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PIONEER DAYS
Interesting Incidents and History of Early Days In Elk County Written and Compiled by F. C. Flory The Citizen, September 13, 1939 Submitted by L. Morgan There are very few of the real early settlers of Elk County - or Howard
county as it was called before the territory was divided and formed
into the counties of Elk and Chautauqua - now living here, and their
experiences, hardships, joys and pleasures, would make a story that
would be interesting to the present inhabitants, if the facts were
carefully gathered and truthfully narrated. It is our aim to
gather and publish these facts, and we shall call to our aid a large
number of the residents of the early days who were active in the great
drama of pioneer life and who are familiar with the early day events.
We shall also draw largely from Blackmar’s Kansas State History and “A Historical Sketch of Elk County” printed in the old Davy Atlas issued in 1885 written by one of the early settlers and a prominent citizen, Hon. R. H. Nichols, who arrived at the beautiful falls on Elk river in 1869, where he and associates formed a town company and started the town of Elk Falls. A fuller account of that event will be given later. Mr. Nichols was a leading attorney and very prominent in all the affairs of the county until a dozen years ago, when he moved to Oklahoma a quarter of a century ago and where he died. He had good opportunity for obtaining correct data for his historical sketch and was well equipped to present the facts in an interesting manner. From Blackmar's history of Kansas we learn that Howard county was created by act of the Kansas legislature of February 26, 1867, Governor Crawford approving the action on the same day. The boundaries comprising Howard county were defined as following: "Commencing at the southeast corner of Greenwood county, thence south to the 37th degree of north latitude, thence west 30 miles to the center of range 8 east, thence north to the southwest corner of Greenwood county, thence east to the place of beginning. This history also tells us that owing to a county seat fight, the county was divided by the act of March 11, 1875, into the counties of Elk and Chautauqua, and Howard county passed out of existence. Elk county comprises the north half of old Howard county and is 21 miles from north to south and 31 miles from east to west. Mr. Nichols' account tells that the name Elk was given to this county by reason of the fact that Elk river flowing across the county from northwest to southeast corner thereof is the principal stream therein. The land comprising the southeastern part of Kansas and including Howard county, had but recently been acquired by the United States government from the Osage Indians, who had made this section their home. That they loved this beautiful country is evidenced by the fact that they were reluctant to leave it, and the national government was compelled to pay to the Osages a princely price for their lands. While they occupied this section it was their custom to make frequent visits to the west where herds of buffalo grazed on the prairies, and where they secured their principal meat supply and hides of the buffalo, which they made into robes and garments. So numerous were the hunters and so frequent their trips that a trail two rods wide and quite deep was the one of the landmarks of the county remembered by all early settlers. The Osages removed to lands in Northern Oklahoma, where they continue to reside. The national government has been good to these former residents of our county. The money received from the sale of their lands was judiciously invested and the principal and accumulated interest has made wealthy citizens of these Indians. Their wealth has been greatly added to in recent years by the discovery and development of oil on their present holdings in Oklahoma. A federal court decision rendered January 1, 1916, declared all Osage Indians full citizens of the United States and as such entitled to all rights, privileges and immunities under the fourteenth constitutional amendment. There were on January 1, 1916, 2,299 Osage Indians, each of whom have personal property worth $80,000. _________________________________________________ THE FIRST WHITE MAN Blackmar's history tells us that in 1856 the first white man attempted to settle in Elk county and that his name was Richard Graves; that he was twice driven out by the Indians and finally abandoned his claim. Nichols tells us that later Graves (or Groves) with associates, settled on Fall river. Mr. Nichols' account of the first settlement of Elk county is more voluminous but quite interesting. He also tells us that Graves was the first settler. We quote of early conditions from the Nichols history: "In the years 1866 and 1867 the public roads leading to the far west from the Eastern and Middle States were thronged with emmigrant trains western bound. "To Kansas or Bust" was the motto of thousands of patriotic men who had given from one to four years of the most valuable period of human life to their country; many of them had grown to manhood while serving their country, while others of more mature years had closed the different branches of business in which they were engaged, or abandoned the respective trades they had been pursuing, or left encumbered farms they had been struggling to own to join the ranks of the Union army to assist in the suppression of the rebellion. When this was done and the country no longer needed their services as veterans, this great army of men returned home to pursue again the avocations incident to civil and private life. But most of the young veterans had arrived at man's estate while serving their country, and thousands of others, by reason of long absence from home, business, trade, and pursuits found themselves without a business or trade, and unable to engage in the business or trades they had pursued in former days; whereupon they turned their faces toward the setting sun in pursuit of "Lands for the Landless, Homes for the Homeless" and these were the men that comprised nine-tenths of the pioneers of this county, under whose ____ efforts and ingenious enterprise Elk county so quickly passed from the wild state to a prosperous and wealthy county." The writer's recollection of the first settlers is that pracically all of them were old soldiers, and their sons who were too young to join the army. The exceptions were the few who were disqualified by infirmities from becoming soldiers, and a few ex-Confederates. The early settlers were mostly young men, a few middle aged and they were all used to hardship and especially fitted to endure the hardships that went with living on the frontier. They were a jolly, happy people and entertainments were frequent and lively. Mr. Nichols account of the first settlement of the county continues as follows; "A few emigrants, however, had preceded this great body of men, and as early as the year 1864 five families settled in the extreme northeast corner of Howard county, viz: Richard Groves, Isaac Mulford, Joseph Smith, Isaac Howe, and Elijah Lewis. Groves was probably the first white man that ever visited that part of the territory originally included in Howard county with the view of settling therin, from whose words it is learned that he first visited the lands on which he afterwards settled in the year 1856 but that on account of the hostile attitude of the Indians, he did not make permanent settlement until eight years thereafter, although he visited that ideal spot for a home several times in the interim. Early in the year 1865 a few other home seekers arrived and settled in this neighborhood, among whom were D. W. McKey, Geo. W. Cope, John Burnside, J. K. Shipley, D. M. Spurgeon, Geo. W. Knox and others. ____________________________________________ THE FIRST MARRIAGE CEREMONY These new arrivals with their families more than doubled the population of 1864 in that neighborhood, and in the year 1864, the marriage ceremony was solemnized, a baby was born, a school was taught and the gospel was preached. For in the autumn of that year D. M. Spurgeon and Sarah Knox armed with the lawful documentary authority so to do, that had been procured from the probate judge of Greenwood county, (to which Howard county was attached for judical purposes), mounted their horse and repaired to the cabin of the good parson to be made one. when they learned that the reverend gentleman whose professional assistance they so much needed was further on and on the banks of the Fall river making rails, they pushed on, found the parson, made known their business, and without dismounting were married, and of course ever after lived happy. ____________________________________________ THE FIRST WHITE CHILD Later in that year Sarah F. Shipley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Shipley, and granddaughter of Isaac Howe, was born, this being the first entertainment of the kind ever given by a white family in the county. About a year after this event J. K. Shipley moved south and located on a claim on Elk river, which he later sold to C. A. Doty, and there they lived for many years. Sarah was married in 1888 to Will Lenow (?) and is now living in Kansas City. After selling his farm J. K. Shipley moved to Oklahoma, where he died. Shipley was a great hunter and fisherman and in the early days made yearly trips to the plains west with his wagon loaded with buffalo meat. ____________________________________________ THE FIRST SCHOOL About this time the first school of the county was taught in a big cabin standing on Indian creek on the claim afterward entered and owned by P. H. McCartney. (It would be interesting to know the names of the pupils who attended the first school) ____________________________________________ THE FIRST CHURCH In December of 1866, at the residence of Geo. W. Knox, the Missionary Baptists organized a church. Parson Cope was the preacher in charge. _________________________________________ The first settlement extended from the range line between 12 and 13 to the east line of Howard county, and from Fall River to Indian creek. The second settlement of the county was on upper Elk river - Ellison Neet being first; he settled on the land later owned by F. H. Tesh, and was absolutely the first settler on the river. He settled there in 1866. (a year or two later Neet settled on a claim two miles west of Longton on Elk river, where he lived until the fall of 1871 when he sold the place to J. Hamer; this land is now a part of the Freeman farm. Neet moved from his Longton farm to Montgomery county, locating near Radical City, where he died). D. W. French was one of the first settlers of Elk river, and the first on the Osage Diminished Reserve, his settlement dates in February 1867; he selected for his future home a piece of land three miles southwest of Howard, and