Western cyclone., 1886-08-26
AFTER FIVE YEARS

~AbOAAOOA OAAty Oudu1JlOll.
Five years ago Noble Prentis and the
writer spent three days in Graham
county. Hot winds prevailed, and
vegetation was almost burned up To
day the Champion representative visited
the county for the Second time The
change since then has been wonderful.
Then hot winds and dry weather prevail
ed; to day rains are as flequent as in
Eastern Kansas, and more so than in
the northeastern part. Thenthere was
not frame or stone house in sight of
Nicodemus; to- day one can count
them by the dozens. Soft would seem
that the colored colony numbering 700
who located here in 1877 have been
reasonably prosperous. Every farmer
has not less than a qtiarter section,
good team, many Of them have
lunches Of cattle, and all are raising
enough for home consumption and
some to sell. In fact the country has
gone through q wonderful change from
raw prairie to cultivated farms. the
appearance Of the country during these
five years indicates thrift and health
fitness on the part Of the coiored
settlers.
Conversing with many of the-substan-
tial farn1ars ofthe colony it was learned
that there had been several fields of
wheat raised this year that has yielded
thirty-two bushels per acre. The
largest wheat raisers Of the township
are j. E. Bundle, who had seventy-fve
acres, and Thos. johnson & Son, having
cighty-two ocres Lewis Welton Who
located here seven years ago, and has
never left his farm for single day and
every year has something to sell, has
forty five acres Of beautiful corn; John
w. Lored is the most extensive cattle
king in the colony, having over forty
head. He is culti1ating seventytiv
acres Of his farm. Henry Smith has
fifty acres in cultivation in wheat and
corn. The Messrs. Fletcher Bros. o$n
three quarter sections ard seventy-tive
acres cultivated. \. y. Harper has
forty acres planted in corn. The above
are only few ofthe prosperous colored
farmers in Nicodemus township who
first settled here in 1877. The town
ship polls 100 votes, 20 Of them being
colored There is not q Democratic
voter in the township. the township
Democratic committeeman for Nicn-
demus being appointed from some
township where there are more than
one Democrat. There has been dis
plte for some time over the Nicodemus
town site. Some fellow in smother
county to make some trouble put a
timber filing on it. But this has hap
PLY been settled in favor of the town,
ind they are now proving up: AsSoon'
as contaminated, which will be so soon
as the appraisers get to work, a cleat
title will be given. There are several
men who will build rs soon as this
hxed Question is settled The first
store in Graham county was started in
Elcode1nus in November, 1877, by u T.
fletcher. His wife was the first woman
locating ON the town site, and was here
three months without seeing another
woman. Mr., Fletcher received the
appointment Of postmaster soon after
the colony arrived, aud has held the
Office every since. Ife has attended
every Republican County convention
but one since the organization of the
county, has held the position OF town
ship committeeman, was also member
Of the Congressional Committee, has
been United States grand iuiryman,
and was a delegate to the Teceht
Republican State convention. He and
his brother, Thomas Fletcher are in
the hotel and livery business, and
handling implements. Mr. 2. r.
Fletcher is also land agent auda notsrr