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O. F. Boyle
Winfield.
Cowley County Census: March 1, 1875.
O. F. Boyle was listed as a boarder at the Lagonda House. It was stated that he was 31 years of age and had been born in New York. He was listed as a merchant.
WINFIELD 1880:
O. F. Boyle, 35; spouse, Anna, 26.
FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
Cowley County Censor, March 18, 1871.
NEW FIRM -OF- HITCHCOCK & BOYLE,
NO. 220 BROADWAY, WINFIELD, KANSAS.
We take pleasure in announcing to the people of Cowley County that we have now opened and have on exhibition an entire new stock of DRY GOODS.
[Listed: Groceries, Queensware, Hats and Caps, Clothing, Notions, Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Drugs, Clocks, Flour, Butter, Lard, Hams, Saddles, Iron and Steel, Breaking Plows, Subsoil Plows, Garden Seeds, Farming Implements.]
Cowley County Censor, July 1, 1871.
DRY GOODS.
NEW FIRM -OF- HITCHCOCK & BOYLE, NO. 220 BROADWAY, WINFIELD.
Cowley County Censor, October 28, 1871.
Nice fresh butter at Hitchcock & Boyle’s.
[CITIZEN’S MEETING.]
Winfield Messenger, June 28, 1872.
Agreeable to appointment a number of citizens met at the courthouse in Winfield to take measures for holding a celebration. After considerable discussion it was decided not to celebrate at Winfield, whereupon a committee, consisting of Messrs. Walton, Boyle, and Bryant, was appointed to procure teams for the accommodation of persons wishing to attend celebrations elsewhere.
A sufficient quality of powder was donated for the national salute, to be given at daybreak on the morning of the fourth, and a committee was appointed to superintend the firing.
The meeting then took into consideration the subject of
INCORPORATING WINFIELD,
in which much interest was manifested by all present. On motion, J. B. Fairbanks, S. H. Myton, and A. T. Stewart were appointed as a committee to draft petitions and circulate them.
On motion the meeting adjourned. J. D. COCHRAN, Chairman.
ALBERT YALE, Secretary.
[BOARD OF COWLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.
Bills allowed:
Hitchcock & Boyle, goods for prisoners: $2.25
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 18, 1873.
J. W. JOHNSTON, Retail dealer in Furniture.
On west side Main Street, opposite Hitchcock & Boyle’s.
Winfield Courier, Saturday, February 1, 1873.
Mr. Hitchcock, of the firm of Hitchcock & Boyle, made a flying visit from Belle Plain this week. This firm operates a heavy store at Belle Plain in addition to the one in Winfield.
[Later called Belle Plaine.]
Next item reveals that O. F. Boyle was “Owen F. Boyle.”...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 6, 1873.
The first named is the “City Ticket:”
For Mayor. J. B. Fairbanks.
For Police Judge. Wallis M. Boyer.
For Councilmen: Owen F. Boyle, Alonso [?] T. Stewart, Jas. P. Short, James D. Cochran, and James M. Dever.
The other is as follows:
For Mayor. W. H. H. Maris.
For Police Judge. Add. A. Jackson.
For Councilmen: Owen F. Boyle, Samuel C. Smith, Jas. D. Cochran, Hiram S. Silver, Chas. A. Bliss.
It behooves the people of Winfield to examine into the standing of these opposing candidates, and weigh their qualifications for the different offices judiciously before entrusting to their care the welfare of our town.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 6, 1873.
Read and reflect over Hitchcock & Boyle’s advertisement, new this week.
AD: HITCHCOCK & BOYLE, Proprietors of the OLD RELIABLE General Store. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Dealers in EVERYTHING. AN EXAMINATION of our stock and prices will convince the closest buyer that we are selling goods at BOTTOM PRICES for cash.
SPECIALTY: Fair dealing with all.
[No street address given.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 6, 1873.
Our popular friend, J. R. Musgrove, who has been interested with the firm of Hitchcock & Boyle, merchants, made his parting bow to Winfield this week. He has located a store at South Haven, where we wish him as many friends as he gained while in Winfield.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 6, 1873.
Notice of Election.
In the matter of the application of the majority of the electors of the unincorporated town of Winfield, in the county of Cowley, and state of Kansas, to be incorporated into a city of the third class, under the laws in such case made and provided.
Whereas, a petition to me presented, duly signed by a majority of the electors of said town of Winfield, setting forth:
1. The metes and bounds of said town to be as follows, to-wit: Beginning at a point 80 rods east of the n w corner of the n w qr of sec 23 t 32, south of r 4 east, thence s to the n line of the s w qr of said sec, thence s 1 deg, e 1900 feet, thence e 1309 ft. to the center line, thence n on said center line 1884 feet to the n e corner of the s w qr of said section, thence e 80 rods, thence n to the n line of said qr, to a point 1 chain and 10½ links e of the n w cor of said qr, thence n 1 deg w 19 Chains., thence w 1 chain and 21 links, thence s along the line between s e and s w qr sections of 21, 19 Chains to the s e corner of the s e qr of sec 21, thence w 80 rods to the place of beginning.
2. That said town contains a population of about six hundred inhabitants.
3. That said petition contains a prayer to be incorporated as a city of the third class. And, if appearing to my satisfaction that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of said town are in favor of such incorporation, and that the number of the inhabitants of said town exceeds two hundred and fifty, and does not exceed two thousand, therefore:
I, W. P. Campbell, Judge of the 13th Judicial District of the State of Kansas, being further satisfied that the prayer of the petitioners, in said petition, is reasonable, do hereby order and declare said town incorporated as a City of the Third Class, by the name and style of THE CITY OF WINFIELD, according to the metes and bounds aforesaid, and according to the law in such case made and provided:
And it is by me further ordered that, the first election in said City, for City officers, shall be held at the LAW OFFICE OF SUITS & WOOD, in said City, on the 7th day of March, A. D., 1873. And I hereby designate W. M. Boyer, D. A. Millington, and J. P. Short, to act as judges of said election, and J. W. Curns and J. M. Dever to act as Clerks of said election, and also, A. A. Jackson, A. T. Stewart, and O. F. Boyle to act as a Board of Canvassers.
It is further by me ordered, that the Clerk of the District Court in the county of Cowley, in said Judicial District, shall forthwith enter this order at length on the journal of proceedings of the District Court of said county of Cowley, and shall make publication of the same in some newspaper published in said City, at least one week before the said City election.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at El Dorado, Kansas, in chambers this 22nd day of February, A. D. 1873. W. P. CAMPBELL, Judge.
Winfield Courier, Friday, December 19, 1873.
The following ladies and gentlemen were appointed as committees to make preparation for the Oyster supper to be given by the Ladies Aid Society of the Presbyterian church on New Year’s eve.
COMMITTEE ON MUSIC. Mrs. Roberts, Miss Leffingwell, Mr. John Swain.
COMMITTEE ON OYSTERS, ETC. Mr. F. Williams, Dr. Egbert.
COMMITTEE ON TABLES, STOVE, AND LIGHTS. Mr. O. F. Boyle, H. Silver, Mr. Saint, Mr. Baldwin.
COMMITTEE ON COOKING OYSTERS. Mrs. Dr. Black, Mr. S. Darrah, Mrs. Curns.
COMMITTEE ON COFFEE. Mrs. Hane, Mrs. McMillen, Mrs. F. Williams.
COMMITTEE ON DISHES, ETC. Mrs. Houston, Mrs. Darrah, Mr. Maris, W. Doty.
COMMITTEE ON TICKETS. Dr. Black, Mr. J. F. Paul.
[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, Friday, December 19, 1873.
Hitchcock & Boyle, blankets for jail: $12.75
[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.
Proceeded to take up bills.
Hitchcock & Boyle, brooms: $2.00.
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1874.
HITCHCOCK & BOYLE, DEALERS IN [NOTHING LISTED]. PROPRIETORS OF THE OLD RELIABLE GENERAL STORE. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.
NO ADDRESS GIVEN.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
Winfield Township Officers.
The following are the officers elected in this township last Tuesday.
Trustee: H. S. Silver.
Clerk: E. S. Bedilion.
Treasurer: O. F. Boyle.
Justices of the Peace: N. H. Wood and W. M. Boyer.
Constables: A. T. Shenneman and Burt Covert.
Road Overseers: 1st district, James Renfro; 2nd district, Hiram Silver; 3rd district, Charles Seward; 4th district, C. Cook; 5th district, J. C. Roberts.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
The gentlemen elected last Monday and Tuesday for city and township officers are, we are satisfied, all good men. Capt. Smith in the past has given evidence of ability, honesty, and efficiency, so much needed in the chief officer of a young and growing city. The council as a whole is a good one and we look for wise counsel in the next twelve months.
Hiram Silver as Trustee we believe to be a judicious selection. He is acquainted with our people and their circumstances, a gentleman of good address and plenty of energy, and notwithstanding his “cussed” political proclivities, will make a good officer.
E. S. Bedilion, for clerk, we will venture has no equal in Cowley County. O. F. Boyle, for Treasurer, is the right man in the right place. W. M. Boyer has held the office of Justice for some time, and given general satisfaction, and of course will be better qualified by experience to discharge the duties of that office for the next two years.
His colleague, N. H. Wood, elected for the first time, is a young lawyer of good ability, pleasing manners, and we doubt not will make a popular Justice of the Peace as well as Police Magistrate. We bespeak for Judge Wood the charity that should be exercised toward all new beginners.
[COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS: APRIL 16, 1874.]
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1874.
Hitchcock & Boyle, goods: $6.25; $12.50; $6.25; $32.50.
[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS: MAY MEETING.]
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.
Hitchcock & Boyle—Locks $4.85; wood $4.75.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1874.
FRESH Turnip seed of the very best variety grown at home for sale at Hitchcock & Boyle’s.
Winfield Courier, August 21, 1874.
About as hard a looking outfit as we have ever happened to notice passed through town last Sunday coming from Sumner County, and bound for Missouri. It consisted of a man, his wife, three children, and one horse (we didn’t see their dog). Two of the children were mounted on the horse, which was lead by the woman, who was barefooted and poorly clad; the other child was carried by the man, who was little better off than the woman. They had a paper on which was laid out their route, which had been given them by some friend who had been over the track, but not being able to read, they took it into Hitchcock and Boyle’s, to find out whether or not they were on the right track. Just think of walking from Sumner County to Missouri over the rocks barefooted.
Anna Melville, who later married O. F. Boyle...
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.
The school board have decided to begin school in this city on Monday, the 28th of September. Miss Anna Melville has been engaged to teach the primary department, and Miss Sarah Aldrich for the intermediate department. The principal has not as yet been engaged.
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874.
School commences next Monday with the following teachers: W. C. Robinson, principal, Miss Sarah E. Aldrich, intermediate, and Miss Anna Melville, primary. Only one of these, Miss Melville, we believe is, or has ever been, a resident of this county, and so far as we are concerned, we most sincerely protest against the action of the School Board in importing teachers. We have in Cowley County young men and women just as well qualified, who helped to make our schools what they are, who have helped to build up our county, and who, now that the hard times have set in, need the salary. Some of them should have been selected. We haven’t one word to say against the teachers employed. They are, no doubt, well qualified for their respective positions. But we do think that the board committed a great error—one for which they will not soon get the forgiveness of the patrons of the school.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1874.
The public schools in this city commenced last Monday with the following teachers: Prof. W. C. Robinson, Principal; Misses Aldrich, Intermediate, and Miss Melville, primary, at a salary of $100, $50, and $40 respectively. Pretty good wages we should think for Grasshopper times.
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1874.
The Literary, Musical, and Dramatic entertainment came off Wednesday evening as advertised. The music was good. W. W. Walton’s “Philosopher of Paint Creek,” was hard to best. Miss Melville followed with an essay which indicated deep pure thought in the preparation of it, and it was well received and fully appreciated by the audience. Miss Jennie Greenlee’s rendition of “The Launching of the Ship,” was excellent, and by far the best we have ever heard. Mrs. Russell of Wichita, whose fame as a sweet singer had preceded her here, sang some beautiful songs which completely entranced her hearers and elicited storms of applause. Prof. Hulse of Arkansas City also sung a few of his excellent songs, which as usual delighted his hearers. The proceeds amounted to something over $67.
O. F. Boyle...
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1874.
Notice of Issuing Bonds.
NOTICE is hereby given that the bridge bonds voted for on the 26th day of August 1873 will be issued by the undersigned on the 24th day of October 1874.
Attest H. S. SILVER, Tp. Trustee,
E. S. BEDILION, Tp. Clerk.
O. F. BOYLE, Tp. Treasurer.
Winfield Courier, October 29, 1874.
A monster load of wheat was bought by Hitchcock & Boyle off Enoch Willett one day last week. It weighed 108 bushels and was brought to town with three yoke of oxen. We venture to say that it was the biggest load ever hauled to Winfield. The scales could not draw the entire load; it had to be weighed in halves.
Anna Melville, G. W. Melville...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 15, 1874.
TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, Oct. 5th, 1874.
Institute met per appointment at schoolhouse. 1 o’clock p.m., Prof. Wilkinson in the chair. After singing and appointment of Committees, the rhetorical exercises of the day were entered upon.
1st. Class drill in grammar by Miss N. M. Aldrich.
2nd. Object lesson by Miss Anna Melville.
3rd. Class drill in mental arithmetic by Prof. Robinson.
4th. A short lecture on theory and practice by Prof. Wilkinson, which was both interesting and instructive. He urged upon the teachers the necessity of a complete system of uniformity of government, in which he gave several useful hints about calling and dismissing classes. The treatment of different temperaments met in our common schools—
making his remarks more effective by illustrations from former schools of his own.
Prof. Robinson’s exercise in mental arithmetic was one that could be practiced in all our district and graded schools with great success, and as he told us, it will always prove diverting and instructive, strengthening the mind as no other one method can. And we have no doubt the teachers will introduce it into their schools. . . .
