YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1938 A History of Meade County, Kansas By FRANK S. SULLIVAN CRANE & COMPANY Printers, Binders, Publishers Topeka, Kansas 1916 Copyright, 1916, By Fhank S. Sullivan, Meade, Kansas. CONTENTS. Page Foreword 7 Acquisition 13 General History IS Cities 26 Political . 44 Banks 61 Newspapers . . OS Churches. . 72 77 7S Si Highways and Bridges S4 89 The Court House 92 The Salt W'ell .... 96 Farm Statistics. . . 103 The Old Calaboose 131 Biographical 139 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 T 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 171 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 flocked 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. 9 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 urder 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 1S73, the Legislature created Meade County, named in honor of Gen. George G. Meade, and fixed its boundaries as follows: "Com- Muz a 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. lis] a ^•oV-V"*/* VIEW OF PLAINS IN 1903. 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 8()'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- VIEW OF FOWLER IN 1903. 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 Gocl, 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] ALFALFA FIELD ON CROOKED L RANCH. 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, Wrilliam 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, 1888. 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, * AN ALFALFA FIELD, FRANK MARRS FARM. 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 ¦M.v& .1 * «¦¦/;' EARLY DAY ROUND-UP SCENE. 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 "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, W a. S o 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 WTehrle, in the Val ley. It made no further progress than to secure a name. Another vision in the vicinity of the Eliason farm was called Artois, but, like 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 was 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 put up, a few other buildings were erected from time to time, a postoffice was secured, but the town failed 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. HARVESTING AND THRESHING. 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 . Superintendent . . . County Attorney. C.W.Adams, R. J. W. Jamison, D. N. H. Mendenhall, R. N. B. Clark, D. S. R. House, R.* A. F. Hollenbeck, D. Surveyor Moses Black, R. J. A. Dupree, D. Coroner Commissioner 1st District. Commissioner 2nd District . . . . H. Chaney, R. E. E. Buchecker, D. . . . J. H. Randolph, R. James Vaughn, D. . . Chris. Schmoker, R. Ed. McDaniel, D. Commissioner 3rd District E. M. Mears, R. F. J. Beckwith, D. Sheriff.. Treasurer Register of Deeds. . . . County Clerk Surveyor Commissioner 1st District. . Coroner. ... Representative .... 1887. . . George F. Eckert, R. E. B. Summers, D. C. S. Rockey, R. E. T. Hughes, D. Jesse Summers, R. Wm. McKim, D. L. E. Brown, R. T. C. Bonham, D. K. P. Smith, R. John Werth, D. .. J. H. Randolph, R. D. K. Griffin, D. . . . I. N. Graves, R. Benjamin F. Cox, D. 1888. . . A. H. Heber, R. Robert E. Steele, D. H. F. Caldwell, .Union Labor. * In September, 188S, Mr. House resigned, and R. W. Griggs was appointed to fill t\v un expired term. 46 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Probate Judge. Clerk District Court .... County Attorney . . Superintendent Coroner ... Commissioner 2nd District . W D. Hudson, R. E. T. F. Thompson, D. C F. Cahoon, U. L. . D. B. Stutsman, D. E. B. Russell, R. C. T. White, U. L. . R. W. Griggs, R. M. L. Brown, D. J. M. Holcomb, U. L. . N. H. Mendenhall, R. James B. High, D. Mary Dalgarn, U. L. . William Lake, R. 0. J. Loofbourrow, D. E. D. Smith, R. D. Barragree, D. R. P. Cooper, U. L. 1889. Surveyor. County Clerk Coroner Commissioner 3rd District. John G. Fonda, R. John Werth, D. . L. E. Brown, R. J. R. Graves, D. William Lake, R. Dennis Callaghan, D. .CM. Plymell, D.* John H. Ellis, R, M. H. Howard. 1890. Representative. A. H. Heber, Ind. S. M. Bennett, Peo. James Wilson, R. * C. M. Plymell 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, 1N1KI, L. B Kellogg, Attorney-General, commenced proceedings in (juo warranto against Ply mell in the Supreme Court. The opinion, filed in May, 1S91, ousted Plymell 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 Xewliouse receiving two votes ;ind K J. Graves one vote. WALLS OF CORN. 48 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Probate Judge County Attorney Clerk District ( 'ourt Superintendent Commissioner 1st District. Coroner ... Treasurer ( 'ounty ( 'lerk Register of Deeds . Sheriff . Surveyor Coroner .... .... Commissioner 2nd District Commissioner 3rd District . Representative Probate Judge Clerk District Court Superintendent . . W. D. Hudson, R. H. F. Caldwell, Peo. . . . Geo. S. Selvidge, Peo. R. W. Griggs, R. . D. B. Stutsman, Peo. Minor Weightman, R. .... Mollie Dalgarn, Peo. Carrie B. Campbell, R. William Beaty, Peo. Gamaliel Rogers, Peo. 0. P. Fletcher, R. 1891. . . Len Follick, R. R. L. Sawyer, Peo. . .J. F. Armstrong, R. U. G. Park, Peo. . . Moses Black, R. J. E. McCall, Peo. A. J. Byrns, R. Geo. B. Allen, Peo. . . John Werth, Peo. J. H. Ellis, R. . . C. Button, R. J. M. Riney, Peo. Frank Lohr, R. E. P. Boyle, Peo. ..HE. Hayden, Peo. J. N. Stamper, R. 1892. .James Wilson, Peo. It. M. Painter, R. . . Andrew Graham, R. D. H. Bryant, Peo. . . . F. W. Fick, R. N. R. Bishop, Peo. . . D. P. Wysong, R. J. A. Porterfield, Peo. POLITICAL. 