These books are packed with images and stories about the history in this area. They are perfect for research or just a good read.
From towns like Liberal and Beer City to Kismet and Arkalon, Seward County has been the home of a tough, yet imaginative, people. Seymour Rogers, who homesteaded in the southern portion of the county, hand-dug a well and provided travelers with free water. Before long, the "liberal well" became the town of Liberal. The late 1880s saw settlers making their way to southwest Kansas to claim their 160 acres and hopefully fulfill their dreams. Farmers, ranchers, newspaper editors, shopkeepers, and a few ne'er-do-wells populated Seward County. Liberal became the county seat after a battle between what are now the ghost towns of Fargo Springs and Springfield. Horrific dust storms, grinding depressions, blizzards, and droughts tested the pioneers. Those that stayed were eventually rewarded by returning rains, the discovery of oil and gas, and the construction of a B-24 Army Air Base. With a spirit borne of those sturdy pioneers, the people of Liberal and Seward County have come a long way.
About the Author:
Most of the images in this book are from the Seward County Historical Society and the author's personal collection. Additional photographs are courtesy of generous residents who lent their invaluable resources to this project. Lidia Hook-Gray, a lifetime area resident and historian, has collected historical area maps, photographs, and journals for many years.
Book Details
ISBN: 9780738582795
FORMAT: Paperback
PUBLISHER: Arcadia Publishing
DATE: 8/22/2011
STATE: Kansas
SERIES: Images of America
IMAGES: 224
PAGES: 128
DIMENSIONS: 6.5 (w) x 9.25 (h)
