The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-03

Frank McIvor.
In the house during the sessions of
19l7-19 and the special session of
1920, McIyor made an excellent
record. He held several important
committee assignments and ranked
with the strong men from the Sixth
district. During the last year. McIvor
, has been an assistant state fire mar
shall in the office of L. T. Hussey.
There are few newspaper men who
have been in. continuous service for
thirty five and forty years in the Sixth
district yet in the newspaper harness.
Among them are the names of John
w. Conway and Fred Duvall OF the
Norton Champion and Courier. W. c.
Palmer. Jewell City Republican,; W.
L. Chambers. Stockton Record. and
A. x. Trimmer. Quinter Republican,
and then the Cove City Republican
GAZETTE. The pioneer newspaper men
are thinning out fast. Most of them
came with the first immigration and
their papers had a big influence in
helping the settlement and develop
ment of their section of the state.
Your itemizer knew the big majority
of them. In the list of those who have
passed on" mention is made of S. H.
Dodge. Beloit Gazette; w. S. TiIton,
who printed the Wakeeney World and
later the Downs Times and Osborne
Farmer; ]. d. Greason, Atwood Citt-
zen: George Huycke.. Ellsworth Re-
porter; Z. A. Troutfetter. Colby Trib-
lrue: James Jones, Russell Record; L.
L. Alrich, Cawker City Record; L. G.
heaGley, Gaylord Herald; Frank
Montgomery. Hays Sentinel; ]. H.
Tate. Eustis Dark Horse, afterwards
moved to Goodland, county seat of
sherman county: F. H. Barnhart, Os-
borne Journal; Mark J.. Kelley. Ed
mond Times; Nv. H. Caldwell Beloit
Courier; L. r. Tenant, Sherman Cen
ter News; G. w. Murray and w. c.
Hydon, Bird City News and Democrat;
+. Hewett. Glen Elder Herald; j. w.
Stewart, Smith Center Bazoo; ]. w.
Wright, Lebanon Criterion; Sam Da-
wilson, Hoxie Democrat; c. V. Kin
ney. oakley Graphic; b. B. F. Graves
and N. c. Terrell, Millbrook Republic
can and Herald. and A. w. Burnett,
Buffalo Park Pioneer. In the list of
pioneer newspaper men now living in
the district and not active in the work
the names are given of r. II. Magill.
Hill City Sun; Jack Downing, Hays
star; A. L. Topliff. Cawker City Echo;
W. II. Nelson. Smith Center Pioneer;
J. H. Stewart. Goodland Republic, and
Eugene Worcester, Colby Cat, who
lives in Graham county. There are
others. now forgotten. The writer of
these notes was acquainted with all of
the newspaper men mentioned. Some.
of them commenced business in sod
houses. Some quit well to do finan-
cially. and some drifted to other fields
of usefulness. Hot winds blowing and
buffalo chips getting scarce. some pc
tered out. Some towns in the pioneer
days had two and three papers, where
now they have one. and others none
at all.
The writer Of these notes will re-
member his first visit to Norton, in
1879. Norton county was organized
in 1872 with q population of 40. Three
years later IL had 500, and in 1878 1t
claimed 1855. The estimated popula-
ton of the county in 1879 was about
5000 In April. 1873, only seven
buildings showed up on the townsite.
A year later the number had increased
to so. The nearest railroad shipping
station was Wakeeney. on the Union
Pacific. about So miles. 1t was about
the same distance to the 3. & NJ.
road in Nebraska. Among the BUSH
ness men in Norton on that pioneer
trip your itenizer rem emil ers Close &
Drummer. Fitzpatrick & Dupree. R. H.
Seymour, Geo. H. Griffith, who now
lives in Topeka, Chas. W. Poison, Her
man & Kirkpatrick, Hamilton & Har-
mer Graves Bros, c. &. Rogers, X. G.
Road, Collins & Swearengen, T. Sny-
der, w. L. Hamlin. Kenyon & Cham
bers, Cannon & Kirkpatrick, j. N.
Swearengsn, G. Powers, Henry Oliver,
w. b. Rogers, NJ. J. Fitzpatrick and
NJ. w. Pettgrew, who published the
Advance. the only paper in the county.
Today there are seven. The lawyers
were: L. II. Thompson, l. X. Pratt,
Thos Beaumont. Hamilton & Harmer
and NJ. w. Pettigrew. The writer kept
up his regular visits to Norton ever
since, and watched the people build up
the solidest town and trade center on
the Rock Island road west of Clay
Center. Later years as people located
and started in business other papers
started. and today Norton has four
newspapers. all of them making
money. II has fine opera house and
a live commercial club, her Atwood
park is one of the best in the state.
Several manufacturing industries, the
best OF schools and churches. the site
OF the state asylum for tuberculosis
patients two railroads, and a live wire
candidate for state senator in the
Fortieth district-N. L. johnson, pres
ent member of the legislature from
Norton county. One thing the town
needs, a commodious modern hotel
They Will get il soon as her CONNER
cial club gets to work. Norton also
has candidate for presidential cleo
tor, L. II. Thompson.
An item in a local paper printed in
April. 1879. SAYS: -. r. Burrow. of
Smith Center, has one Of the leading