GIFT OF
JANE KoSATHER
ERRATA
On first line, page 33, Jasper should be Jaspar
On page 46, under election of 1889, should be included:
Sheriff:
A. J, Bvrns, R,
Ed. McDaniel, D.
Treasurer:
Len Follick, R.
J. C. McLean, D
Register of Deeds:
Moses Black, R.
James Vaughn, D.
On page 58, the abbreviation following the candidate
H. J. Sloss, should be D instead of R.
On the 4th line, page 161, the name Adgar should be
Edgar.
A History of
Meade County, Kansas
By
FRANK S. SULLIVAN
g
•»»•»» »
CRANE & COMPANY
Printers, Binders, Publishers
Topeka, Kansas
1916
I
Copyright, 1916,
By Frank S. Sullivan,
Meade, Kansas.
• • •
CONTENTS.
Page
Foreword 7
Acquisition 13
General History. 18
Cities 26
Political 44
Banks 61
Newspapers 68
Churches 72
Public Schools 77
Fraternal Organizations 78
Bonded Indebtedness 81
Highways and Bridges 84
Automobiles 89
The Court House 92
The Salt Well 96
Farm Statistics 103
The Old Calaboose 131
Biographical 139
367995
A History of
Meade County, Kansas
FOREWORD.
N presenting this History of Meade County to
the public I am timidly conscious that it will
meet the full approval of none. In the prepa-
ration of this work I have talked with five hun-
dred people, and received five hundred suggestions as
to what the book should contain. Being anxious to
please, but realizing my inability to carry out the ideas
of the many well-meaning people and confine the work
to one volume, I have discarded much that is interest-
ing, but it has been my intention to include all that is
important or valuable.
The personal experience of every old settler would be
interesting reading ; the achievements of those who
settled upon the frontier in the days "that tried men's
souls," who battled with the elements, subdued the
wilderness and made the desert fruitful, is a story
worthy of the mightiest pen ; the exploits of " Hoodoo "
Brown, the activities of George DeCow, the eccentrici-
ties of Pat Mulligan, the unconscious humor of Pete
Hotz, the martial dignity of Captain Osgood, and the
characteristics, freaks and foibles of many others who
might be mentioned, would, if properly preserved, af-
ford a source of never-ending amusement and enter-
tainment ; but it would not be history.
The inside history of county politics as the game was
played in former days, the plans and schemes, the plots
and counter plots, the maneuvers by which tricks were
[71
8 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
taken and lost, would read like a story by George Ran-
dolph Chester, but I could not go into these matters
without violating the confidence of such eminently
good fellows as Bob Painter, Doug Adams, Fred Fick,
Tom Johnston, Frank Fuhr, Mose Black, Fred Judd,
et al., and the public would certainly not expect me
to do that.
The history of Meade County reads almost like a
fairy tale. Organized in 1885, the country was widely
advertised and hailed as an El Dorado by people all
over the East, who nocked here in great numbers, eager
to secure homes in this modern Eden. Cities and
towns sprang up as if by magic ; railroads were sur-
veyed, manufacturing establishments planned for, and
in a few months the country had the appearance of an
old-established community. But, alas for the good of
the country! so many who settled here were not the
kind to develop a new country. They came mostly
from the old-settled States of the East, and knew noth-
ing of the hardships incident to pioneer life. They be-
came dissatisfied as soon as the novelty of the situation
wore away, and longed for their Eastern homes. To
get away was no difficult matter ; the entire country
was enjoying an era of prosperity, money was easy to
obtain, and many, perhaps a majority of the home-
steaders preempted their claims, mortgaged them the
next day for from $500 to $1000, and left the country,
better off financially than when they came. So many
farms being deserted, business suffered and laxed for a
time, depression ensued, and then came the fall, the
awful, calamitous, tumultuous financial crash that
buried under its ruins the wrecked hopes and shattered
FOREWORD.
ambitions of so many. Meade County was not alone
in this crisis ; the entire West was affected, and great
was the havoc throughout all. But business adapted
itself to changed conditions ; business assurance was
just being restored when occurred the memorable open-
ing of Oklahoma. All eyes were now turned toward
"The Land of the Fair God," and western Kansas was
practically forgotten by the outside world. Meade
County, being in such proximity to the Territory, suf-
fered her proportionate loss of citizens. Nor was the
lost population soon regained, as for years practically
all emigration was toward the "Red Land."
Being deserted by the farmer, the country was natur-
ally given over to the cattle-men, who for years held
full sway, and gathered immense wealth from their herds.
The thousands of acres of rich, succulent buffalo-grass
fed thousands of cattle. The usual mild winters and
light snows made it practicable for cattle to graze the
entire winter and come out in good condition in the
spring, having consumed little or no feed save that
which Nature had so bountifully provided.
But in time the glitter and glare of Oklahoma van-
ished to a great extent. Land there, and elsewhere
eastward, had advanced in value so that a poor man
could not own his home ; landlords became so exacting
that tenants could not pay rent and live ; the poor man
commenced to look for a home, the man with money
to look for investments. Western Kansas presented
her smiling prairies to the world and attracted the at-
tention of homeseekers and of investors. A few of the
more venturesome came west, and those who visited
Meade County viewed with wonder the rich soil, were
10 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
delighted with the climatic conditions, enjoyed the
pure water, breathed the exhilarating, health-giving
ozone, gazed with rapture on the transcendental beauty
of the plains, and located here. They were eminently
successful in tilling the soil, and accounts of their suc-
cess written home caused friends to come, who in turn
induced others to follow. This encroachment on the
range was "viewed with alarm" by the cattle-men, who
did all in their power to discourage immigration by
circulating stories of the poverty of the soil, the uncer-
tainty of crops by reason of insufficient rainfall, the
terrors of tornadoes, and other named and nameless
evils. But in spite of drouths, tornadoes, and evil re-
ports, the settlers came on. The large ranches shrank
away before the increasing tide of immigration, until
finally "free range" was no more and the ranchman
was forced to buy his range or go out of business ; and
finally, recognizing the futility of resistance, or realizing
that they had been mistaken, the stock-men joined
with the farmer in boosting the country, and they now
work harmoniously together.
It is a singular fact that, in nearly every instance,
the man who came to Meade County in the early days
with money, lost it, while the man who came with noth-
ing and was either too poor or too obstinate to leave,
but remained through all the trials and vicissitudes,
has amassed a competence. And it is to such men as
these, such men as Farmer Bisbee, A. V. Angel, Lou
Parsons, Ed Dahmer, Joe Brannon, R. T. Worman,
Linn Frazier, Frank Sourbeer, and others of their ilk,
that Meade County owes its present condition of de-
velopment and prosperity.
FOREWORD. 11
The old order changeth. Where a few years ago
could be seen, like the patriarch's herd, cattle on a thou-
sand hills, now appear homes and schoolhouses and
churches, and where once the seared buffalo-grass alone
turned its bronzed bosom to the sky, smiling fields of
waving wheat fling their banners to the heavens, and
acres of verdant alfalfa greet the delighted eye, and
render odorous, as with sweet incense, the surrounding
air.
Frank S. Sullivan.
Meade, Kansas, July, 1916.
A HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY,
KANSAS.
ACQUISITION.
In the early days of discovery, exploration and settle-
ment, three European nations, England, France, and
Spain, claimed the territory out of which Meade
County was finally carved. Basing its claims upon the
explorations of the Cabots and others, in 1606 the Eng-
lish Crown granted to the London Company and to the
Plymouth Company that vast area of land lying be-
tween the 34th and 45th parallels of latitude and ex-
tending from ocean to ocean. The English made no
attempt to explore the country so far inland, and their
claims upon this territory were early abandoned.
The claims of the French were more substantial.
In 1673 Marquette explored a considerable portion of
the Mississippi Valley ; his explorations were continued
and extended by LaSalle in 1682 ; in 1719 Dutisne
explored a part of the interior, including a portion of
the territory of the present State of Kansas ; these
explorations were continued in 1724 by DuBourgmont,
who also entered and explored a part of Kansas. As
a result of these various expeditions France claimed
the territory which now comprises Meade County as
a part of Louisiana.
The explorations of Spain were more thorough than
those of France. In 1528 Narvaez explored a part of
[13]
14 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
the Mississippi Valley. These explorations were con-
tinued by Cabeca de Veca, who had been an officer
under Narvaez in 1734-36. De Vaca entered Kansas,
passed entirely across the State from east to west, and
possibly crossed Meade County. In 1541 Coronado, in
his search for the fabled Quivira, crossed Meade County,
possibly on his outbound trip, certainly on his return.
In 1762 France ceded Louisiana to Spain, but by the
treaty of 1800 it was re-ceded to France, and by France
ceded to the United States in 1803. However, the
boundaries were not fully determined at that time, and
in 1819 the United States ceded to Spain that part of
Louisiana lying west of the 23rd meridian and south
of the Arkansas river ; so that what is now Meade
County became an undisputed possession of Spain.
Upon Mexico gaining her independence from Spain
in 1821 this territory passed from Spain to Mexico, and
when in 1836 Texas acquired her independence it be-
came a part of Texas. With the annexation of Texas
in 1845 it became a part of the United States, but owner-
ship remained in Texas until under the Omnibus Bill
of 1850 it was ceded by Texas to the General Govern-
ment, and became a part of Kansas under the Organic
Act of 1854.
The Legislature of 1865 fixed the boundaries of
Marion County to include the present territory of
Meade County. In June of the same year Marion
County was organized and its boundaries changed, ex-
cluding this territory, which remained unorganized
and unattached until, in 1873, the Legislature created
Meade County, named in honor of Gen. George G.
Meade, and fixed its boundaries as follows: "Com-
16 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
mencing at the intersection of the east line of range
twenty-seven west with the north line of township
twenty-nine south ; thence south along range line to
its intersection with the south boundary line of the State
of Kansas ; thence west along said boundary line of the
State of Kansas to a point where it is intersected by the
east line of range thirty-one west ; thence along north
range line to where it intersects the north boundary
line of township twenty-nine south ; thence east to
the place of beginning."
In 1881 Meade County was attached to Ford County
for judicial purposes, until Meade County should be
organized.
In 1883 the Legislature dissolved Meade County,
attaching that part lying east of the east line of range
twenty-nine to Ford County, and that part lying west
of the east line of range twenty-nine to Seward County-
The Legislature of 1885 again established Meade
County, with slightly different boundaries, which
boundaries it has ever since retained, and are as fol-
lows : "Commencing at the intersection of the east
line of range twenty-six west with the north line of
township thirty ; thence south along range line to its
intersection with the south boundary line of the State
of Kansas ; thence west along said boundary line of the
State of Kansas to a point where it is intersected by
the east line of range thirty-one west ; thence along
range line to where it intersects the north boundary
line of township thirty ; thence east to place of be-
ginning."
The same Legislature attached Meade County to
Comanche County for judicial purposes, to which
ACQUISITION. 17
county it remained attached until the formal organiza-
tion of Meade County.
In 1885 a petition for organization was presented to
Gov. John A. Martin. I. N. Graves was appointed
census-taker. His return showed a population of 3507,
of whom 1165 were householders.
Proclamation of organization was issued Nov. 4th,
1885 ; Meade Center was designated the temporary
county seat, A. D. McDaniel temporary County Clerk,
and L. S. Sears, H. L. Mullen and E. M. Mears as the
temporary Board of County Commissioners. The
election to choose a permanent county seat, and perma-
nent officers for the first term, was held on January
5th, 1886.
During the campaign the question of the location
of the county seat overshadowed everything else, and
much enmity was created, especially between the
partisans of Meade Center and of Carthage. The vote,
which chose Meade Center as the permanent county
seat, was as follows :
Meade Center. .486 Mertilla 3
Fowler 231 Pearlette 3
Carthage 188 Odee 2
Byers 1
The election, which was non-partisan, resulted in
choice of the following officers : Representative, R.
M. Painter ; County Commissioners, Chris Schmoker,
Hugh L. Mullen, J. D. Wick; County Clerk, M. B.
Peed; Probate Judge, N. K. McCall ; Sheriff, T. J.
McKibben ; Treasurer, W. F. Foster ; Clerk of the
District Court, W. H. Willis ; Register of Deeds, C.
W. Adams ; County Superintendent, N. B. Clark ;
County Attorney, Sam Lawrence ; Surveyor, Price
Moody ; Coroner, E. E. Buchecker.
GENERAL HISTORY.
Long prior to permanent settlement the territory
now comprising Meade County was frequently visited
by hunters, traders and adventurers. Prominent among
these was Jedediah Strong Smith, a great-uncle of our
esteemed fellow-citizen E. D. Smith, who visited this
territory as early as the year 1818. Just who the first
permanent settler was, and the date of settlement, are
matters of much conjecture, but it is generally conceded
that the first permanent settlement was at Meade City,
about twelve miles north of the present town of Meade,
and was in the year 1878. In 1879 a colony consisting
of sixteen families from Zanesville, Ohio, settled at
Pearlette. The original Pearlette was near the site
of the town afterwards surveyed and platted, but not
the identical location. John Jobling was president of
the company responsible for this settlement, and his
son, William Jobling, still a resident of Meade County,
is perhaps the "oldest citizen," considered from a
standpoint of continuous residence. Andor Eliason,
who resided in this county up to the time of his death
about two years ago, settled in 1879, as did also Frank
Sourbeer, who is at present an efficient magistrate of
Meade Center Township. Perhaps the oldest unaltered
building in the county is one now on the farm of Frank
Marrs, built by Mr. Sourbeer.
The first newspaper published in Meade County
was the Pearlette Call, the first number being issued in
April, 1879, by Addison Bennett.
[18]
re
C
20 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
The early settlers endured all the hardships incident
to pioneer life. For years all provisions were freighted
from Dodge City, then a notorious "border town."
The railroad penetrated Meade County in the year
1887, which gave business a new impetus and practically
abolished the "freighter."
The early settlers were buoyant with hope, and were
quick to indorse and accept any plan calculated to
develop the country's resources, and for this reason
were rendered an easy prey to designing schemers with
"blue sky" to sell. A scheme that appealed strongly
was a proposition to establish sugar mills for the manu-
facture of cane sugar. Great encouragement was
given these enterprises, township bonds were voted and
issued in their aid, and at least two mills — one at Meade,
the other at West Plains — were built. The one at
Plains never attempted to operate, but the one at
Meade encouraged and induced the farmers to plant
large acreages of cane, and contracted for the cane at
fair prices. But, unfortunately, while the cane grew
and thrived, sugar could not be produced from it, or
at least it could not be produced in sufficient volume,
to make the enterprise a success financially, and so
the sugar-mill went the usual way of wildcat schemes.
Underhand methods and fraud were alleged, graft and
corruption were openly charged, but it was never proved
that anyone ever made any money, honestly or dis-
honestly, out of the sugar-mill venture.
In the late 80's and early 90's, the country at that
time being largely devoted to stock-raising, the county
was sorely infested with cattle thieves more or less or-
ganized, and the aggregate losses to the legitimate
GENERAL HISTORY. 21
stock-growers from these depredations were enormous.
The good citizens organized to fight the evil, many
prosecutions were commenced although few convictions
were secured, but the activity of the organization and
of the prosecuting officers eventually convinced the
law-breakers that Meade County was an unprofitable
locality in which to pursue their nefarious vocation ;
the bands were broken up, some of the members re-
formed and quit stealing cattle, and others "stole
away," so that for many, many years the owner of
cattle has been able to sleep in peace, secure in the
knowledge that his herds were safe.
During the decade from 1890 to 1900 the selling price
of real estate in Meade County was nil; there was
absolutely no demand for land ; a good quarter-sec-
tion of land could be bought for one hundred dollars,
for fifty dollars, for twenty-five dollars, for any price
one cared to offer, but there were practically no offers.
The population decreased until but few more than a
thousand souls found refuge within the bounds of the
county. Most of the land was owned by the Govern-
ment or by non-residents ; few of these non-residents
considered the land of sufficient value to warrant them
in paying taxes, and they paid no tax. But finally
the cattle industry had grown to such an extent that
jealousy over the range sprang up, and in order to
control certain range some enterprising stock-man
would buy a quarter or two of land. Thus some slight
market for real estate was created, but the price paid was
usually from $50 to $100 per quarter-section. About
the year 1900 a few adventurous persons, investors,
"speculators" as they were called, commenced buying
22 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
land at the ridiculously low prices mentioned. Other
investors followed, land gradually advanced in price
to a dollar an acre, then came the real-estate agent,
who assisted the speculator in disposing of his invest-
ments and in boosting the price, the price advanced to
a dollar and a quarter, to two dollars an acre, and then
came the actual settler. The Government land was
homesteaded, the land was cultivated, the results were
profitable, land continued to advance, until today the
price of wheat land ranges from $15 to $40 per acre,
and very little unimproved land can be bought at the
lower price.
On August 5th, 1887, B. F. Cox, while drilling a well
on the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 31,
Range 27, struck a flow of artesian water at a depth of
142 feet. These flowing wells were not considered of
much value as a commercial proposition at that time,
but the land underlaid by artesian water has since at-
tained a commercial value of anywhere from $50 to $150
per acre, and the beginning of the end is not yet in sight ;
the possibilities of this particular portion of the county
have not been appreciated. There is probably no
more fertile, productive, desirable location in the whole
world than the famous Artesian Valley of Meade
County. Here Nature puts forth her noblest efforts
to please, and the results are all that the most exacting
could desire. Given the most fertile soil that Nature
has provided, the most delightful climate that mankind
enjoys, and Nature's most precious bestowal, pure
water (more than 98 per cent pure by chemical analy-
sis), cool and sparkling, boiling up from the earth's
pure fountains, with a strong continual flow, no wind-
1
*
CO
o
, s
24 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
mills to keep in repair, no gasoline engines to maintain,
no creaking windlass, no moss-grown, microbe-covered
bucket, no drouth to fear, no floods to destroy, — what
more could a farmer desire? No one can go through
this valley, so wonderfully endowed with Nature's
blessings, without a desire to call a part of it his own.
The orange groves of California, the apple orchards of
Oregon, the pine woods of Maine, the magnolia blos-
soms of Dixie Land, may appeal to some, but give to
me a spot 'neath Heaven's canopy that puts to shame
the skies of Italy, where I can see the sunflowers grow-
ing by the roadside, with their golden faces turned to-
ward their God, and catch the fragrance of alfalfa blos-
soms on every zephyr that floats o'er the Artesian
Valley, and you may have all the world beside.
