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- 181 - 182 - 183 - 184 - 185 - Kenneth and Cleo still live on a farm on RR 2. He retired from the Total Refinery after forty years service. Cleo worked for the Dillons grocery for five years, the Singer Co. before attending Beauty School. She had her own shop for eight years and obtained a Realtors license and worked for the Quick agency before retiring. She teaches China painting classes and is inthetravel business connected with the Smyers Travel agency where she conducts their bus tours.
We lead a busy life. Kenneth enjoys his retirement fishing and hunting, gardening, and just puttering.
Submitted BY Cleo Graves
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 181.
My great-great-grandparents, Leburtis Darwin and Harriett Corbin Eastman came from Iowa to Cowley County in 1876 and my great-grandparents, Charles Henry and Nancy Jane Lepley Eastman followed in 1877 and settled on a farm in the Tisdale Community, and there in 1 B82 my grandfather, Henry Arthur, was born. In 1898 they purchased a 1000 acre ranch east of Wilmot.
About 1900 Belle Bowen of Spivey, Ks. came to stay with her sister Maggie Bowen Eastman and attend Queen Village school. When she was 19, she married Henry Arthur Eastman and they moved to a farm east of Wilmot. In 191 1, my dad, Leo, was born. My Floyd great-grandparents came from Ky. to Cowley county in 1898. My grandfather, John M. Floyd, was 4 years old. They moved to a farm near Rock and farmed there for several years. They all moved to big wheat farms near Wellington where my mother, Thelma Floyd, was born. But after about five years they all moved back to Rock and farmed there until they retired. My parents, Leo and Thelma, attended Cowley County schools and were married in 1933. They lived at Wilmot for several years and my dad worked for the Frisco Railroad. They had five children, all born in Cowley County. When I was about four-years-old, the Railroad Company sent my dad to Okla. to work. We came back to Winfield when I was in the third grade and high school here. I married Roger Gray in 1955. He had returned from the Navy in 1954 and was working at Boeing. We made our home in Winfield. We have two girls, Debra was born in 1956 and Donna in 1959. Both attended Winfield grade and high school. Debra graduated in 1974 and Donna in 1977. Debra married Larry Stiffler in 1975. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1973 and has worked for Morton Buildings for 13 years. They have three children, Melissa born in 1979, Brian in 1982 and Scott in 1987. They live on a farm northwest of Winfield.
Donna married Eric Parsons in 1984. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1973 and has worked for Butler Brothers for ten years and Donna has been at Binney & Smith for 13 years. They have two daughters. Kerrie born in 1975 and Jill in 1977. They live on a farm northeast of Winfield.
Roger has worked for General Electric for 24 years and I have worked for Food Service at Winfield High School for 12 years. We all love Winfield and are proud to call it home.
Submitted by Peggy Gray
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 181.
In 1956 they moved to Winfield from Dallas, Texas. Their daughter, Toni Jo, was one and a half years old; their second daughter, Tara Joy, was born in Winfield three years later.
Wallace is Kirk Professor of Philosophy at Southwestern College and a minister in the United Methodist Church. On Dr. Gray's sabbatical leaves from Southwestern, the family resided in Hawaii and Japan. Wallace has pursued professional interests in East-West philosophy, ethics, and computers, and has taught at Wichita State University and Friends University.
Ina was Director of the Commission on Archives and History of the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church and served an the editorial board of Fire on the Prairie, a history of Methodism in Kansas. Now she is Executive Director of Pi Gamma Mu, which was founded in Winfield in 1924, and is an international honor society in social science.
After Toni graduated from Southwestern College and took her law degree from Georgetown University, she served in the Navy JAG (Judge Advocacy General) Corps. She is married to Nelson Chen and practices law in Denver.
Tara entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis with the second class of women. She graduated from Southwestern College and holds the Ph.D in economics from Oklahoma State University. She teaches at Denison University in Ohio.
Submitted by Wallace Gray
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 181.
Beulah came to Cowley County when she was 6 years old. She went to school with her sister, Gertrude, who was teaching at Mt. Carmel.
Beulah graduated from the two-year high school at Udall. She wanted to take a business course, but "nice" girls didn't work in offices. The family pressured her into getting her teacher's certificate. She taught one year and disliked it.
