History of Barton County, Kansas

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS

To attempt to write a complete history of Amasa Moses at this time would be an impossibility, and even though the work had been attempted when he was still alive, it would have been found difficult. Amasa Moses was not the kind of man who bid for recognition for every kind act he did, but rather evaded all publicity. He was of that disposition that endeared him to all with whom he came in contact, and his friendship was something to be prized. There never was a man in central Kansas who had more to do with its up-building, and there never was a man in Barton County who was so universally respected, or whose counsel was more eagerly sought by those who were in need of sympathy and advice. In the early days of this county there were many who went to Amasa Moses for aid and guidance, and not one is known who was refused. It was these elements in his makeup that made him a leader among men and it was these same elements that sustained him and made his efforts successful in aiding in the reclamation of that part of the Great American desert now known as Barton County, Kansas.
Amasa C. Moses was born August 22, 1826, at Ticonderoga, New York. He spent his childhood there and at the age of eleven years went with his parents to Vermont. The family located at the town of Benson where Amasa remained until 1843, when he returned to New York and located in Chautauqua County. It was there that he met and won the heart of Miss Naomi Terry and on April 12, 1848, they were married. They were the parents of seven boys: Arthur H., Clayton L., Edward W., William A., Lincoln C., Cassius M. and Seward E. It is seldom that a family containing seven boys can be found without one or more sisters and it is seldom that a family can point to seven boys and say: "They have all made good."

Like many other eastern boys, Amasa was seized with the western fever and in 1871, he decided to bring his family to Kansas. Whether or not he knew the conditions that were to be encountered is not known. Be that as it may, it required but a short time for him to lay the foundation for a home. Soon after his arrival, and before Barton County had been organized, he located a homestead which comprised the northwest quarter of section 10, Great Bend township, and situated two and one-half miles north of the city of Great Bend. Then began the struggle to raise crops. For seven years he tilled the soil with little or no success in the beginning, but by stick-to-it-ive-ness and well applied effort he finally had the satisfaction of seeing his labors rewarded by the harvest of grain. It was on this homestead that Mr. Moses erected the first frame house to be built in this county and it is still in use today and stands on the old homestead which is now known as the Griffith place, and is one of the interesting parts of the county. Amasa was accompanied to this section by his wife who proved her worth by sharing the hardships uncomplainingly and gladly accepting the burden that was thrust upon her, and his seven sturdy boys only one of whom - Arthur - had reached his majority. When they reached what was to be their now home, buffalo and other animals roamed this part of the state in an almost unmolested state. Armed with Henry rifles the Moses boys soon became known as expert buffalo hunters and many a tale can be related by them of how they crawled upon the ground sometimes as much as a quarter of a mile in order to get within rifle range of the animals. Later the boys secured Sharp's rifles and with these - the highest class of firearms in those days - their hunting was rewarded by much better results.

In those days the returns realized from the sale of buffalo hides and meat represented about all the money that could be raised in this county. The crops were not giving very satisfactory returns and had it not been for the fact that the population of the county, small as it was, the people composing it, like Amasa Moses and his sons, were made of the right kind of stuff to withstand the hardships and building an empire by the force of their genius.

In 1872 Mr. Moses embarked in the mercantile business, his establishment having been located on the north side of the park square, on lot 16, block 78. This ground is now included in the site of the new federal building. At his store was found a complete stock of general merchandise. The old store building is still in use and serves the purpose of a residence near the Missouri Pacific depot Mr. Moses operated this store until the spring of 1873 when he formed a partnership with J. H. Hubbard. This firm continued until 1875 when the stock was divided, at which time Clayton bought his father's interest which consisted of a stock of remnants. Clayton operated the store in the same building used by his father until 1877, when he and his brother, Edward, formed a partnership and started the store known as the Moses Brothers on lot 4, block 90, this ground being now occupied by the Cyclone store on Main street.

In 1872, when the people were called upon to choose their first set of city officials, it was only natural that Amasa Moses was selected to fill one of the most important offices. Accordingly he was elected the first city clerk of Great Bend and served with great credit and as the town was new it required a man of Mr. Moses' ability to discharge the duties of this office in a satisfactory manner.

Mr. Moses always took a leading part in matters religious and municipal and he was one of five Christians who organized the Congregational church in 1873. He served the county as superintendent of public instruction during the first years after schools were established in the county. He organized Barton County's first Sunday school and was its superintendent. This work was not so easily accomplished in those days as it might seem to those who know of the conditions that prevailed at that time only by reading, and by hearing the old timers tell of them. However, Mr. Moses was the kind of man who met all difficulties with fortitude and determination which accounts for the fact that success met his every effort and he never was happier than when he was accomplishing something that resulted in good for others.

When the Moses family arrived in Barton County there were a large number of Indians roaming this part of the state, and on their trips back and forth from the Platte river in Nebraska they frequently visited Mr. Moses' home. However, he met them in a friendly spirit and as a result they came to like him and his family almost as did the white settlers.

It was the first Sunday the family spent in their new home that a band of 5,000 or more Pawnees stopped at the Moses homestead. One of the number was ill. Mrs. Moses gave him some medicine and brought him around in fine shape. The Indian had given Mr. Moses a pony as a present, but when the band was ready to continue their journey, the buck -Indian like - insisted on getting his pony. Of course Mr. Moses gave him back the present but after that he was known among the Indians as "Old Mose." When the Indians would become hostile and show indications that they were going to commit some depredation the government would send troops to this section. As soon as the Indians saw the troops they would move away but with the troops on their way back to the fort from which they came the Indians would return. Mr. Moses had treated them so kindly that he never was molested and his family was held in great respect by all the tribes that were found in this section of the state.

