The Washington times., 1905-08-27
FOUNDED THIRTY
TOWNS IN WEST
After Death, He Gets One
Cemetery Lot.
ENTERTAINED GREAT MEN
Long Search for Graves of His Little
Long Search for Graves of His Little
Ones Finally Crowned With
Partial Success

ABILENE, Kan. Aug. 2s.-The city
council has sent to the family OF Tim
Hersey the founder OF this town, a
deed to a lot in the cemetery here, with
the assurance that IL will be kept tidy
at the citys expense.
Probably there viii be erected on il a
monument to old Tim himself-for he
died up in Washington State the other
day.
He was the Vests most persistent
town builder. He founded thirty cities
and towns but named none after him
self. and finally died 1000 miles from
any OF them.
This was one of his creations. He
came across the plains in 1867 and built
a log cabin on the banks OF Mud creek,
where now stands a $4,000 mansion. He
was the first white man on the town
site, and buffalo used to feed between
him and civilization by the thousand
Visited by Great Men.
His log cabin was tine stopping place
for those who crossed the plains in the
early days. Bayard Taylor spent two
days there when on his Western tour.
Horace Greeley was a guest, and Cen
eraI Grant and General Sheridan more
fCrts made this their headquarters.
Tim Hersey was known throughout
the Western frontier. But others came
in and a town was started.
Too thick for me- said Hersey one
day, and with his family-an that was
left OF 1t, for three little girls had died
here-he went up 10 the mouth OF the
Solomon.
He founded the town Of Solomon; then
farther up came Cawker Belcit, Downs, |
and a score OF similar places, now thriv |
ing communities. His wife named Sol |
omon and Abilene-both out of the
Bible The other towns named them !!
selves.
Bought Tombstones.
And then one day queer thing hap /
pened. one of those things that would 4
not be possible save IN a new country. (
Hersey went back TO Illinois to visit l
his old home, and there purchased three 1
marble tornbstones. each with proper /
lettering and little verses of commemo-
ration 10 decorate the graves OF the /
three children who died during Hersey's (
residence IN this city.
He shipped them here. and later came /
intending to put the stones in |
place
But much had happened since he left.
The wild and woolly cowboy days had (
passed away. The cattle trail orgies
were ended and the better civilization of
the new era had begun.
The cemetery that was once 4 wind
blown. grass-covercd hill had been laid
out IN streets and lots. and the drive
ways graded. Hersey could not find the
graves OF his children. He tramped over
the hin day after day. always in vain.
Gone Twenty Years.
Sadly he vent on West. and for TWEEN
" years little was heard of him. Then,
last fan. he wrote 70 the mayor this re-
quest. He wanted the three marble
headstones left here. but never properly
placed He asked to have the mforward-
ed 20 him. al least the portions contain
ing the lettering.
The town was stirred by the incident
and by it's sympa thy with the city's
founder, then an old man. After much
search two OF the stones were found,
one of them being used as a doorstep.
The other IS lost
Something else was found: the graves
An oldtimer remembered that an old
time sexton had told him when here on
A viss that over the hill in a little hol-
low were some graves OF children. A
search was made. and beneath the mat |,
81 blue stem prairie grass was found a
natural stone marker on which could be
ieciphered with difficulty the letters,
IS H" One OF the children WAS named
Sarah.
So the city officials notified Hersey
and ordered the lot cleared and put in
shape for him. A deed waS made out
ind<sent to the towns founder-but d
'ew days ago came the news that he
lad passed away suddenly. !.