Cowley County Democrat from Winfield, Kansas • 1

jj NO. 34. WXNFXEM). KANSAS, THURSDAY JULY, 13, 187G. VOL.

2. occur in this county again. On the 5 and organizations, beginning, of course, of September, II Brown Judge of with Winfield, the county seat. HISTORY the 9th judical district, (of which OF dispensation was granted to Hunt, A II Green, Enoch Maris and eight others, for a lodge at Winfield. Hunt was appointed A II Green, IF, and Enoch Maris W.

On the 17th day of October, 1872, the lodge obtained a charter under the nam-i COWLEY COUNTY. "fed their cattle ou a thousand hills" and lazily watched the birth and death of centuries. Their names we know not and even the'r origin is veiled in the abyss of the great unknown past. This we do know, however, they were a people well versed in the arts and sciences and stood far ia advance of the pavage tribes that occupied this beautiful land, when the continent was first discovered by Columbus. The time-worn mounds and acqueducts of the aborigines stiil standing, from the Mississippi to the WINFIELD.

The oldest house in Winfield is the one immediately north of the stage barn, in block 108. "it was build by E. C. Manning in Jauuary, 1870, and first occupied by himself and family as a claim house, on the 10th day of March, following. The Winfield Town Company was organized Jan.

13, 1870, of a soldier's savings and west they came. Thus it was that Kansas was populated with a brave, energetic people aud although she has passed through enough to overwhelm a people of less "grit," still she has prospered, and like the products of her soil has beaten the world in her growth: COWLEY COUNTY. This county was born in the usual way, of "poor but honest parents," viz the Kansas Senate and House of Bep's in old Constitution Hall at Topeka, on the 3d dav of March, 18G7. Govornor J. H.

C. Endicott, Geo. Harman, W. Johnson, Ed Chapin, Pad Endicott, Pat Somers and J. K.

Kodgers, took claims along the Walnut above its junction with the Arkansas river. II. C. Endicott built the first house in that part of county. In the following September, Z.

K. Bodgers died at his house. This was the first death in the county. 1870. On the 9th day of January, a party of 15 en under the lead of Thomas Coats took claims along the Grouse valley.

Their names were John Coats, Wm. Coats. Joseph Reynolds. Gilbert Branson, Henry Branson, Winton Phenis, J. II.

Phenis, II. Haywood, IScml at llic Ccsiteiiiiisil Cele-iiriitSosi, July -iili, 1870, tit Wmfieltl, Ii.sm.siis. Cowley was a part) appointed II Johnson county attorney. July Gth Loomis appointed Mansfield his deputy Co. clerk, and John Devore appointed Short deputy treasurer.

At the fall election Green was elected treasurer, but failing to give bond, Devore held the office till 1872. The officers succeeding them will be given in the order of their respective terms some of whom have been appointed but the greater majority have been elec BY WIR.T IV. WALTON. of Adelphi, No. 110, with the followinr; charter members Hunt, A II Green, Enoch Maris, A Bliss, A A Jackson, Boyer, II Shaughness, I Comfort, Adams, Thomas Hart, TrS Huff, II Revis, A Rice and Traxler.

The same officers were installed under the charter and hell their offices until Jan. 1, 1873, when Enoch Maris was elected IF TF Boyer, asd A Rice, TF. Jan. 1, 1874, Enoch Maris was re elected IFM; A Rice, TF, and TF Graham, TF. Jan.

1. 1875. Webb was "with power to lay out a town site upon the open prairie, east of the Walnut river and south of Dutch creek, in Cowley county, Kansas." E. C. Manning was its President, W.

AY. An-. ted. Colorado in the west, speaks in a language not to be misunderstood, of the wealth and industrial power of these prehistoric people. A people who caught the torrents from the mountain tops and carried them down an easy prey to fertilize the plains below.

Com S. Crawford stood sponger and named it Cowley, in honor of Lieut. Mathew Cowley, a soldier of the 0th Kansas Begi men t. At that time and up to July 12th 1870 the land embraced within its bor Co. commissioners have been A L.

