The Topeka state journal., 1921-03-19
Sixth District Netus Notes
Item. and Remini.cence. by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.

homesteaded in the Solomon Valley
near Big Bend which was changed to
Speed in later years. There was also
in this colony of coIored people num-
Der of families by the name of Beverly,
Stone, John Cox, Brown and Washing
ton. They were under the direction of
the Rev. Henrie, who was a Methodist,
and from the time of their settlement
they became quite prosperous and
useful citizens They went to work
on the farm, paying strict attention to
the development of their community,
raising crops and stock, ofganizing a
school district and building a school
house, also stone church. Your cor
respondent knew many of these fam
lilies. He has passed thru their set
tlement several times and noted the
thrift seen on their farms and in their
homes. Some of them have passed on,
other left and settled elsewhere.
Those who stayed have succeeded as
they deserved, and now have good
homes, and well improved farms.
The earliest settlers in Phillips
county will remember Chas. Edwards.
who came with the first influx of i'm
migrants, and ~homesteaded in the
Solomon river valley. 1t wasn't long
before his neighbors found out that his
home was redezvous for a gang of
outlaws, and it was but short while
before the fellow Edwards proved
He was wanted in several other states
for crimes he was charged with.
When his identity became known he
suddenly disappeared, leaving no trace.
He finally turned up in Oklahoma
after it's admission to statehood. He
proved troublesome to the officers of
that state, many crimes being charged
to him, one of which was for murder.
He was arrested, tried and convicted,
and was sentenced to life infprison-
J. S. Parker, an attorney from Hill
City, who had law business before
the supreme court, sees prosperity in
| his town in the way of business and
building. He says Hill City is growing
this spring owing to the good crops
| harvested in 1920. The prospects for
the 1921 yields are the best Graham
county has ever seen, he says. There
| isn't a vacant business house. and to
meet the demand for more room Dr.
]. B. Parker Is rebuilding the block
destroyed by fire a year ago. VIM,
Kobler is putting up a building which
he will occupy. w. L. Sayers has
plans made for the erection of . mod
ern fireproof office to meet the growth
| of his law business. J. N .Welty &
| Son have completed a modern opera
house, and plans are under way for the
| building of a high school building.
| Several new residences are in process
! or construction
Jewell county didn't make any mis-
take when it sent DR.. ]. E. Haw1ey to
| the legislature. He has been one of
the most active and influential MEM
| bers of the body. He served on the
| committees on education, agriculture,
public welfare ana health and hygiene.
He worked for every bill he believed
1 would improve conditions, but he was
| fearless in opposing any move that
| would be detrimental to the public.
During the session he was at all times
one of the working members. He has
made good record. He lined up for
| the betterment of the child, the moral
uplift of the community, and in his
| work on these matters the state is
| supporting every move for the ad-
I vancement of education. believing it is
an asset and not a liability. He has
| been present at every session. He
loves this work and this being his first
| work as a member of the legislature.
he tells his fellow members that he
wants to come back to the next ses-
sion, if the people OF Jewell county
are willing. His home is in Burr Oak
where he has resided since 1877. He
ltook Horace Greeley's advice, and quit
New York state for Kansas. He says
he didn't make a mistake, and that
the state, Jewell county and Burr Oak
will be his home while life lasts.
In the geographical center of Chey.
enne county the Lincoln fNeb.) Land
company laid out town and named
ing the building of the B. & NJ road
from Orleans, Neb.. to its present
terminus, st. Francis. In those pfo-
neer times Bird City was the count,
lseat of Cheyenne county. and Want