The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-18
Sixth District NetDs Notes
Items and "reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.
MONDAY.

hand. It is said that about a quarter
OF mile east of Bird City is the high
est point in Kansas.
Mendoza Town company filed for
charter in January. 1873. Few people
now living in Smith county knew there
was town of that name in the coun-
ty, in pioneer times. The capital stock
was put on the market and offered
for sale for 500 a share. Officers
son, president; w D. CovingtOn. vice
president; S. B. BottoniIy. secretary;
v. ]. Bottomly, treasurer. The Men
dota Town company had to have an
attorney, and Clark A. Smith. of Cav
ker City, was selected. Since that
, time Judge Smith was highly honored
by the voters of the state eiecting him
a member of the supreme court. In
the booklet entitled Lost Towns OF
Kansas" mention is made of three
state, but there isn't line about Men
dota, Smith county. Your correspond
emit puts 1t down as among the Lost
Towns"
Smith county is older than most of
her people in these times can remem-
| Der. Back IN September. 1871, char
ter appeared to have been filed for
: the Thompson City Town company,
with a capital of $1,000. The incor-
porators were: S. c. Thompson and
L. H. Gibbs, of Smith county; Charles
; H. Floyd and Samuel Case, of Cloud
county. and John c. Harlan. of Mar
shall county. The county was organ
! lied in 1872, and named after Maj. ].
Nelson Smith. of the SecoRd Colorado
cavalry, who was killed october 2S'
1854. No record Is given In the pam
phlet of Lost Towns in Kansas" about
Thompson City. Cedarville was the
first county seat, later in the election
Smith Center was chosen, and still
later the willie" part was dropped, and
Cedar remains on the map. That town
| is so healthy it is difficult to find
! physician who can makes living there.
In pioneer days two and three of them
had enough to do to keep the wolves
from the door" The charter for the
Cedarville Town company was filed in
december, 1870. The capital stock
was for 81. geo. The stockholders were;
Bella G. Merrill. OF Muscotah. presi-
dent; ]. H. .Tibbals. of Whiting. vice
president; J. T. Morrison, treasurer;
H. Herbert Bipings. Of Jewell City
secretary. The incorporators were: J.
H. Johnston. J. H. Parr. James For
dice. Thomas Quinn. Stephen Perkins
and H w. Potter. The pioneer build
ing in the town was built of logs. and
was occupied for several years as the
mercantile house of the Johnston
Brothers and postoffice. The brothers
1 died several years ago.
The farthest northwestern county in
the state Is Cheyenne 1t Is also the
highest point in Kansas. It borders
Nebraska on the nogth and Colorado
west Yet the extrame northwest
quarter was homesteaded as early as
liS79 SINCE then that county has de-
i veloped so rapidly that 1t seems II ev-
6fy quarter section in Cheyenne coun-
ty is worth(its weight in gold
Y The first visit your correspondent
made up the Solomon river valley from
BeloIt west as far as Cawker City was
innthe interest of the Atchison Cham
pion nearly half a century ago. and be-
fore either the north or south Solo
mon valleys had a railroad. The
Central Branch (now Missouri Pacific)
i was in operation from Atchison to
Washington, 100 miles. Not rod OF
work hadbeen done on this roads ex-
tension from Greenleaf west The jour-
ney west was made in stage coaches
Palmer Linn and Day hadn't started
up. the stage making only one stop
between Greenleaf and Clifton. then
to Clyde, Concordia Beloit. Glen Elder
and Cawker City. In the days of stage
travel the time schedule was to leave
BeIoit at o'clock D. m. and arrive in
Cawker about midnight The run
from Concordia to Beloit was made in
DAYLIGHT There were seven pas
sengers, most OF them being visitors
and looking for homesteads- Among
my fixst acquaintances in CawkeI
City were Clark a. Smith and L S
Tucker. partners in law and real estate
Thru them your itemizer was driven
from Cavkers at which time there
hadn't hAeu n do1lar invest ed IN i'm