Oct. 6th, 1874.
After the devotional services the following exercises took place.
Class drill in spelling by E. A. Millard.
Class drill in drawing by Miss Lillian Norton.
Class drill in arithmetic by Prof. Robinson.
Class drill on the organization of country schools by Prof. Kellogg.
Class drill in penmanship by Geo. W. Melville. . . .
Prof. Kellogg’s class drill was excellent. He awoke life and interest among the teachers. He drew methods and idea from the teachers—deciding upon those that he thought best for adoption, and presenting them in clear concise language. His remarks were spicy and entertaining.
Lesson in penmanship by Mr. Melville, good. He urged upon the teachers the necessity of some one system of penmanship, and the adoption of that by the whole school, devoting a portion of each day to a thorough drill causing pupils to improve slowly but surely. He recommended the Spenserian system. His lesson was given from that.
Miss Norton’s method on drawing was a happy combination of instruction and pleasure, as it calls out ideas from each and every pupil, teaching at the same time the beauty of invention and the training of the eye and hand.
Class drilling in spelling by Mr. Millard, was well conducted, and the teacher seemed to understand his work. The method presented for teaching spelling was really a superior one, and cannot fail to awaken interest in the dullest of classes. The teachers could not help noting the difference between the method presented by Mr. Millard and the old method of oral spelling from text book. The lesson consisted of the spelling of an object, its parts, and description of parts, the teacher pronouncing and the pupils writing the words upon their slates, which were to be corrected by the teacher after school closed. He believes the Analytical speller to be the standard.
Class drill in arithmetic by Prof. Robinson. The Prof. dwelt at length upon the necessity of a thorough drill in numeration and notation, holding them as the only key by which arithmetic can be taught successfully. After which followed an explanation about inverting the terms of the divisor in division of fractions, which he did full justice to as it is one of the most difficult parts of arithmetic to teach, and the teachers were glad to hear his method, which can be found in “Robinson’s Practical Arithmetic.”
Miss Greenlee’s class drill in primary arithmetic was short, but excellent and to the point. It was something that we needed—how to teach primary arithmetic. Her plan was new and simple. She commenced her work energetically, and by being greatly interested herself produced a like interest among her pupils.
Reading by Miss Daggett was good. The method she presented was a combination of the letter and word method combined—having the pupil learn the name of the object by first placing the object before them and then the names used in the description of the object, and after that they are required to learn the letters of the different words, thus doing away entirely with the method of “learning the letters first.”
Oct. 7th, 1874.
Institute called to order by Miss Greenlee.
Singing and devotional exercises.
Appointment of Miss Melville as critic.
After appointment of critic, the following exercises were conducted.
Class drill in language by Miss Lillian Norton, was both interesting and instructive. The blackboard exercise was full of practical hints and illustrations, and one we would recommend to all teachers.
The next exercise was a general debate on the subject of orthoepy. Many opinions were offered, a few of which might bear adoption. The general conclusion being that authors differ very materially.
Mr. W. W. Walton, our county surveyor, then presented to the teachers the subject of map drawing, introducing for their benefit, what he termed the circular system, which was entirely new to many and combining simplicity and beauty, and on the whole a very easy and practical method. We would say to Mr. Walton, when we have another Institute, do so again.
Miss Melville then gave the teachers a short drill in calisthenics. Something very much needed in our schools after a period of hard study.
Mr. Hall then took up the subject of spelling. His method is to have the lessons written on the pupils’ slates, assigning only as much as can be learned thoroughly. He would do away with the old method of oral spelling in the class.
Mr. Melville’s method of the study of history was calculated to amuse as well as instruct, and to keep the mind of the pupil actively engaged in searching after interesting historical facts and events.
Mr. Lee in his class drill in arithmetic said he would dispense with the text book almost entirely and substitute work from general knowledge already acquired only referring occasionally to text books, and confine the pupils to work he would give from his own mind.
[Similar matters were covered on October 8th, the last day of Institute.]
The following teachers were present at this Institute: Lizzie Landis, Anna Mark, Justus Fisher, J. C. Armstrong, T. B. Hall, E. G. Water, Nellie M. Aldrich, Estella Thompson, Lillian Norton, Ida Daggett, Nettie Porter, E. J. Pepper, Wm. Lee, C. H. Eagin, Wm. E. Ketchum, N. S. Mounts, Ettie Fowler, S. Bucher, R. B. Corson, Mary Graham, Lizzie Graham, J. W. Tullis, Jennie Hawkins, E. W. Hulse, J. S. Stratford, E. A. Small, Gertie Davis, Thomas Maginnis, W. C. Robinson, T. J. Conner, S. E. Aldrich, Addie Hollister, Lizzie Ireton, Annie Melville, M. E. Dudley, E. A. Millard, W. H. H. McKinnon, H. J. Sandfort, E. J. Greenlee, E. A. Goodrich, Katie Fitzgerald, Carrie Morris, R. C. Maurer, Carrie Dixon, Libbie West, Lizzie Stine, E. C. Seward, Mary Huston, G. W. Melville, A. K. Stevenson.
G. W. Melville...
Winfield Courier, October 15, 1874.
The Independent convention met at Tisdale last Monday and nominated the following ticket. For Representative, A. S. Williams; for County Attorney, A. J. Pyburn; for Probate Judge, H. D. Gans; for Clerk of the District Court, E. S. Bedilion; and for Superintendent of Public Instruction, G. W. Melville.
Excerpts: Melville...
[REPORT FROM “AN OBSERVER” - TISDALE.]
Winfield Courier, October 22, 1874.
From Tisdale.
OCT. 20. EDITOR COURIER: The Independent order of politicians held their meeting last night. A. T. Gay was called to the chair, and introduced Mr. Melville as the first speaker. Mr. Melville stated that the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was overpaid, and according to his remarks would have led us to believe that he would fill the office for less than nothing; and that the office was nearly useless and merely a burden to the county, and finished up by stating that the present incumbent at a salary of $1,200 per annum had made nothing out of the office.
Mr. Williams being introduced stated that he was no speaker; had lived fifteen years in southern Kansas; had been a Son of Temperance; believed in temperance; was glad Mr. Melville could speak for he could not.
Now we will take the meeting into consideration for one moment. No person belonging to the opposite party was invited to speak, and what did they, themselves say?
They aimed at crying corruption but did not point a single instance where wrong had been done.
They cried small pay and yet stated as plain as language could state that those already in office could make nothing at the present salaries. Now what logic! What reasoning! What conclusion can we, as voters, come to? Cry corruption, but do not know where it is! Salaries too high, and yet not enough to live upon.
And still the Tisdale reformers seem to be highly delighted. Yes, they are like the three travelers, who, when they were shown to bed, were asked if they would have a warming pan. The waiter gone, they asked each other what a warming pan was, and as none of them knew, they came to the happy conclusion that they would eat it anyway. So the Tisdale reformers will eat it anyway, but it seems to me it must grit pretty hard on their teeth.
AN OBSERVER.
Excerpts: Melville...
[COMMUNICATION FROM THE REFORMERS AT LAZETTE.]
Winfield Courier, October 29, 1874.
On the evening of October 22nd, the citizens of this vicinity were entertained with speeches by part of the Independent candidates, and by some who were not candidates. Mr. Hemenway was called to the chair and introduced the speakers in a few well chosen and appropriate remarks.
Mr. Melville then made a few remarks regarding the office of School Superintendent, pledging himself to work for three dollars per day, and to charge only for the days actually employed in official labors. He thought that the saving to the county by his election would be several hundred dollars.
Anna Melville, sister of Wm. H. and George W. Melville: married O. F. Boyle...
[OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS: COURSE OF STUDY, WINFIELD SCHOOLS.]
Winfield Courier, November 12, 1874.
The schools are always open to those interested, and the teachers will be glad to have them freely visited and the standing progress noted and criticized.
W. C. ROBINSON, Principal.
MISS S. E. ALDRICH, Intermediate.
MISS ANNA MELVILLE, Primary.
Winfield Plow and Anvil, November 19, 1874.
HITCHCOCK & BOYLE.
Dealers in EVERYTHING.
Winfield Plow and Anvil, November 19, 1874.
Advertisements in this Issue
Messrs. Hitchcock & Boyle, advertise their dry goods, groceries, queensware, and in fact, as they say, “dealers in everything.” This firm is of too old standing in Winfield to need a word of commendation from us. They are fair men, and receive a very large patronage.
Winfield Plow and Anvil, November 19, 1874.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY
Township Officers.
Trustee.—H. S. Silver.
Treasurer.—O. F. Boyle.
Clerk.—E. S. Bedilion.
Justices of the Peace.—N. H. Wood, W. M. Boyer.
Constables.—A. T. Shenneman, Burt Covert.
Anna Melville and brother, G. W. Melville...
Winfield Courier, December 24, 1874.
Miss Anna Melville and her brother, G. W. Melville, have gone to Emporia to spend the holidays.
Brother Melville [Probably G. W. Melville]...
Winfield Courier, December 31, 1874.
Public Installation.
There will be a Public Installation of the officers of Maple Grove Grange elected for the ensuing year, on the first Monday evening in January, 1874, at half past six p.m. sharp. The programme for the evening is as follows.
Master states object of meeting; Speech by brother Melville; Installation of officers; Music; Recess; Lecture to officers by brother Gans of Lazette; Music; Essay on sociability by A. Fraser; Music; Essay on education in the grange by T. J. Johnson; Song by Miss Maggie Bush; Essay on dishonesty and deceitfulness by Chas. A. Roberts; Music; Essay on “Our Teachers,” by Mrs. Chas. A. Roberts; Closing song; Benediction.
A general invitation is extended to all.
By Order of the Grange.
Miss Melville...
Winfield Courier, January 28, 1875.
A Winfield correspondent of the Traveler says that the teachers in the public schools of this city are Prof. Robinson and Miss Greenlee. That correspondent is well posted. Miss Greenlee teaches school four miles south of town. The Winfield teachers are Prof. Robinson, Miss Melville, and Miss Aldrich. Better change correspondents, Scott.
Hitchcock & Boyle...
Winfield Courier, February 4, 1875.
Hitchcock & Boyle have closed their store and are taking an invoice of their goods preparatory to dissolving partnership. One of the partners intends to continue the business. Which one, however, is not definitely known at present.
[DISSOLUTION NOTICE: HITCHCOCK & BOYLE.]
Winfield Courier, March 11, 1875.
DISSOLUTION NOTICE.
The copartnership heretofore existing under the firm name of Hitchcock & Boyle, is this day dissolved by mutual consent. The debts due the said firm may be paid to O. F. Boyle, and he is hereby authorized to collect the same. W. H. HITCHCOCK, O. F. BOYLE.
Winfield, Kas., Mar. 11th, 1875.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET: MARCH TERM.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.
CIVIL DOCKET. FIFTH DAY.
No. 499. Hitchcock & Boyle, vs. William Greenlee, et al.
[DISPOSITION OF DISTRICT COURT CASES.]
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1875.
Disposition of cases in the District Court up to Wednesday night.
499. Hitchcock & Boyle, vs. William Greenlee, et al, judgment for plaintiff.
Winfield Courier, April 8, 1875.
Some score or so of the young folks of the city, in full mask, gathered at the residence of Captain John Lowery last Thursday night to have a good time. We are not sufficiently versed in this business to know who or what the masqueraders intended to represent. So perhaps the less said in that direction the better. However, there were noticeably three young ladies observed that we cannot pass without special mention. Their plump, well rounded figures and elegant bearing were the envy alike of the other ladies and the admiration of the men. So much so that a collision seemed imminent at any time between the young men as to which would secure their company for the evening. One, the tallest of the lovely trio, was dressed—well—with a dress, and so were the others. These three perambulated up and down the Captain’s elegant parlors, very queens of grace until the time to unmask. Off came the head gear, when, lo and behold, there stood O. F. Boyle, Frank Gallotti, and Jimmy Simpson, and the three graces had fled forever, to the infinite disgust of the admiring young men.
Emma Melville and Anna Melville, sisters...
Winfield Courier, July 1, 1875.
Miss Melville’s sister, Emma, is complimented by the Emporia News, on an essay read before the Normal school last week, of which she is a new graduate. Marion County Record.
Miss Emma is also a sister of Miss Anna Melville, late teacher in our public school here.
O. F. Boyle and Annie Melville: first mention of them being together...
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1875.
Thanks.
To Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Klingman and their fair and accomplished daughter, Miss Allie, for their kind and generous treatment and well appreciated hospitality to their visitors of last Tuesday evening: Will S. Paul, Miss Kate Millington, A. B. Lemmon, Clara L. Flint, Jno. D. Pryor, Jennie Greenlee, O. F. Boyle, Annie Melville, Will C. Robinson, Ella Silvers, J. E. Saint, May Deming, D. Frank Baldwin, Ada Millington, James Simpson, W. W. Walton, and Miss Dollie Morris. They desire to express their sincere thanks. May they live long, enjoy life, and always be as happy as were their visitors of last Tuesday evening, is the wish of their friends enumerated above.
Annie Melville goes to Topeka to Commercial College...
Winfield Courier, September 2, 1875.
Miss Annie Melville has gone to Topeka for a few month’s stay. At the expiration of this time, she hopes to graduate from Pond’s Commercial College, which she enters immediately. And in this connection we might add that Miss Allie Klingman will start in a week or two for a term at the same institution.
Boyle selling goods at cost...
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.
O. F. BOYLE is selling goods AT COST.
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.
Down They Go. The balance of my stock AT COST. O. F. BOYLE.
George W. Melville...
Winfield Courier, October 7, 1875.