She married Roy Greenland, a local Udall young man, on May 8, 1912. Hoping to find relief for Roy's hayfever, they moved to Bayfield, Colorado. They did a little farming and Roy worked part-time in a saw mill.
After a few years, they came back to Kansas and Roy worked in the oil fields near Madison and Hamilton. They ran a restaurant in Madison. Roy and Beulah were married 13 years before Beulah Lee was born in 1926. Within three years Roy and Beulah were divorced and Beulah had died. Their child was adopted by Lewis and Gertrude Dungey.
It is unknown what year Roy Greenland died, but it was around 1935.
Submitted by Beulah L. Shafer
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 181.
On December 24,1891, she married James B. Greenshields. They lived on a farm on Silver Creek adjoining the Honnold farm. James worked as a letter carrier for the Post Office in Winfield. In 1893, James went on the Cherokee Strip Run and staked a claim in Section 16, Round Grove Township, Kay County. The second year after the strip opened, James taught at the Round Grove School (about two and one-fourth miles southwest of the homestead) and Lena taught at the Chikaskia Valley School (about two and three-fourths miles northwest of the homestead).
Lena and James had ten children, seven boys and three girls. One girl, Beulah, died at a young age. Lena died unexpectedly at the age of fifty-nine on September 28, 1928., while visiting in Ohio. She was a resident of Autwine, Ok, at the time of death. Al that time, her survivors included: one sister, Nellie J. Bainum of Long Beach, CA. Seven sons: Bruce, professor of engineering, Dennison Univ., Granville, Ohio; Bryce, engineer, Sinclair Oil Co., Tulsa, OK.; John, farmer, Ralston, OK; Wflliam, law student, OU, Norman, OK; Theodore, teacher, Ralston, OK; Elco, junior college student, Tonkawa, OK; Myrel, college student, Oklahoma A&M, Stillwater, OK. Two daughters: June, student, Granville, OH; Pauline, teacher, Blackwell, OK.
Attending the funeral were my grandparents, George and Annie; my father, Charles; my uncle, Lloyd; my aunt, Marie; and Marie's husband, Fred Johnson.
Submitted by G.H. Honnold
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 181.
Their youngest child was James Austin Greenwalt. While working on the railroad in Edgar County, Illinois, James met and married Florella Peer in 1874. They had seven children and moved to Winfield in the 1890s. They lived at 402 Andrews and had a neighborhood grocery store there. He worked at the Davis and Irving Blacksmith Shop at 703 Main until he established his own shop at 507 East Fourth. He moved the Greenwalt and Sons Blacksmith Shop to 616 Main. This became the location of the Pollock Cafe, which was sold by Francis Pollock to Speaker of the House, Peter McGill. James died in 1935 and Florella Greenwalt died in 1942.
The children of James A. and FloreHa Greenwalt were: Myrtle Greenwcilt, a nurse who received her training in Kansas City, returned to work at the Winfield Hospital, then went to Oklahoma City, where she met and married Charles Conn, They had four daughters. She died in 1956.
Sylvia Greenwalt married Noah Davis. Noah was one of the owners of The Davis and Irving Blacksmith Shop. He later opened his own shop specializing in painting and re-roofing automobiles. They had three children, two are still living in Cowley County, Dorothy Groene and Kenneth Davis. Sylvia died in 1968 in Winfield.
Linnie Greenwalt married Wilbur McKay who worked for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad. She had four daughters and two (continued on page 182)
Submitted by Mary Ann (Tubbs) Wortman
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 181.
Jesse Greenwalt went to Corpus Christi, Texas where he worked as a telegrapher on steamships. He died in 1977.
Dawn Greenwalt taught school at Burden, caught pneumonia and died in 1904 in Winfield.
Lee Greenwalt followed the construction trade and died of tick lever in Idaho in 1925.
Peer Greenwalt learned blacksmithing and welding from his father. He followed the allied trades, married Nona Holt, had two clffldren, moved to California in the 1950s and died in 1974.
Submitted By Mary Ann Wortman
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 182.
