The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-01
Sixth District NelUs Notes
Items and "reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.
BY HARRY ROOT.

1t Is interesting to visit such men
as w. c. Cochran, of Beloit, and hear
his interesting story of the early set
Element of Mitchell county. He was
one of the first He homesteaded
there in the days of the buffalo and
antelope, and the Indians were trou-
blesome Mr.. and Mrs. Cochran re-
side in Beloit and recently celebrated
their fifty-fourth wedding anniversary
In common with his hundreds of
friends, and the writer of Sixth Dis
trict notes is glad to be numbered
among them, ALI wish them many
more years of sunshine and happiness.
He gives the Sixth District depart
ment of The State Journal the fol-
lowing "reminiscences of his early set
Element in Mitchell county:
After a ripe old age of 81 years, So
OF which has been spent in Mitchell
county, it is difficult to remember all
the incidents, but bear in mind that
the perseverance, trials and troubles
OF the pioneers have been for the bene-
fit of future inhabitants of the United
States. 1t was my good luck that
led me to meet and form the ac-
quaintance OF the following pioneers
the credit that history denotes, but
nevertheless politics does create many
miracles and wonders: John Brown,
James Lane, James Leggett, San
Wood, Henry J. Allen.
In August, 1863, helped to organ
ize a colony of 40 families in Jasper
county, Iowa. (To heed the advice
of Horace Greeley. GO west young
man and grow up with the country -.
After the organization of our colony,
a few of whose names I still remem
Der, James Schooley and son Willif.Tn,
Don and Frank Peasley, z. ]. and u.
K. French, Myron Keeler and son,
Fred Barlow, D. A. Williams, John
u - ~ To aTtr
and Dennis Lewellen, we sent r. c.
Clark on in search of our future
homes 1 had little knowledge Of the
Solomon Valley. I favored what was
at that time the extreme west end of
the valley. Mr.. Clark returned IN
November and reported that he had
found and located 40 claims in the
Garden of Eden.
we then began preparation for
moving and decided on April LIST for
starting. Mr.. Clark and I formed
partnership, as we did not intend to
take our families at this time. A part
of the company gathered at or near
my home, all but Mr.. Clark. He sent
me word that he would be in camp
before the start, but they all left on
April End nd Mr.. Clark and I finally
got started the 10th and reached
Mitchell county the 25th of April.
1870. We met and persuaded about
fifty more families. VINO were going
west looking for a location. to accom-
pany us into the beautiful Solomon
Valley.
We were in camp on Peat's Creek
the night of April 22nd, when about
10 o'clock p. m. two young men came
into our camp to inform US that the,
Indians had killed all the people west
of us. They told US also of the Indian
raid at West Hampton, Cnow Glen
Elder. Five young men had taken
claims on the south side of the river
and had broke some land for corn;
had dug into the river bank, near
where the Kaull Touring mill now
stands, for {, dwelling place and had
fallen q tree across the river, which
they used as a bridge. At the time of
this story they were planting corn in
the sod, using an axe to cut a hole in
which to drop the corn. Each man