After Mr. Moses had sold his store to his son he still aided him in its management and when the firm of Moses Brothers was formed he was a great help to the boys in the conduct of the business. He had always led an active life and up until the time of his death was hale and hearty. When on Wednesday, February 9, 1887, at the age of 60 years, 5 months and 18 days, he was suddenly stricken with paralysis and died, he passed away, happy in the thought that his life had not been a failure. Nothing so fitly describes Amasa C. Moses as the quotation: "The elements so mixed in him that all the world could rise up and say, he was a man."
Mr. Moses' death was a great shock to the community. Not only did his sons and other relatives mourn his loss deeply and sincerely, but scores of those who knew him best were bowed down with a weight of woe that seemed almost unbearable.

The Congregational church of Great Bend of which he was one of the five organizers, was filled with sorrowing friends and relatives when the funeral sermon over the remains of Amasa C. Moses was preached. The new house of worship of this church contains a beautiful memorial window placed there by his sons to their father's memory. This is not the only memorial to Amasa Moses; there are others of a material kind, but the most desirable of them all is the memorial he wrote by his deeds upon the hearts of men.

There are none of the old timers and very few of those who arrived in the county after the disappearance of the buffaloes and Indians that did not know the Moses boys. The old timers knew them for their sterling worth as friends and neighbors and they knew them for the active part they took in aiding their father and mother in building a home in the land. Every one of the seven sons of Amasa Moses has made good in the different lines they have followed.

Three of the boys: Clayton, Edward and Lincoln stayed with Barton County and have been closely identified with its agricultural cattle, commercial, milling and banking interests. The remainder of the boys have cast their lots with other sections of the country, but without exception they look upon Barton County as their home.

Ed and Clayton Moses, as they are familiarly known, were born in Chautauqua County, New York, the former at Clymer, on July 23, 1856, and the latter at Clymer, January 19, 1854.

In 1871, when the family arrived in Barton County, Clayton hunted buffaloes until the fall of the year when he went to the town of Russell, in Russell County, and was employed as a clerk in the store owned by George Hart. He remained there a year and returned to Great Bend where he was employed in the stare owned and conducted by his father and J. H. Hubbard. Clayton's principal duties consisted in buying hides from the hunters. This position required tact and knowledge in sorting the hides into their respective classifications, buffalo bull hides bringing $3.00, spike, or young bull and heifer hides, $1.75, while a cow hide brought $2.25. Many of the hunters would claim that some of the hides belonged to a classification higher than they really did and this was where Clayton's tact came in. These hides were brought for many miles on wagons and gave the farmers and professional hunters a good source of revenue. After the hide business had run its course and the animals were scarce Clayton went into the store where he remained as a clerk until the division of the stock in 1875. Clayton took over his father's interest and conducted a store in the same building until 1877, when he and Ed formed a partnership and opened the store on Main street, where the Cyclone store now stands. This firm continued until 1889 when they sold out to Theodore Griffith, the present postmaster of Great Bend. This sale included only the grocery department of the store and in the following year the dry goods and furnishing goods were sold to Hacker Brothers.

By this time the land of Barton County had begun to yield grain in good quantities and Clayton went into the grain buying business in earnest. The firm had been buying wheat that was hauled to town in sacks, saving it until a carload was secured when it could be shipped to the markets. In 1878 Clayton formed a partnership with R. C. Bailey and they built an elevator on the Santa Fe track. This firm continued until 1892 when they bought an elevator at Pawnee Rock and one at Olmitz. Then Ed was taken into the firm and later Clayton and Ed bought Bailey's interest in the business and the new firm was known as the Moses Brothers Grain Company. The home elevator was destroyed by fire in 1898. Work was at once begun to rebuild the elevator and a much larger and more substantial one was finished in 1899. In 1901 a flour mill was added to the firm's holdings and the firm name was changed to the Moses Brothers Mill and Elevator Company. By this time the firm had increased its holdings by adding elevators on the main line of the Santa Fe from Dodge City to Dartmouth, from Great Bend to Scott City on the branch, and from Great Bend to McCracken on the Missouri Pacific.

This string of elevators made a total of thirty-five with the home elevator at Great Bend. The flour mill as originally built had a capacity of 350 barrels per day. In 1903 this capacity was increased so that the mill could turn out 600 barrels of flour every twenty-four hours, and in 1908 the mill was again enlarged to a capacity of 1,000 barrels per day.

In 1908 the company was incorporated with a capital stock of $200,000 with the following officers: C. L. Moses, president; E. W. Moses, vice president and treasurer, and C. N. Moses, secretary. In 1909 half the stock of the company was sold to L. E. Moses, who became president of the company with C. L. Moses, vice president, and R. W. Arndt, secretary. The mill and elevator was operated by this company until January 1, 1912, when it, with six other of the largest milling companies in Kansas, formed a merger which resulted in a company being formed with a capital stock of $7,000,000 and known as the Kansas Flour Mills Company. Since that time this company has acquired two more big mills by purchase. L. E. Moses is president of this company, the other officers being: Andrew Hunt, secretary, and J. H. Holdrige, treasurer.

