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Life in Kansas in the late 1800's wasn't easy and each farmstead had to be largely self-sufficient. The early settlers relied on buffalo chips for fuel and most housewives were delighted when the supply was exhausted and they could burn ear corn. It was clean tohandle, provided ready heat, and most Kansas farm women were disappointed when improveing markets were dirty coal a cheaper fuel. There wre few trees in Kansas until the wild prairie fires were tamed by plowed fields and graded roads.
Medicine was a slowly developing science at the time. Doctors were few and scattered and hospitals non-existent. Small-pox and diptheria epidemics often decimated communities and even the so-called "childhood diseasen" were often fatal. Mr. White often said, "If you need a doctor get the best for he's not too good."
There were ten children born into the White family and five of them died during childhood. The following are all buried in the Atlanta Cemetery: Johnnie, born November 21, 1986 and died November 27, 1901; Ray, born November 22, 1892 and died December 18, 1901; Nellie, born November 22, 1894 and died January 30, 1985; Roy, born July 19, 1898 and died January 10, 1899; and Jessie, born October 29, 1900 died January 10, 1901.
The five children who reached adulthood and their spouses are all gone. They were: Robert Oscar, born October 18, 1884 at Douglass, died July 21, 1961 and buried at Wichita; married Pearl Dobson. Their son Richard is deceased and their daughter, Mrs. Bernice Miller, lives at Lee's Summit, Mo. Stephen William was born at Douglass July 17, 1888, died 1946 and buried at Atlanta; married Beulah Kelly; two sons, Clarence deceased and William, Limon, Colo. Fred L. born March 26, 1890 at Douglass, died March 27, 1974 and buried at Atlanta; married Alta Calvin; one daughter, Evelyn, Mrs. J. Wilbur Defore, is deceased; two sons, Lawrence of Winfield and Eldon of Douglass. Dessie Maude, born October 29, 1891 and died June 19, 1972, buried at Belle Plaine, Ks; married George F. Daggett, one son, Loren E. of Wellington; Daisy Pearl, born February 21, 1903 at Atlanta and died September 22, 1989, buried at Wichita; married Howard W. Overstake; two daughters, Gloria died in infancy, Nadine (Mrs. F. Clayton Dodd) resides in Wichita; three sons, Bobby D., Howard W. and Jay D., all of Wichita.
The Whites believed in close family ties and helped to foster same with frequent Sunday dinners for all available relatives. The grandchildren looked forward to the opportunity to play with their cousins and eat Grandma's famous cooking. This joy was temporarily dampened each meeting for it was the custom of the period for children to eat at the "second table." This was a character building policy for watching your favorite pieces of fried chicken being "forked" off the huge platter was an excellent lesson in deferred gratification. The kids were usually rewarded later when they were first in line at the opening of the ice cream freezer. No one worried because that golden chicken had been fried in home rendered lard, the same ingredient that produced the delicious, flaky crusts on teh numerous pies. The ice cream was aptly named for it was cold and the main ingredient was thick cream. Life wasn't all bad before the discovery of cholesterol!
"Doug" White established a reputation for growing seed corn before it became available from commercial growers. He died September 1, 1934 and is buried at Atlanta. "Josie" soon went to live in Wichita with the Overstakes. She maintained a phenomenal memory into her late years. Many who needed proof of birth date from Social Security purposed were rewarded by that memory. She passed away August 2, 1961 and is buried beside her husband, never realizing that the food she had always eaten might cause heart trouble or cancer.
The 97 years of Josephine's life were filled with daily inventions and materials improvement in living conditions. The advances she appreciated most were those made in medicine in the hope that future mothers would be spared teh sorrow of placing their children in an early grave.
Submitted by Lorne Daggett
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 321.
While the Civil War was raging, two Wigley boys took a Confederate wagon and ran west to Arkansas. One brother stayed, the other returned to Georgia.
My father, Ben S. Wigley, was his great-grandson. One of eleven children born to Oscar E. Wigley and Mary Martin Wigley. Ben married Lillie Adele Blaylok, June 18, 1936. They made their home in Arkansas and worked in the logging industry.
Hard times hit. My father traveled to New Mexico looking for work. He landed a job in Arkansas City in 1950 at the Ark. City Flour Mill. It later became the Dixie Portland Mill. He retired in 1979 after 29 years of service.