Deposits of iron ore and of peat have been discovered ;
salt is found in more or less abundance, and was at one
time manufactured by evaporation, but owing to lack
of transportation facilities at that time the enterprise
proved unprofitable and was abandoned. Immense
deposits of silica exist, which is just commencing to
be of commercial importance.
Ira McSherry, from his farm about three miles south
of Meade, is now filling a contract with James H.
Rhodes & Co., Chicago, manufacturers of industrial
chemicals, whereby he furnishes them a stated quan-
tity of silica per year for five years. The price real-
ized by Mr. McSherry is $2 per ton, delivered at Meade.
The Cudahy Packing Co. own large deposits of this
mineral, and in the year 1915 built a railroad from their
mines a few miles north of Meade, connecting with the
GENERAL HISTORY. 25
C. R. I. & P. at Fowler, for the purpose of transport-
ing the product of these mines.
The Puck Soap Company own silica beds just west
of Meade, and other deposits are found in various parts
of the county.
A great deal has been written, and more told, concern-
ing the Indian fight which occurred on Sand Creek, in
Meade County, but it is of little importance in history.
In September and October of 1878 a band of about two
hundred Northern Cheyennes left their reservation
near Fort Reno and started north, crossing Meade
County, and in fact crossed the entire State of Kansas.
An all-day's fight took place in the southeast part of
the county between these Indians and 140 soldiers, the
latter being assisted by about 60 civilians, mostly cow-
boys. One or two of the whites were slightly wounded,
and while the damage to the Indians is not definitely
known, the loss was small.
CITIES.
Soon after the settlement of the county commenced,
and prior to its organization, cities and towns sprang
up as if by magic, although many of them existed only
on paper and in the promoter's vision. Various town-
site companies were organized and incorporated. The
first of these was The Meade Center Townsite Com-
pany, incorporated May 25th, 1885, with E. M. Mears,
C. G. Allen, Henry H. Rogers, Alex. Bailey, I. N.
Graves, James A. Morris, and A. D. McDaniel, direct-
ors.
The Belle Meade Town Company followed, incorpo-
rating June 6th, 1885, with J. M. Brannon, Robt. P.
Cooper, John Schmoker, James H. Elmore, and H.
Chaney, directors.
The next to incorporate was the Spring Lake Town
Company, receiving its charter July 6th, 1885. The
directors of this company were D. G. Stratton, L. K.
Mclntyre, J. C. Marts, J. F. Shore, O. Norman, J.
W. Hotz, Frank Sourbeer, Geo. W. Winder, Al Wirt,
Geo. B. Allen, and N. B. Clark.
Then followed the Meade Center Town Association,
incorporating July 10th, 1885, with W. P. Hackney,
W. S. Mendenhall, R. L. Walker, F. E. Gillett and Ledru
Guthrie as directors, none of whom were residents of
Meade County.
The Meade County Town Company incorporated
next, and on Aug. 22nd, 1885, with John Werth, L.
[26]
28 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
B. Ostrander, Thomas H. Campbell, John Schmoker,
and John B. Innis, directors.
After this came the Atwater Townsite Company, in-
corporated Oct. 18th, 1887, with James E. McCall,
John J. Mohler, John I. Jones, Wm. B. Long, H. L.
Markley, John E. Maxwell, and Lewis Maston, di-
rectors.
The Denver, New Orleans and Rock Island Town
Company, incorporated Dec. 7th, 1887, with John
Werth, John W. Taylor, N. B. Potter, A. McNulty,
and T. McNulty, directors.
The Massachusetts Town Site Company, incorpo-
rated Jan. 6th, 1888, with Frank R. Gammon, B. B.
Brown, Willis G. Emerson, Geo. L. Stevens, and Hugo
Lundborg, directors.
The Title Land and Town Lot Company, incorpo-
rated Jan. 30th, 1888, with A. H. Heber, Willis G.
Emerson, Geo. L. Stevens, Edward Doll, B. B. Brown,
D. W. Higbee, and Selah A. Hull, directors.
First Oklahoma Town Company was incorporated
April 13th, 1889, with A. H. Heber, W. F. Schell, M.
W. Sutton, Willis G. Emerson, G. W. McMillen, L. E.
Steele, Geo. Theis, Jr., H. B. Stone, and E. M. Mears,
directors.
The West Plains Townsite Company was incorpo-
rated Dec. 2nd, 1884, with Charles W. Mosher, Ed-
ward M. Mears, William Leighton, William Randall,
and Morris T. Roberts, directors.
Besides these incorporated companies there were
several copartnerships and numerous individuals in-
terested in promoting towns and townsites.
On July 9th, 1885, the Meade Center Townsite Com-
CITIES. 29
pany purchased from the United States Government
the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 2,
the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 10, the
west half and the northwest quarter of Section 11, all in
Township 32, Range 28, containing 520 acres, for $650,
and surveyed and platted a portion of the same. On
Oct. 21st, 1885, an order for the incorporation of the
city of Meade Center was issued by Hon. James A.
Ray, Judge of the District Court of Comanche County,
to which Meade County was at that time attached for
judicial purposes. The organization was completed
on Nov. 3rd, 1885, and at the same time the following
officers were elected : Mayor, Peter E. Hart ; Police
Judge, William C. Osgood ; Councilmen, Nelson But-
ton, E. A. Twist, George M. Roberts, David Truax,
and Wm. H. Stewart. The organization of Meade
Center, and the election of the first officers, were legal-
ized by act of the Legislature of 1886, and the name
was changed to Meade by act of Legislature of 1889.
On March 24th, 1886, the Townsite Company quit-
claimed the land theretofore purchased to the United
States, and it was conveyed by the Government to
Peter E. Hart, Mayor, in trust for occupants, on April
2nd, 1885. On March 31st, 1886, the official plat of
the original survey, Block "A," First and Second Addi-
tions, and out-lots Nos. 1 and 2, was filed. Several
additions were afterwards surveyed and platted.
Meade has always been the county seat, and has
always grown apace with the country in general. At
the present time it has two banks, two newspapers,
three elevators, good telephone and electric-light ser-
vice, one of the best systems of waterworks in the State,
30 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
and all lines of general business, as well as the profes-
sions, are ably represented.
The 1916 census gave Meade a population of 886.
The town of Touzalin was promoted by the Meade
Center Town Association. It was located on the
northwest quarter of Section 36, Township 32, Range
28, and was surveyed in August and September of 1884.
The first building was erected in March, 1885. It en-
joyed a slight boom for a time, supported, or "sported,"
three stores, a hotel, livery barn, blacksmith shop, etc. ;
but within three years after the first building was
erected there remained nothing to mark the spot where
the hoped-for city once stood. One handicap under
which the promoters worked was the difficulty in se-
curing water on the townsite. The buildings were
moved away, and one of them was the building occu-
pied by The First National Bank of Meade until it
was torn down to make room for the present bank
building.
The Mertilla Town Company, Joseph E. Sherrill,
President, Henry C. Shuey, Secretary, was a copartner-
ship. They filed the original plat of Mertilla Nov-
6, 1886, which included about fifty acres, described as
follows: "Beginning at a point 730 feet east of the
southwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section
30, Township 30, Range 29; thence north 730 feet;
thence west 1460 feet ; thence south 1460 feet ; thence
east 1460 feet ; thence north 730 feet, to place of be-
ginning." Two additions were platted later.
Mertilla early became a town of considerable prom-
ise. "Red" Jim High was proprietor of the first store.
In addition to this there were two other stores, a hotel,
32 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
livery barn, blacksmith shop, drug store, etc. Dr.
Ostrander originally owned a drug store in Carthage.
After Meade Center had been selected as the county
seat the evacuation of Carthage commenced, and Dr.
Ostrander moved his drug store, building and all, to
Mertilla.
In the latter part of 1887 Mertilla commenced to go
the way of Carthage and other defunct towns ; most
of the buildings were moved away, and in another year
or two there was practically nothing remaining to mark
the townsite, save the schoolhouse, which afterwards
burned down. The drug-store building was moved to
the farm of J. N. Stamper, and at the present time the
schoolhouse in the Boyer district is the old drug store
of Carthage and Mertilla, somewhat remodeled. The
barn now on the Rexford farm, in Mertilla township,
was built of lumber from the old Mertilla hotel. The
townsite of Mertilla was vacated by act of the Legis-
lature of 1893.
On May 17th, 1888, the Kansas Town and Land
Company, owner of 51 per cent, and George W. Ragon,
owner of 49 per cent, filed the plat of Jasper, which in-
cluded all that part of the east half of the southwest
quarter of Section 26, Township 31, Range 29, that lies
north of the right-of-way of the C. K. & N. Railway
(now the right-of-way of the C. R. I. & P.). This
town, being on the railroad, was never absolutely de-
serted, but has never attained any great proportions.
In 1909 Fullington & Marrs, a real-estate firm of Meade,
made some slight attempt to promote this town. A
new site was surveyed, near the old site, but was a
part of the southwest quarter of Section 25, and the
CITIES. 33
town was called Jasper, the name being afterwards
changed to Collingwood, and still later to Missler.
Greensward was surveyed, and the plat filed Aug.
21st, 1886, by Basil O'Donald and W. H. Rubottom.
This townsite consisted of sixteen blocks, covering an
area 1460 feet by 1470 feet, partly on the southeast
quarter and partly on the southwest quarter of Sec-
tion 12, Township 34, Range 27. A few lots were sold,
but that is as far along as the promoters ever got with
this town. In 1899 the Legislature vacated the town-
site.
Nirwana City was dedicated by N. K. McCall, Pro-
bate Judge, under an act of Congress, it being located
on Government land, occupying a part of Sections 2
and 3, Township 35, Range 29. Plat was filed Nov.
22nd, 1886, and showed twelve blocks, each 300 feet
square, Block No. 12 being set aside for a public park.
This site was afterwards re-surveyed and some slight
changes made. Nirwana never made any substantial
growth, but had at one time two stores, a blacksmith
shop, and a feed barn.
Just prior to the beginning of Nirwana City, J. M.
Byers started a store and blacksmith shop on his farm
near Nirwana, calling the embryo town in honor of
himself, Byers. Another little store followed, but after
Nirwana was laid out Byers moved his store, shop and
town over to the " City," and the town of Byers was no
more. The first Democratic primary held in Odee
Township met in the blacksmith shop at Byers, and
elected delegates to the county convention.
Odee, while never surveyed or platted, was the name
given a store down in Odee township by the sole pro-
34 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
prietor, "Little" Pratt. Pratt sold out and his suc-
cessor died, which destroyed any chance Odee may have
had of becoming a metropolis. A postoffice by that
name was conducted in that neighborhood until a few
years ago. Odee was named in honor of O. D. Lemert,
who was credited with securing the establishment of the
postoffice.
Fowler City was surveyed, platted and dedicated by
George Fowler, owner of the land, which was a part of
the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 31,
Range 26 ; plat filed May 1st, 1886. Various additions
have since been made to this town. Fowler City was
duly organized and incorporated, and flourished for a
time, but finally, as the country gradually depopulated,
it became dormant, and so remained for many years
without city government, but it was never abandoned,
and was always a good trading point. In April, 1908,
it was reorganized and municipal government again
established under act of the Legislature of 1907. At
that time Fowler had a population of 345. The reor-
ganization proved a good thing for the town and com-
munity, and Fowler has grown and prospered ever since.
At present it has two banks, three elevators, a news-
paper, a modern hotel, municipally owned light and
water plant, and all general lines of business are well
represented. The 1916 census gave Fowler a popu-
lation of 503.
The West Plains Townsite Company purchased Sec-
tion 16, Township 32, Range 30, from the State, and
proceeded to lay out the city of West Plains. The
original plat was filed Jan. 17th, 1885, but an amended
plat was filed May 18th, 1886. This was the original
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36 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
survey, and included an area of 2250 feet square, taken
out of the center of the section. Later a plat of the
first addition was filed, which included all the remainder
of Section 16.
West Plains was originally incorporated on April
26th, 1888, and, like Fowler City, prospered and lan-
guished, then became dormant for many years, resum-
ing municipal government.
Again, like Fowler, West Plains was never entirely
depopulated, and while for years the number of families
residing within its limits could be counted upon one's
fingers, it always remained a good trading point, its
one store, Parsons, supplying the wants of farmers and
ranchmen for as great a distance as forty miles.
In 1902 Plains, as it is commonly called, commenced
to grow, and has enjoyed a steady development ever
since. Quite recently an election was called for the
purpose of voting bonds for a municipal light and water
plant, which proposition carried without one dissent-
ing vote.
Besides a large number of smaller business enter-
prises, Plains has three large general stores, a bank, two
hotels, an efficient telephone system, good schools,
Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic Church, three
elevators, one of which is the largest in the county,
and claims the distinction of shipping more wheat than
any other town in Kansas. The 1916 census gave
Plains a population of 477.
Atwater comprised the southeast forty acres of Sec-
tion 34, Township 33, Range 29. The plat was filed
Nov. 9th, 1887. It had a general store, blacksmith
shop, public hall, etc. It was quite a social center, the
CITIES. 37
principal social activity of those days being confined
to dances at the hall, at which dances Bill Long usually
furnished the music and Fred Judd did the calling ;
the proceeds, after paying the rent, being divided be-
tween Long and Judd in the ratio of 2 to 1. A post-
office bearing the original name was maintained in the
neighborhood of the old town until a few years ago.
The townsite was vacated by the Legislature of 1899.
Rainbelt, unplatted, was located about two miles
northwest of the present site of Missler, and was quite
a little trading point for a time.
Artesian comprised about forty acres in the south-
east corner of the southwest quarter of Section 6, Town-
ship 31, Range 27. The plat was filed by F. M. Davis
Dec. 27th, 1887. Artesian acquired two stores, a hotel,
real-estate office of the promoter, and a postoffice, al-
though the postoffice was acquired by the absorption
of another town. In 1885 the town of Springlake was
commenced in the vicinity of where Artesian was laid
out two years later. A postoffice was established at
Springlake which was afterwards moved to Artesian,
but the name of the postoffice was unchanged. The
Missouri Pacific Railway Company had proposed to
build a railroad across the northern part of Meade
County, and the town of Artesian was on the proposed
route. However, the railroad failed to come, and the
town went. This townsite was vacated by the Legis-
lature in 1893.
Pearlette occupied an area 1460 feet square in the
northeast quarter of Section 27, Township 30, Range
27. Plat was filed June 1st, 1886, by John Jobling,
Jr., and Robert Wright. The original Pearlette came
38 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
into existence and a postoffice was established in 1879,
but it was not surveyed or platted until 1886, and the
site as platted was nearly a mile from the original loca-
tion. Originally the Joblings conducted a store, and
the postoffice ; Addison Bennett published a news-
paper, The Pearlette Call, for a time, commencing in
1879, but as the newspaper business was not then a
profitable one in Meade County the Call was short-
lived. The town showed some evidence of prosperity,
but finally disappeared, some of the buildings being
moved to other towns.
Carthage was established by the Carthage Town
Company on the east half of Section 31, Township 31,
Range 28, about the time that Meade Center came into
existence. It exhibited great signs of prosperity for
a while, attaining a population of something like three
hundred or four hundred, and was a very aggressive
candidate for the location of the county seat. As soon
as this question was settled adversely to the interest
of this town, it disintegrated with great rapidity ; many
of the buildings were moved to Meade, some to other
towns, some to farms, and soon there was nothing left
of Carthage but a regretful memory.
Helvetia was the name given an embryo town located
on Section 2, Township 30, Range 30. This town was
the creation of Abe Sorter, who conducted a little store
in conjunction with the postoffice. A blacksmith shop
was also established there, but the town failed to
44 boom," and ceased to exist in 1888.
Belle Meade originated in the fertile brain of John
Werth, and its original location was on his timber
claim, the northwest quarter of Section 8, Township 31,
40 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Range 27. A postoffice was secured, with one, Milli-
gan, as postmaster, who also conducted a little store in
connection. Afterwards Chris Schmoker secured the
postoffice and moved Belle Meade to his farm, and still
later the city was moved to the farm of John Schmoker,
on the southwest quarter of Section 20, Township 31,
Range 27. Here it grew some, acquiring two stores
and a hotel. The building used as a hotel is now the
dwelling on the farm of J. M. Wood, near Meade.
Belle Meade was originated late in 1879, or possibly
early in 1880.
Skidmore was the name given to a little store estab-
lished on the homestead of Miss Skidmore, in Section
8, Township 31, Range 28. However, the town found
"poor skidding," and failed to prosper.
Roanoke was the name of another brain-storm, lo-
cated on land now owned by John Wehrle, in the Val-
ley. It made no^iurther progress than to secure a
name.
Another vision^ the vicinity of the Eliason farm was
called Artois, but.< fike Roanoke, it existed only in the
imagination of its promoter.
The first town with which Meade County was threat-
ened was located on Section 16, Township 31, Range
28. "Cap." French w^as a surveyor and locator; in
the summer of 1878 he located two parties on this sec-
tion, and in conjunction with them he formed the plan
of establishing a city at that place, to be called Meade
City. A little store was gut up, a few other buildings
were erected Jjrpm time to time, a postoffice was secured,
but the town Tailed to grow to any appreciable extent,
and was abandoned about 1884.
CITIES. 41
A well-authenticated story is told concerning an ad-
venture of Cap. French during the Indian raid in the
fall of 1878. A band of Indians came to Meade City,
and, noticing a grindstone, they compelled French to
turn it while they sharpened their knives. It was an
unpleasant task for him, as he fully expected that when
the knives were all sharpened some Indian would test
the edge of his instrument on his scalp. However, he
was agreeably surprised when they departed without
molesting him further. A short distance away, how-
ever, they killed a freighter and took possession of his
outfit.
Another story in connection with this Indian raid
is, that at a ranch house, either in Meade or Clark
County, a large quantity of dried apples was secured,
of which the Indians ate greedily without subjecting
the fruit to the process of cooking. They proceeded
on their way toward Meade City, but before reaching
that point one of the squaws, having drunk profusely,
discovered that dried apples and artesian water do not
constitute a proper combination, and died in great
agony. She was buried in a small ravine, the body
being placed in a ditch washed out by drainage-water
and covered loosely with earth. The body was soon
exposed, and about a year afterwards it was found by
Oliver Norman. The bones were not intact, and Mr.
Norman secured the skull, desiring it as a specimen of
Indian anatomy. As portions of the skin still ad-
hered to the bones he hung the skull in a tree for
further "curing." While it yet remained in this tree
some eastern tourists observed it, and reported to the
eastern press the discovery of a strange tribe of savages
42 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
who disposed of their dead by depositing the bodies
in the branches of trees.
