Who settled in Haven Township in the spring of 1871 on the land he still owns. At that time his sod house was the farthest west on the south side of the river. He brought the first hogs to what afterward became Haven township, and was the first trustee of that township. He helped found the town of Haven as one of the original townsite company.

Nowadays, people come to Kansas by rail, or auto, but an idea of how they came in 1871 may be of interest. I will specialize on the case of Mrs. J. U. Schoonover, whose experience is as sample of the many. On the 50th anniversary of her arrival here. Mrs. Schoonover talked over with the writer, some of her experiences.

John U. Schoonover had returned from service in the Civil war, and learned that veterans could take 163 acres of land in Kansas, on favorable terms. John loaded his trunk, blankets, and grub-box into a wagon with bows and canvas cover, then called a prairie schooner, drawn by two small horses. Bade his wife and two children goodbye and started from his home in Iowa, for the untried Arkansas valley.

This was in the spring of 1872. After finding a suitable location, NE quarter Sec. 4, T. 25, R. 4 west, he went to Wichita to file on same. At Wichita, he met John Harms and George Schlickau, two young Germans, who were in search of land. Mr. Schoonover told them of the fine land 50 miles up the valley, and offered them a ride, free of cost. In after years, they told him they had come near deserting him in the night, as they feared he was only taking them away from civilization, to rob them. What other motive could he have to be so generous. These men were the means of the founding of the German Lutheran settlement, near Haven.

A month later, Mr. S. wrote his wife that he had found the garden spot of the universe, and was building a house on his own farm, and would write her later, when to come. But weeks seemed ages to Mrs. S. and as she got no letter, she decided to start, and visit friends at Topeka on he way.

Haven folks got their mail from Sedgwick at that time, but the nearest railroad point was Newton, and then took a stage to Sedgwick, where she learned that her future home was 30 miles west, and across the Little Arkansas and Great Arkansas rivers and no bridges.

Nothing daunted, she hired a man with a big wagon and mule team to take her and her two children and the trunk to her destination.

This was during full moon in April, 1872. I had gone the day before to a ranch east of Sedgwick, to get four wild Texas steers he had purchased, and which later, were to become oxen. Knowing that I would pass Sedgwick next morning with those steers at auto speed, and could not stop for mail, I got the mail the day before, for the whole neighborhood, as was the custom, and when a few miles west of Sedgwick, overtook the little family on their way to their future home. As I passed I heard a tender voice that betrayed anxiety, exclaim, "Do you know John Schoonover?" As the name was familiar, I turned back, and she repeated, "Do you know John Schoonover?" I answered that he was my neighbor, and that I had some letters for him.

She said, "Well God bless you, give me those letters, I am his wife." These letters proved to be those she had written a month before.

When I overtook those steers, they were on a Texas trot, and were not much out of the way, although there was no road to follow, and we reached home before night.

I had built a corral, or yard for them 48 feet square near my sod stable, and had arranged with all my neighbors to help yard them. I recall those with horses, I. M. Gray, Caleb Cupps, Eli Younger, and J. U. Schoonover. Those on foot, Hiram Day, Wes Day, John Harms, George Schlickau, and Julius Rising. Now, all are in the Great Beyond. The steers were suspicious of my corral and other improvements, and seemed unfagged by their all day drive. I took a fresh pony and a quick lunch and the yarding began. We brought those steers up to the open gate many, many times, but they would break through our lineup, and escape. At midnight, they seemed as wary as ever, but finally, one entered the gate, by chance, and the gate was quickly closed. The steer was not to be restrained, and he went through the fence, but I was there with my rope and threw it on one hind leg as it was going through the fence, and secured the rope to a post. Another rope was thrown on his horns, and he was brought through the gate and securely tied inside the corral, where the others soon followed. It was past midnight, and horses, men and cattle were nearly exhausted. The steers were duly subdued and tamed and became valuable workers and were the motive power in bringing my claim to cultivation.

John Harms and George Schlickau had walked three miles to help yard the steers, had run many a mile to "head them off" and must now walk home. None of these neighbors would accept pay for their services. A community spirit of generosity existed at that time, that gradually vanished, as prosperity came on. Neighbors changed work in harvest and threshing and the symptoms of thrift were soon in evidence.

Buggies or other spring vehicles were not in use on the frontier at that time, and a spring seat on a farm wagon was a real luxury.

