The editor of the Protection Post sent out a tracer in his paper last week as to who is the oldest surviving settler in Comanche-co., and requests subject report the facts to the Post. The Western Star submits the following information on the subject.
The Earliest Comers The first settlers in the county took claims along Mule Creek in the eastern part of the county during the '70s (1870s). Among those in that list and who still survive are D. F. Edmonds, D. T. McIntire and Mrs. R. H. Estill. Mr. Edmonds took his claim in the fall of 1874. The following spring he returned to Wichita, where he had left his family. In the year 1876 the family came. Mr. McIntire came in the year 1877, and settled on the ranch which he still owns. Less than a year later Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Estill came and settled a short distance down Mule Creek from the McIntire ranch. Mrs. Estill is still living and makes her home on the ranch. W. J. Pepperd came about the year 1883, and worked as a cowboy on his uncle's ranch. Mr. Pepperd was quite a young man then. He has stayed with the county ever since. Mr. Edmonds, Mr. McIntire and Mr. Pepperd all make their home in Coldwater.
The Settlers of '84 and the few Years Following The active settlement of the county began in the spring of 1884. Among the settlers who came either that year or during the few years following and who still live in the county are:
In Coldwater
T. J. Curran,
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Duncan,
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. Torrey,
Mr. and Mrs. Parker Wright,
Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Carthrae,
Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Cole,
Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Perkins,
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schneider,
J. T. Maris,
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Jackson,
J. J. Overstreet,
John Shellenbarger,
Bob King,
Elmer Strain,
U. G. Stephens,
Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Johnston,
Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Cosby,
the Kirks,
Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Rich,
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McCay,
Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Callaway,
Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Hartley,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Oller,
Mrs. W. I. Brown,
Mrs. Oliver Guss,
Mrs. T. B. Duncan,
Mrs. W. H. Meers,
Mrs. Henry Clark,
Mrs. A. H. Baker,
Mrs. W. H. Kimple,
Mrs. Wm. Taylor,
Mrs. Dan Hase,
Mrs. J. A. Jarnagin,
Mrs. Sarah Janson,
Mrs. Mary Holland,
Mrs. W. B. Newman,
Mrs. C. A. Fridley,
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Griffith,
Mrs. A. C. McDonold,
J. A. Lightner,
L. M. Rich
and P. M. Williams.The following old timers still live in Protection:
The Baxters,
Mr. and Mrs. I. K. Rodgers,
Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Bratcher,
Mr. and Mrs. John Taylor,
Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Alexander,
the Mark brothers,
Mrs. N. E. Vance,
Albert Thornhill and others.In Wilmore:
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ferrin,
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Baker,
J. H. Behler,
Mrs. Loren Ferrin
and J. D. Bell.The following "first settlers" still live in the county, outside of the towns:
The Mortons,
Henry Knecht,
J. W. Stark,
Edward Deewall,
D. E. Barnes,
John E. Todd,
Henry Gates,
M. K. Klingensmith,
J. M. Bird,
S. A. DeLair,
J. E. Wright,
T. E. Williams,
S. G. Moores,
Carsten Nickelson,
Philip Lenertz,
Fred Schenk,
Geo. Briggs,
Mrs. N. M. Bean,
Mrs. J. W. York,
Mrs. Jessie Hubbard,
Mrs. Ruth Frazier,
Mrs. Fred Creigh,
Mrs. W. J. Kimes,
Mrs. Dan Tobias,
Mrs. Oscar Webb,
Mrs. Emma Trummel,
C. W. Sherman,
W. V. Jackson,
J. A. Murray,
Art Vanwey,
Mrs. H. R. Burnette,
Grandma Bain,
Leonard Kellogg,
Mrs. D. F. Parcel,
L. L. Stubbs,
John Darroch,
O. E. Fish,
Lars Nielson,
Chris Nickelson and others.It should be remembered that the persons named above are those who still live in the county. Quite a number of persons who were pioneer settlers here and who are still living, now live in some other county or state. A list of the old timers and others who have died during the past 25 years was printed in this paper several months ago. In the list of surviving old timers, which is printed above, a few omissions may have been made. If there are others whose names should be in the list, the Star would be glad to be informed concerning same. We would like to have the list as nearly accurate and as complete as possible.
There are, of course, a great many men and women in Comanche-co today who were comparatively young people when their parents came to the county from 35 to 40 years ago. These are not named in the lists above.
Also see:
List of Pioneer Settlers Buried in Crown Hill Cemetery from The Western Star, 16 June 1933.
Pioneer Death List -- The Western Star, August 3, 1923.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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