Meade City was succeeded by Jo-Ash, located about
a half-mile to the west. Jo-Ash acquired two stores,
a postoffice, and was a regular mail route on a regular
stage line. After two or three years it passed into
memory.
Red Bluff and Carmen were once postoffices. Miles
was a little store and postoffice conducted for many
years by Captain and Mrs. Busing, on the south side
of the Cimarron. The postoffice of Lakeland was in
the Painter family through several administrations, and
is now on the Hulburt ranch, Zada-Black Hulburt,
P. M., while S. E. Matthews, the founder, still conducts
the store and handles the mail at Uneda.
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POLITICAL.
While the political complexion of Meade County
has always been strong Republican, with the exception
of a brief period of time during the days of Populism,
in local affairs the people have generally exercised their
best judgment and voted without regard to party lines,
considering the general fitness of the candidate as of
more importance than his party affiliations. As a re-
sult there has never been a time when all of the county
officers were of the same political faith, and the public
has been unusually fortunate in securing capable officers.
In the tables which follow, the name appearing first
is the one elected to the designated office, and the names
following are the unsuccessful candidates. The party
affiliation is indicated by the abbreviation following
each name, and the year of election by the figures pre-
ceding each list.
1886.
Representative M. J. O'Meara, D.
R. M. Painter, R.
Probate Judge W. D. Hudson, R.
0. J. Loofbourrow, D.
Clerk District Court Fillmore Hudson, R.
W. H. Willis, D.
County Clerk W. H. Young, R.
Matt B. Peed, D.
Sheriff George F. Eckert, R.
Thomas G. McAuliffe, D.
Treasurer C. S. Rockey, R.
J. W. Taylor, D.
[44]
POLITICAL. 45
Register of Deeds C. W. Adams, R.
J. W. Jamison, D.
Superintendent N. H. Mendenhall, R.
N. B. Clark, D.
County Attorney S. R. House, R.*
A. F. Hollenbeck, D.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
J. A. Dupree, D.
Coroner H. Chaney, R.
E. E. Buchecker, D.
Commissioner 1st District J. H. Randolph, R.
James Vaughn, D.
Commissioner 2nd District Chris. Schmoker, R.
Ed. McDaniel, D.
Commissioner 3rd District E. M. Mears, R.
F. J. Beckwith, D.
1887.
Sheriff. . . George F. Eckert, R.
E. B. Summers, D.
Treasurer C. S. Rockey, R.
E. T. Hughes, D.*
Register of Deeds Jesse Summers, R.
Wm. McKim, D.
County Clerk . . L. E. Brown, R.
T. C. Bonham, D.
Surveyor K. P. Smith, R.
John Werth, D.
Commissioner 1st District J. H. Randolph, R.
D. K. Griffin, D.
Coroner I. N. Graves, R.
Benjamin F. Cox, D.
1888.
Representative A. H. Heber, R.
Robert E. Steele, D.
H. F. Caldwell, Union Labor.
* In September, 1888, Mr. House resigned, and R. W. Griggs was appointed to fill the un-
expired term.
46 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Probate Judge W. D. Hudson, R.
E. T. F. Thompson, D.
C. F. Cahoon, U. L.
Clerk District Court D. B. Stutsman, D.
E. B. Russell, R.
C. T. White, U. L.
County Attorney . . R. W. Griggs, R.
M. L. Brown, D.
J. M. Holcomb, U. L.
Superintendent * • N. H. Mendenhall, R.
James B. High, D.
Mary Dalgarn, U. L.
Coroner William Lake, R.
O. J. Loofbourrow, D.
Commissioner 2nd District E. D. Smith, R.
D. Barragree, D.
R. P. Cooper, U. L.
1889.
Surveyor John G. Fonda, R.
John Werth, D.
County Clerk L. E. Brown, R.
J. R. Graves, D.
Coroner. . William Lake, R.
Dennis Callaghan, D.
Commissioner 3rd District CM. Piymell, D.*
John H. Ellis, R.
M. H. Howard.
1890.
Representative A. H. Heber, Ind.
S. M. Bennett, Peo.
James Wilson, R.
* C. M. Piymell at the time of his election was City Clerk of the city of West Plains, which
office he continued to hold after he had qualified as County Commissioner. On April 29th,
1890, L. B. Kellogg, Attorney-General, commenced proceedings in quo warranto against Piy-
mell in the Supreme Court. The opinion, filed in May, 1891, ousted Piymell from the office
of Commissioner, for the reason that the law forbids a County Commissioner from holding any
other office. The other two members of the Board, with the County Clerk, elected W. F. New-
house to fill the vacancy, Mr. Newhouse receiving two votes and E. J. Graves one vote.
48 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Probate Judge W. D. Hudson, R.
H. F. Caldwell, Peo.
County Attorney Geo. S. Selvidge, Peo.
R. W. Griggs, R.
Clerk District Court D. B. Stutsman, Peo.
Minor Weightman, R.
Superintendent. Mollie Dalgarn, Peo.
Carrie B. Campbell, R.
Commissioner 1st District William Beaty, Peo.
Gamaliel Rogers, Peo.
Coroner C. P. Fletcher, R.
1891.
Treasurer Len Follick, R.
R. L. Sawyer, Peo.
County Clerk J. F. Armstrong, R.
U. G. Park, Peo.
Register of Deeds Moses Black, R.
J. E. McCall, Peo.
Sheriff A. J. Byrns, R.
Geo. B. Allen, Peo.
Surveyor John Werth, Peo.
J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner C. Button, R.
J. M. Riney, Peo.
Commissioner 2nd District Frank Lohr, R.
E. P. Boyle, Peo.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, Peo.
J. N. Stamper, R.
1892.
Representative James Wilson, Peo.
R. M. Painter, R.
Probate Judge Andrew Graham, R.
D. H. Bryant, Peo.
Clerk District Court F. W. Fick, R.
N. R. Bishop, Peo.
Superintendent D. P. Wysong, R.
J. A. Porterfield, Peo.
POLITICAL. 49
County Attorney A. T. Bodle, Jr., R.
Geo. S. Selvidge, Peo.
Coroner A. Kessler, R. (to fill vacancy).
G. W. Umbarger, Peo.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, Peo.
Rhees Singley, R.
1893.*
County Clerk J. F. Armstrong, R.
J. R. Graves, D.
Register of Deeds Belle M. Peed, D.
B. F. Stivers, R.
Sheriff S. D. Adams, D.
Richard Buis, R.
Treasurer Geo. W. Wiley, R.
J. C. McLean, D.
E. J. Graves, Peo.
Surveyor John Werth, D.
J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner A. Kessler, R.
Commissioner 1st District William Beaty, D.
John B. Innis, R.
1894.
Representative R. M. Painter, R.
S. N. Butts, People's Party.
Clerk District Court F. W. Fick, R.
H. G. Marshall, P. P.
Probate Judge Andrew Graham, R.
X. B. Sawyer, P. P.
County Attorney F. M. Davis, P. P.
A. T. Bodle, Jr., R.
Superintendent Jennie Kessler, R.
Commissioner 2nd District B. H. Cordes, P. P.
Benjamin White, R.
♦There were three tickets — Republican, Democratic, and People's Party. The same
candidates were nominated by the Democrats and the People's Party in 1895, and the same in
1894 except that the People's Party had a different candidate for County Treasurer.
50 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
1895.*
Treasurer Geo. W. Wiley, R.
F. G. Hamilton, D.
County Clerk E. F. Rieman, R.
J. F. Armstrong, D.
Register of Deeds Belle M. Peed, D.
Carrie B. Campbell, R.
Sheriff S. D. Adams, D.
Geo. W. Potter, R.
Surveyor John Werth, R.
Oliver Norman, D.
Coroner C. Button, D.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, D.
E. N. Sharp, R.
1896.*
Representative John Wehrle, D.
R. M. Painter, R.
Probate Judge Andrew Graham, R.
X. B. Sawyer, D.
Clerk District Court Erne Coon, R.
Etna Dalgarn, D.
County Attorney A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
Geo. B. Allen, D.
Superintendent Jennie Kessler, R.
Commissioner 1st District John B. Innis, R.
Jacob Heape, D.
1897.*
County Clerk E. F. Rieman, R.
S. D. Adams, D.
Treasurer Geo. B. Cones, R.
D. B. Stutsman, D.
Sheriff F. C. Judd, D.
A. J. Byrns, R.
Register of Deeds Nettie Bonham, R.
Belle M. Peed, D.
* There were three tickets in the field — -Republican, Democratic, and Populist, but the
nominees of the Democratic and Populist Parties were the same.
-
52 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
Oliver Norman, D.
Coroner Ed. Otto, R.
Theodore Wolfley, D.
Commissioner 2nd District John F. Conrad, D.
R. W. Campbell, R.
1898.*
Representative Geo. W. Wiley, R.
John Wehrle, D.
Probate Judge David Truaz, R.
T. B. Petefish, D.
Clerk District Court Effie Coon, R.
Lottie Snyder, D.
County Attorney A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
Geo. S. Selvidge, D.
Superintendent J. A. Porterfield, R.
James T. Walter, D.
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden, D.
B. F. Bisbee, R.
1899.*
Treasurer Moses Black, R.
James Wilson, D.
County Clerk Frank Wehrle, D.
N. B. Peck, R.
Sheriff F. C. Judd, D.
A. J. Byrns, R.
Register of Deeds Winnie Bonham, R.
Ormond Hamilton, D.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
Claus Borger, R.
Surveyor John H. Ellis, R.
Oliver Norman, D.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.f
John O. Keith, R.
* In 1899 there were three tickets — -Republican, Democratic, and Populist, but the nomi-
nees of the last two were identical.
t In August, 1899, the Clerk of the District Court, Effie Coon, resigned, and John O. Keith
was appointed to fill the vacancy until the next general election. In this election he was de-
feated by John Elliott, who was inducted into office on Nov. 14th, 1899, thus completing by
more than one year the term for which Effie Coon had been elected in 1898.
POLITICAL. 53
Commissioner 1st District John B. Innis, R.
J. R. Keith, Pop.
1900.*
Representative S. D. Adams, D.
A. O. Edmunds, R.
Probate Judge E. W. Jenkins, R.
W. J. Woodard, D.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
F. Sourbeer, R.
Superintendent Maggie Martin, D.
J. A. Porterfield, R.
Commissioner 2nd District John F. Conrad, D.
W. C. Schmoker, R.
County Attorney Geo. S. Selvidge, D.
F. M. Davis, R.
1901. f
Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden.
Albert Hemple.
1902.
Representative R. B. Campbell, R.
S. D. Adams, D.
County Attorney Geo. S. Selvidge, D.
A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
Treasurer Moses Black, R.
County Clerk D. P. Wysong, R.J
Frank Wehrle, D.
* In 1900 there were three tickets — Republican, Democratic, and People's Party, the last
two having the same nominees.
t The canvassing board found that the candidates for County Commissioner had each re-
ceived 43 votes. Straws were drawn to decide the tie. Mr. Hayden, having drawn th« long
straw, was declared the winner. Thereafter Mr. Hemple instituted a contest. He was rep-
resented by attorneys A. T. Bodle, Sr., R. W. Griggs, R. M. Painter, F. M. Davis, and E. D.
Smith. Attorneys for Mr. Hayden were A. B. Reeves, A. T. Bodle, Jr., Geo. S. Selvidge, and
Geo. B. Allen. The contest was heard by E. W. Jenkins, Probate Judge, with Darius Skinner
and R. W. Campbell as associate judges. The contest board decided in favor of the con-
testee, Mr. Hayden, and assessed the costs, taxed at $185, against Mr. Hemple.
% Mr. Wehrle contested the election, alleging that the election boards had rejected numer-
ous legal ballots, which, if counted, would have resulted in the election of Mr. Wehrle. The
principal point of contention was as follows: The Democrats had failed to make nominations
for some of the offices, and where this occurred there was printed in the. space intended for the
candidate's name the words, "No Nomination," followed by a voting square. Many who
voted for Mr. Wehrle also placed a cross in the square opposite the "No Nomination." This
was held to vitiate the whole ballot, and it was accordingly thrown out. Mr. Wehrle con-
tended that these ballots were legal, and should have been counted. Mr. Wehrle was rep-
resented by attorneys F. C. Price, A. T. Bodle, Sr., and A. T. Bodle, Jr. ; Mr. Wysong by at-
torneys R. W. Griggs, F. M. Davis, E. D. Smith, S. S. Ashbaugh, and R. M. Painter. The
case was heard by E. W. Jenkins, Probate Judge, R. A. Harper and John W. Ellis, associate
judges, and F. G. Hamilton, clerk. The contest board sustained the election boards, declared
Mr. Wysong elected, and taxed the costs, $130.64, against Mr. Wehrle.
54 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Probate Judge E. W. Jenkins, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
J. I. Stamper, R.
Sheriff Samuel B. Givler, R.
Samuel P. Bunch, D.
Register of Deeds Winnie Bonham, R.
John W. Russell, D.
Superintendent Maggie Martin, D.
Bertha Campbell, R.
Surveyor J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner C. B. Leslie, R.
Wm. F. Fee, D.
Commissioner 1st District T. V. Pinnick, R.
J. H. Randolph, D.
1904.
Representative . .Geo. B. Cones, R.
H. E. Hayden, D.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
J. R, Griggs, R.
Treasurer Ormond Hamilton, D.
County Clerk D. P. Wysong, R.
Frank Wehrle, D.
Probate Judge A. T. Bodle, Sr., R.
William Jobling, D.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
E. 0. Palmer, R.
Sheriff Samuel B. Givler, R.
Sam Conger, D.
Register of Deeds Florence Smith, R.
Charles E. Tally, D.
Superintendent Ruth Bennett, D.
Frilla DeCow, R.
Surveyor J. M. Robinson, D.
J. H. Ellis, R.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
C. B. Leslie, R.
56 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Commissioner 2nd District John F. Conrad, D.
Geo. M. Edwards, R.
Commissioner 3rd District J. W. King, D.
B. H. Cordes, R.
1906.
Representative S. D. Adams, D.
Geo. B. Cones, R.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
F. P. Marshall, R.
Treasurer Ormond Hamilton, D.
Edward Desmarias, R.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
W. H. Dalgarn, D.
Probate Judge J. H. Randolph, D.
S. O. Ball, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
Ira Scott, R.
Sheriff J. S. Price, D.
J. F. Pinnick, R.
Register of Deeds Florence Smith, R.
Charles E. Tally, D.
Superintendent Ruth Bennett, D.
E. B. Reay, R.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
Geo. A. Nickelson, R.
Commissioner 1st District William Jobling, D.
T. V. Pinnick, R.
1908.
Representative J. E. McNair, R.
S. D. Adams, D.
County Attorney D. P. Wysong, R.
Geo. B. Allen, D.
Treasurer Moses Black, R.
J. C. Hall, D.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
W. J. Woodard, D.
POLITICAL. 57
Probate Judge . J. H. Randolph, D.
J. H. Ellis, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.*
Frank Ellis, R.
Sheriff J. S. Price, D.
A. J. Byrns, R.
Register of Deeds W. T. Gray, R.
C. H. Burford, D.
Superintendent Mattie Haigh, R.
Lou McCrellis, D.
Surveyor N. C. Galway, R.
G. W. Dalgarn, D.
Coroner E. W. Fletcher, R.
Wm. F. Fee, D.
Commissioner 2nd District James Wilson, R.
F. I. Bennett, D.
Commissioner 3rd District F. M. Paul, Sr., R.
T. B. Novinger, D.
1910.
Representative Geo. B. Cones, R.
H. Llewellyn Jones, D.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
D. P. Wysong, R.
Treasurer John F. Sweet, R.
H. Albertson, D.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
Probate Judge J. H. Randolph, D.
M. S. Gillidett, R.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
John O. Keith, R.
Sheriff Thos. Martin, D.
E. W. White, R.
Register of Deeds W. T. Gray, R.
Superintendent Mattie J. Haigh, R.
Jessie M. Chase, D.
* In this election the two candidates for Clerk of the District Court each received the same
number of votes. The tie was decided by lot. At the suggestion of Mr. Ellis six straws, three
long and three short, were placed in a book, the ends projecting, and the candidates drew
alternately. Mr. Elliott drew two long straws and was declared elected.
58 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Surveyor N. C. Galway, R.
George Hockaden, D.
Coroner E. A. Twist, Ind.
Commissioner 1st District A. B. Roberts, R.
Wm. Jobling, D.
1912.
Representative E. L. Watt, R.
H. J. Sloss, R.
Isaac Covalt, So.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
Treasurer J. F. Sweet, R.
J. D. Dalgarn, So.
Probate Judge J. H. Randolph, D.
A. J. Paden, R.
Newton Snyder, So.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
J. D. Golliher, So.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
John Lusk, Jr., So.
Sheriff Thos. Martin, D.
J. A. Spencer, R.
R. J. Walk, So.
Register of Deeds W. T. Gray, R.
Superintendent Pearl Wood-Smith, D.
Frank Carlson, R.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
G. A. Nickelson, So.
Commissioner 2nd District John Cordes, D.
H. N. Holderman, R.
Commissioner 3rd District T. B. Novinger D.
S. T. Frederick^ R.
1914.
Representative H. Llewellyn'Jones, D.
Geo. W. Day, R.
C. B. Leslie, Progressive.
60 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
County Attorney Frank S. Sullivan, D.
F. M. Davis, R.
E. D. Smith, Prog.
Treasurer R. W. Campbell, R.
Frank Wehrle, D.
C. M. Gates, Prog.
County Clerk W. W. Pressly, R.
F. W. Calvert, Prog.
Probate Judge C. A. Marrs, R.
J. H. Randolph, D.
Blanche Love, Prog.
Clerk District Court John Elliott, D.
Erne Sandusky, R.
Sheriff L. G. Krisle, D.
Frank Ellis, R.
H. E. Hoon, Prog.
Register of Deeds Ira Scott, R.
W. H. Dalgarn, D.
Jennie Crocker, Progressive.
Superintendent Pearl Wood-Smith, D.
Surveyor Moses Black, R.
Chas. Havens, Prog.
Coroner Wm. F. Fee, D.
E. W. Fletcher, Prog.
Commissioner 1st District A. B. Roberts, R.
John Staples, D.
Charles Haskins, Prog.
BANKS.
Meade County has not been lacking in financial in-
stitutions. The first bank to incorporate was the
Meade County Savings Bank, incorporated July 30th,
1885 ; Isaac N. Graves, R. R. Wells, H. H. Rogers, C.