Wheat raising began on a small scale, of necessity, no binders or threshers. The wheat was sowed broadcast and harrowed in, cut with cradles and threshed with flails.

No barbed wire was made at that time. And as the range was unlimited, the stock was herded, or if the farmer had but a few head, they were picketed to a rope tied to a stake driven in the ground. Imagine a farmer with a pig and no pen or boards to make one. A band was fastened around the pig, in front of the fore legs, another band just behind the fore legs. These two bands tied together, a rope with swivel attached, and he was secure. The bands were three per cent per month. Great country this, that could develop under such handicaps. A neighbor once secured a credit for $3 in groceries by giving a chattel mortgage on a horse hitched to a post in front of the store. The merchant went out and made as careful a description of the security as if it had been a thousand dollar deal. The merchant finally failed.

But Kansas was destined to become a great commonwealth, due largely to the industry and integrity of its pioneers. The wives, mothers, and daughters, should have ample credit for the success we attained. They endured all privations cheerfully and contributed largely in building the home on the treeless prairies.

The town of Haven was "started" by the Haven Town Co., in 1886, on the SE quarter of Sec. 5, T. 25, R. 4 west.

The local members of Haven Town Co. were Wm. Astle, Levi Charles, F. W. Ash, and C. W. Peckham, the having purchased this land of B. W. Dunsworth at $40 an acre, Mr. Dunsworth presuming that this price would justify him in selling, and purchasing land at a less price, five miles farther west where he now resides.

The town was laid out in April of that year, and the railway reached Haven soon after. This was a great convenience to the farmers who had hauled grain and hogs to Hutchinson for fifteen years. All kinds of business was soon represented, and Haven has maintained a reputation as a reliable grain and livestock market. The local town company were responsible for the establishment of a creamery and a flouring mill, which were of benefit to the town in its early growth.

The original Town company should be commended for its liberality, inasmuch as it donated sites for the two churches, and their parsonages, 5 acres for a creamery, half a block for the flouring mill, 22 lots for school purposes, and other substantial benefactions, and it is recalled that the Wichita end of the Town company asked if we were going to give the whole town away. But the town was not built for speculative purposes.

As to the name of the town. In the spring of 1873, the writer circulated a petition to the Government to establish a Post Office in the NE quarter of Sec. Ten, T. 25, R. 4 W, to be named Haven, with Caleb Cupps as the first Postmaster. The mail was carried once each week from Hutchinson, at a salary of fifty cents a trip, on paper, which salary is still pending. After six months the Government assumed the carrying, at first weekly, and finally daily trips.

When the town of Haven began, this postoffice was moved to town, and the name of the postoffice was retained as the name of the town, F. W. Thorp became first postmaster here, and also edited the first newspaper, called the Haven Independent.

Referring back to the Schoonover family the Mrs. reached Youngers, where John was boarding while "building" his house, and had a surprise for him as he supposed she was still in Iowa.

Next morning, when nearing her future home, she said "John, why did you paint the house black?" He said it was the only color he had. The house was of the regulation plan and specification. One room, one door, and two windows. But what was unusual, it had a board floor and a carpet on the spare end of the room. The family owns the farm today.

No telephones then to warn when company was coming. Imagine what often happens. A whole family drives up. A clean white tablecloth spread, and a meal fit for a king comes from somewhere. Perhaps cooked with cow chips or hay. Oh my! Give me back those early days. There were many bright spots in those experiences.

But it was not all starvation,
For, sometimes we'd have a feast.
When we'd get a great big box,
From our friends, who lived "down east."

Then, we'd invite in all the neighbors,
And we sure would have some eats.
And we'd pull that jug of cider,
'Til we'd just as red as beets.
Then, we'd clear off all the dishes,
And, we'd set away the chairs,
And, we'd carry out the table,
And we'd stand around in pairs.
Then, we'd take that squeaky fiddle
From its place upon the wall,
And, we'd have a regular shindig,
"Ladies change! And Balance all."
A neighbor wa'nt particular,
Who was dancing with his wife,
And, we'd have the swellest party,
Ye ever seen, in all yer life.
--- C. W. Peckham, The Pioneer ---

SOURCE: The Haven Journal - Haven's 50th Birthday edition - Haven, Reno County, Kansas - May 27, 1936 - page - 16 *** columns - 1, 2, 3 & 4 - submitted by Rose Stout


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