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E. B. Kager
Winfield, Kansas.
Kansas 1875 Census, Winfield Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
E. B. Kager 25 m w Louisiana Illinois
Lida? Kager 24 f w Kansas
Bertrand N. Kager 5m m w Kansas
Kansas 1875 Census Creswell Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
Elizabeth Wright 54 f w Pennsylvania Ohio
C. V.? Clark 29 f w Ohio Ohio
R. L. Wright 23 m w Ohio Ohio
Josie Wright 18 f w Ohio Ohio
John Wright 16 m w Ohio Ohio
[It is believed that Mrs. E. P. Wright had another daughter: Ada L. Wright. This lady married E. B. Kager before 1875 Census was taken.]
Next item refers to Mrs. E. P. Wright and a daughter, Josie.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876.
Last Thursday evening, as Mrs. E. P. Wright, who lives in the stone house about two miles north of town, was at supper, she heard a noise out among her chickens. As none of the male members of the family were at home at that time, she and her daughter (Miss Josie) went out to ascertain what was the matter.
They soon found the dog engaged in combat with something more than he could handle, and could only find him from his cries; but soon a young dog, by his noise, caused them to proceed to the stable, where after some time Miss Josie saw that the same object that had fought the dog was perched on the stable roof.
When Mrs. Wright’s attention was called to it, she picked up a rock and threw it at the object with all her strength, knocking it to the ground. Here the dogs again rushed in, and the fight was general and furious. Finally the object was driven to a corner of the house, and after more fighting with varied success, the object at last was obliged to seek partial refuge under the door step, where Mrs. Wright and the dogs kept it at bay until Miss Josie went to the house of a neighbor, Mr. Goff, and got one of his sons to go to her mother's assistance; which he promptly did, and after a time with poles and fire tongs, they succeeded in killing the object, which proved to be a good sized wild cat.
The young man then went home, and the ladies returned to their supper, well satisfied with their evening's work. The same ladies, about two weeks ago, succeeded one night, by the help of their dogs, in capturing some wild animal about the same size, which they covered with a box, intending to see what it was; but when morning came, the animal had dug out under the box and was gone, so they never knew what they had caught.
Next items concerns the marriage of Josie Wright to J. J. Breene...
Arkansas City Traveler, November 29, 1876.
MARRIED. At the residence of, and by Rev. J. C. Platter, at Winfield, Thursday, November 23rd, 1876, MR. JOURNEY J. BREENE, and MISS JOSIE WRIGHT, both of this place, and both formerly of Dayton, Ohio. It was the first marriage we have had for a long while, that everyone did not know all about it, and was a complete surprise to everyone. Our congratulations are extended to the happy couple.
Winfield Courier, November 30, 1876.
MARRIED. BREENE - WRIGHT. On Thursday, Nov. 23rd, by Rev. J. E. Platter, at his residence in this city, Mr. J. J. Breene and Miss Josie Wright, of Creswell township, this county.
After the quiet ceremony had been performed, the happy couple drove back to Arkansas City to receive the blessings of their relatives and “congratulations” of numerous friends. The COURIER ED. wishes “Journey” and Josie a long, happy, prosperous, and useful life.
And now we get to E. B. Kager...
FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
[JUDICIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Messenger, July 12, 1872.
A Convention of the Attorneys of the 13th Judicial District will be held at Winfield, in Cowley County, on the 25th day of July, A. D. 1872, for the purpose of recommending to the District Convention, or Conventions, to be held for that purpose, a Candidate for nomination for Judge of said District to be voted for at the next general election.
W. S. TUCKER. J. T. SHOWALTER.
M. W. SUTTON. J. M. HOOVER.
D. F. BAYLESS. J. B. FAIRBANK.
THOMAS MASON. W. H. KERNS.
J. M. McCOLLEN. JOHN REED.
J. J. WINGAR. E. B. KAGER.
R. B. SAFFOLD. E. L. AKIN.
D. N. CALDWELL. A. H. GREEN.
T. T. TILLOTSON. D. S. HEISHEY [?HEISNEY].
L. J. WEBB. JOHN G. TUCKER.
E. S. TORRANCE. REUBEN RIGGS.
J. M. ALEXANDER. S. D. PRYOR.
E. C. MANNING. T. H. JOHNSON.
H. D. LAMB. G. P. GARLAND.
D. DODGE. J. McDERMOTT.
and many others, attorneys of said district.
E. B. Kager, County Treasurer...
[COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Messenger, July 12, 1872.
Board of County Commissioners met in Co. Clerk’s office in Winfield July 1st, 1872. Present: Frank Cox, O. C. Smith, and J. D. Maurer.
Bond of E. B. Kager as County Treasurer, was approved and he took the oath of office.
E. B. Kager was assigned to office over the Walnut Valley Billiard Hall, and rent at $5. per month.
Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872.
GRANT AND WILSON CLUB.
The Republicans of Winfield and vicinity met at the courthouse in this place on last Saturday evening for the purpose of organizing a Grant and Wilson Club. The organization of the club was perfected by the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, and the election of the following named persons as permanent officers: L. J. Webb, president; E. B. Kager, Vice President; E. S. Torrance, secretary; H. Brotherton, Treasurer.
J. A. Myton, E. Davis, and E. P. Hickok were elected as members of the executive committee.
Winfield Messenger, November 1, 1872. Front Page.
PRYOR & KAGER [S. D. PRYOR/E. B. KAGER].
ATTORNEYS AT LAW AND NOTARIES PUBLIC, Winfield, Kansas.
Will give attention to business at the U. S. Land Office at Wichita, file and prove up on land, and procure titles to school lands. Will practice in Cowley and adjoining counties.
NOTARIES PUBLIC.
[BOARD OF COWLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.
Board of County Commissioners met in County Clerk’s Office, January 6th, 1873.
Present, Frank Cox and J. D. Maurer.
The County Superintendent of Public Instruction was assigned to office with Pryor & Kager with office rent at $5 per month.
E. Kager, office rent: $10.00
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 18, 1873.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
Judge 13th Judicial District: W. P. Campbell.
Board of County Commissioners: Frank Cox, Chairman; O. C. Smith, J. D. Maurer.
County Clerk: A. A. Jackson.
County Treasurer: E. B. Kager.
Probate Judge: T. H. Johnson.
Register of Deeds: J. F. Paul.
Deputy Register: Jno. W. Curns.
Sheriff: James Parker.
Deputy Sheriff: W. E. Dowd.
Coroner: G. P. Waggoner.
County Attorney: E. S. Torrance.
Clerk District Court: James Kelly.
County Surveyor: Manley Hemenway.
Deputy: W. W. Walton.
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 18, 1873.
E. B. Kager has gone to Topeka.
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 25, 1873.
D. A. Millington, E. B. Kager, and “Biny” [?] Anderson returned from Topeka this week.
Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 25, 1873.
We are informed by County Treasurer E. B. Kager and Deputy that the state officers demand the payment of taxes before the 1st day of February; if they are not paid prior to that time, the penalty will be added.
Excerpt...
Winfield Courier, Saturday, February 1, 1873.
We clip the following interesting items from the Arkansas City Traveler of the 29th.
“Had it not been for the interest manifested by E. B. Kager, in the welfare of the people of this county, the ten percent penalty would have been slowly added. While at Topeka he succeeded in obtaining a respite from the State Treasurer until February 1st, after which the penalty must be paid.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 22, 1873.
E. B. Kager of Arkansas City is here assisting Mr. Sheather in the County Treasurer’s office. He makes a No. 1 clerk.
[L. C. NORTON, REAL NAME UNKNOWN, SUED BY COWLEY COUNTY BANK.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 5, 1873.
RECAP: COWLEY COUNTY BANK SUES L. C. NORTON, WHOSE REAL CHRISTIAN NAME IS UNKNOWN, A NON-RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS.
PROPERTY ATTACHED: SOUTH ONE-HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION FOUR, TOWNSHIP THIRTY-FIVE, SOUTH OF RANGE TO THREE EAST, AND THE NORTHWEST ONE-FOURTH OF SECTION NINE, IN TOWNSHIP THIRTY-FIVE, RANGE TO THREE EAST; ALSO EAST ONE-HALF OF THE NORTH ONE-HALF OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION TWENTY-FIVE IN TOWNSHIP THIRTY-FIVE OF RANGE TO THREE EAST. JUDGMENT WILL BE FOR $845.00 AND INTEREST FROM MAY 18TH, 1873, AND FOR THE SALE OF SAID REAL ESTATE TO PAY THE SAME.
PRYOR, KAGER, & PYBURN, ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 3, 1873.
E. B. Kager has gone to Topeka to make his annual settlement with the State Treasurer.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 10, 1873.
We take pleasure in noting the completion of M. L. Read’s new bank building. The contractors, Messrs. Stewart & Simpson, deserve every credit as experienced mechanics, as this piece of their work will fully testify. The material used in the construction is an extra quality of limestone rock for the foundation, and also used in the walls of the basement. The main building is of brick structure, and exhibits as fine an appearance exteriorly, as any brick block in the eastern States. The front has iron columns to support it, and the window sills are of white limestone rock and are capped with the same. The folding doors at the entrance are magnificently constructed of fine material, and grained and finished in modern style; while the large windows on each side of the door will be one solid glass, French plate, 4½ feet in width and 9½ feet in height.
The appointments of the building consists of basement full size of building, which is now occupied by Messrs. Miller & Myers in the restaurant business. The second floor is exclusively occupied by the bank, and has attached every convenience desired in a banking house. The third floor is cut into rooms for office purposes, and is occupied by Messrs. Scull & Michener, attorneys; Messrs. Pryor & Kager, attorneys; J. F. Paul, Esq., County Recorder; John Curns, City Clerk; T. A. Wilkinson, County Superintendent; and E. B. Kager, Esq., County Treasurer. The building is completely occupied, and its interior, in point of finish and adaption to the business for which it is used, is not excelled by a like structure in any city.
The business energy and willing disposition so liberally manifested by Mr. Read to invest money in our town since he became a citizen, endows him with the respect and confidence of the whole public.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 24, 1873.
We notice the return of E. B. Kager, who for the past few weeks has been visiting old friends in Illinois.
[PROCEEDINGS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 31, 1873.
Ordered by the Board that J. F. Paul, Register of deeds, and E. B. Kager, County Treasurer, and Wilkinson, Superintendent of Public Instruction are assigned to the three office rooms over M. L. Read’s bank at rent $27.50 per month.
Ordered that the Co. Clerk compare books and settle with the Co. Treasurer and leave an exhibit ready for the Board at their next meeting.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 4, 1873.
The directors of the Agricultural Society will meet at the Fair Grounds, Saturday, Sept. 6th, 1873, at 2 o’clock P. M. They earnestly desire that the Superintendents of all the departments meet with them to acquaint themselves with their duties. The following are the names of the various Superintendents.
Capt. E. Davis; A. Walton; J. H. Churchill; J. P. Short; John R. Smith; E. B. Johnson; W. K. Davis; A. S. Williams; Will S. Voris; S. H. Myton; Samuel Darrah; James Stewart; Jas. H. Land; T. B. Myers; Geo. W. Martin; W. M. Boyer; Max Shoeb; John Swain; S. C. Smith, Mrs. L. H. Howard; Mrs. J. D. Cochran; Mrs. E. Davis; Mrs. J. C. Fuller; Mrs. C. A. Bliss; Mrs. Fitch; Max Fawcett; J. O. Matthewson; H. B. Norton; D. A. Millington; E. B. Kager, C. M. Wood; T. A. Wilkinson.
The Superintendents are desired to study carefully the rules and regulations of the society so they may be able to render assistance to exhibitors.
[ANNOUNCEMENT.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 25, 1873.
E. B. Kager: Re-election as County Treasurer. Backers: S. H. Myton, Wm. Orr, Geo. W. Baily, S. W. Green, W. P. Duncan, J. H. Finch.
[EDITORIAL PAGE.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 2, 1873.
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
For Representative: JAMES McDERMOTT.
For County Commissioners—
1st District: JOHN MANLY.
2nd District: J. G. TITUS.
3rd District: R. F. BURDEN.
For County Clerk: M. G. TROUP.
For County Treasurer: E. B. KAGER.
For Register of Deeds: N. C. McCULLOCH.
For Sheriff: R. L. WALKER.
For County Surveyor: W. W. WALTON.
For Coroner: S. S. MOORE.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 2, 1873.
INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE CANDIDATES PUSHED BY EDITOR:
E. B. Kager was nominated for Treasurer on first ballot. Mr. Kager is a young man of sterling integrity, has been an efficient officer, and made many fast friends by his gentlemanly conduct while in office.
[COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 9, 1873.
Board of County Commissioners met at the County Clerk’s office Oct. 6th, 1873. Present: Frank Cox, J. D. Maurer, and O. C. Smith.
E. B. Kager appeared and asked that he be allowed a statement that he had settled with the County Board for the year 1873, and on motion of O. C. Smith it was ordered that E. B. Kager be furnished with a statement that he had settled.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.
Among the lawyers in attendance at the District Court from abroad, we notice Col. J. M. Alexander of Leavenworth; Hon. Wm. P. Hackney, of Wellington; Gen. Rogers of Eureka, and Judge M. L. Adams of Wichita. From Arkansas City are C. R. Mitchell and A. J. Pyburn. From Dexter, Hon. James McDermott. Our own bar is, as usual, ably represented by Fairbank, Torrance & Green, Webb & Bigger, Manning & Johnson, Louis T. Michener, Pryor & Kager, and T. H. Suits.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.
Last Monday night as Capt. McDermott and W. W. Walton were returning from Tisdale, where they had been speaking, the buggy overturned and they were emptied carelessly into the road. W. W. landed upon his head and therefore his injuries were very slight, but the Captain, less fortunate, struck on his face with such force as to lose consciousness for a time. His injuries were not serious, however, although his proboscis is somewhat the worse for wear, and looks as though somebody had been putting a head on him. On the same night E. B. Kager came into town balancing on a single spring.
[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 13, 1873.
County Commissioners’ Proceedings.
The Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County met in the County Clerk’s office November 7th, 1873. Present: Frank Cox and O. C. Smith.
Proceeded to canvass the votes of the election held Nov. 4th, 1873, which resulted in the election of the following officers who were declared duly elected.
For representative of 75th district: William Martin.
For County Clerk: M. G. Troup.
For County Treasurer: E. B. Kager.
For Register of Deeds: N. C. McCulloch.
For Sheriff: R. L. Walker.
For Coroner: Sam Moore.
For County Surveyor: W. W. Walton.
For Commissioner, first district, John Manly.
For Commissioner, second district. M. S. Roseberry.
For Commissioner, third district, R. F. Burden.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 20, 1873.
