The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-26
ENJOYED HIS LETTER.
Feature of the Mitchell County Old
Settlers Reunion.

Beloit, Sept 26.-One of the most en-
joyable events of the Mitchell county
/ old settlers reunion was the reading or
the letter from Tim Hersey, now living
in Castle Rock, Washington state. The
letter was read by the secretary, P G.
Chubbic. Mr.. Hersey was the founder
of Beloit, having homesteaded the land
/ in October, 1863. There are many in
teresting "reminiscences in his letter of
great interest to people outside of
Mitchell county. Mr.. Hersey settled
erected the first log cabin in Dickinson
county. He moved his family to that
county in 1858, the year of the great
overflow OF the Smoky Hill river and all
sands of buffaloes fioated down the
river into the Missouri and mississippi
rivers. The same year Mr. Hersey
raised sixty bushels of sod corn per acre
Continuing his narration of pioneer
events, Mr.. Hersey speaks of locating
Hugh Little in May, 1858, the first fam
lily to make their home in the solomon
valley. He located Solomon City in
the spring of 1859, and says a number Of
men ventured up the river that year as
far as where the town of Delphos now
stands. In 1858 he traversed the north
fork of the Solomon river to where kfr-
win now is and mentions the fact that
the-e wasn't a single cabin in sight
all the way. He speaks of the last In
dain raid on Limestone creek, where
Glen Elder now is, in 1870. when the
people now living in Mitchell county
who were living here at that time
In closing his interesting letter of
"reminiscences Mr.. Hersey goes on to
say:
I'm 1860 I went out as a guide for the
Smoky Hill river expedition. 1t was
gotten up at Leavenwortn for the puf-
pose of locating a road that would be
a split between the Platte trail on the
north and the Arkansas trail on the
south. 1t went via Lawrence, Topeka
Manhattan and Junction City to Pixies
Peak and Denver. This was the year of
the Kiowa Indian war. We had four
encounters with them, losing one man
and wOunding another. The expedition
proved successful in the end, for it
gave US the Kansas Pacific railroad to
Pixies Peak and Denver. The Ben Hol-
liday stage line was put on the route in
1866. I had the contract for putting up
hay for the line and the military post
until 1867. I had never been west or
the forks of the Smoky Hill river, but
Green Russell, the man VINO discovered
gold in Colorado, told me that the south
fork was the route to Pixies Peak; we
went that way, and so does the Union
Pacific railroad to Pixies Peak or Colo
RADIO Springs, as it is now called.
I am under many obligations to my
old friend, Geo. w. Martin, now secre-
tary OF the Kansas Historical society,
for volume No. of that society 1t
gives the "reminiscences of long ago by
those knew personally, more than one
half of whom are taking their last long
sleep. have shed many tears Overhead
ing that book"
In closing Mr. Hersey says: IT am
past II years old, the evening of life is
upon me, my sands are nearly run, but
I am still proud Of many things was
able to accomplish
Snort talks were made by many pfo-
neers. including ex-State Senator Arson
Cooke D. W. McCutchan, W. 2. Ram
sey, C. w. Culp, A. G. Mead, present
of the legislature from Mitchell
county; l. D. Young, candidate for state
John Domino, and others.
These addresses told the history of
county from its organization
Every old settlers wife brought along |
a basket filled with eatabies, and it was
such a feast that the good women are |
only capable OF providing.
The new officers elect for next year
are: President John Domino; secre- !
tary P G. Cnubbic; treasurer, W. c. |
HofTmeister