAILURE
Winfield, Kan., March 7---The wheat fields of Kansas may sometimes fail to be influenced by the plague in India, but the grass in the Flint Hill country knows no such word as fail, and therein lies a story of prosperity and wealth which even the rich prairies of the west have failed to discount. Cowley county is fortunate in the possession of both, the always reliable grazing lands of the hills and the rich, deep prairie soil along the Walnut and Arkansas rivers. And it is hard to tell to which one of these the county is most indebted for the wonderful properity now enjoyed by Cowley county people generally.
In the good old days, when eastern capital was falling over itself seeking Kansas investments, it is said a gang of shrewd rascals formed no association for the purpose of defrauding eastern tenderfoot, and they chose the Flint Hill country as their base of operations. These green hills were then considered comparatively worthless, but the man in the east, with money to loan, was not aware that such a country as on the map. It was sufficient for him that the lands described by sections, townships and ranges was in Kansas, and he was in the same position with his money that Lincoln was with the wild hog: he could not let it go fast enough. The result was that the entire Flint Hill country, or at least the western slope of the hills, was mortgaged for about four times its actual cash value. Foreclosure followed quickly the discovery of the fraud, and the bona fide residents who understood and recognized the value of the land were thus enabled to secure homes and ranches at bargain prices.
Their brothers on the fertile plains on the west who were amassing fortunes easily and quickly raising wheat commiserated these people, and congratulated themselves that their lots were cast in more pleasant places. But three partial failures of crops and the then prevailing low price of wheat changed the condition of affairs, adn the Flint Hill farmer put money in the bank while his neighbor, who risked his all on what, put a mortgage on his farm and voted the Populist ticket.
But with last year's big crops and good prices another change was rung in, and now prosperity knows no geography. Now the Flint Hill farmer, with his cattle scattered over the hills and valleys of his finely improved ranch, meets his wheat-growing brother, whose bins and pockets are bulging out, and the world contains nothing too good for either.
This diversity, with its natural advantages in climate, soil and water, has made Cowley county conspicuous in her prosperity during the long period of depression succeeding 1897. At no time did her people lose courage or confidence, and adversity proved a blessing, by teaching them to make the most of the advantages given them by Nature. Stockmen learned that for grazing purposes no country on earth excelled the well watered hills and valleys of eastern Cowley county. They also learned that while it was above the lines of danger from infectious diseases, it was also south of the long, cold winters further north, which, with the abundance of feed always produced, make it an ideal place to prepare cattle for market. As a result, this line of industry has been steadily growing, until this winter, the number of cattle fed in this country is something enormous. The winter, which is seldom severe, has been mild, and stock of all kinds has come through the cold weather in splendid shape. The soil also is in prime condition and the fertile valleys along the two rivers on the west side of the county are putting on a mantle of green, the growing wheat giving promises of another good crop. The acreage is much larger this year than last, and it could not be in better condition at this time of the year.
Viewed in any light, and from any side, the Cowley
county farmers have naught but reason for self-congratulation. With last year's crop a great many mortgages were
paid, and the mortgage indebtedness of the county was greatly reduced. Merchants and business men generally have
enjoyed an unusual busines during the last year, and the price of real state, following that of livestock and all
other farm produce, is rapidly increasing in value, with a steadily increasing demand.
(Topeka Weekly Capital ~ 8 March 1898)
Kansas city, Jan. 24 - The Times' Wichita, Kansas,
special says: Reports are received here to the effect that Sheriff Shenneman was shot while arresting Charles Cobb,
alias Smith, a desperado, near Udell station yesterday afternoon and died last night. By the aid of neighbors Smith
was held at a farm house where he was captured to await assistance from Winfield. Upon receipt of the intelligence
at Winfield twenty-five armed men proceeded to the scene of the tragedy and hung Cobb to the nearest tree. Cobb
also killed a constable in Butler county a few days before. (Las Vegas Daily gazette, January 25, 1883)
A DESPERATE UNDERTAKING
Wichita, Kansas, Jan. 30 - Sheriff Watt of this county, assisted by his deputy attempted to remove Cobb the murderer
of Sheriff Shenneman to jail at Winfield but the people getting the news of his intention, paraded the town all
night, forcing Watt to hold the prisoner in the woods until he finally abandoned the attempt and brought Cobb back
to this city. (Las Vegas Daily Gazette, January 31, 1883)
Sheriff Shenneman Killed
Our exchanges of the Kansas border towns, announce the killing of the Sheriff of Cowley County by a criminal named
Cobb, for whom the Sheriff had a writ, and who resisted arrest - firing two fatal shots into the body of the officer
- from the effects of which he died in a short time. The man Cobb was finally arrested by the people of the vicinity
- who placed a rope around his neck and hanged him on the highest suitable limb. Sheriff Shenneman is spoken of
as having been a brave and efficient officer and a good citizen. (Cherokee Advocate, February 2, 1883)
Cobb who killed Sheriff Shenneman was not lynched as first reported - but stands a good chance to be. (Cherkoee
Adovcate, February 2, 1883)
Young Cobb who shot and mortally wounded Sheriff Shenneman some days ago, was taken out jail at Winfield, Kansas,
yesterday by a party of masked men and hanged to a railroad bridge on the outskirts of the town. He confessed to
Mrs. Shenneman the widow of the dead Sheriff that he was Charles Cobb, and gave her his revolver. Subsequently
he stated to Sheriff McIntyre that he had been influenced by reading of the exploits of Jesse James and other desperadoes.
