RICHLAND TOWNSHIP cont'd — ROCK CREEK TOWNSHIP — ROSALIA TOWNSHIP — SPRING TOWNSHIP.

Richland township is bounded on the north by Pleasant township, on the east by Douglass township, on the south by Cowley county, on the west by Sedgwick county, situated in the center of a prosperous and productive area known as the Big Four Counties of Kansas.

Pioneer Period—The pioneer period in the writer's view and experience terminated proper with the grasshopper plaugue and devastation of 1874. What can be said of events and endurance of settlers in one section or township of this domain (unequalled in a like area today within the bounds of Kansas) will apply in a great measure to all parts of the territory. The first white settlement within the bounds of what is now known as Richland township was made on Eight Mile Creek in the summer of 1868 by John Steock, James Olmstead and Harve Henderson. This was the year of the Indian depredation to the extent of the killing of Mr. Dunn and his associate about three-fourths of a mile southwest of the Olmstead mill, built in 1872 and later known as Dunn's mill. This had a tendency to confine settlement to near town (or rather town site) of Douglass for that summer; but the following year the valley of Eight Mile was claimed as far as the north line of the township, and cabins were erected by A. Liddle, H. Kellems, V. Love, M. G. Jones and Dick Reed. In the early spring of 1870 the writer laid claim to a share of this beautiful domain, locating on the south line of the township, which was then bounded on the south by Indian Territory. No soldiers patrolled the line and such a person as a "sooner" was not known. No person was a trespasser; anywhere he wished to go he had only to take his chances on meeting with half-civilized or hostile Indians or being visited by that class of people in sheep's clothing, who made a business of borrowing horses at night and never returning them. It was a necessary custom with settlers that summer to

bring all work stock from the lariat and tie them to a wagon or near a tent or shanty before retiring for the night. But over in Douglass township in November of that year they began tying up suspicious men at the rate of eight per month, which had a telling effect in keeping horses from straying off at night. In July of this year all the Indian land to the south side of the State was treated for and surveyed the following winter.

This started a flow of immigration into this part of the State and Richland got her share for several years, when the grasshopper invasion and devastation of 1874 caused a lull in this line. Not only this, but many settlers left the township and some the State to spend the winter with wives' folks and other kindred. While the grasshopper invasion of this year came without warning in August, yet one month previous, July 26, the settlers of south Butler and north Cowley received a midnight warning that later proved to be false, but not until nearly every settler from the Arkansas River east to Walnut had deserted their homes in haste. Some children were loaded into wagons in their night garments with such supplies as were at hand and off they went, fleeing as they thought from a band of hostile Indians reported to have burned Belle Plain and coming east, killing and scalping every woman and child enroute.

The Cheyenne and Osage Indians being a little on the warpath that year as to tribal claims, afforded some grounds for the belief of the report that was started by two parties who were making a night ride east to unknown parts, and for a sensational motive called at a farm house and reported that a band of Indians was slaughtering the settlers just west of the river and they were fleeing from them. They reported the same at every house they passed, not giving any explanation only that they saw the Indians and Belle Plain was in flames. A paririe[sic] fire in that direction helped to give credence to their report. They soon had some follows,[sic] and they, feeling an interest in the safety of their neighbors, the tidings spread and the thoughs[sic] of defending wife and little ones at home prompted many to join the sampede[sic] for a more numerous and defensive stronghold. The writer was routed out by a lad, who with his parents was several miles from home, just as the first ray of morning light was visible in the eastern horizon. He related his Indian story, and requested him to get a gun and join them about eighty rods west at the house of Mr. Broughton. After getting on boots and starting a fire, we sauntered out to learn the cause for all this, and found that the boy was not trying to play a joke on a lone bachelor. After consoling myself with the thought that no Indians were coming our way, I returned, got breakfast, did the morning chores, then saddled my horse and galloped south a mile to learn how the widow Daniels and her large family were feeling over this Indian scare report. To my surprise all were gone save the old gray mare that was grazing leisurely about the yard. The kitchen door was open

and sugar, flour and other supplies were scattered about the floor. Not seeing any marks of Indian depredations or moccasin footprints, we at once concluded that they, too, had got up earlier than usual and hastened away to save their scalps. On returning home we learned that Eight Mile and Walnut woods were full of men, women and children, and on half rations and ammunition, caused by their hasty exit from home. Sam Parker and several others went out west to spy out the situation, returning soon after the noon hour with the report that no Indians were in it at all. The whole thing was a sham and a false report. This was tidings of great joy, and all returned to their homes

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CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL, ROSE HILL, KANS.

swearng[sic] vengeance against the ones who originated the stampede. It was later reported that those two fellows never stopped till they struck the blackjacks in Missouri.

