Title

Ross Wilkins Interview

Subject

Wilkins, Ross

Interviewing

Oral history - Winfield, KS

Description

Ross shared memories of when his grandpa Wilkins settled near Grouse Creek and Cambridge in the spring of 1870. His father was 6 years old when they came to Cowley County. The family first lived in a dugout which was small, but cool in summer and warm in the winter. Next, they built a sod house and eventually a wooden constructed home. There were 2 things settlers needed on their claim, water and wood. They found a spring nearby and that is when they knew they would stake their claim on that land. There were about 250 Sac and Fox Indians that would camp along Grouse Creek during their migration to and from Omaha, NE and Oklahoma. They were peaceful Indians and got along well with the area settlers. His grandfather Wilkins also became the first township treasurer. His father married John Leach's daughter after he met her when they came to their property to help them get settled in. After graduating from high school in Burden in 1911, Ross went to Kansas City to work for the Chicago Great Western Railway. In 1916, he began working at the Cowley County National Bank. He eventually moved to the National Bank in Winfield. Toward the end of his career, he worked for 10 years in the county as treasurer and clerk.

Creator

Ehling, Earl

Source

Unknkown

Publisher

Winfield Public Library, Winfield, KS USA

Date

Unknown

Rights

No Copyright – United States

Format

audio/mp3

Language

English

Type

Audio