Wooded land of beauty awaited first caravan
Copied from September 5, 1946 issue
By Mrs. T.B. Matlock
Were the Cottonwood river and Mud creek wooded streams at the time our first caravan arrived on the frontier?
Our information, first hand, is that when the first pioneers arrived at the present site of Emporia, there was one building there and over the door of this crude log structure was a sign which read — "Land office." They made inquiry there as to lands to the west and were informed that these land agents had just that day returned from a trip west and that if they, these home-seekers who were camping for the night, would get up early next morning and follow their trail over the tall Bluestem, it would lead them to a junction of two beautifully wooded streams. That they would descend a steep rocky hill to where there was a wide white rocky ford — to cross, pitch their tents on the west side but advised them that a fine place to do their camp cooking was 'neath an embankment at the east side of the creek from whence a spring of clear cold water "broke through" the rocks high up on the embankment.
Incidentally, that spring remained for many years high in the rugged hill and gradually it has been lowered from time to time. Once it poured through a spout into a natural rock basin several feet below, this was always full of clear cold water. Later on by excavation an opening was made at the foot of the hill from which the clear water gurgled down to the river through the clay or soapstone rock.
It was more picturesque in its pristine beauty — it has been since changed by the art of man.
Yes, there were woods along these streams, dense woods, consisting of huge trees — clearing had to be made — on the building sites of the first three homes — and from these huge trees that were hewn for that purpose, logs were trimmed — and chinked — into the form of houses — their homes. One of these first log houses had a roof made of the bark from these trees.
The only shrubbery brought from the east was the one rose bush that Aunt Keziah hid away in their wagon, the story of which is told in the "Roberts" chapter of our narratives and the story of "The first rose."
Later years these natural woodlands were supplemented by domestic groves — of black walnut, ash, box elder, cottonwood and maple.
Orchards And Shrubbery
By 1864 orchards were planted and much shrubbery was being planted which later made this barren valley blossom like the rose. And how?
Well, Uncle William H. Billings, the Ohioan had formerly been engaged in The Nursery Enterprise in York State, and upon getting his bearings on the frontier, he had shipped from there huge quantities of young fruit trees, and shrubbery of the finest quality and variety in great quantities from which the homes of the settlement shared in beautifying their special corners.
The Billings Home became a paradise in luxuriant roses, shrubs, vines of various kinds, comparable to spots in Pasadena that are called "Paradise."
From this Paradise on the Frontier much was transplanted here and there and when you come upon a Trumpet Vine these days clinging to the trunk of some old tree, or in July decorating the roof of a porch of some home with its gorgeous coral, trumpet-shaped blossoms, know ye — that it is a descendent from the first Trumpet Vine planted at The Billings Home in the early sixties.
Why Did They Locate In The Valley
Those first people were confronted with this inquiry during their time and their reply was invariably to the effect:
First, they liked the valley — then there was no water on the hill — but there was that never failing fount at the foot of the hill Then, their horses fatigued from the long journey westward were not equal to hauling logs up the other steep hill (had they chosen that location) and their homes must be built at once. They expressed their great admiration for the curves and nooks of the wooded streams. Some of which they chose as locations for their homes, and so far as we know, not one of those three or four first pioneers but who chose to remain in The Valley to the end of their residence here.
Later Uncle George Griffiths' fine stone edifice was built on the side of the hill which overlooked his valley land.
