Alfred Barton

Alf was the first permanent settler in the Gap, arriving there
some time in the 1890's. He built a log shack over a big
fast flowing spring, and lived there until his death in the
1930's. He had a trap door in the floor and filled his water
pail from the spring beneath.

He was a bachelor, who raised a few cattle and horses
and farmed about thirty acres. His land contained a very
good hay meadow, which was kept moist by the spring
water. In early summer he directed the water flow
around the meadow so that the land dried enough to
take off the big crop. The system is still in operation
and assures a good annual hay crop.

When Alfred Barton lived in Whiskey Gap he used to run
the road drag. It was pulled by four horses. Barton
would sit on a seat which was in the middle of the drag,
and it sure was a dusty job. They did not have road
maintenance then.

He would also trap prairie chickens for meat. He used
a gopher trap, and would put some grain on the tongue
of it, then the prairie chickens would peck at the grain
and get caught by their heads.

Alfred Barton homesteaded N 1/2 10-1-23-W4th.

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