The winter of 1874-1875 is known and remembered as the "aid winter," not alone for the amount of aid the remaining settlers of the township received in the full sense of the emergency, but the style of supplies sent by the kind, sympathetic people of other States for gratuitous distribution among the grasshopper sufferers of Kansas. Augusta being the county central supply headquarters, everything was sent there, and every two weeks it was appropriated to the different township committees and brought by one of them or their order for final distribution.

The aid distributing point for this township was at the home of Deacon Harris, one-half mile west of the center of the township. Here nearly all he[sic] Richlanders met on the first and third Saturday afternoons of each month, more to see and associate together than to receive. The style of wearing apparel placed on exhibition for claimants and distribution caused great amusement and was more varied than their wardrobe had ever contained and might have put even the Indians to flight. At the present day it would be styled a rummage sale. They were the cast-off garments of forty years ago or more, gathered from attics "way down East," such as old Shaker and pasteboard bonnets, stove pipe hat with ventilators in the top, homespun dress skirts, striped threadbare shawls, cutaway swallow tail coats, old barn door pants, etc. The supplies for the inner man were more fitting and more sought for, which consisted of corn meal, flour, sugar, beans and occasionally bacon and dried fruit. At one time by mistake a barrel of coffee was sent instead of a barrel of beans. It was not distributed, the committee saying that it came by mistake and would be returned and corrected. It was returned to the back room and was lost in the hands of the committee. The writer doesn't vouch for the accuracy of this saying, not being a beneficiary, but was several times a member of said distributing committee, which was revised in part or whole each month. This gratuitous distribution ceased long before grass started, but the people and stock went through the winter in fair working trim. Prominent among those who survived this period and are still residents of the township are Dick Reed, James McCluggage, L. M. Williams, Nathan Davis, R. L. Hodgin, J. H. Harris, A. J. Cramer and a few others. Since the writer changed his residence from the farm to Wichita, the first named of this list is now the only resident of the township still residing on the claims settled on in the early spring of 1870. The closing of this period is generally considered to have been a "blessing in disguise." The continued drought of 1874 had doomed most of the crops when the grasshopper invasion of August came and consumed what little there was left save a few small fields of early planting on the streams, so the grasshopper was the leading issue of destruction. Meetings were called at various places and the situation discussed; expense funds were raised and a soliciting agent was sent back East to his old home and friends with circulars and even official affidavits of the horrible state of the grasshopper devastation in Kansas, which was liberally responded to and very encouraging reports and supplies followed. The first cash in many instances was returned to the donors in defraying railroad expenses of the party sent, after which all donations were equally divided among the needy of that section. A stock company of ten was formed in North Cowley county by advancing five dollars each to send Adam Walck back to Ohio. This committee of ten was to have full benefit of all aid solicitations by him while in Ohio. The first consignment was clothing and one hundred dollars. This was 100 per cent.

profit in cash to the stockholders and their stock at once went to a premium. One young fellow sold his stock to a poor widow for her only cow. Later another party sold his twice in one day, as he was ready to leave the country, realizing twenty dollars. No further cash contributions came through that channel. The most lasting benefit to the State at large in this line was in the individual and Congressional contribution of seeds in abundance of various kinds, which started the country afresh with the best seeds of the land. Yet, in short, all church, public and individual aid from the East was duly appreciated as will be later noted.

