The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-03-04
SMITH COUNTY.
A Sample Of the De.ti,.sis. In she wester.
CaoElies.


Mr., 1. villars, of Piatt County, Ills, writes
from Smith Centre as follows:
Unbiased by any one, must report the desti-
tuition of this County (aud it is fair specimen
of ten or twelve northwestern Connties) beyond
anything we have heard. The people came here
poor, without homes, and unable to buy they
accepted homssteads. They came with all the
outfit Of clothing &c, that their circumstances
permitted. Their calamity has placed them be-
yond the possibility of replenishing wardrobe OF
bedding, hence the scarcity of the same.
There are not over two indolent men IN this
County. The land plowed ard work and labor
expended prove their industry. There has been
enough corn planted and wheat sown to make
the country independent, but it is impoverished.
Absolute destitution is upon the people. The
fullest handed have but scanty supply.
I speak from authority when say that if all
the wheat in this County was equally divided
among the inhabitants there is not bread enough
to feed the County three weeks. If the aid that
the people of this County get from the central
aid committee at Topeka was all the aid they
ceived, people would starve to death. More
southern regions are receiving most aid, when
those who need it most getting so little that
its benefit is not realized. One man in ten only,
is the report of those who have canvassed the
County by precincts, has raised enough for him
self and family. His next neighbOr has nothing,
and he must divide, and consequently pot a sin
gle man in the County has sufficient amount
after dividing, as he must, to carry him through.
Men, women, and children are in such q state
of destitution as pray God shall never again
be called to witness. This is not simple the
case here and there but il is the case where.
| have been the very best of this County
where there is the least destitution, and tnrn-
ed from il heart sick. / am glad came to Smith
County; wish l could go to all as have come
here, and wish we had sent more. came to
make observations, and will now give the re-
suit of the same:
Frum Hastings, Nebraska, to Smith Centre, it
is IS miles, All along two-thir,s of this distance
in Nebraska, | fonnd the same destitution as here
In Red Cloud. County seat of Webster County,
met of the township aid COMMITTEES, and he
requested me tn try and get dinner lied Cloud.
by going from house to house for IT. He said
could not succeed, for the l,eoplc would tell me
that they did not have it TO spare. This County
in Nebraska joins Smith County, Kansas. The
first township that passed through was Pawnee,
and we take out our note book to record obser-
vatious, and here they are; give names. Here
is Geo. Frasure with family of five, nothing to
eat or wear, work, would work if he could
get it; titled his crop WE'LL and is hard working,
honest man. Entirely destitute.
Jacob Wolfe, wife and children, with but two
bushels of wheat, x. iuds that nothing else to eat
All ragged and all their clothes on their backs.
S. Baldwin, wife and two children, have moth
ing Must be fed.
A German, Mr.. Tilluan, hard honest tOiler
with his wife, in want. They have children.
Mr.. Gen. Taylor wife and seven children,
nothing to eat or wear; no 6eldng. Has to get
up Of a night and build up the fire to keep his
children from freezing.
Rev. W. NJ. Wellman, pastor of the C0ngrega-
tionalst church in Smith Centre, reports that
Mr.. Kountz, with tears in his eyes, told him that
he and his wife and nine children had eaten moth
ing but bread and tea for a number of months.
Mr. W. gave pair of blankets to family of
four who only had blanket in the house to
cover all. He reported to me a number of fam
lilies living entirely ON bread and wheat coffee.
and that almost gone, aud what next, God only
knows.
Elisha Grover, chairman aud receiver of sup
plies in East Beaver township, reports one Wild
with six children who applied for aid ten
days ago and got none. The mother started for
Hastings, seventy-fve miles away; for work.
She left home crying and wringing her hands
with grief, but was compelled to 90. The neigh
bors divide with the children.
Another man, wife and five children, no work
and nothing for work, but one quilt and blanket.
The wife aud two little ones crawl undpr an old
feather bed, and the three little boys get under
the blanket and lie by the fire; no Shoes and not
clothing enough to cover their nakeilness.
Many in this township only get through the
night by keeping up fires.
j. ii. Trivette has nine children, two daught-
cas- over eighteen. good intelligent girls, all are
almost naked. These girls would work for bread
only, but bread is not to be had for work. There
is no pay for work, not even bread.
Nr. Clemens, County sheriff living in Kingman
township, reports two families wIn have lived
three weeks on nothing but wheat bran.
visited Harvey township, and the chairman
of the board of commissioners, Mr.. Strantohan,
reports Mr.. Lane with wife and children with
three days rations. They have given up, and it
is thonght will die.
visited the family of Henry Riddle, wife and
five children, the babe one week old. asked
permission, after explaining why, to examine
their beds. Consent was given. In turning up
a flimsy feather bed, covered with a single old
sheet, found prairie hay. On this hay the chill
dren slept, no pillow, and in the clothing they
wore through the day. All her beds were alike
The lady was intelligent, really refined. Little
girls had rags around their feet. The Oldest,
fifteen, could be seen crying frnm morning till
noon and night over her condition. asked il
the children had all their clothing on. She an
swered, 'all they had" Inquired if they had
anything 10 eat She answered: ave consum-
ed the last bite for breakfast"
Another puts children in prairie hay, tucking
il around them, and then he and his wife lie |
down by the fire.
Mr.. Peter b, with family of six, visited |
by the COMMITTEES, raised nothing, children naked
A daughter fourteen years of age hid herself |
away, but the committee required to see all, and
she was brought forth NUDE.
1 visited another. Mr.. Lane. family of seven |
and an old mother of 80 years. They were shiv-
sring around the stove. Wife, slaughter Of Is /
years and all were destitute of clothing. got |
1own on my knees and prayed with this family
When bade them good bye" they held on to
ny hand as If they must go with me. The old
mothers last words were: Il have a son back
n Illinois; if you come across him. tell him you
Jaw his old mother shivering with the cold away
mt here in kansas" 1t made my heart ache.
md had to break out in crying with the family.
hurried away.
/ visited Esq Reed, he had eighty-fiye bushels
# wheat gave it all to his neighbors but little.
md is now needy. His wife is sick and his chill.
lren are barefooted As I sat by the bed of this
ick woman, one child with blue feet cried in the
lex mothers ear: "Mama, want some shoes
i've me some shoes.' l saw that mother weep
nth that child, and only say: ."Dont cry: some
ay yOu shall have shoes"
This afternoon came in from the country.
arts OF the country that could not visit had
card of me- People from all directions had as
embled at the court house to express thanks to
be people of Piatt County for their aid. was
nexpectedly to myself called out; spoke of our
'ork for this society. After the meeting was
fJourned they gathered around me with warm
and shaking and tears, and expressed in that
ay what they could not in wor,ls. The address
5 made by toll worn men were uttered with J
reat emotion. Col. Campbell, chairman of the :
eeting, arose and said: IAN old LADY, very fee :
e, came to my house with the hopes of seeing
Z. Iillars, but could not get to town, who said:
ell Mr., Villars, God bless you and the people
no have remembered MS in our need.'" 4,
The goods are judiciously distributed that were
ceived, and the very attempt upon the part of !