Monday we surveyed the county road petitioned for by John Annis, et al, of Bolton Township. Beginning at the south end of the Arkansas River bridge and running northwest to the township line. This is one of the most important roads in the southern part of the county. The immense travel of Bolton, in this county, and Walton and other townships in Sumner County, as far west as Caldwell, has been compelled to go at least one mile out of a direct line in order to get to this bridge, the only crossing on the Arkansas south of Oxford. The aggrieved party in this case is Reuben Bowers, Esq., who owns the land near the bridge. His damage he assesses at one thousand dollars. The viewers, Thos. H. Henderson and Geo. W. Melville, awarded him one hundred and fifty dollars. The reports went before the Commissioners on Tuesday, and the attorneys in the case agreed to lay it over till the next session of the Board. L. J. Webb, of this city, has been employed by the defendant, and Amos Walton is advisor for the principal petitioner.
George Melville, O. F. Boyle...
Winfield Courier, October 14, 1875.
Reform Convention!
Meeting of the Unterrified and Slaughter of the Innocents!
The Republican Ticket Indorsed Almost Throughout!
The convention of self-styled Reformers met at the Courthouse in this city last Saturday and organized with M. B. Leonard of Creswell, for Chairman, and C. G. Holland and Ed Millard, Secretaries.
The Committee on Resolutions, of which T. M. McIntire, of Creswell, was chairman, reported the following which, on motion, was rather meekly adopted.
1. Resolved, That the policy of further contraction of the currency at this time is calculated to bring financial ruin to the agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests of the country and will only be of advantage to the bond holders and money loaners of the East.
2. Resolved, That the National bank system was originated and has been sustained in the interest of the monied oligarchy of the East and has subserved no purpose save the protection of that interest at the expense of the productive and commercial interests of the West.
3. Resolved, That the course of the administration in subsidizing the local press of the country by the appointment of partisan editors to federal offices is destructive of the independence and usefulness of the press and merits the hearty condemnation of all patriots.
4. Resolved, That competency and honesty being the qualities which should alone commend a candidate, we hereby pledge ourselves to the nominees of the convention so long as we remain convinced that they possess these qualifications and no longer.
T. M. McINTIRE, Chairman.
George Melville then read the programme, which was that nominations begin with Representative, then Treasurer, etc., down to Coroner, which programme was adopted with some misgivings on the part of the more wary, believing, as they did, that George had some hidden object in view.
W. P. Hackney, the Republican candidate, was the only nominee for Representative, the Reformers being out of that kind of timber.
A call being made for Mr. Hackney, that gentleman came forward and told the convention that he was a Republican and as he had been placed at the head of the Republican ticket by the County Central Committee, he would be pleased to receive the indorsement of the convention, etc. The convention then nominated Mr. Hackney by acclamation with a few dissenting noes.
Nominations for Treasurer being in order, O. F. Boyle, of Winfield, and C. G. Handy, of Tisdale, were put on the track. Mr. Boyle’s friends were confident that they could run right off from Handy, but they didn’t know that the unknown Tisdale nag was ridden by a very light weight. The race was a close one, Mr. Handy winning it by one vote. Never was there a convention so badly taken by surprise. No one expected to nominate Mr. Handy and the announcement was hailed with anything but enthusiasm.
The next heat was for Sheriff, for which there were five entries, to-wit: Hoffmaster, Deming, Lippman, Shenneman, and R. L. Walker. Walker’s name was withdrawn and Shenneman declined in favor of Deming. The last ballot resulted in favor of Hoffmaster.
Five candidates were nominated for Register of Deeds: Henderson, Roseberry, Allison, Cheneworth, and Howland. Mr. Roseberry rose to a personal explanation and charged Amos Walton with misrepresenting him and thought this would be a good time for Amos to “take it back.” He was also willing to read a recommendation given him by the county officers, but the Chair couldn’t see it, and Mr. Roseberry was chalked off. First ballot: Henderson, 16; Howland, 12; Roseberry, 6; Allison, 28; Cheneworth, 18. No Choice. Here Mr. Cheneworth withdrew his name and said that he had been solicited to become a candidate, and the inference was, by those who had control of the convention; but there was something back behind the screen which would slaughter him and he preferred to withdraw his name. By this time it was apparent that the race would be between Allison and Henderson, Howland and Roseberry having already been lost sight of. The last ballot proved Tom Henderson the winner by 17 votes, Mr. Howland receiving but one vote and Roseberry none.
From now on all interest was lost in the convention, it having gone against nearly everybody’s prognostications, and some two dozen defeated candidates went home disgusted, which left the convention pretty thin.
Dr. Headrick was nominated for Coroner.
John Stalter was nominated in the 1st, Daniel Grant in the 2nd, and R. F. Burden in the 3rd Commissioner Districts.
Amos Walton was appointed a Central Committee and the convention adjourned.
Anna Melville teaching at Plymouth, village near Emporia...
Winfield Courier, November 25, 1875.
Miss Anna Melville has just graduated at the Kansas City Commercial College and is now teaching school at the little village of Plymouth, near Emporia.
O. F. Boyle. Becomes city councilman...
THE WINFIELD COURIER.
CENTENNIAL ISSUE.
WINFIELD COURIER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1876.
PRODUCED EVERY THURSDAY BY E. C. MANNING.
The city of Winfield was incorporated Feb. 22nd, 1873. The first city election was held March 7th, 1873, at which W. H. H. Maris was elected Mayor.
A. A. Jackson, Probate Judge.
O. F. Boyle, J. D. Cochran, H. S. Silver, S. C. Smith, and C. A. Bliss, for Councilmen.
The Council chose S. C. Smith, its President; J. W. Curns, Clerk; M. L. Robinson, Treasurer; C. W. Richmond, Marshal; and J. M. Alexander, Attorney.
Winfield Courier, January 20, 1876.
Tony Boyle has gone to Kansas City for a few weeks.
George Melville: Later became brother-in-law of O. F. Boyle...
Arkansas City Traveler, March 1, 1876.
GEORGE MELVILLE is in company with A. A. Jackson, in the grain trade at Wichita. They are doing a good business.
One firm in Wichita bought 163,000 bushels of wheat from Cowley and Sumner counties, during the winter, for the Eastern market.
O. F. Boyle returns from the north...
Winfield Courier, May 25, 1876.
OWEN F. BOYLE (“Tony”) came in on the stage, from the north, this week. Many clubs stood ready to welcome him, particularly the Bazique club. Tony looks well. He ain’t married yet.
[FOURTH OF JULY PREPARATIONS.]
Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.
Last Saturday, pursuant to call, the citizens of Winfield met at the Courthouse and organized a meeting by calling D. A. Millington to the chair and electing C. M. McIntire secretary.
After deliberation as to what steps should be taken to appropriately celebrate the 4th of July of the Centennial year, the following committee was appointed to draft a plan of procedure and report to a meeting of citizens last night: James Kelly, J. P. Short, C. M. McIntire, W. B. Gibbs, and W. C. Robinson.
At the appointed hour, Wednesday evening, the meeting assembled at the Courthouse and organized by selecting C. A. Bliss, chairman, and J. E. Allen as secretary. The committee made a report which, after some amendments made by the meeting, was finally adopted.
General Superintendent: Prof. A. B. Lemmon.
County Historian: W. W. Walton.
Committee of Arrangements: C. M. Wood, M. L. Bangs, B. B. Vandeventer, John Lowry, J. D. Cochran.
Committee on Programme: H. D. Gans, E. P. Kinne, James Kelly, B. F. Baldwin, W. M. Allison.
Committee on Speakers: E. C. Manning, L. J. Webb, Chas. McIntire.
Committee on Finance: W. C. Robinson, W. P. Hackney, O. F. Boyle, M. G. Troup, J. C. Fuller.
Committee on Music: J. D. Pryor, Mrs. W. D. Roberts, Miss Mollie Bryant.
Committee on Toasts: A. J. Pyburn, J. E. Allen, J. P. Short, Dr. J. Hedrick.
Committee on Stand: W. E. Tansey, T. B. Myers, W. B. Gibbs.
Committee on Decoration: Frank Gallotti, John Swain, I. Randall, Mary Stewart, Jennie Greenlee, Ada Millington, Mrs. Rigby, Mrs. Mansfield.
Committee on Invitation: D. A. Millington, L. C. Harter, J. B. Lynn, C. A. Bliss, J. P. McMillen, H. S. Silver, A. H. Green, S. S. Majors, C. M. Scott, T. B. McIntire, R. C. Haywood, J. L. Abbott, John Blevins, T. R. Bryan, H. C. McDorman, Mc. D. Stapleton, S. M. Fall, J. Stalter, Wm. White, S. S. Moore, Jno. McGuire, H. P. Heath, J. O. Van Orsdol, G. B. Green, W. B. Skinner, J. W. Millspaugh.
Committee on Fireworks: G. S. Manser, T. K. Johnson, C. C. Haskins.
Meeting adjourned to meet at the call of the General Superintendent.
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.
TONY BOYLE had a tip-over at Roberts’ ford, on the Walnut, Sunday evening. His buggy rolled down a steep bank, turning over two or three times in its descent. Tony wasn’t hurt much, but the buggy top was sadly demolished. Now, why don’t someone say that that buggy top had been out with the Baziques the night before.
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.
City Council Proceedings.
WINFIELD, KAN., June 5th, 1876.
City Council met in regular session at the Clerk’s office, May 15th, 1876.
Present: D. A. Millington, Mayor; M. G. Troup, H. Brotherton, and T. B. Myers, Councilmen; B. F. Baldwin, City Clerk, J. E. Allen, City Attorney.
Minutes of previous meeting was read and approved.
The bill of C. A. Bliss, $1.75, for rope for public well, was read, approved, and ordered paid.
Bill of W. L. Mullen, $10, for rent of room for pauper, was read, and on motion it was recommended that the Board of County Commissioners pay the same.
On motion of T. B. Myers the council resolved to notify Mr. Mullen that in the future it would not approve for more than $2.50 per month.
The bill of E. R. Evans, $5, for services as assistant marshal, was taken from the table and on motion was allowed in the sum $2.50, and that amount ordered to be paid.
On motion of M. G. Troup, the marshal was instructed to repair the pound, provided said repairs would be received in lieu of four months’ rent.
On motion of T. B. Myers, the Council ordered Mr. E. C. Manning to ascertain the feeling of the citizens of the city as to the propriety of appropriating $200 to $300 to be issued to assist in the preliminary work of securing a railroad into this valley, and report at the next meeting of the Council.
On motion of M. G. Troup, the Council instructed the marshal to notify the citizens of the city who own dogs, that unless the requirements of ordinance No. 55 are complied with on or before July 1st, 1876, the dogs will be dealt with as said ordinance provides.
On motion the matter of O. F. Boyle was referred to the committee on streets and alleys with instruction to comply with the request, if it can be done at a reasonable expense.
On motion the Council adjourned. B. F. BALDWIN, City Clerk.
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.
[MARRIED: BOYLE-MELVILLE.]
Winfield Courier, June 22, 1876.
MARRIED.
BOYLE - MELVILLE. June 11, six o’clock a.m., in Plymouth, at the residence of Mr. Carter, by Rev. A. H. Walter, Mr. O. F. Boyle, of Winfield, Kansas, to Miss Anna A. Melville, of Plymouth, Kansas.
The accomplished bride graduated at our State Normal School in 1874, and will be remembered by our citizens. She is in every way worthy of the active, energetic, successful businessman with whom she is now united for the future journey of life.
The parlor windows were closely curtained, excluding the light from without, while within the “lamps were trimmed” and burning, casting a radiance upon the bridal party as they entered and stood at Hymen’s altar, the whole presenting a magnificent scene.
After the impressive marriage ceremony and congratulations, the bride and groom, followed by the groomsmen and three ladies-maids, and guests, repaired to the breakfast room, where the tables were spread with the most abundant and richest viands to tempt, and satisfy all. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle, accompanied by Miss Melville, left on the early train for the east, will visit friends and the Centennial, and in September return to Kansas, their future home. Emporia News.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.
TONY BOYLE and Miss Anna A. Melville were married at Emporia, June 11th, by Rev. A. H. Walker, and are now on their wedding tour to Philadelphia.
Winfield Courier, June 29, 1876.
City Council Proceedings.
WINFIELD, KAN., June 19, 1876.
City Council met in regular session at the Clerk’s office, June 19th, 1876.
Present: D. A. Millington, Mayor; M. G. Troup, H. Brotherton, T. B. Myers, and C. A. Bliss, Councilmen; J. E. Allen, City Attorney, B. F. Baldwin, City Clerk.
Minutes of previous meeting were read and approved.
The Marshal reported the proposition made by the Council at its last meeting to M. S. Bangs for the use of the pound as accepted by him, and that the repairs had been made.
Committee on streets and alleys reported the matter of O. F. Boyle, referred to at last meeting, as settled without cost to the city.
Excerpts...
[Charges by Scott followed by answer of Manning.]
2. We charge him with being interested in and connected with the bridge swindle at Winfield, as published in the Telegram of Oct. 2nd, 1873.
The second charge is not true. I refer to D. A. Millington, J. P. Short, and O. F. Boyle, who were the township officers of Winfield Township at the time for proof of my denial.
Winfield Courier, October 5, 1876.
The Winfield Bazique club is scarcely able to raise a quorum. Simpson, Boyle, and Holloway, “the three graces,” left us, and now we have to chronicle the departure of another important officer, whose name entitled him to all the privileges of a Saint.
George Melville, living at Wichita...
Winfield Courier, October 12, 1876.
Geo. Melville came down from Wichita this week to attend to business connected with his Pleasant Valley farm.
Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Boyle return...
Winfield Courier, January 18, 1877.
TONY BOYLE and wife are again with us.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.
A new business firm is going into the Hitchcock & Boyle store building.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1877.
Don’t forget the place: Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1877.
W. H. H. Maris has changed his lumber yard to the vacant lots adjoining Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1877.
Farmers, if you want a cheap bill of groceries, go to the new Cash Store of A. A. Estlin & Co., at Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1877.
