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

Under amusements is classed the various methods of social sporting and beneficial entertainments during this historical period. The first ndulgence[sic] in this line by early settlers was as much of a necessity as amusement. Deer, antelope, badger, (and along the streams, wild turkey, raccoons and beaver), were quite numerous, affording both sport and meat, in their capture. At times several horsemen with hounds and guns would chase a bunch of deer or antelope, as much for the sport as their capture. Mr. Couch and his boys, (later of Oklahoma fame), would often indulge in that kind of sport between the Walnut and Arkansas generally bagging their game by the time the chase reached one of the extremes. The writer well remembers when at one time his newly made garden suffered a tramping up by two does and a buck, leading four hounds followed by several broncos and riders; none ever so much as halted to offer an apology for the intrusion; one-half mile west the creek was crossed and a counter chase was made down north side of creek, resulting in the capture of one doe; the other two were permitted to go on for the chase another day, or target for some settler's rifle. The still and hide hunt was more successful in bagging of antelope and turkey. A pony purse, horse race and occasional shooting match for a hog, goose or turkey was indulged in with much compelling interest in those days; until the fair sex numbers and influence changed the order of things somewhat, when social gatherings at some ranch dwelling was of frequent occurance, where quadrille and waltz kept pace and step to violin music.

Like all pioneer settlements, the dance mania like the ague, of that day, was nearly unanimous, at least the majority had it bad, yes and good too, as later on, when Richland was part of Rev. Harrison's mission field, the proceeds of a social dance and supper was occasionally means for a pastors donation; and by him accepted in good faith. These social entertainments were soon varied somewhat by organization of literary societies for social and mutual benefit. The first in the township was organized December 14, 1872, at John Gardener's house, situated near south line of section 17. The prime movers being Mr. Goodspeed, Mr. Gardner, Mrs. Weston, Miss Jennie Weston and Miss Maria Walton. This was principally a debating society, of questions pertaining to best interest and needs of settlers, herd law, female suffrage, credit system, etc. The participants were Gardner, Goodspeed, Roberts, Doc. Berger, Tucker, Walton, Gaymon, Stansberry, McCluggage, Canton, Furgeson, and Mrs. Weston. The society was well attended and well conducted, meeting semi-monthly during the winter. It was re-organized at same place in early winter of seventy-three, and changed place of meeting to Maple Creek school house on its completion in 1874, at which place it was re-organized and held for several consecutive winters. Soon after the completion of school building in district 78, (Diamond), an interesting debating society was organized in that part of township. The leading lights being L. B. Hull and sons,

Williams, Cox, Sinclair, Davis, Picket and the Hodgin brothers. A good literary program, consisting of vocal and instrumental music, readings, dialogues and paper, was rendered semi-monthly. L. M. Williams held the standing appointment as critic at all meetings, whose criticisms were beneficially and well rendered. The society continued with unabated interest for several winters. The third organization of this nature within the borders of the township was at Providence school house during the winter of 1883-4, and known as the Rose Lawn Literary society which met semi-monthly during the winter, being a debating society, in general. Participants were W. G. Giesy, George Bannon, J. R. McKay, Dr. Work, H. B. Furgeson, Himebaugh, A. C. Thetgee and others. Following this, a few years later, the Mutual Information Society was organized and held meetings for mutual benefit in town hall over the store, during the winter and early spring. This being a select or restricted organization, a clause in the bylaws required all members to prepare and take part in all duties and subjects assigned them by president or committee on program, which made it diversified and no less interesting and beneficial. Another known as the Twilight Club, composed of school "marms," male teachers and students, met for mutual benefit at stated intervals in south part of the township, during the closing winter of the nineteenth century, Miss Cora Stanley being the prime mover. In north part of township, reading clubs and spelling contests greatly interested the progressive class during the nineties. The growth of Rose Hill during this and the following decade brought about the more up-to-date instruction and entertainments. Aside from the high school entertainments, and base ball contests, a series of lecture courses was held during the winter of 1909 and 1910 through auspices of the Lyceum Bureau, at the Rose Hill high school building.

As the primitive customs, of no noted observance of the Sabbath day, in the business routine of labor and sociability with the early settlement of S. W. Kansas, like that of all other pioneer sections, grew in numerical strength, a Christian spirit, leading to Sabbath observance naturally begins to find favor and endorsement among all civilized people, so it was in Richland. 'Tis conceded that the first Sunday school organized within the bounds of Richland township was at the claim house of Miss Maria Walton, situated on northwest corner of southwest quarter section thirty-three, in the summer of 1872. The prime movers being Miss Walton and brothers, all supplies being sent from Waukesha, Wis., their former home. The school continued to grow in interest and was later moved to the home of Mr. Hatch and on completion of the school house was for years held there, known as the Maple Creek Sunday school.

