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Thompson Families in Cowley County
THOMPSON OR THOMSON.
In searching for the “three Thompson brothers” who built some of the earliest structures in Arkansas City along with Channell, I came across the following family in the book Cowley County Heritage, published in 1990. Instead of Thomson, this family could have started out initially as “Thompson.” Carl Thomson could have been the son of R. A. Thompson. See below.
R. A. & Wm. S. Thompson. Bolton Township in 1875.
Kansas 1875 Census, Bolton Township, Cowley County. (3/1/1875)
Name Age Sex Color Place/Birth Where From
R. A. Thompson 39 m w Canada Canada
Clarissa Thompson 35 f w Canada Canada
Carlos F. Thompson 14 m w Canada Canada
Herbert A. Thompson 12 m w Canada Canada
Clarence E. Thompson 7 m w Canada Canada
Lydia H. Thompson 67 f w Canada Canada
Wm. S. Thompson 31 m w Canada Canada
NO THOMPSON FAMILY MENTIONED IN BOLTON LATER.
I believe the newspaper referred to “R. A. Thompson” as Adam Thompson.
[FROM “HERITAGE.”]
The Carl Thomson Family.
Carlos Franklin Thomson came to Arkansas City from Canada in 1870, at the age of 10, to help his father in the lumber business. They were among the early builders in Arkansas City.
As a young man, Carlos, shortened to Carl, worked for Ranney-Davis Wholesale Company as a freighter. He carried food into Indian Territory as far south as Edmond, Oklahoma. Later, he married Elizabeth Andrews to which union was born seven children: Clara, Clarence, Ernie, Myra, Robert, Dick, Ira.
Their daughter, Myra, was a teacher in Cowley County rural schools and Clara and Ira died at a young age.
Elizabeth died in 1900 and Carl married Emma Drew, who had two daughters from a previous marriage: Lena and Beulah. Lena taught special education in Winfield and Beulah worked for the Arkansas City Traveler.
Carl and Emma had five children: Myron, Edith, Nina, Helen and William. In 1910, they moved from Oklahoma to Arkansas City and for many years lived on a farm on east Kansas Avenue. Carl and Emma lost two children: Helen and William.
Myron, nicknamed Mike, attended the Arkansas City schools and in 1922 went to work as an apprentice for the Santa Fe Railroad. After finishing his apprenticeship, he worked for the Santa Fe in Shawnee, Seminole, and Oklahoma City. He died in 1982.
Edith graduated from the Arkansas City schools. In 1938, she married James H. Shipp. She received a life certificate to teach from Pittsburg State Teachers College and in 1960 graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield. She taught school in Cowley County and Sumner County, Kansas, Kay County, Oklahoma, and Henry County, Iowa. She retired from the Arkansas City schools in 1971. In 1988, Jim and Edith retired from farming and moved to 1430 North A Street in Arkansas City, Kansas. They have no children.
Nina attended the Arkansas City schools. In 1929, she married Fred Gee and parented three children: Bette, Janell and Ronal. Nina worked at the Newton Memorial Hospital in Winfield for ten years. In 1977, she retired from the Arkansas City Memorial Hospital. She and Fred, also retired, are living east of Arkansas City in the same home where they set up housekeeping in 1929.
Bette graduated from Arkansas City schools in 1950 and Kansas State College in 1957. Bette married Marvin Cranston in 1955 and produced two children. She currently works in a bank in Derby, Kansas.
Janell graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1955. Janell and Max Burton were married in 1955 and have two children. They reside in Newton where Janell sells real estate.
Ronal graduated from the Arkansas City High School in 1957 and the Junior College in 1959. Ronal married Charlotte Dickerman in 1958 and they have three children. Ronal owns and operates the Ark City Mirror and Glass Company in Arkansas City.
Carl Thomson died in 1929. He was buried in Parker Cemetery near Arkansas City. Emma died in 1939 and was buried in the Newkirk Cemetery near Newkirk, Oklahoma.
Edith (Thomson) Shipp
[It would be of interest to those interested in history and genealogy to learn if the above family was connected to the early builders of Arkansas City: the three Thompson brothers.]
ADDISON & SHERMAN THOMPSON. NINNESCAH TOWNSHIP.
Kansas 1875 Census Ninnescah Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
Adaline Thompson 65 f w New York Wisconsin
Estella Thompson 21 f w Wisconsin Wisconsin
Addison Thompson 19 m w Wisconsin Wisconsin
Sherman Thompson 15 m w Wisconsin Wisconsin
ADDISON THOMPSON - NEAR SEELEY.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1883.
On last Saturday morning a baby about two weeks old was found in a basket on the front steps of the Brettun House. With it was the following note, written in a neat feminine hand, without address or signature. “I leave the little babe with you because I think you will select someone that will be kind to it and raise it. I was married and deserted. He was a fine looking and talented man. I don’t know where he is and I’m too poor to care for it, unless I had a home. It breaks my poor heart to give it up. Keep a record of it in the clerk’s office, and if I get work, I will reclaim it, unless someone takes it to raise as their own. Its name is James Garfield, after our lamented President. I have some property coming to me eventually, but my people know nothing of my sad fate. They tried to keep me from marrying, and that is why I will not appeal to them. May the good Lord forgive me and watch over my darling child and bless those that give it sympathy.”
Mrs. Chas. Harter took the little one in and cared for it until Sunday morning, when Mr. and Mrs. Addison Thompson, from near Seeley, a childless couple, heard of it and asked permission to take the babe, care for and raise it, which they were allowed to do.
SHERMAN THOMPSON. TOWNSHIP UNKNOWN.
[REPORT FROM HALL.]
Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.
MARRIED: At the residence of D. W. Pierce, on Sunday last, by Squire G. L. Cole, Mr. Sherman Thompson and Miss Maggie Seehorn, all of this township.
ALEXANDER THOMPSON.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
From records, it appears that Alexander Thompson was 49 years of age in 1878. His spouse was “M. K.” Thompson, age 46. Their post office address was “Winfield.”
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.
We call attention to Mr. Alexander Thompson, a candidate for Register of Deeds. Mr. Thompson is one of the best farmers of Liberty township, has been a resident of this county for nine years, and is therefore one of the earliest settlers. He has been unfortunate in the loss of his left arm by an accident from a threshing machine at Maple City in this county.
[REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
Vote for register of deeds.
1st ballot 2nd ballot 3rd ballot
I. H. Bonsall, 15, 13, 14
E. P. Kinne, 18, 14, 14
Jacob Nixon, 25, 43, 48
D. S. Wilkins, 18, 15, 15
Alex. Thompson, 1st ballot, 8
C. W. Roseberry, 2nd ballot, 3
Thompson withdrew after the first ballot.
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.
RECAP OF REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION, HELD AT THE OPERA HOUSE IN WINFIELD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1882, AT 10:00 A..M., CALLED TO ORDER BY D. A. MILLINGTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE.
Delegates entitled to seats.
Liberty: H. C. Catlin, J. H. Mounts, Alex. Thompson.
Listed below is what little I have on David or David T. Thompson. Some of the entries might really pertain to David Thompson (father of the three Thompson boys who built the first structures in Arkansas City) or else Rev. David Thompson, who came to Arkansas City in 1874. I just do not know...MAW
DAVID T. THOMPSON. ARKANSAS CITY.
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1874.
Marriage Licenses.
List of marriage licenses issued during the month of May.
David Thompson to Diantha T. Wetherbee.
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.
Commissioners’ Proceedings.
OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK,
Winfield, Kansas, Sept. 7th, 1874.
Board met in regular session. Present: R. F. Burden and M. S. Roseberry.
And now comes David Thompson in pursuance of an order issued by the board to appear and correct his personal property assessment for the year 1874, and after hearing the evidence of the said Thompson under affirmation, it is ordered by the board that the county clerk increase the assessment of said Thompson $700 on the tax roll of 1874 in addition to that already returned by the assessor.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET: MARCH TERM.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.
FOURTH DAY. CIVIL DOCKET.
No. 465. Diantha T. Thompson, vs. David Thompson.
SIXTH DAY. CIVIL DOCKET.
No. 517. David Thompson vs. E. B. Kager, et al.
[DISPOSITION OF DISTRICT COURT CASES.]
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1875.
465. Diantha T. Thompson, vs. David Thompson, dismissed at plaintiff’s cost.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 25, 1877.
FIRE. On last Wednesday night, at about 12 o’clock, during the rain, flames were seen in the direction of Judge McIntire’s house, and a rush was made for the scene by those who chanced to be up at the time. On arriving at the fire, it was found to be the one just vacated by the widow of Jas. Barr, and owned by David T. Thompson. Mrs. Barr had moved out of the building in the morning, and no fire had been left, and no one was seen about in the evening until it was in a blaze. No cause can be assigned for the fire, except that it was the work of an incendiary. It was burned so completely that not a shingle or scrap of board could be seen afterwards.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 24, 1878.
FOR SALE. One blacksmith’s shop and stable with two lots, across the street from Finney’s livery stable, and four lots all together near James Benedict’s; 160 acres of land with 30 acres improved, near Goff’s, 3 miles north of town; five acres adjoining town site, on the northwest, sown in wheat, will be sold cheap for cash or on time.
MRS. DIANTHA T. THOMPSON.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 1, 1878.
27½ yards blue rag carpet at 38 cents per yard. MRS. D. T. THOMPSON.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878. Editorial Page.
DISTRICT COURT.
Civil Docket, Third Day: D. Thompson v. A. H. Buckwalter.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 8, 1878.
All persons indebted to Mrs. D. T. Thompson, or having any business transactions, can settle the same with J. L. Huey.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET.]
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
CIVIL DOCKET. TENTH DAY.
David Thompson vs. Nathan Hughes.
DR. SAMUEL THOMPSON OF TISDALE. LATER: MAPLE CITY.
Winfield Courier, October 29, 1874.
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
A Young Man Accidentally Shoots Himself.
And Dies Almost Immediately.
We are indebted to Dr. Thompson, of Tisdale, for the following particulars of a most distressing accident. A young man by the name of William Patterson, in the employ of Mr. Newland, who lives near Silver Creek, was out hauling rock last Saturday, having with him a loaded gun for the purpose of killing chickens. Having loaded his wagon, he started for the house, standing on the load, holding the gun by the barrel with the breech resting on the edge of a rock. By some means, a jolt or something of that kind, the gun slipped off the stone and down through the rails used as a rack. It is supposed that the hammer struck one of the rails in going through, anyway, the gun was discharged. The contents entered at the pit of the stomach, passing inward and upward through the stomach, and lodged in the right lung. The poor man was knocked off the wagon and lay where he fell, until found a few moments afterwards by Mrs. Newland. He breathed a few times after being found and expired. A post mortem examination was held on the body on Sunday morning by Coroner Sim Moore, and the facts found substantially as above narrated. Mr. Patterson was a young man about 20 years of age, and had lived but about a year in the county. He was from Indiana.
There seems to be a sort of fatality about Mr. Newland’s farm, as it will be remembered that some two months ago a young man was killed in a well on the same farm.
Winfield Courier, November 5, 1874.
Dr. Thompson has found a vein of coal one inch thick on his farm two miles south of Tisdale. In hopes of finding a thicker vein deeper down, he has bored two feet into the hard rock, and broke his drills. He will commence boring again in a few days, and either find coal or convince himself that there is no coal there. He reports the indications for a thick vein are good, and feels confident of success.
Winfield Courier, November 12, 1874.
Tisdale News.
Dr. Thompson will commence boring for coal again this week. BEATUS.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, December 10, 1874. Front Page.
LONG HARANGUE BY “A. B.” AGAINST EDITOR SCOTT RE SCOTT BEING A JUDAS, ETC. WITH RESPECT TO THE LAST ELECTION. . . .
“Mr. Scott, at the Independent convention held at Tisdale, stated to Ed. Millard, secretary of the convention, in the hearing of John Mark and Justus Fisher, that C. R. Mitchell was an Independent man, and insisted on them giving him the nomination; stating that Pyburn would not accept, as he had too good a thing already. We all know now that he did accept, and gained his election by the unprinciples of C. M. Scott.
“Mitchell being defeated, Scott passed Dr. Thompson and stated to him that Mitchell’s name was used entirely against his (Mitchell’s) will, and that he should not have accepted the office even if nominated. How quick to turn his coat. . . .
“Again, at the Republican convention, held in Winfield, he (Scott) went to Dr. Thompson and asked him in the hearing of Capt. Harellson and Seth Chase, to support Mitchell, stating if the Tisdale delegates would vote for Mitchell that the Arkansas City delegates would support Moore. They refused to support him, and then of course the nominees were incapable, and men unfit for the office. Capable enough, to fill the office at the convention, but not degraded enough to be led by Scott, and hence he had to turn his back on them. . . .”
[TISDALE NEWS.]
Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874.
The Independent Order of Good Templars held their exhibition in the schoolhouse last evening, and was, upon the whole, a grand success. We noticed among the number present, our efficient County clerk, M. G. Troup and wife, with the interesting little face of the younger Troup, Cap. Harrelson, Dr. Thompson and daughters, and J. A. McGuire and family, and many others too numerous to mention.
[REPORTS FROM TOWNSHIP RELIEF COMMITTEES.]
Winfield Courier, December 17, 1874.
TISDALE, Dec. 10th, 1874.
Meeting called to order by the Trustee, Philip Hedges, who was elected Chairman, E. P. Young was elected Secretary. The object of the meeting was stated by the chairman, viz: To appoint a committee of three to cooperate with the County Relief committee.
Committee was appointed consisting of J. J. Johnson, Philo Hedges, Q. Hawkins. Motion made and carried that the committee be increased to five: A. Thompson and J. A. McGuire, were appointed additional. P. E. HEDGES, Chairman.
[ITEMS ABOUT TISDALE.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 7, 1875.
TISDALE, Jan. 4th, 1875.
Another relief meeting was held last Wednesday night, electing three additional committee members, viz: Seth Chase, Dr. Thompson, Mr. Whittaker.
[TISDALE ITEM.]
Winfield Courier, January 28, 1875.
Alexander Thompson had been charged with receiving 400 pounds of flour, and distributing the same among his needy neighbors without first hauling it to the north part of the township and turning it over to the chairman of the committee, Mr. J. J. Johnson, and allowing him to distribute the same among some of his neighbors who were also needy and who had been troubling him by intruding on his business and premises, by applying to him for rations, when he—like the devil on the mount—had nothing to give. A motion was carried that the committee make a statement of what they had done with the sufferers of the township. Mr. Thompson was called and stated that he had received 400 pounds of flour and some clothing, and had also distributed the same to the needy, and had the papers to show who and what amount each had received, and further that he had visited thirty-two families and taken a list of their wants, and reported the same to the county committee.
Mr. Johnson was next called, and while scratching his head, stated that he knew there were some families in the north part of the township who were suffering but he had done nothing to assist them.
Other members reported the same except Mr. McGuire; who gave an account of 100 pounds of meat received and distributed.
Other members reported the same except Mr. McGuire; who gave an account of 100 pounds of meat received and distributed.
But as Mr. Thompson was the only member of the committee who had taken any active part to relieve the needy and find out the want of the people; and as the Commissioners at their last meeting had made a new township off of the south part of Tisdale, it was moved and carried that the new township of Liberty take care of itself. As two of the committee lived in that territory, the chairman appointed two to fill the vacancy.
A vote of thanks was then given to Mr. Thompson for the active part he had taken as a member of the committee, and the good he had done in assisting the needy in his part of the township, while hisses loud and long went up against those who had been inactive and done nothing, and who were at the same time trying to censure the only member who had been true to his suffering neighbors.
But there will be no need of quarreling now, as one of the newly appointed committee, E. P. Young, has decided to take care of all the relief goods received, and store them away in his fine stone dwelling where they will be as safe as the goods he swindled some men of the east out of a few years ago.
But just now I learn that a request has been forwarded to the County Committee not to issue any relief goods to the said E. P. Young, as there is another meeting to be called and Mr. Young relieved of all the trouble he was about to be put to, in storing away what the people need, as the citizens look upon him as a man unfit to handle anything that belongs to a suffering and needy people. I presume they judge the future by the past. JEFF.
Winfield Courier, June 10, 1875.
TISDALE, MAY 5, 1875.
Business is rather lively in Tisdale at present. S. S. Moore is busy making out proofs for the land office. J. A. McGuire is doing a fine business and selling cheap. Napier, Smiley & Co., have more work on hand than they can do. A cow, belonging to Mrs. Lawson, living three miles north of Tisdale, was killed by lightning last Friday morning. Old Dr. Thompson is about as usual, but judging from the way he has to ride about, we should judge business was brisk.
Winfield Courier, October 28, 1875.
TISDALE ITEMS.
BY “BATTLEHEAD.”
Mr. Gould, who has been under the care of Dr. Thompson, is able to be about again.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 1, 1877.
Mr. Thompson, of Tisdale Township, we learn, will be a candidate for Registrar of Deeds this fall.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877.
Dr. Thompson, a true blue Republican of Tisdale, called Tuesday.
Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.
Dr. Thompson, of Tisdale, was in town last week courting.
It appears that Dr. Thompson moved to Maple City after the last entry...
Winfield Courier, April 12, 1883.
An Occurrence.
Every unfortunate denizen of this mundane sphere, however fortunate he may be, must meet with trials and tribulations at some period of his existence. Thus has it been with our friend, C. C. Harris. Last Saturday, as on several preceding Saturdays, he drove over to the place, where he could pass the Sabbath day in quiet meditation, far removed from the busy haunts of men. He arose bright and early in the morning, and observing a crowd gathered curiously around some object, he proceeded to investigate and found his buggy standing in the middle of the street loaded with hay, the wheels gone, and in their places the wheels of Dr. Thompson’s wagon, with the general rule as to front and back wheels reversed. A search was instituted and one of his wheels was found in the private office of W. H. Gould, another back of his dwelling, another in the rear of John Drury’s, and the fourth at James Wilkie’s. Mr. Harris said he didn’t mind the joke, but the disposition of the wheels was more than he could bear. We are not aware of any opposition to Mr. Harris’ visits here, except it be from Mr. O’Hare, who was here Saturday afternoon, but as he was accompanied by our respected county attorney, we cannot think he had anything to do with it. DOT. Maple City, April 8th.
[MAPLE CITY CORRESPONDENT: NAME NOT GIVEN.]
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1884.
There is much sickness throughout the country here now, and Dr. Thompson is on the go almost day and night.
[SPRING CREEK CORRESPONDENT: “JEMIMA.”]
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1884.
Beaver Ridge Items.
Mrs. W. J. Pointer has quite a painful bone-felon for which she is being treated by Dr. Thompson, of Maple City.
[MAPLE CITY CORRESPONDENT: “O. N.”]
Arkansas City Republican, October 11, 1884.
There is considerable sickness in this vicinity and Dr. Thompson is kept busy day and night visiting patients. E. E. Howe is building an addition to his livery stable; Frank Gilkey is building a nice residence on his farm south of town.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 5, 1885.
Constable H. H. Siverd brought Dr. Samuel Thompson in from Maple City, Tuesday, charged with illegally selling the ardent. The Doctor plead guilty in Justice Snow’s court and got off with one hundred and forty-five dollars fine and costs. Verily, the way of the transgressor is thorny.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 7, 1885.
Dr. Samuel Thompson of Maple City was arrested Tuesday and taken to Winfield to be tried for the charge of selling liquor illegally. Thompson plead guilty, but all the same it will take within the neighborhood of $150 to settle the matter. He lies in jail now.
GEORGE L. THOMPSON.
Cowley County Bonds. Suit.
[EDITORIAL PAGE: LAWSUIT BY GEORGE L. THOMPSON.]
Winfield Courier, April 17, 1874.
THAT LAWSUIT.
Suit has been commenced in the U. S. Circuit Court of the District of Kansas, by one George L. Thompson, for the recovery of something over $6,000, interest included, for which he holds the warrants of this county. Who Mr. Thompson is, we know not, neither does it matter for the purpose of this article. The best legal talent concur in the opinion that judgment will be rendered against the county, for the amount claimed, and the costs of the suit.
The COURIER is charged with being in some way the remote cause of the action against the county, because it is alleged that we opposed bonding the debt. Here is what we did say in the COURIER of Feb. 6th, last.
THE COUNTY DEBT.
We understand, since our arrival at home, that an effort is being made to have Mr. Martin procure the necessary legislation allowing the Board of County Commissioners to fund or rather bond the county indebtedness. We do not believe that the people of Cowley County wish this thing done. Twelve months ago, the circumstances were altogether different. Then we had a Courthouse to build, and many thought it necessary to provide funds for that. But now our county buildings are all complete, we can see no necessity for it. We are very well aware that it would be money in the pockets of a few, for instance, county officials, who have to take most or all their fees in scrip. But we are now hopeful that the tax next year, with care and economy, will clear the county almost, if not altogether, of debt. In the present state of affairs, we would not favor any bill authorizing the Board to bond the debt, without first submitting the question to a vote of the people of the county. And we hope that whatever legislation Mr. Martin secures in that particular will provide that the question be so submitted. We would be glad to hear from our readers on this subject, that we may act understandingly in the matter and take such action as will place the county on the best financial basis, having due regard for those who held the county’s ‘promises to pay.’
It will be seen that the main feature of the above article is to submit the proposition to the voters of the county. If the majority of the legal voters think it would be best to bond the debt, they can so express themselves, and then should it turn out to be a bad bargain, they can blame no one but themselves.
But it is useless to argue the point now; no enabling act was passed, and consequently, the Board can take no action in the matter, unless they may proceed under the act of a year ago, and bond $15,000 of the debt, which is all that act will admit. But it is a “leetle” queer that the very argument we made use of last year in favor of bonding the debt, should be used against us this year, by those who opposed the measure, and signed a remonstrance against it last year.
Whatever else the COURIER may be accused of, ambiguity is certainly not one of our failings; we endeavor to make ourselves understood. The COURIER frankly gives its reasons for the faith it held a year ago. Here they are: “Twelve months ago the circumstances were altogether different. Then we had a Courthouse to build, and many thought it necessary to provide funds for that. But now our county buildings are complete, we see no necessity for it.” There, gentlemen, are the COURIER’s reasons for its seeming opposition to the proposition to bond the county debt. Now, gentlemen, you who signed a remonstrance against it last year and talked, and argued against it, you who denounced those who favored it as being a ring of county officials, to defend the county, what has come over the spirit of your dreams, that you now so ardently advocate what you denounced as a steal last year? Did you oppose it because you hadn’t all the scrip you wanted? And favor it now because you have your wallets full of warrants ready to convert into the bonds of the county? Honest, straightforward answers will relieve the public mind wonderfully.
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1874.
Hon. E. S. Torrance is in attendance upon the U. S. District Court, at Leavenworth, on behalf of the county in the case of George L. Thompson, versus Cowley County.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1874.
Before Judge Miller of the U. S. circuit court, sitting in Leavenworth last week, G. L. Thompson obtained a judgment against Cowley County upon unpaid county scrip for $6,299.48.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1874.
In the Traveler report of the judgment taken against the county by Geo. L. Thompson, it erroneously gives it as “Scrip issued for the building of the courthouse.” This is incorrect. It was not the scrip issued to build the courthouse on which the county was sued.
Excerpt...
[THE POST OFFICE RING.]
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874. [Editorial by James Kelly.]
Last week the Legislature met in extra session to relieve the destitute. Martin went to Topeka. Just before he went to take his seat, he had an interesting interview with members of the “ring.” We understand they went in a carriage to his residence in the country and what took place at that interview, of course we can’t tell, except by what the Hon. William did when he reached Topeka. The second bill introduced into the House was “House bill No. 2 by William Martin to bond the debt of Cowley County.” It is no measure of relief, no stay of law, no postponement of taxes, no appropriation for the needy, no act of any kind for the relief of the poverty stricken of Cowley County, but an act to convert the scrip of Read & Robinson, Geo. L. Thompson, J. C. Horton, et al, into Cowley County bonds. This, too, in the face of the well known opposition of the taxpayers of Cowley County to bonds of any kind.
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.
Under the law passed in 1872, authorizing the county board to issue bonds to the amount of $15,000, the board has issued $9,300—$7,000 of which was delivered to J. C. Horton of Lawrence, in payment of the judgment rendered against the county, and in favor of Geo. L. Thompson. The $5,400 in favor of M. L. Read, and $300 in favor of E. C. Haywood, await the signature of the chairman of the board.
[BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. Front Page.
It appearing to the Board that a warrant was issued in favor of A. S. Thomas for $40.45, on the 19th day of May, 1874, and numbered 861, for costs as Clerk of the U. S. District Court; and that afterward said Thomas was paid by G. L. Thompson, and said Thompson received Cowley County bonds in payment of a certain judgment and said costs: it is hereby ordered that said warrant number 361 be canceled and destroyed.
I do not know if George Thompson of Silver Creek township was the George L. Thompson who brought suit...
Geo. Thompson. Silver Creek.
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1877.
A pleasant call from Geo. Thompson, of Silver Creek, on Wednesday.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
In the storm on the 12th inst., Mr. Hammond, on Silver Creek, lost 16 acres of wheat, some hogs, and all his hens; Levi Weimer, 4 acres of wheat, corn badly damaged; James Greenshield, 10 acres of wheat; John Mark, 4 acres of wheat, corn badly damaged; J. Fisher, 20 acres of wheat, 18 acres of corn nearly ruined; Geo. Thompson, 10 acres of wheat; Isaac Stell, 18 acres of wheat; Mr. Collier, 10 acres of wheat; Sam’l. Alexander, 17 acres of wheat. Mr. Collier’s whole farm was submerged, and if it had not been for the timely assistance of neighbors, the family would no doubt all have perished.
