The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-29
BY HARRY ROOT.

1880 In 1873 it had an estimated
population of $50. Dugouts and sod
houses were more numerous than
frame buildings, and lumber was
hauled so and rs miles by teams.
OberHn townsite was surveyed and
plated in the spring of 1878. Since
1880 your correspondent has seen
most of the buildings erected in Ober-
lin. Few are left of the people doing
business who were there in the early
pioneer days. Your correspondent re-
members J. w. Allen and his son A.
w. Allen, ]. c. Latham, ]. B. Hitch
cock, R. A. Marks, E. L. Beckwith and
III. T. Mccall, all engaged in the gem
furniture; DR.. A. w. and L. A. Bari
teau, drugs; ]. B. Colt, hardware;
Mark Wright, harness; G. Webb
Bertram and L. G. Parker, lawyers;
w. H. Nelson, Joseph Boldly and An
drew Kody, contractors and builders;
Bruce, livery; J. w. Fisher, shoe
maker; F. F. Bliss, barber; Watson
Smith, c. E. Aver and ]. D. Tracy,
blacksmiths; J. A. Rodehaver and
Byron Churchill, hotel, and ]. w. Bor-
ings was surveyor. 1t was some time
Herald was founded about the same
time by J. c. Humphrey and L. n.
Counter. The writer found the people
nervous on account of the Indian raid
Fof 1873. One of the business men
said: "At the time of the raid there
was scarcely gun on the townsite;
now all of US have protectors" point
ing out his two guns hanging on the
wall Many of the buildings your
item chaser visited looked more like
arsenals. as the Indian raid was only
a few months prior. Oberlin has had
times, and only a "stub" railroad
terminating there. No doubt had she
secured the main line of the Rock
Island the town would have doubled
her present population, as her people
have push and pluck. Three judges
of the Seventeenth judicial district
have made their homes in Oberlin, G.
Webb Bertram, now living in Ar
buckle, Cal; A. c! t. Geiger and w.
S. Langmade. w. D. Street served as
speaker of the state legislature. Mrs.
Annabell Moorish served the highest
honor in the Eastern Star with high
credit. Otis L. Benton made the hard
est race to reach congress any man
in Kansas or any other state ever
made. Oberlin is and has been the
home of many politically deserving
citizens, many of them locating there
in early days. The main business
street is built up with substantial
brick buildings 1t. has good school
buildings and as fine schools as one
will find in northwest Kansas, as well
as attractive, roomy churches. 1t has
a first class flour plant and good
lighting and water systems.
The writer of these notes visited
Oberlin in 1879. The Indian raid thru
that section of the state was in Sep
TENDER, 1878. In the cemetery adjoin-
ing town the state erected a monu-
ment in honor of the fifteen or more
settlers killed by the Indians on the
historical Sappa creek, which runs
thru the town. Engraved on the mon
ument are the names of the people
who were killed. Homer Colvin, the
first county clerk of Decatur county,
was one of the pioneers in those days.
Single handed and alone he stood off
the Indians who surrounded his sod
house for hours. He recently died in
Florida, where he had gone for his
health. Mrs. Street, wife of w. D.
Street, was a young girl in the pioneer
days and was held a captive by the
Indians for several days. Street died
few years ago, and his widow lives
on the homestead adjoining Oberlin.
He was one of the early cowboys and
scouts. Later years he took an active
part in politics and in Populist days
he was a legislative member and
served as speaker. He also had am
bition to go to congress from the Sixth
district, but was defeated. He COM
piled a complete and interesting his
tory of his early life on the plains as a
scout, besides other "reminiscences of
was never printed on account of his
death. Your correspondent made
many trips to Oberlin, and he read
chapters of his interesting manuscripts
to him. Col. L. G.. Parker, another of
the pioneer of 1878, was a noted law
yer. Afterwards he was the editor
of the Times. He died a few years
ago. H. o. Douglas, who operated the
pioneer livery stable and stage line,
and in later years was a merchant and
banker, is now vice president of the
Oberlin National bank. Tully Scott,
first receiver of the United States land
office, moved to Colorado and is now
member of the supreme court.
Alonzo Patchin, first register of the
land office, died some years ago.
Capt j. w. Allen, the pioneer mer-
chant of Oberlin, is alive and well. G..
Webb Bertram, one of the pioneer
lawyers, who served as district judge
| of the Seventeenth district, is living in
Arbuckle. Calf. OF the lawyers in the
pioneer days your correspondent re-
members G. Webb Bertram, Jake Will
| son, Sam MeElroy. W. T. S. May, G.
L. Calvert, G. F. Bogue, J. D. Hayes,
A. c. T. Geiger and w. L. Langmade,
the last two having been district
judges of the Seventeenth district. All
are now dead or have left Decatur
county except the last two named.
In the spring of 1886 a 19-year-old
/ boy from eastern Kansas arrived in
Oberlin via the covered-wagon route
His name is Otis L. Benton, who came
| west hunting a job, his principal
| recommendation being unbounding
| health and ambition. He had been
| invited to Oberlin by a former friend
of the family, in eastern Kansas, G.
Webb Bertram, who first homesteaded
in Decatur county. The land office
had been located at Oberlin. The
Burlington railroad had extended its
line to Oberlin. The Rock Island was
| expected to go thru the northern tieI
l of counties of kansas, with Denver
as the final destination. Oberlin was
booming and was known as the
| Queen City of northwestern Kansas
Bertram assisted his friend TO a posi-
ition in a bank just organizing. He is
tstill holding a position in the sams
bank. having been appointed cashier