The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-16
he MAS SURPRISED
N. w. WiIcox's First Visit
Here in Twenty-Five Years.
LIVES IN BUTLER COUNTY
Was Frequently in Wichita
in Early Days.

Yesterday afternoon Mr.. N. W. wilcox,
who for twenty-five years has lived in
Butler county. forty miles from this city.
now, near the town Of Keighly. arrived IN
thu city to pay his first visit to wichita
during a period of twenty-one years. Mr..
wilcox came to this country twenty-five
years ago and settled IN Butler county
near his present location He has been
there since that time and although near
this city had never been here until yes
terday. To say that he was surprised at
the growth Of the city would not express
it. He called at the Eagle Office TO see
the workings Of a modern newspaper and
told something Of the early days Of
wichita
For year after Mr.. wilcox came to
this country and settled on the Butler
county farm he made frequent trips to
this city He hauled grain here. and when
not actively engaged in farming, hauled
merchandise for other people Wichita
then was not very large and was consid-
cred one OF the frontier towns Of The
state
After that time as new towns sprung
up in Butler county and the farm de-
manded his attention, Mr.. Wilcox ceas-
ed making trips to wichita He had no
{ special business here and since his last
trip twenty-one years ago had never been
inside Of the corporate limits Of the city.
Talks of Early Days.
{ al r.
reporter for the Eagle: Il do not
know whether I am in Wichita or not 1
see very Few land marks and it is entire
" a new city 1t is true that I have not
been here for twenty-one years. My
children have been here often and they
have told me of the growth made. OF
course believed all that they said Of
Wichita, but I never supposed that it
was the city that it is. Why it is won
derful. When 1 was here the last time
there were very few houses east Of the
old Santa Fe depot. There were some,
however, but they they wer mostly shan
tbs. Wichita In those days was a frontier
town and it was typical of the real west
ern life. I was here many times during
the first year Of my residence in this
state and I saw sights which would be
considered entirely out of place in this
metropolitan city Some nights here
things were mighty lively and the young
man of today knows very little of the
early times in this city I often think
of those times and especially so since
I have seen Wichita again.
1 had no special reason for not visit
ing here. 1 have been east a number of
times, but never this way. In going over
the city today I find that everything has
been changed around. Some Of the old
hotels have been torn down or moved
away The others have their names
changed and it is hard for man who
was here in the old days to discover any
thing which would remind him OF the
new Wichita
Heard Much of Wichita
ct seems to me that this city has
grown remarkably. During the boom we
heard lots of stories regarding the
growth of the city but until recently we
had not heard os much about Wichita
My neighbors often come here and they
told me about Wichita's paved streets,
etc I am glad that I came here to see
the town I saw 50 many years ago. 1t
does not seem long to look back over the
years. but when you walk around the
streets and see the business here II seems
more ike forty years"
Mr.. Wilcox was married IN 1850 in But
Ter county and now has a family OF
children He has property IN that coun-
ty and Is counted one Of the prosperous
farmers of the section of the country in
which he resides. He originally came
from New York and first stopped in iii
nois. Then he came to the new coun-
try, Kansas He says that he is not
sorry that he came here. He says that
he has a good farm, a home and makes
a good living for himself and family
Is Visiting an Old Friend.
Mr.. Wilcox talked about some Of the
old timers, but many Of them had died
or had moved to other cities Many OF
the names mentioned are we'll known in
Wichita's history and are connected with
the founding OF the Peerless Princess
Mr. Wilcox is visiting the family of
Mr.. A. AIDES who lives in the east part
OF the city Mr. AIDES IS the pioneer
merchant Of Keighley and it was through
his invitation that Mr.. Wilcox came here
for a visit
Mr.. wilcox said. Since have seen
Wichita. 1 am sorry that have not been
here oftener. I am sure that I won't stay
so long again. Wichita is a great city
and I am glad Of it It is simply wonder
ful the way this town has built Up. I
can't realize Il"