Arkansas Valley Democrat from Newton, Kansas • 2

after tue election that hundred of names ed the census of the county, pre- ynriury 10 organization. wenaex-amlhed the files and records of the office of the count yi cletk and can flnd ii sen or upon the Sedgwick poll books was copied fipin the Cinclnnattl Directory arid a color, ed bootblack who was plying his vocation there on election day is reported to have of said; census, of' can we find atlght ln the said that they compelled him to vote uiuueeuiugs oi me county commissioners in reference to it, and bs Dr. Boyd can not remember the exact number of neonln fourteen times and than drove him out of town because he refused to cast the fif land ufitil every piece of government land (of any vulue) in the-county had soma nl ing on. it at the government land office IV will be seen from tb.li sketch that we have paid little or no attention to filings, but ratber to actual settlers, as many of the filings were fictitious or made for the purpose of by persons who never saw the land that was entered in their names, and who had no Intention of complying with tho splrtyof law, by personal occupancy or living; upon it. Fof this reason many of these pieces were watched and other filings placed upon lhem.

aad notices of contest riven to test teenth ballot. then in Haivey county we can only state that we believe the population to have That these frauds upon the elective on Section 84 in He'was afterwards killel by the 'Indians cenr Medicine u'A (' We were also infqriried (hat there was a settlement on West Whitewater, in the present township of Richland, which was occupied by H. Neiman, who settled on his claim in June, 1869, and by William Lawrence and Hubbard Wilcox, who made settlements in July, 1809. These men were (he first settlers, in Richland township, if hot iu HarVey county Two men named Kimball and Hunna settled on. 7 In Lakin township as early as June, 1809, and were undoubtedly the first ttlers in that township.

There wits also a cattle ranch on Section 20 iu Macon township, Ht the mouth of the three Emma Creeks, which was settled in the Sumuier.of 1809, by George F. Perry, franchise were perpetrated Athere: cart Jbe Deen aoout enough to comply with the laws of County no doubt, and "while an impartlar history' County Superintendent; B. C. Arnold, a. G.

Richardson1 and T. S. Floydi Coonty Commissioners. On January 18th 1873, B. C.

Aarnold was i elected chairman of tho Board. The proposition to ennejc Walton and Highland townships was started by John (J. Johnston circulating a petition, which was signed by three fourths of the voters in the townships, asking to be annexed to Harvey county, The peti-t'on was presented to the Legislature by H. A. Ensign arid a committee from Newton, consisting of J.

T. Davis, H. C. Ash-baugh, L. E.

Steele, G. D. Munger, R. M. Spivey, J.

B. Dickey and others assisted it getting the bill passed, which occurred drane 5th day of March. 1873. At the election held Nov. 4th 1873, the following rffflCers were elected A.

G. Richardson, Representative; Dr. I.N. Stout, Coroner. The Beard of County Commissioners danUaethej y0tesjifet.rprj l.f County Clerk Lehman, County.

W. Register of It is due to the interest of impartial his requires ineir mention, yet it is true tuat the manses of the voters. in both town ships were ignorant of the frauds, and the question, which often terminated I tory at this early date to state that from this time Until September wheii Capt. H. W.

Bunker, was made county clerk, nearly hU important papers, which should have been filled in that office, are that'tliey were eonoocted, and perpetrated by -Safeifr designing pei'sols 1 At aiy. rate beyond' a littletrife in $mrt no harnfresultea, iihf Ne'wtbn was declared the county seat of Harvey county. uiiooiug; Hna eventne minutes of meetings of the county commissioners have been imperfectlvkentor untii-ulm nmitiui. who had iu his employ, if notjn partner-J Jjiil v. Earlv in 'June 187t.

tho Wichita South' Western u. iwa ortahlzed; Jwtth to.fl)MK eanjbigno( official data to establish statementa in regaidl'to lmpor-farlt events jwhlcbToecurri period, audracking this-data tve are forced todolhebeajiwe canfnd let the, fault, arty, rCst Ivher'e itTironerlv belong i i I xccub; vjreuiito iBKcny, ouenu: juua the following officers and directors: J. H.I iWmU QifHflliitcin. Hpllistpr ind (R Commissioners. election bonds, to rUe amountbf were-rotad for 'JlbVehaifnir 1 'a' Poori FiIhm Treasurer, II.

