From Buffalo Hunter to Statesman: John Schlyer

The home here at Six Oh One Oak, built in eighteen ninety-four, belonged to John Schlyer, a man whose life traced the whole arc of the Kansas frontier. He came west and made his early living hunting buffalo across the plains around Hays, which is why locals still call this place the Buffalo House. But he did not stay a hunter.

Schlyer helped build Ellis County from the ground up. He took part in the county's early civic life, and local history credits him with helping bring the school that is now Fort Hays State University. A German speaker, he also bridged the language gap for the Volga German immigrants who poured into the county.

His life went from buffalo hunter to statesman.