The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-06-14

The town of Klnsley was SURVEYED
in May, 1873, and named after w. E..
Kinsley, of Boston, at that time a
large stakeholder in the Santa Fee r.
r. In consideration of which he fur
nished the money to build the old Con-
gregational church. and if anyone had
told me on the day that We gathered
together in that church for the first
time and dedicated it to the worship
of God that the time would come when
it would be used for a stable would
have thought that person insane. Oh!
Oh! Shame on the Christians who
have allowed this unholy Dissertation.
BY act of the legislature approved
March 9TH, 1874, the County of Ed
wards was created. 1t was named in
honor of w. G. Edwards, of Hutchin-
son.
In May, 1874, a petition was pre-
sented to the governor asking for the
organization of the county: c.. L.
Hubbs, N. L. Humphrey and Geo. w.
Wilson as county commissioners and
myself as census taker.
In June the governor issued his
commission to me to take the census.
At that time the law required 600 in
habltants to organize. / could only
find 3Ot and SO made my returns to the
governor and the following week he
appointed another census taker and
he found GIL.
On the 1st day of September, 1874,
the governor issued his proclamation
declaring the county organized and
appointed the commissioners named
in the petition and James A. Walker.
county clerk. The first meeting of the
commissioners was held September
3, and then trouble began.
The first regular election was held
November B, 1874 and the following
county officers were elected; John A.
Brothers, F. G. Blanchard and T. l..
Rodgers, county commissioners; Will
liam Emerson. clerk: l.. w. Higgins,
register, v. D. Billings, sheriff; e.
A. Boyle, treasurer; Taylor Flick,
county attorney. Marsena Moar,
probate judge; J. II. Woods, clerk of
district court: j. S. Perry, coroner.
There was not very much strife at
this election as there was almost Off
ces enough to go around.
The first marriage IN the county
was that ofsCapt. William Emerson,
l have forgotten the lady's name.
The first birth was a little daughter
to MIR. and Mrs. S. E. Fay, and the
first death was that of this little child.
w. c. Knight was our first superin-
tendent of public instruction and Mrs.
A. L. Maginnis taught our first
school.
The first term of court was held
June 10th 1875, S. Rioters. Judge.
In the summer of 1874 Mrs. Thomp-
son, of Chicago, gave money to pur-
chase the lumber to build town hall,
the settlers furnished the labor. In
September 1874 the hall was complet-
ed and d grand ball was given. Every
one in the county was invited and all
attended. Social distinctions were
not finely drawn then nor was it nee
essary. Official life had lent no .fic-
tious value. wealth, questionably de-
rived, had not yet brought society
distinction, and struggling merit was
as often found on the farm as in Off
cial place or madam's parlor. Men
were not judged by their clothes and
the cut of a woman's gown was of
much less moment than the bias of
her mind. Politics had no. engender-
ed petty jealousies nor taught friends
to stab each other for the advan e.
ment of selfish interests. Unsuspic-
iOus, careful and content, facing alike
poverty, trials and pioneers dangers,
the people met each other upon a com
men footing, shared their pleasures
and pooling their judgment made com
mon cause for all that came whether
for good or i'll. 1t was not heaven
but it was nearer that than it is now
or ever will be again.
The ever changing tide of fortune
has not dealt kindly with all of the
old settlers, considering the years
and the times, they have been swept
far and wide on life's main and many
drifted clear out of sight.
Friends, here [ must leave you. In
my hasty flight along the path of
years | have snatched from memory's
closet those incidents which seemed
most pregnant with results. OF tho
tender side. the home life. and the
strong true friendships formed then,
have not time to speak. The years
have made some hearts forgetful, it is
true, ingratitude has crept in where
un-fealty was Il crime and indeed life
has found some rough places and.
some clouds for US all. But what's
gone and what's past help, should be
past grief. Stronger through the fail
ures and disappointment in the past
the future opens brighter for the light
of experience.
AS for myself
find my hopes all vanished,