Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-08-11
SOME EARLY HISTORY.


Four of The Pioneer Settlers Of Barton
County, and Other Matters Historical.
GThe following article, prepared for the papers
upon a request for matters of historical nature,
will be found well worth preserving.-EDl
The pioneer in any field OF human
endeavor will ever remain the central
figure in it. Any achievement on the
painless ocean-that absolute barrier
to the migratiOns of the race for ages
5 sailors, Columbus. The wealth of
marvellous results gained by searching
the depths of space with the telescope
each epoch adds new laurels to The
fame of the first telescope stargazer,
of whom Milton wrote: Whose
(moon'sl orb through optic glass the
Tuscan artist views" Magellan
rather gains by each new circumnavi>
CATION of the globe. Every advance
in understanding and controlling of
natures most terrific force gives to
Franklin's kite flying a new increment
of permanence.
The mighty factor of progress, the
steam engine, is only Watts idea
dressed in iron. Each new stroke of
its piston is more fully realizing its in
ventor's inestimable contribution to
human progress. Note the stupend-
Gus economic changes wrought by the
cultivation of the treeless plains of the
earth. The opening of the Illinois
prairies by Lincoln in 1880, an event
styled by the peerless Kansan, John
Davis, IA change Of front of the uni,
verse;" gains with each passing year
newer aud greater meaning. The
long-established dread of the grassy
plains vanished. The plow and reaper
more beautifully supply the larder
than had the rifle and ak.
What is trLe of the more extended
realms applies to the limited field of
. Barton county history.
Tho fast returning seasons will more
and more witness the emphasis given
the first settling Of county. Of all
the Inhabitants Of the county, past,
present and future, the pioneers will
historically occupy the most unique
and important place. View the situ-
alton in 1870 and unstinted praise will
be given those meeting the require
ments. The willy redmen we're still
abroad, killing scores of the settlers
and destroying property very freely.
Tie noted generals, Sherman. Sheri.
dan and Custer were busted with re-.
stricting their atrocities. The annual
legislature was asked to provide means
In defense of the frontier, voting $1OO>
600 at one time. A governor organiz-
ed regiment then resigned the execu-
tive to assume command that he might
lead his men through Kansas streams
inspurSuit of the American barbarians.
Ellsworth was then the only organized
county west of the north and south
tier of which Saline is one. With the
probable exception of Butler there was
"a organized county in the Arkansas
valley. The limits aud name OF Bar
ton county had only recently been es-
tablished by legislative fiat. An aban
doned fort, many tracked, ineffsce.
able government road with q minute
. parallel some miles distant, camping
ground or two, the debranched trees
along the Walnut, few iudistinct sur
vey marks, and number of well-con
cealed dugOuts in the contest hooks Of
the creek were the only indication,
then extapt that civilized beings hat
previously penetrated the wilds of the
short grass country.
Great drouths and terrific billiards
had been, with due exaggeration re-
ported from Kansas. Ellsworth, fift,
miles away was the nearest tradin.
point and Salina the practical one
The great Santa Fe with q miles o