I SKIPPED ON EDITORIAL PAGE THE “NOTICE TO TAX PAYERS” BY
E. B. KAGER, COUNTY TREASURER, WHICH SHOWED THE PERCENTAGE FOR STATE, COUNTY, TOWNSHIP, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AT THIS TIME:
FOR STATE TAX, 6 MILLS ON THE DOLLAR.
FOR COUNTY TAX, 12 MILLS ON THE DOLLAR.
INTEREST ON BONDS IN CRESWELL TOWNSHIP: 3 MILLS.
INTEREST ON BONDS IN WINFIELD TOWNSHIP: 6 MILLS.
CORPORATION TAX OF WINFIELD: 10 MILLS.
CORPORATION TAX OF ARKANSAS CITY: 8 MILLS.
[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, Friday, December 19, 1873.
Ordered that the County Treasurer be allowed to cancel $590.04 in county warrants.
The county officers were assigned to the Courthouse on Monday, December 15, 1873. After that date no bills for office rent will be allowed.
The following bills were audited and allowed.
E. B. Kager, for tax sale: $8.05
Winfield Courier, January 9, 1874.
Every person in Cowley County who can raise enough money to pay half fare is going to Topeka as a delegate to the third house. Our worthy legislator, Hon. Wm. Martin, and his noon-day shadow, Allison, have already taken their departure and they will be followed in due time by W. W. Walton, R. L. Walker, E. B. Kager, James McDermott, James Kelly, and others too numerous to mention.
[COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.
E. B. Kager, office rent: $30.00.
E. B. Kager appeared and asked the board to provide a safe for the safekeeping of the funds in his possession. Matter laid over.
Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874.
Married. E. B. Kager and Miss Wright.
MARRIED. [VINCULUM MATRIMONII.] One by one the lilies fade. E pluribus unum, ad astra per aspera, sic semper tyrannus, Vox populi vox Dei, Erin go bragh, vis unitary fortios vive vale Dum vivimus vivamus, etc.
For the benefit of our readers we will say that the above quotations means that our kind jolly friend, and worthy and efficient County Treasurer, E. B. Kager, has gone and got married. The bright eyes and sunny smiles of Miss Wright of Arkansas City did the business for him. Well, poor fellow, he has been ailing for some time, and his exit from bachelordom was not altogether a surprise to his friends. The young couple have the best wishes of the entire COURIER force.
Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874.
In Justice’s Court before D. A. Millington, J. P., in Winfield Township, Cowley County, Kansas.
George W. Foughty plaintiff.
vs.
Perry Chance, defendant.
On the 10th day of January A. D. 1874, said justice issued an order of attachment in the above entitled action for the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) which has been returned served and on the 15th day of January, A. D. 1874, continued said cause for further hearing until the 14th day of February, A. D. 1874.
PRYOR & KAGER, Plaintiff’s Attorneys.
[EDITORIAL PAGE: THE COUNTY RECORDS.]
Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874.
THE COUNTY RECORDS.
The readers of the COURIER will remember that we published sometime ago an intimation that the county records, as left by Mr. Jackson, were in a bad condition, and should be thoroughly investigated.
The County Board, no doubt acting on the COURIER’s suggestion, met at the County Clerk’s office, and after careful deliberation, concluded to appoint a committee of three to straighten out the records and give the new County Clerk a fair start with the world. They accordingly selected S. M. Fall, of Lazette; Lucius Walton, of Pleasant Valley; and Wm. H. Grow, of Rock; three as good men as the county affords, men of integrity and ability.
The committee met last Monday and began their labors. They had not proceeded far, however, until they came to the conclusion that they had an elephant on their hands—seeing that to go over the records from the time the county was first organized would be a summer’s job. They very wisely asked the Board to meet and advise them as to their duties in the matter before proceeding any further. The Board of County Commissioners have not met at this writing, so we are unable to tell what they will do. We hope, however, that now that the matter has been commenced, it will be probed to the bottom. The people of this county have a right and they demand to know how their affairs stand. We believe that the COURIER has never yet accused anyone of “defalcation,” “corruption,” or anything of the kind, and we hope that the gentlemen who have made the records will be able to clear themselves of any corrupt intention. But should such turn out to be the case, the guilty one, be he friend or foe, need expect no mercy from the COURIER.
LATER. Since the above was put in type, the Board of County Commissioners met, and yesterday were in secret session with the committee. The cauldron is boiling. It has been ascertained that Devore, our former county treasurer, is a defaulter to a considerable amount—how much, cannot at this writing be ascertained. J. P. Short, Mr. Devore’s deputy, has turned over to Mr. Kager, as near as we can come at it, some $680.00, which he should have turned over with the office in July, 1872. There is also found to be a large amount of scrip afloat which Mr. Jackson’s books show to have been canceled, rumor variously estimating the amount of such extra scrip, all the way from $5,000 to $10,000.
Let us look into this matter. Here is say, to strike an average, $5,000 in scrip taken in as county tax by Mr. Short, while deputy for Devore; he presents it to Mr. Jackson for cancellation. Jackson takes the No. and amount and marks canceled on his book, hands them back to the treasurer, who may sell it, thus putting it afloat once more to be taken up at some future time.
Now follows a few pertinent queries: What right had Mr. Short to present these orders to Mr. Jackson to be canceled, until he had marked them “paid” across the face, in red ink, as the law requires?
Then, why did Mr. Jackson cancel these orders if they were not marked “paid?” Then naturally follows another most painful query: was this whole transaction a big steal? Or was it simply negligence and want of knowledge of the law?
We most sincerely hope the latter is the correct conjecture. [We could not get at the exact figures as the committee of investigation together with the County Board sat with closed doors so that we could not get in.]
We hope these gentlemen will think better of this matter, and allow at least the accredited representatives of the press to know what is transpiring. The people who read the papers are the taxpayers of the county and they have a right to know all about it, and will know, let it cost what it may, so long as we run a paper.
[MARRIED: KAGER - WRIGHT.]
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1874.
MARRIED. KAGER. WRIGHT. Married on the evening of Feb. 5th, 1874, at the home of the bride near Arkansas City, Mr. E. B. Kager, of Winfield, to Miss Ada Wright of Arkansas City.
Many of the friends of both bride and bridegroom were present, and everything went off in a manner to reflect much credit to the Rev. J. E. Platter, who performed the ceremony, and to Mrs. Wright—mother of the beautiful bride—who feasted the welcome guests with a rich repast, prepared with excellent taste and artistic skill. After the supper, and before the guests had retired from the table, Mr. Platter, in behalf of the friends of the happy couple, presented them with some fine presents as token of friendship and esteem, followed by some very appropriate and fitting remarks. At a seasonable hour, the guests dispersed, and the happy pair took their departure for their new home at Winfield.
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.
NOTICE TO TAX-PAYERS.
TAX-PAYERS will take notice that the warrants for the collection of delinquent taxes on personal property, will be placed in the hands of the sheriff, on the 1st day of March, and, also, that delinquent real estate, will be advertised, on and after the first day of March, and that there will be added ten cents for each lot and twenty-five cents for each tract of land so advertised to pay for the same. There will be no additional cost until the first day of May next, when the land will be sold. E. B. KAGER, Co. Treas.
[CARD FROM JOHN DEVORE - EX-COUNTY TREASURER.]
Winfield Courier, March 6, 1874
TO THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER:
Sir: Feeling that an explanation is due to the public and to myself, concerning the management of the affairs of the office of County Treasurer of Cowley County during the years 1870, 1871, and 1872, I desire to make the following statement.
In the spring of 1870, I was elected to the office of Treasurer of Cowley County, and held said office until the next January, by virtue of said election. In the fall of 1870, Mr. G. B. Green, of Grouse Creek, was elected; but owing to some cause, he failed to qualify and take the office, consequently, I held the office until August, 1872.
At the time of my election, the office was of little consequence, and I could not afford to leave my farm to live at the county seat to attend to its duties. Having been for some time acquainted with Mr. J. P. Short, and having confidence in his ability and integrity, I appointed him my deputy as soon as there were any duties to perform in the office, and he held said appointment and attended to all the duties of said office until it was turned over to my successor, Mr. Kager.
I paid no attention to the office, never handled any of its money in any way or shape, never received a cent of profit, not even a fee (as I gave all the fees to Mr. Short to attend to the office) from first to last. But the office actually cost me my bond and stamp then required by law. Nor until last week, did I know that there was any irregularity in the accounts or books of said office. JOHN DEVORE.
Winfield, Kansas, March 5, 1874.
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1874.
We are publishing a continued story this week, the joint production of some two thousand delinquent tax payers of Cowley County. That the story is not just what those two thousand readers would like to read in the bosom of their families to their children is no fault of ours; we give it as we received it from the hands of the compiler, E. B. Kager, Co. Treasurer.
NOTE: I SKIPPED THIS DELINQUENT TAX LIST....SHOWS TOWNSHIP, GIVES DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY, AND SHOWS TAX DUE.
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.
List of marriage licenses issued by the Probate Judge, during the month of February 1874.
E. B. Kager, to A. L. Wright.
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1874.
Forty acres of land from the farm of W. W. Andrews and adjoining the town site on the north is being laid off into town lots preparatory to being made a part of the City of Winfield. The addition embraces the residences of M. L. Read, T. A. Wilkinson, E. B. Kager, Dr. Graham, N. C. McCulloch, and J. J. Ellis, and will be one of the prettiest portions of the City.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.
DELINQUENT TAX LIST.
COUNTY TREASURER’S OFFICE,
Winfield, Kan., May 14th, 1874.
NOTICE is hereby given that I will on Monday the 22 day of June A. D. 1874 and the next succeeding days, sell at public auction, at my office, so much of such tracts of land and town lots in the following list for the taxes and charges thereon, as may be necessary for that purpose. The tracts of land and town lots in said list remains unsold for want of proper advertising. E. B. KAGER. County Treasurer.
NOTE: I DID NOT LIST PROPERTY.
[EDITORIAL PAGE.]
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1874.
THE REPORT.
We publish in another place the report of the committee of investigation. It will be seen that the report brings Mr. Short and Mr. Kager several thousand dollars behind. Mr. Short claims that he holds receipts to, nearly or quite, cover the amount charged against him, and we have Mr. Kager’s word for it, that he has in his hands, even more money than the committee found against him. However this may be, we have no comments or criticisms to make until these gentlemen have had an opportunity to settle with the county board. We cannot however close this article without saying a word for the committee. They, we believe, have discharged their duty faithfully and conscientiously, and their report shows with what ability that work was done. We will have more to say of this when we have looked the field all over. Let this suffice for the present.
REPORT OF THE COWLEY COUNTY
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
WE, your Committee appointed to examine the books and accounts of the County Clerk and County Treasurer, beg leave to submit the following report as the result of our investigation. In instituting the examination, we first took the books and accounts from the organization of the County up to the 16th day of July, 1872, at which time J. P. Short, Deputy County Treasurer, turned the office over to E. B. Kager, the present incumbent of the office. On examination of the books and accounts of A. A. Jackson as County Clerk, and John Devore as Treasurer, under the management and control of J. P. Short, Deputy, we found the books and accounts in a very confused and tangled condition, the Treasurer not having made a settlement of his accounts during his term of office, and turned the office over to his successor without paying over moneys in his possession.
After due deliberation as to the best method of instituting the examination, we concluded to take the Tax-roll as it was furnished the Treasurer, by the County Clerk for collection, as a basis for our settlement and hold the Treasurer for all moneys coming into his possession by virtue of his office.
In making up the roll we found many mistakes for and against, but these, we consider merely the result of incompetency and inexperience on the part of the County Clerk.
In our report, $3,075.47 stands charged to Mr. Short, on account of the County which in reality is covered by county warrants which have been canceled on account of Short, but have not been destroyed or ordered applied on his account by the County Commissioners.
The tax-roll of 1872 is the greatest complication of figures and erasures that we ever saw, and we regard it as a matter of impossibility to arrive at just conclusions in every particular in making up the accounts, but we have made our figures from the most reasonable conclusions in the premises always giving Mr. Kager the benefit of the doubts. Mr. Kager has not made a settlement of his accounts since he came in possession of the office of County Treasurer, and reference to our report reveals the fact that he had a large sum of money in his possession on the first day of July, 1873, at which time the law requires him to make his annual settlement, and at which time most of the funds in his possession should have been paid out.
The accounts in both the County Clerk’s and County Treasurer’s ledgers, in most instances show clearly to our minds that the original charges have been erased and figures changed. In making up the account of School Land Sales, we took the County Clerk’s and Treasurer’s accounts in connection, from which to base a settlement; even then there may be, and doubtless is, discrepancies. We are informed that persons have made payments on school lands and have taken the Treasurer’s receipt therefor but failed to have it countersigned by the County Clerk and charged to the Treasurer as the law requires, and in other instances parties have made payments on School Lands for which neither Treasurer nor Clerk have given the proper credit.
We would recommend that notice be given through the papers of the County to parties who have purchased School Lands to examine the records and see if any such irregularities exist.
On comparing our School Land sales account with an abstract of school land sales received from the Auditor of State, we found Mr. A. A. Jackson had made an error in addition of the school land sales reported on account of Mr. Short in favor of the County Treasurer to the amount of $400.00, and $1,252.26 remained unreported. The same error occurs in his report to the Auditor of State of school land sales on account of E. B. Kager to amount of $2,260.20, and $97.80 remained unreported.
Mr. Kager says he has money in his possession that he does not know where to apply, but when he finds the proper place for it he is ready to pay the same over. This admission of the County Treasurer seriously involves his competency, in our opinion, for the faithful and efficient discharge of the duties of the office.
In justice to ourselves we must say that we have prosecuted the investigation under very unfavorable circumstances. There has been a continual disposition on the part of those directly interested in the settlement, and our County Clerk, M. G. Troup, to cover up and withhold information that would lead to a solution of the complications connected with the work, hence it has been very tedious and discouraging to the Committee.
We found many irregularities in the accounts, particularly in the manner of making them up, and entering the same on their books. We have brought the best order out of the confused mess that we could and feel safe in saying that we have arrived at a good state of perfection in making up our accounts, and now submit the following figures as the result of our investigation, showing the amount collected on each fund, the amount paid out on the same, and the amount remaining in the hands of the Treasurer, up to the date of each settlement as the exhibit will show. LUCIUS WALTON, W. H. GROW, S. M. FALL. COMMITTEE.
Winfield, Kansas, May 30th, 1874.
Report of the Committee of the financial condition of the County; Showing the gross amount collected on each fund and the amount paid out on the same; also the amount due the different funds at the expiration of the official term of J. P. Short as deputy County Treasurer, up to the time (July 16, 1872) E. B. Kager took possession of the office.
