June 23, 1894 - Mayfield Voice
Page 359 - "Mayfield: Then & Now"

Mayfield has been visited by quite a few tramps on their way to join the Coxey Army.

Quite a number of our Mayfield people attended Children's day exercises at Silver Creek.

The Mayfield Voice was published from March 16, 1894, until February 28, 1895.  Subscription price was $1.00 per year in advance, and it was published every Friday by Lyman Naugle. Office of Publication on Washington Avenue,Wellington, Kansas.  Telephone No. 26. 

Amanuensis Monday - Caldwell Messenger Flashbacks - January 19, 1894

January 22, 2014 – Caldwell Messenger Flashbacks

January 19, 1894

Harvey Walker has finished digging a well on his claim and is now putting up a three strand wire fence around it.  His wheat field looks well and he thinks it would do better to keep people from driving over it.

The trade coming from the Strip [Cherokee Strip] is gratifying.  Everyday the roads from that section leading to this city are lively with teams passing to and fro.

We trust the road and bridge question will not be allowed to sink out of public sight.  Keep the ball rolling until good avenues of travel are opened up to the Strip.

Amanuensis Monday - Conway Springs Star and Argonia Argosy - Argosy Files for September 1952

Conway Springs Star & Argonia Argosy
12 September 2002

From Argosy Files, FIFTY YEARS AGO, September 1952

ARGONIA VFW

   Officers of the VFW auxiliary announced that the date for the Turkey dinner will be November 4.  The date is election day and President Mrs. Milford Forrest, stated that radios would be available in order to keep persons posted on election returns.  Prices for the dinner will be $1.25 for adults aand 65 cents for children.  The Argonia VFW will hold a dance at the VFW hall Saturday evening at 9 o'clock.  The trap shoot season which opened a few weeks ago will continue with a shoot at the grounds south of town Sunday afternoon.

Amanuensis Monday - Caldwell Newspaper Flashbacks for August 20, 2014

Caldwell Messenger Flashbacks – August 20, 2014

August 17, 1914

The Kansas wheat yield was the largest in history, 130 million bushels, and the corn crop is forecast at 180 million.

C. W. Cupp’s automobile was sold at auction on the street for $155 to John Metzinger, who failed to make it run and hauled it home with the aid of a horse  Later he found out it was out of gas.

August 15, 1924

New Kimono silks at Neal and Brown.  Just $2 a yard. 

August 16, 1924

Farmers Coop is offering coal for your heat this winter.  Price is $9 to $12 a ton.

A young Kingman man didn’t yell once when a physician picked out 43 #7 shot out of his body.  The surgeon wouldn’t give the boy’s name but said he had been helping some young ladies “get” some watermelons from a farmer’s patch.  The farmer shot true and the doctor did the rest.

Amanuensis Monday - Sumner County Leads in Tractors on Farms!

SUMNER LEADS IN TRACTORS ON FARMS

9 November 1921 - p. 1 - Wellington Daily News

Topeka, Kans., Nov. 9 -- "That Kansas farmers are coming to a fuller realization of the labor saving and time conserving qualities of the tractor is suggested by the returns of assessors to the State Board of Agriculture," says a report issued today by J. C. Mohler, secretary.

On March 1, 1921, 19,347 tractors were reported on Kansas farms, an increase of 4,977 during the year.  Tractors have sprung into use almost over night, increasing in numbers almost 800 percent in Kansas since 1915.  The following table shows how tractors have grown in popularity in this state:

                                    On Hand        Increase in Year

1921                            19,347             4,977

1920                            14,370             5,681

1919                            8,689              3,274

1918                            5,415                911

1917                            4,504                572

1916                            3,932              1,439

1915                            2,493             

"While the increase was slightly less in numbers during the past year and amounts to 35.3 percent compared with 65.5 percent increase in the year 1920 over 1919, the figures indicate that the tractor continues to gain in popularity," said Secretary Mohler.

