davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

Keeney, in the west side of Trego
county. It was plated and settled in
1879 a soldier and sailor colony,
the most of the early settlers coming
from Chicago and vicinity. Being a
settlement of ex-service men from
the armies of the United States,
a strong organization of the Grand
Army of the Republic was maintained
there for several years, but time and
death have played havoc with the
ganization and today there is burt one
remaining member of the Post, Com
rade Hugh Tidball, living in that vic
unity. The history of the early days
of Collyer and vicinity is but the his
tory of practically all of the towns
of western Kansas. A story of how
the good crops brought the people and
the boom; of how the country settled
up and the town grew amazingly, with
all kinds of business houses and
firms represented, and of the bright
prospects for the future. Then the
hot winds came, the crops failed and
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

kept for more than thirty years
which shows that the average annual
precipitation in Trego county Is
about Fl inches. Local weather OBJ.
servers receive no pay for this public
service
The extremely dry years were
1882, 1888, 1890, 1898, 1910, with
an average rainfall of about IL
inches. It was 81 inches in 1909
A dry summer does not always
mean a dry year. Crops depend
soil and the timeliness of the rain
fall
The big wheat crops were pro-
duced in 1891, 1892, 1903, 1914~and
1916 Bumper crops We're grown in
1915 and 1919 but being badly dam
aged by excessive rainfall were not
very profitable
The extremely hard winters oc-
Cured in 1856 and 1911-12.
These We're the winters of snow
blockades- The summer of 1913
was extremely hot and dry
Mrs. Sallie Samuels, teacher in
the northeast part of the county, lost
her life in a snow storm November
16, 1886. Children went barefooted
on the same date the following year.
| The year 1911 will be remembered
3Sjack rabbit year. more than
12O 900 being killed in the county
during the following winter. The
year 1912, dust storms and horse
plague; 1913, grasshoppers and
| locust tree borers. Also the first
Chautauqua at WaKeeney. Several
county fairs have been held at Wa
Keeney. Lecture courses have been
held at Ogallah, Collyer Voda and
| WaKeeney.
Wa-Keeney has had several Big
fires, the most disastrous as follows
February 3, 1880, on the east side OF
the business street; March 2, 1898
on the west side; February 5, 1895
Keeney Opera Block; March 18
1902, west side of Washington
street.
| Frank A. Krhut broke the worlds
record by threshing 4O71 bushels OF
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

erected to take the place of the little
frame buildings which were either des-
troyed by fire or torn down or moved
away All lines of business are now
represented in Wa-Keeney and large
and substantial stocks of merchandise
are carried by the business men, AS
result of the advertising given these
stocks of good, citizen are drawn here
from a distance of many miles on
either side of Wa-Keeney. They come
to trade with the merchants who carry,
these stocks of goods. Wa-Keeney will
continue to prosper Wa-Keeney will
be a larger and more modern city next
year than it is this year and this pro-
gress will continue with each succeed
ing year The trials and hardships of
pioneer days have passed and the cen
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

iier schools were housed in dugouts
and sod shanties.
A County High School by vote of
the people, Nov. 8, 1904, was estab-
lished at WaKeeney. 1t was organ
lied in 1905 with J. H. Niesley
principal and he has held that posi-
ton to this time. For seven years
the school was held. in the second
story of the City School building
Bonds for a county high school build
ing were voted February 13, 1912.
t. B. Hays, assisted by other Wa
Keeney citizens donated the high
school site (B1ock 25)- The corner
stone was laid with Masonic cere-
monies September 10, 1912, State
Superintendent E. T.. Fairchild de-
livering the grafton The building
was occupied in the spring of 1913,
and was dedicated April 4th. Gov
ernor Geo. H. Hodges delivered the
dedicatory Grafton before an outdoor
audience of several thousand persons
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