RECAP OF TOTALS:
Amount collected: $14,658.81
Amount Paid out: $ 8,903.80
Remains Unpaid: $ 5,759.08
Overpaid: $ 4.07
Report of the Committee on the financial condition of the County from the 15th day of July, 1872, at which time J. P. Short, Deputy County Treasurer, turned the office over to E. B. Kager, County Treasurer, to July 1st, 1873; showing the net gross amount due each fund, the amount paid out on the same, and the amount remaining in the treasury on the first day of July 1873.
RECAP OF TOTALS:
Due Fund: $44,572.70
Paid out: $34,066.12
Remaining in Treasury: $10,604.11
Overpaid: $ 97.53
[EDITORIAL: COMMUNICATION FROM M. G. TROUP, COUNTY CLERK.]
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1874.
Communicated.
OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK, Winfield, June 6th, 1874.
Much as I dislike the task of replying to every “fist” who sees fit to assail me, yet the report which lies before me, namely, the report of the late Investigating Committee, coming from the source that it does, is perhaps worthy of notice on my part. I dare say the people fancy this “good state of perfection” report, from a committee appointed to investigate the affairs of this county, ought at least to be accurate, reliable, and truthful. But I am sorry that truth compels me to say it is neither of the three.
I wish to say a word as to the history of this investigation. When I first came into office, I ascertained that the accounts of a former treasurer, who had been out of office nearly two years, were still open, and apparently unsettled. I wrote to the chairman of the board and apprized him of the fact, and saying I would like to have himself, and the balance of the board, at an early day, examine the records of my office. The board came to my office, examined the records, and concluded to appoint a committee to assist the Clerk, Treasurer, and County Attorney to straighten, and close up, the accounts of the county.
Now mark you, this committee was to assist the proper officers to do this business, or, as was suggested at the time, to see that the records were properly investigated, in all fairness to all parties concerned. I, of course, cheerfully acquiesced in the action of the board, and met the committee in all candor and frankness. The same civilities were observed on my part throughout the entire investigation. But not so with the committee. They soon began to feel the importance of their position, and began to run the investigation with an eye to their own welfare. I now come to the place where I suppose this “good state of perfection” committee took umbrage at my course in this matter. I say I suppose the difficulty arose from what I shall now mention, for in all candor and seriousness, I cannot for the life of me tell why this committee should throw dirt on my unoffending head.
After the committee had prosecuted their labors to a certain point, I meekly suggested to them and to the chairman of the board that it was a useless expenditure of the county’s funds to carry the investigation any farther.
About that time the committee began to look wise, whisper mysteriously, and to shun me. Now mark you, I did not like said committee to go about the streets of this city, look wise, and insinuate sly malicious slanders against any of the parties interested, but I went to the chairman of the board direct, and told him that it was certainly bad policy to prosecute the investigation any farther as it was certainly spending money that would result in no pecuniary benefit to the county.
The sequel shows I was right and hence the “ire” of this committee. But the board saw fit to listen to the malicious insinuations of this office seeking committee rather than take the advice of your humble servant, and what is the result. The county has squandered several hundred dollars for a report by which, if the county would settle, it would lose several hundred more. This committee, after arriving at a “good state of perfection,” declare Mr. Kager had on hand, on the 1st day of July, 1873, a certain sum of money. I suppose it never occurred to these wiseacres to ask Kager whether he had that amount at the time specified or not. If they had done so, it would certainly have prevented them from making such asses of themselves as they have done. No, that would not do, they must needs rush into print, and say he ought to have had that much money, and leave the impression on the minds of the public that he did not have the money. Bah! Gentlemen, is that what you call a fair, honest, and impartial way of doing things?
Perhaps men who will resort to the same tricks that two-thirds of this committee practiced last fall to secure the offices they were investigating might call that an honest way to treat a fellow creature, but I hardly think the public will think so. Suppose Mr. Kager admits the amount they claim as correct, the county will have squandered several hundred dollars, and have its labor for its pains. But suppose Kager says he has more money on his hands than they claim, what a grand farce the whole thing is, and what asses this trio of chronic office seekers have made of themselves. And let me say right here that the latter supposition is the true one.
The treasurer had more money on the 1st day of July, 1873, than this “good state of perfection” claimed he had. But I beg pardon for intruding myself on the public in this matter. In fact, it is not my corpse. But since the committee, with the same degree of maliciousness that characterizes their entire report, have seen fit to say I threw especial obstacles in the way of their investigation, I should like to have them state publicly and positively what those obstacles were. If they had not willfully and falsely, and without any cause, threw the first dirt, I should not have said a word. But when I am so unjustly assailed as I have been in this case, I deem it a duty to defend myself.
If this investigation had been properly conducted with a view to perfecting the records of the county, it would have been a good thing. But since it was prosecuted wholly for the purpose of blasting the reputation of a few persons, and not for the purpose of closing the accounts of the county, as was intended, it can result in no good. A word about the records of the county, and I am done for this time. The records are in exactly the same condition they were, ere this committee was appointed. This office knows just as much as it did before. The accounts are still all open, and some future officer may want them closed, which will necessitate more investigating. Yours, M. G. TROUP.
[A CARD: E. B. KAGER, COUNTY TREASURER.]
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1874.
A Card.
MR. EDITOR: I settled as the board of County Commissioners ordered, and have their certificate that I did make a settlement August 16th, 1873, and the proceedings of the County Commissioners will show the same. I did not make the settlement in July because I was making my settlement with the State Treasurer as the law directs, and I could not make myself “numerous.” Most of the funds in my hands July 1st, 1873, were township and school district funds, and could not be paid out until the treasurers demanded them, and as they had not demanded the money, it remained in my hands and some of the same money is in my hands now. Figures in our books were often changed because the board would change so many taxes. Still I am free to confess it would be much better to have done otherwise.
I had more money in my hands on the 1st day of July, 1873, than the committee charged me with having, and if the board of County Commissioners will settle by that statement and give me bonds that I will not have the balance in my hands to pay, I will make Cowley County a present of several hundred dollars. The committee must think me incompetent because I did not keep still and put the money in my pocket or divide with them.
The only attempt I ever made to withhold anything from the committee, was, I refused to let them have a receipt book, as I thought they were too careless with our books. But I offered to let them have the book if they would use it in my office. I showed them mistakes to the amount of $200 or $300 made by them against me. The others interested can answer for themselves. Yours, etc. E. B. KAGER, Co. Treas.
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1874.
E. B. Kager, County Treasurer, has gone to Topeka to make his annual settlement with the State.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1874.
Ex-Deputy County Treasurer J. P. Short has settled with the County Board and paid into the Treasury and produced receipts sufficient to cover the delinquency claimed by the investigators. The board has ordered the committee to proceed with the examination of Treasurer Kager’s books up to date.
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1874.
CASH PAID for County Orders by J. D. Pryor. Office with:
PRYOR & KAGER, Winfield, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.
Capt. Kager’s company (G.) will meet Saturday at the courthouse at 3 o’clock p.m., as seen by the card published elsewhere.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.
The Republican Convention of which E. C. Manning and E. B. Kager are members from this county meets at Emporia today.
[ORGANIZING A COMPANY OF STATE MILITIA: WINFIELD.]
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.
Right Front in Line. March!
Pursuant to a call, the citizens of Winfield and vicinity met at the courthouse on Monday evening, the 24th, electing J. J. Williams as chairman, and W. W. Walton Secretary; E. B. Kager stated the object of the meeting to be the organization of a company of State Militia.
Capt. J. B. Nipp, being called upon, made some very good suggestions besides giving the latest news from the frontier. He thought that there was more danger of an invasion by the Indians now than there had ever been. The Osages demanded the return of the ponies and one thousand dollars each for the Indians killed in the recent engagement with the Militia. These terms will not be conceded by the Governor, and an open war on the extreme border this fall and winter is threatened.
A sufficient number having signed the necessary oath, they were sworn in by Capt. Nipp. They then proceeded to the election of officers, resulting as follows.
Capt., E. B. Kager; 1st Lieut., A. T. Shenneman; 2nd Lieut., L. J. Webb; Orderly Sergeant, W. W. Walton.
Recruiting has begun in earnest, and a large company will be formed here, the necessary arms and accouterments will be sent on immediately. Yesterday Capt. Kager received the following from Col. Norton which explains itself.
ARKANSAS CITY, August 26, 1874.
CAPTAIN KAGER: Please report to me the number of effective men in your company that you can count on to go, both mounted and unmounted. This is by order of the Adjutant General. He says: “Have all the companies carefully inspected and accept none but first-class men for service.” Yours, G. H. NORTON, Lieut. Col. Kansas Militia.
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874.
Proceedings of the Meeting of the Winfield Literary and Scientific Association.
A meeting of the citizens of Winfield was held at the Courthouse September 22, 1874, for the purpose of organizing a Literary Society.
W. Q. Mansfield, M. L. Robinson, J. C. Fuller, Rev. Mr. Platter, Rev. Mr. Rigby, W. W. Walton, and E. B. Kager were appointed a committee to prepare a plan of organization to present at a future meeting to be called by a committee.
We hope all the citizens will take an interest in this society for such an institution, well sustained, can be made a source of much pleasure during the winter, of great and lasting profit.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1874.
Court convened last Monday, the following lawyers in attendance: Webb & Millington, Pryor & Kager, Fairbank, Torrance & Green, Alexander & Saffold, Suits & Wood, E. C. Manning, W. P. Hackney, T. H. Johnson, and John E. Allen, of Winfield. J. Wade McDonald, of Wellington. M. S. Adams and Chas. Hatton, of Wichita. James McDermott, of Dexter; and C. R. Mitchell and L. B. Kellogg, of Arkansas City.
Winfield Courier, November 12, 1874.
Frank Gallotti has been recently appointed Deputy Treasurer. Frank is a good fellow, a good bookkeeper, and will make Mr. Kager an efficient assistant.
Winfield Plow and Anvil, November 19, 1874.
IS PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, J. M. ALEXANDER, EDITOR.
Messrs. Pryor & Kager, attorneys at law, gives us their professional card. They rank well in their profession.
PRYOR & KAGER. ATTORNEY AT LAW. Will practice in Cowley and adjoining counties; also in the Federal Courts. Devote exclusive attention to the profession. Office in brick Bank building, West Main street.
Winfield Plow and Anvil, November 19, 1874.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY
County Officers.
Judge 13th Judicial District.—W. P. Campbell.
Board of County Commissioners.—R. F. Burden, M. S. Roseberry, John Manly.
County Clerk.—M. G. Troup.
County Treasurer.—E. B. Kager.
Deputy Treasurer.—Frank Gallotti.
Probate Judge.—T. H. Johnson.
Register of Deeds.—N. C. McCulloch.
Supt. of Pub. Inst.—T. A. Wilkinson.
Sheriff.—R. L. Walker.
Coroner.—Sim. Moore.
County Attorney.—E. S. Torrance.
Clerk District Court.—James Kelly.
Deputy Clerk.—E. S. Bedilion.
County Surveyor.—W. W. Walton.
Examining Surgeon, U. S. Pensioners.—W. Q. Mansfield.
[SUIT: PRYOR AND KAGER, PLAINTIFF, VS. THOMAS L. CLARK.]
Winfield Courier, November 26, 1874.
RECAP: Samuel D. Pryor and Eustace B. Kager, partners, under the firm name of Pryor and Kager, plaintiffs, versus Thomas L. Clark, defendant. James Kelly, Clerk, District Court, with Pryor & Kager, plaintiffs, as attorneys, notify Thomas L. Clark he has until Dec. 15, 1874, to answer to suit for judgment against him of $300 with interest from Oct. 1st, 1874, on the following real estate: Lot number three (3) in Block number eighty (80) in Arkansas City...the same to be sold to satisfy judgment.
Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874.
E. B. Kager has been appointed Major in the first Kansas militia.
Winfield Courier, December 17, 1874.
The Winfield Institute.
The members of the Winfield Institute met at the courthouse last Monday evening and elected a board of directors, consisting of W. Q. Mansfield, T. K. Johnston, D. A. Millington, Rev. J. E. Platter, J. C. Fuller, Rev. N. L. Rigby, J. B. Fairbank, Chas. C. Black, and E. B. Kager. According to arrangement they met last evening and elected from the number a president, secretary, and treasurer, to-wit: D. A. Millington, president; W. Q. Mansfield, secretary, and T. K. Johnston, treasurer.
Among the objects sought to be accomplished by this movement is the establishment of a public library and reading room, and it is the intention of the directors to make all necessary effort to insure success. To this end, therefore, donations of books are solicited from all who are friendly to the enterprise, and of those desirous of becoming members of the Institute. Books will be taken in payment of dues, if desired. Standard works in good condition, on history, theology, science, travel, fiction, and miscellaneous literature will constitute the library; and it is intended to furnish the reading room with a selection of the leading publications, periodicals, and magazines of the day.
Winfield Courier, December 24, 1874.
Good News for the Needy.
Under the law, the County Treasurer is required to issue tax warrants on the first of January, against those persons who have failed to pay their personal property tax. All those persons who could possibly do so have paid their personal property tax, but still there is a very large class who cannot in any way meet the tax. They have not the means to buy bread with, and to issue tax warrants now would cause great distress to this class. Knowing the situation well, our popular sheriff, Dick Walker, has requested Treasurer Kager to withhold the issue of warrants to an indefinite time, in the hope that the legislature will pass a law setting the time of issuing tax warrants as late as June first, the time at which warrants should issue for the last half of the personal tax of those who have already paid one-half their taxes. Mr. Kager has kindly consented to comply with Sheriff Walker’s request. In the meantime petitions should be sent to the legislature asking immediate action in this important matter.
Winfield Courier, January 14, 1875.
Our County Treasurer, Mr. E. B. Kager, returned yesterday from his semi-annual trip to Topeka, where he paid over Cowley’s share of the state tax.
Winfield Courier, January 21, 1875.
Miss Wright of Arkansas City is stopping in town with her brother-in-law, Mr. Kager.
Winfield Courier, January 21, 1875.
We neglected to note the fact last week that the examining board, consisting of Probate Judge Johnson, John B. Fairbank, and Wirt W. Walton, “went through” the Treasurer’s office week before last. They found everything, we believe, as contemplated by the late law, except that Mr. Kager had in lieu of the currency which the law requires him to have on hand, some $700 or $800 in post office orders and bank checks. We cannot well see how the law can be complied with in this respect. Nevertheless it is the law. The committee will make their report to the county board at its April meeting.
Winfield Courier, February 4, 1875.
Notice is hereby given that Warrants will be issued on all personal taxes due and unpaid on the 15th day of February, 1875.