49 County Attorney Coroner. ... Commissioner 3rd District. County Clerk Register of Deeds . Sheriff Treasurer A. T. Bodle, Jr., R. Geo. S. Selvidge, Peo. . A. Kessler, R. (to fill vacancy). G. W. Umbarger, Peo. HE. Ha.yden, Peo. Rhees Singlev, It. 1893/ Surveyor Coroner Commissioner 1st District. Representative Clerk District Court Probate Judge County Attorney Superintendent Commissioner 2nd District . .J. F. Armstrong, R. J. R. Graves, D. Belle M. Peed, D. B. F. Stivers, R. . S. D. Adams, D. Richard Buis, R. Geo. W. Wiley, R. J. C. McLean, D. E. J. Graves, Peo. .John Werth, D. J. H. Ellis, R. A. Kessler, R. .William Beaty, D. John B. Innis, R. 1894. ,R. M. Painter, R. S. N. Butts, People's Party. . F. W. Pick, R. H. G. Marshall, P. P. Andrew Graham, R. X. B. Sawyer, P. P. F. M. Davis, P. P. A. T. Bodle, Jr., R. . Jennie Kessler, R. 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 1S95, 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 G 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 Effie 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. '<¦, PREPARING THE GROUND. HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Purveyor Coroner Commissioner 2nd District . Representative Prolate Judf e. Clerk District Court. . ( 'ounty Attorney . . . Superintendent Commissioner 3rd District. Treasurer County Clerk. . . Sheriff . . Register of Deeds . . . Coroner Surveyor Clerk District Court. . Moses Black, R. Oliver Norman, D. . . Ed. Otto, R. Theodore Wolfley, D. . . .John F. Conrad, D. R. W. Campbell, R. 1898.* Geo. W. Wiley, R. John Wehrle, D. . . David Truaz, R. T. B. Petefish, D. . . . Effie ( 'oon, R. Lottie Snyder, D. A. T. Bodle, Sr., R. Geo. S. Selvidge, D. .J. A. Porterfield, R. James T. Walter, D. . ..HE. Hayden, D. B. F. Bisbee, R. 1899.* . . . Moses Black, R. James Wilson, D. .. . .Frank Wehrle, D. N. B. Peck, R. F. C Judd, D. A. J. Byrns, R. Winnie Bonham, R. Ormond Hamilton, D. Wm. F. Fee, D. Claus Borger, R. JohnH. Ellis, R. Oliver Norman, D. .John Elliott, D.t John 0. Keith, R. * In LS99 there were three tickets— Republican, Deinncratic, and Populist, but the nomi nees of the last two were identical. t In August, 1S99, 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 wa^ inducted into office on Xov 14th, 1S99, thus completing by more than one year the term for which Effie Conn had been elected in lS'.K-i. POLITICAL. 53 Commissioner 1st District John B. Innis, R. J. R. Keith, Pop. 1900.* Representative S. D. Adams, D. A. 0. Edmunds, R. Probate Judge E. W. Jenkins, R. \V. 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. \V. C. Schmoker, R. Comity Attorney (ieo. S. Selvidge, D. F. M. Davis, R. 1901. t Commissioner 3rd District H. E. Hayden. Albert Hemple. 1902. Representative . . R. B. Campbell, R. S. D. Adams, D. Countv Attornev. . . ... .Geo. S. Selvidge, D. A. T. Bodle, Sr., R. Treasurer . Moses Black, R. County Clerk D. P. Wysong, R.± 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 13 votes. Straws were drawn to decide the tie. Mr. Hayden, having drawn the long straw, was declared the winner. Thereafter Mr. Hemple instituted a contest. He was rep resented by attorneys A T. Bodle, Sr., R. W. Grigg3, 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 Darii's 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 SI bo, 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 Air. 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, S130.64, 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. (Jerk 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. a 56 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Commissioner 2nd District . Commissioner 3rd District. Representative County Attorney Treasurer County Clerk Probate Judge . . . Clerk District ( "ourt . Sheriff Register of Deeds. Superintendent Surveyor .... CoronerCommissioner 1st District. Representative. . . County Attorney Treasurer County Clerk. . . John F. Conrad, D. Geo. M. Edwards, R. .. J. W.King, D. B. H. Cordes, R. 1906. . . . S. D. Adams, D. Geo. B. Cones, R. Frank S. Sullivan, D. F. P. Marshall, R. . . . Ormond Hamilton, D. Edward Desmarias, R. W. W. Pressly, R, W. H. Dalgarn, D. . J. H. Randolph, D. S. 0. Ball, R. John Elliott, D. Ira Scott, R. J. S. Price, D. J. F. Pinnick, R. . Florence Smith, R. Charles E. Tally, D. Ruth Bennett, D. E. B. Reay, R. .... Moses Black, R. . .. .Wm. F. Fee, D. Geo. A. Nickelson, R. . . . William Jobling, D. T. V. Pinnick, R. 1908. . .J. E. McNair, R. S. D. Adams, D. . . . D. P. Wysong, R. Geo. B. Allen, D. . . . Moses Black, R. J. C. Hall, D. ... W. W. Pressly, R. W. J. Woodard, D. POLITICAL. 