HENRY THOMPSON.
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
Kansas 1875 Census Cedar Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
Henry Thompson 59 m w Massachusetts Missouri
Margret Thompson 46 f w Ireland Missouri
Isaac Thompson 15 m w Missouri Missouri
Daniel Thompson 13 m w Missouri Missouri
Cathrine Thompson 2 f w Missouri Missouri
Excerpts...
[COMMUNICATION FROM “CHEROKEE”—CEDAR TOWNSHIP.]
Winfield Courier, February 25, 1875.
Since writing the above, I was informed that the township committee have called a meeting for next Saturday night, the 13th, as they are going to resign.
Your correspondent had this letter ready to mail, but decided to wait and see what was done at the meeting.
Since then the committee received about 360 pounds of corn meal and some clothing, which was distributed among the people.
The meeting just spoken of was held at the Day schoolhouse and was well attended. William Callahan was called to the chair and J. W. Belles was appointed secretary of the meeting.
Messrs. Willey and Morgan, of the Committee, were present and tendered their resignations, which were accepted by the people. Sanford Day made a motion that Mr. Frazee be removed from the committee and that there be three new committeemen elected; motion carried.
Mr. Willey was then nominated, but utterly refused to accept. He said he had had all the honors he desired in that line at present.
After considerable filibustering the following gentlemen were elected Committee: Sanford Day, Esq., Mr. Henry Thompson, and Wm. Morgan. I believe there was no fault found with Mr. Frazee, but he had expressed a wish to some of his friends that there would be a reorganization of the township, and that he be released. Respectfully, CHEROKEE.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET: MARCH TERM.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.
No. 476. Emily J. Houston, vs. H. Thompson, et al.
Winfield Courier, January 13, 1876.
MYERS, DAY & THOMPSON, of Cedar Township, have taken a contract to stir 400 acres of land on the Kaw reservation in the Indian Territory at $2 per acre. The Kaw reserve joins the county on the south, and east of the Arkansas.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
THE CONVENTION.
Cedar: W. A. Metcalf, Henry Thompson.
Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
ED. COURIER. Mr. Henry Thompson is in a dangerous condition, suffering greatly from a chronic sore leg. He is afraid he will lose it.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 1, 1878.
CEDAR TOWNSHIP, April 25, 1878.
Mr. A. H. Smith, the genial Otto postmaster, is sowing 80 acres of flax. Flax that if you can! He is also planting ten bushels of hedge seed. Hedge that if you can! Mr. Donald Jay has 160 rods of the best stone fence I ever saw, just completed. Our Wheat crop is just as nice as nice can be, all headed out finely. Our assessor has completed his assessment in this township, and has given better satisfaction than any assessor we ever had, by a big majority.
Mr. W. W. Wills’ house was burnt on the 23rd, between 12 and 1 o’clock, with all it contained. Mr. and Mrs. Wills were helping Mr. and Mrs. Thompson slaughter, and had left two little girls alone. The little girls cooked their dinners, and after eating, went out to play, and the entire inside of the house was aflame before they knew of it. Mr. D. W. Willy was the first one on the ground, and succeeded in saving a tub of pork. That was all that was saved. The house was a pine house, and burned up quickly. Mr. Wills is a newcomer, and very hard run. This is a fearful blow on him. W. A. METCALF.
[CEDAR TOWNSHIP CORRESPONDENT: “I GUESS.”]
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
FROM CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
The residence of Mr. W. W. Wills was burned with everything it contained. Mr. and Mrs. Wills were helping Mr. Thompson slaughter and the house was left in charge of two little girls aged about eight years. The children cooked and ate their dinner, then went out to play and the house was almost consumed before they knew it was on fire. Mr. D. W. Willey was the first one on the ground and succeeded in saving a tub of meat. This was everything that was saved. The house was of pine and burned like tinder. Mr. Wills is a newcomer and very hard run and this falls with crushing weight on him. I GUESS. April 25th, 1878.
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1879.
“CEDARITE” FROM CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
Business is reviving somewhat down here. The hog men have completely cleaned up the hog crop. There is some demand for land. Henry Thompson sold his claim of 160 acres, with a double box house, shed corral, peach orchard, and about 40 acres in cultivation for $200.
SPECULATION ON MY PART:
Daniel Thompson would have been about 17 years of age in 1879. Is it possible that the following story applies to both Henry Thompson and son, Daniel? MAW
DAN THOMPSON. WINFIELD.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 3, 1879 - Editorial Page.
A Sad Accident.
Thursday evening about 6 o’clock one of the guys to the derrick in one of the stone quarries southeast of the city [Winfield], now being worked by the bridge men, broke, letting the mast fall. In its fall it struck and brushed under it a young man by the name of Dan Thompson, who has been working in the quarry. When it fell, an unusually fine stone was being drawn up, and the young man, a minute before the accident, had remarked: “What a nice stone that is—I would like to jump on and go right up to heaven.” A companion asked why he didn’t, and he made a start as if he was going to get on, moving toward the stone, when the guy broke and he was stricken down. Drs. Ricketts, Wolf, and Cole were called. He received prompt medical attention, but there is no hope of his recovery.
A brother of the young man was killed within the last two years, in a well, and his mother died only this spring. His father is a poor man—camping out on the open prairie, and has a hard time to get along; hence, Mr. Louis, the contractor, with a liberality that is certainly commendable, has undertaken to pay expenses of the sickness and of his funeral should he die.
LATER. The young man died since the above was put in type, and will be buried this afternoon at 1 o’clock. Funeral from the residence of Mr. Dodson, on the Howland tract southeast of the city. Telegram.
JOHN R. THOMPSON.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, September 23, 1875.
John R. Thompson, of Richland, one of the farmers in Cowley County, went up to Wichita and brought down two fine imported Poland China hogs this week.
Winfield Courier, January 6, 1876.
[PLACED IN A BOX ON THE FIRST PAGE]
HISTORY AND STATISTICS OF TOWNSHIPS IN COWLEY COUNTY.
1. TOWNSHIP.
2. DATE OF ORGANIZATION.
3. NO. OF SQUARE MILES.
4. POPULATION AT PRESENT.
5. ACRES IN CULTIVATION.
6. ACRES IN WHEAT, DECEMBER 1875.
7. REAL VALUATION OF PROPERTY (IN DOLLARS).
8. FIRST TRUSTEES APPOINTED OR ELECTED.
[UNABLE TO FIT INTO TABULAR FORM...GIVING #1, #2, #3, #4, #8.]
#1 #2 #3 #4 #8
RICHLAND JUNE 27, 1871. 70 599 J. R. THOMPSON
Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876.
Petit Jury List for Oct. Term of Court.
Wm. Morrow, Sheridan Township; G. S. Story, Maple; J. C. Roberts, Winfield; Rudolph Hite, Dexter; J. R. Thompson, Richland; T. B. Myers, Winfield; Hiram Blenden, Spring Creek; J. C. Campbell, Windsor; D. Francisco, Silverdale; A. S. Capper, Nennescah; S. D. Tolles, Pleasant Valley; Jas. Aley, Otter.
Winfield Courier, October 5, 1876.
John R. Thompson, one of the sterling farmers of Richland Township, left his cattle ranche, upon invitation of Sheriff Walker, and is in town serving his country in the capacity of a petit juror.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 20, 1876.
The following is the list of jurymen drawn for the next term of court.
John R. Thompson, Richland Township.
J. R. Thompson - Floral.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1877.
From Floral.
ED. COURIER: Floral Grange elected their officers at the last regular meeting in December, the 22nd inst. Jolly Sam Phoenix, Master; J. R. Thompson, Overseer; R. Thursk, Lecturer; T. Dicken, Stewart; J. H. Howard, Chaplain; C. R. Turner, Treasurer; J. O. Vanorsdal, Secretary; J. Casper, Gate Keeper; Mrs. N. Dickens, Ceres; Mrs. E. Thompson, Pomona; Mrs. M. C. Vanorsdal, Flora; Mrs. Jennie Phelps, L. A. Stewart.
Installation of officers will take place the second Friday night in January, the 12th prox. Floral Grange is not dead. It holds two regular meetings each month, has good attendance, and pleasant meetings.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.
Republican Convention.
The Republicans of Richland Township, Cowley County, met pursuant to call at the Floral schoolhouse Sept. 8, 1877.
On motion N. J. Larkin was chosen chairman and James Groom secretary.
On motion Samuel Groom and John R. Thompson were elected delegates to the county convention by acclamation.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
Republican Convention.
The following persons are elected delegates to the Republican convention at the Courthouse next Saturday.
Richland. Daniel Maher, Samuel Groom, John R. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
THE CONVENTION.
Richland: Sam’l. Groom, J. R. Thompson, Daniel Maher.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP NOMINATIONS.
The republicans of Richland Township met in convention Oct. 27th, with D. C. Stevens, chairman, and S. W. Phoenix, secretary, when the following nominations were made.
The following named gentlemen were elected as township republican committee: D. C. Stevens, E. B. Stone, and J. R. Thompson.
Little Thompson and John R. Thompson. [Queen Village.]
Winfield Courier, March 28, 1878.
QUEEN VILLAGE ITEMS.
FIRST TWO PARAGRAPHS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ...
Second paragraph has something about Little Thompson having troubles keeping his cattle out of his neighbor’s wheat.
John R. Thompson and J. W. Miller start soon for Kansas City with a carload of fat cattle and another of fat hogs. MORE ANON.
Winfield Courier, April 4, 1878.
QUEEN VILLAGE.
Miller and Thompson, who started for Kansas City with stock, returned sooner than they were expected. They disposed of the stock at Wichita, getting $3 and $3.40 per hundred for their cattle and $2.50 for hogs.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
RICHLAND SUNDAY SCHOOL.
DEAR COURIER: The secretary’s report of the Richland Sunday school was on motion of S. W. Phoenix, ordered to be sent to the COURIER for publication. It is as follows.
Organized May 14, 1876, with 52 scholars in six classes, T. R. Carson, Superintendent. Enrolled during first quarter: 71.
Average attendance: 38. Teachers: 6. Average attendance: 4.
Outlay, $1.50 for Berean lesson; $1.00 for banner; total $2.50.
It is demonstrated that it is not cash but earnest work which makes a good Sunday school.
Second term commenced Oct. 29, 1876. 23 Sundays, less 3 missed on account of the weather. Enrollment: 76. Average attendance: 35. Teachers: 4. Expenses $2.60.
Third term commenced April 1, 1877. J. R. Thompson, superintendent; T. B. Carson, Asst. Supt.; N. J. Larkin, Sec.; T. D. Givler, Treas.; Mrs. A. L. Phoenix, Chor.
Average attendance scholars: 34. Teachers: 5. Expenses $7.80, including express charges on song books and on library $2.65. Had a picnic in the grove which was a success. Rev. J. L. Rushbridge, speaker; refreshment stand by J. W. Groom and assistants of which the net proceeds were $20.80, and devoted to the purchase of a library.
Fourth term commenced Sept. 30, 1877. J. R. Thompson, superintendent; T. D. Givler, assistant; C. Sturm, librarian; T. R. Carson, treasurer; N. J. Larkin, secretary; T. R. Carson, Chor.
Winfield Courier, August 15, 1878.
RICHLAND, August 9, 1878.
We are going to have a weekly mail direct from Winfield to Polo; good.
Threshing wheat is the main business here just now. D. Ginler’s upland wheat yielded 19 bushels to the acre. It was threshed by Phoenix & Thompson on a Westinghouse Vibrator. They threshed in just five hours 242 bushels of wheat and 181 bushels of oats and cut twice and when done there was no waste, not a bushel to gather up under or about the machine. The next day they went to H. H. Hookers and threshed 520 bushels of wheat in one day and cut three times. They run by horsepower with ten horses; in a word, they have an excellent Vibrator and know how to run it.
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1879.
COWLEY COUNTY SABBATH SCHOOL CONVENTION.
The following are the officers of the Cowley County Sabbath School Convention.
President: R. C. Story; Vice President: W. M. Sleeth; Secretary: F. S. Jennings; Assistant Secretary: H. E. Asp; Treasurer: James Harden.
Executive Committee: R. C. Story, F. S. Jennings, T. R. Bryan, Will Mowry, E. W. Jones, John R. Thompson, and A. S. Williams.
Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.
John R. Thompson, of Richland, delivered a fine lot of fat hogs on Tuesday.
Sons of John R. Thompson - Floral?
[REPORT FROM “SIMON” - FLORAL.]
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
Two of Mr. Thompson’s boys are sick of bilious fever.
Rev. Thompson is holding a protracted meeting at Richland.
A FEARFUL CYCLONE. FLORAL HIT HARD!
Winfield Courier, June 16, 1881.
John R. Thompson had some 200 acres of wheat and corn badly damaged, and many of his farming implements used up. His large orchard is almost a total ruin.
[THE OLD SOLDIERS - GETTING READY FOR THE REUNION.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 6, 1881 - FRONT PAGE.
Below will be found the proceedings of township meetings, organizations, and muster rolls as far as heard from. The last week before the reunion we will publish the muster rolls
complete.
Richland Township - J. R. Thompson, Navy.
[COUNTY CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.
Richland Township, Delegates: J. R. Thompson, C. F. McPherson, S. W. Phenix, Dan’l. Maher, L. B. Stone. No alternates.
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.
RECAP OF REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION, HELD AT THE OPERA HOUSE IN WINFIELD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1882, AT 10:00 A..M., CALLED TO ORDER BY D. A. MILLINGTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE.
S. P. Strong, Rock, elected temporary chairman; W. D. Mowry, Creswell, secretary.
Committees:—
Credentials: J. L. Parsons, H. Brotherton, P. McCommon, M. Christopher, M. S. Teter, T. A. Blanchard, G. M. Hawkins.
Permanent Organization: C. L. Swarts, Nathan Brooks, H. C. Catlin, D. M. Hopkins,
D. S. Haynes, T. M. Dicken, L. K. Bonnewell.
Rules and order of business: H. E. Asp, D. P. Marshall, J. B. Nipp, James Utt, W. J. Wilson, P. T. Walton, Barney Shriver.
Resolutions: T. H. Soward, Frank Akers, W. J. Bonnewell, J. R. Thompson, Evan James, Samson Johnson, Z. Carlisle.
Delegates entitled to seats.
Richland: J. R. Cottingham, Willis Wilson, J. R. Thompson, T. W. Dicken.
[REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
Committee on credentials reported the following named delegates and alternates for their respective townships.
RICHLAND: Lewis Stephens, H. H. Hooker, Danl. Maher, J. R. Thompson.
Alternates: J. R. Cottingham, S. W. Phoenix, A. Stephens, P. Robins.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.
Mr. J. R. Thompson brings us two ears of corn each thirteen inches long and weighing a pound and a half. These two ears would be about all a horse would want at one feed.
Question: Did J. R. Thompson move from Richland Township to Walnut Township or is this another J. R. Thompson?
[FAIR.]
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1883.
Stallion foal of 1883, J. R. Thompson, Walnut, 1st premium; M. L. Read, Winfield, second.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1883.
John R. Thompson marketed four Poland China hogs Wednesday which weighed 1,010 pounds—an average of 510 each. Mr. Gilleland purchased them at 5 cents per pound: one hundred and two dollars.
Not certain if this is the same J. R. Thompson...
Winfield Courier, August 21, 1884.
Wilmot Primary Convention.
The primary convention to select three delegates to the District Convention to be held at Burden on the 20th, met at Summit schoolhouse Friday, August 15, at 2 o’clock p.m.
T. R. Carson was elected chairman; N. J. Larkin, secretary.
The following named delegates were selected: D. C. Stephens, J. P. Groom, and Marion Daniel.
And alternates, to-wit: J. S. Hamilton, J. R. Thompson, and Phillip Stuber.
Again, not certain if this is the same J. R. Thompson...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 8, 1885.
Recap: John R. Thompson, Administrator, for the estate of John W. Miller, deceased.
WILMOT WAIFS. “T. R. C.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 20, 1885.
We learn that Mr. Holt has rented his grain and stock farm to Mr. J. R. Thompson for a term of one year, and will take up his abode in the suburbs of Wilmot, having already purchased 5 acres of land from the Wilmot Town company. He expects to erect a residence thereon this fall.
M. A. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
DAUGHTERS: NELLIE E. AND GRACIE THOMPSON.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 12, 1882.
The mail contract from Arkansas City to Osage Agency was let to Mr. M. A. Thompson, of Sedalia, Missouri, for $970 per year, to be carried three times each week. The route from this place to Caldwell three times a week was let for $490.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 11, 1885.
Miss Nellie E. Thompson, the new music teacher, whose card will be found on this page, is now staying at the residence of Mrs. J. P. Johnson. She has rented music rooms in the Commercial Block, which she will occupy as soon as her piano arrives. The graceful and accomplished lady is welcomed to our midst and recommended to our patrons.
CARD. Miss Nellie E. Thompson. Teacher of music, painting, and embroidery. Orders filled for china painting, hand painted dresses, bonnet crowns, and fancy work. Sheet music supplied. Call at Mrs. J. P. Johnson’s.
Arkansas City Republican, November 28, 1885.
T. D. Richardson traded his resident property in the first ward to M. A. Thompson, of Harper County, for 480 acres of farming land yesterday. The consideration of the land was $4,500. Meigs & Nelson made the sale.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 2, 1885.
Mr. M. A. Thompson, of Harper, Kansas, has purchased T. D. Richardson’s residence and will take possession in about two weeks. He expresses himself much pleased with the stir and hustle that surround him here.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.
Meigs & Nelson traded the property belonging to M. A. Thompson, lately owned by T. D. Richardson, to Chas. Bryant, Wednesday, for Mr. Bryant’s resident property in the second ward. Judge Bryant will reside in his first ward property.
Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.
M. A. Thompson and family will move here from Harper next week and occupy their recent resident property, purchased of Chas. Bryant. Mr. Thompson is the father of Miss Nellie, with whom our citizens have become acquainted in the six months just gone by.
Arkansas City Republican, December 19, 1885.
A Magazine and Review Club was organized at Mrs. Childs’ Wednesday evening. The magazines and reviews taken are Harper’s Weekly, Century Magazine of American History, North American Review, St. Nicholas, The Decorator, Lippencott’s Eclectic, Art Journal, and Atlantic. Members are Mr. and Mrs. Childs, Dr. and Mrs. Parsons, Maj. and Mrs. Searing, Mr. and Mrs. Meeker, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll, Miss Thompson, Prof. and Mrs. Weir, Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell. Mr. Childs was elected secretary and treasurer.
Arkansas City Republican, December 19, 1885.
The ladies of the Presbyterian Church gave their concert Tuesday evening in Highland Opera House. A large audience was in attendance and thus in every respect the entertainment was made a success. The performances bespeak well of the musical talent of Arkansas City. Our space this week is quite limited, therefore, we cannot mention the performers individually in detail. Little Miss Bertha Eddy and Master Geo. Fairclo rendered the song of the “Little Milkmaid” so charmingly that they captivated the audience. “Come where the Lilies Bloom,” by the quartette (Messrs. Hutchison and Meeker and Mesdames Eddy and Newman) was especially well rendered. Mrs. J. O. Campbell sang the beautiful solo, “When the Tide Comes In,” superbly and pleased the audience so well that they would not allow her to retire without favoring them with another song. The “Song of Seven” was well rendered by Misses Pearl Newman, Mary Love, Mary Theaker, Abbie Hamilton, Flora Gould, Nellie Thompson, and Belle Everett. The recitation of Miss Lillie Cunningham was pleasing and the lady was long and loudly applauded. All the performers received frequent and hearty encores.
Arkansas City Republican, March 6, 1886.
M. A. Thompson went over to Harper County Wednesday to finish up his business relation there.
Arkansas City Republican, May 15, 1886.
M. A. Thompson is building an addition to his residence in the second ward.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, May 22, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Elegant invitations have been issued for a grand reception at the home of Miss Nellie Thompson Wednesday evening, May 26.
Arkansas City Republican, May 29, 1886.
Wednesday night will be remembered by all having the pleasure to attend Miss Nellie Thompson’s reception, as “a pearly in memory’s casket.” Although following one of the hottest days of the season, the evening was not extremely warm—thanks to our climate. We will not attempt to describe the costumes of the ladies, indeed, all present showed good taste in dress, while many of the trousseaus were elegant. The company was musically entertained by Miss Hamilton, Mrs. Meeker, and Mrs. Nellie Wyckoff, discoursing waltzes, which were enjoyed by all, and utilized by those who delight in the “mazy.”
Following are the parties who were present.
Mr. and Mrs. Hess, Mr. and Mrs. Meeker, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury, Mr. and Mrs. Coombs, Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff, Mr. and Mrs. Childs, Miss Love, Miss Theaker, Miss Thompson, Miss Fannie Cunningham, Miss Berkey, Miss Eva Hasie, Miss McMullen, Miss Young, Miss Hamilton, Miss Grosscup, Miss Kingsbury, Miss Walton, Miss Guthrie, Miss Martin, Miss Funk, Miss Beale, Miss Gatwood, Miss Wagner; and Messrs. Adams, Balyeat, Behrend, Burress, Chapel, Coburn, Deering, Gould, Hoover, Hutchison, Hawk, Rhodes, Salisbury, Love, Wagner, Rogers.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 17, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
Miss Gracie Thompson gave a party at her home last evening. Her sister, Miss Nellie, and Miss Lizzie Bent, assisted her in doing the honors of the occasion and furnishing the guests with music and amusement. These ladies have the happy faculty of entertaining and it is needless to say that the guests had a very pleasant time, having no reason to feel dull and insipid. Games at cards, dancing, and other amusements were indulged in. The pleasure-seekers were regaled with ice cream, cake, etc. It is, perhaps, indiscreet to say that the party went serenading, since Guy and the humble reporter were along, whose soft, melodious voices greatly exercised the virtuous inhabitants of Arkansas City. They serenaded one young lady by singing “Peek-a-boo.” The lady expressed her pleasure at being thus serenaded by saying she was sorry that the water works were not finished as she would like to turn on the hose.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 27, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
The “Where Next,” is the name of a society organization in this city. They meet next Thursday evening at the home of Miss Nellie Thompson.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 1, 1886.
F. E. Kelly, a solid man of Harper, spent a day or two in town, with his wife, the guests of M. A. Thompson, our new mail contractor. He is deeply impressed with the business advantages in our city, and intimates a desire to become one of us.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 4, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
The “Where Next” met last evening at the home of Miss Nellie Thompson. A very enjoyable evening was spent. Dancing, games, and “Chestnut Bells” furnished amusements. M. M. Rhodes rendered the “latest” musical production and the society showed their appreciation of it by applauding lustily.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 29, 1886.
We were favored on Monday with a visit from M. A. Thompson, of the city, accompanied by our brother quill, Cad Allsa of The Winfield Tribune. The latter is an experienced newspaper man, and is infusing a good share of spine and variety into his columns.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 2, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Cad. Allard, of the Winfield Tribune, came down to the great Sand-hill yesterday to visit his friends, the family of M. A. Thompson. This morning Bro. Allard called at the REPUBLICAN sanctum and indulged in a few moments of journalistic social chat. Mr. Allard informs us that he is making the Tribune paying property.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 29, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
M. A. Thompson sold his Sumner County farm to E. A. Barron yesterday afternoon for $2,500.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 29, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
M. A. Thompson sold his property known as the Jack Collin place, yesterday, to Major L. E. Woodin for $3,500.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 29, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Maj. L. E. Woodin purchased of E. A. Barron resident property on north 6th street yesterday. The consideration was $2,000.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 29, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Major L. E. Woodin has sold his interest in the Star Livery Stable for $4,000. He will retire from business the first of next month. M. A. Thompson was the purchaser.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 5, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Today Maj. Woodin retires from the Star Livery firm and his successor, M. A. Thompson, takes possession. We regret to see the Major retire.
MAJOR M. THOMPSON.
WINFIELD.
I am not certain about this particular Thompson...
First entries in 1879 refer to him only as M. Thompson or M. M. Thompson.
Later they refer to him as “Major Thompson” or “Major M. Thompson.”
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1879.
Col. Loomis and M. Thompson started for Leadville, Colorado, with a carload of pork last Tuesday.
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1879.
Col. Loomis and M. M. Thompson returned from Leadville last Saturday evening, and report everything booming out there. They did not sell their pork, but stored it in Leadville to wait for a rise in prices. They say the roads are lined with wagons going in and footmen coming out, and that there is a general feeling of distrust among the people who have been lured there by the prospect of getting rich in a day, only to find thousands and thousands under the same circumstances as they are, and not getting rich very fast, either.
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.
M. M. Thompson has purchased A. T. Shenneman’s interest in the livery business on Ninth Avenue. Mr. Shenneman will now devote his time to harvesting his 150 acres of wheat in Vernon township, and improving his fine farm.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1879.
Wilson & Thompson are putting on a forty foot addition on their livery stable, to be used as a carriage house. The proprietors intend to make this the “boss” livery stable in the country, and they know exactly how to do it.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1879.
Our enterprising liverymen, Messrs. Wilson & Thompson, continue making improvements in their barn. The latest addition is a harness room.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.
A team standing in front of Dan Miller’s shop got frightened last Monday and went tearing down Main street with the wagon at their heels. They were finally stopped in front of Wilson & Thompson’s livery stable with the wagon minus one wheel.
Winfield Courier, November 20, 1879.
Wilson & Thompson are putting an eight foot stone pavement in front of their livery stable.
Winfield Courier, December 4, 1879.
