2017 Spring Newsletter

Ar cles – A look back over the Years Instead of wri ng something new, I thought it may be in teres ng to look back over the years and reprint ar cles appearing in earlier edi ons of the quarterlies. I will randomly select a quarterly and then pick an ar cle or two for reprint. The first two in this series are from Vol. 8, No. 2, 1993 and Vol. 19, No. 3 2001. Rambling in Osage township, Miami County, KS - - Miami Republican, July 19, 1878 Note: The following are brief descrip ons of farms and their owners compiled by the editor of The Republican, 1878, of the area around Fontana, KS. JOS. S. WHITAKER—Further east and north of Mound creek, we came to the residence of Jos. Whitaker. He owns a farm of 220 acres. He is a na ve of Kentucky, came to Miami County in 1859. Has 120 acres of corn, besides small grain. Mr. Whitaker says his corn crops have averaged 40 bushels to the acre—pre y good for a dry country. W.H. MOORE—Near Liberty school house lies Mr. W.H.Moore’s farm. He moved from Union county, Geor gia, to Illinois and from there to his .present residence nine years ago. He owns a beau ful quarter sec on of land, enclosed with a handsome hedge and otherwise well im proved; has an orchard of 3 acres and 90 acres of growing corn as fine and uniform in appearance and growth as can be found in the country. Mr. Moore is a good farmer and is making money. His corn crops for nine years have averaged 40 bushels per acre. J.D.STEVENS—who is just opening out a nice farm of 80 acres. MRS. E. J. WILSON—who has resided in Miami 18-yrs, has one of the best apple orchards in the township—trees 17 yearsold. DAVID WRIGHT—North of Liberty school house a half mile lives one of Osages’s best ci zens and most successful fan ners, David Wright. He was raised in New Jersey and moved to Miami in 1873. He has a most excellent, well-furnished and finished residence. The farm consists of 160 acres of land enclosed with a good hedge. Has 75 acres of fine growing corn. His corn crops have averaged 40 bushel. He is now feeding 17 head of 3-year-old steers and 40 head of hogs. He thinks Kansas is a splendid country and Osage township the garden spot. Mr. Wright is a model farmer and business man and is ge ng rich. He deserves success.

O.P.TENNY—A half mile east of Mr. Wright’s is the resi dence of Mr. O.F.Tenny, a na ve of New Jersey, and a ci zen of Osage 28 years. He owns a farm of 240 acres, cul vates this year 85 acres in corn. Has an orchard of 350 trees—a large part of them 17 years old; milks 16 head of cows and Mrs. Tenny makes choice cheese and bu er. He likes Kan sas “be er than any country he ever saw.” T.C.ENGLISH—Across the road south from Mr. Tenny’s lives Hon.T.C.English, one of Osage’s substan al and honored cit izens. Mr. English was raised in New Jersey, has lived in Mi ami 12 years, owns a farm of 280 acres, has an orchard of 500 bearing trees. On his farms are 180 acres of corn. Last winter he fed 80 steers and 140 hogs. Deals largely in stock as a shipper. He thinks Kansas is the “hub of the world” and Miami the best spot in Kansas. JOHN LOWE—One-half mile east and a li le north of Mr. Tenny’s, is the residence and farm of John Lowe. He was raised in the land of Wm. Tell. Has been in America 25 years and in Osage 3 years. His farm comprises 160 acres. He has 80 acres in corn, 18 in wheat and 9 in oats, all splendid, and an orchard of 120 trees. Mr. Lowe is one of your good farmers and a most excellent ci zen. SAM WALTHALL—East of Mr. Lowe, half a mile on the right of the Fontana road, is the farm of Sam. Walthall, one of Osage’s substan al men, who have made this township “bloom as the rose.” Mr. Walthall was raised in Indiana (can’t remember whether or not he was from Posey coun ty) and lived in Miami 20 years. Owns a farm of 130 acres. He has 50 acres in corn, 5 in oats and 5 in millet, 300 fruit trees and 2,000 cul vated forest trees. Mr. Walthall says “he likes Kansas be er than any place on earth.” He treats his farm and neighbors well, and his farm treats him well. Long may he prosper. FRED MATHEWS—Going east a mile from Mr. Walthall’s brings you to the hospitable mansion of Mr. Fred Mathews, the “ca le king of Osage.” Mr. Mathews was raised in Erie county, New York, and came to Miami county 18 years ago. He has a well improved farm of 640 acres, a large stone residence, cul vates this year 150 acres in corn, 10 acres in millet, and has 30 acres set to blue grass and red top. He has an orchard of 300 trees. Fed 150 steers last winter, bought and shipped 125 more. He has on hand 60 head of fat steers and has just purchased 202 head for next winter’s feeding. Likes Kansas well, and well he may, for Kansas likes him and has been generous to him. M.S. RUBLE—Goin north from Mr. Mathews, next on the le , is the splendid farm of W. S. Ruble. Mr. R. was not at home and we obtained no sta s cs. Mr. Ruble is favorably known as one of Osage’s good ci zens, has a well improved farm of 160 acres and knows how to farm it.

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