W. Adams, A. H. Heber, E. F. Seeberger, E. L. Mead,
and L. E. Steele, Directors. This bank, however,
never opened for business.
The first bank to do business in Meade County was
The Meade Deposit Bank, a private bank, which com-
menced business in Meade Center in the fall of 1885 :
M. J. O'Meara, President; B. F. Cox, Vice-President;
M. H. Ewart, Cashier. About a year later it national-
ized, and became The First National Bank of Meade
Center. It operated as a national bank for a couple
of years, when it went into involuntary liquidation,
with John C. Fry as receiver.
The Meade County Bank, Meade Center, was incor-
porated Feb. 26th, 1886, with a capital stock of $50,000.
Directors, A. H. Heber, M. Wightman, Ed. Dool, C.
S. Rockey, and Chas. P. Woodbury. It afterwards
nationalized under the name of The Meade County
National Bank, but in 1890 it again became a State
bank under its original name and with its original cap-
ital stock; A. H. Heber, Geo. L. Stevens, E. F. Rie-
man, E. T. Brawley, and Chas. P. Woodbury, Direct-
ors. Soon afterwards it liquidated and went out of
business, Geo. B. Cones winding up its affairs as
trustee.
[61]
62 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
The Farmers and Stockgrowers Bank was incorpo-
rated Nov. 20th, 1886, capital stock $50,000, and opened
for business at Meade Center, with the following Di-
rectors : Isaac N. Graves, Samuel Williams, Lewis K.
McGuffin, Oscar B. Hamilton, and Ormond Hamilton.
This bank was reincorporated August 31st, 1891, with
a capital stock of $5,000, and with Ormond Hamilton,
F. G. Hamilton, M. P. Hamilton, J. W. Hamilton and
M. H. Tripod as Directors. At this time the mercury
in the thermometer of business had reached to almost
zero, and it continued to descend for some years. This
bank was conservatively managed, but under the ad-
verse conditions existing at that time success was un-
attainable, and the bank became insolvent. In 1896
Louis Boehler was appointed receiver, and remained
in charge of the assets until the affairs were settled,
and he was finally discharged in 1902. And it is to the
credit of the receiver and of the officers and stock-
holders of the bank, that after paying the expense of
the receivership and the preferred claims, the general
creditors realized more than seventy-eight cents on the
dollar, a much higher rate than is usually paid by an
insolvent.
The Citizens State Bank, Meade Center, was in-
corporated Aug. 5th, 1887, with a capital stock of $100,-
000 ; George C. Strong, E. G. Robertson, C. W. Adams,
W. H. Young, Wm. K. Palmer, Coleman Rogers, and
A. J. McCabe, Directors. This bank was reorganized
Jan. 11th, 1889, under the name of The Citizens Bank
of Meade Center ; capital stock, $50,000. Directors,
E. G. Robertson, Coleman Rogers, Arthur J. McCabe,
C. W. Adams, and C. E. Cones. It soon thereafter
liquidated.
64 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
The Bank of West Plains, West Plains, was incorpo-
rated Jan. 11th, 1888; capital stock, $50,000. Direct-
ors, B. B. Brown, W. C. Gould, C. Gould, H. B. Stone,
and R. F. Crawford. This bank continued to do busi-
ness until the general conditions of the country warned
the Directors that a continuation would mean failure,
when they closed their doors, paid depositors and
creditors in full, and quit business. The officers,
Brown, Gould and Stone, went to Colorado and en-
gaged in the banking business at Lamar.
A private bank was also organized at Fowler, in the
late 80's, of which Wm. Beaty was president, B. F.
Cox, Vice-President, O. S. Hurd, Cashier ; capital
stock, $5,000. It paid out in full and quit business in
1890.
Of the banks at present doing business in Meade
County, The Meade State Bank was incorporated
Aug. 22nd, 1899. Directors, C. Q. Chandler, W. S.
Berryman, J. W. Berryman, N. A. Berryman, and Emily
Berryman. Its capital stock was $5,000, which was
increased to $10,000 in 1900. In 1903 this bank was
reorganized, under the same charter, with R. A. Harper,
President, B. F. Cox, Vice-President, Louis Boehler,
Cashier. In 1909 the capital stock was again increased,
this time to $30,000. It now has a surplus, in round
numbers, of $13,000, and deposits of $200,000. Its
depositors are protected by the Bank Depositors' Guar-
anty Fund of the State of Kansas.
The First National Bank of Meade opened for busi-
ness on May 2nd, 1904, with the following officers :
President, J. B. Buck ; Vice-President, Geo. S. Sel-
vidge ; Cashier, F. W. Curl. The Directors, in addition
BANK3. 65
to the President and Vice-President, were : E. A.
Twist, Linn Frazier, B. F. Leach, J. R. Graves, and Geo.
B. Cones. The present officers are : W. F. Casteen,
President ; J. F. Conrad, Vice-President ; F. W. Curl,
Cashier. Its capital stock is $25,000, and its surplus
and deposits, in round numbers, are respectively $25,-
000 and $180,000. Its depositors are protected by
bond in The Deposit Guaranty and Surety Co.
The Fowler State Bank, Fowler, was incorporated
April 3rd, 1906, with a capital stock of $10,000, and
with the following Directors : R. A. Harper, J. C. Hall,
Leo P. McMeel, Louis Boehler, W. P. Bunyan, and F.
D. Morrison. Its present officers are : R. A. Harper,
President ; T. V. Pinnick, Vice-President ; F. D.
Morrison, Cashier ; John F. Sweet, Assistant Cashier.
Its present capital stock, surplus and deposits are,
respectively, $25,000, $12,500, and $100,000. It is
under the protection of the Bank Depositors' Guar-
anty Fund.
The First National Bank of Fowler commenced
business Jan. 3rd, 1910, with the following officers :
President, John F. Conrad ; Vice-President, J. C.
Hall ; Cashier, D. B. Mitchell ; Directors, John F.
Conrad, J. C. Hall, Linn Frazier, John Boucher, and
J. M. Dowell. Its present officers are : Linn Frazier,
President ; J. C. Hall, Vice-President ; Geo. D. Hall,
Cashier. Its capital stock, surplus and deposits are,
respectively, $25,000, $15,000, and $115,000. Its de-
positors are protected by surety bond.
The Plains State Bank, Plains, was incorporated
July 7th, 1906, with the following Directors : J. A.
Collingwood, D. A. Collingwood, Joe G. Collingwood,
66 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
S. G. Demoret, Ella Demoret, and J. H. Collingwood,
the last named of whom has been Cashier since the
bank's organization. Its present capital stock and
surplus are $35,000 ; its deposits are $150,000.
The American Mortgage Trust Company was char-
tered August 15th, 1887, with an authorized capital
stock of two hundred thousand dollars. Its purposes
were to negotiate loans on farm and city property, to
purchase securities, and to own and sell real estate.
The Directors were : A. H. Heber, Willis G. Emerson,
L. S. Sears, L. W. Brown, Edward Dool, R. P. Brown,
Geo. L. Stevens, D. W. Higbee, and L. D. Rogers,—
all of whom were residents of Meade County, save
the last three. This company flourished for a time,
but finally became involved. Geo. S. Selvidge was ap-
pointed receiver, and at a receiver's sale in 1899 R. W.
Griggs purchased the entire assets of the corporation
for three hundred dollars.
ARTESIAN WELL ON THE B. F. LEACH FARM,
NEWSPAPERS.
Meade County is the rock that has wrecked the
hopes and shattered the dreams of many newspaper-
men. In the early days almost every boom town
"sported" but did not "support" a newspaper. The
result was that these papers were published with more
or less regularity as long as the editor could get credit
for white paper and printer's ink, and then died a
natural death. I use the expression "natural death"
advisedly, because it is but natural that these early-
day newspapers, under the economic conditions that
then existed, should come to an untimely end.
The first paper published in Meade County was The
Pearlette Call, by Bennett & Lowery, the first edition
appearing April 15th, 1879, and the last bearing date
May 8th, 1880.
In May, 1885, C. K. Sourbeer issued the first num-
ber of The Spring Lake Hornet, which continued to ap-
pear monthly until the summer of 1889.
In June, 1885, E. E. Henley commenced publishing
The Fowler Graphic, and continued until 1891.
The Carthage Times was published from June, 1885,
to January, 1886.
In July, 1885, Cannon Bros, issued the first number
of The Meade Center Press. In December of the same
year this paper was sold to Mechler Bros., and the name
changed to The Press Democrat. In March, 1886,
Mechler Bros, sold to H. Wiltz Brown, and in 1890
Brown unloaded on Sam Lawrence, who published the
NEWSPAPERS. 69
paper under the name of The Meade Democrat until
1894, when he sold to C. G. Allen, and publication was
suspended in 1895.
In the spring of 1887 T. J. Palmer (referred to af-
fectionately by his friends and derisively by his ene-
mies, as " Toe-jam") issued The Meade Republican,
which existed until 1894.
In the summer of 1887 H. L. Bishop published The
Mertilla Times, but the times were too hard and this
paper lived but a few months.
In 1887 Lon Whorton issued the first number of
The Meade Center Telegram, and the last number was
issued the following year.
The West Plains Guardian was published from 1887
to 1889.
The Fowler Advocate was published for about a year,
commencing in 1887.
The Meade County Globe was established in July, 1885,
by J. Malcolm Johnson. In August, 1886, this paper
was purchased by Frank Fuhr, and by him published
for twenty-seven years. Mr. Fuhr witnessed the rise
and fall of practically all of the newspaper ventures,
and it is chiefly from him that the information in this
chapter is obtained. In November, 1913, Mr. Fuhr
sold the Globe to W. S. Martin, who has since been its
publisher.
In 1900 John Wehrle established The Meade County
News, and continued to publish it until' in 1909, when
it was sold to The Meade Publishing Company, a cor-
poration organized by the business men of Meade.
John Innis was placed in charge as business manager
ard E. D. Smith as editor. After a few months Smith
70 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
retired, and was succeeded by John Miller, who edited
the News for about a year. Miller was succeeded as
editor by Agnes Wehrle, who conducted the paper a
while for the corporation, and in July, 1912, Miss
Wehrle purchased the plant, and the corporation went
out of existence.
In 1906 I. J. Stanton established The Fowler Gazette,
and published it until 1914, when he sold out to W. R.
Bond, who, after a brief experience, sold to Perry Bros.,
who changed the name of the paper to The Fowler News.
Maurice McDonald established The Plains Journal
in 1907. After about a year he sold to E. B. McCon-
nell. Mr. McConnell published it for three or four
years and then sold to F. W. Calvert, the present owner
and editor.
In addition to the regular newspapers there is pub-
lished during the school year The Tattler, published by
the Meade High School students, and The High School
Life, published by students of the Fowler High School.
It is not recorded that the publisher of any Meade
County newspaper acquired great wealth by his enter-
prise. But that is neither a reflection on, nor a criti-
cism of, Meade County. For the most part these
papers were established in the early days, the "boom"
days, the promising days, and the newspaperman, like
the merchant, the banker and others, simply followed
the light that failed.
SOME WELL.
CHURCHES.
The history of civilization shows that the missionary
followed closely the discoverer, and so we find the early
settlers of Meade County active in the organization of
religious societies, long before the organization of the
county.
The first organized church in the county was the
First Congregational Church of Crooked Creek, or-
ganized in 1879. On October 1st, 1879, Geo. S. Emer-
son deeded to Silas E. Ayres, W. D. Ayers and H. M.
Fordes, Trustees of said church, a plot of ground in
the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of Sec-
tion 6, Township 30, Range 26, described in the deed
as follows: "After allowing for the road on section
line and extension four hundred feet, and three and a
half feet east and west, and two hundred and sixteen
and one quarter feet north and south."
A church building was erected on this grant ard a
cemetery provided for, which cemetery still marks the
spot. Rev. Mr. Feemster was the first pastor. This
church was regularly organized, but was not incorpo-
rated.
The first incorporated church was Pleasant Prairie
Congregational Church, incorporated March 18th,
1881, more than four years prior to the organization of
the county, with John Schmoker, Peter Blair and Chris-
tian Schmoker as trustees. Services were held at the
old Belle Meade schoolhouse.
Next to incorporate was the Meade Center Metho-
[72]
CHURCHES. 73
dist Episcopal Church, incorporated March 26th, 1886,
with George W. Evington, Samuel D. Huffman, David
Truax, Sam Lawrence and Geo. Wallace as trustees.
This church was organized by Rev. J. N. Stamper,
who was its first minister, and, it is said, preached the
first sermon in Meade.
Closely following this was the First Methodist Epis-
copal Church of Fowler City, incorporated June 18th,
1886, with James B. Brewer, George Fowler, Smith
S. Pine, Alfred V. Carpenter and Alexander A. Major
as trustees.
Then came the Church of Christ of Meade Center,
incorporated Aug. 9th, 1886, with F. P. Scott, A. D.
McDaniel, A. J. Davis, M. B. Peede and C. G. Allen
as trustees. This church prospered for a time, but
later languished, and the church building was after-
wards secured and used by the First Baptist Church,
organized in 1899.
Next was the First United Presbyterian Church of
Meade Center, incorporated Jan. 14th, 1887, with H.
I. Stevens, Edward Tring, E. D. Smith, M. E. Huston
and M. W. Milligen as trustees. As an organization
this church never obtained a permanent foothold, and
most of its members united with the First Presbyterian
Church of Meade Center, which was incorporated Jan.
22nd, 1887, with Edward Dool, Edward P. Boyle and
James A. Lynn as trustees.
On Feb. 22nd, 1887, the First Methodist Episcopal
Church of West Plains was incorporated, with Benj.
P. Bruce, Fred Baddeley, Thos. Beaty, Harry B. Stone
and Ernest Russell as trustees. This church main-
tained its organization until the city of West Plains
was practically depopulated, when it lapsed.
74 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
The Crooked Creek Methodist Episcopal Church
was incorporated Oct. 6th, 1887, with J. W. Brock,
Wm. J. Brown and John L. Smith as trustees.
The First Baptist Church of Meade was incorpo-
rated Aug. 24th, 1899, with William T. Dick, Mrs. M.
A. Williams, X. B. Sawyer, A. V. Angel and H. G.
Yocum as trustees. The first pastor of this church
was Rev. J. M. Robinson.
Then came the First Baptist Church of Plains, in-
corporated Jan. 22nd, 1904, with Luellen Edwards,
A. J. Parsons, J. W. King, G. W. Gillidett and J. B.
Sullivan as trustees. Coincident with the organization
of this church a building was erected by popular sub-
scription, which building, while being primarily under
the control of the Baptist Church, was to be opened
freely to any other denomination desiring to use it.
April 7th, 1904, the Evangelical Lutheran St. Johan-
nes Congregation or Society, Odee Township, was in-
corporated, with Henry Borchers, Henry Winter and
Henry Eckhoff as trustees.
The Free Methodist Church of Mertilla was incorpo-
rated May 20th, 1908, with C. F. Bowyer, George W.
Branstetter, J. S. Cornish, P. L. Triplett and Al-
bertus Fry as trustees.
This was followed by the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Plains, incorporated Aug. 19th, 1910 ; A.
S. Prather, A. L. Driver, O. D. Overton, N. A. Geisinger
and H. M. Wooten, trustees.
Next was the First Christian Church of Fowler, in-
corporated Jan. 5th, 1911 ; J. G. Clark, J. L. Runyan,
W. E. Carr, John W. Sims and George Lasater, trustees.
After this was the First Baptist Church of Fowler,
o
ANOTHER GUSHER.
76 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
incorporated June 21st, 1911 ; William T. Dick, Charles
VanDoren and John Foster, trustees.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Uneda came
last, incorporated March 24th, 1913 ; Geo. P. Gamble,
H. H. Ford, J. W. Steele, O. J. Easton and P. J. Mitch-
ell, trustees.
In addition to these churches there were, first and
last, many others maintaining organizations that were
not incorporated under the State laws, some of which
are still active. Among the latter are the Roman
Catholic Churches at Fowler, Plains, and Meade, the
last named of which is among the oldest churches in
the county. In October, 1888, this church purchased
about a quarter of an acre of ground lying just north
of Block 25, First Addition, and erected a building
thereon, which was used until a few years ago, when,
it being considered no longer fit, it was razed, and the
present church built.
Then there is St. Augustine Protestant Episcopal
Church of Meade, built in 1911, and the Christian
Church, organized in February, 1916; the Friends,
who have just completed in Fowler the most modern
and beautiful church building in the county. The
Mormons have an organization in the country south
of Missler, and the Mennonite Church in what is
known as "the Colony," south and east of Meade.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public schools of Meade County compare most
favorably with those of other counties of the State.
The county is divided into 44 school districts, having
a school population of 1,738, and employing 72 teachers.
Both Meade and Fowler maintain well-equipped
accredited high schools, the former employing 14 in-
structors and the latter 12. Plains employs 5 teachers.
Of the teachers employed in the public schools, 24
hold State certificates, 9 hold Normal Training certifi-
cates, 13 have first-grade county certificates, 12 second-
grade, and 14 third-grade.
Each of the towns has splendid modern school build-
ings, and many of the country districts have school-
houses that would do credit to any community.
The average wage paid teachers for the year 1915-16
was $90 per month, for high-school teachers, $70 per
month for teachers in the grades, and $55 per month
in the rural schools.
[77]
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Meade County is noted for its Fraternal Societies,
and probably, in proportion to its population, has more
fraternalists than any other county in Kansas.
The M. W. A. have a camp at Plains, organized in
1904. Plains Lodge No. 367, A. F. & A. M., was or-
ganized in February, 1912.
Fowler Lodge No. 519, I. O. O. F., received its
charter on Oct. 10th, 1901 ; Fowler Rebekah Lodge
No. 406 was chartered Jan. 21st, 1902; Fowler Camp
No. 1768, M. W. A., received its charter on March
3rd, 1898; and Friendship Camp No. 1768, R. N. A.,
was chartered Dec. 5th, 1908.
The city of Meade is especially distinguished as a
fraternal center.
Of the lodges still active, the oldest is Webb Lodge
No. 275, A. F. & A. M., its warrant bearing date Feb.
16th, 1887; Webb Chapter No. 304, O. E. S., was
chartered on May 14th, 1908; and on Feb. 16th, 1909,
the 22nd anniversary of the blue lodge, a warrant was
issued for Meade Chapter No. 46, R. A. M.