The business firm of A. A. Estlin & Co., late of Council Grove, Kansas, has opened a fine stock of goods at Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand in this place. Everything about the store looks clean and inviting, and the gentlemen in charge are polite and accommodating. The COURIER readers should give them a call and make them feel welcome in our midst.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1877.
Halt!
And inspect the immense stock of
Dry Goods, Notions, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, Clothing, Queensware, etc.
At the New Cash Store of
A. A. ESTLIN & CO.,
At Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand.
We are determined to sell good CHEAP FOR CASH, and hope by fair dealing to merit the patronage of the citizens of Cowley.
A. A. ESTLIN & CO.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1877.
The New Cash Store—don’t forget it.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1877.
A. A. Estlin & Co., the new firm at Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand, late of Council Grove, Kansas, have an immense and a new stock of dry goods, notions, groceries, and everything else generally kept at a first-class general merchandise store, which they are always ready and willing to show to their customers. The firm consists of two fine appearing and sociable young men, who always bear in mind one of their mottoes, which hangs in the store, “No trouble to show goods.” Their store always looks neat and clean, and their goods all new, all of which makes it so attractive that if you will call once, you will not fail to call often.
Winfield Courier, April 12, 1877.
Mr. Hitchcock, of Belle Plaine, one of the old Hitchcock & Boyle firm, of this city, spent a few days of last week in the city.
Winfield Courier, May 31, 1877.
Tony Boyle has gone to the Black Hills.
Winfield Courier, June 7, 1877.
Publication Notice.
STATE OF KANSAS, COWLEY COUNTY ss.
In the District Court of Said county,
W. H. Hitchcock and O. F. Boyle, plaintiffs,
vs.
John N. Yerger and Julia Yerger, defendants.
Julia Yerger, one of the above named defendants, in the State of Illinois, will take notice that the above named plaintiffs did, on the 26th day of March, A. D. 1877, file their petition in the said District Court of Cowley county, Kansas, against the above named defendants, setting forth that the said defendants gave a mortgage to one Joseph Likowski on the southeast ¼ of section 27, in township 31, south of range 3, east, situated in said county of Cowley, to secure the payment of $450.00, according to a certain promissory note referred to in said mortgage; which note and mortgage has been assigned to these plaintiffs, who are now and were, at the commencement of this action, the legal owners and holders of the same; and praying for a judgment against the said defendant, John N. Yerger, for the sum of $450.00, with interest at 12 percent per annum from the 14th day of April, A. D. 1874; for an attorney’s fee of $25.00, stipulated in said mortgage; costs of suit, and a sale of the said land according to law, to satisfy the said judgment. The said Julia Yerger will take further notice that she has been sued and must answer the petition filed by the plaintiffs in this action, on or before the 12th day of July, A. D. 1877, or the petition will be taken as true and a judgment as prayed for aforesaid will be rendered accordingly.
W. H. HITCHCOCK & O. F. BOYLE.
By J. M. Alexander, their attorney.
Essay given by Mrs. O. F. (“Tony”) Boyle...
Winfield Courier, June 14, 1877.
Tardy Justice.
EDITOR COURIER: On the evening of May 4th the Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Society, of Winfield, gave a public entertainment, but which, through some combination of circumstances the town papers have failed to notice. Of course the editors are too gallant to neglect, intentionally, such a treat as was on that evening given to the fine audience assembled in the Courthouse. Is it too late to do even tardy justice to this event? Really it was an event that deserves more than a passing notice, for it proved the existence of a society in our city whose aim is the cultivation of the social and intellectual faculties of its members. Can any society have a higher or a nobler purpose?
The salutatory, by Mrs. John D. Pryor, was pronounced admirable and sensible by all who have spoken of it. The quotation of poems from female poets was a brilliant selection of choice thoughts. The essay of Mrs. Tony Boyle, “Waiting,” was most excellent in style and brim full of fine ideas. The reading by Miss Wickersham, Misses Alice and Nellie Aldrich, were quite creditable in manner as well as matter. In the dialogue, “The Country Cousin,” Miss Kate Millington demonstrated her ability to “shine” in the kitchen not less than in the parlor. Mrs. Doctor Mansfield’s wax works formed a collection of beauty, grace, wit, worth, and genius rarely found in one assemblage, and to be justly appreciated, ought to be seen. The hen song was original, unique, mysterious. Only the most cultivated taste and the most refined ear could appreciate its beauties. The baby song, a quotation from Bitter Sweet, was lovely in conception and as lovely in execution. The exercises were interspersed with solos, duets, and quartettes, beautiful in thought and expression. The closing solo, by Miss Gowen, was one of the finest songs of the evening.
Truly may our citizens feel proud of this society, and may we all rejoice when again it will open its doors to a similar entertainment.
Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877. Editorial Page.
The Bridge Question.
We, the undersigned, agree to pay the amounts set opposite our names for the purpose of completing an iron bridge across the Walnut, Cowley County, Kansas, and votes aid therefor in the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) at an election to be held July 17th, 1877. Said sums of money to be due and payable in consideration of the erection of said bridge, to the order of the party to whom the officers of the said township let the contract for the erection of the said bridge.
WINFIELD, KAN., June 25th, 1877.
O. F. Boyle: $50.00.
Winfield Courier, July 26, 1877.
Mr. P. Stump is building a two story stone business house south of the Tony Boyle corner.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877. O. F. Boyle has returned from the Black Hills. He met the road agents and was beaten severely and robbed. He reports T. A. Blanchard at Deadwood, but about to start for Colorado; Seth Blanchard also there with Rodocker taking views; John Swain about to come home.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.
DIED. By the courtesy of Mrs. Swain, we are shown a letter from her husband, John Swain, stating that N. C. McCulloch, of this place, died at Deadwood, Dakota Territory, on Sunday morning the 2nd inst., of convulsions, which came on without warning and ended fatally in three minutes.
Mr. W. W. Andrews called on us and says that when he left Deadwood, only a few days ago, Mr. McCulloch was in apparent robust health. Mr. O. F. Boyle, who left there more recently, remarks that his health appeared excellent when he left.
Mr. McCulloch was about to start for home. His bereaved wife is in St. Joseph, Missouri, suffering severely from illness.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
Our friend, Tony Boyle, is stopping at Wichita now, for the present, where he is engaged in buying and selling grain.
Winfield Courier, October 18, 1877.
O. F. Boyle called on us last Saturday. He is in the grain buying business at Wichita, making his headquarters at the Westlake Elevator. Do not fail to see him when you have wheat to sell.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
Notice the new advertisement of T. A. Wilkinson. He will furnish lumber of best quality at lowest prices. His well-known enterprise will secure him a good trade.
NEW LUMBER YARD!
T. A. WILKINSON
Would respectfully announce to the people of Cowley County that he has established a Lumber Yard in WINFIELD, at O. F. Boyle’s old stand, on the corner south of the Williams House, and expects to keep constantly on hand all kinds of lumber for building purposes. Also a full stock of LIME, HAIR, PLASTER OF PARIS, THE CELEBRATED BEAR CREEK LIME (for finish work), CEMENT, LIQUID SLATING, READY MIXED PAINTS,
SCHOOL SUPPLIES, ETC.
Mr. Wilkinson is agent for the Celebrated “VICTOR LOCK DESK,” and having had an opportunity, while he was County Superintendent, of examining nearly all the styles of school furniture in use, he can truthfully say that the “Victor Lock Desk” is the best school seat made in the United States. A sample may be seen at his office at any time.
“Fair and Upright Dealing” is his Motto.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1877.
The Walker brothers, who were out here a short time ago looking for a location, have returned with a well selected stock of groceries, which will be opened in the old Boyle building. We wish the gentlemen success.
Address given as South Main street...
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
The Walker Bros. opened up their large stock of groceries last Saturday, on South Main street, at Hitchcock & Boyle’s old stand. Their stock is new and well selected. The boys are fine appearing young men, and by calling upon them, you will be convinced of their willingness to accommodate and oblige all.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1878.
Walker Brothers are doing a good business in groceries. They are gentlemen who understand their business, and their customers are always pleased with the goods and prices. See their new “ad.”
AD. WALKER BRO’s
Dealers in Staple and Fancy
GROCERIES,
FANCY CANDIES, CANNED FRUITS, DRIED FRUITS, QUEENSWARE,
And everything usually kept in a first-class Grocery house.
STOCK ENTIRELY NEW.
We buy and sell for cash, and CASH ONLY.
At Boyles’ old stand.
WINFIELD, KANSAS.
Goods delivered to any part of the city free of charge.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878. Editorial Page.
DISTRICT COURT.
Mr. E. S. Bedilion, District Clerk, furnishes us with the following list of cases which will probably be for trial at the next term of the District Court commencing on Monday, May 6th, 1878.
CIVIL DOCKET. FOURTH DAY.
Boyle & Melville v. E. R. Evans et al.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
We heard somewhere that Tony Boyle was not “busted.” We believe it; but even if he was, we have known boils that weren’t tony to bust before now. We were fortunately associated with one, once.
Winfield Courier, July 18, 1878.
O. F. Boyle was down from Wichita last Monday. He says there is war among the elevator men at Wichita, with firearms and threats of shooting. No one killed yet. Prices of wheat 25 to 55.
Winfield Courier, August 1, 1878.
Mr. Jillson, of Hornellsville, New York, is about to build a large, two-story building on Main Street, lot next south of the Boyle Store.
Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.
Mr. Jillson is building a two-story store 24 x 48 on the lot next south of the Boyle building.
Winfield Courier, September 12, 1878.
Mr. R. D. Jillson’s new two-story building, just south of the Boyle stand, is nearly finished.
Winfield Courier, September 12, 1878.
Boyle & Melville have shipped through the Savings bank up to Monday night, and for this month, wheat to the amount of $78,000. During the glut of wheat last week this firm with praiseworthy enterprise built an addition of 2,800 bushels capacity, and had partially constructed a 1,500 bushel bin, when the arrival of cars enabled them to ship. Enterprise of this character is worthy of encouragement. Wichita Beacon.
[ADVERTISERS FOUND WITH ADDRESSES.]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
T. A. WILKINSON. NEW LUMBER YARD. Would respectfully announce to the people of Cowley County that he has established a Lumber Yard in Winfield, at O. F. Boyle’s old stand, on the corner south of the Williams House.
Boyle connected with building of bridge...
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1879.
THE COURT HOUSE.
Under this head the Semi-Weekly dishes up a column and a half editorial to prove that the county ought at once to go to a large expense in building additions to, and in remodeling the courthouse.
It says that “whoever is responsible for building the courthouse where it is, with a swamp between it and the business portion of the town, demonstrates his unfitness to be entrusted with public interests, and has a small soul; that “Winfield has in days gone by been cursed by incapacity and cupidity;” that the courthouse, the schoolhouse, and the lost bridge “are the ear marks that indicate jobbery and rascality, “the indubitable evidences of “gigantic fraud” in those responsible for their construction.
About three months ago the editors of the Semi-Weekly came to this place utter strangers to the people of this city and county and found the city so prosperous and promising, the result of the labor and exertions of its earlier citizens, that they concluded to establish themselves here and reap a part of the harvest these earlier citizens had sown. Finding that in their gleanings they did not at first accumulate sheaves very rapidly, they concluded that the fault must be in the rascality and incapacity of those whose labor sowed the seed, and hence, we have this wholesale attack upon our best and most valued citizens.
The persons who projected and carried out the building of the courthouse and jail were W. H. H. Maris, then Mayor; S. C. Smith, R. B. Saffold, C. A. Bliss, H. S. Silver, J. D. Cochran, S. Darrah, then councilmen; J. M. Alexander, city attorney; Frank Cox, of Richland, John D. Maurer of Dexter, and O. C. Smith, of Cresswell, county commissioners.
Fifty-eight leading men of Winfield were most active in this matter and guaranteed the title to the courthouse ground and many prominent men of the county approved the measure.
The persons who projected and carried out the building of the schoolhouse were John B. Fairbanks, District Clerk, J. D. Cochran, Director, S. H. Myton, Treasurer, and some others.
J. P. Short was the trustee and O. F. Boyle the treasurer by whom the contract to build the bridge was let, and during most of its construction, and H. S. Silver, E. S. Bedilion, and B. F. Baldwin were the township officers who made the final settlement with the contractors.
Here we have an array of names honored in this community, names of men never before charged with rascality and incapacity, men in whom we older settlers believe and trust and yet the sages of Mt. Pulaski in three short months have seen through all these men and found them guilty of incapacity, unfitness, jobbery, rascality, and gigantic fraud.
It may be that these gushing freshmen meant to attach these pet words to other than those mentioned above, to the members of the “Old Town Company, or rather Town Association,” for instance. If that is the case, the records are open to inspection and we state distinctly that no member of the Winfield Town Association had any connection whatever with the building of the courthouse except to give a deed of the half block of land on which it stands to the county, and two lots on which the jail stands to the city, (all they ever agreed or were ever expected to give) in compliance with the bargain between the city council and county commissioners, that the county should build a courthouse and the city a jail in which the county should have a right to keep prisoners. One of them protested against the building of the courthouse.
One member of that Association, Fuller, was district treasurer when the contract for building the schoolhouse was let, but Myton succeeded him before the work commenced.
The original plan of the schoolhouse was made by John B. Fairbanks, District Clerk, who requested Millington to help him in drafting and making specifications and estimates, which he did, but that plan was finally widely departed from in the construction, and therefore Millington is not entitled to a particle of the credit of that structure.
Millington only, of that Association, had anything to do with the letting of the contract and building of the bridge. He was temporarily the township clerk at that time and claims his share of the credit with his colleagues, Short and Boyle, and with other leading men of the town.
We challenge Mr. Conklin or anyone else to show that any member of the Town Association had any connection whatever with the building of either of these three structures except as above specified.