B. Bullinston, J. T. Kavbell, D. T.

drews, Vice President C. M. Wood, Treasurer; W. G. Graham, Secretary; and E.

C. Manning, J. H. Land, A. A.

Jackson, W. G. Graham and J. C. Blanchard, II Norton and Simn- son, Frank Cox, Smith and Maurer: Burden, Rosberry and John Manly, and the present in cumbents, Burden, Wm White and Sleeth.

County Clerks A A Jackson and Troup; Treasurers Green, Walters, S. S. Severson, John Nichols, and O. J. Phenis.

About the 10th dsy of January 1870 the initiatory steps were taken for the organization of a town company, and the starting of a town on the claim of E. C. Manning, which lay adjoining Wood on the south. On the last day of December '09 Judge Brown, (our present congressman.) II Norton, A Wilkin Kellogg, John Brown and II Norton drove into camp near WoodV residence as members of the Tfalnut City Town Company. A few leading Kager and Bryan; Probate ing down a tew years we learn that in the year 1492, when Judge Boss, old Nump-awaila, Col.

Manning, Judge Mclntire, Chetopa, Clilf Wood and a few others left Spain, passed up the Mediteranean, out by Gibralier and into the unknown seas to find the New World that after enduring the heat of a tropical sun by day and storms by night finally landed safe on Alexander's mound near Winfield, they found that one Christopher Columbus, with a baud of half-breed followers was occuping ders belonged to the primitive red men, Cherokee Indians. The Osages used it as a strip from which they made many raids into the country south of us. stealing from theTex-ans and Indians their horses and cattle. These they sold to white border ruffians, who met them here and drove the stock further north into the older portions of the state. From this class of whites the early-settlers first gained their knowledge of Cowley's beautiful prairies, rich bottoms Fellow Citizens On a beautiful morning in July, in in the year 177G, the iron toDgued bell in the old State House of Philadelphia, rang out to a few thousand wearied souls the joyous tidings of a nation's birthday.

To-day, from the thousands of villages acd hamlets throughout the length and breadth of our land from the Great Lakes of Michigan to the everglades of Florida from the rock bound coast of New England to the golden sands of Oregon, there swells up in one grand acclaim, the voice of forty millions of grateful people, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of that event. To-day, wherever there is a band of Americans, whether they be in inland port or on foreign sea whether scaling the frozen Andes, or crossing the burn- Menforte, Directors. The question of a name for the new town puzzled its fathers for several days. A minority wanted it called the majority decided to honor Winfield Scott's christen name. He was at that time the minister in charge of the Baptist church, in Leavenwrorth.

Within the next four months, following the organization, forty acres of Manning's claim was converted into lots, blocks, streets and alleys. The log store was built by Manning, which was occupied, in part, by Dr. Mansfield as a drug store, aud by Baker and Manning with their goods. Soon Max Shoeb arrived, built a log cabin where Read's bank now stands, and opened a black elected TFM; TF Graham, W. and Saint, For the present year Hunt was elected JK Saint, and A Lemmon, W.

The lodge now has 50 members and is in a healthy condition, morally and financially. E. A. 31. On the 15th of March, 1875, a dispensation was granted Read, Baker, John Pryor, Scribe; Robinson; A Howland, Graham, A TP Johnston, 3d Hill, 1st A A Newman, member.

October 19th, a charter wras issued to them under the name TFinfield Chapter, K. A. No. 31 and on the 29th of the same month Judge Boss, Coon, II Johnson and Gans; Sheriff Patison, James Parker and KL Walker; Register of Deeds Smith, Paul, McCulloch and Kin-nie; District Clerk, Hickok, James Kelley, Bedilion; Survey and swift running streams. or II Barker, A Millington, this lovely vallejr under the original "Homestead Act." Being peaceful sort of fellows these new comers set sail, followed dowu Black Crook and thence by the Walnut to its confluence with the river, and there, upon a sightly emminence smith shop.