E. B. KAGER, Co. Treas.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET: MARCH TERM.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.
CIVIL DOCKET. FOURTH DAY.
No. 478. John Brooks, vs. E. B. Kager.
CIVIL DOCKET. SIXTH DAY.
No. 513. R. B. Waite vs. E. B. Kager.
No. 514. S. D. Pryor vs. E. B. Kager.
No. 517. David Thompson vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
No. 518. Samuel Hoyt vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1875.
The District Court is in full blast, Hon. W. P. Campbell presiding. The following attorneys are in attendance: Webb & Millington, Hackney & McDonald, E. C. Manning, J. B. Fairbanks, Pryor & Kager, T. H. Suits, John E. Allen, A. H. Green, Alexander & Saffold, T. H. Johnson, M. S. Adams of Wichita, C. R. Mitchell and L. B. Kellogg of Arkansas City, James McDermott of Dexter, and A. J. Pyburn, County Attorney.
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1875.
Publication Notice.
STATE OF KANSAS, COWLEY COUNTY.
In the District Court of the 13th Judicial District, in and for Cowley County, State of Kansas.
Frank Gallotti, Plaintiff, vs. Orrin P. Houghton, Administrator of the estate of Lucien W. Emerson, late of Cowley County, Kansas, and the unknown heirs of said Lucien W. Emerson, Defendants.
Recap: Unknown heirs must answer on or before May 15, 1875, etc. Otherwise, property will be conveyed to plaintiff. Lots 10 and 20 in block 12, lot 8 in block 34, lot 24 in block 64, lot 7 in block 31, and lots 17 and 18 in block 155 in Arkansas City.
E. S. BEDILION, Clerk District Court.
Pryor & Kager, Plaintiff’s Attorneys.
Winfield Courier, July 15, 1875.
E. B. Kager and wife are visiting friends in Missouri.
Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.
E. B. Kager has the biggest turnip in Cowley County. It measures 32 inches in circumference, and weighs 4½ pounds. He also has a radish that measures six inches across the top and it ain’t done growing either. How’s that, you peanut raisers of the “great Arkansas Valley?”
Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.
WANTED. To exchange a medium sized mule for a larger one. The difference paid in cash. For particulars apply to Pryor & Kager, or at this office.
[DAVID RODOCKER, PLAINTIFF, VS. MARY L. RODOCKER, DEFENDANT.]
Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.
RECAP: PLAINTIFF, DAVID RODOCKER, SUES MARY L. RODOCKER, INFORMING HER SHE MUST ANSWER ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 6, 1875, IN ANSWER TO HIS PETITION; AND IF HIS PETITION IS TAKEN AS TRUE, MARRIAGE RELATIONS NOW EXISTING BETWEEN THEM WILL BE SET ASIDE AND HELD FOR NAUGHT, AND SUCH OTHER RELIEF AS PLAINTIFF IS ENTITLED TO, WILL BE RENDERED ACCORDINGLY.
E. S. BEDILION, Clerk of District Court.
Pryor & Kager, Plaintiff’s Attorneys.
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1875.
Notice to Builders.
The Building Committee of the Presbyterian Church, at Winfield, will receive bids for laying the stone foundation of the Church building according to the plans and specifications in the hands of the Clerk of said Committee, at Winfield. All bids must be in writing and handed to said Committee, on or before 8 o’clock p.m., August 10th, 1875. The Committee reserve the right to reject any part or all of any or all bids.
By order of the Committee. E. B. KAGER, Clerk.
Winfield Courier, September 9, 1875.
Thanks to Geo. E. Hill for a nice basketful of tomatoes, and to E. B. Kager for a basketful of nice tomatoes.
Winfield Courier, September 9, 1875.
Kager has the runningest garden we have seen this year. Tomato vines eight feet long and getting longer, beets, and radishes as large as a wagon-wheel, and everything of a “garden sass” nature in proportion. There ain’t room on the ground for the vegetables so the gourds climb the fence and get over onto Read’s lot.
[COWLEY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.
CIVIL DOCKET. THIRD DAY.
Rufus B. Waite vs. E. B. Kager, Co. Treasurer.
S. D. Pryor vs. E. B. Kager, Co. Treasurer.
David Thompson vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
Samuel Hoyt vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
CIVIL DOCKET. FIFTH DAY.
Pryor & Kager vs. T. L. Clark.
[ANNOUNCEMENT: FRANK GALLOTTI FOR COUNTY TREASURER.]
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.
TO THE VOTERS OF COWLEY COUNTY.
This is to certify that we, whose names are hereto subscribed, do most heartily recommend for our next County Treasurer, FRANK GALLOTTI, who has for the last year and a half faithfully and satisfactorily performed the duties of said office while acting in the capacity of Deputy; and we do hereby further certify that his character during that time has been such as to fully entitle him to the recommendation. The records of said office kept by him, bears ample testimony of his capability and efficiency. We consider him well qualified to fulfill the duties of said office, and therefore cheerfully recommend him to the voters of Cowley County as well worth of their cordial support, and who, if elected, will most faithfully and systematically perform the duties of said office.
The first two names listed: Jno. D. Pryor and E. B. Kager.
Miss Libbie Wright, sister of Mrs. E. B. (Ada L.) Kager, dies...
Winfield Courier, September 23, 1875.
DIED.
WRIGHT. At the residence of E. B. Kager, in this city, Miss Libbie, daughter of Mrs. Wright, of Arkansas City, on Thursday morning, September 16th, 1875, at 7 o’clock.
Paper must have been trying to be funny. An earlier item refers to “Eustace” B. Kager...
Winfield Courier, October 21, 1875.
Our late townsman, Erastus [Eustace] B. Kager, now an abider of the little city at the mouth of the Walnut, called on us this week. He has opened up a law office and settled down to the business of his profession.
Winfield Courier, November 25, 1875.
County Warrants to be Paid.
COUNTY TREASURER’S OFFICE, WINFIELD, Nov. 1, 1875.
By virtue of authority given by an Act of the Legislature of the State of Kansas, approved February 10th, 1875, entitled “An Act to amend Section Sixty-nine of Chapter Twenty-five, General Statutes of Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-eight,” I hereby give notice that the principal and accrued interest of County Warrants herein below described will be paid at the County Treasurer’s Office, in Winfield, on and after the 1st day of November, 1875, and that the interest on said warrants will cease on that day. E. B. KAGER, County Treasurer.
By F. GALLOTTI, Deputy.
Winfield Courier, December 30, 1875.
NOTICE TO DELINQUENT TAX-PAYERS.
COUNTY TREASURER’S OFFICE, WINFIELD,
COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS, Dec. 27, 1875.
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons interested that the following described tracts of land and town lots, situated in the County of Cowley and State of Kansas, sold in the year 1873 for the tax of 1872, will be deeded to the purchaser on the 5th day of May, A. D., 1876, unless redeemed prior to that date.
Given under my hand this 27th day of December, 1875.
E. B. KAGER, County Treasurer.
By F. GALLOTTI, Deputy.
[A lengthy list followed, which I skipped.]
THE WINFIELD COURIER.
CENTENNIAL ISSUE.
WINFIELD COURIER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1876.
TREASURERS.
G. B. GREEN Nov. 8, 1870. Didn’t qualify.
E. B. KAGER Nov. 7, 1871. July 15, 1874.
E. B. KAGER Nov. 4, 1873. July 15, 1876.
MASONIC.
On the 29th day of October, 1870, a dispensation was granted to J. S. Hunt, A. H. Green, Enoch Maris, and eight others for a lodge at Winfield. J. S. Hunt was appointed W. M.; A. H. Green, S. W.; and Enoch Maris, J. W. On the 17th day of October, 1872, the lodge obtained a charter under the name of Adelphi, No. 119, with the following charter members: J. S. Hunt, A. H. Green, Enoch Maris, C. A. Bliss, A. A. Jackson, W. M. Boyer, H. Shaughness, I. L. Comfort, E. Adams, Thomas Hart, W. S. Huff, S. H. Revis, T. A. Rice, and J. Traxler.
About one year after the organization of Adelphi, a dispensation was granted to the craft at Arkansas City, and in due time they received a charter under the name of Crescent Lodge, No. 133, with O. C. Smith, W. M.; E. B. Kager, S. W.
Winfield Courier, January 6, 1876.
Our “Courier” Patrons.
In beginning the “Centennial year,” with an enterprise like the one we have engaged in this week, it is but right and proper that we make honorable mention of the men who, by giving us their patronage, have greatly helped us in the “financial” part thereof.
PRYOR, JOHN D., is the agent for the several musical instruments, several insurance companies, and a resident land agent at Winfield; is junior member of the Bar firm of Pryor, Kager & Pryor; is a graduate of the Chicago commercial college and consequently “one of the boys,” with a full-grown business head on him. (Copyright secured.)
PRYOR, KAGER & PRYOR, attorneys at law, successors to Pryor & Kager, are classed among the best firms that practice at our Bar. They are solid and reliable.
Winfield Courier, January 13, 1876.
Commissioners’ Proceedings.
OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK.
Winfield, Kansas, January 10, 1876.
New Board of County Commissioners met in regular session. Present: R. F. Burden, W. M. Sleeth, and Wm. White.
On motion of W. M. Sleeth, R. F. Burden was elected chairman of the board for the ensuing year.
E. B. Kager, County Treasurer of Cowley County, appeared and asked the board to revoke an order made at the last session of the board requiring the County Attorney to commence an action against said Kager for a fine as provided for in section 6, chapter 8, special laws 1874. The board after being fully advised in the matter agreed to revoke said order upon the following vote: W. M. Sleeth and Wm. White voting aye to the proposition to revoke and R. F. Burden voting nay to said proposition.
The board hereby agrees to appropriate enough money out of the general county fund to pay for the abstract of entries of lands required by law, to be obtained by the county after the 1st day of March, 1876; and the County Treasurer is hereby ordered to pay the amount of money necessary to obtain said abstract.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 26, 1876.
Money to loan by J. D. Pryor. Inquire of Pryor, Kager & Pryor, at Winfield or Arkansas City.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 26, 1876.
PRYOR, KAGER & PRYOR.
S. D. PRYOR, Winfield.
E. M. Kager, Arkansas City.
J. D. Pryor, Winfield
Attorneys at Law & Notaries Public, Winfield and Arkansas City.
Will practice in State and Federal Courts.
[STATEMENT: MONIES COLLECTED/DISBURSED BY CITY.]
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1876.
STATEMENT
Showing the amount of monies collected by the City of Winfield from May 6th to December 31st, 1875, and the disbursement of the same by the city.
Received from liquor license $600.00; dog tax $24.00; fines $27.00; billiard license, $10.00; auctioneer license, $40.00; show license, $1.00; E. B. Kager, $348.00. Total receipts: $1,050.00.
[NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC FROM PRYOR, KAGER & PRYOR.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 9, 1876.
We have concluded to engage in the Real Estate and Loan Business henceforth, in connection with that of the Law, at Arkansas City. We will strive to conduct the business in a satisfactory manner. To parties desiring to purchase or rent, we will show the land free of charge. In office will be found the latest papers and ample accommodations and materials for writing. If you desire to sell or rent your land, or borrow money, try us. If you wish to buy, do not fail to call on us. We also attend to the business of H. O. Meigs in this place.
PRYOR, KAGER & PRYOR.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 9, 1876.
MOVED. E. B. Kager occupies Meigs’ office now, and Judge Christian is in Kager’s former office.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 9, 1876.
PRYOR & KAGER have purchased Mr. Meigs’ real estate business, and will attend to it hereafter. They have a large list of cheap and good lands.
[THE ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 16, 1876.
The following letter was received by E. B. Kager from a gentleman in Wisconsin, of some experience in boat building.
I noticed in the papers you sent me a communication signed “P. H. Aldridge,” relative to the navigation of the Arkansas River above Ft. Smith. This is a subject in which I have taken a great deal of interest. I have for some years thought of starting a light draft steamer, and purchased a couple of engines two years ago for that purpose, and have been negotiating for some time for the building of the boat.
Six or seven years ago I was up the Arkansas River to Van Buren, and paid close attention to that stream, and also to the White River, and was told that the Arkansas River was not navigable above that place, as the river was closed by flood wood, which could not be removed.
Now, if what Aldridge said is correct, I think there is a fair chance for someone to open up a trade. How far is Oxford from your place and how near your place could I run with a boat drawing not over twenty inches of water? I could run up to Van Buren without difficulty, if I could get from there, up.
Please write me what you can ascertain in relation to the matter, what the river distance will be as near as you can, and what inducements, if any, are held out. I can build a boat here much cheaper than it can be built in your country. C. R. GODFREY.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 16, 1876.
If the paper does not give you the information desired on emigration, write to us for what you want to know, or to E. B. Kager, James Christian, or the Mayor.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 23, 1876.
On the fourth page will be found a large list of lands offered for sale by Pryor, Kager & Pryor, also a number of answers to inquiries.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 23, 1876.
WANTED. Cattle to herd at 20 cents per month. Inquire of Wm. Gross, on his farm. Reference: E. B. Kager.
COWLEY COUNTY DEMOCRAT.
[From February 24, 1876, through August 17, 1876.]
Published by Amos Walton and C. M. McIntire.
[Cowley County Democrat was the name given to former “Plow and Anvil.”]
PRYOR, KAGER & PRYOR [S. D. PRYOR, WINFIELD/E. B. KAGER/ARKANSAS CITY/J. D. PRYOR/WINFIELD], ATTORNEYS AT LAW.—Office in Brick Bank building, Winfield, Kansas, and at Arkansas City, Kansas.
E. B. Kager, City Attorney...
[COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, March 15, 1876.
ARKANSAS CITY, March 13, 1876
Present, S. P. Channell, Mayor; J. H. Sherburne, H. Godehard, and I. H. Bonsall, Councilmen.
Report of Finance Committee, on report of Treasurer, received and accepted, and Treasurer’s report found correct, was, on motion, accepted. Moved and seconded that an ordinance be passed to pay for printing 2,500 circulars ordered by previous meeting; also to appropriate money to pay E. B. Kager for services as city attorney in adjusting back taxes on lots deeded to the city by the Town Company; also an ordinance for general purposes. Carried by unanimous vote. S. P. Channell, Mayor, recommended W. J. Gray for City Marshal. Moved by J. H. Sherburne, seconded by H. Godehard, that he be confirmed on condition that he serve as Marshal without salary further than the fees of the office; carried by unanimous vote. Moved and seconded to adjourn, carried.
S. P. CHANNELL, Mayor.
I. H. BONSALL, City Clerk, attest.
[COUNTY OFFICIALS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1876.
Judge 13th Judicial District: W. P. Campbell.