57 Probate Judge Clerk District Court . . Sheriff . Register of Deeds . Superintendent . Surveyor. ... Coroner Commissioner 2nd District . Commissioner 3rd District . Representative County Attorney Treasurer County Clerk Probate Judge ... Clerk District Court . . Sheriff Register of Deeds . Superintendent . . .J. H. Randolph, D. J. H. Ellis, R. . . .John Elliott, D.* Frank Ellis, R. J. S. Price, D. A. J. Byrns, R. . W. T. Gray, R. C. H. Burford, D. . . . . Mattie Haigh, R. Lou McCrellis, D. . . . N. C, Galway, R. G. W. Dalgarn, D. E. W. Fletcher, R. Wm. F. Fee, D. .James Wilson, R. F. I. Bennett, D. ... .F. M. Paul, Sr., R. T. B. Novinger, D. 1910. . . . .Geo. B. Cones, R. H. Llewellyn Jones, D. . . . Frank S. Sullivan, D. D. P. Wysong, R. . . . John F. Sweet, R. H. Albertson, D. . . . W. W. Pressly, R. .. J. H. Randolph, D. M. S. Gillidett, R. . . .John Elliott, D. John 0. Keith, R. Thos. Martin, D. E. W. White, R. . . W. T. Gray, R. .... 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 Coroner Commissioner 1st District. . N. C. Galway, R. George Hockaden, D. . E. A. Twist, Ind. 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. ( 'ommissioner 3rd District T. B. Novinger D. S. T. Frederick, R. 1914. Representative H. Llewellyn" Jones, D. Geo. W. Day, R. C B. Leslie, Progressive. a ao wE o c K 0,HKX 60 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. County Attorney Treasurer.County Clerk Probate Judge . Clerk District Court. Sheriff Register of Deeds . Superintendent Surveyor Coroner Commissioner 1st District. . .Frank S. Sullivan, D. F. M. Davis, R. E. D. Smith, Prog. . . R. W. Campbell, R. Frank Wehrle, D. CM. Gates, Prog. W. W. Pressly, R. F. W. Calvert, Prog. C A. Marrs, R. J. H. Randolph, D. Blanche Love, Prog. .John Elliott, D. Effie Sandusky, R. . .L. G. Krisle, D. Frank Ellis, R. H. E. Hoon, Prog. . Ira Scott, R. W. H. Dalgarn, D. Jennie Crocker, Progressive. . Pearl Wood-Smith, D. . Moses Black, R. Chas. Havens, Prog. Wm. F. Fee, D. E. W. Fletcher, Prog. 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, 1X85 ; Isaac N. Graves, R. R. Wells, H. H. Rogers, C. \V 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 1S85 : 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. NO PLACE LIKE HOME. 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, X. A. Berryman, and Emily Berryman. Its capital stock was $5,000, which was increased to $10,000 in 19C0. 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 ; ( "ashier, F. W. Curl. The Directors, in addition BANKS. 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. CoUingwood, D. A. CoUingwood, Joe G. CoUingwood, 66 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. S. G. Demoret, Ella Demoret, and J. H. CoUingwood, 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 [681 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 informaticn 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 Neivs, 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 rrd 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 Plefsant 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- 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, 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-schcol 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. 0. 0. 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] CONTENTMENT. 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 43/2 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 [si] 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 184] 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, wras 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 19 15 undermined the foundation, wrecking the bridge, and making the construction of a larger and bet ter one imperative. •JIT-.:: V 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 Win ton 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, Weseot, 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 ; 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 f)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 house 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 bad be tween the County Commissioners and the City Coun- [92] rf. o X H Ku> oo !« oo Q «1 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 $1,600, so that the county now owns an entire half-block, a tract of ground suitable in area ard 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 50-lb. 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 THE SALT WELL. 