August 20th J. C. Fuller and D. A. Millington bought A.

A. Jackson's claim and proceeded, with pitched their tents- again. Here they Manning, to lay out that part ox the town lying east ot Main street. July Attracted by these reports a party of persons, consisting of James Ken fro and sons. Judge T.

B. Bos3 and sons, Shep Sayers and Frank Hunt, crossing the sombre, stony hills of old Butler, followed down the Walnut river on the 1st day of January, 1809 and "took claims" in the bottom just above the mouth of Timber Creek. In August 1808, one N. J. Thompson built a log house near the Butler county line.

This was the first house in the county Wm. Quin-by and family, and a Mr. Sales, settled on the Walnut below Thompson's place about the same time. They were the first actual settlers in Cowley county. Sometime in the month of June 1809 C.

M. Wood broug'it some groceries down from Chase county to sell to the citizens of Emporia, among the number, Eskridge, Plumb, Stotler. Kellogg, II Norton, and Judge Brown and II Hunt, of Cottonwood Falls, had organized a town company and sent the party mentioned, down into the TFalnut Valley to locate a town at the junction of the iralnut and Arkansas rivers. The map of Kansas at that time showed that the junction was about the center of Cowley County. After some conference with the settlers the new comers took five claims adjoining Manning's claim, east south east and south with the intention of making this the location of the proposed town.

In a day or two upon examination of the county below, the party concluded to locate this town at the present town site ot Arkansas City. On Jan. 1st 1870, A THlkinsan. John Brown, 4th, 1870, was a glorious day for Winfield. The first celebration in the coun ty was held on that day, under an arbor ing desert of.

Sahara, that starry banner, mid the booming of guns and the shouts of a liberty loving people, will be unfurled to the breeze. To-day, proud young Kansas, with her six hundred thousand happy people, sends a kindly greeting to old I'ensylva-jiia, the mother of our Magna Churta, the Declaration of Independence. To-day, the people of Cowley county, laying aside the duties and cares of a busy life, have come up from the in the rear of the old log store. Prof. E.

P. Hickok was the orator of the oc- the Chapter was instituted by J. C. Bennett, of Emporia. This branch of of Masonry here is in good working order and in a healthy condition, financially.

I. O. O. F. TFinfield Lodge, No.

101, was organized by A Shannon, of Augusta, Kansas, Feb. 18th, 1873. The charter members were Williams, A Weir, Richmond, Stephens and A Williams. The lodge has steadily increased in number until it now contains about 40 members. I.

O. G. Tr "Winfield Lodge was organized in March, 1874, Jeffries, T. On the evening of the organization, Rev casion. torn mat time up to me present, Winfield has so rapidly increased in population that it is impossible, in this short sketch, to give even a synop sis of her growth but I will endeavor, Indians and settlers.

He kept them at the house of Beufro and erected on the banks of the Walnut river a few rods east of where Bliss Go's mil! now stands, a small shanty by setting puncheons in the ground. Into this he moved his goods during the mouth of July. The Osage Indians made several futile attempts to steal them. Fearing an attack when not prepared, Mr. Wood moved his stock back to the house of Mr.

Renfro, for safety. Afterward, in the month of August, when ail the settlers were ordered out of the vallejr by the Indians, the goods were taken up to the Butler county line. After the were removed the brave Osage warriors burned the to the ground. Judye B. Boss was the only pioneer that did not ohey the orders of Mr.

"Lo." They couldn't scare him. He came to stav and he has staid. found they were too late again. ine original "Arkansaw Traveler" had filed on that particular quarter, named it Cresswell and was running it for the county seat. By way of parenthesis, I might say that the Arkansas Traveler, has been running it ever since.

Judge Mclntire remained there, "stood in" with the Traveler, and was finally ejected chief (representative) of the tribe. Manning, Ross, Chetopa and the rest returned, swapped some ponies to Mr. Columbus for his iurerest in this valley, and started a town of their owu. (This eventually became the county seat of Cowley.) Nump ka-walla lived to see Manning in the legislature, Boss, Probate Judge, Clilf Wood a government stons con trader and Chetopa at the head of a gang of Osage Indian horse thieves, aud as he could not bear to see his comrades thus disgraced, he gave up his Kiune-k'jiMuk and passed to the spirit land. He was buried with Indian (summer) ceremonies.