Early in the year 1910 E. W. and C. L. Moses, together with other substantial citizens of the county, decided to go into the banking business and, as a result, the German American State Bank was opened for business August 8 of that year. The bank was organized with a capital stock of $100,000 and $5,000 surplus. The first board of directors was composed of E. W. and C. L. Moses, Ira Brower, Elrick C. Cole, Ben P. Unruh, E. C. Davis and Dr. Morrison, and at this writing it is the same with the exception of Mr. Unruh whose place on the board was taken by Fred Moore. The officers of the bank are: E. W. Moses, president; C. L. Moses, vice president; Clarence Aldrich, cashier, and Earl Wright, assistant cashier. Since the bank was opened for business its deposits have grown steadily and it has made a most enviable record for square deal methods, and for carrying on its business according to the most approved and conservative ideas. The stock of this bank is owned by men who have spent their time and money to make Barton County and Great Bend what they are today. The bank is operated for the people of this county and during the approximately two years of its existence has gained the confidence of all the people with whom it has had business relations.

Following in the footsteps of their father, the Moses boys have led most active lives and with all their other interests have found time to successfully operate one of the largest thoroughbred stock ranches in this part of the country. In 1898 Ed and Clayton began the breeding and raising of thoroughbred Hereford cattle. The product of this ranch is known among cattle fanciers as one of the best strains of aristocratic Herefords in the country. The fame of this stock has been almost world wide and the Moses Brothers have shipped animals from this ranch to all parts of the country and to far away Brazil. Since 1898 they have marketed about 1,000 head of stock from their herd and at this writing have 500 fine animals on their 4,000-acre ranch in Ness County. In addition to this ranch. Ed and Clayton own 3,600 acres of farm land in Barton and Stafford Counties, most of it being farmed under their personal supervision and the remainder being farmed by renters. Their cattle are known in all the states surrounding Kansas and in many parts of this country and Mexico.

Since the Moses boys came to Barton County all of its members have taken a leading part in its up-building and while some of the boys have removed to other parts of the country the work they did in this country in its early history is still vivid in the memory of the old timers.

Clayton Moses was married December 12, 1879, to Clara J. Mitchell of Quincy, Ill. They are the parents of two children, Earl C., 28 years of age, who is foreman of the flour mill owned by the company of which his father is a member; Lillian Alice, 25 years of age, lives at home. He served as councilman of Great Bend city from 1888 to 1892 and as county commissioner from 1892 to 1898.

Edward Moses was married March 21, 1882, to Miss Anna J. Wood of Great Bend. He was chosen as mayor of the city of Great Bend in the years 1884, 1885, 1893, 1905, 1907 and 1909 and always served with distinction and in a way that was very gratifying to his friends and the people of the town. Much of the progress the city has made was accomplished during the time that Mr. Moses held the highest office within the gift of the people of the city.

Ed and Clayton Moses are home loving men and occupy modern residences in Great Bend and are among the best known citizens in the state of Kansas.
Arthur H. Moses was the only one of the boys who was of age when the family arrived in this county. He took up a homestead that comprised the northeast quarter of section 10, Great Bend township. He was married in 1872 to Miss Ella Snowden at Russell, Kansas, and they are the parents of four children. One of them died in infancy and the adult ones are: Clyde, who became the wife of Alva Adams, Jr., of Pueblo, he being a son of Alva Adams, who was three times governor of the state of Colorado. She died in 1905 at Pueblo, Colo. Mattie, the next child, is the wife of Frederick C. Briggs, formerly of Pueblo, Colo., but now in the jewelry business in Hutchinson. Wm. B. is married and lives at Osceola, Okla. Arthur H. Moses remained in Barton County until 1885, when he went to Pueblo, Colo., and there took an active part in the politics of that state. He was elected sheriff of Pueblo County in the nineties. He went from Colorado to Seattle, Washington, where he holds a responsible position as wharf master for the United States government. He was born February 21, 1851.

Will Moses came to Barton County when his parents arrived here, as stated in the beginning of this article. in 1879 he went on the road for Julius Kuhn, wholesale grocery house of Atchison. He remained in this position until 1882, when he went to Pueblo, Colo., and engaged in the grocery business. December 21, of that year, he was married to Miss Grace Buckland of Great Bend. He was elected sheriff of Pueblo County in 1891 and succeeded himself in this office in 1893. in 1898 he went to Kansas City and since that time has been in the grain business. Mr. and Mrs. Moses were the parents of two children, Arthur C. Moses, 22 years of age, who graduated from K. U. in June, 1912, and Elinor, 11 years of age. Mr. Moses survived his first wife, she having died July 1, 1906, and in April, 1908, he married Mrs. Stella Weaver of Los Angeles, California.

Cassius M. Moses was born in Clymer, Chautauqua County, New York, January 31, 1865, and was the sixth of the seven sons of Mr. and Mrs. Amasa C. Moses. He came with the parents to Barton County in 1871. He married Miss Betsy Cunningham of Frederick, Illinois, October 14, 1890, and they are the parents of two children, Donna, born December 13, 1894, and John Campbell, born August 20, 1896. In 1889 he enlisted in the Colorado national guard. He was commissioned lieutenant in October of that year, was advanced to captain in December, 1890, and to the rank of major in 1893. He was appointed and commissioned adjutant general of the state of Colorado in January, 1895. He organized the First Colorado regiment of infantry, United States volunteers, in 1898, after war had been declared with Spain. He resigned as adjutant general of Colorado in 1898. He was commissioned major of the regiment he organized, the First Colorado. He was mustered out of service at the Presidio in San Francisco, September, 1899. He participated in many of the important engagements before Manila, P. I., during the war and distinguished himself as a soldier. He served during the insurrection in the islands until he was wounded June 9, 1899, being unfit for further service.
After coming to Barton County, his early boyhood days were spent on the Moses homestead, just north of Walnut creek, punching cows, working on the farm and living the usual strenuous life of those pioneer days, when the buffalo, the other animals of the plains and the Indian were all here.