At one period under the superintendency of L. P. Carlton was recognized the banner Sunday school of Richland township. Following this a Union Sunday school was organized in the north part of town-

ship, which was well attended and much interest manifested. Mr. and Mrs. Haines and Mr. Staley were active in advancing the cause. In the late summer of seventy-two, Rev. Green of the M. E. faith and order was given a Mission field in Southwest Butler and adjoining territory. He held a series of meetings at Stanberry's house the following winter. The second missionary awakening was in the north part of te[sic] township, by one or more parties advocating the Seventh-day Advent doctrine. Meetings were held at the home of B. M. Hodgen, (a bachelor), whose home and hospitality were always open for religious services, as well as social entertainments, which often varied the evangelistic service with a change of program, for one evening. Rev. Harrison followed Rev. Green in his Mission field for a few years, organizing several classes. He was later followed by Rev. McCollister who changed the denominational order to that of Protestant Methodist which gained numerical strength and following, resulting in the erection and dedication of the first church house within the bounds of the township, in eighty-four, situated on northeast quarter of section 23, known as the Pleasant Hill church. Several years later, Rose Hill class built a good church house, and later in 1906 the same denomination erected a church two miles south of township, known as the Red Bud Church. The three classes constituted a ministerial field till 1909 when at the convening of the general conference, Rose Hill was set off as a station. Since then one minister is employed for Rose Hill class and one for Pleasant Hill and Red Bud.

The faith and order known as Friends were early in exercising their influence and worship, holding meetings from time to time at various places in north part of the township, and as early as 1881 completed a church house near the north line of the township, from which the good benefits have emanated equal in a great measure to that of Penn in colonial days. The next awakening was that of the Christian order by Revs. Harvey, Barret, Yard, in the latter seventies which gained endorsement and following through series of meetings held in various parts of township, setting forth Scripture teaching and the duty of man to man, and man to God, not fully in harmony with other orthodox creeds and belief. A joint discussion on this line worthy of historic note between Rev. Yard and an M. E. clergyman was held at Pleasant valley school house in July, 1879. The day was warm and sultry and the house filled to overflowing; during services a small cloud was seen to form apparently from a clear sky followed by a distant peal of thunder. As the approaching cloud grew more dense and gradually taking on the form of a twister, the knowledge being conveyed by the onlookers outside to the attentive listeners inside, soon marred the real interest of the discussion, which was changed to that of fear of the approaching storm. Some with their rigs hastily departed for home. The services had a premature concluding, as the approaching dense twister lowered and drew nearer, causing many to desert the dwelling

and seek outside protection along the hedges to which they clung with a firm grip, trusting divine power beyond the elements for protection. It is said as Mr. Turner Holcomb and wife came and saw the impending danger, Mrs. Holcomb, realizing that they could not reach home, said, "We must trust to Providence," while her husband remarked, "Yes, trust in Providence, but cling to the hedge roots." The center of the storm passed near, followed by a slight sprinkle of hail and drenching rain. The fierceness of the twister lowered to earth northwest of the school house and swept everything in its path in a northeasterly direction, stricking[sic] the house of John Nichols, swept it from foundation, scattering contents and material for a mile or more along its path, also vehicles and some stock on the premises. Occupants sought refuge in an out door cellar, the only thing not torn asunder by the cyclone. No lives were lost in Richland and no thoughts or theory attributes the freak elements of that Sabbath day to the joint discussion in the little school house, where both art and nature was made manifest, not soon to be forgotten, by those who heard, saw, feared and felt.

Later the religious work was furthered along through the labors of Revs. Wright and Cain, resulting in the erection of a fine church building in the latter eighties, situated on south line of section 15 as a beacon light and gospel dispensary; gaining numerical strength, as well as being the early Christian home of Harold Olmstead, son of H. D. Olmstead, who later has won distinction in his evangelistic work in other states as well as at home. With three denominational churches, within her borders and four nearby (Friends) in which two or more ordained ministers of today had their early Christian home, Revs. Wells and Hinshaw, and two of the M. P. denomination, A. Shipman and H. Woodward, who later joined the M. E. church in his early ministry; which all goes to show Richland's output and progress in Christian workers and work in line with all other advances during this historical period and greater results of the seed sown will doubtless later be known.