Dr. Graham, Dr. Mansfield, Will Hackney and MeDer-motte were the pall bearers. James Iienfro. J.

P. Short, E. G. Nichols, J. B.

Fairbank, Frank 11-iut, W. Roberts, A. T. Stewart and J. D.

Coeh ran were the chief mourners. They mourned because it wasn't the last Indian on earth, that they were called to bury. This mourning party was led by Dick Walker and the Tisdale string band, and accompanied by the Patrons of Husbandry in full regalia. This was the first high toned funeral in the couu- About fifty years afterwards, in the Summer of 1542, Francis Vasquez de Coronado, in company with Jimmie Simpson and Frank Gallotti. three-Spaniards of royal blood, started on an exploring expedition from Old Mexico to the northward, in search of gold and In June, 1809, Manning assist ed P- Y.

Becker to erect a claim cabin in the bend of the Walnut about two miles below Winfield. This was the first building South and West of the Hemenway aud Wirt Walton; Coroners II Kellogg, Wagner, Joore, and Hedricks; Supt of Pub Inst; Walmsly, A Blanchard, Hickok and A Wilkinson. Our representatives in the state legislature have been in 1871, Col Janning, in 1872 Judge JcIntire; in 18 1 3, Capt Jas JcDer-mott; in 1874, Bev Wm Jartin; in 1875 Hon Thos Bryan; and in 1870, Hon IV Hackney. The first political gathering in the county took place at the raising of the "old log store' (now the Windfield Courier and Post Office.) on the 1st day of April 1870. 1 his was a citizen's meeting and was held t3 nominate candidates to be voted for on the 2d day of Jiay.

On the 13th day of June '70 the first coach arrived with the United States mail at Winfield. Previous to that time all mail matter was brought by private hands from Douglass and distributed among the settlers. There were bo mail routes, roads, nor bridges up to this time. The people in the various localities amused themselves by taking sides with Winfield and Arkansas City in their county seat, and "Jauning and Norton war." They had nothing else to do but brag about the county eat beans and dried apples and draw on their friends in the east for more money. The land was not surveyed, hence they did not know where to make their improvements.

The bitter local feeling that was engendered in those days has long since been a theme of the past. With the exception of a few would-be-leaders in the various towns of the county, who are continually kicking up strife in their own immediate neighbor-hood (simply because they are not able to kick up anything else) the citizens of Cowley county are to day a unit on any measure or proposition that tends toward the general advancement of their interests as a people. During the summer, fall and winter of 1870, the tide of immigration kept flow ing into the county. The valleys of the large streams were all settled upon aud still they continued coming, until the settlement extended across the rich prairie into the smaller valleys beyond. There was a certain social, or equality feeling that existed in those good- old days, among the settlers, that would be termed improper and imprudent by the people here to-day.

Away from home and friends, out on the verge of civilization almost within sound of the bloody war whoop, and always within hearing of the prowling cayote, it is no wonder that at times they overstepped the bounds of eastern etiquette. By theflickeringlight of some settler's dip lamp, many fleeing hours were chased into merry morn, by the flying feet of Cowley's pioneers. People would go miles and miles to join in such festivities. The violin always precedes the evidence of a better civiliz ation. This era did not continue long, it soon gave way to school and church exercises, and the more refined and christian like enjoyments.

In January, 1871, a surveying party under Short, began the survey of the county. They were followed industriously by claim-hunters, who hoped the survey would develop uuoccupied tracts. The settlers were on the alert, and many lines were run just in front of the deputy surveyor by them. Fifty dollars, and often a lesser sum would so influence the magnetic needle of this United States official, that a line would river. On the same day they found en camped at the mouth of Posy creek, a Mr.

and Mrs Bridges and two or three men. Mrs. Bridges, is the first white woman that is known to have crossed the Walnut river in this county. She corresponded tor some eastern paper at the time, and afterwards wrote Addeesj' and other political ef McQuiston was chosen and Mrs A Gordon, T. The lodge was organized with twenty charter members.