In the spring of 1882, he went to work for Moses Brothers and continued with them until the autumn of 1887 when they retired from the general merchandise business. He then went to Pueblo and Denver, Colorado, where he made his home until he removed to Los Angeles, California, in the latter part of 1902.
Seward E. Moses, youngest of the seven brothers, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, and came to Barton County with his parents in 1871, at the age of three and one-half years. He worked for Moses Brothers in their general store until 1887, when he went to Pueblo, Colorado. He was in the grocery business there until 1902. He returned to Great Bend at that time, being interested in the Barton County flour mils until 1907. Then he moved to Kansas City, Mo., becoming interested in The Moses Brothers Grain Company. He married Edith G. Balcon of Pueblo, Colo., in 1899.

The following incident, related by S. K Moses, will recall the old times to those who were here in those days:

"Although quite young in the buffalo and Indian days, I distinctly remember my first and only buffalo hunt. It was soon after our arrival in Barton County. The family were on the old homestead, north of the creek, where it was no uncommon sight to see buffalo come over the hills down to the creek for water; occasionally one would come up to the water trough at our well to drink.

"One day an old bull buffalo drifted down over the hill leisurely and finding the grazing about a quarter of a mile from our home to his liking, made himself quite at home. Brother Ed, being at home, and considered some hunter, evidently resented our farm being used for feeding grounds and prepared for action. His favorite gun was within easy reach, and feeling confident the buffalo had no chance against his marksmanship, he grabbed me by the hand and said, 'Come on, Sew, and we will kill the buffalo." We went through the tall grass to a ravine and made a fine stand on the game. Ed waited for the old bull to turn so that he could hit him in a vital spot. His aim was evidently good as the buffalo fell at the first shot and he made our way cautiously to the fallen monarch. When within a few feet the buffalo looked so very dead that Ed prepared to cut its throat and, having me to drag along, Ed laid down his gun and drew his hunting knife; as he started to stick the knife into the buffalo things commenced to happen. First, a bellow was let loose that scared me out of a year's growth. Then Mr. Buffalo got up with blood in his eye and started on a campaign of his own. Ed picked me up bodily and started for home. I am sure his time has never been equaled since, although we had no stop watches in those days. The buffalo did not follow us far, as he was hard hit and, no doubt readily recognized Ed's speed as well as marksmanship. After landing yours truly at the house, your former city mayor armed himself with another rifle and shortly put an end to my only buffalo hunt."

Lincoln E. Moses was born October 14, 1860, in the state of New York. He was married to Miss Gertrude Tucker at Three Rivers, Michigan, May 12, 1891, and they are the parents of three children: Edward, Walter and Marguerite. He now makes his home at Wichita, Kansas, since he became president of the Kansas Flour Mills Company.

Arthur H. Moses was born February 21, 1851, in the state of New York, and is therefore the oldest of the seven Moses boys. He was married to Miss Ella Snowden of Russell, Kansas, April 20, 1872, and they are the parents of three children: Wm. B., Mary E., and Clyde L., the latter having died in 1905 at the age of 23 years. While in Barton County Art, as he was better known, was engaged in the farming and threshing business. He is now located at Seattle, Washington, where he is wharf master for the United States government.

The property of Frederick Schuelke, "Locust Grove Farm," thirteen miles west from Great Bend, takes its name from the many locust trees included in a five acre grove surrounding the home. These trees are forty years old, are very beautiful and thrifty, and are the result of a timber claim set in trees in 1871 by John Bement.
Frederick Schuelke was born in Germany on February 19th, 1840, and came to America in May, 1874. He first located in Wauwatose, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, where he worked in a nursery and a pickling factory for a time, and also engaged in farming and at other work. He remained until March 4th, 1885, when he removed to Greattinger, Palo Alto County, Iowa, and engaged in farming on his own account as a renter, and then in 1888 was employed as the manager and superintendent of a large farm on salary. Resigning this position after several years he purchased a farm of four hundred acres and cultivated this until he sold out and came to Barton County on March 1st, 1901. He purchased his present one hundred and sixty acres from John Bement and paid for the quarter three thousand dollars. Since then he has built a very nice seven room, story and one-half frame dwelling, large barn, granary and other buildings, at a cost of $2,500, and today has one of the most desirable little farms in the county. It is well improved, well fenced, well shaded, and the house and grounds are in the coolest spot in the county on a summer's day, and well sustains the name given the farm.

Frederick Schuelke was married on February 16th, 1863, to Miss Anna Giesel, of the same section of Germany from which he came, and she died in Barton County on August 2nd, 1907, slightly over six years after coming to Kansas. They are the parents of six children, two of whom still live in Wisconsin. Those who reside in this state are: Mrs. Ida Hans, of Great Bend; Mrs. Minnie Gruenwald, of Rush County; Herman Schuelke, Lyons, Kansas and Conrad Schuelke, who is married and resides on the place with his father and manages the farm. Conrad Schuelke was married on April 18, 1906, and they are the parents of three children: Elmer, 4; Arthur 3, and Goldie, 1.

