Newton's Cowboy Era

Newton's Cowboy Era. . , By the summer of 1871, men laying track for the Santa Fe railroad established a railhead at the new boomtown of Newton. It became the loading point for Texas longhorns coming north on the Chisholm Trail, replacing Abilene, Kansas. Newton's stockyards plus good grass and water prepared thousands of cattle for shipment to the eastern markets., The town became a magnet for saloons, dance halls, and gambling dens competing for the cowboys' end-of-trail paychecks. Some of those businesses were located on Main Street and W. 5th Street. The most notorious were in the red-light district of Block 52, known as Hide Park, bordered by 1st and 2nd Streets, and Plum and Poplar., In the summer of 1871, lawlessness was prevalent. Civil War tensions were still raw as northerners (Union) mixed with Texas (Confederate) cowboys. Shootings were documented during the "cowboy reign" from June, 1871 to January, 1873. The most infamous was the Newton Massacre in August 1871 at Perry Tuttle's dance hall. Bill Hugh Anderson, a Texas cowboy, entered the hall and shot Mike McCluskie. Before dying, McCluskie shot and wounded Anderson. In turn, McCluskie's friend Riley drew his gun and fired in the dance hall. It is estimated five men were killed., The era of violence was short-lived. Farmers grew increasingly dis- gruntled with longhorns damaging crops and transmitting disease to local cattle. Community leaders and residents were determined to establish law and order. Railheads moved south to Wichita and west to Dodge City, and the businesses supported by the cattle drives followed. New industries unrelated to the cattle trade soon appeared, and Newton focused on safety and prosperity.