Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-10-03
A KANSAS HOME.

A short visit with farmer Warner
at his beautiful home one mile north
of Baxter Springs gives one better
idea Of tho privatiOns and hardshipss
Kansas farmer has TO contend Win
than the reading of whole pages OF
statistics. Col. Warner came TO Kan
sas from the briar patches OF Con-
necticut q few years ago and by his
industry, enterprise, thrift and Yankee
intuitiyeness has made himself a home
that q member of the Kansas leglsla-
lure might well be proud OF.
The outside surroundings are equal
to any of the famous Kentucky blue
grass country residences, ana perhaps
superior In natural beauty to ANYTHING
of the kind in the state OF kansas.
The house stands OH a knoll III the
center of a beautiful blue grass lawn
which is covered with shrubbery,
forest trees and cvergreens OF about
20 wears growth. An avenue leads up
to aud around the house lined on each
side with shade trees; five acre park
of large forest trees joins the lawn on
the north, through which mcanders q
small stream of never failing water,
flowing from three or four springs
near the house. There is miniature
lake half a mile long just west OF the
park, which is lined and shaded by
large elms, sycamore, walnut ana
honey locast trees. The lake not only
affords good boating, but is well stock
cd with fish and soft shell turtles.
Near by is large vineyard and or
chard with hundreds of choice fruit
trees of every description, also gar
den of ten acres which is well water
ed from the lake by means of a wind
mill aud water pipes laid to every
part OF it.
But the farm house is also worthy
of mention, as it is properly typical
Kansas home without the traditional
mortgage. Including angles 1t Is
about 50xS0 feet with two towers
one of which is used as an observa-
tory and the other to hold up an i'm
mense water tank to supply the house
and grounds with water. There are
some sixteen rooms in the house and
all are elegantly finished in hard wood
of beautiful designs and fine work
manship. There are five marble
mantle pieces in the house, but every
room has a register for steam heating
with pipes laid from the large steam
boiler in the basement. Hot aud cold
water is supplied to most of the rooms
and the bath room is as neat and coll
yenient as one could wish.
OF course the house is elegantly
furnished throughout, but Col. Warner
is the possess0r of some articles Of
furniture and antique ornaments thai
are of more than ordinary interest
A small china plate that was brought
over blythe pilgrim fathers in the May
flower, and large dinner plate which
at one time belonged to the Emperor
Napoleon and stamped with his mono
gram and crown, are interesting IRON
their associations. But what attract
ed us most was a set Of chairs which
at one time belonged 10 old Gov
Jonathan Trumbull, after whom th'
phrase "Brother Jonathan" took use
In these chairs Washington, Lafayette
Rochambeau, Dekalb and many othel
heroes of the revolution have sat ant
conversed with "Drother Jonathan
regarding the policy and chances o
our then infant confederation. The!
are high-backed, narrow.seated ant
rather uncomfortable TO sit in, bu
they are historical and as mementoe
of the old heroes of the revolution arr
family relics of inestimable value t.
the possessor. Mrs. Warner, by tin
way, is the great granddaughter o
Governor Trumbull.
During our visit we saw grea
many valuable and curious articles
but why take up 80 much space will
an ordinary Cherokee county farm
house. The secret of farmer Warn
er's success lies in the fact that he at
tends personally to his crops'and neve
makes failure. He has never los
faith in the richness Of Kansas soil o
the productive and paying qualities o
Kansas farm.