C. Bluss, Secretary, S. H. I KohrfVJjM, Vi Johnson; Qt. Between these periods of time, the the A'.

Ti F. had fteen Smith Georee Bchlicter. C.F. Gilbert. T.

and, bui dind fad Vnamm. tlie'ste1 bbndsvWere iaiuetf -and tH State to G.eriaUa,(OoIoHi4rt, and rliaibfancli from. Newton to Wichita. When VVtuj ftiacnj Atexanoer and Beth Goody; if Perry and 4iis assis- tauts feari be considered, teutf they were tho rim settlers in Macon township. There' were also bcvqhH families of Irish 'and French settlers pa, (he Liittle, sas fiver In.Garden township, and at the, mouth "or Turkey creek" in Alta township, whose names we cannot ascertain but who ettjed as 'early as the Fall of 1809 or Spring of We know that in the-Fali of 1870 -the claimirof those in Garden township.

purchased by Frank and. AK'Muncb, and those in--Alta township by Palmer and Daniel Heath, and others, who thereby became the flrst" permanent settlers in these townships. 4 i Iwf'll liereistateahal the J12th: day of August, 1870, Rosa' A. Sclmefer, daugh-tiofiCihtttles Stihaeferiind wife; was bom Pettis; P.1BF?Jto&n;(l.tjh.e wrjqerlpr this sketch as directors. j'Off thqUthrdayf I87jl, election was held in Sedgwick counfv to vote county Itofids' to the amount of $200r- riin htrl Af tKu toJ i i and county lias, a Hdnie her Mwucu lese expense-than -tliiy could be cared for by the townships.

Thd Briardf Commissioners aid fne'eC-ing, held February adopted, the herd lawiaiJd.i ordered it to 'b(i ftnV.ibrce jthiaVM done many business iiouses. in Newton that had depended upon the 'yfcry ilfiyi figurep (in many cases or less than half cost' pricfc) afldaUeif followed the cowboys and the gambling and saloon eltjitienf to; points Wfch- ltft and rwicroiOitir i a j. T'he-eonte was olose and exciting Park City being a bitter' Apposer 'of 'the The fotul.vote 1j78B. andJ.he mi- arterjyiarcn ist, 1873. By thus the poor.

"homesteader? tp, 'growf cpffi- jorlty-'tbr-'tlie-iibnds '880 'Newtori jnelgwick eppnty). ca.v6 mVij on ty Uit Hie bonds. iThe ck)n-; tract for butkluig the road was (let at oncifllud'tlie wort wae soohVbegunUnd unshed rai)idlv towards completion, and inNewtuu believed or professed to believe that when tho trade leiVthe; place, ti'ade. would atnotl'ntW nothing' and "the completed far( Hi Wichitif lrt a few Ptacej go oon neveif as our readers- rbeliefed any thing 'of the but' months. It has always proved- a paying in Sedgwick, and was the first child born in Haryeyjcountyf we authentic record.

LDuriDg'the, fall, of ,1870, the following persphs together with many others. whose, names we-4iave n6t been able to learn, set-i tied in Sedgwick: Mrs. McCtung, RrMV Morgan, N. A. Matthis, 8.

B. Cretcher, Wm. Finn and George Weeks. Harry Morgan, son of Pi M. Morgan and Mary 'C Morgan, was the first male Child born in Sedwick city, if not the first in the county.

