Mort was always thinking and planning. His partner at the Grand was Jim Fleming ' who used to run a drug store! A month after Mort joined Jim at the Grand, it was announced that they were setting up "a nice little drugstore. . . in the northwest room of the Grand Hotel. It is called the Gem, and it sure is a Gem."
The Cresset announced the grand opening on September 2, 1886: "The Gem Drug Store in the north room of the Grand Hotel is open and ready for business. Further improvements by way of counters, etc., will be added, but in the language of Irishmen.
'she is a daisy' now." The Gem became the seventh drugstore in Medicine Lodge at that time!
Mort eventually took over the management of the Grand. Almost every week the newspapers had stories about fights and other commotion at the hotel, usually started by Mort or his son Frank, who were inebriated. One item noted: "A fistic encounter at the Grand Hotel was participated in by M. and Frank Strong, and a young man by the name of McGarr, an employee of the house. Young McGarr was pretty badly disfigured."
Then in 1890 things changed for Mort Strong. In August the Cresset carried this story: "Mrs. Mary R. Strong died at the Grand Hotel in this city on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. She had for the past two or three years, been a sufferer from cancer, and all the skill of our local physicians, supplemented by the skill of great specialists of Kansas City and Chicago, had been exerted on her behalf in vain. Several painful operations were performed, and she endured the trials with great fortitude, but nature could not withstand the encroachment of the malady, and she peacefully closed her eyes in death.. .
She was 44 years and 8 months old at the time of her death. She was born in Ohio, where she joined the Methodist church at the age of 14 years. Her parents moved to Michigan when she was yet a girl. At the age of 17 she was married to Mr. M. Strong, and in 1880 they moved to Barber County. She leaves a husband and three children ' Frank, Harry, and Viola. Frank is a grown man; Harry is a lad of 10 years, while Viola is about two-and-a half years old ' too young to realize what a loss she has sustained. . . .Though the people had, for weeks, been expecting her death, yet when it was announced, they all felt shocked. All who knew her loved her . . . all cherished a hope that some change would occur to prolong her life."
Along with the death of his wife, 1890 brought new management to the Grand 'my grandfather ' and the arrival in Medicine Lodge of Mrs. Carrie A. Nation. On leaving the Grand, Mort opened a saloon on the west side of Main Street. Things went well for a while until Mrs. Nation, who was sure that Mr. Strong was a purveyor for the devil, brought her lady friends to sing hymns at the entrance of his saloon.
Mort's business was a bust; he felt that he had been held up to ridicule by this demented woman and her friends. He decided that the only thing to do was to go back to Michigan. Mort Strong left an enduring impression on Medicine Lodge.
Meandering by Bev McCollom, June 9, 2008
When I was four years old, I would cross the alley to Allan and Fay Hibbard's back door to go in to visit my best friend, Benjamin Glasier, who lived with his daughter, Fay, and her family. Ben had come to Medicine Lodge in the 1890's. He had a general store to the east of the J. R. Young Drug Co. (later Hibbards). He was a popular businessman, and later a deputy county treasurer. His wedding to Jennie Currie, the daughter of C. B. Currie, was the social event of the season in 1894.
>C.B. Currie, originally from New Hampshire, came to Barber County in 1892, lived on a stock farm and ranch, which was about a mile from Medicine Lodge at that time. The white frame house stood on a hill just north of where the Helipad is now. Mr. Currie owned three quarter sections, 480 acres of land watered by Elm Creek and Spring Creek. On the average Currie had 450 cows, 200 calves, and 60 head of horses. About 40 of the horses were brood mares with the English Shire stallion, Black Prince. Currie had ten acres of his land in orchard. He also owned some 800 acres of land on Chikaskia Creek in Kingman County.
In 1872 before coming to Barber County C.B. Currie married Miss Louise J. Petit, the daughter of Uncle Peter Petit, who also moved to Medicine Lodge. The Curries were married in Chetopa, Kansas. During their years on the Barber County farm, they had one son, Ralph, and four daughters, Jennie, Nellie, Maude, and Blanche.
Jennie was the first of the lovely Currie girls to marry. The Index carried the news of her marriage in October 1894. Mr. Benjamin Glasier and Miss Jennie Currie were united in Holy Matrimony, Rev. R. B. Engle officiating. Miss Nellie Curries and C. L. Sparks personated bridesmaid and best man. . . .. The groom is our present deputy county treasurer . . . a man of excellent habits and character, cordial, and never fails to make friends wherever he goes. The bride is the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. B.
Currie, has been brought up in this county, and is admired and befriended by all who know her. The Index joins with the many friends of the happy couple in extending congratulations and best wishes for the future.
Ben and Jennie had two children. Their daughter, Fay married Alan Hibbard, the son of George and Inez Hibbard, who owned Hibbard's Drug Store, which had been started by Inez' father, J. R. Young. They had two daughters, Helen, who married Glenn Shriver, a local farm boy, and Mary Jean, who married Dub Rickard.
Jennie Glasier died in 1917. Ben spent his last years living with the Fay and Allan and the girls ' and having me to keep him entertained!
The Curries' second daughter, Nellie, was married to Dr. C. L. Sparks in January of 1897. Sparks was a dentist. He died of heart failure brought on by typhoid fever in October, 1903, survived by Nellie and their two daughters.
In 1899 the Curries' daughter, Maude, was married to Chauncey B. Kinkaid. The Cresset reported "...two popular young people of this city surprised their relatives and friends last Saturday by getting married. The ceremony was performed by Probate Judge Lacy at his residence in the presence of three or four intimate friends. Immediately after the ceremony, Mr. Kinkaid took his bride to the home he had prepared in the south part of the city, and they began housekeeping like the sensible people they are. . ."
The Cresset reported on April 11, 1900, that "Mr. Ralph Currie and Miss Leta Hoover were married in Wichita two weeks ago. Their marriage was a surprise to all their friends, as well as to the parents of the contracting parties. Ralph is the only son of C. B. Currie, and Miss Leta is the only daughter of Peter Hoover, who resides in Eagle township, two of Barber County's most substantial ranch owners'"
And on May 9, 1902, the Cresset told us that "In the presence of the family on Monday morning, May 5th, Rev. W. T. McLain, pastor of the Christian Church, said the words which joined for aye Jerry C. Gano and Blanche A. Currie . . . Jerry is the son of Sheriff and Mrs. J. B. Gano, full of life and energy. The bride is the youngest daughter of C. B. Currie. She was born in Barber County . . .Both of these young people are very popular among their associates. . ."
Unfortunately, Blanche's mother had died of pneumonia in March, 1900. On June 30, 1902, at the home of Robert S. Field and his wife, Beatrice (MacGregor) Mr. Currie married Mrs. Lilah M. Field, the widow of early Medicine Lodge resident, Seward Field. They lived on the ranch until the completion of the new brick home that C. B. built for Lilah, which still stands at 205 South Walnut.
Meandering by Bev McCollom, June 2, 2008
May 30th is Memorial Day, no matter what the government calls the "Memorial Day Weekend," which changes every year. We lived for several years in Sharpsburg, Maryland, which on September 17, 1862, was the site of the Battle of Antietam, named after the creek that runs through the battlefield. It is called the Battle of Sharpsburg in the South, as they named their battles after the nearest town. It was the bloodiest one-day battle during the Civil War with 23,000 casualties, 25% of the Unions troops, 31% of Confederate troops.
The big stone house, where we lived in the early 1970's, was in 1862 the home of the only physician in Sharpsburg, Dr. Biggs. He turned his home into a hospital, where he treated many of the wounded. Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, was also at Antietam to take care of the wounded. On September 18th President Lincoln came to Sharpsburg to talk with General McClellan. He expressed his disappointment in McClellan because neither side had a decisive victory. Lincoln also visited the wounded.
As a result of the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.
There were many Civil War veterans in Medicine Lodge ' from both sides ' and they got together on Memorial Day. My great grandfather, David Painter, was one of them; he had signed with the 15th Indiana Volunteers, Light Artillery. I learned that he did not make it to Antietam because he had been captured at Harper's Ferry ' 11 miles south of Sharpsburg ' on September 15th, two days before the battle. He was released two months later and went on to fight at Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and the siege of Atlanta.
W. E. Williams, father of Walter Williams, was also taken prisoner during the war. He was not as fortunate as Dave Painter, however, because he was sent to the horrific Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Mr. Williams was serving in Co. K, 7th Indiana Regiment when he was captured in 1864 and remained a prisoner until the the fighting was over. He had graphic stories to tell about the 33,000 men who were at Andersonville, where many died of malnutrition, exposure, and disease. He was one of the lucky ones who came out skinny and weak, but he recovered and lived a good life.
David Nation served with Co. B, 69th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He made it through the war safely, and eventually came to Medicine Lodge as the minister at the First Christian Church. I have an idea that his years spent with his second wife, Carrie A., were rougher than anything he endured in the Civil War! Orange Scott Cummins, The Pilgrim Bard, who was my grandfather's good friend, served in the 3rd Iowa Cavalry.
"Sockless" Jerry Simpson, who later represented us as a Populist member of the U.S. House of Representatives, served with Co. A, 12th Illinois Infantry. Jessie Pelton, father of my Dad's friend, Harvey Pelton, had served in the Union Army. He came to Sharon in 1881. Robert D. Simpson, father of Warren and Clayton Simpson, fought with Co. E, 78th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Henry Harrison Hardy, who was a well respected Probate Judge in Medicine Lodge from 1881 to 1890, was with Company H, 47th Illinois Volunteers. And Joseph P. Gibson, father of Mary Luallen, Carrie Patton, Cornelia Johnson, Gladys Gibson, Fern Shell, and Helen Harrison was in the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, which was part of the Union Army.
When I was a little girl, I was always so pleased that I knew a Civil War veteran.
He was William C. Barnard, who lived on a farm east of town (now on Pageant Road).
He had served with Company I, 167th Ohio Volunteers. He and his family came to Medicine Lodge from Oklahoma in 1905. His children were Evaline (Clawson), Alma (Hoagland), Julia (Knowles), Charles, Geneva (Wheat), and Bill. I think of him every time I drive east on 160.
Two other well-known Barber Countians were veterans. They were Milt Clements of Sun City, who came here in 1872 after having served in Co. E, 10th Illinois Cavalry. The other was Reuben Lake, the founder of Lake City in 1872. He had served with the 78th Illinois Infantry.
Barber County had a very prominent Confederate Army veteran. He was John Henry Garten, who was a Private in Co. F. 26th Virginia Battalion, Infantry of the CSA.
John came to Sun City on a buffalo hunt in 1872 and decided to stay. He met Miss Malinda Rogers, who was from West Virginia. They were the first white couple married in Barber County - on December 31, 1873.
John T. Jesse, who came to Medicine Lodge in 1883, had also served in the Confederate Army. He had been born in Kentucky. A friendship with Jerry Simpson brought him here. His daughters were Mamie Toombs, Sara Toombs, Blanche Hartley, and Jane Kimball (Mrs. Wilbur).
Meandering by Bev McCollom, May 27, 2008
Charlie and Zeal Johnson would be sitting in the big doorway of their livery barn on West Kansas Avenue when I was walking home, and they would talk to me, we would laugh, and I loved them. The livery barn, which is now Forsyth's storage building, stood where their hotel, the Central, had burned to the ground. Their mother, Emma Johnson Adams, who lived in the beautiful brick house that was on the corner of W. Kansas and North Cherry, was always so cheerful and happy when I would visit her. I had no idea then about the real tragedies in their lives.
The first occurred in February of 1903. The Cresset wrote this about their Dad and husband: "About 1 o'clock Sunday morning J. H. Johnson, proprietor of the Central Hotel, was found dead in the rear of the hotel. He had committed suicide by cutting his throat. The small blade of a pocketknife was used, and when found, the knife was clasped in his right hand. Mr. Johnson was last seen alive by Louis Barrel, a boarder at the hotel, about 10 o'clock. He sat in the office posting his books when he suddenly threw the book aside and left the hotel hastily. When the family missed him, search was instituted, but it was not until 1 o'clock that E. Van Horn found his body near the pig pen in the rear of the building. He was in a kneeling position as if in prayer. The bloody trail shows that he first used the knife near the hotel kitchen and then walked fifty feet or more to where the body was found. There were two or three gashes in the side of his neck.
