Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-12-24
ROLL OF HONOR

Embracing Those Who have Lived
In Trego County for More Than
IL Observation-Disclosures.
G. ". F. STREET.
G. W. F. Street landed at Trego, Just
west of where Ws-Keeney now stands on
the 22d day Of December, 1877. There
was nothing then on the present site OF
Wa Eeeney. Trego consisted of stone
house on the north side of the track
which still remains, and half dozen dug
outs on the south side occupied by the
section men. A freight car was used for
the depot building. Tom Evans had
just completed frame addition to the
stone building above mentioned and had
a small stock of groceries and also kept
boarders.
On December &c, Mr.. Street, T. K.
Peck, afterwards county surveyor, and
Charles Tibbetts commenced to survey
the TOWNSHIP of Wa-Keeney for Warren,
Keeney & Co.. who had purchased the
same from the Union Pacific Railway
company and also number of sections
in different parts of the county, but most
ly in the vicinity of Wa-Kesney. Lum-
Der for a hotel had been unloaded at
Trego and Mr.. Street hauled it to Wa
Keeney and early in the month of jan
uary, 1878, with other help, commenced
to build the Commercial house the first
house that was erected in Wa-Keeney.
On January 2Sth the building was par
TALLY completed and Mr.. Street met Mrs.
Street at Leavenworth and they came to
Wa-Keeney the same evening and COM
Eenced housekeeping and keeping board
ers. Mrs. Street enjoys the distinction
of being the first woman who ever resided
in Wa-Keeney and cooked the first meal
ever cooked by resident within the cor
porate limits of the town.
The second building was commenced
by Warren, Keeuey & Co., on the site just
opposite the Commercial house and now
owned and occupied by Henry Schultz.
Before either of these buildings were
completed Thomas Evans detached the
frame addition from his stone house in
Trego and moved it upon lot owned by
him just south of the Trego County bank
building and owned at present by s. R.
Cowick. This was the first completed
building in Wa-Keeney. Shortly after
this Mr.. Street erected a building where
the Sawtelle building now stands and
used the same for land office until tt Q
great fire which destroyed almost every
thing on that side of the street including
Mr.. Streets Office and its entire contents.
He lived at that time on his claim and
knew nothing of the fire until he came to
town the following morning. All of our
oldest citizens will remember the fire. It
was supposed to be the work of an in
cendiary. We may refer to it again in
the future.
Mr.. Street preserved portion of his
hotel register and kindly permitted us to
examine it. We find the following
familiar names of those who registered
during those early days and also give
dates: On February 4th, 1878, George
Barrett, contractor and builder who
worked for Warren, Keeney & Co. Feb
ruary 14th, 1873, John ". Kerns first
came to Wa-Keeney and worked under
Mr.. Barrett. Frank Ellsworth also came
about the same time and did carpenter
work. W. 8. Kyle registered on March
1, 1878 and remained in Wa-keeney until
a few years since when he went to Cali
fornia where he still reside. Il. F.
Bryant registered on March 4th and re-
eided continuously in Trego county un-
til about year ago. George Baker came
on March 4th, 1878. Daniel Pershing
registered on the 9th day of March and
G. Fl. Gibbs just five days later. On
April s, G. Roberts landed here from
Chicago and at once sent for lumber and
started the first lumber yard in Wa-Kee-
ney. This was on the present site of the
Badger Lumber Co.'s yard and he occu-
pied the same Office now used by A. j.
Davis. M. Roberts built and occupied
the residence IN the east part of town at
forwards owned and occupied by W. s.
Triton and which was destroyed by fire
about three years ago.
Mr.. Street filed on the west half Of sec
ton 6, township IL, range % as a pre-
emption and timber claim on January
4th, 1878, and held the same until few
years since when he traded for stock OF
hardware with D. w. Matthews and has
since resided in Wa-Keeney. This was
one of the best improved farms 10 Trego
county.
As before intimated Mr.. Street was in
the land business the first years of his
residence here. In 1878 he was appointed
deputy district clerk for this county.
Trego county was not organized and was
to Ellis county for judicial pur-