Steamboat Excursion on the Delaware, 1896

From the Valley Falls New Era, June 6, 1896

The steamer Delaware is proving a bonanza to young people who want to go picnicing and have a pleasant ride up the majestic Delaware. Captain Lungstrum knows how to take care of a merry party of young people, and steamboat excursions are getting to be the thing. Beautiful grounds have been laid out up the river, nice shade trees, places for swings and hammocks and croquet grounds, and it will pay you to take a day’s outing and enjoy a trip on the steamer.

Last Friday a merry party of young people from Winchester and vicinity enjoyed themselves up the river, and were well pleased with their trip on the steamer. The party was a jolly one and consisted of Ella Logan, Dr. Maggie McCrea, Cloud McCrea, Ethel French, Will French, Eva Houston, John McCrea, Irene Adams, Aggie Curry, Mary Weir, May Steuart, Anna Dill, Myrtle French, Weir Steuart, Ira Stewart, Lorena Houston, Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Curry, Laura Weir, Will Weir, Alice Thrusby, Cloud French, Lizzie Dill, Annie Cole, Renwick Steuart, Beckie Logan, James Logan, Anna McKemey, Maggie McKemey, Will McCrea, Lulu Dill, Lizzie Mitchell, Will Mitchell, Bruce French, John French, John Dill, Harvy Curry, Will Cathcart. 

Saturday Night

Saturday night the steamer had a happy crowd of our young people for passengers to the picnic grounds. Captain Lungstrum proved himself equal to the occasion, and made the trip a delightful one to the following young people of this city: The Misses Frances and Maud Johnson, Allie Gardiner, Metta and Grace Legler, Gertie Goodrich, Jessie Townsend, Maggie Tischhauser, Lestia Aitken, Louisa Schuhmacher, Fannie Marsh, Minnie Clark, Erma Spencer, Adda Falls, Henrietta Hughan, Nellie Murray, Flora Lewis, Maud Diehl, Adah Myers, Pearl Hubbard, Hortense Harman. 

from the Meriden Tribune, May 6, 1893

The Messrs. A.B. Schaeffer, L.E. Dort, Wallace Aitken, Harry Goodrich, Charles Kemper, Walter Kauffman, Guy Dort, Louis Schuhmacher, John Murray, Sam Dornblaser, Camil Flacey, Ed. Burkert, Roscoe Booth, Curtis Gephart, Leigh Myers, Everett Mitchell, Albert Myers, Russell Hubbard and Hale Bliss.

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 1988.

Dunavant, 1889

From the Oskaloosa Independent, August 31, 1889

Ed. Independent: In the roundup your correspondent stopped over this week at the new town of Dunavant, six miles northwest of Oskaloosa, on the K.C., W. & N.W.

A little more than 12 months ago the first building was erected, and the village now has some 5 or 6 dwellings, two stores, a blacksmith shop, carpenter and wagon shop, a hotel and livery stable, and a lumber yard second to none.

This photograph shows an exterior view of businesses in Dunavant, Kansas.
The business on the left is identified as Becker Hardware Store, and the business
on the right is identified as a drug store. A small sign at the top of the post
on the right corner of the building appears to read "Doctor Cole," and appears to
have the traditional mortar and pestle pharmacy symbol on it.
Several men are visible standing in front of the businesses.

from Wikimedia Commons

Mr. W.I. McCrea, the lumber man, is wide awake and is selling lots of material; sold several bills to farmers who live close to other places, carries a large and well-selected stock of all kinds of lumber; shingles from $1.90 to $3.50 per M; all his various grades of lumber are of the highest standard and cheap.

Mr. G.W. Elson is a great rustler*. He keeps a general merchandise store, takes produce in exchange for goods, and also keeps a first-class place where the hungry can get fried chicken and mashed potatoes. He can furnish the weary with a good bed for the night; he can furnish a good team and buggy when you want to drive, and last but not least he dishes out the mail to all his fellow citizens. On the whole he is a first-class business man, and it is the wish of your correspondent that he may enjoy the trade of his community.