Mr. M. Thompson has sold his interest in the livery business on Ninth avenue to his partner, A. G. Wilson, and is once more a gentleman of leisure. Mr. Wilson has made additions to the stock equipage of the stable and proposes to make it as near first class as can be done.
MAJOR M. THOMPSON. WINFIELD.
Winfield Courier, January 8, 1880.
Major Thompson has purchased the Winfield Restaurant from Mr. Hitchcock. This is one of the neatest and pleasantest places in the city, and under the management of Mr. Thompson, will soon be a popular resort.
Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.
Major Thompson has built an addition to his restaurant.
Winfield Courier, March 11, 1880.
Major Thompson, with his characteristic enterprise, has eclipsed all of his competitors in the way of a sign. We did not learn which one of his boarders suggested the idea so artistically portrayed by Herrington, but suppose it must have been Judge Brush.
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1880.
Mr. J. W. Leslie, an old resident of this county, has purchased Major Thompson’s restaurant property. Mr. Leslie goes in to win.
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1880.
Major Thompson, J. E. Saint, and Geo. Gulley, of Winfield, made a pleasant call yesterday and took a look over our city. Mr. Saint is one of the reportorial staff of the COURIER, one of the most enterprising journals in the state. Mr. Thompson purchased the corner lot opposite the Medicine Lodge Hotel, of A. W. Little, and will begin the erection of a brick building on the same in a few weeks. Medicine Lodge Cresset.
Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.
It has been rumored that Major Thompson, the Winfield capitalist, will be here in a few weeks to purchase some more corner lots, put up a building, and start a bank. The dimensions of the bank building will be about 3 x 6. Medicine Lodge Cresset.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.
Major M. Thompson’s handsome countenance has appeared again on our streets. He has been sojourning in Colorado for some three years. His old friends here are happy to see him.
Winfield Courier, January 10, 1884.
Major Thompson left for Pueblo, Colorado, on one of his migratory tours, Tuesday. Major has as much fun to the square inch as any of the boys and he will be a sad loss to the “corners.”
PETER THOMPSON - DEXTER.
Kansas 1875 Census Dexter Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
Peter Thompson 41 m w New Jersey Missouri
Melissa A. Thompson 31 f w Missouri Missouri
Geo. M. Thompson 12 m w Illinois Missouri
Sarah H. Thompson 10 f w Illinois Missouri
Dora O. Thompson 8 f w Missouri Missouri
John E. Thompson 6 m w Missouri Missouri
Elvira Thompson 2 f w Kansas
Arkansas City Traveler, October 2, 1878.
District Convention.
DEXTER, September 28, 1878.
Convention met pursuant to call, and was called to order and the call read by W. A. Metcalf, secretary of the Central Committee. R. R. Turner was appointed chairman and W. A. Metcalf secretary. The following committee on credentials was appointed:
Peter Thompson, Dexter.
The following gentlemen were admitted to seats:
Dexter: Peter Thompson, J. R. Fleck, R. Hayworth.
[BAR DOCKET DISTRICT COURT - COWLEY COUNTY.]
Winfield Courier, November 3, 1881.
CIVIL DOCKET. THIRD DAY.
Wheeler & Wilson Mfg. Co. vs. Peter Thompson et al.
[IMPORTANT DECISIONS: JUDGE TORRANCE.]
Cowley County Courant, Thursday, December 1, 1881.
The decision of Judge Torrance in the case of the Wheeler & Wilson manufacturing company against Peter Thompson and wife, is of great interest to the public generally, and we therefore give a synopsis of it: The defendant, Thompson, bought a Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine, No. 8, of their local agent, N. Wimber, who was then selling sewing machines for D. F. Best, of this city.
The price was $75; of this amount Thompson paid $30 down and gave two notes signed by himself and wife, one for $25 payable in six months, and the other for $20 payable in one year. Thompson claimed that Wimber warranted the machine to do good work, and at the trial offered to prove the warranty, and also to prove that the machine never did do good work and was worthless to him as a sewing machine.
This Judge Torrance refused to let him do, and decided that the notes made by Thompson and wife were the contract between them and the sewing machine company, and that nothing else could be proven as part of the contract except what was in those notes. That is, that though the agent might have warranted the machine when he sold it, still the company would not be liable for such warranty unless it was included in the written contract made at the time with the two notes in this instance. Purchasers of sewing machines, or anything else for that matter, with warranty, should see that the warranty is contained in the written contract if one is made, or else it may be void.
[DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, April 26, 1883.
CIVIL DOCKET—2ND DAY.
1472. Wheeler & Wilson Mfg. Co. V. Peter Thompson.
Winfield Courier, January 10, 1884.
Court convened Monday. The first case up was the old sewing machine business in which Peter Thompson is defendant. It is still going on.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.
Court Notes.
The cost in the Peter Thompson case amount to about $400. Mr. Thompson is fortunate in the case.
[REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION.]
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 27, 1884.
Entitled to seats in the convention:
Dexter: H. R. Branson, Thos. McDonough, James Nicholson, Peter Thompson.
A TOUGH CASE.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 21, 1885.
The case of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company against Peter Thompson and wife, which was taken up some time ago upon error, has been reversed by the Supreme Court and remanded for new trial. This case is rather peculiar. It was commenced in January, 1880, tried twice before Justice Kelly, three times in the District Court, and twice in the Supreme Court, and now it will go through the mill again. Let the good work go on, and cursed be he who first cries enough. S. D. Pryor is the attorney for the plaintiff and McDermott & Johnson for the defendant.
Peter Thompson not mentioned again until in 1887 an entry appears that might pertain to him...
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 26, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.
Johnson, the colored man, up for selling intoxicants, was convicted this morning on two accounts in Judge Kreamer’s court. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $200. The following are the names of jurymen: E. W. Vaughn (colored), A. Dodd, P. B. Andrews (colored), A. G. Lowe, Geo. W. Spruill, Bradford Beal, Geo. Allen, G. W. Herbert, P. Thompson, J. C. Pickering, C. Atwood, and S. J. Rice. There was talk of appealing, but at time of going to press the necessary bond had not been filed.
SPECULATION ON MY PART...
George M. Thompson, son of Peter Thompson, aged 12 in 1875 census, might be the husband of Mrs. Thompson, mentioned in the following items. MAW
MRS. GEORGE THOMPSON - DEXTER.
THE DEATH RECORD.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 20, 1885.
Mrs. George Thompson died Friday last at her home in Dexter township.
DEXTER DOTS. “MOSS ROSE.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 20, 1885.
Mrs. Ella Thompson was taken violently ill last Thursday morning at her home in Dexter, and died at half past twelve that night. Her sudden death was a sad blow to her family. She leaves a husband to mourn her loss; she was about twenty-two years old. Her funeral was preached from the M. E. church Friday afternoon, and about 4 o’clock, her remains were laid to rest in the Dexter cemetery. The husband and family have the sympathy of the people in this vicinity in their sad bereavement.
REV. DAVID THOMPSON AND FAMILY.
The Traveler gave the name of Rev. “McClanahan” to a minister who came to Arkansas City and later married one of Rev. David Thompson’s daughters. Later, they began to spell his name as “Rev. McClenahan.” Talk about confusion.
Rev. Thompson had a son, R. J., who also became a minister. He had a daughter, Anna Y., who became a missionary.
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1874.
Real Estate Transfers.
The following are the transfers of real estate, as handed us by Curns and Manser of this city.
William M. Sleeth and wife to Rev. David Thompson, lots 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, Block 42, Arkansas City.
The following could pertain to Rev. David Thompson and wife...just do not know.
Kansas 1875 Census Creswell Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
David Thompson 38 m w Canada Canada
L. F. Thompson 37 f w Canada Illinois
1876
REV. DAVID THOMPSON.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 26, 1876.
James Allen will build on a lot near Rev. Thompson.
It appears that Rev. David Thompson’s son, Rev. R. J. Thompson, was in Arkansas City for a short time...
[CHURCHES: ARKANSAS CITY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 9, 1876.
United Presbyterian.
R. J. Thompson, Pastor.
Meets regularly every Sabbath at the ringing of the bell.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1876.
Rev. Thompson is making an effort to introduce English sparrows in this section.
[THIRD SEMI-ANNUAL SESSION OF THE WICHITA DISTRICT CONFERENCE.]
Arkansas City Traveler, April 26, 1876.
Wichita District Conference, held at Arkansas City, Kansas, April 19, A. D. 1876, was opened by Brother Wrenn by reading and prayer. Brother Wingar, at 10-1/2 o’clock, moved that, in the absence of Rev. Buckner, Brother Oakly be appointed temporary chairman, and M. C. Green, secretary; carried.
Rev. S. B. Fleming, of the First Presbyterian Church; Rev. David Thompson, of United Presbyterian Church; C. M. Scott, and Rev. P. W. Matthew were introduced to the Conference.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876.
MISS MATTIE H. THOMPSON, daughter of Rev. David Thompson, has arrived from Ohio, with the design of residing with her parents. His son, Rev. R. J. Thompson, of Halsey, Oregon, has lately found a helpmeet for himself. May this prove a happy union.
This could pertain to another David Thompson...
[PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, October 11, 1876.
David Thompson, pauper bill, $15.00
1877
Arkansas City Traveler, March 28, 1877.
REV. THOMPSON’s house on a claim east of the Walnut was burned by the prairie fire Monday night.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 28, 1877.
LAND FOR SALE OR RENT. The undersigned has five quarter sections of land at his disposal which he will sell or rent on favorable terms. Three of the above tracts have houses on them. For further particulars, apply to Rev. David Thompson, of this city.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 3, 1877.
In the race for Mayor last Monday, H. D. Kellogg received 72 votes, Major Sleeth 40, and Rev. Thompson 1.
For Police Judge, James Christian received 112 votes, and Rev. David Thompson 1.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 3, 1877.
A tenant house belonging to Rev. D. Thompson, near the Parker schoolhouse, with forty bushels of corn belonging to his tenant, W. H. Sims, was burned on the night of the 26th, through the recklessness of some persons who set fire to the grass near said dwelling.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 9, 1877.
Rev. David Thompson supplied the pulpit of the First Church last Sunday evening.
[BOLTON TOWNSHIP CELEBRATES FOURTH OF JULY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, July 11, 1877 - FRONT PAGE.
But I have scarcely referred to my notes. Rev. McClanahan, a new preacher, began the exercises with prayer. The Declaration was then commendably read by Mr. Parvin, of our side; then the brass band of your place, after a series of toots, and yells for “Charley,” “Frank,” “Ret,” “where’s Lyman Herrick?” and “where’s Ed. Thompson?” worked up a tune. We supposed “Charley” and “Frank” and “Ret” to be single men, and imagined they might be promenading with someone’s sister, but we do not know it. Yes, they worked up a tune finally. I would give you the name of it, if I could, but I could not find anyone who knew it.
I also want to say that the visit paid us by your most estimable ladies, Mrs. and Miss Revs. Thompson, Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Shepard, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Sipes, Mrs. McMullen, and a number of others, will be returned, as they added much to the enjoyment of the occasion. I also desire to thank the band boys, for they meant well in their heads, but their hearts, I fear, troubled them. There were a number of young ladies, also, whom I would be gratified to have call on me at any time, and the young boys know they are all cherished and loved by AUNT MARY.
Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877.
County Commissioners’ Proceedings.
Judge of Election: R. Hoffmaster, $5.20; A. Buzzi, $2.00; A. J. Fullerlove, $2.00; Jas. M. Sample, $5.10; L. Small, $2.00; A. J. Kimmell, $2.00; W. V. Sitton, $3.80; W. D. Lester, $2.00; M. S. Roseberry, $2.00; T. McIntire, $4.50; D. Thompson, $2.00; E. J. Fitch, $2.00; W. B. Weimer, $4.20; J. M. Barrack, $2.00; and Hiram Fisk, $2.00.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 18, 1877. Front Page.
ELLSWORTH, July 4th, 1877.
Rev. David Thompson: DEAR SIR: Your letter of inquiry of the 22nd ult., received. I will say for your information that I am doing all I can to have the streams of Kansas stocked with fish. I have procured for the State 100,000 young shad which were, contrary to my intention, deposited in the Kaw River. I expect to get Solomon this fall. I shall visit your portion of the State some time this fall. I find that it will be impossible to stock any but the principal streams this year, but hope in time to see all the streams stocked with fish that will thrive in our waters; the most we can do at present is to protect the fish now in our streams and introduce such varieties as are known to do well in streams of the same latitude.
Yours Respectfully, D. B. LONG.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 25, 1877.
REV. DAVID THOMPSON goes to Elk County, this week, by request of the members of the United Presbyterian church of Longton. The good people of Elk County will find Rev. Thompson a gentleman of extended experience and remarkably well read.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 1, 1877.
REV. DAVID THOMPSON’s address for August and September will be Union Center, Elk County, Kansas.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 17, 1877.
Rev. David Thompson has returned from Elk County, where he has been for several weeks.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 31, 1877.
MARRIED. October 22nd, at the residence of the bride’s father, in Bolton Township by the Rev. David Thompson, E. C. Henderson, of Richmond, Kansas, and Miss Laura Turner. After the ceremony, the happy couple started for Franklin County, this State, the home of the bridegroom. They take with them the best wishes of their many friends.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 14, 1877.
THURSDAY evening, prayer meeting at the First Church, Friday evening, Literary Society meets at First Church, and school exhibition in the afternoon; Saturday evening is the regular meeting of the Free Masons. Sunday morning, preaching at the First Methodist and United Presbyterian churches; in the evening at the First and Methodist churches. Revs. Fleming, Swarts, and Thompson officiate.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 21, 1877.
UNION THANKSGIVING SERVICE. There will be a union Thanksgiving service held in the First Church at 11 a.m., on the 29th. Programme: Invocation and announcement of hymn by Rev. S. B. Fleming; reading of scripture and prayer before sermon, Rev. B. C. Swarts; sermon by Rev. R. S. McClanahan; closing prayer and benediction by Rev. David Thompson.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 28, 1877.
PROCEEDINGS of the U. P. congregation on Saturday, Nov. 24, 1877. After sermon by Rev. David Thompson, he, in accordance with Presbyterial appointment, moderated in a call for a pastor. Rev. R. S. McClanahan was the only candidate nominated, and he received the unanimous vote of all the members present. An election was then held for two additional members of session. The vote for these was taken by ballot, and the result was that Leander Findley and Robert Marshall received nearly all the votes cast. The ladies of the above congregation have ordered another chandelier in the place of the one which some time ago was broken by a fall.
1878
Arkansas City Traveler, January 2, 1878.
PRAYER meeting at the residence of Rev. David Thompson at 7 o’clock this evening. The U. P. Presbytery of Neosho will meet at the brick church in this place at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, the 9th inst., for the purpose of organizing and installing Rev. R. S. McClanahan as pastor of the U. P. congregation in Arkansas City, and it is expected that some of the brethren will remain to assist at the dispensation of the Lord’s Supper on the following Sabbath. All are respectfully invited to attend.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 2, 1878.
REV. R. J. THOMPSON has moved to El Paso, and will preach at that place two-thirds of the time, and the other third in this city.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 9, 1878.
CHOICE LANDS FOR SALE
NW 1/4 sec 27, tp 34, S R 4 E. Thirty acres in cultivation; price $1,200. Inquire of Rev. David Thompson.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 16, 1878.
[For the Traveler.]
The U. P. Congregation of Arkansas City.
About five years ago this congregation was organized with a membership of eleven in full communion. Wm. M. Sleeth and W. Shaw were elected ruling elders. In 1874 the congregation, with aid from the Board of Church Extension, and the generous assistance of friends of religion here and elsewhere, erected a fine church edifice at a cost of about $3,000. Under the fostering care of the Presbytery of Neosho, in furnishing supplies of gospel ordinances, the congregation has increased in numbers and wealth so as to justify them in calling one to take the charge and oversight of their spiritual interests.
Their choice fell on R. S. McClanahan, a licenciate of Monmouth Presbytery, after they had had a trial of his qualifications to edify them for upwards of eight months. The presbytery having ordained and installed him as pastor, it is hoped that the pleasure of the Lord will prosper through his instrumentality. He has the confidence of the congregation and the community, as a man of fair gifts and decided piety. May the relation lately formed between him and them be prosperous and happy.
Two good men, Mr. Leander Finley and Mr. R. L. Marshall, were added to the session or eldership of the congregation last week, and a comfortable communion was held here yesterday, Rev. J. A. Collins, of Americus, assisting.
A good Sabbath school and weekly prayer meeting are kept up in the congregation. The congregation, being in such good working order and situated in one of the best parts of the State, with a fair prospect of new accessions of members, it is hoped that the congregation will take root downward and bear fruit upward, to the praise of God and the salvation of man.
Revs. David Thompson and R. J. Thompson.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 16, 1878.
The Presbytery of Neosho, of the United Presbyterian Church, met in Arkansas City last week. The principal object for meeting was to ordain and install Rev. R. S. McClanahan as pastor of the U. P. church here. On account of this place being so far distant from the majority of the members of the Presbytery, only a few of them were present. Dr. Barnett, for thirty years a missionary in Syria and Egypt. was the Moderator. Mr. McClanahan was received by letter from the Presbytery of Manmouth, Illinois. A unanimous call, addressed to him by the congregation here, was sustained, presented, and accepted. Two trial discourses were delivered by Mr. McClanahan, which were unanimously approved, and he was solemnly ordained according to the usual order of the church, and the pastoral relation established; Mr. McClanahan receiving the cordial greeting of the members of the Presbytery and congregation. The people of this church seem much encouraged, now that they have a settled pastor among them. Revs. Dr. Barnett, Collins, D. Thompson, and R. J. Thompson, participated in the exercises. In the evening instead of the usual prayer meeting, Rev. Dr. Barnett delivered a lecture on the customs of Syria and Egypt, as illustrative of the truth of scripture, to a large and very attentive audience. CLERK.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 10, 1878.
Revs. Fleming, Thompson, and McClanahan have returned from the Presbyteries.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 8, 1878.
REV. THOMPSON is at Cambridge, Ohio, attending the Presbytery held at that place. He will be absent about two months. Rev. Thompson is one of the oldest members of the ministry, is thoroughly versed in the scriptures, and a man who has probably read more extensively than any other member in the West.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 10, 1878.
Mrs. Rev. Thompson lost a brochure shawl, with a green center, at the picnic grounds last Thursday; and the finder will confer a favor by returning it to this office, or to her residence.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 24, 1878.
Rev. Thompson, who has been in Ohio for some time past, returned to his home last week.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 9, 1878.
Rev. R. S. McClanahan has been attending the meeting of the Presbytery of Neosho at Americus, and the Synod of Kansas at Garnett, during the last two weeks, but is expected back here this week. Rev. David Thompson has supplied his pulpit on the last two Sabbaths. Prayer meeting is to be held at Dr. R. H. Reed’s at 7 o’clock this evening.
1879
Arkansas City Traveler, May 28, 1879.
MARRIED.
McCLENAHAN - THOMPSON. In the United Presbyterian Church, on the evening of 21st inst., by the Rev. S. McClung, assisted by the bride’s father, the Rev. R. S. McClenahan and Miss Mattie H. Thompson, daughter of Rev. David Thompson.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 9, 1879.
Rev. McClenahan and wife, nee Miss Mattie Thompson, returned last Wednesday evening.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 15, 1879.
Creswell Township Sabbath School Convention.
The first meeting of the Creswell Township Sabbath School Association is to be held in the 1st Presbyterian church, Arkansas City, Kansas, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24th and 25th. Exercise to commence Friday evening at 7½ o’clock, of which the following is a programme.
SKIPPED PROGRAMME...THOSE CONDUCTING WERE:
Rev. McClung, Rev. Laverty, Dr. Reed, W. J. Harris, W. Spray, Rev. McClanahan, J. P. Henderson, Rev. Thompson, A. Saray, Rev. Swarts, Dr. Carisle [?], J. J. Broadbent, and C. W. Terwilliger.
1880
Arkansas City Traveler, January 28, 1880.
The ladies’ temperance society will meet at Rev. Thompson’s residence next Thursday afternoon.
Anna Y. Thompson - Daughter of Rev. David Thompson.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 5, 1880.
By a letter dated Cairo, Egypt, March 30, Miss Anna Y. Thompson informed her father of this city that she expected to start on the railroad to Suez the day following, where she would be joined by returning missionaries of the U. P. Church from Northern India, and then proceed homeward to her native land, after an absence of eight years and a half as missionary under the United Presbyterian Church. As she has many friends on the way, and as the General Assembly of the above denomination meets this year at Xenia, Ohio, and desire verbal reports from returned missionaries, it is probable that she will not arrive here before the first week in June.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 9, 1880.
The home of Rev. David Thompson was gladdened on last Saturday, by the arrival of his daughter, Anna Y. Thompson, who has been a missionary in Egypt since November, 1871. Besides a number of Arabic books and papers, she has brought home a number of Egyptian curiosities.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 23, 1880.
Rev. Thompson’s horse was unhitched from the fence surrounding Mr. Sherburne’s lots south of the Presbyterian church during service last Sunday, and put in the livery stable. The Reverend was put to considerable trouble hunting the animal, and did not find him for some time. We would suggest that if the owners of property were to post notices against hitching thereto, it would save considerable bad feeling and trouble to all concerned.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 30, 1880.
We have received a letter from J. H. Sherburne, of Ponca Agency, in which he says he was the party who unhitched Rev. Thompson’s horse from the fence surrounding his lots on a recent Sabbath. Mr. Sherburne says he has built a fence around those lots twice, only to have it pulled down by horses hitched thereto during church services. He closes by saying:
“I have kept a notice posted there nine months out of each year for the past two years—long enough for any but a blind man to see. But, then, there are none so blind as those who won’t see. I am tired of putting up signs of which no notice will be taken, and put this where all can see it. If you will please be kind enough not to hitch to my fence any more, you will have no trouble in finding your horses. J. H. SHERBURNE.”
Arkansas City Traveler, July 21, 1880.
A foreign missionary meeting will be held in the United Presbyterian church tomorrow (Thursday) evening, at which statements of the foreign mission work in connection with the various religious denominations represented in this city will be given by Miss Anna Y. Thompson, daughter of Rev. Thompson of this city. Miss Thompson has for some eight years been engaged in missionary work in Egypt, and will give an account of her work, with information and illustrations of the manners and customs of that country. All are cordially invited to attend.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 28, 1880.
RECAP OF SABBATH SCHOOL CONVENTION AND PICNIC...
The Sabbath schools of Beaver, Bolton, Silverdale, and Creswell Townships will hold their first district convention in Godfrey’s grove, on Thursday, August 5, at 10 o’clock a.m.
Participants: Convention to be called to order by W. D. Mowry, Vice President of District. Prayer by Rev. D. Thompson.
Topic: “What Hath God Wrought? or Our Sabbath School Centennial,” by Rev. F. P. Berry, Wellington.
Topic: “Purposes of the Sabbath School,” by Revs. Laverty, McClenahan, and others.
Topic: “Relation of the Temperance’ Cause to the Sabbath Schools,” by Revs. Fleming, Swarts, and others.
Benediction by Rev. Harris.
First meeting of the district. Will meet at the M. E. church at 9-1/2 o’clock a.m., not forgetting to bring Gospel Hymns. No stands allowed on the grounds.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 22, 1880.
Mrs. Rev. David Thompson has been sick for several days with a bad cold, but is now convalescent.
1881
Arkansas City Traveler, January 5, 1881.
The U. P. Church held their annual dinner and sociable on Christmas day this year for the benefit of their Sabbath school. Recitations by the little folks, an essay by Miss Anna Y. Thompson, and addresses by Dr. Reed and the pastor were first heard, when a dinner of no mean proportions was enjoyed by all, followed by a genuine sociable—good music adding variety throughout. We hope these meetings will become an established custom among our good people, as they are productive of good if wisely conducted.
[LARGE TEMPERANCE MEETING - ARKANSAS CITY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, February 2, 1881.
A large and respectable meeting of the citizens of Arkansas City and vicinity was held in the Presbyterian Church on Saturday evening, January 29th, for the purpose of listening to an address by Hon. C. R. Mitchell in explanation of the various temperance bills now before our Legislature.
The provisions of the several bills were discussed by the meeting as fully as time would permit, and the undersigned committee appointed to prepare a report embodying the prevailing sentiment there expressed. The committee would respectfully report as follows.
We favor the prohibition of the USE as a beverage of intoxicating liquors, provided Constitutional Law will permit.
Also, we are emphatically in favor of a law that will prohibit the giving away of the same, or the formation of Club Rooms or any other associations for sale, giving away, or using intoxicating drinks. The desire was also strongly expressed that provision may be made authorizing the right of search, and the destruction of intoxicating liquors when found to be kept illegally.
It was the sentiment of the meeting that stringent regulations with regard to sale of intoxicating liquor for legitimate purposes by druggists, and with regard to prescriptions by physicians, is quite desirable.
Further, that persons and property should be held for damages arising from the illegal disposition or use of such liquor.
A unanimous vote of thanks to Hon. C. R. Mitchell was expressed by a rising vote for his address at the meeting, and the interest he manifests in furthering proper temperance enactments by our Hon. Legislature. Respectfully submitted.
T. H. McLAUGHLIN, Chairman.
R. H. REED,
T. V. McCONN,
R. S. McCLENAHAN,
DAVID THOMPSON.
Winfield Courier, February 3, 1881.
Anna Y. Thompson, daughter of Rev. David Thompson, of Arkansas City, a lecturer of considerable note and for several years a missionary in Egypt, is visiting her friends in this county. To show that she is a lady of good practical sense, we will mention that she has invested her surplus funds in stock of the Winfield Bank.