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, ancl 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. a^yjf i^ffii^ %x<$&}&fa±: 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. Winter wheat. . Spring wheat . ... Rye. .. Corn . . . ... Barley Oats.. Buckwheat Irish potatoes .... Sweet potatoes . . Castor beans . . Cotton. ... Tobacco ... Broom corn . Millet. . . . Prairie hay Poultry and eggs sold. Butter, lbs Cheese, lbs Milk sold Garden products sold. Horses Mules and asses . Milch cows Other cattle Swine Sheep ... .bu. . lbs. .tons Arrrx 504 5 125 12,151 5 2,678 7 389 9061 1 12 47 4,617 I'mdud 7,056 50 1,500 303,775 100 80,340 105 29,175 9,000 610 300 7,200 23,500 9,234 6,968 si, 869 .15,105 445 ¦S86 .$1,551 X itmber 1,285 406938 2,325 475 1,024 [10.3] 104 HISTORY OF MEADE COITNTY. 1887.— Population, 4,407. Winter wheat . Spring wheat . Corn . Oats . . Rye. Barley. Buckwheat. . . Irish potatoes. Sweet potatoes- Castor beans. . Cotton. . . Flax. . . . Tobacco Broom corn. . . Millet . Prairie hay. Poultry and eggs sold Wool clip Cheese .... Butter Milk sold Horticultural product;; marketed Garden product:; marketed Horses. ... Mules and asses . . Milch cows Other cattle .... Sheep Swine . .bu. lb .bu.lb . tons Acres 797 13,627 1,874 124 101 8 291 72 62 1 5 27 5,577 lb;; Quantity 3,170 300 34,698 Winter wheat. Spring wheat . 1888.— Population, 4,561. Acre* bu. 133 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 •13,994.00 570.60 36.00 5,204.70 132.00 65.00 3,667.00 N umber 1,651 508 1,476 4254 857 1,152 Product 2,394 FARM STATISTICS. 105 . 1 cres Product- Corn ..bu. 16,560 165,600 Oats u 3,891 97,275 Rye " 95 1,140 Barley " 25 125 Buckwheat. _ 4 60 Irish potatoes. ... " 315 12,600 Sweet potatoes " 144 8,640 Castor beans . a 38 190 ( 'otton lbs. Flax . .bu. 149 745 Tobacco .... . .lbs. 5 3,000 Broom corn . a 434 217,000 Millet tons 8,036 16,072 Prairie hay. " 5,828 Jiwutiti/ \'(tltie Poultry and eggs sold $4,234.00 Wool clip ( 'heese . . lbs. 481 57.72 Butter... a 65,461 11,782.98 Milk sold 2,554.00 Horticultural products marketed. Garden products marketed. 2,415.00 .V tut/her Horses . . . 1,927 Mules and asses 608 Milch cows 1,897 Other cattle 5,294 Sheep . . . . 1,749 Swine .... 1,7 6 1889. — Population, 3,596. Acres Pnrhiet Winter wheat .bu. 3,336 40,032 Spring wheat a 45 450 Corn a 12,580 125,800 Oats " 2,712 51,528 Rye ci 558 10,044 106 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. A cres Product Barley bu. 76 1,900 Buckwheat " 17 255 Irish potatoes 187 3,740 Sweet potatoes 132 6,600 Castor beans 161 966 Flax 111 999 Cotton .. .lbs. 4 1,200 Tobacco " 3 1,800 Broom corn . . " 359 215,400 Millet . .... ... tons 4,260 8,452 Prairie hay . . " .... 4,140 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 Horse;; 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 208 1,540 Corn 189 945 Oat;j 1,256 12,560 Rye 730 8,760 Barley ... Buckwheat 3 18 Irish potatoes 132 1,320 Sweet potatoes . . . 46 1,400 Castor beans 292 1,460 KARM STA'I'ISTICS. 107 Acre* Product Flax. . .bu. 109 654 ( 'otton .lbs. Tobacco " Broom corn . . " 327 81,750 Millet .tons 2,212 2,212 Prairie hay. 4,708 Poultry and eggs .... . $4,831 Butter, lbs . . 51,042 Milk sold Wool clip, lb; 5,900 Garden products sold $1,202 Horticultural X umber Horse 1,323 Mules and asses . , 256 Milch cows . . • . 1,927 Other cattle 8,297 Swine .... 1,400 Sheep 1,467 1891.— Population, 1,831. Acres Product Winter wheat bu. 7,714 100,282 Spring wheat . ... 52 624 Corn 3,540 88,500 Oate. .. 590 17,700 Rye 216 6,048 Buckwheat ... 1 Irish potatoes 35 2,275 Sweet potatoes 10 1,000 Castor beans . 41 369 Cotton lbs. 1 250 Flax bu. 21 168 Broom corn lbs. 204 81,600 Millet tons 1,287 1,930 Alfalfa 240 73 Prairie hay 1 2,959 108 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Poultry and eggs sold Wool clip Cheese. . Butter. . Milk sold Garden products marketed . Horticultural products marketed Horses Mules and asses .... Milch cows . . . Other cattle ... Sheep. Swine 1892.— Popui Winter wheat Spring wheat Corn Oats Rye Buckwheat . . Irish potatoes ... Sweet potatoes Castor beans Cotton . . Flax Broom corn Millet Alfalfa Prairie hay Poultry and eggs sold Wool clip. . . Cheese. . ... Quti/d/t/j Value $2,523.00 ..lbs. 9,320 1,677.60 " 2,045 224 . 95 49,281 7,392.15 240.00 1,576.00 16.00 X umber . . . 1,432 201 1,447 8,536 . . . 2,100 . . 1,026 ATION, 2,028. Acres Product bu. 8,773 158,114 " 390 4,680 " 4,213 25,278 il 964 23,136 " 3,269 98,070 " 11 110 1 1 63 1,890 I i 5 200 . ..lbs. ...bu. . .lbs. 382 114,600 . torn i 1,841 1,841 a 627 2,3804,822 Quantity Value $2,465.00 . . lbs. 15,010 2,551.70 li 2,787 306.57 FARM STATISTICS. 109 (J uaiilil 1/ \'alue Butter . . . lbs. 35,807 $5,371.05 Milk sold 34 . 00 Garden products marketed. 1,955.00 Horticultural products marketed 6,273.00 X umber Horses 1,532 Mules and asses 170 Milch cows 1,134 Other cattle 9,088 Sheep 1,911 Swine 785 1893.— Popci .ATION, 2,048. A era- Product Winter wheat . . .. .bu. 15,299 16,518 Spring wheat . " 250 Corn " 4,556 Oats . a 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. ... 