Kiowa County Kansas Newspaper Tidbits

A HAPPY TIME AT GREENSBURG

Greensburg has as many enterprising people as any town in the southwest and we are tempted to say more. They prepared for a big time and a big crowd on the "fourth," and they were in nose wise disappointed, their fireworks were immense so we are informed by good authority and we have no reason to doubt it, for Mr. H. C. Cooper, the purchasing agent on the occassion showed us the freight bill, and the freight on their fine goods alone was seventy dollars. Double that of any town of equal size. Mr. Frank M. Hill, now superintendent, made special rates over his line and it was largely taken advantage of. There must have been a thousand people go to Greensburg from Wichita, Kingman and other intermediate points. Mr. D. H. Rhoades also gave special rates over his line, the K. P. & W., which landed the happy excursion party into Greensburg. The gentleman who squibbed a few days ago from Greensburg must have been a little mistaken about fifty families getting water from one well, and in regard to everybody being at the depot when the train came in also. For we also on our arrival in their city met quite a crowd at the depot, but not one fiftieth its population. Certainly the Fourth was joyfully spent by all who had the pleasure of being present on the occasion. P. B. D. (Wichita Eagle, July 6, 1887)

GREENSBURG'S WATER WORKS

I have just visited the city of Greensburg, and I must say the people are feeling jubilant over the fact that they will soon have the finest system of water works in the state. It is a corporation and is composed of men of wealth and prominence sufficient to guarantee completion as soon as possible: F. E. Gillett, president; T. C. Wales, Treasurer, T. H. Rhoades, sec'y. Consequently the city of Greensburg will soon be supplied with an abundance of water and the hose turned on the many pretty yards which will compel the grass to grow and flourish and as a natural consequence add to the comfort of many homes in their lovely city. Greensburg was blessed with two grand and glorious rains, one on last Saturday and also another on Sunday, which we think will insure an abundant crop of grass. To be sure it would have been received with a greater degree of gladness say two weeks ago, but the people of Greensburg are of that class who take things as they come and scarcely ever murumur. We hesitated somewhat in regard to going to Greensburg just yet, owing to the late reports concerning the dry, hot weather. We expected, of course, to hear almost everybody grumbling at the future outlook, but not so; instead of that, the merchants are all having a splendid trade and look for a large increase over their present business this fall.

You only have to sit a few moments in front of the Queen City hotel and watch the teams flying over the city to find out whether the real estate dealers are doing anything or not. They are a very genial class of gentlemen and only take great pleasure in showing to the many visitors their city as it is and to tell them what they believe it will be in the course of two or three years, a city of 5,000 inhabitants. The Wichita Eagle is being taken by a greater number of people in Greensburg than any other town of like population excepting Pratt center. There are about fifty business men in both Pratt and Greensburg who take the Eagle, and in consequence of this the Mr. Murdock's seen fit to establish a telegraphic correspondent in each of the towns whose duty it shall be to report any news of interest to the general public to the Eagle at the Eagle's expense, hoping the correspondents may do justice to their own towns and to the Wichita Eagle.

Greensburg is becoming somewhat noted as a city for sport. Foot racing is the latest. A race was run yesterday by J. T. Orr and J. S. Coe. Orr came out victoriious. Some of the boys feel good over the race - the winners, of course.

Mr. Gammon, of the former firm of Gammon & Fowler, who is interested in bulding several towns in Kansas and Colorado, is spending a few days in the city of Greensburg.

Greensburg is lively today but what will she be in the course of a few weeks when the Rock Island railroad gets to running their immensely equipped trains into their city? She will surely boom as she never boomed before. Mr. Timmons, of the Empire livery stable, informs us that they are enjoying an excellent trade. But then they are the class of boys that almost everyone likes. No wonder they are so well patronized.

The citizens of Greensburg or quite a portion of them at least, heartily congratulate Wichita on her success in securing the Burton stock car works. Of course it is that class that knows that Wichita's gain is Greensburg's gain.