He was horn February 13th, 1.871..; ff r. Investment, fyiflt lihsprjfibuied much' t'o make Newton the leading city of the great Arkansas valley. I Tf''V' 1 great wind apd'rain storm' which This uucertaihtv or strife did much to impede well meaning persons from' sot. tliug in the county and improving the land's they wanted, and drove themv away intaother sections, 'west ofiliis odunty, where there was no cause -for contest, and wberif the land was perhaps'of milchloas value. When fifst vfsitcd tliisicpdfityf )lfge buffalo were found in the western portion otf-tt, especially! pvhe; immediate neighborhood where Burrton now ptands, and hetween ithe twp Arkansas fyver'- jn fact buffalo'meat was.

the" principal dietat every hpuse, aud ranch- Ja the county when yo'ung ahd In 'good order" was -pre-tcrable UMhe finest beefsteaks id be had 'h the1 eoudtrjK The arsi-t buffalo killed In th .1874, Jn, thd Prouty neighbothhod' id Macon1 fowhlp Octobef 1st, 1871, there as perhaps d00 iuhftbitaAK in- iat nnany more in the County, while rprobably as gredt k'number (Jtt'ireckle roved the county attending to large lwirds of Jwild'JTrtrtas isregafdingCthe" rights of settlers, running over and coW a olii' crops, tflrt-ning rampant in Newton, making day a terror anrj rilght iis hideous pandemonium let loose. This state oV things continued for fully two years and did more to prevent improvements of a permanent nature tooth. In county, thn anything else. But about this time (October, 1871) the best eitiljens ot the town and ho feanie" it Llieir hoiyejand; desired law and order to take the place of disorder and moral confusion, (that under the domination of the cowboys and their attendant swarms of gamblers and thieves, reigudd supreme,) became acquainted with each other and began to consult for their own protection-and the public good, and resolved to organize themselves together, to establish a city and county government, and if possible, have their laws enforced and their rights respected. The subject of the organization of a new county was quietly mooted.

About this time a Republican county convention was called 10 nominate a ticket for Sedgwick couty, and this being a part of that county, delegates were elected to the number of seven from Newton to attend that convention. 1 The convention met' at the appointed time fn Wichita, and after being organized cut down the delegation from Newton township to three.after considerable debate and bad temper, when all the Newton del-egntes, headed by the writer, withdrew from the convention, followed by the delegations Black Kettle and Grant townships. Ue9troVed KlddCado lu Butler. currecf on the evening of June 10th, 1871. The wind blew from the north and for some thirty minutes assumed the severity of a hurricane, and did much damage in .1..

nV I. TK. parts of was the severist storm we have ever seen in me wruer returned lopcisa via iji-derado, about the first of September, and ('id not again return to Harvey county until May 10th, 1871, at wiiich date be came to the town site of Newton to remain. HnwfiVH.r before fi-ivinc a descriDtionof the On the 30th of October. 1871.

'a verv -ancr wneat enougti tor.njs suosistence wlllefltf hetee andbuilding his fences, and the resrlthas been that" Harvjeyifguny (to-day liufimqie and -bet-i than ftny 'other cOunty nvJth'e Atr 6r meeting fof rfheBpawI, of CoiBr lttisIiliner'sF, 'Februaiy Aidy'187iT1Alrii64J -PrqutVI rWaS appointed Oointyr Cptnthis-iotief'-vice 'GV Richardson', Elected Danel. Vas appointed Olierk" of ViceJ i B. Cunningham," removed from county. -October 3d, bfteclsion -of the Supreme Court, the new Board of County Commissioners assumed control of the county affairs. This Board consisted of Amos Prouty, John Hollister and T.

R. Oldham, and organized by electing Amos Prouty chairman. A.t election, 1874, following' officers wef'e elected J. E. Dun.

can, representative; Ht-L. Langan probate judge; C. C. Nichols, county attorney; James Blake, clerk, of district court, and F. L.

Fantz, eoanty superintendent. September 6th, 1875, H. W. Bunker was appointed county clerk, vwe Bunker, resigned. At the election heJ.

November 2d, J. Duncan wai. elected representative; H. W. Bunker, county clerk; A.

BGilbertj county treasurer; J. Crawford, register dt 'deeds? D. Leonard, sheriff; H. A. Ensign, coroner; J.

H. Dawson, surveyor; T. John Hollister and Joseph Cook, county commissioners; Alex. Reed was, appointed probate judge, vice Lr Langau, removed out of county. John Hollistej was elected fehairman of tho Board of County Commissioners, January 10, 1875.

