Athol | Bellaire
| Cedarville | Claudell
| Gaylord | Germantown
| Harlan | Kensington
| Lebanon |
Old Salem | Reamsville
| Smith Center |
Home on the Range
Homesteading in Smith County
Home on the Range
Dr. Brewster Higley was a medical
doctor who had made his way to Smith County after many years of
dealing with personal tragedies, such as the deaths of 3 of his
wives and the divorce from his fourth wife, as well as the death
of an infant son. He did have 2 children by his third wife and
1 son by his second wife.
Dr. Higley married a 5th time to Sarah
Clemens at Smith Center on March 8, 1875, and they had four children,
one of whom died as an infant.
Dr. Higley wrote poetry and while was
between his fourth and fifth marriages, he lived in the cabin
he built along the Beaver Creek. It was constructed a cabin of
logs and limestone and was built in 1872. A person visiting him
found the poem "My Western Home" and suggested that
Dan Kelley of Gaylord be asked to write the music. Dr. Higley
took the poem to Mr. Kelley and the song "Oh, Give Me A Home
Where The Buffalo Roam" was created.
More
Information on the History of "Home on the Range"
Sources
Pletcher, Vera Edith Crosby.
"A History of Smith County, Kansas to 1960". Masters
thesis, Kansas State University, 1960.
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