The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-12
BY HARRY ROOT.

One of the widely known promoters
and plungers northwest Kansas had in
pioneer days was Isaac Mulholland, of
Sheridan county. He was known as
the big real estate man. His main
office was in Hoxie, with branch Of
fees in other towns. His office was
attractive to immigrants, and was fill
ed up with stacks of printed matter,
and on the sides were larger posters
in color advertising northwest Kansas.
The newspaper men in the counties OF
Graham, Sheridan, Thomas, Cove, and
others knew Mulholland. Some of
them We're doing his job work, and
many of them carried half and page
advertising matter detailing the Won
derful fertility of the soil. At one
time he carried a full page ad in the
Atchison Daily Champion. Hot winds
and drouth kept immigration back
the sales of lands dwindled away, and
when the Daily sent him a bill it was
returned with the words, stamped on
it in red ink: Not paid for lack of
funds" Mulholland failed in his am
bitiOn to sell lands and get rich soon.
He was a big advertiser, and he ad-
vertised in all the papers where he
could get II until he sold lands enough
to pay for it. He was always we'll
dressed, of pleasing appearance, and
one of the most friendly, hospita BILE
persons your correspondent ever knew
Later on he moved to Colby and broke
financially he tried in a way to re-
cuperate and went to handling booze
in packages. Soon the law got after
him and he was prosecuted and con-
victed. He passed on several years
ago. In his real estate work he spent
/ his money freely when he had it, and
] If good years had always been on his
\ side, and he had kept his health, he
would today be on easy street
| DR.. w. W. Eckelman, mayor of St.
Francis, is Topeka visitor on official
/ business. He says there is another
/ big wheat crop jim sight in Cheyenne
| county. besides the general crops are
| looking fine. St Francis is having a
wonderful growth. In the new 10
acre addition to the town several mod
ern residences have already been
| erected. and many others are under
way. The new census gives us a
population of about 500, an increase
the mayor says. He also says his town
/ is putting up modern business build
! ings, which include those of NJ. Win
! ter, Danielson & Sons and J. I. Deal
! costing each from $4,000 to $4,000
Another improvement will be the
}
Cheyenne County States bank. All
who visit ST. Francis and see the Re-
publican valley at this time say 1t is
| one of the finest they have seen any
4 where. Fields of alfalfa. herds of cat
tie and improved farms are big>draw-
ing cards, the doctor says.
The nicely dressed travelling man
didn't have any edge on the town fell
lows who came in pioneer days. and
helped build towns and started in
business. One OF the early drunme
house was making his first trip &c
Bull City (now Atom, in Osborne
county. He appeared nervous, having
read about the wild and woody
west. and he was keeping a SHARP
lookout for the buffalo and Indian
The young clerks and business mer
put up a Job to show him a good
time that night. They dressed in In
dian and cowboy fashion. came to the
hotel where the travelling man was
sat down to the office table. and en-
gagged in a mock game of poker. The
supposed gamblers wore belts with
revoIvers in them, loaded with blank
feathers in their hats and were paint
ed red Each of the gamblers had
stacks Of money at his corner. which
was changing hands rapidly at every
turn OF the cards The drummer wa
watching the game with interest. wher
one Of the cowboys drew his revolvel
and fired a shot In an instant tbs
whole half dozen cowboys and Indian:
were on their feet. firing their gun:
in the air. and some Of them fell by tbs
side Of the travelling man. he presum
ing IL was a dead earnest fight amone
1.-THE supposed gamblers His frs
thought was Of ITS eastern home and