This year Sumner County leads in the number of tractors on farms, reporting a total of 701, closely followed by McPherson with 697.  Dickinson is third with 643 and Sedgwick fourth with 517.  Each of these counties, as well as six others, made a gain during the year of more than 100.  Nine of the ten counties showing  gains of more than 100 each are located in the central third of Kansas, while one, Graham, with a gain of 101 is in the northwest where wheat growing has made large strides in late years.  All counties except one having more than 300 tractors on farms are also in the central third of the state and in fact every county but one in the so-called wheat belt has more than 100 tractors each.

Twenty-four of the 105 counties report less than 100 tractors, fourteen of these being a block of counties in the south and central west.  Only three counties report decreases, Haskell in the southwest with fourteen less, Doniphan in the northwest with five less, and Reno, a central wheat county with three less tractors reported than in 1920. 

Amanuensis Monday - Indian Papoose Grave Found on Bluff Creek

The Wellington Monitor
11 July 1890

The grave of an Indian papoose was discovered on an island in Bluff Creek near Caldwell by Sam Woodson and Dr. Noble last week.

It was protected by a basket-shaped cover, neatly woven of twigs and roots, and so carefully hidden away among the underbrush as to have escaped observation heretofore.

Old settlers think it was made as far back as 1876 during the Indian troubles at that time.

Amanuensis Monday - Flashbacks from the April 24th, 2013 Caldwell (Kansas) Messenger

Reprinted with permission from the Caldwell Messenger

April 19, 1883
Most astonishing claim yet of electricity - It has been proven possible to convey by its vibrations of light so that it is practicable not only to speak with a distant friend, but also to see him.

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April 20, 1893
The proposed lottery plan for opening the Cherokee Strip to settlement was meeting with opposition.

The public well on South Main was being cleaned out.

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April 23, 1903
County Attorney Wison cashed in a collection of mining stock certificates for $32,000.  They were acquired for a song while he was a Denver newspaper reporter from 1895 - 1897.

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April 21, 1923
Dad's Cafe - Sunday
Soup, chicken with noodles, pork loin roast with brown gravy and horse radish, mashed potatoes, spinach garnished with lemon and eggs, apricot pie, Parkerhouse rolls 35 cents.

Airplane Exhibition and Passenger Carrying - northeast of Caldwell, all day Sunday.  $5 per passenger.

April 18, 1933
Oklahoma is taking drastic steps to aid schools.  In July, a tax of 2 cents on every dollar of retail sales will be assessed against all purchases in Oklahoma stores.  Also a tax of 3 cents a package on cigarettes should bring in $1,5000,000 annually - also to go to school aid.

Intramural punkin ball to start tomorrow.

Wheat again hits record high when it reaches 49 cents a bushel.  This is more than double the price offered in Caldwell less than four months ago.

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April 19, 1933
Wheat prices up 2 cents more!

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April 24, 1933
New Masonic Hall is now complete.  Believed to be one of the best in Sumner County.  Kitchen has hot and cold running water.

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April 19, 1943
Job/wage freeze ordered for entire nation.  Will be backed by penalties as great as a thousand dollar fine and a year in prison.

Ration book No. 3 will be issued late in July.  Will be used primarily for shoes, sugar and coffee.

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April 22, 1943
Bill Aakers, who joined the Navy last July, is now in North Africa.

A farmer who sells butter, lard, or any rationed food to a retailer must now collect ration points for the sale.

Less canned food to be available.  Compared with '42 there will be 11% less meat, 37% less canned shell fish, 21% less butter, 11% less cheese, 15% less canned milk, 51% less canned fruit, 27% less canned vegetables, 29% less coffee, and 60% less tea.

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April 20, 1953
Presbyterian Church to celebrate 80th Anniversary.