Ben was an accomplished musician. He entertained many with his guitar and songs. Lillie was a homemaker and loving mother. She was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church and an avid gardener. She passed Dec. 68, resting in Ola, Arkansas. Ben passed July 84, resting in Ark. City, Kansas.
They had seven children. Benny Carroll, dec., Zorro, dec., Raymond, Margarette, Kenneth, dec., Donald D., & Hazel A. The children grew up in Cowley County and attended Ark. City schools.
Raymond Wigley made his home in Lovington, NM. He has three children. Margarette Wigley Westall resides in Kansas City and has three children. Donald Wigley lives in Sumner Co. and has two children. Hazel Wigley McGuire lives in Cowley Co. and has two children. Ben and Lillie have seven children, ten grandchidren, and three great-grandchildren so far.
Submitted by Hazel A. McGuire
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 321.
Submitted by Sally Wilcox
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 321.
Following a year's employment with the Curtis Publishing Company, he became a case worker for the Sumner County Welfare Department in 1934, and director of the Butler County Welfare Department from 1937-40.
After two years with the United States Employment Service in Baxter Springs, Kansas, he returned to Winfield to become the executive secretary for the Cowley and Butler County Medical Societies. In July, 1951, he became the executive secretary to the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians in addition to his Cowley County Medical Society work. He had offices first in the old Cowley County Bank, then in the State Bank. After retiring from thirty-five years with the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, he still is the executive secretary for the Cowley County doctors in 1990.
Gene married Katherine Louise Frankenfeld, daughter of Phillip John George (Ph.) and Jennie Lee (Sparks) Frankenfeld on June 6, 1934. Following her death on December 30, 1972, he married Sally (Dutton) Jarrott on December 22, 1973.
Gene and Louise had three children: Hal Dean, Phillip Gene and Laura Lee. Hal married Neva Louise Cranston. Phillip married Jane Suzanne Grosjean, and Laura Lee married Richard Kretschmer.
Hal is an auditor for the Dixie Portland Mills. His wife, Neva, teaches at Adams School in Arkansas City.
Phillip and Sue are retired after establishing a large chain of cable television companies throughout the midwest and south. Both Laura and Richard Kretschmer have doctorates in audiology and teach at The University of Cincinnati.
Sally Wilcox is a free lance writer with articles in a variety of professional, public and trade publications. For fifteen years she was the writer and editor of The Jayhawk Family Physician, a bimonthly journal for the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians. She has three children, John Bennett Jarrott, Jr., Sally Sue (jarrott) Stratmoen, and Linda Lee (Jarrott) Alexander.
When reflecting on the years spent with the Cowley and Butler County Medical Societies and the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, Gene says that they were the happiest years of his life. When he started with the Kansas Academy, their membership was 100 family physicians. When he retired in 1986, there were 1100 members.
In Winfield he has served as a member of the vestry and a chalicer for Grace Episcopal Church, Winfield; on the board of directors of the Winfield Child Care Center for many years; and still is a member of the board of directors for Canterbury Village Apartments. He has coached the 'Eagles', a Little League ball team for sixteen years. He is also a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge # 110 and the Wichita Consistory, Scottish Rite.
Submitted by Sally Wilcox
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 322.
Clara Bell's progenitors came from England in the household of Lord Baltimore (Calvert) cousins of the Calverts. The younger Esteps migrated to Ohio about 1823. Clara's father, Hon Jacob Estep, was born in Frederick County, Maryland November 23, 1823. He married Matilda Jane Culver a native of Ohio July 25, 1850. Clara was born in Senneca County, Ohio April 29, 1858. 1859 Jacob Estep moved his family to Cameron, Missouri.
Charles Thomas Williams is a direct descendant of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, His family migrated through Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois finally settling near Boonsville, Missouri about 1816. Charles' grandfather, Luk: M~iil liams, is credited with being the first minister south of missouri River in Missouri.
Charles Williams was the son of William S. and Julia Newsom Williams. Julia and William were married in 1848.
