davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
Kechi Township.

KECHI, March %, 1876.
EDITOR EAGLE: More rain. our
dislike for work, which of course is
common with ''ex-merchant farmers,
is about to give way before the press
urc of so much wet weather, and we
almost wish for chance TO do some
thing on the farm, but of course we
must grin and bear it, and, patiently
as possible, hold all things in readiness
that we make every lick count when
we do get at it. Farmers generally
will work IN better faith than they
would if fine weather had continued
through March.
That army of chinch bugs that Van
dergriff discovered on the prairie three
weeks ago, will have floated down
through the Ransom-Thurman-Ram-
sew ditch, thence on the waters OF
Chisholm creek and the river. made
their wav southeast something less
than a thousand miles, turned to mos
auitocs and be sucking the bad blood
out of the veins of the people of Ar
kansas. But this weather is hard on
sheep raisers. | learn that your cor
respondent Leroy" whose flock COLI
sists of $50 head of good common ewes
has lost heavily Of the lambs that
came this month: also David Fox,
who holds about 400 head east of town.
hope these enterprising young men,
including Mr.. Forey and Oneil, OF
your city, will not become discouraged,
but hold on to this business another
year. at least. Their sheep will, no
doubt, do better for them when they
have been longer in the country. l
have tried sheep, on small scale, for
three years and am more than ever
convinced that they can be very sue
ccssfully raised in Sedgwick county.
Last year | raised sixteen lambs from
fourteen ewes. This year | have
twenty-three lambs from eighteen
ewes. Ewes are not sucking quite as
well this year as last, but the lambs
are healthy and strong. My lambs
have all but one, come this month ana
| in consequence of this and the weather
have kept my sheep housed most OF
the time. But too much confinement
even in dog shed is hard OH sheep
and it seems great relief TO them to
get out an hour or so between shower;
into a clean lot or on piece of gras:
sod. There is no doubt but that
stock sheep can be carried through the
winter here on prairie hay, but eve:
that are sucking lambs should have
some grain. Yes, boys, don't throw
up with one trial, and let us yet have
more sheep than dogs in Sedgwicl
county.
Kechi is getting fair share of thu
emigration this spring. We get fiv'
new settlers in our immediate neigh
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
WICHITA POST OFFICE.


The FIRST mail route in America was pro-
!. led in 1892. In 1853 Ben Franklin was af'-
nted Postmaster General Of the Colonies.
one hundred and twenty-five years there
after Marsh Murdoch was made Postmaster
General OF Wichita. Ben Franklin was q
printer, and run the New England Coaranf !
Marsh Murdoch is a printer. too, and runs the
EAGLE. The EAGLE is bigger paper than
vas the Couaat, but, upon the other hand
Cen was bigger man than Marsh. But old
Ben was ignorant OF postal cards, stamps,
registers" fast mail trains and the money
order business, and his mails were dragged
along in mud-wagons or on mule-back once IN
two or three weeks, his deputies carrying
their post offices in their hats. II the honest
old philosopher was alive to-day (rest his SOUL
for we sympathizc with anybody who ever
had anything to do with Uncle Sans maiis)
and was still Postmaster General we should
make the following report to him of the affairs
of the Wichita Post Office for the past year,
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
ri paeo