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April 19, 1973
Drury to be film site of Carradine movie. **

**  The filming of the David Carradine movie in Drury was literally the talk of the county for a short time, and many folks found themselves driving through Drury or nearby South Haven to try to catch a glimpse of David Carradine and wife Barbara.  SCHGS Vice President Sherry Kline and husband Norman and two of their cousins went to South Haven one evening on the off chance they might see Carradine.  They stopped at the little restaurant that was open then, and they did see Carradine and some of the other cast members.

Amanuensis Monday - Obituary - Bona "Bonnie" Ethel Anderson

Excerpted from the book "Mayfield: Then & Now" by Elaine Evans Clark and Sherry Stocking Kline, published in 2003.

Bona Ethel Anderson of Mayfield died Thursday, January 2, 1986, at St. Luke's Hospital.  She was 86. Miss Anderson was a retired telephone operator.  She was a resident of Mayfield all of her life.  

She was born Nov. 10, 1899, in Mayfield. She was a member of the Mayfield Federated Church. 

Survivors include two nieces, Janice Bothwell, Garden City, and Joan Grim, Wichita; and one nephew, Neel Anderson, Harlingen, Texas.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.  

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. today, at the Mayfield Federated Church.  The Reverend Harold Borhauer officiated. 

Interment was in the Osborne Cemetery, Mayfield.  Donna Yearout, Wanda Stayton, Jane Stayton and Ida Borhauer sang "In the Garden," and "Ivory Palaces."  The organist was Berniece Myers. 

Casket bearers were Larry Ford, GEne Heasty, Robert Yearout, Dean Miller, Roy Stayton and Gene Metzen.  Honorary casket bearer was John Duvall.  

A memorial has been established with the Mayfield Federated Church or the Mayfield Friendship Meals. 

Frank Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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.

Amanuensis Monday - John A. Bishop Obituary (1819 - 1900)

John A. Bishop Obituary
(born December 25, 1819 - died July 4, 1900)

John A. Bishop died at his home on North Heron/Herson avenue Wednesday morning at 10:50 o’clock after a lingering illness.  The funeral was held at the residence at 4 o’clock next afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. C. Ball, pastor of the M. E. church.

John A. Bishop was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, December 25, 1819, and died July 4, 1900. In the home of his birth he spent the years of his childhood, and also the earlier period of his boyhood until he was 15 years old.  Then he went to Lee county, IA and engaged in farming.

In the more than forty years of his residence in Iowa, he had a varied occupation.  At one time he was in the mercantile business and afterwards was sheriff of his county for three terms.

When the civil war broke out, he was among the first to respond to his country’s call and helped to raise the 1st Iowa regiment, of which he became a lieutenant, and served the full term of his enlistment, three years.  After the war he returned to Lee county, and in 1876, he came with his family to the farther west and settled in New Mexico, thence in 1878 to Kansas, and settled in Sumner county, where he had continued to reside.

Thirteen years ago he became a citizen of Wellington.  He was an industrious, active, helpful man, generous and always ready to lift up and lend a hand, and many an unfortunate one has felt the touch of his sympathy through his practical ministration to their needs.  He was especially fond of children, an affectionate and loving father and friend.

He did not enter into churchly forms but was not indifferent to religious principles, hence he never belonged to any church, but believed in all that makes a Christian life; and in his last days, seemed to trust in Jesus for his salvation and readily yielded himself to be brought in prayer to a throne of grace.

He was married in 1854 to Alice A. Cartwright in Farmington, IA.  She died in 1879, leaving him and seven children – two daughters and five sons, to mourn her loss.  All of these, except one son, still survive.  And three of them, one of whom crossed the continent to bring his presence to cheer the dying hours, were present to follow the broken weary form to its resting place.


Transcriber's Note: The original obituary was located in the Bishop File in the Pioneer Settler Files in the Sumner County History and Genealogy Center. 

More information about the Research Center, located in the Memorial Auditorium, 208 N. Washington, Wellington, KS 67152, is available at http://www.ksschgs.com.