Clara Bell and Charles grew up in Missouri. They married March 6, 1881 in Cameron, Missouri. Their first home was Hiawatha, Kansas. Oklahoma land called them in 1889. They moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma where my mother, Matilda Barnett, was born Aug. 4, 1892. Grandmother Williams disliked the territory, especially the Indians. She received an inheritance at her father's death, so the family moved up across the border into Cowley County. Their first home in Cowley was six miles west of Atlanta on the Atlanta-Rock Road in the Prairie View Community. Charles farmed and did some teaching. The family moved to Winfield in 1910. Matilda spoke often of her Dad's fine voice and what good times the father and children had singing and harmonizing around the piano. He taught Mother to read, write, and her arithmetic before she attended school. In her first year of school Mother said she thought she was wasting her time as she knew all those things.
Grandmother was known for her neighborliness. Old timers spoke of knowing she would call on those who needed help or an encouraging word. Her death was tragic. In Dec. 1929, her clothing caught fire from an open gas heating stove. She lingered a few days, dying Dec. 29, 1929.
As to the children: Netta, the oldest child married Charles Smith, Atlanta, Kansas; Belva married George Ralf, Silverdale, Kansas; James, the oldest son, married Elvira Clevenger, Leo married Ruth Laird of Coffeeyville; Dwight settled in Oxnard, California; Lorren, the youngest of the family, married Alice Pehrson while students at Southwestern.
An interesting thing happened to Lorren while at Southwestern. In those days students were hazed by being thrown over the rotunda railing. He was supposed to land on a quilt or canvas held by four students. This time something went wrong. Lorren landed on the floor, knocked unconscious. Rushed to the hospital for a few days. This type of hazing was banned forever, at that time.
Matilda married Hoyt Barnett, Winfield. They had three girls: Ada married Leyton Dunbar; Louine married Floyd Garber; Ruth married Robert Cornfield.
The family of Charles and Clara Williams and the descendants have left this area, except Ada Dunbar, her son Charles Richard Dunbar and a grandson Charles Leyton Dunbar.
Written and Submitted by Ada Dunbar
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 322.
Elda was one of 11 children and Elizabeth died 1870. Elda's father, James Williams, was in Civil War, enrolled 1862. Serving under Col. Horn, he took part in 32 battles of the war coming through with only 2 wounds. Was shot left arm, battle of Cold Harbor, his right knee at Petersburg. Honorably discharged in 1865. Granddaughter Darlene also has this certificate. He started farming Cedar County, Iowa and Poweshiek County. Coming to Kans. 1884, married to Sarah Wilden 1869, a native of Ohio, daughter of Vincent and Sarah Wilden. Clara's mother, Matilda B-1860 D-1918, father Charles Connor B-1854 D-1940.
Descendants of Elda and Clara Williams living in Cowley County today are James (Jimmy) Williams' daughter Darlene Nelson, grandson Carl Cooper, granddaughter Etta Patterson, great-grandchildren (twins) Aaron & Allen Cooper, and Anthonv Patterson.
Written and Submitted by James Williams
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 322.
James and Irene have two children: Darlene, born 1937; Donald born 1942. Donald has lived in Houston Texas area since 1961. Darlene has lived in Leland, Mississippi, Greenville, Mississippi, Bakersfield, California, Paris, California, Marysville, California, Beale AFB, California, Lincoln, Nebraska, Chanute AFB, Illinois, Iowa Park, Texas, and now living back in good old Cowley County since 1973.
Donald had two children: Andreia born 1962, only living three days; Donald Jr., born 1978.
Darlene has three children: Carl Cooper, born 1956, living near Udall, Denny Willis, born 1962, living in San Diego, California; Etta Patterson (named after her great-grandmother), born 1971, living near Udall.
Carl has twin sons: Aaron and Allen, born 1980. Etta has one son, Anthony born 1988. Making Irene and James two children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
James (Jimmy) retired farmer, while farming also worked running a road maintainer, Beech and Boeing Aircraft. They are members of the Congregational Church in Udall as were most of the Shaffers and the Junes to this date. Other descendants of Shod fers & Junes in the Udall area, are Lola Rowe and family, Dorothy Wells and family, Elldon Stout and family, Ethel Wells, Earl and Everett June families, Erwin and Ernest Harris families. Irene had two sisters, Faye Curtis, deceased 1949, and Ida Ferguson living in El Dorado, Kansas. James had one sister Goldie, deceased 1990, and one brother Earl, living in Wichita.
Since retirement the Williams have vacationed to Niagara Falls, New York, Van Cuver Island, Canada, Hawaii Islands, and took a Love Boat Cruise to Alcapolco, through Panama Canal, up to SanJuan, St. Thomas, Aruba, Cartagena, Martinigue Islands.