Winfield Courier, March 10, 1881.
Miss Anna Y. Thompson, late missionary to Egypt, lectured at the Presbyterian church Thursday evening. She is a fluent speaker and her lecture was very interesting. Miss Thompson is a daughter of Rev. Thompson of Arkansas City.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 30, 1881.
There will be a foreign mission meeting in the United Presbyterian church next Monday evening at 7:30 o’clock. Mrs. Rhea, of the Presbyterian Board, and Miss A. Y. Thompson, of the U. P. Board, are expected to be present and present the cause.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 1, 1881.
A farewell meeting will be held, in the U. P. church, on this evening, June 1st, in view of the final departure of Miss A. Y. Thompson, on her way to her missionary field in Egypt. All are invited.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 13, 1881.
Rev. D. Thompson has returned from Edgerton, Johnson County, where he preached four Sabbaths for Rev. J. N. Smith, who is in feeble health. Mr. Thompson reports the wheat crop, east of Cowley, as almost a failure, owing partly to the hard winds and partly to the chinch bug. The corn crop, however, is very large and looks remarkably well. He also saw fine fields of flax and timothy in Anderson and Johnson counties. Peaches scarce, but apples and all other small fruit a moderate crop.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 12, 1881.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN PRESBYTERY OF ARKANSAS VALLEY.
The above named Presbytery met at Sunnydale, in Sedgwick County, on the 1st inst., and was constituted in the usual form by the moderator—the undersigned.
Five ministers and five ruling elders were present. The meeting was harmonious and pleasant. The principal business transacted was the disposition of the resignation of the pastoral charge of the U. P. Congregation of this place. As Brother McClenahan had notified his congregation sometime previous to the meeting of Presbytery, and as the congregation had held a meeting to consider his reasons for his intended resignation, and had acquiesced in his wish in this matter, the Presbytery without much discussion granted his request. While the congregation did not remonstrate against the dissolution of the pastoral relation, they passed resolutions expressive of their appreciation of his piety, diligence, and success among them for nearly four years.
Rev. Clinton Riddle, a young man of good promise, is to supply the vacant pulpit for the present quarter of the year, so that public services may be expected in the U. P. church as usual.
It is the custom in our church for the retiring moderator, at the end of the term for which he is elected, to open with a sermon, the meeting at which his term of office expires. The undersigned, by order of presbytery, is to preach a discourse on the observance of the Sabbath, at 10 a.m., on the third Wednesday of March, next, in Stirling, Rice County, Kansas. A conference on Sabbath Schools is to be held at the same time and place.
A special meeting of presbytery was appointed to be held in the Chikaskia congregation, in Sumner County, to transact some business relating to that congregation, on the first Monday of November, at 11 a.m. Rev. E. C. Cooper, of Reno County, was appointed Superintendent of Missions and Sabbath Schools in place of Rev. R. S. McClenahan, resigned. DAVID THOMPSON.
[CRESWELL TOWNSHIP SOCIETY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, November 9, 1881. Editorial Page.
At a meeting of some of the citizens of Creswell Township, Cowley County, Kansas, at the White Church, in Arkansas City, on the 3rd day of November, 1881, Mr. S. E. Maxwell was appointed chairman and S. B. Adams, secretary. Short speeches were delivered by the following gentlemen: R. H. Reed, S. E. Maxwell, Rev. D. Thompson, Rev. S. B. Fleming, and A. J. Burrell. After which a motion was offered and carried, that a township society should be organized to be composed of all the citizens of Creswell Township who wish to become members. On motion, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, to be presented for approval at the next meeting, on the first Saturday in February, 1882, at this place at 2 o’clock p.m. On motion, a vote of thanks was extended to the members of the Presbyterian Church for the use of their house to hold the meetings in. On motion, the secretary was to furnish the DEMOCRAT and TRAVELER each a copy of these proceedings for publication. On motion, the meeting adjourned, to meet again on the first Saturday in February, next, at 2 o’clock p.m. S. B. ADAMS, Secretary.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 14, 1881.
A large amount of miscellaneous personal property is offered at private sale in this issue by Rev. Thompson. The list embraces nearly everything useful in a home.
Sale of Personal Property.
The undersigned intending shortly to leave the city, will sell, at PRIVATE SALE, from this date until the 30th of December, and on the following day, December 31st, at PUBLIC SALE, a variety of Household Goods, among which are chairs, tables, bedsteads; a Bismarck Cooking Stove, and a Mansard Heating Stove, both in good condition; a Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, latest edition and nearly new; a good Corn Sheller; a Grindstone; a Wooden Pump; a Buffalo Robe; a Patent Churn; two Washing Machines; a good Family Horse, without blemish, and will work any place; harness and covered Buggy; two saddles and two bridles; a good Milk Cow, that will shortly be fresh, together with a variety of articles too numerous to mention. TERMS OF SALE CASH for sums under $10; for $10 and upwards, three months credit, with approved security. DAVID THOMPSON.
1882
Arkansas City Traveler, March 1, 1882.
Rev. D. Thompson and wife left last Monday for Garnett, Kansas, where they will probably stay a short time, and then go on to Monmouth, Illinois, at which place it is intended to reside for the future. Mr. Thompson has been a resident of this city for several years, and it is with regret we chronicle his departure.
Winfield Courier, March 16, 1882.
A LETTER FROM EGYPT. [SENT TO COL. McMULLEN.]
EDS. COURIER: Perhaps it is not known to many of our people that we have a highly accomplished missionary in the land of the Pharaohs from Cowley County in the person of Miss Anna Y. Thompson, who is a graduate of one of our best eastern seminaries. When we hear of what she and others have done, and are doing, to raise fellow humanity in other lands—spending the best years of their lives working for the elevation of their race upon unfriendly shores, we can realize how meager our yearly offerings are in comparison to their life-works. As the influence of the COURIER is always on the side of right, perhaps some of its many friends will desire to contribute something in addition to what is asked for, as that sum has already been secured. M.
AMERICAN MISSION.
CAIRO, EGYPT, February 13, 1882.
DEAR FRIEND: Last mail I received from my brother-in-law, Mr. McKitrick, word that he had sent the $25. The same day a letter came from the American Exchange Bank in New York, enclosing a draft on London for 5 pounds. Please accept my thanks for your kindness to me in the past, and also at this present time. It may seem bad policy to send home for the money, but I had a good many expenses last fall, and it seemed necessary to keep me from running into debt here. I will try now to be more economical.
I reached Cairo safely Sept. 28th, the same day we landed in Alexandria. We sailed from Philadelphia August 31st, and we only spent one night in Liverpool, as a steamer was to sail the next day to Alexandria. We anchored for some hours at Gibraltar, Algiers, and Malta, and in Alexandria we had a short time after getting through the Custom House to see our missionaries there, and in Ramleh before coming to Cairo on the night train.
There were several changes for the better during my absence. One of them was the completion of our church, and this is much more suitable for our Sabbath services than the lecture room which had been used for some time. Some of the larger class of girls in our boarding school had left it while I was in America. One of these was married to one of our best native church members, and two had gone to other towns to teach in our schools. One of these was a pupil whose father was not able to pay all the tuition required including boarding. I had helped to educate her, and still send her about the same amount, $2.50 a month, to support her as a teacher and manager of a girls’ school in her native town, where she is doing a good work. Miss Conner, the lady who is with me in this school, went with me during the vacation at the beginning of the year to visit the town Sinneria, which is not far from the celebrated ancient labyrinth in the Fayoum, a place about 70 miles from here. I was formerly stationed there with one of our mission families, who are cousins of mine, and of course I feel interested to see the school I once had charge of successfully carried on by one of our pupils. Two of her former classmates are pupil teachers in this school, and one is in a town called Mansura in the old land of Goshen, where she gives satisfaction. We have now twenty-four boarders, besides two teachers, and we have ten or eleven different nationalities, one of them being a black girl, who was once a slave, but is now handsomely supported by a Swiss gentleman here, and another is a white slave from Constantinople, whose master is a Mohammedan boy. We have 80 day scholars this month, and they are mostly Mohammedans and Copts. Some of our boarders are supported by friends in America, either individually or S. S. Classes, and they pay on each, $50, for a school year of ten months. We have some few girls who pay a part, but not all of the tuition required, and some pay all. Miss Conner and I visit among the homes as much as we can, and quite a large work is carried on by Bible women, or “Zinana workers,” as some call them, who go from house to house teaching the women to read the Bible and explain it to them, and in this way many women are taught who never attend our church services from various reasons.
When we were in a part of Cairo called Bonlac on last Saturday, our Bible woman there again begged of me to open a school in that neighborhood for girls. She offered her court, which is partly covered, as a place where the children could meet, and she thought we could secure the services of one of our former pupils as teacher for the sum of $4 a month. Her talk had considerable effect on me, but I said to her, “Where will we get the money to carry it on?” When we hear the missionary gentleman say that the mission is doing all that it can afford for education in Cairo, and there is not much money to spare from private funds, it seems rather discouraging, but it occurred to me that this might be a good way of spending something over $14, which is being sent to me from a Sabbath School in Pennsylvania. That being only enough to carry on the school for a short time, I remembered that I was intending to write to you for today’s mail, and it seemed to me proper to ask you if you would not be willing to give a donation, however small, towards this object. Did you not ask me to write to you if I saw something that needed extra funds to carry it on, or is this all a dream on my part? You may think it strange, but it never occurred to me to write to ask you for anything until last Saturday night, and now you can use your discretion, and I would not wish to interfere with any of your benevolent work at home.
Our mission opened a boarding school for boys last September, in connection with the large boys’ day school here in another part of this building, and it promises to do well and be self-supporting. They pay $12 a month each. We have also a large day school for girls in another part of Cairo called “Haret es Sakkaeen,” which is superintended by Mrs. Watson.
I am afraid you will weary of my long letter and talk about our work. I would indeed rejoice if you could bring Mrs. McMullen and visit us some time in this strange old land.
I hope you are all quite well. How is your mother now? It makes me very sad sometimes to be so far away from my father and mother in their advanced years, but it seemed to be my duty to return to the work to which the church had sent me, and which requires sometime to acquire the language before a person is fitted to do anything, owing to the language and customs of the people. I was very sorry to hear in my last letter from home that father was not well, but trust he is better.
Please remember me to the Baptist minister. Give my kind love to Mrs. McMullen and the children and your mother. Hoping to hear from you soon even if only by a postal card, I am Yours sincerely, ANNA Y. THOMPSON.
REV. R. S. THOMPSON - BALTIMORE, OMNIA TOWNSHIP
GEORGE F. THOMPSON, SON OF REV. R. S. THOMPSON.
W. ORATOR THOMPSON, SON OF REV. R. S. THOMPSON.
Kansas 1875 Census Omnia Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
R. S. Thompson 43 m w Ohio Iowa
C. E. Thompson 37 f w Arkansas Iowa
A. Thompson 17 m w California Iowa
G. F. Thompson 14 m w California Iowa
W. O. Thompson 12 m w California Iowa
H. R. Thompson 10 f w California Iowa
E. J. Thompson 7 f w California Iowa
C. H. Thompson 4 m w California Iowa
J. S. Thompson 1m m w Kansas
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1877. Editorial Page.
Notes from Upper Grouse.
Rev. Mr. Thompson, of Baltimore, holds semi-monthly services at the Armstrong schoolhouse.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 13, 1878.
List of the petit jurors for the May term of the District Court.
Rev. R. S. Thompson, Omnia township.
For some time George F. Thompson, son of Rev. R. S. Thompson, became a correspondent for the Winfield Courier and was known as “Caesar.” He later became prominently known for his connection with the state college (now Manhattan University).
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “CAESAR.”]
Winfield Courier, April 25, 1878.
BALTIMORE ITEMS.
A subscription school commenced here on the 13th inst., to continue four months. G. F. Thompson is teaching it.
MARRIED. Mr. Leonard Harned and Miss Katie Wingert were married Sunday, the 6th inst., at the residence of the bride’s parents, Rev. R. S. Thompson officiating. The young couple receive the hearty congratulations of their many friends around Baltimore, and we hope they will live happily and as long as Methuselah did.
“Alexander” tells of the natural well on A. N. Henthorn’s place being so nice. I have seen the well and would like to tell him that there is a frog on R. S. Thompson’s place that can jump to the bottom of it the first jump. The frog measures 16½ inches in length from tip to tip. Is there a larger one in the county? CAESAR.
[JURY: MAY TERM OF DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878. Editorial Page.
The following is the regular jury for May term of the District Court: G. W. Martin, James Jackson, R. S. Thompson, John Harden, S. P. Channell, John M. Gates, J. M. Mark, Thessius Mayginnis, B. B. Vandeventer, J. H. Mounts, Stephen Elkins, Abijah Howard.
R. S. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, May 30, 1878.
His Majesty, the Frog.
Caesar, in the Baltimore items of April 25, tells of a frog on R. S. Thompson’s farm that measures 16½ inches in length and wants to know if there is a larger one in the county.
We take pleasure in stating that Queen Village can beat him on the frog question, there having been one caught in R. W. Stephens’ spring house which measured 18 ½ inches. He had for sometime made a practice of sliding the milk lids and helping himself to cream—
eventually becoming such a nuisance that they lay in wait for him and captured his frogship. Wishing to put him on exhibition for the benefit of some of their neighbors who had heard of him, they placed him in a washtub half full of water and covered it over with a piece of plank four feet long, two feet wide, and one-half inch thick, and weighted it with a milk crock. Next morning his majesty had helped himself out and departed for regions unknown and has not been seen or heard of since. This is a frog story founded on facts. Can anyone beat it?
While C. L. Tanner is frog hunting, Jake Coe is Crane hunting. May 17, 1878. M. O. S.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
R. S. Thompson, of Baltimore, has left at our office a sample of syrup, which he has manufactured from cane of his own raising, not sorghum, but of an excellent southern variety which has proved with him a success. The syrup is equal to the best New Orleans.
George [George F.] Thompson.
Winfield Courier, May 9, 1878.
On the Wing.
EDITOR COURIER: In a trip lately made through the eastern and northern part of Cowley, I was pleasantly struck with the vim and enterprise displayed by the farmers in that section. In Harvey, Omnia, and Rock Townships, the plow is busy turning the prairies into farms. Orchards are growing, promising abundant fruit, forest trees are showing their green tops, and stone and hedge fences, and new dwellings are beautifying the lovely country in which they are seen.
Mr. George Thompson is teaching a private school at Baltimore, and has a good attendance of boys and girls.
Winfield Courier, June 6, 1878.
EDUCATIONAL.
BY R. C. STORY.
TEACHERS’ DIRECTORY.
George Thompson. Dist. 18, Baltimore.
Winfield Courier, July 25, 1878.
George Thompson, of Baltimore, was in Winfield Saturday.
Rev. R. S. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, December 19, 1878.
From Baltimore.
MARRIED. Mr. P. S. Loy has been reading the good book, and there learned that it is not good for man to be alone, so he went to Harvey Township, found favor in the eyes of one of its fair daughters, asked the old folks for her like a little man, went twenty miles to Winfield to get Judge Gans’ consent for a small consideration, returned and consulted Rev. R. S. Thompson, and now Mr. P. S. Loy and Miss Parthena Smith have become man and wife. They have moved to their new home, just west of Baltimore, with the best wishes of their many friends.
George F. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, October 3, 1878.
Good for Omnia Township! Charles Messenger, George Thompson, and Will S. Tarrant, of Omnia, are now enrolled as students in the Agricultural College at Manhattan. This school is a practical one, and offers to the young men and women of Kansas an opportunity to acquire a thorough, complete, yet practical education, and at the least expense possible to the student. Boys and girls of pluck and nerve will improve this golden opportunity.
[BALTIMORE ITEMS: REPORT FROM “X. Y. CAESAR.”]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 12, 1879. - Front Page.
Corn looks very well, although a good rain would not hurt it. The chinch bugs are in most of the wheat, and to some pieces are doing considerable damage. Harvesting will be in full blast in another week. Elisha Harned will begin cutting his wheat today. Several of the young people of this part are having the ague. Miss Mary Jackson and Mr. Frank Smith were bitten by rattlesnakes last week, but both are convalescing. Baltimore can again boast of a Sunday school: J. C. Stratton, superintendent.
Mr. Frank Haycraft has purchased Mrs. Dillsaver’s place, and Mr. Calvin Haycraft has purchased Mrs. Monk’s place; both farms lying north of Baltimore. The two ladies have moved to Winfield.
Miss Bolcourt is teaching a summer school at the Baltimore schoolhouse now.
Charles Messenger and George F. Thompson returned from Manhattan on the 25th of May, where they have been attending college since last September. Both are well pleased with their first year in college, and will probably return again in the fall.
[REPORT FROM “X. Y. CAESAR” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1879.
On June 29th Mr. L. A. Daniels and Miss Nettie Stolp were united in the holy bonds of matrimony by the aid of Elder R. S. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
Mr. Geo. F. Thompson, Mr. Messenger, and one other young man whose name we have forgotten, of Baltimore, in this county, have gone to Manhattan to attend the State Agricultural College. The two former have been students at that college heretofore.
[NEW CHURCH AT FLORAL - RICHLAND BAPTIST CHURCH.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1880.
A council convened on Sunday last at the Summit schoolhouse for the purpose of organizing an independent regular missionary Baptist church, what has been known as the Richland arm of the Floral church. This new church consists of 33 members holding letters from the Floral church, and 2 others, making in all 35 members. The council was organized by electing Elder J. Cairns, of Winfield, Moderator, and Deacon L. M. Brown, of Baltimore, as clerk. After a thorough investigation of all the circumstances: their ability to support a pastor, articles of faith, covenant, etc., the council voted unanimously to recognize them as the Richland Baptist church, which was done with the following exercises commencing at 11 a.m.
Sermon by Elder Cairns, prayer and charge by Elder D. Thomas, hand of fellowship by Elder R. S. Thompson.
The following resolutions were adopted as the sense of the council:
Resolved, That in the judgment of this council, it is unadvisable to organize new churches only where they are at sufficient distances from each other, and in such centers of population as will give reasonable assurance of their being permanently sustained.
Resolved, That we earnestly recommend the Richland and Floral Baptist churches mutually to agree upon some central location, unite their funds, and building a meeting house as their future church home.
Resolved, That in our rapidly developing county, we recommend churches near new stations on our railroads, to have an eye to the honor and glory of God, in planting the standard of the cross by moving their churches and building meeting houses at the same.
The following delegates were present: From Winfield church, Rev. J. Cairns, Elder D. Thomas, and Deacon Stevens. Baltimore church, Rev. R. S. Thompson, Rev. J. M. Haycraft, Deacon L. M. Brown, and A. Thompson. Maple Grove church, George R. Stevens. Rock church, Susan M. Curd. REV. J. CAIRNS, Moderator.
L. M. BROWN, Clerk.
[NEWS FROM “CAESAR” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
Having returned from Manhattan, where I have been for some time, I will give you a few items from this place again.
Eld. R. S. Thompson and wife will start for the Eureka Springs some time next week.
[REPORT FROM “LORD HAILES” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, May 20, 1880.
Mr. R. S. Thompson and wife, accompanied by “Caesar,” started for Arkansas, for their health, on the 4th.
Rev. R. S. Thompson - START OF OMNIA TOWNSHIP.
[REPORT FROM “X. Y. CAESAR” - BALTIMORE]
Winfield Courier, June 24, 1880.
The Omnia Township Association was organized last Wednesday, with the following officers.
President, Eld. R. S. Thompson; Vice President, Jno. L. Parsons; Secretary, Geo. F. Thompson; Treasurer, A. L. Crow.
Eld. R. S. Thompson and wife returned from Missouri about one week ago.
[REPORT FROM X. Y. CAESAR - BALTIMORE ITEMS.]
Winfield Courier, July 8, 1880.
Elder R. S. Thompson was called to preach the funeral sermon of Mrs. Wm. Titsworth of Grouse creek, last Friday. For some time Mrs. Titsworth has been a great sufferer, and death only could relieve her of the pain. She leaves a bereaved husband and a large circle of friends and relatives who deeply mourn her loss.
[REPORT FROM X. Y. CAESAR - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, July 15, 1880.
The Omnia Township Sunday School Convention met at the Omnia schoolhouse on Friday, July 7th. Elder Thompson and Mr. F. E. Williamson were re-elected president and vice-president; Mr. John Henry, elected treasurer. The secretary, Dr. G. V. Cadwallader, was permanently elected at the organization last April.
[FROM “X. Y. CAESAR” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
Note: George F. Thompson was “Caesar” during this time span.
Mr. H. E. Asp met with the Republicans at the Baltimore schoolhouse last Monday evening, and after a pleasant little speech, proceeded to organize a Garfield club. Mr. L. A. Daniels was elected president; John L. Parsons, vice-president; Geo. F. Thompson, secretary; Wm. Jenkins, Treasurer. X. Y. CAESAR.
July 24, 1880.
[REPORT FROM “CAESAR” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1880.
Elder R. S. Thompson and R. W. Pester have each begun making sorghum.
Winfield Courier, September 23, 1880.
George Thompson, of Omnia, has gone back to Manhattan to attend school. George is one of Cowley’s promising young men.
[REPORT FROM “JULIUS” - BALTIMORE ITEMS.]
Winfield Courier, March 24, 1881.
Mr. Belknap is building a house and Mr. R. S. Thompson is putting up a sod blacksmith shop.
[REPORT FROM “JULIUS” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.
R. S. Thompson is now prepared for work in his shop. Those wishing work done in his line will do well by calling on him.
[REPORT FROM “JULIUS” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
A Sunday school was organized at this place last Sunday. The officers elected were as follows: Superintendent, R. S. Thompson; assistant superintendent, A. L. Crow; secretary, Alice Stolp. JULIUS.
[REPORT FROM “JULIUS” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, May 19, 1881.
Mr. John McClung and Miss Mollie Moore were married the 27th of last month, by Elder R. S. Thompson.
[REPORT FROM BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, October 27, 1881.
R. S. Thompson has built him a new corn-crib.
Winfield Courier, November 3, 1881.
Rev. R. S. Thompson, of Omnia township, made us a pleasant call Tuesday. He is the father of our old correspondent, “X. Y. Caesar.” His letters first came to us from Omnia and lately from Manhattan, having appeared in the COURIER during the past two or three years. George Thompson has been a student at the Agricultural College for some time, has advanced steadily, and was lately chosen to preside over the printing department of that institution. This is a most deserving promotion and we take great pleasure in recording it. George Thompson is one of Cowley’s rising young men and will yet win his way to fame. One by one our correspondents keep stepping to the front.
Excerpt from a very long article...
[CORRESPONDENT: “HORATIUS.”]
Winfield Courier, January 26, 1882.
Notes by the Way Side.
EDS. COURIER: After a cessation of hostilities for two weeks in Dist. No. 75, trouble again began this week. Ye pedagogue made a tour, during the holidays, of Elk, Chautauqua, and western and northern Cowley counties, ostensibly in search of the picturesque, but more especially for rest and recreation, and the recuperation of wasted energies. The former he found in unstinting attendance, the latter he enjoyed beyond his most sanguine anticipation, and finally returned with three pounds additional avoirdupois. It would be a pleasure to give a detailed description of his festive rambles and the mirth, jollity, and hilarity that were crowded into these brief two weeks with friends, acquaintances, and old school companions. Particularly is he indebted to Messrs. Zerger of Grenola. Aley of Cedar Vale, Hargrove of Cloverdale, J. J. Johnson of New Salem, Hall; and J. W. Tull of Grouse Valley, and Rev. Thompson of Baltimore, for their kind treatment, generous hospitality, and excellent entertainment. The Aley brothers he found in the enjoyment of much felicity and prosperity, and to say that they do not deserve it would be doing them an injustice. If success is the standard of merit, these gentlemen are certainly entitled to much worldly honor, and are destined to win victories at every undertaking in the race of life. T. S. is heavily engaged in the stock business, Prof. Jim is busily occupied in sprouting ideas at Grenola, while Frank is delving deep down into Blackstone and Kent, and trying to lose himself in the labyrinth of meshes of the legal profession. He will take a course at the Chicago law school in the spring. C. M., who has frequently entertained the COURIER circle with descriptions of his wanderings in the West, and his views and opinions of men and measures in the East, is permanently located at Colorado Springs, in the office of the Rio Grande R. R. as short hand reporter at a good salary. And last but not least, Rev. A. is accomplishing much good for the cause of Christianity in Montana and Idaho territories.
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “DAD.”]
Winfield Courier, February 23, 1882.
Mr. R. S. Thompson had a severe attack of neuralgia of the head last Thursday night, but is better now.
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “X. Y. CAESAR.]
Winfield Courier, March 23, 1882.
EDS. COURIER: It has been a long time since any of the productions of CAESAR have appeared in the columns of the COURIER; but, as I am at Baltimore for a day or two only, “Dad” has prevailed upon me to send you a few notes.
R. S. Thompson was taken severely ill on Friday, March 3rd, with inflammation of the spleen, and for some time his life was despaired of. His sons, George and Orator, who were at the agricultural college, were sent for, and arrived on last Friday night. George had been away about eighteen months, and finds things changed but little since he left. Orator began attending the college in January, and was well satisfied with the institution; but as the father will not be able to do any work this spring, he will have to remain at home.
Geo. F. Thompson returned to his post at the college on Tuesday last.
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “DAD.”]
Winfield Courier, March 30, 1882.
Mr. R. S. Thompson is able to be out again, but is not able to do any work yet.
Mr. George Thompson made a short visit to Baltimore during his father’s sickness, but has returned to his post at Manhattan. DAD.
Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.
Rev. Thompson, of Baltimore, called Tuesday. It is the first time we have seen him since his severe illness. He is much improved but not in good health.
Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882.
A Ride and a Picnic.
ED. COURIER: On Thursday the 6th inst., in company with E. A. Henthorn, senior editor of the Burden Enterprise, I started for the Sunday school picnic convention in North Richland. We drove west to New Salem, past springing corn and numerous stacks of splendid wheat, to the “Gunn quarter,” where Mr. Jas. Barr was threshing his wheat. Mr. Henthorn being agent for the rental, we stopped, and there I saw as fine wheat as ever threshed. The berry is full and plump, and the yield estimated at twenty bushels per acre.
From here we drove to the city of Salem and then to the picnic in “Groom’s grove,” on Dutch Creek, arriving there at 11 o’clock. As the morning had gathered quite lowery the crowd gathered slowly, and we had the pleasure of seeing how they came to such places. Some on foot, some in wagons, some on horseback, and some in buggies.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Henthorn, I was soon on a talking basis with the leading men of Richland, Rock, and Omnia townships. Nearly all the good-looking candidates were present For representative were E. A. Henthorn, Washington Weimer, father of his country, and John Maurer. For county superintendent were Mrs. Caton, Mr. A. H. Limerick, and—well, I was there, too.
After greeting old and new acquaintances, I looked for E. A., but he was putting in big strokes among old friends, so I went to work for myself. Finding very soon that Mr. Limerick was way ahead of any other candidate for superintendent, I rested until after dinner. As soon as that interesting ceremony was ended, I found myself too full for utterance, but managed to ask a few men if Mr. Henthorn could safely expect anything in that vicinity; and on being told more than a dozen times that he was solid, I borrowed his pencil and a cigar, went to the buggy, and began taking notes with this result.
Called to order by Capt. Stephens; singing by the Richland Sunday School. I have forgotten the title of the song, but the little ones did well both in singing and acting. Following the song was a speech by Rev. Thompson, of Omnia; then we were treated with a fine song by the Floral Sunday School, after which Prof. Limerick, of Rock, delivered an interesting address on the general work and conducting of Sabbath Schools.
After another song by Floral, Mrs. Caton, of Winfield, made the neatest little speech it was ever my fortune to hear. The exercises concluded by singing, and music from the Richland martial band, of which Mr. H. H. Hooker is leader.
I arrived home at sundown feeling that it was good to be there, even if I did not make a vote. E. A. M.
Winfield Courier, July 27, 1882.
Our old correspondent, “Caesar,” is home for a visit and made the COURIER a pleasant visit Tuesday. He has recently been appointed Superintendent of printing at the State Agricultural College, a very responsible position. The honor is worthily conferred, for George F. Thompson is one of Cowley’s brightest boys.
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “DIXIE.”]
Winfield Courier, July 27, 1882.
FROM BALTIMORE.
Mr. Geo. F. Thompson returned home to spend the vacation.
[CONSTANT CHIMES: REPORT FROM “MARK.”]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 13, 1882.
Our locality last week was favored by a visit from one of the distinguished dignitaries of the State Agricultural College, E. A. Popenoe, professor of botany, etymology, horticulture, and zoology. The Professor is perhaps the best informed man on these special sciences in the State, and I speak from the practical experiences of a pupil, in the days of yore.
Another representative of our State College, in the person of Geo. F. Thompson, Supt. of the College printing department, also spent a portion of his vacation in our midst. While the writer cherishes pleasant memories of George as a genial chum during his life at the above named institution, still he does not heartily approve of the object of such visits; for George, unlike the Arab, after securing as bosom companion one of Cowley’s fairest charmers, very quickly hied himself back to headquarters. However, we succeeded in drugging him with Geuda mineral water, which had the desired effect of wrecking his gastronomical apparatus.
With your permission, Mr. Editor, I would like to impress upon the minds of all ambitious young men and women desirous of obtaining a sound, sensible, and practical education the fact that our State college, located at Manhattan, Riley County, has excellent facilities for imparting instructions in the practical, and therefore valuable sciences, together with a thorough and extensive course in history, rhetoric and English literature.
In addition to these, it is one of the few similar institutions in the United States that is successful in teaching the industrial arts whereby sufficient skill and dexterity may be acquired as to enable one to master some of the many useful trades thereby making of him an honorable, independent, and useful citizen. There are also ample facilities for the teaching of vocal and instrumental music, by efficient instructors on the most reasonable terms to be found in the State.
Young women who pursue a course at this institution of learning acquire a vast fund of valuable knowledge beneficial to them in all the details of practical every day life, and do not have their heads crammed with the cumbersome and worthless lore of “Ladies’ Seminaries,” but become useful members of society instead of useless butterflies of fashion. The capacity of the college has been increased by the completion of a fifty-two thousand dollar addition to the main building the past summer, making it one of the pleasantest as well as the best and cheapest institutions of learning in the State. Fall term opens the 14th of this month. For catalogue address Pres. Geo. T. Fairchild, Manhattan, Kansas, or further information will be cheerfully given to any addressing the undersigned at Constant, this county. MARK.
[OMNIA CORRESPONDENT: “ELIZA.”]
Winfield Courier, October 26, 1882.
Omnia.
EDS. COURIER: We have again hunted up our pencil to jot down a few items from this corner. After the weeks of wet, rainy weather, we are once more having nice, clear weather, and we think with the sun, moon, and comet to illuminate the heavens above us and the intellectual light streaming forth from some of our Greenback orators to enlighten the world about us, the people of this community should consider themselves the most fortunate and enlightened people of the present age. Notwithstanding the report of the Greenbackers that Omnia Township contained but three Republican voters, we had a Republican meeting at Baltimore and an excellent speech from Mr. T. H. Soward of Winfield, whereupon the Greenback element became much offended and a leading member of that organ yelled out for all Greenbackers to leave the house. We noticed that we had quite a respectable congregation remaining; and let me say, Mr. Editors, that we are not going to be bulldozed by a majority, if they are Greenbackers.
We suppose this will never be a land flowing with milk and honey, but from the amount of sweetness extracted from sorghum by Messrs. Sargeant Henthorn, Pester Herring, and Thompson, we should judge this to be a mighty sweet place in the future.
David Nicholson was here visiting his parents last week.
Will Leonard, Steve Elkins, Mr. Wilson, and others have gone for apples.
The season for prairie chickens, hunters, and sewing machine agents has returned and we have the usual amount to disturb the peace of the community. ELIZA.
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “DAD.”]
Winfield Courier, December 28, 1882.
Baltimore Items.
The Baptists have called Eld. Thompson to preach for them for the present.
MARRIED. On the 17th inst., Mr. R. L. Emerson and Miss Mary Smith called on Elder Thompson as two. After a short stay they went away as one. May that oneness always exist.
Another Thompson also mentioned by “DAD.”
Mrs. P. F. Thompson arrived from Manhattan last Saturday to spend a few weeks with her parents and friends.
[PLEASANT VALLEY CORRESPONDENT: “HORATIUS.”]
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
Friend George F. Thompson, a Cowley County boy in days of yore, but now identified with the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, in the capacity of Superintendent of the Printing Department, sends your reporter a sample of an ingenious advertising card which he has just patented. It is in the form of portrait author cards, and the idea is a capital one for businessmen. He has already been offered a handsome sum for the exclusive right of the patent. George is a very fortunate young man in more ways than one, and richly deserves success.
[BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENT: “CHAFF.”]
Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883.
Peter Loy and family, Charlie Burden, and Jake Wingert left Monday for the Pacific slope, Washington Territory being their destination. Dr. Samuel Daniels and his son, A. L., and their families will start on the same route in the near future, and Rev. R. S. Thompson and family on or about the 15th inst. The doctor and preacher will be seriously missed by the people of this section: the former for his skill in relieving the ills to which flesh is heir to, and the latter for his good social and Christian qualities. His school district in losing Mr. Thompson will lose the main wheel in their school machinery, one that never failed to revolve, and but seldom to force the rest to move. CHAFF.
About the Farmers Institute.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 8, 1885.
It would probably have an encouraging effect on the parties who wish to take part in the much agitated “Farmers Institute” to learn that, in response to a letter of inquiry relative to dates of holding said Institute, the chairman of the Farmers Institute committee of the college faculty has notified me that the professors can meet the farmers of the county on the 29th and 30th of this month. These are the only dates they can hold for this county this winter. Every farmer interested in the progress of agriculture attend the meeting called for the 10th inst., and make arrangements for holding the institute the last of the month. If the necessary arrangements are made, they will be with us four strong: Profs. Shelton, Popenoe, Tallyer and Supt. Thompson. M. H. Markum.
Program of Farmers’ Institute, to be Held at Opera House,
Winfield, Kansas, Thursday and Friday, January 29 and 30.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 29, 1885.
FRIDAY, 2:00 P.M.
Tame Grasses: J. A. A. Williams. Discussion.
Important Suggestions: Supt. Geo. F. Thompson. Discussion.
Small Fruits: D. F. Armstrong. Discussion.
Excerpts...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL OF THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTE
HELD IN WINFIELD ON JAN. 29 & 30.
JANUARY 29TH—MORNING SESSION.
A few wide awake farmers were found at the opera house about 10 o’clock, and after some discussion effected an organization as follows.
J. F. Martin was elected chairman; F. A. A. Williams, secretary; Dr. Perry, treasurer, and J. S. Baker and Mr. Foster, vice-presidents.
The morning programme was postponed.
The following committee on reception and entertainment was appointed: F. A. A. Williams, J. S. Baker, D. M. Adams, R. I. Hogue. After instructing the committee to meet the professors at the Santa Fe depot at noon, the meeting adjourned to two p.m.
At the afternoon session there was a very good attendance. We were glad to notice a number of ladies, and some farmers from distant parts of the county. Profs. Shelton and Fallyer and Supt. Thompson of the agricultural college were on hand—also Mr. Heath of the Kansas Farmer. The exercises were opened by President Martin in a paper on forestry, which excited a good deal of interest and discussion. In the discussion Mr. Adams favored the improvement of school grounds by the planting of trees—suggesting that each child plant a tree.
Mr. Markham offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
RESOLVED, That it is the sentiment of the Cowley County Farmers’ Institute, held at the Winfield Opera House Jan. 29 and 30, 1885, that the services of Profs. Shelton, Fallyer, and Supt. Thompson of the Kansas State Agricultural College have been highly appreciated and for which they have the hearty and sincere thanks of the members of the Institute.
Prof. Shelton, on behalf of the faculty, very gracefully thanked the meeting for this expression of their appreciation of their services and expressed his belief from what he had seen of the farmers of Cowley County that they had the material to form a permanent and successful farmers’ institute which would be of lasting benefit to the people of the county.
Supt. Thompson then read his paper containing many timely suggestions worth heeding. The following is a summary.
Note: If there was a summary, it was not given in article.
Paper referred to appeared later. See below.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.
The excellent paper on “Important Suggestions,” read before the Farmers Institute by Prof. Geo. F. Thompson, reached us too late for publication with the regular report, but will appear next week.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.
Geo. F. Thompson, one of the Professors present at our Farmers Institute, from the State Agricultural College, is an old Cowley County boy. He went to Manhattan six years ago from his home near Baltimore, this county, graduated, and is now superintendent of the printing department and going right up. Cowley boys always “get there.”
Many Points of Value to Cowley’s Wide-Awake Farmers.
Paper Read Before the Farmers’ Institute at the Opera House
On January 29 and 30 by Prof. Geo. F. Thompson of the State Agricultural College.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 12, 1885.
The suggestions which I shall offer are not new or untried ones. You may think this a good reason why they should not be given. But they have been proven by the experience of thousands to be indispensable with the most successful farmers; and so long as they are needed just so long will they demand recognition. New theories are always subject to discussion; but experience and proof have placed these things beyond the pale of theory, and established them as facts.
Certainly no one will deny the importance of agriculture in the United States. It is the greatest industry of our nation, and the one that has made it in point of prosperity the first among the nations of the earth. Of course, there are many things which make our nation preferable, but that industry upon which our prosperity is principally based is agriculture. Now this being the case, it is to the interest of the nation as well as every individual citizen to see that we maintain this supremacy. If, then, agriculture is of so much importance, we must not let it decline. The nation can and does do much to favor this industry, yet it is mainly left with the farmers themselves to see whether they will suffer it to advance or retrograde.
We all desire to see agriculture promoted; but this cannot be unless men are capable of promoting it. Hence a farmer must be educated for his calling—must think, plan, and read in order to keep pace with his industry. He cannot enjoy perfect success without this. There are men at the helm now who are pushing agriculture above and beyond the position it once occupied—that time when so many farmed because they were obliged to. In farming, as in every other calling, there is no standstill position, we must either go forward or backward. It is gratifying to know that we are now going forward. The day is already past when the anxious father will say to the mother that they will have to make a farmer of their son, as Nature has not fitted him for any of the professions.
There was a time when the idea was popular that it took more intelligence to successfully manage a corner grocery than it did to manage a farm. Now the “tables are turned,” and men of intelligence run the farms, while invalids and men who have no natural taste for manual labor manage the grocery.
Farmers have not become intelligent without an effort on their part. They became so by constant reading and thinking. The popularity of newspapers has been a strong factor in this. One of the most important items in the rapid stride ahead which agriculture has made of late years is due to the agricultural press. Certain it is, judging from its present importance, farming would not have attained its present high standing without its aids. It is safe to presume that the man in any calling who does not read is not a very flattering success. It is true that in the western country, where the soil is naturally so fertile and crops are so easily grown, men who do no reading and little thinking succeed in a measure, as manual labor alone will insure a fair crop; for this, you know, is the land which if “tickled with a hoe will laugh with a harvest.” But this state of things cannot always exist. We know by the experience of others that years of cropping on any soil, if it is not replenished, will reduce one of these laughing harvests to a smile, and finally to a frown. Then will the manual laborer get a back-set, and more intelligence be required; for the farmer will have to deal and act with the forces of nature in order to make the land produce. He must understand the composition of his soil; and the means by which it may be kept from exhaustion. Here is where the agricultural press, laden with the experiences of many, helps mightily in one’s work. We learn there how to save time and money, and how to improve what we have.
Agricultural papers are a thing of recent date. The first one on this continent was published in 1818 by John S. Skinner, and was called the “American Farmer.” The rapid increase in agricultural literature since 1818 shows very perfectly the degree in which the industry has prospered. Let me compare that date with the present. Then we had one agricultural paper; now we have 87, or the establishment of one for each year since the first, and twenty over. We have in Kansas more than half a dozen devoted exclusively to agriculture; and all Kansas newspapers have their agricultural columns. The most valuable feature of this kind of journalism is the contributions from practical farmers. These give the experience and incidents of farm life. In this way one writer may give a bit of experience which may be beneficial to thousands. The agricultural press has done much to make farming a favorite pursuit. It has done much to make it an attractive one to the wealthy classes, as well as to the laborer in the field. See what has been accomplished in the creation of the numerous agricultural colleges throughout the country, and in keeping the young men home on the lands of their fathers. Many of our journals such as the “American Agriculturist,” “Country Gentleman,” and “Prairie Farmer,” have become household words in many rural districts. These papers are teachers; they are the business educators of the farmers. They bring to their notice all the improvements in tools and tillage; they tell lovers of good cows all about the best breeds; they elevate the farm and make the labor thereon a learned profession. Art, and science, and taste, and the resulting increased wealth are the work of these newspapers. All this is seen in the reaping machines, splendid barns, better breeds of cattle, better horses, superior butter, drained lands, and more grass outside the mansion, and music, and books, and beauty, and comfort and happiness inside the farm house. It has been a task to accomplish this; old farmers would not be convinced that there was any value in book or newspaper farming. They believed in the old dunghill, they were ignorant of the compost heap; old prejudices are hard to overthrow, with many they are not yet overthrown. A few years ago, farmers carried on their farms as their ancestors had done for generations before; there was no progress except in raising more corn and more hogs for the increase of population. Soon there was visible improvement, and now the agricultural press has about four million readers. The result of this is to be seen along every railroad, on the banks of every stream, in the vicinity of every city—in a word, everywhere. At the present day no farmer can keep abreast with his calling unless he reads the agricultural journals. In order to succeed one must have a thorough knowledge of his work, and this knowledge can more easily and profitably be acquired through the farmer’s paper than in any other way.
The discussion of the agricultural press naturally leads to the consideration of the
EDUCATION OF FARMERS.
We all believe that the farmers should be educated. We are glad that the nation has acknowledged the importance of our educating them in the creation and endowment of agricultural colleges. The rapid progress in farming brought about by the few has made the education of the many absolutely necessary. Classical institutions are not adapted to the wants of the farmer; they did not educate many men for the farm, and many farmers looked upon them as being the enemy of their industry. The agricultural colleges of the country have been established especially for the benefit of the farmers, and the courses of study are arranged with that object in view. I am glad to say that wherever these colleges have been tried longest, there they have succeeded best.
There are some people who claim that ignorant men often make as good farmers as educated ones. It is true they may be illiterate, yet they are not ignorant; they are shrewd, observing men, and have accumulated a vast amount of information by experience, that most expensive of all schools. Such men will agree with me, I think, that a course of study adapted to their calling together with the reading of farm literature would have placed them far beyond their present condition. Experience may be convincing, but it is better when possible to let some other person have it, and let us profit by their mistakes. It is a part of the business of a man in any calling to profit by the mistakes of others. No farmer can afford to neglect his education; time and wealth can be saved by preparing for our work.
As farmers constitute a majority in this western country, they ought to educate their children with the idea of farming in view. I do not believe that everybody should learn a trade; it is possible to have too many artisans. An overproduction of mechanics means lower wages for them, and as an outgrowth of this, poorer work by them. Our country is too new, and our farms too large to even consider the overproduction of farms. The children of our district schools ought not to have it instilled into their minds that farming is a business that men engage in because they are not capable of entering the professions. This is often done. Too many of them get the idea that to be successful or great, one must either be a lawyer, a politician, or a merchant. They are told how our presidents entered the professions and toiled earnestly for fame; but it is studiously kept from their young minds that the majority of these presidents retire from the chair to the seclusion of a farm for pleasure and contentment. Let the education of the future farmer begin in the common schools, and it will be quite certain to end in the proper school. Take from before the boy the gilded glory in the professions, for this glory is like the will-o’-the-wisp. Show him the beauty of that industry which is all important, and by which the whole human family and its humbler auxiliaries are fed. Children are too often impressed with the idea that farmers are ignored because they are farmers. This is a mistake. That man who thinks farming beneath his station will find on trial that it is above him. In this country people do not care what profession a man follows as long as it is an honorable one. We take the fittest men for our rulers, let them come from whatever walk in life they may. We take the rail-splitter from the backwoods, the tanner from the tannery; and the mule-driver from the canal, and make them presidents. It is intelligence that commands respect in this country, not position. Farming as a profession is honored or dishonored as its followers are intelligent or ignorant. It is what a man does that makes him what he is: brown hands and face are no disgrace, for they were made so by the same sun that causes vegetation to spring into life and mature, and without which nothing could exist.
My second suggestion to farmers, then, would be that they pay more attention to the proper education of their children than they do to the dollars and cents which might be immediately available by their labor. It will pay in the end, and will be fulfilling a duty all parents owe to their children.
Another suggestion would be that we
CULTIVATE THE LAND
There is an error common to the pioneer farmers of any country, and that is they endeavor to farm too much land; they try to cultivate more than they can do justice to. They are not content to “make haste slowly.” I have myself seen farmers in Kansas, less than ten years since, who were so anxious to plow just so much land they would “cut and cover” in order to get along faster. This wasn’t cultivation, it was aggravation! After this kind of plowing was done, the land was planted to corn; and of course there was so much of it that it could not be cultivated but once or twice during the season, and in consequence weeds took the field, and what little corn matured was not nutrious. It would be better to cultivate less land, do it thoroughly, and more corn can be raised with the same amount of work. This is not only true of corn raising but of wheat raising or of any other crop. It is not often that farmers strike “bonanzas,” as miners sometimes do in the mountains, that they should undertake the cultivation of more land than they can handle. It is foolish to think that some providential occurrence will cause a field to produce a hundred bushels of corn to the acre without cultivation, and at the same time raise no weeds. All a farmer’s years of experience prove to him that the better the cultivation the better the crop. In New England the soil is not as rich as is Kansas soil, yet farmers there with less than half the land that most of our farmers have are able to support large families and are prosperous all the time.
A German woman near Port Jervis, New York, finds six acres enough for the comfort of a family of seven persons and a cow and a horse beside a money return of $600 to $700 a year from sales of vegetables and fruits raised in great variety. Of course, every foot of land is compelled to do its best service, but there is no neglect of any possible home resource of fertility, and even the fences serve as support for grapevines.
Those who think they have a small farm unless the number of acres runs up into hundreds should note how they practice farming in France. This is what a correspondent of the New York Sun found out in his travels: When I asked a French farmer how his farm happened, like all the rest, so long and narrow, he said: “It has been divided up so often. When a French farmer dies, he divides his farm, and each one of his children has an equal share. He always divides it lengthwise, so as to give each one a long strip. The long strips are easily cultivated because we plough lengthwise. These strips always run north and south so that the sun can shine into the rows.” “How large is your farm?” I asked. “My father’s farm was 300 feet wide and 2,000 feet long. When he died, my brother had half. Now my farm is 150 feet wide and 2,000 feet long. It is quite a large farm. There are many farms much smaller than mine.” “What do you plant in it?” I asked. “See over there,” he said, pointing to what seemed to be a gigantic piece of striped carpet. “Is a piece of wheat 30 feet wide. Then comes a strip of potatoes twenty-five feet wide, then comes forty feet of oats, then ten feet of carrots, twenty feet of alfalfa (luzerne), ten feet of mangel-wurzels, five feet of onions, five feet of cabbage, and the rest in flowers, peas, currants, gooseberries, and little vegetables.” “Can you support your family on a farm 150 feet wide and 2,000 feet long?” I asked; for the narrow strip seemed like a man’s doorway in America. “Support my family!” he exclaimed. “Why the farm is too large for us. I rent part of it now.”
I believe this is due solely to systematic and thorough work. It is evident that nothing is gained, but considerable lost by cultivating too much land. That old maxim—“whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well—” is as true in farming as in any other calling
Our farm should be subdivided and
MIXED HUSBANDRY
practiced. The importance of mixed husbandry in this country cannot well be overestimated. I believe a farmer ought to raise more of those products which he himself can consume. If he makes wheat a specialty, and buys the other necessaries, he may suffer failure, in which case he would have nothing to depend upon; and, if not failure, his wheat would, of course, be subject to fluctuation of prices, and he might not. Mixed husbandry has many advantages, and I know of no disadvantage. In the matter of crops, it enables the farmer to practice rotation, which is very essential. When the market is low on one crop, he is not forced to sell, but can subsist on others which he may have, or may sell those which do command fair prices. Various crops and their rotation will enrich the land: cattle, hogs, and chickens will gather up a great deal of feed which would otherwise be wasted. All feeders of cattle now realize that there is profit in having hogs to follow their cattle. Pork can be made very cheaply in this way.
Raising one crop alone would seem to me to be very unsatisfactory at best; it would be undesirable even if a crop were assured each year. Such a merchant doing business in a Dakota town the other day: “There are not twenty farmers in this country. They are all nothing but wheat-raisers, and that is a long way from being a farmer. A large number of farmers in Dakota, who own quarter sections of land, seldom have a drop of milk in the house, and the butter they eat is bought at the nearest store. They don’t even keep a cow or pig, or try to raise vegetables enough to provide for the winter.”
A model farmer, in my judgment, is one who raises wheat, oats, corn, and potatoes, and all kinds of fruit possible; raises some cattle and hogs and poultry. Hardly a year passes without the failure of some crop; but seldom does a year come when all crops fail. It has always seemed to me that such a man farms for the enjoyment there is in it; he makes it a business for a lifetime, and not for a few years—expecting after a few years to live in a city—blessed with affluence. One thing is certain, he doesn’t run the risk that “specialty” farmers do; and I am not certain that in the long run he makes more money with less work.
The historian, Jared Sparks, speaks of Washington’s practice of farming. An excerpt is worth reading.
“He began a new method of rotation of crops, in which he studied the particular qualities of the soil in the different parts of his farms, causing wheat, maize [corn], potatoes, oats, grass, and other crops to succeed each other in the same field at stated times. So exact was he in this method that he drew out a scheme in which all his fields were numbered, and the crops assigned to them for several years in advance. It proved so successful that he pursued it to the end of his life, with occasional slight deviations by way of experiment.”
If we had smaller farms, we could give more attention to the condition of the soil. I have already remarked that the land cannot always maintain its native fertility, and every year produce a crop, without being replenished. Notwithstanding the evidence of generations, too many of our farmers show, by their practice, that they believe the soil is exhaustless. Yet we often hear them complain that the soil is not as productive as it once was, and they did not consider for a moment why it is so. Let me borrow an illustration from a Michigan farmer.
“What would you think of the wisdom of the man having say $4,000 invested at interest, who, in addition to using the interest yearly, should also use a part of his principal? You would say at once, he will soon have neither interest nor principal; he will be bankrupt. A farmer has a farm worth $4,000. The farm is his principal. The producing power of his farm is his interest. As the person having the money at interest will become bankrupt, if he persists in using a part of his principal yearly, besides his interest, just so surely will the farmer become bankrupt, if he allows the producing power of his farm to become impaired. The analogy between the capitalist and the farmer is in this respect perfect.”