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Amanuensis Monday - John A. Bishop Obituary

John A. Bishop Obituary
(born December 25, 1819 - died July 4, 1900)

John A. Bishop died at his home on North Heron/Herson avenue Wednesday morning at 10:50 o’clock after a lingering illness.  The funeral was held at the residence at 4 o’clock next afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. C. Ball, pastor of the M. E. church.

John A. Bishop was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, December 25, 1819, and died July 4, 1900. In the home of his birth he spent the years of his childhood, and also the earlier period of his boyhood until he was 15 years old.  Then he went to Lee county, IA and engaged in farming.  

In the more than forty years of his residence in Iowa, he had a varied occupation.  At one time he was in the mercantile business and afterwards was sheriff of his county for three terms.  

When the civil war broke out, he was among the first to respond to his country’s call and helped to raise the 1st Iowa regiment, of which he became a lieutenant, and served the full term of his enlistment, three years.  After the war he returned to Lee county, and in 1876, he came with his family to the farther west and settled in New Mexico, thence in 1878 to Kansas, and settled in Sumner county, where he had continued to reside.

Thirteen years ago he became a citizen of Wellington.  He was an industrious, active, helpful man, generous and always ready to lift up and lend a hand, and many an unfortunate one has felt the touch of his sympathy through his practical ministration to their needs.  He was especially fond of children, an affectionate and loving father and friend.  

He did not enter into churchly forms but was not indifferent to religious principles, hence he never belonged to any church, but believed in all that makes a Christian life; and in his last days, seemed to trust in Jesus for his salvation and readily yielded himself to be brought in prayer to a throne of grace.  

He was married in 1854 to Alice A. Cartwright in Farmington, IA.  She died in 1879, leaving him and seven children – two daughters and five sons, to mourn her loss.  All of these, except one son, still survive.  And three of them, one of whom crossed the continent to bring his presence to cheer the dying hours, were present to follow the broken weary form to its resting place.

The above information was transcribed by Sherry Kline from a photocopy of the obituary that was located in the Bishop Family Files located in the Pioneer Settler's Files at the Sumner County History and Genealogy Center.  There are many more files of Pioneer and early Sumner County Families located in the SCHGS Center files, and these are available for research on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to Noon, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; other days by appointment.
E-mail:  schgs@sutv.com or scgs67152@yahoo.com

Mail:  Sumner County Historical and Genealogical Center
or  SCHGC
P.O. Box 402
Wellington Kansas 67152

Wordless Wednesday - Dr. Edward & Mrs. Smith - Oxford, Kansas

Photographer is George H. Dresser, Winfield, Kansas. 

This photograph of Dr. Edward and Mrs. Smith, Oxford, Kansas, is located in the Beals Family Files in the Pioneer Settler files at the Sumner County History and Genealogy Center in Wellington, Kansas.

 While only a few of the Family Files contain photographs, the files are rich sources of information and family stories, and in many cases the family trees in them contain generations that reach back to the first immigrant ancestor's homeland.

Wordless Wednesday - Georgie Gustler

This great photograph of Georgie Gustler was probably taken by his father, who was a professional photographer in the small picturesque Arkansas River town of Oxford, Kansas.

It's certainly not your everyday photograph with all the many things that are hanging on the tree and Georgie with a pair of scissors, so I have to wonder what the symbolism is about the photograph.  Was it just a fun photo that Georgie's father set up?  Or is it some kind of advertising photograph for his photography business?  Any suggestions would be most welcome!  

 

This photograph is located in the Beals' Family Pioneer Settler File at the Sumner County History and Genealogy Center in Wellington, Kansas.

Oxford, Kansas is home of the picturesque Oxford Mill, now on the National Register, photographs here,

More photographs here where the young people of Oxford have gotten involved with the preservation and promotion of the Mill.  Recently, two new walking trails were constructed near the mill.