Mr. Johnson had been suffering mentally for two or three weeks . . . his physician had advised him to take a vacation, and he had promised his family that he would visit a brother in Illinois. . . John H. Johnson was 58 years, 3 months, and 4 days of age. He was born at Bishop Auckland, county of Durham, England and came to the United States when 8 years of age. On June 24, 1874, he married Emma Murray at Deerfield, Mo. To them were born 7 children, 3 of whom are living ' Mrs. Seward I. Field, Charles F., and Zeal, all residents of Medicine Lodge. In 1884 Mr. Johnson opened a hotel at Sharon, and in 1891 came to Medicine Lodge and purchased the Central Hotel. He has been very successful financially since coming here and leaves his family in very comfortable circumstances. Mr. Johnson was a hard working man. . ."
Two years later, in 1905, happiness came to Charlie. "A very pretty church wedding occurred at the Methodist church at six o'clock Wednesday evening, September 27th, the principals being Mr. Charles Johnson, son of Mrs. Emma Johnson Adams (Emma had married Green Adams on August 20th), and Miss Cornelia Gibson, daughter of Mrs. J.P. Gibson . . .The service was conducted by Rev. W. H. Moore in the presence of a large company of well-wishing friends. The church was simply decorated with ferns. Mrs. T. J. Best played the wedding march and the ushers were Misses Gladys Gibson, Alma Shell, and Lillian Lorton. . . .Later a reception was held at the home of the bride's mother on Walnut Street (at the southwest corner of Walnut and Stolp).. . .The groom has lived in this county most of his life, and the bride was born here. We trust their hopes and ambitions will be fully realized. The bride was becomingly dressed in a gown of blue taffeta silk with heavy lace trimmings. She carried a bouquet of carnations.
The happy young couple began housekeeping at once in the Vaughn residence on First Avenue east.
Then more tragedy. In the Cresset on January 12, 1905, this appeared: "Cornelia M. Gibson Johnson, wife of Chas. M. Johnson, died at her home in this city at 12:15 Tuesday morning, January 9, 1906, aged twenty-four years and nineteen days. The cause of death was blood poisoning resulting from premature childbirth. The funeral service was held at the Methodist church at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning by her pastor, Rev. W. H. Moore. . . . On September 25th, 1905, she was married to Charles M. Johnson. A little more than a week ago the illness which caused her death came upon her. It was only a few weeks ago that we attended the wedding. . . Little did we think then, as we saw them surrounded by well-wishing friends, with every indication of a happy future, that we would so soon be called upon to chronicle the death of one member of the union. . .
She was blithe of heart, and those who came within the circle of her ever-cheerful presence could not help holding her in high esteem. Her death does not fill only the hearts of her husband and relatives along with mourning. Their grief is shared by all who knew her. The flowers that covered her casket will soon wither and fade, but so long as the grass upon the mound over her bed in the silent home of the dead shall green and ripen will her many virtues be remembered."
More next week . . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, May 19, 2008
Elam Thomas Chance was the son of Eli Pritchett Chance. Eli was born in Kent County, Delaware in 1833. On August 7, 1861 Eli was united in marriage with Melinda Fleming, born in Scott County, Illinois, in 1840's. They had two children - Elam Thomas, born at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, in 1862 and Beatrice Ada, born in 1864.
On January 26, 1891, Elam was married to Miss Lizzie Mae Beieler, who was born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1874. They were united in marriage by the Probate Judge in Red Cloud, Nebraska, where they continued to reside until 1896.
Along with his parents, Eli and Melinda, Elam and his family moved to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, where they first lived on a ranch northwest of town. Their children loved living in the country. They were Andrew Murray, Elam Thomas, Jr., Douglas Fleming (who was one of my Dad's high school buddies), Rachel May, Robert Bruce, Mildred Naomi, William Wallace (who died in infancy), and Leo Leroy.
Elam's sister, Beatrice, married James Snodgrass in 1895. She gave Eli and Melinda four grandchildren- Lora Leona, Robert Eli, Nancy Melinda, and James LaFayette.
Elam and Lizzie Chance lived in Medicine Lodge until 1921 when they moved to DeRidder, Louisiana, for the rest of their lives. Elam died there in 1950 and Lizzie in 1958. Both were brought back here to be buried beside Elam's parents and their son, Murray, in Highland Cemetery.
Andrew Murray Chance was born in Medicine Lodge on January 14, 1896. On February 19, 1921, before his parents moved to Louisiana, Murray was married to the lovely, blue-eyed Hattie Carmen Turnage, who was born in Mena, Arkansas in 1903, the daughter of Presley Lane and Rosetta (Atwell) Turnage. Their wedding was attended by Hattie's mother, Rosa, and presided over by Probate Judge Steve Garrison and Justice of the Peace, W. L. Bragg.
In 1929 the Chances bought a home just east of Medicine Lodge from Harve and Mae Tedrow. The house is just across Elm Creek bridge to the south on Rodeo Drive. There they brought up their five children - Andrew, Murray, Jr., Jack Kenneth, Elam Preston (Bill), Darlene Rose, and Virginia Louise, who was in my class in school.
Murray worked for the Long & Bauman Creamery, which was where Dirk's Copy Products is now. During the years of World War II Murray and Hattie moved to Lamar, Colorado, where he worked on relocation center for the Japanese. They later lived in Cimarron and Hays; then the Chances moved back to Medicine Lodge in 1944.
Murray went to work for KP&L at the pump station south of the wooden bridge on South Main extended. When I would go out to Shells, the farm to the south of them, to ride my horse, Murray and Hattie were usually on the front porch to wave as I went by. Then in December of 1945 there was an explosion at the pump station. I remember it well. We heard that Murray had been inured and badly burned. He was taken to Pratt to the hospital, but expired on December 29th. The whole town was stunned. Hattie continued to live in their home until her death in 1952.
Their third son, Bill, was born in Medicine Lodge in 1925 with Dr. Coleman in attendance. In 1948 he was married to Virginia Anne Mullikin, the daughter of Edith Lurinda (Woodward) and Ben Mullikin. Upon the death of Bill's mother, they bought the house east of town and brought up their children there. There were five of them - Lurinda Lee, Elam Thomas (who died in 1972), Michael Preston, who died in infancy, Timothy Andrew, and Jerry Preston.
Jerry continues to live in the Chance home. He has two daughters, Chella Dawn and Alyssa Gale. Tim, who married Janet Watkins, lives further south on Rodeo Drive. They have two daughters - Carrie Elizabeth and Lacey Janae. Lurinda married Raphael Gehlen. Their children are Marsha Anne (Finch), Nicole Andrea (Bland), and Raphael Anthony.
On July 16, 1947, Murray and Hattie's daughter, Darlene Rose, was married to Thomas Trantham of Sharon. They had three children - William Murray, Bonita Kay (Snyder), and Patricia Ann (Ditgen). And my schoolmate, Virginia, married Jack Kasney in 1951. They became the parents of three children - Jack Edward, John Preston, and Susan Louise.
I Know Hattie looks down from heaven with those beautiful blue eyes, and smiles as each new generation of her family comes along.
More next week . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, May 12, 2008
In 1889 Thomas Balmer made the long boat trip from England to the United States. His destination was Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
Miss Mary Best paid the fare for many young Englishmen to come here. They then worked for her for a length of time to pay her back. Tom worked for Mary Best for one year, then went to work at the Sugar Mill ' which was located at what is now Fowler Avenue and Cleveland Street. He was saving his money for someone special.
On the ship that brought Tom to America was the Mounsey family from Penrith, England. Johnson Mounsey, his wife Jane Elizabeth, their eleven children, and one grandson were also on their way to Medicine Lodge. On the long trip Tom became friends with the Mounsey boys and through them met the love of his life, Rachel Mounsey, their sister, whom he married on October 25, 1900.
Tom had left the Sugar Mill in the mid 1890's for a more lucrative job as foreman of a sheep ranch in Wyoming. He came home to marry Rachel, and the newly weds went back to Wyoming. While they were living in Meeteesee, Wyoming, their first child, Mary (Forsyth), was born. Then in 1903 the Balmers and their daughter moved back to Medicine Lodge, where they became the parents of two more girls ' Esther (Johnson) and Thelma (Colton).
For a number of years the Balmers lived on their farm about seven miles south of Medicine Lodge. Then in 1917 the family moved to Anderson County in eastern Kansas, where Tom farmed for the next 25 years. When they retired, Tom and Rachel moved back here to be near family. Their daughters became the brides of Barber County gentlemen. Mary wed Caleb Forsyth; daughter Esther married Arthur Johnson; and daughter Thelma married Earnest McGuire. After his death, she married Clarence Colton, who had been a member of her graduating class in Colony, Kansas.
Mary Balmer's husband, Caleb, had left his home in Maiden Bradley, England, at the age of 15 to come to America. He first settled in Osage City, but in 1904 he came to Barber County. When her family had moved to eastern Kansas, Mary had stayed in Medicine Lodge with her grandparents. Caleb had been left a widower with two children on the death of his first wife, Amy Richardson. In 1930 Caleb and Mary were married. They had one daughter, Esther Beth.
Another of Johnson Mounsey's daughters, Ada, married a young Englishman, Simon Roe Willan, who had come to Medicine Lodge from Brough, England, to work for Miss Mary Best. After working for her for a while, he began his own farming operation southwest of town.
Simon courted the lovely Ada, and they were married and settled on their farm.
Ada retained many English traditions in her home. Harvest crews loved to work for the Willans because Ada prepared delicious meals for them. She always observed tea time at 3:00 in the afternoon, and even the harvest crews observed a tea-time break with delicious goodies.
The Willans became the parents of two children ' son John Johnson born in 1907 and daughter Mary Elizabeth (Kimball) in 1909.
John Willan married Elsie Coppock from Oklahoma. John continued to farm his father's land. They had two daughters ' Barbara Lee (Dale) and Laura Ann (Johnson). Barbara and her husband lived and farmed in western Kansas.
Laura Willan married Johnny Johnson, and they lived in Medicine Lodge, where they had daughters Letitia, Lenise, and LeAnn and son, J.C. I might add that Laura and I share two grandchildren ' Tony McCollom, who will graduate from high school this year and will attend Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, and Libby McCollom, who will begin her freshman year in high school.
Mary Willan married Paul Kimball of Medicine Lodge. They had three sons, and lived in New Mexico.
Johnson and Jane Elizabeth Mounsey enjoyed the company of their children and grandchildren in their home at 500 North Walnut in the house that stood back on the hill. They enjoyed being together.
The family's favorite story was about their arrival in Medicine Lodge. It was a windy, dusty day when someone with a team of mules pulling a wagon came to meet them. Jane Mounsey, who had never seen a mule, turned to her husband and exclaimed, "Why they have sent camels to get us!"
More next week . . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, May 5, 2008
I often look at the building at 107 North Main and remember the wonderful times I had there ' and how good the ham salad sandwiches were.
Jay Rutan brought his family to Medicine Lodge in the spring of 1940 from Pratt, where he had run a confectionery for 19 years. In the winter of 1939 Jay bought Lyman Russell's business, and he had been rooming with Mae and Marvin Parsons at 206 West Kansas Avenue until school was out, and he could bring his wife, two daughters, and his son to Medicine Lodge.
Jay Bartlett Rutan was born in Carrollton, Missouri, in 1896, the son of Oliver and Tempi Mason Rutan. On May 29, 1919, he married Clara Mae Bunting, the daughter of Harry and Lola Bowers Bunting, in St. John, Kansas. Their children were Margaret (Vaughn), Betty (Frisbie), and Bob.