Mr. S.M. Gourley, the carpenter and contractor, is ready at all times to do your work on short notice, and in the best and neatest style, always busy and ever ready for a new job. I saw some of his work and it is certainly commendable.

Mr. F.M. James, the village blacksmith, was so busy that it was a matter of some concern to your correspondent to get him to spare a few moments long enough to subscribe to the Independent. This gentleman is doing a fair business, is very accommodating, does his work in workmanship manner. He, like all the other business men of this enterprising little city, carries an ad. in the Ind.

Train station: Pacific Express Co., Dunavant, Kansas

Mr. John P. Herries, the agent of the Northwestern, is always busy looking after the interest of his road. If you have any business to transact with the R.R. he stands ready to accommodate you.

I could not help but go out to Mr. L. Clark’s and see his fine lot of stable horses, which I say without fear of contradiction is one of the finest in the broad state of Kansas. Indeed, they are so handsome that I can not refrain from giving a limited description of them as follows: Young Jefferson is a pretty brown, five years old, and of the Norman and Highlander stock; Prince Napoleon, 6 years old, a beautiful dapple gray, is of the Norman and Morgan stock; Young Cain, 4 years old, dark iron gray, is of the Norman and Prophet stock; Cragie Lee is 5 years old, a blood bay, with Clydesdale and some other strain which I did not learn. The weights run from 1,600 to 1,900 lbs. each. A fuller description of these fine horses will be given by Mr. Clark through the Independent next spring in his advertisements.

Messrs. Lake Clark and J. Pence are soliciting means to erect a Methodist church at Dunavant, and have collected about $600, enough to insure the success of the enterprise. Work will begin in about ten days or two weeks.

*Secondary, colloquial meaning of “rustle:” “Hustle, move energetically.”

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1983.

Buffalo

From the Independent, Oskaloosa, Kansas, August 30, 1862

A drove of twenty two Buffaloes, varying in age from five months to two years, passed through town yesterday (Friday) morning, on the way to the Ohio and New York State Fairs. Most of our citizens had never seen a herd of these animals before, and quite a crowd assembled on the Public Square to give them an inspection. They are not the handsomest looking quadrupeds in the world. They were caught when young on the headwaters of the Arkansas, and tamed.

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 1990.

Oskaloosa Telephone Exchange

From the Oskaloosa Independent, July 7, 1899

To the Public

We wish to announce that we have the telephone exchange in running order and will be ready by the 12^th to put in telephones for any who want them.

Telephone switchboard in Old Jefferson Town, Oskaloosa, Kansas.

In getting up the exchange we have tried to get the best of material and have put it up in the very best possible manner in order that perfect service may be given. The telephones that have been adopted are the long distance pattern, equipped with very loud ringers, and will talk through any distance. In using them locally care must be taken not to speak too loud, and thus avoid all “cross talk” (by “cross talk” is meant the talk that is heard on other wires when some person using the ’phone is talking too loud). Each telephone has a separate wire running to the switchboard, so when two parties are talking they have a private wire running from one instrument to the other.

The exchange now numbers fifty-seven and is large enough so those having ’phones can talk with a large number of their friends, and can order meat, groceries and dry goods, and have them delivered immediately. They can call a hack, or enquire about freight and trains at the depot. They can call their physician to their home, or talk with their attorney or banker, and in fact transact almost any business with the utmost secrecy and dispatch without leaving their home.

While we have solicited some there are a great many who haven’t been asked to take a telephone, as we stopped soliciting and began active work on the exchange when we had a sufficient number of ’phones taken to assure success, thinking we could best show the advantage and use of a telephone by having the exchange in operation.

So we take this occasion to invite every one to come and see our switchboard and exchange in operation, and we would be pleased to talk with any who are interested about putting in a ’phone.

