The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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Mary Maxwell were married in August 1883.  They have two children. 

Charles Manus was shot by Wyatt September 9, 1879.  These men had been enemies for some time.  Their trouble started through the neighborhood trouble in which Dr. Cummings and John Landis were the principals.  Manus had been a friend of Landis while Wyatt had espoused the cause of Cummings.  On the day of the murder they had met in the road and quarreled.  After they had separated Wyatt turned back and shot, the ball striking Manus in the back of the neck and killing him instantly, Wyatt was convicted of murder in the first degree on February 11, 1880 and sentenced to penitentary (sic) for life where he died some years ago.  This was the first murderer sent to the penitentiary from this county. 

The 4th of July, 1879, was happily celebrated in many places.  Charley Posson's barn which was just completed was dedicated with a ball.  The settlers on the Solomon held a celebration in the Black Gulch.  J. W. Langford was the orator.  They had a platform dance in the open air. 

The republican county convention was held on September 28.  M. W. Pettigrew was made chairman and Ed Hooverson secretary.  The principal contest was on sheriff.  The candidates were Jack Conarty, Fred Barlow and Charley Posson.  But after the first ballot Jim Vining who was a delegate in the convention and a supporter of Barlow consented to the use of his name which resulted in his nomination on the third ballot.  Conarty afterward became an independent candidate. 

The candidates for clerk were M. J. FitzPatrick, Hugh T. Carlisle and Bert Andrews.  FitzPatrick was nominated on third ballot. 

There were several candidates for treasurer but Dr. Little was nominated on second ballot.  Prof. J. A. Littel was nominated as register of deeds and Dr. B. E. White for coroner and J. A. Blauvelt for surveyor.  George N. Kingsbury was nominated for commissioner, but William Grant his opponent ran independent and was elected.  On the following Saturday the democrats held a convention in the county.  They nominated Jim Campbell for sheriff, county clerk John Madden, county treasurer Abram Hendricks, register of deeds D. R. Blanding, coroner M. A. Morrison.  They made no nomination for commissioner or surveyor. 

On the same day the greenbackers met and nominated the following ticket: For county clerk, S. M. Fross; register of deeds, A. O. Chambers; coroner, Seth Coats; surveyor, E. Trescott, commissioner, Ira N. Green.  They made no nominations for sheriff or treasurer. 

At the general election the vote stood as follows: For sheriff, J. W. Vining, 415; J. W. Campbell, 280; Jack Conarty, 231.  For county clerk, M. J. FitzPatrick, 492; J. F. Madden, 335; S. M; Fross, 87.  County treasurer. W. D. Little, 507; A. Hendricks, 360.  Register of deeds, J. A. Littel, 536; D. Blanding. 262; A. G. Chambers, 131.  Coroner, R. E. White, 532; M. A, Morrison, 244; Wm. Bradley. (colored) 17; Seth Coats, 36.  Surveyor, J. A. Blauvelt, 413; E. Trescott, 347; D. W. Mills, 162; commissloners, Wm. Grant, 229; G. N. Kingsbury, 155; I. N. Green, 7.  At this election the proposition to vote jail bonds in the amount of $1,000 carried by a vote of 427 to 336; the jail was built the following year. 

On Saturday March 16, 1879 Prof. George B. Vanlew was accidently (sic) killed.  He was teaching the Port Landis school and had been to Norton the evening previous to give a school exhibition and as they were returning home the following morning in Major Dannevik's wagon while crossing Otter Creek the front wheels of the wagon 

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