Barber County Kansas
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Barber County Kansas |
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Some men are born to fortune, which when properly defined means that they are born into the possession of certain faculties for the successful accomplishment of certain things in which education and training play but a secondary, if any, part.We discovered a man of this character not very long ago, living out on Antelope Flats about five miles east of Medicine Lodge, in the dwelling we elsewhere reproduce in photograph for fuller identification of locality and as evidence that this is not a tale of fiction but a very matter of fact relation of occurrences that go to prove the truth of our premises at the head of this article.
It is now something over 15 years that Samuel Stewart left his home in Biggsville, Henderson county, Illinois and came to Kansas, for the betterment of his fortunes. After looking over the northern part of the state without finding what he sought, he came south and finally pitched his tent on the quarter-section where he now lives. After using a portion of his capital, $3,000, in stocking his farm and making needed improvements, he began the investment of the surplus and the gains from the farm in buying stock and the acquirement of more land. His integrity and keen business foresight soon attracted attention in financial circles and money was freely proffered him for such investments as his judgment dictated. To show that the financial judgments of the banks were not in error, we have only to state the fact that for the last thirteen years, his dealings with banking institutions has ranged from $100,000 to $500,000 a year, the vouchers for which he holds to verify the statement. He has of course made money for the banks, but at the same time he has not entirely neglected his own interests, as the following statement will show: Beginning with 160 acres of land, a capital of perhaps $2,000, he now owns 2,240 acres of deeded land as good as the sun shines on and commands a stock range of 6,000 acres. His stock herd, or the number he winters, does not vary much from 500 head, his principal business being in buying and selling through the summer and fall. In this department he handles anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 head as the opportunity offers. This winter he is holding over 400 individual and 500 in which another party is interested.
Mr. Stewart also owns valuable real estate in Medicine Lodge, has a bunch of 40 horses and mules and a herd of swine. Of course he has the necessary barns, sheds and corrals. Water in any quantity is procurable at a depth of 20 feet anywhere on his premises. He has a five acre orchard of bearing apples, peach, apricot and cherry trees. His home, while unpretentious, is built to stay, with plenty of room for the needs of his family, consisting of himself, wife and six children, four sons and two daughters. Mr. Stewart is only 41 years old and looks even younger. While not educated in the schools, he is a close student of current events, has a practical knowledge of affairs which combined with good home sense, is of more real good value than the core of books. Mrs. Stewart was a Miss Thompson, one of an Ohio family, prominent in education and religious work and is a niece of David Rankin of Tarkio, Mo., said to be the most extensive farmer and stock feeder in the world.
She is a most estimable woman and has been an important factor in the success achieved by her husband.
Township 31 South, Range XV West of the 6th P.M.
Map of the area southwest of Sun City, Kansas.
From Standard Atlas of Barber County, Kansas, 1905.
Thanks to Ellen (Knowles) Bisson for finding, transcribing and contributing the above Medicine Lodge Cresset article to this web site!
It is one of a series of articles published together on 2 March 1900 under the title of Barber County Profiles: Men Who Have Taken a Prominent Part in Developing the Stock Industry in Barber County.
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