The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-11
Sixth District NetUs Notes
Items and "Reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear to the Grass Roots.
BY HARRY ROOT
BY HARRY ROOT.

P. H McKanna, of Stockton. has
the honor of being the oldest con-
tinuous settler in Rocks county. He
went there in December, 1871, and
has staid there ever since. He
"squatted" on a homestead, on the
South Solomon river late in the af-
ternoon, and south of where Wood
ston is built. The following day he
and Thos. McNulty continued their
Journey farther up the river to Elm
Creek, stopping at the place where
McNulty homesteaded early in March.
1871, and only two miles southeast
where Stockton, the county seat, is
located. A townsite was laid out on
the government land, in September.
1871. Several other homesteaders
from Marysville, clyde, Washington,
Beloit, and other places also put in
an early appearance. McNulty is now
dead. but McKanna is living, has good
health, and is "a years old. Since the
death of McNulty the honor goes to
McKanna as being the oldest pioneer
settler in continuous years living in
Rocks county. He has witnessed the
settlement and development of the
county from the start. Since his resi-
dence in the county he helped to
slaughter the buffalo and antelope.
He witnessed the building of hundreds
OI sou houses, LOT LnoSe KINDS OIL Smell
ter had to be the habitation of many
Of the pioneers who went there with
scant means. In later years he saw
them disappear to make room for the
modern homes. He saw every build
ing erected in Stockton, and he
watched the destruction of most of
them to make room for the substan-
tial brick and stone blocks. He has
seen the two or more old court
house shacks give way to a 100000
modern one now. being erected which
is said will outshine all other county
buildings in the Sixth district. Your
correspondent is glad to number Nc
Kama with his loyal friends.
Northwest Kansas is rapidly taking
a front rank in the Hereford stock in
dustry. Frank and Madison Turner
brothers of State Auditor N. A Tur-
ner, are pioneer settlers of Atwood
and Rawlins county. They own two
of the best bred Hereford herds in
the state. They have for many years
followed the livestock game out in
that section, and the records will show
they have shipped more cattle and
hogs than all the other dealers COM
bined. From a small beginning with
a few head they have increased their
number, now having number of re-
peated prize winners, at the fairs
among their herds. The Turner's are
also successful farmers. and own sew
eral hundred acres in Rawlins county
Every weeks issue of the Norcatur
Dispatch has several verses from
the Bible quoted in the columns. The
editor tries to make all his friends
happy. In one of his pleasant para
graphs he says: IF given our choice
among all the beautiful. intellectual
and fascinating women of the country.
we'd unhesitatingly choose our own
Wife" In another item he says: 1--WE
would rather hear the bark of a dog,
or the grunt of pig. than to hear
some fellows open their mouth and
Vomit forth a mass of grouchy, foul
| matter that doesn't set we'll on their
own stomachs.''
There are two mounds in Rocks
county known as Twin Mounds and
Sugar Loaf mound. Two townships
in the county were named after the
mounds, Twin Mound and Sugar Loaf.
The Oldest settler now living in the
county, P. H. McKanna, believes they
were named by the government sur
veyors years before there was a set
| tier in the county. He can't recall to
mind of ever hearing anyone men
tloh1ng, or suggesting these names, he
! says. These mounds were always a
| guide for the early pioneer settlers
| from the summit of which the early
| homesteader could get a fine view of
| the country. Twin Mounds are a dou
! bic one, and covers about so acres
| Their height is from 200 to 400 feet
The rock on these mounds is hard
| ana rough, and scattered on top and
around the edges. McKanna visited
| these mounds in 1872, and found them
| sodded over with buffalo grass. A
/ branch of Elm creek heads on one
side of them, and this furnished the
| water to the early pioneers in Rocks
county. Crossing the country from
Stockton to- Plainville Twin Mounds
was always in view to the east. II
| was the pleasure of your correspon-
dent to visit the summit Of these two
mounds on his first visit to Plain.
vile for the Atchison Champion, near.
| ly half a century ago, and years be
lore Rocks county had railroad
One of the incidents of that trip il
the driver and his companion had had
lumber wagon we could pick .ul
enough empty whisky and beer bottles
to have filled the wagon box. Times
have changed since then, and about
all one sees now is some empty pat.
ent medicine bottles, Peruna, Hostel
tiers, lemon extract or something Of
the sort. The other mound so named
Sugar Loaf because of its peculiar
formation, is in the northwest part CT
Rocks county. 1t is a tract of lan6
| covering about 20 acres. The stone is
of rough sand rock, and the sur.
rounding country is rough and sandy
| Its elevation is higher than Twin
Mound. In pioneer days there wasn't
any vegetation noticeable, but there
was some bunch grass. The soil wa:
Poor. 1t is safe to say these mounds
| were source of delight to the CARA
vans of prairie schooners who were
seeking homesteads in that sector
| in the early seventies From theil
suIninits the country could be seen fol-
miles in all directions
J. ". Deeter. editor and publisher OF
the Norcatur Dispatch, on the county
me road OF Norton-Decatur counties
refuses to be a candidate for legs
| lative honors of Decatur county He
has built up fine, newsy paper, and
his business don't justify him neglect
ing it for a $500 day job for fifty
days work. He springs j. s. Rule, OF