From the Winchester Star, October 21, 1910

The rates, we think, are very low. They are much cheaper than the rates charged in surrounding towns, and are as follows: Residence or office $1.00 per month; Business ’phones $2.00 per month; where one person takes two ’phones, one for business and one for residence, the rate for both is $2.50 per month; when a ’phone is not in use for one month or more no charge will be made for time the telephone was not being used.

— Clarke & Buck

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 2001.

Valley Falls, 1883

A Wealthy, Healthy and Prosperous Jefferson County Town

From the Atchison Daily Champion, January 16, 1883

Although not a county seat, Valley Falls has long been known as the head business center of Jefferson county. Here people come to trade from a radius of from five to fifteen miles north, south, east and west, because this is the recognized political, as well as otherwise, center, and because they can do better. It was a trading point as early as 1855, but of the then old landmarks few, if any, are left to tell of the growth, the accumulation of wealth, and the prosperity that has followed the building up of the town from that time up to the present day. Of the adversities no one seems to say anything about them. All who are here are making money, enlarging their business and extending the trade.

Valley Falls is the best town between Atchison and Topeka, situated half way, and has long been recognized by the officials as among the largest shipping points on the lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and Kansas Central railroads, at which place they cross. W.C. Butts, a most efficient agent, and one of the oldest on the road, opened the station here eleven years ago, and a few years later when the Kansas Central was completed, was appointed their agent, since which time he has occupied the same position for both roads with credit to himself and usefulness to his employers. The business at the station has wonderfully increased in all these years, until now it takes several clerks beside Mr. Butts to dispatch business.

The town is built on a slight elevation, the Delaware river running by on the south and east, forming a sort of basin. The land is of the richest quality, and is capable of producing a yield of any cereal equal to any other portion of the State. It is principally adapted to raising corn and stock, though quite as much small grain was raised last year as has ever been known.

The Valley Falls elevator, Messers Hayward & Co., proprietors, have shipped since the first of October 140 cars of shelled corn, 30 cars of wheat, 60 cars of flax and 20 cars oats alone. Then the firm of Isaac Friend & Son have shipped a large number of car loads, buying on track.

Valley Falls is built up substantially. The solid blocks of brick business houses that adorn her principal thoroughfare are creditable to M.P. Hillyer, one of the first settlers, the place owes much of its pride, for the large amount of wealth he expended in the construction of so many blocks of elegant buildings. It would not be out of place to calling “Hillyerville” or “Hillyertown.” There are but few brick buildings in the place that his money has not been invested in. Much of the residence portion is built on the outskirts, and there are many elegant stone and brick houses of the business people.

Of the business of the town, it is tremendous. “Dull Times” seldom calls around among our merchants. “Failure is played out.” The 1,200 solid population are generally thrifty, energetic and prosperous. Merchants are not called upon for “trust,” as formerly, and are employing more clerks than ever before; and farmers were never in a more healthy and prosperous condition. Every plot of ground hereabouts has been fenced, and they raise and feed upon their own lands instead of their neighbors. The “croakers” all emigrated from here many years ago.

With the immense trade contiguous to Valley Falls has necessitated the erection of two flouring mills, owned and operated by Henry Legler and J.M. Piazzek, who manufacture annually hundreds of car loads of flour for shipment; a woolen mill by J.M. Piazzek; two oil mills, run in connection with the grist mills; a commodious elevator, by Howard & Co.; two reliable banking houses; two lumber yards, and many other smaller industries. One of the finest stores, as well as the largest in Northeastern Kansas is that of Friend & Son, whose double building is stocked with goods.

There are also seven church buildings completed, two of which belong to the colored people. There is also a commodious brick school house with five departments, all largely attended.

The popular French hotel had adopted the first step towards naming the place “Hillyerville,” before suggested, R.D. Simpson, the enterprising proprietor blotted out the word “French” and inserted the “Hillyer.” The Hillyer House has long been the headquarters for commercial boys while in Valley Falls, and is one of the very best hotels in the State.

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1983.