erected his cabin on the east bank of Elk river, where he lived for many years surrounded by all the necessaries of life. There was always room for one more in his home and if by chance or neglect he happened to be out of "bread-stuff" he would just send over to Uncle Dave McKey's on Indian creek, a distance of twenty miles northeast and borrow some, in which he often did. Thomas Greenwood, F. G. Coombs, and George White were the first settlers on Rock creek; they came in company and at the same time and settled on that creek one mile west of Howard on the first day of April 1868. John McBee bought the claim White settled on March 18, 1869. Jos. Greenwood bought the F. G. Coombs farm. Nelson Wilder was the first settler on Paw Paw creek; March 31, 1868 was the date of his settlement. Wooster Boyce was also an early settler on this creek where he continued to reside until after the organization of the county. Boyce owned a great many cattle and was perfectly willing that it should be understood that he was a cattle king and very wealthy. John Hobbs and his son-in-law, D. W. McFarland were the first settlers on Snake creek, March 1869. Hobbs deeded a part of the W. P. Heisler farm and McFarland the farm now owned by the Moore brothers. James Howe settled on the west branch of Painterhood creek in August 1868; a short time thereafter - Barnes settled on the middle branch and a little later Isam Conner settled on the east branch. These were the first settlers on the Painterhood creeks. Joe Trent was the first settler on Big Caney, November 7, 1869, being the date thereof on the farm later owned by D. E. Fuller. The second settlement on Elk river was begun early in the year 1868 in the neighborhood where Elk Rapids was afterwards located. The Riley brothers settled the land that is now a part of what was later the Captain DuBois farm about four miles west of Longton, and were probably the first in the neighborhod. Ellison Neet, from upper Elk settled a little lower down on the river, on land later owned by Joel Hamer and still later by the Freemans. B. B. Higganbotham and E. H. Minard occupied the beautiful valley just east of Longton between the river and Hitchen creek. Later in the year 1868 J. K. Shipley from the Indian creek settlement, and H. G. Miller, with their families joined this settlement; Shipley settled on the north and Miller on the south bank of the river two miles east of Longton. During the year 1868 the settlement on upper Elk river was stengthened by additional arrivals, among who was L. D. Blizard, R. W. M. Roe, A. B. Post, S. J. Bascom and John Wallace. One of BLizard's sons was killed by the Indians, the only tragedy of the kind to occur in Elk county, an account of the tragedy will be given later (note: nothing else found in this article) A circumstance surrounding the migratory movements of Roe and Wallace were somewhat similar; they each had knowledge of a beautiful claim in that vicinity on which was a claim ready for occupancy that had been abandoned. These gentlemen started with their families, for this cabin about the same time - neither of them knowing the intentions of the other until after they had started, when by mere accident Roe learned that Wallace was journeying toward this beautiful claim to occupy it; dark overtook Wallace within a few miles of the cabin and he camped for the night; Roe drove through without feeding and was enjoying a great deal of comfort in that cabin the next morning when Wallace drove up - both disappointment and satisfaction was experienced and realized then and there. Later in the year 1868 and in the early part of 1869 may other good men settled in the neighborhood of Howard, among whom were Jeff Barnes, Dr. P. C. Topping, Thos. M. Carter, Isaac Benefiel and ________ Crawford. Barnes opened a store and commenced the mercantile business on the claim afterwards owned by various parties. This was the second store in the county. W. H. Dobyns owned the third store, which was located at Union Center. The first three stores in the county wre continued until the towns were located, at which time Miller identified himself with Elk Rapids (note: now Longton) and Barnes with Howard. Dobyns was succeeded by his brother J. B. Dobyns, who continued the business several years at the old stand, when he moved to Howard. (Further mention of this old settler will be made in a later article) The settlement in the vicinity of Elk Falls begun in the last part of 1868, W. H. Conover, Charles Weatherby, Wm. Lorance, Phelix Lorance, Fletcher, J. D. Eddy, and William Doyle being the first settlers. Conover was the first settler on Wild Cat creek. About this time home seekers began to erect thier cabins in the vicinity where Oak Valley was afterwards built, James Richardson was the first and Len Gardner, N. B. Gardner, Silas Dexter, Jos. Cole, and Z. R. Pearcey, quickly following and here in this neighborhood on the claim of Silas Dexter, was erected the first school house on Elk river; it was a log cabin built by work and material contributed by the neighbors. Nora Smith was the first teacher. W. C. Hitchens was the first settler on Hitchens creek; he settled on the east bank of the creek one mile east of Longton late in 1868, and is the only pioneer mentioned that has been honored with a namesake in the form of a running stream of pure water. In the first part of the year 1870, Joe Trent, the solitary occupant of the Caney Valley, received some neighbors, among whome were R. W. M. Roe, from upper Elk, O. H. Reddington, Poley Logsdon, Edwin Weeks, and A. Greenwood. _________________________________________ As has been stated heretofore, the lands within the limits of Howard county were Indian lands and held in trust by the government for the tribe of Osage Indians. This tribe of Indians occupied a belt of country lying in the extreme south part of Kansas, fifty miles wide from north to south and two hundred or more from east to west; a twenty mile strip of this belt of land running from east to west on the north side thereof had long since been treated for and subject to settlement and entry by pre-emption thus leaving as a reservation for said tribe, three-fifths of the original belt of siad land, the same being thirty miles wide and bordering on the south of the state. The northern buondary of this reservation was the township line between townships 29 and 30 south, running through the center of Howard east and west and although the Osages still occupied this reservation, and had not relinquished any right thereto, as early as the first day of March 1869, nearly every valuable tract of land lying on the beautiful streams of the county was occupied by some "paleface". No provisions had been made by and between the government and the Indians by treaty or otherwise, whereby these settlers were permitted to occupy these lands on this reservation; but when the fact came to the knowledge of the statesmen of those days that nine-tenths of the occupants on these lands had belonged to that great army of Union men that contributed so much for the preservation of the Union, and that they had emigrated westward in pursuit of homes and to assist in making historic Kansas a great state, they became more serious in their efforts to ratify a treaty with the Indians whereby the settlers would be able to permanently occupy and own their much coveted homes on this reservation. These lands had not yet been surveyed and it was not an easy task for claimants to establish corners and outlines of lands they were claiming that would be respected by their neighbor, hence, as a natural consequence, there arose many bitter and unpleasant disputes, contests and quarrels among the settlers, some of which resulted in shocking tragedy. Other difficulties arose from the frequent practice of going upon the land, locating a claim, building a cabin thereon and then leaving with the intention of returning to the same within a few weeks or months, in which case the original claimants on their return often found their cabin occupied by persons called claim jumpers. _____________________________________________ AN EARLY DAY TRAGEDY Mr. Nichols, who was a resident of Elk Falls and well acquainted with the particulars of this "claim trouble" tells the story in a very graphic manner and we have added to it only to complete the narractive in a few particulars: The first and probably the most fatal in its results of these tragedies, occurred one mile north of Elk Falls, on the claim afterwards owned by Geo. W. Roberts. In the lasat of the year 1868 or in January 1869--Fletcher marked out his boundaries for a claim on this land, built a cabin thereon and then returned to his former home on the Verdigris river, about forty miles northeast, with the intention of returning to his cabin on his claim in early spring. This was a valuable piece of land, having an abundance of fine timber, the best of bottom land, water by, the beautiful Elk river. The cabin had been erected at the northern extremity of one of the most beautiful valleys on the river and on the south side of and close to a body of heavy timber and about two hundred yards east of the ever running waters of the picturesque Elk. The cabin was built of unhewn logs covered with boards made from a burr oak tree that was cut from the body of heavy timber. The cabin was about 14 x 16 feet, chimney in the west end and a door in the south side. Fletcher had made it with his own hands and had pronounced it well done; it was his, according to all laws, human and divine, unless some Osage Indian should raise an objection to his right of possession. On that winter morn when Fletcher barred the door of his cabin, and turned from the beautiful valley with the intention of returning to it in the early spring, then and thereafter to occupy it as his own beloved home, he did not think that his attachment for, and his anxiety to possess this, his future home would cost him, his life on that very spot, but on the contrary, he being at peace with mankind, and at that time having undisputed and peaceable possession of that beautiful and valuable piece of property he no doubt ascended the rugged hills east of that beautiful valley with that degree of pride and pomposity that is suggested in the following verse of Churchill;
"And was so proud, that should he meet