A charter was issued for Meade Lodge No. 523,
I. O. O. F., Oct. 10th, 1901 ; for the Meade Rebekah
Lodge No. 422, on Sept. 19th, 1902; for Meade En-
campment No. 138, on Oct. 10th, 1907 ; and a warrant
was issued for the Canton of Patriarchs Militant No.
8, on Nov. 6th, 1907.
Meade Lodge No. 22, K. of P., was organized in
November, 1911.
[78]
80 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Meade Center Lodge No. 247, A. O. U. W., was
granted a charter on Sept. 4th, 1902.
A charter was issued to Meade Camp No. 1738,
M. W. A., on Aug. 12th, 1892; and to Middlemarch
Camp No. 622, R. N. A., on April 10th, 1902.
Meade Council No. 225, Sons and Daughters of
Justice, was organized in February, 1906.
Meade Center Post No. 388, while previously exist-
ing, was reorganized in 1909.
Artesian Camp No. 201, W. O. W., was organized
in July, 1915.
Meade also has an organization of the A. H. T. A.
Three members of the Meade organizations are at
present the heads of three great orders, viz. : R. M.
Painter is Department Commander of the G. A. R. of
Kansas ; O. R. Stevens is Grand Patriarch of the Grand
Encampment, I. O. O. F. ; Frank S. Sullivan is Grand
Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, Grand Domain
of Kansas.
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.
On March 15th, 1888, Meade County issued one
hundred twenty bonds of one thousand dollars each,
bearing six per cent and due in twenty years, in aid of
the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska Railroad. These
are the only bonds ever issued by the county as an orig-
inal obligation, all subsequent issues — and there have
been several — being for the purpose of taking care of
these original bonds, and other accrued indebtedness.
The bonds standing against the county at the close
of the fiscal year, July 1st, 1915, are as follows :
$26,000 due in 1929, bearing 5 per cent interest.
$95,000 due in 1936, bearing 4^ per cent in-
terest.
$50,000 due in 1938, bearing 4J^ per cent in-
terest.
The present bonded indebtedness of the different
townships is as follows :
Meade Center $7,500
West Plains 6,000
Sand Creek 2,000
The cities are bonded as follows :
Meade $37,350
Plains 20,000
Fowler 29,300
181]
82 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
The various school districts had in outstanding bonds,
July 1st, 1915, as follows :
Joint No. 1 $800
No. 2 23,500
No. 5 600
No. 10 1,000
No. 14 200
No. 16 10,000
No. 18 12,200
No. 22 400
No. 39 400
No. 58 600
No. 60 800
No. 61 1,200
No. 62 500
No. 66 1,000
No. 69 100
FRANK MARRS AND ONE OF HIS WELLS.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
In the construction and maintenance of highways
and bridges, Meade County has expended considerable
money during the last ten years. In 1889 the Legis-
lature enacted a law declaring all section lines in Meade
County to be public highways. As the country was
largely devoted to stock-raising, this law soon proved
to be very objectionable to a majority of the citizens,
and was repealed by Chapter 212 of the Laws of 1895.
So long as the country was used largely as a grazing
proposition, little farming being done, there was but
little use for roads, and very little money was ex-
pended on their upkeep. But as the country devel-
oped, as farmers required means for marketing their
crops, and especially since the automobile has come
into general use, the demand for more and better roads
has been insistent, and Meade County today probably
has better roads than any other county of the same
population.
Up to this time 77 miles have been designated as
county roads, as follows : A road extending from the
northwest corner of the city of Plains north to the
county line, 14 miles ; extending from the southeast
corner of the city of Plains south to the State line,
practically 18 miles ; a road extending north from
Missler to the county line, 11 miles ; a road connecting
Plains, Meade and Fowler, located as follows : Com-
mencing at the northeast corner of the city of Plains,
thence 1 mile north, thence 5 miles east, thence 2 miles
[84]
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES. 85
north, thence 4. miles east, thence one half-mile south,
thence 1 mile east, thence one half-mile south, to the
northwest corner of Section 5, Township 32, Range
28 ; thence, commencing at the southeast corner of
said Section 5 and extending east to the city of Meade ;
from Meade the road goes north about one half-mile,
thence east one half-mile, then north 1 mile, east one
half-mile, north 2 miles, east 1 mile, north 2 miles,
thence east 6 miles, to Fowler, thence north from the
northwest corner of Fowler 6 miles, to the county line.
It will be noted there is a gap in this road around
Section 5, Township 32, Range 28. The reason for
this is that when this road was designated the Com-
missioners were unable to determine whether the road
should follow the section line around Section 5, or
whether to angle through this section, and so this
matter was left to be decided later.
All county roads are graded and dragged at the ex-
pense of the county, and many of the township roads
are graded and dragged at the expense of the various
townships.
The steel bridge across Crooked Creek, on Road No.
1, just east of Meade, was built in 1909, at a cost of
$1,765.
In 1910 three bridges were built under the same con-
tract, the aggregate cost being $5,381. These are all con-
crete bridges, and are known as the Brinckman bridge,
crossing Crooked Creek on Road No. 88 ; the Bunyan
bridge, crossing Crooked Creek on Road No. 68 ; and
the Conrad bridge, crossing Crooked Creek on Road
No. 6.
Eight bridges were built in 1913, all of concrete.
86 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
They are as follows : The Adams bridge, just north
of Meade, on Road No. 72; cost $1,776. Prior to
this time a wooden bridge had stood here. The Pin-
nick bridge, on Road No. 3, about a mile west of Fowler,
at a cost of $1,500. The Watt bridge, on Road No.
63, across Crooked Creek, north of Fowler, at a cost
of $1,448. The Fanchar bridge, across Sand Creek,
on Road No. 39, Logan Township, at an original cost
of $1,375. Scarcely had this bridge been completed
than high water caused the creek to cut a new channel,
and it became necessary to extend the bridge at an
additional cost of $1,200. A bridge across Crooked
Creek, on the line between Meade and Ford Counties,
was built by the two counties jointly, each county pay-
ing the sum of $545. This is on Road No. 54.
The McMeel bridge, just south of Meade, on Road
No. 8, was built by Meade Center Township, the county
contributing $300. The Boyer bridge, on Road No.
32, was also built by the township, the county con-
tributing $400.
The year 1915 brought four bridges. On Road No.
32, across Skunk Arroya, in Odee Township, a cement
ford was constructed at a cost of $250. A low-water
bridge was built across Stump Arroya, on Road No. 32,
in Odee Township, at a cost of $1,917.
The Stalder bridge, on Road No. 70, across Crooked
Creek, in Meade Center Township, cost $600 ; the
Hughbanks bridge, on Road No. 32, Meade Center
Township, cost $2,355.80. This creek was spanned by
a bridge which stood up for a year or two, but the high
waters of 1915 undermined the foundation, wrecking the
bridge, and making the construction of a larger and bet-
ter one imperative.
A
A COOL DRINK.
88 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
About ten years ago the county built a low wooden
bridge across the Cimarron river, on Road No. 95, at
a cost of about $750, of which the Meade Commercial
Club paid one-third. This bridge was taken out by
flood, and in 1909 the county built a one-hundred-foot
span steel bridge where the wooden bridge had stood,
at a cost of $2,830. In 1913 the approach to the south
end of this bridge burned out, and was replaced at a
cost of $388.
In May, 1914, a flood, the like of which is not in the
memory of the oldest inhabitant, came down the
Cimarron, taking this bridge out completely. When
the waters subsided, of the structure costing more than
three thousand dollars nothing remained save three or
four pillars, the remainder of the bridge being buried
somewhere in the treacherous sands, from which no
part of it has ever been recovered.
AUTOMOBILES.
On August 29th, 1904, there was delivered to John
W. Baughman, at Plains, the first automobile to enter
Meade County. It was a two-passenger Winton Sur-
rey, capable of a speed of fifteen miles an hour under
favorable conditions, but there is ro record of its ever
having attained so great a velocity. In consideration
of this car, which was a "second-hand" one, Mr.
Baughman exchanged a quarter-section of land for
which he had paid the sum of one hundred twenty-five
dollars. Dr. Fee was the second Meade County man
to own a car, and his first was of the old-style buggy
type ; and when C. P. Fullington appeared with his
one-cylinder Cadillac and a regular chauffeur, Meade
took on metropolitan airs.
On May 1st, 1916, there were 360 cars registered,
of 43 different makes, classified as follows : Ford, 147 ;
Overland, 35; Maxwell, 31 ; Reo, 25; Buick, 18; Stu-
debaker, Hudson, and Dodge, 10 each ; Allen, 9 ;
E. M. F., 5 ; Chandler, Halliday, Flanders, Saxon, and
Hupmobile, 4 each ; Jackson, Brush, and Chalmers, 3
each ; Moline, Regal, Case, Krit, Mitchell, and Oak-
land, 2 each ; and 1 each of Lambert, Sterling, Paige,
Apperson, Partin-Palmer, Glide, Detroiter, Wescot,
Metz, Paige-Detroit, Chevrolet, Dort, Mason, Carter,
King, Auburn, Anchor, Jones, and Coey.
At the same time there were 73 motor-cycles, of the
following makes : Harley-Davidson, 41 ; Indian, 16 ;
[89]
90 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Excelsior, 9 ; Henderson, 2 ; and one each of Thor,
Apache, Sears Leader, Light, and Pope.
Dealers' licenses were in effect for the Harley-David-
son motor-cycle, and for the following cars : Empire,
Interstate, Ford, Detroiter, Allen, Hupmobile, Krit,
Halliday, Moon, Maxwell, Hudson, Overland, Saxon,
Buick, Dodge, Studebaker.
EARLY-DAY RESIDENCE.
THE COURT HOUSE.
During the county-seat fight it was generally under-
stood that if the county seat were located at Meade
Center the city would dedicate a block in the center
of the town, designated on the official plat as "Block
A," to the county, and would erect for the county a
<?ourt house.
But, "the best-laid schemes of mice and men gang
aft a-gley." Meade Center was designated as the
county seat, but the proposed dedication of "Block
A" to the county was never made, and neither was the
court house ever built for the county.
The building originally used as a court h'ouse was a
frame building on the south side of the alley cf the
block in which now stands the Southern Hotel, facing
east. This building was rented by the county, and
while some of the county officers maintained offices
uptown, this was officially the court house, although
court was held in the second story of a building located
back of the present site of Fick's store, and facing north.
On March 3rd, 1888, the city of Meade obtained from
Charles E. Cones a deed for Lots 13 and 14, in Block 3,
original survey, and soon thereafter commenced the
construction of the present court house, although it
was built for, and known for years as, the city hall.
It has been used as a court house practically ever since
its completion.
In the summer of 1895 negotiations were had be-
tween the County Commissioners and the City Coun-
[92]
OQ
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94 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
cil of Meade, looking toward the purchase of this build-
ing by the county. The proposition was voted on at
the general election in November, and carried by a vote
of 288 to 39. The nominal consideration was five
thousand dollars, which was paid in a round-about
way. The Meade County Bank, which had failed and
was then in the hands of George B. Cones, Trustee, was
a depository of something like four thousand dollars
of the county's funds. The city of Meade owed this
bank ; the city had not the money to pay the bank, and
the bank lacked the necessary assets to make restora-
tion to the county, and so the county took over the city
hall, paying to the city of Meade the sum of $950.56
and to the trustee of The Meade County Bank the sum
of $82.77, and thus released the bank from further
obligation to the county. The city was released from
further obligation to the bank, the two debts were
wiped out, and the county acquired the present court
house.
In April, 1911, the county purchased of George B.
Cones two lots adjoining the court-house site, for a con-
sideration of $355.55, and in December, 1915, the
county purchased of Lucy R. Allen eight lots adjoin-
ing these, for a consideration of $1,6CC, so that the
county row owns an entire half-block, a tract of ground
suitable in area and location for a court house such as
Meade County ought to have.
The present court house, while having served its
purpose well in the past, is by no means adequate to
the needs of the present, and it would be false economy
to retain it much longer. Not a single office is suffi-
ciently commodious to permit a proper transaction of
THE COURT HOUSE. 95
the business pertaining to that office ; every vault
is packed and crowded with records until it is a difficult
proposition, oftentimes, to find the record of a particular
thing required ; the Commissioners have nowhere to
meet save in the County Clerk's office, which office is
of inadequate proportions for that purpose ; there is
but one jury-room, and that is so small as to be unsani-
tary ; no record is absolutely safe, and a fire would do
incalculable and irreparable damage.
A commodious, modern, fire-proof building could be
constructed at a cost to each taxpayer of four dollars
on every thousand dollars valuation of his property,
and such a building would not only save money to
every taxpayer in the way of lessened expense of up-
keep and insurance, but the danger of damage or de-
struction of records would be eliminated, and such a
building would add to the value of every tract and parcel
of real property in the county.
Not only as a matter of pride, not only as a matter
of convenience, not only as a matter of "safety first,"
but as a matter of dollars and cents, Meade County
should have a new court house, and one that will meet
the requirements of the future as well as the needs of
the present.
THE SALT WELL.
One of the natural curiosities of Meade County is
the salt well, about two miles south of Meade, the his-
tory of which commences at about the time of the first
settlement.
The Jones & Plummer trail was the route of prac-
tically all travel between Fort Dodge and Fort Elliott.
This trail passed east of the present site of Meade
about a mile, extended south for several miles, and then
turned westward. It was the practice of travelers,
and more especially of freighters, to camp on Spring
Creek the second night out of Fort Dodge. To reach
this favorite camping-ground they would branch off of
the main trail a mile or so south of the present city of
Meade, and angle across the prairie in a southwesterly
direction to the waters of Spring Creek, and a well-
defined trail across this prairie had been established.
On March 16th, 1879, a Mexican freighter passed along
this accustomed route, and camped on Spring Creek.
All was as usual at that time. On the 19th of March
an American freighter, probably returning from Fort
Elliott, discovered an immense "cave-in" on this
branch trail to Spring Creek. One side of the road, or
trail, was left intact, the other had disappeared. He
proceeded to Dodge City and reported his strange dis-
covery. Great interest was awakened, and many per-
sons from Dodge and elsewhere came to view this re-
markable work of Nature. Among the first to visit
it was C. E. Haywood, and it is to him and to J. R.
[96]
THE SALT WELL. 97
Colgan that the author is principally indebted for the
early history of this "well."
Many stories are extant concerning the depth of the
salt well. One story is that Capt. Wirth let down six
hundred feet of rope without finding bottom, and while
this appears to be authenticated, yet it does not follow
that the well was more than six hundred feet deep,
because the water was so impregnated with salt that
a human body would float round like a dry log, so it
is not surprising that the rope, although attached to a
weight, did not sink.
In May, 1879, J. R. Colgan took careful measure-
ments of the depth, and found that from the top of the
bank to the water was nineteen feet, and the water, at
the deepest place, measured twenty-three feet. At that
time the cavity was almost exactly circular, and was,
according to the judgment of Mr. Colgan, about sev-
enty-five feet in diameter ; the side walls were per-
pendicular. At the present time the hole is almost
perfectly circular, and measures two hundred feet in
diameter. The increase in the diameter has been
caused by subsequent caving of the banks, and by the
wash of the rains of many years. The side walls, while
not now perpendicular, are so precipitous that descent
is impossible except in one or two places. The ground,
for one hundred feet back from the hole, shows evi-
dence of a tendency to cave ; the caving and washing
have filled the cavity until now the water is but a few
feet deep at the deepest part, and no doubt subsequent
cavings will fill it to a point above the water-line.
Many persons claim to have heard a great rumbling
and roar, caused by the cave-in of this well. But when
98 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
we consider that the only settlers in Meade County
at that time resided many miles from this place, too
far distant to hear any disturbance there may have
been, if any, which is doubtful, we should politely listen
to such narrations and give them such credence as other
fairy tales are entitled to.
In September, 1879, George B. Allen secured one
gallon of water from this well, which he evaporated by
boiling and obtained one quart of salt.
In the spring of 1880 William Sturgis commercialized
the salt well in the manufacture of "Meade County
Solar Salt." The water was pumped from the well by
windmill into a vat, where it was evaporated by boil-
ing ; but this method did not prove a success, either
through lack of knowledge or lack of proper equip-
ment, as the salt obtained had a dirty, rusty appearance.
This plan of evaporation was early abandoned and the
water allowed to evaporate by the sun's rays, and by
this method an exceptionally good quality of clean salt
was secured, which was placed in 504b. sacks and sold,
at the plant, for $1 per cwt. Twenty-two vats, each
measuring twelve by sixteen feet, were used, and the
quantity of salt procured was from two thousand to
two thousand five hundred pounds daily. At this
time one gallon of water produced one pint of salt.
After a year or two Mr. Sturgis sold his plant to one
John Ristrem (spelling not vouched for) who con-
tinued to operate it for a year or two, and then sus-
pended operations for the reason that the quantity of
salt derived from a given volume of water gradually
decreased until "salt-making" became unprofitable.
Also, there were no means of transportation except by
100 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
freight wagons, and the output was always limited to
the local demand.
The second year the salt-works were operated what
was considered a strange phenomenon was observed.
It had been customary for people to bathe in the well,
the impossibility of sinking, the ability to float around
without effort, making this recreation especially de-
lightful. At this time one who had gone into the
water for the first time made haste to come out, and
announced that "the water was scalding." Investi-
gation proved that while the water at the surface was
of the ordinary temperature, at a depth of about two
feet it was noticeably warmer, and at a depth of five or
six feet was almost "scalding." The experience of
bathers ever after was, that the water increased in tem-
perature with the depth, and this fact gave origin to
the theory of hot springs under the bed of the well
and that the hot water escaped upward through some
orifice. This theory, however, has been proven falla-
cious. If this were true the difference in temperature
would be as great, perhaps greater, in winter than in
summer. But tests have proved that the temperature
of the surface-water and of water at the bottom of the
well is practically the same in winter. The true ex-
planation is that the salt, and other minerals in solu-
tion, readily absorb the sun's heat, and the heat thus
absorbed is retained by the lower particles, while the
particles near the surface give off their heat at night.
Hence the water near the surface would at no time
contain more heat than had been absorbed from the
sun on the given day, while the lower waters, giving
off the heat less readily, would retain a portion of every
THE SALT WELL. 101
day's absorption and thus become pregnant with stored
heat.
The well was a favorite resort for bathers up until
ten or twelve years ago, and during all of that time the
solution of salt was so great that one's body would float
as readily as would a log in ordinary fresh water.