DEAR EAGLE: Noticing your re-
quest to have short communication
from each township in the county, fol
your centennial issue, ! concluded 10
drop YOU few items from Rockford
township, which you are at liberty to
use as seemeth you best.
Rockford township is situated in
the southeast corner of Sedgwlck
county, east of the Arkansas river.
The township is well waiercd by the
Arkansas river, Spring creek. Dog
creek and Pole Cat creek There is
timber upon the Arkansas river aud
Spring creek.
The first settlement was made III
1870. About one hundred families
now reside in the township. Land is
now selling at from five to ten dollars
per acre. The best improved farms
not for sale at any price. About five
thousand acres are III growing wheat
in this township this season and look
ing well. There are five good school
houses in The township.
Ell Paso, a lively little town in Rock
f1rd township, is situated OH the east
bank of the Arkansas river at the
mouth of Spring creek, thirteen miles
south and little east of Wichita, on
the State road from Wichita to Win
field and Arkansas City, Mt the juno
ton of two stage routes, from Wichi-
ia. via Oxford, Minnesota and Win
field to Arkansas, the other from
Wichita to Belle Plain, Wellington
and Caldwell and thence into the
Indian Territory to Fort Sill, having a
daily mail each way. 1t has good
public school building with school
from eight to nine months each year.
Has three church organizations; one
hotel, kept by Alexander Garret; one
dry goods, hardware and grocery
store, kept by A. Minich; two grocery
stores, by Il. f. Trickey and 5. d.
Varer; one drug store; one blacksmith
shop; one physician and surgeon: one
Good Templars' lodge, and one Odd
Fellows lodge.
John Huffbauer raised and marketed
the first crop of peaches i'll Sedgwick
county. He raised about three hum
dred bushels in the season of 1874 and
the'sam amount in 1875, with Il good
prospect of full crop this season.
The pits from which this crop of fruit
was raised were planted in the nursery
in the winter of II and transplanted
from nursery to orchard in spring of
~. AT the age of three years the
trees bore full crop of peaches.
The following are the names of a
few of our Rockford farmers j. Hout
Minnich, a. G.. Burr, John ILuffbauer,
II. Fortner, Henry Stein, A. Law, a.
Burrell, George Hatfield, J. q. Samp-
son, VIM. Quinnell and Farmer Doc
little" with many others equally wor-
thy of mention. Doc.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
Centennial Block--Houck Brothers Hardware
Store

The Centennial Block was built this spring
and consists OF j IL. Alleys two-story brick
boot and shoe store, G. G. Matthews two-story
brick drug and jewelry store, and Houck
Brothers hardware store, the front of which
appears in the above cut. The building has 4
French plate glass front, is built of brick, two
stories high, ore hundred and twenty feet
deep. The stories are sixteen feet and four
teen feet respectively, and is the largest bust
ness house in this portion of the State. The
building is furnished with heavy elevator,
and all piows, implements, ETC., are sent 10
the second story. The engraving was received
an hour before going to press and fuller de-
serption cannot at this time he given. The
Messrs. Houck Brothers are energetic, wide
awake, solid business men, and in the enjoy
mcnt of trade, as will be seen by cur tables,
second to no firm in this city.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
Nereus Baldwin, the Artist.

To the above gentleman we are under
special obligations which we take pleasure il
acknowledging. Despite the unusual cloudy
weather, the rain and the mud lie succeeded
in taking the photographs from which our en-
cravings were made. That the pictures arr
true to lille none will deny. Wichita ma,
congratulate herself upon the possession CT SC
successful and finished an artist as Prof Bald
win, who not only understands al the mystic
ries of photography. but who is ascientificall,
eiurafad Scholar
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
Fine Residences Of our City.

In addition to the business blocks and three
residences illustrated in this issue, our city
boasts many other noticeably fine homes. The
home of Hon. James Il. Mead, with its am
lie cultivated grounds, fine greenhouses and
OTHER adornments, is almost palatial in proper
tion.. In size, convenience and finish II
eclipses any private residence south of Tope.
ka, the cost of the superstructure being $1,000
Under this same head we find the homes Of
n. A. English, Captain Council, ex-Mayor
Hope. Judge ii. S. Adams, Judge w. c. Lit
tie, J. P. Allen, j. Exton, Hon. A. Moore. J.
Eldrdge, and many others such as would be
an ornament to any western city.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
A., T. & S. F. RAILROAD DEPOT AM
OFFICERS.
A Few FACTS AND FIGURES SHOWING TIE IN
PoaTANcE OF WICHITA AS
SHIFPING POINT.

Through the.courtesy OF f. c. Warmer,
Freight and Ticket Agent of the AtchisoD,
Topeka e. Santa Fc Railroad at this point, we
are furnished with some very important tig-
ures which TO many will prove more signiti-
cant than columns of mere assertions touch
ing our rapid growth as city snd country.
Wichita is the terminus OF 4 branch Of the
above road. The passenger and freight depot
combined is over one hundred and fifty feet in
length. Tie company has extensive cattle
pens furnished or fitted up with scales and
five loading chutes, through which thirty cars
an hour can be filed with live stock.
The local officers at the depot are &. E. War
riner, Freight and Ticket Agent; c. x. Per-
sons, Chief Clerk C. c. Wheeler, Shipping
and Oh eek Clerk, and Baggage Master; E. b.
johnson, Operator aud Car Accountant; o.
Ii. Shearon aud a. Marsh, Warchousemen ;
n. Miller, Waterman.
The following brief tables ara vouchcd tor
as correct by the above officer who furnished
them:
Year. 40. OF Cais'
1915. Agricultural implements. 70
July to Dec, amt wheat shipped. 9ss
1876. Jan. TO April, - 291
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
THOMAS. WHEELER & co.'s MILL.