Wa-Keeney, Co1lyer and OgaIlah,
but rural routes now afford daily
mail service to the greater part of
the county from seven different Of
fees For the last twelve years this
has been ably supplem ented by an
expanding telephone service.
The county has had from the first
permanent settlement one or more
newspapers One of the first was
the Wa-Keeney Leader. The World
was established March 2, 1879, and Is
the oldest paper published in the
county. The Tribune and Republi-
can f1ourished in the later SOS. The
Omnicrat was established about
1898 and was the predecessor of the
present Tregonian, through success
sion of various names and proprie-
tors. The World and Collyer Ad-
vance Established 1870 remain and
occupy the field.
Miscellaneous Items
A government record has been
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

and WaKeeney citizens provided an
outdoor dinner for all
Churches, also, were early estab-
lished in Trego county, some of the
denominations represented being the
Presbyterian, Methodist, Congrega-
tional, Baptist, Catholic, and later
the Episcopa1ian, Swedish Lutheran
and German Lutheran. All these
have one or more buildings in the
county, located at Wa-Keeney, Col
1yer, OgaIlah, Banner, Trego Center,
Franklin Township, South Ogallah.
Various postoffices have been es-
tablished in the county only to be
later discontinued, moved or re
named. The permanent offices are
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11
Wa-Keeney Baptist Church

is rep1ete with many tales of z.dven-
ture by indians, cow boys ana home
seekers. For many years the United
States governm land Office
located here and for that reason the
most of the earliest settlers of West
ern Kansas have visited Wa-Keeney.
Many interesting stories, the exper-
fences of those who came here to file
homestead papers on quarter sec
ton of government land have been
told and are retold from time to time
some pioneer settler returns to
this city or recalls times and scenes of
the early day A few of these stories
have been repub1ished in this issue of
The World but the most of them will
never get into print although they
would make interesting reading.
Like all of the towns of western
Kansas, Wa-Keeney had her boom
days Days when everything seemed
to be going her way and days when it
seemed that the little city the
prairie was destined to become the
trade center of large and prosper
Gus territory, but the terrible hots
which swept across this part of Kan
sas when there were so many hun
dreds of thousands of acres of prairie
all around it, burned and b1ighted
those prospects as it did the grass on
the prairie and they withered and
died. But the death of these prospects
was like the death of the grass; it
died only to come to life again with
F! the next spring or after the next rain
Thus with each succeeding year Wa
Keeney and vicinity has shown pro-
gress in development over the pre-
ceeding year The growth has been
| gradual. There was no state school
] located here to assist in its growth
neither did the railroad company
establish a division point here to
bring in new men with the gradual
increase in railroad business and pro-
vide a large pail roll each month to
help along the business men. Wa
Keeney has had no manufacturing
establishments to assist in its growth,
| but its development has come from
the prosperity of the farmers who
have settled in the county around it
and who have made it their home
Those farmers and business men who
stayed when times were hard and help
along those who were not quite SO
prosperous as they, themselves, were
They We're determined to make the
city progress and they have done So
Wa-Keeney is now a good and sue
cessful business town in strictly
agricultural district 1t has grown
| from a small water station on the
/ prairie into q city of about twelve
/ hundred population The greater part
~ this development has taken place
/ Within Gle list ave or nix yonr1. Go1olz
8 ~ - e r
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11
TREGO COUNTY KANSAS
Continued from PoSe one-)

even before the organization of the
county. Probably the first was that
taught in the summer of 1879 in the
building now owned and occupied by
J. RWilson as residence Con the
southwest corner of block 49, Wa
Keeney). This building was later
used for the organized district
school Districts were organized
and named as follows: Wa-Keeney,
No. L, Co1lyer, No 2; Ogallah, No !;
Ridgway No. 4; Downer, No. );
Walker, No. g; Banner, No z; Pho
neer, No. 8, etc Many of the ear
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11

them that they can enjoy the cool,
pure. water, the beautiful deep azure
of the western sky and the refreshing
healthgIving air of this altitude, and
when the time comes that they can live
no longer they want to have an eter-
nal bed in narrow house on the
prairie where they can lie and look
away into the far distance of the
starry decked heavens at night and
during the day time listen to the
breezes as they laugh and play with
each other and say ssthis is the land"
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11


