Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-05-19
william Learner, Pioneer.

william Learner, Pioneer.
The oldest merchant in Kansas, and
one who may, perhaps, lay claim to
having done business longer In the
same building longer than any other
merchant west of the Missippi river, is |
William Learner, Of Lecompton, who
recently retired from store he opened |
in 1856 During the 4S years interview
ing between these two dates he con-
Quoted the same kind of business, never
failing, never being sued, and never |
having obligations which he could not
meet. For IL years previous to 1856
he had been q merchant at Holidays
burg, Pa, and when he came to Kan
sas 1t was with colony of Pennsylva-
MIA people who settled at Lecompton.
He took leading part in trying to re-
tain the state capital at Lecompton.
Later he put money into a pontoon
bridge. hotel, stage, barn and other
enterprises to make Lecompton good
trading point. To Lane university he
contributed with almost lavish pro-
digality, his benefactions aggregating
$4,000, only to see at last the college
moved to another town and the bats
occupying its rooms and dormitories.
Mr.. Learner has carefully kept an &C
count Of all his transactions. He has
a ledger page which shows that first
and last he lost in bad accounts or
gave away the huge sum Of $3.50, 1000.
Born n Slave, Now Wealthy.
Booker T. Washington contributes
to The Outlook the interesting career
from slavery to aflluence of ]. G.
Groves, negro who is known as the
potato king" of the Kaw valley.
Groves came to Kansas In 1879 with
only 80 cents in his pocket. Now he
owns 500 acres Of rich land near Ed
wardsville. He has wife and II chill
dren, and they live in a 14-room mod
ern house with bathroom, private gas
plant, private water system and tel
ephone. In addition to numerous out
buildings Groves has a granary in
which are stored 5000 bushels of sweet
potatoes every winter. Last year
Groves produced 72,150 bushels of
white potatoes. His credit is said to
be worth $4,000 to $4,000.
Made Wife Stack Hay.
Mrs. Barbara Barnes, wife of Oscar
Barnes. farmer living south Of
Leavenworth, has filed a suit for d.
vorce on the grounds that her husband
made her work in the fields. stack
hay, plant potatoes, pick tomatoes,
etc. She alleges that he threatens to
kill her unless she does so.
Practiced Medicine 80 Years.
DR.. J. j. Wright died from heart
failure at Emporia last week. He came
west in 1870 and was up to the time
Of his death the Oldest practicing
physician in Emporia. He was a men,
Der Of the Methodist church 40 years
and was q practicing physician 80
years.
Contest Goes by Default.
The state oratorical contest of the
prohibition league, which was to have
been held at Ottawa, was called of r
Is G. o. Vannoy, the Ottawa orator, was ;
the only one prepared. He will rep .
resent Kansas at the Interstate con- 4
test to be held at Springfield, ILL.,, =
|
Notice has been received at Fort :
Riley that the Ninth Artillery band,
which has been stationed at the post
since its organization four years ago,
IS to be transferred to Key West, Fla, b
or station. The band is one of the 7
most noted in the army. F
w. Y. Morgan for Legislators.
The republican primaries in Reno u
county, which were carried for Hoch u
md "anti-machine" in February, were u
arried by the machine last week. w. b
Z. Morgan, ex-state printer and editor
4 the Hutchinson News was nomina-
ed for the legislature. I,
5000 Building for Masonic Home. .
Col. T. G. Fitch, chairman of the =,
oard Of directors of the Kansas ma .,
onic home. announced that the board :,
ad decided 10 add $1,000 building =,
o those now in use at the home at :,
Wichita.
For Hospital mt lola.
The doctors at lola have formed an ~
rganization to erect in lola a modern, 70
hospital. They have es
ppealed for organized assistance from d,
,dges, churches, clubs and like So
leties.
Senior Girl Laid Corner Stone. =,
The corner stone Of the Minneapolis Y
Ugh school building was laid last %
eek by Miss Hattie Barber. member N
the senior class. The building will
ost $4,000.
The VOLTS Rapacity. NJ
II is said by authority on other hi
lings concerning the farm, that one nj
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