Now as relates to these three structures, built at that early day when there were no civil engineers or architects within reach and to procure such would cost such large sums, when everything was high and hard to get and when our citizens were beset by every kind of hardship and discouragement, we think these structures, though not beautiful nor even sufficiently substantial, were very creditable monuments to their enterprise and energy, the terrible denunciations of our neighbors notwithstanding.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET.]
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
The following is a list of cases that will stand for trial at the May, A. D. 1879, term of the District Court of Cowley County, beginning on the first Monday in May, and have been placed on the Trial Docket in the following order.
CIVIL DOCKET. FOURTH DAY.
Nancy Rogers vs. O. F. Boyle.
[L. J. Webb and Pryor & Pryor were attorneys for Nancy Rogers; Hackney & McDonald were attorneys for O. F. Boyle.]
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1879.
Mr. O. F. Boyle came down from Wichita last Sunday to interview the boys and look after his property here. Mr. Boyle looks hale and hearty and is surprised at the strides Winfield has been making since his last visit.
George Melville...
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1879.
The many friends of Mr. George Melville will be glad to learn that he has “struck it rich” in Leadville. He had purchased an eighth interest in a prospect on Carbonate Hill, and a few days ago they struck one in large quantities and of a very fine quality. We congratulate George on his good fortune.
O. F. Boyle and George Melville...
[BONANZA KINGS: O. F. BOYLE AND GEORGE MELVILLE.]
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1879.
Mr. O. F. Boyle is again at home in Winfield after a successful campaign in Wichita, in which he has bought and shipped about two millions of bushels of wheat. But his gigantic wheat operations are not his only successes. He is a partner in the great Pendery mine on Carbonate hill, Leadville, Colorado, which promises to prove the greatest discovery of this age of great discoveries, and our Tony Boyle and George Melville are likely soon to take rank among the bonanza millionaire kings. We congratulate our friends on their good fortune and believe it could not have fallen into better and worthier hands. Mr. Boyle is an ardent friend to Winfield and Cowley County, an energetic and straightforward businessman, and a fortune in his hands would be of the greatest benefit to this county of his home and heart.
The Leadville Reveille remarks of this mine: “Were it simply a discovery of carbonates, that would in a few short months produce a few million dollars, it would be nothing compared to what this strike really is.”
The carbonate vein is reported to be fully 3½ feet thick and of unknown width and length. In the middle of the vein specimens assayed upwards of $19,000 per ton and decreased in richness toward the outside, where it assayed $518. Just outside the vein, rock and dirt assayed $45 per ton, which, had it been the richest of the lode, would make it a bonanza. Nothing in the great Comstock and Consolidate Virginia were ever equal to these assays. If these mines hold out as rich as is now promised for them, the question arises, What is to be done with all the silver? Will it not become as cheap as iron?
[GEORGE MELVILLE: RICH STRIKE ON CARBONATE HILL, LEADVILLE.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 15, 1879. - Front Page.
A Rich Discovery.
The following is from the Leadville Reveille. The George Melville mentioned is our George, and his many friends in this city and county will congratulate him on his good fortune should his one-eighth prove as rich a fortune as is represented in this article.
“For several days past rumors of a rich strike on Carbonate Hill have been circulated about town, but not till yesterday did such rumors become facts, and last evening great was the excitement. This rich find of carbonate has been made on Carbonate hill, within a quarter of a mile of the city limits, and the shaft house on the mine can be seen from any part of Chestnut street. It is on what is called the Judge Pendery mine, which is located south of the Crescent and west of the Yankee Doodle mines.
“Judge Pendery, a well known attorney of this city, selected last July a place in which to sink a shaft, and with himself, L. M. Goddard, E. H. Gruber, and others, let a contract on the 19th of last December to begin sinking. At the first the shaft passed through 40 feet of wash, containing boulder and sand, after which porphyry was struck, through which the shaft steadily progressed a distance of 140 feet further.
“On last Saturday, the 19th of April, just four months from commencement, iron was struck. On the 21st carbonate appeared, the first being gray sand carbonates. This stratum was 6 inches in thickness, and two assays being made showed respectively, 342 and 447 ounces of silver per ton. After through the sand carbonates with chlorides were found, the first assay from this showed 263 ounces, and the next 298 ounces per ton. These hard carbonates have been sunk into 2½ feet and show remarkable increase in richness and quantity. Yesterday afternoon a selected piece, the least taken out, was assayed by Messrs. Hayes & Wood, and the wonderful result of 14,080 ounces per ton was obtained. This shows a coin value of $15,206 per ton.
“One great result of this discovery has been to dissipate the idea of all experts, and in fact the prevailing opinion, that but one contact vein or strata of carbonates exist, at least on Carbonate hill. This discovery is 150 feet below the contact on which are located the Crescent, Yankee Doodle, Carbonate, and other mines. This may be the means of inducing others to sink on down and eventually open up bodies of ore that will astonish the world.
“Governor Tabor, General Bearce, and others have visited the mine, and after a thorough examination, we learn have expressed the opinion that this is the greatest strike ever made in the camp and will be worth millions to Leadville.
“The present owners in the mine are as follows, with the fractional share owned by each: J. L. Pendery, one-fourth; L. M. Goddard, one-eighth; Mr. Dunning, of Kansas, one-eighth;
E. H. Gruber, one-eighth; George Fryer, one-eighth; Judge Ballou, one-eighth; and George Melville, one-eighth. We congratulate all the gentlemen on the prospect of an early fortune.”
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.
Tony Boyle and George Melville are reported to have struck a new and very valuable mine at Leadville. Surely the fortune of our Cowley County boys is guided by a lucky star.
Hitchcock from Belle Plaine...
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.
Mr. Hitchcock, the senior member of the old firm of Hitchcock & Boyle, was in the city Tuesday. He is now in business at Belle Plaine, Sumner County, and came over to look after his property in this place.
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.
J. C. Fuller writes to Mrs. Fuller from Leadville that he is improving in health and will stay there awhile; that the weather is so cold there that he has had to buy a warm winter suit; that Leadville is the liveliest place he has seen; that he has taken dinner with O. F. Boyle and lady, who are there keeping house, and that he shall remain there a week or two.
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1879.
J. C. Fuller is still at Leadville, Colorado, and will stay there for some time; says he can get board for $17.50 per week, washing at $2.00 per dozen, and a shave for a dollar. O. F. Boyle and his lady were well and were about to take an excursion to Twin Lakes. Their kindness and attention to him draw out his high encomiums. He says Field and Seiter have each made about a million there and many others are making large fortunes, but the bulk of the people are spending much more than they make.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
J. C. Fuller returned from Colorado last Saturday evening. He has regained his health, though he caught the Leadville fever during his absence, having invested in several carbonate mines near that city. Neither of the claims in which he has become interested are now proved to contain mineral to any extent, but all are in the vicinity of very rich mines. Boyle, Melville, and others of his acquaintance are associated with him, and it is their intention to fully test their several claims in rotation. Those which prove valueless will not cost very much to any of the partners, being divided between eight or ten, but should even one of them prove as rich as the surrounding mines, it would be a “big strike” for each of the associates. Mr. Fuller gives us a full description of the surroundings, but it would be too prolix for this notice. We conclude from the whole that Leadville is no place for a man who has not a large sum of money which he can afford to lose. The famous Pendery mine is paying largely. One hundred thousand dollars has been offered and refused for a one-eighth interest in it. It is considered worth a million.
Hitchcock (Boyle’s old partner)...
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
The litigation over the title to the old Tarrant property was decided at the last term of court, giving the property to Mr. Hitchcock; but Mr. Tarrant, with the characteristic grit of a “down easter,” still persisted in “holding the fort,” in defiance of law, order, and the decrees of the court, until Saturday, when Sheriff Harter brought matters to a crisis by lifting Mr. Tarrant into the street. We understand that Mr. Tarrant will again take his grievances before the court.
Winfield Mine...
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
M. L. Robinson, who recently returned from his second trip to Colorado, says that in visiting New Mexico he took by rail the famous switch-back over the Raton mountains, but when he returned he walked through the great tunnel. The trains were expected to run through the tunnel this week, and the switch-back is to be taken up and laid over another mountain near Albuquerque. Mr. Robinson made some small investments in several undeveloped mines at Leadville in the vicinity of rich developed mines, taking about a tenth interest in each, on the principle that a thousand invested in testing a mine is only a hundred lost to him, should it prove valueless, while should it prove to be rich, a tenth would be a large fortune. One of the investments is in a new mine named the WINFIELD MINE, in which both he and Mr. Fuller took shares, as well as Boyle and Melville and some others. As this mine has been christened from our city, we shall take great interest in its future fame.
Winfield Courier, November 27, 1879.
Mr. O. F. Boyle and lady arrive home from Leadville, Sunday morning, and will remain during the winter.
Winfield Courier, January 1, 1880.
Mr. Sadler has opened a large stock of clothing and gent’s furnishing goods in the old Boyle building. Mr. Sadler is an old hand at the business, buys goods cheap and sells them cheaper.
George Melville...
Winfield Courier, January 1, 1880.
Geo. Melville has appeared again upon our streets looking better than ever. He seems to have abandoned his Leadville mines for the present, while arctic winter reigns there supreme, to enjoy the mild climate of this Italy of America. George has sold out about $25,000 of his mining stock for cash in hand, but he has a plenty more of same sort. Boyle and Melville have made a very remarkable mining campaign, and their good fortune is due to good judgment, perseverance, and work.
Winfield Courier, January 15, 1880.
We desire to call the attention of our readers to the new ad in this issue of Mr. B. Sadler, of the Famous Clothing House, in O. F. Boyle’s building on South Main street.
DID NOT BOTHER WITH AD...JUST PLAYS UP CLOTHING FOR MEN!
Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.
It is true that the famous Pendery mine at Leadville has been sold for half a million of dollars. Boyle and Melville, who had an eighth interest, are not out of mining property by any means. They have interests in forty other mines, some of which are worth even more than the Pendery mine.
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.]
Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.
“Editorial Correspondence by Millington. We had good company last Saturday on the way up the railroad. Miss May and Mr. Robbie Deming were on their way home from the grand wedding in high life, at Arkansas City, of Mr. Gooch and Miss Hattie Houghton; Miss Minnie Capps, Miss Godfrey, Judge Martin, and Mr. Read Robinson were on their way to Wellington; and O. F. Boyle and wife were with us on our trip.
“At Wichita we called on Judge Campbell. The judge had gone to Newton with the Wichita troupe to play the ‘Union Spy’ in the evening. We visited the burnt district. It was not large, but made a black spot just north of the post office. There was a syndicate of insurance officers on hand adjusting the losses. The insurance was light, which makes the loss quite serious on a few. [WICHITA HAD A BAD FIRE!] Did not see Dick Walker. He had been confined to his house by illness for several days.
At Newton we joined Lemmon and his wife, who had a complete outfit on hand and good quarters provided in the “Pullman.”
The long train pulled out west at 9 o’clock p.m., and we arrived at La Junta at 12:30 o’clock today, from whence we now take the Santa Fe branch and expect to reach Las Vegas Monday morning.
The report of the marriage of Col. C. C. Harris was a rude hoax. He called on Lemmon at Topeka and Lemmon was chaffing him about being married, when a Commonwealth reporter came in, and hearing a part of the conversation, took it as a fact and so reported it. We think C. C. had better try to make the story a fact and escape that kind of a joke in future.
We have nothing of interest to relate as yet, but expect to pick up something in New Mexico to tell our readers about.
Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.
NEW STORE! NEW GOODS! B. SADLER, PROPRIETOR OF THE ‘Famous’ Clothing Store. Citizens, Farmers and Mechanics! Come one, come all to the ‘Famous’ when you want to buy good, honest, well-made custom Clothing, Furnishing Goods, Hats and caps...[featured men’s and boys’ clothing.] B. SADLER.
BOYLE BUILDING, SOUTH MAIN STREET.
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: MILLINGTON.]
Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.
SANTA FE.
In my last I gave a hasty glance at this quaint old city, but another day spent therein reveals many other points of interest. The population is about 6,000, I think, though 8,000 is claimed. We visited the three great stores of merchandise, and several of the smaller ones. Entering one of the largest by an unpretentious opening in the adobe wall, we found our-selves in a neat and well filled room, though not large.
From this room the affable proprietor led us through a perfect labyrinth of rooms, running out in every direction, each well filled with goods, together embracing almost every imaginable line and description. It is stated that the average stock of this house is more than a quarter of a million of dollars. These merchants have heavy capital, and have had an enormous trade for many years. I imagine, however, that their heavy trade, extending down the Rio Grande to El Paso, west to Tucson, Arizona, and southwest into old Mexico, will soon be cut off and divided among the several towns through which the A., T. & S. F. railroad is about to be extended. It is about thirty-five miles due west to the Rio Grande, most of the way down hill.
At Santa Fe we met G. W. Gully, our former councilman.
On the 13th we made up a party, consisting of F. J. Leonard, of the Kansas City Journal, O. F. Boyle, A. B. Lemmon, and the writer, and rode out southwest 23 miles to the Cerrillo mines, and put up at the principal mining camp called Carbonateville.
THE CERRILLO MINES.
On the 14th we did a hard day’s work tramping around visiting the mines. There are about 3,000 claims already taken in this district, and perhaps 300 men in the camps. The district is about five miles east and west by eighty miles north and south. The word Cerrillos means “little hills.” From Santa Fe this district appears like several small stacks of hay on a broad plain, but, as you approach, these grow upon your vision into quite high mountain peaks upon a high, broken plateau made up of hundreds of hills finely and beautifully rounded, and it is among these hills where the mines are found. Most of these are more prospect holes down ten feet to hold the claims. The fissures or leads of mineral generally run in a northeast and southwest direction and crop out on the surface in places. Some of these fissures have been traced over the surface for two or three miles. Under the mining regulations, a claim may take up fifteen hundred feet along one of these fissures only, so that several claims are frequently located on the same fissure or lead.
