La Junta tribune., 1909-03-27
INTERESTING STORY OF DIVISION
OF OLD BENT COUNTY.
FR5 FIGHT FOR COUNTY SEAT
r. w. Patterson, In 4 Reminiscent
Wien, Tells How otsro County
Was Organized With la
Junta a. County Seat

1 have been asked by the Trib-
|une to write a few "reminiscences Of
1.-The struggle in the division OF Bent
Icounty, when Otero county was form
led, and in the location Of the coun-
|ty seat at La Junta, twenty years
|ago. The recent fight to divide
|Otero county. by forming a new
county out of the north part OF
Otero, has brought up the recoflec-
|tions Of the former struggle. Just
twenty years ago. owing to the sud
den influx Of people from all pats
of the United States into Western
kansas, Nebraska and Eastern Colo
rado, there was great agitation from
all parts of the state for the forma-
|tion Of new counties. This agitation
arose and was promoted chiefly by
the new towns which had sprung up
and which wanted to become county
seats. This movement started In
Kansas, q couple Of years before.
md spread into Colorado. In Kansas.
In many counties. the strife grew so
bitter and fierce that there were
(renaent riots and In = number OF
-, actual war. in which people
Fere killed and property destroyed
y violence and fire. =
Bent county. at that time. was
.rxer than the state Of Massachus-
|etts. Prior to this time there were
but four small towns, Of which La
tunta was the largest, In the county.
Ind these were all on the Santa
re. On the Missouri Pacific were
bheridan Lake, Galatea. Eads and Ar
ington, and ON the Santa Fe were
Lamar. Granada. Carlton and Holly.
Ind two or three towns off the
railroads. The division Of Bent coun-
y entered into the political cam
paign of 1888, especially in the cleo
lion Of representative and senator.
Ind there was skilful fencing be
Tween the politicians Of both par
lies for vantage. Bent county had
been strongly democratic. but the
new citizens were largely republican.
10 that the county was. at this
lime. normally republican. An effort
was made by the democrats to line
hp certain towns. which were can
lidates for county seats. in the sup
port Of their candidates for the lsgis-
ature, and In which they succeed
Id. Mr.. Swift, of Lamar. was the
democratic candidate for representa-
IN and in the combination were La
bar. Eads and Rocky Ford. BY this
Eon1 1nation Swift was elected. La
wta was republican; SO. also, we're
Rocky Ford and Lamar. La Junta
vas sought to enter this pool be-
lore the proposition was made to
Rocky Ford, her rival for county
beat honors, but La Junta refused.
Ind cast her vote for the republi-
Tan nominee, DIR. Cummings. Of Las
knimas, who was really At the start
opposed to county division. La Jun
Ia made no combination before cleo
klO0. Inc 8tllNu0C "a - S0A-S~ -
lore election proved to be ner
trength and the reason Of her sue
less.
At this time l was engaged In the
Itock business and did not live In
"a Junta. and. while had slight In
|erests In La Junta. did not take
my special Interest in the carly
teps. In the latter part Of the fail.
pr the first Of December. returned
% Illinois. where still had . farm
% look after. to spend the winter.
lust before the legislature convened
received letters from the La Junta
eaders Of the county division fight.
skiing me to 90 to Denver to assist
= Junta. AfterwarAs received
elesrans. vAicA simply answered
y mail. = haA - no<ioa Of TAX
ng an active past in The fight ~
lally. ! coasesseA, hat I ~ IN -
wry. soe I vsne - nsaver by IL
Met AisnsapesIs. whers ! vest