In 1890 the Federal census of Richland (taken by the writer) recorded the least percent of illiteracy of any enumerator district in the state, save one, being a fraction over one and one-half per cent. of all who were ten years old and over, and the same can be said on the line of poverty and pauperism.

The first Federal postoffice established within bounds of the township was in 1873 at the residence of L. M. Williams, situated on southeast quarter of section 5, and known as Rose Hill postoffice, deriving the name through J. H. Lowrey who had a great fancy for botanical culture and made great effort to beautify his home claim, the northwest quarter of section 8, in the early summer of seventy-three by growing roses and other flowers and shrubbery to his fancy to be known as the Rose farm. But his efforts were badly blighted the following year by the grasshopper invasion, and all he had left to start with on the

following spring was the name, which was perpetuated in the name of the postoffice, L. M. Williams being first postmaster and continued as such for five years, when the office was moved north one mile to the house of H. C. Staley who succeeded Mr. Williams as postmaster. A few years later, Mr. Meeker succeeded Mr. Staley till Rose Hill became a railroad village and office established. The second Federal office was at Rev. Harrison's on section 21 and known as Richland Centre, in 1878 or 1879, being discontinued in 1882. The third Federal postoffice within bounds, was in the early summer of 1883 on section 34, Providence postoffice, the name given the inland mineral water resort. John Dunnell was appointed postmaster, whose son, C. F. Dunnell, pre-empted the land and sunk a well to the depth of 142 feet and struck water of a salty, peculiar taste. He was advised to have it analyzed rather than discarding its use entirely for domestic purposes; which was done. The great beneficial and curative properties were tested by several, for ailments and infirmities. Among those was A. Hide of Wichita, who, after receiving great benefit from the use of water, was instrumental and prime mover in the organizing of a stock company, for improvements of well, comforts and convenience of any who stood in need of the healing balm.

A general supply store was built north of the road by A. A. Hyde, also the fine country dwelling (now owned by K. M. Holcomb). The store building was one of two stories. Norman Hagan acted as proprietor of the store, his family occupying the rooms above. This continued for a time. The stock was later purchased by H. T. Holcomb who continued the store and postoffice for several years. N. M. Hare put up a convenient blacksmith shop on the new town site, Warrender & Beedy a good livery barn; a dwelling of modern architecture was also built nearby and occupied several years by R. Warrender. Copner built on Mineral street and kept a fair stock of merchandise in connection with the postoffice. C. F. Dunnell and another family had their residences on this street, and Rev. Latham later conducted a store on Providence row. Dr. Adams for a time occupied the hotel and conducted a drug store. The north building on Mineral street was a neat cottage built and occupied by the builder, as a residence and confectionary in a small degree. All lines of business enjoyed a profitable patronage so long as the prime movers and patrons, during the Wichita boom days, lent support and advocated the beneficial effects of a few weeks' outing at the Providence mineral resort. Numerous parties during the summer of 1885-6 and later, from Wichita, enjoyed (or endured) a few weeks' stay at Providence, Butler county.

Causing a depression or cessation of business and interest of Providence, on par, with that of the Peerless Princess collapse period. When Wichita lost faith in herself, Providence was sold to the farmers in that vicinity. Following this was the Oklahoma boom and opening, and many of the village residents winged that way. Soon many dwellings

of the mineral well village left on wheels. George Osborn has several on his farm which have been twice wrecked by cyclone since moving; he said it was Providentially so ordained and no fault of his. One store and the postoffice was kept alive by various parties until 1898 when it was discontinued and the building moved off, leaving the hotel and K. M. Holcomb's residence of the original Providence, which still remain. The hotel is now by beqeathment[sic] the property of Ed Dunnell, son of C. F. Dunnell. With the gradual decline and patronage of the healing qualities of the Providence mineral output, during the eighties, was the incentive for Rose Hill to forge to the front, which it did on completion of the railroad in 1887. Situated in the northwest part of the township, surrounded by a fine agricultural and stock company, it soon became a very prominent shipping point which, like the town, has been on the increase, keeping pace with progress.

Rose Hill is noted as a clean, tidy village. A larger per cent. of its buildings are more artistically painted than any town in the county and boasts of more and better sidewalks in proportion to population than any wide-awake town in the county. Good walks extend to the high school building in the south part of the village all pupils attending this school residing one-half mile distant are conveyed to and from school at the expense of district in comfortable rigs fitted for that purpose.

