2017 Summer Newsletter

FRED MATHEWS—Going east a mile from Mr. Walthall’s brings you to the hospitable mansion of Mr. Fred Mathews, the “cattle 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, cultivates 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 left, is the splendid farm of W. S. Ruble. Mr. R. was not at home and we obtained no statistics. Mr. Ruble is favorably known as one of Osage’s good citizens, has a well improved farm of 160 acres and knows how to farm it. Hon.Wm .McCONNER—Opposite to Mr. Ruble is the farm of Wm. McConner, who has served one term as County Commis sioner, and the only complaint made of him, and by only a limited few, was that he was inflexibly honest. Mr. McConner was raised in Cayuga county,N.Y.,has lived in Osage 10 years, owns a farm of 160 acres, all under a good hedge fence, has fine residence, 90 acres in corn, 26 acres in wheat, orchard of 200 trees and 1 acre of vineyard. Says he “would exchange Kansas for no country he ever saw.” Z. COOPER—Going north one-half mile brings you to the splendid mansion and farm of Mr. Z.Cooper. Mr. Cooper is a native of Penn., moved to Iowa in 1863 and to Miami county in 1876. He purchased the splendid improved farm of Wilson Palmer, 160 acres. There are over 3 miles of good hedge, an orchard of 300 trees, vine¬yard of 350 vines and all kinds of small fruit. The residence of Mr. Cooper is one of the best in the township. We enjoyed his hospitality a day and night and never was hospitality more cordially dispensed. JONAS KING FARM—One-half mile north of Mr. Cooper’s on the Jonas King farm, resides Mrs. E. A. McClanahan, who has recently purchased it. Mrs. McClanahan with her two sons and daughter, live therein great comfort, surrounded by an orchard and vineyard of 20 acres. ALEXANDER BROWN—Opposite Mr. Cooper’s lies the farm of Mr. Alexander Brown—160 acres--100 of it in corn and 13 in oats, 3 acres in forest trees and an orchard of 325 trees. Mr. Brown was raised in Indiana, has lived in Osage 21 years and declares Kansas the best country he ever saw. The Republican is the first county paper he ever subscribed for. YODER FARM--On the Yoder farm resides Mr. Thos. P. Henness and Albert Johnson. They have a nice farm and both indus trious good citizens. JAMES REDDING—North of the Dr. Yoder farm Joe Dalton has a good farm, also Mr. Nelson Ayers and Mr. Cook. These we had no opportunity of examining. A half mile further north is the residence and farm of James Redding. Mr. Redding was raised in county Douegal, Ireland, came to American in 1849 and to Miami county in 1859. His farm contains 370 acres, 150 being the very finest of timber on the Marias des Cygnes river. It is a splendid farm and from the residence every rod of it can be seen, where not obstructed by timber. 0. MATHEWS--Immediately north of Mr. Redding, lies the farm of O. Mathews. Mr. M has a nice farm of 120 acres well improved with a large, fine, commodious barn. Mr. M. was raised in N.Y. and has resided in Kansas 18 years. Has ‘55 acres in corn, 12 in wheat and an orchard of 300 trees. Has lived in five States and “thinks Kansas the best.” J. J. MURPHY--Mr. Murphy was raised in Indiana and has been in Osage 4 years. His farm contains 320 acres. This year he has cultivated 120 acres of corn, besides small grain; has in timothy and clover 20 acres and an orchard of 400 trees. His corn crop for four years has averaged 40 bushels per acre. In all our travels through Miami Co. we have not seen a more handsome farm than Mr. Murphy’s, situated in the Dutch bend of the Marias des Cygnes river and level as a floor with a good drain-to the river. It is rich and fertile. To our great surprise Mr. Murphy informed us that he was anxious to sell and would sell at a low price, as he wished to retire from farming. HUSHPUCKANY: On the headwaters of this creek, in the northwestern portion of the township, resides THOS. BATTERSBY - - of Lancaster,England, on a snug 80-acre farm. South a half mile resides Geo. Ogden, on one of the best 80 acres in Osage. Est of Mr. Ogden’s on a 160 acres, resides ENNIS DODD--Mr. Dodd has a well improved farm and is an old citizen.

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