It now contains nearly 100 members in good standing. ARKANSAS CITY. On January 1, 1870, the first stake was driven in the town site of Arkansas City by the town company. March 1st 11 Norton built the first house on the town site. It was occupied as a residence and store.

II Norton, appointed in April, 1870, was the first postmaster. During the year of 1870 the following enterprises were established, being the first of the kind in the city: Sleath Bro's saw mill Sipe's hardware store Richard TFoolsey, hotel; Newman Houghton, clothing house. Paul Beck, blacksmith shop; Bo wen, grocery store; Keith Eddy, drug store; Mitchell, harness" shop; A TFilkinson, restaurant; Wm Speers, the first ferry acioss the Arkansas river. The first temperance meeting was held Feb. 21, 1871.

Hackney was the first lawyer; Dr John Alexander, the first physician; MrsS Channell, opened the first millinery store. The first Sunday school was organized in Rev Swartz cabin, with A Wilkinson as superintendent. Creswell Grote was the first child born in Arkansas City. The date is Oct 5, 1870. The town company magnanimously deeded the little native a lot.

On the 20th day of July, 181, the the town site was entered at the Augus-a land office. June 10, 1872, it was incorporated as a city of the third class. At the first election, held July 1, 1872, A Keith was chosen mayor and Amos Walton police judge. The office of mayor has been successively filled bv A Keith, II Meigs and Channell. Judge Timothy Mclntire has been police Judge almost continuously since April 1873.

Mrs II Norton made the first American flag in Cowley county. It was used at Arkansas City, July 4, 1870. Some time during the fall of 1S1, a dispensation was granted the Masons at Arkansas City and a lodge organized. In due time they received a charter under the name of Crescent Lodge, No. 133, with Smith as and Kager, W.

The Crescent now has over thirty members, and is prospering. TISDALE. however, to name the first who engaged in the different branches of busiuess: E. C. Manning was the first settler and merchant Max Shoeb, the first blacksmith Frank Hunt, the first hird ware dealer, W.

Q. Mansfield, the first druggist and physician J. Short, the first hotel keeper; A. J. Thompson, the first feed store keeper B.

II- Dunlap, the first livery man T. II. Jolmson, the first lawyer; D. A. Millington, the first engineer and sur veyor; J.

C. Fuller, the first banker; M. L. Palmer the first tinner C. A.

Bliss the first mercantile firm J. U. Munforte, the first painter. Mrs. Delphino Manning was the first woman in town, and her son Fred the first child born on the town site.

Rev. A. Tousey was the first resident minister, but Judge Ross preached the first sermon. Miss A. Marks taught the first school.

On the 10th day of July, 1871. Judge T. B. Ross entered the town site of Winfield at the Augusta land office, under the town site laws. At that time there were eighty buildings in town.

The citv of Winfield was incorporated Feb. "22d, 1873. The first city election was held March at which W. II- IL Maris was eleeted Mayor; A. A.

Jackson, police judge, and O. F. Boyle, C. A. Bliss, J.

D. Cochran, II. S. Silver and S. C.

Smith as councilmen. The council chose S. C. Smith its president J. W.

Cuns, clerk M. L. Robinson treasurer C. W. Richmond, marshal and J.

M. Alexander, attorney. The first annual election was held April 7th, 1873, and the same persons re-elected, with the exception of Mr. Bliss, who was succeeded by Samuel. Darrah.

The second annual election, held April 8, 1874, resulted as follows S. C. Smith, mayor N. II. Wood, police judge and J.