00 90 Alfalfa. " 896 1,494 Prairie hay " 3,932 Qua u lily Value Milk sold Poultry and eggs a Ad. . $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. Horses Mules and asses . Milch cows Other cattle . . . Sheep ... Swine ... Winter wheat . . Spring wheat . . Corn . Oats Rye.Barley ... Irish potatoes. . Sweet potatoes . Broom corn. . Millet Milo maize. Kaffir corn . . . Jerusalem corn. Alfalfa Prairie hay 1894. Population, 2,025. Acres bu. 20,492 17 1,655 310 1,811 2,951 48 6 .. .lbs. 150 .tons 444 " 215 " 2,507 '¦ 15 a 958 Milk sold Poultry and eggs sold. . . . Wool clip Cheese Butter Garden products marketed . Horticultural products . Horses Mules and asses Milch cows . . . Other cattle Sheep Swine Quantity .lbs. 13,065 . " 2,815 " 42,809 Number 2,106 215 1,202 10,653 2,184 862 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 ,741. A CITS Product Winter wheat .. . . . .bu. 16,093 32,186 Spring wheat 133 Corn .... 3,094 21,648 Oats. 421 5,052 Rye. 2,341 11,705 Barley. ... 4,348 69,568 Buckwheat 40 160 Irish potatoes 59 1,770 Sweet potatoes ..." 27 1,026 Cotton lbs. 10 8,000 Flax bu. 6 24 Tobacco lbs. 2 1,400 Broom corn. . . " 235 117,500 Millet .tons 324 324 Sorghum for syrup . ........ . gals. 49 1,960 Milo maize . . tons 240 720 Kaffir corn " 1,944 5,832 Jerusalem corn . . " 30 90 Alfalfa " 1,117 2,060 Prairie hay " 13,086 Quantity Value Poultry and eggs sold. . . $1,411.00 Wool clip ... .lbs. 27,900 2,511.00 Cheese . . " 2,769 290 . 75 Butter " 42,009 5,461.17 Milk sold 42.00 Garden products marketed . 2,771.00 Horticultural products marketed . . . 171.00 Number Horses . 1,926 Mules and asses 133 Milch cows. 1,030 Other cattle 7,115 Sheep 5,550 Swine 713 112 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY 1896.- -Population, 1,651. Acres Product Winter wheat bu. 8,954 17,908 Spring wheat ' 43 Corn ¦ 2,025 10,125 Oats. ' 548 3,288 Rye. 1 1,196 5,980 Barley. ' 4,915 12,045 Buckwheat ' 5 Irish potatoes 91 910 Sweet potatoes " 13 ( 'otton. . ..lbs. Flax. . .bu. 7 Tobacco. ... lbs. Broom corn . . 139 41,700 Millet. .. . tons 782 261 Sorghum for syrup .gals. 40 2,000 Milo maize tons 160 320 Kaffir corn 2,517 5,034 Jerusalem corn. . . a 35 35 Alfalfa a 1,577 2,321 Prairie hay " 6,234 Qittitilil ij Value Poultry and eggs sold $2,182.00 Wool clip. .lbs. 32,727 2,945.43 Cheese. . . . " 2,932 234 . 56 Putter 38,233 4,205.63 Milk sold Garden products marketi (1 2,375.00 Horticultural products in irketed LSI. 00 X HUtbt'l' Horses 2,531 Mules and asses 145 Milch cows 1,109 ( >ther cattle 9,343 Sheep . . 6,269 Swine 704 FARM STATISTICS. 113 1897. —Population, 1,566. Acres Product Winter wheat bu. 3,313 39,756 Spring wheat ... Corn. 2,280 22,800 Oats 259 4,144 Rye 444 5,328 Barley 1,749 34,980 Buckwheat. . . 5 50 Irish potatoes 17 765 Sweet potatoes 9 540 Castor beans 1 5 Broom corn .lbs. 40 17,000 Millet .tons 952 1,666 Sorghum (syrup) . .gals. 352 17,600 Milo maize .tons 187 701 Kaffir corn ct 2,418 9,067 Alfalfa " 1,286 8,055 Prairie hay u 4,121 Poultry and eggs sold . . $1,944 Butter, lbs . 37,309 Cheese, lbs. ... 1,975 Milk sold. ... $58 Wool clip, lbs 27,300 Garden products sold . $710 Horticultural $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 Product Winter wheat .bu. 5,805 46,440 Spring wheat i : 12 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 it 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 ancl 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 X utuher Horses 2,568 Mules ancl asses . 127 Milch cows 1,396 Other cattle 20,545 Swine .... 635 Sheep . . . 3,937 1899.— POPULATK in, 1,541. A cres Product Winter wheat .... bu. 5,113 20,452 Spring wheat . 6 18 Corn 1,526 22,890 Oats 210 4,200 FARM STATISTICS. 115 Rye . . . Barley . Irish potatoes. Sweet potatoes Broom corn. . Millet Sorghum (syrup) . Milo maize . Kaffir corn . Alfalfa.Prairie hay. Poultry and eggs sold. Butter, lbs Milk sold. . Wool clip, lbs Cheese, lbs Garden products sold . Horticultural, sold Horses Mules and asses . Milch cows Other cattle Swine Sheep bu. 316 " 4,357 " 16 " 5 lbs. 35 tons 1,483 gals. 45 tons 70 " 3,485 " 2,385 Winter wheat . Spring wheat . Corn . Oats Rye. Barley. . Irish potatoes. . Sweet potatoes. 1900.— Population, 1,521 bu . 1 c res 3,884 30 2,068 146 49 2,560 21 6 Product 2,212 43,570 960250 10,500 2,966 1,800 140 10,45512,524 8,220 $2,460 27,960 $240 25,600 3,400 $1,269 $125 Number 2,793 162 976 24,525 930 4,755 Produc 69,912 300 14,476 2,774 686 71,680 1,239 390 116 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Acres Prodxict 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 ancl 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 ( 'orn 1,857 5,571 Oats 281 5,058 Rye 602 5,418 Barley. 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 a 59 118 FARM STATISTICS. 117 Kaffir corn Jerusalem Alfalfa Prairie hay Poultry and eggs . Butter, lbs Milk sold Wool clip, lbs Honey and beeswax, lbs . Garden products sold. . . Horticultural Horses . Mules and asses. Milch cows Other cattle Swine. Sheep . Acres . tons 5,458 . " 15 . " 3,296 1902.