The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-17
BY HARRY ROOT.


In the late seventies two young
men landed in Cove county, at the
town of Buffalo Park, hunting up a
site to start hotel. In their inquiries
they met man who appeared to be
absolutely in control of the townsite,
and he didn't seem disposed to share
any part of it to newcomers except at
fabulous prices. These men were Geo.
S. Dryer and J. B. Beal, who prior
to this time had spent few years in
Abilene. Being out for business and
receiving little encouragement from
the Buffalo Park townsite owner, they
moved six miles west, and started the
town of Grainfield. This name was
given to the new town because of the
hundreds of acres of grain growing on
the townsite and in all directions.
Among the first improvements in the
new town was to build a hotel, and
it was named Occidental. For many
years it was known as the favorite and
most popular hotel between Salina
and Denver, on the U. P. railroad.
AS side lines to the Occidental they
engaged in the lumber business, real
estate office, stock raising and farm
ing. In fact they were about all there
was for a time. The tide of immigra-
ton set in, the country began to pop
ulate, and other enterprises came to
the new town. They disposed of all
their other enterprises and operated
the hotel exclusively for many years,
when the partnership was dissolved
Dryer continuing the hotel and Beal
engaging in farming. For a time he
was in the employ of the Union Pa
cific as land appraiser, while Dryer
served Cove county as treasurer on
it's organization. He was also the
foreman of the jury in the celebrated
Hillmon case, which lasted ~ days.
He operated the hotel for many years,
and made money. 1t was known to all
the travelling knights of the grip,
who flocked to Grainfield every end
of week because they knew they were
going to get the worth of their money.
Bea1 and Dryer are still living in
Grainfield, the former on a farm ad-
joining town, while the latter has
resigned his office as postmaster and
viii spend his remaining days at
home with the missus, and his gun
and dog. He was a big sport with
rod and gun, and his dining room
tables always had fish or wild game
for his patrons. These men have been
active in the settlement of Cove
county. They have seen the short
grass" disappear, and fields of waving
grain, herds of cattle and developed
farms instead. J. B. Beal and Geo. 6
Dryer will never be forgotten so long
as Cove county remains on earth, your
correspondent numbers them among
his friends.
When Bill Reeder represented the
Sixth district in congress, he took a
liking to the Republican newspaper
fellows, and wherever he could he
made them postmasters. In the list
your correspondent remembers the
towns favored. as follows: Almena,
Burr Oak, Cawker City, Lincoln Oak
ley. Gaylord. kirwin, Oberlin. Plain
vile, Rexford. Phillipsburg, Stockton,
Sylvan Grove and. Wakeeney. If there
were others. the towns are uninten-
tionally omitted. 1t was always good
to see them at political conventions
and many times this remark was
made: The postmasters are running
this convention" Several other edi-
tors aspired for postoffice honors in
now about as many Democratic and
Independent papers in the district
combined as Republican newspapers
"a stand off, Is each. J. R. Con-
nelly, Democrat. served the district
three terms. He wasn't so partial to
the Democratic and Independent fell
lows as was Reeder.
Few people will remember there
was a boom town started a few miles
east of Hoxie. in Sheridan county. on
the proposed line of the Union Pacific.
which was being extended west OF
Plainville. It was named Guy, and a
few men engaged in business. In
January, 1888, a milling company was
organized to erect a FIGURING mill at
Guy. the nearest one on this branch
of the Union Pacific being Lincoln.
over 100 miles east The town was
one of the boom towns started up by
the Mulholland interests to sell lands.
as he was the biggest advertiser OF
real estate northwest Kansas has ever
known. He went broke years ago,