Board of County Commissioners: R. F. Burden, Robert White, Wm. Sleeth.
County Clerk: M. G. Troup.
County Treasurer: E. B. Kager.
Deputy Treasurer: Jas. L. Huey.
Probate Judge: H. D. Gans.
Registrar of Deeds: E. P. Kinne.
Supt. Pub. Inst.: T. A. Wilkinson.
Sheriff: R. L. Walker.
Coroner: Sim. Moore.
County Attorney: A. J. Pyburn.
Clerk District Court: E. S. Bedilion.
County Surveyor: W. W. Walton.
Examining Surgeon U. S. Pensioners: W. Q. Mansfield.
Winfield Courier, March 23, 1876.
District Court Docket.
The following is a list of cases that will stand for trial at the April term A. D. 1876, of the District Court of Cowley, and have been placed on the Trial Docket in the following order.
CIVIL DOCKET. SECOND DAY.
David Thompson vs. E. B. Kager et al.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. Front Page.
Full Report of All the Business Transacted by the Board of County Commissioners Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 10, 11, and 12.
COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE,
WINFIELD, KANSAS, April 10, 1876.
Board met in regular session. Present, R. F. Burden, W. M. Sleeth, Commissioners; A. J. Pyburn, County Attorney, and M. G. Troup, County Clerk. Journal of last regular session read and adopted.
Bills were presented and disposed of as follows.
E. B. Kager, Co. Treasurer: $359.30.
[ATTORNEYS IN ATTENDANCE AT DISTRICT COURT.]
Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. Front Page.
There were in attendance upon the District Court in this County, the following named attorneys.
General Sherry, of Leavenworth.
Judge Adams and Major Ruggles, of Wichita.
Judge Christian, C. R. Mitchell, and E. B. Kager, of Arkansas City.
Prof. Kellogg, of Emporia.
Capt. McDermott, of Dexter.
Judge McDonald, of Wellington.
Messrs. Pryor & Pryor, Allen, Boyer, Pyburn, Webb, Millington, Hackney, and Alexander, of Winfield.
Winfield Courier, May 25, 1876.
WHAT Cowley County is to the State, Bolton Township is to Cowley County, the banner wheat raising district. Unless a farmer has over sixty acres of wheat, his field is called a “patch.” A. A. Newman & Co. will harvest 200 acres; Reuben Bowers, 187; Henry Pruden, 165; Frank Lorry, 150; E. B. Kager, 150; Oscar Palmer, 150; the Beard Bros., 100, and we don’t know how many farmers 50 and 75 acre fields of the best wheat in the State. The majority of the farmers will use “Headers,” thus saving the expense of binding and shocking the grain. Of course, Bolton wants a railroad. We were told by one of her leading citizens that the township would not cast three dissenting votes to any railroad bond proposition that the Commissioners might submit, whether east, west, north, or south, it matters not to them, they all want a railroad.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 31, 1876.
HOLLOWAY contracted to move a house for E. B. Kager for eight dollars. We saw him, and a half dozen helping him, at work a day and a half, with three teams, and during the time broke several timbers and the axle of one wagon.
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.
E. B. Kager, who used to be county treasurer, called at the courthouse Monday and looked over the railing at his deputy, Mr. Huey Erastus, now engaged in the practice of his profession at Arkansas City.
[RAILROAD MEETING.]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 21, 1876.
ARKANSAS CITY, June 17, 1876.
A railroad meeting was called at E. B. Kager’s office to receive the members of the Kansas City Board of Trade and friends accompanying them. Judge Christian was elected Chairman and I. H. Bonsall, Secretary.
Col. Hunt addressed the meeting in a few pointed remarks, showing the great need of railroad facilities for the farmers of Cowley County, and also the importance of securing connection with Kansas City as a shipping point, and expressed surprise and pleasure with our country, pronouncing it the best winter wheat country in the United States.
Mr. Reynolds, of Kansas City, addressed the meeting and advocated the interests of Kansas City as a shipping point for our products, as wheat and corn were shipped from Kansas City to the pineries of Maine direct, and as wheat there was worth $1.33 per bushel, our interests were identical. He also stated that $4,000 per mile would undoubtedly secure the road to Independence.
Mr. N. B. Cartmell, of Longton, Elk County, followed with remarks of the same tenor.
E. B. Kager moved that we pledge ourselves to raise money enough to pay our share of a preliminary survey. The survey would cost about $600. Motion amended and seconded by C. M. Scott, provided the local company deemed the survey best. Amendment accepted by E. B. Kager, and motion as amended carried.
Moved by C. M. Scott that a vote of thanks be returned to the members of the Board of Trade of Kansas City and friends accompanying them; seconded and carried unanimously.
On motion, adjourned. JAS. CHRISTIAN, CHAIRMAN.
I. H. BONSALL, Secretary.
[CHEROKEE STRIP LANDS: COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.
Transcript of Cherokee Strip Lands in Cowley County, Kansas,
Sold Under Sealed Bids, November 30, 1875.
#1: Amount paid.
#2: Tract entered; Section of; part of Section.
#3: No. of Section.
#4: No. Township.
#5: No. of Range.
#6: QUANTITY (Acres, 100ths.)
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 NAME OF PURCHASER.
$288.00 SE ¼ 2 35 3E 160 E. B. KAGER
$116.00 Lots 5, 6 5 35 3E 66.29 WM. PARKER
$ 62.15 Lot 1 17 35 3E 34.53 E. B. KAGER
$ 62.37 Lot 2 17 35 3E 34.65 E. B. KAGER
$144.80 N ¼ of SE ¼ 17 35 3E 80 E. B. KAGER
Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.
MR. KAGER traded his house in town and other property for Jas. Benedict’s farm, last week.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.
E. B. KAGER left for Philadelphia Monday morning. Mrs. Kager preferred to stay at home rather than endure the hot weather and discommodure.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.
I will be absent until August 15. In the meantime, Pryor, Kager & Pryor, at Winfield, or T. McIntire, Arkansas City, will attend to my business. E. B. KAGER.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 12, 1876.
MR. JENNINGS, a young lawyer lately located at Winfield, and J. D. Pryor of the firm of Pryor, Kager & Pryor, made us a short call yesterday.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 19, 1876.
We regret to announce the death of Bob Sheather, at his home in New York, July 4, of typhoid fever. He was for some time Deputy Treasurer of this county under E. B. Kager, and will be remembered by many of this place and Winfield.
Winfield Courier, July 27, 1876.
ERASTUS [EUSTACE] B. KAGER, Esq., passed through town Tuesday on his way home from the Centennial.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1876.
A railroad and steamboat meeting was held at Kager’s office Monday evening, and it was determined to offer an inducement to parties at Little Rock to come up with one of their large boats.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1876.
The members of the Hayes and Wheeler Club are requested to meet in Kager’s office, Friday evening next, to elect officers and complete the organization of the club.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 6, 1876.
STEAMBOAT!
Mr. E. B. Kager received a letter last night from Mr. H. O. Barnes, the pilot who explored the Arkansas River from this place to Little Rock, in which he says there is plenty of water, and a larger boat with a more powerful engine will start for this place in two days. She gets $300 when he lands at this place and a load back. The name of the boat is the “Inspector.” In side of four weeks we expect to see her.
[HAYES AND WHEELER CLUB.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 6, 1876.
A meeting was called to form a Hayes and Wheeler club on Friday evening, September 1, at E. B. Kager’s office. Wm. Sleeth was chosen chairman of the meeting. On motion S. P. Channell was elected President of the club; C. M. Scott, Vice President; C. R. Mitchell, Secretary; I. H. Bonsall, Corresponding Secretary; W. S. Hunt, Treasurer.
Wm. Sleeth, E. R. Thompson, and H. P. Farrar were appointed as committee on constitution and by laws.
On motion E. B. Kager, Geo. Allen, Wm. Sleeth, A. W. Patterson, and W. D. Mowry were appointed an executive committee.
On motion E. R. Thompson, H. G. Bentley, and W. D. Mowry were appointed a committee on music, with power to form a glee club.
Moved and seconded that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the TRAVELER; also a notice of the next meeting of the club, and an invitation extended to all Republicans in the country adjoining to join the club.
After listening to remarks from Messrs. Kager, Scott, Rev. Thompson and others, the meeting adjourned, to meet Thursday night, September 7. S. P. CHANNELL, Pres.
C. R. MITCHELL, Sec’y.
Winfield Courier, October 5, 1876.
The following attorneys are in attendance at the present term of court: M. S. Adams, of Wichita; L. B. Kellogg, of Emporia; C. R. Mitchell, A. Walton, and James Christian, of Arkansas City; James McDermott, Dexter; Webb & Torrance, Hackney & McDonald, Pyburn & Seward, D. A. Millington, J. M. Alexander, Jennings & Buckman, A. H. Green,
Pryor, Kager & Pryor, A. B. Lemmon, and John E. Allen, of Winfield.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876.
A Township meeting to elect officers as follows, is called for next Saturday, at Kager’s office, at four o’clock p.m.
One Trustee, one Treasurer, one Clerk, two Constables, and one Road Overseer for each Road District.
[GROUSE CREEK HEARD FROM: MOLASSES VERSUS RELIGION.]
Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876.
The following incident occurred at a trial before Esquire Bonsall, Justice of the Peace, last Saturday. Mr. Kager, as attorney, called Andy Show to the stand, when the following ensued.
Attorney to a Witness. When you told the plaintiff you wanted to buy his molasses, did you intend to do so?
Witness. No sir.
Attorney. Then you lied, did you not?
Witness. Yes, sir, I suppose I did.
Attorney. Why did you do so?
Witness. Because I was afraid he would be too sharp for me if I didn’t.
Attorney. Did you know that it is wrong to lie?
Witness. I do now, but didn’t think so then.
Attorney. Are you sorry for it now?
Witness. Yes, sir, I am.
Attorney. I am glad to hear that, and hope you will never do so again.
Witness. I will try not to, and will try to lead a better life hereafter.
Attorney. That is right, you may go now. The next witness may come forward.
If lawyers would practice the advice they give, what a reformation would take place.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876.
A yoke of oxen were driven in town last Saturday and offered for sale. As the owner was leading them along, E. B. Kager asked S. P. Channell: “What will you give for those oxen?” “Sixty-five dollars.” Kager stepped over to where they were and bought them for $60.00; and then turned them over to Mr. Channell, making $5.00 on the sale. Mr. Channell then traded them to Al Woolsey for a mule team, giving some boot, and Woolsey sold them to Mr. Logan for $70.00. The trades all took place in a few hours. Beesnees.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 8, 1876.
LAND SALES.
Within the past few weeks, the following sales of real estate have been made.
E. B. Kager to Mathew Chambers, 160 acres in Bolton Township; consideration, $500.
M. A. Felton to E. B. Kager, 80 acres in Ninnescah Township, $300.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 15, 1876.
LINES TO SUIT.
A Little Evidence to Substantiate a Charge.
Mr. Walton, in last week’s Courier, denies the charge of fraudulent surveys, and says: “We defy any man, friend or foe, to substantiate a single charge reflecting upon our honor or integrity in our official capacity.” Now we do not desire a personal wrangle with the man, but since he openly defies anyone to “substantiate a single charge,” we gave place to the following, which can be verified by several others.
EDITOR TRAVELER: In the Courier of the 9th inst., I noticed an editorial making charges against you, and denying any charges made against Wirt W. Walton as County Surveyor.
In 1874 I employed him to survey a quarter section of land. On the east line, or near the line, there was a very valuable spring. I had my doubts about the spring being on my land, and so told Walton. I also told him that if, on surveying the land, he found the spring to be east of the line, I would like to have the corner so placed as to take in the spring, which would give me a chance to buy the land east of me. This he has sworn to in court in this town. He commenced the survey at a quarter section corner, and ran east 40 chains. This let the spring about ten rods off from me. The chainmen, O. C. Skinner and John Wooley, then stopped, when Walton shouted to them to go on, that he was running to the river. They then surveyed to the river, which was about thirty rods further east. From the river he ran back so as to give me the spring by two rods, and there placed a corner. He then changed the quarter section corner (which he stated he believed to be a Government corner) eleven rods, to correspond with the distance called for by the Government field notes. When the survey was over, he stated to A. H. Acton, of Salt Springs, in substance, that if trouble should follow, the corner he had removed would have to be put back.
I was not satisfied with the removal of the Government corner, and urged him to re-establish it. This he refused to do, stating as a reason that he had made other surveys to correspond with the removal, and it would be too bare-faced to do so. I then employed Mr. Kager to make arrangements to have him come down and re-establish the corner, or I would have him indicted in the United States Court at Topeka. He told Mr. Kager that as soon as the Legislature adjourned, he would come down and make the survey, so that I could establish or identify the corner in the future, as there would probably be litigation about it, and so mark it as a Government corner on the records. I do not say I paid Mr. Walton for making a corner to give me the spring, but I do say that to oblige me, as he thought, he changed a Government corner, or at least a corner that he swore in court had every appearance of a Government corner, and a corner that no one disputed. And if he so desires, a few facts not here stated, that can be sustained, might be given that will put an end to his acting as County Surveyor. WM. B. SKINNER.
Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Kager have a daughter...
Arkansas City Traveler, December 6, 1876.
BORN. To Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Kager, Sunday, December 3rd, a daughter. Dr. Hughes was ex-officio.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 7, 1877.
ROBE. Whoever has my buffalo robe will confer a favor by returning it. My name is dimly printed on the inside. E. B. KAGER.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 28, 1877.
LOOK OUT.
Last week two ponies were stolen from A. A. Newman’s pasture, and a bridle taken from E. B. Kager. Monday evening Charles Roseberry’s mules were loosened rather suspiciously, and a saddle and bridle was found near the rock ford of the Arkansas. Parties have been seen loitering about, with no apparent business, and a few evenings since, someone tried to break into Journey Breene’s house. Dr. Jones took up a pony that was wandering about his place, lately, which had evidently escaped from the rider as the bridle and saddle found near the ford indicate. It is rather early for horse stealing yet, but as soon as the grass is sufficient to afford feed, it will be well enough to keep a look out.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 21, 1877.
A SUIT was held before Justice Hunt last week between Houghton & McLaughlin and Pittman, for an amount due on account. The first parties gained the suit. C. R. Mitchell was attorney for plaintiff, and E. B. Kager, for defendant.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 11, 1877.
Kansas State Militia.
From the Military Signal published at Columbus, Ohio, we clip the following, which at this date is rather amusing:
Governor Anthony, Commander in Chief, Topeka.
H. T. Beman, Adjt. Gen., Topeka.
Maj. Gen. Sam’l Walker, Commanding Division, Lawrence.