The twelve apostles in the street He'd turn his nose up at them all, And shove his Saviour from the wall." During Fletchers absence, Joe Anders, knowing of the beautiful claim on which Fletcher had erected his cozy cabin, resolved to take advantage of the absence of the claimant and profit from his honest labor. Anders, with his wife and his brother Alexander, a youth of fourteen, at once moved into Fletcher's cabin and laid claim to that beautiful piece of land. "I will nail my banner on that cabin wall and by that banner stand or fall." said Anders by his action in this matter - he fell. About the first of March, Fletcher learned that his claim and cabin were occupied by persons having no right thereto, with the design of holding the same and thereby deprive him of all rights, privileges and profits resulting therefrom. Fletcher at once sought the aid and company of his faithful and trusty companion - Hall, a youth of nineteen summers with whom, well armed, he repaired to his claim and cabin to repossess his ideal home. "Short greeting serves in time of strife." Parties who lived near there and who talked with Hall and Anders' widow after the tragedy tell us that on arriving at the cabin Fletcher left Hall in the wagon while he went in to parley with the occupant. Almost immediately Hall heard the report of a gun and lost no time in going to his friend's aid. One of the Anders' brothers armed with a huge knife was slashing Fletcher, while the other armed with revolver had been conducting a pistol duel with Fletcher, and both had been hit. Hall opened fire on the Ander brother who was armed with a gun and put him out of commission, only to find the younger brother a dangerous opponent with his deadly knife almost on him. Hall ran out of the cabin pursued by Anders brandishing his bloody knife and with a determination to use it, and the tragedy ended when Anders received a bullet from Hall's revolver that laid him lifeless. In less than two minutes after the arrival at that cabin door of Fletcher, the lifeless forms of the two Anders and Fletcher lay within the cabin that Fletcher had built and in which he had expected to live in peace and quiet until it should become his good fortune to be able to erect in that beautiful valley a residence more suitable to nature's surrounding. Hall, on the one side, and the wife of Anders on the other, were the only persons left to tell the story. Neighbors were summoned to the scene of that tragedy; Dr. P. C. Topping, ten miles up the river and the only doctor in the county was called in; and finally, on the day following Z. R. Pearcy, a justice of the peace in Greenwood county was sent for to hold an inquest. He came, but learning that Mrs. Anders was willing to file complaint against Hall charging him with the murder of her husband and brother-in-law, no inquest was held, but information was made and filed against Hall, warrant issued by said Pearcy as justice of the peace, and placed in the hands of Charles Weatherby to be executed, who at once arrested Hall and held him in custody until discharged upon examination. Hall was taken to the residence of Pearcy in the southeast corner of Greenwood county where a careful and through examination was had upon the information filed, and was by said justice of the peace discharged. J. B. Clogston defended Hall and L. R. Phenis prosecuted him. Fletcher had been married about four weeks before the tragedy. Both of the widows claimed the right to occupy the claim, and continued to do so until Geo. W. Roberts bought the interest of both. The pioneers of the county, with rare exceptions, were educated, intelligent, moral and charitable, ever ready to aid in the protection of society and the advancement of the cause of Christian religion. No weary traveler was ever denied the right to rest within the humble cabins of these pioneers, nor was the hungry ever turned away from the cabin door unfed. One striking act of charity, taught by the kind acts of one of these pioneers is herein recorded for the benefit of those who have not seen such sacrifices made for charity’s sake. Joe Anders, one of the victim’s of the tragedy herein before mentioned was a poor man and did not have clothing suitable for burial. The deceased had a brother living in the neighborhood who was also very poor. After the brother and wife of the deceased had talked of the manner and place of burial and of their inability to procure decent burial clothes, it was agreed that the brother should ascertain who, among the pioneers possessed a suit suitable for the occasion that could be obtained. He went direct to the cabin of J. H. O’Neil, who was absent from home, but his worthy companion was there, who on learning the object of Anders visit, went to her trunk, wherein for many years she had carefully kept the wedding suit of her husband, took the same and delivered it to Anders for this charitable purpose. Some of the old timers still living in this county remember this tragedy. Mark McBee told us that his father and family were camped on Fall River the day after the happening at the Fletcher cabin, sitting around the fireside after supper when a couple of strangers rode up and of course asked where the McBee caravan was headed for. They then told of this terrible tragedy, and Mark says the news of the happening was rather disquieting to the women and children of the party. They were headed for this section and naturally wondered if the inhabitants were composed of murderers and out-laws. But this feeling was soon dispelled when arriving at their future home on Rock creek, they found the settlers kind, charitable and good citizens. __________________________________________ ONE OF THE EARLY PIONEERS Our fellow-townsman, S. J. Bascom, first arrived in Elk county, March 2, 1868. Mr. Bascom was born in Vermont and lived there until he went to the war. After the war he returned home but soon decided that Greeley’s advice to young men to “Go West” was good and in December 1867, left for Kansas. He arrived at Leavenworth the first day of January 1868, and went by rail to Ottawa which was at that time the terminus of the L. L. & G. railway, afterwards made a part of the Santa Fe system. From Ottawa he went by stage to Geneva, Allen county, which was at that time a thriving frontier town, but is now hardly large enough for a place on the state map. Here he met a young Indiana man named Alfred Post, who had purchased some Indian cows and was wintering them with headquarters at Geneva. Post had studied for the ministry but was afflicted with weak lungs and was ordered by his physician to follow a life in the open. In company with Post, Mr. Bascom started to view the Osage Trust lands to the southwest which had only a short time before been thrown open for settlement. Parties who had visited the lands brought back glowing accounts of the richness of the soil and the beauty of the landscape and the tale sounded so good that the two young men were soon in the confines of what is now Elk county. On the 2nd day of March 1868, they arrived at the cabin of Dan French, and the next day looked at the lands along Paw Paw and Rock creeks and finally selected claims on upper Elk river, the land that comprises Mr. Bascom’s farm and that he has ever since owned. Post’s claim adjoined the Bascom claim and (picture of S. J. Bascom here, Photo was made in 1870) after handling cattle here a few years he disposed of his claim and cattle to Mr. Bascom’s brother Lyman, which land was afterwards bought by S. J. Bascom and is now a part of the Bascom ranch. Post returned to Indiana, and later attended a theological school, went to California, where he lived until a score of years ago and where he died. The Osages were still here and roaming over the hills and valleys hunting. The nearest settlement of Osages at that time Mr. Bascom knew of, was down east of Elk City. The deep trail that led to their buffalo hunting grounds went through his farm and he says the Indians were coming and going most of the time. At that time the nearest trading point and post office was at Eureka, more than 25 miles away. Three or four buildings composed the town at that time. The nearest mill was Souden’s mill at Emporia. Bascom and Post returned to Geneva after selecting their claims where they loaded an ox team with their personal effects and grub and returned to their claims, arriving in April of the year above named. They brought a herd of cattle with them, and Mr. Bascom says the first two or three years of his life in Elk county were spent mostly in a saddle. His claim was partly covered with fine timber and he and his companion cut trees and with the logs, built log houses. The Bascom house was 12 x 14, with dirt floor. It was on the main traveled road from Eureka to the early settlements on the Caney, and this cabin sheltered many hundreds of weary sojourners . No one was ever turned away from its doors. Some times as many as fourteen persons enjoyed the hospitality of this log cabin during a single night. Of the early settlers Mr. Bascom remembers Dan French, whose claim was about 3 miles up Elk river from Howard; Ellison Neet, L. D. Blizard, the O’Neils and others, whose claims were on the river just west of Howard, R. W. M. Roe was an early neighbor of Bascom’s. He selected what was long known as the old D. L. Campbell farm, as his claim, while his father's claim is now a part of the John Thompson farm. Dick did not live on his claim long, but sold out and went down on the Caney and took a claim. A man named Wallace took several claims which he would sell to newcomers. His last selection was land that later belonged to Sid Swartz. During the first few years after Mr. Bascom came here the stock was permitted to run at will and required very little feed in the winter. He and neighbors had some cattle stolen and the Indians were generally given the credit, but Mr. Bascom always believed that the "white brother" was the guilty man. During the first year he raised a little sod corn, but that was the extent of his farming operations. In 1870 Mr. Bascom went to St. Louis and on the 25th day of May of that yea, was married to Miss Olive Longley. Even after the arrival of Mrs. Bascom to the Elk county home, wild game was still plentiful and it was no unusual sight to see the big trees surrounding the cabin covered with wild turkey. Deer were still plentiful and the hunter was in his element, but the buffalo had all been slaughtered or driven to the west. Neighbors were few for several years but soon the tide of immigration set in and all the claims along the streams were taken; the hardy pioneer was busy plowing the sod, cutting the timber and fencing the lands. The early settlers were generally poor but enterprising and made the best of their surroundings and soon schools were established, meetings were held, and in a few years the country was entirely transformed from a wilderness to a live hustling community. Mr. and Mrs. Bascom continued to live on their farm until their four children were grown, when they moved to Howard. _____________________________________________ GOVERNOR P. Y. LORANCE P. Y. Lorance was one of the early residents of Elk county. He selected two claims just east of Elk Falls, one for his brother, William, and one for himself, February 18, 1868. He buit a cabin on his claim that summer and began permanent settlement the next spring, and has lived continuously in Elk county since that time. His brother William died in 