William Henry Rogers was born in Ontanagon County, Michigan, May 1, 1863. His first trip west was when he was eight years old, at which time he accompanied his parents to Colorado where they remained about six months. They returned to Michigan and resided at Marquette four years, after which they came to Barton County, Kansas. The family located in Eureka township. For several years after his arrival here Mr. Rogers went to school, and later took up railroading as an occupation. He was employed by the Union Pacific Company in Colorado. Mr. Rogers began farming in this county in 1890, on his home place which comprises one-half of section 1, South Bend township. Mr. Rogers superintended the farming of all of this land and has had a great deal to do with the development of the soil in that part of the county. He was married in Great Bend to Miss Sarah Williams in 1886. They are the parents of six children as follows: Harry E., 24 years of age; Stella, 21 years of age; Alice, 19 years; Irene, 17 years; Annie 16 years; Willie 12 years. All of the children with the exception of Stella are at home and are being educated in the schools of the county. Stella is now Mrs. Frank S. Moore and they reside near Spearville, Kansas. Mr. Rogers' home place is one of the best improved and most attractive in the county. The residence consists of nine rooms in addition to the bath room, closets, pantries, etc. The barn is well built and is 42 feet square with a big loft. Granaries, storage sheds, auto garage and all the other outbuildings usually found on a modern Barton County farm are to be found here. The trees that surround the home afford ample shade and the orchard which covers about an acre and a half of ground contains many varieties of fruits common to this section of the county. With all Mr. Rogers' private business he has found time to take an active part in public affairs and has served as trustee and clerk of his township and has been a member of the school board for sixteen years. He is a progressive and enterprising farmer and a most prominent citizen.

We must add to the above the fact that Annie passed from this life May 19, 1912, at a time when she had many expected years of happiness stretching out before her, and when she was beloved by her relatives, school mates and all with whom she had an acquaintance. She was valedictorian of the 1912 class of the common schools of Barton county. Her school mates were deeply affected by her death as was evidenced by the beautiful floral tribute sent for the funeral. She was a bright, intelligent girl whose life was a beautiful example of truth and simplicity and it was a hard blow to her relatives and friends when in the course of things she had to go to a better world. She was, at the time of her death, aged 16 years, 6 months and 10 days.

ONE of the first white children born in what is now Barton County is the subject of this sketch, Henry C. Cook. He was born in Great Bend township October 6, 1871. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cook, pioneers of this county and the parents of some of its leading citizens. The elder Cook died October 16, 1897 and Mrs. Cook died February 13, 1891, after having taken an active part in the development of the county's resources for about thirty years. His death was a great shock to his many friends who knew him for his high character and enterprise. Henry C. was married November 22, 1894, to Miss Elizabeth Amerine and they are the parents of four children as follows: Velma, 15 years; Lawrence, 14 years; Elmer, 11 years and Helen, 6 years of age. The family home is located on the northwest quarter of section 8, Great Bend township and is one of the most attractive country homes in the county. The residence consists of 12 rooms in addition to the bath, closets, pantries, etc., and is thoroughly modern throughout. It is lighted by a modern acetylene gas plant and is supplied with water by an individual pumping system. The barn is 46 by 80 feet in dimensions and is well built and modern. Mr. Cook will add a number of other buildings to his improvements and when these are finished he will have one of the most modern farms in the county. The home place is situated in a bend in the Walnut creek and is surrounded by excellent shade trees and foliage that adds greatly to its appearance. Mr. Cook has always taken a great interest in improving the breed of the cattle and horses on Barton County farms and makes a specialty of breeding and raising thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. He now owns one of the best Percheron horses in the county, "Martin," a registered, black Perchercn that has made a fine reputation in the stud records. Mr. Cook is an enterprising and progressive citizen and has had a great deal to do with the up-building of the county and in the developing of its resources.

Edwin Tyler was born in Richfield, Illinois, November 27, 1842. He remained in his native state until he was eighteen years of age when he joined the Fiftieth regiment Illinois volunteers. He became a member of Co. C and served his country three years. He took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh and Corinth and numerous other engagements. He lost the sight of one eye during his soldier service. This was due to exposure and fever. He came to Barton County October 16, 1871. He was married to Miss Lydia F. Moseley December 31, 1865, at his home town of Richfield, Ills. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have had five children but unfortunately only one of them is living, the others having passed away. The one living child now is Mrs. Sam J. Pratt, her maiden name having been Dora May. Mr. Tyler tells in his own way a number of his experiences in articles in this book, so we will only add that he always has been an enterprising and progressive citizen and 1as done a great deal in developing the county's resources.

Levi Gunn was born on July 2, 1833, in Franklin County, Massachusetts, and at the age of 18 months his parents moved to Brattleboro, Vermont. When he was nine years old they took him with them to Davenport, Iowa, and, finally, at a later period, to Putnam County, Illinois. His education was obtained in the public schools of the districts where his parents lived and he became a farmer under the tutelage of his father. He married at the age of twenty-three and lived happily for seven years, when his companion died. It was then that he faced the greatest hardships of his life but this was righted by a second marriage and his coming to Barton County Kansas, in 1874, and the purchase of 240 acres from the Santa Fe railway company. Later he purchased eighty acres adjoining and at this time his farm covers one-half section. In the spring of 1877 Mr. Gunn removed his family to this county and began improving by building the best house, barn and other necessary buildings in his neighborhood, and by planting and cultivating many trees about the premises. A fire destroyed his house on August 2, 1911, and he has just replaced this building with a story and one-half cottage with five large, airy rcoms. There is a good barn, granary and other outbuildings, and located as it is in a nice grove of cedar, pine and locust trees is very inviting.

Levi Gunn first married Miss Sarah K. Wierman of Putnam County, Illinois, on November 13, 1856, and she died in April, 1865. His second wife was Miss Sarah C. Lewis, Marshall County Illinois, in November, 1865. who died in December, 1899. They were survived by the husband and the following children: Wm. W. Gunn of Jewell County, Kansas; Charles Lund Gunn, Francis Levi Gunn and Lewis J. Gunn of Great Bend; Howard A. Gunn of Pratt, Kansas; Mrs. Lacy Harrison of Great Bend, and Fred A. Gunn, who resides on the farm with his father and manages the place.

