The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-01-31
SOUTHERN KANSAS.
The People, The Products. and The
Prospects Of Montgomery County.

| HE PcOpIes Tne f'rOOucos, ana Inc
| Prospect. Of Montgomery County.
EDITOR TINES: independence is one of
| the b ST towns in the state. do not think
| in all my travels in Kansas that ! have
| found a more beautiful or more fertile
| country. 1t has not the monotonous APP
pearance Of the greater portion Of the state,
bu, is interspersed with clear, rock bottom
ed streams. All threse streams are fringed
with timber of fine quality, being mostly
oak, with slight sprinkling OF cottonwood
Independence has a beautiful location and
more than ordinary attractions as place
of residence. From the top Of their fine,
large school house view il spread out be-
fore the ewes of the beholder, unsurpassed
by any in the state. Stretching away like
dark velvet band, with its fringe of tim
Der, Is the Nerdigris river, Winning in and
out like the trail of a gigantic serpent now
coming close up, as II for protection, under
the brow of some bold bluff, and again con-
iident Of It's power, sweeping proudly out
into the broad valley. Still north of that
may be traced on a clear day, the tor,uous
course of Elk Creek, which is a tributary of
the Nerdigris. 1t has fine valley of great
fertility; then, too, on every hand may
be seen the neatly painted farm houses and
buildings OF well 10 do and prosperous
farmers. When all this country comes out
in spring attire, it is certainly delightful
view and well worth all the trouble re-
quired to obtain it. Montgomery county is !
one of the finest in the state, and from the |
published statistics, shows large and con- !
stantly increasing percentage Of wealth. |
The winters are very mild being on the line |
bordering the "lndian Territory" and con-
sequently in much warmer latitude than |
the northern portion Of the state Mont
gomery county is rich in the early histori-
cal events that always attend the settle
ment OF new country. For much of my in
formation in regard TO its settlement and
early history am indebted to the Tribune
and Kdnsan, two Of the best inland papers
in the state OF Kansas.
The county was named after the Gen.
Montgomery of revolutionary fame and
right royalty it bears the hero's name
without furnishing his fame. 1t was first
settled, for the first settlement began in 1868
and go. The first settlers or, as they were
then called, '-squa,ters," were enraptured
with the beauties Of scenery and climate.
They had, as 1t were, reached the promised
land, but alas the noble Red Man, who
never existed but in 'COoper's" imagina-
ton, "held over" them; he was lord of
the manor, and viewed with an
envious eye the encroachment OF his white
brother" But his fertile brain soon devised
a plan which he thought would soon leave
him mater of the field he levied tax OF
five dollars per capita on all who came to
reside within the limits Of his jurisdiction,
and, although the historian is silent on the
subject, doubtless had grand 'dog FEAST
and liberal supply OF 4.firewater" to enliv- c
en- the general "blow OUT But this did not 7
check the tide of Immigration; those who |
we're here told their friends and they came.
Finally Mr..Lo- concluded to ego west and I
yrow up with the county" He cold his
hunting ground and went south
yard, where he still soothes his wounded b
pirits with a liberal indulgence in cog
neat and whisky. ,..a- Z:
IN AUGUST OF 1869 AL
town company with . fortune in corner h
OTIS looming up before them came over and Ii
= fnwu mite bnf vhe~ vou tn,ild n