BLUE HILLS HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Of all the farms and ranches established during the first 150 years of Russell County’s history, none are more celebrated than the ranch first operated as Cooper & Sons, later renamed Gilt Edge Ranch.

 

The Cooper family arrived in America from England in the 1600s.  Galen Elliot Cooper, known as G.E., was born In Pulaski County, Kentucky, in 1832.  He lived with his parents until he was 22 years of age.  His father was an invalid, and he, being the oldest of his five siblings, managed the affairs of the farm until 1854, when he married Nancy Allen and went to farming for himself on a rented farm. They then bought nine acres of land and remained there until the close of the Civil War, when they lost everything they had.  They did not give up, however, but packed what few things they had and started west, landing in Jefferson County, Kansas, in March 1867, where they rented a farm and remained for eleven years.

 

When G.E.’s two sons, Albert Gallatin Talbot (known as A.G.T.) and John Quincy (known as J.Q.) reached adulthood they continued their quest west to where land was available for homesteading. In 1877 the pair arrived in Russell County and took out a homestead in the Rock Town area of northern Plymouth Township along the Saline River.  In April 1878 their father and mother, and four more siblings, settled on an adjoining 160 acres of land.  G.E. and Nancy brought with them four work horses and a pony and about twenty head of cows and calves.

 

The Cooper family first lived in tents and covered wagons until they completed the first permanent shelter, a 16 foot by 30 foot dugout with two rooms.  When they got settled they took an inventory of cash on hand and found that altogether they had just 62 cents. The first year they broke out sixty acres and planted to corn.  After this was done A.G.T. and J.Q. took the teams and broke land for other people, to get money with which to buy their machinery for farming. That year the Coopers raised good crops, which kept them and their stock over winter.  In the fall they built a half dug-out and half-stone house, in which to live during the winter. The next year they added another 160-acre tract to their farm, and that summer they took in cattle to pasture at so much a head. This they did for two years. 

 

By this time the Coopers saw a profit in cattle and bought as many as they could. They borrowed $800 and invested it in cattle.  From these they made 100 per cent profit the first year, and they kept buying and selling and raising cattle, and added hogs, which also proved profitable. All this time they were meeting with success on every hand and kept adding more land.  In 1883 G.E., A.G.T., and J.Q. then formed a company under the name of Cooper & Sons.  The fabled Cooper Ranch was born.

 

On November 4, 1878 A.G.T. married Nancy Jane McKanna and later became the parents of ten children: Emmet, Lucian, Roy, Ray, Ralph, Samuel, Cecil, Oliver, Gertrude, and Grace.

 

During the year 1880 a seam of lignite coal was discovered on the ranch.  G.E. Cooper named the coal mine the Gilt Edge, which means “Highest Quality”.  The thick vein of coal was actively mined for two years and provided the family with needed income for maintaining the ranch.

 

Through succeeding years of up-and-down good and bad crops and cattle prices the ranch managed to hang on and even prosper.  In 1887 a terrible drought set in and Cooper and Sons lost several tracks of mortgaged land, losing all but their homesteaded land. The cattle market also was down. The Coopers held on when others left. After several years of uncooperative weather the partnership was dissolved in 1895 when J.Q. decided to set out on his own.  G.E. and A.G.T. bought him out and brought the ranch’s land holdings to 3,920 acres.  Three years later came the next good wheat crop.  Good crop years followed and by 1908, the ranch had increased in size to 5,000 acres of prime land throughout the Saline River Valley.  Four separate farm homes on the ranch housed the various members of the ever-growing Cooper family.  In 1904 A.G.T.’s son Emmet ran for county superintendent of schools, the only time a Cooper tried for a county office.

 

In 1908 G.E. went to help take care of J.Q.’s children, who were all quite sick.  In a very short time G.E. himself became ill and was taken home, where he died.  A.G.T. then assumed sole management of the ranch after his father’s death.  He maintained several interests outside of the ranch as well. He owned interest in the Lucas Telephone Company and several banks in Russell County. A.G.T. was on the original board of directors when the Farmer’s State Bank in Lucas opened in 1909.

 

To reward his family for all the years of hard labor and sacrifices, A.G.T. decided to build a new house.  In 1909, construction began on one of the area’s most elaborate stone houses with a pillared porch.

 

*  *  *  *  *

​

The New Cooper Home

“The writer was a visitor at the Cooper ranch on the Saline, south of town last Sunday. Talbot is building a fine new house on the ranch which is probably the largest and most expensive farm house in Russell County.  It is built of stone, containing 112 cords, has fifteen rooms, ten or twelve closets and an attic nearly as large as the ordinary house.  The plasterers are at work now and report that there are 1,530 yards in the house.  The house when completed will have all the conveniences found in the city, is lit by acetylene gas, heat by furnace and has a complete system of waterworks.  It will cost when completed in the neighborhood of $10,000.” – Russell Informer, September 30, 1909.

