The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-10
A RESURRECTION.
Kirwin Comes to Life After
Twelve Years Sleep.
Solomon Valley Burg Is Again
Seeing Brighter Days.
OLDLANDOFFICETOWN
Is to Have an Alfalfa Meal Mill
at a Cost of $4,000.
Several Brick business Houses
in Process of Erection.

Kirwin, Sept. 10.-In its earlier days
Few towns in northwest Kansas had
better prospects than Kirwin. Moving
the U. s. land office~away and building
the Rock Island road on the north five
or six miles from Kirwin tended to Grip
pie the town for time. but her people
staid mere. and while building and
growth in population remained at a
standstill for more than dozen yea. j.
times changed, and in the last two
years kirwin has grown faster than in
the previous dozen years.
The town takes it's name from Col.
Kirwin. an old army officer, who came
here soon after the close of the civil war
and erected a stockade on what is
known as the Lyman Perkins farm, in
the forks of Bow creek and the north
Solomon river This stockade was
known as Fort Kirwin. and only a mile
or SO from the present town of Kirwin.
1t was built to protect the settlers VINO
were travelling through to California
from hostile Indians. year or two
later the fort was abandoned and Col.
k1rwin was sent elsewhere. Kirwin
started up in 1871, taking its name from
Col. kirwin. but the word fort was
dropped. The first actual settler in this
vicinity was c. ]. Van Allen, who came
in 1869. In 1871 there followed NJ. P.
Van Allen. ]. S. Van Allen, Thos. Cox,
II. P. Candy, Isaac V. Lee. Capt. Chute.
Rollin Cawkins, ]. C. Hale, c. ]. Lamb,
E. L. Dustin, w. T. Belford, Joseph
Woods. B. F. I.ozier, A B. Parsons, A
Weaver, Samuel Brigham, John Butler
and James Forbes. Many Of these old
pioneers are living. some have moved
elsewhere, others have died ard a num-
Der OF them live in Kirwin and vicinity.
In 1872 other reinforcements came in,
including Samuel Bales, Major E w.
Warner, the Grays, J. Stage and l. H.
Perkins and his two brothers, A. B.
and Seaman. The first homestead
taken was by John Lindsey, in 1870, and
at the time the L. 8. land office was To-
Gated in Concordia
OF the early pioneer settlers who 10
Gated in this vicinity there remain
John Butler, Thomas Cox, Mrs. o. E.
Weaver, wife of Aaron Weaver, and her
daughters, Lilly and F'lossie Major E.
w. Warner, the Van Aliens, c. J., NJ.
P. and J. s., l. H. and Seaman Per-
kins, and w. H H. Gray and w H.
Gray and their families 1t is good to
see these old pioneers together, and in
tenselv interesting to hear them recall
the thrilling scenes of their early days
way out in northwest Kansas.
During the days of the L. S. land
office knowing ones say there was no
less than % firms doing business with
the sign on their buildings: -'U. S. land
office papers made out here" 1t is also
said that the firm of Don Carlos & Son
made $3.50 before breakfast one day
making out homestead papers
One of the early business men in Kir-
win is Eugene John, who engaged i'll
the harness trade here in 1879. At the
time he was operating a harness estab-
lishment in Cawker City. The Kirwin
business was the farthest west. Immi-
grafton was pouring in, and many days
his shop sold more than 80 sets of har
ness. He gave employment to six work
men at the time. He will soon be occu-
plying new quarters, substantial brick
building 27x90 feet with a 60 foot ware
room having branched out in the hard
ware and vehicle trade in connection
with harness.
. Little corn will be raised in the vicin-
ity of Kirwin. From June "a, the date
of the last rain until the 18th of Au-
gust, there wasn't any rain, consequent
ly there will be but little corn. And af-
ter all there is as little calamity talk
as there is in the communities where
big crops are raised. A gentleman who
travels all over the state and who was
here during the days of the log-rolling
carnival says that he saw more we'll
dressed, good-looking women and more
pleasing farmers, considering the par
tiaI loss of the corn crop, than in any
other community he has visited this
year. A fair wheat crop and a good
quality. and a bountifu1 crop of babies,
are blessings which have been showered
upon the Kirwinites and the farmers
in the vicinity. In the former case the
farmers showed it in their pleasing
looks; in the case of the latter. they
were present in great numbers.
Kirwin will get an alfalfa meal mill.
]. J. Lands will build one at cost of
S1OO 900 or more. 1t will have a capacity
of handling not less than Is tons of al
faIfa daily The contractor expects to
get it in readiness on or before the first
of the year.
w. G. Smith of Phillipsburg is adding
a $4,000 stock of clothing to the BUSH
ness end of Kirwin.
H A Gudger is completing three
business rooms of brick and stone. al
cost of about $4,000; Major E. w. War
ner has commenced the erection of a
stone and brick business block, while
the residence part shows the completion
and work progressing on several new
houses.
Kirwin is so situated to draw a great
trade from the east, west and south. 1t
win continue to grow because of the
enterprise of her people and her rich
and thickly settled country tributary.
The partial loss of this years crops
will scarcely be felt by farmer or busi--
ness man. A few luxuries may be shut
off. and that is all. The town deserves
better railroad conveniences, through
line would be of incalculable good
Veteran Found in the River
Leavenworth, Kan, Sept 1O.-The
body of William Osborn. an old SOL