These leads generally go down into the earth nearly perpendicular to an unknown depth, and are from six inches to several feet in thickness (or width, as it is called here.). The fissures generally have well defined walls of broken porphyry, granite, and other softer rock, and the vein is easily followed. These fissures are filled with mineral very like the Leadville ores in appearance, and is largely galena, but contains silver and some gold. The assays of these ores taken as they are near the surface, run from five to sixty dollars in silver, and from a mere trace to thirty dollars in gold, to the ton of ore. Some of the deeper ones assay much higher, and some small, select specimens have assayed hundreds and even thousands of dollars, if we may credit the common reports of the miners.
Altogether, we conclude that the ores in sight are low grade, averaging not more than twenty dollars. It is doubtless true as claimed that these leads are richer the deeper you go, but as yet none of the prospects have reached any considerable depth. Very few have reached a depth of fifty feet. The claim holders are nearly all men without capital and unable to develop their claims. Some of them are obliged to lose their claims for failing to do the necessary amount of work to hold them, and for this reason hundreds of claims are offered for sale at a hundred dollars up.
Among such a large number of mines which are being prospected, we can give space to mention only a few of the most prominent. The Chester is said to have assayed $200, the Gen. Moore $107, the St. Clair $132, the Little Peter $138, the Belle of Texas $500. As we did not see the assays, I take these reports with many grains of allowance.
The Rolina is an old Spanish mine. the old shaft has been opened to the depth of 100 feet, with four levels or jogs in the descent. It is bounded to Carpenter and others, a company who are now putting up large smelter works at the railroad stations at the south end of the district. The Mina Del Tira is the most famous of the silver lodes, having been worked extensively by the Spaniards and their Indian peons previous to 1680. Two old shafts have been reopened to the depth of over 100 feet, where they have come to water. How much deeper the Spanish work goes is unknown, but is supposed to have been excavated to the depth of 300 feet or more, with long horizontal drifts following the vein, which near the surface is about four feet thick and widens as it goes downward. These old shafts cannot be utilized for the purposes of modern mining because they are dug down about twenty feet, then a horizontal drift of a few feet, then another twenty foot descent, thus making a series of terraced landings and descents. Down these descents, from one landing to the next, stands a twenty foot log, about nine inches in diameter, with notches cut about sixteen inches apart the whole length, for steps. Up this series of ladders and landings, the Indian peons carried the ore in rawhide pouches on their backs, supported by a band passing around the forehead. Then they probably had to pack the ore four hundred miles into Mexico to the nearest reduction works, and it seems certain that they would not have gone through this slow and laborious process to the extent they appear to have done unless the ores were exceedingly rich. How extensive were their deep underground driftings through the rock is now unknown, but the amount of refuse rock piled up outside the shafts is enormously great considering that the hole it came out of is scarcely more than three feet in diameter.
The old Turquoise mines are the most interesting feature of this district. The amount of labor that was expended in these mines prior to 1680 is incalculable. The site was a large hill, almost mountain, of rock of a yellow-white, not very hard, and the precious Turquoise stones or crystals were found deeply imbedded in this rock. The two sides of the hill have been dug down and huge pits sunk, from the bottom of which drifts were excavated to such extent that all through under the mountain was a labyrinth of passages, and the mass of the mountain seems to have sunken to some extent. On the hills of debris taken from these mines are growing trees that must be near 200 years old.
HISTORY.
The Spaniards commenced mining in this and other districts of New Mexico as early as 1588, and prosecuted the business by first employing the earlier inhabitants at but slight pay, and finally reducing them to a condition of slavery. This slavery existed until 1680, when a portion of the Turquoise hill I have been describing sunk or slid down upon the Peon laborers, burying about fifty of them a hundred feet deep. This was the event which aroused the natives and they attacked the Spaniards, and by their great numbers, either slew or drove the whole race from New Mexico. The natives then filled up all the shafts, drifts, and mines, and could not, on account of a superstition among them, be prevailed upon ever after unto this day to approach any of these mines.
In 1692 the Spaniards were permitted to return on making a solemn treaty with the natives, by which they promised never to open or work the mines again, and the church of San Miguel at Santa Fe and other churches were erected in memorial of this treaty. We are told that the Spaniards have since faithfully observed the treaty and until recently no attempts have been made by any people to reopen these mines.
Now that the railroad has reached this country and is in proximity to these mines, reduction works can be cheaply constructed in every mining vicinity, combined capital will test these mines, and the first rich ore that is reached will create a boom that will turn men and capital into this region.
At Carbonateville we made the acquaintance of a Spaniard named Aoye [Aoy], who exhibited such wide knowledge, such progressive and radical views and eloquence of expression, that we christened him “the Castellar of New Mexico.” From him we derived much valuable information. He is an editor, has been the leading one of Santa Fe, and now publishes the Cerrillo Prospector, at Carbonateville.
Our landlord, A. Algiero, was a very intelligent and sociable man and entertained us hospitably. A young man named Bonner pleased us much, and a Mr. Giles, a very intelligent gentleman, spent the day with us to show us the mines. We were much pleased with the mines generally, but there was one exception. We hired a man by the name of Howard to go with his team and carry us through the mines to the south and west. He appeared well enough, but proved to be a thieving scoundrel, and we parted with him at Albuquerque after two day’s trial.
LOS PLACERES.
On February 15th, in the morning, we started for Carbonateville south for Los Placeres, or the Placer Mountains. The first five miles was down grade, among hills and winding, rock canon, to Cerrillos station, on the Gallistes river. Here the track layers were in force, laying a switch on which to run a long train of freight cars, which was standing on the main track. Here is being constructed a large smelter and reduction works by the Carpenter company. Here also are extensive coal mines. From thence we passed on south up a high mesa and long slope seven miles to Old Placers, which is an old Mexican town and around which are extensive placer gold diggings in the bars of streams and beneath the terminal moraine of an ancient glacier. Here, also, is a large forty stamp mill, large steam works for the reduction of the gold bearing quartz in the adjacent mountains. This mill has not been run of late for want of water. These mines are on a grant known as the Ortiz grant, ten miles square, and has been recently purchased by Elkins and others for $1,500,000, and the works are to be refitted and supplied with water by tubs from the head of the Pecos river, thirty-five miles off.
The placer mines were worked extensively by the Spaniards before 1680 and were evidently rich, but at present cannot be worked extensively for want of water. We passed on around and through the mountain gorges to the south and west ten miles to New Placers, where we found a Mexican town and put up for the night with a Yankee family in an adobe house which was bright and comfortable. We did not conclude that the placer mines were paying very well, but, scattered through the adjacent mountains, were many fissure mines now being prospected and opened, containing good prospects of gold and silver, some having a large percentage of lead, others of copper, and others of zinc.
On the morning of the 16th we passed on south, through mountain valleys without diverging from the good road in which we were traveling, to visit some mining camps among the Placer mountains to our left, at the base of the High Sandia range to our right. We passed several Mexican towns and around the south end of the Sandias through a deep, rocky, winding canon, until finally we emerged from the mountains, and following west down a long ten mile grade, arrived at Albuquerque at about 9 o’clock in the evening, having traveled thirty-five miles during the day. D. A. M.
Albuquerque, N. M., Feb. 17, 1880.
Next article mentions the “Courier Mine”...
[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: MILLINGTON.]
Winfield Courier, March 4, 1880.
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
We remained over at this city on the 17th of February. Col. Manning had gone up to Santa Fe by stage and there learned that we were in the territory and had gone below. He dispatched a line to us requesting us to await him at Albuquerque until the morning of the 18th, which we accordingly did.
Here we met W. McRaw of Winfield, who was at work at the carpenter business. The expectation of the railroad was making a demand for such work, and rents had recently gone up to double and triple former rates. Carpenters are in demand and wages from three to four dollars per day. This place will probably continue to be what it has been in the past, the most important place on the Rio Grande within the territory. It now contains a population of some 4,000, and it is probable that this will soon be largely increased by the influx of a new population from the states.
Like the other New Mexican towns, Albuquerque looks, at a little distance, like a vast brick yard. It appears to consist of hundreds of kilns of brick put up and daubed over with mud ready to be fired. It is true that many of the buildings are plastered nicely on the outside and whitewashed or painted white, and present a fine appearance on a near view.
Like the other towns, the streets are very narrow, generally not more than sixteen to twenty feet wide, with mud walls of buildings or corrals about fourteen feet high lining both sides. These passages take curious short turns, and are gloomy places to pass in the evening. In fact, they give plenty of opportunities for robberies and assassinations in the dark or even daylight, and we are told that such amusements have not been infrequent in the past.
Like all Mexican towns it has its plaza, consisting of a small square in the center of the town, bare and entirely unoccupied in this and most other cases, presenting a dreary and uninviting appearance. Santa Fe is the only town that has a pleasant plaza fenced in and beautified by large shade trees, fine walks, and a grand central monument to the union soldiers who fought the battles of the nation in New Mexico, but here in Albuquerque all is bare and ugly, not a tree except the few unsightly top-clipped cottonwoods in the suburbs. We did not see an outwardly fair looking building in the place. Even the cathedral, though large, was unsightly. Many of the residences, however, were finely finished inside, and supplied with rich and costly furniture. The old business of the place, which was formerly carried on by the rich old hidalgos, is passing from their hands. Some Germans and Jews have been encroaching upon their trade for a few years past, and more recently a “formerly of Kansas” in the person of Ex-Lieutenant Governor Stover has taken the lead in business, carrying the largest stock and much the largest trade in the place. His stock consists of almost everything that is wanted in the country and he buys everything the natives have to sell such as native wine, wool, pelts, hides, onions, cabbages, etc. He is a large owner and operator in the mines and seems to be on the road to immense wealth. We have him to thank for many attentions and courtesies.
There is not a decent hotel in the place, and one or more are sorely needed. The one at which we stopped, the best in town, gave us a reasonably good room, but the table was execrable. Hungry as we were after our days of mountain exercise, the filthy appearances were too much for our appetites. In justice to the Mexicans, we will state that this hotel was kept by an American, and that we do not think any Mexican could have stretched his avarice to the pitch of charging a dollar a meal for such fare.
DOWN THE RIO GRANDE.
The stage from Santa Fe came in early on the morning of the 18th bringing Col. Manning, who immediately set about his business, completed the purchase of a team and buggy, or rather light but strong double spring wagon suitable for seating four persons; and taking in A. B. Lemmon, O. F. Boyle, and the writer, drove down the valley of the Rio Grande.
Around the suburbs of Albuquerque we observed thousands and thousands of cords of sod cut up in chunks, about twenty inches long, ten inches wide, and six inches thick, and piled up to dry and harden; and to be used as adobe or brick for building purposes. The real adobe is made by mixing up mud of water, earth, and straw, moulding into shape and drying in the sun, when they become quite hard and durable on account of the peculiar nature of the sand, gravel, and clay packed earth. These sods seem to be cheaper and answer the same purpose, but can only be obtained in low, wet places near the river, where the roots of the grass have ramified through the earth, binding the surface mass together. These swarded spots are exceedingly rare in New Mexico. We observed that these awarded spots or tracts were alkali land, the wet and the alkali giving the surface the color of strong lye. Most of the valley is alkali land, but presents a dry surface, and the alkali appears over the surface like a heavy sprinkling of flour or soda.
What may be called the Rio Grande valley is forty or fifty miles wide, extending from the first series of high mountain ranges on the east to those on the west, but the greater part of this space is occupied by long slopes down from the mountains toward the river, interrupted by lower ranges, hills, and bluffs. Within the lower bluffs the valley is about five miles wide, along which the wide, shallow, sandy river, with its low banks, meanders its turbid waters.
From these bluffs the slope is gentle inward toward the river, and these gentle slopes are cut up all the way by numerous irrigating ditches. The amount of labor that has, during three centuries, been expended on these irrigating ditches, is incalculable. The main ditches start from the river, where they are supplied with water, and lead away from it as fast as the descent of the river will permit, and it usually takes several miles down stream to rise enough to reach the foot of the bluffs, and these mains are so frequent that in passing from the foot of the bluffs to the stream, several of them would sometimes be crossed. These main ditches are mostly not really ditches at all, for the bottom is about as high as the natural surface of the ground, and on each side high ridges of earth are piled to keep the waters within the limits of the channels thus formed. Some of these mains are probably over twenty miles long. From the sides of these are thousands of small sluices to lead water from the mains to every part of the fields within the mains.
The general appearance of the whole valley now is bare, sandy, dry, and desert-like, but there are some trees in places which have evidently been planted and cultivated. Most of them are cottonwood and many of them are quite large.
The inhabitants seem never to have thought of a tree as an ornament or a shade, but only for fodder for their burros and for fuel. They climb the trees and cut off the principal limbs, on which their little donkeys browse and almost make their living; what they cannot eat is used for other purposes so that nothing is lost, and then the trees put out another crop of limbs during the following summer to be harvested the next winter.
The roads were good in some places, but there were long, wide, areas of deep sand that could not be avoided, which constituted the worst kinds of roads. With a light load a team could not well pull through but a few minutes without stopping to breathe. It was the slowest traveling for so long a distance we ever saw. The soil is sand and gravel with some clay mixed, sometimes hard packed and sometimes loose and drifting. We saw numberless sand drifts, some of them covering many acres each. It did not seem to us that this soil was capable of producing any kind of a crop, but by means of irrigation they make it wonderfully fruitful. We saw white onions from six to ten inches in diameter, cabbage heads of enormous dimensions, red peppers of the largest kind hung up in store houses by the ton, the largest and most beautiful white wheat we ever saw, and many other things indicating wonderful fertility. All along in places we saw vineyards fenced in with the same material of which their houses are made, and we were treated with native wine by the mug full. We are told that they sell wine to the merchants at $12 per barrel, and that most of the other products sell at low prices.
