DR. AND MRS. ANDREWS.

                                                                 Winfield.

Note: Mrs. Andrews was a daughter of Capt. J. C. Monforte. After her husband, Dr. Andrews died, she married Rev. P. D. Lahr.

[Unknown if the following census refers to Dr. Andrews.]

Kansas 1875 Census, Winfield Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.

Name                           age sex color    Place/birth Where from

W. W. Andrews           44  m     w      Vermont?? New York

Mattie Andrews            31    f      w      New York        New York

Raymond Andrews   4  m     w      Kansas

[Note: It appears that there were two “Dr. Andrews” that came to Winfield: one is noted by way of his wife in November 1872. The other “Dr. Andrews” arrived in November 1873, one year later.]

                                               FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.

Winfield Messenger, November 1, 1872. Front Page.

UNION SOCIAL, Mrs. C. A. Bliss, Secretary.

M. E. SOCIAL, Mrs. Dr. Andrews, Secretary.

Meet alternately every Wednesday evening.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 13, 1873.

We welcome to our midst Dr. Andrews, who comes among us to stay. The Dr. is a polished gentleman of culture. He speaks several languages, knows his profession, has traveled four years in Europe, and is altogether a very interesting man. We hope to see him reconciled to his new home, and that pleasure and pros­perity may be his.

LATER. Since writing the above we learn that the above gentlemen has “lit out” leaving a disconsolate landlord.

Winfield Courier, Friday, December 19, 1873.

The representation of the Pilgrim’s Progress was concluded last Tuesday evening and the size of the audience warrants the belief that the first night had been fully appreciated. We have neither time or space to notice each participant separately as we would much like to do. Mrs. Dr. Andrews, as Christiana, entered into the spirit of her part in a manner entirely creditable, and Mrs. James F. Paul, as a Pillar of Salt, was indeed beautiful and fully sustained her reputation of the evening before. The music, if possible, excelled that of the previous evening.

Dr. W. A. Andrews...

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.

FORMATION OF COWLEY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

At a meeting of medical men held at the office of Dr. Egbert, Winfield, on Tuesday, January 8th, 1874, it was unani­mously resolved to organize a County Medical Society, and the following temporary organization was effected to carry out the necessary arrangements: Dr. W. Q. Mansfield, President; Dr. D. N. Egbert, Secretary; Dr. T. G. Peyton, Treasurer.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Dr. Nathan Hughes, of Arkansas City, and Drs. D. C. Cram and W. A. Andrews, of Winfield.

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1874.

County Medical Society. At a meeting of medical men held at the office of Dr. Egbert, Winfield, on Tuesday, January 8th, 1874, it was unani­mously resolved to organize a County Medical Society, and the following temporary organization was effected to carry out the necessary arrangements: Dr. W. Q. Mansfield, President; Dr. D. N. Egbert, Secretary; Dr. T. G. Peyton, Treasurer. Dr. Nathan Hughes, of Arkansas City, and Dr.’s D. C. Cram, and W. A. Andrews, of Winfield Executive Committee.

It was resolved that the society meet at 2 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday in February, at Dr. Egbert’s office, to form a perma­nent organization. Also resolved that the members of the medical fraternity of the county be respectfully invited to be present.

DR. W. Q. MANSFIELD, President. DR. D. N. EGBERT, Secretary.

[COWLEY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.]

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.

The Cowley County Medical Society met at the City Council Room in Winfield on Wednesday, Feb. 12th, 1874, according to adjournment. Present: Drs. Mansfield, Wagner, Cram, Andrews, Black, Graham, and Peyton. Dr. Mansfield presiding. The Secre­tary being absent, Dr. Peyton was appointed to fill the vacancy, pro tem.

The minutes of the previous meeting were then read and ap­proved, after which Dr. Wagner moved for a permanent and immedi­ate organization, to be termed “The Cowley County Medical Soci­ety.” Motion carried.

Society then proceeded to the elec­tion of officers, which resulted as follows: Dr. W. Q. Mansfield, President; Dr. Wagner, Vice President; Dr. D. N. Egbert, Secre­tary; Dr. T. G. Peyton, Assistant Secretary; Dr. W. G. Graham, Treasurer. Upon motion, Dr. Hughes of Arkansas City and Drs. Cram, Andrews, Black, and Mansfield, of Winfield, were elected Censors for the society for one year. President Mansfield then appointed Drs. Wagner, Graham, and Peyton as the committee to draft a Constitution and By-laws to be acted upon at the next meeting of the society. By vote of the society, the Secretary was instructed to furnish each of the County papers with a copy of the minutes of this meeting.

There being no further business to transact, the society adjourned to meet at this place in two weeks (Wednesday, Feb. 25th, 1874) at 2 o’clock p.m. All physicians are requested to be present. T. G. PEYTON, Assistant Secretary.

             [Note: There is no Obituary for W. A. Andrews in the Winfield Courier.]

Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.

DIED. Dr. Andrews, of this city, died suddenly last Sunday evening. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon from the M. E. church.

[Note: Papers always referred to “Dr. W. A. Andrews.” According to the next item, his name was “Dr. Joseph Andrews.” Most confusing!]

Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.

WHEREAS, Death has called from our midst Dr. Joseph Andrews, therefore

Resolved, That the medical fraternity of the city of Winfield, in meeting assembled, hereby tender the bereaved widow and relatives of the deceased our heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of sore distress, and that in their behalf we would invoke Divine assistance and comfort.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the wife of the deceased and the same be handed our city papers for publication.

W. O. WRIGHT, M. D., Chairman. C. H. STRONG, M. D., Secretary.

Winfield, Kansas, Nov. 12th, 1877.