The family came to Medicine Lodge, first to live at 310 West Kansas Avenue and finally at 210 West Second Avenue. Jay also bought the Hittle farm, which he rented to Earnest Riggins. Later, daughter Betty and her family lived on the farm.
Medicine Lodge was growing in those days, and Jay became friends with fellow business owners, such as Gladys Spencer (Youngers), who with her sister was starting a dry goods store; Thelma and Ed Dye, who had the wonderful caf' at 103 North Main; and Charlie Hall, who owned the Street Car Caf' up the street near the Standard Oil station. (Charlie had the best hot beef sandwich in town ' for 25 cents!)
With his employees ' who included Alma Jarnigan (Haynes), later City Clerk ' Jay ran a thriving business, serving sandwiches, chili, soft drinks, and ice cream. During World War II, Rutan's was the only place in Medicine Lodge where one could eat out at night. Saturday nights were always busy because the farmers and their families came to town to sell produce and to buy groceries and other necessities for the week, and guys from the Pratt Air Base came to town to the dances at the Legion Hall. And, of course, when I was in Junior High, Rutan's was the place to spend Saturday night ' especially when we could dance there in the back room. For some reason the government decided to put a cabaret tax on dancing, so we could listen to music, but not dance to it. My Mother did rent Rutan's back room for my 16th birthday party ' and we danced then!
In 1946 because of failing health, Jay sold the confectionery to Herman Snyder and Skeet Smith, who later sold it to Hank Hart and Charlie Bain.
Jay continued to be active, working at the grocery store at 201 North Main, where the library is now, and for Nick Baker at his corner grocery at 413 North Main (later Mayfield's). Jay and Clara were also active in the Christian Church.
The Rutans' son, Bob, was 14-years-old when the family moved to Medicine Lodge. He graduated from Medicine Lodge High School with the Class of 1944 ' and soon after joined the Navy until World War II was over.
After the war, Bob worked for a while as a substitute mail carrier, then decided to be a self-employed carpenter. Bob and his Dad had built a rental apartment house at 303 North Oak when they lived on West Second.
In 1953 Bob and Lester Shaw began to work in the carpentry business together, forming Shaw and Rutan Construction Company. They worked together until 1976, when Lester retired and Bob bought his partnership. The business became Rutan Construction Company, and Bob's son, Mike, eventually joined him.
In 1956 Bob Rutan married Margaret Colborn, the daughter of William H. and Madge Bayliffe Colborn. They began married life in a new home at 500 North Oak.
Now they live in the imposing brick home at 315 El Dorado Avenue. They are the parents of two daughters, Teresa (Farrar) and Michele, and one son, Michael Jay, who lives with wife, Christi, and their family at 200 South Walnut.
Margaret Rutan's mother, Madge Bayliffe, had come to Barber County in 1910 with her parents, Robinson and Ida (Martindale) Bayliffe, her sister, Alice (Tharp), and brother, Martindale, from Crosby Garrett, Westmoreland, England. Mr. Bayliffe's cousin was Tom Balmer, who lived here. The Bayliffe's had three more children ' Sarah (Vincent), Isaac, and Ena (Smith). Mr. Bayliffe worked at the Gyp Mill for a while, then when Mr. Balmer moved to town, the Bayliffes moved to the farm. Madge's father, Robinson, was also a Wesley Methodist minister, and at times would conduct the services at the Methodist Church in Medicine Lodge.
More next week . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, April 28, 2008
Darius V. "Rye" Woodward was the fourth child born to Sarah Ellen (Lytle) and Richard Mills Woodward. He grew up in Medicine Lodge. As mentioned in an earlier column, he spent a lot of time with his grandfather, John W. Lytle, who taught him the proper way to chew tobacco.
Rye, after graduation from Barber County High School, attended Business School in Salina. Always one to be daring, he enlisted as a volunteer in the Spanish American War, and he was on his way to the Philippines before he informed his parents.
While Rye was in the Army, he corresponded regularly with a local young teacher, May Axtell. May was born in Winnetka, Illinois, in 1884 to Will and Flora Axtell. Because of her brother Ned's poor health May, her parents, and her brothers, Ned and Dan, made their way to New Mexico, where they lived until coming to Medicine Lodge in 1889.
May Axtell began teaching school at age 17. Her correspondence with Rye Woodward continued while he served three years and four months in the Army. He came home to Medicine Lodge in late 1904.
Rye and May were married at the Baptist Church parsonage (east of the Grand Hotel) on April 12, 1905. Their attendants were Nettie McCoy (Benefiel) and James Woodward. The newlyweds moved to Oklahoma to their first home, a dugout near Grand. Their first child, a son Richard Axtell, was born there on July 31, 1906. He was joined eventually by seven more children; three of their children died in infancy.
Rye and May became mail carriers and moved to Gage, Oklahoma, where they lived for the next 17 years. Rye also had a leather goods and harness shop. The Woodwards moved to Hardtner in 1915 and to Sharon in 1918. Then in 1924 they moved back to Medicine Lodge.
A few weeks before his 21st birthday, the Woodwards were notified of the death of their oldest child, R. Axtell, who was serving in the Navy. He died at the Naval Hospital in San Francisco after surgery.
Rye and May had brought up their children to be good students, independent, resourceful, and patriotic. The remaining Woodward children lived successful lives.
Edith Woodward Mullikin Trantham graduated from Northwestern College in Alva and was a teacher for 25 years, as well as the mother of three children. Ethel Woodward Mullikin graduated from Emporia State, was a teacher for 21 years, and the mother of five children. Florence attended Salt City Business College. D. Vernon Woodward retired from the Army as a Sergeant Major after 30 years service; he had two children. William Allison (Bill) Woodward enlisted in the Army in 1923; his pay was $21.00 per month. He served with the 12th Cavalry in Fort Ringold, Texas, and was in the 31st Infantry in Manila. When his enlistment was up, he lived in Butte, Montana, until 1942, when he reenlisted in the Army and served with the 2nd Constabulary in Germany. Virginia Woodward Measday became a beautician, having her own shop in Deming, New Mexico; she was the mother of six children. Dan Henry Woodward graduated from Denver University after serving in the Navy in World War II on the USS Reno, which was bombed by the Japanese. He became a teacher and a psychologist, as well as the co-author of a book, "Living With the Now Child," used as a guide by teachers and parents of exceptional children. He was the father of five children. B. Joyce Westbrooks began as a beautician in the '40s, then went to college after her two sons had graduated. She became a 4th grade teacher in Deming, New Mexico, then went on to get her Master's Degree in Silver City, New Mexico.
In 1938 Rye and May and their two youngest children, Dan and Joyce, along with the family dog, AyeSir, went to Hot Springs, New Mexico, for Rye's health. Before they came home they went to Texas and to California for a while. Finally they left California on February 1, 1939 ' and after seeing the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Rio Grande, mountains, and desert, they all happily returned home to Medicine Lodge on February 10, 1939.
Toward the end of his life, Rye Woodward was plagued with arthritis, asthma, and a rheumatic heart. He spent a number of winters in the Veterans Hospital in Wichita, where he died of a heart attack on January 7, 1942. The love of his life, May Axtell Woodward, had died in July of 1940 after having had surgery at Wesley Hospital in Wichita.
More next week . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, April 21, 2008
In Medicine Lodge on July 4, 1880, Orlando Vernon Lytle, the son of John W. Lytle, took as his bride Miss Clara May Shepler, the daughter of Samuel J. and Hester (Frye) Shepler, who had moved here from Illinois.
S. J. Shepler became City Clerk in 1879 when Medicine Lodge was incorporated, and he was Mayor from 1882 to 1884. He also served Barber County as Clerk and Probate Judge.
May Shepler Lytle was born in Peoria Heights, Illinois, in November, 1862.
She and Vernon Lytle had four children ' Nora Blanch (Spangler); Jennie, who married Ralph Long and lived in Belvedere; Pearl, who married Rink McCullough of Medicine Lodge; and Loren Roy, who married Marie Lording of Coldwater. May was an intelligent, creative woman, and at the age of 71 she wrote about her experiences in early-day Barber County. These are some excerpts from her memoirs:
"I came to Barber County in 1873, February 23, with my parents, two brothers, and sister. I was a child of eleven years; our outfit consisted of two covered wagons, heavily loaded, one team of horses, and two yoke of oxen. We camped on Elm Creek.
"Medicine Lodge consisted of a dugout where two men lived and Derrick Updegraff's cedar log cabin. As my father and I walked to the cabin, I saw an old gentleman standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. He was wearing black pants and white shirt, his hair was as white as his shirt, and he had a big, broad smile.
He greeted us with 'Where in God's name did you come from, Man and Child? Did you drop from the sky?'
"Going 15 miles west and across Medicine River, we made camp. Other families who moved in were Carlo Nickels, Martins, and Kerchners. Father made our living by cutting cedar posts and killing buffalo for meat and hides. They staked the hides out on the ground, hair side down, until they dried. He loaded posts and hides on the wagon, hitched a couple yoke of oxen to the wagon, and drove to Hutchinson, returning with the needed supplies. The trip took two to three weeks.
"As I write, I recall to mind one Sunday afternoon ' Mother, sister, and I had gone over to the river beyond the timber, watching for father and the boys. We were sitting on a log when we heard something or somebody slipping up behind us, stepping lightly on the leaves. Every little bit a twig would break and snap. Mother drew a six-shooter from the front of her dress before she turned to see ' a wonderful flock of wild turkeys ' fifty or sixty big fellows with shining black and gold feathers.
"Buffalo everywhere ' I have seen thousands of them in one herd. One could hear them for miles come treading, tramping, and bellowing from the hills to the river to drink.
"July 6, 1874, Indians killed and scalped three men who were cutting posts in a canyon southwest of Medicine Lodge.
"My brother, Frank, took a load of us west on Medicine River ' plumming (picking sand plums). Six mounted militiamen went with us for protection. We saw a heavy dark, gray, greenish cloud roaring out of the west. As we looked, the sun was hidden, the roaring grew less, and we heard the soft thud of dropping things. A cloud of millions of grasshoppers covered the fields and forest. When the sun set, there was no vegetation over the land.
"September, 1874, the militia went to drive the Indians out of the country. They found them and battled on Sand Creek, near where Sharon is. They killed nine Indians and captured sixty head of ponies. Captain Cy Ricker came to our house and showed us the nine scalps hanging from his belt. Never will I forget the awfulness of it all!
"As times went on, more pioneers came to settle up the county."
May's brother, Frank Shepler, married Sharlotty Fishburn in Sun City in 1879.
They had one son, Robert. The family was living on Elm Creek north of Medicine Lodge in April of 1885 when the devastating flood came on the 20th. Mrs. Shepler and Robert were among those who drowned. It was two weeks before Robert's body was found.
Orlando Vernon Lytle died in April of 1898. May provided for her family with a millinery shop and dressmaking, which she did well and enjoyed doing. By the time May's health began to fail, her daughter Pearl and husband, Rink, had moved into town.
May went to live with them. The family loved to gather to listen to her stories about the "old days." May died on December 15, 1944.
More next week . . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, April 14, 2008
John William Lytle was 67-years-old when he moved to Barber County with some of his family in 1884. He was a pioneer all his life in many places and many ways.
John W. was born in Pennsylvania in 1817. He later moved to Ohio and then to Illinois.
He became a steamboat man on the Mississippi. Then in 1860 he moved his family on west to Ottawa County, Kansas, which was the real frontier at that time.
In 1863 an Indian uprising drove John W. and his family to Saline County, Kansas, where he homesteaded 160 acres, where the Lytles were living when his wife, Catherine Schuyler Lytle, died in 1867. The Lytles had ten children; four of them died in infancy,
John W. came to Medicine Lodge with five of these children ' Sarah Ellen (Woodward), Orlando Vernon, John Adalaska, Mary (Fuller), and Harriet (Green).