1871. Mr. Lorance was born in Indiana, and moved with his parents to Iola, Kansas, in 1867. He was married when a very young man, his first (picture of Phelix Lorance, from a photo taken in early manhood) Wife living only a few months. He was not of age when he settled on his claim, but was large and had no trouble to make people think he was. His claim was jumped three different times but he had no particular trouble in persuading the jumpers that the climate was more salubrious somewhere else. Among his early neighbors were Chas. S. King, R. R. Roberts, I. N. Bird, G. W. Roberts, and others soon followed. The nearest trading place was New Albany and from there the early settlers hauled their meal. Money was scarce, but game was plentiful and there was always “something doing” to keep one interested. There was considerable trouble over claims, but most of the difficulties were settled without bloodshed. Mr. Lorance distinctly remembered the trouble wherein the Anders brothers and Fletcher lost their lives. This difficulty occurred two or three miles west of Mr. Lorance’s home and created a great deal of excitement at that time. Lorance went with the prisoner Hall, the constable, and a number of neighbors, to Greenwood county where Hall’s preliminary examination was held. Mr. Lorance said the sympathy of all was with Hall, and that all were glad when the justice turned him loose. It was his opinion that if the result of the hearing had been otherwise, Hall would have escaped on a fast horse that was close at hand for an emergency of the kind. Govenor Lorance was a factor in the early day affairs of Elk county, and there was no political, or rather, county seat contest (as everything in the early days was influenced by one's leaning for or against the different towns of the county) that he was not on one side or the other. The law of those days was enforced principally by a determination of the settlers to see that right and justice existed, and some time vigorous but just measures were used to convince the outlaws that it would be better for all concerned if they would move on. And the citizenship was of that determined character that it was not hard to convince evildoers that Howard county was not a place where they could safely work their schemes, and they moved on. Governor Lorance and many of the old settlers could have told of things that would be very interesting and create a sensation, if written up, and they would not need to step outside of the truth, but often it is better to let some things of the past die. Mr. Lorance lived on his Elk river farm, until about 1876, when he purchased a farm six miles north of Howard in Paw Paw township. Mr. Lorance acquired the title of "Governor of Paw Paw" many years ago because of his influence as a Republican in the affairs of his township. ______________________________________ HOWARD COUNTY ORGANIZED Mr. Nichols, in his "Historical Sketch of Elk County" gives a full account of the preliminary steps to forward the forming of a county organization for old Howard county. By the fall of 1869 practically all of the claims along the streams had been taken and the settlers felt the need of laws and government. Like in the settlement of all new counties some of the first settlers were of the class that are compelled to "move on about so often. They had no use for civilization and the laws were irksome to them. They always hugged the frontier and would rush in, secure valuable claims and then dispose of them to later comers. But one of the principal reasons why a county organization was desired was that these early settlers, like all who have followed, wanted to serve their country by bearing the burdens that go with holding offices, and another reason was that the incorporators hoped by an early organization to establish the county seat in their hometown. So that in the fall of 1869 the population of the county was so increased that a county organization was deemed necessary, and for that purpose in the month of January 1870, R. H. Nichols took the census of the county, and who together with J. C. Pinney and L. J. Johnson, on the 12th day of February following, petitioned Governor Harvey for the temporary organization provided by law. Johnson and Nichols lived on Elk river near the place where Elk Falls was afterwards located, and Pinney lived near Elk Rapids (Longton). On the morning of February 12th Johnson and Nichols agreed that they would meet that evening at the residence of Andrew Edmiston, a justice of the peace in Wilson county and verify the petitions. Nichols was to notify Pinney to be there also and to have the petition ready for signing by the time Johnson and Pinney should arrive. Nichols further declared that they persons mentioned in the petition for officers had never been spoken to by any person in reference to the same - a clear case of the office hunting the man. The petition for the permanent organization, which was signed by Nichols, Pinney and Johnson, recited that there were 924 citizens in said Howard county, twenty of whom were free-holders, and gave their names. That they were very anxious for a county organization, etc., and recommended the following parties to fill the various offices to complete the organization: Charles S. King, of the central part of the county for county clerk; Morris Humphrey of the central part of the county, Isaac Howe of the northeast part of the county, and P. C. Topping of the northwest part of the county, for commissioners and the town of Elk Falls, as the most central place for the temporary county seat of Elk county. New Albany was designated as the post office of the petitioners. The officers were appointed as requested in the petition and Elk Falls was appointed temporary county seat, and from that time on, and until after the division of Howard county and the forming of Elk and Chautauqua counties, a fierce county seat war raged. Elk Falls was located on the south bank of Elk river, where there is a perpendicular fall in the river of seven and one-half feet, and just above the mouth of Wild Cat. On the 7th day of April following, P. C. Topping and Morris Humphrey two of the commissioners and C. S. King county clerk, met at the residence of Humphrey, one and one-half miles north of ELk Falls, to provide for the permanent orgainzation of the county and the election of officers. The first business in order was to create and name townships and define the boundaries, thereof, which considering the fact that not a section or township corner had been established on the Dimished Reserve, was a hard task. Three townships were established, the first, Liberty township, included the northeast part of the county; second Elk Falls, which included all the northwest part of the county, and third, Belleville, which included the territory in the south part of the county. On the 7th day of April the county commissioners ordered an election to be held on May 10th, and for that purpose created certain voting precincts in the three townships, viz; Liberty township at the residence of D. W. McKey; Elk Falls township, Valley Mound, Elk Falls, and at the residence of P. H. Bush; Belleville township at Belleville, and at the residence of A. C. Marsh on Big Caney. (picture of Judge D. W. Jackson, an Early settler) On the first day of May a convention was held at the residence of R. H. Nichols, in Elk Falls, to nominate candidates for the several county offices to be filled at the election so-called, and while it was generally understood to be a Republican convention, it is also understood that no very strict inquiry was made as to the political complexion of the delegates thereof, as it was afterward learned that a few Democrats occupied seats as delegates therein. Following are the names of the delegates who attended this first convention: Frederick Kautz, Eli Titus, Laf. Garrett, L. D. Blizard, D. W. French, W. H. Dobyns, Aust. McFarland, Thomas Greenwood, F. R. Griswold, R. R. Roberts, C. S. King, R. H. Nichols, J. K. Shipley, Phil Howe, Hannibal Ross, W. W. Hensley, Cyrus Tuggle, Jonathan Lewis, D. W. McKey, Geo. W. Knor, and John Burnside. Frederick Kautz was chairman of this convention and R. H. Nichols, secretary. The candidates selected to be voted for were: J. C. Pinney, sheriff; C. S. King, county clerk; F. R. Griswold, treasurer; J. T. Cornne, register of deeds; M. Smith, probate judge; R. S. Catlin, county superintendent; Warren McClure, county surveyor; Laf. Garrett, clerk of the district court; J. W. Kerr, coroner; N. B. Gardner, country attorney; Isaac Howe, Lewis Clogston, and Frederick Kautz, commissioners. These men were all elected except Griswold, who was defeated by C. P. Douglass. These same men were re-nominated in a Republican convention held on the last Thursday in September, following and re-elected at the general election in November. At the above convention, James Reynolds was nominated for representative and afterwards elected as the first representative of Howard county. Reynolds was a man of means and soon acquired a big body of fine bottom land on Elk river just above the mouth of the Painterhoods. He improved this place and bred fine horses. His running horses were fast and a year or two afterwards he took them over the national circuit and they were fast enough to capture many big prizes. About this time the government caused a survey to be commenced on the Diminished Reserve, for the purpose of establishing range, township and section lines and corners, etc., until which time it was not known just where the west line of the county was, when it was learned that Prof. Garrett, clerk of the district court, lived in Cowley county, which caused a vacancy in that office. Daniel Carr was appointed to fill the vacancy and was afterwards re-elected; he performed the duties of that office for several years, with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of the people. J. C. Pinney who was elected the first sheriff of the county-was one of the very earliest settlers. He had lived on Fall river and previous to that in Douglass county. He was an early settler in Douglass county, and when the war broke out her left his home and enlisted. When he returned he found the enemy had destroyed his buildings. He sold out there and moved to the settlement on Fall river, near New Albany, but only for a short time. He took a claim on Elk river, west of Longton, which he improved and where he lived for many years. His daughter, Mrs. Frank Greene, lives at Longton. C. S. King was the first county clerk, an educated gentleman, and a man who always stood for right justice and good government. His home was on Elk river, east of Elk Falls, R. R. Roberts was his brother-in-law, and his farm joined King on the east. He was a genial gentleman and was a prominent factor in Howard and Elk county. L. D. Blizard, D. W. French, W. H. Dobyns, Aust. McFarland and Thomas Greenwood