At the election held November 7th, 1870, severe and cold storm of hail, slee and snow passed over Harvey county, the wind blowing a gale from the north. During this storm, hundreds of cattle in all parts of the county perished from the sudden and excossive cold weather. On the 4thbr July "1871, our National iay was first observed' and celebrated at Richardson's grove, on the West White Water. There was Just seventy persons present. It was again celebrated at the same plate in 1872, and after she county was organized, and also at the residence of Enos Commons, in Emma 'township.

I he first passenger train entered the tnpugntiants argued tpatfluf. loss of he Cattle mde aha the rbugh-tlement- jwiuld eventually reshlt in gDod to the city, and W- knew add feaidnimt Ntwton Was tlie GaLt great Arkansas-Valleytthat-lt ft by rich, beautiful afld and that the rough element would speedily be replaced by good, law abiding citizens, and that both city and county would be bless-edTvith peace and prosperity. All this while the affairs of the county had been carelessly and badly (if not criminally) conducted. It was openly charged that a "Tweed Ring" hiid formed with headquarters in some of the covAty offices. It was also charged and generally believed, that large amounts ot money had been wrongfully issued in the shape of warrants and paidoutwithpnt sanction tf jrtia further; Reported that the at leastthe majority of them, had met aud cancelled and destroyed some ten thousand dollars of this redeemed script, and that no sufficient record of the amount thus issued and destroyed had been kept, Excitement ran high--indignation meetings were held and efforts made to have the books of the county investigated, and il found as charged, to punish the guilqy parties; but.

as the books had been loosely kepir -ud in meny instances no record, whatever, made of important transactions, it was found uphill business to commence proceedings against the suspected and the matter was finally dropped. While this state of affairs existed, however, codfidenee in business affairs was wanting, and all classes suffered more or less. The county was left in debt to a considerable amount, and county warrants were sold at a heavy discount; and the excitement only partially subsided until the election of new officers. Subequently Capt. Duncun, who was elected Representaitve, had an act passed to enable the new board of county commissions to fund the debt, and begin Knew.

Theoeupon confidence was restored, warrants went up to par (where they have been ever since,) and no county has had more prudent and trustworthy officials. Pressing close upon the heels of suspected corruption, a worse scourge than the Tweed Rin befell the people of Harvey county and the btate of Kansas, we allude to THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE. On the 7th day of August, 1874, they depot at Newton, on the 17th day of July, 1871, aud the railroad lands of thoA. S. company were theu put on the market, as far west as the Oth principle meiid-ian and were rapidly sold to enterprising settlers, who could not get government Gen.

R. B. Hays received for president lands. a 1,000 votes, and Samuel J. Tildeu, 351 Sometime in July 1871, Rev.

Overstreet, votes: S. R. Peters was elected judge of a Presbytesian minister, preached the first the 9th district; T. B. MurdocK senator; This strife resulted in the nomination of sermon ever delivered in Newton.

His W. M. Congdon, representative; Alex. services were held in the unfinished build Reed, probate judge; John Reid, county attorney; James Blake, clerk of district ing of Mr. Levy near Mr.

Lehman's hardware store, afterwards occupied by A. Roy's bakery and confectionery store. court; H. 0. McQuiddy, county superin- town site at that early day, it will be found more interesting to continue with the set tleruents made in the different tuwnships, and then return to this period and the, early history of Newton.

Newton township was first settled id February, 1871, by A. W. Baker, who some years later sold his claim to Myron Hall, who now owns it; in a few days thereafter, perhaps the latter part of February, Miles David and Joshua Perkins moved opon their claims which they still occupy- Darlincton township was first settled by Edward Doty and Thomas Winn, in July 1870, C. L. Berry, August, 1870.

and Ed-ward Marks, O. B. riildreth, Wm. Geary and Isaac Stockwell, who settled on section 4, in October, 1870, and drew lots for the choice of quaiter They, in turn were followed by O. V.

Gingrass, James Allen and others, during the same fall. Richland township was as before stated, first settled by Howard Neiinan, in June, 1869, and by Wm. Lawrence and Hubbard Wilcox in July of the same year. These were the only settlers in the township until June 1870, when A. G.

