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W. K. Davis

                                                         Tisdale Township.
Tisdale Township 1873: W. K. Davis, 50. No spouse listed.
Tisdale Township 1874: W. K. Davis, 52. No spouse listed.
                                               FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
[COWLEY COUNTY FAIR—LIST OF PREMIUMS AWARDED.]
Winfield Messenger, October 4, 1872.
                                                           Class E—Sheep.
Two second premiums were awarded to G. M. Miller & Co. and W. K. Davis.
                              Class F—Lot 16—Swine—15 Entries—Poland-China,
                                         Chester White, and Other Large Breeds.
Premiums to W. K. Davis, B. C. Swarts, A. S. Monger, W. J. Lewis, W. H. H. Maris.
In the department of swine we have never seen a finer exhibition. No one supposed that there were so many and so fine hogs in this part of the State. We have never seen such a display at a county fair before, and, in quality, we have never seen it surpassed at a State fair. The growing and feeding of swine will be one of the most profitable branches of industry of the county, and we are glad to know that so good a start has been made in their breeding. Great credit is due to Messrs. Voris, Swarts, Maris, Lewis, Allen, Stewart, Johnson, Cottingham, Boutwell, Snodgrass, and others for the interest they have taken in this department. Hereafter, in this department, we shall look for the finest display of any fairs of the State.
                                                        W. K. DAVIS, Supt.
                       Lot 17—Berkshire, Essex, and Other Small Breeds—15 Entries.
Premiums to W. S. Voris, W. J. Snodgrass, D. W. Boutwell, D. W. Allen, L. Cottingham.
                                         Lot 18—Sweepstakes—Sixteen Entries.
Premiums to W. J. Snodgrass, W. J. Lewis, D. W. Allen.
                                     Lot 19—Best Exhibition Thoroughbred Swine.
Premium to W. J. Snodgrass.
                                                                 SWINE.
                                            Forty-Six Entries—Class F—Lot 16.
Finest display in the State. Poland-China, Chester White, and other large breeds. Boars over one year old, B. C. Swarts; First premium under one year old, W. K. Davis; second premium, A. L. Menser; sows over one year old, First premium, W. J. Lewis; sows under one year old, First premium; best litter of pigs, shown with sire and dam, First premium, W. K. Davis.
[PROCEEDINGS OF THE COWLEY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 8, 1873.
The annual meeting of the stock holders of the Cowley County Agricultural society was held on Saturday last, at the office of the Secretary.
228 shares were represented, and voted upon.
The reports of the former Board of Directors were heard, and accepted.
The following persons were chosen directors for the ensuing year.

J. D. Cochran, W. W. Limbocker, W. K. Davis, H. Silver, E. Davis, J. B. Fairbank, Amos Walton, S. C. Winton, F. W. Schwantes, C. M. Wood, A. S. Williams, and J. R. Smith.
A. T. Stewart was chosen President, C. M. Wood, Vice Presi­dent, J. B. Fairbank, Secretary, and J. D. Cochran, Treasurer.
Two committees were appointed to prepare and submit premium lists to the board of directors.
One, of the ladies; consisting of Mrs. Dr. Mansfield, Mrs. C. M. Wood, Mrs. J. S. Tousey, Mrs. A. A. Jackson, and Mrs. John Lowry, to submit a list for the ladies department.
The other committee, consisting of J. B. Fairbank, C. M. Wood, A. Walton, H. Silver, and W. K. Davis.
It was voted that the members meet May 5th, and plant trees on the fair grounds.
J. B. Fairbank, H. Silver, and S. C. Smith were chosen a committee to superintend the planting.
It was voted that the society meet Saturday, May 17th, at the fair grounds to repair the fence.
The assets of the society are in round numbers, $5,000.
The liabilities are about $2,400.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 4, 1873.
MORE ITEMS RE FARMERS’ MASS MEETING & TELEGRAM EDITOR....
ONLY GOING TO GIVE RECAP ON ONE ARTICLE.
On Saturday morning we went to Winfield expecting to meet our brother farmers and spend the day socially with them, compar­ing notes of crops, profits, losses, experiments, etc. We hoped to take by the hand our friend, Renfro, and inquire after his horses and colts; to ask Mr. Cochran as to his corn crops in the valley and on the uplands; to congratulate Mr. Stewart and Capt. Lowry on their fine improvements and wish them much happiness in their new residences; to obtain from Mr. Clingman some valuable information in regard to growing hedge; to inquire of Mr. Andrews of his brick making enterprise, and learn whether brick can be furnished so as to take the place of wood as a building material thus saving money in the county rather than sending it to the lumber men of Wisconsin and Michigan; to ask Mr. Davis and Mr. Holcomb of their fine Swine; to obtain some valuable information from Mr. Foos in regard to the management of the dairy, etc.
We reached the place of meeting through clouds of dust, and found about three hundred people present, but not our friends: Cochran, Renfro, Stewart, Lowry, Clingman, Andrews, Foos, Holcomb, etc. A few farmers were present, but they wore either a dissatisfied look, as though they had been sold, or a hungry look as though they would give their farms for a county office.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 4, 1873.
The directors of the Agricultural Society will meet at the Fair Grounds, Saturday, Sept. 6th, 1873, at 2 o’clock P. M. They earnestly desire that the Superintendents of all the departments meet with them to acquaint themselves with their duties. The following are the names of the various Superintendents.