who were delegates to this first convention, lived near Howard. Dobyns conducted a general store at Union Center and the others were claim holders along Elk river. All were prominent in the early day affairs of the county. Hensley, Tuggle and Lewis lived on Painterhood creeks, Esquire Hensley was a justice of the peace many years and always an active and enterprising man. McKey, Knox and Burnside were from the northeast part of the county, and all were prominent citizens. __________________________________________ FIRST TOWN - ELK FALLS Mr. Nichols, in his history, gives Elk Falls the credit of being the first town located in the county. Howard and Elk Rapids (afterwards changed to Longton) quickly followed. Canola and Greenfield were located about one year later, and Boston still later. R. H. Nichols was the first settler in Elk Falls, he settled there with his wife and babe, Lulu May, on the first day of June 1870. The town site had been located the winter preceding by A. F. Gitchell, L. J. Johnson and R. H. Nichols, and the town given the name suggested by the fall in Elk river at that point. Nichols built the first house in the town, which was 12 x 14; this is the house in which the first convention was held. Hall & Edmiston opened out the first store in the town in a log building, May 10, 1870, was their first day on which their sales amounted to $12.50 and they were encouraged. The first government post office in the county was located here and the first M. E. church as well. Z. R. Pearcy, who was the first Methodist minister to locate in the county, organized this church in October 1870. __________________________________________ THE FOUNDING OF LONGTON Longton, Kas., Feb. 15, 1870 Mr. Editor: Will you permit me, through the columns of your paper, to give a short and imperfect sketch of the founding of the town in which we live and have our hopes for the future centered. In the winter of 1870, Dr. J. W. Kerr, Mr. Messick and myself, started from Ottawa, Kansas, on a trip to the southern portion of the state, our object being to take a look at the county and to secure homes for ourselves and families should be country be as good as had been represented to us. We started on the 6th days of February, our trip was very pleasant with nothing to mar it but the sickness of the doctor who was ill most of the time. We arrived at the mouth of Painterhood creek, which is tributary to Elk river in Howard county, on the 14th day of February, where we pitched our tents in the timber and then started out claim hunting. Starting west we called upon Mr. Minard, who lives near the junction of Elk river and Hitching creek, between the two. We were very inquisitive about claims and especially so in regard to a nice townsite. The present site of Longton was recommended to us as being a very beautiful as well as desirable location for a town, and we came and looked at it; each one of us was most favorably impressed with the great natural beauties of the place, being very beautiful in itself, besides commanding a splendid view of the country for miles in every direction. These being a vast area of splendid farming lands all around the townsite which insures a population sufficient to support a good-sized town. Also plenty of desirable timbered lands, densely covered with black walnut, burr oak, hackberry, etc. Another recommendation to the town site was the splendid water power afforded by Elk river which runs on the south and almost adjoining the town site. “Providence has favored this point with everything calculated to make a town grow fast and be liberally supported after it is built up,” was the unanimous cry of our party after taking a view of it and its surroundings. Taking all things into consideration we concluded this was our point and that we would make a start for a town. We contracted with parties on the west for 80 acres of land to make up 320 acres for the town site; shortly afterwards Dr. Kerr procured the services of a surveyor and surveyed and platted “Main street” and commenced the erection of a building, using timber split out for the purpose, there being no saw mills in the country at that time. I immediately returned to Ottawa to wind up my affairs there, and returned in April. About the first of June, J. W. Kerr, J. C. Pinney, J. Hoffman, J. B. Roberts, James Reynolds, and Mr. Garner organized a town company, called the Elk Rapids Town Co. It was afterward thought proper to change the name, so Longton was the one adopted. Sometime in June, Messrs. Wright and Kirby, of Ottawa, moved and set up at this point, their fine steam saw mill and commenced cutting out lumber in a short time, giving those who had been waiting a chance to build and finish their houses. Then the building commenced. Mr. Kirby built a store house, now occupied by H. Capper, with time and hardware; Mr. Hitching built a store house occupied by Wilcox & Co., then C. P. Alvey together with the town company erected a large two story house, the lower rooms of which are now owned and occupied by Mr. Alvey and the upper story owned by the town company and later occupied by Mr. Reynolds as a printing office. Geo. Hansbrough came down from Garnett about the first of October and immediately erected a fine two story hotel, which he now occupies and is ready at all times to accommodate the traveling public, in a handsome manner. Dr. Watkins put up a fine drug store and is ready at all times to deal with those who need drugs or medicines. We have two wagon and blacksmith shops. Only twelve months from the day the town was located there are twenty-seven houses built and a large number, in course of construction. This has all been done amid many drawbacks and hardship. Now the country has been surveyed and fairly opened for settlement and it is confidently expected that another year will increase the number of our buildings at least five-fold. - J. HOFFMAN. The above account of the founding of Longton is taken from the files of the Howard County Ledger, Vol. No. 1, dated February 23, 1871. The paper was founded and edited by Adrian Reynolds, who later conducted papers in Elk Falls and Howard, and who still later was editor of a paper at Sedan and from there moved to Pond Creek, Oklahoma where he conducted a paper for several years. He and Mrs. Reynolds and daughter later lived at Humboldt. The editor of this paper began working for Mr. Reynolds in July 1871, worked one year and then quit. He was to receive his “board, clothes, and three months schooling.” Reynolds honestly tried to fulfill his part of the obligation and if the “board” was some times meager it was as good as the Reynolds family enjoyed. If one of our today boys had to wear the clothes that a pioneer boy had to get along with, there would be a great howl go up. But Reynolds was a just man and long after his little “printer devil” had quit his employ, he met him on the streets of Longton one day, called him and had him fitted out from head to foot with the best he could procure in the town. The “devil” got the “three months schooling” all right, such as it was. The school was held in an unplastered room about 14 x 16 and the enrollment was 64. As it was impossible to seat all of the children on the “ground floor” a deck was built along two sides of the room where a part of the students were compelled to roost. The total distance from the floor to the ceiling was not more than 8 feet. The Elk county children of today should contrast this pioneer school furniture with the equipment they enjoy. The teacher, Dr. H. C. Parker, was a little effeminate man and the big scholars were rough and uncivil, and the school was a riot most of the time. In the “roll of honor” dated March 21, 1872, appears the names of only two present residents of the county, Martha Brooks Zollars of Longton and F. C. Flory of Howard. _____________________________________ HOWARD Howard City, as it was called in earlier times, was established in 1870 by a town company of which Samuel McFarland, was president and T. A. Dodd, secretary. The management of affairs was soon left to private individuals, and the principal promoters were John McBee, S. B. Oberlander, C. T. Adams, P. C. Topping, Alexander Bruce, Perry and Milton Vinson, and T. A. Todd. The first business enterprise was undertaken by Austin McFarland, who built a store in 1870. The second was a livery stable belonging to a Mr. McClure. The Howard House was built in 1871 by G. O. Buckles and John Parrett. The third building was a saloon, and the fourth a printing office, installed by Turner & Kelley. A post office had been established on Paw Paw creek north of town and this was brought to Howard in 1871. T. J. Barnes was postmaster at the time. The first newspaper - the Howard County Messenger - was established by Turner & Kelley in 1872. The first store in this section was started by Jeff Barnes in July 1869, on a farm just north of Howard. A meeting was called at this store in February 1870, for the purpose of selecting a site for a town. This committee was composed of John McBee, P. C. Topping and Jeff Barnes. Barnes wanted to locate the town where his store stood, and Topping on a tract of land one mile west of the Howard stock yards. They finally agreed on McBee’s choice, the present location of Howard. Soon after this, Barnes sold his store to Dr. J. O. Allen who moved the goods to Howard, after conducting the store for a short time at the old location. Allen left in a year or two, moving to California. As stated above, Austin McFarland started the first store in Howard, in July 1870. The lumber for this building was brought from Leavenworth and the goods were also hauled from Leavenworth. McFarland failed in business and left. The first hotel was built by G. O. Buckles and John Parrett. This building was located on the corner west of the Howard National Bank and was used for a hotel for many years, or until it burned down. The hotel was opened by E. C. McConnehey, who ran it about a year. It was then purchased by John McBee who conducted it for a number of years. The first saloon was started by a man named Zook, the next by Tommy Farrell, who went out of the business with the passing of the prohibitory law. The first school taught in this section was in a log hut on a farm, on the east side of Paw Paw about two miles north of Howard. The teacher was a young man named Frank Hobbs. This was a subscription school and was in the winter of 1869-70. The following were the pupils who attended this school: Shirley Greenwood, Belle Greenwood, Ed Chirpollori, Jennie Wilder, Nancy Wilder, Geo. Wilder, Jennie Cooper, Geo. Yokum, Ella Yokum, Frank Mahurin, Sarah Mahurin, Emma Hobbs, Alfred and Ed Glidden, Nancy Cole, Leta and Mark McBee. A year or two later young Hobbs died and was buried on his father’s claim, 3 miles north of Howard. The grave is marked by a tombstone and iron fence around it, and the lone monument