The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-24
OLD SETTLERS GATHER.
Fourth Annual Reunion at Atwood
Entirely Successful.

Atwood. Kan, Sept. 24.-The fourth
annual reunion of the old settlers OF
Rawlins county was an enjoyable ex-
perience meeting. in which many ex-
citing "reminiscences of the early life
and settlement of this far northwestern
Kansas county were told by several or
the pioneers who have made the coun-
" bloom and blossom as the rose The
attendance was large Among the very
oldest settlers in the county is A g
Blume who located here in May, 1875
He was here during the Cheyenne In
dian raid and massacre. which took
place October L, 1878 at which time
eighteen settlers were murdered and a
number of women outraged Albert
Hemming was another old settler, 10
eating in RaWlins county in March
1873 There are forty-f1ve names OF
old pioneers on the register who To-
Gated in the county in 1879. among
which are Uncle Jack Mikesell. Patrick
Fleming, 81. A Wilson. D. NJ Finn,
John w Cochran, J. h Bliss. Daniel
Rsber. o. A Olson. s. H. Tindell, Peter
Hill and w. A. Doyle, all of whom are
living in Atwood and vicinity Most
OF these pioneers were present and
related experiences of their pioneer
life.
General George A Rawlins. Grants
chief of stair during the civil war,
after which he was his secretary OF
war Atwood was named in honor of
]. NJ. Matheney. who was the founder
of tn town. The thrilling experiences
of the early history and settlement of
Rawlfns county told by those who
were on the grounds were lessons of
intense interest to the later ones who
were eager to catch on to all the joys
and sorrows of those early pioneer
times. All of them closed their re-
marks by telling what prosperous con-
dftion Rawlins county is in today. In
most cases the sod house and dugout
Is succeeded by comfortable houses.
Herds of cattle are seen all over the
county. thousands of acres of alfalfa
have taken the place of the buffalo
grass, gTanaries are filled with wheat
and corn, railroads have been built
through the county and others are
projected, and live towns have been
RawIins county contains the famous
cattle ranches Of the Deweys, the
Rockefellers and Geo. A Perkins.
OF the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Adjoining Atwood is the home of s.
H Tindell, who has demonstrates the
fact that all kinds Of fruits can be sue
cessfu1ly grown on high land This
year Mr.. Tfndsn has raised large crops
Of apples. peaches, plums, cherries,
pears grapes and Strawberries He has
= complete system of waterworks with
a reservoir holding 800 barrels. He is
one of the old pioneers who has helped
make the old. settlers reunion a sue
cess
Then there is a suburb of Atwood
known as Pension Hill. from the fact |
that there are five families living in
that quarter. all veterans CT the civil |
war and drawing pensions.
There is NJ A. Wilson. He is the |
original alfalfa grower of northwest |
Kansas. He is cutting his third crop |
of his eighty acres, said to be the best |
WELD ever known.
r 8. Hendricks, land and abstractOr. |
Is the first banker in Atwood He start |
ed in the banking business in April. |
1885. 1t is said he Is the largest indi- |
vidual tax payer in Rawlins county /
at this time. AS president of the Raw |
Inns county abstract company he has |
built up a fine Land and abstract bust |
ness He owns two OF the best ranches /
in the county He has 300 steers. a /
fine lot of horses and two as good /
stations as can be found in this section /
OF the state.