(Las Vegas Daily Gazette)
Winfield, Kan., Dec. 10---George Walker, a well
to do pioneer of Cowley county, hung himself at his farm in the north part of the county. He was an old soldier
and leaves a wife and four children. He was a spiritualist and had been mentally unbalanced for some time.
(Topeka Weekly Capital ~ December 13, 1898)
DENIED MARRIAGE - GIRL KILLS SELF
Wealthy Kansas Miss Could Not Face Seven Years of Waiting
Wichita, Kan., Feb. 18---Catherine Haines, 18 years old, committed suicide on the Haines ranch near Udall, Cowley county, this morning because her father, at this death, provided in his will that she could not marry until she was 25 without losing her share of his $50,000 estate. She shot herself through the heart.
D. S. Haines, her father, died a few months ago.
Miss Haines had been going with young men of thie neighborhood and her father drew up his will to prevent her from
marrying for seven years.
(Daily Oklahoman ~ February 14, 1911)
Woodruff Implicated in a Kansas Murder Mystery Similar to the Cronin case
Wichita, Kans., June 21, Informer Woodruff who has figured so prominently in the Cronin mystery, was a hack driver here and went under the names of both Woodruff and Black, his real name, however being Frank Bellman, the name Black being borrowed from his stepfather.
Before coming here he was mixed up in a murder mystery at Winfield, which has never been unraveled and which at the time was conjectured to be a "removal" of an obnoxious individual by some secret society. One night in April 1887, Mr. William B. Van Cleare, a carpenter of Winfield was heard calling for help. It was found he had been shot through the body and he died in a few days. Before his decease however he made a statement to the effect that on the night on which the shooting occurred he was alone in the house and answered a call at his door, when he was immediately shot by a man he could not recognize.
The inquest lasted a week and among the witnesses was a detective who asserted that this man Black or Woodruff was implicated and that secret society troubles caused the murder. Black was brought before the jury and through the guilt could not be fastened up on him it was generally believed that he knew about the affair. (Wheeling Register, June 22, 1889, Page 1)
The Mayor of Arkansas City
charged with Embezzlement
Arkansas City, Kansas, September 3. - This afternoon Frank P. Schifbauer, mayor of this city, was arrested by the
sheriff, charged with embezzlement of over $9,000. It is claimed that the money received from the sale of certain
bonds had been deposited in the American National Bank, from which he drew it out to pay personal accounts.
He has never turned the money overt to the city treasurer, although he replaced the shortage at the bank.
He gave bond for his appearance for trial. (Times Picayune - September 4, 1890 Transcribed and contributed by:
Frances Cooley)
IN FIT JEALOUS RAGE, A FARMER TAKES 2 LIVES
Young Cambridge Tiller Slays His Sweetheart and Then Kills Self
Follows Fight
Mother of Dead Girl Also Shot at, But Bullet Failed to Take Effect
Winfield, Kans., Jan. 8 - In a fit of jealous rage, Leo Wilson, aged 23 years, a farmer living near Cambridge, 16 miles east of here, last night, shot and instantly killed his sweetheart, Hallie Fromm, shot at her mother, Mrs. Earl C. Fromm, but missed her, and then turned the gun on himself, dying within ten minutes. The double tragedy occurred at the Fromm home north of Cambridge.
Wilson, who had been forbidden to see the girl, entered the house with her. A quarrel ensued. Wilson jerked the pistol from his pocket, pressed it against Miss Fromm's head and fired. She died instantly.
Wilson then fired at Mrs. Fromm, but missed her. She fell in a faint, however, Wilson, believing her dead, then sent a bullet through his own head.
Earl Fromm the girl's father was asleep in the house when the shooting occurred.
Cambridge is about forty miles southeast of El
Dorado. According to a telephone communication to The Times this afternoon from Cambridge, the Fromm family is
well known in the country north of that place. Young Wilson also was favorably known. The double killing has created
much excitement at Cambridge. (El Dorado Times, Tuesday, January 8, 1924)
PAIR BEING
HELD FOR ROCK ROBBERY
Cowley County Officers Searching Today for Another Who Stole $1,850.
Winfield, Kans., Jan. 8 - Officers today are scouring the county east of Winfield for trace of another bandit, who is believed to be implicated in the robbery late yesterday afternoon of the Rock State Bank at Rock, north of there, in which $1,850 in case was stolen.
Two suspects a man and a woman are being held today in connection with the robbery. A satchel containing a large amount of money which is believed to be the stolen loot, has been recovered.
A man and woman whose names had not been made public at an early hour this afternoon are being held in the Cowley County jail at Winfield today on charges of having robbed the Rock State Bank, at Rock, about thirty miles southwest of El Dorado, short before 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Another man, who is believed to have assisted the one in jail at Winfield with the robbery is being sought, it was announced at the sheriff's office at Winfield at noon. His arrest is expected hourly. It is believed he is in hiding near Winfield.
The two bandits secured about $1,850 from the Rock
Bank. The money was recovered last evening near Dexter, southeast of Rock by Cowley County officers. Near the place
where the money was found was a deserted Ford car. The man and woman who are in jail at Winfield were apprehended
near the place.
A Studebaker car which was used by the Rock bandits was found about six miles north of Winfield last night. (El
Dorado Times, January 8, 1924, Tuesday)
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