The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-18
KNUDsoN is KING.
Raises More Alfalfa Than Anybody
Else in Thomas County,

EISe In InOmaS county.
Gem, Oct. 1S-Half a dozen or more
of the old pioneers of this section hap
pened in town, and they expressed
themselves as follows: 'sAll of the old
settlers have made money in Thomas
county, that is those who have stuck
to the farm" And then they told how
they had made their money. There is
falfa, and this year his crop has been
entirely satisfactory. Raising alfalfa
beats raising wheat" Mr.. Case says.
He has the second and third cuttings
yet, and expects it to yield not less
than five bushels of seed to the acre.
cially he is well satisfied with his
Thomas county investments. He came
here about five years ago.
w. o. Eaton came to Thomas county
in 1885. He was poor financially. He
had grit and good health. He home
steaded. He was one of the first mer-
chants of Gem. He is now the owner
of about 1900 acres of land in Thomas
county. He is large wheat raiser,
and has 1000 acres seeded himself, be-
sides he has the balance rented out,
having furnished the seed. He is cash
Ter of the Gem State bank, and owns
several business houses and residences.
He has been a valuable addition to the
town he has worked to build up, has
made money and spent it literally for
the towns good.
John Houston came to Thomas
county in 1885. He is big wheat raiser
and stockman. He owns one of the
best improved farms in the county. He
is stockholder in the Gem State bank
Jasper Coin has raised large family
and is one of the pioneers of this sec
ton. He has a fine farm, well i'm
proved, and is a big wheat raiser. He
has a large number of cattle and
horses.
John Smith came here in 1889 He
owns $50 acres of land, and has about
500 acres in wheat. His farm is stock
ed with several head of horses. He re-
He is so close to Easy street that he
can afford to rent and live in town and
look after his possessions.
Henry Franklin owns seven quarters
wheat raiser and owns stock in the
Gem State bank.
H. T. Knudson is the alfalfa king of
Thomas county. He has about $50
acres. In March last he shipped IS
carloads Of baled hay to Kansas City,
besides he has a large crop of hay left.
He has 100 acres left for seed which he
says will average not less than five
bushels an acre. He came to the
county in 1880. Somebody has said of
Mr.. Knudson: HE is successful; he
has in sight his team and big wad of
P S. Houston is another of the fell
lows who came here in 1885. He
brought his grit with him. He has
been so busy he doesn't get time to get
sick. He has LOO acres of growing
wheat He owns a large upland ranch
near Gem stocked with horses, mules
and cattle. He is the owner of a large
elevator here, is president of the Gem
State bank, and owns a one-half in
terest in the lumber yard. Nor is he
without a home. His resident is mod
ern. the best in town, and cost Sc, 500.
Many other farmers near Gem own
from $50 acres to a quarter section and
more of Thomas county land.
The Rock Island built through here
in 1888. Because of its commanding To-
cation and picturesque view the rail-
road company named it Gem. The
name is all right, it is the gem of the
prairie, for one can see in either di-
rection for Is miles. The town has
three elevators, a state bank, two gen.
eraI stores, lumber yard, two hardware
and implement firms, newspapers, and
the Methodists and Baptists have
houses of worship. The town owns a
cement school house, with three de-
partments, Martin Nelson, principal,
assisted by Miss Blanche Davis and
Miss Katie Basin. A. ]. Smith is the
lumber dealer. He is postmaster too.
c. V. Plot operates a restaurant and
meat market. His two daughters, Vera.
aged 13 years, weighs 165 pounds, and
the younger one. Hazel, II years old,
weighs 100 pounds. They are healthy,
pretty as picture can be. and doubt
less there isn't another family in the
state that can produce two of their
children of like ages that will compare
with the two young girls in the family
of Mr.. Plott
Land in the vicinity of Gem is held
at about SIS an acre. The acreage in
wheat is the largest in the history of
this section of Thomas county.
The Gem rapid transfer company has
given the town quite boost in rail-
road circles. The inventor is Rev. A.
N See. a retired Methodist minister,
who claims that the railroads of the
country can save millions of dollars an