Capt. E. Davis; A. Walton; J. H. Churchill; J. P. Short; John R. Smith; E. B. Johnson; W. K. Davis; A. S. Williams; Will S. Voris; S. H. Myton; Samuel Darrah; James Stewart; Jas. H. Land; T. B. Myers; Geo. W. Martin; W. M. Boyer; Max Shoeb; John Swain; S. C. Smith, Mrs. L. H. Howard; Mrs. J. D. Cochran; Mrs. E. Davis; Mrs. J. C. Fuller; Mrs. C. A. Bliss; Mrs. Fitch; Max Fawcett; J. O. Matthewson; H. B. Norton; D. A. Millington; E. B. Kager, C. M. Wood; T. A. Wilkinson.
The Superintendents are desired to study carefully the rules and regulations of the society so they may be able to render assistance to exhibitors.
[FAIR NOTES.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 25, 1873.
We give this week a cursory report of the 3rd annual fair of the Cowley County Agricultural Society, held last week. Notwith­standing the dust which at times was almost stifling, the fair was quite successful and the managers are entitled to much credit for the energy and good judgment they used. We are informed by the secretary that there were over 400 entries, and more than 1,000 different articles on exhibition. We report some of the premiums as furnished us. The race horse and fast trotter had to take a back place this year, while the horse for service came to the front. The “pure agricultural horse trot” gave way to the tests of strength, and excellence was not measured by the short time required to run 300 yards. We were glad to notice some very good young stock in this department. The premiums were awarded as follows.
                                                                  JACKS.
Span mules: 1st pr. H. Shaver; 2nd W. K. Davis.
                                                                CATTLE.
In this department there was a fair exhibition of grades in all lots, but it might have been largely increased if people would have brought out their stock.
The premiums were:
Bulls, two years old and under 3: 1st pr. W. K. Davis.
                                                                 SWINE.
The exhibition here was worthy the attention of every farmer. We never saw a larger or better collection at any fair, and we are glad to attest to the fact that the county is so largely stocked with fine blooded stock.
There were 77 swine on exhibition. The premiums were awarded as follows.
Poland China, Magee, and other large breeds.
Boar, 1 year old and over: 1st pr. C. C. Pierce; 2nd W. K. Davis.
Sows 1 year old and over: 1st W. K. Davis; 2nd C. C. Pierce.
[Note: The following item shows that there was a Mrs. W. K. Davis.]...
Premiums were awarded to J. O. Matthewson of Winfield and H. D. Gans of Lazette, for house plants, and cut flowers to Mrs. McLaughlin and Mrs. W. K. Davis.
[THIRD EXHIBITION: COWLEY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.]
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1874. Front Page.
Note: Skipped details re exhibition September 1, 2, 3, 1874.
Officers of Cowley County Agricultural Society: A. T. Stewart, President; C. M. Wood, Vice President; J. D. Cochran, Treasurer; J. B. Fairbank, Secretary.
Directors: A. T. Stewart, W. Q. Mansfield, H. S. Silver, J. P. Short, F. W. Schwantes,
W. H. Grow, D. A. Millington, Amos Walton, W. K. Davis, C. M. Wood. J. D. Cochran, J. R. Smith, J. B. Fairbank.

Chief Marshal: H. S. Silver.
Chief of Police: R. L. Walker.
[A SHOCKING ACCIDENT: W. K. DAVIS, ESQ.]
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1875.
                                                       A Horrible Accident.
W. K. Davis, Esq., a worthy citizen of our county, living some twelve or thirteen miles from this place, met with a shock­ing accident last Saturday. It seems that the prairie fire had been burning for some time in his neighborhood, but Mr. Davis, being well prepared with “fire-breaks,” felt little, if any, uneasiness so far as his premises were concerned. But the wind blowing in the direction of his house blew a spark from the fire, which lodged in his stable door, some seventy-five feet distant. The stable being constructed of hay and dry as a powder-flask, ignited in an instant, and was just getting under headway when discovered. Mr. Davis, seeing the stable doomed, ran to liberate a pair of mules which were at that moment in the stable, and succeeded in cutting one of them loose. When he approached the other, however, it kicked him in the breast and head, knocking him down. The poor man, notwithstanding his injuries, was still sensible enough to see his peril, crawled out through the scorch­ing flames, which by this time had assumed fearful proportions. Mr. Davis reached the open air with his life only. His eyes, ears, nose, hands, and feet were burned to a crisp. And even should he recover, it will be at the expense of the above mem­bers. The mule which he failed to liberate perished in the flames, together with harness, plows, and other farming imple­ments, hay, etc., as well as a crib of seventy-five or one hundred bushels of corn. Mr. Davis is now lying in a very critical condition with but little hope of his recovery.
Winfield Courier, April 8, 1875.
DIED. Mr. W. K. Davis, who was so terribly burned lately, an account of which we published last week, died yesterday.

 

 

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