Brig. Gen. F. H. Denning, Commanding 1st Brigade, Wathena.
Brig. Gen. T. T. Taylor, Commanding 2nd Brigade, Hutchinson.
Brig. Gen. Percy Daniels, Commanding 3rd Brigade, Girard.
Brig. Gen. H. C. Snyder, Commanding 4th Brigade, Glasco.
Col. G. H. Norton, Arkansas City.
Capt. A. D. Keith, Arkansas City.
Capt. J. R. Musgrove, South Haven.
Capt. R. Hoffmaster, Arkansas City.
Capt. E. R. Evans, Winfield.
Lieut. Geo. Wagstaff, Guelph.
Capt. E. B. Kager, Winfield.
Capt. T. J. Riley, Wellington.
Capt. W. S. Coburn, Arkansas City.
Capt. R. W. McNown, Maple City.
Capt. E. M. Hewins, Cedarvale.
Capt. C. W. Rambo, Elk Falls.
Capt. J. W. Vannoy, Elgin.
Lieut. Jno. Moseley, Medicine Lodge.
Lieut. H. E. Vantrees, Sun City.
Capt. L. C. Smith, Stockton.
Capt. Chas. Schaefer, Sedgwick.
Capt. Chas. Collins, Hutchinson.
Lieut. Jas. M. Worster, Langdon.
Capt. S. M. Tucker, Wichita.
[COWLEY COUNTY TRIAL DOCKET.]
Arkansas City Traveler, May 9, 1877. Front Page.
The following is a list of cases that will stand for trial at the May term of the District Court, of Cowley County, to be begun and held on the first Monday, 7th day of May, A. D. 1877, and have been placed on the Trial docket in the following order.
CIVIL DOCKET. FOURTH DAY.
Stephen Brown vs. E. B. Kager.
[ATTORNEYS IN ATTENDANCE AT DISTRICT COURT.]
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
The following attorneys were in attendance upon the present term of the District Court: Hon. Alfred L. Redden, of Eldorado; Mr. White, Howard City; Judge M. S. Adams, Wichita; Mr. McBryan, Sedan; Hon. C. R. Mitchell, Amos Walton, Judge Christian, E. B. Kager and Col. McMullen, of Arkansas City; and Messrs. Hackney & McDonald, Pryor & Pryor, Jennings & Buckman, Pyburn & Seward, Jas. McDermott, Henry E. Asp, E. S. Torrance, J. E. Allen, L. J. & Linus Webb, D. A. Millington, A. H. Green, W. M. Boyer, J. M. Alexander, of Winfield.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
LAWSUIT. A suit took place yesterday before Esquire Bonsall, J. P., between Samuel Endicott and Mr. Beach over some ponies. Mitchell and Christian were attorneys for Endicott and Kager for Mr. Beach.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 13, 1877.
They haven’t seen a wolf or killed a wild cat up at Kager’s for a week.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 15, 1877.
The house built by Mr. Chamberlain on Central Avenue, some years ago, has been moved to Summit street, between Kager’s and Al. Horn’s buildings. Mr. Welch had the contract for moving it. It is to be rented for a saloon by some parties now in Wichita.
Winfield Courier, August 30, 1877.
The District Court commenced its session on Monday with a light docket, and it is to be hoped that it will be cleared up this week. The following members of the bar present: Hon. W. P. Campbell, Judge; E. S. Bedilion, Clerk; R. L. Walker, Sheriff; M. S. Adams, of Wichita, C. R. Mitchell, E. B. Kager, and A. Walton, of Arkansas City; J. McDermott, County Attorney, J. E. Allen, A. J. Pyburn, O. M. Seward, W. M. Boyer, L. J. Webb, W. P. Hackney, J. W. McDonald, E. S. Torrance, H. E. Asp, D. A. Millington, S. D. Pryor, J. D. Pryor, F. S. Jennings, G. H. Buckman, and A. H. Green, of Winfield, attorneys.
[COMMUNICATION FROM “LITTLE DUTCH”—WINFIELD.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 5, 1877.
I thought a line from the hub would not be amiss. Court is now in fair running order. Judge, lawyers, clerks, sheriff, and reporters all had a good time on Monday night, drinking the health of C. C. Black, who was admitted to the bar that day, and at night invited others to a much more acceptable bar.
I notice a number of foreign gentlemen present in court this term—Adams of Wichita, Redden of El Dorado, Christian, Mitchell, and Kager of the Sand Hills, George and Willsey of Sumner, and perhaps others that I did not know. Our own lawyers were out in force, and I believe we have nineteen or twenty of them, and five more admitted this term—Charley Black and Charley Eagin on examination, and O. Coldwell, N. C. Coldwell, and John T. Mackey on certificate. If Cowley is not well regulated, it will not be for the want of lawyers. We have one to every 35 persons in the county—not a bad showing.
Well, Judge Campbell is shoving things right along. Two horse thieves already provided with a home on the Big Muddy. The Hill and Gallotti case was settled before coming into court, Hill taking the child and Frank the mother—an equal division of the property. It is said Hill pays $500 for his little joke of false warrantee of the article recommended. Since the settlement, the child has died, leaving all parties disconsolate.
A number of jury trials were had, but general satisfaction was not given. Your townsman, lawyer Kager, got scooped by an American citizen of undoubted African descent. I thought Kager in the place of poor dog Tray—his associations beat him.
The case of Mrs. Renfro against her father-in-law, James Renfro, came out victorious. Juries have a wonderful leaning to young widows. You had better been more generous, James.
Our town is still going ahead. Several new buildings going up: candidates as thick as ever. Shenneman is the best looking man on the track, but Troup wears the best clothes; old Tom Bryan has the most belly and stomach, and is the surest to win; Kinne don’t say much, but he has lots of friends, and I should not be astonished if he makes the riffle much easier than last time. A good many are running just for the fun of the thing—don’t expect to be nominated, but want to get acquainted in the hope that the lightning might strike them in the future. Our Bill is still slashing around, supporting the hand that furnishes the supplies.
LITTLE DUTCH.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 10, 1877.
RUBE HOUGHTON offers the use of his new building, situated between Al. Horn’s and E. B. Kager’s places of business, for any entertainment the young folks want. Especially for a hop.
Winfield Courier, October 18, 1877.
GRAND LODGE KNIGHTS OF HONOR OF KANSAS.
This grand body was organized in this city September 28th, by Past Supreme Dictator, A. E. Keyes, of Mansfield, Ohio, with the following officers.
Alonzo Howland, Past Grand Dictator; Dr. W. G. Graham, Grand Dictator, Winfield; C. W. Rambo, Elk Falls, Grand Vice Dictator; E. Maris, Eldorado, Grand Assistant Dictator; B. F. Smith, Oxford, Grand Chaplain; Henry J. Walker, Grand Reporter; S. P. Channell, Arkansas City, Grand Treasurer; R. W. Stephenson, Wellington, Grand Guide; H. O. Lystre, Cedar Vale, Grand Guardian; James Fogy, Douglass, Grand Sentinel.
The following were elected Trustees: H. O. Lystre, E. Maris, R. W. Stephenson, R. F. Smith, and L. F. Chandler.
The Grand Dictator appointed the following committees.
On Appeals: E. B. Kager, L. F. Chandler, and W. C. Robinson.
On Printing and Supplies: The Dictator, Vice Dictator, and Reporter.
On Laws and Supervision: A. Howland, R. F. Smith, and H. J. Walker.
On Finance: E. Maris, W. C. Robinson, and F. Sowers.
On Mileage and Per Diem: Thos. Osborn, H. O. Lystre, and A. E. Garrison.
On Returns: E. B. Kager, C. W. Rambo, and Dr. Lewis.
On State of the Order: H. J. Walker, A. Howland, B. F. Smith, J. W. McWilliams, and L. F. Chandler.
Upon motion the Grand Lodge adjourned to meet the second Wednesday in June, 1878, in the Knights of Honor Hall, in Eldorado, Kansas.
The first Lodge of the Order in this State was organized February 20, 1877, in this city. There are at present twelve subordinate Lodges working in the State, all in a good prosperous condition, having an aggregate membership of about 240 members.
Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877. Editorial Page.
“CROOKEDNESS.”
Mr. Troup asserts that during his term he has saved this county ten thousand dollars. How, Mr. Troup? When were we in danger of sustaining such a heavy loss? Have you done any more than your sworn duty as an officer? On the contrary, we have just come into possession of evidence that satisfies us that this county did sustain a loss of at least $2,561.20, that is directly charged to either your inefficiency or neglect.
October 23rd, 1876, the retiring county treasurer filed in your office a statement of his business during his term. The board of county commissioners intrusted you to examine that statement in detail, and ordered the county treasurer to refund to Mr. Kager any sum of money you should find due him. You have, or should have, in your office such checks and balances as would enable you to detect at once any error in the county treasurer’s accounts. On the 7th of last December, after examining the statement with Mr. Kager’s attorney, you reported to Mr. Bryan that Mr. Kinne had overpaid the county $522.17, and that that sum should be repaid to him as ordered by the county board. Sometime after this county attorney McDermott called your attention to the fact that District No. 5 had sustained a loss of about $300, and said that it must be an error in your settlement with the county treasurer. You denied this emphatically, and said you knew the statement was correct. Mr. McDermott showed you after your efficient (?) service of three years as county clerk, how to detect such errors, looked up with you the affairs of District No. 5, convinced you that a mistake of over $300 had been made in that instance, and left you to examine the accounts of other districts and see if other blunders had been made.
You then proceeded to make the examination and discovered that in your statement to Mr. Bryan you had made a mistake of $2,561.30, and you reported that blunder to the county board April 11th, 1877. Would the mistake ever have been discovered had it not been for the efficiency of the county attorney? Does not the county attorney deserve the credit for the detection of your blunder and the recovery to this county of the lost $2,561.30? We think so.
Did you save the balance of the ten thousand dollars in the same way?
You are invited to make your defense through the columns of the COURIER.
Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877.
COMMUNICATED.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, Oct. 23, 1877.
EDITOR COURIER: I understand that Mr. Troup and his friends are circulating the report that he (Troup) was “sold out” in the Republican convention, and did not have a fair show. When it became apparent that George Walker could not be nominated for Sheriff, I told Walker that there was nothing to be gained by prolonging the contest, and he authorized me to act for him as I saw fit, and therefore I withdrew his name. When I did so, Mr. Troup came to me and wanted to know what it meant, and I told him what I had told Walker. He replied, “Why didn’t you wait a little longer and give me a chance to make some votes out of it?” I told him he was all right, and in no danger. He went away and shortly came back and said he was not going to have his name go before the convention. I tried to dissuade him from withdrawing. I told him he was already before the convention, and I believed he could be nominated. He said he could not, and authorized me to withdraw his name. He now charges Capt. Hunt’s nomination to be a “trade,” when there is no foundation for it. He was dissatisfied because he was not notified of Walker’s intention of withdrawing, in order that he (Troup) might “trade” on it. These are the facts, and I only state them in justice to myself, and others of Mr. Troup’s friends, who were anxious to have him nominated, but are now charged with these things, to secure Mr. Troup’s election, against the regular nominee.
L. J. WEBB.
[PROS AND CONS ON M. G. TROUP RUNNING INDEPENDENTLY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, October 31, 1877.
Troup was in office for four years as County Clerk. The Republicans did not choose him as their nominee—the Democrats repudiated him also as a nominee. COURIER came out with an article attacking Troup. This was denounced by county commissioners:
“This is to certify that we, the undersigned, Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas, have read an article in the editorial columns of the Winfield Courier, entitled “Crookedness,” and find the same to be a gross misrepresentation of Mr. Troup’s official acts concerning the final statement and settlement of Mr. Kager’s account as County Treasurer of said county. Believing in the motto, “honor to whom honor is due,” we would further say that no official act of Mr. Troup, in connection with Mr. Kager’s final settlement, would in the least degree indicate in the mind of any fair-minded person that he (Troup) was dishonest, inefficient, or unfaithful in the trust confided to his care; but, on the contrary, his every act in that matter but serves to confirm us in the belief that he has been, and is, a faithful, efficient and honorable public servant.” R. F. BURDEN, WM. WHITE, W. M. SLEETH.
October 27, 1877.
MILLINGTON & LEMMON, PUBLISHERS.
[EDITORIAL ITEMS.]
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
The following is a copy of the order made by the board of county commissioners Oct. 23rd, 1876, referred to in our editorial headed “Crookedness,” to-wit:
“It appearing to the board that E. B. Kager, ex-county treasurer, has turned over to his successor in office too much money, the present county treasurer is hereby ordered to refund to said Kager all money in his hands in excess of the total amount that shall be agreed upon by the clerk of this board and said Kager as being due the various funds at the expiration of said Kager’s term of office.”
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
ROCK, Oct. 27, 1877.
HON. L. J. WEBB: Dear Sir: I notice in this week’s Telegram that it is claimed that my interests are not entirely in Cowley County, but rather in Butler. I will simply say to the voters of the first district, that I never owned a foot of land or property of any kind in Butler County. All the real estate I possess is located in this county. Yours truly, G. L. GALE.
The above from Mr. Gale, the Republican candidate for county commissioner for the first district, fully answers the insinuation that he is a Butlerite. Mr. Gale is a Cowley County man and as deeply interested in the welfare of this county as any other citizen. He is a warm, but judicious railroad man, and has heartily supported both the Parsons and the Emporia roads. He will use all judicious and honorable means in his power to secure the building of an east and west railroad through the center of the county, and another down the Walnut valley, in the shortest possible time, at the same time saving the county all unnecessary expense. The fears that some express that he will be disposed to throw obstacles in the way of any railroad company proposing to build into this county are entirely groundless. We confidently expect his election, and the aid of his strong, good sense, and his active work, in securing such improvements as our county still needs.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
TACTICS.
Some of the leading supporters of Charley Harter are throwing out hints that a scheme is on foot that will beat Lippman and are offering to bet it will succeed. From other sources we have hints that some yarn against him has been fabricated and been sworn to by some unscrupulous scamp, which is to be published in the Telegram and in hand bills and circulated on the morning of the election, when it is too late to refute it. Such tactics have often been practiced by politicians in desperate straits, but are too contemptible to think of. Every sensible voter should know that nothing but lies are ever circulated in that way.
As we go to press we learn that the Telegram has been printed but is still withheld, though it is now two days behind its regular time of publication. This confirms the suspicion that it contains something that the COURIER would disprove if published before the COURIER goes to press. It is possible that some similar game against Capt. Hunt is on foot.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
TROUP AGAIN.
The following editorial appeared in the COURIER of last week.
[REPRINTS ARTICLE ENTITLED “CROOKEDNESS.”]
