The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-11
FIGHT BEGAN EARLY
FIRST MEETING OF COUNTY BOARD
SALOONS WE'RE DISCUSSED.

SALOONS WERE DISCUSSED
Sedgwick County was Organized April 10,
Is7O-Posey Clark Wanted a Saloon
License-There was a Remonstrance-
Fight Ensued and the Saloon Came Out
on Top-First Marriage License Granted
First Case in Districl-First County
and Court o6iciaIs-First Deed, Mort
gage and Power of Attorney Filed.
Yesterday was the birthday Of Sedg-
wick county and probably but few per-
sons in the city were cogniZant Of the
fact, yet twenty-siX years ago the first
meeting OF the county commissioners
was held on April 10, 1870, and the or
ganization Of the board was perfected
as follows: n. A. English, chairman,
T. S. Floyd, Alex McWiIliams, and j. NJ
Steele county clerk.
The first official act was approving the
official bonds Of J. VI. Steele and I. S.
Floyd as justices Of the peace. Then
came the discussion of the day when
the petition of George L. Clark was
presented praying for license 10 run a
saloon. A strong petition was present
ed and also a rernOnSTance and the ar
gument of the petition consumed the
entire day. II the evening the board
granted Clark the license and fixed $500
as the fee. Thus il VIII be seen that the
saloon fight was early inaugurated in
Sedgwick county.
George Clark, or as he was better
i
from the saloon business, joined the
church during the first revival Of relig-
ion, became a route agent in the United
States mail service and is now conduct
ing a leading hotel in Newton
The first marriage license was granted
May Z, 1870, by Probate Judge Ruben
Riggs to Elias Marsh of Indianapolis,
Ind, and Miss Annie 3. Peck Of this
county. The marriage ceremony was
performed by J. N. Steele.
Strange to say, but nevertheless true,
the first suit filed in the district court,
which was held in August 1870, when
Judge Brown of the Ninth judicial dis
trfct granted the request Of the county
commissioners to convene court, was
divorce suit filed by f. J. Fulton attor-
ney, wherein Hugo f. Romlow sued his
ney, wherein Hugo Z. RAINBOW sued his
the grounds that she refused to accom-
pany him If he PERSISTED in living among
COYOTES and Indians. The records do
not show whether or not the divorce
was ever granted.
The court was organized with w. r.
Brown as judge, D. A. Bright as dis
triot clerk, w. n. Walker sheriff, John
sheriffs, and F. J. Fulton as county at
torney.
The first jury empanelled was com
posed of the following men, not one Of
whom lives in the county except ]. f.
Price: Doc Lewelling, Z. p. Waterman, |
]. N. Blake, z. H. NUgent, George Sum- |
on, l. n. Warren, Barthelmew Mahoney, |
r NJ Bowes, II. II. Allen, J. L. Price |
r. N. Scott, W. j. Uhler.
The first deed of record was filed with |
l.. F. Buttles as register of deeds on |
September 20. 1870, being a transcript |
from the records of Butler county The /
deed was a patent from the United /
States to Amos A. Lawrence ait Boston,
Mass, and was signed by Andrew John
son, president of the United States, and |
the payment of college script was ac-
knowiedged as payment for the same. /
The land conveyed by this coed was the
northeast quarter of section eighteen,
tOWISulD lNtuly-SlAs range one east,
and is today the homestead of Z. p.
Thompson one of the first settlers of the
county.
The first power of attorney placed
upon record was dated May 8, 1870,
given by Catharine Greiffenstein to
William Greiffenstein, her husband.
The first chattel mortgage on record
was filed July 10. 1870, and was given
tot secure the payment of $500 made by
Matsall & Hubbard to Vancroft & Nc
Carly.
The first real estate mortgage was
given by George DOdler to J. S. Bell, ard
was acknowledged before H. f. Van
Trees, Justice of the peace, and recorded
by j. NJ. Steele, deputy register of
deeds.
The first county officers were appoint
ed by Governor Harvey and the first
election held in November, 1870. s. c.
Johnson was appointed as the first |
county treasurer and was reelected In
the fall OF 1871. Elvira Sage served as
the first deputy county treasurer.