Richardson came and purchased the claims of Lawrence and Wilcox, and settled on them. C. 8. Funk located his claim and settled upon it on the 3rd day of July, 1870. Joel and Jesse Parker, H.

W. Bailev, E. B. Parks, Samuel Saylor, Thos. Ezra, lloss Smith and others, in October, 1870.

Highland township was settled as early as March and April, 1871. Among the first who took their claims in March, we have the names of John Hengst, G. W. Patterson, John V. Sharp, Hannibal Berry and Frederick Livingston, followed in April by J.

S. aud W. H. Hackney. J.

W. E. and J. M. Johnson, K.

J. Elwood, J. L. Caveny, W. Davis and others.

The first settlements in Lake township were made in March, 1871, by James Mc-Murray, James Patterson, John Gorgas and others. In addition to the names of the early settlers in Lakin township, we hve those of L. K. Wright, C. II.

Yeomans, C. A. Tracy and others, who came in March, 1871. Shortly afterwards (in September, 1871) tendent; October 2d, 1S77, C. U.

JNicnois was unpointed register of deeds, vice J. Crawford, resigned. At the election ot the first Sunday school whs started in Newton, in the old Delmonica Hall. It was organized by Judge Markwell, the late Isaiah Yocum, and the writer. The November 0, 1872, the following officers two tickets, and most of the regular tickets were defeated.

This added to the feeling for a new county and on the evening of December 13, 1871, the first meeting to take steps for the organization of a new county was held at the office of Muse Spivey. There were present at that meeting Capt Joel T. Duvis, R. M. Spivey, L.

E. Steele, C. S. Bowimiu, James Sprague, J. C.

Johnston, D. Ains-worth, the writer, aud others. The plan adopted was to form a new county, to consist of sixteeu congressional townships, ten from Sedgwick county, three from McPherson county, and three were elected H. W. Bunker, county clerk A.

B. Gilbert, county treasurer; John room furnished by Muse Spivy, while Puterbaugh, register of deeds; H. H. Mc- the inanagnipnt of the school devolved upon Judge Markwell. It was kept up Aclams, sheritl U.

iloya, coroner A. w. Knapp, county surveyor; A. II. McLain, Geo.

Seaton and J. R. Rogers, county commissioners. At a meeting held Janu ary 14th. 1878, J.

R. Rogers was elected from Marion county, with Newtou tor chairman of Board of County Commissioners. August. 19vh, 1878, E. L.

Parris whs appointed clerk of district court, vice thecounty seat. From this day the subject was pushed forward until as before stated. THE NEW COUNTY OF IIAKVEY was organized by act of Legislature Feb James Blake, removed out ot county. At the election held November loth, 1878, W. M.

Congdon was elected repre sentative; Alex. Keed, prohate jiutge; ruary 29th, 1872. Thereupon Hon. James M. Harvey, then the Governor of the State of Kansas, appointed the following named persons county officers of Harvey county to serve until their successors were duly elected, and qualified, to wit: H.

W. John Reid, county attorney; E. L. Parris, clerkof district court; H. C.

McQuiddy, county superintendent; A. H. McLain, county commissioner. 1 Bailey, County Clerk; G. D.

Munger, County Treasurer; A. Markwell, Probate Judge; R. H. Brown, Register of Deeds; W. a.

Chamberun, Suerill; C. C. hurley, Coroner; C.S. Bowman, County Attorney; made their first uppeaiance in the county coming iu clouds so thick and so ravenous-as lo eat up and destroy in two or three weeks every stalk of corn and every vestige of vegetation, which was green enough for them to eat. This was the second visitation of this pestiferous insect, and wo pray to God that it may be the last.

The first was in 1800, All persons in business became downcast and dispirited, and what is still many well-meaning persons lost all faith in the climate, and even in the soil of the state. All business was practically suspended and want and suffering brought to the doors of many of our worthy settlers, in all parts of the county. Many were compelled to leave their farms to seek work elsewhere to support themselves and families, while many J. B. Cunningham, Clerk of District court W.

iirown, County Surveyor; Ellen Weu ster, County Superintendent; J. R. Skin. ner, G. Richardson, and Amos Prouty County Commissioners.