Various tests have been made to ascertain the amount
of salt in this water, the per cent varying considerably
at different times. It has tested as high as thirty-six
per cent, but the amount at the present time is neg-
ligible. In June, 1916, the writer procured two quarts
of this water. It had a pronounced alkaline taste, but
on being evaporated by boiling, no salt, nor other
sediment, remained. What a chemical analysis would
show I do not know, but, so far as the naked eye could
discern, the entire volume of these two quarts was
converted into steam. This water was taken from the
surface ; it might be that a sample taken from the bot-
tom would still disclose the presence of salt.
The water now stands at practically the same level
as originally. The shallow water, along the banks, is
transparently clear, but the deeper parts present a
dark-green appearance. It sustains no animal or vege-
table life, save a few insects, except that the writer has
observed a solitary muskrat disporting, and, apparently,
enjoying himself therein.
DRILLING THE WHEAT.
FARM STATISTICS.
The following tables show the population of the
county by years, and statistics of the principal farm
products, from 1886 to 1915 inclusive :
1886.— Population, 3,827.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 504 7,056
Spring wheat " 5 50
Rye " 125 1,500
Corn " 12,151 303,775
Barley..: " 5 100
Oats " 2,678 80,340
Buckwheat " 7 105
Irish potatoes " 389 29,175
Sweet potatoes " 90 9,000
Castor beans " 61 610
Cotton " 1 300
Tobacco lbs. 12 7,200
Broom corn " 47 23,500
Millet tons 4,617 9,234
Prairie hay " 6,968
Poultry and eggs sold $1,869
Butter, lbs 15,105
Cheese, lbs ■ 445
Milk sold $86
Garden products sold $1,551
Number
Horses 1,285
Mules and asses 406
Milch cows ■ 938
Other cattle 2,325
Swine 475
Sheep .... 1,024
[103]
104
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
1887.— Population, 4,407.
A cres
Winter wheat bu. 797
Spring wheat "
Corn " 13,627
Oats ..: " 1,874
Rye " 124
Barley " 101
Buckwheat " 8
Irish potatoes " 291
Sweet potatoes " 72
Castor beans " 6
Cotton lbs. 2
Flax bu. 1
Tobacco lbs. 5
Broom corn " 27
Millet tons 5,577
Prairie hay , "
Quantity
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs. 3,170
Cheese " 300
Butter 34,698
Milk sold
Horticultural products marketed
Garden products marketed
Horses
Mules and asses '
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
Product
7,690
204,405
56,220
1,240
2,020
120
23,280
7,200
60
500
10
3,000
16,200
11,154
4,030
Value
$3,994.00
570.60
36.00
5,204.70
132.00
65.00
3,667.00
Number
... 1,651
... 508
... 1,476
. . . 4,254
. . . 857
. . . 1,152
1888.— Population, 4,561.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 133
Spring wheat
Product
2,394
FARM STATISTICS.
105
Acres
Corn bu. 16,560
Oats " 3,891
Rye " 95
Barley -,..'•' 25
Buckwheat " 4
Irish potatoes " 315
Sweet potatoes " 144
Castor beans " 38
Cotton lbs
Flax. bu. 149
Tobacco lbs. 5
Broom corn " 434
Millet tons 8,036
Prairie hay "
Quantity
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip
Cheese lbs.
Butter "
Milk sold
Horticultural products marketed
Garden products marketed
481
65,461
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows .
Other cattle ....
Sheep
Swine
Product
165,600
97,275
1,140
125
60
12,600
8,640
190
745
3,000
217,000
16,072
5,828
Value
$4,234.00
57.72
11,782.98
2,554.00
2,415.00
Number
. . . 1,927
... 608
... 1,897
... 5,291
... 1,749
... 1,7 6
1889.
Winter wheat bu
Spring wheat "
Corn
Oats :
Rye
Population, 3,596.
Acres
3,336
45
" 12,580
2,712
558
Product
40,032
450
125,800
51,528
10,044
106 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Acres
Product
76
1,900
17
255
187
3,740
132
6,600
161
966
111
999
4
1,200
3
1,800
359
215,400
4,260
8,452
4,140
Barley bu.
Buckwheat "
Irish potatoes. . . . "
Sweet potatoes "
Castor beans "
Flax "
Cotton lbs.
Tobacco "
Broom corn "
Millet tons
Prairie hay "
Poultry and eggs $3,659
Butter, lbs 59,043
Milk sold $905
Wool clip, lbs 7,890
Garden products sold $1,078
Horticultural $1,400
Number
Horses 1,499
Mules and asses 411
Milch cows 2,308
Other cattle 5,508
Swine 1,007
Sheep 652
1890.— Population, 2,651.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 2,779 27,790
Spring wheat
Corn
Oats
Rye
Barley
Buckwheat
Irish potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Castor beans
208 1,540
189 945
1,256 12,560
730 8,760
3 18
132 1,320
46 1,400
292 1,460
FARM STATISTICS.
107
A cres
Product
Flax
bu.
109
654
Cotton
lbs.
Tobacco
n
327
Broom corn
u
81,750
Millet
tons
2,212
2,212
Prairie hay
a
4,708
Poultry and eggs $4,831
Butter, lbs 51,042
Milk sold •
Wool clip, lbs 5,900
Garden products sold •. $1,202
Horticultural
Horses
Mules and asses.
Milch cows
Other cattle ....
Swine
Sheep
1891. — Population,
Winter wheat bu.
Spring wheat
Corn
Oats
Rye
Buckwheat
Irish potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Castor beans ,
Cotton lbs.
Flax bu.
Broom corn lbs.
Millet. .'. tons
Alfalfa "
Prairie hay "
1,831.
Acres
7,714
52
3,540
590
216
35
10
41
1
21
204
1,287
240
Number
1,323
256
1,927
8,297
1,400
1,467
Product
100,282
624
88,500
17,700
6,048
2,275
1,000
369
250
168
81,600
1,930
73
2,959
108
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs.
Cheese "
Butter "
Milk sold
Garden products marketed
Horticultural products marketed ....
Horses
Mules and asses .'
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
Quantity
9,320
2,045
49,281
Value
$2,523.00
1,677.60
224.95
7,392.15
240.00
1,576.00
16.00
Number
. . 1,432
.. 201
. . 1,447
. . 8,536
. . 2,100
. . 1,026
1892.— Population, 2,028.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 8,773
Spring wheat " 390
Corn " 4,213
Oats " 964
Rye " 3,269
Buckwheat " 11
Irish potatoes " 63
Sweet potatoes " 5
Castor beans "
Cotton lbs
Flax bu
Broom corn lbs. 382
Millet tons 1,841
Alfalfa " 627
Prairie hay "
Quantity
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs. 15,010
Cheese " 2,787
Product
158,114
4,680
25,278
23,136
98,070
110
1,890
200
114,600
1,841
2,380
4,822
Value
$2,465.00
2,551.70
306.57
FARM STATISTICS.
109
Quantity Value
Butter lbs. 35,807 $5,371.05
Milk sold 34.00
Garden products marketed 1,955.00
Horticultural products marketed .... 6,273 . 00
Number
Horses 1,532
Mules and asses 170
Milch cows 1,134
Other cattle 9,088
Sheep 1,911
Swine 785
1893.— Population, 2,048.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 15,299 16,518
Spring wheat " 250
Corn " 4,556
Oats " 934 7,472
Rye " 2,379 11,895
Barley " 4,940 49,400
Irish potatoes " 51 1,020
Sweet potatoes " 16 800
Broom corn lbs. 829 207,250
Millet tons 816 816
Milo maize " 465 1,395
Kaffir corn .... " 1,210 2,420
Jerusalem corn " 60 90
Alfalfa " 896 1,494
Prairie hay " 3,932
Quantity Value
Milk sold
Poultry and eggs o^ld $2,552.00
Wool clip lbs. 13,297 2,127.52
Cheese " 3,080 338.80
Butter " 40,414 6,466.24
Garden products marketed 1,783.00
Horticultural products 35 . 00
110
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Number
Horses 2,106
Mules and asses 215
Milch cows 1,202
Other cattle 10,653
Sheep 2,184
Swine 862
1894.— Population, 2,025.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 20,492
Spring wheat " 17
Corn " 1,655
Oats " 310
Rye " 1,811
Barley " 2,951
Irish potatoes " 48
Sweet potatoes " 6
Broom corn lbs. 150
Millet tons 444
Milo maize " 215
Kaffir corn " 2,507
Jerusalem corn " 15
Alfalfa " 958
Prairie hay "
Milk sold
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs.
Cheese "
Butter "
Garden products marketed
Horticultural products
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
Quantity
13,065
2,815
42,809
Product
64,547
1,807
14,488
35,412
1,920
522
45,000
222
2,150
25,070
150
1,478
4,448
Value
$125.00
2,537.00
1,698.45
337.80
6,849.44
1,046.00
Number
2,339
167
1,154
6,305
3,152
765
FARM STATISTICS.
Ill
1895. — Population, 1
Winter wheat bu.
Spring wheat
Corn
Oats
Rye
Barley
Buckwheat
Irish potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Cotton lbs.
Flax bu.
Tobacco lbs.
Broom corn "
Millet tons
Sorghum for syrup gals.
Milo maize tons
Kaffir corn "
Jerusalem corn "
Alfalfa . "
Prairie hay "
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs.
Cheese "
Butter "
Milk sold
Garden products marketed
Horticultural products marketed ....
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
,741.
Acres
16,093
133
3,094
421
2,341
4,348
40
59
27
10
6
2
235
324
49
240
1,944
30
1,117
Quantity
27,900
2,769
42,009
Product
32,186
21,648
5,052
11,705
69,568
160
1,770
1,026
8,000
24
1,400
117,500
324
1,960
720
5,832
90
2,060
13,086
Value
51,411.00
2,511.00
290.75
5,461.17
42.00
2,771.00
171.00
Number
. 1,926
133
. 1,030
. 7,115
. 5,550
713
112
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
1896.— Population, 1,651.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 8,954
Spring wheat " 43
Corn " 2,025
Oats " 548
Rye " 1,196
Barley " 4,915
Buckwheat " 5
Irish potatoes " 91
Sweet potatoes " 13
Cotton lbs
Flax bu. 7
Tobacco lbs
Broom corn "
Millet tons
Sorghum for syrup gals.
Milo maize tons
Kaffir corn "
Jerusalem corn "
Alfalfa "
Prairie hay "
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs.
Cheese "
Butter "
Milk sold
Garden products marketed
Horticultural products marketed ....
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
139
782
40
160
2,517
35
1,577
Quantity
32,727
2,932
38,233
Product
17,908
10,125
3,288
5,980
12,045
910
41,700
261
2,000
320
5,034
35
2,321
6,234
Value
$2,182.00
2,945.43
234.56
4,205.63
2,375.00
181.00
Number
. . 2,531
145
. . 1,109
. . 9,343
. . 6,269
704
FARM STATISTICS.
113
1897. — Population,
1,566.
Acres
3,313
Winter wheat bu
Spring wheat "
Corn " 2,280
Oats.. " 259
Rye. " 444
Barley " 1,749
Buckwheat " 5
Irish potatoes " 17
Sweet potatoes " 9
Castor beans " 1
Broom corn lbs. 40
Millet tons 952
Sorghum (syrup) ' gals. 352
Milo maize tons 187
Kaffir corn " 2,418
Alfalfa " 1,286
Prairie hay " ......
Poultry and eggs sold •
Butter, lbs
Cheese, lbs
Milk sold
Wool clip, lbs
Garden products sold
Horticultural
Product
39,756
22,800
4,144
5,328
34,980
50
765
540
5
17,000
1,666
17,600
701
9,067
8,055
4,121
$1,944
37,309
1,975
$58
27,300
$710
$310
Number
Horses 2,269
Mules and asses 116
Milch cows 876
Other cattle 11,407
Swine 551
Sheep 3,220
1898.— Population, 1,562.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 5,805
Spring wheat " 12
Product
46,440
60
114 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
A cres Product
Corn bu. 1,526 19,838
Oats " 433 6,495
Rye " 1,112 11,120
Barley " 3,107 77,675
Buckwheat -..'."
Irish potatoes " 36 1,800
Sweet potatoes " 12 600
Castor beans "
Broom corn lbs. 25 10,000
Millet tons 1,067 2,134
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 58 2,900
Milo maize tons 62 217
Kaffir corn " 2,501 6,878
Alfalfa " 2,323 12,103
Prairie hay " 7,224
Poultry and eggs sold $2,582
Butter, lbs 36,975
Cheese, lbs 5,395
Milk sold $102
Wool clip, lbs 21,049
Garden products sold $959
Horticultural $684
Number
Horses 2,568
Mules and asses 127
Milch cows 1,396
Other cattle 20,545
Swine 635
Sheep 3,937
1899.— Population, 1,541.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 5,113 20,452
Spring wheat " 6 18
Corn " 1,526 22,890
Oats " 210 4,200
FARM STATISTICS. 115
Acres Product
Rye bu. 316 2,212
Barley " 4,357 43,570
Irish potatoes " 16 960
Sweet potatoes " 5 250
Broom corn lbs. 35 10,500
Millet tons 1,483 2,966
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 45 1,800
Milo maize ' tons 70 140
Kaffir corn " 3,485 10,455
Alfalfa " 2,385 12,524
Prairie hay " 8,220
Poultry and eggs sold $2,460
Butter, lbs 27,960
Milk sold $240
Wool clip, lbs 25,600
Cheese, lbs 3,400
Garden products sold $1,269
Horticultural, sold $125
Number
Horses 2,793
Mules and asses 162
Milch cows 976
Other cattle 24,525
Swine 930
Sheep \ 4,755
1900.— Population, 1,521.
Acres Produc
Winter wheat bu. 3,884 69,912
Spring wheat
Corn
Oats
Rye
Barley
Irish potatoes
Sweet potatoes
30 300
2,068 14,476
146 2,774
49 686
2,560 71,680
21 1,239
6 390
116 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Acres Product
Broom corn . .lbs. 10 2,750
Millet tons 2,080 3,120
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 23 1,150
Milo maize tons 63 158
Kaffir corn " 4,900 12,250
Alfalfa " 2,317 13,869
Prairie hay " 5,493
Poultry and eggs sold $3,178
Butter, lbs 28,784
Milk sold $160
Wool clip, lbs 18,700
Cheese, lbs 1,200
Garden products sold $717
Horticultural products sold $107
Number
Horses 2,735
Mules and asses 174
Milch cows 1,088
Other cattle 24,000
Swine 956
Sheep .. 4,317
1901.— Population, 1,526.
Acres Product
Winter wheat * bu. 7,194 86,328
Spring wheat " 28 196
Corn ." 1,857 5,571
Oats " 281 5,058
Rye " 602 5,418
Barley (t 3,419 58,123
Irish potatoes " 20 740
Sweet potatoes " 13 741
Broom corn lbs. 70 28,000
Sorghum gals. 5,500
Millet tons 1,099 1,099
Milo maize " 59 118
FARM STATISTICS. 117
Acres Product
Kaffir corn tons 5,458 5,458
Jerusalem " 15 30
Alfalfa " 3,296 8,906
Prairie hay " 7,502
Poultry and eggs $4,183
Butter, lbs 35,960
Milk sold $11
Wool clip, lbs 20,400
Honey and beeswax, lbs 40
Garden products sold $1,565
Horticultural $390
Number
Horses 2,886
Mules and asses 132
Milch cows 984
Other cattle 27,185
Swine 820
Sheep 2,183
1902.— Population, 1,573.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 11,219 67,314
Spring wheat "
Corn :....... " 3,430 41,160
Oats .". " 143 3,146
Rye " 1,265 8,855
Barley " 2,804 58,884
Irish potatoes " 9 720
Sweet potatoes "
Broom corn lbs. 5 1,500
Sorghum gals. 5,034
Millet tons 403 605
Milo maize " 175 525
Kaffir corn " 4,562 13,686
Jerusalem " 42 126
Alfalfa " 3,432 11,807
Prairie hay " 4,257
118 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Poultry and eggs $4,201
Butter, lbs 35,247
Milk sold ' $385
Wool clip, lbs 13,000
Honey and beeswax, lbs
Garden products sold SI, 799
Horticultural
Number
Horses 2,756
Mules and asses 132
Milch cows 825
Other cattle 27,460
Swine 602
Sheep 4,736
1903.— Population, 1,592.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 11,489 206,802
Spring wheat " 40 560
Corn " 1,792 17,920
Oats " 308 7,392
Rye " 743 9,659
Barley " 4,628 138,840
Irish potatoes " 21 1,470
Sweet potatoes " 24 1,800
Buckwheat "
Flax " 27 162
Broom corn lbs
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 38 2,660
Millet tons 588 1,176
Milo maize " 156 312
Kaffir corn " 4,378 8,756
Jerusalem " 10 20
Alfalfa " 5,026 13,907
Prairie hay " 5,948
Poultry and eggs sold $5,173
Butter, lbs 30,611
FARM STATISTICS. 119
Milk sold $735
Wool clip, lbs 12,000
Honey and beeswax, lbs 40
Garden products sold SI, 405
Horticultural
Number
Horses 2,776
Mules and asses 129
Milch cows 1,003
Other cattle 24,548
Swine 777
Sheep : 1,470
1904.— Population, 2,102.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 18,450 36,900
Spring wheat " 478 1,912
Corn " 1,286 19,290
Oats " 507 2,535
Rye " 1,015 8,120
Barley " 8,368 100,416
Irish potatoes " 29 1,508
Sweet potatoes " 4 260
Buckwheat " 38 190
Flax " 4 20
Broom corn lbs. 127 38,100
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 30 2,100
Millet tons 315 315
Milo maize " 182 364
Kaffir corn " 4,906 9,812
Jerusalem " 22 44
Alfalfa " 6,348 16,506
Prairie hay " 4,957
Poultry and eggs sold $7,530
Butter, lbs 38,401
Milk sold $1,214
120
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Wool clip, lbs 15,000
Honey and beeswax, lbs 100
Garden products sold $1,450
Horticultural $154
Number
Horses 3,360
Mules and asses 216
Milch cows 1,129
Other cattle 29,805
Swine 1,177
Sheep 1,850
1905.— Population, 2,187.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 28,360
Spring wheat " 1,240
Corn " 1,591
Oats " 735
Rye. " 412
Barley " 10,203
Irish potatoes " 58
Sweet potatoes " 6
Broom corn lbs. 125
Sorghum gals. 5,379
Millet tons 987
Milo maize " 277
Kaffir corn " 5,367
Jerusalem " 83
Alfalfa .." 8,422
Prairie hay "
Flax bu
Product
368,680
12,400
25,456
13,965
4,532
256,075
3,480
198
56,250
987
5 r 4
10,734
166
13,600
6,834
Poultry and eggs $7,673
Butter, lbs 51,327
Milk sold $2,665
Wool clip, lbs
Honey and beeswax, lbs 299
FARM STATISTICS.