The first creamery in Great Bend was established in 1895 by W. G. Merritt. In 1903 a stock company was formed under the name of the Merritt Creamery Co. The present company is a consolidation of the Merritt Creamery Co., and the Larned Creamery Co., of Larned, Kansas, this consolidation going into effect January 1, 1909.

The company operates one hundred and one cream buying stations in twenty-five counties in central and western Kansas and northern Oklahoma, and expects to put in more stations wherever the deliveries of cream justify a station.

The largest amount of butter manufactured by this company in any one month since organized was made in the month of June of this year. They manufactured 246,749 pounds of butter, or about 20 pounds for every man, woman and child in Barton County.

For the cream and milk used in the manufacture of this butter, their patrons were paid the sum of $46,720.60. At the present time the company employs twenty-three people in their plant. The pay-roll for the month of June was $5,070; this includes salaries and commissions paid to their cream station operators for the buying and shipping of cream.

The company has an excellent market for their butter, shipping as far east as Boston and west to California. Their brands, "Merritt's Best" and "Crown" are well and favorably known all over the west.

The present board of directors are W. G. Merrit, William Schwier, W. F. Schwier, Henry Schwier and C. V. Brinkman. Officers are W. G. Merritt, President; William Schwier, vice-president; W. F. Schwier, secretary-treasurer.

Among the old timers, who came to Barton County in the 70's none is better known than John Donovan who lives on a half section of land in section 8, Great Bend township. Mr. Donovan was born in Ireland in 1839. He came to New York in 1870 and to Kansas in 1879 at a time when it required a great deal of nerve to make a substantial start in the cultivation of the soil and the building of a home. However, Mr. Donovan is made of that kind of material and as soon as he arrived here he began to farm and successfully combated the bad years and made a success of his occupation. He was married in New York state to Miss Louisa Hettinger and they are the parents of four children, Emma, Agnes, Alice and Anna. Emma is now Mrs. A. Wyman and lives at Macksville; Agnes is now Mrs. Jack Neeland and they live near the home place in this county; Alice is now Mrs. B. Hingy of Stafford county; Anna is living at home. Mr. Donovan had the misfortune to lose his eyesight about twelve years ago but still superintends the operations on the farm. The home place has a fine set of improvements, the residence containing eight rooms in addition to closets, pantries, etc. A small orchard is found near the house where nearly all varieties of fruits are grown. When Mr. Donovan arrived in this county he was compelled to do his farming with a yoke of oxen and he relates how one time in the early days they ran away with him while he was attempting to plow with them and for a time he did not know whether he liked Kansas or not. He served a term as Justice of the Peace and has always been an enterprising citizen. Mr. Donovan gives due credit to his wife, a hard working little women who shared her part of the burden with her husband when they were beginning the home that they have since built. Mrs. Donovan is one of those kind hearted motherly women without whose aid the work of developing the great west could not have been done.

Tobias McGill was born November 9, 1837 in Bartholomew County, Indiana. He remained in his native state until 1858 when he went to Iowa and remained for twenty-six years. He then continued his way westward and arrived in Barton county in 1884. He bought land near Dundee, the quarter section formerly belonging to J. B. Williams, and later purchased another quarter from John Lile. Mr. McGill was actively engaged in farming until 1897 when he retired and moved to Great Bend. He still superintends the work on his farming land which is worked by renters. Mr. McGill was married September 6, 1860, to Miss Farilla Youtsey near LaGrange, Iowa and they are the parents of nine children, six of whom are living. Hilas N. is farming in this county; Etta, is now Mrs. J. H. Harris of Great Bend; Charlotte is now Mrs. Sherman Mosbarger of Pawnee Rock; Crandon O., is now an attorney at law in Idaho where he also teaches school; Elva is at home and George is county attorney of Sedgwick county, Kansas, and lives in Wichita. Mr. McGill is a veteran of the civil war and is a member of Pap Thomas Post G. A. R. He enlisted September 6, 1864, in Company G. Sixteenth Iowa, known as Crocker's Iowa Brigade. He served until the close of the war and was mustered out July 19, 1865. He was with Sherman's Army from Atlanta to the Sea and took part in the battles of Fayetteville, Bentonville and was present at the siege of Savannah. He saw much active service during the time of his enlistment. Since coming to Barton county Mr. McGill has always taken a great interest in affairs of a public nature and held township and school board offices as well as having been assessor for his district and justice of the peace. He is one of the men who had so much to do with the development of the county's resources and saw it grow to its high standing among the counties of the state. He came here at a time that it required men of strong nerve to combat the adverse conditions with which they had to contend.

The subject of this sketch, Chas. B. Worden, together with C. L Roudebush, planted the first crop in Walnut township near Albert. This was in March, 1871. The crop consisted of corn, potatoes and sorghum, and after making a nice start was destroyed by the dry weather which followed in that year. The remnants of the crop were eaten by the buffaloes which were plentiful in this county at that time. Mr. Worden was born in West Virginia January 1, 1844. He came to this county in 1871 and immediately began the work of farming. He located a homestead near Albert in Walnut township. He farmed until 1910 when he sold his farm and moved to town and now occupies a nice residence at the corner of Ninth and Holland streets, in Great Bend.

He was married Dec. 15, 1875 to Miss Ada Brown of Walnut township and they are the parents of ten children as follows: Ella L., 35 years, is now Mrs. John Gallon of Great Bend; Hattie D., 34 years of age, is now Mrs. F. E. Peugh of Hoisington; Marsena L., 32 years, is farming near Albert; Alice, 28 years, is now Mrs. E. P. Cowman of Coffeyville, Kansas; Ira L., 27 years, is an optician and jeweler in business at Albert; Alvin H., 25 years, is in the postal service at Albert; Charles L., 17, is employed at the McLaughlin Produce Company's establishment in Great Bend; Blanche E., 15 years, is a student in the Great Bend schools. (John W., nine months and Julia A, two years and one month, are deceased.)

