The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-07
Sixth District News Notes
Items and "Reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.

made to Graham county it looked as
if Old Millbrook had a cinch on the
county seat for all time. The location
was on the top of the divide" and
the view from this place the visitor
could see for miles in either direction.
Water was an uncertainty, there be-
ing but one well on the townsite, and
it was about 800 feet to water. 1t
seemed the horses would perish from
thirst before they could get a drink.
The writer knows something about
this well, for he drew the water from
it for the team. 1t was 10 o'clock at
night when we drove thru Main street, !
Hill City. HailinA the only person
we met that Sunday night, he was
asked where the hotel was, and was
informed the town didn't have any.
Buildings were few and far away, so
we were told we would have to go to
Millbrook, where there was a hotel
He piIoted us to the main road, told
us where to ford the Solomon river,
but to be sure and not miss the cross
ing for fear of quicksand. We crossed
the river in safety, and little later
were in Millbrook in front of the
hotel. The landlord and family were
attending religious services in sod
building in the country. A hungrier
crowd never visited the shortgrass
country so we awaited their return
before our appetites were appeased-
Several new buildings were being
/ u,
was on, and that Millbrook would win
lin the permanent county seat election.
The scarcity of water and the town
being located on the high divide, senti-
ment changed and New Millbrook
sprang up nearer the river where wa
| ter was plentiful. So the old town
was put on wheels and moved to the
new location. The Union Pacific ex-
| tended the Lincoln branch, and be-
/ tween Millbrook and Hill, City the
fight was bitter. All sorts of rumors
were in circulation, at times the road
would be built to the then county seat,
/ and the next day Hill City was sure
LOT getting it. The Solomon river d.
vided the two towns, Millbrook being
located on the south side, and Hill
City north. The election resulted in
favor of the north side. and the county
! seat was settled permanently. In the
moving of the books from the old to
the new seat of government, W. K
Hill, for whom the town was named
took an active part There wasn't
gun fired, yet the excitement was at
fever heat. After matters had dled
down the Mil1brookers, many of them,
! moved their buildings to Hill City ana
built up Main street. Another pan
who was mover in Graham county
and the county seat. was ]. P. Pom
eroy. Soon there was another bust
mess street opened and named Pom
eroy avenue For many years merry
( fight was going on between the Two
factions for commercial supremacy
I If enc side erected a new building. the
other side would if the women on
! one side organized a club. the other
would And it was the same POLITICAL
i1v but politics didn't cut as much fig
| IRE as the-townY row Both sides built
opera, houses and hotels. The same
existed in banks and newspapers Now
Iau has changed. and the two factions
are pulling for the town. And now
/ Hill city has grown to>he one OF the
/ hest towns in northwest Kansas. Hill
and Pomeroy died several years ago
IT was the home for many years or
/ Tieut Gov D. J. Hanna. Tt is the
home of J. s. Dawson. one of the state
supreme court Judges And Graham
/ is one of the Kansas counties which
raised a 100 per cent wheat crop this
year.
A letter-t4 the sixth district depart
rnent from Gem SAYS: We have had
another good season in Thomas county
and western Kansas. People who have
put forth the efforts that every man
should have done well. yet you knowing
Kansas as we'll as YOU do it is needless
for me to remind you of the lean years
| this section of the state has gone thru
/ in the past. And after all the people
who have stayed thru it all without
| com plant. richly deserve all they are
getting, and more. too. I am very
busy with my many duties Harvest
is over. threshing started up. and grain
j elevators in Gem and other towns to
/ look after, 1 want you to know that the
man who has a little country bank to
| look after this year hasn't got any
snap these strenuous and trying
/ times, and yet I presume it will all