James Williams' mother, deceased, has a living sister, Clintie Brookings, age 10 1, living in Wichita. The only relatives on the Williams side of family living in the Cowley County area are cousins, Clarence Brookings, Janet Schanbacher family, Gary Brokkings family, and Johnny Brookings and daughter.
Written and Submitted by Etta M. Patterson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 323.
Ross attended Wichita public schools and graduated from East High School there. He was granted Bachelor of Arts in 1937 and Bachelor of Music in 1935 from Southwestern College in Winfield. He became a public school teacher in orchestra and strings in Dodge City, as well as faculty member of Dodge City Junior College. During summers he attended Michigan University and was awarded Master of Music in 1941.
In 1937 Ross and Agnes Adams of Wichita were married. Her maternal grandparents homesteaded in Alexander in Rush County where Agnes was born to Clara Kittle Adams and LeRoy Judd Adams.
Sons Larry Ross and Bruce Judd Williams were born in Dodge City. The family moved to Winfield in 1945 when Ross became director of orchestra and stringed instruments at Southwestern College. He also was a member of Wichita Symphony for 25 years and directed the Winfield First Presbyterian Choir for 30 years. He retired from Southwestern College in 1977.
In 1947 Ross was influential in reviving the Winfield Oratorio Society's performances of the "Elijah." He had been an orchestra member during his student days. As director he continued for 41 years.
In 1971 Mayor Raymond King declared a Ross Williams Day in Winfield and "Dinner with Ross" was held at Southwestern College, with Louis Sudler, an outstanding "Elijah", acting as toastmaster.
Agnes, a public school teacher before marriage, substituted in Winfield schools, was a volunteer for several years at Winfield Day Care Center, sang in the Presbyterian Choir, taught in church school, was deacon and elder, and active in Presbyterian Women's work, garden club and AAUW.
Submitted by Agnes Williams
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 323.
The brothers came a far as Independence, Ks. by train and then by stage coach to Cedar Valley. From there they walked westward until they came to the place they desired.
On their way from Independence they stopped overnight at the hotel run by the notorious Kate Bender at Benderville. They were not attacked by the landlord, as they only attacked people who were traveling alone. Many people were found to have been killed and buried by this woman.
The brothers took adjoining claims, but Henry stayed just long enough to prove up his claim.
William T. married Ella Boggs in Illinois in 1880. She died in 1886 leaving three boys: W. Arva, Ernest, and Archie.
On April 24, 1888 he was married to Barbara Elmira Littleton, who was born May 19, 1869 in Fairfield, Iowa to Charles H. Littleton and Miriam (Knight) Littleton. She came to Kansas from Iowa with her parents and settled in the same community east of Dexter in 1881. Her parents, who were of English extraction, had migrated from Ohio to Iowa.
They lived on this land and extended their acreage, and reared a large family. Their son Robert owned and lived on the original homestead until his death May 17,1990, which is now owned by his heirs. The patent from the government, signed by President U.S. Grant, and also a 1874 tax receipt, showing the tax for the year 1873 was $16.64 on 160 acres, are in the possession of the Williams family.
Two of their children are still living and five in Winfield. They are Mrs. S. Gibson (Afice) Hammer and Mrs. Stella Wyckoff Dort, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in Cowley County.
William T. died March 6, 1945 and Barbara E. died Dec. 3, 1952. They are buried along with her parents Charles & Miriam (Knight) Littleton in the Dexter, KS Cemetery.
Submitted by Evelyn Watt
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 323.
Submitted by Alice L. Parcel
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 323.
Charles William (Charley) and Adaline Bormett Wilson lived at 1516 South Main Street in Wichita for the last eighteen years of his life. Charley was killed instantly in a car-train crash during his early morning return home from his night-watchman duties at C.B. Team Horse and Mule Company at St. Francis and 2 1 st in Wichita. Addie remained in their residence until she was confined to a nursing home where she lived for seven years before her death June 26, 1954.
Submitted by Alice L. Parcel
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 324.
Ohio doctors told him unless he got out of the cold, damp conditions, his health would not improve. He had lost his father, a brother and a sister from tuberculosis and pneumonia complications within a ten month period.