— Population, 1,573. Winter wheat . Spring wheat . Corn . Oats.. .. Rye. ... Barley ... Irish potatoes . Sweet potatoes . . Broom corn Sorghum. . Millet Milo maize . . Kaffir corn . . . Jerusalem Alfalfa Prairie hay ... . .bu. Acres 11,219 (t 3,430 u 143 " 1,265 " 2,804 i i 9 .lbs. 5 . gals. 5,034 .tons 403 " 175 " 4,562 " 42 " 3,432 Product 5,458 30 8,9067,502 $4,18335,960 $14 20,400 40 $1,565 $390 Number 2,886 132 984 27,185 820 2,183 Product 67,314 41,160 3,146 8,855 58,884 720 1,500 605 -525 13,686 126 11,807 4,257 118 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Poultry and eggs. Butter, lbs Milk sold Wool clip, lbs . Honey and beeswax, lbs Garden products sold. . . . Horticultural Horses Mules and asses . Milch cows Other cattle. . . . Swine Sheep . Winter wheat. Spring wheat . . Corn Oats Rye. ... Barley Irish potatoes. Sweet potatoes Buckwheat. . . Flax Broom corn. . . Sorghum (syrup) Millet Milo maize. . Kaffir corn . Jerusalem . . . Alfalfa Prairie hay. 1903.— Population, 1,592. bu. lbs.gals. tons Acres 11,489 40 1,792 308 743 4,628 21242738 588 156 4,378 10 5,026 Poultry and eggs sold . Butter, lbs.. $4,201 35,247 $385 13,000 $1,799 Number 2,756 132 825 27,460 602 4,736 Product 206,802 560 17,920 7,3929,659 138,840 1,470 1,800 162 2,660 1,176 312 8,756 20 13,907 5,948 . $5,173 . 30,611 FAKM STATISTICS. 119 Milk sold Wool clip, lbs Honey and beeswax, lbs. Garden products sold. . . Horticultural Horses ... Mules and asses. Milch cows . Other cattle Swine . Sheep . $735 12,000 40 $1,405 N umber 2,776 129 1,003 24,548 777 1,470 1904.— Population, 2,102. Winter wheat . Spring wheat . Corn Oats Rye . Barley . . . Irish potatoes . Sweet potatoes Buckwheat. . Flax Broom corn. . . Sorghum (syrup) Millet. Milo maize . Kaffir corn . Jerusalem. . Alfalfa Prairie hay. . Poultry and eggs sold Butter, lbs Milk sold bu. lbs.gals.tons Acres 18,450 478 1,286 507 1,015 8,368 29 4 38 4 127 30 315 182 4,906 22 6,348 Product36,900 1,912 19,290 2,5358,120 100,416 1,508 260190 20 38,100 2,100 315364 9,812 44 16,506 4,957 $7,53038,401$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. A cres Product Winter wheat .bu. 28,360 368,680 Spring wheat . . . " 1,240 12,400 Corn " 1,591 25,456 Oats " 7.35 13,965 Rye. " 412 4,532 Barley " 10,203 256,075 Irish potatoes .... 58 3,480 Sweet potatoes . . . 6 198 Broom corn. lbs. 125 56,250 Sorghum. gals. 5,379 Millet... tons 987 987 Milo maize. , 277 534 Kaffir corn. 5,367 10,734 Jerusalem. 83 166 Alfalfa 8,422 13,600 Prairie hay I 1 6,834 Flax. bu. Poultry and eggs $7,673 Butter, lbs. . 51,327 Milk sold.. _....,., $2,665 Wool clip, lbs Honey and beeswax, 11 )S. 299 FARM STATISTICS. 121 Number Horses . . . 3,572 Mules and asses . 214 Milch cows . . . 1,306 Other cattle . . . 28,002 Swine . . . 1,525 Sheep .... .. 1,701 1906.— Population, 2,574. Acres Product Winter wheat .bu. 24,186 338,604 Spring wheat . . " 1,278 16,614 Corn . . " 1,675 41,875 Oats . " 612 14,688 Rye . " 362 4,344 Barley " 10,049 211,029 Irish potatoes . " 51 3,723 Sweet potatoes . " 10 560 Broom corn . . . . " 194 87,300 Sorghum . . .gals. 4,787 Millet .tons 561 1,122 Milo maize . . . " 785 2,747 Kaffir corn . . 6,081 21,283 Jerusalem . ... " 20 70 Alfalfa " 10,570 17,562 Prairie hay. a 4,743 Flax. . . bu. 3 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 ancl 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 Product Winter wheat bu. 50,409 504,090 Spring wheat . . . a 4,063 32,504 Corn " 6,796 169,900 Oats " 1,480 23,680 Rye. .. . " 193 1,544 Barley . ... 13,358 173,654 Speltz " Buckwheat. " Irish potatoes " 90 5,220 Sweet potatoes . . . u 6 540 Cotton lbs. 5 1,375 Flax bu. . Tobacco lbs. . Broom corn (l 420 189,000 Millet tons 1,002 1,503 Sugar beets a Sorghum (syrup) . . . ¦ ... .gals. 18 1,260 Milo maize ... tons 1,336 3,340 Kaffir corn . . . n 9,652 24,130 Alfalfa a 9,080 19,638 Prairie hay .... li 3,869 Poultry and eggs sold . ....$17,041 Butter, lbs . . . 55,995 Honey and beeswax, lbs . 348 Milk sold .... $2,331 Number Horses 4,326 Mules and asses . . 400 Milk cows . ... . . . 1,595 Other cattle . . . 18,556 Swine .... 2,317 Sheep 710 FARM STATISTICS. 123 1908.— Population, 4,366. Winter wheat . Spring wheat . Corn.Oats Rye Barley.Speltz . Buckwheat .... Irish potatoes . . . Sweet potatoes . . Cotton Flax Tobacco Broom corn . Millet Sugar beets Sorghum (syrup) Milo maize . . Kaffir corn . Alfalfa Prairie hay. . Poultry and eggs sold . . Butter, lbs Honey and beeswax, lbs . Milk sold Acres . . . .bu. 53,330 " 673 ..." 14,453 " 2,839 " 193 , t 10,782 « ( 610 " 2 " 100 " 9 . .lbs. .bu. 5 . .lbs. 1 u 332 . . .tons 1,520 " 20 . . gals. 231 . tons 2,707 a 14,089 " 9,888 Product 266,650 2,093 144,530 22,712 1,351 53,910 6,100 20 8,000 675 25 150 99,600 1,520 40 13,860 6,767 35,222 14,834 4,168 Value .