The population of this valley is considerable. Every mile or two along both sides of the river is one of those brickyard-looking villages, containing a population from fifty up to hundreds, besides the principal towns, which reach each perhaps a thousand or more. These people are mostly Mexicans, who though reputed to be indolent, really do a great deal of work. Many of them have discarded the forked-stick plow and log-wheel cart, and are using American plows and wagons.
They are eminently social people and love to work in gangs. We saw them plowing in the fields in gangs of two to a dozen teams, and in gangs of ten to one hundred men in repairing old irrigating ditches, making new ones, and letting the water in. We came upon one gang of perhaps a hundred, who were just finishing a ditch miles in length and letting the water in at the head. They were jubilant and had a high old time of shouting and singing on the completion of the job, and finally started off down the river mounted on their little burros, about an average of two men on each animal.
BELEN.
The roads were so heavy with deep sand that, notwithstanding we were behind an excellent team of black horses in an easy buggy (as it is called here), we did not reach Belen, 32 miles, until awhile after dark. We put up at an adobe hotel or boarding house kept by American people, where Col. Manning made his headquarters.
In the morning we viewed the town. It has nothing remarkable about it for a Mexican town and nothing American in its outward appearance, but the site is good and the business is mainly done by one hidalgo firm and three Dutch firms, all of which had large stocks of goods. The population and business seemed to be considerable, but it had no printing office; in fact, there seems to be little reading and little demand for news and newspapers. The only papers we saw at Belen were copies of the Winfield Courier and of the Topeka Commonwealth, which had been forwarded to Colonel Manning from Winfield.
LOS LADRONES.
On the 20th we four started out from Belen with the fine team of the Colonel to visit the mines and mountains of the Ladrones, La Joya, Soccorro, and Madalena. The Ladrones are about twenty-five miles southwest of Belen, the Madalenas about twenty-five miles south-west of the Ladrones, the Socorro between the Madalenas and the town of Socorro, which is on the Rio Grande river forty-five miles below Belen, and the La Joya are about three miles east of the river and twenty-five miles below Belen.
It was a full day’s drive over the mesa and up the long slopes to the Hanson mining camp, in the foot hills of the Ladrones mountains. Here we examined the principal lodes that were opened, but none had been opened to a depth of more than a few feet for the reason that they are newly discovered, being entirely unknown up to three months ago. A great many claims have been taken, but it is too early yet to determine their richness. Several veins of mineral have been discovered and some of them have been traced three or four miles over the hills and gulches. Some assays have been made of selected specimens showing hundreds of ounces to the ton, but I think it not probable that any considerable lot of ore taken across the entire vein would mill more than twenty to forty ounces of silver and some gold. The veins are much wider than those of the Cerillos, and seem to be at the same depths somewhat richer. As nothing specially rich has been struck, there is no excitement and no rush.
LA JOYA.
These are a low range of mountains in the east part of the Rio Grande valley. Two or three mines have been heretofore worked by the Mexicans for the lead, which appears to be about 50 or 60 percent, of the ore. The Mexicans had rude smelters resembling stone forges used by blacksmiths, in which they melted out the lead, cast it into bars, and sold it to the merchants as lead only, who forwarded it to St. Louis; and the St. Louis purchasers got the benefit of what silver was in it. Some two years ago the price of lead went so low that the mining operations were suspended. Recently some Americans have got in there, Colonel Manning among the number, and have discovered that though valuable for galena at the present prices of lead, they are much more valuable for the silver they contain; and a new impulse has been given to prospectors, new leads have been discovered and traced, and the mines are likely to prove valuable, and possible bonanzas are looked for. The veins of mineral are from two to twenty feet wide, and look promising for richness at greater depths than have been yet reached.
MADALENA AND SOCORRO.
These mines are mostly high up in the mountains. One vein has been traced about seven miles over hills, gorges, mountains, and canons. It is about twenty feet wide and of unknown depth. Other veins of similar width have been discovered and traced less distances. Like the La Joya, these mines have heretofore been worked for their galena, work suspended on account of the decline in lead, and now again commenced because found valuable for silver. These older mines have now fallen into the hands of Yankees, who will proceed to develop them. New leads are being discovered, and probably during the coming year these mines will be tested in considerable depths. The ores, contracts, and walls are pronounced to be much like those at Leadville.
The writer did not go to invest money in any any of these mines, but went only to see for himself something of New Mexico and her mines, now beginning to attract such wide attention and interest, but did run across a lead that looked very promising and did locate a claim thereon and named it the COURIER. When that mine will sell for a million he is ready to sell out, but he will not spend much money at present to find out how much it is worth.
OTHER MINES.
In our travels and conversations, we heard of new mines on every hand. On the west side of the Ladrones, on both sides of the Del Oso, on both sides of the Manzanas, on both sides of the Sandias, at the Jicarillas, and at a score of other mountain ranges all over New Mexico, gold or silver mines have been discovered.
The mines which are now attracting the most attention are those of Grant county, in the southwest part of the territory, known as the Silver City and San Simon districts, and the gold mines of Lincoln county, in the central part of the territory. In the former districts, which have lately become much more developed than the more northern and eastern mines, it is stated that immense bonanzas of silver ore are reached, which will mill 200 ounces to the ton; and in the latter district, it is reported that extensive lodes of quartz have been discovered, extremely rich in wire gold, meaning that one can see threads of gold running throughout the quartz. These and other reports of rich discoveries must be taken at a heavy discount, of course. The limited time and expense which we had allowed ourselves prevented us from visiting these more distant mines, but we saw enough to convince us that New Mexico, with her hundreds of short mountain ranges and her hundreds of thousands of foot hills, has concealed within her bosom untold thousands of undiscovered mines of gold, silver, copper, and other valuable metals, that now the attention of prospectors and capitalists is being turned that way, that many of these mines will be thoroughly tested before very long, and that it would not be strange if Leadville and Virginia City would have rivals in New Mexico.
Now that the A., T. & S. F. railroad has reached the capital of this territory and is rapidly pushing on toward its most southwestern limits, making it as accessible as Colorado, the tide of emigration, of energy and capital, will flow into this oldest as well as newest part of our national domain, and something will come of it.
Having thus tried to be just to New Mexico and her mines, we have one word more to say.
In all mines and mining countries, it is the very few, comparatively, that better their condition and make money; but the many lose their time, their money, their health, and their morals. Perhaps, in the most favorable localities, one or two in a hundred make money and save it, but the ninety-eight or ninety-nine, if they ever come out alive, come out financially and in other ways much worse off than they went in. Perhaps Leadville was last year as favorable a place to go for mining as any ever known. How many of the 80,000 to 100,000, who went there last year, have or will come out better off than they went in? One thousand do, you say? Well, that is only one, or two at most, out of each hundred who went there. The best mine, the sure mine, is the mine of rich soil. The man who has 100 acres of good Cowley county land and works it faithfully and judiciously, under ordinary health and circumstances, will surely become wealthy, honored, and respected, and will enjoy life. Out of one hundred such, not more than one or two will be likely to fail. What a contrast! Never leave the farm, the shop, or any other calling for the mines, however wonderful the success of a few may have been.
These letters being written as observations and experiences of the writer along as they occur, are necessarily rambling and disconnected. It is proposed to continue them, however, in the succeeding numbers of the COURIER. D. A. M.
Belen, New Mexico, Feb. 24, 1880.
Winfield Courier, March 4, 1880.
The editor returned from New Mexico Saturday evening, having enjoyed the trip exceedingly. He left Mr. O. F. Boyle down the Rio Grande about 130 miles southwest of Santa Fe, who will go farther, and is expected home in about a week. Mr. Lemmon returned to Topeka.
Winfield Courier, March 11, 1880.
Messrs. Boyle & Melville have succeeded in securing 40 acres in the Garden City district, near Leadville, Colorado. After they had secured the tract, it became known that some of the richest mineral about Leadville had been discovered on the tract. This will prove a big fortune to our friends.
[ARTICLE ON NEW MEXICO BY EDITOR OF THE LOS CERRILLOS.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1880.
The article on New Mexico was written by O. V. Aoy, editor of the Los Cerrillos, New Mexico, Prospector, at the request of O. F. Boyle.
The best of mines—the surface of the earth when properly cultivated: Mines and mining have converted Spain into a nation of gamblers, old maids, and courtizans, with their inseparable physical and social evils. Mines caused the demoralization of the aborigines of the Western Hemisphere, after being almost miraculously conquered through the mild spiritual power of the missionaries, who, unfortunately, were always followed by the lash of inquisition and the insolent high tone of the Spanish hidalgos. This word, hidalgo, (“hijo de algo” = son of something or somebody of rank) signifies “petty noble folks,” and was then conferred on a great many persons who most unscrupulously abused their power.
Mining was followed by the Spaniards soon after their arrival, and hundreds of shafts (many of them now open) extensively developed, evince the great thirst for gold that ruled for hundreds of years the Moorish sons of the Iberian peninsula, in America. These adventurers found in or about the center of this territory not only the finest mineral croppings, but also the finest specimens of humanity; the most intelligent Indians, which the conquerors christened Quivirs or Quiviras, i.e. Westerns or true Westerns; and in the course of time they built the largest and most important city they ever had in all the West: the region now known as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico proper, all of them forming but one territory then. These Quivirs or Quiviras, despite their manliness and dignity, were soon brought under the Spaniards, and were the chief agents to aid the conquerors in their aims. On account of the great advantages that this central mineral point possessed, the greatest cathedral in the West was built. Its walls were made of red sand stone, cut in the shape of large flat bricks; the building was not only large and imposing, but constructed in the most solid and elegant style; and under the high altar there is a basement or lower floor which served as a graveyard for the missionaries who died there. It is supposed that in some of the several cells of this lower floor under the altar, was deposited all the mineral smelted in the several furnaces at that great mineral metropolis, at the massacre in 1680.
It is curious enough that the nearest water source about that locality was no less than fifteen miles, and a very good ditch of stone and cement from the Manzanas mountains was constructed to obtain all the fresh water necessary for smelting purposes, etc. Considerable portions of this stone ditch are until today seen, in good state of preservation, on account of the superiority of the cement used in its formation. Some huge apple trees are also found all along the said ditch, probably planted there by the missionaries from seed imported from Europe.
By looking at the map of New Mexico, we find at about the center of it these words, “Ruins of Gran Quivira,” and this is the place where the Spaniards held their greatest smelting works; for it was, and we can affirm it is up to this very day, the central point of the richest mineral region in New Mexico. Look again at the map and observe, Ladrones mountains, Jicarilla, Sierra del Capitan, Manzanas, etc., in that neighborhood. These are all very rich in mineral, and hundreds of shafts which have been covered up by the aborigines have to be found in the near future, and the said city now in ruins has to bloom like the rose as soon as the proper prospecting takes effect in that locality. The name of “Gran Quivira” means the Great Western or Great Metropolis of the West. Quivir is a Moorish name or rather a provincialism imported from Morocco, meaning the west and western; thus, Quadalquivir, the name of the river that passes before Seville, in Spain (Andalusia in Western Spain), means River of the West. The Quadalquivir empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Western shore of Spain.
The legion of the Indians employed in mining by the Spaniards were under the control and direction of the Franciscan Friars, in the number of over twenty, whose ruler was the “Custodio” or the supreme authority of their order from Durango to Utah. This Custodio was acting also as Bishop or Apostolic Vicar, and was the head of the Catholic church of New Spain. The Archives of Durango, old Mexico, clearly explain this fact. The name of the last Custodio was Geronimo Lluch, a native of the Balearic Islands, who was ordained priest in the city of Palma de Mallorca, in the church of San Francisco in said city, in the year 1645. He was massacred by the Indians in 1680, at the age of 60, when he was preparing himself for a return to Spain.
The Sandia mountains, at the west of the New Placer, contains also a great mineral wealth. The placers to the southwest of Cerrillos will soon show the untold treasures now hidden in their bosoms.
In 1862 there were no less than 4,000 Mexicans working at the New Placer, and several stores, saloons, and even billiard tables were there seen. But the Texan invasion dispelled them all, except the family of Aranda, who still lives there.
Between the New Placer and Sandia mountains there is a very important locality called by the Mexicans “Los Alamitos,” or Copperville by the Americans. Here are found furnaces and abandoned smelting machinery, with plenty of fresh water. Near by there is a copper mine of 32 feet vein. Said copper contains gold, silver, and several other metals.
Belen, now a small town in Valencia County, will soon be of great importance, as it is the post office of the miners now prospecting in the Ladrones (the thieves’) mountains.
La Bajada (the descent), 20 miles southwest from Santa Fe, and about 12 from Cerrillos, is a historical point. It was the headquarters of the Spaniards on their second return here.
The Pueblo Indian towns of Santa Domingo, Kochiti, San Felipe, etc., are situated on the Rio Grande, about from 12 to 10 miles from Los Cerrillos. Every visitor of New Mexico ought to spend a few days among them to study their peculiarities. They are remarkable for their honesty and cunning commingled. They are Christians in name, but follow the rites of the old Montezuma religion. Some of them are married to Mexican women; and though not rich, are very happy.
Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.
Mr. O. F. Boyle returned from Leadville Monday. He has been spending two months in examining the mines of New Mexico and Colorado.
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
AD. B. SADLER & CO., “FAMOUS” CLOTHING HOUSE.
TONY BOYLE’S OLD STAND, SOUTH MAIN STREET.
Thos. McDougall buys two lots on corner of 10th and Main belonging to Boyle...
[O. F. BOYLE PROPERTY PURCHASED.]
Winfield Courier, May 13, 1880.
Curns & Manser have bought for Mr. Thos. McDougall, of Cincinnati, attorney for the Longworth estate, the two lots on the corner of 10th and Main Streets, belonging to O. F. Boyle, for $3,000 cash. Mr. McDougall proposes to immediately build a two-story brick building thereon.