dBosC " " AZ
months since w. "A. Thomas
& Co., one of the Oldest
grocery firms in the city,
purchased the interest of
Mr.. Scheetz in the Water
Mill, since which time the
new firm have remodeled
the entire works of the mill,
adding n large amount OF
the most improved machin-
cry, which makes it the sec
ond mill IN Importance III
Southwestern Kansas. The
Little Arkansas was never
known to fail i'll an ahund-
ant supply of water. Reg
ulated by Il gateway just
such a quantity of water
as is desired by the mill Is
let into a race five miles
above town, which empties
;,,a ,Io had Of the LITTLE
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
FOR the EAGLE
A Good Word for the Country, Written by a
Lady Subscriber Residing in Butler County.
PENDLE. BUTLER COUNTY.

March Z, 1876
EDITOR EAGLE: Perhaps a few
items from this county would be ac-
ceptable. We have beautiful country
1t was first settled in 1870, and now
we can boast of well settled county,
large farms. and in every direction
large green wheat fields meet the eye.
look which way we may. Last year
we suffered terribly from the grass
hopper plague. but this year we have
been greatly blessed, both temporarily
and spiritually. We have had an
abundant harvest aud this winter we
had great revival, and everybody
both young and old, great and small
have joined the church, with only q
few exceptions. All in ali we are one
of the happiest and most prosperous
communities in the world. None O.
our eastern friends need fear to have
their children come to dwell with us
for we are christian people, in :
goodly land.
God speed the centennial EAGLE.
Mrs. a. l.. HoxIE.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
r.. A. Hall, of Ell paso, banded us a copy o,

r. A. Hall, of FL Paso, handed us a copy Of
his old home paper. Our surprise on opening
the sheet and finding it the lronton (Ohio)
Register, the paper upon which we learned the
mysteries of the " Art Preservatiye," was
complete. Mr.. Hall was brought up in Of |
Lawrence county, on the very banks Of TIE
La Belle Rtrerie, the grand Ohio, and as We
recalled incidents and prominent characters OF
the long gone times, We felt the impulses that
stirs old friends. Nearly twenty-six years ago
the Register made its first appearance, and as
a boy we yet recollect our eagerness to see the
result Of the hand-prsss' first impression. r.
NJ. Simpson, its youthful editor, fresh grad
nate from the Marietta College, wrote the first
tale. and Hiram w Parker, his partner, made
up the first forms. The Register is now edited
by school-mate and chum OF X. p. Murdoch,
the business manager of the EAGLE.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Ill the ACCOuI pan H5
cngraving) are CONGO
ded to be the finest
and most complete in
the State of Kansas.
The dim ensions of
these mills are forty
five feet wide by one
hundred and fifteen
feet long and four sto-
RIGS high, which meas
uremcEt does not in
clude the weighing
and dumping extern
sion with its awning
and wheat transferring
machinery, nor the Of
fee. The buildings as
shown, are of solid
stone masonry. cover
ed with q metallic roof
which is i'll turn sup
ported by the heaviest
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

The Wichita Library Association is now fully
organized by act Of incorporation and the selec-
ton of officers. Among its members are num-
bered several Of our prominent men. AS we an
nounced before one lecture has been arranged for
The officers ale Judge w. p. Campbell, Presi.
dent; Benjamin Aldrich, Vice President; Fred
schattner, Secretary, and Rev. j T.. Harsen,
Urea surer.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
MRS. J.P. HARsEN. President.