$17,064 57,713 55 $2,793 Horses Mules and asses . Milk cows . Other cattle .... Swine Sheep Number 4,779 622 1,885 17,481 5,900 124 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. 1909. —Population, 4,594. Acres Product Winter wheat . Spring wheat . bu. 62.646 563,814 290 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, Butter, lbs . .$18,694 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 Wihter wheat bu. 73,263 732,630 Spring wheat ' 546 4,830 Corn " 10,964 109,640 FARM STATISTICS. Oats.. .. Rye.BarleySpeltz Buckwheat . Irish potatoes Cotton Broom corn . Millet Sugar beets Sorghum (syrup) Milo maize . . . Kaffir corn . Alfalfa. . . . Prairie hav . Poultry and eggs sold . Butter, lbs. . Milk sold Honey and beeswax, lb Horses Mules ancl asses Milch cows . Other cattle Swine Sheep .... A cres bu. 7,903 a 396 " 9,081 " 2,131 u 10 " 388 " 3 . lbs. 2,183 . . .tons 1,759 a . . .gals. 9 . .tons 5,586 a 11,356 " 11,275 Winter wheat. Spring wheat . Corn Oats Rye. ... Barley ... 1911.— Population, 5,171. ...bu Acres 29,857 694 18,040 9,154 365 12,145 125 Product 126,448 3,960 154,377 36,227 90 29,100 600 818,625 2,931 450 13,965 34,068 11,146 3,930 Value $19,747 . 79,230 . $3,390 100 Number 4,923 708 1,918 13,936 3,782 283 Product 119,428 1,388 234,520 119,032 3,285 133,595 126 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. .1 cres Produc Speltz . . ..bu. 1,332 7,992 Irish potatoes . . " 111 3,774 Sweet potatoes. . . " 8 504 Broom corn. . .. .lbs. 604 232,540 Millet ... .tons 1,092 1,638 Sorghum for syrup . . . . .gals. 66 3,960 Milo maize tons 11,057 27,643 Kaffir corn . " 17,992 53,976 Jerusalem corn 93 279 Alfalfa .... " 11,863 12,836 Prairie hay " 3,261 Quantity l 'alue Poultry and eggs sold. . $26,667 . 00 Wool clip ...lbs. 2,748 467.16 Cheese ..." 220 28.60 Butter ... " 108,414 26,019.36 Milk sold 6,303.00 Honey and beeswax. lbs. 120 18.00 Number Horses . 6,050 Mules and asses . 1,015 Milch cows 4,883 Other cattle .... 9,039 Sheep. 748 Swine 3,803 1912. — P OPULATION, 5,196. .-teres- Product Winter wheat ..bu. 103,889 124,668 Spring wheat . . " 160 1,600 Corn 5,936 136,528 Oats 3,095 86,660 Rye. 58 580 Barley 7,008 154,176 Speltz 312 6,552 Irish potatoes . . 93 9,207 FARM STATISTICS. 127 Sweet potatoes Broom corn Millet Sorghum for syrup . Milo maize Kaffir corn . Jerusalem corn . . . Alfalfa Prairie hay Poultry and eggs sold. Wool clip Cheese Butter Milk sold . Honey and beeswax . Horses Mules and asses . Milch cows Other cattle Sheep Swine Winter wheat . . Spring wheat . Corn Oats Rye Barley Speltz Irish potatoes . . Sweet potatoes . Broom corn. . . . Acres Product bu. 4 340 lbs. 1,243 497,200 tons 1,352 2,366 gals. 799 59,925 tons 8,347 16,694 " 18,865 56,595 20 60 9,486 14,991 " 2,541 Quantity Value $24,103.00 lbs. 500 100.00 " 86,586 21,646.50 11,251.00 lbs. 220 33 . 00 Number . . 6,390 1,113 6,964 9,872 702 3,517 )N, 5,116. A cres Product bu. 22,990 91,960 104 " 15,341 30,692 8,933 26,799 66 198 " 11,212 44,848 47 64 2,176 lbs. 550 82,500 128 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. Acres Product Millet tons 911 911 Milo (( 16,291 12,218 Kaffir a 30,857 23,143 Feterita Alfalfa (i 7,468 9,164 Prairie hay u 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. Acres Product Winter wheat ..bu. 102,984 1,853,712 Spring wheat . a Corn it 4,219 67,504 Oats it 3,610 108,300 Rye It 381 6,096 Barley. " 6,123 134,706 Speltz It 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 a 16,563 49,689 Feterita 1 t 4,533 11,333 Alfalfa " 7,474 21,247 Prairie hay " 1,796 FARM STATISTICS. 129 Value Poultry and eggs sold . . .. .$26,326 .... 54,568 Butter, lbs Milk sold $25,135 Cheese, lbs 210 Number Horses 6,220 Mules and asses .... 1,311 Milch cows 69,605 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. . . . a 40 4,000 Sweet potatoes . . . a 1 100 Cowpeas tons 15 22 Alfalfa a 9,593 28,779 Broom corn lbs. 274 123,300 Jerusalem corn. . . " 285 855 Feterita (t 8,527 No record Sweet clover a 40 No record Prairie hay it 5,195 Quantity Value Poultry and eggs sold $2,534,506.47 Wool clip ..lbs. 1,072 235.84 Cheese a 350 52.50 Butter tc 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. THEiOLD 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 W'HILE 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 \k \ \ 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. [141] M. A. BIRD AND FAMILY. 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. 0. 0. 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, ancl engaged in farming for four years. He then built a modern hotel in Plains, ancl 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 COUNTi'. 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. AV. 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. Mr. Fick has always taken a prominent part in polities ; 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. 0. O. F., and of the Knights of Pvthias. Biographical. 151 CHET HULBURT. 