Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-06-28
Another old settler Heard Prom.

tunes with us. Meeting our genial friend
Geo. Baker the other morning we asked
him, "What do you knowY Mr.. Baker
is modest man and replied in the old
stereotyped way that he didn't know
anything. A few minutes talk with him,
however, convinced us that he knew q
great deal that would be interesting to
our readers, as there is perhaps no man in
Trego county, on account Of his personal
knowledge and experience, better quail
fled to give facts concerning our early
history.
On the first day Of March, 1878, Mr..
Baker and family and seven other fam
lies from Aurora, Illinois, with four car
loads OF stock, lumber and farming i'm
plements, landed at Ws-Keeney. They
unloaded their goods on the south side
of the track and when that was done Mr..
Baker remarked that the greater part of
the town was on the south side. OF the
eight families who came at that time not
a single one remains except the family Of
Mr.. Baker.
The Commercial house was built at
} that time and G. ". F. Street was the
landlord. The main part Of what is now
the Farmers Hotel was occupied by F. o..
Ellsworth, E. Ellsworth and Tom Peck
az land Office and the proprieters were
engaged in the business of surveying,
locating, etc. There was postoffice with
Thomas Evans postmaster, and these
: constituted the entire business interests
OF the town. There was not a single
residence building and not store Of any
kind. Shortly thereafter Charles Keeney
erected small store building on the
present site of Henry Schultz's building
and there was retailed the first goods
. ever sold in Trego county. Mr.. Baker
made the first purchase ever made in the
town. When Mr.. Keeney's goods arrived
e and before they could be placed upon the
I shelves Mr.. Baker bought plug of TO-
bacco.
g The few settlers who we're here at that
= time did their trading at Ellis. Ellis was
then as now division station and in ad-
dition thereto had large cattle trade
j from the counties west and was quite d
, thriving town.
D On March 9, 1878, Mr.. Baker made en-.
try of homestead. and timber claim sd
: joining, few miles southeast of Wa-Kee
g ney. He proved up on his homestead
q seven years ago and on his timber claim
few weeks ago. At the time o.
making these entries the United
. States land office was located at Hays
= City, and Capt. Hanna was register ant
10 Of course resided there until the remoVa
of the Office to Wa-Keeney.
y Mr.. Bakers house was the first fran,
n house ever built upon a claim in Tregc
o county.
Mr.. Baker thinks that in the latter par
of 1873 and il 1879 there were more PEG
pie in Trego county than there ever ha
, been since. In 1880, and for about tire
% years following, the seasons we're very DIR.
and most of the settlers became discour
aged and left.
II Shortly after the Aurora colony hat
10 established themselves on their claim
10 they learned that family had located be
% low them on Big Greek and they proceed
ed to investigate, one Sunday, in body
70 The report was true and Ben. G. Rich.
. was ascertained, was the name of the ne1
o. arrival.
o With the exception of G. W. F. Stree
?. who was here when he came, MIR. Bake
is the oldest settler in Wa-Keeney tt
day and with one or two exceptions th
ST oldest in the county. Mrs. Baker is th
u oldest lady settler in Trego county e.
ol cept Mrs. Street.
d Mr.. Baker established his meat markt
CT in 1880 and has been In business eyt
since except about year and a. half, du
BIO ing which time he was sheriff of TreG
mt county, an Office which he has held tn
n terms and to the satisfaction, we believ
a OF all concerned. His efficiency, in ar
lat regard, We have never heard QUESTION:
he In those days there was plenty OF gan
1IcBO COUNTY M O1O -
name of John Smith would bring ant
lopes to town for sale, sometimes as mar
=, as twenty-five or thirty. Black-tailt
80 deer were very plenty along the Smol
- river, and buffalo meat has been on 4
m market here which was killed within
80 days drive of Ws-Keeney. At one tir
Nc buffalo meat was so plenty that it "
necessary to ship it to Kansas City to FL
a market.
VII Mr.. Baker and his estimable fami
er- have doubtless witnessed the hardshi
70 incident to all new countries, but at {
al same time We believe, that in the maj
ret they will admit that their lines have 4
ne len in pleasant places, and they have
me intention of seeking for more congen
place in which to live. Others may col
the and others may go, but these old settle
tie. have demonstrated their endurance a
the staying qualities and the possibility
lew living and making money in weste
it. Kansas,