D. Cochran, II. S. Silver, R. B.

Saffold and J. P. McMillen, councilmen. Curns and Robinson were re-appointed clerk and treasurer. II Suits was appointed attorney, and Swigart.

marshal. Nov. lfith Messrs Woodland Suits resigned II Johnson and Hackney were appointed to fill their offices. The third annual election, held April 5, 1875, resulted in the election of A Millington, mayor Boyer, police judge and Troup, Powers, 'Newman and Chas Black as councilmen. Baldwin was appointed clerk Evans, marshal Alleo, attorney and Fuller, treasurer.

At the last annual election, held April 4, 187G, A Millington was elected mayor Curns, police judge and A Lemmon, Troup, A Bliss, Myers and II Brotherton, councilmen. The same officers were re appointed by the council, with the exception of Evans, who was superceded by Walter Denning. The nost masters of Winfield have ofiice, the shop and the field, to join together in celebrating this, the rrvost glorious day of all the years. In conformity with the (implied) wi- of the President of the United States, as will be seen by his proclamation of May 20th, and in accordance with the spirit of a joint resolution passed by Congress at its present session, which leads as follows Hexolccd, Fy the Senate and House ot of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it be and is hereby recommended by the Senate and House of llepreseu tutives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching Centen nial anniversary of our National lude pdndence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day a historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed iu print or manuscript in the clerk's office of said county, and an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed iu the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete: record may thus be obtained of the progress of our institutions during the first century of their existence." But more particularly in compliance with the ''pi in ted bills" anil "mammoth posters" circulated by the "Fourth of July Committee," do 1 appear before you to-day, to attempt the delivery of a historical sketch of Cowley count)-. Had I been informed that I was expected to write a tlicsis on the Coleopte-ra of the moon, or prepare a lecture demonstrating the Darwinian Theory of Developement, I could not have been more surprised than when notified by the committee of the appointment.

In either case it might have been less embarrassing. I might have found a precedent for the former, and drawn upon my friends, the infield Bazique Club for the latter. As it was 1 was at a loss to know what to do. I asked the Committee what would be acceptable. They didn't know.

I rushed frantically to a friend and enquired. He said "Never mind the truth, give us something flowery, something characteristic." I turned to another (he was an old settler and wanted to be mentioned in the history,) he said "Give Wn the facts, young man, dry facts: tell them that when I came to this county it was a wilderness that for months I lay upon the borders of civilization, with mother earth for a bed and the blue vault of Heaven for a coverlet that for weeks and weeks I was nightly lulled to sleep by the wicked shriek of the terrible cay-rte nnd waked to morn aain by the wild war-whoop of the bloody Indians. Tell them that I have fought, bled and lied to secure them the peace they enjoy to day. That I ask no recompense at their hands. They have no gift to lpsfnw that would auGiccntly reward me for the privations I have endured unless, perchance," he added in an undertone "they would elect me to the position of Probate Judge, an office to which I have long aspired." I grew discouraged and resolved to fall back upon my own resources, coup-Jed with the information I might gain from the less ambitious of the "old set Norton and John Strain staked out and claimed the four claims upon which Arkansas City now stands, as the location of the new town.

Norton took a claim adjoining the town site on the north, II Kellogg took a claim south of the town site. When this party arrived at the mouth of the Walnut they funnd the bottom and timber claims taken by Endicott, and his son, Pad, and George Harmon I'M Chapin, Pat Summers, Mr Carr, Mr Hughes and one or two others. The Walnut City town company consisted of fifteen members and the four claim holders mentioned were of the members, and were to hold the claims and enter them for the company. On their way down the valley the party discovered a Walnut City in Butler county, and concluded to change the name of their company to Delphi. Oa their return to Emporia the name was again changed to Creswell, and by this name the town was known for some months.

On applying for a post office the department informed Senator Boss, who made the application that there was a Creswell in Labett county, Kansas, and that no two offices of the same name would be located in the same state, and at Boss' suggestion it was called Arkansas City. IHien the commission came to Norton, who was the postmaster named, the town was uamed Irkan sas City. This was April 1870, The IFinfield enterprise took form in January of70, as did that of Arkansas City. From the start the two parties interested in the two prospective towns were shaping events to secuie the county seat of Cowley county whenever it should be organized. In February of 1870 a bill was introduced in the Senate of Kansas entitled "An Act to Organize the Count' of Cowley" and making Creswell the county seat.

