Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-03-26
COL n. S. eoss.

W. S<(SS.
A Man whose Life Was Devoted to the |
Welfare Of His Race-His Love of Birds /
and Mu1saceut Donation TO the state of |
Kansas
The news of the sudden death Of Col. |
N. s. Goss. state ornithologist was re-
ceived everywhere In Kansas with pro- |
found regret He was one of the best
known men in the state, having come
to the territory in 1857, locating at Neo-
sho Falls He was the first postmaster
of Neosho Falls, which office he held
from 1857 until the breaking out of the
war. He was born in Lancaster, n. h,
June s, 1926, the youngest of four chill
dren-two sisters and a brother. His
parents were of old Puritan stock
While n. S. Goss was yet in his teens
his father lost his property and re-
moved to Pewaukee, Wis Thus, in a
new country, and without ample means
for = collegiate education, MIR. Goss be-
gan his life's work, with only COM
mon district school and academy to as
sist him in his pursuit Of the natural
sciences From childhood he had a
deep love and admiration for birds and
made them a study. He worked through
the day and studied during the even
ings; and at idle times during the day,
even, whenever there was lull for q
few minutes, he was at his books.
He entered business for himself, and
at the age of 2S, married Miss Emma +.
Brown, of Pewaukee, Wis. He moved
to Waverly, Ia. with a view of entering
into the banking business While look
ing about him and making arrange
ments for the location of his business,
his young wife was taken from him.
Death had robbed him of his bride of
only two years Overcome by the loss
of his beloved companion. the place no
| longer seemed like home to him, and in
the spring of 1857, in buggy, accom-
panied by friend, he sought home in
Kansas not knowing or caring where it
might be. After following the Neosho
| river for some distance they selected
| the spot where Neosho Falls now stands
as their new home. Only two or three
| families were along the river for miles.
A town was laid off and Col. Goss be-
! came its first postmaster. In 1858 a
grist mill was established and Col. Goss
| sold -four and meal to the Indians, re-
ceiving in return for the same Indian
| ponies, buffalo robes and some money.
He was elected and commissioned
| major in 1860, and lieutenant colonel in
| 1868 of the Sixteenth Kansas militia
| cavalry; was in active service during
| the fourteen days call" and the Price
raid; and, being familiar with the In
| dian territory, acted on several oc-
casions as a scout for United States
soldiers stationed at Humboldt
He was appointed register of the
| land Office at Hum boldt in 1867 and in
1869 resigned to become land attorney
for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail-
way, with headquarters at Neosho
| Falls. 1t was through his exertions
that the road built through the Neesho
valley, and at a meeting of the stock
holders of the road held at Emporia
| May 10, 1865, Col Goss was elected
president. He was also land attorney
for the Santa Fe at one time.
Established at 1.-The Falls once more
he found ample time for his favorite
study, and his collection of birds began
to grow rapidly and attract attention
throughout the state and abroad He
had made himself comfortable in this
worlds goods, and in 1881 donated his
collection to the state without any re-
Enumeration, but upon the condition
that it be known as the ''Goss ornitho-
logical collection" and that he be the
custodian during his lifetime. This Of
fer was accepted and a room was SET
apart for it in the capitol building by
the legislature and also one for his own
use. In the fall of 1881 he took up his
residence in Topeka
He has made frequent trips to various
localities in North and Central America,
along the coasts and among the islands
of the Gulf of California, among the
everglades of Florida, along the north
west coast and the coast of Labrador,
among the Rockies, the Sierra Nevadas,
the great lakes and the rivers, search
ing almost every part of the continent
for birds and giving to the state by his
labors a collection of North American
birds which rivals or exceeds any pri-
vate collection in the union
In 1883 he compiled and published a
catalogue of the birds of Kansas. a
neatly printed pamphlet of thirty-four
pages, based upon observations in the
field and knowledge gathered during a
residence of over twenty-six years in
Kansas. The catalogue embraced forty
nine families and $50 species and sub
species. In 1856 he revised the cata.
logue, increasing the species to ss5.
In October, 1853, he was elected a
member of the American Ornithological
union, an organization established in
New York, with a mem bership Of fifty,
and composed of the distinguished orni-
biologists of this country. This com
pliment was unsought and WINS even
without his knowledge.
The value of his collection has been
estimated at 100000 by competent
judges.
Col. Goss never referred to the fact
that only the American museum OF
natural history has larger collection
of birds. and that his is the largest col
lection of native birds in the United
States 1t is supposed to contain some
. thing like LOCO species of birds The
Kansas ornithologist himself found and
mounted III species and sub-species-
Cold Wave Strikes Texas.
DALLAS, Tex, March 13.-The wealth
; er to-day Is the most severe that ha.