Unknown: Identity of “Rambler”...
[REPORT FROM “RAMBLER” - NEW MEXICO.]
Winfield Courier, May 20, 1880.
We cut the following from the Topeka Commonwealth.
In another column is another letter from Rambler from Albuquerque. The writer is a gentleman we have known for twenty years, and is well known in Kansas, and we can conscientiously say that we believe that he only writes what he believes to be the truth. We have received numerous letters of late extolling this and that mining property, but have not published them for the reason that we were not well enough acquainted with the writers to endorse what they said.
Among the numerous mining corporations lately organized, some are undoubtedly frauds, and we shall not knowingly endorse any writer unless we have every reason to believe that his statements are truthful.
[Rambler’s report.]
THE MINING FEVER—A WORD TO THOSE
WHO WANT TO INVEST.
I write you again from Albuquerque. My first and last having appeared in your paper of the 13th inst., I make another venture. This time I write upon the all absorbing topic of mines. First and apropos let me quote, “all is not gold that glitters,” and supplemental thereto comes an original aphorism, though for ages self evident, “all is not true that’s told,” and conversely, “all is not told that’s true.” At the risk of modern criticism, I shall endeavor to run counter to the last and antithesize the first.
The desire to take the short cut to fortune pervades the average western American mind. ‘Tis a hope that if indulged breaks more than it makes. The mineral field of New Mexico and Colorado do promise a shorter and surer cut than any other at present. Under the impression that some of your otherwise sensible readers may be in that class, or having money to risk in small sums in hopes of large returns, I write this letter from New Mexico.
That this territory has mineral—gold, silver, lead, platina, copper, iron, and other valuable metals, no one can deny. That it is a safer place than any other region in which to obtain some profitable return for the money invested, no sane man will controvert. While the deposits have not proven so rich as in Colorado, their extent and accessibility is greater here than there. Two other considerations must enter in the long run, into the make-up of wise investments. First, the seasons will permit labor the year round, and universal health prevails. This cannot be said of Colorado. What I have said being as near the truth as I (a Kansan) can tell it, I ask that you accept it as a hypothesis for what follows. The man that leaves a sure living to expend his patrimony in quest of precious metal is very foolish.
But two classes of men can really afford to venture into mining districts, to-wit: They who have nothing to lose but their time, and value their time worth nothing, and also they who have money to spare in some speculation, and the loss of which would not materially damage them. To this latter class I address myself. You cannot as well afford to spend your time in connection with your money in individual effort to catch the tempting ore, as you could to aggregate your surplus funds with friends in developing mineral claims.
A prudent and industrious man can as well represent $100,000 or $500,000 capital in this country, as to represent the few dollars that he carries in his pocket-book. In that event he secures more favorable chances for less money than in the other case. To this end a few Kansas and ex-Kansas men have organized a corporation under the laws of New Mexico under the name of the Central New Mexico Mining Company, principal office at this place. Hon. John Guthrie, Hon. A. B. Lemmon, Maj. T. J. Anderson, and O. F. Boyle, of your state, and ex-Governor E. S. Stover, Judge Sidney M. Barnes, Judge W. C. Hazletine, Hon. E. C. Manning, and Capt. C. G. Thompson of this territory are directors. They have organized a corporation with a capital stock of $100,000, shares of $100 each. They own nineteen mines; two of them being gold leads, one copper, and the remaining being silver bearing galena. These claims have cost the company less than $1,000 each and they propose selling stock enough to put $15,000 or $20,000 into the treasury to go down into those mines. Every dollar that goes into the treasury will be expended in opening the mines. The mines are located in six mineral districts, and the company has a man prospecting all the time. The fair reputation of the directors where known insures investors that what is promised will be performed. Messrs. Guthrie, at Topeka; Jenkins & Madden, at Kansas City; and E. P. Kinne, of Winfield, have each stock for sale for the company, so I am informed.
This plan is the much more suitable one, and will yield more satisfactory results than any other. Parties who contemplate investing in mines had better adopt this plan. RAMBLER.
Winfield Courier, June 3, 1880.
Mr. O. F. Boyle and lady, and Mr. J. L. M. Hill started for Leadville last Monday.
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
B. Sadler is playing “a lone hand” at the Boyle building, having dissolved with his late partner.
Winfield Courier, August 19, 1880.
J. C. Fuller writes from Leadville that he will be home about Sept. 1st. He does not appreciate the mountains as well as he did last year, and business is duller in Leadville. O. F. Boyle and lady are well.
Winfield Courier, November 11, 1880.
Mr. O. F. Boyle and lady and Mr. Geo. W. Melville returned from Leadville last Monday morning after a highly argentiferous summers work.
Winfield Courier, November 18, 1880.
Messrs. O. F. Boyle and Geo. H. Melville propose to visit the old silver mines of Sonora, Mexico, soon.
[MONITOR ITEMS.]
Winfield Courier, January 20, 1881.
Messrs. Boyer, Hill, and Boyle will go west early next week on a prospecting tour. Judge Boyer expects to visit Durango, which is on the border of the San Juan country and is the Mecca toward which thousands of eyes are looking. We wish the gentlemen both pleasure and profit. Their stay will be indefinite.
Mrs. O. F. Boyle...
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
Mrs. O. F. Boyle is visiting friends at Parsons.
Mr. Boyle only mentioned in next item...
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
Mr. O. F. Boyle will soon start on a prospecting tour among the silver mines of Old Mexico. If there is a chance to make money there, he will find it.
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
MR. AND MRS. J. C. FULLER. Socially this has been one of the gayest winters in the history of our city. Almost every week has been made pleasant by a social gathering of some sort or other. One of the most pleasant of these was the reception by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller last Friday evening. The guests were many and the arrangements for their entertainment were complete.
Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Loose, Mr. and Mrs. James Harden, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Hodges. Dr. and Mrs. VanDoren, Mr. and Mrs. McMullen, Mr. and Mrs. Eastman, Rev. and Mrs. T. F. Borcher, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Bryan, Dr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Short, Dr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Boyer, Mr. and Mrs. Trimble, Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt, Mr. and Mrs. Speed, Mr. and Mrs. Doane, Mr. and Mrs. Kretsinger, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Shrieves, Mr. and Mrs. Millington, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. Scovill, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Black, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Fuller, Rev. and Mrs. Hyden, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Williams, Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Mullen, Miss Mary Stewart, Miss May Williams, Father Kelly, O. F. Boyle, and Charles Fuller.
Winfield Courier, February 3, 1881.
Mr. McDonough [McDougall?], the gentleman who purchased the Boyle corner, is making arrangements to erect a fine two story brick building as soon as the spring opens.
Mrs. Boyle; Judge Boyer and O. F. Boyle...
[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]
Winfield Courier, February 3, 1881.
Mrs. O. F. Boyle is visiting in Parsons.
Judge Boyer and O. F. Boyle left Wednesday afternoon for Durango, Colorado, where they can be addressed for the next thirty days.
O. F. Boyle: hardware business, Durango...
Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.
Tony Boyle has gone into the hardware business at Durango, Colorado.
Winfield Courier, April 21, 1881.
Mr. McDonald [McDougall?] is removing the buildings from the old Boyle lots and will begin work on his elegant new building at once.
[TRIAL DOCKET DISTRICT COURT MAY TERM, 1881.]
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
CRIMINAL DOCKET: STATE OF KANSAS VERSUS 59 CASES...
CIVIL DOCKET: 120 CASES.
S. B. Tucker vs. O. F. Boyle et al.
Winfield Courier, September 8, 1881.
O. F. Boyle returned from Colorado with J. P. Short last week. They will spend several days among friends here and then go east for his wife.
Winfield Courier, September 15, 1881.
Mrs. O. F. Boyle returned to Winfield with her husband last Monday looking well and happy after her summer visit. They went to Topeka Tuesday to attend the fair, after which they will spend a week here and hie away to Durango and opulence.
[BAR DOCKET DISTRICT COURT - COWLEY COUNTY.]
Winfield Courier, November 3, 1881.
Cowley County, Kansas, November A. D. 1881 Term.
CIVIL DOCKET. SECOND DAY.
Samantha B. Thomas vs. O. F. Boyle et al.
Cowley County Courant, December 15, 1881.
O. F. Boyle came in from Durango, Colorado, Thursday, and will remain with us for a few days. He is looking hearty, and reports the Winfield folks all well and doing well, except Judge Boyer, who is not acting well, and is thinking of coming east to spend the winter. H. C. Owens, who used to be with Jarvis, Conklin, & Co., has arrived there and is keeping books for a grocery house. There is plenty of snow in the mountains, but none in Durango.
Cowley County Courant, December 22, 1881.
Messrs. Hackney, Troup, Pryor, and Boyle returned from Independence Saturday night. The Hitchcock-Tarrant case was given to the jury Friday, who wrestled with it until Saturday evening, bringing in a verdict in favor of Tarrant. We understand that they stood at first, ten for Tarrant and two for Hitchcock. The case will probably be appealed to the Supreme Court. The other Winfield cases were put over until next week.
Cowley County Courant, December 22, 1881.
When Judge Torrance came upon the bench the several cases on the docket in which he was attorney were transferred to the 12th Judicial District Court, which is now in session at Independence. The most important cases were Hitchcock vs. Tarrant, Boyle vs. Rogers, and Pryor vs. M. L. Read, and all the rest of E. B. Kager, County Treasurer’s, bondsmen. The most of these cases come up this week and a great many of our citizens and their attorneys are in attendance.
Winfield Courier, December 15, 1881.
Mr. O. F. Boyle came in from Colorado Saturday, and will remain a part of this week. He reports all of Winfield’s people at Durango as doing well. Judge Boyer has lost a part of his clear-cut rotundity, but is still “phat an’ jolly.” Young Owens is there keeping books in a grocery store.
Cowley County Courant, April 13, 1882.
O. F. Boyle was the only member of the city council of Durango who was reelected.
Cowley County Courant, April 20, 1882.
Winfield men always come out on top no matter whence they wander. From the Durango, (Colorado), Herald, we learn that our old fellow townsman, O. F. Boyle (we always called him Tony), has been elected trustee of that city, leading out with the largest vote on the ticket.
Winfield Courier, April 20, 1882.
O. F. Boyle has been re-elected trustee of Durango. Tony always takes the lead: partly because he is a clear-headed citizen and partly because he is “from Winfield.”
Camp meeting on Badger Creek: W. H. Melville...
Winfield Courier, September 7, 1882.
Tony Boyle came in Thursday and will visit with us a week or so. He took in the camp meeting on Badger Creek Sunday.
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.
There will be a union camp meeting held in Walnut Grove on W. H. Melville’s place on Badger Creek, near Walnut River, 5½ miles southeast of Winfield, commencing on August 25th and holding over the first Sunday in September. Hay and corn will be furnished for teams in abundance free of charge. Arrangements have been made whereby those coming long distances can secure board free. Many able ministers will be in attendance, and a very interesting time is anticipated.
Winfield Courier, November 23, 1882.
At the recent election O. F. Boyle was elected Commissioner of La Plata County, Colorado, by five hundred majority, running ahead of his ticket several hundred votes. Frank Baldwin was also elected representative by a handsome majority and ran way ahead of his ticket. Our “formerly of Winfield” men seem to take well in the silver state.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
O. F. Boyle came in last week and will spend some time among friends here. He is now one of the County Commissioners of La Plata County, Colorado. It is larger than a Russian principality, being one hundred and fifty miles long by fifty wide.
Winfield Courier, April 3, 1884.
The oldest landmark in the city was moved off Main Street this week, the old Tony Boyle building, to give room for the new McDougall brick. It was the second or third building that went up in Winfield, and at that time was considered a very fine structure.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.
From the Durango Herald we learn that Tony Boyle, familiar to all Winfield people, has sold out his big hardware store there.
Winfield Courier, August 21, 1884.
A young boy by the name of Jones was brought from Maple City last week. He is a son of the man who used to keep groceries in the old Tony Boyle building. The father got to drinking and ran away, and left the boy to shift for himself. He became rather reckless and will now be placed in the reform school. He calls himself Lindsay Gillespie and repudiates his father’s name for that of his mother, on the ground that his father is a rascal.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1884.
O. F. Boyle came down from Durango, Colorado, Monday. Mrs. Boyle has been spending the summer east and is expected here today when the two will spend some weeks here among their old friends.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1884.
Mr. O. F. Boyle came in from Colorado Monday and will spend several weeks among his many friends here. He looks rugged and healthy and enjoying mountain life. All the old Winfield fellows wander back regularly. Tony is highly taken with our city’s improvement.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.
The old case between Tony Boyle and Uncle Billy Rogers is being tried this week by Judge Pyburn as referee. Tom Blanchard, Henry Ireton, Jim Burns, Geo. Brown, W. W. Andrews, and other old Black Hills tourists are witnesses. The suit is over a quartz mill which Boyle & Rogers established in the Black Hills in 1875.
Note: Mrs. Root was a sister of Mrs. Boyle...
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. Boyle and Mrs. Root, sister of Mrs. Boyle, are at present the guests of Mr. J. P. Short and lady. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle will return to Colorado next week.
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1884.
Mr. O. F. Boyle and wife left Tuesday for their home in Colorado. Their visit here was a very pleasant one for their many friends.
Mrs. George Melville dies at Durango. George Melville, brother of W. H. Melville, living southeast of Winfield, and a brother-in–law of O. F. (“Tony”) Boyle...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 10, 1885.
The wife of George Melville, well known in Winfield in early days, died at Durango, Colorado, a few days ago, and was buried in Wichita Wednesday, her home when Mr. Melville married her. George is a brother of W. H. Melville, residing southeast of town, and a brother-in-law of Tony Boyle.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, December 31, 1885.
Tony Boyle returned to Durango, Colorado, Monday, after a week or more among his many friends here.