He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church. John owned wheat land and some properties in Medicine Lodge. As he got older, he was confined to a wheelchair. His grandchildren often stayed with him. One grandson, Rye Woodward, received some excellent instruction from his grandfather ' on the proper way to chew tobacco!
John W. Lytle died in December of 1893.
In 1870 Sarah Ellen Lytle was married to Richard Mills Woodward in Salina, Kansas. Richard Mills Woodward, later known to all as "Uncle Dick," was born on a farm near Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1837, the eighth child of John Mills Woodward and Susannah Gillis Woodward, who was from Ireland.
Dick Woodward apprenticed as a harness maker, which remained his lifelong trade. In 1859 he visited his older brother, John Edmond, in Saline County, Kansas. However, he went back to West Virginia, where, after voting for Lincoln, he joined Company B, 5th Cavalry, Union Army in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1861.
In December of 1864 he became a prisoner of war in Richmond, Virginia.
Dick survived being a prisoner of war and soon returned to Kansas, where he found his nephew, Ayel, was engaged to a lovely girl. Sarah Ellen Lytle was born in 1854 at Charlestown, Illinois, and had come to Saline County with her family, Dick, who was tall, dark, and handsome with blue eyes and was an Indian Scout and buffalo hunter, bet his nephew that he could take his girl away from him. Dick, at age 33, and Sarah Ellen, age 16, were married on Christmas Day, 1870.
Dick came to Barber County in 1871 to hunt buffalo. He sold meat to the Army, brought the first milk cow to Barber County, and freighted hides and bones to Hutchinson and Wichita, bringing merchandise back to Medicine Lodge for merchants and other settlers. Tom McNeal came here in one of his wagons. Dick's Peak in the Gyp Hills is named for him. During the one year that Dick kept track, he killed 1700 buffalo!
Dick's family finally moved to Barber County in 1877. By this time they had son John Hugh in 1872, daughter Maude Ellen in 1873, who died shortly after, and Bessie Blanche in 1876.
Fortunately for Ellen, her father and two brothers and two sisters had moved to Barber County. She was at her brother Vernon's home when the Woodward son Darius Vernon, known as Rye, was born on her 26th birthday on April 21st, 1880. Their son James Richard was born in Medicine Lodge in 1885 in their home on East Kansas Avenue.
In 1889 when the Oklahoma Territory was opened for settlement, it was another frontier for Dick, and the family moved to Woodward Oklahoma Territory, where Dick had the Woodward Manufacturing Company, making harness, holsters, saddles, and other leather goods.
In 1909 Dick and Ellen moved back to Barber County to Sharon, where he still worked with leather. He and his son, Dick, had a harness and shoe shop. By this time Dick had rheumatism, and his crippled foot, which had been injured during the war, made him uncomfortable, but he remained unstoppable.
Ellen enjoyed her flower garden and her grandchildren. She died in her sleep on March 19, 1918. Dick followed her on March 20, 1920.
More about the Lytles and the Woodwards next week . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, April 7, 2008
Samuel Stewart, who was born in 1858 in Keokuk, Iowa, was one of Barber County's finest stockmen and land dealers. He owned 8900 acres of land and was interested in acquiring more. He was the third largest taxpayer in Barber County.
At age 18 Sam Stewart left home with 50 cents and the horse he was riding to make his own way in the world. On October 18, 1881, he married Cecelia Thompson, the daughter of David and Sarah Emeline Thompson, in their farm home near Raritan, Illinois. For a few years the newlyweds lived on a farm near Cecelia's parents. While living there, they had two children ' Cora in 1882 and Frank in 1883.
The Stewarts moved to Barber County in November of 1884, settling on a farm four miles east of Medicine Lodge, where their other children were born ' Maude, George, Charles, and Roy. They lost one child in infancy.
To Sam Stewart Barber County was the "Promised Land." His crops excelled and his cattle prospered. He was so excited about his life here that he published a booklet titled "The Truth," which told about the excellent farm land here in Barber County that could be had for $5 to $30 an acre. He mailed out his booklet to prospective investors throughout the country. As a result, he brought many families to Barber County.
Sam was a handsome, compact man who was proud of his athletic ability. He heard about a Mr. Flint who had moved here recently and had told everyone that he could do well in any athletic contest. One day Sam climbed in his buggy and drove to Mr. Flint's place, introduced himself, and challenged him to a wrestling match, a fight, or a footrace. Flint chose wrestling, and he quickly won the match from Sam. Then he asked what they should try next. Sam assured Mr. Flint that he would take his word about the other two contests.
The Stewarts' daughter, Cora, married Lloyd Davis on July 16th, 1905. They had two daughters ' Dorothy (Miller) and Margaret (Randels) But Sam never knew his granddaughters. Tragically, he died in November of that year.
The Cresset on November 17, 1905, carried this headline: "Samuel Stewart Drowned. Prominent Citizen of Barber County Meets With Fatal Accident.
Occurred Yesterday. Drove Into Deep Water and Quicksand at the Mouth of Cedar Creek." The story followed:
"Samuel Stewart, one of the most widely known men in Barber County, was drowned yesterday afternoon in the mouth of Cedar Creek, two and one-half miles west of Medicine Lodge. The terrible accident occurred about 4 o'clock. He had started out with H.C. Alexander to show him a piece of land. They were riding in Mr. Alexander's top buggy, and when they reached the crossing where Cedar Creek empties into the Medicine River. Mr. Alexander, who was driving, hesitated a moment, but Mr. Stewart assured him that the crossing was all right. They drove in and immediately the horse went out of sight and the top of the buggy dropped forward. Mr. Stewart was pitched out of the buggy on the left side, going south. Mr. Alexander was caught by the top, but he called to Stewart and receiving no reply, crawled through the back of the top and began to disrobe. Just them Stewart rose to the surface, and Alexander pushed the buggy whip toward him, but the current swept him beyond reach. Afterwards, Stewart almost reached the bank when he sank out of sight. Mr. Alexander made further effort to reach Stewart, but failing, he hurried to where Gus Olson was working and sent him to town for help.
Olson notified Wm. Reutlinger and then stopped at Miss Best's and telephoned the horrifying news to town. Mr. Reutlinger, who lives near where the accident happened, went to the scene. He found the body of Mr. Stewart under the buggy and was getting it out when the men from town arrived. A bruise on the face indicates that possibly he was stunned by striking some part of the buggy when pitched out. Mr. Alexander's horse was also drowned. Mr. Stewart was 46 years of age and was one of the most popular men in Barber County. He leaves a wife, four sons, and one daughter. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and Woodmen lodges. Mr. Stewart was an extensive dealer in land and cattle and owned several thousand acres at the time of his death."
In a story the following week the Cresset noted that Sam left an estate of $50,000.
They wrote that a great many people who visited the scene of the drowning wondered how a vigorous man like Mr. Stewart could possibly have drowned there. "It is a narrow place that looks as if one might cross in two jumps." Sam's funeral was held in the Christian Church in Sharon on Friday, November 17, and interment was in the Sharon Cemetery beside his parents and a brother. The pall bearers were Sim Ewalt, Scott Rubert, G. W. Shaw, F.B. Chapin, H.H. Case, and James Dobbs of Medicine Lodge.
More stories next week . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, March 17, 2008
Alice Rudolph was born in 1886 in a sod house on a claim in Meade County, Kansas. She was the daughter of Charles T. Rudolph and Elizabeth Kennedy Rudolph. A few years later, the family moved to Wellington when her father went back to work for the Santa Fe Railroad.
A few years later the Rudolph family moved to Medicine Lodge. Her Dad's brother was Kansas Rudolph, who was Sam Ishmael's partner down in Kiowa. They were known as Sam and Kan.
Alice finished grade school in Medicine Lodge, then went to Mount Carmel Academy in Wichita. After her graduation, she came back home and went to work at Fair's store (later Trice's). She then worked in the courthouse in several offices, finally becoming Clerk of the District Court.
In 1902 a traumatic event occurred in Alice's life. The headline in the Cresset read: "Charley Rudolph Killed; Popular Railroad Man Loses Life by a Horrible Accident." This story followed:
"Charles F. Rudolph, brakeman on the Medicine Lodge branch of the Santa Fe road, met with an accident at Sharon on Monday, which caused his death at 11 o'clock Monday night, January 13, 1902. When the west bound train reached Sharon, it was found necessary to do some switching. While making a 'clip' switch, Mr. Rudolph, after signaling to go ahead, attempted to climb on top of a freight car just behind the engine. His hold on the car ladder broke loose. He made a desperate effort to catch the ladder with his left hand, but finding he could not sustain his weight, attempted to throw his body from between the moving cars, but the wheels caught his legs, one above and the other below the knee. Four cars passed over them, crushing the limbs to a pulp.
Conductor Knight and a traveling man were the only witnesses of the saddest accident that ever occurred on this branch of the Santa Fe. The railroad crew and passengers did all they could for his immediate relief. He was brought to this city as soon as possible and was met at the depot by Drs. Moore and Kociell. These physicians did all that could be done at the time. The Santa Fe company sent its surgeon from Wellington, but Mr. Rudolph died before his arrival. Charley Rudolph had been employed as a brakeman by the Santa Fe for nearly 22 years. He had been offered promotion, but preferred duty as brakeman on this branch for it permitted him to be at home every night with his family.
He was the oldest brakeman on the Santa Fe . . . .The Rev. J.J. Griffith of the Baptist church preached the funeral on Wednesday morning and interment was made in the cemetery in this city.. . .He was 51 years old and leaves a wife, son, and daughter, an aged mother and 5 brothers. One brother, K.F. Rudolph, lives in Kiowa. Every citizen of Medicine Lodge will weep with his surviving relatives. Always cheerful and genial, he became popular with everyone. . . . . "
In 1919 Alice married Henry (Sox) Rankin, who had been the coach at Medicine Lodge High School. He was the son of Hugh and Emma Weber Rankin, who lived near Nashville, where his father and grandfather had homesteaded in 1884 and where he and Alice later ranched.
Sox's grandfather, Henry Rankin, was born in Antrim County, Ireland, in 1826.
In 1852 he married Mary Anne Archibald, who had been born in Scotland in 1838. The Rankins came to the U.S. in 1869, living for a while in Pennsylvania, where Henry worked in the coal mines. Later, they moved to Indiana, and finally in 1883 they moved to Sharon, Kansas. He homesteaded his claim in Ridge Road a year later. Henry and Mary Anne had 11 children.
Alice had learned to love the piano when she was at Mount Carmel, and Sox shared her love for music. They had a dance band for many years. Sox also conducted a band made up of local area young people, and was director of the band for the first Peace Treaty Pageant in 1927.
Sox and Alice had two children ' Alicia and Charles ' who grew up on the ranch.
Sox died in 1942, and in 1947 Alice moved back to Medicine Lodge, where she lived in the imposing house at 113 East Kansas Avenue. This was also close to her work, as she was appointed to fill an unexpired term as Register of Deeds, an office she continued in for 28 years, until her retirement in 1975. Alice died in 1984. More next week....
Meandering by Bev McCollom, March 10, 2008
First I want to correct an error from last week. Caleb Forsyth married Amy Richardson, the daughter of Hannah and Tommy Richardson, who was born in 1894.
She was the mother of Sam and Mary Alice Forsyth. She died in 1924. Amy Parker was the widow of her brother, John Thomas Richardson. My apology to Mike Thomas ' I know that he and Tommy share DNA!
Thomas Warwick came to the United States from Penrith, England, when he was in his early twenties. He had apprenticed as a chemist, a machinist, a tinsmith, and a blacksmith, so was confident that he could find work in Baltimore, Maryland with the Baldwin Locomotive works. However, he did not stay there long. He knew the Bests and had heard what they were doing in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. He came here and became one of the first chemists for Best Brothers, and then worked as machinist. When changing a burr, he injured his leg, which left him with a limp for the rest of his life.