On July 4, 1948 I married Ben L. Green at Udall. In 1949 we moved to Burden, Kansas and have lived there since. Ben came from Irving, Kansas in Marshall County. He was employed in the oil fields and the Burden Elevator, retiring in 1986 from Cowley County Road Department, I retired in 1989 from Southern Kansas Telephone Company at Burden. Previous to my 24 1/2 years with them, I worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company at Winfield.
We have two sons. Both were born and reared in Cowley County. They attended and graduated from school in Burden. Norman L. Green lives in Winfield and is employed with the City of Winfield Electric Department. Robert A. Green lives in Burden and is the owner of B.G. Siding and Construction Co.
Our four grandchildren are being reared in Cowley County. Melissa and Daniel, children of Norman attend school in Winfield. Robert's sons, Shane graduated from the Burden School, and Robbie attends school in Winfield.
My father was Milliard Sam Leach. My mother was Hope Wilcox Leach. They came here from the North Central States. After their marriage, they settled and farmed in the Dale community. Milliard died in 1949. Hope died in 1968. Bothare buried in the Udall Cemetery.
I am the youngest of their three children. My sisters are Neila M. Leach Austin. She lives in Wichita, Kansas. JoAnn Leach Weshrooks lives in Augusta, Kans.
Submitted By Norma L. Green
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 182.
Louie worked in the grocery store next to Grace Methodist Church, now Prairietand, it was Nichols Grocery in 1923. He left the farm temporarily so Lucile could go to college. Lucile taught school to have money for college in between college years at the North Ward School, now Irving, and met Florence McNeish who was also teaching there. Lucile told all her practice teachers, "If you don't love children, don't teach."
Lucile May Green and James William Powers were united in marriage August 14, 1928. They lived away from Winfield until 1944 when they and their two children, Marilyn and Louis, repaired Charlotte Bose Powers' former home and lived there until 1957 when it was sold to Gene Bayl.
Submitted By Marilyn McNeish
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 182.
Gertrude's parents were Mary Isabelle Schnitzius and James Graham Brannum. Jim and Belle moved to Atlanta from Cosby, Mo. in 1903. Jim, and his son Charles and brother William, made the trip with a team and wagon with their belongings. Belle and children, Erma, Laura, Nellie, James, Ella, and Edith came by train. Gertrude was born June 2, 1905 in Atlanta as were two younger brothers, Lester and Eugene. Jim ran a number of different businesses over the years including Real Estate Broker, Justice of the Peace, Insurance, Notary Public and the Atlanta newspaper, with the older daughters helping to set type. The children attended Atlanta school and were active in the Atlanta Methodist Church. Gertrude graduated in 1923. She attended Southwestern College that summer and taught in a rural school in the fall. During the teacher shortage of W.W. II she taught in both Butler and Cowley counties.
Elmo and Gertrude had two children; Don Estel born April 30, 1926 and Deloris Yvonne born October 8, 1928. The family lived an various farms in Cowley County until 1941, they moved to a farm in southern Butler County. In 1946, they started a grocery store in Latham, Ks., but bought a farm on Timber Creek the next year. They remained there until their farm was taken for the Winfield Reservoir in 1968. They retired to Atlanta until 1973 when Elmo's failing health made them decide to move to Winfield where they remained the rest of their lives. Elmo passed away January, 1987 and Gertrude in December, 1989, They are buried in the Atlanta Cemetery.
Upon returning from W.W. 11 service, Don married Verle Marsland of Latham, Ks. in 1947. Don worked for Texaco and lived in and around Atlanta for a number of years before they were transferred to Oklahoma. They are retired and live in Ardmore, Oklahoma. They had seven children, Don, Cindy, Clifford, Charles, Sandra, Steven, and Robert. Robert was killed in an off field explosion.
I graduated from Douglass High School, Cosmetology school in Wichita and went to work in Hutchinson where I met my husband Clifford W. Lee. We lived in Pittsburg, Ks. until he finished college. We lived in Dodge City from 1951 to 1974 where he was with the I.R.S. for eight years and Administrator for the Dodge City Clinic the rest of the time. We have lived in Alabama and Florida and moved to Arkansas City in 1986. We have three children Shari Yvonne, James Weston, and Kirby Wayne.
Submitted By Deloris Groom Lee
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 182.
