The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-16
Sixth District Nevs Notes
Items and "reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.

Parker, a brother and associated with
him in business, and a brother-in-laW,I
Ed Mckee. were quite as well known
in Jewell county and the Salem com
munity as was Marsh Parker. The
writer isn't informed where these men
located after leaving the county.
It was unfortunate for the Topeka
man to parade his faults in the pubic
prints, as the following item from the
Hoxie Sentinel will bear out: "Ac-
cording to The State Journal Topeka
man is suing his wife for a divorce on
the grounds that she does not WASH
her hands when she makes bread, VIII
not sweep her house and lets rats
build nests in the cupboard, some
men get dosgone particular.
Mrs. IL d. Williams tells many IN
teresting incidents Of pioneer HE IN
BeIoit. Her story in the special edl-
ton of the Gazette is full OF lnteresC
The family came to Kansas IN 1917
and took homestead near belolt IN
the fall of that year. They shipped
their goods by wagon from solomon
Citv. fYfty miles. The night out they
stopped at a dugout for supper, ana
all the woman had was corn meal.
The Williams wagon was 11led Win
eatables, and together they had
square meal The woman in the dug
1
gone to Junction Gift for provisions.
indians had been there the day before.
and she was sure they would return
and kill her Her husband had
taught her the art of loading and fir
ing the gun. Before the return or the
husband the Indians made their ap-
pearance. The woman began to shoot,
and they soon retired. The Williams
family continued their journey to their
dugout All she found in it was box
used for table, a pile of hay, dirt
floor, only one room, a discarded SOL
dier's blanket, gunny sack for the
window and a blanket for the door.
Looking around outdoors she sat down
on the wagon tongue and enjoyed
good cry. This cry over, she de-
termined to make the best of it and
then decided this was to be her home,
The rats seemed to be plentiful as
flies around a sugar bowl, provisions,
clothing and shoes having to be kept
! from them. One season was all the
time they lived in the dugout, when
they moved to Beloit and started the
first general store. The first girl baby
born in Beloit was Mr.. and Mrs. Will
Iiams' daughter, Alice For many
years the family owned several acres
! of land in the Solomon valley across
the river from the town. and it was
fixed up for a park Mrs Williams
| never knew the water in the river get
ting high enough to overflow the park.
| Several years ago it was sold to Beloit
! city, and is now the property of the
/ Chantauqua association, and since
then the park grounds and buildings
have been under water several times.
| Asa NJ. Smith. attorney and farmer
| of Thomas county, was a Topeka
visitor this week on business. He has
served his county as county attorney
at intervals for several terms. and has
had a following for district Judge and
congress. He settled in Thomas be-
! fore the organization OF the county.
He owns a fine alfalfa farm near
| Colby, from which the seed netted
him the snug sum of $4,000
In early days Osborne county was
| famous for a noted hog case. wherein
the Htigants became bankrupt. The
said hog, after being tried in several
terms Of court, cost about $1,000,
Later years, and when peace and har-
nony ought to reign all over that fine
county. the papers mentioned that
some OF the good women were going
to Law over some sales of turkeys, the
claim being about $4,000. Now here
comes another case from the same
county, wherein an auto was being
I drove thru Downs. the said driver ex-
I ceeding the speed limits. and ran over
and killed a dog. for which damages
to the extent of $500 is asked by the
owner of the dog.
Harry W. Marshall and D. z. Ry-
man. Of Colby, were among the nov
ices in the Scottish Rite Masonic class
in Topeka this week. Marshall is one