Richland township during this pioneer period was visited by several destructive prairie fires caused by Indians firing the prairie. South of us, near the State line, with favorable wind and little obstruction, it soon swept north for many miles. In October, 1871, the greater part of Richland surface was swept by one of these fires, the loss of much property and one death resulting. George Cline, then at work on Eight Mile for M. G. Jones, perceiving that a fire was coming from the south, at once set out to protect his claim shanty, located one mile south, but the raging flames reached there before he did. His only hope was to hasten back, but was soon overtaken by the oncoming fire and in an effort to run through the flames all his clothing was burned from his person. In this agonizing state he managed to get back to Mr. Jones', and died from his injuries the following day. In his conscious hours he related his experience, stating that he had on his person $200 in a leather pocketbook. After his sufferings ended several parties went up to search for the lost purse. A few buttons and a pocket knife were found and also footprints of a horse, which was followed to a place two miles northeast, a light rain having fallen after the fire passed over, making it an easy matter to follow the footprints. The peculiar shape of the track led to the ownership of the horse, and on inquiry it was learned that he had started on business for Emporia that morning. Two parties with a legally executed search warrant were hastened up the valley, overtaking their man above El Dorado, who denied finding the purse, but on being informed that he would have to submit to a search, as they held papers to that effect, he confessed and produced the outward scorched purse with full contents and was permitted to go on. In the same fire, Mrs. M. H. Lea, near the center of the township, on seeing the coming flames nearing her house, and thinking it would be consumed, in her excitement picked up the feather bed and ran out of doors in order to save it, but before she found a suitable place for it the smoke and heat caused her to drop the bed and get back in the house. The feather bed was cremated, but the house and contents were uninjured. The following year in an electric storm, Joseph Kellems, only son of Harmon Kellems, and a brother of Mrs. Jesse Perry, was instantly killed by lightning a few hundred yards west of where Pleasant Valley school house now stands. Following this, another respected

citizen residing in the west part of the township, Mr. Meeker, lost his hay barn from this cause, consuming two horses and a wagon. Recovering somewhat from this loss, he left the township and later, with a member of his family, met death on a railroad crossing in Cowley county.

It can be said to the credit of Richland that during this period when unwritten law and expert bluffing and spasmodic use of firearms predominated, no serious blood was shed in adjusting rights of settlers and their deliberations one with the other. On the other hand, every settler's latch string hung out, and his supplies for the inner man (if he had any) were in a measure free and it was no crime or trespass for one settler to stop and get feed for himself and horse in the absence of the proprietor. He would leave his card of thanks and move on, perhaps looking for a claim, a stray horse, or something else. It was a period of socialism in its true sense, as one person was just as good as his best neighbor and had just as much (nothing) and could easily and readily divide.

Exports of this period consisted principally of hides from long horn cattle that had failed to tide through the winters after having been driven from Texas late in the season; a few deer pelts and furs, such as mink, otter, wolf, raccoon and feathered game during the winter season. The imports were everything else of necessity, wagoned from Emporia and later from Florence, except venison and buffalo meat, which was then obtained near at hand, but not without some hardships and suffering when overtaken by blizzards so frequent in those days on the treeless prairie. Jake VanBuskirk described the outcome of those days in this manner: On being interrogated by a new corner, the following year, as to how the people managed to live through this trying pioneer period, said: "Well, sir, it was just this way: Our garments waxed not old in those days, and we subsisted principally on grasshoppers, buffalo meat, dead prairie chickens, jack rabbits, slippery elm bark and catfish."

On or about the beginning of the year of 1875, the cloud of pioneer gloom and adversity rapidly dispersed and the sunlight of progress and prosperity rewarded the toilers with bountiful crops for many years to the extent that Richland had plenty and to spare. In just one decade, from 1874 to 1884, when the township conributed[sic] a full car of No. 1 corn to the Ohio Valley sufferers, caused by the highest water ever known in that valley, a whole train load was sent from Kansas, a reciprocal donation for past favors, with interest, based on money value. This corn was sold to a Kentucky syndicate and the proceeds given to the destitue.[sic] We learned that it was converted into whiskey and presume shipped back to the West under the label of Kentucky Bourbon or Old Rye, and sold for four or five dollars per gallon. This was equal to assisting a mule from the mire and when his going is established, to have him right about and kick you. The rapid settlement of Rich-

land during this decade (and previous) were by an industrious class of people and early advocates of schools, education and political equal rights.

