The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-11-07

4
Kansas published at Topeka, has an
illustrated article written by Mrs Geo.
Philip entitled:
History Of the Early Days OF Victoria
George Grant, a Scotchman from
London, conceived the idea of forming
an English Colony in America. and
with that in view he came to Kansas
in 1871; bought many square miles of
| land from the Union Pacific Company,
and named it the Victoria Colony
On April 1, 1873, the Steamship Ala
bsma sailed down the CLYDE from Glas-
gov. with a number of passengers
bound for Kansas. There was also a
good supply of fine horses, cattle and
sheep on hoard. She encountered some
very rough weather, was disabled part
of the time, and was fnallv stranded
on sandbar at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi. May II the first of the new
colony landed at Victoria Most all of
the settlers preempted a quarter sec
| tion, also homesteaded eighty acres be-
sides buying railroad land from Mr..
Grant.
| On their arrival they found no house
for miles. with the exception of the
Section House, and fine depot built
more for the accommodation of settlers
than for the Company's use Thev
only reserved a small room as ticket
Office and one as freight room, the rest
of the building being used as sort of
! hotel. There were twelve bedrooms
upstairs that the settlers could use and
they all had the use OF the kitchen,
very necessary arrangement. But soon
two and three roomed houses began to
| be dotted all over the prairie where
every one was welcome to the best the
house afforded; also buffalo robe and
the soft side of the floor to sleep on
was considered great fun.
In the section house was a kind.
motherly Irishwoman, Mrs. Norton,
who will never be forgotten by these
women, many of whom never did their
own housework. and had no idea how
to rough it on the prairie She showed
l.
the slim provisions the new country af-
forded to the best advantage.
The first arrivals were Mr.. and Mrs
Macmillan and infant daughter. Aleck
Grant, Maggie Grant, Ben Davidson,
]. D. Smith, George Philip, James Sta
bles, Frank Mason, David Fulton and
Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdonald. The others
who arrived that first summer were
Sir John Prescott, Major Wilson, DR..
! Cameron, Mr. and Mrs Hider, Fred
Rawlins, Mr.. and Mrs. Boyd, W, T, L
Mack, John Hardie, Chris Rawlins,
Hon. Walter Maxwell, Mr. and Mrs
Woods and four children, Jane Hardie,
Mr. and Mrs. Seth and family Mrs
Mcdonald gave birth to a daughter
June II, which was promptly named
Victoria Grant. and was presented with
cow from Mr.. Grants herd
Miss Grant had the distinguished hon
or of being the only young lady among
the first arrivals and Ella Macmillan
| the only child.
September 80, George Philip and Jane
Hardie drove to Hays and were mar
ried by Judge McGaffgan, in the par
lor of the Cass house, Miss Grant act
ing as bridesmaid and John Hardie as
groomslnan. After the ceremony Mrs.
! Cass invited the company to partake of
an elegant wedding breakfast, such as
that lady could get up at minutes
notice. This was the first wedding and
THAR Ionroro he. hnvy horn in
| Victoria.
The first summer between forty and
| fifty buffalo were killed around Victoria
and the next two years a few stray
ones passed, which was a source of
great amusement to these young Eng
| lishmen who had been trained to the
chase. For several years hunters
would go little further west, and
come back with their wagon loaded
with hind quarters, which could be
bought for one-half cent per pound
So every one secured a quarter and
hung il out doors where it was cut up
till all the best pieces were used, and
the dried tongues were also a great
delicacy. A lovely buffalo robe could
have been bought for SO.
/ 1t was an easy matter to keep store
in those days Nobody asked for less
than dollars worth of any article,
which consisted of coffee, sugar, bacon,
beans, flour, dried peaches, prunes,
apples, and canned goods by the case
So Mr. Woods was hotel keeper, sta
tion agent, postmaster and storekeeper
The colony was composed principally
{ of gentleman's sons, who had beer
taught no occupation, but were sen
out with their pockets full of none.
I which they spent freely, knowing tha
in due time another remittance wouli
arrive, and every new arrival brough
, a dog or two, a gun or two, and usual
r ly a chimney top hat, besides an.
amount of baggage.
For several years, every once in
while there would be an Indian scare
when the whole community would picI