The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-02

1t was during this time that Colonel
Veale, who was member of the
Johnson &, Veale Mercantile company,
came to the rescue of the people in
the town and kept them from starving
by selling goods to them on credit. In
such times when prices usually soar
to the skies, Colonel Vea1e and his as
sociates sold their wares for just
enough to let them out without a loss.
good many people left Kansas and
went away because they thought the
state was nothing but a graSshopper
state, but those with stronger faith
stayed through the trying year and
were rewarded.
Nobody ever was able to tell just
how so many grasshoppers came at
one time said Colonel Veale, "They
just Matched out on the plains and
came west in swarms.'
Better Times Ahead.
Among some of the other men who
helped Topeka at this time were ST.
mon Gordon, Wilt Gordon, Tod Cor
don, Asbury Gordon, Stad Gordon
and Cope" Gordon, who now lives at
Ninth and Kansas avenue. upstairs in
the building that was built to fill the
vacant spot left by the Copeland ho-
tel fire. In rs Kansas had a pretty
good year and in 1876-the year of
the famous centennial celebration at
Philadelphia-the entire state led by
the citizens of Topeka, among whom
COlOneI Neale look prominent place,
made a phenomenal showing
I'VE got together, raised a lot of
money, built a Kansas building and
made a great show" explained Col
onel Veale. This was so unexpected
that the people who thought Kansas
nothing but a dry, withered, grass
hopper eaten plain could hardly be-
lieve their eyes. We had all kinds
of agricultural products on display
and advertised the state to the world
This wonderful showing did moro
than anything else, 1 believe, to bring
the state into its own. AS a result in
1877, '7S, '79 and 80 people flocked
into the state by the thousands and
gave 1t the start for the great popula-
ton is now has"
Colonel Veale had the first COM
mission that was issued to any man
for the war of the rebellion. Gov
ernor Charles Robinson, now dead,
gave him the commission of captain
to go out and recruit volunteers for
the Fourth Kansas cavalry. After the
great war-which is a Gwarf in COM
parison with the present European
VeaIe was given the
title of colonel by Thomas Carney,
who was then governor of the state.
In 1865 the colonel went on The plains
with General Custer against the In
dams and fought in the Dakotas.
Fought Sitting Bull.
I'VE met old Sitting Bull on the
South Platte river, about forty miles
from Fort Laramie, and licked him."
the colonel proudly pointed out. And
It was the only time the cid warriors
was ever defeated. We killed thirty !
six braves, two squaws and papooses |
We lost seven prfvates, captain and
1 lieutenant
After his fighting with the Indians |
Colonel Veale worked for three year, |
On the plains hauling government /
supplies to Fort Hays. Fort Lyon, |
Fort Union. n. M, and Denver City. |
Col. He used ox-teams to haul the ]
supplies and carried flour that was
worth $21 for a 100 pound sack.
When he came back to Topeka Col |
onel Veale took a position as claim /
agent and tax commissioner for the |
Union Pacific railroad and held this |
place for twenty years. Colonel VeaIe |
vas one of the incorporators of the |
Santa Fe railroad and one of the or |
yanizers of the Topeka Bank and Saw
ngs Institute, now the Bank Of To- |
0eka He is owner of TIE VeaIe |
block, and was a member of the Kan |
'as legislature in both houses for six |
cen years.
: Colonel veaIe and his wife made !