He also desig nated Newton as the county seat. At the election ot JNov. 4tn, i8y, tue proposition to vote bonds to the amount of $0,000, for the purpose of building a jail, was submitted to the people, and carried by a vote ot 977 for and 712 against, nearly all the opposition to the bond being from the western portion of the county. The following officers were elected: Peters, judge of Oth district; J. C.Johnson county clerk; H.

W. Bunker, county treasurer, II. Mathies, register of deeds; II. H. MeAdams, sheriff; II.

A. Ensign, coroner; Wm. McCormick, coUnty surveyor, and W. D. Tourtillctt, commissioner.

April 14th, 1880, 1. M. Welch was appointed commissioner, vice J. R. Rogers, resigned; April 22d A.

H. McLain was elected chairman of Board of Commissioners. At the election held Nov. 2d, 1880, Gen. James A.

Garfield for President received 1,554 and Gen. W. 8. Hancock 585 votes, Gen. Weaver 130 votes.

The officers elec I he board ot county commissionrs held a regular meeting on tho 24th day of May 18(2, to canvass the vote lor county offi until churches were organized, and theu transferred to them, where it has been fostered and kept up ever since. COUNTY OFFICERS AND STATISTICS. The first meeting of the board of County Commissioners was held April 16th 1872. The Board was mustered in by C. S.

Bowman, at that, time a Notary Public and A. G. licbardnon chosen chairman. Among other business transacted by the Board, was the separating of the county into civil townships, corresponding iu size and boundary with the congressional townships of which it is composed. The write-er was present and much interested in this work, which resulted in naming the townships as follows, and for reasons below staled: Newton township was 'named the City cf Newton, tho county sunt, and that derived its name from Newton, Massachusetts, one of the suburbs of Boston, where many of the stockholders of the A.

T. S. F. II. R.

reside; Darlingtou was naiwd iu honor of its early settlers, who came from Darlington, the county seat of La Fayette Wisconsin; Sedgwick was named after the town of Sedgwick; Lakin in honor of D. L. Lakin then land commissioner of the A. T. S.

F. R. R. Lake was so called because of the beautiful lakes which it contains; Burrton was changed from Valley in honor of the town of Burrton. which was named in honor of I.

T. Burr, Vice-President of the A. T. S. F.

R. R. Halstead, which was named by Capt Sebastian in honor of his friend Murat Halstead, editor of the Cincinnati Commercial; Emma was named after three creeks of the same name Which was so called because a beautiful younir lady of that camef who accompanied a party of died and was buried on the banks of one of theso streams; Alta was named in memory of the deceased daughter ot the writer, Alta O. Muee: Macon was named after Macon County, Hlinnis; Walton in honor of one of the stockholders of the A. T.

F. R. Garden, Highlaud, Richland end Pleasant derived their names from the quality of their soil and the lay of the land. At the election held Nov. Gth, 1872, Gen.

ILS. Grant received 503 votes and Horace Greeley 187 votes Dr. Ensign was elected representative; W. Bunlteri-'ounty ntrtrk i fy Mnn crer Coun tv Tresu rer cers and on county seat, from the minutes others left the oountry and returned to the ot which we give a copy ot the entry made in reference to the county seal elec tion. may 24th 1872.

"The County Commissioners met pres ent were A. G. Richardson, Amos Prouty Burrton township was settled by Jno. W. Blades and others in April 1871.

Emma township in April 1871, by Wm. Bean, Chas. Bean, Mrs. E. Bean, E.

C. Mungcr, G. Webster and others. Walton township was first settled by T. Cline and others in March, 1871.

Hal-stead township by John N. Corgan, who sold out hU claim where Sedgwick City now stands, und located at the mouth of the Black Kettle, near the present town of Halstead, in September, 1870. G. L. Coop-er, J.

Schoonover, Andrew Olson, Allen Miller, L. D. and A. Brewer, came in October, 1870. A Brewer built the Bust frame house in the township, in the December, 1870.