This farmer sums the whole matter up in a nutshell. But I shall add, as further proofs, a few statistics. I know statistics are dry, yet they are the basis from which we determine our prosperity or our adversity. I shall give figures to show how rapidly land will deteriorate in fertility if not replenished with some kind of fertilizer; and, to do this, western states are taken, as they have had very little manure spread upon them.
Statistics show in Iowa the spring wheat crop in 1870 averaged 13_ bushels per acre, while in 1880 it was but 10.21 bushels: a reduction in yield of three bushels per acre. In Minnesota in 1870 the average yield was 1¾ bushels, which, in 1880, had decreased to 11.33 bushels: a loss of 7.42 bushels per acre, or nearly 40 percent. In Wisconsin the average in 1870 was 15 bushels; in 1880 12.82 bushels: a decrease of nearly 15 percent. Let us apply these figures to our own state. Kansas had, in 1882, 1,465,745 acres of winter wheat, which gave a yield of 33,943,398 bushels, valued at $22,977,906.72 (about 68 cents per bushel). If her soil should lose her fertility between 1882 and 1892 as rapidly as Iowa did between 1870 and 1880, the same number of acres would produce in 1892 4,396,235 bushels less than they did in 1882—or $2,989,219.80 worth. If as rapidly as did Minnesota during the same period, the same number of acres would yield 10,875,828 bushels less: or $7,375,533.04 worth. If as rapidly as Wisconsin, 3,171,920.32 worth. Can the farmers of Kansas afford this?
Can the farmers of Kansas afford to thus diminish the productivity of the soil, especially when the materials by which it may be maintained are so abundant? Certainly not. Let it never be said of Kansas that her land is as unproductive as the rock-covered hills of New England. The figures just given show that the western states are rapidly tending that way, and it remains with the farmers to arrest this tendency.
The next hint refers to a matter which goes the rounds of the press once a year, and like the “old, old story” is still in demand. I refer to
SHELTERING STOCK.
If western farmers generally can ever be accused of being “penny wise and pound foolish,” it is in the matter of providing shelter for their stock. While it is difficult to find a farmer who will not admit that shelter is essential, it is not seldom that when going through the country in midwinter we see thousands of head of stock with nothing to shelter them from the rigorous blasts of winter but barbed-wire fences or stone walls. A good wall is better than nothing, but not a great deal better. In one of the oldest counties in the state, I have seen large herds of cattle in December in yards with nothing for shelter but a wire fence and a windmill; the nearest shed to one herd was two miles, and the cattle had not been any nearer to it for two months. In the yard were two dead animals, and I was informed that the average was two dead ones a week. It ought to be plain to any man, especially one able to own a herd of cattle, that the cost of one of these dead animals, with a few days work, would have paid for shelter for a hundred: for it was evident that they died from exposure. Even if there was no money directly realized from humane treatment, people ought to have a sufficient regard for the sufferings of dumb animals to provide comfortable quarters for them during winter. But there is money in sheltering stock. Carefully conducted experiments and the testimony of men of experience everywhere, prove this. It may be many years before all farms are provided with large barns; but straw or hay stables are very comfortable, and are sure to be occupied by stock if they have the opportunity.
WHY DO FARMERS NOT SUCCEED?
It is as difficult to answer this question as it is to tell why people in any other calling do not succeed. It has been my aim in the preceding suggestions to give some of the reasons why the farmer’s efforts are not always successful. I shall now very briefly point out more reasons.
A farmer is not pushed to every act as a businessman is; many businessmen succeed because of this fact alone. They are forced by the exigencies of their business and by their association with other men of business to be prompt and economical. Farmers too seldom have their work systematized, and hence “take their time” about everything, forgetting that “procrastination is the thief of time.” There is no class of people whom capitalists trust more than they do farmers. They feel happy with a mortgage in their hand bearing ten or twelve percent interest. If the interest ceases to come, the farm is taken. Money lenders have so much confidence in farmers that they use every means possible in order to loan them money, and I sometimes think that farmers borrow the money simply to accommodate the lenders. He must be a very successful farmer indeed who can afford to pay ten percent interest. Borrowing money is of more detriment to a farmer than a drought; he pays what would be his profits over to the capitalist in the shape of interest. Going in debt for machinery doesn’t pay; and after it is purchased, leaving it outdoors, exposed to all kinds of weather, doubles the misfortune. A great many of our Kansas farmers have more machinery on their farms than they have grain. The folly of purchasing machinery on the strength of an assured crop has been fully shown during the last season; farmers are too prodigal as a general rule with their time; they waste too much of it at the end of the field on which they are ploughing. We all admire a man who is courteous and neighborly; but a farmer owes it to himself to waste as few hours as possible when cultivating corn or harvesting wheat. Any idler who may be wandering around has no claim to an hour or two of any man’s time. Two hours conversation in the field will give the weeds such a start as four will not overcome. You may think this is a small matter, but if you stop to consider how much it amounts to in a season, I think you will conclude that it doesn’t pay. Your neighbors may think you uncongenial and avaricious, but full cribs and bins after harvest will prove your wisdom. It is the man full of business who has the full purse.
That maxim “never put off ’til tomorrow what you can do today,” is a good one; but I notice that the custom is to put off until tomorrow all that doesn’t have to be done today. Do not wait until the harvest is ripe before the reaper is repaired; or until the time has arrived for plowing before the plows and harness are put in readiness. If those farmers who spend their winter days in the country stores would improve them in fixing things on the farm, they would be making good wages. How often is a machine broken in the midst of a pushing harvest, when a few hours of overhauling before it went into the field would have prevented it! A Chicago editor said: “We know a very prosperous farmer who says his idle winter months are the most profitable of the year. During the cold weather, when his neighbors go to town and loaf around the stores, shops, and saloons, he employs his time in a small shop in a corner of his barn, in repairing and repainting his plows, wagons, and other machinery, in building sheds and repairing fences. In the spring he is ready for active work in the field while his neighbor is either delayed or must hire an extra hand on account of repairs that must positively be made.”
This lack of care and foresight can be extended to many other things about the farm: the care of growing crops, of orchards, small fruits, etc. It was a reckless habit our earlier settlers had of breaking their land, putting out orchards, and then leaving them to the mercy of fire and stock. This practice resulted not only in the loss of the trees but in the use of the land, and caused a delay in putting out an orchard which would be taken care of. Many of our orchards and forest trees are taken care of in the same way yet. There are few things on a farm as profitable as a well-kept orchard. It is a constant source of pleasure, health, and wealth.
In conclusion, I would observe that if the farmer would take a lesson from a prosperous merchant and systematize his work, be prompt in everything, practice economy, and keep abreast with his calling, he would enjoy the farm as he had never enjoyed it before. We should see better homes, better farmers, and better farms; well filled bookshelves would lure the boys from loafing places, and cause them to love farm life.
[HACKNEY CORRESPONDENT: “GRAPHITE.”]
Arkansas City Republican, February 14, 1885.
Hackney Harpings.
Geo. F. Thompson, superintendent of the new printing department of the Kansas State Agricultural, at Manhattan, was the guest of Mr. M. H. Markum, during the holding of the farmers’ Institute at Winfield, a few days ago.
Excerpts...
HACKNEY HAPPENINGS. “MARK.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 12, 1885.
Since his last contribution, “Mark” enjoyed a week’s recreation at the State Capital and Manhattan, returning by way of Kansas City. Were he to give a description of the sights, scenes, and pleasures incident to his trip, the columns of the COURIER would be too much crowded. During his sojourn at Topeka he was the recipient of many valuable favors and appreciated courtesies from Representatives Greer and King and Senator Jennings, for which they have his hearty thanks. Having spent much time in the House part of the Legislature, he was pleased to notice the active part Hon. Greer took in the debates of that August assembly. Hons. King and Maurer, although more conservative, appeared none the less interested and solicitous concerning the disposition of bills. Senator Jennings seemed to have but few, if any, superiors in the Senate, and was quite fortunate in accomplishing what he undertook. “Our boys,” with possibly one single exception, made as clean and clear a record as legislators as any county delegation in the State. The fact that they finally secured the Imbecile Institution after a close and sharp contest, entitles them to the just recognition of our people in the future. The “boys” are now acquainted and could exert a more powerful influence in the next Legislature. At Manhattan, “Mark” enjoyed a “feast of reason and a flow of soul,” as the guest of Prof. Thompson, of the State College. Prof. Shelton, of the Farm Department, kindly placed himself at ye scribe’s service and a rich treat was enjoyed in the agricultural line, which space forbids describing. Many valuable improvements have been made in and to the College and farm since “Mark” was an honored student three years ago. The only regret that his visit occasioned was the fact that he is not now numbered among the four hundred students who are daily enjoying its delightful comforts and advantages. This institution is rapidly becoming, and deservedly too, the most popular school in the State. It is now more thoroughly equipped than ever before, with comfortable buildings well lighted and heated, neatly carpeted and artistically decorated. A corps of able instructors who have no superiors in their special fields, in or out of the State, and all necessary apparatus for the education of mechanical and scientific subjects. The Industrial Department of the College is a grand success. Every student is not only taught theory, but practice is compelled in some one of the several useful trades taught and fostered by the institution, thus laying the ground work of an honorable and useful career of its alumni.
MANHATTAN NOTES. “STUDENT.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 16, 1885.
The winter term closed last Friday, with a well delivered and instructive lecture by Geo. F. Thompson, Supt. of the printing department. His subject was “Some elements of success.”
SAMUEL THOMPSON. TISDALE TOWNSHIP.
[Believe the census was wrong. Thomson should be Thompson. MAW]
Kansas 1875 Census, Tisdale Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
[Thompson]:
S. Thomson 43 m w Scotland Canada
Sarah Thomson 14 f w Canada Canada
Ada Thomson 13 f w Canada Canada
Tisdale Township 1873.
Thompson, Samuel, age 40. Spouse, none mentioned.
Tisdale Township 1874.
Thompson, Samuel, age 40. Spouse, Margaret, age 42.
[Samuel Thompson does not appear on later listings in Tisdale Township.]
Unknown whether “Sandy Thompson” and “Samuel Thompson” are the same man...
SANDY THOMPSON. NEAR TISDALE.
Winfield Courier, October 14, 1875.
Sandy Thompson, living near Tisdale, lost his arm in a threshing machine last Friday morning. He was in the act of oiling the cogs when his sleeve was caught and his arm torn off below the elbow. Dr. Graham was called and found amputation just below the shoulder necessary. This is the second accident of exactly the same kind in the same family, a brother of Sandy having lost an arm under similar circumstances a few years ago in Canada.
[COMMUNICATION FROM “SAMUEL THOMPSON”—TISDALE.]
Arkansas City Traveler, April 25, 1877. Front Page.
No Parsons Narrow Gauge for Tisdale.
TISDALE, April 16, 1877.
Editor Traveler:
A meeting was held in Tisdale on Saturday, the 14th inst., to take an expression of the people with reference to voting bonds on the Parsons east and west railroad.
With the exception of two individuals, whom we were informed at the time, were promised a station at their doors, the meeting was unanimous against the bonds.
Many speeches were made, and many who were never known to make a public speech in their lives, gave vent to their feelings on this occasion, and held the floor for some time.
On the same evening a meeting was held in the Jarvis schoolhouse in the north part of Sheridan Township. The floor was held the greater part of the evening by a man named Thomas. This man Thomas lives near Mount Contention, and whether he spoiled the Mount or the Mount spoiled him, we were unable to tell; but one thing we do know—he was very contentious. From the amount of information we could obtain, even as far north as that locality, the greater part were against the humbug.
It is the full opinion of the community, as far as I have heard, that the company is not a responsible one, that their man never was worth anything in his life, and is reported to be worth nothing now, and is a mere railroad adventurer.
The matter is hurried upon us without giving us any opportunity of judging for or against it, and this is done for a purpose.
Never were truer remarks penned by man, than those of Rev. Platter, of Winfield, in writing from Philadelphia last summer to the Winfield Courier. He stated that eastern capitalists and railroad companies looked upon the people of Kansas as a people who wished to make their living by their wits, and not by solid industry. So it is at the present time. Some sharpers wish to make a pile by their wits, and not by any honest principle.
As we have no confidence in the company; as we have no certainty that the road would be built even if the bonds were voted, but perhaps bring us into a disagreeable litigation without any return; and as the whole matter seems to be rotten, let us by all means vote it down, and when the time comes to vote bonds for a road, let them at least have a better appearance of value than the present proposition. SAMUEL THOMPSON.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 3, 1879.
District Court Docket.
CIVIL DOCKET. THIRD DAY.
James Napier vs Samuel Thompson
[COWLEY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, November 25, 1880.
Trial docket for December term, commencing on the first Monday (6th day) of December, A. D. 1880:
CIVIL DOCKET. SEVENTH DAY.
Samuel Thompson vs. William Titsworth
[COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1884.
PAUPER CLAIMS. Houghton & Kirkpatrick, Jas. Armstrong, Ware & Pickering, H. R. Rude, M. N. Sinnott, Richard Courtright, Samuel Thompson, J. N. Harter, T. W. Wood, Emily Wooden, L. S. Downs, S. B. Gailey, J. H. Sparrow, J. B. Lynn, S. B. Park, J. W. Jenkins, McGuire Bros., C. H. Staten, R. H. Moore.
Abstract of County Auditor’s Report.
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.
[Report Showed To Whom/For What/Claimed/Allowed.]
Samuel Thompson. Pauper bill.
THOS. THOMPSON - VERNON TOWNSHIP.
Members of Thos. Thompson Family.
Kansas 1875 Census, Vernon Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
Thos. Thompson 40 m w Pennsylvania Missouri
Ella Thompson 30 f w Missouri Missouri
Floyd Thompson 9 m w Missouri Missouri
Lizzie Thompson 7 f w Missouri Missouri
Winfield Courier, January 9, 1874.
Wolf Hunt.
The citizens of Vernon Township and vicinity assembled January 5, 1874, for the purpose of organizing for a wolf hunt. D. Hopkins was chosen chairman of the meeting. A committee was appointed to draft a programme for the hunt consisting of Dr. A. S. Capper, E. D. Skinner, and T. Thompson. The place of closing the circle is the northeast quarter of the 16th section of Vernon Township, the boundary lines as follows.
The Walnut River on the east, the Arkansas on the west, the south line of Vernon Township on the south, two miles north of the north line of Vernon Township on the north.
The day designated for the hunt: January 15, 1874. Time of starting at the boundary lines 10 o’clock A.M. The men are allowed to carry fire-arms, but no shooting is allowed inside of the ring. Dogs are not allowed to run loose when the ring is closed. The Chief Marshal gives the signal when the dogs are to be loosed. The proceeds of the hunt to be donated to the Cowley County school fund. T. A. Blanchard is Chief Marshal. There shall be a marshal for each line and he shall call as many aides as needed; everyone having a horn or bell is requested to bring it. The chief marshal shall wear a blue scarf; the marshal on the lines and their aides shall wear a red scarf or ribbon.
A general invitation is extended to all, and a special one to the editors of the Oxford and Winfield papers. By order of Committee.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 20, 1881.
SOLDIERS REUNION.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, JULY 14, 1881.
To the Union Soldiers of the late War:
We, the undersigned, your comrades and survivors of the late rebellion, believe that a reunion of the old soldiers now residents of Cowley and surrounding counties, would meet your approval and serve to renew and strengthen a patriotic and brotherly feeling in the hearts of all old soldiers and lovers of the Union, we would, therefore call a reunion at Island Park, Winfield, Kansas, for the 7th and 8th of October, 1881.
For a more complete organization and the successful carrying out of this plan, we would ask all old soldiers residing in the limits above named, to meet at Manning Opera House, on Saturday, July 23rd, at 2 o’clock p.m., at which time to effect a permanent organization, and the appointment of such general and local committees as the meeting may deem proper, essential for the ultimate success of this—an old soldiers’ reunion—at the time and place above mentioned. The county papers are requested to publish this call.
One of those who signed: T. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, October 6, 1881.
Vernon township.
At a meeting of the soldiers of Vernon township, held Oct. 4, Mr. P. M. Wait in the chair, on motion A. Beswick was selected Sec. pro tem. The question of organizing a company being canvassed on motion of Mr. Millspaugh, it was moved and seconded that we organize as a company for the purpose of attending the Soldiers’ Reunion at Winfield. Mr. J. W. Millspaugh nominated on motion of Mr. Bonnewell. Declined and Mr. Wait nominated. Carried. Mr. B. J. Bonnewell, First Lieut. Carried. Mr. B. J. Bonnewell, First Lieut. Carried. Mr. J. M. Householder Second Lieut. Carried. Mr. Thomas Thompson act as Orderly Sergeant. Carried. Mr. G. J. D. Cole to act as Color Bearer. Carried. On motion it was agreed that we meet for drill Friday evening. A. BESWICK, Sec’y.
[OLD SOLDIERS OF VERNON TOWNSHIP.]
Winfield Courier, October 20, 1881.
P. M. WAIT: CAPTAIN.
W. J. BONNEWELL: 1ST LIEUT.
J. W. HOUSEHOLDER: 2ND LIEUT.
THOS. THOMPSON: ORDERLY SERGT.
THOS. THOMPSON, PRIVATE, CO. 1, 9TH MO. CAVALRY.
[REPORT FROM “MORE ANON”—ORCHARD COTTAGE.]
Winfield Courier, December 8, 1881.
Vernon never has shown greater signs of real permanent prosperity than those to be observed at present. Many fine residences have been erected, costing from six to fifteen hundred dollars. Among those who have built a residence are Mr. Jackson, Mr. John Dunn, Mr. Isaac Wood, Mr. Corson, Mr. H. H. Martin, A. J. Worden, Albert Hawkins, T. Thompson. Mr. Ed Allen and Mr. M. Croco have built themselves nice little barns.
Unknown whether the following applies to Thomas Thompson of Vernon Township or not....Seeley is location mentioned.
Winfield Courier, January 19, 1882.
SEELY, KANSAS, January 13, 1882.
The Crooked Creek Library Association held their third annual meeting January 4th. House called to order by the Secretary, Mr. D. W. Pierce, chosen Chairman pro tem.
Treasurer’s report read and adopted, and Librarian’s report read and approved.
Officers elected for the coming year: Mr. D. W. Pierce, President; Mr. George S. Cole, Vice President; Bert Copple, Secretary; Mr. S. A. Hood, Treasurer; Mrs. J. N. Hood, Librarian; Mr. Geo. B. Cole, P. J. Copple, and Jacob Hopkins, Library Committee; and Albert Pierce, L. H. Senseny, and Mr. T. Thompson, Trustees.
Adjourned to meet the first Wednesday after the first Monday in April.
BERT COPPLE, Secretary.
[PAPER HAD SEELY. THIS WAS THE EARLY SPELLING FOR “SEELEY.”]
Winfield Courier, March 30, 1882.
Thos. Thompson of Vernon planted sixteen acres of corn last week.
[COUNTY CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.
Vernon Township, Delegates: P. M. Waite, Thos. Thompson, W. L. Homes, H. O. Wooley. No alternates.
[VERNON CORRESPONDENT: “H. C. H.”]
Winfield Courier, May 25, 1882.
VERNON.
EDS. COURIER. Upon visiting our neighbor Hiram Hopkins, we found him with one leg broken twice, the other broken once, and one of his arms twice. The accident occurred in a grist mill, about ten miles north of Winfield and the Walnut River. His coat tail was caught by a shaft. Seeing the condition he was in, we felt it a duty as well as a pleasure to contribute to his wants. So we started with two papers. L. A. Millspaugh canvassed the south half of Vernon Township and H. H. Hawkins the north half. We give the names with the amount opposite.
NORTH HALF OF VERNON TOWNSHIP.
T. Thompson: $2.00
TOTAL COLLECTED IN NORTH HALF VERNON TOWNSHIP: $49.15
Not certain the following covers “T. Thompson” of Vernon Township...
[VALLEY VIEW CORRESPONDENT: “BOBOLINK.”]
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1882.
We are becoming noted for organs as we now have 7 in the district. Mr. T. Thompson has a “Patterson,” Mr. F. W. Schwantes a “Beatty,” and the Sabbath school organ came on last week. It is a “Cornish.” Several of the young ladies are devoting their time and talents to music.
[VERNON CORRESPONDENT: “M. LEWIS.”]
Winfield Courier, June 15, 1882.
ORCHARD COTTAGE.
EDS. COURIER: As the first item of interest, I will insert the minutes of the Vernon Pioneer’s Reunion, as furnished me by the Secretary.
RIVERSIDE PARK, VERNON TOWNSHIP, MAY 31ST, 1882.
Minutes of the first reunion of the Pioneers of Vernon Township, Cowley County, Kansas.
Pursuant to a previous call, the old settlers of Vernon Township met at Riverside Park at 10 o’clock a.m., and Mr. Henry Hawkins was called to the chair and M. L. Martin was chosen temporary secretary. After which all the old settlers who immigrated to Vernon previous to January 1st, 1873, were requested to come forward and sign their names to the roll, or have the secretary to do so, as by a previous motion, and vote it was decided that all who settled in Vernon previous to that time should be considered old settlers.
The secretary then called the roll, after which a permanent organization was affected by electing officers for the ensuing year as follows: J. W. Millspaugh, president; T. A. Blanchard, vice-president; H. H. Martin, secretary and treasurer. The meeting was then adjourned until 2 o’clock, to give all a chance to partake of a bountiful dinner prepared for the occasion, and to which old settlers and friends did ample justice.
At 2 o’clock p.m., the meeting was called to order by the president, J. W. Millspaugh, who made a short address stating the object of the afternoon session. A number of old settlers were then called to the stand, and short and appropriate addresses were made by T. A. Blanchard, A. Hetrick, J. B. Evans, Albert Werden, M. L. Martin, and F. W. Schwantes.
T. A. Blanchard stated that Benj. F. Murphy was the first white man that settled in Vernon Township, and that Mother Blanchard was the first white woman who died in the township, a martyr to the trials and privations of pioneer life.
P. M. Waite claims the honor of hauling and offering for sale the first load of wheat in the city of Winfield.
Mr. T. B. Ware claims the honor of raising the seed wheat from which Mr. Waite raised his load of wheat.
M. L. Martin has the honor of having planted the first shrubs and rose bushes set in Vernon soil, from which hundreds of bushes have been taken and are now blossoming around the homes of others.
Moved and carried that our next reunion be held on May 31st, 1883. On motion a committee of five were appointed on program by the chairman. They were: T. A. Blanchard, chairman of committee, J. H. Werden, H. H. Martin, Mrs. Thos. Thompson, and Mrs. J. H. Werden. On motion a committee of three on arrangements were appointed by the chair.
H. C. Hawkins, T. Thompson, and T. B. Ware were the committee appointed, after which the meeting adjourned to meet one year from date, May 31st, 1883.
J. W. MILLSPAUGH, President.
H. H. MARTIN, Secretary.
I failed to get the roll of the old settlers, but I think I can give them by memory; at least all those who answered to their names.
Messrs. Ives, Brown, A. Beaman, Bud Bernard, F. W. Schwantes, T. A. Blanchard, Wm. Schwantes, Fahnestock, Thos. Thompson, E. C. Martin, D. S. Beadle, J. H., A. J., and F. A. Werden, H. C. Hawkins, Benj. Dougherty, D. G. Hawkins, Henry Hawkins, J. W. Millspaugh, L. A. Millspaugh, N. Millspaugh, R. Millspaugh, M. L. Martin, James Foster, T. B. Ware, N. C. Clark, P. M. Waite, Charles McClung, Ile McClung, Milt Rhodes, and J. B. Evans.
It was moved and carried that at the next reunion we should have a book and record the names of both males and females, and all children who were with or born to their parents prior to January 1, 1873. There was as good a turn-out of citizens, both new and old, as could have been expected, considering the inclemency of the weather and short time of notice. There were several hundred present, and everything went off pleasantly. We are sorry the editor of the COURIER failed to be there to give us an address. Hope he will be sure and attend our next.
I will forbear making any remarks about the address, as it has been hinted to me that I am capable of telling all I know and a little more, and I have a sincere desire to write nothing but the truth. Anything from Vernon needs no high coloring, no extra touches or polishing, for she stands forth in grandeur and beauty; an honor to herself, and the county.
Robert Taylor has returned from Kentucky, and says he washed about one-half of the state with the washing machine he is selling, and made some money. He will return to Kentucky again after harvest.
Considerable damage was done the wheat by hail on Saturday morning, May 27, but the area of damage was small.
Mr. Tharp lost a horse last week with inflammation caused by a bad spell of colic. It is a pity so many horses die with this disease when a little knowledge of proper treatment would save them. W. W. Painter had a fine mule get loose in his wheat and it was taken with the same disease. He took the mule to Winfield to his brother, Charles Painter, to see if he could relieve the animal, but he soon returned home, leaving word with his brother to have the mule buried as soon as it died. On returning to Winfield the next day, he found the mule alive and worth more than a cat with nine lives, $150, at least. Charles Painter is becoming famous as a horseman. M. LEWIS.
[VALLEY VIEW CORRESPONDENT: “BOBOLINK.”]
Winfield Courier, July 27, 1882.
VALLEY VIEW HUMMINGS.
EDS. COURIER: Who doesn’t enjoy Saturday afternoon, especially when it is one of rest and pleasure; and as this one is my own, I shall remain at home and give you a few facts and fancies from our quiet vicinity—I say quiet, because everyone is busy at their respective duties, some working at and with the steam thresher helping it shell out and measure the bright golden grains that have been harvested, and that are so necessary to our physical want, while others are working equally as hard in the culinary department preparing the dainty and substantial dishes for the present, and looking forward to the near future, by canning and preserving the fruits for the winter. With the exception of richness, it would be quite a relief to have a little sensation of some kind—such as parties, picnics, and the like, for it seems as if all are of one mind on one subject, at least that of single blessedness, hence no weddings
—but stop! We heard one young man remark that when he sold his wheat he intended to marry—wheat is the great stand for the farmer.
