Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-03-27

4 Few Of Those Who Helped Iake I
Fine Community.
Bv ". R. Bunting

~ - M ouullub
A visi: to Lincoln township some
time ago brought back to our mind
the time when We were among the
original settlers of that township. In
going back over that period, the old
settlers of 1875 and II, as we lemem
Der them, were about as follows.
Beginning at section one. The north
east of section twowas the homestead
ct Mrs. Matilda Morris, and she lives
there yet. The northwest was occupied
by a man by the name of Dudgeon,
who sold lumber in Great Bend. The
southwest was occupied bv James
Barka. who sold to H. J. Smith, and
al Mayes lives there now. The south
east was taken by John Birbeck as a
timber claim, and he still owns it al
though he lives in Great Beud.
The northe st of section four was
taken by W. R. Hoole, who proved it
up, moved to St John, became the
political boss of the county, was post.
master at one time, edited paper,
ran a bank, and did more to locate
the county seat at St John than any
ten men in the county. Finally he lost
his grip. after which he moved to
ashington, where he was elected a
state senator, and came very near to
being elected a United States senator.
He is now running store in south
east Kansas. Frank LANCER lives on
the place now. The northwest quarter
was Hoole's timber claim. Hobert
Eddy took up the south east quarter.
He was bachelor and left the county
because he could not find some girl
to love him. The southwest quarter
was taken up by one Oziss Powell
of Arkansas, who was about the most
profane man we ever knew. He sold
out early, remarking that he was CO.
ing to heaven and headed for Texas.
The northeast quarter of section
six was taken by John Heueisen, who
has staid with the county and has &C.
cumulated other lands. He has a fine
home, and also owns the northwest
quarter of the same section which was
taken up by his brother, Joe Heuei-
sen, who is now a railroad man in
Colorado. The southeast of six was
settled on by man by the name of
Pickett, and he and his family were
the historical Arkansaw family and
he was the fiddler that originated the
first strain of the famous tn le, known
as the ArkanSaw traveller. He was one
of these fellows that could not get
work when he wanted it, and could
not work when he could get it SO he
silently sold out, and flew his kite
early one morning. Thomas c. Kin
ney proved up the south erst quarter
and sold out in 1882, moving to Bnt.
Ter county, where he and his wife have
since died.
The northeast of eight was proved
up by Robert Gates, who sold out
and moved to the east part OF the
state. His son. Ed Gates, still lives in
the township. The northwest quarter
of the same section was settled by
Sam Jobes who lived there many
years. He now lives near Cherokee.
Okla, where he owns good farm
. and is comfortably fixed. The south
west of eight was the timber claim of
W. H. Campbell, who all of the early
settlers in this county knew. He died
at Perry, Okla, few years ago. The
southwest of eight was the homestead
Of Richard Shute, who lived there
many years, moved away, came back
and bought the south west quarter of
eighteen, and having gained.a COM
potency moved into this city, dieing
short time ago.
The northwest quarter of section
ten was taken up by John Hender-
sshot. He sold out early, and the land
now belongs to John REIN, formerly
Of this citynow living in Kansas City.
The northeast was John Birbeck's
homestead, and he lives there vet.
The southwest quarter, Billy Cole