121
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows
Other cattle ....
Swine
Sheep
1906.— Population, 2,574.
Acres
Winter wheat bu.
Spring wheat
Corn "...
Oats .
Rye
Barley
Irish potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Broom corn
Sorghum gals.
Millet tons
Milo maize
Kaffir corn
Jerusalem
Alfalfa
Prairie hay
Flax
Number
3,572
214
1,306
28,002
1,525
1,701
24,186
1,278
1,675
612
362
10,049
51
10
194
4,787
561
785
6,081
20
10,570
bu.
Product
338,604
16,614
41,875
14,688
4,344
211,029
3,723
560
87,300
1,122
2,747
21,283
70
17,562
4,743
24
Poultry and eggs .. $11,176
Butter, lbs : 49,326
Milk sold $2,137
Wool clip, lbs 1,100
Honey and beeswax, lbs
Number
Horses . . 3,716
Mules and asses 263
Milch cows . . 1,355
Other cattle 22,768
Swine 1,484
Sheep 1,001
122
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
1907.— Population, 3,430.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 50,409
Spring wheat " 4,063
Corn " 6,796
Oats " 1,480
Rye " 193
Barley " 13,358
Speltz "
Buckwheat "
Irish potatoes " 90
Sweet potatoes " 6
Cotton lbs. 5
Flax bu
Tobacco lbs
Broom corn " 420
Millet tons 1,002
Sugar beets "
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 18
Milo maize tons 1,336
Kaffir corn . ... " 9,652
Alfalfa " 9,080
Prairie hay "
Poultry and eggs sold
Butter, lbs
Honey and beeswax, lbs
Milk sold
Product
504,090
32,504
169,900
23,680
1,544
173,654
5,220
540
1,375
189,000
1,503
1,260
3,340
24,130
19,638
3,869
117,041
55,995
348
$2,331
Horses
Mules and asses
Milk cows
Other cattle ....
Swine
Sheep
Number
4,326
400
1,595
18,556
2,317
710
FARM STATISTICS.
123
1908.— Population, 4,366.
Acres Product
Winter wheat .bu. 53,330 266,650
Spring wheat " 673 2,093
Corn " 14,453 144,530 :
Oats " 2,839 22,712
Rye " 193 1,351
Barley " 10,782 53,910
Speltz " 610 6,100
Buckwheat " 2 20
Irish potatoes " 100 8,000
Sweet potatoes " 9 675
Cotton lbs •
Flax bu. 5 25
Tobacco lbs. 1 150
Broom corn " 332 99,600
Millet tons 1,520 1,520
Sugar beets " 20 40
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 231 13,860
Milo maize tons 2,707 6,767
Kaffir corn " 14,089 35,222
Alfalfa " 9,888 14,834
Prairie hay " 4,168
Value
Poultry and eggs sold $17,064
Butter, lbs 57,713
Honey and beeswax, lbs 55
Milk sold $2,793
Number
Horses 4,779
Mules and asses 622
Milk cows 1,885
Other cattle 17,481
Swine 5,900
Sheep 8
124
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
1909.— Population, 4,594.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 62,646 563,814
Spring wheat " 290 1,780
Corn " 17,058 85,290
Oats " 3,379 40,548
Rye " 158 1,422
Barley " 6,789 67,980
Speltz " 1,397 16,764
Buckwheat " 72 576
Irish potatoes " 47 2,585
Cotton "
Broom corn lbs. 725 253,750
Millet tons 1,910 2,865
Sugar beets " 2 18
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 138 6,900
Milo maize tons 7,328 10,992
Kaffir corn " 15,595 23,392
Alfalfa " 10,964 14,233
Prairie hay " 3,722
Value
Poultry and eggs sold $18,694
Butter, lbs 63,912
Milk sold , $3,258
Honey and beeswax, lbs 275
Number
Horses 4,648
Mules and asses 678
Milch cows 1,899
Other cattle 15,567
Swine 6,260
Sheep 93
1910.— Population, 4,872.
Acres Product
Winter wheat bu. 73,263 732,630
Spring wheat * 546 4,830
Corn " 10,964 109,610
FARM STATISTICS.
125
Acres Product
Oats bu. 7,903 126,448
Rye " 396 3,960
Barley " 9,081 154,377
Speltz " 2,131 36,227
Buckwheat " 10 90
Irish potatoes " 388 29,100
Cotton " 3 600
Broom corn lbs. 2,183 818,625
Millet tons 1,759 2,931
Sugar beets " .
Sorghum (syrup) gals. 9 450
Milo maize tons 5,586 13,965
Kaffir corn " 11,356 34,068
Alfalfa " 11,275 11,146
Prairie hay " 3,930
Value
Poultry and eggs sold $19,747
Butter, lbs ., 79,230
Milk sold. . . . $3,390
Honey and beeswax, lbs 100
Number
Horses . . 4,923
Mules and asses 708
Milch cows 1,918
Other cattle 13,936
Swine : . 3,782
Sheep . ... 283
1911.— Population, 5,171.
Acres Product
Winter wheat .bu. 29,857 119,428
Spring wheat " 694 1,388
Corn " 18,040 234,520
Oats " 9,154 119,002
Rye " 365 3,285
Barley " 12,145 133,595
126
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Acres
1,332
111
8
604
1,092
66
Speltz bu.
Irish potatoes. "
Sweet potatoes "
Broom c 3rn lbs.
Millet tons
Sorghum for syrup gals.
Milo maize m tons 11,057
Kaffir corn ' " 17,992
Jerusalem corn " 93
Alfalfa " 11,863
Prairie hay "
Quantity
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs. 2,748
Cheese " 220
Butter " 108,414
Milk sold
Honey and beeswax lbs. 120
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
1912.— Population, 5,196.
Acres
Winter wheat bu. 103,889
Spring wheat " 160
Corn " 5,936
Oats " 3,095
Rye " 58
Barley " 7,008
Speltz " 312
Irish potatoes " 93
Produc
7,992
3,774
504
232,540
1,638
3,960
27,643
53,976
279
12,836
3,261
Value
$26,667.00
467.16
28.60
26,019.36
6,303.00
18.00
Number
6,050
1,015
4,883
9,039
748
3,803
Product
124,668
1,600
136,528
86,660
580
154,176
6,552
9,207
FARM STATISTICS.
127
Sweet potatoes bu.
Broom corn lbs.
Millet tons
Sorghum for syrup gals.
Milo maize tons
Kaffir corn "
Jerusalem corn "
Alfalfa "
Prairie hay "
Poultry and eggs sold
Wool clip lbs.
Cheese. "
Butter. . "
Milk sold
Honey and beeswax lbs.
Horses
Mules and asses
Milch cows
Other cattle
Sheep
Swine
Acres
4
1,243
1,352
799
8,347
18,865
20
9,486
Quantity
500
86,586
220
Product
340
497,200
2,366
59,925
16,694
56,595
60
14,991
2,541
Value
$24,103.00
100.00
21,646.50
11,251.00
33.00
Number
6,390
1,113
6,964
9,872
702
3,517
1913.— Population, 5,116.
Acres
Winter wheat bu.
Spring wheat "
Corn "
Oats "
Rye "
Barley : "
Speltz "
Irish potatoes "
Sweet potatoes "
Broom corn lbs.
22,990
104
15,341
8,933
66
11,212
47
64
550
Product
91,960
30,692
26,799
198
44,848
2,176
82,500
128 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Acres Product
Millet tons 911 911
Milo " 16,291 12,218
Kaffir " 30,857 23,143
Feterita !
Alfalfa " 7,468 9,164
Prairie hay " ...... 3,985
Value
Poultry and eggs sold $26,152
Butter, lbs 65,528
Milk sold $15,159
Cheese, lbs 175
Number
Horses 5,762
Mules and asses 1,492
Milch cows 6,321
Other cattle 11,238
Swine 2,050
Sheep 157
1914. — Population, 5,044.
Winter wheat bu. 102,984 1,853,712
Spring wheat "
Corn " 4,219 67,504
Oats " 3,610 108,300
Rye " 381 6,096
Barley " 6,123 134,706
Speltz " 25 625
Irish potatoes " 52 2,600
Sweet potatoes "■ 2 124
Broom corn lbs. 227 90,800
Millet tons 443 664
Milo " 7,327 18,318
Kaffir " 16,563 49,689
Feterita " 4,533 11,333
Alfalfa " 7,474 21,247
Prairie hay " 1,796
FARM STATISTICS.
129
Value
Poultry and eggs sold $26,326
Butter, lbs 54,568
Milk sold $25,135
Cheese, lbs 210
Number
Horses . 6,220
Mules and asses 1,311
Milch cows - 69,605 6> f (
Other cattle 9,950
Swine 2,361
Sheep 183
1915.— Population, 5,276.
Acres Product
Winter wheat. . . . ;bu. 107,608 1,614,120
Spring wheat " 206 2,472
Corn " 4,127 119,683
Oats " 4,762 133,336
Rye " 506 7,084
Barley " 8,801 220,025
Irish potatoes " 40 4,000
Sweet potatoes " 1 100
Cowpeas tons 15 22
Alfalfa " 9,593 28,779
Broom corn lbs. 274 123,300
Jerusalem corn " 285 855
Feterita - . . " 8,527 No record
Sweet clover " 40 No record
Prairie hay. . . " 5,195
Quantity Value
Poultry and eggs sold $2,531,ti0P.17 <J^
Wool clip lbs. 1,072 235.84
Cheese " 350 52.50
Butter ; " 63,355 15,838.75
Milk sold 31,569.00
Honey and beeswax lbs. 500 70 . 00
130 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
Number
Horses 6,639
Mules and asses 1,530
Milch cows 9,176
Other cattle 18,553
Sheep 182
Swine 4 ; 714
The 1916 census gave Meade County a population
of 6,053.
THE£OLD CALABOOSE.
(I have not been able to find anyone who would vouch for the historical
accuracy of this chapter. This story was suggested by the old calaboose it-
self, and if the incidents related did not actually occur, no doubt a true re-
cital of the facts would be even more interesting and more startling.)
Standing in the rear of a modern building facing
Main street, and used as a storeroom for various odds
and ends, is a small old weather-worn building of pecu-
liar construction, a glance at which excites one's curi-
osity and impels a closer examination. In dimensions
it is about twelve by sixteen feet, eight feet high in
front and sloping to six feet in the rear. It is built of
pine boards, or planks, two inches thick and eight
inches wide, commonly known as 2x8's, laid flatwise
one upon the other and spiked together, forming a
solid wall eight inches thick. In one end is a window
about twelve by fourteen inches, iron-barred, giving
the structure the appearance of a prison. And a
prison it is — or was. In the early days, when the city
was composed largely of saloons and dance-halls, and
infested by cowboys, gamblers, and bad men and
women, it served as the "bastile" in which were im-
prisoned temporarily the murderer, the cow-thief, the
drunkard, the common bum, and in fact all who for
any reason came within the grasp of the strong arm of
the law — the law as administered by the Justice Court
of Hiram Smith, J. P.
In those wild days, when drunkenness, carousing,
gambling, thieving and kindred crimes and misde-
[131]
132 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
meanors were common, and murder was by no means
uncommon, many of the leading citizens, and many
officers of the law, sought to court favor with the "bad
men" by closing eyes to many of the lesser crimes and
brawls. But there were some who loyally and stead-
fastly stood for law and order, and demanded prompt
and efficient enforcement of law, and speedy and ade-
quate punishment for law-breakers.
Among those who talked most and loudest for law
enforcement, and who did much to subdue the law-
less element, and was one of those who were most
active in originating the crusade which ultimately drove
out the saloon, dance-hall and other houses of vice and
iniquity, was Joseph Randall. He publicly and vigor-
ously condemned vice and immorality in whatsoever
form it was manifested ; he was a pillar of the church,
and, if one were to take his word for it, a righteous man
and one without sin. He it was who headed the sub-
scription list by which funds were raised to build the
calaboose to which the reader is introduced in the first
paragraph. And it is the irony of fate that he was the
first inmate, being confined therein for seventy-two
hours, awaiting a requisition from the Governor, under
which he was taken back to Ohio to face trial on a charge
of bigamy, of which offense he was duly convicted.
Of this and many other things connected with the old
calaboose I learned from an old-timer to whom I ap-
plied for information concerning the early history of
the town.
It was here, my informant told me, that Sam Howell
and Bill Evans were confined while awaiting their pre-
liminary examination on a charge of holding up an ex-
MAKING HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
134 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
press wagon and killing the driver. Across the street
still stands the old building in which Justice Smith
held court and bound them over for trial ; and yonder,
a half-mile away, still stands the lone tree on which
they were hanged, the populace having decided to
waive the formality and expense of a trial by jury, and
incidentally to guard against a possible miscarriage of
justice.
It was in this selfsame prison that the eastern dude,
whose name my informant had forgotten, was confined,
charged with having stolen Pete Stringer's horse. In
those days murder was sometimes condoned, but horse-
stealing, never. And my informant related how in the
dusk of evening a mob was formed for the purpose of
lynching the aforesaid dude. Urged on by Pete, and
emboldened by liberal potations, a crowd of about
twenty armed cowboys, bad, courageous and desperate
men, secured a rope and marched en masse from the
Red Dragon Saloon to the calaboose, with the avowed
intention of wreaking vengeance and ridding the coun-
try of "one more hoss-thief." At the door of the
bastile, however, they encountered "Banta" Sims, the
diminutive, bowlegged City Marshal, who had drawn
a dead-line twenty feet in front of the building, and,
with a six-shooter in each hand and determination in
his mien, he informed the "committee" that he was the
custodian of that jail and the guardian of the peace
and dignity of the city ; that the accused should have
a fair and impartial trial by a jury of his peers, and that
he, "Banta," would shoot the first "galoot" who set
foot across the dead-line.
The crowd knew "Banta" and grumblingly retired,
THE OLD CALABOOSE. 135
and the case against the dude was afterwards dis-
missed, Pete having found his horse in a neighboring
pasture, whither it had strayed.
He told me of the evening when Ike Lewis and Dan
Pillsbury rode their horses into the Blue Crane Saloon
and shot out the lights. Ike was arrested and thrown
into the "cooler," but Dan, although the Marshal had
emptied his gun at him when he refused to halt, rode
away, but returned later in the night, shot the lock
off the prison door, liberated his pal, and they both es-
caped to their ranch in No Man's Land, from which
point, a few days later, Dan sent the Marshal two dol-
lars to pay for the lock he had broken.
He told me how Mike Winters had been arrested
and thrown in, for no worse crime than that of wrap-
ping his billiard cue around the hand of an innocent
bystander, and how the Marshal had forgotten to
search him, and the next morning he was gone, having
with his hunting-knife dug his way out beneath the
walls. After this a cement floor was placed in the
building, to guard against another such jail-breaking.
He related an incident of three gamblers who were ar-
rested for plying their vocation, and sentenced each
to thirty days in jail. A few days later the Mayor
decided to pardon them, on condition that they would
leave town. When the Marshal went to the jail to
offer them this proposition, he found two of them en-
tirely destitute of clothing. Some one had passed a
deck of cards through the window, and one of the in-
mates had won the entire wardrobe of the other two,
in a friendly game of poker, and had insisted upon an
immediate delivery of the goods. When this informa-
136 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
tion was conveyed to the Mayor he promptly revoked
the pardon.
He recounted a romance in which the participants
were a man and a woman, convicted on the same day, —
he of disorderly conduct, she of vagrancy. Both were
fined, and sentenced to stand committed until fine and
costs were paid. Neither party having the necessary
funds, the court was in a dilemma, as the jail was not
provided with suitable accommodations for lady guests.
The defendants relieved the situation and solved the
quandary by offering to get married. A collection was
accordingly taken up, a license procured, the Justice
performed the ceremony gratis, and the honeymoon
was celebrated in the old calaboose.
Perhaps the saddest occurrence in the history of the
old building was the fate of Jake Cowan. Jake had
had trouble with a neighbor, Dave Williams, over a
boundary fence ; hot words and threats had passed
One morning Dave was found dead in the road a short
distance from Jake's house, with a bullet in his brain.
A post-mortem examination disclosed that the bullet
had been fired from a 38-calibre Colt's revolver. Such
a weapon was found in Jake's possession, with one
empty chamber. This circumstance, together with the
known enmity existing between the two men, and Jake's
inability to prove an alibi, resulted in his conviction.
The jury returned its verdict at midnight, and Jake was
led back to the jail to await sentence. On the following
morning when the jailer unlocked the door he was con-
fronted with the lifeless body of Jake, swinging from a
rafter, his feet scarcely more than three inches from the
floor. The jail was furnished with sleeping-cots, the
L
4'
SCENE ON FARM OF H. BRENNAMIN.
138 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
bed of which, instead of the ordinary wire spring, or
canvas, consisted of rope ; and of this rope the prisoner
had secured a sufficient length to pass around his neck
and attach to a rafter, after which he had kicked away
the box on which he stood to adjust the noose, and was
left suspended.
Years afterward, another man, on his deathbed, con-
fessed to having fired the shot that killed Dave Will-
iams, and the circumstances and particulars which he
related left no doubt of his guilt. His confession, how-
ever, came too late to help poor Jake, except to clear
his memory from the ignominy of crime.
In the rear of the modern building facing Main street
still stands the old calaboose. The storms of many
winters, the scorching suns of many summers, have
left their marks upon it. Men have come and men
have gone, but it still stands, mute reminder of the
thrilling incidents of pioneer days. If those gray and
weather-beaten walls could speak, what tales they
might unfold of crime, of intrigue, of adventure, of
suffering, of remorse, and of repentance. It is the one
ancient landmark by which the bustling city of today
is recognized as the grown-up village that marked this
spot a quarter of a century ago ; the one link that con-
nects the present with the all-but-forgotten past ; the
''open sesame" that unlocks the door to memory's
cavern and brings forth the rich treasures of early local
history for the entertainment and information of the
curious or reflective minds of this generation.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
B. F. BISBEE.
B. F. Bisbee, frequently called "The Big-bellied Wheat King
of Meade County/' was born at Ann Arbor, Michigan, on June
22nd, 1842. He was married at Mason City, 111., in January,
1867, to Rebecca Grisson. To this union were born six children,
to wit : Carrie, Grace, Leona, William I., and Maud and Myrtie,
the last two being twins.