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. ancl 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. 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 O. 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. 0. 0. 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 ancl 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, ancl 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. ¦40e§ ^ TOM MURPHY. Thomas L. Murphy, shown above in a characteristic pose, is one of the biggest -hearted, Avhole-souled, most congenial Irishmen that ever escaped from Cork, ancl 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, ancl 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 ancl stock-raising, and is well satisfied ancl 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 farms, it might be more accurate to state, as he owns something less than half a township, — ancl came to Meade, Avhere he opened a laAv 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, ancl 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 ( 'ounty, 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. PERRA' BROS. Editors ancl Proprietors of The Fowler News and The Bucklin Banner. BIOGRAPHICAL. 161 A. B. ROBERTS. Albert B. Roberts Avas born at Richmond, Indiana. He was married at Lynn, Indiana, August 15th, 1880, to Lizzie S. Johnson, and came to Meacle County November 6th, 1895. He has three children, Walter J., Aclgar 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 Avas born at Logansport, Indiana, September 4th, 1884. He came to Meacle County in 1908, and settled in Mertilla Township, Avhere he is engaged in farming. UIOCP.AITKV ' 1(3 G. AV. ROBERTS. G. W. Roberts was born on February 23rd, 1856, in Grant County, Wisconsin. He came to s mthwest Kansas in 1900, first locating in PaAvnee County, coming to Meade County in the spring of 1913. He was married to Mis-. L. M. Hockett in Jan uary, 1903, ancl 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 A'ield per acre for amr A'ear is 10 bushels, the highest being 33 bushels. 164 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. J. I. STAMPER. J. I. Stamper (Col. Jim) was born at Sweetwater, Tenn., 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 iioav 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 Avas born September 5th, 1SS2, at Mexieo, Missouri. Lon early realized the possibilities of Meade Countv, ancl emigrated here in 1886. He was married at Meide 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, Avith 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. Chas. A. Underwood was born in Logan Co., Ohio, March 19th, 1860. He came to Meade County in 1905, where he took a home stead and engaged in farming, Avhich occupation he has folloAved ever since. He was married at Meade on April 18th, 1907, to Margaret K. Nichols. He is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and was formerly a member of Co. E, Ohio National Guard. 170 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. MRS. C. A. UNDERAAOOD. Margaret K. Nichols was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1866. She Avas 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 Avife of Charles A. Underwood. BIOGRAPHICAL. 171 MORTON AVILSON. MRS. MORTON AAMLSON. Morton Wilson Avas 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 Ma>' 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 Lvnville, Franklin County, Va., JanuarA' 16th, 18-51. He was married at Stewartsville, Bedford CountA', Va., April 6th, 1876, to Dora SteAvart. 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 Avork, among Avhich are teaching, contracting, farming, and the practice of law. Mr. Wysong has served his county as County Superintendent, County Clerk, ancl 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 AAras 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 Avith Miss Curtis Harsha, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Steele has been engaged in the cattle business practically all of his life, ancl 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, Avhile 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. FRANK SOURBEER AND FAMILY. 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. His principal business was farming, up until a few years ago, when he retired and moved to Meacle. 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 Pennsyh'ania Volunteer Militia. He served as Second Sergeant in Co. K, Two Hundred Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. THE MEADE CHECKER CLUB. BIOGRAPHICAL. 179 THE MEADE CHECKER CLUB. The Meade Checker Club, Avhich claims to be invincible and is abvays ready to prove its claims, is composed of the following- business men : from left to right, top toav, 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. ,T. PADEN. BIOGRAPHICAL. 183 J. H. ELLIS. 184 HISTORY OF MEADE COUNTY. THE AUTHOR S BEST PRODUCTIONS. MADGE. KATHLEEN. l.EXORE. JOHN P. THE AIISSUS. AIL.