The lovely Elizabeth Hunter was born in Kirby Thore, England, in 1859. She had come to Medicine Lodge to be with her sister, Hannah Richardson. She met Thomas Warwick, and they were married in the Methodist Parsonage in Medicine Lodge in 1888.
They made their home on the Ramsey place two miles southwest of Medicine Lodge.
Three sons were born to the Warwicks ' John William in 1888, Thomas Hunter in 1890, and Robert Henry in 1891. Sadly, Elizabeth Hunter Warwick died at only 35 years of age, leaving her husband and young boys devastated.
The boys grew up under the supervision of their very strict father. But they also spent a lot of time with their Aunt Hannah and Uncle Tommy Richardson, where they enjoyed being with them ' and various cousins.
John William, who was Jack, told some funny stories about growing up. One time when he was staying with the Richardsons, they sent him out to the pasture to bring in the milk cows. He was wearing a new pair of corduroy trousers, and he was hurrying because it was getting dark. As it got darker, Jack hurried because he had heard this strange swishing sound behind him. The faster he walked the closer and louder the swishing sound became. He finally had the cows running and he was so scared he was afraid to look back. When he got the cows to Uncle Tommy's, he was surprised, and I am sure relieved, that the swishing sound was coming from his new corduroy pants!
Around 1912 Thomas Warwick bought property north of the Opera house on North Main (the brick building that was located where the Masonic Lodge is now), where he opened a blacksmith shop. Thomas was a firm Episcopalian, the Senior Warden of St. Marks for many years. His boys went to church regularly. Their home was on West Stolp. Thomas Warwick died on August 2, 1937. The clock in his blacksmith shop, which was closed, was found to have stopped at the exact time of his death ' at 1:40.
Tom's son, Jack, was helping Gordie Smith with harvest when he met a girl at Union Chapel. She was Beulah McKaig, the daughter of L.F. and Annie (Starks) McKaig, who had come to the Union Chapel/Lasswell community with her parents, her four brothers ' Dewey, Ernest, Fred, and Frank ' and her sister, Faye. Jack and Beulah were married in 1914. In 1918 they were able to buy the Warwick place, southwest of town, from Elmer Angell. They had two sons ' one who died shortly after birth and Jack Leslie. When Jack and Beulah retired in 1952, they moved to Medicine Lodge and let their son, Jack, who had married Vera Moore, the daughter of John and Lora Gail (Urton) Moore, have the ranch. Beulah died in 1961 and John William in 1974.
Thomas and Elizabeth's son, Robert Henry, known as Chuck, was my Dad's good friend. Chuck graduated from Barber County High School in 1910, and later served 18 months in the Army during World War I, mostly in France.
When Chuck came back home, he became a J.I. Case dealer for a while. I can remember when Chuck worked in what had been his Dad's brick building on North Main
He later had the little gas station near the corner of Stolp and Iliff. He also owned quite a lot of real estate.
Chuck and my Dad particularly enjoyed being in the American Legion, where, of course, Chuck assisted in making the steak tartare (which he, too, called raw hamburger) for the Legion feeds. Chuck encouraged my Dad to bring my mother and me to Manitou Springs, Colorado, in the summer, where a contingent of Medicine Lodge friends spent time enjoying each others company, playing cards, telling stories, and relaxing at a small cabin camp there. I so looked forward to those trips.
More next week . . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, March 3, 2008
Thomas Hope Richardson was born February 12, 1866, in Westmoreland England. He married Hannah Hunter of Penrith, England. When their daughter, Grace, was three months old, the Richardson family came to the United States to make their home. They had a rough trip over, and Hannah vowed that she was going to stay here in the U.S.
The Richardsons came to Medicine Lodge in June of 1888 to make their home in the English settlement, which welcomed them. They made their first home about a quarter of a mile south of what is now the junction of 160 and 281 highways. Then in 1890 Tommy bought a home on a farm seven miles southwest of Medicine Lodge from Frank Rigg, who was going to Oklahoma.
The Richardson family welcomed John Thomas in December of 1891 ' and lost a son, William Henry, who died at birth in 1901. Their daughter, Grace, taught school at Lake City and Mingona until her marriage to David Kirkbride in 1913.
John Thomas Richardson married Amy Parker, and they had two sons ' Donald Thomas in 1915 and Douglas John in 1917. Tragically John Thomas was killed later in 1917 when he was dragged by his horse.
Amy, who had two little boys to raise, later married Caleb Forsyth. The Forsyths then had two children ' Samuel Edward and Mary Alice. Amy died in 1924.
Tommy Richardson not only farmed, but he helped to build the beautiful new grade school at the corner of North Walnut and East Second. He was pleased that later three grandsons, a granddaughter, and three great grandchildren went to school there.
When Hannah Richardson's sister, Elizabeth, who had married Thomas Warwick in 1888, died in 1895 leaving three boys ' Jack, Tom, and Robert (Chuck), the Richardsons raised them. They also helped to bring up their son John's boys and the Forsyth children. They built a new home on the farm in 1911, which was filled with children and a great deal of happiness.
Then in 1913 when Tommy was helping to build a silo, he fell 35 feet from the top of it. He was tough and was originally left with only a limp. However, he gradually became paralyzed, and by 1938 he was confined to a wheelchair. Hannah had died in 1935. Tommy's daughter, Grace, and her husband, David Kirkbride, made a home for him.
David Kirkbride was born in 1885 in Penrith, England. He grew up helping his father, David Henry Kirkbride, run their grocery store. His mother died when he was very young. Young David sang in the church choir, which often performed for the Royal Family.
At age 22 Dave decided to go to the United States. He joined the English settlement in Medicine Lodge in 1907. He worked on farms for Bert Catlin and Henry Goddard. Then his cousin, Ed (Doc) Kirkbride, came from England, and they began to farm together until Doc went on to Canada.
On June 15, 1913, Dave married Grace Richardson, Tommy and Hannah's only living child. They farmed the Goddard place until about 1920 when they moved to the Richardson farm to help Tommy. The Kirkbrides had two sons ' David Henry born in 1916 and John Wallace born in 1918.
Grace Richardson Kirkbride died in 1943. Their son Hank's first son, David Lynn, was born two weeks after her death, which helped to fill the void for the family. Hank had married Verdie Groves. In addition to David Lynn, they were also the parents of Dorothy Lee, John Henry, and Traci Ann. The Kirkbrides' son, Wally, married Mary Louise Harbaugh, and they became the parents of Karen Lou and Gary Wallace.
Hank Kirkbride and his family became the fourth generation to farm the Tommy Richardson place and to live in the house that Tommy had built. Hank and Verdie had made a little apartment in the house for Tommy to feel at home and to have his privacy. Although his paralysis became worse, Tommy could still turn the pages of a book, and he read copiously.
Tommy Richardson had a good life in America. He was saddened that his children had died before he did. He was a patient man. He accepted his paralysis and was not a burden to his family. Eventually the paralysis interfered with his ability to swallow. Finally Tommy's throat became completely paralyzed, and he agreed to go to the hospital, where he died on June 23, 1946.
More about Tommy's "other family," the Warwicks, next week.
Meandering by Bev McCollom, February 25, 2008
As I mentioned one time, John MacGregor's home was on the corner of South Walnut and East Lincoln, a beautiful one-storey brick home that filled the lot. I never saw it, but I imagine it was much like Emma Johnson's home on the corner of North Cherry and Kansas Avenue West. I loved that house and felt so bad when it was torn down. The sprawling house was one room wide in most areas, perhaps two rooms wide toward the front.
John MacGregor was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in April 1844. He came to the United States at the age of 12. At age 16 he enlisted in the 19th Indiana Co. D of the Union Army as a drummer boy. At the end of the war, his friends called him "The Colonel" because he loved the Army so much.
Lucy Ellen Riley was born in Owenton, Kentucky, in March 1854. She was married to John MacGregor on March 10, 1870, in Downingsville, Kentucky. They came West, where they lived several places in Missouri and in Washington and Crawford Counties in Kansas. In 1886 they brought their six children to Barber County in a covered wagon. They homesteaded on Hackberry Creek near Eldred, about 30 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge. John made the run to the Cherokee Strip in 1893, bought two lots in Alva, and traded them for a good horse.
In 1894 the MacGregors moved to Medicine Lodge Township, where they farmed east of town. In 1908 John and Lucy retired and moved to their home on the corner of Lincoln and Walnut (where Larrison's Funeral Home is now).
All in all the MacGregors had twelve children, two of whom died early in life.
Their family included Joanna Frances (Fash); Robert; Nellie (Strother); Estella Belle; Jennie Beatrice (Field); Mary Rebecca (Hobble); Alice Vivian (Brandis); Jessie Irene (Cavanaugh); Johnnie D.; Lucy Florence (Ford); William Riley; and Margaret Gladys (Requa). Their father, John MacGregor, died on September 26, 1914, and their mother, Lucy, on February 6, 1920.
Son, Riley, who changed his name to Riley William, was born in a dugout on Hackberry Creek in August 1892, the eleventh of the twelve MacGregor children. He went to grade school at College Hill and graduated from Barber County High School in 1912. He then graduated from K.U. Law School in 1916.
Riley joined the Army during World War I, was commissioned a First Lieutenant, and was awarded the Silver Star by General Pershing. When he returned to Medicine Lodge after the war, he went into the practice of law with Poley Tincher.
On September 5, 1919, Riley married Miss Alice Martin, the daughter of William and Comora Martin, who had been born in Medicine Lodge and had graduated from Barber County High School in 1912. She attended Salt City Business College in Hutchinson. Alice taught school at Eldred, Belvidere, and Protection, then worked for a while for the Santa Fe Railroad in Shattuck, Oklahoma.
The MacGregors were active in the Methodist Church and were involved in planning and building the new church. Riley helped to establish the Barber County Savings & Loan and was a charter member of Lions Club and the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Association. In addition to his law practice, Riley served in the Kansas Legislature and also raised registered Hereford cattle and raced standardbred harness horses.
Riley and Alice had three children ' Comora Ellen (Nash), who was also a graduate of K. U. Law School; John William MacGregor, another graduate of K.U. Law; and Nancy Alice (Greenwood). Following the death of Riley's sister, Gladys Requa, the MacGregors raised their twin nephews ' John Jay and Riley Ray.
Riley MacGregor died in 1973, Alice in 1980.
Their son John William, known as Bill, practiced law in Medicine Lodge, first as his Dad's partner, then by himself. He served as County Attorney, City Attorney, and Republican County Chairman. He also continued to raise Herefords and to breed and race the harness horses. In 1951 Bill married Barbara Hagen. They had four children ' John William II, known as Scott; Elizabeth Sue; Allison Jean; and Laird Stanley. Bill died in 1977.
Nancy married Jack Greenwood, whom she met while attending K.U. Jack served in the Army, then attended K.U., where he was outstanding in track. He graduated in 1952, Nancy in 1953. The Greenwoods were married in the Methodist Church on August 7, 1953. Jack became president and manager of the Barber County Savings & Loan and continued participating in Masters Track and Field. The Greenwoods had two sons, Riley MacGregor and Jack Martin. Jack and Nancy now live in Colorado.
More next week . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, February 18, 2008
One of my favorite people when I was young was Ben Harbaugh. To this day he remains the prototype of the western man to me.
Jacob Benjamin Harbaugh came to Barber County when he was 19 years old to join a couple of his brothers. His mother had died, so his Dad and a sister came with him to Kansas. They lived south of Medicine Lodge in a dugout until they had their house built on the property that still belongs to Pat Harbaugh.
One rainy morning in April of 1884, four men on horseback stopped at that house because the rain was so heavy, and they were looking for a good way to get to Medicine Lodge. Ben's sister, Mollie, invited the men in and gave them a good breakfast before they rode on to Medicine Lodge. Ben was suspicious that these four men were up to something, so he rode into town the next morning, where he learned that the Medicine Valley Bank had been robbed, that Wiley Payne and George Geppert had been killed, and that one of the robbers had been shot and killed during an escape attempt, while the other three had been hanged from an elm tree on Spring Creek at the bottom of East First Avenue.