At meeting of the Sedgwick County Agrl-
cultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Asso-
citation, held on the Sd inst, the following Off
GERS and trustees were elected for the ensuing
year: President, William Griffenstein; Vice
President, John Kelly: Secretary, w. p.
Stem; Trustees, NJ. Mead. W. ii. Ransom, T.
N. Mcclure, E. P. Thompson, j. n. Steele,
John Forrey, 7. NJ. Lane, WIN. Mathewson,
J. II. Dagner.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Rev.Wm. Parker and Moses Parker, both men,
bers of the Baptist church. the one from Iowa and
the her from Illinois, have purchased places
near Clear Water. The Lacon Journal speaks
very highly of Elder VIM. Parker and notices the
fact tn ut he started two cars loaded with fine cat
tie and sheep. fruit trees and implements fol
Wichita and speaks with regret OF the loss to the
schools Miss Nettie, his daughter. wewel-
come these gentlemen to our valley.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Messrs. Harris & Harris, the agents in Wichita
for the Corbin Banking company, of New York,
| received n communication yesterday to the effect
that the late decision OF the Supreme court would
warrant the loan of money upon homestead lands
| as soon as the final receipt had been issued and
that il was longer necessary to wait for the is
suance OF Il patent
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Dr. Greenlee has been furnishing our citizens
with forest trees during the past week. '.Red
Bud' the Doctors place, is situated about three
miles down the river, in beautiful situation,
and has growing upon it fine lot of young wal
nut, hickory, mulberry ash, etc, all suitable for
shade trees, and Doc. is putting forth his best eff
forts not only TO have nice place himself, but to
induce others to do likewise.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Geo. Ii. Rudy and A. w. Dem
ing, the gentlemanly proprie-
tors, report the transient bust
ness of the house for the past II
months to have been $lS, $50 ;
the regular boarder business at
81, 1000; cigars 81, AGO, making Il
grand total of $50, no. The num-
Der of employees fifteen. The
house contains fifty rooms, all
comfortably, many of them lux
uriantly, furnished. The pro-
prietors have both for years been
engaged in keeping public house
and fully understand the bust
ness in ali its details and they
spare no pains or expense in
their efforts 10 make guests com :
Portable. The Douglas Avenue
House can comfortably accom-
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Mr.. Geo. A. White treated US to q glimpse
Of one the first issues of Ben Franklins' pa
per-the New England Coursnt,, dated Bos-
ton, February 4. 1923. The little sheet, 7x9
inches, was yellow with age. but well pre-
served. 1t has been in Mr.. Whites family
for nearly half century. The relic contained
an address by King George ". to ParIia-
msnt. "Printed and sold by Benjamin Frank
lin, in Queen street, where advertisements are
taken in.n
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

James Il. Garrison, uncle TO Charles NJ. Garri-
son, of this city visited this va ley last week,
companied by his son-in-law, Major Mccartney.
These gentlemen were on the hunt Of location
for their flock of five thousand sheep and were
highly pleased with the Arkansas Valley. These
gentlemen able men, representing about
500 900 in money
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
City aad County Officers.
COUNTY OFFICERS.

COUNTY OFFICERS.
Judge Thirteenth Judicial District-W. T.
CAMPBELL.
State Senator-H. C. St Clair.
Representative-John Kelly.
Board of County COMMISSIONERS. NJ. STE LIE
o. 6. JACOBS, J. a. NELSON.
County Treasurer--L. n. Wo0DcocX.
County Cierk-JoHN TUCKER.
Sherin-H w. DuNNING.
Clerk District Court-G. w. REEVES.
Probate Judge-WM. e. LITTLE.
superintendent Public Instruction.. l.. I'm
NERMAN.
Register of Deeds-M.Lo b. KELLOGG.
County Attorney-W. T.. STANLEY.
County Surveyors-H. l.. JACKSON.
CITY OFFICERS.
Mayor-G. Z. HARRIS.
City Attorney-B. ii. FISHER.
Police judge NJ ATWOOD.
City Treasurer-R. CoGDELL.
Marshal-MIKE MEAGuER.
City Clerk-FRED. SCHArrlsEn.
Justices of the Paced. a. MITCHELL, L. NJ.
MISNER.
Constables--C. &. JONES and J. F. uCM-
PHRsY.
Councii-First Ward-L. HAYS, NJ. ZIHNERLY.
Second Ward-C. NJ. GARRISON and JOHN FoREY.
Third Ward--J. c. MILLS and JAY kIMPINsKY.
Fourth Ward j {. FRAZER and j. L. DYER.
Board of Education-First Ward-W. a. REESE
and c. +. HARGIs. Second Ward-J. Il. CALD-
WELL and ii. l.. JACKSON. Third Ward-C. 5.
CALDWELL and A. a. HYDE. Fourth Ward-C.
A. WALKER and II. j. HILLS.
Treasurer School Board-Rev. j. +. HARsES.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
THE UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.
WICHITA DISTRICT.

