President Taft Visits Rock Creek, Kansas

By Clara Martin Council

President Taft also made a brief stop
in Valley Falls, Kansas.

On a long special Santa Fe train, President Taft arrived in Topeka early on a September day in 1911. There was a parade and a speech at the celebration for the laying of the corner stone for the Memorial Building in Topeka. President Taft then left for a trip to Atchison and St. Joseph, and he made a brief stop at Rock Creek.

The President came out of the parlor car at the rear of the train and addressed a large crowd which had gathered at the depot. He said to the people, “So this is Rock Creek, Kansas. It is also the name of our most beautiful park in Washington, D.C., ‘Rock Creek Park’.”

The Rock Creek Band greeted him, playing “The Star Spangled Banner.” The members of the band were Fletcher Long who was the director, his brother John Long, Vern Puckett, John E. Coffey, James E. Coffey, Dr. Preston, Clarence Banks, William Edwards, Everett Edwards, Roy Williams, Roger Williams, and Charles J. Martin (who was a brother to Clara M. Council and the father of Lila M. Swafford). All of the above were from Rock Creek. Gene and Dick Christy of Meriden were also members of the band.

This was a very special day for the little town, and people came from near and far to see the President. The occasion was long remembered by those who were present.

(This article was written by Clara Martin Council who was present at the whistle-stop in Rock Creek that day. The article was submitted by her niece, Lila Martin Swafford.)

This article appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 1989.