First settlements: Solomon township, fall of 1872, by Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon and P. Hanson; Centre township, April, 1872, Shelby D. Reed.
First school houses: Solomon township, 1874, district No. 7; Almena township, 1874; Centre township, spring of 1874, by Charles D. Bieber.
First marriages: Solomon township, John Lunny and Miss Dunlap; Centre township, James Kinyon and Ellen Green, July 25, 1873.
First births: Solomon township, Annie Beaumont, January 4, 1873; Centre township, Kate Kelley, March 3, 1873.
First business established: Centre township, general store, September, 1872, Newell Bros.
First post offices: West Union and Port Landis, January, 1874: Alfred Coleman and John Landis, postmasters.
The first farm was opened by P. Hanson, Solomon township, in the spring of 1872.
There was considerable apprehension from Indians in 1873, but no actual troubles. Large numbers of buffaloes wintered on the Solomon, in Solomon township, during the winter of 1872-3, and they were plenty up to 1875; since 1876, they have entirely disappeared. Wild turkeys left in 1874, and there has been but little game in the county since. The grasshopper invasion retarded immigration, but the county is now filling up rapidly.
Norton county was organized in 1872.
Population in 1875, 899; in 1878, 1,855; increase in three years, 956. Rural population, 1,576; city or town population, 279; per cent of rural to city or town population, 85.
POPULATION of 1878, by Townships and Cities.
| TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES | POP. |
| Almena | 605 |
| Centre | 750 |
| Solomon | 500 |
Face of the Country. -- Bottom land, 8 per cent.; upland, 92 per cent.; forest (Government survey), 1 per cent. ; prairie, 99 per cent.
Timber. -- A mere fringe along some of the streams. Varieties: elm, willow and cottonwood. A great many claims have been taken under the timber-culture act, but the trees planted are yet very small. The grasshoppers have heretofore seriously retarded the cultivation, but those since planted are doing exceedingly well where attention has been given them. Cottonwood, box elder, elm and walnut are the, principal varieties.
Principal Streams. -- Solomon river flows east through the southern tier of townships. Prairie Dog flows through the central portion, and Sappa through the northwest corner of the county, from southwest to northeast. All of the foregoing have numerous small tributaries. The county is moderately well supplied with springs; the depth at which well water is reached ranges from 10 to 75 feet.
Coal. -- W. B. Rogers, of Norton, states that there is coal in Township 1, Range 25, and in Township 5, Range 24, in veins of 18 inches, and at a depth of from 10 to 20 feet. A small quantity has been mined for local use. We have nothing additional to the foregoing, which was published in the last report.
Building Stone, etc. -- Plenty of good building stone abounds -lime, chalk and flint stones. Good limestone found in the southeast corner of the county; sandstone in the other portions of the county, but usually not fit for building.
Railroads. -- None in the county.
Agricultural Statistics.-- Acres in the county, 576,000; taxable acres, 11,825; under cultivation, 13,865.75; cultivated to taxable acres, 117.26 per cent.; increase of cultivated acres during the year, 4,254.88.
Value of Garden Produce, Poultry and Eggs Sold during the Year.-- Garden produce, $90; poultry and eggs, $521.
Old Corn on Hand - Old corn on hand March 1, 1878, 7,033 bushels, or an average of 19 bushels to each family.