To this Mr. Troup replies as follows:
TROUP’S DEFENSE.
This is to certify that we, the undersigned Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas, have read an article in the editorial columns of the Winfield COURIER, entitled “Crookedness,” and find the same to be a gross misrepresentation of Mr. Troup’s official acts concerning the final statement and settlement of Mr. Kager’s account vs. county treasurer of said county. Believing in the motto of “honor to whom honor is due,” we would further say that no official act of Mr. Troup’s in connection with Mr. Kager’s final settlement would, in the least degree, indicate to the mind of any fair-minded person that he (Troup) was dishonest, inefficient, or unfaithful in the trust confided to his care, but on the contrary, his every act in that matter but serves to confirm us in the belief that he has been, and is, a faithful, efficient, and honorable public servant.
(Signed) R. F. BURDEN, WM. WHITE, W. M. SLEETH.
October 27th, 1877.
Now, Mr. Editor, I deem the foregoing to be a sufficient answer to the villainous article you published last week, and do not care to trespass further on your space with that matter. However, I desire to say that you must be supporting a most odious ticket indeed, if it requires such dirty work to carry it, as you had made use of, in your last issue. Does it not strike you as being a little ridiculous, Mr. Editors, for you to resort to such infamous measures to carry a ticket, that is as worthy of support as you say yours is, in a county where you have a straight majority of 700 votes? Do you not think you could lend more dignity to the exalted position which you hold, at the head of the public education of this great commonwealth, if you were to devote more time to the educational interests of the state, and less to the publication of such articles, as emanated from your fertile brain last week? Is it not, in fine, just a little degrading to the Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, for you to come down here, 200 miles, to do the dirty work for a few political shysters, in a local canvass for county officers? I leave you to answer these interrogations at your leisure.
Now, Mr. Editor, having performed my duties honestly and faithfully, I feel confident that all future discoveries of “crookedness” will have the same foundation of fact, as the one mentioned last week. Having nothing to fear from a strict and impartial inquiry into my official career, I invite you to try again, in your search for “crookedness.”
Yours respectfully, M. G. TROUP.
There is no principle of newspaper courtesy that would require us to publish the above strictures on Mr. Lemmon. On the contrary, under the rules of the press we would be justified in refusing to publish the communication, because Mr. Troup has so forgotten that he should be a gentleman, as to call us hard names. However, we waive the discourtesy and publish the article entire.
We do not think the people care to be diverted from the issues in this canvass by a discussion of Mr. Troup’s strictures on Mr. Lemmon. Mr. Lemmon is a citizen of this county; votes only here, has invested all his means here, returns to this county as his home when his official duties will permit, will permanently remain here when those duties are ended, feels as deep an interest in, and works as hard for the welfare of this county as any other citizen, and has an equal right to be heard in its politics and policies. But whether he is behaving badly or well is not an issue at this time, for he is not “running for office.” Mr. Troup is a candidate for a third term as county clerk, and his official acts are legitimate subjects for discussion. Hence our editorial in last week’s COURIER as above. Please examine it carefully and see where the “villainy,” the “dirty work,” and the “infamous measures,” come in. We think we treated the subject with great fairness—even with tenderness. We stated certain facts which are not controverted in his reply, neither can they be successfully, for the records of his office and that of the county treasurer, together with the testimony of other county officers and other men of unquestioned veracity, amply prove them to be true.
The issue is made only on our conclusion, that the loss of about $2,500 to the county was due either to Mr. Troup’s neglect or his inefficiency. It is a cheap way to controvert such conclusions, to write or dictate a denial in general terms like the above, and induce three of his particular friends to subscribe it as a favor. It is a fact often commented upon that most men at the instance of a friend will sign any paper except a promise to pay money. Our commissioners being human are not exempt from such weakness. But if they really meant to stand by what that paper contains, they are in the same boat with him. There was assuredly some neglect, or inefficiency, or something worse somewhere, or school districts in this county would not thus have lost more than $2,500 of the funds—a loss that would evidently never have been detected had it not been for the efficiency of county attorney McDermott. The use of this large sum for fifteen months was lost beyond recovery.
Mr. Troup makes the commissioners deny that his official action in this case indicates any dishonesty on his part. Please examine our editorial again and see where we intimate that he has been dishonest. We fail to find it. The idea of dishonesty has been suggested by Mr. Troup alone, and while we will not say that “a guilty conscience needs no accuser,” we think it well, now that he has called our attention to this phase of the subject, not to brush the thought too hastily away, but to proceed to state a few more facts.
The law of 1875—a law that has been on our statute books for two and a half years, requires the county clerk to make under oath quarterly, and file with the register of deeds a detailed statement of the amount of fees received by him during the quarter. No such report has ever been filed with the register of deeds of this county. We leave it for others to say whether this is neglect, or inefficiency, or the other thing. The same law declares that county clerks shall be allowed “as full compensation for their services” in counties of 5,000 and less than 10,000 inhabitants, $1,200, and in counties of 10,000, and not more than 15,000 inhabitants, $1,500 per annum, which salaries shall be in full for all the services by law required to be performed in their respective offices.” At the commissioners’ meeting on the first Monday of October last, Mr. Troup presented his statement of account against the county, in which he claimed, after deducting certain fees, a balance due him for his services during the preceding quarter of $663.15, and that sum was allowed and paid him. In that statement was included $300 for a duplicate tax roll. We have consulted the leading attorneys of this city and have failed to find one who will say that the account was a just one, or that it should have been allowed and paid. There is no law authorizing it, and even if there were, the work could have been done for one-fourth of the sum Mr. Troup has received for it, and besides the work had not been done, notwithstanding the account was verified by his oath, stating “that the amount claimed thereon is actually due.” The tax roll had not been completed the first of this week, and yesterday it had not been received by the county treasurer.
What is the conclusion to be drawn from these facts? Are either of the three that are above considered sufficient? A year ago he also collected from the county in addition to his legal salary the sum of $300, for a duplicate tax roll, making with the late $300, and the $2,500, the sum of $3,100 saved to the county in his peculiar way.
The township assessors in the spring of 1875, after the law above referred to came into force, returned a total population of less than 10,000 in the county. Mr. Troup procured an addition to be made to the population returns of one township and raised the total to 10,020, thereby making his salary $1,500, instead of $1,200, thus saving $300 to the county for himself, and $300 for another officer, raising his sum of savings up to $3,700.
So why should we doubt that the whole $10,000 has been thus saved. Mr. Troup claimed to have found many evidences of the three faults we have been discussing in the records made by his predecessor in office. What will Mr. Troup’s successor find? Here we gladly leave the subject of Mr. Troup’s official record. We have stated facts only—facts which we have not searched for, but which our attention has lately been called to, and which we would not state until we had the proofs.
We feel no unkindness toward Mr. Troup, but so long as he and his friends have been perambulating the county making exaggerated statements about his honesty, efficiency, and faithfulness, and circulating slanderous statements about Capt. Hunt, it is due both to Mr. Troup and to the republican nominee for county clerk that the people should know these things that they may vote understandingly.
It is due, however, that Mr. Troup’s political record should receive some attention.
After the republican convention of Sept. 22nd, last, had nominated Capt. Hunt, and up to the time of the democratic convention, Oct. 13th, Mr. Troup repeatedly stated to republicans that he would not be an independent candidate, but would support Mr. Hunt. Was this for the purpose of avoiding an examination of his official record until it should be too late to get before the people in time to influence the election, any facts that might be discovered?
Last fall he requested to be placed on the Manning ticket as a delegate in the convention, and was so placed and selected a delegate. He entered that convention and supported and voted for Manning, as senator, but after Manning was nominated, he was among Manning’s opposers, and anxious to be made a nominee for the same office against Manning. He has talked heavily against bonding the county for any purpose, when that view was popular, and has afterward made speeches in favor of voting bonds. He is strongly temperance, with temperance men; signed three petitions for saloon licenses in one season; and signed a petition and a remonstrance the same week. He has supported both Johnston and Kelly for postmaster at the same time. In fact, his political duplicity has become so notorious that it is often remarked that Troup is on both sides of every question.
He is a politician, and apparently only anxious to be found on the winning side. Two years ago the republicans nominated him as a republican and the democrats as a democrat, and being on both sides, with no opposing candidate, he was sure to win. Now he is at it again, and it remains to be seen whether he will win this time with similar tactics, now that he is opposed to a regular republican nominee.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
JOHN D. PRYOR, Esq.: Dear Sir: Referring to our editorial entitled “Crookedness,” in last week’s COURIER, will you state what you know about the transaction therein referred to in relation to Mr. Troup’s connection with that settlement with Mr. Kager?
Yours truly, ED. COURIER.
MR. EDITOR: In reply to your inquiry above, I would say that I was Mr. Kager’s attorney referred to in that editorial, and acted in place of Mr. Kager in that settlement. Your statement is correct so far as it relates to Mr. Troup’s connection with it.
Yours truly, JOHN D. PRYOR.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
A CARD.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, Oct. 31st, 1877.
EDITOR COURIER: In compliance with your request, I herewith submit a statement of the facts in relation to the discovery of the deficiency in the accounts of Mr. Kager, referred to in your editorial article entitled “Crookedness,” in last week’s COURIER, so far as they are within my knowledge.
To begin with, County Treasurer Bryan and myself are both tax-payers in school district No. 5 (Dexter), in this county and both interested in its welfare. Sometime in the summer of 1876, probably in July, I had occasion to, and did, examine the condition of the bond tax fund of that district, and informed myself as to its condition at that time and as to the amount of tax necessary to be levied on the assessment of 1876 to meet the bonds and coupons maturing up to and including June 1st, 1877. That amount (10 mills) was levied. On or about the 4th Monday in January 1877, County Treasurer Bryan prepared and published his first quarterly statement as required by law. That statement showed that district No. 5 had been largely overpaid on account of its bond tax fund, I think something over $300. Shortly after the making of this statement, I happened into Mr. Bryan’s office and he called my attention to the fact that “our district” (meaning No. 5) was in a bad fix. Upon my inquiring what was the matter, he showed me the statement and added that, in addition to the large overpayment there shown, the district had one bond, then past due since the 1st of the preceding June, and still unpaid.
I, referring to the information which I had obtained in the summer before, immediately stated that there was something wrong. That the district could not be in that condition. That there was an error somewhere. Reference was made to the ledger account of the district and an item, of date January 15th, 1877, of sundries $339.01½ was found charged against the district. Mr. Bryan informed me that said item of sundries represented a balance claimed for Kager against the district in final settlement and which claim had been allowed by Troup and the item entered upon the ledger by J. D. Pryor.
I immediately walked into Mr. Troup’s office and called his attention the matter, claiming that there was some mistake. He produced a statement which had been filed by J. D. Pryor for Mr. Kager and proceeded to show me that there could be no mistake. I called his attention to the fact that I had been in his office the summer before, looking into the condition of that district and he admitted having some recollection of that fact.
I then asked him to furnish me with the amount of the levy for bond purposes in that district for the years 1872 to 1875, both inclusive, which he did. (I do not remember the figures.) I then requested him to take his bond register and tell me the amount of bonds and coupons, issued by that district, which had become due June 1st, 1876, which was still unpaid. This he did and thereby demonstrated the fact that, if Kager had paid all the bonds and coupons which had become due, in fact everything which he could lawfully have paid on account of that district, there would still be a small balance due to the district instead of $339.01½ against it. Having thus convinced Mr. Troup that there was an error somewhere, I left him to find it out. When I next saw Mr. Troup, he informed me that he had discovered the error and that Kager owed district No. 5 $351.69, thereby showing that, at the final settlement, Kager owed that district the sum of $12.67½ instead of the district owing him $339.01½, as claimed by him and as allowed by Troup.
Mr. Troup further stated that there were 12 other districts in the same condition and that the whole amount was $2,561.30.
The above, Mr. Editor, is the full story of the great discovery, so far as I am concerned, and which, I am informed, Mr. Troup denies; I also learn that the commissioners of this county, in a card, have denounced the above facts, with others, as “gross misrepresentations.” In this connection, I desire to state that neither of the commissioners know anything about the facts herein stated, except what may have been told them, and either of the gentlemen ought to have more regard for their reputation as honest and sensible men, than to pronounce as false facts of which they have no knowledge, and I regret exceedingly, for the sake of Cowley County and the Republican party, that the said commissioners are not, to say the least, thoughtful men.
In regard to Mr. Troup’s denial of these facts, I desire to say that if my information is correct, Mr. Troup has, in dealing with this matter, forgotten that he is a gentleman, and has appeared in the role of a blackguard, and, as I do not desire to compete with him for such doubtful honors, I will, so far as that is concerned, “leave him alone in his glory.”
In deciding as to the truth or falsity of Mr. Troup’s denial, it might be well to inquire: If my statement of facts, as above set forth, is not true, what led Mr. Troup, at that particular time, to make an examination of Mr. Kager’s accounts? Mr. Troup admits that in December he examined Kager’s settlement in company with J. D. Pryor and found the sum of $522.17 due to Kager, and he (Troup) ordered Bryan to pay Kager that amount, which Bryan did. Now, if Mr. Troup was not satisfied with the result of that examination, he ought not, as a faithful officer, to have suffered, much less ordered, Bryan to pay Kager that money. If he was satisfied that the statement was correct and that amount of money due Kager, then why examine it again? Surely his attention must have been called to it in the way I have spoken of, if not then, how? Surely at some time matters of this kind must be finally disposed of, and if not so disposed of at the time they are examined and balances paid, then when? And if they are so disposed of at that time, then why examine them again? Mr. Troup, so far, has neglected to state.
Again, Mr. Troup, by his own admission, virtually says, that that statement of Kager’s having been duly examined by the clerk (himself) under the order of the board of county commissioners, pronounced correct and balance shown to be due to Kager, being $522.17, paid, was filed away among the completed records of his office, and, in the regular course of business, would never be looked into again, and the snug little sum of $2,561.30 would have been wholly lost the 13 school districts to which it belonged.
Mr. Troup, I understand, complains that I collected the money and charged 5 percent for so doing. Mr. Troup is right. I collected the money with 15½ month’s interest and charged the 5 percent, which the statute says I shall have for such services, and I am convinced of two facts in regard thereto.
First, that the school districts had better pay me 5 percent than to lose the whole amount, especially as my commission amounted to only about one half of the interest collected.
Second, that I would never have had the opportunity of charging 5 percent, or any other percent, on $522.17 of that amount, if Mr. Troup had not, on the 7th of December last ordered Bryan to pay it to Kager.
Now, Mr. Editor, I have carefully refrained from calling hard names in making this statement. I have not undertaken to say that Mr. Troup is either “dishonest, inefficient, or unfaithful.” I have simply stated the facts and will let the public draw their own conclusions.
