The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-31
LAST TRIP IS MADE
Byron Terrell Is Dead al Geuda
Springs.
FAMOUS STAGt DRIVER
Known by All The Old Settlers
of Kansas.

! Byron Terrell, the last OF the famous
stage drivers of Kansas is dead at Geuda
+ Springs. according 10 a dispatch received
( yesterday by the Eagle.
/ All Of the old settlers knew By Terrell
and practically al OF the distinguished
pioneers Of Kansas rode with him. He
drove Horace Greeley. Jim Lane. Henry
NJ. Stanley. the African explorer. General
/ Sherman. Justice Brewer and practically
ali Of the territorial officers Of Kansas.
More than forty years ago he drove the
stage from Leavenworth to Lawrence
then the political center OF the state.
Thence ne drove TO Topeka and the rail-
road crowded him out 10 Enlporia Eere
r ?. Murdoch and other Wichita PEG
PIE knew him more than thirty years
ago and as he drove into what was then
a little hamlet ne was the envy OF every
small boy il town.
He was as a king in the seat OF his con-
cord stage and the way he gathered up
the ribbons and laid the lash on the backs
OF his six horses was the very essence Of
the stage driving an.
The railroad pushed him on TO Cotton
wood Falls and then TO Fl Dorado and
Newton aud finally he came to Wichita
IS superintendent OF Tisdale's stage in
terests in the southwest. While here he
haG under him as stage drivers, the IA
nous Mickey jim and Mr Brown, .'Wich-
ita's own Brownie who is now, and has
been since the line came here. a postal
clerk on the Frisco. From here the
stages ran to Winfield and the men who
drove them were men or importance.
The railroad conductors Of the present
day were not in II with them. They rode
into stations like kings and remained in
their seats while hostlers changed teams
and attended to their other pleasures. It
was an event at every station. the ar
rival Of the stage was The driver US
ualIy dashed into them like mad and drew
up and laid down their ribbons with deft-
ness and grace that was delight to Wit
ness
These men were great factors in the
civilization OF the west They were a
peculiar type Of men that the younger
genera ton know but little Of. They
were the heraIds Of the passing events
along the line as well as the larger news
Of the day and their arrival was looked
fer much more agerly than the arrival OF
q train now.
By Terrell was one Of the finest types Of
them all. He helped 70 make Kansas
not only tit 70 live in. but to become one
OF the most delightful residence states in
the union and mitch of its history was
made under ais eye. lie saw some of its
best towns grow W out of the grass On
the tran over which he travelled and
finally died on the very border OF the
state. When Oklahoma opened he made
q small effort TO start a stage lire be-
tween Pond Greek and Eingfsher. but
like the Santa Fe. the Rock Island soon
pushed on and drove him out Of business.
Such men as he was are entitled 10 good
and peaceful rest after a life time of
stirring activity in hewing and blazing
the pathway OF civilization.
The Arkansas City Traveller q last
night savs OF him:
This morning a. 1 o'clock Byron II
Terriu died at his home in Geuda Springs.
after en- illness that has lasted several
Months In fact, he has been in poor
health all winter, and a few DAYS ago
caught a severe cold. which settled on
his lungs and resulted in his death BY
Terrill was = years Of age. and came 10
Kansas from Colorado. in 1858. In Colo
RADIO he was employed on one OF the
-tage lines over the mountains, and when
he came 70 Kansas he engaged in the
same business. He first drove the stage
from Wichita 70 Fort Sill. I. T.. and
after several years OF this, left this part
OF the country and went TO Arizona
In q hold-up. while driving a stage there.
he distinguished himself. and the people
elected him sheriff. He held the Office
for several years. and was known as
handy man with a gun. n a short time
he had trouble with gang Of outlaws.
and they made it so hot for him that he
had TO leave He tarried not but came
away. leaving quite a little valuable
property behind him. When the Cherokee
strip opened. he established a stage line
between Kildare ard Blackwell and drove
the hacks himself. When the railroad got
into Blackwell ne had to leave. and came
here. where he established a stage line
between Arkansas City and the springs.
IN the summer. when there we're lots q
people at the springs. he did well, and he
has become familiar figure on the
streets Of this city. he made trips every
day with his four-horse team and old
fashioned stage He was IN every sense
o. the word a stage driver. and in fzct
knew but little else de was the pioneer
in the business in this country. ard i
2 well known character. II : said that
he couldn't hitch IN team and get al
the various straps and buckles in their
proper places 70 save HIM but let him
get OF the seat with 7eiEs II two. four.
six or eisht-horse team. ard long whip
in his hands and he was perfectly az
home. He has a brother. Al who lives
here. bur Is uow n Hot Springs. AK.
The funeral VIII oceur At O'Clock to-
morrow afternoon. az Geu1a- with burial