II. l.. TAYLOR, Register.
j. C. REDFIELD, Receiver.
c. A. WALKER, Clerks.
ID. 3. EMMERT,
The following interesting statistics
furnished By Mr.. Walker, of the bust
ness of the United States land Office
at Wichita, needs no comment:
The Centennial year has opened
with an increase of business for the
United States land office at Wichita, as
will be shown by comparison with
former years. The following is a
statement of the business transacted
from March 1, 1875 to March l, 1876.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

A. A. Moore, who with party and family left
here for Arizona last month, writes under
date of March %, 1876:
In camp three miles from Kinsey, and have
been showed in for three days Yesterday
vas the worst storm that ever saw in Kan
sas | got my thirteen head OF mules and
three head of horses all in a dug-out 15x30
feet to keep them from perishins. and had
them packed close, you bet Twelve inches
oi snow has fallen here in the last three days.
Please send my mail to Las Animas until
further orders. and obige A. A. n.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

Is not this grand showing len
thousand acres more taken the first
two months of this year than in 1873.
Over two hundred and fifty claims
have been taken in the western por-
ton of Sedgwick and Sumner counties
in the last sixty days.
There is yet unclaimed within the
limits of Sedgwick county, over four
hundred quarter sections of rs good
land as the sun shines OIL.
The merchants of our yonng city
should wear smiling countenanccs
when they consider that these claims
will all be taken within the next six
months. representing at least three
hundred families, all of whom will
draw their supplies from Wichita.
Will not these be of more benefit to
Wichita than the Texas cattle trade.
These lands are open to actual set.
tiers at one dollar and twenty-five
cents per acre. Proof and payment
NAV be made after six months resi-
dence and must be made within one
year from date Of settlement. to be
within the protection of the law.
Sumner county has over one thou
sand five hundred quarter sections UNI
| claimed, all is good land. A goodly
number have already settled in KING
man county.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

The ladies of the Presbyterian church viii
give Centennial Tea-Party OIL Wednesday
evening, April 10Th. They invite all their
friends to be present and help them revive the
costumes and customs of eye olden time"
Allwho desire are requested to personate men
and women of one hundred years ago. Be-
sides the supper, the programme viii include
music and tableaux. Tickets at the door, sew
enty- five cents. No charge inside.
BY order of Society
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

An article on oar railroads, present and
prospective, another on the A., I. Il S. F..
Railroad lands, another. a bird's-eye view Of
Wichita, and still another, descriptive of the
surface formations of SeJgwIck county, were
unavoidably crowded out
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

We take the item of Usage lands, as
they are the only lands now open for
settlement in this county. and append
comparison with former years,
which makes a very creditable show
ing. and is proof positive of the esti-
nation with which these lands are
held for wheat producing.
The demand for claims is unprece-
denied within the history of the land
office at Wichita, as will be seen by
perusal of statements taken from the
,oonrIS
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

John Falkenstein came to this valley in 1858,
and settled upon piece of land three miles north
OF town, what was then nothing hut raw prsiric.
NJ. Falkenstein has converted this into finely
improved farm, with substantial buildings, young
orchards, fruit trees, etc, and he can now say
that he has one OF the the best places in Sedgwick
county lie made it all by hard labor. strict
economy and attention to business.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06


pretensions than Wichita.
According table
furnished elsewhere have addition eating
The these Richey
House. the Valley House. the Wichita House and the Daily House The three
and the
First The Mesrs chey Brothers perfect and their
The
Valley House of Ray Edwards large frame building and
House
e.. Thompson. aud will be popular
al tow Ii
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
The City Elections CT Tuesday.

The city elections of Tuesday passed of
without any excitement other than such as
was developed by the personal interests of the
candidates, there being no issues outside OF sell
fish interests. We give the approximate vote
of all the candidates except Of those running
for the Council:
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
CITY OFFICERS.

AS to pasturage, there is no end 10
it, and cattle, sheep, hogs and horses,
this country is perfect paradise for
them, and they can all be raised with
great profit.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

l.. W. CLARK is furnishing the community with
the choicest of fish, taken from the Little ArkaD-
sas. There is nothing better for breakfast than a
ane perch, such as Clark can furnish at almost
any time.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

NJ Langan, upholsterer and mattress maker on
Main street, nearly opposite the Occidental, is ex-
tending his business to keep with the demands of
the trade He turns oat some excellent work and
invariably gives satisfaction.
The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06

There will be meeting OF the Directors and
Stockholders of the Patrons Commercial Agency
on Saturday, April 18th, at 10 a. m, to transact
any business that may come before them.
H. W BECK President.