The three Groom families settled adjacent each other on land that bordered what is known as Dutch Creek. Later the small town of Wilmot was established two miles south of them.
James was pleased with the farm that brother John had located for him except for one small detail. There was a man already living there in a rough dugout. The man had not filed an intent to homestead, so James was able to trade him a team of horses and a wagon for the property. James spent a few days with his family making the dugout livable. In the spring of IB71 James returned to Olathe for Sarah and baby Minnie, who, was the first of several Groom babies to bless the homes on Dutch Creek. James'dugout was soon replaced by a log cabin which was replaced a few years later by a larger house to keep up with the growing family. Minnie was followed by Edward, Frank, Arthur, Elmer, James Paul, Alice, and Ray. Bennie and Lela died as infants.
James Pierson and Sarah left the homestead in approximately 19 10. Frank and his wife Melinda (Jones) moved to the farm. Their children were Gilmer, Vada, Wilbur, Neva, and James Donald. Frank and Linda built a new home on the farm. Frank was active in the local township and School boards, Frank and Linda moved to Winfield in 1949. James D., who had married Audine Wakefield, returned to the farm the same year. James D. was a grandson of James Pierson the original owner. In 1952 James D. bought the farm from his parents Improvements continued to be added.
Fire destroyed the house that Frank built, resulting in a new one being erected. James D. added to the original acreage including the acquisition of John Groom's original homestead, returning it to Groom ownership. James D. and Audine had four children, Kay, Aleta, James Paul, and Justin.
When James D. retired, his son Justin took over the farming operation and continues to live there with his wife Kimberly (Ellis) Groom and children Jeremy and Kacie. The farm was named by the Historical Center of Kansas as a Centennial Farm in 1971. It is so registered in Topeka. There are native stone entrances to the home with the homestead date cut into them.
Submitted by Kimberly Groom
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 182.
Submitted by Mildred Groom
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 182.
After their marriage in 1934 they farmed near Atlanta, then rented the J.P. Stuber farm north of Wilmot. The older son, John Herbert, was born in 1935. James Raymond in 1937 and Janet Louise in 1940. They acquired Mildred's home in 1940 and moved there in 1953.
The three children graduated from Winfield High School. Janet graduated from Emporia with a degree in business. John served in the Air Force and James in the Army.
Raymond continued farming all of his life. Mildred attended Southwestern, received her Masters Degree from Emporia and taught for twenty years. They have four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Raymond died in 1988, at the age of 84, after a long time illness.
John H. married Ann McFarland, daughter of Kenneth and Fannie McFcirland, whose families were Cowley County residents for many years. They have one daughter, Mrs Daryl (Laura) Rhodes. Their son Alan married Tammy Ryser.
James E. married Beverly Mountain, daughter of Don and Maxine Mountain of Winfield. They have two sons Aaron and Cameron.
Janet and Larry Pankey of Kansas City were married and she is employed by Bernstein-Rein Advertising.
This family has carried the family name through seven generations in Cowley County and within a few miles of Winfield. Beginning with Samuel and his son John William, his son Herbert Stuber Groom, and his son Raymond H. Then follows John H. and his son Alan and grandson Luke.
Submitted By Mildred Groom
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 183.
In 1873, John returned to Peoria, Illinois and married Emma Stuber, born in 1852 to Adam and Elizabeth Sirlott Stuher. Adam immigrated to America with his parents from Spebach, Bavaria in I B38. They lived in Ohio and Illinois. Adam, his second wife, Louisa Groom Stuber, sister of Samuel, came to Wilmot in 1879.
John and Emma settled on their farm, worked hard and raised seven children: Mabel, Herbert, Harold, Floyd, Earl, Elva, and J. Fuller. Adl but Herbert left Kansas in adulthood. In 1913, John and Emma retired in Winfield. Emma died in 1927, John in 1928.
Herbert Stuber Groom met Amy Woodside when William and Mary Woodside and their five children came from Yates Center, Kansas to Wilmot. William was a minister of the Christian Church and a carpenter. They left Wilmot in early 1900's, returning to Yates Center.