Rose Hill is the distributing point of two rural routes, and has up-to-date 'phone service with surrounding country and towns.

Of the forty-seven personal tax payers of 1875, only seven are found on the personal tax roll of 1910. As follows: Briles, A. J.; Cramer, A. J.; Himebaugh, L. D.; Millison, Wm.; Pulver, Wm.; Williams, L. M.; McCluggage, Jas.

One branch of the Texas cattle drive via Wichita to Abiline traversed Richland township from southeast to northwest, where a herd of 1000 or more long horns could be seen most any day during midsummer of 1870, and a few drives were made the following year, when settlement interfered, forcing the drive west of the Arkansas river, terminating at Dodge City on completion of railroad to that point. The class of cattle and the men who handled them (cowboys) were monarch of all they surveyed and their rights there were none to dispute, resulted in many tragic fatalities. The cattle were chuck full of the same spirit; settlers often rode out to see the herds when grazing, with a view of purchasing one for beef, and would naturally dismount to look more closely, but he was warned by several long horns facing him, indicating, "You get off the grass, or into your saddle, or we will raise you one." No time was lost in getting back into saddle. Many of these Texas cattle were purchased and wintered here and sent to market the following summer. There being no railroad they were driven to Kansas City or some point in Missouri. Texas cattle wintered in the state of Kansas were by statutory law exempt from quarantine and

permitted to be driven to market on certificate of county clerk of county, where wintered.

On February 15, 1872, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners, asking that a township to be called Rock Creek be formed out of the territory described as follows: Commencing at the southeast corner of section 36, township 20, range 4, thence running north on section line six miles, thence east nine miles, thence south six miles, thence west nine miles to the place of beginning. The petition was granted, and the residence of John Wilson was appointed as the place for holding elections. The first officers were: A. T. Havens, trustee; Benjamin Thomas, treasurer; P. Dillman, clerk; W. S. Wilson and G. W. Wakefield, justices of the peace; John Beard and Thomas Campbell, constables.

The first land upon which final proof was made, according to the records here, was in section 32, for which a patent was issued June 13, 1870, to Parlina A. Kinder. Among others making final proof in the early seventy's were Chester Briggs, R. A. Taylor, William Cousins, C. R. Guyot, J. J. and J. W. Plummer, Amos Stewart, George W. Burk, James B., Gilbert L., and M. M. Walker, O. B. Lent, S. W. and John A. Adams, S. F. Gibson, E. M. Denton, L. W. Benepe, John Crowe, Joseph Matheny, J. E. Valkman, Charles M. Little, J. I. Hall, A. B. Woodruff, Henry Bally. Those who still own their original claims are W. G. Cousins, C. Guyot, Amos Stewart, G. W. Gibson, Joe Hall, and others whose names I can not recall.

Rock Creek is one of the best townships in the county. Having no city, there is not so much attention given it. Two creeks, Muddy and Rock Creek, pass through it, one on the north, the other on the south, which gives it a good water supply. Many acres of the most fertile land in the county are found here while the uplands are fine for stock raising. Ed Gussman, John Bush, E. Dornboss are extensive stock raisers and shippers, and many farmers raise hogs and young stock, and when you speak of the hen, Rock Creek scores ninety-eight and one-half per cent. There are more women raising more chickens and selling more eggs here than in any other township in the county. There are more eggs laid in one day in Rock Creek than are laid in Rhode Island in a month. More roosters crow and wake up more farmer boys' at four o'clock than they do in North Dakota. In fact, Rock Creek has them all skinned a city block, on the chicken question.

There are eight school houses in the township used for churches as well as school, and one church, the McCabe Chapel, owned by the Methodist Episcopal denomination. They have a registered minister

every Sunday. Union Sunday school, all the ladies' accessories, children's and mothers' day, and even the ever present Ladies Aid Society. As I stated before there are no villages in the township, but Smiley and Welch have a general store seven miles east of Douglass, and a hall that would make Augusta jealous. Talk about your shallow test; Smiley and Welch have an oil well on top of the ground. The place is called Smileyberg on account of Smiley having the store, and Bamey, who runs a blacksmith shop, sharpens tools, has a gasoline engine and furnishes the hot air for the town. A good time is to call on Bamey, just before dinner and you will have a square meal.

