Dr. Byron R. O'Connor

                                                           Otter Township.
                                   [Handled Sheep and then switched to Cattle.]
Note: Dr. Byron R. O’Connor evidently had tired of being a physician. He came to Cowley County to start a sheep ranch. He later got involved with Col. McMullen in raising shorthorn cattle. He also raised hogs. He then sold his farm (over 20,000 acres) and eventually settled down in Grenola, where he again became a practicing physician.

Otter Township 1882: Byron R. O’Connor, 42; spouse, 34. P. O. Address: Cambridge.
                                               FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
[DR. B. R. O’CONNOR MIGHT LOCATE IN WINFIELD.]
Winfield Courier, October 14, 1880.
Dr. B. R. O’Connor, of Mishawaka, Indiana, has been spending a few days in the city. The doctor is looking up a sheep ranch; and if he succeeds in finding one to suit him, he will remove with his family to Winfield in the spring and make this his future home. He is a gentleman of culture and will make a valuable addition to our society. We have room for more like him.
[CAMBRIDGE COMMERCIAL]
Winfield Courier, March 17, 1881.
Dr. B. R. O’Connor, accompanied by his mother and six-year-old son, and also Mr. E. M. Baldwin, of St. Joe County, Indiana, arrived on the nine o’clock train Thursday night. The Doctor has purchased the Todd farm, seven miles southeast of this place on Otter creek, and will fit it up for a sheep ranch. His wife and daughter will arrive in about two months, accompanied by Mrs. Baldwin.
[OTTER TOWNSHIP CORRESPONDENT: “OTTERITE.”]
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
Southeast Cowley. Dr. O’Connor of North Otter seems to be turning his sheep into cattle, from the way he is purchasing young cattle of both sexes.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1883.
We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. O’Connor, one of Cowley’s big farmers, last Monday. The Doctor owns a large tract of land in Otter Township, which he is stocking with the very best strains of cattle. He and Col. McMullen purchased a lot of thoroughbred shorthorns Monday.
Winfield Courier, December 27, 1883.
Mrs. Dr. B. R. O’Connor and her daughter, Genie, of Otter Township, spent Christmas in the city, the guests of Col. Tom Soward.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 1, 1885.
The following is an abstract of the report of the claims allowed by the County Auditor for the month of November, A. D., 1884. B. R. O’Connor. Road damages.
                                       BREVITIES FROM OTTER. “QUIZ.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 2, 1885.
On the 18th Legrand Baldwin departed this life. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Webb. Dr. O’Connor, who was present, made several brief, fitting, and touching remarks.

                                             SOUTH OTTER. “OTTERITE.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 21, 1885.
Have had Noah’s flood No. 2 in and around this section. Cedar creek, Rock creek, Otter creek, Big Cana, and Grant creek were all the highest ever known since this country has been settled. On Otter and Big Cana all the loose soil has been washed off and farmers will have to stir their ground again. Farmers on Cana say that their farms are damaged one-half or more to say nothing of houses, fences, corn, stock, etc. Nine persons have been known to be drowned, up to date, but all the bodies have not been recovered. This loss of life was all east and southeast of Cedarvale, in Chautauqua County. Big Cana was 25 feet above low water mark. Joe. Dale’s house and Hart’s mill, with several other buildings, went down the stream. Dr. O’Connor, on the head of Otter, lost over 100 head of fat hogs.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 16, 1885.
The Dr. O’Connor farm, in eastern Cowley, 3,000 acres, has changed hands for $20,000: the biggest sale on record this year.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 16, 1885.
The following are the real estate transfers filed in the office of Register of Deeds since our last issue.
Elizabeth O’Connor to Byron R O’Connor w hf sec 28 and e hf and sw qr and e hf nw qr sec 29 and 27 lots in 39-32-8-e: $20,000.
Byron R O’Connor et ux to Elizabeth O’Connor, w ½ sec 28 and e ½ of sw ¼ and e ½ nw ¼ sec 29 and 27 lots in 30-32-8-e, 2002 acres: $20,600.
                                                OTTER VALLEY. “JESSE.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 1, 1885.
Lou Wilkins will teach in the O’Connor district this winter.
We hear that Dr. O’Connor is going to move to Grenola in the near future.
                                                OTTER VALLEY. “JESSE.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 21, 1886.
Dr. O’Connor, of East Otter, has moved to Grenola. He has given up farming and is going to practice medicine again. He is a splendid physician and we hated to give him up.