Lena Schoonover, daughter of Jay and Louisa Schoonover, was bom June, lCih, 1871, and was the first child bom iu Halstead townehip. In Macon township in an addition lo the names already given, we are informed by Capt. Samuel Aikiu, that he settled there on February, 25th, 1871, and that Walter Scott, Louis Foy aud W. Mortimer, came in 1871. During the 6ume month Amos Protuy, George Hupp and Others, filed on their claims in this township and located on them as many as eight families on the 29th day of August, 1871, which event has been celebrated at the house of Mr.

Prouty, by the neighbors ever since. i The first settlers in Pleasant township were John Hnrlan, J. and P. Rea, R. Owen and D.

E. Shelden in January, 1871, and H. D. and O. Kettle, Daniel Denny, 8.

ana John It. Skinner, lhe Board pro ceeded to canvass the vote of May 20th, east, heart-sick over their losses and poverty. This was the gloomiest period in the history of the it is to be hoped that 6nch days of darkness and distress may never meet our people again. But In the midst of their sorrow and dispair Western Kansas had a worthy and valiant friend, in the person of A. E.

Touz-elin, then Land commissioner of the A. T. 8. F. R.

and one of the brightest men it had been but good fortune to meet. He at once s-1 about furnishing seeds for the farmers free or at least freight free, and by 1872, lor county officers and county seat. the poll hooks ot beugwicK township showing upon their luce an excessive and iraudulant vote, equal to more than double the amount of inhabitants in' said township the taking of the census about the 1st, of April A. D. 1872, and the poll books judicious and timely advertising kopt such or JNewton township showing a large and excessive vote.

It Whs voted by the hoard that they be rejected." The writer not liking the decision of the Board in casting out the poll books of Newton township ted were as tollows Neil WilKie, ena-i tor; J. W. Ady representative Alex. Reid County attorney, L. Paris.

Clerk of District Court; James Dawson, County Surveyor, vice Wm. McCormick, deceased S. T. Danner, County Superintendent, and D. W.

Woodward County Commissioners. Tho vote on the Prohibitory amendment stood, tor. against, 858. Nov. 8th, 1881, J.

C. Johnston was elected County Clerk; H. W. Bunker, County Treasurer; H. Mathies, Register of Deeds; John Wafer, Sheriff; H.

A. Ensign, Cor-onert "James DaWsiint Coonty Surveyor; and A G. tRlcJittdBOSf, gGpMW commis-ioner. The above sketch ot Rarvey county is as complete as it could well 1 made from the imperfect records in the county clerks office. Those of early admisistmtions being very imperfect and unsatisfactory, and in fact the time elapsing between the organization ol the county and the fall of 1879 may be classed as the dark period in the history of Harvey County.

Soon after the act creating the county was passed, Dr. Gaston Boyd was appoint oenevipg that the vote was tair and hon est, remoustiated, but he is now constrain ed to say that the decision of the board was just, he having subseouently learned a stream oi immigration uuwmg mm mo country, that not only was confidence restored, but the railroad company was benefitted hundreds of thousands of dollars, by the sale of their lands, and the in-creaaed tariff along the line. We regret to state that a parsimonious spirit had manifested by the Eastern managers of the road, caused them to protest against the expense of advertising, and Mr. Touzelin tendered his resignation and would have bo more to do with the department, although requested to do and name his own salary. We are informed, that from a like cause, these "penny wise and pound foolish" directors lost control of the D.

R. G. R. and with it the only key to the fastness- that one hundred and ballots to correspond had been added io the poll books and placefl in the ballot-box. The iri February, 1871.

1 It will thus be seen that by Spring and census of Sedgwick 'township taked and early Hummer of 1871, every township jof riled just before the election, showed tllvt there wa not to exceed 125 legal voters residing fn the township, yet the' poll books showed that at the election over what is now Harvey coumy, hhu more less bona fide and permanent settlers. MirkweJI, probate iudge; H- MT. Hubbard, Register of Deeds Dr. 8. Foster, Coroner; C.

S. Bowman, County Attorney dinnlntrham. Clerkof District Court: From tin time on until January, 1872, 700 voteR had been cast and certified to the rush from every part of the country to L. II. Hamlin.

Surveyor; F. L. Faatz, under due form ot law. It wan reported enter and lake up unoccupied government.