Mary Gronemier came to Barber County from Owen County, Kentucky, to visit her relatives, who were neighbors to the Harbaughs. She met Ben when she was on that visit, and although she returned to Kentucky, she came back to live with her family here.
Ben and Mary were married on March 22, 1888. They had four sons ' Eli, Uly, John, and Arthur (known as Short) ' and two daughters, Julia and Bess (Hewitt).
Ben served as Nippawalla Township Trustee for two years and served as a Barber County Commissioner from 1908 to 1920. In 1921 Mr., and Mrs. Harbaugh and their daughters moved to Medicine Lodge to 609 North Walnut. The daughters of their son, Uly, who were Faye (Gilmore) and Ruth (Chapin), came to live with them in 1922 because they had just lost their mother.
Ben served as Barber County Sheriff from 1924 to 1928. While he was Sheriff, my Dad was one of his deputies who went after the robbers who had taken $600 and travelers checks from the Isabel Bank. Law enforcement chased the robbers to a silo on George McGuire's farm ' and they recovered all but 10 cents of the amount taken.
I have a gun that belonged to one of the robbers, which Ben let my Dad have as thanks for his help.
Ben Harbaugh was with the Home State Bank on the northeast corner of North Main and Kansas Avenue from 1928 to 1932. He served as Deputy Sheriff for a year, then as Undersheriff from 1936 to 1938. I spent a lot of time playing in the courtyard, which was like a park, and I loved it when I got to talk with Sheriff Albright and Ben.
Daughter Julia continued to live with Mary and Ben. Mary died in 1943. After he retired, Ben and Julia put in the most beautiful garden every year in the lot south of their home. Ben died in 1957 at the age of 94.
My son, Bob, carved a bust out of wood in Mr. Kuhn's art class when he was in High School, which I have at home ' and it reminds me of Ben.
Julia Harbaugh never married. Her sister, Bess, married Ivan "Jibo" Hewitt in 1932. They moved into their home at 104 East Central in 1933, where they raised their daughters, Dorothy (Parker) and Marilyn (Hensley).
I never knew the Harbaugh son, Eli, who lived on a claim in Comanche County. Ulrich Benjamin Harbaugh, known as Uly, married Mary Page in 1912. They had two daughters, Faye and Ruth, who came to town to live with their grandparents after their mother died. Uly continued to farm near Gerlane. In 1921 he married Mabel Hensley, who lived in Gerlane. They had five children ' Albert, Betty (Garten), Jim, Mollie (Watts), and Jake.
Arthur N. (Short) Harbaugh lived with his wife, Marguerite, and his two daughters, Joanne (Prothe) and Mildred (Magnison), near the home place about 7 miles south of Medicine Lodge.
John and Mayme Harbaugh had two daughters, Pauline (McClary) and Louise (Kirkbride), and one son, Pete, who has been known all his life as "Pat." Pat was born on the home place (which he still owns) on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. His granddad Ben told his parents, "You can call him anything you like, but he'll always be 'Old St. Pat' to me." Pat married Vivian Holder in 1943. In 1948 they welcomed their daughter, Cheri Lee, the fifth generation Harbaugh to live on the home place.
More next week . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, February 11, 2008
Emil and Lila Heydenreich enjoyed a large family of 10 children, who grew up on their farm six miles south of Medicine Lodge. They were Florence, Grace, Lucile, George, Leslie, Georgia, Emily Jane, Roy, Joyce, and Frederick. George and Leslie died in infancy.
Emil Heydenreich was born in Woods County, Oklahoma, the only son of George Woldmar and Emma Ann (Schmidt) Heydenreich. When he was four years old, Emil's parents bought a farm 6 miles south of Medicine Lodge, and the family moved to Barber County. Emil attended Sunflower, also known as "Lickskillet," school.
Emil learned to be a mechanic and a blacksmith from his Dad. While working in the blacksmith shop one day, an accident caused him to lose the sight in one eye. Emil enjoyed riding his motorcycle and playing the harmonica.
Lila Christine Bradshaw was the daughter of William A. and Florence (Brumley) Bradshaw and grew up on a farm 7 miles southeast of Medicine Lodge, where she enjoyed horseback riding. She attended College Hill school.
Emil and Lila were married in Medicine Lodge on April 17, 1920. They lived in town for several years, where Emil worked. But farm life was what they both loved and in 1935 the family moved back to the country, where the children enjoyed farm life.
Lila died in 1955, Emil in 1960.
Three of the Heydenreich girls have homes in Medicine Lodge now.
Florence married Clinton Hindman, who was born in Weir, Kansas, the son of George Washington and Lula Mae (Skinner) Hindman. He had come to Barber County to work on construction of Highway 160.
Florence attend school primarily in Medicine Lodge, although she did spend a year-and-a half at Sunflower school. She was a member of the first kindergarten class in Medicine Lodge. She graduated from Medicine Lodge High School in 1940. She and Clinton were married in Hazelton on January 30, 1942. He was soon called to serve in the Armed Forces, and Florence accompanied him until he was sent overseas. Their son, Clinton Eugene, was born in 1943 in New Mexico.
After Clinton was discharged, he went to work at the KP&L Gasoline Plant, called the "stripping plant" out on Rodeo Drive. The Hindmans' daughter Mary Ann was born in 1946; Peggy Louise arrived in 1951 and Betty in 1965. They enjoyed their home at 705 Medicine Blvd., where Florence still resides.
The Heydenreichs' third daughter, Lucile, was born in 1925. Lucile attended Grades 3 through 8 at Sunflower school. She was a prairie flower in the Peace Treaty Pageant when she was in the first grade, and a scarf dancer when in High School.
Lucile moved to Wichita, where she worked for Beech Aircraft, then went to Topeka to work for Morrell Meats. After the war, she went to Columbus,Ohio, where she attended cosmetology school and worked for a while as a beauty operator. She then went to Bell Telephone in Columbus and also attended Ohio State.
Lucile eventually headed back west and worked for Southwestern Bell in Topeka.
She lived with former Medicine Lodge residents, Mr. and Mrs. O.A. Shoop in Topeka, where she met and married a Navy buddy of Darwin Shoop's, Dale McMurtry. While Dave was in the Navy, the McMurtrys lived in Hawaii. After his discharge, he attended Oklahoma A&M, and when he graduated, the McMurtry family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Dean was a soil research scientist for the National Soil Survey Laboratory. The McMurtrys had two daughters ' Christine Lee, born in 1954, and Mary Kathleen, born in 1961. Lucile returned to Medicine Lodge, where she lives in the lovely home at 109 East Stolp.
Another Heydenreich daughter, Georgia, born in 1931, also attended Sunflower school and MLHS, where she graduated in 1949, along with Montie Baty, whom she married in February 1950 in Alva. They had four children ' Michael Wason, in 1950, Terry Lynn in 1951, Debra Ann in 1955, and Douglas Ray in 1961.
Montie was born in Bendavis, Missouri, and had come here to be with his brother, Lowell. He graduated from MLHS in 1949, married Georgia, and worked for the State Highway Department. He continued as an engineer with Kansas DOT, and on his retirement the Batys moved back to Medicine Lodge, where they now reside at 309 North Walnut, the beautiful home built by Poley Tincher.
More next week . . . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, February 4, 2008
Tom and Marjorie Stranathan purchased the Elizabeth Simpson property at 308 North Walnut when they decided to retire and move to town from the old Smith place southwest of town.
Tom's parents were William Vernon and Fannie (Smith) Stranathan. William's parents, James and Elizabeth (Woods) Stranathan came to Barber County in 1884 from Zanesville, Ohio, with their daughter and four sons. William was 17 years old.
Fannie's parents, William Henry and Mary (James) Smith, came to Kansas from Wilmington, Delaware. They first settled in Harvey County, where William and his brother, Robert, farmed. In 1877 they moved to Barber County to a place 15 miles southwest of Medicine Lodge. They had four daughters, Anna (McCracken), Della (Thomas), Ella (McCracken), and Fannie (Stranathan). Their six sons were Arlenzo, John, Irvin, Frank, Hiel, and Ed.
The Smith farm was on the trail to the Cherokee Strip, and the Smith household was always open to visitors. The county was rather sparsely populated in those days, and the Smith home was a haven for food, water, and a bed for a lot of folks. William Smith loved to visit with people.
Fannie Smith married William Stranathan on February 17, 1897, and they lived on the Stranathan family place near Kiowa. They had three daughters ' Helen (Youngers), Mary (Betty), and Louise (Owens). Their seven sons were Tom, Carl, Lute, Jim, Ed, Paul, and Bud. Tom and Carl attended Medicine Lodge High School. The other boys went to school in Kiowa, as did the girls.
In 1923 W. V. Stranathan and his family moved into Kiowa, where he served as postmaster. Lute and Ed were clerks. William died in 1954, and Fannie moved to Medicine Lodge to live with her daughter, Helen, until her death in 1972.
Marjorie Ishmael grew up in Kiowa, where she attended grade school and high school. She graduated from the University of Kansas and was teaching music in Kiowa until she met and married Tom Stranathan.
Marjorie's grandparents Charles and Carrie (Hardin) Rumsey came from Indiana to live on a claim in Rice County. Because of the constant threat of prairie fires, the Rumseys soon moved to Barber County and settled in Old Kiowa, where Charles' brother, A. W. Rumsey, had had a store and trading post since 1872.
In 1883 the Santa Fe Railroad bought a right-of-way about six miles southeast of Kiowa. The New Kiowa Town Company was formed in 1884, and New Kiowa was laid out along the right-of-way. In 1885 most of the residents of Old Kiowa, including the Rumseys, had moved into the new town.
In Kiowa the very progressive Mrs. Rumsey built a skating rink, read law, and became Justice of the Peace. Although she was essentially a professional woman, she made delicious cakes for all the cowboys who came to the skating rink.
Shortly after they had moved to Kiowa, the Rumsey's daughter, Nell, met a young boy from Kentucky, Samuel T. Ishmael. He had come to Kiowa with a cattle drive from Texas, but stayed there to run a livery stable and feed yard. He then went into the cattle business with a partner, Kansas Rudolph. They were known as Sam and Kan.
Nell and Sam were married and had four children ' Caroline, Robert, Roy, and Marjorie (Stranathan).
Tom and Marjorie participated in many Peace Treaty Pageants ' Tom as Coronado and Marjorie as Carry Nation.
Marjorie was extremely proud of her great aunt, Dr. Rachel Rumsey (Packson), who was one of the first two women graduates of the Chicago School of Medicine.
Marjorie said that her Aunt Rachel came to Kansas, thinking it was a "dry" state. Instead she found that Kiowa was a typical border town ' with 21 saloons. In 1891 she decided that she would try to do something about those saloons, so she ran for Mayor of Kiowa on a "Dry" platform ' and was elected! She retired from politics when she was unsuccessful in getting rid of the saloons. It took Carry Nation and her hatchet to do that.
More next week. . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, January 28, 2008
The Stone brothers were well known in Barber County. They were Harry, Howard, Frank, Fred, and Daniel. Harry settled down early, but the other four boys loved to do crazy things. One of these things was to go on horseback to a tent revival meeting and after the meeting to go home, standing on the backs of their horses, repeating in fine voice the sermon they had just heard.
Their parents were Daniel F. and Catherine (Shoemaker) Stone who lived on a farm in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. They moved to Illinois, where they lived for a while.
In 1879 Daniel, Catherine, and their family moved to Kansas to a farm seven miles east of Lyons, near where Daniel's brother, Solomon, had staked a claim. In addition to the boys, the Stones had three girls ' Maude, Laura, and Florence.
Shortly after the family's move to Kansas, Harry left home and staked a claim in Barber County. He married Orpha English, a young school teacher. Later the whole family came to Barber County except for Laura, who had married Clark Conkling, editor and publisher of the Lyons Republican.
