The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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first postmaster at Neighborville but died before his commission arrived; the office was named Neighborville by him.  

Charley Bieber settled at that time where he now resides. When the postoffice was established at Neighborville in April 1875, he was made postmaster and retained it for eight years.  He has never been a candidate for office but acted as deputy sheriff in 1875.  Gross Page had been elected sheriff but had gone east for a short time leaving Charley in charge.  In swearing in some appraisers he made a slight mistake in the form of oath; some of the bystanders laughed: this vexed him and he went out at once and resigned.  When Gross returned he found the office had been declared vacant and James R. Hall appointed to fill out the unexpired term.  During the county seat contest between Norton and Leota Charley Bieber espoused the cause of Leota, giving as his reason that Bisop [sic] Simpson had called him a pauper.  This was because he favored the voting of bonds for aid.  Charley attends strictly to his own business and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.  His only daughter, Carrie, married Jesse S. Wright in April 1881.  She died March 1883 and is buried in the Norton cemetery.

John Bieber homesteaded the farm north of where he now lives.  He was elected sheriff in 1873; he took an active part in the county seat troubles and was always a Norton man.  He married Miss Mollie Fisher May 15, 1879, and has one child.  He was the Republican nominee for representative in 1890? but was defeated by the Farmers Alliance candidate, W. Hicks.

George N. Kingsbury settled on the farm just west of Calvert, but sold it and moved to Norton in 1882 and has resided here ever since.  He was elected county commissioner in 1872 but did not qualify, so Sol Marsh was appointed to fill the vacancy; he was elected again in 1873 and served three years.  He was the Republican nominee in 1879 but William Grant ran independent and defeated him.  He has filled the office of assistant postmaster, constable, deputy sheriff and city marshal.  During the county seat fight he was a Leota man.  His eldest daughter Jennie is at present deputy county clerk.

Jim and Fred Vance settled below Almena in April 1872. Jim was county commissioner for two years; they remained here until about 1880, when they sold out and left the county.  During the county seat trouble they were Leota men.  They now live at Olathe, Kansas, and are running a harness shop.

Charles Rhodig came here in June1872; he still resides on his farm east of Almena. 

H.C. Fellows settled at the mouth of South Fork May 1872, sold out and went to Cloud county in 1888 and died there in 1892. His widow now lives in Almena.

Jake Folsum and Ed Collins both settled on North Fork in May 1872.  Folsum now lives at Boise City, Idaho.  Collins is living in Nodaway, Mo.; they were both Leota men.  Ed Collins named Almena where he was appointed the second postmaster (Jim Hall being first) and held it for several years.

D. W. Mills and John Gishwiller came in September 1872; they both reside on the same farms they located upon at that time.  D. W. Mills was elected county surveyor in 1883.  His youngest son, Arba K., is now principal of the Almena schools and served the county for four years as register of deeds.  Mr. Mills was always a Norton man during the county seat troubles.

John Gishwiller was elected clerk of the district court in 1871, and was the first trustee of Almena township.

Eber Sheldon settled just west of Mills in September 1872. He now resides in Irving, Kansas, and is a con-


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