Some twenty of our neighbors attended the picnic at Arkansas City on the Fourth.
Mr. J. F. Martin has had the land fever for several days past, but is all right now, having purchased the adjoining 80 acre piece on the east of him formerly owned by Mr. Fahnestock.
Mrs. Appleton and daughter, of Missouri, are now the guests of Mrs. F. Thompson.
It is reported that a young man of our district has a pet snake almost three feet in length; we do not admire snakes although some do.
Mr. T. Carter has purchased a new family carriage—see what wheat is doing.
Early one morning of last week Mr. Craig was minus his mules; after canvassing the country until dark they were found at one of the neighbors.
A library for the Sabbath School and district is now being talked up.
Rev. Mr. Snyder has been absent for several weeks, but is expected home soon.
We heard, but doubt the assertion that Mr. T. Blanchard has his farm for sale.
Mr. Tom Isnogle was sick on the Fourth.
Mrs. McMasters is visiting at her old home in Illinois.
Mr. F. W. Schwantes has been selling off more of his swine.
We heard quite recently that Mr. Lou Roberts was expected home to remain but a few days—a load stone at valley brio for him.
With blackberries accompanies “Chiggers” for dessert and like “Olivia,” we have plenty of the latter and to spare.
We have been having very growing weather lately and the prospect for a large yield of corn is indeed flattering. BOBOLINK.
[OLD VETERANS’ REUNION.]
Winfield Courier, September 7, 1882.
VETERANS OF THE LATE WAR WHO WISH TRANSPORTATION TO TOPEKA DURING THE REUNION IN SEPTEMBER, 1882.
Thos. Thompson, Co. A, 6th Cav., Mo. Vol.
[NOTE: ABOVE DISAGREES WITH FIRST ENTRY RE WAR RECORD.]
The other entry [October 20, 1881]...
THOS. THOMPSON, PRIVATE, CO. 1, 9TH MO. CAVALRY.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
Vernon Township Republican Nominations.
For Trustee, E. D. Skinner; for Clerk, P. B. Lee; for Treasurer, Thos. Thompson; for Justices, T. B. Ware, Oscar Wooley; for Constables, W. L. Holmes, W. S. Wooley; Road Overseers—1st Dist., D. S. Cole; 2nd Dist., Moses Nixon; 3rd Dist., N. C. Clarke; 5th Dist., G. W. Kielhols [?Kielholz?].
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
A Protest.
VERNON TOWNSHIP, Feb. 6, 1883.
To the Editor of the Winfield Courier:
SIR: We, the undersigned residents of Vernon Township, solemnly and sincerely enter our protest against such proceedings as were held in Winfield on the morning of Feb. the 1st, viz.: the hanging of Charles Cobb by a mob. We are in favor of punishing crime, but not in favor of mob law.
E. D. Skinner, Henry Hawkins, W. W. Painter, J. T. Prewitt, J. M. Householder, P. Hill, M. Gesler, L. F. Hess, A. H. Miller, Joseph Astor, J. S. Baker, F. H. Werden, T. Thompson, I. B. Corson, P. B. Lee, J. W. Millspaugh, R. Wellman, M. Nixon, L. E. Gault, M. W. Brown, W. L. Pennington, M. Nicholson. George Wilson, L. Gibson, T. B. Ware, Wm. Carter, H. G. Woolley, J. S. Ward, S. E. Case. W. S. Woolly, J. E. Wooley, W. L. Holmes, E. C. Martin.
[TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS.]
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Township Elections.
The following township officers were declared elected by the Board of Commissioners at their canvass of the vote on Tuesday.
VERNON: E. D. Skinner, trustee; P. B. Lee, clerk; Thos. Thompson, treasurer; H. H. Martin, J. P.; W. L. Holmes and Scott Wooley, constables.
[COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1884.
Office of the County Clerk, Winfield, Kansas, February 12th, 1884.
BOARD met in regular session agreeable to adjournment of January 16, 1884. Present: S. C. Smith (Chairman), Amos Walton, Commissioner, County Attorney, and J. S. Hunt, County Clerk.
Among other proceedings the following claims were allowed the Judges and Clerks of the February 5th 1884 election...paid from $2.00 to $6.00.
VERNON TOWNSHIP.
Judges: H. H. Martin, T. B. Ware, T. Thompson.
Clerks, J. M. Householder, F. H. Werden.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1884.
Mr. W. M. Thompson, postmaster of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Jim McLain’s old home for eleven consecutive years, arrived last Thursday and is visiting his brother, Mr. Thos. Thompson of Vernon. He will probably locate in Cowley. This is the sixth man from Wyandotte County, Ohio, in the last two weeks, and they are all substantial and well-to-do, just such men as are always heartily welcomed by Cowley people.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
Winfield will be represented at the Minneapolis Reunion by the following persons, so far as we have been able to ascertain: C. Ferguson, J. E. Snow, R. Amrine, L. B. Stone, A. R. Wilson, M. G. Troup, J. B. Schofield _____ Smith, T. J. Harris, N. A. Haight, A. G. Wilson, Thos. Thompson, S. C. Smith, and S. Cure. Delegations from other sections of the county will congregate in this city and all take a special train Sunday morning.
Winfield Courier, July 31, 1884.
Thos. C. Thompson, of Vernon, comes forward this week with more evidence that Cowley is a grand fruit county. He has left us a branch on eight inches of which are twenty-two finely shaped Genaton apples.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 27, 1884.
Republican County Committee Meeting.
All members of the Republican county committee named at the convention held in Winfield on Saturday, August 23rd, 1884, are requested to meet at the Courier office in Winfield, Saturday, August 30, at 1:30 p.m., for the purpose of effecting a permanent organization and such other business as may come before said committee. The following are members of said committee.
VERNON: THOS. THOMPSON.
TOWNSHIP PRIMARIES.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 29, 1885.
The Republicans of Vernon will hold a primary for the nomination of township officers on Saturday evening, the 31st inst., at the Werden schoolhouse, at 7 o’clock.
Thos. Thompson, Chairman.
Excerpts...
MEMORIAL AND DECORATION SERVICES.
The Program Entire as Adopted by Winfield Post No. 85, G. A. R.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 14, 1885.
Post commander and comrades of Winfield Post No. 85, G. A. R.: Your committee appointed to report to the Post a program for memorial and decoration services submit the following as their report.
Decoration of Vernon Center Cemetery: H. H. Siverd, W. W. Painter, J. W. Millspaugh, Thos. Thompson, J. M. Householder.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 21, 1885.
The executive committee, “Grand Army of the Republic,” have appointed the undersigned committee to decorate the graves of soldiers buried at Vernon cemetery, May 30, 1885: H. H. Siverd, W. W. Painter, J. W. Millspaugh; J. M. Householder, and Thomas Thompson. Comrade W. W. Painter will receive flowers and make all necessary arrangements, and friends are requested to furnish him the names, rank, and regiment of deceased soldiers. The public are invited to meet the committee at the above named cemetery not later than 9 o’clock a.m., May 30. H. H. Siverd, Chairman.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 27, 1885.
The Republicans of Vernon township will meet at Vernon schoolhouse on Saturday, September 12th, at 7 o’clock p.m. T. Thompson, Chairman.
Possibly a son of Thos. Thompson...
JOHN THOMPSON - VERNON TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.
Mr. John Thompson, a young man from Vernon Township, had a run-a-way Saturday. He was driving a team of colts and one of them got his head under the cheek and began to run in a circle. Thompson jumped out, grabbed the bits, and was trying to stop them when the off colt gave him a heavy kick on the leg. This was more than he bargained for and he let the colts go. The buggy was picked up in a demoralized condition.
T. L. THOMPSON, OTTER TOWNSHIP.
SOURCE: COWLEY COUNTY HERITAGE. 1990.
PAGE 306.
T. L. Thompson.
Thomas Lewis Thompson came to America with his family from Stavanger, Norway, in 1857. He was eight years old. He came with his father and mother, Lars and Dorotea Thompson, and his brother Mathias, and sister Martha. The family name at that time was Nygaard, but after moving to the United States they changed it to Thompson.
The Thompson family landed in Quebec, Canada, and then went on to Dayton, Illinois. None of the family could speak English. Tom’s mother sent him to play with the neighbor children each day so he could learn to speak English and then teach the family. After learning to speak English, Tom attended school. He went to work in a woolen mill at age 12. He was so short that he had to stand on a box to do his work. He worked in the mill ten years.
In 1870, when Tom was 22 years old, he heard of the land in Kansas which was being homesteaded. He and a friend went to Kansas and Tom took a claim six miles northwest of Cedar Vale on Otter Creek in Cowley County. The nearest land office was at Augusta, which was approximately 70 miles away. Tom herded sheep for nearby ranchers and he also was a carpenter. He helped build the first store in Cedar Vale. It was called Early & Bishop.
In 1871 Tom went back to Illinois and when he returned he brought his father Lars and the other members of Lars’ family. The end of the railroad at the time was at Humboldt, Kansas. At Humboldt they met Randolph Hite and John Radcliff, who were emigrating to Dexter. They hauled their baggage to Dexter, which had three stores at the time. Lars secured 120 acres on Otter Creek for his farm.
On February 24, 1877, at Sedan, Kansas, Tom married Cassie Jane Lowe. Three children were born at the farm on Otter Creek: Walter Lars, Ross Mathias, and Winnie Dorothea.
In 1882, when Winnie was six months old, Tom bought an 80 acre farm on Plum Creek, about three miles northeast of Dexter. The other four children were born on the farm. They were: Sarah Mina, Madelsa Jane, Stephen Victor, and Warren Dean. All of the children attended the Plum Creek School.
Tom built a large nine room, two-story house for his family. Cassie Jane passed away in 1925. Tom lived on the farm until he passed away at the age of 97 years. In 1959, having purchased the property from the other children, Ross sold it to Byron Radcliff, who tore down the house and barn.
Lars, Tom’s father, dedicated a small parcel of land as a burial place for himself and Dorothea. In 1874, L. M. Henery, and his wife, Bonnie, purchased a farm, which was known as the Gammon place. Bonnie discovered the small cemetery and restored it. She cleaned up the brush and debris and had a fence put around it. She named the little cemetery the Otter Creek Cemetery. It is now a beautiful place, thanks to Bonnie. The Thompson family owes her a debt of gratitude.
Lucille Thompson Horn.
Kansas 1875 Census Otter Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex color Place/birth Where from
L. Thompson 65 m w Norway Illinois
Maggie Thompson 63 f w Norway Illinois
T. L. Thompson 24 m w Norway Illinois
S. M. Thompson 21 m w Norway Illinois
M. Thompson 18 f w Norway Illinois
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS ELECTED.
Otter—A. B. Shaver, Trustee; C. R. Myles, Treasurer; E. J. Edwards, Clerk; J. J. Smith, J. McDonough, Justices; F. M. Ross, T. Thompson, Constables.
Winfield Courier, February 16, 1882.
COUNTY LEGAL NOTICES.
COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS.
OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK, WINFIELD, KANSAS, JANUARY 7, 1882.
Among other proceedings had by the Board the following claims were acted upon as follows.
Name. Kind of Service. Amount.
NORTH OTTER.
E. H. Rogers, Judge: $6.00
A. A. Mills, Judge: $2.00
N. W. Parkin, Judge: $2.00
T. L. Thompson, Clerk: $2.00
John Stockdale, Clerk: $2.00
[CORRESPONDENT OTTER TOWNSHIP: “NED.”]
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
Otter Creek News.
T. L. Thompson has moved on his new farm on Plum Creek. He is very well satisfied with his purchase. Mr. Harper has moved into T. L.’s old house.
W. H. THOMPSON - WINFIELD.
Winfield Courier, March 6, 1884.
Mr. F. G. Wilson, from Barnard County, Illinois, has been visiting in this city with his uncle, Mr. W. H. Thompson.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.
Miss Katie Rush, of Wichita, and Miss Alice Thompson, of Jacksonville, Illinois, are visiting in the city with the family of Mr. W. H. Thompson. Miss Thompson is a niece of W. H., and will spend the summer here.
[TUNNEL MILL CLAIMS VICTIM: FRANK G. WILLSON.]
Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.
A BRIGHT YOUNG LIFE CUT OFF.
The Whirlpool Near the Tunnel Mill Ushers Another Soul Into Eternity.
DIED. Our community was shocked Tuesday afternoon by the drowning, in the whirlpool near the Tunnel Mill, of Frank G. Willson, one of the most promising young men of the city and a member of the real estate firm of Harris & Willson. He and C. C. Harris went to the river to bathe about three o’clock that afternoon and had been swimming in the water for some time when the accident occurred. The water in this pool is very deep and swift, though, with a little care, is not considered dangerous when the river is in a normal condition. It has several currents in a depth of fifteen feet and flows with a whirling motion, the current continually eddying around the pool. Frank and Mr. Harris had started down the current to swim around, the latter considerably ahead. When Frank got about half way through, he called for help and immediately went under. The current prevented Mr. Harris from swimming upstream to his rescue and the only thing to be done was to circle around and come down to him. But the body was held down by the undercurrent and only rose once after the first submersion, making all efforts at rescue fruitless. The alarm was immediately given and in a few minutes many willing hands were searching for the body. The swift, deep, and eddying water shifted the body in such a manner as to prevent its recovery until it had been submerged fifty minutes. Drs. Wright, Pugh, Taylor, and Wells were on the ground and everything within human possibility was done to resuscitate the body, but in vain. Its spirit had flown to the inevitable and voiceless Eternity. It is supposed that cramp or strangulation by a back-water wave caused the terrible result. Those acquainted with the water at this place don’t attribute it to the suction, though this undoubtedly increased the helplessness of the victim. It is hard to estimate the number of persons that have been drowned in this pool—fifteen or twenty. This alone is sufficient to brand this place as dangerous, and should warn people to go elsewhere to bath.
Frank G. Willson was about twenty-five years of age. He came to Winfield some seven months ago and associated himself with T. J. Harris in the real estate and loan business. During his short residence among us he won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His only relatives here are the family of his uncle, Mr. W. H. Thompson. His parents reside in Jacksonville, Illinois. They were immediately telegraphed the fate of their son and answered, requesting his remains to be sent home for interment, which was done yesterday. The father is a prominent banker of Jacksonville. Frank was one of those bright, progressive, and substantial young men whose future indicates great usefulness and advancement. The writer had many pleasant conversations with him and found him possessed of those finer feelings which indicate morality and refinement and are always agreeable. Nothing is sadder than the snatching away of a life buoyant with bright hopes for the future. Truly “in the midst of life we are in death.”
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
DIED. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thompson, of this city, were called upon by the angel of death, on Wednesday of last week, to part with their only daughter, little Bernice, three years old. She was a very sweet child and the blow falls heavily upon the parents. Mr. Thompson had accompanied the remains of his nephew, F. G. Willson, to Illinois, when he was called home by telegraph to the bedside of his sick child.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 2, 1885.
Miss Alice Thompson has returned from Jacksonville, Illinois, and will probably spend the summer with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thompson. She is a charming young lady and made many friends during her visit here last summer.
THURSDAY NIGHT’S SOCIAL.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 2, 1885.
It used to be said that about the driest and most unsocial gatherings one could attend was a church social. It isn’t so, by any means, of church socials now-a-days, at least not those given in Winfield. There is a generous rivalry between our church organizations as to which can give the pleasantest entertainments—preserving that high plane of moral excellence that all exhibitions in the name of a church should have. Of course the double purpose of these meetings is to secure funds for contingent church expenses and to give those in attendance a pleasurable evening. In addition to this they afford an opportunity for the ministers and flocks to meet and converse with members of their churches on other than strictly church topics, and also to extend their acquaintance among those who, while not always “believers,” are often “supporters” of churches. It is at these gatherings that the real genuine minister of the gospel sows the seeds of charity, courtesy, and kindred virtues from which a hopeful harvest may afterward be reached. The world dislikes the pinch-faced, over-particular and ever sanctimonious person about as much as the truly good hate the sniveling hypocrite. And it goes without saying that the most popular minister and the most influential one for good is he who can occasionally lay aside the “robes of priestly office” and mingle among his neighbors much like other men. Not that he should forget his calling, and engage in amusements the nature of which brings him into dispute among his followers, but he may, with perfect propriety, take a hand in any one of the half a hundred pastimes which please the young folks and entertain “children of larger growth.” THE COURIER notes with pleasure that Winfield pastors belong to that school which refuses to crucify the body because it enjoys a hearty laugh, or condemns the soul to everlasting perdition because it finds convivial spirits while on earth. But we have wandered somewhat from our text—the Methodist social. It was one of the most enjoyable. Men and matrons, belles and beaux, girls and boys, were all there in full force, with their winsome smiles and pretty array. Of course, the main attraction, aside from the congeniality of those present, were the ice cream, raspberries, etc. There were six tables presided over by Mrs. C. D. Austin and Mrs. Dr. Pickens; Mrs. W. R. McDonald and Misses Maggie Bedilion and Nina Conrad; Mrs. W. H. Thompson and Mrs. J. W. Prather; Mrs. A. H. Green and Misses Anna Green and Hattie Andrews; Mrs. G. L. Rinker and Mrs. James Cooper; Mrs. S. G. Gary, Mrs. N. R. Wilson, and Miss Hattie Glotfelter, and a very busy and attentive bevy they were. The cream ran out long before the crowd was supplied—though they started in with twenty gallons or more. The Methodist orchestra, Messrs. Crippen, Shaw, Bates, Roberts, and Newton, with Miss Kelly at the organ, furnished beautiful music during the evening. It was a most enjoyable entertainment throughout. The seats having been removed, awaiting the placing of the new ones, the church made an excellent place for such an entertainment.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 10, 1885.
W. H. Thompson returned Saturday from Illinois. We are glad to see him back.
Not sure this is the same man as noted above...
[HACKNEY CORRESPONDENT: “GRAPHITE.”]
Arkansas City Republican, May 15, 1886.
This morning Mr. Canada, of Winfield, shipped a car-load of hogs from this point to Kansas City. He purchased the whole number from W. H. Thompson, of this locality.
[HACKNEY CORRESPONDENT: “GRAPHITE.”]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 17, 1886.
W. H. Thompson shipped his fifty head of steers last week to Kansas City.
WM. THOMPSON FAMILY.
ROCK CREEK AND ROCK TOWNSHIP.
[ALSO ADDED: QUINTON THOMPSON FAMILY.]
Rock Creek.
1875. Thompson, Wm., 59. Spouse, Lydia, 56.
Rock.
1882. Thompson, Wm., 66. Daughters: Charlotte, 28, Mattie, 22.
WM. THOMPSON. ROCK CREEK.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1876.
Township—ROCK CREEK:
TRUSTEE, J. F. WILLIAMS.
CLERK, GEO. H. WILLIAMS.
TREASURER, J. M. HARCOURT.
JUSTICES: HIRAM FISKE; WM. THOMPSON.
CONSTABLES: N. RODGERS; S. D. WILLIAMS.
“Uncle Billy” Thompson - Rock Township.
[COMMUNICATION FROM “HERBERT” - ROCK TOWNSHIP.]
Winfield Courier, November 30, 1876.
Our worthy postmaster and his deputy at Rock, think they are safe, if President Tilden is inaugurated. Cause why? Geo. voted for Hudson and John voted for Samuel J., and that lets Uncle Billy Thompson out. The school at Darien has woodbined, and Tom Dawson wages warfare upon the prairie chicken and the timid hare.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
Mr. Thompson, of Rock, was with us last week.
[ROCK TOWNSHIP.]
Cowley County Courant, May 25, 1882.
W. O. Baxter, M. L. Hollingsworth, W. L. White, G. M. Turner, F. G. Szirkowsky, Mr. Thompson, J. M. Harcourt, John Holmes, Mr. Bailey, and Sam Strong are among the most successful farmers of that township.
WILLIAM THOMPSON - ROCK TOWNSHIP.
MATTIE THOMPSON.
ARCHIE THOMPSON.
OTHER THOMPSONS LISTED AT ROCK.
[ROCK CORRESPONDENT: “JIM.”]
Winfield Courier, December 14, 1882.
Items from Rock.
Rock is booming. Our school numbers 64 and is progressing finely.
Wm. Thompson has gone to Indiana to spend a few weeks with his children. He has not been back since he left over six years ago.
[ROCK CORRESPONDENT: “JIM.”]
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
Rock Items.
Miss Mattie Thompson, daughter of Wm. Thompson, has been quite sick, but is now better.
Archie Thompson is constructing a drain on his home place. This will drain several acres of very wet land and make it tillable. The drain will be 220 rods long, and several feet deep, walled in with stone, costing about $250.
The officers of our Sunday school for the ensuing quarter are: Supt. Thos. Harp; Assistant Superintendents, C. H. Leavitt and Mrs. Lydia Thompson; Secretary, Mrs. Wilson; Assistant Secretary, Geo. Harcourt; Librarian, Miss Maggie Holmes; Treasurer, Miss Lotta Thompson.
[ROCK CORRESPONDENT: “C. L.”]
Winfield Courier, August 9, 1883.
Mrs. Lydia Thompson and daughter are visiting friends in Geuda.
[ROCK CORRESPONDENT: “MAY.”]
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.
Mrs. Thompson and daughter have returned home from their visit in the east. MAY.
Note...It appears that there was a different Thompson family living in Rock, unless Quincy [Quinton] Thompson was related to Wm. Thompson.
Rock.
1882. Thompson, Quenton, 65. Spouse, Lidia, 63.
QUINCY [OR QUINTON] THOMPSON - ROCK TOWNSHIP.
[ROCK CORRESPONDENT: “JIM.”]
Winfield Courier, December 21, 1882.
ROCK ITEMS.
Mr. Hoober living above here has sold his farm of 80 acres to Quincy Thompson for the sum of $1,150.
[ROCK TOWNSHIP CORRESPONDENT: “JIM.”]
Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.
Quinton Thompson has bought the 1/4 section just east of him, belonging to Scott, of Illinois. Price paid, $2,400 cash.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 16, 1885.
A. Q. Thompson and E. E. Myers were in from Rock Monday.
THOMPSON UNKNOWN.
[Thompson Individuals and Families I could not trace.]
A. H. THOMPSON.
Winfield Courier, May 25, 1876.
Tuesday morning Mr. James Baldwin, accompanied by his friends, Joseph Henderson and A. H. Thompson, left for Vermillion County, Illinois. They have been all over south-western Kansas, and they pronounce Cowley the best county they have seen. They will return this fall with a large flock of sheep, purchase land in the Grouse Valley, and go into sheep raising extensively. We wish them a safe journey home and a speedy return to Cowley.
Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877.
County Commissioners’ Proceedings.
Juror Fees: B. M. Terrill, $.75; J. J. Bair, $.75; J. E. Allen, $.75; A. H. Thompson, $.75; E. B. Pratt, $.75; and F. S. Jennings, $.75.
ALEXANDER THOMPSON FAMILY - MAPLE CITY.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 8, 1881.
SISTER DIED. Miss Thompson, who has been employed in the family of Mr. J. E. Miller, of this city, was called to her home, near Maple City, on Saturday last on account of the death of a little sister from the effects of rattlesnake poison.
Winfield Courier, June 9, 1881.
Died. A little 14 year old daughter of Alexander Thompson died last week from the effects of snake bite. She was herding cattle and slid off her horse to the ground, lighting on top of a huge rattle-snake. Before she could get away from the snake, she was bitten nine times on the foot and ankle. She went home immediately and in less than half an hour liquor was secured and she was kept under its influence. The remedies seemed to do no good and the little girl died next day.
ANDREW THOMPSON - Location Unknown [Possibly Winfield]
Winfield Courier, March 28, 1878.
Real Estate Transfers.
A. H. Buckwalter to Andrew Thompson, n. w. 11 35 3, 159 acres, $1,100.
ANDREW THOMPSON. [BALTIMORE?]
[REPORT FROM “LORD HAILES” - BALTIMORE.]
Winfield Courier, May 20, 1880.
Andrew Thompson started for California last Friday.
CLARENCE THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 27, 1884.
DIED. Died, in this city, at the residence of his mother, Mrs. J. W. Patterson, on Friday last, of typho-malarial fever, after an illness of three weeks, Clarence Thompson, in the 18th year of his age. The funeral took place the following day, conducted by Rev. S. B. Fleming, when the remains were laid to rest in the Riverview Cemetery in the presence of sorrowing relatives and friends.
DR. THOMPSON - SILVER CREEK.
Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.
Doctor Thompson, of Silver Creek, was in the city Saturday.
ELI THOMPSON, POSTMASTER.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
Cowley has a new post office named “Eli,” three miles south of Dexter, with Eli Thompson postmaster.
FLOYD THOMPSON - VERNON TOWNSHIP?
[SCHWANTES-MARTIN WEDDING.]
Winfield Courier, June 14, 1883.
Hymeneal.
MARRIED. A wedding to which the people of Vernon Township have been looking with great interest was held at the residence of the bride’s father, Thursday evening, June 7th, at 9 o’clock. The contracting parties were Mr. William Schwantes, son of Mr. Fred W. Schwantes, and Miss Emma Martin, daughter of James F. Martin. The ritual ceremony was performed by the Rev. James Cairns, of Winfield, on the lawn under a group of trees decorated with Chinese lanterns. The wedding march rendered by Mr. Alberts made the scene very impressive. The bride looked lovely in a steel colored silk trimmed with black Spanish lace. Her hair was dressed with beautiful flowers a la bretzel. The groom wore the conventional black and looked proud and happy. The friends of the bride and groom remembered them, as the following list of presents will testify.