If it had not been for serious sickness in my family, I would have met Mr. Troup, face to face, before the people and would not have asked the privilege of communicating with the public through the medium of your paper. JAMES McDERMOTT, Co. Attorney.
I have read the above statement and so far as it refers to me or the records of my office, it is true. T. R. BRYAN, Co. Treasurer.
[CORRESPONDENCE FROM WILLIAM WHITE.]
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877. Editorial Page.
LITTLE DUTCH, Nov. 3, 1877.
EDITOR COURIER: I desire through your column to make a statement personal to myself. Some hard things have been said of me during the campaign to which I would reply that my friends may not be led astray. It has been said in speeches that a certain person (meaning me) was electioneering on the day of the republican convention for a nomination as commissioner because he could be used as Winfield dictated.
A report has been circulated by Mr. Gale’s friends that E. C. Manning had stated that I could be thus used. What the effect of these statements was I neither know nor care, but I wish to say that I have never in any official capacity done anything favoring Winfield against the interests of other portions of the county, and those who have circulated such statements have simply given currency to falsehoods.
Mr. McDermott says the commissioners are not thoughtful men to say the least. He may admit that one of them at least is not so thoughtless, when he learns that he was not the first man to discover an error in the statement submitted by J. D. Pryor. I myself first discovered something wrong in regard to district number 26, in which district I was a taxpayer. I happen to know what I was doing when I signed that card.
Now, Mr. Editor, you would like to make the people of Cowley County believe there was something wrong about the commissioners. You say that but for the efficiency of the County Attorney, the county would have lost so much money, and in another column you attempt to show dishonesty on the part of Mr. Troup and the board of commissioners in the matter of the duplicate tax roll.
It is a little strange that, lawyer as you are, you are not aware that you are getting your efficient County Attorney in a fix, as he is the legal adviser of the board who indorsed the claim “County liable.” I believe that better men than Messrs. Sleeth and Burden for commissioners never were or will be elected to that office in this county, and such stuff as the COURIER contained in relation to them is mere trash fabricated for electioneering purposes.
As for myself, Messrs. Webb and McDermott with the COURIER man have fixed me out. Now, MR. COURIER, I have always been a republican, am now, and expect to remain so. Mr. McDermott deserves no credit in the Kager matter because I discovered an error first, and I think I should have called Mr. Troup’s attention to it just about as repeatedly as I did Mr. McDermott’s for six months after the mistake was discovered.
You are right about my signing Mr. Troup’s card. I did it because I was his friend and believed I was stating the truth in his behalf—not because I was fighting Capt. Hunt, whom I have always considered a gentleman and my friend.
The future will probably develop the motives for using my name in this campaign, while I was not a candidate. Before this reaches you the election will be over, so it cannot be said this is for electioneering purposes. My object is to let my friends have the truth and not be led into error by false statements about the county board. Yours Respectfully,
WILLIAM WHITE.
[We publish the above because Mr. White feels hurt by some matter which has appeared in the COURIER, and desires to be heard in reply thereto. The strictures we made were in reply to a card which termed our remarks referred to therein “gross misrepresentations,” which was signed by Mr. White, knowing that it was to be published for electioneering purposes. If in proving that we did not misrepresent, we had to hit him, he has no reason to complain. We shall stand by our statement of fact. However, he did not accuse the commissioners of any official wrong, and we think with Mr. White that they are as good men for the office as we ever had or may expect to have. We do not think Mr. White’s statement of facts warrants his conclusion that Mr. McDermott is not entitled to the credit of discovering the error in the account of district No. 5, and of causing the matter to be pursued until the total sum named was discovered.]—ED.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 14, 1877.
E. B. KAGER has removed his office to the room over Benedict’s store.
Mrs. E. P. Wright, mother of Mrs. E. B. Kager, was a sister-in-law of John C. Welsh, new Minister to England...
Arkansas City Traveler, December 12, 1877.
JOHN C. WELSH, the new Minister to England, is a brother-in-law to Mrs. E. P. Wright and an uncle to Mrs. James Benedict and Mrs. E. B. Kager, all of this place. Effingham Lawrence, late Collector at the port of New Orleans, is also a relative of the above named parties.
Winfield Courier, January 3, 1878.
The Arkansas City Traveler says that the new minister to England, John C. Welsh, is a brother-in-law to Mrs. E. P. Wright and an uncle to Mrs. James Benedict and Mrs. E. B. Kager, all of that place.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.
E. B. KAGER made a trip to Chautauqua County lately. He liked the county for stock purposes; says there are fewer people to the square mile than in Cowley, most of them engage in stock raising, and have more money.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.
MONEY TO LOAN by J. D. Pryor. Inquire of Pryor, Kager & Pryor, at Winfield or Arkansas City.
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1878.
Our readers will observe the notice of dissolution of the law firm of Pryor, Kager & Pryor, which appears in another place. Messrs. Pryor & Pryor will continue the business in this city. These gentlemen attend strictly to business and are always ready with their cases. S. D., the senior member of the firm, has practiced in our courts since an early day and has acquired a reputation as an industrious and thoroughly well read lawyer, second to none in Southern Kansas.
Dissolution Notice.
The partnership heretofore existing between S. D. Pryor, E. B. Kager, and J. D. Pryor, under the firm name and style of Pryor, Kager & Pryor for the practice of law, is hereby dissolved by mutual consent. Feb. 1st, 1878.
(Signed) S. D. PRYOR, E. B. KAGER, J. D. PRYOR.
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1878.
Probate Judge’s Office.
Report of E. B. Kager in purchase of real estate for his ward filed and approved.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 27, 1878.
PRYOR, KAGER & PRYOR have dissolved the law partnership existing among them.
Winfield Courier, March 7, 1878.
Probate Judge’s Office.
Estate of John J. Clark, a minor. E. B. Kager, guardian, filed a new bond.
Winfield Courier, March 28, 1878.
Real Estate Transfers.
E. B. Kager and wife to Thomas Goatley, w. ¼ lots 3 and 4 and n. ½ s. e. 14 35 4, 90 acres, $225.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 17, 1878.
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 6, 1878.
CIVIL DOCKET.
John Brooks v. E. B. Kager, Co. Treasurer.
Parker & Canfield v. E. B. Kager.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 17, 1878.
E. B. KAGER, Richard Rosey, and Cass Endicott started to Colorado yesterday morning.
[CORRESPONDENCE FROM “E. B. KAGER”—CANON CITY, COLORADO.]
Arkansas City Traveler, May 1, 1878.
CANON CITY, COLORADO, April 22, 1878.
Railroad excitement at highest pitch. Two roads are working within three feet of each other trying to get up the Arkansas River through the Grand Canon on the river here. The D. & R. G. give $12,000 per day, the A., T. & S. F., 150 teams, $15,000 for bringing men from Pueblo, 40 miles distant by one company, the other brings them by rail.
The contractors hire every man who will work. The excitement won’t last but a few days as one or the other must quit soon. Don’t know where they are going. The town is reaping its harvest. Yours, etc. E. B. KAGER.
District Court Proceedings.
Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.
May 15.
Parker and Canfield vs. E. B. Kager et al.
Motion to make petition more definite and correct overruled. Leave to the answer refused. Judgment by default.
May 18.
J. Brooks vs. E. B. Kager.
Supplemental petition struck from files.
Winfield Courier, May 30, 1878.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.
For the week ending May 27, 1878.
E. B. Kager and wife to A. H. Green, lot 12, block 136, Winfield.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 5, 1878.
S. D. PRYOR and wife, of Winfield, have been residing on E. B. Kager’s farm during the prevalence of small pox at the county seat.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 19, 1878.
E. G. KAGER is dangerously ill at Lake City, Colorado. The physicians pronounce his disease is dropsy.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
The call of the Republican State convention to meet at Topeka on the 28th day of August recommends that the county central committee call a meeting for the purpose of electing delegates to the state convention, to be held on Wednesday, August 21. . . a district convention to choose delegates to be held Saturday, August 10th, at the call of the central committee of the county.
The following are the Central Committee for the 89th district:
J. A. Bryan, Chairman; E. B. Kager; S. M. Fall; W. A. Metcalf.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 17, 1878.
The report that E. B. Kager, formerly of this place, had “struck it rich” in Colorado, reached here last Sunday. Mr. Kager is in the South Fork of the Arkansas, and wrote to the Kansas boys at Leadville, Colorado, to come down to him, as he could not hold the mines alone. From all reports they are exceedingly rich, and bid fair to yield a handsome profit to Mr. Kager, who has already refused a large sum for his interests. We hope this is true, but we hear of so many such cases that we need a little salt before swallowing the story.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 21, 1878.
The suit to recover $3,665 due on Kager’s bond will interest many persons at the next term of court.
[DISTRICT COURT OF COWLEY COUNTY: TRIAL LIST.]
Arkansas City Traveler, August 28, 1878.
CIVIL DOCKET. SECOND DAY.
Parker & Canfield vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
CIVIL DOCKET. FOURTH DAY.
James A. Loomis vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 4, 1878.
Kager’s bonanza in Colorado hasn’t “panned out” as enormously as was expected. In other words, it fizzled, and Mr. Kager is at present suffering from an affliction which affects his feet, they being swollen to such an extent as to almost prevent walking. The rest of the boys who left this place are not in a much better fix, and are either sick or “dead broke.” Better stay in Cowley County.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 11, 1878.
Kager’s house was broken into one night last week, and a chair taken, some clothing, and other articles, besides several bushels of oats.
Winfield Courier, September 12, 1878.
District Court.
MONDAY, September 2, 1878.
Parker & Canfield vs. E. B. Kager et al. Judgment for plaintiffs, $31.94, and foreclosure of mechanic’s lien.
James A. Loomis vs. E. B. Kager et al. Judgment for plaintiff against 20 defendants; continued as to 4 defendants.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 24, 1878.
Sale of pigs, colt, hogs, etc., at Kager’s on Friday, October 25th.
Winfield Courier, October 31, 1878.
We have just heard that Allison and his friends are circulating the story in some portions of the county that, when Mr. Torrance procured a writ of mandamus from Judge Campbell directing the county treasurer to issue personal property tax warrants against delinquent tax-payers, he was employed by Sheriff Parker for that purpose. This is not true. The facts are these: Complaint was made to Mr. Torrance by a number of tax-payers who had paid their personal property tax that many of the delinquent tax-payers were leaving the county with their property, so that the county was thereby losing their tax. The statute required the county treasurer to issue the tax warrants on or before the 10th day of January. Mr. Kager had neglected to issue them, and although Mr. Torrance informed him that the county was losing hundreds of dollars of tax on that account, he said he would not issue them until the next spring. This was not fair to those who had paid their taxes, and by such a course the county would have lost a large amount of taxes. Mr. Torrance then applied to Judge Campbell for a writ of mandamus, as it was his bounden duty to do, and he issued one compelling Mr. Kager to issue the tax warrants. In so doing Mr. Torrance acted purely for the interests of the county.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 31, 1878.
Two thousand dollars or more has been found to E. B. Kager’s credit with Donnelly, Lawson & Co., bankers of New York, in the late settlement with the State Treasurer. If it be positively true, it will be a God send for Kager, who has the sympathy of everyone.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 20, 1878.
Mr. John Carder had the misfortune to step into an old well on Mr. Kager’s place on Wednesday evening last, the fall bruising him severely.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 11, 1878.
Mrs. Kager and John Wright left here on Monday last to join Mr. Kager in Colorado.
Death of E. B. Kager...
Arkansas City Traveler, January 15, 1879.
We chronicle in this issue the death of E. B. Kager, formerly Treasurer of Cowley County. Mr. Kager died at Canon City, Colorado, on the 9th inst., with Emphysema of the chest. Mr. Kager had suffered with ill health previous to his departure for Colorado, and his friends hoped that a change of climate would prove conducive to his health. But the change was for the worse and he gradually declined after leaving here. His corpse has arrived at this place, and the Masonic Fraternity, with honors peculiar to the order, will cover in the Grave, the last of earth. Mr. Kager has many friends in Cowley who will be pained to hear of his death and who will extend their sympathy to his widow and orphans.
Since writing the above we are requested to state that the funeral services of E. B. Kager will take place on Wednesday, the 15th, at 2 o’clock p.m.
Winfield Courier, January 16, 1879.
DIED. Mr. S. D. Pryor has just received a postal card stating that E. B. Kager is dead, and that his body would arrive at Arkansas City on last Tuesday for burial.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 22, 1879.
At a regular communication of Crescent Lodge No. 133 A. F. and A. M., held in Masonic Hall at Arkansas City, Jan. 18th, 1879, A. L. 5879, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted unanimously.
WHEREAS, It has pleased the Grand Architect of the Universe to remove from our midst, our late brother, E. B. Kager, and
WHEREAS, It is but just that a fitting recognition of his many virtues should be had. Therefore be it
Resolved, By Crescent Lodge No. 133 of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, that while we bow with humble submission to the will of the Grand Master above, we do not the less mourn for our brother who has been taken from us.
Resolved, That in the death of E. B. Kager, this lodge laments the loss of a brother, whose voice of sympathy and helping hands were ever ready to extend aid to the needy and distressed of the fraternity, an active member of the society, whose exertions were for its future welfare and prosperity, a friend and brother who was dear to us all.
Resolved, That in token of our brotherly love and friendship we sincerely sympathize with his family in their affliction.
Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Lodge, and a copy be furnished to the family of the deceased brother, and to each of the newspapers of the county.
S. P. CHANNELL, W. M.
I. H. BONSALL, Secretary.
Winfield Courier, January 23, 1879.
Arkansas City Items.
The funeral of E. B. Kager took place on Wednesday with Masonic honors. He was laid away in Mount Airy Cemetery.
[KANSAS NEWS.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 30, 1879.
Ex-County Treasurer E. B. Kager, of Cowley County, died in Colorado recently.
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.
MEMORIAM: E. B. KAGER, R. A. M. MEMBER.
At a regular meeting of Winfield Chapter No. 31, R. A. M., held January 27, 1879, a preamble and resolutions were adopted concerning the death of E. B. Kager, a member of that chapter.
Mrs. E. B. Kager...
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1879.
RECAP: LADIES INVOLVED WITH THE LADIES’ SOCIAL SOCIETY, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, FESTIVAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
SUPPER TABLE: Mrs. J. I. Mitchell, Mrs. R. C. Haywood, Mrs. Dr. Chapel, Mrs. S. P. Channell, Mrs. C. Schiffbauer, Mrs. Matlack, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. E. B. Kager, Mrs. Dr. Kellogg, Mrs. T. H. McLaughlin, Mrs. J. T. Shepard.
