The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-17
Sixth District NetUS Notes
Items and "reminiscences by An Old Timer With His
Ear the Grass Roots.
BY HARRY ROOT
BY HARRY ROOT.

| The Craig case tried in Judge Whit
combs court in Topeka this week
brought a number of residents of At
wood. and northwest Kansas to this
city. Among them was Dempster
Scott, one of the pioneers OF Kansas,
and probably the oldest practicinG
lawyer in the Seventeenth judicial
district comprising the counties of
Phillips. Norton, Decatur, Rawlins
and Cheyenne. He came to Kansas in
| 1871 taking 4 government homestead
in Cloud county, and in the early days
he broke thousands of acres of Kansas
sod with oxen. Later he studied law
early days of northwest Kansas he
located at Atwood, Rawlins county.
where he has practiced his profession
for nearly forty years. When he went
to Atwood there wasn't a railroad and
only a few buildings. He built a
home and made the trees and flow
ers grow where none had grown be-
fore. He planted the first trees on
the business streets of that town, and
made them grow by hauling water in
a barrel.
When the railroad was built an at
tempt was made to move the county
seat from Atwood to Brakeman. dis
lance of five miles, as the railroad Of
ficials owned the Brakeman townsite.
They refused to give Atwood a depot.
while railroad yards were laid out at
Brakeman and a promise made that
it would be n division on the Burling-
ton. The town of Atwood was soon
divided in bitter fight. About half
the people of Atwood cast their lot
with Brakeman, and fifty buildings
were moved from Atwood to that
place The Brakeman Land company
started out to buy all the buildings in
Atwood that the might move them
to Brakeman. Thru it all Scott stood
pat for Atwood and made hard
r. @Ef @-ke
as city attorney had ordinances passed
by the city council making it a mis-
demeanor to cross any alley or street
in Atwood with moving building. 1t
soon became so expensive for the con-
tractors who were moving the build
ings that they had to give up the
work It was Scott who led. and with
the assistance of S. H. Tindell, mayor;
S. T. Lloyd, police judge, and Council
men Albert Hemming, John NJ. Bur
ton. Frank r. Morgan, Al Thurman
and NJ. A. Wilson made the fight
against the Burlington railroad Off
Gals, which left Atwood the county
seat of Rawlins county. OF the At
wood supporters who made the tight
and went thru the county seat war,
Scott is about the only one now living
in Atwood.
During the old political days when
the caucus and convention system was
in use, replaced by the primary, he
took an active part in politics, and
for many years presided as chairman
over many Republican conventions,
and was usually a delegate to the con-
gressional or state conventions.
He has seen many of the ups and
downs of western Kansas. and thru it
all he has stood for everything that
was for the betterment of Atwood and
Rawlins county. He planted the first
yellow rose bush in Atwood, and today
there are yellow roses in nearly every
yard in town, being transplanted from
slips taken from his yard. He had
the first water system in the town, |
being two wiudmills with a large sup
ply tank, and water piped all over his
place for irrigating purposes.
The location of the grave in which
the eleven soldiers were consigned
has been found by c. H. Cormack of
burial. These soldiers were maSsa cred
by the Indians on Beaver creek, in
Cheyenne county, in 1868, now fifty
four years ago. The grave is about
two miles from the creek Many per
sons have searched the section, but nc
trace of the grave nor any human
bones were ever found. The grave
is close to the home of John J. Knight.
Cormack, who is still living and doing
business in Bird City, took an active
part in the famous Indian fight at
Beecher's Island, about twenty-five !
miles from st. Francis. It is thru the |
efforts of the Legion boys this matter |
has been cleared up Already there |
is a movement on foot toward the |
erection of a monument at or near the |
grave where these soldiers were killed
by the Indians.
]. E. NoIind of Russell Springs.
private secretary of Congressman
Hays B. White. having travelled over
much of the Sixth district recently,
is of the opinion that the present in
will have no trouble in Sc
curing a denomination and election.
He is also of the opinion that ex-Con-
gresham John r. Connolly. of Thomas
III be pushed into the race by
the Democrats. and the fight will be
made by White and Connolly. He |
three terms. In one of the elections
he beat one of the strong Republican
nominees, who had the support of
every party paper, and the nominee
made the hardest campaign candf-
date has ever made Connelly isn't
candidate, but some times the fellow
is drafted. Will the Democrats of the
district draft" him?
Robt Cram, member of the legis-
allure from Cheyenne county. and A.
A. Gillispie, of Thomas. are two old
Republican members who are asking
FOR reelection. They made good rec
)rdS in the last term, and neither has
opposition The former is banker in
St. Francis. and Gillispie edits and
publishes the Rexford News.
The Atwood postoffice has made so
zig a gain in business that it will come
inder the second class offices on and
liter July 1. 1t is claimed this is the
,nly office in this class on the St
Francis & Orleans branch of the Bur-
ington road. Atwood is the county !
Ieat of Rawlins county. which is
claimed will raise this year one of the