Mr. Worden is one of the really old timers to whom this county owes its development and high standing among the best counties in the State of Kansas. During his residence in this county he has served as county commissioner, and has held township and school board offices in the district where he lived. He is one of those hardy pioneers who reclaimed this section of the country from the buffalo and Indians and he played no small part in the early history of this county and is one of the best known men in this part of the state. He sold his farming interests when he retired but owns his residence and a number of lots and is an enterprising and progressive citizen.

Mr. Worden is a member of the Pap Thomas Post, G. A. R., Great Bend. He served almost four years in the Eighth W. Virginia Infantry, Company F and Seventh W. Virginia Cavalry; also in Company F. He took part in the battles of Cross Keys, Freeman's Ford, White Sulphur Springs, Second Bull Run, Droop Mountain and Lynchburg as well as others. He served three years and ten months and saw much active service in his country's defense.

Among the well known men of Buffalo township is the subject of this sketch, August Fenn. He was born in Clinton County, Illinois September 25, 1868. He came to Barton county in 1886 at a time when this section of the state was going through some mighty hard times and it required men of strong nerve and an unflinching faith in the future to remain and develop the soil. Mr. Fenn is now farming in Buffalo township and his home place is located on the northeast quarter of section 7. He was married in 1893 to Miss Louisa Schultz and they are the parents of five children as follows: Lillie and Luella, twins, 18 years of age; Oscar, 13 years; Earnest, 9 years and Irene, 4 years of age. The home place has a set of good improvements, the residence consisting of nine rooms in addition to the bath room, closets, etc. Mr. Fenn has always maintained a good grade of live stock, both horses and cattle and in addition to his private interests has always found time to take an active part in all public matters that are for the benefit of the community in which he lives. He has been a member of the school board nineteen years, has held the office of road overseer as well as other township offices. A small orchard is maintained on the home place which adds greatly to its general appearance and in which a number of different kinds of fruit are raised. The residence is located in a most desirable spot and is surrounded by well kept shade trees and other foliage that makes it one of the most attractive places in the township. Mr. Fenn is an enterprising and progressive citizen and enjoys a large acquaintance in all parts of Barton county. Mr. Fenn was the butter maker at the Heizer Creamery in the early days and was the first man in this part of the country to use the combined churn and when it was installed it created a great deal of favorable comment.

One of the pioneers of Barton County who is still actively engaged in farming is John Everett who resides on the east half of section 9-19-14, Buffalo township. Mr. Everett was born November 12, 1842 in Putnam county, Illinois. He came to Barton County in 1874 and located on the southeast quarter of section 9 and there erected a stone house, but not until after he had spent a long time in making preparations for the building of a home. Only the old timers know of the real conditions in those days, when it required men of strong nerve and backbone to combat the many adverse conditions with which they had to contend. The younger generation can learn of them only by reading. Mr. Everett came here at a time when the county needed just such men. He lived in Illinois until he came to Barton County in 1874 except for the time he spent in the army.

He enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois and served until June 5, 1864. He was in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain and on August 2, 1863, he was severely wounded and saw no more service until the following February. He made a fine record while in the service of his country and after the close of the war he returned to his native state and farmed until 1874.

He was married March 7, 1867 to Miss Anna M. Bothwell of LaSalle, County, Illinois, and they are the parents of three children: Cora Jane 48 years of age is now Mrs. H. J. Dukes of this county; George W., 45 years of age is on the home place as is also Oliver N. who is 42 years of age. The residence on the home place consists of seven rooms besides closets, pantries, etc. The out buildings are well built and Mr. Everett has made a specialty of raising Red Polled cattle and he always maintains a good grade of horses and cattle. The home place is nicely located with shade and fruit trees surrounding it on all sides. Mr. Everett is one of those men to whom Barton County owes its high standing in the list of the best counties of the State of Kansas.

Among the young farmers in Buffalo township none is better known than the subject of this sketch, Fred V. Amerine. He is a son of J. W. Amerine one of the old timers of that part of Barton County. The elder Amerine farmed in this county for thirty-two years and is now farming in Kiowa county. The younger Amerine is farming 160 acres of good land in Buffalo township, six miles northwest of Great Bend. He was born January 21, 1884, in this county and has seen it grow from the hard times of the 80's to its present high standing and importance among the counties of the State of Kansas. He was married in March, 1912, to Miss Emma Bortz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Bortz of Rush county who are also old timers of this section of the state. Mr. Amerine farms all his land himself and has a nice set of improvements which are located in close proximity to Walnut creek, the residence and other buildings being surrounded by large, well kept shade trees which add greatly to the beauty to the home. The residence contains eight rooms, in addition to the bath, closets, pantries, etc. The place is stocked with a good grade of cattle and horses although Mr. Amerine has never dealt in thoroughbred stock of any kind. He has learned by experience the best methods to use in cultivating the soil in Barton county and applies these methods in all his work. He is one of the young men who are now taking the places of the old timers and continuing the work so ably begun by them in the 70's and 80's and it is these young men who are making good progress in the work left them in bringing Barton County to its present high state of cultivation.