Dr. Wilson left his wife, Lucy Stewart Wilson, and their three sons, Robert, Samuel and Edgar, in Ohio during the time he was looking for a better place for his family to live. He took a boat to New Orleans, but the weather was hot and humid there. He then went to Kansas City, KS. During that time he heard of a pharmacist position in a Winfield drug store and accepted it, eventually purchasing the store.
After a few months in the store, Dr. Wilson decided what he needed was to get out into the country air. In 1881 he purchased the farm 12 miles east and one mile south of Winfield and sent for his family in Ohio.
A storm hit as the train was nearing Newton and a tornado ripped the roof from the baggage car and rain damaged the furniture. (Mrs. Wilson's parents had warned her of the danger of Indians and tornados in Kansas and she was not surprised at the storm.)
Lucy Wilson's sister, Carrie, accompanied them to Kansas, to assist in the new home.
Dr. Wilson raised corn, Duroc hogs, which were a curiosity to the other farmers because of their red color, also a good line of work horses. He briefly had a creamery located near a natural spring used for cooling.
Many times he was called on to act in his capacity as doctor for the area between Dexter, Burden and Tisdale. He was also active in the progress of the community.
All seven Wilson children; Robert, Samuel, Edgar, Carroll, Elsie, Helen and George, attended the two-story Eaton School, still standing. Four of them attended or graduated from Kansas colleges and the youngest son became a doctor. Two sons were farmers, one was an official with the Bell Telephone Co., and one daughter a teacher.
Three generations of Wilsons have attended the Eaton School.
The Wilson family was active with the growth of the community of Eaton Village and encouraged new industries. Dr. Wilson served on the school board and took an active interest in politics, becoming a member of the short lived Populist party.
Dr. and Mrs. Wilson moved to Winfield in 1919. The oldest son, Robert, and wife, Mary Shinn Wilson, and their 3 children moved to the family home. Dr. Wilson had replaced the original claim house with a 2-story, 7 room house in the early 1900s. This house has been replaced with a smaller house by a son, Percy Wilson and wife Nita.
Dr. Wilson died in 1921 at the age of 72. Mrs. Wilson died in 1935 at the age of 80. There are 9 living grandchildren, including the grandson Percy, living on the original farm. The original 160 acreage was increased to 520 acres, but has since been reduced to 390 acres.
Compiled and Submitted by Mildred (Wilson) Wesbrook, Winifred (Wilson) Wesbrook, and Percy M. Wilson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 324.
George and Lydia had six children: Martha Ellen (Nellie), George Heber, Ira Alfred, and John Thomas. Two daughters died in infancy. The children were educated at North Vernon rural school, Southwest Business College, and Kansas State College. Heber and Ira received degrees in agricultural science, and John in veterinary medicine, Martha majored in domestic science, but didn't graduate- All were members of the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church.
Martha and Frank Hoverstock, Heber and Della (Abel), and Ira and Urna (Hoverstock), were successful farmers and ranchers in Cowley County in the Kellogg community. John practiced veterinary medicine in Seiling and Pawnee, OK.
John and Alice (Gaden) had two children: Kenneth, Oklahoma City, deceased, and Urna Mildred Privett, Pawnee.
George died in 1914; Lydia in 1929; John and Alice in 1940; Frank Hoverstock in 1956; and Urna in 1957. Ira later married Jeanette Lipperd. Ira died in 1968; Martha in 1971, and Jeanette in 1988.
The deceased family members are buried in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery, northwest of Winfield, except John, Alice, Kenneth, and Jeanette Wilson.
Submitted by Mary and Wayne Wilson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 324.
Della Mae (Abel) Wilson was born to William R. and Mary Catherine Abel in 1882 in Emerson, Iowa. She later came to Kansas with her parents where she lived on a farm west of Winfield, then moved to Winfield. She attended "normal" school, then taught school at Liberty. She also worked as a clerk at Dauber's Dry Goods Store in Winfield. Della had a sister, Nellie (Abel) Hahn; and four brothers, Fred, Roy, Glen, and Vernon Abel.
Heber and Della were married in 1909, and lived on a farm nine miles northwest of Winfield. Heber raised pure-bred shorthorn cattle and fed hogs for market. During his early farming years, he raised sweet clover used for soil build-up, followed by a rotation of corn and oats. When the drought of the 1930s came, wheat was substituted because of the dry, hot winds and dust storms. He farmed with horses and mules until he purchased his first tractor in 1934.