Richland township, in its primitive state previous to 1874, politically was under Douglass township rule, they having the balance of power, controlling the nomination and election of all township officers. All judiciary was held in Douglass and heavy assessing in Richland. The trustee would come over into Richland and assess everything he could find on a claim whether the owner was there or not, regardless to whom it belonged, just so he knew who was holding down the claim; assess all rails and posts anywhere on the land at five dollars per hundred and all dead animals (if he could learn that they were alive on March 1st of that year) and all in school district No. 20. This and the course of other events, of taxation without representation, caused the circulation of a petition praying that we might be set off as a separate township, which petition was at first rejected by the county commissioners on grounds that it was penciled instead of being penned, and a few other minor technicalities. A meeting was then called at Maple Creek school house, the petition renewed and enlarged and names suggested for the township. H. B. Furgeson claims to have suggested the name Richland, which being most appropriate and fitting, was adopted. The prayed for petition was granted in January, 1874, and the first election was held on April 19th of that year in a claim house owned by Mrs. Snodgrass, situated near the southeast corner of southwest one-fourth of section 15. A few days previous to the election a called meeting was held at Maple Creek school house, and the following ticket formulated: Trustee, J. H. Lowery; clerk, B. M. Hodgin; treasurer, A. J. Cramer; justices, Smith Goodspeed and J. Vanhouton; constables, F. Fleck and J. Oldham. At this first election forty-eight votes were cast. Early on election day a bolt was made on the nominee for trustee and L. B. Hull was elected in his stead along with the balance of the ticket.

This election board was composed of, judges, Smith Goodspeed, T. Fleck, M. H. Lee; clerks, J. H. Lowery and L. D. Himebaugh.

This being the hopper devastation year, our State motto, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," can be very fittingly applied to this little sub-division. All the elect qualified in due time, save treasurer, who, for cause of absence from township, L. D. Himebaugh was appointed in his stead for ensuing year. Same officers were re-elected the following year. L. B. Hull served the township as trustee for several years, and was succeeded by James McCluggage for two terms. Up to this time party politics was not known or recognized in selection of candidates for township officers, which was usually done with little or no previous arrangement, on the morning of election. Clerks and judges of election after being duly sworn and opening of polls, would have a temporary recess, till ticket was formulated and ready to be passed by a judge from the hand of a voter to a paper box (usually a shoe

box) with hole in top covered with a primer, almanac or a pamphlet of recent election laws. At this period and for a few years later, township elections were held in February, until Richland Centre school house was built in 1878. All elections were held one-half mile west at "Deacon Harris's," or on south side of road at Rev. Harrison's. Just previous to the spring election of 1880 the first township (Republican caucus was held and the following township ticket nominated: Trustee, L. D. Himebaugh; treasurer, D. W. Ulam; clerk, James Walton; justices, Smith Goodspeed and A. Vanhouton; constables, H. B. Furgeson and Than Fleck.

This year in early summer Smith Goodspeed moved from Kansas to Oregon, after having served as justice eight years and having had many important as well as many unimportant justice of peace cases to dispose of which when carried to higher courts, his finding was generally sustained. One on change of venue was the noted civil action, wherein Niel Wilkie was plaintiff and Sam Parker, defendant. Controversy was over an old stone wagon worth $10 or $12 used by plaintiff while making the fill in Walnut river west of Douglass. Both plaintiff and defendant claiming ownership of wagon by purchase from different parties. After being used several days by plaintiff, it disappeared between two days, and its whereabouts were only known (or supposed to be known) by defendant. A legal search did not reveal all parts of the wagon. The plaintiff at a hearing before justice Goodspeed was represented by Attorney A. L. Redden of El Dorado, and defense by Wall Webb of Winfield. The proceeding was to establish ownership of property. After all evidence had been produced and ably commented on by attorneys, the Court's finding was for defendant. Appeal was taken to a higher court, which, in time, sustained the justice Court's decision, and the wagon, if ever found, was probably by this time in some junk pile. Mr. Goodspeed was a justice in the full sense of the term, would always bring about a compromise between litigants, if in his power to do so. At one time two of his neighbors, of equal merit in his estimation, became angered and a little bloodthirsty at each other over trespassing of stock pro and con between them, one had exacted several dollars' damage by retaining his stock, when found on his premises a few days later, his cattle was lured across the road and corralled. Notice was given the owner, of which he paid no heed, but at a late hour of the night, stole across and drove his stock home. On finding his neighbor's stock was back home in the morning without his knowledge, his indignation was then ripe for a fight or a suit. Squire Goodspeed was consulted, failing to effect a peaceable settlement and wishing to avoid a suit, suggested a settlement by referee, by taking thirteen names of householders in the community, and each party striking off alternately one name till twelve were challenged, and the remaining one should hear the evidence and his decision be final. This being agreed upon, the referee honor, task