On writing up the old timers of Barton County there is none that is better or more favorably known than the subject of this sketch, John Gruber who came to this county in 1871 at a time when there were very few people but a large number of buffalo and antelope. Mr. Gruber is one of the old timers who upon their arrival here began their first work and made a living by hunting buffalo. Mr. Gruber located on land in Buffalo township where he still resides. He was born in Austria, July 2, 1839. He was married in 1863 to Miss Katie Wilka, and they are the parents of seven children as follows: Antone, 4S years of age, is farming near the old home place on land given to him by his father; Joseph, 38 years of age, was born in this county and is living with his parents on the home place; John, Jr., is in the automobile business in Great Bend and is 28 years of age; Mary, 37 years is now Mrs. E. G. Reidle of this county; Annie, 31 years of age, is now Mrs. Stanley Patterson; Rose, 26 years of age, is Mrs. Pearl Holmes and John, who died when he was four months of age, was the first white child born in Barton County. Mr. Gruber is one of the really old timers of this section of the state and has seen Barton County grow from an abiding place of animals and Indians to its present high state of cultivation. The home place has a fine set of improvements; the residence contains five rooms in addition to closets, pantries, etc. The barn is 20 by 30 and a two acre orchard is found near the house which bears all varieties of fruits common to this part of the country. The place is well improved and is one of the historical spots of the county. Mr. Gruber has been a member of the school board and held other offices and is one of the county's oldest and most widely known citizens. It is to such men as Mr. Gruber that Barton County owes its high standing among the leading agricultural sections of the world and makes it one of the best counties in the State of Kansas.

One of the men who has seen this county grow from an almost barren waste is the subject of this sketch, Antone Gruber. He is a son of John Gruber who located one of the first homesteads in Buffalo township. Antone was born in Austria and came to this county with his parents in 1871 after having spent three years in the State of Michigan. When the family arrived in this country Antone was seven years of age having been born in 1864. He first worked in this county helping his father hunt buffaloes, thousands of which were roaming what is now the most highly cultivated land in the county. He now farms 80 acres of land in Buffalo township on which is located his home place. He has a good set of improvements. The residence contains five rooms in addition to the closets, pantries, etc. The barn is 32 by 20 in dimensions and is arranged for taking care of a large number of head of stock. He was married in 1892 to Miss Lena Schlim who was also born in this county in Clarence township.

Her parents were also among the first permanent settlers in the county. They are the parents of three children as follows: Mary, 17 years of age and (Marguerite who died when she was seven years of age, in 1907) and an adopted boy whose name is George and is seven years of age. Mr. Gruber is one of the men who came to this county when he was yet a child and has had a great deal to do with its development and up-building. He has always taken an interest in public matters and has held township and school board offices at different times. He is one of the few residents of the county who can recall the days of Old Fort Zarah and who saw the buffalo when they were almost as thick as ever they were and saw them gradually disappear and make way for plowed fields and cultivated farms. His home place is located just east of his father's home and his brother who is now dead and mentioned in another part of this history was the first white child born in Barton county.

Frank P. Shaffer was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1859 and came to Rush county, Kansas, in 1890 and has lived in the State of Kansas since that time. He came to Barton county in 1901 and bought land in section 17 Great Bend township. He was married in 1880 to Miss Mary Fesser in Indiana and they are the parents of four children as follows: Cora L., 31 years of age, now Mrs. James McInnes of Cokeville, Wyoming; Franklin A., 26 years of age, living at home as is also Paul who is 16 years of age and Mary M., 27 years of age, now Mrs. Alton Dale of this county. Mr. Shaffer has a well improved home place three miles northwest of Great Bend where he owns 320 acres of land. His residence consists of eight rooms in addition to bath, closets, pantries, etc. The barn is 50 by 30 feet in dimensions, is well built and affords room for a large number of horses. Mr. Shaffer raises a variety of crops and is ably assisted in the operation of the farm by his son, Franklin A. The home place is located in one of the best parts of the county and the shade trees and other surroundings add in no small way to the general appearance of the place. Mr. Shaffer is one of the men who came to Kansas at a time when it needed farmers who could take the land and by well applied effort make it produce crops in a way of which it was capable but needed more modern methods in its cultivation. Mr. Shaffer farms according to methods learned by experience and taking the good years with the poor ones he has succeeded in making them average with a good production of crops.

Henry Schwier is one of the old timers of this section of the state who is still engaged in farming. He was born in Prussia, January 19, 1843 and came to this country when he was eighteen years of age. He first located in Cincinnati where he remained for a year, after which he went to Dearborn County, Indiana, and farmed until the spring of 1878 when he came to Barton County. He had bought land the year previous and now owns 560 acres all of which is being worked by renters. He was married in September, 1866 to Miss Elmira Lempe and they are the parents of four children: Dollie, 44 years of age is now Mrs. D. C. Merhoff of this county; William, 42 years of age, is at Larned where he is interested in the Merritt-Schwier Creamery Co.; Lizzie, 40 years of age, is now Mrs. John Hiss of Great Bend and Sophia is now Mrs. Frank Trauer. Mr. Schwier and his son William, with the farmers of Buffalo township started a creamery at Heizer in the early days and later started one at Larned in 1898. It was consolidated with the one that was in operation at Great Bend, and the outcome of this was the now famous Merritt-Schwier Creamery Company which is one of the largest institutions of the kind in this part of the country. Mr. Schwier's home is well improved and he is one of the men who had so much to do with the development of that section of the county in which he lives. The residence contains seven rooms and the closets and pantries. The barn is 54 by 56 feet and the other outbuildings are well built and commodious. Mr. Schwier has always found time to take an active part in public affairs and served his district as county commissioner for two terms, an office in which he made a good record. He has also held township and school board offices and is an enterprising and progressive citizen.