As soon as the news arrived at Tf infield. James Land, A A Jackson and CM Wood traversed the county in three days and took the census of over six hundred population, and reported at Douglass, in Butler county, (the nearest place where any officer could be found to administer an oath) on the 23rd of Feb uary. At that time the necessary papers were made out and Manning took them to Topeka and presented them to the Governor, who thereupon issued the order organizing Cowley county, designating Winfield as the temporary county seat and TF Andrews of Winfield, II Norton of Creswell and Graham of Dexter as county commissioners. This was made Feb. 28, 1870.

Hickok was appointed county clerk at the same time by the same authority. The fi st meeting of the countv board was held March 23d 1870 at the house of TF Andrews, at which time Andrews was chosen chairman. Their first official acts were the division of the county into three townships, viz. Rock, Winfield and Creswell, and their issuing a call for an election to be held on the second day of May 1870. This eleetiou was held for the purpose of choosing a permanent county seat and to elect a complete set of county officers.

The result of that election was as follows: For county seat Winfield 108 and Arkansas City 55 votes. The officers elected were commissioners. A Blanchard, Morgan Willett and II a a yl 1 silver. They traversed the western portion of Kansas and reported finding "many crooked backed oxen, (meaning buffalo) and grapes and mulberries in abundance. On reaching this counry they liked it so well that they had about, concluded to stay, and grow up with the country, but on learning that men here loaned money that didn't pay taxe3 that the newspapers fought each other like "kilkeuny cats that Tisdale and Arkansas City were both striving for the county seat, and lastly, that we had no railroad, they became disgusted, returned to Mexico aud until quite recently this country was not known to the outside world.

So ends the traditionary history of Cowley county. Now for the "dry facts." KANSAS. Twenty-two years ago the Kansas of to day was unknown. Previous to that time geographers noted it as the "Great American Desert." Thi3 territory, stretching from the 37th to the 40th degree of north latitude, and from the Missouri river to the base of the Rocky Mountains, was the home of the nomadic savage and the no less wild buffalo. Phis was Kansas in 1 854.

Soon the tide of immigration set to the west and a stream of hardy pioneers came pouring in. Among the early Kansans there were as many elements of discord as there were eastern localities represented. The laws which to a great extent governed the inhabitants were unwritten. Force was repelled by force, and while the good and orderly were desirous to see a reign of peace, yet it wa3 impossible by reason of the numerical strength of the disorderly. The call by the United in her hour of need for volunteers was answer-e 1 by thousands from our young state, and no better records of bravery or pure devotion to the cause of liberty was ever made than by the Kansas soldiery, and for every six of her population one fusions for the Irareler.

Ou June 11th aided by Becker, Mr. Manning laid a claim foundation for himself upon the present town site of Winfield. The fear of Indians having somewhat subsided, several families during the month of September crept down along the valley and settled on claims on the beautiful prairie where Winfield now stands. These settlers each paid to the Osage chief, Chetopa, five dollars for the privilege of remaining in peace. These early pioneers wereC.

M. Wood and wife (Mrs. Florence Wood who was the first white woman to settle on the Walnut, south of Timber, then know as Dutch creek. Pretty man Knowles, J. H.

Land, J. C. Mon forte, and their families. Dr. W.

G. Graham, and family, who came the last week in October and settled on the east bank of Dutch creek, two miles above its mouth, were the first settlers on that stream. During the Winter of '09, Alonzo Rowland, W. W. Andrews, Joel Mack, H.

C. Loomis, A. Meanor, and others took the claims upon which the most of them reside. Mr. Howland, built the first frame house in the county his present residence which was considered at the time a herculean task, having to haul the lumber over 100 miles withont the sign of a road.

About this time E. C. Manning, erected a small log building on the claim south of C. M. Wood's.