 

*  *  *  *  *

​

Constructed over two years, the house had 13 rooms, two full bathrooms with running water, a full basement, a third story attic, 32 windows and seven outside doors. There were 2,600 square feet of porches with an upper summer porch that ran the length of the back of the house where the hired men slept. The house was built with native Post Rock Limestone quarried off the land. Each post was chipped, giving the stone a rough bulging facet.

 

All of the outbuildings and the massive barn were constructed of post rock also. The barn itself had room for 30 head of horses as well as storage for grain and hay. Forty miles of Post Rock Limestone posts fenced in pastures and corrals; this took 160 to 175 posts per mile to accomplish.  It was documented that between 500 and 1000 head of cattle were raised yearly on the ranch.  Many young men and women in the area found employment at the ranch.

 

In 1910 farms were encouraged to place names on their farms. A.G.T. formally named the ranch “Gilt Edge Ranch” to signify the hard-won financial stability of the ranch’s operations.   The press at the time reported that it was named for the earlier coal mine on the ranch.

 

On September 21, 1911, the Dorrance News noted that A.G.T. Cooper family was finally occupying their new house which they had been building for two years.  The Gilt Edge Ranch House was hailed as the largest and finest farm house in Western Kansas.  A large party was held to celebrate the achievement.

​

*  *  *  *  *

 

Opened Fine Country Home

“The A.G.T. Cooper home eight miles north of Dorrance was the scene of a happy gathering of relatives and friends last Saturday in celebration of the opening and occupying of the fine new residence just completed. More than eighty guests were present to enjoy the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, who were assisted in entertaining by their daughters, Misses Grace and Gertrude, and their sons, Cecil, Samuel, Ralph, Lucian and Oliver. Both the host and hostess are fortunate in having a large number of their relatives near them and the invitation list was limited to them and very few personal friends besides those who had the contracts for constructing the house.

 

“The event of the day was a splendid feast which was not lacking in anything enticing to the palate. Though more than 40 were seated in the generously large dining rooms, there were more than enough guests to twice fill the tables. And even then there seemed no end to the good things to eat. It was admirably served and most heartily enjoyed, good cheer being apparent everywhere.

 

“Several large group pictures of the guests and of the home were taken by L. W. Halbe, the proficient young photographer at Dorrance. These will help to perpetuate the remembrance of one of the most agreeable and enjoyable gatherings in the history of the county.

 

“Abundant musical talent was present and the various productions in this line added much to the happiness of the guests.

 

“The Cooper home is beautifully situated not far from the Saline River on Gilt Edge Ranch, a body of 6,000 acres of land owned by Mr. Cooper. It commands a fine view of the surrounding country and of the splendid land for which it is noted which includes a number of beautiful scenic places. A few hundred feet in the rear is a high bluff upon which a reservoir is soon to be placed to be filled by pumping from never-failing wells by the use of windmills. This will give pressure to carry water to all parts of the house and barn as well as to secure protection in case of fire. From the house Mr. Cooper can view his own cattle grazing not on a thousand hills but on plenty to insure a feeling of prosperity and contentment.  Owing to the shortage of feed crops this year, the ranch stock have been sold off pretty liberally but there still remain a dozen head of mules, 50 horses and 600 cattle.

 

“The house has cost close to $18,000.00 and the furnishings represent upward $2,000.00.  The main building is 24 feet by 48 feet and is a full two stories, while the wing is 20 feet by 24 feet and also two stories. The walls are of native white stone, all of which was quarried on the ranch. The entire first floor except the kitchen is finished in quarter sawed oak. The dining room has an oak floor. The ceilings on the first floor are colonial style. The upper floor is finished in yellow pine. There are twelve rooms besides two bath rooms one on each floor. There are mammoth porches, nearly all of which are double deck. In all there are 2,600 square feet of porches. All the lower porch floors are of cement. In this connection it is interesting to note that two full cars of Portland cement were used in and about the house. In front the porch steps are of stone; in the rear they are of concrete. There is a water pressure system which supplies the house. An acetylene light plant serves both house and barn, the lights being wired so they can be lit by an electric spark and in the barn they are fully protected by globes. A furnace will furnish abundant heat. Nothing has been cheaply built nor has either comfort or substantial construction been sacrificed in any part of it in order to save expense.  Everything is of the best and it has been put there to stand as long as anything could last.  Fred Deeble of Lucas did the stone work, H. W. Machin of this city handled the wood work, William Sheetz of Lincoln was the painter and hard wood finisher and J. W. Blair of this city furnished it.  As completed and viewed by the visitors Saturday, it stood as a monument to the staying qualities and business success of the owner and as a testimonial to the good service of those to whom he entrusted the work of preparing it for habitation.