Mr. Bisbee came to Meade County in 1887, and has ever since
been engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Years ago he earned and carried the title of "Farmer Bisbee"
because he was one of the very few men in Meade County who
were making a success of farming at that time.
He has been Trustee of his township, and is a member of the
I. 0. 0. F. at Meade.
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BIOGRAPHICAL. 143
M. A. BIRD AND FAMILY.
The accompanying picture shows a cozy home view of Mark
Bird and his estimable family, Mrs. Bird, and the children, Abner
C, Lorene, Lillian A., Harry C, and Gladys.
Mr. Bird conducts a general merchandise store at Missler, and
is also extensively engaged in handling horses and cattle.
144
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
JOHN P. BALLARD AND WIFE.
John P. Ballard was born in Logan County, Kentucky, August
7th, 1878. He came to Meade County in August, to be exact, on
August 21st, 1903, and made homestead entry in Cimarron town-
ship. He was married to Anna L. Shinogle on April 19th, 1911.
They have one child, Woodrow R. A. Ballard, born February 25th,
1913.
Mr. Ballard has been engaged in farming, doing a little real-
estate business "on the side," and has prospered.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, has served his township
as Trustee, and his political party as precinct Committeeman.
Anna L. Shinogle was born in Meade County, Kansas, on Octo-
ber 27th, 1890. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Shinogle.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
145
JOHN CORDES AND FAMILY.
John Cordes was born at Cole Camp, Benton County, Missouri,
on July 15th, 1867, of German parentage. He came to Meade
County March 1st, 1885, and commenced life as a young pioneer
on the pioneer prairies.
He was married April 16th, 1893, to Maggie Brunjes, a Meade
County girl. To this union four children have been born — Alice
M., Barthold H., Lola K., and Earnest J. E.
Mr. Cordes has been engaged in the business of farming and
stock-raising, and is one of the substantial, prosperous farmers of
Odee Township.
He has always taken a strong interest, and frequently an active
part, in politics, and in 1912 was elected County Commissioner for
the Second District.
146
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
UNCLE BEN.
Benjamin F. Cox was born in what is now Platte County, Mo. ?
but which was then unorganized Government land, on August
19th, 1837. He came to Meade County on September 3rd, 1894,
and remained until about 1908, since which time he has had no
settled domicile, but has spent his time in whatever place happened
to strike his fancy for the time being. He has been engaged in
farming, stock-raising, banking, money-loaning, promoting, etc.
At one time he owned one-third of the Fowler townsite. He was
Vice-President of the first bank in Meade County, of the first
bank in Fowler, and is now Vice-President of the Meade State
Bank. He holds the first tax receipt issued in Meade County ; he
drove the first railroad spike in Meade County; he discovered
artesian water in Meade County ; and he wore out the first pair
of boots made in Meade County, said boots being made by a cer-
tain bootmaker, Schwartz, of Fowler.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
147
L. C. CASH.
L. C. Cash was born near Nolin, Kentucky, May 28th, 1861.
He was married near East View, Ky., on Jan. 11th, 1883, to Katie
Fife. The year following he started west in response to Horace
Greeley's famous advice, and settled in Sumner County in Novem-
ber, 1884. In September, 1886, he moved farther west, out where
the grass was a little shorter, the skies a little bluer, settling in
Meade County on September 19th, 1900.
Then for five or six years he worked as head clerk in Parson's
big store at Plains, but feeling the need of more outdoor life he
finally resigned, and engaged in farming for four years. He then
built a modern hotel in Plains, and has been egnaged in the hotel
business ever since. This hotel, which is one of the best arranged
to be found anywhere, was designed entirely by Mr. Cash, and was
for the most part built by him and his sons. It is of concrete
blocks, the blocks having been manufactured by Mr. Cash in
Plains.
His family consists of three sons and one grandson.
148
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
CHESTER DALGARN.
J. Chester Dalgarn was born in Meade, Kansas, July 6th, 1895, —
strictly a Meade County product. He graduated from the Meade
High School, after which he took a full post-graduate course. He
has taught school, but the line of work he intends following, and
for which he is fitting himself, is electrical engineering.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
149
DAMON AND PYTHIAS.
The above engraving was made from a flashlight kodak picture
taken of Ferol Stevens and John Sullivan, sons of their respective
"dads." The young fellows decided to "sit up" until the "old
fellows" returned from lodge, but the old boys proved to be the
"best stayers," and on their return home found the "untried
neophytes" fast asleep in each other's arms.
150
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
F. W. FICK
LOUISE FICK.
Ferdinand W. Fick was born at Hansfelde, Prussia, March 7th,
1856. At about seven years of age his parents came to America,
and Fred's boyhood and youth were spent in St. Joseph, Mo.
He was married at St. Joseph, Dec. 13th, 1878, to Louise Miller,
she having been born in Loningen, Switzerland, June 8th, 1858.
Five children, four girls, one boy, are the result of this marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Fick came to Meade County March 1st, 1888, and
have been engaged in the mercantile business most of the time
since.
Air. Fick has always taken a prominent part in politics; was
Mayor of Meade for two terms, and for two terms Clerk of the
District Court.
He takes considerable interest in fraternal orders, being an active
member of the Masonic order, both the Blue Lodge and the Chap-
ter of Royal Arch Masons, of the I. O. O. F., and of the Knights
of Pythias.
biographical. 151
CHET HTJLBURT.
Chester S. Hulburt was born at El Dorado, Butler County,
Kansas, January 15th, 1875. He was married to Emma J. Sing-
ley on November 30th, 1899, at Augusta, Kansas. Three children,
Helen T., Helsey H. and Walter C, complete the family.
He came to Meade County February 22nd, 1903. His principal
business has been farming and stock-raising, but for a year or two
he was engaged in the real-estate business.
He is now, and has been for some time past, engaged in breed-
ing registered Galloway cattle, and while others can show larger
herds, it would be difficult to find a herd of " classier" cattle than
those on Mr. Hulburt's farm.
He takes a great interest in educational matters, and is at pres-
ent a member of the Board of Education of the Meade city schools.
152 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
" -^ TT ^ —r "
BILLY JOBLING.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 153
"BILLY" JOBLING.
William Jobling was born at Zanesville, Ohio, January 8th, 1864,
He came to Meade County March 1st, 1879, and has been a con-
tinuous resident of the county ever since. His father was presi-
dent of a company that settled a colony of sixteen families at Pear-
lette. Of all of that colony Mr. Jobling is the only one remaining
in Meade County, and it is probable that he is the oldest settler
now in the county. He has always taken an active interest in
politics, and while never soliciting political honors for himself, has
frequently had such honors forced upon him. He has served his
township as Clerk, Trustee, and Justice of the Peace ; he has been
County Commissioner from the First District, and he has been
Clerk of the School Board in his district for fifteen or more years.
Fraternally he is quite prominent in the Masonic order. He is a
member of Webb Lodge No. 275, A. F. & A. M., at Meade; of
Meade Chapter R. A. M. No. 243 ; R. S. M. No. 13, Hutchinson ;
K. T. No. 25, Dodge City ; Consistory No. 2, Wichita ; and A. A.
O. N. M. Shrine, Wichita.
154
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
J. O. KEITH AND FAMILY.
John 0. Keith was born January 8, 1863, in Perry County, Illi-
nois. He came to Meade County in 1894, and on September 4th,
1898, was married to Matie B. Hinsdale. To this union two
children have been born, Dot, the daughter, only surviving.
Mr. Keith farmed and taught school until 1910, when he moved
to Meade and engaged in the implement business, which he con-
ducted for two years and then sold out. He has served as Clerk
of the District Court, and is Clerk of the First Baptist Church.
He is quite prominent in fraternal societies, being a Past Grand
of the I. O. O. F., and is at present Chief Patriarch of the Encamp-
ment branch of the Odd Fellows order.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
155
H. H. KIRCHNER.
H. H. Kirchner was born at Worden, Douglas County, Kansas,
January 5th, 1879. He was married to Delia Layman at Arling-
ton, Kansas, February 18th, 1903.
He is not an old resident of Meade County, having purchased
the Gardner ranch and settled here on April 10th, 1915, but his
year's residence in this county has convinced him that he has at
last found just what he has been looking for, and no inducement
within the limit of human probability would tempt him to leave
Meade County.
He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and of the Chapter of
Royal Arch Masons.
156
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
TOM MURPHY.
Thomas L. Murphy, shown above in a characteristic pose, is
one of the biggest-hearted, whole-souled, most congenial Irishmen
that ever escaped from Cork, and how or why they ever permitted
Tom to escape is a mystery.
He was born at Springfield, 111., August 29th, 1858. He re-
moved to Kansas, and on January 30th, 1888, was married to
Effa Cool, at Columbus. They are now the parents of seven chil-
dren.
Tom came to Meade County on January 11th, 1904, being one
among the old "new settlers.''
He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is well satisfied
and prosperous.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
157
R. M. PAINTER.
R. M. Painter was born in the State of Iowa, a long time ago.
He came to Meade County in the fall of 1884, and filed on a home-
stead, where he resided until 1915, when he left the farm, — or
far^ms, it might be more accurate to state, as he owns something
less than half a township, — and came to Meade, where he opened
a law office.
"Cap," as he is usually called, has had a varied career, at differ-
ent times following different vocations. He has had experience
in the law, newspaper work, the army, the legislature, and while
he has never made politics a business he has always been actively
interested.
He was the first Representative of Meade County, the first
Post Commander of the local G. A. R., for several years President
of the Southwestern Veterans' Association, and is now Depart-
ment Commander of the G. A. R. of Kansas.
158
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
J. S. PRICE.
John Shelby Price was born at Kenton, Ohio, April 4th, 1874.
He came to Meade County in the spring of 1887. He was married
to Susan Winnifred Bonham, August 19th, 1907. To this union
two children were born, Frances Evlyn, now aged 6, and Shelby
Winfred, aged 2.
With the exception of four years during which time he was
sheriff of Meade County, Mr. Price has been engaged in the live-
stock business.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
159
MRS. J. S. PRICE.
Susan Winnifred Bonham was born in Hardin County, Ohio,
April 27th, 1876. She came to Meade County with her parents
in 1885, where she resided until her death, March 6th, 1914.
She was elected Register of Deeds in 1900, and served two
terms.
-m
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PERRY BROS.
Editors and Proprietors of The Fowler News and The Bucklin
Banner.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
161
A. B. ROBERTS.
Albert B. Roberts was born at Richmond, Indiana. He was
married at Lynn, Indiana, August 15th, 1880, to Lizzie S. Johnson,
and came to Meade County November 6th, 1895.
He has three children, Walter J., Adgar N., and Alice M.
He has been engaged in farming, and is now serving his second
term as County Commissioner from the First District.
162
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
BERT STOUT.
Bert Stout was born at Logansport, Indiana, September 4th,
1884. He came to Meade County in 1908, and settled in Mertilla
Township, where he is engaged in farming.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
163
G. W. ROBERTS.
G. W. Roberts was born on February 23rd, 1856, in Grant
County, Wisconsin. He came to southwest Kansas in 1900, first
locating in Pawnee County, coming to Meade County in the
spring of 1913. He was married to Miss L. M. Hockett in Jan-
uary, 1903, and is the father of six children.
Mr. Roberts has been engaged in farming, and has the distinc-
tion of never having experienced a failure of his wheat crop in
southwest Kansas. His lowest average yield per acre for any year
is 10 bushels, the highest being 33 bushels.
164
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
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J. I. STAMPER.
J. I. Stamper (Col. Jim) was born at Sweetwater, Term., De-
cember 22nd, 1869. He came to Meade County in May, 1885.
He was married at Meade, December 25th, 1900, to Lottie W.
Snyder. They have one child, a daughter, Jamie, born in Meade.
Jim has been rather versatile in his pursuits, having been at
different times engaged in farming and stock-raising, well-drilling,
has taken a flyer in the mercantile business, was postmaster at
Meade under President Taft, but for several years last past he has
devoted the greater part of his time to auctioneering, at which
calling he has met with remarkable success.
He is now President of the State Auctioneers' Association.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
165
WILLIS WOLFE.
Willis Wolfe was born at Wheeling, Missouri, February 5th,
1888. He was married at Wheeling, Mo., October 5th, 1910, to
Lulu Mae Norman, and came to Meade County in March, 1911.
Two boys, Leonard M. and Norman B., have come to brighten
their Meade County home.
Mr. Wolfe has been engaged principally in the cattle business,
but as a side line he sells automobiles and Fords.
THREE SCHUHMACHERS.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 167
THREE SCHUHMACHERS.
L. F. Schuhmacher was born September 5th, 1882, at Mexico,
Missouri. Lon early realized the possibilities of Meade County,
and emigrated here in 1886. He was married at Meade February
21st, 1907, to Maude Stansill.
Their three boys, L. F., Jr., Nelson R. and Gordon S., are shown
in the above picture.
Mr. Schuhmacher has been engaged in the real-estate business
at Meade for the last ten years.
168
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
O. R. STEVENS.
0. R. Stevens was born in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, March
22nd, 1879. He was married in Barber County, Kansas, Novem-
ber 19th, 1902, to Miss Tressie Grigsby. A son, Ferol Clifford, was
born at Coats, Kansas, August 16th, 1905.
Mr. Stevens came to Meade County April 30th, 1906, and was
engaged in the mercantile business at Meade until September,
1914, when he removed to Wichita.
Mr. Stevens is one of the prominent fraternalists of the State.
He was Department Commander of Patriarchs Militant from
January 1st, 1908, to January 1st, 1913, with the rank of Brig-
adier-General, and is the present Grand Patriarch of the Grand
Encampment of Kansas, being elected to that office October 12th,
1915. He is also a member of the Judiciary Committee of the
Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Kansas.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
169
C. A. UNDERWOOD.
Underwood was born in Logan Co , Ohio, March 19th,
came to Meade County in 1905, where he took a home-
engaged in farming, which occupation he has followed
member of the I. 0. O. F., the Knights of the Golden
was formerly a member of Co. E, Ohio National Guard.
Chas. A.
1860. He
stead and
ever since.
He was married at Meade on April 18th, 1907, to Margaret K
Nichols.
He is a
Eagle, and
170
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
MPS. C. A. UNDERWOOD.
Margaret K. Nichols was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1866.
She was appointed postmistress of New Jerusalem, Ohio, by Pres-
ident Cleveland, which office she conducted for eleven years. She
also conducted a grocery store at that place.
On April 18, 1907, in Meade, Kansas, she became the wife of
Charles A. Underwood.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
171
MORTON WILSON.
MRS. MORTON WILSON.
Morton Wilson was born in Appanoose County, Iowa, Feb-
ruary 3rd, 1865. He was married in Meade County October 30th,
1892, to Jennie C. Heape.
Mrs. Wilson came to Meade County in March, 1885, Mr. Wil-
son coming in May of the same year.
They were engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1915, when
they retired and moved to Meade.
They have two daughters, Ethel and Marie, both at home.
172
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
M. M. WAY.
Marion M. Way was born in McPherson County, Kansas, Jan
27th, 1876. He came to Meade County March 12th, 1900, and
was married October 16th, 1901, to Rosetta F. Bunyan. He has
one child, a boy nine years of age.
Mr. Way has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He
has served his township and school district in various offices.
He is a member of the Masonic order.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
173
D. P. WYSONG.
D. P. Wysong was born at Lynville, Franklin County, Va.,
January 16th, 1851. He was married at Stewartsville, Bedford
County, Va., April 6th, 1876, to Dora Stewart. Two sons were
born, James T. and Ansel S.
He came to Meade County March 25th, 1885, and, like many
of the other early settlers, has been engaged in several different
lines of work, among which are teaching, contracting, farming,
and the practice of law.
Mr. Wysong has served his county as County Superintendent,
County Clerk, and County Attorney.
The above picture shows him with his grandson, Stewart, son
of Ansel S. Wysong.
174 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
R. E. STEELE.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 175
R. E. STEELE.
R. E. Steele was born in 1850, and reared in Prince William
County, Va. In 1874 he came west, locating in Douglas County,
Kansas. In 1878 he removed to Barber County, and came to
Meade County in 1892.
He was married in Meade County to Miss Jennie W. Mills.
Two children were born, both girls, and both of whom are married,
one to Mr. Eustace Smith, a prominent young lawyer of Hutch-
inson, and one to Mr. E. W. McNaghten, also of Hutchinson.
Mrs. Steele died in 1907, and afterwards Mr. Steele was united
in marriage with Miss Curtis Harsha, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mr. Steele has been engaged in the cattle business practically
all of his life, and has probably handled more cattle than any other
Meade County citizen. The names, Steele & Cockins, Cockins &
Steele, The Meade Land & Cattle Co., the Crooked L Ranch, are
familiar to everyone. While Mr. Steele has been interested in
many ranch propositions, the Crooked L, located about three
miles south of Meade, is his best-known venture. This ranch,
while not extensive in acreage, is one of the best little ranches in
the State. Here is to be found several hundred acres of alfalfa
under a good system of irrigation, and here is produced the feed
that fattens several thousand of the Crooked L brand yearly.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 177
FRANK SOURBEER AND FAMILY.
Franklin Sourbeer was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Nov.
19th, 1838. He was married to Annie M. Kessler at Harrisburg,
Pa. Mr. Sourbeer is one of the earliest settlers, locating in Meade
County June 30th, 1879. H's principal business was farming,
up until a few years ago, when he retired and moved to Meade.
For six years he has been one of the magistrates of Meade Center
ToAvnship.
Mr. Sourbeer enlisted in June, 1861, in Co. D of the First
Pennsylvania Volunteer Reserve Corps. He was wounded at the
second battle of Bull R n, August 29th, 1862. In 1863 he was
made Captain of Co. H, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia.
He served as Second Sergeant in Co. K, Two Hundred Third
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 179
THE MEADE CHECKER CLUB.
The Meade Checker Club, which claims to be invincible and is
always ready to prove its claims, is composed of the following
business men : from left to right, top row, E. W. Fletcher, Dr. T.
E. Henry, Dick Collins, C. M. Gates, Jay Ellis, John Wood;
bottom row, Isaac Covalt, N. M. Ellis, Harry Hoon, E. W. Bocook.
DON T. EDWARDS, THE PIONEER LAND MAN.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
181
A. JACK BYRNS.
182
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
A. .J. PADEN.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
183
J. H. ELLIS.
184
HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY.
THE AUTHOR S BEST PRODUCTIONS.
MADGE. KATHLEEN. LENORE. JOHN P.
THE MISSUS.
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