attracts the attention of travelers on the Howard-Severy road. The first preaching in this vicinity was in a log house on the John McBee farm three miles west of Howard. The preacher was Rev. Samuel Fread. Rev. Fread was a Methodist. He lived in Greenwood county, but later moved to this vicinity. The first school opened in Howard was in 1873. This building stood on the present school site and was a good building for that day. It was a frame building, the lumber being hauled from Chanute. The first teacher was a Mr. Heckman and the second H. B. Kelley, who was also the first editor. The first building soon became too small and in 1881 bonds to the amount of $6,000 were voted and the district contracted with W. M. Crooks and Worth Steele for the erection of a stone building. The first church built in Howard was by the United Presbyterians and the building is still used by the Holiness society. The active member at that time were: Mr. Hawthorne, John and Robert Moore, Mr. Acheron, Alex. Strachan and others. The first child born in this neighborhood was to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Woolford, in 1869. He was named James. The first child born on the Howard town site was to Senator and Mrs. H. B. Kelley. This daughter, Miss Emma Kelley, became quite famous. She was the first woman, we believe, to make the Klondike trip and her description of the trip was widely quoted at the time. The first saw mill was built in the spring of 1871 by Rambo and Converse. It was set up on the north bank of Rock creek near the stock yards ford. The first grist mill tributary to Howard was at Union Center on Elk river. It was built and conducted by Col. Edward Colyer. It was a water mill and did good service for many years. This mill was built in 1872. The first drug store was started by Dr. Frank Bersheidt. It was located on the west side of Wabash avenue. The first blacksmith shop was by Lou Schrader in 1870, near the mouth of Snake creek. He later moved his shop to Howard. The first bank was started by Geo. W. McKey and A. F. Eby. S. B. Oberlender was the first lawyer. The first burial in Grace Lawn cemetery was Kemper McDonald, in 1874. _______________________________________ “FIRSTS” Samuel McFarland was the first settler in Howard and his son, Aust. McFarland, the first merchant. J. W. Kerr was the first settler in Elk Rapids, and C. P. Alvey, the first merchant. The first frame school house in the county was erected at Longton at a cost of $5,000, to raise which the bonds of the district were voted. The first grist mill in the county was erected on the south bank of Hitchens Creek, one half mile east of Longton, by Wright & Kirby. The first death in the neighborhood of Longton occurred on the south bank of Hitchens creek, one-half mile north of town, on the 11th day of July 1869, in the family of John Butcher, who in the spring of that year, had located his claim on that creek, and built a cabin thereon, as he supposed entirely out of danger from high waters; but in the night of said day Butcher was aroused from his slumbers by the sound of water rippling through his cabin, the river rising at this time to a depth of forty feet in a few hours, as claimed by settlers along its banks at that time. On account of the low ground between the cabin and the upland, it was impossible for him to escape that way, reflecting hastily on the situation he concluded that the only hope of safety was to try and reach a cluster of trees a few rods distant and climb upon the branches thereof; acting upon this conclusion, Butcher took the two eldest children and his wife the two youngest and endeavored to wade to the cluster of trees; Butcher reached the cluster safely with his precious burden but Mrs. Butcher was not tall enough nor strong enough to hold her precious burden far enough above water to avoid strangulation - her children were drowned. The Hart brothers, John Hugh and James, were the founders of Canola and were the first residents and merchants therein. J. L. Mattingly and J. A. Oliphant were the first occupants, residents and merchants in Boston. C. L. Goodrich brought the first printing office to Howard county, and located the same at Elk Falls about the 15th day of January 1871, and at once prepared to publish a weekly newspaper under the name “Elk Falls Examiner” the first issue of which appeared on Saturday, February 4, 1871. About four days thereafter, Adrian Reynolds placed before the public an issue of the “Ledger” published at Longton. On the 3rd day of January 1871, the board of commissioners ordered a special election to be held on the 14th day of February to permanently locate the county seat, at which election no place received a majority of all the votes cast, consequently at the canvas of this vote a second election was ordered, as provided by statue, to be held on the 28th day of the same month, the vote to be confined to Peru and Elk Falls. This election resulted in favor of Peru by a majority of 443. This vote was canvassed March 4th over the written protest of A. Stewart, attorney for Elk Falls. The protest contained remote insinuations that fraud had been practiced and that his written protest proved it. The commissioners however, thought different, and counted the vote and declared the result. Other county seat elections were afterwards ordered and held, which resulted in the absolute destruction of the social relations existing between the citizens of rival towns, and absolute and open warfare between the friends and supporters of the towns of Boston and Elk Falls. Nicholas was the first lawyer that settled in the county and the first on the Diminished Reserve west of Independence. S. B. Oberlender came next, he settled at Howard, Geo. F. Graham came next, and F. A. Stoddard and R. S. Chalk next, these three settled at Elk Falls. N. B. Cartmell and J. V. Fullenwilder came next and settled at Longton. The names of the persons drawn for the first grand jury were Thos. Pruden, F. H. Ingham, W. S. McKinney, Jonathan Lewis, Ellison Neet, Daniel Edwards, J. L. McCubbin, L. D. Blizard, Wm. Johnson, E. Douglas, J. C. Hinkley, Cyrus Tuggle, W. R. Bright, James Chamberlain, and Andrew McBeth. The names of the persons drawn for petit jurors were: J. K. Shipley, Oliver Hubbell, R. S. Catlin, J. F. Scott, Joseph Glidden, James Howe, John Burnside, John DeShazer, G. W. Bush, E. H. Minard, J. H. O'Neil and W. H. Conover. The first term of district court convened May 15, 1871. Upon the passage and taking effect of the law by virtue of which Elk county was created, there became vacancies in several of the county offices, as the officers of Howard county, that lived in the south half thereof, became officers of Chautauqua county, and those that lived in the north half became officers of Elk. This gave to Elk county, S. B. Oberlender, county attorney; A. P. Searcy, probate judge; J. N. Young, county superintendent; Frank Osborn, register of deeds; Thomas Wright, commissioner; leaving the remaining county offices to be filled by appointment. Gov. Osborne appointed Thomas Hawkins, county clerk; J. W. Riley, sheriff; and John Hughes, and Geo. W. McKey, commissioners. Judge W. P. Campbell appointed A. B. Steinberger, clerk district court and the commissioners appointed A. F. Eby, treasurer; the law referred to provided that Howard should be the county seat of Elk county upon the taking effect of the law; this was not entirely satisfactory to the electors of the county who in the latter part of the year 1875, signed a petition asking the commissioners to call a special election to re-locate the county seat; the election was duly called and held in November of that year, resulting in favor of Howard. ________________________________________________ EARLY DAYS OF LONGTON Longton was one of the very finest towns in Elk county. The promoters came from Ottawa and Garnett, most of them from the latter town. The town was first named Elk Rapids, but owing to the fact that there was a post office on the east named Elk City, and on the west named Elk Falls, the postal authorities refused to name another office with the prefix Elk, so the company decided to change the name. Herbert Capper, father of the present senator, Arthur Capper, then 6 years old, who was a hardware merchant in Longton in 1871 and ‘72, was accorded the honor of naming the new town. He selected the name of Longton, which was the name of his home town in England. The first physician of the new town was Joseph W. Kerr. He was an old frontiersman and his wife was an Indian. We remember that he had a mighty pretty daughter, half Indian. Dr. Kerr was the first postmaster. He lived in a clapboard shanty, and the front room was used as his office and the post office. There was no floor in the building and the people who lived there while he was postmaster declared that when the mail was brought to town he would dump it in a hole in the dirt floor and then it was a free-for-all pitch-in, every fellow his own post master. This was probably not an official post office at the time Kerr was acting postmaster. W. H. Wilcox, one of the earliest merchants and one of the town boomers was postmaster in the spring of 1871. He continued to act in that capacity for a couple of years when he sold his store and left the town. The second physician was Dr. R. H. Reed, an educated, Christian gentleman, and all who knew him remembered with affection. He lived there a number of years and then moved to Arkansas City. Dr. A. P. Searcy was an early day doctor. Like most of the pioneer doctors, quinine and whiskey, with an occasional dose of calomel, was his general prescription, and he was especially popular with all who liked whiskey, and in that day it meant a majority. Searcy always kept a pack of greyhounds around and they were trained to run deer. He always wore a stove-pipe hat in which he carried his valuable papers, and after he was elected - or appointed - probate judge, the hat was the depository of the official documents of that office. Sometimes, when on the hunt, the old plug hat would blow off, and frequently marriage licenses and other public documents would be picked up on the prairie. However he was a good old soul and his kindness covered a multitude of deficiencies. Cartmell & Fullenwider were the first lawyers. They came from Paola, and were recently from Illinois. Cartmell was a big portly man, an eloquent talker, and he liked to talk. Fullenwider was a small, keen man, and both were useful citizens. A later addition to the bar was M. V. B. Yoder, who was also a school teacher and who taught in Longton. George Hansbrough was the first hotel keeper. He was one of the leading members of the town company and built a big two story hotel. He was an enterprising man and left because things did not go fast enough to suit him. Wright & Kirby were the first millers. They built a saw mill and turned thousands of big, fine