Heber and Della had six children: Harold, Oxford, (deceased) teacher and farmer; James, Augusta, retired chemical engineer; Paul, Wichita, retired major, U.S.A.F.; Wayne, rural Winfield, who farms the home place; Curtis, Winfield, retired farmer; and Nellie Mary, retired business teacher; six years at Stafford High School, and 33 at Cowley County Community College, Arkansas City. She sponsored an active business organization, Phi Beta Lambda, where her students consistently received state awards.
The children graduated from Winfield High School and Southwestern College. Mary also graduated from St. John's College and received a Master's Degree from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia.
Heber died in 1951, Della in 1970, and Harold in 1987, They are buried at Mt. Vernon Cemetery northwest of Winfield.
All of the children of Heber and Della Wilson have land holdings in Cowley County, formerly owned by their parents and grandparents.
The Wilson families enjoy church activities, musical events, reunions, and travel. Some of the families have visited English relatives and located the former home of their grandmother in Sheffield, England. They have visited Europe, Israel, Russia, Korea, Hawaii, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Nepal, India, Saipan, Ecuador, Mexico, Florida, Alaska as well as the mainland states.
The Wilson family members are especially proud of their heritage.
Submitted by Mary and Wayne Wilson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 324
At the small village of Eatonville, only a few miles south of present day Burden, the railroad made plans to put a depot. John and Antha bought land in the town proper several blocks from where the railroad blueprints showed the depot would be, but for reasons of their own, the railroad went another route. The Eaton stone school which was built in 1884 still stands in good condition.
John and Antha died in 1896 and 1899, respectively, and are buried in Burden Cemetery. Elias and Frances were married in September, 1874. To this union were born Mary Antha, Arthur, John Henry, Jess, Walter, Lenora, Elizabeth, Herman, Earl, Ed, Carrie and Louise. AD were born between 1875 and 1895.
My father, John Henry, said the times were very difficult for them. Of the seven boys, perhaps at any given time, there were four pairs of shoes and four to five coats for them to go to school, so they took turns attending.
In 1898, Elias and Frances purchased 80 acres from the government, school land. In order to buy school land, it was necessary to build a home and fulfill other requirements, which they did. They built a house and planted 183 fruit trees, put in one mile of wire fence, and 10 acres in cultivation. The farm was three miles west of Maple City and is now part of Williamson Ranch. Elias retired in 1908, sold the farm and bought a brick house at 927 E. Tyler. Grandmother (Frances) always gardened. I love the story of how she was planting peas, one of her hens was out of the pen, and coming along behind her and eating the peas. She caught the culprit, pulled her head off, got the pea seed out of her craw, and put her in the pot for supper (chicken noodles) and went out and planted her peas.
Arthur married Mattie McDaniel, later Lavina Jane Parr. John Henry married Rena Mallatt. Jess married Mary Stone. Walter married Myrtle Parr. Lenora married Eugene Shipp, later John Kirkpatrick. Lizzie married Merle Matthews. Herman married Ethel Barnes. Earl married Bertha Hudson, Ed married Birdie Rogers. Louise married Herb Sommers and later H.B. Brown.
These families enjoyed one another and had lots of family get-togethers. Whenever it was needed, they helped one another. It was a wonderful experience growing up in such a large, close family. They were all farmers. All except less are buried in Cowley County, Kansas.
Dr. R. Claude Young rode out to the Wilson's home when Herman was ill with appendicitis, took down an inside door, placed him on it, and took his appendix out. If Dr. was at their house, or near, he would stop by to eat and play ball with the boys.
Submitted by Glen Wilson & Maxine Russom
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 325.
They made their first home on 80 acres near Maple City. It was a stone house with only essentials. They couldn't keep the rats out, and kept a gun handy when Edgar was born. He slept with them to protect him from the rats. I'm scared of a mouse, so I wouldn't have made a pioneer.
Dad had a steam engine that he bailed hay with, and was away some, doing others' boiling. Mother told me three men on horseback stopped and asked directions to Maple City. They also asked if it was the county seat, and did they have a bank? She was so frightened, she said yes, which of course was false. The riders located Dad's seed oats and fed their horses.
