The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-06
PLUNGED, And
HAD NO MONEY
Ohio Man Sought a Home in
the New Country.
MADE A GOOD DRAWING
His Claim Made a Townsite
and Trouble Came.

Guthrie, Okla, Dec. 5.-When A. y. BY
homa at the opening Of the Kiowa-Co-
manche county in 1901. he came as did
thousands of others, a homesteader look
ing for a valuable claim. upon which he
might spend the remainder OF his days in
peace and comfort. He was man of
some prominence in his native town. an
alleged close friend OF Congressman
Southworth, and is a civil war veteran.
serving with valor in one of Ohio's many
volunteer regiments.
1t was on Byers claim. in Kiowa coun-
ty, Oklahoma, however, that TOWNSHIP
prospectors determined 20 locate the town
of Harrison. He was successful in the
great land lottery of drawing an excellent
tract OF 160 acres near the northern line
of the indian reservations, which were
being opened. The story OF the town CT
Harrison, closely connected with the life
story of Byers. since re tGca.ei IN this
territory. is interestingly tod by f. IT..
Redfield, editor Of the Harris IN Gazette.
who was a recent visitDr ID Guthrie He
says:
bic. The town was ior1 before Tia. ew
county was OPEN. every plan for her
growth and development beirG arranged
by the prospectors who, It Is alleged.
made a contract with Eysrs to give rim
s2.0o0 for his claim for :ownsiee purposes.
Whether such contract was ever made
or not. such a result fo.Iowd The town
site officials, self cons..t Itsl, laid DOT The
town on Byers' quarter-sectien. and upon
this land business blocks quickly went up
and corner lots in that district brought
as high as $500 even before there was
any guarantee whatever that good deeds
any at all, could be secured for the
land.
The TOWNSHIP men received $4,000 from
lot sales, which money they claimed
would be used To develop the town. and
they reserved for themselves. of course.
many of the town lots, including many
of the best But in the mainline ii Is al
legged that Byers attorneys got the i'm
preston into his head that 81, was not
enough for the claim. ard consequently
his price went up to $4,000. In the mean
time. again, there was a ruplor went forth
to the effect that Byers took this special
site purpose and not as bonafide home
steader. and some person filed a contes;
on the claim. Then another quarter sec
ton was added as part of Harrison, to
which good title was secured. and the
town built in that direction-the residence
portion-the business blocks being firmly
established on the Byers land
Then. TO add TO our complications. the
original self-constituted townsite officials
seemingly deserted us, for they are no.
there now and none of the $4,000 secured
from lot sales was ever used toward the
development of the town.
1.-THE contest against Byers' claim was
won by the contestant in the government
land office at FL Reno, Okla. and also in
the general land Office at Washington. ID.
c., but the finding was reversed by Sec
rotary Hitchcock of the interior depart
ment. Upon top of all this contesting an
Ohio company filed a mineral claim on
the Byers' quarter section, but It Gidn' t
last long. being thrown out 10y Mr..
Hitchcock
Along about this time Byers is said
TO have married again and some matri-
monial troubles evidently followed. as the
secured his wife's promise. it is alleged.
to go to Washington and give evidence
against her husband Then Byers had a
shooting melee and was thought TO have
fatally injured one of the towns promi-
nent citizens as the result of the original
townsite quarrel. Byers was jailed, but
finally gave bond a heavy one, and was
released, being now under indictment for
that assault. His victim. however. has
recovered. During his sojouTn i'm prison
he renewed friendly relations with his
wife and they are still on such terms. II
is said now that Byers is financially en-
barrassed and IS being upheld by his at
torneys who hope to win the land contest
case and make back their money. together
with their fees.
Now the towns people are working up
new evidence 10 present to Mr.. Hitcheos k
against I5yers in the original contest case
and they hope 10 win out. thus giving
them good titles TO their lots. All citizens
are anxious 10 have Il settled in some
way. as they are tired Of the delays and
continued troubles.
Recently the people thought 20 ineor-
porate. and although an ciss;icn vas held
and only one person In tow voted against
the proposition. ye. ~ the REQUEST snd
upon the showing rade ey Byers' friends.
the court ordered Dsr;na neni iEJrnction
20 operate agains; in"nro lration. Thi-
was another chance sOce DESPITE all re
troubles. nevertheless Iiarrisssn has grown
steadily and Is prcspering
HE PLEADED GUILTY.