The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-22
Only Town i'm Sixth District to
Get Federal Building.
Some Early History and Some
of Its Virtues.

! BeIoit Oct. 22-Beloit is the first
town in the Sixth congressional dis
trict to get federal building. The
work is being pushed forward on the
new postoffice building. The Belolt
office was established in 1871, a year
/ prior to the orga MIA ton of Mitchell
! county, of which Beloit is the county
| seat. The first postmaster was H. H
Lyon, who held it a year, when he was
I succeeded by G. H. Long, who was sue
! ceeded in 1874 by Capt. W. H. Mitchell,
who served until 1886. J. S. Rodgers
succeeded Mr.. Mitchell in 1885, holdir 6
! it until 1890. Then came w. c. Perdue,
| who served a term of four years, or
! until 1894 DR.. c. A. Perdue served
during 1894, when he was succeeded by
A. F. Lutz until 1888. w. C. PerdEe
was again appointed and served from
1898 to 1906, when he gave way to H.
Jermark who filled the Office until 1910,
when w. c. Perdue was again appoint
ed and is serving at this time.
Since the esta blishment of the Beloit
postoffice, at the time when Kansas
only had three congressman, VIM. n.
Phillips was congressman. He repre-
scented the First district, in which
Mitchell county was located. John A.
Anderson succeeded Phillips for con-
gress in this district, at which time
Mitchell county was still attached 20
the district, the delegates from this
county voting for Anderson. In July,
1880, the convention was held in Be
lott, and Anderson was chosen for con-
gress, and again renominated in 1882
In June, 1882, the big Four" conven-
ton was called to redistrict the state
congressional districts, and Lewis
Hanback, was one of the successful
candidates. His home at the time was
in Salina, but he soon moved to OS-
borne and became part of the Sixth
district. He was the first congressman
IN, he Fri of a h. mi
ton.
In May, 1884, he was renominated at
the Downs convention. E. J. Turner
of Sheridan county succeeded Han
back. Other Republican congressman
in the Sixth district We're w. A. Reeder
and 1. D. Young, while N. B. McCor-
mick of Phillips county, Democrat.
served one term. and VIM Baker of
Lincoln county, Populist. served three
terms.
The First Settler.
Speaking about Mitchell county pio-
neer history, Wilder's Annals says
that early in the year of 1856 the first
settler in the county put in his appear
ance and his name was Joseph Decker.
In the legislature of 1867 among the
acts passed by that body was one de-
filming the boundaries of Mitchell
county.
In May, 1870, the same authority re-
ports three men were killed by Indians
on Limestone creek. In October of the
same year the county was organized,
and named in honor of William D.
Mitchell, a private soldier in Company
K, Second Kansas regiment.
Beloit has been progressive ever since
the postoffice was esta blished. There
should be modern opera house similar
to those in Concordia, Norton, Oberlin,
Mankato, and other towns. BelOit 8
Avenue hotel is up-to-date, modern and
frst-class. The milling company is one
of the largest in north central Kansas, |
has splendid electric lighting and water |
systems, the home of one of the state /
industrial school for |
girls, has a daily newspaper which mer- |
its the success it has attained, besides |
two weekly publications.
The Beloit chautauQua this year
proved a financial success. The pro- |
gram was highly instructive and enter |
and the association cleared /
over $500, which added to what they
already had in their treasury leaves
them more than SLIGO to the good
The Solomon river in the vicinity of |
Beloit which has overlooked the park
several times in years past, the high
waters chasing the campers from their
tents to higher places, is likely to make
now that gas has surely been
discovered bubbling up from the water,
and when a match was applied it
would ignite and burn.
The Business Mems club of Beloit are
already active in the matter of gas
and oil, and like the big success of the
late barbecue they will find the stuff
if il here in r,auiroo