A petition on April 22, 1881 from residents, householders, and legal electors of Rawlins County request Kansas Governor St. John organize their county. Near the end of the petition is a section from the Notary Public in and for Norton County stating that S. H. Tindell, W. H. McDonald, and David Swift are all known to him and credible people, and swear an oath the signatures on the petition are from residents within Rawlins County.