Hoping we may be able to see you all ere the leaves begin to fall, we are sincerely yours. P. B.(Wichita Eagle, August 6, 1887, page 2)

AFTER A LAND OFFICE

Washington, May 5, C. W. Myers and A. H. Sproule of Greensburg, Kan., are here endeavoring to secure the removal of the United States land office from Larned to Greensburg. An effort was recently made to have the land office at Garden City removed to Dodge and later the town of Deighton, in the Wakeeney land district, coveted the office now located at Wakeeney. Both these efforts failed but the Greensburg citizens, nothing daunted, have sent a committee to Washington to labor with the president and the general land office authorities in behalf of the removal of the Larned office.

The Larned office is just now under a cloud, the register having been suspended and the receiver undergoing an investigation. This is the argument used in favor of its removal from Larned. Greensburg is a new town in Kiowa county about forty miles southwest of Larned. It was founded in 1884 and now claims a population of 10,000. It has two railroads, and is nearer the center of the new settled lands of the district. These are the claims made for it by the committee and the reasons urged for the location of the land office at Greensburg.

The matter has been presented to Mr. Cleveland and Secretary Vilas, and the Greensburg gentlemen express confidence in the success of their undertaking. (Wichita Eagle, May 6, 1888, part 1, page 2)

REPUBLICAN DELEGATES ELECTED

Greensburg, Kan., March 27 - Kiowa county Republicans elected the following delegates to the congressional convention today: O. J. Greenleaf of Greensburg, Oliver Gilbert of Haviland and W. G. Glover of Mullinville. No instructions.

Republican mass convention today instructed for F. C. Price and gave him the privilege to select the delegates. The Davis forces were completely routed.

Kiowa county today selected as delegates to the Great Bend convention George McQuay, A. N. Reed and C. E. Lewis, and indorsed Price.

From the above dispaches received by the Eagle yesterday and last night it is plain that something is wrong out there. A bolt is indicated by a later dispatch to the Eagle, but which came in such shape that some words are missing and hence its meaning is not clear enough to thoroughly understand it. Some charges are made in this later dispatch of a grave nature and in justice to all concerned, including Judge Price and his supporters, it is better to await further development which will be here today. There certainly seems to be bad blood out in Kiowa county and that the dispute will be carried into the Great Bend convention there is no doubt. In one dispatch it is said that the Davis roces were routed. In another dispatch this is denied and the claim is made that he had the regular organization with him and gained a victory. To all appearances they had a very hot time at Greensburg. Judge Price was present at the convention. (The Wichita Daily Eagle, March 28, 1903)

GREENSBURG BANK LOSES $400 AND SAFE IS WRECKED

The Stockmen's State Bank of Greensburg, was entered by three burglars early yesterday. The vault door was broken open with sledge hammers and the outer door of the safe opened with nitroglycerine. Most of the tools used in entering the vault were obtained in Greensburg at the section house and one of the blacksmith shops. About four hundred dollars in money was secured. The steel money chest was not distrubed. The first charge awakened J. Barney, who lives on the street. He aroused some of the citizens and Thomas Hutchinson was the first on the ground. Just as Hutchinson came up to the bank building the three robbers came out. He called to them to halt and they fired at him with a revolver. He returned the fire with a double barreled shotgun and one of the robbers was evidently wounded. The robbers escaped on a handcar. Burglary insurance indemnifies the bank. (The Wichita Daily Eagle, March 28, 1903)

TROOPS GUARDED BITLER

Danger of Kansas Lynching Seems Averted.

Greensburg, Kan.—The possibility of a threatened outbreak and a lynching at the trial of Samuel Hitler, charged with the murder of Mrs. John Rosenberger, were practically eliminated Tuesday afternoon when Hitler was granted a change of venue to Ford county and later safely escorted from the city. The trial will be held during the January term of court. Fear of a lynching Induced Sherlfl Stephenson to request a guard of militia from Gov. Hoch Monday night and Hitler was brought here Tuesday morning handcuffed to Sheriff Stephenson and marched to the Jail and courtroom In a hollow square formed by his guards. The crowd which met the train numbered about 200 but was not demonstrative. The guard and officers consisted of 36 men of company E, of Hutchinson, and remained near the prisoner all day. Bitler was escorted to the train Tuesday night and taken to Hutchinson where he has been confined since his arrest. (Alma, Wabaunsee County, Kansas October 23, 1908 Page 2, submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer)