[Page 1]

 

[Drawing of 15 Reg on Elk Fork – See Original for Drawing]

 

[Page 2]

 

Aug 10 – 1870

 

Thirty Years Ago

W. Ross

 

From Northern Ill. to the great Arkansas Valley – “A vast uncultivated plains.”

 

Wichita – “The Queen City on the ragged edge of civilization..”  Well to do farmers lived along the [streams] on to the Ninnescah – Tom Macredie going to W – for lumber that fall -  [XXXX]  in the town nine days later the river went down, and was ferried acrost – Bob West & Jake [John] heaving logs [for]

 

[Page 3]

 

House – river rose suddenly West waded acrost – Jake too short.  The frontier was no place for the faint-hearted.

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Reminisces of Uncle Billy Ross.  Suply and Demand

 

The Vidette, First paper published in town, / the sentinel on horseback.  Flour $8.00 per 100 pounds – Corn meal $5 – potatoes $2 salt $11 per barrel side meat 35 to 40 pounds.

 

When I got settled on the Ninnescah my next door neighbor was Bob Lawrence and the distance between our [doors] was 20 miles. 

 

Got under the wagon rolled up in a blanket, and slept  [XXX]  [XXX]  [XXX].

 

[Page 4]

 

Spring of 71 – I planted 14 bus of potatoes having hauled them from Emporia Sold them for $1.00 per bus & $3 per bus, paid  $3 per bus for the seed potatoes.

 

Mr Summers came in Aug 70 in March 71 brought his family  born in 1819 Mrs S born in 1837 came from Virginia – Southern accent – Kind and good hearted –

 

Elsworth was the bad man in the community It was said he was in league with the horse thieves.

 

[Macredie] came in 1871.

 

Railroad built about 1887 or 8 – [XXX]  Pacific

 

[XXX]  [you] [bag] from [Gassville] Prairie dogs & rattle snakes & Owls, spread head adder –

 

[Page 5]

 

Geo. Mac – helped break my sod – used 2 pairs of oxen

 

[Page 6]

 

Department of the Interior,

 

GENERAL LAND OFFICE.,

 

Washington, D.C., February 14th 1878.

 

I, J.A. Williamson, Commissioner of the

 

General Land Office, do hereby certify that the annexed copy of

 

Patent in favor of Philip T. Bright

 

founded on Augusta, Kansas Cash

 

Entry No. 1344 is a

 

true and literal exemplification from the record in

 

this office.

 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my

name, and caused the Seal

of this Office to be affixed, at

the City of Washington, on

the day and year above written.

 

J A Williamson

Commissioner of General Land Office.

 

[Page 7]

 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

 

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING:

 

Whereas Philip T. Bright, of Sedgwick County, Kansas

 

Has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States a CERTIFICATE OF THE

 

OF THE REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE AT Augusta, now Wichita, Kansas

 

whereby it appears that FULL PAYMENT has been made by the said Philip T. Bright, according

 

to the provision of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled “An Act making

 

further provision for the sale of the Public Lands,” and the act of the 15th of July, 1870, for the

 

west half of the southwest quarter of section twenty-

 

seven and the east half of the south-east quarter of section twenty-eight, in township twenty-nine

 

south, of range two west, in the district of lands formerly subject to sale at Augusta, now

 

Wichita, Kansas, containing one hundred and sixty acres,

 

according to the OFFICIAL PLAT of the Survey of the said lands, returned to the GENERAL

 

LAND OFFICE by the SURVEYOR GENERAL, which said Tracts have been purchased by the

 

said Philip T. Bright

 

[Now] know ye, That the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in consideration of the premises,

 

and in conformity with the such case made and provided,

 

HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said

 

Philip T. Bright and to his heirs, the said Tracts above described, to have and to hold the same,

 

together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature,

 

thereto belonging unto the said Philip T. Bright and to his heirs and assigns forever.

 

In testimony whereof, I, Ulysses S. Grant, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

 

Have caused these letters to be Patent, the Seal of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be here

 

unto affixed.

 

[Given] under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the first day of August, in the year of

 

 

our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, and of the Independence of the United

 

States the Ninety-Ninth

 

BY THE PRESIDENT:  U.S. Grant

 

By  S.D. Williamson, Secretary

 

L.K. Lippincott, Recorder of the General Land Office

 

RECORDED, Vol. 11, Page 153.