The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-07-30
DICKINSON COUNTY.
What the People Know About
Raising Wheat.
Some Model Farms.
All About Abilene.

Az ADOuC ADeIene.
From our regular Couespondent !
ABILENE, July IS, 1874.
Editor Times:
The traveller along the Kansas Pacific
railway, would scarcely realize that when |
near Abilene, he passes the largest wheat |
field in the State of Kansas, and which is |
excelled in size by but few in the Union. |
The field itself contains over 200 acres. and |
will average trine over a bushels To the I
acre. 1t Is owned by Mr.. T. c Henry. Of I
Abilene, one Of the largest land owners in
the State. From him We cleaned the fol
lowing particulars in regard to it:
lie has 1000 acres in one piece, 200 Of
which was broken last year, at q cost of So
per acre. The entire cost OF breaking. plant |
ing, harvesting and threshing, will be "a 500,
or about $3.50 per acre. 1t is Mr. Henrys
intention to finally own the largest wheat
field east Of the Rock Mountains. and in
fnlillmcnt Of this determination, he pro
poses next year to plant about / 800 acres.
Mr.. Henry is engaged in the real estate bust
ness Is man Of energy and pluck, not
granger, and firm believer in the theory
,hat middle men are a necessary evil lie
has hired all his work done on the farm.
under his supervision. He owns about
5000 acres Of land in Dickinson county.
ANOTHER
elegant firm is the one living west Of Abilene
and owned by Mr.. Lebold, Of the Abilene
bank. II contains go acres, all under cul-
tivation. Each eighty" is surrounded bv
fine young hedge Mr.. Lebold NAV we'll b..
proud OF 1t as QUE of the best arranged farms
IN the county. He has large number OF as
thrifty young fruit and shade trees As
ever saw. His peach trees are literally
loaded down with their lucious burden. IL
Is the intention OF Mr. Lebold to sink a well
in the center Of his farm, and put in a pump
to be driven by large Windmill, and to ar
range series Of gates by which it will be a
matter of but few moments time To turn
cattle from one field into any OF the other
three. He has on this farm volunteer
field OF rye, which will average 10 bushels to
the acre. BY volunteer" mean that it
was grown from the droppings left from har.
vestins last years crop, the ground not hav.
ing been replowed.
MIR. Lebold certainly has model farm
and one which amply repaid us Tor ouI
visit. II Kansas had more such men in i,
as he and MIR. Henry, We should hear les.
grumblins at hard times
i DICKINSON COUNTY
is indeed grand county, unsurpassed il
fertility Of soil by any in the State. He,
$500 OF nodding grain bear telling proc
Of her vast resources The elbow greas.
found within her limits is first class both il
quality and quantity, and is rapidly trans
forming her unbroken prairies into smilin.
paradise, beautiful in its garb Of reaper
waiting harvest fields.
The county contains SIS square miles
and is watered by the Smoky Hill river
Holland Creek, Carey Creek, Turkey Creek
Sw-nsOn Creek, Lyons Creek, Chapman
Creek and Amstead Creek. What par
adise for cr,isadersD The Smoky Hill rive
has three improved water powers upon il
all within the limits If the county. Chan
mans Creek has two. The population q
the county in 1870 was $500, to-day it i
over 5000. 1t is settled mostly in colonie
from Ohio and Illineis. The population
! sixseveihhs native to one-seventh foreign
LAST year over 10000 acres Were broken b.
new settlers.
The county contains eight good schoo
houses, SIX iron bridges-one over Mu,
Creek costing SlO,OOO-and has several fin
magnesia lime stone and gypsum quarrie:
ABILENE,
the county-seat, Is about the only town il
the west of which it can be truthiully said
is behind the country. The time has beef
when the glory Of Abilene was her immens,
cattle trade, when the CLEAN Of the treach
erous knife, or the sharp crack OF the death.
dealing revolver, made her streets hideous
hell by night and day, and when the hoarse
believing Of cattle and the shrill crack from
the whip Of the "bull whacker" was music
sweeter to her ears than the chimes Of Trim
ityj where now stand her waving fields Of
wheat and rye, formerly ranged the festive
long-horn. Her saloons, which formerly
echoed merrily to the sound Of keno and
the rattle Of the wheel Of roulette. are now
patronized only by the devotees of Old
Sledge and Pedro.
The loss of her cattle trade was Abilene.
greatest blessing, and she has now settled
down to permanent, sure and steady
growth. In population she numbers about
900. In 1870 she could count bare 200
Five wears ago, in the entire township, ther
were but lbs people. Her people are pos
sessed Of that energy 50 characteristic Of all
western towns, and which in few years Is
destined to make Abilene one Of the largest
towns in Northern Kansas. Her streets are
occupied by business houses to the number
of 45, among them some very fine blocks
Metropolitan Hall, owned by Mr. Lebold, Is
one of the finest in the State. IL is 2Sx65 in
the clear, with ceiling 20 feet high. The
style and scenery are are first-class. The
south half of the block is occupied As
court house. A $4,000 brick school house,
| two stories high, with basement, designed BY
+. I. Carr, Of Leavenworth. and built by ID.
S. Dodds, is a sOurse OF pride and gratiica-
ton to the good people of Abilene.
There are two church buildings the
Baptist and Cniversalist seven de-
nominations. Two more churches are to be
erected this season-one to cost 5000
(Catholic). A brick block, two stories high,
with a handsome iron front, to contain four
stores, is in process Of erection, and will COS,
when completed about $4,000 A frame
elevator OF II 900 bushels capacity has been
built, and another, with a capacity oil 2O,OO I
bushels is soon to be built Abilene has |
quite number Of fine residences. among
which We noticed particularly those belong
ing to j. h Shane and Mr. Fisher The
one belonging to Mr.. Shane cost about SI",-
600 and is built Of brick. Ii is located ON
the centre of 40 acre lot. which slopes in
all directions. and which has been laid off
in mastery manner by landscape garii-
ner. Mr. Fishers dwelling is of frame and
cost about $4,000.
Nearly all Of the business men Of Abilene
are practical farmers, and are men who have
come here with determination to stay and
work out the prosperity OF Dickinson
county.
The county has good home market for
he. wheat, as there are five grist mills with
in her limits. I;
roIrTIts.
There seems Ia he little or no excitement
here over political matters.
Phillips, for Congressman has numerous
friends here who are working zealou-ly Tor
him.
Dr. ID. c. Jones, Of Junction City. Is a c
ON the Republican ticket for State
senator from the district composed Of Riley,
Dickenson and Davis counties The Doctor
5 a man Of known ability and integrity and
gill meet with little or no opposition. Z
IN GENERAL h
Leavenworth has large trade built UP y
n this section, and Leavenworth ",irummers" D
re thick a. candidate for Secretary Of .
tate We had the pleasure Of meeting T,
esterday with Mr.. ]. u. Edmond, repre- a
18th h.a ucp,I ,b H., 81 Al