| Crops | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 |
| Winter Wheat | 128.00 | 240.00 | 487.00 | 1,859.00 | 3,151.00 | ||
| Rye | 150.00 | 1,450.00 | 1,464.00 | 1,933.00 | |||
| Spring Wheat | 257.00 | 1,162.00 | 1,027.00 | 776.00 | 1,698.00 | ||
| Corn | 2,634.00 | 2,553.00 | 7,500.00 | 3,274.00 | 3,727.00 | ||
| Barley | 386.00 | 175.00 | 120.00 | 260.00 | |||
| Oats | 137.00 | 205.00 | 158.00 | 132.00 | 142.00 | ||
| Buckwheat | 2.00 | 4.00 | |||||
| Irish Potatoes | 29.50 | 53.75 | 45.00 | 126.00 | |||
| Sweet Potatoes | 0.87 | 0.50 | |||||
| Sorghum | 10.75 | 77.00 | 115.00 | 118.50 | |||
| Castor Beans | |||||||
| Cotton | |||||||
| Flax | 2.50 | 2.00 | 5.00 | ||||
| Hemp | 0.50 | ||||||
| Tobacco | 1.50 | 1.50 | |||||
| Broom Corn | 32.00 | 15.00 | |||||
| Millet and Hungarian | 63.25 | 409.25 | 1,083.00 | 1,111.00 | |||
| Timothy Meadow | 2.50 | 9.50 | 7.00 | ||||
| Clover Meadow | 7.31 | 0.75 | |||||
| Prairie Meadow | |||||||
| Timothy Pasture | |||||||
| Clover Pasture | |||||||
| Blue-Grass Pasture | |||||||
| Prairie Pasture | 160.00 | 695.00 | 1565.00 | ||||
| Total | 3,156.00 | 4,799.00 | 11,509.31 | 9,610.87 | 13,865.75 |
Increase in four years, 339+ per cent.
Average increase per annum, 84.75+ per cent.
Acreage for the years mentioned in the foregoing table.
| CROPS | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 |
| Wheat | 61 | 58 | 63 | 57 | 60 | ||
| Corn | 62 | 63 | 59 | 64 | 64 | ||
| Total Acreage in all Crops | 62 | 63 | 63 | 64 | 65 |
together with the Increase and Decrease as compared with 1877.
| CROPS | Acres in 1878 | INCREASE or DECREASE from 1877 | PRODUCT in 1878 | INCREASE or DECREASE from 1877 | VALUE of PRODUCT in 1878 | INCREASE or DECREASE from 1877 |
| Winter Wheat bu. | 3,151.00 | 1,292.00 in. | 72,473.00 | 42,729.00 in. | $41,309.61 | $20,976.01 in. |
| Rye bu. | 1,933.00 | 469.00 in. | 57,990.00 | 18,462.00 in. | 17,397.00 | 5,538.60 in. |
| Spring Wheat bu. | 1,698.00 | 922.00 in. | 33,960.00 | 18,440.00 in. | 16,980.00 | 6,892.00 in. |
| Corn bu. | 3,727.00 | 453.00 in. | 149,080.00 | 50,860.00 in. | 37,270.00 | 19,590.40 in. |
| Barley bu. | 260.00 | 140.00 in. | 8,320.00 | 4,720.00 in | 2,329.60 | 1,321.60 in. |
| Oats bu. | 142.00 | 10.00 in | 6,674.00 | 2,318.00 in. | 1,668.50 | 971.54 in. |
| Buckwheat bu. | 4.00 | 2.00 in. | 56.00 | 36.00 in. | 48.80 | 28.80 in. |
| Irish Potatoes bu. | 126.00 | 81.00 in. | 15,120.00 | 12,870.00 in. | 3,780.00 | 2,655.00 in. |
| Sweet Potatoes bu. | 0.50 | .37 de | 45.00 | 33.30 de. | 33.75 | 44.55 de. |
| Sorghum gal. | 118.50 | 3.50 in. | 13,627.50 | 402.50 in. | 6,813.75 | 201.25 in. |
| Castor Beans bu. | ||||||
| Cotton lbs. | ||||||
| Flax bu. | 5.00 | 3.00 in. | 50.00 | 34.00 in. | 50.00 | 33.20 in. |
| Hemp lbs. | 0.50 | .50 in. | 460.00 | 460.00 in. | 27.60 | 27.60 in. |
| Tobacco lbs. | 1.50 | 1,110.00 | 111.00 | |||
| Broom Corn lbs. | 15.00 | 17.00 de. | 11,250.00 | 14,350.00 de. | 421.88 | 538.12 de. |
| Millet & Hungarian tons | 1111.00 | 28.00 in | 3,333.00 | 896.25 in. | 13332.00 | 3,585.00 in. |
| Timothy Meadow tons | 7.00 | 2.50 de. | 7.00 | 2.50 de. | 35.00 | 12.50 de. |
| Clover Meadow tons | 0.75 | .75 in. | 1.12 | 1.12 in. | 5.04 | 5.04 in. |
| Prairie Meadow tons | ||||||
| Timothy Pasture acres | ||||||
| Clover Pasture acres | ||||||
| Blue Grass Pasture acres | ||||||
| Prairie Pasture acres | 1,565.00 | 870.00 in. | ||||
| Total | 13,865.75 | 4,254.88 in. | $141,609.53 | $61,230.87 in. |
Dairy Products -- Cheese manufactured in 1875, 40 lbs.; in 1878, 2,550 lbs.; increase, 2,510 lbs. Butter manufactured in 1875, 3,475 lbs.; in 1878, 58,880 lbs.; increase, 55,405 lbs.