Glass water pitcher, Mr. Floyd Thompson and his sister, Miss Lizzie.
GEORGE THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
[SHERIFF’S SALE.]
Arkansas City Traveler, March 31, 1886.
SHERIFF McINTIRE ANNOUNCES A SHERIFF’S SALE. D. F. BEST, PLAINTIFF, VS. GEORGE THOMPSON AND NANCY J. THOMPSON, DEFENDANTS...LOTS 21 AND 22 IN BLOCK 7, ARKANSAS CITY, TO BE SOLD AT PUBLIC SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
GEO. THOMPSON - EASTERN COWLEY.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.
Messrs. Geo. Thompson, P. Funkhouser, and Philip Peck, of eastern Cowley, returned last week from Oklahoma, escorted as far as Hunnewell by a squad of blue-coats. The old adage, “Fields look green at a distance,” is being indelibly impressed upon the minds of all these boomers.
GEO. W. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 25, 1885.
T. E. Balyeat, C. R. Fowler, and Geo. W. Thompson were up from A. C. last Monday.
H. THOMPSON. WINFIELD.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
See the new card of H. Thompson in another column. Mr. Thompson is a first-class stonemason and bricklayer.
CARD: H. THOMPSON,
Stone Mason and Plasterer.
Does work in his line according to contract, and guarantees satisfaction or no pay.
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
[This issue listed Courier advertisers.]
THOMPSON, H., is one of the best stone masons in the country.
Not certain if the H. Thompson mentioned above was “Henry” Thompson, mentioned below, showing that he was living in Walnut Township in 1881...
HENRY THOMPSON. WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
[MUSTER ROLLS BY TOWNSHIPS AS FAR AS HEARD FROM.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 27, 1881 - Front Page.
OLD SOLDIERS OF WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
HENRY THOMPSON, PRIVATE, CO. B, 8TH MO. CAV.
H. C. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY?
Arkansas City Traveler, September 12, 1883.
H. C. Thompson last week sold a bunch of 50 head of mixed cattle to Jos. Gierson, of Newton, at the rate of $35 for cows and calves, $25 for dry cows, and $30 for two-year-olds.
ISAAC THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 22, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
The family of Isaac Thompson, in the First ward, are down with an attack of the measles.
JIM THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 21, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Madame Jeffries and daughter have rented front rooms over C. R. Sipes’ hardware establishment, and have been holding forth there for some weeks. Friday night they had a big racket. Jim Thompson, a man who abides with the aforesaid women as their protector, went in and found a traveler by the name of Webb. Thompson ordered him to “get out,” but for some reason Webb did not go as rapidly as was desired and the consequence was he was knocked down the stairway by Thompson. He gathered himself together as soon as he regained his senses and sought his hotel. Saturday Thompson, Webb, the madame, and her daughter were arrested. Thompson was fined $25 and costs, total $36.00, for the part he took in the fracas; and Webb $17. The two women plead guilty to running a house of prostitution and were each fined $10 and costs; total each $14. The entire party paid all the assessments in full.
J. J. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 18, 1886.
Police Court Doings.
There was a disturbance in a bagnio on Summit Street on Friday night, which led to the arrest of all the inmates, and their appearance in the police court the next day. Fred J. Webb was the first offender tried, the charge against him being unlawful cohabitation. His story was that he had treated one of the inmates of the house to a carriage ride, had had a social time with her, and when he arrived at her rooms went to bed to sleep off his debauch. While in the house he was assaulted by J. J. Thompson and driven out into the street. Fined $10 and $7 costs.
J. J. Thompson was next arraigned for unlawful cohabitation and assault. His assessment was $25 fine and $6 costs.
Mrs. Jeffries, for keeping a house of ill fame, was mulcted $10 and $4 costs; and her daughter, Miss Jeffries, for being an inmate of a disorderly house, was assessed in the same amount.
J. L. THOMPSON. ARKANSAS CITY.
[NOTICE TO DELINQUENT TAX-PAYERS.]
Winfield Courier, December 30, 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.
Living in Arkansas City: J. L. Thompson.
J. M. THOMPSON. WINFIELD.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1878.
Minutes of meeting held at Bethel schoolhouse, district 37th, Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.
1. On motion B. McCann was appointed president of society.
2. On motion Peter Paugh was appointed vice president.
3. On motion John Mentch was appointed secretary.
4. On motion M. J. Ross was appointed treasurer.
5. Resolved, That this society be called the Murphy Temperance Society.
6. Resolved, That the meetings of this society be held on Tuesday evenings of each week.
7. Resolved, That we appoint a committee of five on program.
8. Committee on program: Henry Weekly, Quin Paugh, M. J. Ross, Julia Anderson, and Frank Weekly.
9. Vote of thanks to J. L. Rushbridge.
10. On motion the secretary be requested to furnish the county papers with the proceedings of this meeting, and the names of those who have signed the pledge.
Minutes read and approved. J. L. Rushbridge, Secretary pro tem.
One of those who signed: J. M. Thompson.
JOHN THOMPSON - VERNON TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.
Mr. John Thompson, a young man from Vernon Township, had a run-a-way Saturday. He was driving a team of colts and one of them got his head under the cheek and began to run in a circle. Thompson jumped out, grabbed the bits, and was trying to stop them when the off colt gave him a heavy kick on the leg. This was more than he bargained for and he let the colts go. The buggy was picked up in a demoralized condition.
JOHN THOMPSON - WINFIELD?
Winfield Courier, February 10, 1881.
Ike Davis and John Thompson had a little “jamboree” on the streets Saturday night. They got under the influence of liquor and attempted to stand off the marshal with a knife. It is needless to say that they languished over Sunday in the cooler, and their spare change found its way into the city treasury.
JOHN C. THOMPSON - Arkansas City?
Arkansas City Traveler, June 9, 1880.
John C. Thompson and Ches. Dolsberry have just returned from Colorado. They say Kansas is good enough for them from this time on, and don’t want any more Colorado in theirs.
REV. J. M. THOMPSON - VERNON?
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1884.
MARRIED. Mr. R. L. Millspaugh and Miss Mary O. Yeoman were united in Marriage last Thursday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Yeoman, parents of the bride, in Vernon Township, Rev. J. M. Thompson, conducting the ceremonies. Friends and neighbors were present in full force, some of them from abroad, and the occasion was one of the pleasantest. The presents were numerous, useful, and elegant. The groom is the son of J. W. Millspaugh, of Vernon, and one of the sturdy, most industrious, and frugal young men of the county, and in every way worthy of the sterling young lady who consents to share the joys and sorrows of life. The congratulations were many and hearty. The COURIER extends thanks for as fine a variety of cake as ever tickled the palate. May peace and prosperity ever attend this launch upon the matrimonial sea.
J. S. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
LAND SLIDES.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 23, 1885.
The following are the real estate transfers for the past week, as taken from the official records, and furnished the COURIER by the real estate firm of Harris & Clark.
M. J. Swarts and B. C. Swarts to J. S. Thompson, lots 15, 16, 17, blk 187, Arkansas City. $130.00
L. W. THOMPSON. LOCATION UNKNOWN.
Winfield Courier, April 4, 1878.
Real Estate Transfers.
L. W. Thompson to W. O. Wright, n. ½ sw. 8, 32, 6; 80 acres, $200.
M. S. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 19, 1887. From Thursday’s Daily.
M. S. Thompson returned to his Missouri home last evening. He will come back here in about one month, bringing with him a car-load of fine driving horses.
N. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY - 1886.
Arkansas City Republican, April 24, 1886.
N. Thompson purchased through the agency of Lowe, Hoffman & Barron the Fred Farrar property in the first ward. He paid $3,200 therefor.
Arkansas City Republican, April 24, 1886.
N. Thompson sold to A. G. Lowe a section of land of which he is owner in Ford County this week. The consideration was $6,400.
Arkansas City Republican, April 24, 1886.
N. Thompson, who recently located here from Harper County, purchased 80 acres of land in Sumner County from A. G. Lowe. The consideration was $2,500.
N. C. THOMPSON.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
Probate Court.
First annual settlement of the estate of Daniel Weaverling, deceased, was made this week. Administrator to pay all debts which have been allowed. N. C. Thompson was allowed his demand of fifty dollars against the estate. Report of sale of real estate of John B. Daniels, deceased, approved and deed altered. David C. Beach was appointed administrator of the estate of Wm. B. Carr; C. A. Roberts, administrator of the estate of Mary Davenport; and Edna [?] U, Smyth, administratrix of the estate of Wm. H. Smyth.
N. T. THOMPSON - NEW SALEM.
Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882.
SILVER WEDDING.
Quite an agreeable surprise occurred at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. D. Bovee, at New Salem, on the evening of June 23rd. A company of twenty-one ladies and gentlemen called on them just as they were about to retire for the night and put them in remembrance of the fact that it was the 25th anniversary of their wedding and they had come to help them celebrate it. While Mr. and Mrs. Bovee were receiving and making their guests comfortable, a few of the ladies were in the dining room preparing a wedding feast from their well filled baskets, which they had prepared and brought along for the occasion. By the time the host and hostess had their guests comfortably seated, the dining room door was swung open and Mr. and Mrs. Bovee were invited to supper, and acquainted with the fact that they were expected to be the guests of their friends for the evening. The bride and groom of the occasion were placed at the head of the table, and when the company became seated at the table, Mrs. W. C. Douglass, in a neatly fitting speech, presented them with the following presents. We give the names of the donors.
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Douglass, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher, Mr. and Mrs. E. I. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Pixley, and Messrs. W. McEwen and Ed. Christopher were the donors of a beautiful silver cake basket and set of silver napkin rings. Mr. and Mrs. N. T. Thompson, silver sugar spoon; Mr. Frank Pixley, silver mustard spoon; Miss Alice Johnson, silver sugar spoon; Mrs. Wm. Bell and Mrs. M. C. Porter, of Biggsville, Illinois, silver butter knife. W. C. D.
R. G. THOMPSON AND S. J. THOMPSON.
[COURT DOCKET: OCTOBER TERM.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 27, 1876.
R. G. Thompson vs. S. J. Thompson.
S. J. THOMPSON - WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 26, 1885.
Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Thompson, of south Walnut township, were made the happy parents of a bouncing girl prattler Monday. Dr. Marsh thinks with careful nursing, the old gentleman will pull through.
R. S. THOMPSON - NINNESCAH TOWNSHIP.
[COMPLETE LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1876.
Township—NENESCAH: [NAME USED IN THE EARLY DAYS.]
TRUSTEE, L. STOUT.
CLERK, S. B. GOODRICH.
TREASURER, W. H. WHITE.
JUSTICES: D. W. PIERCE; R. S. THOMPSON.
CONSTABLES: A. B. ODELL; F. D. DAVIS.
SAMUEL THOMPSON. SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Township Elections.
The following township officers were declared elected by the Board of Commissioners at their canvass of the vote on Tuesday.
SPRING CREEK: Geo. Easton, trustee; Robt. Haines, clerk; Albert Gritkey, treasurer; Samuel Thompson, J. P.; Robt. Shinn and Frank Schofield, constables.
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1884.
Office of the County Clerk, Winfield, Kansas, February 12th, 1884.
BOARD met in regular session agreeable to adjournment of January 16, 1884. Present: S. C. Smith (Chairman), Amos Walton, Commissioner, County Attorney, and J. S. Hunt, County Clerk.
Among other proceedings the following claims were allowed the Judges and Clerks of the February 5th 1884 election...paid from $2.00 to $6.00.
SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Judges: T. S. Parvin, R. J. Mead, Samuel Thompson.
Clerks: F. Chaplin, G. F. Gilleland.
S. S. THOMPSON. UDALL AREA.
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1884.
Mr. Patrick is shelling out his cribs of corn, will have about 80 car loads. S. S. Thompson is also shelling his, will have about 40 car loads. This gives our town a lively appearance and takes the energy of Harvey, the R. R. Agent, to keep them in cars, as well as the other shippers.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1884.
UDALL NOTES. — “G.”
S. S. Thompson will start for Chicago in a few days on grain business.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 7, 1885.
S. S. Thompson and family start for Chicago today, the 5th. We are sorry to lose Mr. Thompson and family, but sincerely trust that prosperity and happiness will follow them to their new home.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 21, 1885.
Dr. Mudgett purchased the S. S. Thompson property last week. The Dr. is becoming quite a landed proprietor, hence he recognizes a good bargain at all times.
THOMAS THOMPSON - WINFIELD.
A SAD ACCIDENT.
Morphine Carries Away Another Victim, A Bright Little Girl.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 15, 1885.
One of those sad accidents which forcibly illustrate the brittleness of human life occurred at the Ohio House on South Main Wednesday night of last week. The bright, little two-year-old girl of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Thompson had been ailing slightly and was very restless. Late in the night she seemed to defy all efforts to quiet her, though there were no signs of serious illness, and the mother went to a large open mouthed morphine bottle, dipped the spoon in it, and gave the child what she thought was a small dose. But the spoon was damp, and it is supposed as much clung to the bottom as there was in it. The child immediately went to sleep and nothing more was thought of her until the father heard very hard breathing. Efforts were made to arouse her, without avail. A physician was summoned, but when he reached there, the little soul had fled, and the father and mother were wringing their hands in despair. It was a terrible blow to the parents.
VICTOR THOMPSON. FORMERLY FROM UDALL AREA.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
Udall Sentinel Items.
DIED. Victor Thompson, formerly a resident of this county and a brother-in-law of Marion Fitzsimmons, of Udall, was instantly killed in Shasta County, Colorado, by the caving in of a mine on the 23rd of last month. He had sold his property, and in a few days would have been en route for his old home had this sad catastrophe not happened.
WEBB THOMPSON - UDALL.
[UDALL. “O”]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 8, 1885.
Webb Thompson and his sister, Clara, returned to Emporia to school on the 3d inst.
WM. THOMPSON - PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, February 23, 1882.
Wm. F. Wise has bought the Wm. Thompson 80 in Pleasant Valley Township for $1,500.
UNKNOWN THOMPSON. AKRON.
W. L. Thompson???
[AKRON CORRESPONDENT: NAME NOT GIVEN.]
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
N. E. Darling has sold his store at Akron to Mr. Thompson, and will change his location to Grand Summit, Cowley County. Mr. Darling and E. E. Rogers will set up a general store at that place. They will build immediately. The short time Mr. Darling has been our merchant, he has worked up a good trade and has done an honest business. While we are sorry to lose Mr. Darling as a merchant, we wish him and his partner unlimited success in their new location.
[AKRON CORRESPONDENT: “OLIVER.”]
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1884.
Friend “Mike,” who writes from Akron to the Telegram, seems jubilant over getting a Democrat Post Master. You must bear in mind, “Mike,” it was not because Mr. Thompson is a Democrat that he is Post Master. It was because the location suited the majority of the people and was recommended by the Republicans as well as the Democrats.
[AKRON CORRESPONDENT: “OLIVER.”]
Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.
Oliver of Akron Observes.
That Mr. Thompson has added new goods to his store and is doing a good business.
[AKRON ITEMS. “PET.”]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 8, 1885.
Mr. Thompson of the Akron store is very sick.
[AKRON ITEMS. “PET.”]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 15, 1885.
Mr. Thompson is again able to attend to duties in his store.
AKRON ITEMS. “PET.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 12, 1885.
Mr. W. L. Thompson will haul his freight hereafter on a spring wagon.
UNKNOWN THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 1, 1887. From Thursday’s Daily.
Messrs. Thompson and Croft purchased four lots this morning out in Swarts’ addition, through the real estate agency of Meigs & Nelson. The consideration was $500. Both gentlemen will erect residences.
THOMPSON AND HILLIARD - ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 19, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.
Messrs. Thompson and Hilliard sold P. Peters an acre northwest of the city this morning or $675.
“UNCLE BILLY TH0MPSON.” OTTER TOWNSHIP.
CULLINGS FROM OTTER. “OTTERITE.”
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 9, 1885.
Uncle Billy Thompson’s brother is visiting him from Allen County. They got separated 35 years ago, and each supposed the other dead until a few days ago. They killed the fatted calf and had a good time over their meeting.
R. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
LAND SLIDES.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 23, 1885.
The following are the real estate transfers for the past week, as taken from the official records, and furnished the COURIER by the real estate firm of Harris & Clark.
R. Thompson and wife to C. M. Scott, lots 25 and 26, block 1, Arkansas City. $10.00
DR. THOMPSON - CORONER - WINFIELD??
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 7, 1885.
The gravel train on the Fort Scott & Gulf railroad ran over Michael Millaty, a laborer, 7:30 Wednesday morning, mangling and crushing his leg in such a manner that he died almost instantly. He was about forty years old, and is said to have a family in Chicago. Dr. Thompson, the coroner, was telegraphed for, and an inquest held at about 11 o’clock. The jury returned a verdict of accidental killing, with no blame attached.
THOMPSON - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 7, 1885.
Capt. Stevens, Messrs. Carson, Phenix, and Thompson were down from Richland Friday, looking after the interests of their township in the new railroad proposition.
NANCY J. THOMPSON AND HUSBAND - ARKANSAS CITY.
LAND SLIDES.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 25, 1885.
The following are the real estate transfers, filed in the office of Register of Deeds yesterday.
C M Scott et ux to Nancy J Thompson, lots 19 and 20, blk 195, Ark City: $70
Nancy J Thompson and husband to Sallie G Vawter, lots 19 and 20 blk 105, Ark City: $175
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 2, 1885.
The following are the real estate transfers filed in the office of Register of Deeds yesterday.
Frances M Howey et ux to Nancy Jane Thompson, lots 21 and 22 blk 7, Arkansas City: $200.
MISS THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 6, 1885.
Mrs. F. J. Hess and Miss Thompson were up from Arkansas City last Friday.
MAGGIE THOMPSON - LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 3, 1885.
Liberty township comes up with the latest case of misplaced confidence. Maggie Thompson, a girl of eighteen, has had Steven Carver arrested, charging him with being the father of her unborn babe. Constable Siverd brought him before Judge Buckman Tuesday, and the examination was set for the 14th inst. Steven is a young man of twenty-three, with some property. He don’t look bad, but his reputation indicates differently. He gave bond for his appearance.
WRONG’S REMEDY.
Stephen Carver, Confronted With the Gravity of His Crime,
Ends All in Matrimony.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 17, 1885.
A week ago Stephen Carver was brought before Judge Buckman, charged with being the father of Maggie Thompson’s unborn babe. Both reside in Liberty township. He is a young fellow of twenty-four and she a girl of twenty. He has always been considered a tough one. She is of a good family, one upon whom no stain has ever before fallen. He wooed Maggie, got her confidence and love, and under the guise of a matrimonial engagement, took her virtue—a woman’s all. That he never intended to marry her is evident. His property was put in the name of another, and he got in readiness to “skunk” out. But the girl realized her misplaced confidence—her terrible mistake—and brought a criminal action. The trial was set for Monday. A day or so ago County Attorney Asp got Carver in tow, and talked to him like a Dutch Uncle, showing up the devilishness of Steve’s crime—how he had ruined a promising, innocent girl, to be thrown on a cold and unsympathetic world with an indelible brand on her brow, and the legal penalty to pay himself. Steve “caved,” and consented to end all in matrimony, and yesterday the climax came. The relatives on both sides appeared in the County Attorney’s office, Judge Gans and a marriage license were sent for, and the ceremony pronounced. The Judge’s preliminary advice melted everyone present. He told of the mistakes of life and their remedies; the solemn obligations of the marriage vow, admonishing the young couple to retrieve their mistakes with a determination unshakeable. It was a peculiarly pathetic scene—in wonderful contrast to the usual jollity of a wedding. The bride and groom cried like children. Those who know the couple best think their marriage will “stick,” and their lives be happy. She loves him with an ardent devotion that will go a long ways toward this result. His late actions exhibit manhood, capable of blotting out this mistake in a long and happy wedded life. That such will be the case is the earnest wish of all.
ANOTHER STIR!
The Social Arena of Liberty Township Again Shaken—Too Much Lothario.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 17, 1885.
Liberty township again stirred from center to circumference, right on the heels of the Carver-Thompson case. This time the social disarrangement embraces numerous families whose male guardians have wandered from the straight and narrow path of virtue. The origin of the affair is with Mrs. Jake Davis. It is reported that Jake had been watching her suspicious actions from the corner of his left eye for some time, and at a Holiness meeting night before last, her Lotharios’ made themselves entirely too officious. Reaching home Jake began to tear up hades, and his wife, instead of penitently pleading, told him to go to “thunder.” Warmer and warmer grew the melee until household furniture flew like hail stones. The old lady, with furious anathemas, “got up and got,” leaving the old man the field. She declares her determination to come to Winfield, hire out as a domestic, and shuffle him forever. Jake is forty-five years old, and they have six children, the oldest twenty-one, and the youngest a baby. The affray has caused intense excitement in the neighborhood, and the gossips are rolling morsels of unusual sweetness under their tongues. Our informant was unable to say what would be done with the children. A number of married men have an unenviable interest in the row—their better halves’ in their wool in a manner that beckons a divorce court. Jake don’t kick on his wife’s precipitate flight—is glad of it.
ALICE I. THOMPSON - ARKANSAS CITY.
LAND SLIDES.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 24, 1885.
The following are the real estate transfers filed in the office of Register of Deeds since our last issue.
Fleazer Baldwin to Alice I Thompson, lot 16 and s hf lot 11, blk 165, Leonard’s ad to A C: $500
THOMPSON. GROUSE CREEK.
Arkansas City Traveler, March 1, 1876.
CHILD BURNED. Last Monday a child of Mr. Thompson’s, living on Grouse Creek, was so badly burned by fire that it died during the night. We were unable to get full particulars.
UNIDENTIFIED THOMPSON.
[A JOURNEY TO THE INDIAN COUNTRY: BY C. M. SCOTT.]
TRAVELER, FEBRUARY 21, 1877 - FRONT PAGE. And TRAVELER, FEBRUARY 28, 1877 - FRONT PAGE.
Noticing a number of wagons coming from the south on the evening of our arrival, we went to where they were camped and found them to be Arkansas City freighters on their return from Fort Sill, namely: E. D. Bowen, A. A. Davis, R. B. Scott, Gardner Mott, Johnny Mott, Brown, Provose, Thompson, Dilworth, Belknap, and Campbell. The latter three were on their way down. After leaving the last TRAVELER and telling all we could think of, we left them for the night.
THOMPSON FROM INDIANA SETTLES IN VERNON TOWNSHIP.
[ORCHARD COTTAGE CORRESPONDENT: “M. LEWIS.”]
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
Vernon Township.
Mr. Croco has moved out and Mr. Thompson from Indiana, who purchased his farm, has moved in. Mr. Thompson paid $3,000 for 80 acres. Vernon farms when sold bring the stamps.
HOOVER & THOMPSON - WINFIELD.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
PUBLIC SALE. We, the undersigned, having shipped for our own use a car load of Yearling Bulls from Morgan County, Illinois, and having more than we need, we will offer for sale on Monday, June 16, 1884, commencing at 2 o’clock p.m., at John Bobbitt’s sale stable, 9th avenue, Winfield, the following described property: 10 or 12 high grade short horn yearling bulls. Also 1 thoroughbred exported Poll-Angus bull and one of his get 6 months old. Terms: six months time on approved security without interest. If not paid when due, 10 percent interest from date. HOOVER & THOMPSON, Winfield, Kansas.
Walter Denning, Auctioneer.
MR. THOMPSON FROM ILLINOIS - PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
[HACKNEY CORRESPONDENT: “GRAPHITE.”]
Arkansas City Republican, October 24, 1885.
Hon. Henry Harbaugh sold his two quarter section farms last week to one Mr. Thompson, of Illinois. Consideration: $13,250. Mr. Harbaugh has been one of the oldest inhabitants of this section besides a public spirited man and his removal will be much regretted by this community. By energy, industry, and intelligently directed efforts, his residence quarter section is one of the nicest, neatest, and most conveniently arranged farms in this township.
MRS. THOMPSON AND DAUGHTER.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 21, 1882.
Mrs. Thompson and daughter, of Emporia, arrived in our city last Friday, and visited their old friends, U. Spray and family.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 21, 1882.
Tom Gilbert, the Kaw trader, was in town last Saturday. Upon his return he was accompanied by Mrs. Thompson and daughter, of Emporia, who intend spending several weeks visiting Mrs. Gilbert.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 26, 1883.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, of Emporia, are in the city and will spend the holidays with their daughter, Mrs. T. J. Gilbert.
THOMPSON - REAL ESTATE - WINFIELD.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, April 2, 1887. From Saturday’s Daily.
Frank J. Hess, who has just returned from a trip to Ft. Smith and Little Rock, informs us that at the first named city he met Frank Greer, Col. J. C. McMullen, H. G. Fuller, and Thompson, the real estate man, all of Winfield, down there speculating in town lots. Greer is going to start a real estate office. He has left Winfield and gone to a booming town. Col. McMullen says they have endeavored to work up a boom in Winfield, but that it was an utter impossibility to do so. Mr. Hess considered Little Rock the best town for investment. Property was not so high there and the town was booming. A man from Kansas is dubbed a “Kansas boomer,” and his acquaintance is courted by all. He was pleased with that country, but in his estimation Arkansas City was far ahead of any town he visited for investments in real estate. Therefore, he did not buy.