A year later my parents bought a farm down the road next to the King School. They had a house and barn built by Raleigh Lord. A neighbor told Mother to pick their tomatos if she wanted to put up a few more. When she got them home, she noticed her wide gold wedding band was missing. They were unable to find it. Dad bought her another. Forty years later, Mrs. Colbert was at Mom's for a cottage Bible study, so Mom asked her if they found a ring when they lived at that location. They did find it, still had it, and returned it to Mom. Her initials were inside. She gave it to me and I had a cluster of diamonds set on it and I wear it to this day.
A relative gave Edgar and Doyle a tame rabbit. The night before Easter she thumped and thumped til she was let inside. She had a box by the boy's bed where she would sleep and on Easter morning there she was, and her babies! The children knew it was just for them for Easter.
Our parents traded this farm for Arkansas City property and cash. Dad built a home at 700 South Fourth, and also a number of rental properties. Cecil and I were born there.
In 1919 the folks bought the Pecan Grove of 19 acres from the Power and Light Company, on East 166, southwest side of the Walnut River. It was called Old Settler's Reunion Park, a popular camping place for travelers, including the Indians, soldiers, and wagon trains, covered wagons in early days. The annual carnival, dances, concessions, and political speeches and rallies were held there. Mr. Todd drove a team of mules pulling the street car to the park giving rides both ways. He would unhook the team and drive around to the other side and hook up and go back to town, making hourly trips. Families looking for work or working on building the refineries and other industries here, would pitch tents boarding partial way up, with a wood stove and run the pipe out of the top. These would pay 25 cents to 50 cents a month, and fish in the river and even wash their clothes at the river bank. Many thousands of pounds of pecans were picked on the shores every year. Dad let the Salvation Army and others cut trees for firewood on the south acres in order to help him clear the land for cultivation. He put in corn for his hogs.
We slept on feather ticks in winter which was cozy and warm. I still have one that was on my bed at home, which is stored in Great-uncle Andy Mallatt's camel back trunk. I've intended to put it on the bed again and sleep on it at least one night, but as yet haven't done so.
The folks raised large gardens and canned 300 quarts or more of fruits and vegetables besides crocks of jelly and preserves. These were stored in the cellar in the back yard. After the beds with feathers were fluffed and made up, we didn't dare sit on them or we heard about it!
Mother made a mixture of goose grease, camphor, and so forth. When we had a cold, she would heat this and dip a woolen cloth in it and would slap it on our chest, with some around out throat. I really hated this. When colds were going around she would put a piece of acefidity in a cloth bag on a string to be worn around the neck. As soon as I left the house for school, off it came and stayed in my coat pocket. The smell was ugh! Mother also made sasafras tea which we had to drink in the spring to thin our blood for the summer.
The folks milked cows and sold milk to Steffens Dairy. Mother milked half the cows and she worked outside helping Dad with farm work. She would talk about driving the team raking hay with Edgar sitting on the palatte watching Doyle, and then return to the work at hand.
In 1938 the folks built a new house at the corner of the Pecan Grove. I married Vernon E. Russom on November 13, 1936. We had one son, Vernon H. Russom, one grandson, Tyrone, and one great-granddaughter, Jamie. Vernon H. married Sallie Baker November, 1961. He is presently married to Estelle Harrington as of March 21, 1989.
We truly respect our pioneers; I certainly do my ancesters.
Edgar married Freda Casper in 1925. Jane Kirby 1946, died March 1973. Doyle married Emma Moore in 1927. Dad set them up on his farm in Oklahoma. Emma died in 1947. Doyle married Faye Slater in 1950. Cecil married Helen Ausmus in 1933, and also made their home in the Pecan Grove. Vern E. and I set up housekeeping in a house at 720 South 4th Street that Dad gave us as a wedding gift.
Submitted by Maxine Wilson Russom
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 325.
Louise Youle (1915-) was born in Winfield. Parents were Earle D. Youle and Edith Trautwein Youle. Earle was employed in the Winfield National Bank.
Paul and Louise graduated from Winfield High School in 1932 and from Southwestern College.
Louise taught school in Oklahoma and Kansas. Paul worked at Boeing in Wichita; in 1941 entered military service. He dated Louise several years and although scheduled for foreign service, decided to marry in June 1943.
Soon Paul was in Ennland training for the invasion of France.Paul participated in the Normanndy invasion on "D"(continued on page 326)
Submitted by Louise Youle Wilson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 325.
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| State Coordinators Tom & Carolyn Ward, Columbus, KS ks@rootsquest.com tcward@columbus-ks.com |