walnut logs into lumber. They were also the first parties to establish a grist mill in the county. They built a three story stone mill on Hitching creek, just northeast of the town and continued to operate it for several years. Kirby sold his interest in the business to John Hughes and Frank Osborn, who operated the mill for a time, and then it changed hands many times. It was owned for several years by S. H. Patterson, who turned it into a roller mill and he and his sons Frank and C. J. Patterson operated it successfully for many years, disposing of it to other parties. C. P. Alvey was one of the first dry goods merchants of the town, but before him was H. G. Miller, who conducted a general store at his farm two miles east of Longton, and who built a big two story building and moved his stock of goods to Longton. J. G. Crawford was one of the very first settlers. His store was in a two story frame building. W. H. Watkins was the first druggist. He was a highly educated and able man. As we remember the first saloon was conducted by a man named C. F. Niece. There were others established soon after and the town was always well supplied with dealers in wet goods. The saloon was the best patronized institution of the western town. We remember an incident that occurred in the early days. A man named Myers, a Jew, from Independence, we believe, came to Longton, rented a business room, fixed it all up nice and furnished it with counters, and up-to-date glassware, and then took several teams to Independence, the nearest railroad town, for the stock. Coming back, Myers, who was with the goods, and the teamsters, all got drunk and when they arrived in Longton were still “soaked”. Their arrival was heralded with glee by all the inhabitants and Myers to show that he was a good fellow had men pass out the liquor to all who wanted to drink. When he woke up the next day his stock of liquors and cigars were gone and he had no money to show for their disposal. However, he replenished his stock and continued the business for several months. The first newspaper was the Howard County Ledger, Adrain Reynolds, editor and proprietor. Reynolds was a good newspaper man and a good printer, and he was a boomer for Longton and the county. The editor of this paper began to set type in the Ledger office in July 1871, worked a year, and then farmed a year, and then went back to work for Reynolds and continued in his service until the fall of 1874 after the Ledger was moved to Elk Falls. Thos E. Thompson, later editor of The Howard Courant, succeeded Flory as the Ledger devil in April 1875. ______________________________________ THE LAST BUFFALO In July 1874 about a half a dozen buffalo became separated from the then fast diminishing herds of bison in northern Texas, and wandered up into Kansas. They were pursued and killed off till only a bull and a cow were left and they found their way into this country. On Sunday morning, July 19, 1874, Van M. Flagler of this place, then a boy of ten or eleven years, saw the strange animals in the herd of cattle he was tending for Grandfather Dewey, father of the late E. G. Dewey. He was badly scared and at once gave the alarm, and Frank Dewey at once mounted a horse and rode over to investigate. He found that they were real live buffalo and he went for a gun to shoot them. Other men hearing of the strange visitors gathered and they were chased out of the herd of cattle and driven toward Howard. Frank Dewey managed to shoot and kill the cow, and then followed on with the pursuers after the bull. The exciting chase progressed and the pursuers increased till there were many men and boys on horseback and on foot. The bull struck Elk river on the Henry O’Neal place, where Joe Harris now lives, and ran near where some boys were in swimming. Clarence R. Altchison, now living in Columbus, but who was then a Howard boy, seeing our mention of “The last Buffalo” writes us as follows: “I remember well the occurrence. I believe it was in 1875, in the summer as a bunch of us boys were down swimming in the creek west of Howard. It was on Sunday, and as we were swimming, a man came and inquired if anyone in the crowd had a gun. Ed Cherpillod said he had a gun on the horn of the saddle on the pony he rode. The man said there were some buffalo down the creek. We thought at first he meant buffalo fish, but soon understood that he meant real buffalo. We all hurried out and dressed, the men on horses went into the wood’s a little south of us, and the rest who were walking went a little south and parallel to the timber and about 100 yards off, I said to the boys “What if the buffalo would come out of the timber and take after us?” and about that time sure enough out came Mr. Buffalo. One of the boys ran towards the timber and it attracted the buffalo that way; the rest of our gang ran to a stone barn about 300 yards toward Howard. The buffalo came toward us, the men came out of the timber. Among the men were Lot and George Bowen who lived southeast of Howard. We saw as fine a race as ever boys saw, as the fences did not seem to make any difference with the speed of the buffalo, in fact he did not seem to know there were any wire fences in the road. The buffalo ran straight for Howard, passed the school house, where they were holding Sunday school--however the Sunday school did not last long after the buffalo passed the school house. He ran somewhere in the north part of town when he was killed. There were 7 holes through the body of the buffalo when skinned.You bet I never will forget the run from where we were when we saw Mr. Buffalo and to the barn. It was a little the best speed I ever made as a sprinter, and as I remember the rest of the boys were just as speedy as I." - Clarence R. Aitchison. __________________________________________
Henry G. Zirn was one of the boys in swimming and remembered the event
very distinctly and the three Brock Crawford boys were in the swimming
party besides some town boys whose names we can't recall. He saw
the buffalo when he came out of the woods and started toward town, and
saw the men on horseback giving chase.Mark McBee says he was in the creek with the swimmers and that Billy Matthews, Ed Cherpilled, Clarence Aitchison and perhaps others were of the town boys in the party. Billy Matthews was the young man who had the heavy revolver, a big 45, and it was he who killed the buffalo. Mark had a small Smith & Wesson and couldn't do any damage to the bull. Billy and Mark had ponies with them, while the rest of the town boys were on foot. The buffalo ran up near by the school house and broke up the Sunday school, as related by Mr. Aitchison and proceeded up through town and over toward where the Santa Fe bridge over Paw Paw is now located when a final shot brought him down. He was well fagged out and could run but slowly, as he had been chased for more than ten miles. Frank Dewey did not stay in the chase till the bull was killed, but returned to where the dead cow was, over near the John Hugg place. His horse which he had ridden so hard died that night. He divided the buffalo cow out among those who had joined the chase and the whole neighborhood had a taste of the meat. The one that was killed in town was likewise divided up among the town crowd and everybody shared in the fruits of the chase. Many of our early settlers remember the event though they are shady on recalling the exact date. Joe E. Hebb is really the only man who has accurately remembered the date, and he would not swear to it. Our authority for the date is an item about the event which was published in the Elk Falls Ledger. Not many towns can say they have seen wild buffaloes killed on their street. - Thos. E. Thompson __________________________________________ THE OLD TOWN OF BOSTON The town of Boston was organized in August 1871, by J. L. Mattingly, Pat Nulty, John and Robert Brogan and John A. Oliphant. These men came from Osage Mission, now St. Paul, Kansas and the town of Boston was located near the geographical center of Howard county in order that when it got to be the county seat, it would be convenient for the greatest number of inhabitants of the then big county. The location was five or six miles south and a little west of where Moline now stands, and not a trace of Boston now remains. The little company of promoter, who established the new town were all bachelors, as all full of life and ambition. Among the early residents of Boston were Wilse and Nate Wallker and George and John Thompson. Some small frame houses were built, a store or two opened up, a little hotel established and then Boston began to pull for the county seat. Howard county had been organized in 1870 with Elk Falls named as county seat. But an election was held and the vote favored Belleville (Peru) and the county officers were moved to that point, away down in the southeast corner of the county. Some time in 1872, a new judge having come to the bench, a court order was obtained ordering the county seat back to Elk Falls from Peru. An election or two was held, but the results were always mixed owing to the fact that an honest vote was hard to get. In the summer of '73 an election was held and Elk Falls and Boston were the leading candidates. But the election board at Boston failed to properly sign their poll books and the votes of Boston precinct were thrown out, leaving the deciding heat between Elk Falls and Peru. Then the Boston influence was thrown to Peru and Elk Falls was beaten, but Judge Compbell was there with a restraining order and the records were held at Elk Falls. Boston's business and professional directory as I remember was about as follows: Thompson Bro., (Geo. and John Thompson) general merchandise; F. J. Brown, dry goods, boots, and shoes; John Brogan, groceries; Thos. Cunningham, general merchandise; J. S. Torrence, drugs; Pat Nulty, saloon; R. J. Edwards, Boston Hotel; John B. Vanclave and John Cain kept a feed stable; The Howard County Messenger, A. B. Hicks, publisher; Geo. Logan, blacksmith; Dr. F. B. Olney was the resident physician. Later came Drs. J. B. and J. F. Lewis. There were several young lawyers - M. G. Miller, Dodd Cartwright, E. J. Kenney, John A. Oliphant (who was also postmaster), Lewis Clark and perhaps another or two. Richard Speed, Justice of the Peace, held court two or three days each week, and there was much litigation. Miss Fanny Webb taught a school the summer of '73 and the new school huose was being built by John and Bill Johnson. Pat's saloon was the popular resort and almost everybody drank more or less. There was no church organization in Boston at that time. Father Ponziglione (picture of Thos. E. Thompson, 1860-1935 appears here) from Osage Mission came every few weeks and held Catholic services, and the Catholic crowd was manifestly in the majority in Boston. The two men who came very near running Boston were J. L. Mattingly and Pat