Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-10-22
THE STORY OF THE
PIONEERS OF DICKINSON

meant more than the simple aban-
donment of the many comforts and
luxuries we had left behind at the
old homes. The first to find a home
in Dickinson county were Lennon
brothers who located on the govern
ment road on Chapman creek; this
was as early as 1855. In 1856 Aug
ust Packard located his claim on the
south bank of the Smoky Hill river.
four miles west OF Lennon broth
ers' claim. T. F. Hersey located on
Mud creek the same year. In the
spring of 1857 there were not to
exceed a half dozen families within
the territory forming Dickinson
county. In 1857 the boundaries Of
Dickinson county were established
and the name Dickinson was chosen
In honor of Senator ID. F. Dickinson
OF New York. During the fall Of
1857 and summer OF 1868, several
new settlers located on Lyon creek
on the east and Turkey creek in the
south central part OF the county. |
recall the names: G. F. Staatz, j..
r. Staatz and william Bruso Of
Lyons creek; A. j. Markley, Turkey
creek. william Lamb and four sons,
]. W., A. H., G. r. and w. H. all
located in the Smoky Hill valley.
e. w. Bradfield, Michael and Char
les Callahan located on Mud creek.
d. Bruce located at the mouth Of
the Solomon river and established
a ferry there. Henry Whitley and
G.. B. Hall filed on claims where
the town of Solomon is now located.
Late in the fall of 1858 the organi-
cation of Dickinson county was
made by Governor Denver who ap-
pointed the following officers: Will
liam Lamb, James Long and Will
liam Mulhagen, county commission
ers, and DR.. Gerot, county clerk.
The first regular meeting of the
commissioners was held at
the residence of William Lamb on
section 8, township 10, range 8, and
the following county officers were
appointed by this board: J. w.
Lamb, treasurer; John Long, sher-
If; John Erwin, register of deeds;
T. F. Hersey, surveyor; G. w. Free
man, probate judge, and William
Frost, superintendent of public in
,truction. The board of county
designated New Port,
the only plated townsite in the
county at that time, and which was
located on east half of section 3.
township 10, range 3, as the coun-
y seat. The Town Company of New
Port, composed of Nicholas b.
D. M. Rullison and DR.. Ger
It, Immediately erected three log
buildings on the public square, one
If which was designated as the court
house.
In the early spring of 1859 ex-
element ran high ON account of
yold having been found at Pixies
Peak. AS early as February 18th Of
his year fifty-four gold seekers
started over the Smoky Hill route
foot, carrying their supplies, Of
he average weight Of eighty pounds |
yer person, on their backs. The
Smoky Hill route was claimed to be
It least five hundred miles shorter
han either the Platte or Santa Fe,
he then old. established trails.
These fifty-four men were but a
fore-runner of what followed. BY |
he middle of the following April
mule and horse teams, with inter-
,ening foot-men with hand carts,
Wheel barrows and every conceiva-
lie manner of vehicle, were hurry
ng on to the land of golden prom
Sc, and many of them to their
loom. Interest in these new goid
ields at our very door had awak-
ned transportation companies, to
What appeared to them. a golden
opportunity.
The great Butterfield Stage Com
ANY of Leavenworth determined to
nut on daily line OF stages from
to Denver. Early in
he following May they commenced
o establish the stations for relay
nd changes, about which time the
ival towns commenced to figure on
which of them should be the last
post, in this contention
JUNCTION city came out victorious.
hey furnished an old plainsman as
uide, who, after coming six miles
rest Of Junction City, turned to the
wide road, establishing the first