ter of population is gradually moving
westward, thus insuring a continue
ton of the growth and prosperity of
our city.
The religious and educational adj
vantages offered by Wa-Keeney are
exceptionally good. Five church organ
izations are represented here with
good, substantial church buildings.
The Presbyterian church is the strong
est, but at present the congregation
is without a minister on account of
the recent resignation of the Rev. DR..
S. L. Allison account of failing
health The Sunday school is main
tanned. The Methodist have a good
church building with a strong con-
gregation and active Sunday school,
at present is presided over by the Rev
c. R. Wade. The German-Lutheran
denomination has large following
in this vicinity and good church
building in this city. The congrega-
ton is ministered by the Rev. Burkart;
The Baptist church congregation is
especially active just at present as
the result of some special work by the
Rev. J. d. Kelly, of the State Baptist
association. They have secured the
services of the Rev J. E. Naylor who
but recently arrived from northern
New York The Episcopa1ians have
church building and an organiza-
ton here but are not sufficiently
stong to retain a pemanet passionate.
In the line of educational advan-
tages there are none better outside
of the colleges and institutions of
higher learning than is offered by the
Wa-Keeney city schools and the Trego
County High School which is located
here. There is a teacher for each one
of the eight grades in our city
schools which is under the care of D.
O. Hemphil1 as principal Thorough
work is the motto and the require
ments of the state course of study are
carefully observed. There are very
few high schools in the state of Kan
sas which has higher rating of clas-
sification than our own Trego County
High School, The young people of
the county are to be congratulated up
on having such valuable school with
in their reach. Each year large class
of students. is graduated from it and
each year a larger number gather
| within its walls to take advantage of
| the opportunity it offers We are
pleased to be able to give more ex-
| tended historical write-up of the school
in another column which has been pre-
pared by Prof J. H. Niesley who has
been its principal since its organiza-
ton.
There is no city in Kansas which
| has a better supply of crystal, clear
/ sparkling pure water than has Wa
Keeney- The waterworks plants and
system was established in 1909 and
when the water was analysed by the
state chemist it was pronounced al
most absolutely pure. The supply is
| secured from the Big Greek underf1ow
about two miles from town and seems
to be inexhaustible- Wa-Keeney is
well supplied with advantages for a
small city and its citizens are happy
and contented- They enjoy living in
Wa-Keeney and want to live here as
long as there is enough life left in
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11
THE CITY OF WA-KEENEY

Wa-Keeney is the county seat Of
Trego county It is located in the
center of the county from east to
west but well toward the north side
on the Union Pacific railroad. It Is
also the oldest town in the county as
well as the largest. = 1t was founded
by Warren, Keeney & Co, a Chicago
firm in 1877 and its earliest history
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-12-11
THE CITY OF coLLYER

The City of Collyer is on the main
line of the Union Pacific Railroad
about fourteen miles west of Wa
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28
HOUSE CHEERS
PEACE MESSAGE
Loud YeIIs From Democratic
Side Greet Announcement
of Wilson's Signature.
WASHINGTON PASSIVE
Contrast to Riotous Demon
strations at Conclusion of
Armistice.