Some of the older citizens that are yet living are Pete Dillman, Hank Johnson, W. O. B. Lent, Mrs. Amma Doyle, widow of the late Patrick Doyle. The Doyle family are some of the best citizens. Henry Bally, Isaiah Stevens, G. W. Bibson, James Glaves, family have all been good citizens. W. H., the father of Bare Boy, Amos Whitney, Robert Briggs, C. E. Sleece, Stevanson, Houser, and many others I could mention, have all helped in the uplift of this community.

One of the old landmarks of Rock Creek township is Mount Tabor school house which has been used for church and school purposes for forty years, and children that got their education there have been called to the four winds of the earth. C. R. Johnson, one of the most prosperous farmers, lives north of it and has 240 acres of land. Mack Phillipa is also a prosperous farmer and good trader. Steve Long bought the Heshly estate and for a small sum a few years ago and made a good farm of it. John Haggard, from Germany, and his devoted wife, have a fine farm.

ROSALIA TOWNSHIP.

The records of the county commissioners fail to show date of organization of this township, but from other sources it is known that it was formed out of a portion of El Dorado township in 1871. An election was held in said township, April 8, 1871, and the following officers elected: R. Huston, trustee; S. Woodman, clerk; H. Wagner, treasurer; H. C. Stevens, justice of the peace; D. R. Blankenship, constable; and William Baily, road overseer.

Rosalia township took its name from that of the first postoffice established in that portion of the county. H. C. Stevens and his uncle, J. M. Stevens, came out from Mendota, Illinois, filed on homesteads and improved them. The postoffice was located at his house and in casting about for a name for it the happy thought of honoring his wife occurred to him and he called it Rosalia.

The first settlers came in 1868 but they did not stay. Those who did establish a local habitation are: 1869—D. R. Blankenship, Phil Korn, Robert Huston, Sam Woodward, J. G. Cook, James B. Correll and George Auten; 1870—A. P. Foster, S. H. Foster, Hiram Benedict, Gus Raymond, Mr. Tuttle, Dick Wiley, Samuel Davidson (who built

the first house on the high prairie between Eureka and El Dorado), William Woods, J. T. McClure, L. W. Decker, Nelson Surpluss, James and J. P. Huntley, Elias Leh, Fred Miller, G. W. Chamberlain, Charles Butler, the Shermans and N. B. Snyder; 1871—George McDaniels, Robert Martin and Doc Reynolds.

Walter Clark came in seventy-two and still lives in the old township, jolly as ever. The same year came M. M. Piper and his sons, Charles, Allen, Will, Dan and Val. George Songer and his family came about that time. The privations of some of these people sound like romance. Nelson Surpluss, having no conveyance, in 1871 carried a sack of flour home from El Dorado, at least thirteen miles and was glad to get it that way. The biscuits tasted mighty good, so he says. His daughter, Miss Mary, the first white girl born in Rosalia, was one of the county's foremost teachers. Forman Cook is the first boy born in the township.

D. R. Blankenship drove his stake on his present farm on the north branch of the Little Walunt in November, sixty-nine. Himself, wife and baby began the battle in December following. Their worldly possessions were two horses, a wagon and $50. One of the horses died, which was a serious loss. Preacher Small sold him some of Charley Noe's corn at seventy-five cents a bushel, and Elias Bishop of Chelsea let him have some at the same figure. Edward Jeakins, below El Dorado, parted with two bushels of potatoes at $4.50. J. G. Cook helped him and soon poles were ready for the log cabin which G. W. Miller and Robert Huston helped him to build. He rived the "shakes" from an oak tree and roofed the cabin himself; then chincked it and moved in on a dirt floor and built a fire in the stone fire place. Even the hinges of the door were his own make. He tells this whopper: In February, seventy, he sowed wheat and oats on prairie sod which he turned over and harrowed. His crop was twelve bushels of wheat and thirty of oats to the acre. This was the first sod broken in the township and who can doubt that Providence favored the poor and humble homesteaders and their families.

The town of Rosalia was platted in September, 1883, by G. W. Chamberlain and F. G. Miller. It is now a thriving little village on the Missouri Pacific railroad, having two general stores; C. A. Blankenship and S. R. Anderson; B. F. Branson, hardware; the Rock Island Lumber Company; a State Bank, J. H. Liggett, cashier, and other business firms and all prosperous. The township has about twelve miles of railroad within its borders which assists in keeping up the school and other taxes. There have been but two county officers from Rosalia township: S. F. Packard, county commissioner and W. A. Liggett, county assessor.