 

“It seemed impossible to meet and remember the names of all present and the following is as near a correct list as could be obtained:  Samuel Anspaugh, Mrs. Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Jellison and Miss Alta Crouch, all of Wilson; Fred Deeble and wife, Roy C. Fowler and wife and daughter, Zelda, S. P. Dinsmoor and wife, Misses Grace Jordan and Ethel Journey, all of Lucas; Frank Missimer and wife and daughter, Miss Myrtle, J. W. Blair and wife, J. W. Morphy and wife and H. W. Machin, all of Russell; W. G. Hatton and wife, W. S. McKown and wife and sons, Ross and Sherman. J. E. Missimer and wife and children, John Hoke and wife and sons, Frank and Harry, Lem Hatton and family, Miss Mae Roggman, all of Bunker Hill: George Craig and wife of Natoma, Miss Cora Pickering of Yates Centre; Richard Garrett and wife and daughters, Misses Mildred and Alta, and son, Dewey, W. Frimmel and wife and son, Clyde, Leslie Halbe, James Culver and wife and sons, Leon, Lafe, Leonard and Wayne, A. J. Derby and wife, Alex Miller and sons, Floyd and Lee, Fred Wyatt, all of Dorrance.” – Russell Informer, October 6, 1911. 

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

The next few years proved to be another round of up-and-down good and bad crops and cattle prices.  Discouraged with the burden of rising debts, A.G.T. offered all of his land and possessions several times to the Wilson bank to clear the debt, but each time the bank urged him to hang on a little longer.  Then came World War I with its demand for beef, and better crops at higher prices, and the Gilt Edge survived.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

Pays Much Taxes.

A.G.T. Cooper was over from the Saline River country Saturday, and while here paid his taxes for the year.  The total amount was $1,389.34.  This amount represents more than the average man makes in salary in a year and many in two years.  Mr. Cooper is not like a lot of people who hate to pay their taxes so bad, as he considers that possession of property worth enough to make this amount of taxes is compensation enough, so that the payment of taxes is not a hardship. Mr. Cooper has an immense lot of about eight hundred head of cattle in his pastures. – Russell Record, January 4, 1917.

 

*  *  *  *  *

​

In 1917 A.G.T. became president of the Farmer’s State Bank in Lucas.  Worn out from constant stress and physical labor, he died December 15, 1919 at the age of 64.  

 

Under A.G.T.’s firm control Gilt Edge Ranch had reached a peak of 6,640 acres in size and enjoyed an enviable reputation for both product and management excellence. A.G.T.’s son Emmet now became manager of the ranch, which was kept together in its entirety for ten more years.  In 1920 the ranch was then divided among his children or their heirs.  Most of his children lived on the ranch next to each other for over thirty years.

 

In the 1950s the federal government passed a law authorizing the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to build a reservoir in the Saline River Valley.  When it was realized that the Saline River carried too high a salinity level for irrigation purposes (its name should have been a clue) the project was turned over to the U.S. Corps of Engineers for flood control prevention.  Work began on the construction of Wilson Dam just a few miles to the northeast of Gilt Edge Ranch and the Cooper family was informed that most of their lands, including the house, would be inundated by the subsequent lake of water.  Therefore they had until February 28, 1963, to leave before the law of eminent domain went into effect and the federal government took over control of the land.

 

A.G.T.’s son Cecil was the last owner of Gilt Edge Ranch and was living there during its final days.  People came from all over to visit the grand stone “Palace of the West” one last time.  Some had even tried to pry the marble fireplace from the wall but it was too heavy to maneuver.  The house was then bulldozed into the basement and all other ranch buildings were destroyed as well.  Some 4,640 acres (2,000 acres being previously sold) of the ranch went under the waters of Wilson Dam and Reservoir – later called Wilson Lake – along with forty miles of wire fencing, stone fence posts, and more than eighty years of one family’s accord with the land. 

 

Should you visit Lucas Park on the northern edge of Wilson Lake there is a hiking trail that will take you to the scenic Rock Town area, once a part of the Gilt Edge.  The nearby Cooper’s Point is so named as a small remembrance to the Kentucky family who through immense hard work realized their dream, a legendary business remembered in Kansas lore as Gilt Edge Ranch. 

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

SOURCES: 

Bunker Hill Advertiser, December 25, 1919, Page 1.

Dorrance Nugget, January 12, 1888, Page 1; January 3, 1889, Page 1.

Dorrance News, September 21, 1911, Page 1.

Dorrance Star, April 26, 1917, Page 2.

The Journal [Russell, Kansas], January 18, 1888, Page 1.

Lucas Sentinel, January 3, 1902, pages 64 & 65.

Russell Informer, September 16, 1904, Page 1; September 30, 1909, Page 1; October 6, 1911, Page 1.

Russell Record, January 4, 1917, Page 1; April 8, 1920, Page 5.

Salina Journal, December 31, 1962, page 8; February 17, 1963, page 7.