The quarter of land legally described as NW ¼ of 9-34-34 Seward County figures prominently in the ''Archer Era." Court records show that this quarter section was filed on by Magnus Buck, who proved up the claim and received the deed to it from the United States government in 1887. In 1890, foreclosure proceedings were filed against Magnus Buck by the Valley Loan and Investment Company because of his failure to pay a $500 note against the land. The quarter of land was duly advertised for five consecutive weeks in area newspapers. On August 2, 1891, it was sold at sheriff's sale on the courthouse steps at Springfield, which at this time was the county seat of Seward County. The purchase price for the quarter was $275. On March 25, 1903, J.D. Ault purchased the quarter from W.D. Wood. Ralph M. Heath, father of Mrs. H.E. Malin, purchased the quarter from Mr. Ault on January 5, 1907. It has belonged to the family since that time.
As Mrs. Malin rcalls the only buildings on the quarter of land, up to the twenties, were a little house and possibly a shed either moved in or built. They were for the use of J.S.N. Howard, his wife, Myrtle, and son, John, all now deceased. They were friends of the Heath family.
It could be said with fair accuracy that the Archer Era began between 1919 and 1920, Mr. and Mrs. Heath had planned to rent the farm and move to Ottawa, Kansas, so that their two daughters could get a higher education. However, between the beginning of the Archer Era and 1922, Mr. and Mrs, Heath changed their plans, The daughters did go away to school in the fall of 1921, the farm was rented to Charley Butcher, a public sale was held as planned. However, with news that a railroad might cross the community and his land, Mr. Heath had a lively and a vital interest in it. He entered into the project wholeheartedly. A certificate dated December 27, 1922, and signed by O.P. Byers, President, stated that Ralph M. Heath had purchased a share in the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad Co. for $100.
At Milner the first siding and elevator were located; from there the railroad angled on northwest to what was later to be Archer. A quote from the Liberal paper deals with this subject: “The first town was not named at the time, but was later named Archer by the railroad management. Archer is beautifully located on a slightly rolling tract and is the center of one of the most prosperous and productive parts of Southwest Kansas, and the location of the town is said to be the choice of both President O.P. Byers and Vice-president W.P. Byers of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad.”
The elevator at Archer was built, owned and operated by the Wheaton Grain Co. of Hugoton, Kansas. Mr. Howard Wheaton was a first cousin of Mr, Heath. Ralph M. Heath was manager of the elevator the entire time it was in operation.
On Mr. Heath's land, only three locations were built during the Archer period. The first was Mr. and Mrs. Heath's home which remained as long as both were living, The second location was farther west and almost directly across from the grocery store. It was built and later occupied by Mr. B.R. Jones and his family; Mr. Jones did most of the building in Archer. Mrs. Malin's grandfather Heath bought these lots and financed construction of the house. The third residence built was across the drive from Mr. Heath's home and was occupied by his daughter and her husband, Estelle and Bill Carr, for a part of the time that they lived in Archer.
The business places consisted of the elevator, scale house, stock yards, a garage owned and operated by C.E. Bailey, and the General Merchandise store. The K & O Railroad met the same fate as have so many other short lines before and since, with fiscal backing only one of the problems. And, "as went the railroad, so went the town."