Santa Claus in Jefferson County

  From the Nortonville News, Dec. 18, 1891

Dropped from the Clouds.

                        The Moon, Dec. 17, 1891.

To: A.J. Perry & Co.,

Nortonville,

            Earth.

Gentlemen:—Please notify the public that I shall take pleasure in holding “High Carnival” at your establishment during the coming week. If my stock of goods holds out it will be quite necessary for all Good Boys and Girls to have very large and long stockings hung up on Christmas Eve.

            Yours as Ever,

                        Santa Claus.

 

From the McLouth Times,
Dec. 11, 1891

From the Oskaloosa Independent, Dec. 17, 1892

Headquarters, 1892.

Dear Children:—Having spent several days in Oskaloosa this week, examining the different stocks of Christmas goods, I have decided to make my headquarters at Johnston’s Drug-store. I do this on account of the better railroad facilities they enjoy, having a direct line of railway running right into their store, and an unlimited line of everything to please everybody, both old and young, and I desire everybody to go there for their Christmas presents. Yours truly,

                        Santa Claus.

 

From the Valley Falls New Era, Dec. 24, 1892

Santa Claus (the spirit of good cheer and giving) will make his appearance at the Christian church Saturday evening (Christmas Eve). Elaborate preparations are made to receive him. A snow house and crystal grotto are being prepared for him and for the delight of the eyes of all who come.

 

From the Valley Falls New Era, Dec. 14, 1895

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be at the Congregational Church Dec. 20^th with a beautiful line of dressed boy and girl dolls also other articles useful and ornamental. Admission 15 cents including supper and entertainment.

 

From the Advocate, Meriden, Kansas,
Dec. 17, 1890

From the Oskaloosa Independent, Dec. 31, 1887

Christmas at Leaverton

Mr. Editor, will you allow me a little space in your columns to say a word or two with reference to the Christmas entertainment at the Leaverton school house on last Saturday evening?

A beautiful tree was planted in one corner of the room, loaded with gifts and making a grand display, while in the opposite corner was a platform for the children.

The exercises consisted in singing, prayer, and addresses by the two ministers present, and addresses, recitations and declamations by the children and young people, all interspersed with song. To say that the song service and the exercises of the children was all good, would not be saying enough; they were simply grand. The Kindergarten exercises were new, and faultlessly rendered by the children.

At the proper time Santa Claus made his appearance, and the gifts were distributed. Great credit is due the teacher who drilled the children, the officers and teachers in the Sunday school, and all the people in the neighborhood, for planning and executing such an entertainment.

            L.D. Price

At the Leaverton school-house they had a fine time on Christmas eve, as will be seen by the report elsewhere. A purse of nine dollars and a fine cake was presented Elder Price, and a cake was also given Rev. Mr. Lawless. The cakes were made by Mrs. Morrow, the material being contributed in small lots by the Sabbath school children—a novel idea.

 

First Football Game at McLouth

From the McLouth Times, November 4, 1905

In the first game of Foot Ball ever played in McLouth, Tonganoxie was beaten by a score of 10 to 0. Tonganoxie came in on the morning train, about twenty five strong, and from the way they talked and acted they were very sure of winning the game in the afternoon, and there were not very many in town who believed the McLouth boys stood very much show against a team that had played together so long. But the Tonga boys were out played from the first kick off.

The game was played in two 20 minute halves, McLouth making a touchdown in each half. Ed Casebier and Lusk did most of the gaining for McLouth, Lusk making all the scores on runs around the Right End. It was a hard game but none of the boys on either side were seriously hurt.

The Line Up

Tonganoxie

Creed – R.E.

Myers – R.T.

Richenson – R.G.

Turner – C.

Heisner – L.G.

E. Myers – L.T.

Rathbone – L.E.

Brockett – Q.

Seufert – R.H.

Wilkenson – L.H.

Zellner – F.B.

McLouth

J. Casebier – R.E.

A. Casebier – R.T.

W. Edmonds – R.G.

J. Edmonds – C.

Gephart – L.G.

Elliott – L.T.

G. Casebier – L.E.

Reynolds – Q.

Dolph – R.H.

Lusk – L.H.

Ed Casebier – F.B.

Halves — 20 minutes

Touchdowns — Lusk 2

Referee — F.W. Dickerson

Umpire — Roy Mains

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1988

Doctor Loses Wife

Loses Wife from Car, Drives on

From the McLouth Times, June 27, 1929 

Dr. Cain is the recipient of many ha, ha's from his neighbors and townsmen these days, who were let in on a rich joke on him — fortunately not a serious joke.

He and Mrs. Cain were en route to Lawrence in a two seated car, the wife in the rear. To make a turn at a corner and avoid an obstruction the doctor swerved the car rather sharply. Mrs. Cain, being drowsy, lurched sideways and tumbled out the door, which was not well fastened. As she fell she called out to her husband, but he thought she was just chiding him for the quick turn and drove on without seeing what had happened. After a time — some folks say it was two miles down the road, doc may have to prove it was less — he heard the car door slam shut and turned, to discover his wife missing. Nor could he see her on the ground or in the ditch or down the road. Thoroughly alarmed, he turned the car around and drove back, at length meeting Mrs. Cain who was pursuing her fleeing husband, as best she might, shaken up and bruised as she was. What happened when she got him home closer to the rolling pin affiant sayeth not.

This story appeared in "Yesteryears" in October 1996.