In this Baker Manning kept a small stock of goods which they sold to the settlers and traded to the Indians. At this time the land was neither sur-veped nor subject to entry. Claim corners were disignated by stakes, and the claim holders intentions set forth on a shingle with letters of charcoal, often in about the following style. NOTES." This klaim wes taken by me on the OA.I. trtrn Under a charter bearing date, June 13th, 1S71 with A.

D. Kieth as presiJent ami C. II. Mitchell as secretary, the Tisdale Town be run cutting the original settler off Company lam out the town month of June. 1S71.

S. S. Moore, Geo. W. Fouohtv, Sid Moses and M.

Ehnger were the first settlers. Mart Elinger erected the been, successively, Mauning, Rev Tousey. Johnston and James Kelly. The Methodist was the first regularly organized church in Winfield. It perfected its organization in May, 1870.

The Baptist organized in the following October and the Congregationalist in uay or January loou am gone his particular claim, and leaving it for these unscrupulous land banditti following him. In consequence, the lines of the original survey are very crooked. On July 12th Congress passed a law allowing actual settlers to enter from 40 to 160 acres of these Osage lands at 61.25 per acre. On March 2, 1871, the town site laya of the were extended to these lands.and on Jiay 11, 1872, Congress passed a law allowing actual settlers to enter the Cherokee lands. The terms were similar to those of the Osage lands, except that all lands east of the Arkansas river were sold at SI.

50 per acre, and all west at $2.00 per acre. Having given an account of the early settlements of the county at large, I will now attempt a short sketch of her various towns, societies fought in the civil war. At the close of dairs after my family. Anybody who to squat oh my claim while I am first house, Sam Willwton tlie tirst uiacK-smith shop and J. A.

MctJuire the first store in town. J. A. MeGuire wxs the first, and still is the post master. The town site wm purchased from the government in June, 1S7G.

Mrs. (i. W. Foughty taught the first school. IlEXTER.

The "Dexter Town Company" was organized bv leadinsr citizens of Kmporia sometime in July 1870. C. B. Bacheller, Geo. V.

Frederick and W. llobmson ot Emporia and lex Stevens and Thos. Manning of Grouse Creek, Cowley county were its incorporators. After obtaining a charter not h-in" more was done by the company. 1 he fiit house oil the lexter town site wan erected by James McDenuott, who moved into it June 25th, 1S71.

In September lS70the Dexter post om was estaouslie I. B. Todd as post master, and in Mar. 1S71, the first mail carrier arrived from Km Continued on fourth pajs) tlers." I quitted the "field of fact" and i the war in 1SG5, Kansas had less than gone reluctantly turned to the mouldering will git a load of buckshot when I get morion; county clerk Jri ixxiuu archives of antiquity. back.

Plenty of good klaims not taken Treasurer, John Devore: district clerk. one hundred thousand population. But now peace was hovering under the governmental wand. The soldier had replaced the civilian's garb. In the east a quarter of a million of boys who had just south of me.

lours truly. Hickok; probate judge, Boss; From the dim traditions of the past, then, I learn that a few thousand years fgo the fertile valleys of the Arkansas and its tributaries, was the home of a 1871, with.J Fairbank and A Howland as deacons. The Christian church was also organized in 1871. The Presbyterian completed its beginning" in January, 1873. The Catholics have a mission established, but no regularly constituted church in Winfield.

A. F. AND A. M. On the 20th day of October, 1870, a John Smith." Claim disputes were settled by called "Settlers Unions" or by meetings before whom the respective been with tne "trie! and true" returned register of deeds, Cook; sheriff, Frank Hunt; coroner, Graham; and surveyor, Graham.

This ticket was eleeted without any opposition. mighty people. Not such a live, rush- to ttie ranks of peace and had to be sup-i ng people as dwell here to-day, but a plied with homes. The high price of flippy, contented people. A people who lands in the east out counted the cash claimants presented their cases ouch a millennium for office seekers In March, April and May, 18G9, never occured before, nor is likely to 0.