The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-09
Sixth District NetUs Notes
Items and "reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.

| 1914 was vigorous one, but his cleo
ton In 1918 was without opposition
from any source
In pioneer days it appeared to be q
great fad" for the promoters of new
! townsites to attach willie" and City
and center" to town names. For
instance, when the towns of Cedar
and Downs were laid out and named,
vile" got on their names, which have
since been dropped. The towns of
Jewell Center, Norton Center, Rocks
Center. Lincoln Center, Decatur Cen
ter and Sheridan Center sprang up
with center" attached to the names
Now the last words Of their names
have been chopped off, except the
name of Jewell Center, which was
changed to Mankato, while the towns
of Rocks Center, Sheridan Center and
Decatur Center pulled UP stakes long
ago and went back to the farm. Other
towns had "city" put on their names
as was the case with Bull City, Hays
City. Cawker City, Jewell City and
Cove City. The "city" part has been
dropped from Hays several years,
Jewell. Cawker and Cove without the
word city" being attached. The name
OF Bull City was changed to Alton sew
eral years ago. Prairie View, Phillips
county. is named after the scenic
prairie view which the town affords,
and Norcatur, Norton county, is so
named because the dividing line of the
counties of Decatur and Norton runs
thru the town. 1t takes its name from
the two counties.
Kirwin was the big town in Phil
lips county in January. 1877. Phil
llpsburg was the county seat, Is miles
north Neither town had a railroad.
There were two mail lines, one oper-
ated by S. ]. Minner, from Kirwin to
nd he ut
ated by J. M. Babcock. and made daily
trips from Kirwin to Russell. E. F.
Robinson was publishing the Progress.
claimed to be the first paper printed
in the county. The town had three
law firms, Don Carlos & Co., Dodge &
Chase and May & Robinson. 1t had
two hotels operated by A. B. Parsons
and German & Son. Later on when
the government land office was 10
Gated in Kirwin and the immigration
was coming in. and the prairie
sehooners" with their white topped
covering. laden down with homestead
ers. one only needed to walk around
the square to count not less than
twenty-five signs on different offices
reading, Land office papers made
out here" and every office was busy
from sunup to late in the night. The
town had three general stores. a saw
mill was being operated, besides there
were the usual smaller branches of
business going on which all goes to
make frontier town lively. Maj. e.
w Warner was one Of the Kirwinites
who had faith in the town. He
erected a commodious hotel, and built
it of the white magnesia stone found
in that section of the state. He built
it on gentle elevation Of land back
Of the busy hum of business, from
of the country. While he kept his
health the Warner hotel was known
as the drawing card, and he being a
politician, officeseekers making trips
thru northwest Kansas were always
glad when they reached Kirwin. for
they would find hospitality and plenty
to eat. Your correspondent has seen
United States senators. congressman
and state officers at his hotel many
times. Major Warner. died a few
months ago. and the favorably known
hotel is being continued by Mrs. War
ner and the children. The town has
had a-splendid growth, in the last sew
erai years. while most of the shacks
of pioneer days have been torn away
for brick and stone buildings. And
good schools and churches are pointed
to with pride. And Kirwin is the
the Fortieth district in the next state
senate.
One of the early ministers in Kir-
win was the Rev. Jonathan 4. Dung,
who homesteaded in the Deer creek
country. in Phillips county. in 1879.
and started active farming and
preaching in 1874. He was the father
of James II. Young. who was an ac-
tive figure in educational work in that
county in pioneer days. and who
served as county superintendent from
1884 to 1888. He brought with him
to Kansas and-Phillips county a son.
Floyd E. Young, then a child. Crow
ing to manhood IN that county he
later moved to Rocks county. locating
in Stockton. He published the West
ern News, the oldest paper in the
county. for several years. From the
newspaper profession he branched out
in politics. He loyalty supported w.
A. Reeder for congress. and he APP
pointed him postmaster. holding the
office ten year. while he was fitting
himself for law. He was admitted to
the bar and resigned the office of
postmaster to put in all his time in
law practice. He is county attorney
and is a candidate for reelection with
out opposition. He had the grit to
stay. and he has succeeded.