Fred married Golda Murphy of Medicine Lodge, and they later made the Cherokee Strip run to Oklahoma. Frank married the young teacher at North Star school, Elizabeth Urton. Howard married Ethel Gibson from Sharon. Florence taught school before marrying Jim Hall. They lived on a farm west of Medicine Lodge. Maude married Edwin Adams, a native of Cornwall, England, who had come here as part of the "English colony." Only Dan remained unmarried; he built beautiful houses and had fine cars!
Frank Stone proved a claim south of Hardtner when he was 21 years old. Then in 1899 he sold his land and came to Barber County. He rented some farm land southeast of Medicine Lodge, passing North Star school every day when he went to work. He was quite taken by the young teacher at the school and began to make plans. He purchased a farm one mile south and one mile east of Pixley, and in March of 1901 married the pretty teacher, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Urton.
Frank built a new home on the farm, and the Stones welcomed sons Clarence in 1902 and George in 1906. On the farm Frank raised Percheron draft horses, hogs, corn, and wheat. The boys grew up. Clarence married Juanita Rule from Sharon in 1924 and settled on a farm one mile from the home farm. The house is gone now, but it stood to the south of 160 just before Hrencher's Hill when you are going east. Clarence and Juanita had two children ' June (Donovan) and Jon.
George Stone had attended Central View school and had graduated from Sharon High School. He then went to Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, to become a teacher and a coach. His college days were cut short, however, due to his father's illness. George took over management of the farm at age 18.
Frank Stone died in February of 1927 of a heart attack, leaving his 46-year-old widow. Son George married LaVon Werner of Sharon on Christmas Eve in 1927, and they moved to the home farm to be with her. George and LaVon had three children ' Dwight, Doris, and JoAnn. George was very successful raising Holstein dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep.
George eventually turned the farm over to son Dwight, who had married his high school sweetheart, Jean Sitler. George and LaVon built the lovely home at 109 East Stolp and moved to town to enjoy their retirement years.
Dwight and Jean had two daughters ' Kimberly (Newman) and Cameron (Angle), who were the fourth generation of Stones to live in the family home.
Dwight and Jean and the girls later moved to town to their lovely home at 919 Goodview, leaving the old family home empty. It was eventually torn down. Dwight continued to manage the farm, raising sheep. For many years he served on the Board of the American Sheep Association.
Sadly, Dwight, who was in my graduating class at MLHS, died in 2007
More next week . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, January 21, 2008
Every time I drive by the house at 605 North Main Street I think about Speck McCune and his sons.
Speck's parents, James Alva (Mac) and Liz (DeMoss), and he and his three older brothers came by train to Sharon, Kansas, from Unionville, Missouri, in 1901. Mac's brother, William Jasper, had come there the year before. The McCune family settled on a farm 2 ' miles south of Sharon. The boys were William Joseph, born in 1888; Charles Murl, born in 1890; Guy Emil, born in 1891; and Winnie Floyd, known as Speck, in 1894.
In the spring of 1903 the family moved once again to a farm 2 ' miles east of Medicine Lodge, where they raised corn, oats, and wheat and had a small fruit orchard.
The McCunes moved their membership to the Christian Church in Medicine Lodge.
Mac's father, William, had become a minister in the Christian Church at the age of 23 and had served for 45 years in churches in Iowa and Missouri. The McCune boys attended Walstead school.
In 1917 their farm was sold and Mac purchased the house at 605 North Main Street with adjoining lots, where they raised chickens, vegetables, and grapes that they sold. Mac and his team of large gray horses hired out to sprinkle the city's streets to keep down the dust. He also installed the city's first general delivery mail collection boxes in 1919.
Mr. and Mrs. McCune enjoyed sitting on the front porch next door with Sam and Blanche Griffin. After the four boys were married, they came back to North Main for big family dinners. Liz McCune died in 1936 and Mac in 1942.
Floyd "Speck" McCune was born in Green City. Missouri, and came to Kansas with his family, where he lived on the farm near Sharon for a couple of years, then on the farm east of Medicine Lodge until the family moved to town.
In 1917 Speck joined the army. He had basic training at Camp Funston and Fort Riley, then served with the 353rd Infantry, 89th Division in France and Germany, as well as in the Army of Occupation until 1918.
Speck returned to Medicine Lodge and in 1920 married Viola Mae Crick, the daughter of Sam and Lou (Hittle) Crick. The ceremony was performed by Judge Garrison. Viola was born in Sumner County, but came to Barber County as a child. She attended Doles school and Barber County High School in Medicine Lodge. She then studied nursing and assisted local doctors, particularly Dr. Gilbert.
Speck went to work for Henry Abt, and during this time the McCunes had three sons ' James David, Wayne Royal, and Dallas Floyd. During their childhood the family moved around the county, as their Dad worked for the Fred Gillig farm southwest of Kiowa, the Axline Ranch, and for Earl Holmes.
Viola died in 1939. Speck took the Railway Express and Freight route, and he and the boys moved to Medicine Lodge. The boys enlisted in the Navy during World War II.
In 1945 Speck moved to Niangua, Missouri, and was remarried. He and his wife moved to Wichita, where he worked for Boeing. His wife died in 1957. Then Speck suffered a heart attack and had to retire. He died in February of 1962 while visiting his sons in California. He is buried beside Viola in Highland Cemetery.
J. D. (James) McCune attended a number of Barber County rural schools, as well as in Hazelton and Kiowa; he studied and learned at Eldred, north of Medicine Lodge; Elwood, near Union Chapel; and North Star, as well as Medicine Lodge grade school. He graduated from Medicine Lodge High School with the class of 1939.
J. D. served in the Navy during World War II, then went to Kansas State, where he majored in electrical engineering. While he was in college he married Joy Ryan of Medicine Lodge. They had two sons and a daughter. The McCunes moved to California, where J.D. became an electrical design engineer for the City of Los Angeles.
Wayne lived in Wichita, where he worked for Beech Aircraft. Dallas lived and worked in California.. . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, January 14, 2008
Bruce and Hyacinth Kindig and their family lived at 106 East Stolp. They had purchased the home from the widow of Captain James Brady, a Civil War veteran, who had lived in Medicine Lodge for many years. He was a cook friend of V.S. and Clara Belle Cook. Mrs. Cook had an original 13-star flag that Captain Brady had given to her, which she gave to me. I treasure it.
Bruce grew up in Berwick, Pennsylvania, the second of six sons born to Charles and Ellen (Beishline) Kindig. After he graduated from Bloomsburg State Normal School in 1917, Bruce began a teaching career, which lasted for forty years.
During World War I Bruce trained at Ft. Meade, Maryland, and served in France with the 305th Signal Battalion of the 79th Division.
Hyacinth was the third of six children born to David and Mary (Bowman) Matney in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Her father died just two days after the youngest child was born, and since he had been a Mason, the five older children were placed in the Masonic Home in Wichita, where they received loving care.
Hyacinth graduated from Wichita High School in 1919 and from Pittsburg State College in 1921. She taught school in Erie and Syracuse, Kansas, before her marriage.
Later Hyacinth received her B.A. from Northwestern in Alva, and she taught at Isabel High School, Barber County rural schools, and the Medicine Lodge grade school.
Bruce and Hyacinth were married in the O.E.S. Chapel at the Masonic Home in Wichita. The Kindigs had three children ' Elizabeth, Miriam, and Neal.
Bruce Kindig was a quiet, reserved man who taught science at Medicine Lodge High School, and was also the principal and Dean of Boys. In 1952 he received the Master Teacher's Award from the Kansas Board of Education for his long service to Kansas youth.
For thirteen years Bruce was also the part time chemist for Kansas Power & Light Co. He had many other interests, too, - meteorology, photography, woodworking, and genealogy. He was also a ham radio operator; his call letters were WDHR.
Bruce was active in the Methodist Church, the Amateur Radio Relay League, the American Chemical Society, Farm Bureau, Kansas State Teacher's Association, and Medicine Lodge Post 69 of the American Legion.
Bruce enjoyed his retirement years. He died in 1969.
I knew the Kindig girls, who were older than I, but Neal, who was only two years older than I, was a good friend. I remember that one time the High School had a box supper party. The girls brought the food, and the boys bid on it. Neal bought mine, and my mother had fixed a wonderful box supper for us. We enjoyed the food and the conversation we had while doing so.
Neal was born in the old Brady house in 1928 and attended grade school and high school here. When he was growing up, Neal and his Dad spent lots of time hiking in the Gyp Hills. They learned about the local geology, plant life, and how the oil and gas industry worked. They had the chance to see several gushers come in. Neal also delivered groceries for Parkers in the store's pickup.
After graduation from MLHS, Neal went to West Point, then spent five years on active duty with the Signal Corps in Europe, New Jersey, and Georgia.
Neal moved to Boulder, Colorado, in 1955 where, after one year of additional study in electrical engineering, he began teaching at my Alma Mater ' the University of Colorado. He met his wife, Jean, in Boulder, and they had two children ' David and Susan. Jean is an artist specializing in woodcut prints and pen-and-ink drawings.
Neal spent two years at Stanford obtaining his PhD and one year in Southhampton, England on a fellowship. He remained a Colonel in the Reserves.
I was delighted that Neal was at the U. of Colorado because I could follow the outstanding things he accomplished in my alumni magazine. His whole family enjoyed hiking in the mountains and spent their leisure time that way. A few years ago, however, my alumni magazine carried a headline and story that I did not want to see.
While hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire, I believe, with his family, Neal had dropped dead with a heart attack. I couldn't believe what I was reading ' such a talented and good person was gone, the one consolation being that he was happy hiking with his family. More next week . . .
Meandering by Bev McCollom, December 31, 2007
When I drive down South Oak and turn the corner at Eva, I always think of Grover Gordon. That was his home on the hill, and he was often on the front porch to wave. Grover and his brother Frank did cement construction on new homes, and introduced the chat stucco that we see on so many homes in Medicine Lodge.
The Gordons came from Pulaski County, Missouri, but moved to Kansas in 1880. They lived near Sharon, where Mr. Gordon practiced as a veterinarian and farmed. The Gordons had four boys - Frank, Grover, Charlie, and Jessie - and four girls- Lillie, Julia, Margaret, and Olive.
Frank graduated in 1897, obtained a teaching certificate, and began teaching in the rural schools. Frank was a big man, who loved children. He was very popular with school boards because he had no trouble at all taming the bullies in the schools. He was an excellent teacher.
In 1901 Frank married Myrtle Riggins, the daughter of William and Viola Riggins of Elm Mills. Frank then went into the more lucrative business of construction with his brother, Grover.
Frank and Myrtle had three boys - Floyd, Charlie and Franklin. They all graduated from MLHS. I remember Franklin and Charlie very well.
Franklin married Hazel Frame in 1941 at the home of her parents, Clarence and Grace Frame near Sawyer. She had graduated from Sawyer High School and then completed a secretarial practice and bookkeeping course. She was the first receptionist at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital when it opened. She later was in the bookkeeping department at the First National Bank, kept books for the Barber County Index, and eventually was secretary for the Barber County Conservation District.
Franklin served in World War II. They lived at 706 North Main Street, where Hazel continues to live. He was district representative for a life insurance company. Franklin was active in the American Legion and served as Democratic Committee Chairman. He was a Mason and served as Acting Postmaster for 1 1/2 years.
Franklin and Hazel had four children - twin daughters, Karen and Arlene Kay, (sadly Arlene died in infancy); son Robin Lynn, who has had a career in law enforcement, and Cheryl (Standage), who is a hairdresser here in Medicine Lodge.
Frank Gordon's son, Charlie, was my Uncle Zeek's good friend. They double-dated a lot when Zeek was courting my Aunt Mary (Coleman) and Charlie was romancing Helen Wheat. Charlie eventually went to mortuary school, and not only worked at Forsyth's but was County Coroner for many years.