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

Jefferson County’s Orphan Train Children, 1911

By Donna Ward

Look back in time to the week of January 13, 1911. The lives of some of our citizens are scored by that date. That week, the people of Oskaloosa were discussing “The Orphans” who were coming from New York. Sentiments were divided on the topic of these children. Men and women whose empty homes had been denied children were anxiously waiting, daring to hope that their dreams would come true and a child be theirs to keep. Prophets of gloom were denouncing New York Easterners, the government and anything else convenient for dumping the slum-bred problems of New York in Kansas’ clean, clear air. Others were sympathetically considering the alternative fate of children who would grow up into lives of degradation if left on the streets of the big cities. Some people were thinking in terms of gaining an extra pair of hands to help with the never ending farmwork. The majority of people, however, were simply curious; were these waifs different in some way? Who would come and choose?

The Oskaloosa committee had been selected. Anna Laura Hill, the children’s escort, needed their help in placing the little ones in suitable homes. They inserted the following notice in the January 13^th issue of the Oskaloosa Independent:

            “Agents of Children’s Aid Society have fifteen children from orphanages of New York State here for distribution this afternoon and evening, after the manner of the late distribution at Valley Falls. The local committee is composed of Drs. McCreight and Smith, D.A. Bliss, W.E. Huddleston, G.N. Jacquemin, S.E. True, J.H. Morrow.”

These men were influential in the community. They were cognizant of the position, temperament, and ability of most of the local residents. By practicing careful selection, the Children’s Aid Society claimed a 90 percent record for permanent placement.

Although many of the children placed by the Children’s Aid Society were adopted, that was not a requirement for placement. Even after the careful screening, Miss Hill returned from time to time to check on the children’s progress, the suitability of their homes and education. Many of the children established close friendships with Miss Hill, and corresponded with her the rest of her life.

The children had traveled on a regular passenger coach. After forty-three hours on the train, they were grimy and disheveled when they arrived. Miss Hill worked with experienced hands to clean them up, scrub their faces, slick down their hair, and brush their clothing. They stepped off that train prepared to face a new life in a new state with new families. To their eyes, the people looked and sounded somewhat strange. The little ones hid their faces, the older boys vacillated between sullen stares and bravado poses, and the girls tried to look calm and pretty while blushing under the stares of the depot spectators.

Miss Hill gathered her group about her, much as a mother would collect her brood. The ride into town on the hack was a pleasant relief from the stuffy coach. She counted out the 25¢ fare and ushered the children into the hotel. In the privacy of the hotel, they attacked the grime of their journey in earnest. The older children helped the younger ones. Miss Hill soothed their nervous jitters and short tempers, and reassured the frightened ones with her calm attendance to duties. After the brief respite, Miss Hill began her conversations with the local citizens. Some families offered temporary housing for some of the children. The youngest child was Friedolf Fredricksen, age two. He ate his first meal in Oskaloosa with the William Payne family. With his blond curls, impish smile, and brave acceptance of what life was offering him, he quickly made friends in his new hometown.

The month before this trainload arrived, a group of children had been placed in Valley Falls. Circulars had been distributed there, but the Oskaloosa Independent of December 9, 1910, had quoted the bulletin in its entirety with a headline “New York Waifs in Jefferson County.” Similar circulars had been posted in the city and passed around the county. Public interest was stirred.

At the appointed hour, the children were seated on the stage of the opera house, and Miss Hill addressed the gathered crowd. As people were attracted to certain children, they were interviewed by the committee, presented their recommendations, and were considered. Those who were chosen to receive a child were given a card with that child’s history on it. They entered an agreement to provide proper care, education, and reports to the society. The society reserved the right to visit and inspect the home within a year, and to remove the child if they found it unsuitable.

Critchfield Opera House stage

Those children that were not placed in Oskaloosa were taken to Valley Falls to fulfill the requests from the earlier distribution. After the excitement, the following item appeared in the January 20^th, 1911, issue of the Oskaloosa Independent, in the editorial comments:

            “The New York Orphans All Find Homes

            “The agents in charge of the orphans from New York state orphanages left town yesterday, having found homes for nine of their little charges in Oskaloosa and 6 going to Valley Falls where the former supply did not quite meet the demand, it seems.

