The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-19
ONCE A DESERT.
A Thomas County Town Shows
q Mushroom Growth.
Rexford, Established Four Years
Ago, Now a Stock Center.
LANDS SELLING WELL.
Senator Bnschow President of a
Thriving State Bank.
Growing and Draws Business for
Many Miles Around.

Rexford, Feb. 19.-State Senator
Charles Buschow of the Thirty-ninth
district made great business hit
when he engaged in banking in Rex
ford. In 1902 the state bank was or
ganized with the following officers:
President Charles =Buschow; cashier,
A. A. Buschow; assistant cashier Case
Buschow. This bank has a capital
and surplus of $4,000, and deposits
at the present time. $4,000, the ma
jority being owned by the farmers.
During the last year these gentlemen
having the utmost confidence in that
town and the surrounding country
showed their appreciation of the pa
tronage and the business they worked
up to warrant the erection OF fire
proof brick building at a cost of
$4,000. For neatness and convenience
it is {. model.
ReAford is in Thomas county SO sit
uated that it is drawing trade from
the neighboring counties of Sheridan,
Decatur and RawlinS. AS a stock point
it is only necessary to say that in 1906
there were 1876 car loads of hogs and
cattle alone shipped from here, and
one day last week L, w. Butler, one
of her stock buyers paid out over
81, 600 for hogs alone.
The year 19D6 small grains were cut
short on account of drouth, yet no less
than 105 car loads of wheat and bar
ley were shipped out in space of four
months, while at one time as mu6 n as
10000 bushels of barley was dumped
on the ground on account O. the
scarcity of cars.
Rexford is known too, as stock
center. Among some of the most ex-
tensive feeders are j. ]. Fleming,
Ebbe Christianson and John Lantng,
who feed from 100 to 200 head. Ev-
cry farmers is raising hogs, and it is
claimed the reason. the town is such a
good stock center is that her buyers
pay better prices for hogs and cattle.
The town of Rexford was named in
honor of one of her pioneer citizens,
named Rexford, who has since moved
to the Pacific coast. And it is further
noted that there are only three persons
living in Smith township, in which this
town is located, who came here as
early as 1885. These three men are
DR.. H. G. Patterson, Ira Thompson
and Ed Gilbert, the rest having died
or left here. DrJPatterson is carrying
on the drug trade. He is an old vet
eran of the Eighty-sixth Ohio. He en-
joys fair health, practices his chosen
profession. and is locking forward to
happy time at the next annual en-
campment of the old soldiers of north
west Kansas whozwHl meet at his
town next September and swap old
army stories and eat pork and beans.
Lands are selling in this vicinity
from $40 to $40 an acre. and climb
ing higher. The wheat acreage is
large, ahead of former years. and it is
portion of Thomas county. An in
creased corn acreage will be planted.
The fruit and tree industry is inn
proving in the vicinity of Rexford.
John Gilbert has young peach or
chard from which he sold $3.50 worth
of peaches last year. Many farmers
have set out young orchards. The for
est tree is, too, getting in its work.
r. o. CLANCY, who represents an east
ern nursery, sold more than $1,000
worth of tress in this vicinity in 1906.
He will double this work this year.
Rexford has built up in the last four
years, that is. 1t has become a promi-
nent shipping and business center in
these years. The trade comes 20 and
rs miles around. There are here to-
day state bank, three general stores.
two lumber yards, three elevators, two
hardware and implement houses, two
hotels. drug store, furniture store, an
exclusive shoe and furnishing house,
newspaper, two livery stables and two
blacksmiths. The town has a fine
school system, of three branches, with
Miss Mary Wentworth as principal,
assisted by Miss Edna Dimmitt and
Miss Susie Hubbard. The Methodist
and Christian denominations have
churches. The Modern Woodmen
have a commodious hall. There is no
doubt there is a fine future ahead for
Rexford, her people being the class
who pull together and push forward.