One of the pioneers who shared in the hardships of the frontier and one of the "main stays" of the new settlement was John M. Thorpe. He came to the county in company with J.M. Hagaman, whose lives having been spent on the wild prairies together made them bosom friends. Being the head of a family Mr. Thorpe did not enlist in the army but was patriotic enough to contribute two sons. Mr. Thorpe was the first justice of the peace with jurisdiction extending over the whole country. There were not many law suits but he became a sort of general expounder of the law and people accepted and were usually satisfied with his decisions. However, the early settlers had enough to employ their time without going to law.
For a considerable length of time there was no regular physician this side of Manhattan or Junction City. This want was supplied by J.M. Thorpe who apparently possessed considerable knowledge of the human system, with remedies for its disorders. Many can testify to having been brought back to health through his treatments. He generally performed these duties gratuitously, and in this way made himself very useful. However, the people were generally hale and hearty, as no one would come so far away from medical aid who was not. Mr. Thorp removed to Russell county and in losing him the county sustained a loss not easily repaired.
Transcribed from E.F. Hollibaugh's Biographical history of Cloud County, Kansas biographies of representative citizens. Illustrated with portraits of prominent people, cuts of homes, stock, etc. [n.p., 1903] 919p. illus., ports. 28 cm.