            “A great deal of interest in the children was shown here, and several families entertained children until homes were found for them.

            “Legal adoption is not required and the children are really taken on trial, the society agreeing to take the child back if anything goes wrong. They are visited twice during the first year and then annually for a time, and families taking children are required to make yearly reports.

            “The best appearing children, and those in good health, are picked to bring to Western homes.

            “Otto Lantz, who lives 4 miles southeast of Oskaloosa, took a little German boy aged 3½ years, named Samuel Dubar — a bright little chap who speaks German readily.

            “Chas. Winans, at the old Fair grounds, has a little 2 year old German girl, Fredoff Fredericks.*

            “F.H. Corson, at the edge of town on the northwest, takes Katie Fichtner, aged 11.

            “Louis A. Kimmel, a mile east of town, has the oldest two of the lot, Anna Potthoff, aged 15, and William, her brother, aged 13 years.

            “Owen Johnston, 3½ miles northwest of town, has a little 6 year old maiden, Adelaide Loggman.

            “Harvey Wood, who recently came from Missouri and is on the Critchfield farm, 2½ miles southwest of town, has a boy, aged 9, Henry G. Palmer.

            “James Quakenbush, just east of town, takes Eva Grant, aged 10 years.

            “Thomas Davis, on the old Snyder farm, southwest of town, has Mildred Grant aged 12.

            “This lot of youngsters have certainly found good homes, and it is to be hoped will grow into good, strong, bright young men and women.

            “Of those sent to Valley Falls, Norman Deacon, aged 5 goes to Jessie _____; Fred Valentine, aged 6, to Newton Bilger; Wm. Bugglen, 12 years, to A.H. Jurgens; Wm. Hoyt, 8 years, to J. Irvin Spence; Marvin Miller, aged 6, to A.J. Jurgens.

            “The agents say that only about one in ten of the children are ever taken back, nearly all of them being acceptable to the families taking them.”

* “Fredoff’s” name was Friedolf Fredricksen, and he was of masculine gender and of Swedish heritage.

Friedolf Fredricksen was clothed in a dress, the normal attire for baby boys of that period. The Charles Winans family did not have other children, and chose “Friedoff” for their own. Before the end of the same year, they had completed the legal adoption. They considered him their son and never discussed his origins with him. In later years, his mother was unhappy that he tried to find his family.

Samuel Dubar was the 3½ year old German speaking child adopted by the Otto Lantzes. A picture of him in Friedoff’s possession shows a dark haired, delicately formed lad, with a fresh bright smile. The inscription on the picture is, “Otto Frederick Lantz, age 4 years, 1911.” The Lantz parents separated and all contact with the child was lost.

Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel took two of the older children. William was 13, and Anna was 15. Anna died a few years later, according to Friedoff, my informant.

Adelaide Loggman, age 6, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owen Johnston. Of all the children, she was the one who tried to keep contact with the others, and she corresponded with Miss Hill. She clerked in the town stores, tended to the needs of her family, and became the typical old maid in town. Late in life, she married a Mr. Brown, living out of town for four or five years before she died of cancer.

Eva Grant, age 10, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. James Quakenbush. She married Omer Frazier, the brother of Friedoff’s wife. Eva raised four children, William T., Harold, Doris and Betty.

Eva’s sister, Mildred Grant, was given a home by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Davis. Because of friction in the home, Mildred left while still young. She married a Mr. Harness; they made their home in California.

Anna Laura Hill

Most of the families discouraged the children from looking into the past. It was seldom discussed either with the parents or with each other. However, Mildred and Eva Grant did go back to find their brother, Gus, and sisters with whom they held a close relationship.

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1981, with an addition in April 1982 and a reprint of the Independent article in April 1995.