People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-06-24

&C. LAMBE.
Geo. D. Armstrong sowed his first
alfalfa in Sumner county in 1874; sent
to California for the seed and paid 30
cents pound for it.
VIM. George, Samue! Balm, J. S.
Epperson and Truman Tucker built
the first buildings In the northern tier
of sections with logs cut from the is.
land in the Arkansas river above the
Oxford mills. Truman Tucker now
lives at Geuda Springs.
W. G. Whaley built the first house
between Oxford and Wellington, on
his present site. 1t doomed up to the
traveller soon after leaving Oxford
and became prominent landmark.
There are numerous "reminiscences
of every nature that could be related
by the old settlers, all full Of inter
est. Their experiences during the
grasshopper invasion and Indian scare
would be worthy Of recital but space
iOrbids. 1t is a fact, however, that
there have never been any eItraordi-
nary riots, or rObberies or murders, or
other events Of an exciting nature
within the borders Of the township
1t has ever been a peaceable COM
munity, due partially to the fact that
there are no towns iE the township.
THE DEAD.
Among those who have breathed
their last in the township are Thos.
Ogden, who lived on the j. K. Ash
farm, James GLASGOW, Mrs. GLASGOW,
Joseph GregsOn, Mrs. GregsOn, Benz.
Wharton, Mrs. Wharton, John Lo-
gan, VIM, Tucker, J. y. Forsyth (whc
lived with his daughter Mrs. J. s.
EppersOn) Nm. Massey, VIM. Balm
MD. COvell, Mrs. Henry Bait, and G
W. Holt. The latter came to hi:
death by suicide, three years ago
His mind had become deranged anG
for some time he had been an inmate
Of OssawatOmie asylum. He was al
home on leave Of absence and va:
found one morning hanging by the
neck in his barn. This sad occurrence
and the drowning Of a son OF VIM
George in earlier years are the only
unusual deaths of which we have beer
able to learn. This Is not intended
OF course, as a complete list of the
dead-only those In mature years Of
whom we could learn.
THE CRADLE, THE ALTAR, AMI
THE GRAVE.
The first child born within the
borders of Avon was Arthur G
Wsaley, son Of Mr.. and Mrs. G. W
Whaley, born in August 1871. He /.
still living with his parents.
The first marriage ceremony per
formed in the township was thai
uniting Geo. D. Armstrong and Miss
Gregson, daughter of Joseph Gregson
They were married by Elder Benz
Wharton.
The first death was that Of VIM
Lem2sters.
TOWNS.
The fertile soil Of Avon TOWNSHIP
has been good for almost everything
but town building. In the midst Of
a host of future great cities building
on every hand the people OF this
township seem not to have become
linOcu(ated with the virus, evidently
believing that it would be we'll tt
save some Of the land for agricultural
purposes.
A company Of Wichita Spectator,
tried to start town called Meridian
on the west line Of the township il
lS70-7l-72 but it failed. 1t wa.
located on the four corners Of the W
B. Chenoweth, w. J. Presnell. o. J.
Hackney farms, part Of it in Avon and
part in Wellington township. The
sixth principal meridian was TO be the
main street but ID seems that none
OF its streets ever arose to requisite
dignity to be so denOminated. Feb
I, 1871 it was appointed by Gov
Harvey the temporary county seat Of
Sumner county, before il had beer
plated. A few buildings were erected
in the spring. The town of yelling
ton was started April 2, 1871, anc