Newton

Railroad and cattle town in Kansas.[1]

Settled in March of 1870, but began its true life when the Santa Fe Railway arrived[1] on July 17, 1871.[2] Named for Newton, Massachusetts, home of the Santa Fe stockholders.[2]

The town enjoyed rapid growth in a cattle boom during its first year as the terminus of the Chisholm Trail, although its streets were lawless and bloody. By 1872, the railroad extended to Wichita and the cattle industry began to bypass Newton.[1]

ABOVE: Newton, Kansas, summer 1871.[2]

Hostage: In April of 1877,[3] a Cattleman's Bank in Newton was robbed of $125,000.[4] Two years later in New Orleans, while building his ruse to convince Jody Collins that he and Brother Bart are professional criminals, Bret Maverick claimed he and Bart had been the men that robbed the Newton bank.[4]

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