Nulty. "Maje and Pat" they were affectionately called by the entire community. The scarcest thing in Boston was water. A town well seventy feet deep was located in the middle of the main street, but all the water that it afforded was hauled from the creeks and poured in from the top. That Boston was literally a dry town was a scandal, the more serious because it was true. Elk Falls, its rival, was located on the banks of Elk River and besides had many wells of good water. Boston had a few small cisterns, a tolerably faithful small spring just west of town and a 70 foot well with no water in it. Baker's branch--half a mile from town mostly went dry every summer, so it was about all that Boston could do to procure enough water for domestic purposes. Every few nights the faithful Bostonese would haul water from Baker's branch and fill up the town well. They worked at night so the rival town of Elk Falls wouldn't find it out. This is what brought on the Boston war: At the election held in August, 1873, the leading points were Elk Falls and Boston. The county commissioners were enjoined by the court from canvassing the vote on account of "inaccuracies," but afterwards counted them, leaving Boston's home vote out. To this act Boston of course objected and took the matter into court. The commissioners ordered a final election between Elk Falls and Peru, and Peru won. But when Boston made her showing in court, the result of the last election was set aside and then commissioners ordered an election between Elk Falls and Boston, in which election Boston won by a clear majority of 275 votes. But Elk Falls, as usual, was on the spot with an injunction, and the county officers were restrained from moving. However, the county clerk and the county attorney moved to Boston, and the county board held two or three meetings at Boston. When Judge Campbell passed on the election matter, he invalidated the result, and by his decision left the county seat at Elk Falls and wiped out the voice of a fair majority of the people, and they organized the Boston War. The date of the exciting day was January 20, 1874. - Thos. E. Thompson. _________________________________ THE "BOSTON WAR" On Tuesday, January 20, 1874, about one hundred and fifty men from Boston and the country around nearby, with twnety-four wagons, drove into Elk Falls, arriving there at about 10 a.m. At an earlier hour a couple of Boston men had been sent to each of the county offices in Elk Falls - which were scattered over town in different small buildings - to spy out trouble and see if any news of the raid had reached the unsuspecting Elk Fallsites. The surprise was complete and no resistence was offered. The Boston men were well armed and completely organized. A secret meeting ortwo had been held at Boston the week preceding the enterprise, and competent leaders had been selected, every driver of a team was fully instructed and the raid was quickly carried out according to pre-conceived plan. In less than half an hour the records and furniture of the various county officers were loaded onto the wagons and were on their way to Boston. As there was no opposition or protest, no violence was resorted to. The Boston men were a determined company, and had there been any resistance, there is no doubt that there would have been a serious conflict and that blood would have been shed. When they arrived back at Boston, the county property was placed in various small halls and vacant rooms over town. In anticipation of trouble, plenty of guards were placed over the stuff, and then the raiders dispersed. Everybody felt that they had embarked in a serious undertaking and that it was no occasion for hilarity. A strong-toned bell surmounted the Boston school house and its ringing would easily call two or three hundred men. It was arranged to watch the roads clear to Elk Falls, and in the event of a move from that town, fleet riders were to spread the alarm, and plenty of armed men would be on the defense of Boston in comparatively a short time. It was easily to be understood that it was out of the question for Elk Falls to retake the county property by force - no one believed they were able to do that. The first night after, the town was full of armed men, though nobody believed there would be any attack. The following day, nothing happened, though a few skirmishing horsemen were seen scouting the country a short way off from town. The second day a sentinel posted away off toward Elk Falls rode in and reported a posse of armed men approaching. The bell rang, the riders flew to the country, and in thirty minutes two hundred armed men were in Boston and defenses of lumber and boxes were thrown up. Sheriff Eli Titus with thirty or forty men armed with guns and pistols rode up to the town but was halted by outposts. The sheriff was told that he could come in and serve his papers, if he had any to serve but the posse would have to stay outside. Sheriff Titus and his deputy, Joe Vannoy came in and talked the matter over, but of course accomplished nothing and returned to Elk Falls. The strain was gradually relaxed, and the sober second and third thought were allowed to be considered. It gradually soaked into the more sensible minds of Boston that they had, to quote the language of the poet, "gone off half cocked!" and everybody wondered what they had better do about it. They soon saw that their hope that the county officers would follow the county property and come to Boston was without promise of fulfillment; they knew that higher authority would soon send orders which could not be ignored, so they decided to hide the plunder. The furniture was stored in garrets and the records were placed in wagons and sent away, no one knew where. Then when the sheriff and his armed posse came to town, they were allowed to come and go at will. After a month somebody swore out a warrant against about every full grown man in Boston and Sheriff Titus came over and arrested all they could find. They had a straight tip of the move, so it was agreed that a few should hide and the balance should give themselves up. They were taken to Elk Falls and as there was no jail or hold over in town, the authorities had to swear in about all the able bodied men in town as guards to watch over the prisoners with guns. The prisoners were well fed and cared for, and they certainly did make life a burden for the poor guards. Many of the prisoners had been real prisoners during the Rebellion--which was then only a few years into the past, and they knew how to joke and pester the poor guards till many of them struck and refused longer to serve. The outcome of is all was that an agreed case was mutually arranged between the towns, the hearing to be by a higher court than Judge Bill Campbell's and the prisoners were allowed to go back to Boston, and the county records and property to be returned to Elk Falls. - Thos. E. Thompson. _______________________________ The treasurer of Howard county was E. D. Custer's Peru man. Custer was using county money to finance a herd of cattle he was feeding and he took this opportunity to cover up his embezzlement. He charged that there was $25,000 in money in his office when the Boston crowd took the furniture and that it was stolen by the raiders. The story was so ridiculous that nobody believed it, however. But when the records were brought back several weeks later, the tax rolls were missing and the scandal broke. Custer was arrested, as was his younger brother, a clerk in the office. It developed that Mox Miller and Jim Pringle, two characters of Boston, had been employed by Custer to destroy the tax rolls, while they were in the hands of the Boston crowd, to cover up the embezzlement. The men were arrested also, but Custer was allowed to slip away by the friendly county officials, and though a reward of $2,000 was offered forhis arrest, he was never brought back. In the campaign of 1874 the great fight was division and anti-division. T. B. Rice was the legislative candidate opposed to division, and Ed Jaquin the candidate favoring division. Jaquin won the election, and Boston's sun went down. Remonstrances were signed and sent to the legislature, Elk Falls joined with Boston in protest. But the division bill was passed and Howard county was divided, two counties, Elk and Chautauqua being builded of the old territory. ____________________________________ HOWARD'S FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL - Interesting Facts Concerning Early Day Life In Howard By A Real Pioneer (this short article was written by Mrs. W. P. HEISLER) The first Sunday school in Howard was held early in the spring of 1872. It was composed of people who belong to various churches and was called a union Sunday school. There was no church or school building in town at that time and it was first held in the dining room of the McBee Hotel (The building stood on the corner now occupied by the Willet buildings). After a few Sundays there it was held in a small vacant building that belonged to Mr. Crooks. That summer a school house was built and as soon as it was enclosed it was held there. The first Sunday in the school house, the floor was not all finished. Some of the classes sat on the edge of the floor with their feet down on the ground. The carpenters work bench stood in one corner with a nice pile of shavings under it that attracted the attention of some of the young pupils, one of which was the writer. The superintendent was Charley Adams. His wife was one of the teachers, also her sister, Miss Mattie Fuller. Mrs. McDonald, who will be remembered better as Mrs. Ella Strachan and her sister, Carrie Hall, known as Mrs. Longley. Very few of those who attended that Sunday school are living now and in a short time they will all have passed away. Mr. Adams, the suerintendent, owned the one store that was in town. He had a few pieces of dry goods, some groceries and the post office, all in one small room that was located on or near the site of the Legion hall. He also owned farms north of town. He died a few years later, while yet a young man. The first church building in Howard was the United Presbyterian Church, now the Nazarene church. There was no railroad near and the material for that church was hauled by wagons and teams from Burlington, Kansas. Several men of the church had volunteered to go for loads. They made the trip some time in March. Had to camp on the way and were caught in one of the most severe blizzards that ever struck this part of the state. Some of the men had covered wagons to sleep in, but the high wind soon tore the covers off so they had to wrap the wagon sheets around them and sit up and wait for day light. Then with their feet, hands and faces frosted, they had to make their way out of and through deep snow drifts. That was one of the many experiences of the Old Settlers.
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