Washington. June 2S.--(A. P)-
Official Washington took the. signing
of the peace treaty calmly and quietly
in marked contrast to the riotous
demonstrations which greeted the an
nouncemnet of the signing of the
armistice. Congress was wholly
without demonstration. In the sem
ate President Wilson'S address to the
American people was read by SEN
ator Hitchcock, senior democrat of
the foreign relations committee, but
it passed without comment.
Hitchcock took the floor in tho
midst of an appropriation bill de-
bate.
Senators listened attentively but no
one made any comment. AS soon as
the reading was completed, discus
sion of the appropriation measure
was resumed.
The house was not in session at
the moment, not assembling until
noon. The marine band. serenading
congress on the capitol plaza was the
only sign Of celebration.
Diplomats keeping in close touch
with the state department learned of
the news as it licked off the special
wire to Versailles. Throughout the
city there were no demonstrations
whatever by men in the streets.
The house received the presidents
address with more Of show of cele-
braton than did the senate. Presented
hxy noponnnrofio Elnnr yeadnr Clark
the address was read from the speak
er's desk while the house stood and
punctuated it with applause and
cheers. Loud yells from the demo-
Gratis side greeted the announcement
of the signature, Woodrow Wilson"
Those Watching Irish Question.
Some members of congress and
others who are watching the Irish
question, were particularly attracted
to that portion Of the presidents ad-
Piles who are ready for independence
but not quite prepared to dispense
with protection and guidance" and
that the treaty recognizes the In
alienable rights of the nationality"
No one here ventured to interpret
what was in the presidents mind
they were scanned with much inter
est.
Chairman Lodge, of the foreign re-
lations committee. and republican
leader of the senate. also declined to
comment. Senator McCumber, North
Dakota, republican, of the foreign re-
lations committee, supporting the
league covenant. said the announce
ment of the signing was good news"
A movement has developed among
republican senators for postponing
the resolution by Senator Fall, re-
publican. New Mexico, to end the war
by congressional action. Chairman
Lodge. Senator Fall and other men,
bers of the committee and republican
leaders held numerous conferences
discussing procedure.
Chairman Lodge also today. con-
tinued to sound republican sentiment
on a definite future course Of pro-
cedure by opponents of the league
and on other features Of the treaty
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28
APPRECIATIVE OF ACTS OF
COURTESY AND FRIENDSHIP

Paris June 2s President Wilson today the Of his
months have spent France my
of innunerable
friendship which have made feel how genuine
midst
ands $ nuch openm
am at of joining country
me genuine regret my deep
conscious of than
hosp
made feel welcome and
a
(Signedl WOODROW WILSON
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28
RED RIOT RUNS
BOCHE CAPITAL
Noske Trying Desperately to
Check Flames and Save
Nation From Chaos.


Berlin, June 27.-(Delayed.)-Q. N.
S.l-While Hermann Mueller and DIR.
Bell are performing at Versailles the
task which they think will save Ger
many from ruin, the elements work
| ing for the overthrow of the new
government and the plunging of the
nation into complete chaos are work
ing fun blast.
The radical. reactionary movement
for a counter revolution is growing
in intensity and scope. Simulta-
neously Gustav Noske, minister of
war, is working desperately with ali
the power at his command TO check
the flames and to preserve the gov
ernment.
Last night automobiles filled with
police secured Berlin, scattering re-
dictionary circulars.
1t has been learned on good au-
thority that there is an organized
movement afoot to enlist as privates
in volunteer army thousands of ex-
officers.
At the same time reports that the
ex-kaiser is preparing to return to
Germany are hailed with delight by
the reactionary press.
On the other hand it develops that
the Berlin workmen's executive coun-
Gil has been in intimate touch with
the Hamburg uprising and working
Systematically for a counter revolu-
tion throughout Germany.
The effects of this are visible In
the simultaneous uprisings.
Liberation of Prisoners.
Paris. June 2S.-(Havas.)-In the
completed peace treaty signed today
at Versailles, the newspapers say,
were certain stipulations which ii
was hoped would hasten ratification
of the treaty by the German nationa,
assembly.
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28
WAR PROHIBITION WILL
BE RICIDLY ENFORCED

Washington, June 2S.-Wartlme
prohibition will be enforced after July
!, regardless of whether congress en-
acts enforcement legislation by that
time-unless the president intervenes
with a proclamation calling off such
prohibition-Wayne B. Wheeler. gem
eral counsel for the anti-s saloon
league announced this afternoon,
after comforting with dry" members
Of congress.
The original wartime prohibition
act carried ample penalties and
Wheeler and his associates will press
for their rigid enforcement, it was
stated.
I'VE can throw man in jail for
selling liquor after midnight, June
30, without additional legislation, F"
Wheeler said. The original act pro-
vides one years Imprisonment or
$1,000 fine for selling beer, wine or
other intoxicating malt or vinous
linuOr'
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28

