People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-05-04
By S. C. BURNETTE.

Less than third Of a century ago the
place where the city Of Caldwell now
stands was untouched by any civilizing
influences. The buffalo roamed the I'M
dulating prairies at will, disturbed only
by the adventurous hunter. The Red
Man crossed his native heath without,
fear of meeting his detested fOe-civil-
lied man. Here was a favored spot in
his migratiOns from his eastern to his
western domain.
The level lying plains with abundant
buffalo grasses afforded pas ure for the
herds, while the crystal streams wind
ing their sinuOus ways through the
valleys afforded abundant water sup
ply besides the luXuriapt growth of
grasses upon their banks.
The site of the city is a beautiful one
Fall Creek running just to the south
and west, and Big Casino Creek to the
east, form a gradually rising ridge. Civ
ing to the city fine natural slope 20
the three sides, thus providing good
drainage, rendering the city healthful
and most desirable place to live in.
HISTORICAL.
The history of Caldwell dates from
the year 1871, when Capt. C. H. Stone,
]. H. Dagner and G. A. Smith formed
the first town company and laid out a
tOwnsite.
In the same year there was built a
big building in which Capt" Stone
ran a grocery with his barrel of whisky
as the predOminaing feature.
Shortly afterwards a saloon was built
by John Dickie, and Cox & Epperson
started grocery.
Like all other western towns the
dominant element was the cat.leman
and the cowboy. The latter, as is
usual even today, when he reached the
town filled up on bug juice" and pro-
ceeded to make merry. This led to the
usual amount of quarrels, and for g
few years succeeding the location of the
town lawlessness held full sway. Num-
erous killings occurred and the CITY
marshals of that day were powerful
only as they Were able to use their
guns.
This part of the city's history is now
relegated to the past.
1t was in July, 1879, that Caldwell
was chartered as a city of the third
class, and the first officers were Noah
Dixon, mayor; j. D. Kelley, ST., police
judge; j. H. Blair, F. G. Hussen. H C.
Cnallis, A. C. Jones and Abraham
Rhodes, councilmen. On March q, 1887
Dy proclamation of Gov. John A. Mar
th' II was declared to have attained a
population of over 1000 and to be q
city of the second class. Those who
nave sat in the executive chair since
the char;er are: Noah Dixon, Cass
Burris, A. NJ. ColsOn, VIM. Morris Geo
W. Reilly, John W. Nyce, Geo. p
smelling, S. H. Horner, DR.. ]. F. Rob-
ertson, 5. 7. futile and the present oc-
cupant, DR.. j. F. Robertson.
In 1880 the Santa Fe built to Caldwell
10 accommodate the cattle trade arriv
ing at the state line over the noted
ChlSholm Trail" This provided the
town with the necessary transnorta-
uon facilities to the east and wac On
important factor in its continued
growth which proceeded steadily I'M
I'll 1871, when the boom period s.ruck
caldwell in common with all Kansas
towns. As if by magic blocks of briol,
ana stone sprang up on the sites Of tha
ola frame buildings and the civ soon
wore metropolitan appearance Tbis
Growth was Intensified by the Chicag,
MOCK Island and Pacific railroad buiId.
ing IN from the north. ESTABLISHING
shops and making it a division noint
Al the same time the st. Louis and Co.,
francisco built through the towo -
Anthony. Of course erection of hniId
lhgs was overdone as the surround
ing country was not sufficiently dAvo1-
oped land there came the colIonso 80
the boom and the consequent deprecio
tioh OF values. This was added n
greatly by the opening of Oklahoma
Inc city was reduced from a populatio,
OF S.OOO to 1000, and it was savero
lrial to those who stayed through thosa
days However, today they have much
10 repay them for their faith. They
nave seen the deserted houses rafired
again, the business of the town gr,u,
from year to year, until there is a bat-
'er volume of business, more people of
wealth., the population nearly doublad
the Indebtedness of the city yearly de.
crease improvements, public and pri.
Vate' going on, all the result of the an
terprlse OF those who were loyal and
faithful to the belief that nowhere IN
earth is there a place better located or
better suited for success in business or
a genial place to live.
The situation from a business mint
OF view is exceptionally advantageous
Ihere are no small towns to detract
trade from her. As a result the busi-
ness houses of all kinds are truly rem
resentaiive. They enjoy a good trade
that is built on a sound basis. Annie
banking facilities are provided by The
Stock Exchange bank an institution
that has passed through the boom and
does solid business. Among her in
dustries The Caldwell Milling COMPANY
with capacity of 400 barrels of -four
daily is the most important This mill
is always running to the full capacity.
The machine shops of the Chicago.
Rock Island and Pacific railroad dis