Farm Animals. -- Number of horses, in 1877, 326; in 1878, 695; increase, 369. Mules and asses, in 1877, 60; in 1878, 83; increase, 23. Milch cows, in 1877, 601; in 1878, 701; increase, 100. Other cattle, in 1877, 1,235; in 1878, 1,948; increase, 713. Sheep, in 1877, 100; in 1878, 333; increase, 233. Swine, in 1877, 743; in 1878, 1,515; increase, 772.
Sheep Killed by Dogs. -- Number of sheep killed by dogs, 2; value of sheep killed by dogs, $6.
Wool.-- Clip of 1877, 738 pounds.
Value of Animals Slaughtered.-- Value of animals slaughtered and sold for slaughter during the year, $2,761.90.
Horticulture.-- Number of acres nurseries, .50. Number of trees In bearing: apple, -; pear, -; peach, 200; plum, -; cherry, _ . Number of trees not in bearing: apple, 536; pear, 58; peach, 2,791; plum, 67; cherry, 75.
Herd Law.-- The herd law is in operation in the county, and the popular sentiment is decisively in its favor. Our correspondent says: " We could not farm without it." It promotes the growth of small grain rather than of stock. In its favor, it is urged that it will settle up the county with men who intend to make it their home and help develop the country; against it, that it drives capital out of the county, in the shape of stock men, and thus increases taxation.
Fences.-Stone, 401 rods; cost, $802. Rail, 2,540 rods; cost, $4,064 Board, 157 rods; cost, $235.50 Wire, 390 rods; cost, $312. Hedge, 400 rods; cost, $280. Total rods of fence, 3,888; total cost, $5,693.50.
Apiaculture. -- No report.
Value of Agricultural Implements.-- Amount invested in agricultural implements, $5,619
Manufactures. -- Almena township: water-power flouring mill, capital, $2,531. Centre township: water-power saw mill, capital, $2,000; waterpower flouring mill, capital, $5,000. Steam saw mill, portable, post office address of proprietor, Norton, Kansas.
Valuation and Indebtedness. -- Assessed valuation of personal property, $64,054.60; total assessed valuation of all property, $111,599.60; true valuation of all property, $185,999.33. Total indebtedness of county, township, city and school districts, $4,113.90; per cent. of indebtedness to assessed valuation, .04 -.
Newspaper History. -- The Norton County Bee was started at Norton, January 1st, 1877, Harmer & Baker, proprietors, Nat. L. Baker, editor. In November of that year, Harmer sold his interest to Baker, who removed the establishment to Leota, January 1st; 1878. September 15th, following, he returned with his office to Norton, and issued three numbers, when it was discontinued.
The Norton County Advance was established at Norton, June, 1878, Pettigrew & Collins, publishers and proprietors. It is still issued, and is Republican in politics.
The Free Press was established at Norton, October 7th, 1878, Dr. A. A. Baker, editor.
The Norton County Locomotive was started at Leota, October 15th, 1878, Nat. L. Baker, editor.
Schools.-- Number of organized districts, 24; school population, 642 ; average salary of teachers, per month, males, $22.55; females, $15.13, School houses built during 1878, log, 2. Total number of school houses, 11; log, 10; frame, 1. Value of all school property, $975. No ornamentation of school grounds reported.
Churches.-- Baptist: organizations, 3; membership, 100. Methodist Episcopal organizations, 7; membership, 80. Presbyterian: organizations, 1; membership, 15. Roman Catholic: organizations, 1; membership, 200.
