The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-15

however, after Mr.. Isham had worked
for forty years at the trade, the acid
which timers use began to affect his
throat, and he and Mrs. Isham left
Topeka to live in tent on the same
tract of ground where their hut now
stands.
Mr. Isham was alone with his dog
in the tent on the day three years
ago. when the big cyclone swept this
part of the country. The wind Fumb-
over the tent, leaving it undisturbed,
and blew away some farm buildings
on the opposite hill. For two winters
the old couple lived in this tent.
The Ishams liked the spot and de-
cided to build a little house there
and here enters the demonstrating part
of the story. Mr.. Ishan inquired into
the ownership of the land and found
that apparently it belonged to no one.
The road makes a peculiar bend
around the hill at this poinl and about
three acres between the road and the
property of a land owner to the north
had never been claimed by anyone.
So Mr. Isham built his hut, improved
the property, clearing off, grubbing
and tilling the land, and someday he
hopes to file a claim on it. Recently
one of the nearby property owners
voiced objection to the old home
steaders'' and had the county commits
sioners and other officials out look
ing over the land, with a view to hav-
ing it taken from the Ishams. He is
said to have declared that he did not
have visitors to his farm see "a hut
like that on an adjoining place The
commissioners, however, seemed to be
pretty well satisfied with the manner
in which the Ishams were tilling and
improving the heretofore untenanted
land, and it seems probable that the
old couple will have a home there as
lnnpr &C fhpHr
Still Works at Tin.
Mr.: Isham now is devoting most of
his time to gardening and chicken
raising, but he cannot entirely get
away from the work that ruined his
health. In the back yard" of his lit
tie home, he has q work bench filled
with fine tools and he spends his spare
moments fashioning ingenious articles
out of tin. The stove in the cave
kitchen, a galvanized affair with a
novel oven, heated by the heat and
smoke going up the pipe, was made
by Mr.. Isham on his work bench. An
other stove in the back yard, used on
washday, tin cupboards and boxes are
among other products of his skill. The
window in the cave part of the abode
is an interesting one. with a picture
frame for casing. From the outside.
It looks like a mirror.
The old "hem esteader" hopes to
turn his three-acre tract into a chicken
and strawberry farm. He says he can
raise both. without detriment to the
strawberries.
Invented a Mail Box.
Mr.. Isham was a prominent figure
in his day. He was inventor of one
of the most popular of the rural mail
boxes. Associated with Joe Dolley,
former state bank commissioner. and
Harry Williams, postmaster at Maple
Hill, Kan, he operated a factory.
which during three years manufac-
tured and distributed $4,000 of these
boxes in Kansas alone. Many of the
boxes, like the one pictured in the ac-
companying drawing, are to be seen
today on roads around Topeka, with
Mr.. Isham's name stamped on them.
Twelve timers were employed in the
Maple Hill factory. 1t was at the be-
ginning of the present century. when
the rural free delivery system was just
being started. and Mr.. Isham main
tanned an agent in Washington, who
found out where new routes were go
ing to be established, with the result
that Mr.. Ishan knew about them three
days before the postmaster in the 10
eality, giving him time to send out