The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-07-09
LETTER FROM PIKE TOWNSHIP.
Crops, Improvements, Etc.
PLYMOUTH, July 9th, 1869.


PLYMoUTH, July 9th, 1869.
FRIEND SToTLER ON leaving town
this morning to go to the southeast
part of the township on business, we
noticed new house going up In town
which we learn belongs to Joe C. Bailey,
of Clinton county, Ohio. We are glad
to see Joe locating in this place, as he
is an excellent painter.
The portion of country travelled oyer
by us this morning was noticed in your
paper week before last. Leaving the
main road we soon found ourself at
j. III. Phenis' He has his fine resi-
dence nearly finished, which reminds
us very much of the more eastern
States. Now, Jim, if You will only
hang some good gates in the place of
those old slab bars, 'itll seem more
like it." Passing down through the
field we noticed some nice looking
wheat, oats and corn growing. Adj
joining on the east we noticed a neat
white house which we learn to be A. G.
Pickett's. Passing out at the south side
of the field we found neat little house
going up in beautiful little grove.
On inquiry we were informed that L.
NJ. Clearinghouse had purchased a part
of n. Lockerman's place, and was Greet
ing dwelling. We were reminded of
the old song, "Oh for home among
the bushes" Crossing the river at
LOckerman's ferry we come to the farm
of G.. w. KirkendaIl. This is a very
desirable place. We saw some splendid
looking wheat here. We believe this
farm is titled by one Mr.. Williams. To
the southeast of this is the farm of NJ.
w. Kirkendall. He has about the incest
looking house sin these parts" fenced
with neat palings, and surrounded with
good gravel walks. Just across the
road we saw some carpenters at work
on frame building which we heard
was Mats barn.
Half mile to the west is the Kirk
endall school house. If we are not
very much mistaken this is the oldest
school house in the county. 1t now
stands OH the corner of the farm form
erly owned by Solomon Phenis, he
| Phenis) being one of the first settlers
of this part of Kansas, and having
children enough of his own to run a
school the ncighbors concluded to join
and put up house for his benefit.
This is always very pleasant place to
US, as it causes our mind to revert to
the days of our boyhood-to the old
| log house with clapboard roof, and
| holes left in cracks between the logs for
windows; where we would pick clay
| from the walls and shoot across the
house when the teachers back was
turned; where we used to scale over
the rocky hills barefooted, many a
stone-bruise on our heels and crack
nuts on the granite doorstep. Miss
Jennie Clearinghouse has been teaching
here this summer. We were informed
that her school had just closed. Jennie
is an excellent teacher, and from what
we learn has given very good satisfac-
ton. We don't see what is to hinder
Jennie from making some man q
"mighty" good wife.
| We noticed on the old Phenis farm,
now owned by Fred Workman, some
splendid looking wheat, though dam
aged some by the heavy rains that have
fallen latterly. #. w. has just erected
splendid looking house on beautiful
elevation or knoll near the center of his
farm. This is handsome farm situated
on the east bank of Phenis' creek. Adj
joining on the west is the farm of S.
| Sturgeon which has just been sold to a
| Welshman whom we welcome to our
township, and propose we call it Upper
| Wales.
James & f. T. Miles are opening an
extensive farm, and have turned con-
siderable prairie this spring. This is
about one mile south on Phenis creek.
Adam Stotler has new building on the
head of the creek, and is making a farm
over toward the Cottonwood. In this
neighborhood we also noticed the new
houses of j. j. Pickett, j. G. Schoeck
and Jenny Smith.
| We can say in truth that we were
much pleased OF meeting with our old
! friend G.. S. Lambdin, in our village.
| l.. and wife have come to spend the
summer with their sons in this place,
after which they expect to return to
| New Orleans. PIKE JUNIOR.