or misfortune fell to L. D. Himebaugh, who, after hearing the sworn testimony of plaintiff and defendant, revealing the fact that defendant had wilfully opened carroll[sic] and driven the cattle from plaintiff's enclosure, in violation of herd law custom, his decision was $1 damages to be paid plaintiff by defendant and cost of referee proceedings in all, $4.40. Justice Goodspeed enjoyed or rather endured nearly all township, judiciary and legal business, even in officiating in occasional marriages, whose tying up, like that of his judiciary, was seldom reversed. The justice of the peace business in central and southern part of township was later administered by H. B. Furgeson, James Walton, L. D. Himebaugh, J. H. Price and A. J. Thetgee, all of whom, save latter, enjoyed all the business they desired and more too, and gladly passed it on to some one else at expiration of office term. The same can be said of Staley, Smith, Hall, Oldham and Vanhouton, in north part of township, who officiated at different times, in that capacity.

Republican nominees with L. B. Hull as trustee met with success at polls in 1882-3-4-5, head of ticket suffered defeat, first by a Republican and later a Democrat, (B. M. Hodgin), who held the office two years, by reason of a legislative act setting aside spring elections and continuing township officers till November election. The November election of 1886 resulted as follows: Trustee, James McCluggage; clerk, A. Simpson; treasurer, D. W. Ulam; justices, Rev. Woodward and H. B. Furgeson. Trustee elected November, 1887, A. J. Cramer; trustee elected November, 1888, James McCluggage; trustee elected November, 1889, B. M. Hodgin; trustee elected November, 1890, Elias Mitchell; trustee elected November, 1891, Elias Mitchell; trustee elected November, 1892, A. J. Cramer; trustee elected November, 1893, W. S. Bacon; trustee elected Novmber,[sic] 1894, H. B. Furgeson; trustee elected November, 1895 and 1896, H. D. Olmstead; trustee elected November, 1897 and 1898, B. G. Chauncy: trustee elected November, 1899, J. M. Kuhn; trustee elected November, 1900 and 1901, N. Russell; trustee elected November, 1902 and 1903, F. Staley. which office was made vacant by person-elect moving from township, and L. D. Himebaugh was appointed by county commissioners to fill vacancy. After this date by legislative act, township officers were elected for two years, instead of one. Trustee elected 1904, Ralph McCluggage; trustee elected 1906, Ralph McCluggage; trustee elected 1908, O. E. King; trustee elected 1910, O. E. King. Three members of first county commissioner's district were chosen from Richland during this period: A. Masterson, Lafe Stone, and L. B. Hull (later by appointment to fill vacancy). Several of her worthy citizens have been honored with a place on county ticket, but generally location and not qualification were adverse to success at polls, except on educational lines, treated of in following subject.

