Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-09-14

its day on account of water being
found there, but little now remains
of the old town except the abandoned
railroad well. The buildings were
moved away, some of them to the
new town. Perhaps the only build
ing of the old tcwn still existing is
that which stands in Lot 26 in Block
40 and is now used as an office by Pur-
cell & Phares. The city of Wa-Keen-
ey established water and light systems
in the summer of 1909 and the rail-
road now buys water from the CITY,
The first homestead entry made in
Trego county was that of John @,
Henry in 1875 and comprised a part
of the old Trego Tank townsite, be-
ing the northwest quatter of section
eight in township twelve Soulh range
twenty-three west of the 9Th p. NJ.
Trego county war organized in the
summer of 1879 and held its first cleo
tion July 20. George Pinkhams was
the first county clerk and John Week
Ell the first treasurer. A government
| land office was moved from Hays to
Wa-Keeney in October, 1879, but was
discontinued February IA, 1905.
March %, 1880, John ii. PRESCOTT,
judge of the 18th judicial district,
an order Incorporating the city of
Wa-Keeney and the first city election
was held April 6, 1880. The vote was
canvassed by A. H. Blair and F.PW.
Ohlinger, B. J. F. Hanna was elected
Mayor; Jas. Kelly, E. L, Roberts. w.
n
FusoR councilman. Mr.. Blair and
MEzOlson are still living in the city
and actively engaged in business.
At a special election held July u,
1887, bonds were voted for the purpose
of erecting a court house. The cor
ner stone of the new building was
laid with Masonic ceremoffes, Satur-
day June ?, 1888, George Pinkham
one of the contractors, read short
laying of the stone. The sketch was
published in the Western Kansas
World of that date and copies of the
| World and other local papers were
deposited in the stone with other
memorials. Capt. B. J. f. Hanna
waa master of ceremonies and alsode
| liyered an grafton in the opera hall in
the ''keeney Block, a stone build
| ing at the southeast corner of Block
80, where the Trego store now is. The
land office and the county offices, also
were located in the Keeney Block for
several years prior to ohe building of
the new court house. The county Of
fees were moved into the new build
ing in January 1899, and the land Of
fee few years later.
The question of establishing a coun-
ty high school was submitted to the
voters of the county at the general
election held held Nov, 8, 1904. The
proposition was approved and the
school established in the Wa-Keeney
city school building in 1905 At a
special election held Feb, 13, 1912, an
issue of bonds was authorized for the
purpose of erecting and equipping
county high school building. 1t is
now proposed to lay the corner stone
of the new school house with Masonic
ceremonies. Thursday, September 10,
1912. The site for the new building
consists of Block 25, and was donated
by citizens of Wa-Keeney.
Trego county was more fort unate
in the matter of Indian troubles
than mauy other counties in north
west Kansas but had her share. In
dians killed two soldiers near Hack
berry station on the Denver trail in
the summer of 1867. These men had
struggled from Clusters command at
the time he made his famous march
from FIT. Wallace to FIT. Hays, $50
miles in 50 hours.
Thomas Parks a Union Pacific all
road contractor was killed by Indians
June Is, 1867, near Moss Agate
Springs, about two miles north of
Voda. a negro with him was wound
ed but escaped, only to die few
days later.
the Denver trail stations were at
tackled and some of them destroyed.
a company moving threshing ma
chine along the trail was attacked and
their machine burned. The place
where this occurred is still known as
Threshing Machine Canyon and is
near the northwest corner of section
26-14-22. A pumping station on the
railroad near the eastern line of the
county was destroyed and the, pump
er killed, the place is still known as