Spring township was named by Henry M. Wingert, because of its numerous and beautiful springs. Was incorporated by the board of county commissioners September 4, 1871. The first election was held at the home of O. Greer, September 19, 1871. The following were elected: Kane Garrison, trustee; James Crawford, treasurer; C. F. Miller, clerk; E. H. Clark and G. Stephens, justices of the peace; H. King and D. Church, constables.

The early settlers of Spring endured all the privations, hardships and pleasures incident to life in a new country. Those who stayed were more than compensated for all the self denial practiced and all the struggles through which they passed. But few are left. Those living on their homesteads at the present time are L. A. Ridge, B. F. Arnold, J. B. Smock, H. C. Morgan, and I. G. Morgan, C. C. Currier, who resides in El Dorado still owns the quarter he pre-empted. Children owning the land pre-empted by their fathers are J. C. Green, George Deedond, J. J. Mannion, of Augusta; W. A. Warner, O. Cody and John White. Among the early settlers who bought their land and still remain are W. B. Earll, L. Bolinger, D. T. Willits, Mrs. Carrie Bankey, Mrs. James Conest, Mrs. W. Sharrock and J. H. Armstrong and G. W. McGahey, of El Dorado.

Thus we can see that the pioneers who moved from comfortable homes in the East, many of them, and broke the prairie, built the homes, planted the hedges and orchards, established the churches and schools are almost gone. Those who are left are not the vigorous men of forty-five years ago, many of them are broken in health, old, retired; the second generation have active charge of affairs today and the third is fast coming on. Next to the name of the soldier should be placed the name of the pioneer who gave much of his life that we might enjoy the luxuries that are ours today.

Among the important accounts in the early history of Spring township was the building of the St. Louis & San Francisco railroad in the summer of 1880. The establishment of a general store at Haverhill in the same year by the late Joseph W. Brown was another important event. From a small beginning Mr. Brown built up a good business and prospered. For twenty-five years he was agent for the Frisco at Haverhill, at the time of his retirement being in point of service the oldest agent of the road between St. Louis and Wichita. Mr. Brown always took an active part in public affairs, was a man of strong personality and always stood for what he thought was right and for the best interests of the community. Before his death he sold his stock of goods to McDowell Brothers, who conduct the business at the present time. The store was a favorite meeting place for the exchange of ideas,

gossip and the discussion of all kinds of subjects. The man who would do his trading and hurry away was looked upon with a little suspicion.

H. H. Leonard, now of Wichita, and one of the finest citizens any community ever had, for many years held the checker championship of the store. He perhaps did not always play the best game, but played more of them. It was here that the first Haverhill base ball team was organized under the leadership of Will Glaze and for many years Haverhill has had one of the best teams in the county. J. C. Greer, who still ambles around first base with as much agility, if not quite as much grace, as he did twenty years ago, is the only member of this first team who still plays. J. C. Glaze, now one of the prosperous farmers of Spring township, at one time conducted a store at Haverhill. In 1902, C. R. Marshall and Sam Frank opened a general store at Haverhill. This business was successfully conducted in turn by Frank, J. B. and E. L. Marshall until 1915, when it was closed out by E. L. Marshall, that he might devote all of his time to his veterinary practice.

From an agricultural standpoint, it is an ideal township. It is divided up, as a rule, into small farms, a very large majority of the residents owning their own homes. It is drained by the Walnut and Little Walnut rivers. Along these streams and their branches are many acres of fine bottom land. The people are and always have been progressive, intelligent and law-abiding. In the forty-five years of its history, its criminal record consisted of one murder, that of William Jones, who was killed by an unknown party in December, 1903. C. C. Currier was justice of the peace for twenty-five years and never had a criminal case.

There are three churches in the township. These organizations, with their splendid membership, have always exerted a great influence for good over the entire community. In 1891, C. Y. Trice located a number of families from Illinois in Spring township, among whom were the families of C. R. Marshall, S. Kenyon, A. Bailey, J. H. Leonard, Knute Seglem and A. Kneutson. These families were a splendid addition to the community. Cave Springs, located in the northeast corner of the township on the A. C. Smock farm, has attracted much attention and is one of the natural wonders of the State. In this article time and space forbid the mention of many names that have been prominently identified with the history of the township and county. This story in its completeness is offered without apology in the hope that it will contribute to some extent to the memory of the pioneers of Butler county, Spring township, located in line of the developed oil and gas fields, and, with its wonderful natural resources, will contribute to the happiness and prosperity of its people for a century yet to come.

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