History

Graham county is situated three hundred miles west of the Missouri River. It is composed of twenty-five Congressional townships, each six miles square. The surface of the country is generally rolling, with small plateaus between the streams. The slopes are gradual toward the larger streams.

The principal streams are the Solomon, running from west to east, and touching at the geographical center; Bow Creek, in the north from west to east, the entire width of the county; Happy Hollow, from northwest to southeast in south of the county; Spring Creek from northwest to southeast to Solomon at the east line of county; Brush Creek, from southwest to northeast, enters in Solomon near center of county; and Sand Creek empties into Solomon one mile west of center of county.
 

The principal timbered stream is Bow Creek, consisting of oak, ash, box elder, cottonwood and elm; with occasional groves on Brush and Coon creeks.

Sandstone and lime for building are found in abundance along most of the streams. The stone is a white magnesian limestone, which upon first being taken from the quarry can be planed or sawed very easily, but hardens by exposure.

The sand is of various kinds and qualities, suitable for any kind of mechanical work, and what is termed native lime is found in abundance, an excellent article for all indoor work, but will not stand the action of the elements, water dissolving it very readily.

The soil is a dark loam, sometimes a little sandy, and well adapted for corn, wheat, rye, millet, and all kinds of vegetables. The natural grasses are buffalo and blue stem. Tame grass is being put out, and does as well as in any other section of the country.

The first settlement in Graham county was made May 18, 1872, by W. E. Ridgely, on the northeast section of the county, his nearest neighbor being at Logan, Kan., eight miles distant. From that date until the census was taken in November, 1876, there were but seventy-five inhabitants in the county, and in the spring of 1882, the census of the county was 3,328.

From the summer of 1879, until April 1, 1880, the county was attached to Rooks County as a municipal organization, and April 1, 1880, by a proclamation of Gov. John P. St. John, an organization was established with Millbrook as the county-seat, temporarily, and John P. Inlow, O. G. Nevins and A. E. Moses as Commissioners, and E. P. McCabe as County Clerk.

On June 1, 1880, the first election was held in the county, and the following officers were elected: Representative, J. L. Walton; Commissioners, A. Mort, G. W. Morehouse and J. N. Glover; County Clerk, John Deprad; County Attorney, J. R. McCowen; Register of Deeds, J. J. Harrvi; Treasurer, L. Thoman; Surveyor, L. Pritchard; Sheriff, E. A. Moses; Coroner, Dr. Butterfield; Probate Judge, James Gordan. The first crops raised in the county were by Messrs. Ridgely, Wilkinson and Poole, in 1873, and consisted wholly of corn. The first post-office established was on Bow Creek, in 1874, at H. M. Wisdom's place, he being the postmaster.
 

The only Indian trouble in Graham County, since its first settlement, was during the summer of 1874. Mr. E. Poole, one of the first settlers on Bow Creek, was visited by three wild Sioux Indians (the only ones ever seen on Bow Creek), who walked into his cabin, and without any ceremony began to pick up such things as struck their fancy.

Mr. Poole thought it time for Mr. "Lo" to go slow, and with a war whoop he knocked one of them into a heap in the corner, while the other two laughed at the fun. They left Mr. Poole in possession of his property, went farther down the creek, where they were met by some of the settlers armed, who ordered them to return West, which they did, and to the present time here has been no trouble in the county from Indians.

The second by violence was on the 24th of October, 1882. Mitchell Hopson (colored) killed Theodore Rudman by shooting him with a Colt's pistol, one shot killing him instantly, the ball penetrating the heart. The difficulty arose from Mr. Rudman putting up some of Hopson's hogs. Hopson was arrested by Special Constable, tried before Justice Currie, and bound over to the next term of the District Court of Graham County, and confined in jail of Ellis County, Kan. On the 4th of December, 1882.

While trying to make his escape from the officers at the jail, he was struck in the head with a hammer, by one of the officers, from which he died the same day. The hammer, a large knife and quite a large package of red pepper were in possession of the prisoner, given him by outside friends to assist him in making his escape.

The population of Graham County, in March, 1882, was 3,328.