The Larned Press

Seth McFarland

January 18, 2023

One of the first newspapers in the region was the Larned Press published by William C. "Doc" Tompkins who operated the first hotel, along with a drug store and printing establishment. It was located on the site of what many would remember in more recent times as the Lischesky store at 501 Broadway. The paper was described as a three-column, four page tabloid. The first volume was published on June 17, 1873. 

 

The headline story "An Important Land Sale" stated:

    "It is beginning to be well understood that the endowment lands of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, numbering three million acres, have introduced an extraordinary current into the tide of enterprising emigration which is setting westward this spring of 1873.  Men of intelligence, energetic purpose and capital are coming here who propose to remain and develop themselves and the country. 

    "But a short time since, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad sold to thirteen gentlemen from Illinois, sixty-six sections of land lying in the Arkansas Valley, being 40,960, or in one continuous tract sixty-six miles long and one mile wide."  

 

Another article headed "Arkansas Valley in Kansas" stated:

    "The valley is the grandest in the west, its soil and climate has no superior and is destined to be one of the richest agricultural as well as manufacturing districts in the country.  Only a few years ago, this part of the United States was considered a desert, and the soil sterile to all but prairie and buffalo grasses, but this has been proven false.

    "The soil is rich, black loam from two to six feet deep.   The gentle rolls give every foot of land a natural drainage, while in most  every hollow can be found a creek or brook of living water, which peculiarly adapts the country to stock raising. 

    "Stone are generally found convenient for all purposes.  They are not scattered promiscuously over the land, but in ledges and quarries from which they can be taken in any required size. 

    "Coal is abundant and can be had at only a small expense.  In many places, timber is quite abundant.

    "Coal is principally used for fuel.  It is now brought here by rail and costs at retail about $8 per ton.  It is claimed that coal has been found in this county  On the Walnut and Pawnee Fork, there is considerable timber and wood sufficient for all local uses."

     

The paper continues to tell of the measures to build a new school at the cost of no less than $2,500, to be completed for the fall term of school.   A Sabbath school was also in operation at the time of printing. 

 

Other reports included that a large herd of cattle - 2,800 head had been camped on Judge Bright's farm, near town.   They were being driven to Rocky Canyon, Colorado from northeastern Texas.  

 

A heard of  800 beeves was driven through the previous week going east for a market. The herd was owned by Mr. Horn of Trinidad Colorado.  

Larned was in need of a good shoemaker and a good blacksmith.   

The next article made it clear that Larned was not always a quiet and subdued town.  

    "A shooting affair unfortunately occurred in a billiard saloon in this place last Saturday evening.    A misunderstanding occurred between some parties which culminated in blows.  A third person interfered and struck one of the parties - James Murray- over the head with a piece of board, bruising him considerably.   Murray went home, a distance of nearly half a  mile - got his revolver - and came back with "blood in his eye" and a six shooter in his hand.   The sheriff went into the saloon to arrest him when Murray told him to stand off, and brought the revolver in dangerous range with the sheriff's person. Mr. Sheriff struck the pistol up and the load went through the ceiling.   Murray was arrested and had an immediate examination which resulted in his being sent to jail to wait his trial.

 

    "The proceedings of the board of county commissioners published in the paper was signed by George Nolan as county clerk.  A. R. Boyd, chairman of the board, and T. McCarthy were present at the meeting."

 

    Advertisements appearing in The Larned Press included the Land Agency of W.R. Adams; T.J. Clark, dealer in general merchandise; Nelson Adams, attorney at law; Henry Booth, notary public; D. A. Bright, real estate and insurance; and Miller & Christy, general dealers in lumber, coal and grain.