Amanuensis Monday - Henry & Victoria - Mayfield: Then & Now

Pt. 1 - Henry and Victoria Busch, submitted by Betty Jo Busch Weber

In Bavaria, Germany, there was a young man, Johann George Busch, who had just lost his young wife, and he was trying hard to keep his small daughter, Louisa, alive.  After much searching he found Catherine Cyrch, also of Bavaria, and he proposed marriage to Catherine if she would help him feed his little daughter.  This plan worked out to everyone's satisfaction.

Later, when Germany was struggling to keep the poor from starving, Johann decided to go to America with some of his friends who were also ready to try their luck in America.  As soon as he made his plans, he shared the money with his wife, packed his duffel, and took off for America. 

Soon the ship sailed into New York; he climbed off the ship, and before long he was standing in Cincinnati. Johann had been a shoemaker in Germany, so he applied for a job and got it.  After a time, Johann finally felt he had enough money for the passage for his family to join him in Cincinnati.  Catherine  packed her belongings, and with the two little girls, Louisa from Johann's first marriage and Catherine, the first born of her own marriage, she was on her way.

Later, Johann and Catherine increased their family to eight children, and little Elizabeth was the only child they lost. 

As the family grew up, the parents decided to separate.  They decided to let the older children go with their father, and the younger ones were to go with their mother.  If their plan had been carried out, Henry L. Busch would have been with his father.  He was already crying and homesick, and they hadn't even separated.

Finally, the parents decided to put Henry on the train and send him to Kansas.  The younger uncle, William Busch, and his wife Mary Borden were traveling by covered wagon and they would meet in Eastern Kansas.  Henry used to comment that he kept the fee for the return trip in the sock in his valise in case he had to return to Ohio.

For the first few years, Henry farmed for a farmer east of Milan, and later he signed on with the Hembrow Brothers. (See Hembrow family history)

Read Pt. 2 - coming next Amanuensis Monday.

Excerpted from "Mayfield: Then & Now".  To order a book, stop by the Sumner County History & Genealogy Center, 208 N. Washington, Wellington on Tuesdays, or click here for a mailing order.

Genealogy & Evernote Classes Offered This Spring!

This spring, the Sumner County Historical & Genealogical Society will be offering classes taught by professional genealogist and former Information Technology professional, Gene Davies, Caldwell.

Starting with “Beginning Genealogy” Davies will instruct classes in Beginning Genealogy, how to use family tree software, and using Evernote for genealogy and to store photographs, organize files and back up your hard drive.

It’s not necessary to have your own laptop, but if you do, bring it and enjoy the hands-on Beginning Genealogy class.  Davies will show you how to find and use primary and secondary sources, research on-line at free and subscription websites, share with you how to use DNA to break down brick walls and learn your ancestral origins, as well as give you valuable tips on organizing the information you locate and entering the information into a family tree program.

Times, dates, and Wellington location to be announced after determining time constraints of participants, but there may be both day and night sessions offered. 

Cost for each four hour training session will be $10 for SCHGS members and $20 for non-members. (Joining the society saves $$$ on future classes!)  

For more information, stop by the Sumner County Historical & Genealogical Society History Center at 208 N. Washington in Wellington, Kansas on Tuesday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed through the lunch hour) or contact Gene Davies at 316-371-3157, or online at www.daviesonline.me.  

Cool Civil War Valentines at the Kansas State Historical Society Website!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Check out the following link http://www.kshs.org/p/cool-things-civil-war-valentines/10346 at the Kansas State Historical Society to see three Civil War Valentine's, and read the stories behind them!  Pretty cool!

Amanuensis Monday - Wealthy Newton Beebe Obituary

This was taken from the Beebe Family file located in the Pioneer Settler's/Family Files in the
Sumner County History and Genealogy Research Center  
(north door of the Memorial Auditorium)
P. O. Box 402; 208 N. Washington
Wellington, KS 67152


Notice that her date of death is now just a few days short of 100 years ago!


