Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-03-11
The Early History of Collyer.
lContinued from last week.

In 1865 and 1856 good crops we're
raised, corn averaging about forty bush
els per acre and wheat about twenty-six.
This brought another "boom." The
town grew apace. There were two large
general stores, a crowded hotel, two
blacksmiths, a land Office, two livery sta
bles, hardware store, two lumber yards,
a millinery and dressmaking establish
ment, two drug stores, feed mill; and
as everything was kept in the stores of
Collyer that was needed in this part Of
the county, it received then, as now. a
large share of the patronage from the
surrounding country.
The winter of the terrible blizzard was
great blight upon the stock raisers.
There had been late frosts that had in
iured the buffalo grass materially, as it
had not cured, and cattle were in poor
condition to stand such a spell, and
everybody suffered more or less, as most
of the farmers had succeeded in getting
few head of cattle. 1t was like adding
the last straw to the cancels back when
they lost more or less of their stock, but
they seemed to draw from an inexhausti-
BILE we'll of courage and, the next summer,
they were again rewarded with fair crops.
Now there is every appearance of perm
anent prosperity. Better and more per-
manent buildings, more fences and a
more genial appearance all around. Blue
stem is gradually taking the place of
buffalo grass, and a weed, quite new to
this country, and which is said to always
make its appearance in buffalo grass
country when it is changing to an agri-
cultural country, was very abundant here
last summer.
There were shipped from Collyer depot,
last year, % car loads of wheat, 10 Of
ochre, Is of rye, and 10 of cattle. Much
OF the grain raised in this township was
shipped from other points along the road
and much was held for sowing here.
The list of settlers, belonging to the
Colony, who have held positions of trust,
compare favorably with any in this vicin-
ity. Upon the corner stone of the court
house will be found the names of two of
the members of the colony, R. G. Kessler
as county commissioner and J. w. Burns
as superintendent. The building is said
to be one of the finest in Kansas for
court purposes. Mr.. Burns, whose
health was poor when he came here, has
crossed the river into the great unknown.
His family is still here. A. B. Baker, for
two terms superintendent of public in
struction, but now professor of geology
in the Smithsonian Institute at Washing
ton, belonged to Collyer township. 8.
G. Robb, member of the colony, was
county clerk and afterwards forestry
commissioner. OF the colony of about 30,
few are living here now though some
still hold their claims. But of the influx
that followed the colony many still re-
main and intend doing 80.
The following soldiers were members
of the colony: G. A. Bamberg, J. c.
Martin, r. G. Kessler, Mr.. Sperry, G. w.
Kessler, ]. W. Burns, E. Bostwick, L..
LeBron, William Spicer, P. J. Gubbins,
s. Upford, William Burnham, John
Eberle, F. Schwanbeck, G. s. Davis.
The following were soldiers but not
members of the colony: F. s. Swiggett,
DR.. Nealey, d. W. Davis, L. Debaras,
J. Miller, George Richards, 8. G. Robb,
N. Sawtelle, G. Stafford, B. Bartlett, F.
Phillips, Hugh Tidball, 81. Larimer.
The following were members of the
colony but were not soldiers: Mrs. 8.
VENT, Messrs Treffery, Colby, Combs,
Cline, Polar, Rodermaker, P. Walch, J.
Walch, William Walch, w. Hastings, j.
Lille, J. F. Condor, o. Kirkland, Mira.
York, Geo. V. York, Irving Sewage,
Walter Selvage,
The following persons came shortly
after the colony: Emery Cass, Grace
Cass, Capt. D. Fouts, 81. Enrich, William
Wheeler. P. Shultz, II. Shultz, Mr.. Tracy,
N. Carlyle, William jennings, James