first building in Benkelman in '81 but only came when the roundup was there, and did not stay that winter. The next building was put up by Frank Duffey of Indianola. It was a drugstore. He was killed that winter going home on a construction train. Afterwards, I bought the stock, and put the stores in one. Doctor Mapel was our first permanent physician. Next came Doctor Way I sold him the drug outfit.

          As to what time Jake located in Haigler, I am uncertain. I was talking to John Pallick, one of the old boys that is left, who went down there in '77, and he says that Jake's ranch looked like an old fixture then. Believe me, I can count on my two hands, all of the old boys left. Tolm Ashton could rtell you more about that than anyone I know of. I went down to Benkelman last fall, but Tom was away. There are only two more left there, George Benkelman and Jeff Gallagher, an old Wilson man. Jim and Ben Morning are at Kiowa, Colo., and Ed Wilsoln lives in Denver.

          In 1882 we organized Dundy county. We had to have 20 voters to start. So on the morning of election, the boys would not wait to vote and gave me all their names and how they wanted to vote. They wre mostly all Texas fellows. There were 20 democrats and 3 republicans. They were from every where. There were not 20 regular voters in the whole county, so I marked them all down. I was judge, clerk and the whole works. I tool [sic] the returns to Culbertson. W. Z. Taylor was county clerk and recorder. That fall as well as I can remember, the following officers were elected. == Commissioners, J. R. Porter, E. G. Neighbors and I think J. R. King. Wm. Hacker, County clerk and Treasurer. Jack Woods, Sheriff. He was killed by a horse thief at Mindan, Nebraska, as fine a boy as ever lived. It was all done throuigh the cowardice of his deputy. The rest of us to fill out, had about two offices apiece. Officidally, I was Justice of Peace.

          Joe Bowles had a ranch about where Ashtons now is. His son may be able to tell you about when Haigler settled there. He is away now. Will see him when he comes back. The main ranches on the river when I went down there were owned by Joe Bowles, D. Holden, George Woodward, where Ashton's now is, next to Haigler, '25' and the Wilson, where Stratton is now, the O' Nelson ranch is located. Farther back on the creek were the Ed Riant and Smith. There was another ranch on the Hackberry. The Hour Glass at Wano, Benkelman next, McCrillis next.

          It was after the railroad was built to Benkelman that the post office was changed by the railroad outfit. The old-timers were against it but they beat us. Mose Collins was an old soldiere. He was always the life of the crowd. He died in a soldiere's home in Kansas.

          My first trip and round-up on the South Fork, Daniel Boone cooked for us. He did not work for a few days so we thought to tryh out Daniel's nerve. We fixted up as Indians out in the hlls. When all was ready we made a swoop down on the dcamp, shooting and yelloing. Well the out-come was Daniel grabbed a rifle and out loose at the bunch and believe me we went back faster than we came. After that we never disputed his claim. There are several more characters there. Tom Hill was one of them, Daniel Gilbert and Jim Eleyh, who was cook and for a long time the onlyh fidler. Some time I might describe them for you if it would be of interest to you.

          If any of the old boys happen to see this I hope they will write to me and if you can get up any more facts, I trust you will mail me a copy of your paper -- Jimmy M. Morris.