The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-16
BY HARRY ROOT.

BY HARRY ROOT
It is interesting to the younger gem
Grafton of settlers who came to north
west Kansas to know how the pio-
neers got along in the early times,
and before the railroads and when
there were more Indians and buffalos
than white people. In the late fifty
year anniversary number of the Be-
lott Gazette many articles were
furnished by the early timers, detail
ing the incidents OF their pioneer life
in Mitchell county. One of the first
was G. L. Brown, who lives on the
original homestead he selected ten
miles from Beloit in 1868 The near
est postoffice was Delphes, about 5
miles, he havink gone on foot many
a trip for his mail not a house being
in sight from his place to the post
office. Horses were scarce and Brown
was doing most of his farm work with
oxen. Going to work one morning
he found two Indian arrows in the
side of one. In 1870 he planted his
corn in May, nor did it sprout until
August. Potatoes dried up in the
ground. All his crop that year was
turRips. He had a neighbor home
steader who claimed that Mitchell
county and northwest Kansas was
only fit for. the Indians and buffalos.
Brown informed him that he would
live long enough to see his place
worth $1,000. He now says it is worth
four times that amount. He has one
of the best farms in the Solomon val
| ley, lovely home, and can be seen
from the moving railroad trains. In
the early times many a homesteader
wore shoes made of gunny sacks,
Brown with the number, this being
all they had to wear on their feet.
! and cash as scarce as hens teeth. The
Browns pulled thru the troublous
times. He went there to stay, and
now they are living in peace and
I nv crit n CT fAV~
years he has filled offices of honor
and trust and SO far as the people of
Beloit and Mitchell county know he
has made good.
| In the early seventies band of
eastern people located in the valley of
the White Rock, Jewell county, in sight
: of the famous white mound, which
I can be seen for 25 or 80 miles in
| either direction, and SO we'll impressed
/ with the country they started town,
and named it Salem. The second
I school district in Jewell county was
established in Salem. The town grew
rapidly, and in its palmy days had
about 400 population At one time
there was a bank, newspaper. lumber
yard. general stores. drug store, hotels.
/ sawmill, lawyer, doctors. and other
| smaller trade avocations. Two or
/ more railroads were sure to be built
to Salem. The town reached its best
before the building of the Rock Island
/ road in 1883. Committees waited upon
| NJ A. Low. general attorney for the
| company. and offered bonds for the
| road without result. Like inducements
were pledged to the Missouri Pacific
and B. & NJ. roads. the former would
1 mt push west of Burr Oak, and the
| latter watched events. The Rock Is
land was heading for Denver. and
wanted to be the shortest transconti-
mental route. so it built on the
! ridge" four miles to the south. and
| in Jewell county. and Lebanon. Smith
| county. II miles southwest. So Salem
was doomed. many Of its business men
moving to the Rock Island towns in
Guiding E. T. Derge. Adams Brothers.
Drs. John and Henry Dykes, Noah
Patterson J. E. Gates. Doctor Ship
ley, the bank of Cook & Birchffeld.
and others At this time there isn't
any business left in Salem except a
| small store. blacksmith. church and
school house At one time stages ran
to Cora, Smith Center. Salina. Cawker
City, and Hastings and Red Cloud.
lNeb. One of the most talked of men
in and around Salem was Marsh
Parker, who will be remembered by
Iall the pioneer settlers and other Wis
litors. including your correspondent
He owned several hundreds of acres
of land. and fed thousands Of head OF
Idepce. which is vet claimed to be the
largest in Jewell county. containing
more than thirty rooms. IT was the
pleasure Of the writer Of these notes
Ito have Marsh Parker his friend
land to be shown thru this house
Marsh Parker who built and lived IN
1.-THE house, died in Omaha; Mel