Wealthy S. Newton Beebe Obituary
February 12, 1912
Fulton County Tribune


Another pioneer of Fulton county gone in the going home of Mrs. Wealthy S. Newton Beebe, daughter of Newell and Lucinda Newton, born May 24th 1822 in Cannandagua, Ontario County, New York, who passed away January 18th at the home of her son in Crawford, Okla., aged 89 years, 8 months and 18 days.  She was the third of a family of eleven children, the only survivor is one brother, Charles W. Newton of Missouri City, Mo.  She was the mother of eleven children, surviving are Byron L. Beebe, Belle Plaine, Kansas; Elmore J. Beebe, Wauseon, Ojo; Oliver T. Beebe, Crawford,; Fred A. Beebe, Modoc, Kansas; Mrs. I. McConkey, Waseon; Mrs. R. R. Cook, Chesaning, Mich., and Mrs. L. J. Loveland, Wauseon.


She was baptized in Killbuck, Ohio and raised her head and came out of the water singing praises to God and for 77 years has lived a pure Christian life under all circumstances. She has spent the last twenty four years in the Western states and had but few times she could meet to worship, but hers was a good life so kind and loving.  In the morning January 6th she wrote a nice letter to her daughter Meda and in the evening seemingly well as usual, she prepared to retire and fell with a stroke of paralysis and never regained consciousness only for a short time and bid them farewell.  She was a great sufferer for the last twelve days she lived and death came as the only relief.


The funeral was conducted by a Christian preacher.  In her letters to her children, she always said something to help us on to god, and we sadly miss her words of admonition.  In her conversation her talk would often drift to something good for it was her delight to talk of heavenly things.  In her early days the Indians would come and see her spin wool and flax to make our cloths and other things for the home.  But when the cares of home keeping was passed she spent much of her time in reading her Bible.  The promises of God were a great comfort to her and a guide to her pathway.

13 Free Things That Your Library May Offer!

 This great article at ilovelibraries.org, "13 Things You Pay For That Your Library Has For Free" by Linda McMaken shares just how many great things that you may be able to do and check out at your local library, for free, besides books!  


Many libraries have DVD's, Music, Language Learning courses, and more that you can check out and enjoy at home, as well as using the free Internet and Wi-Fi access at the library.


Want to get started doing genealogy?  Many libraries have a family history and local history section, some have volunteers available to help you fill in the blanks in your family tree, and most libraries have someone who can point you in the right direction to do more local and county research.  


The Wellington Public Library, located in Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas has a local history room, quite a few local newspaper microfilms, and a few surrounding city newspaper microfilms available, as well as some census records on microfilm.


Surrounding towns, Argonia, Belle Plaine, Caldwell, Conway Springs, Mulvane, & Oxford all have libraries, though many in the smaller towns are open just for short times each week.


Need to do Research in Sumner County, Kansas libraries? 


Call the numbers or write the addresses below to learn the hours they are open, (many are small and hours around holidays may vary) and and find out what research materials are available.


Argonia Public Library
120 West Walnut; P.O. Box 95
Argonia, KS  67004
PH: 1-620-435-6979 
Website: http://www.librarytechnology.org/lwc-displaylibrary.pl?RC=18330


Belle Plaine Public Library
222 W. 5th Ave;  P.O. Box 700  
Belle Plaine, KS  67013
e-mail: bplib@sktc.net
Website:  http://belleplainelibrary.com/ 

Caldwell Public Library
120 S. Main StreetCaldwell, KS  67022PH: 1-620-845-6879
Website: http://caldwell.mykansaslibrary.org/
City Website: http://www.caldwellkansas.com/node/202


Conway Springs Public Library
210 W. Spring Ave.
Conway Springs, Kansas  67031
PH: 1-620-456-2859
Website: http://conwaysprings.mykansaslibrary.org/


Mulvane Public Library
101 E. Main St.
Mulvane, KS  67110
PH: 316-777-1211
e-mail: mulvanelib@gmail.com
Website: http://mulvane.mykansaslibrary.org/


Oxford Public Library115 S. Sumner
Oxford, KS  67119
PH: 1-620-455-2221
e-mail: oxfordlibrary@sutv.com
Website: http://www.oxfordks.org/oxford-public-library.htm


Wellington Public Library 
121 W. 7th
Wellington, KS  67152
PH: 1-620-326-2011
e-mail: wpl@sutv.com
Website: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Wellington/library.html

Amanuensis Monday - Louis Strange Obituary

02 May 2011

Louis Strange Obituary
The Monitor Press
August 10, 1927; Vol 56, Number 32

Strange - After an extended period of failing health Louis Strange, a well known colored resident of this city and a veteran of the Indian wars, died at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon at the home of his adopted son, Russell Berry on East Third Street, aged 84 years.

