The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-21
EAGLE CHIEF
HAD M EM0RIES
FOR NJ CURE
Seeing the Noted Greek Re-
minds Him of Cowboy Days
AND OF OTHER EVENTS
Notably His Stone Quarry and
Steamboat Experiences.

Cleo. 0. T.. Sept. 2O.-while in this por
ton Of the territory a few days ago, hi
early experiences in Oklahoma, before
was known as Oklahoma territory. wer
recalled to Bird S. Mcclure by seeing
the Eagle Chief river near here. Whei
sixteen years Of age, Mr.. Mcclure lef
his home in Chautauqua county to becom
a cowboy on the range. At that time h
was working for enough money TO bur
books and pay tuition in his efforts TO Sc
cure an education. he spent three year,
IN the cattle business, usually on tn
trails. AT that time Mr.. Mcclure was thu
youngest Of any Of the cowboys but b.
managed TO hold his own with them. Fl
nall5-, accommodating enough money fol
the present, he left his work on Eagle
Chief river at some point in this county
and rode TO his home in southern Kansas
At one time when Mr.. Mcguire was
working on the range, he was subpoenaec
to appear in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as Z
witness in a cattle case. After reaching
that city he was informed that the case
would not be called for some weeks
Rather than spend the money for board
and lodging. which he had earned by
hard work, while waiting for the case tc
be called in court he hired as a deck
hand, and while yet d boy, did some Of the
hardest work that any man can do-thai
of handling merchandise and other stuff
shipped on the rivers.
At one time after having spent some
months in school. after leaving the range
ar Mcclure worked in Elders stone
quarry, in Fl Dorado, Kansas. He start
ed In as one Of the low men, but within
a very short time he was madesa clerk
s. the Office with a salary and it was
with regret that Elder received his res
ignaton some time later. Mcclure went
back 10 school and worked his way
through the institution at Emporia.
where he ard Tom Ferguson became 50
Intimately acquainted with one another.
These experiences were told by Mr.. Nc
CURE while riding along the Eagle Chief
VALLEY in this county, a few days ago.
The size Of the big county Of Woods
has been q source OF contention since the
Organization of the county The matter
OF county division has again been brought
to the front in the present campaign.
This agitation applies only to county mat
tiers. and win not affect the vote for dele
gate TO congress in the least
People ia certain portions Of the county
viii attempt to have bill introduced in
the next legislature providing for the di-
vision of the county. Tt is probably that
the attempt viii be the result of a desire
& have three counties made out of the
one big county. If such should prove 10
be the case Alva. the present county
seat, would undoubtedly be the county
seat of one Of The northern counties. and
Cherokee the county seat of the second
q the northern counties The third coun-
~ would be whar~ is now the southern
portion of Woods county. with cleo the
county seat Of il. cleo is almost in the
central portion of the county. The coun-
e. division matter has been principally
from people living in the extreme south
err portion Of the county. This has been
0ccasioned by the fact that it is many
>ciles Ia The county seat which. at times.
= is claimed is q hardship ON the farmer
who is forced % appear in AIva for court
o. other matters.
once. I'm the legislature of the terri
tory. "a bill was passed dividing the coun-
~ but when 1t reached Governor
Barnes il was vetoed. Another bill passed
the house hut when it reached the coun-
Gil Is failed % receive the number of votes
necessary 10 make il law. This was
severe disappointment 70 the men who
were pushing The county division matter.
and they asserted when leaving Guthrie
that they would push the matter until
division of the county was secured.
Nh2t effect the county division matter
will have on county politics IS something
OF question Il was brought up this
time bE the northern portion of the coun-
T. securing The greater portion Of the
places on the county tickets. The South
Side fellows objected and Immediately
BEGAN talking county division. That a
bin VIII be introduced I'm the legislature
T. divide the county is little question. and
untI after the matter is settled by the
legislature one way or the other. it viii
r The cause If agitation in the county.
There - b.E sentiment against any
agtaton that would Dee prolonged and
disturb the material interests Of the
county.
Woods county IS undoubtedly one OF
the most fertile and productive counties
c; The territory The farmers q that
county are prosperous and happy peo-
Pie They haze lew cares and year after
year are making money. The crops this
year Rave been very nne. considering the