Darlene Harding at McLain's Roundup, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Brenda McLain.
"Rodeos were popular in the twenties as they still are. If you had to remember one name connected with rodeos in Coldwater it might well be John Burnett. Events advertised at rodeos were much the same as they are now with the possible exception of cowpony races and a buckboard team race. Coldwater could boast of not one, but two, excellent cowgirl performers. Darlene and Malee Harding both started performing when very young. Malee was a featured performer by the time she was eight." -- Coldwater Centennial Notebook"Other circus folks not so well known also were welcomed into Rochester life and society. Sisters Malee and Darlene Harding of Peru had a trick roping and riding act for several circuses before ending up here with Cole Bros. Malee married Harlan Burkhart, a Cole executive, and after Burkhart�s death was married to local businessman A. C. (Chick) Johnson. Sister Darlene married the catcher of a trapeze act, Carl Lassiter, and after her husband�s death retired to Rochester. Both remained the rest of their lives." -- Cole Brother's Circus
Looking East on Main Street, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
The first building on the left is the building now owned by Rick Lambert which houses Buster's
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
Sun City Lumber Company, Hardware and Coal, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
Sun City School prior to 1901, Barber County, Kansas.
The teacher MAY be J.E. Thomas.
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
Sun City School, 1901, Barber County, Kansas.
Teacher - middle back row - Lloyd Davis
First Row - 2nd from left - Lyle Bullock
First Row - 4th from left - no shoes - Cliff Hoagland, great grandfather of Kim (Hoagland) Fowles.
2nd row: girl standing - far left - Edith F. Hoagland (later married Waldo Leffler).
2nd row: first girl sitting far left: Nina Pansy Hoagland
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
Sun City School, 1903 - 1904, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
Bernice Woodard, Teacher: 6th person from right on back row
Lyle Bullock, holding horse - far left - 2nd row.
Nina Hoagland - 2nd row - 6th from the left.
Edith F. Hoagland - 2nd row - 7th from the left.
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
Sun City Baptist Church, Barber County, Kansas.
The church is still standing in 2007.
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
John Presley Woods,
Pastor of Sun City Baptist Church,
Barber County, Kansas.
From Elloise Leffler's photo collection, courtesy of Kim Fowles.
Sun City Baptist Church minute book:
"John Presley Woods of Clearwater Kans. was called to fill the pastorate and in May 1911 removed, with his family, to Sun City and commenced his pastoral work preaching his first sermon May 17, 1911." (He left in May 1912.)
Map at left:
1936 Phillips Petroleum map of Kansas, detail showing Sun City, Kansas, on the old route of Highway 160.
Collection of Phyllis Scherich.
USGS Aerial Photograph of Sun City, Barber County, Kansas, taken 20 March 1996.
CLICK HERE to search this site for references to Sun City
Thanks to Kim Fowles for contributing the above photos to this web site! She noted: "I received many of these photos from Elloise Leffler. She is the daughter of Edith Hoagland Leffler. Edith died when Elloise was 12 and she went to live with her aunt, Nina P. Hoagland, in Sun City. They lived together until Nina died in the 1980s. Nina owned the telephone company in Sun City."
This website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book. This page was created 24 June 2005 and was last updated 27 January 2007. Since this page was originally created, the Barber County, Kansas: History & Genealogy web site has been created by Jerry Ferrin; it features many things from the superb collection of historic photographs and information collected by Kim Fowles.