Western Kansas world., 1889-12-14
REM1NIscENcRs,
RecoIlections Of, and Changes That
Have Occurred in, Our
County Since '85.

County Since 'S5.
In 1885 one of the leading firms was
that of Osborn & Monroe. who did gen.
eral law, land and loan business, Os.
born, the senior member of the firm was
only plain ''Steve" in those days, although
he had represented Trego county in the
legislature. Monroe was known every
where by the euphonious name Of "Lee."
But the scene changes. Osborn is now
Judge Osborn, of the 23d judicial district,
and Monroe is Hon. Lee Monroe, register
of the q. 8. land Office. Not single old
land mark remains on the corner except
the buffalo head on the sign, which served
the double purpose of work of art and
an advertisement of the firms business.
We beg your pardon! Cyrus Monroe and
the chess board still remain.
~
The WESTERN KANSAS WORLD was the
only newspaper in the county at that
time, and was filed with school land
notices, contest and final proof notices.
The publisher didn't have to tighten his
belt hole or two and keep on working
when the dinner hour came and it was
found that the neighbors had not brought
in anything, as we do now. In the fall
of 1885 the Tribune was started by ]. W.
Wherry and did good business as we'll
as the WORLD. No class of men patron
ize printers ink so literally as the real
estate dealer, and their names were legion
at that time. Since that time the Tribune
has changed hands so often that we can
not remember the changes. Naugle,
Hotchkiss, Bell. Henkel, Ward, Emig,
Hollister and Cain have all had hand
in running it, and we presume have all
made their fortunes and retired. We
know they have retired. A. w. Hotch-
kiss is the present proprietor. The Tre-
60 County Republican was started in the
spring of 1887, and for time did a good
business, but when the real estate bust
ness was no longer profitable, neither was
the newspaper. And we would like to di-
gress long enough to add that the real
estate dealer, though sometimes evil
spoken OF, has done more to develop west
ern Kansas than any other factor, and
upon the real estate dealer more than
any other human agency will the future
prosperity OF Kansas depend, if we ex-
cept the farmer. There were several
changes in the Republican management
also up to the time it was sold and
merged in the WORLD last fall.
***
Among the business houses at that
time we call to mind Werlich & Kershaw,
Lawrence & Hall. Thomas Caddick, w.
s. Kyle, w. B. Kritchfeld and Martin
Herman. All gone and new firms in their
places. The greatest change we have to
record will be found among our business
men. The changes here have taken place
80 gradually and quietly that we have
hardly realized that nearly all our old
firms have gone and new ones taken
their places. These changes cannot be
attributed to the community, hard times
or poor business management. Several of
the aboye-named firms were wealthy, and
had acquired their wealth while doing
business in Wa-Keeney.
~
We did not commence this with the
idea of giving an exhaustive review of
tho business or of the business changes
since 1885, and have doubtless overlooked
some who should have received attention.
We were only trying to carry out, and
that hastily, train of reflections that
had been suggested to our mind. The
Wa-Keeney of to- day is in many regards
different from the Wa-Keeney of but a
few years ago. We have contemplated,
and will probably in the near future at
tempt a history of Trego county for the
last decade. This we might do from our
own recollections, from the files of the
WORLD and from the recollections of
our old settlers. We have the data and
think it might be made interesting when
we have the time to devote to an under
taking of that sort. We would not under
take it unless We made it complete. On
the first of January, 1890, we will give
full description of all the business firms,
including the professions, in Wa-Keeney.
At the same time we expect to give tho
proprietors of the different establishments
a short write up. This will be complete
directory of the business and business
firms. Those wishing extra copies to
.1nl - ,,o,,cf <.v1nr than, a. rpno