Prussian Arrogance Not Revealed.
The old Prussian arrogance was
not revealed by the members of the
German cabinet who had assumed
the duty of salvaging what was left
of their country.
The seating arrangement of the
delegates was as follows:
On President Wilson's side of the
table:
Secretary Lansing, Col. House,
Henry White, Gen. Bliss, and after
them the French, Italian, Belgian and
Greek delegates. Swinging around
the horseshoe were the Polish, Portu-
guese, Rumanian, Czecho- Slovakian,
Siamese, Cuban and Chinese dele
gates At the left of Premier Lloyd
George were the other representa-
tives of Britain and her dominions
and the Japanese. Swinging around
the corner were the representatives
of Germany, Brazil, Bolivia, Uru-
quay, Peru, Panama, Nicaragua, Lii
IBERIA, Honduras, Hayti, Guatemala
and Ecuador.
Marshal Foch was seated among
the French delegates. He was not
a peace plenipotentiary and did not
sign the great document.
OF the Italian delegation only three
were present-Baron Sonnino, NJ.
Imperiah and Crespi. The others
had not arrived at late hour.
Paris was en- fete for the occasion.
A holiday was proclaimed through
out. From every building hung the
flags of the allied nations. Thou
sands of persons in holiday attire
gathered along the roads leading to
Versailles
The Streets as usual, were heavily
guarded by troops. Through packed
lanes of humanity the delegations
passed, one by one, their motors
Haunting the flags of practically all
nations except those which made up
the central powers and the few neu-
trails not represented.
The arrival of each delegation was
heralded by a trumpeter. After be-
ing saluted the members were taken
in charge. by attendants and con-
Quoted to the places assigned for
them.
Shortly before 3 o'clock, motors
left the palace in charge of the
French military mission and went to
the Hotel Reservoir. Here the Ger
man delegates were taken in charge
and driven back to the palace, where
they waited in an anteroom until the
stroke of 8, when NJ. Martin, the
master of ceremonies, directed that
they be conducted to the Hall of
Mirrors.
German Delegates Last to Enter.
The German delegates were last to
enter the hall. Following their en-
trance came the German journalists,
and were assigned to seats in the
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28

rear of the press sections.
M Clemenceau opened the cere-
monies The pen used 10 sign the
documents was of gold, the gift of
Alsace- Lorraine. 1t was made by an
Alsatian soldier.
On the holder were engraved the
images of an Alsatian church tower,
bewhiskered poilu and a flying ar
row, inscribed June 2S, 1919'
Included in the distinguished
guests section were the four war
premiers of France who preceded
Clemenceau-Viviani, Ribot, BRAND
and Painleve. President Poincare alb
sented himself for constitutional rea-
sons, sending the tickets for the seats
reserved for himself to his former
associates.
News Flung to World by Wireless.
Immediately after the first sigma
ture was attached, the wireless on
the Eiffel tower flung the news to the
world. 1t was picked up by every
wireless station in Europe and sa-
luted by salvos of artillery at every
allied fertilization.
The Germans were first to aff1x their
signatures to the treaty. 1t had pre-
viously been planned to have the Ger
mans sign last, but this procedure was
changed at the last moment.
The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-28
BLOCKADE TO BE LIFTED
ON PEACE RATIFICATION
OFFICIAL NOTICE GIVEN
GERMANS.
Hermann Mueller Stated That
National Assembly Will
Meet Next Week.

Versailles, June 2S.-O. N. S.)-
The economic and commercial block
ade of Germany will be lifted as soon
as her national assembly has rat
flied the peace treaty. The German
delegates to the signing were so no.
titled today by the allied powers. A
letter from the conference was
handed to the German delegates,
giving official notification that the
blockade terminates Immediately
upon the treaty ratification.
Hermann Mueller. chief of the
German delegation, said today that
the national assembly would likely
meet early next week, when it will
duplicate its former action in direct
ing the signing. Herr Mueller is Of
the opinion that the treaty will be
ratified Immediately and by approxi-
mately the same vote as directed the
signing in the first place.