No answer was given, and, seeing Clark dead, the men rode off. An indictment was found against Petty in 1870, and he was arrested and after many delays in May, 1879, found guilty and sent to the State Penitentiary.

In the meantime, another settlement was growing  -- Eureka, and in 1866, the voters moved the county seat to the quickly thriving community.   

Since the county’s beginning, there was a strip of territory about ten miles in width along the southern part of the county that had belonged to the Osage Indians. The reservation was actually a strip measuring 20 by 70 miles, that was situated not only in Greenwood County, but also in arts of Elk, Wilson and Butler Counties. In 1870, as settlers demanded more land this property  was placed in trust with the United States to be disposed of for the Indians who were  removed to Indian Territory. The land was then made available for homesteading for of $1.25 per acre. Before long, many of the best farms in the county were located in this tract near the towns of Gould and Severy.

In 1871, the county submitted a vote of bonds for the building of a new courthouse. After the vote passed, the building of the three story structure began with limestone bricks quarried about 1 ½ miles west of town. The building served the county for a number of years, but unfortunately in the second half of the 20th century had to be replaced by a more modern building.  

In 1874, a third murder took place in the county, when O. C. Crookham was shot by Alexander Harman, while gathering corn in his field. The circumstances which led to the shooting were, briefly, certain mortgages held by Crookham and the settlement of a claim of Harman for some prairie-breaking. Harman, who appears to have been hardly sane, walked coolly up to Crookham and placed a pistol to his neck and shot him. Crookham died two days later, and Harman, after due process, was found guilty and taken to the penitentiary. However, his conduct was so violent, he was later removed to the Asylum.

Railroad negotiations began as early as 1870, and a number of bond elections were held during over the next decade for various railroads. However, it would be several years before a railroad would reach the county, the first of which was the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (at that time the Kansas City, Emporia and Southern), in 1879. The next was the St. Louis & San Francisco, which was built in 1880 and Missouri Pacific established their line in June, 1882.

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Vintage Photographs of the Old West - From our personal Photo Print Shop, you can now order prints that provide dramatic glimpses into the rich heritage of the American West. From notorious outlaws, to Indian Chiefs, buffalo roaming the range, and pioneers on the trail, this varied collection grows daily.