Frank's brother, Grover, who I knew, married Mary Ida Coombs, who had also come from Missouri to Kansas. Their children were Davis, Neona, Clarice, Betty, and Edna.
The Gordon children loved living on the hill that overlooked Elm Creek (the sewer plant was not there then). They played in the nearby fields, swam in the city swimming pool, which was located by the water plant (where the City's big barn is now), and loved going to Luallen's (where Hibbards is now), to Russell's (next door to where Frosty's is), or to the Sweet Shop (where Hrencher's cabinet shop is). They also enjoyed the movies at the Pastime Theater, where the girls worked sometimes.
Grover worked with Frank building houses that are still standing. Medicine Lodge has more chat houses than any town I have seen. The Gordon boys were busy. They went through hard times during the Depression and the dust storms. Grover's children married and left home. Ida died of pneumonia in 1940, and Grover later married Betty Sears.
Frank and Grover were hard workers, and they passed down their determination to their children. Franklin died in 1932 in the midst of the Depression. His sons took care of their mother until her death in 1967.
After Grover retired, he enjoyed sitting on his front porch, visiting with friends, and staying busy with projects at home. He died in 1958.
More next week....
Meandering by Bev McCollom, December 24, 2007
Two people I loved dearly when I was growing up were our neighbors to the west, Had and Elva White. Had was always fun to be around, and Elva was one of the best cooks in town.
Had was born Harry White in 1882 and grew up in Medicine Lodge . He worked for various people and went into business for himself. Had was a plumber, a carpenter, and a dealer in second hands goods, among other things. And he was a fiddler par excellence.
Elva was born in Sumner County in 1893 and came to Barber County with her parents, Dora and Jim Wise, and her brother Charles in 1902. She attended Amber School and Barber County High School. She and Had were married in 1913. They built their home on the site of the old bus barn ' where wagons, etc. from the depot were stored.
Back in the days when Had was young there was no smallpox vaccine, and sometimes the disease ran rampant. People who were diagnosed with it were sent to the "Pox House," a structure out east of town near the poor farm, which is close to where the helipad is now. The victims of the disease were confined to this awful place until they recovered or died. Fortunately Had survived.
In an incident in January of 1909 Had saved a life. It was that of Earl Holmes ' not Mayme's husband, but another Earl from the south part of the county. The Index reported: "Earl Holmes of Elwood township came very near freezing to death in the storm of the 11th. He started to town with a team and wagon through the beating wind and snow and became lost. He was found in the evening near the Lonker school house about 14 miles southwest of the city by Had White and Mr. Ritchie after having been out in the storm the greater part of the day. He was unconscious, but sitting in the wagon and still holding the lines. . . . Mr. Holmes was sufficiently revived to be able to speak . . .
Upon taking off his mittens, Mr. White found three fingers frozen stiffly and indications of frozen feet and toes. Messrs. White and Ritchie . . . took him to his home and Dr. Gilbert of this city was phoned. Dr. Gilbert went out and dressed Mr. Holmes' hands and feet and brought him to the home of J.P. Hall in the city, where he is being given every attention. He is entirely out of danger, and Drs. Gilbert and Donovan say that they will save every finger, even on the hand that was the most frozen. . . Mr. Holmes had under estimated the severity of the weather . . . he crouched down to protect himself from the snow and wind and in this condition lost consciousness. The road to which the team drifted was a seldom used road, and it was indeed circumstance of rare fortune that Messrs. White and Ritchie happened to travel it that evening. Had they not done so, Mr. Holmes would have surely been frozen to death."
Had worked at one time for Chase Hardware, where the telephone office was located. It was a switchboard and an operator who sat in a corner of the hardware store.
The hardware store closed in 1918 ' the telephone company having moved one door south to the building that is still there. Had then decided to go into business for himself.
He opened a plumbing shop and second hand store in the Cook Block at 201 South Main, where Alan Goering's office is now. Had often entertained his customers with tunes on his fiddle.
One of the most exciting nights every four years took place in Had's store.
Remember, we had no television in those days. Had would put up a huge chalk board on the south wall of his shop, and practically everyone in town gathered there for the election returns. As the votes would be announced to radio, Had marked it on the board so that people could follow what was happening.
Had closed his shop in 1940, and they purchased the Brittain farm west of town beyond the gyp mill, where the bridge crossed the Medicine River. They grew the most delicious corn and tomatoes, and my Dad bought both by the bushel basket!
Elva not only helped my mother take care of me when I was a baby, she was also my first Sunday School teacher at the Christian Church, and she was terrific. She gave me a firm basis of faith.
Had died in 1955. Elva moved back to town. She was a wonderful seamstress and designed my outfits for her friends from pictures. She made my first formal, which she had designed herself. I loved it. Elva enjoyed living at the Indian Hills Lodge until her death on my 45th birthday ' February 12, 1975.
More next week!
Meandering by Bev McCollom, December 17, 2007
When I was a little girl living at 211 West Kansas Avenue, our neighbor to the east was Mayme Cole Holmes. She had a greenhouse where she raised the most beautiful peonies I have ever seen. And she had dogs ' Chihuahuas ' which she took to dog shows. My best friend at her house was Donnie, her blue-ribbon winning dog.
Mayme was the daughter of P.B. Cole, a prosperous farmer who lived east of Medicine Lodge. The Barber County Index carried the news of her marriage: "Earl H. Holmes and Mamie Cole were united in marriage on Wednesday, December 10, 1902. The ceremony took place at the Presbyterian parsonage, the Reverend L.M. Belden pronouncing the words that made them man and wife. Mr. Holmes is one of our substantial young men and has lived most of his years in Barber County. For a few years he held a clerical position in Kansas City, but he soon found it more profitable and satisfactory to return again to Barber County and is at present foreman of the Dobbs ranch near this city. He is the only son of Mrs. Frank Holmes of Kansas City. Mrs. James Dobbs of this city is his sister. The bride is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.B. Cole, residing a few miles east of this city. She ranks among Barber County's most accomplished and pleasant young ladies whose friends are limited only by the number of her acquaintances. The marriage ceremony was witnessed by only a few relatives. The Index hopes that Mr. and Mrs. Holmes may find married life one full of pleasure and success."
Their daughter, Lois, was born on May 20, 1904. She married Robert (Bob) Cook, the son of Mr. and Mrs. V. S. Cook, who was a close friend of my parents.
They had graduated from Barber County High School together in 1919. The Cooks had two daughters, Bobbie (Davis) and Joyce (Lawrence).
Mayme's happiness was short-lived. "On Friday morning of last week this community was shocked to learn of the death of Earl Holmes, which occurred at his mother's house in this city on Thursday night, March 28, 1907 at 10:10. For the last two days his condition was considered serious by his physician, but the public was unaware of the seriousness of his case, and the news came to many as though one of their own relatives ' for Earl was universally liked and respected. The cause of his death was an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, the technical term for the dilation or breaking down of the walls of the large artery connecting the left ventricle in the heart and the abdomen.
Earl Franklin Holmes was born in Riverside, Iowa, on December 3, 1878, and was at the time of his death 28 years, 3 months, and 25 days old. He leaves a wife and one child, a daughter, besides his mother, Mrs. M.M. Holmes, two sisters ' Mrs. James Dobbs and Miss Gay Holmes, and his grandmother, Mrs. P.J. Boyd. His parents came to Kansas in 1887 and resided in Kiowa for a number of years, when they removed to Medicine Lodge. In 1894 the family removed to Kansas City, where Earl's father died two years later. Earl has suffered greatly with his eyes for many years, and his residence in Kansas City seemed to aggravate his complaint. The family returned to this city in 1901 in hopes of the change being beneficial. In December of 1902 he was married to Miss Mamie Cole, daughter of P.B. Cole and wife, and to this union was born one daughter, Lois, now three years old. While in Kansas City, Mr. Holmes united with the Tabernacle Baptist church in 1896. The funeral services were held at the residence of his brother-in-law, James Dobbs, on Sunday afternoon, conducted by the Reverend W. A. Cain, pastor of the Baptist church at Caldwell, assisted by the Reverend W. A. Covert, pastor of the Presbyterian church of this city. The services were attended by a large number of friends of the deceased and the family who followed the casket to its last resting place in Highland Cemetery. . . . ."
Years later Mayme married her good friend, Daws Grigsby. She continued to ride her horse in the Peace Treaty parade and remained active in the community.
As a little girl, I was so impressed with Mayme that I thought the town had named a street after her. That street that runs through the center of town, I thought was "Mayme's" street!
Meandering by Bev McCollom, December 10, 2007
One of my Dad's best friends was Harvey Pelton with whom he worked for 30 years at the Post Office. My Dad carried the mail on Route 1, Harvey on Route 2.
Every day they sorted the mail together and kidded each other.
Harvey was born on a farm near Sharon to Jesse and Cynthia Pelton. He went to Enon school near Sharon. Two of his favorite teachers were Fred Wadsworth and Frank Shell. He later taught school, himself. Harvey's father, Jesse Leonard Pelton, was from Ohio. He had fought in the Civil War. At age 23 he married Miss Cynthia Murry. They had 11 children, four of whom died at an early age. Jesse had heard about the Sharon Valley in Barber County, Kansas.
It had been settled by a group of members of the First Christian Church and appeared to be a land of promise. Jesse, Cynthia, and their seven children came to Sharon in a covered wagon in 1881. A year later their 12th child, Harvey was born.
Jesse Pelton was active in the Sharon community. He was Justice of the Peace and an Elder in the Christian church. He gave each of his children 80 acres of land if they stayed home until age 21, or they could pay $50 for each year they left home before age 21. Harvey moved to Medicine Lodge before he was 21, and paid his father $200 for his 80 acres.
In 1903 Harvey Pelton married Miss Bertha Ritchie, who was born in Mexico, Missouri is 1882. She had come to Medicine Lodge at the age of 16 to live with her father's sister, Mrs. Sadie Clay. Bertha worked for Carry Nation and for the Baptist minister's family.
The Peltons had two sons, Ralph and Orville, and a daughter, Opal. They lived in Sharon until 1908, when they moved to Medicine Lodge. In 1917 they purchased their home on the southwest corner of South Cherry Street and Eva.
Harvey first carried the mail on the Star Route, but after four years went to Route 2. He first drove a horse and two-wheeled cart with his load of mail. His sons' job was to keep the horses cared for.
The Peltons remained active in the First Christian Church. Harvey was on the Church Board. Bertha took the Sunday School literature and activities to the homebound members. She remembered their birthdays with cakes and parties.
Bertha died from burns in 1947. Harvey died in 1961.
Another of my Dad's co-workers was Marvin Parsons. Marvin came to Kansas in 1915 to work in the wheat harvest, and later became a carpenter for Roy Hoovler, who remodeled and built houses.
He met Mae Smith, the maternal granddaughter of John Garten and Malinda Rogers, the first couple married in Barber County. Her paternal grandparents were Samuel Smith, Sr. and Mary Ann Bibb. John Garten served in the Confederate Army; Sam Smith in the Union.
Since having been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I have thought a lot about my great grandmother Cynthia Ann (Morton) Painter (pictured at right), who had the same disease, but unfortunately lived in a day when there was little or no relief for it. In size she was very tiny, and I can imagine that pain wracked her small body.
On December 6, 1866, Cynthia married David Franklin Painter (pictured at right) in Petersburg, Indiana. All the Painter children were born in Petersburg. They were William Wilbert in October 1867; Charles Clement in August 1869, who was long-time editor/publisher of the Barber County Index and married to Miss Clara Minnick of Medicine Lodge; Cora Edith in October 1871, who married Samuel Adams of Medicine Lodge; Ora Kathryn in September 1873, who married George W. Horney of Medicine Lodge and became my grandmother; and Lillian Vicury Herr in October 1875, who married Uriah Clayton Herr, editor and publisher of the Barber County Index along with his brother-in-law, Charlie.