Winfield Courier, December 13, 1877.

Prof. C. Farringer, Teacher of vocal and instrumental music, director of choirs and singing societies, has now permanently located in Winfield and is ready to teach singing schools, societies, and give lessons on the Piano, Organ, Violin, Guitar, Flute, and in vocal culture, in Winfield, Oxford, and Arkansas City, and on the roads leading to these places. Pianos and organs tuned and repaired at reasonable rates. Orders left at his residence (house formerly occupied by Dr. Andrews), or Dr. Mansfield’s drug store, will be promptly attended to. Call on Mrs. Farringer for pianos, organs, instruction books, etc. A good assortment constantly on hand.

Winfield Courier, March 7, 1878.

Lost. On Tuesday, Feb. 26th, either in the Presbyterian Church or on street between the church and the residence of the late Dr. Andrews, a small gold and coral pin. The finder will be liberally rewarded by leaving it at this office.

Winfield Courier, November 7, 1878.

MARRIED. LAHR—ANDREWS. By Rev. A. H. Walter, Oct. 20, 1878, Rev. P. G. Lahr to Mrs. M. L. Andrews, all of Winfield, Kansas.

Excerpts taken from “Recollections of C. M. Wood, Early Settler,” which concern the J. C. Monforte family, including Mrs. Dr. Andrews (later Mrs. Lahr)...

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 4, 1886.

Young people were quite scarce during the first winter of these settlements, there only being three young ladies in the whole neighborhood—Emma and Hattie Ross, daughters of Judge T. B. Ross, and Julia Monforte, daughter of Capt. J. C. Monforte, who came into the settlement some time in November, 1869. I think at least we found them here when my wife and I came back from Cottonwood Falls in November. Dr. W. G. Graham helped them to select and locate three good claims about three miles up Timber Creek. The family consisted of the Captain, his wife, two sons, and two daughters. The two sons being of age took claims adjoining that of their father and held onto them for some years, but hard times and disappointment drove them to part with them. The Captain held on to his claim, worked diligently in connection with his sons and from year to year improved it until it is now one of the most valuable farms in the county and is owned by Alvin and J. C. Monforte, Jr.

When I first made the acquaintance of the Monforte family, I was up the creek one day on some business (I cannot recollect what now), and found them encamped in the timber on the Captain’s claim. It was a cold winter day and I recollect that they were not at all used to such a life, having come from the City of Buffalo, New York. The Captain and his wife were then getting along in years. The Captain’s head being as white as snow, it looked to me as if he had made a wrong movement for one so far along in life, and I think I so expressed myself to him. He said that he had been a sea Captain, but that he now found himself with grown children, and that he had come west to fix them so that they would be able to take care of themselves. Julia and her little sister looked so delicate I recollect well how I pitied them there as they shivered with the cold. But with the determination of a person who will take such a task, the family have lived on from year to year and by perseverance and industry, are all in comfortable circumstances. Will and J. C. Monforte still carry on the farm and take care of the old folks, who are now too old to work much. Julia married Sid Cure, a thrifty farmer and an old soldier, who now lives on his claim in Walnut township. Hattie married a Mr. Wilson, who came here a few years since from Scotland, and bought one of the best farms in the same neighborhood where they still reside. He is a quiet, thrifty farmer, and she is making him a good wife and helpmate.

Later on came one Mr. Hill, the husband of another one of the Captain’s daughters. He also took a claim nearby and remained a year or so, having much sickness in his family, and being so unfortunate as to lose a little girl. They got discouraged, sold out, and left the country, since which time I have lost sight of them. I recollect well that my wife and I attended the funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Hill’s child, at their claim, where the services were conducted by the Rev. E. P. Hickok, another early settler, which I may speak of more fully at another time. This was the first funeral, to my knowledge, in the county; and notwithstanding I had recently come out of the army, where death and desolation were all around me, I never before witnessed so solemn and impressive a scene as I did there and then. The lonely, wild, and desolate condition of the country, added to the grief of the parents and the fact that it was the first instance in which we had been made to feel that death would follow us wherever we went—all of these things made the occasion very impressive indeed.

Still later Mrs. Dr. Andrews, another of the Captain’s daughters, came with her husband and settled in Winfield. She became a widow and since has married Rev. P. D. Lahr, and is now living at Towanda, Kansas. The Captain is still living with his sons on the old claim.

I hope the reader will excuse me for entering into the details of the settlement of the Monforte family, for I cannot resist the temptation to speak of such heroism when it is brought so favorably to my recollection.

Some may ask from where and how did you get the necessaries of life. Well, our goods were hauled from Leavenworth, Kansas, some 260 miles, by wagon. Occasionally some farmer from the settlement would come through here with cured pork and sell it to us. Frequently hunting parties would cross the Arkansas river when the buffalo were plenty and would kill and load their wagons and bring home plenty of meat, which they would divide with their neighbors, selling to such as were able to pay them, and giving to such as were not. To show the difference in the price of living then and now, I will give a few prices: Good flour, $6 to $8 per 100 lbs.; corn meal, $3.50 to $4.00 per 100 lbs.; corn $2.25 per bushel; potatoes, $2.00 to $2.50 per bushel; smoked hams and bacon, 25 to 30 cents per lb.; butter, 50 cents per lb., and coffee, 3 pounds for $1.00; sugar, 4 and 5 pounds for $1.00, and everything else in proportion. The boys used to go hunting buffalo and would load their wagons with only the hams of young cows cut off with the skin and hair on, which they would sell in the settlement from 6 to 8 cents per pound, and when the skin was taken off, it would reduce the weight so that the meat would cost about 10 to 12 cents per pound.