As formerly stated, Richland pioneers were early advocates of schools and methods of education. And like all new countries, efforts

to organize a school district had its adversaries, as a small per cent. of the land was dedded[sic] and subject to taxation, many householders were bachelors. A school district, to enumerate fifteen children of school age, required in the early '70's nine or ten square miles in order to erect a school building by bond issue, and in many cases this bond proposition met with defeat through those who would have the burden of taxation to bear for a few years, and those whose time had not yet come to have children of their own to educate. In districts where this interest predominated a claim house was donated, by some bachelor who had made final entry on his claim or perhaps moved in with a neighbor bachelor, to let his house be fixed up and used for school purposes. Law made it necessary for a term of three months school to be taught by a qualified teacher in a newly formed district before being entitled to any state funds. This first school by subscription, like many other requirements in pioneer days, was breaking the ice and paving the way for smoother sailing and better days. Yet, with few exceptions, all settlers subscribed freely towards maintaining the first school, but in many instances, drouth, grasshoppers or prairie fires caused some to fall short of their subscription when time and effort to collect rolled round. A teacher's order in those days, like some other commercial paper, was not worth much at home and less abroad, necessitating a few to increase their original subscriptions to meet delinquency. School district No. 63, being the first to organize within the bounds of township embracing three and one-half miles North and South, and three miles East and West. First school was taught in early summer of '73, by Mrs. Freeman at $15 per month, in a claim house near the southeast corner of northeast quarter of section 27, belonging to James Lee, repaired and fitted up for school purposes. There being no travelled roads or visible lines, it was thought best by patrons to run a furrow from school house to northeast corner of district, which was done with breaking plow to aid pupils in that part of the district to go to and from school. The following year district 80 was organized in southwest corner of township, being the first to erect a school building by aid of bonds. Said bonds were sold at eighty cents. Seventy-eight, (Diamond), district followed in organizing and soon erected a fine stone school building. Eighty-one was organized and completed its school building a short time prior to that of 78. One hundred nine was next organized and several terms were taught in a claim house before a school building proper was erected. District No. 100, previously numerically given, but later organized in limitation by taking territory from districts 63, 78, and 109, in order that a suitable location of said district 100 would be in centre of township, convenient for both school and township purposes. District 110, on or near north line of township, was also organized in the latter '70's, being very artistically finished for that day, but like that of 81, got too big for its clothes, and merged with several other districts, (or parts of them), into a consolidated union in 1907 for methods of advanced education.

In less than one decade from date of organization in Richland township had seven public school buildings within her borders, where, in each a school was maintained from three to seven months during the year, and Richland soon took place in first column and near the top too for good school buildings, good schools and good teachers. From the ranks of its teachers came the first female county superintendent of Butler county, Mrs. Florence Holcomb Olmstead, who devoted her time, talent, and energy in the discharge of her official duty, giving, as it were, her life in the line of education and reform. She, coming to Kansas from Indiana with her parents in seventy-two, began teaching at the age of sixteen, was Federal census enumerator of Richland township in 1880. She died at the age of thirty-three, near the close of her office term as county superintendent. Four years later, 1894, another one of Richland's teachers, K. M. Holcomb, a member of same family, was called by vote of the people to the high and honorable office of county superintenden[sic] of public institutions. Like that of his sister, his administration was up-to-date, of that day in theory and practice, full of flowers and reforms, pertaining to education and social interest, leaving footprints, not in the sands, but indelibly stamped in the minds of the rising generation to his official credit and the fair land if Richland.

On completion of the Sante Fe cut off from Augusta to Mulvane, the name and business of Rose Hill was moved one mile west, and enjoyed a steady growth in business and population; that the town with a little adjoining territory formed a school district, erecting the eighth school building within the township, in the year 1890, numerically known as district No. .... or the New Rose Hill school. A few years later the consolidation of rural districts for a township, or central high school, was strongly advocated by leading educators and being adopted and tried with good results in some sections of the State; the energetic people of Rose Hill and vicinity were enthused with the opportunity for establishing a high consolidated school in the young town as a further incentive to progress and prosperity. After due and legal primaries, an election was called, resulting in favor of consolidation of four school districts. A bond election was held in due time to vote on the proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $10,000 for the erection of a consolidated high school building. Said election resulted in favor of bond issue; the city hall was fitted up and seated for school purposes, where the first school was held, commencing September, 1908, with 200 pupils attending. On completion of the new, commodious and imposing school building, a feeling of good cheer went up from patrons and pupils. September, 1909, the four departments with principal and four assistants, opened with renewed vigor and increased enrollment of pupils, for a nine month term for ensuing year. Lilly Picket and Merl Moon have the honor of being the first graduates of this institution, which exercises were held at close of term, 1909.

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