Deceased was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky and served in the national army in campagns against the Indians following the Civil War. 

He is survived by two adopted children, Russell Berry of this city, and Mrs. Jessie Bailey, now of Chicago.

His wife died some twelve years ago.  He was a stonemason by trade, but for many years was a trusted employee of the Hunter Milling company until compelled to retire by old age and feeble health.

The funeral, with Rev. W. W. Arnett of the A. M. E. church officiating was held at the Frank Funeral Home at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon with burial in Prairie Lawn cemetery.

Genea-Musings: Have you checked the FamilySearch.org collections recently? You should!

Genea-Musings: Have you checked the FamilySearch.org collections recently? You should!

Amanuensis Monday - From the December 1920 Conway Springs Star Files

Reprinted from the December 9th, 2010 Conway Springs Star and Argonia Argosy with permission from Dalice Cline.

Duncan Produce Company has sweet skimmed milk at 20 cents a gallon.

Alice M. Cline and R. H. Cline, Owners, Conway Springs Star.

Henry Varenhorst of Conway Springs, who is a German by birth, today filed his application for his final papers of naturalization as an American Citizen.  His Witnesses were F. A. Ruse and A. W. Hammond, both of Argonia.  Mr. Varenhorst came to America in 1868 and to Sumner County in 1890.  He made application several years ago for his first papers, and thought he was made an American citizen, until when the war broke out, he learned his first papers did not make him a citizen of this country.

Reverend McKibben pastor of the Viola M. E. church spent a few days first of the week with friends here in town.  The parsonage folk included.

The meat market will be open from 8 - 10 a.m. and 4:30 to 5 p.m. on Christmas Day.

The choir at the Baptist Church intends to go caroling on Christmas eve.  This is to furnish a treat for those who are unable to attend exercises.

Miss Vesta Garst, a teacher in the Mulvane schools, is spending holiday week at her home here.

Mr. and Mrs. R. J.Shetlar and John Holcomb drove through from Johnston, Kansas last week.  They drove over frozen roads until they got to Kingman, then the car began breaking through in places and they say it was a truly interesting trip from then on in.

The Home Laundry does washing for 40 cents a lb.  When done by pound all bed linens, table cloths and towels are ironed.  Phone 95.

The school has purchased new window shades through the building which are certainly a great improvement.  The total cost of the shades was over $600.

Sugar is down to 8 or 10 and candy is still $1.50; fat cattle are 8 cents and beefsteak is 40 cents; hogs are 9 cents and bacon is 50 cents.
A beautiful day last Sunday caused enough consumption of that 30 cents gasoline that some of those oil fields that intended to shut down will surely extend operations a while longer.

Amanuensis Monday - From Conway Springs Star & Argonia Argosy Files - June 24, 2010

The following is excerpted with permission from owner Dalice Cline, from the Conway Springs Star - Argonia Argosy - Thursday, June 24, 2010

From Argosy Files - One Hundred Years Ago, June 1910

Around Town

Grandma Hollowell who had been paying the family of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Elvira Hollowell and other friends here a visit, returned to her home in Anthony on Saturday.

H. H. Shull went over to Milan Friday on business expecting to return on the Santa Fe evening passenger train, but the train being reported several hours late he got Jas. Pringle to bring him home in his motor car.  

John Jackman came over from Douglass on Saturday night to spend the day with home folks, returning Tuesday.  Mrs. Jackman and four smaller children accompanied him on his return and will spend some time visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs William Sherman and other friends there.

For Sale:

Fine young driving horse, gentle and well bred.  Perfectly safe for ladies to drive.  Also have for sale buggy and harness.  Will sell all together or separately.  For further particulars inquire at the newspaper office.

L. R. Wychoff, living eleven miles south and half a mile west of Argonia, was in the city Friday posting bills for a sale of his personal property which is to be held next Tuesday and remembered us with a call.  Mr. Wychoff is making arrangements to move with his family to Colorado in the near future.

Bonds Carried

The school bond election held Tuesday resulted in favor of the proposition to issue $11,000 bonds for the purpose of erecting a new school building by an almost unanimous vote.  The total number of votes cast were 108 of which 97 were for the bonds and 10 against.  This means that the district will have a school building that will be a credit to the enterprise and intelligence of our people and one of which they will feel proud.  Let everybody sing!