Herbert and Amy married Dec. 18, 1901. They lived on rented fcirms in various places around Wilmot. In 1909, Herbert bought a farm on Timber Creek south of Atlanta. Three children were born: Don Elmo 1903, Raymond Herbert 1904, and Thelma Elva 1907. They attended a country school, Hardscrabble. In 1919, another daughter, Aurice Lorene, was born.
The family moved to Arizona in 1920, hoping the climate would benefit Amy as she had asthma. The hot weather was bad for her, they came back in 1922 and bought a farm southeast of Atlanta. The children graduated from Atlanta High School, Herbert and Amy moved to Atlanta in 1943. In 1952 Amy died and Herbert died in 1969. Always a farmer, he planted his last wheat crop in 1967 at age 89.
Aurice met Harold Edwin Bradford in grade school at Atlanta. His parents, Clarence and Clara Stukey Bradford, moved from Gridley, Kansas to Eastman oil field southwest of Atlanta in 1928. Clarence retired in 1946 after eighteen years with Texaco Oil Company, moving to Atlanta. Clarence died in 1964 and Clara in 1974.
Harold and Aurice were married Aug. 3, 1938. Harold worked in oil fields in several communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. He retired from Texcico Inc. after thirty-three years with them. The couple bought property in Winfield and moved here in 1979. Harold keeps busy in his bicycle repair shop. They have four children: Lawrence, Karen Lee, Harold R., Shirley Ruda, and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Submitted By Aurice Groom Bradford
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 183.
They moved to Akron for a few years, then when she was four years old her father decided he wanted to live in Winfield. She went to school until she was 16 and decided she had learned enough. She worked at home and occasionally went with Sonny to a triend's house where Sonny would go out with a girl and Clarinda would go out with the girl's brother. The boy's family soon moved to Lamar, MO and Clarinda stayed home like a good girl till she was 18, and their milkman wanted to go with her. She told him she would have to talk to her folks about it. Her dad had a fit and said "he didn't give a @#$%*&'$#@" and from then on she did as she pleased.
About this time Clarinda's Aunt Ida Hall asked her folks if she (Clarinda) could come over and take care of Ida's mother, Phoebe Anna Garwood. (See "George Smcilts.") This is where she met her future husband.
The old adage "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," was Gertainly true in this case. Grandma Garwood told George he'd better marry that girl before someone else did. Clarinda was 21 years old when she and George were married Sept. 8, 1914 in Newkirk, OK- It was three weeks before anyone except Grandma Garwood knew they were married.
When George and Clarinda lived in what they called "The Hollow" (which was actually just a large canyon that the Old California trail went through), they cooked on a wood stove. One day Clarinda noticed a very large centipede crawling up the wall behind the stove. She grabbed the broom and held the centipede. She couldn't push hard enough to kill it, but she would not let it go. A couple of hours later George came home and found her this way; nearly baked.
When they moved, Clarinda always said it didn't matter what the house looked like, but they always had to have a good barn as that was the first thing George looked at. If the barn did not please him then they did not move there.
Clarinda died in 1979 after a long illness and is buried in Highland Cemetery.
Submitted By Anna C. Craft
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 183.
John and Eliza had two children, James Eslie Hall born June 2, 1883 and Rosa May Hall born May 21, 1891. They went lo Sivler Creek School with many of their cousins, the Rockenbochs, Mays, Blcikeys, Sanders and Wilsons. (continued on page 184)
Submitted by Neva Hall Simmons
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 183.
Elvina died 1926 and is buried in Burden Cemetery. James Eslie married again October 15, 1930 to Vina Folger. She died 1956 and James Eslie in 1959. Both areburied in Burden Cemetery.
I have lived in Cowley County all my life and received my education at Hardscrabble and Burden Schools. I married Leonard Simmons April 26, 1941 and we have lived in Grandview community north of Winfield and farmed for several years. We have three sons, Marion Francis, Max Wesley and Gary Lee Simmons, all attended Winfield schools and married and raised their families in Cowley County. We have six grandchildren; Troy Lane, Kristin Leigh, Patricia Ann, Jana Grace, Ty Wesley and Mary Beth Simmons Biddle. We have three great-grandchildren; Kari Beth and Kayla Ann Biddle and Jenna Leigh Simmons, daughter of Ty.
Neva Hall Simmons
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 184.
He married Jane (Jennie) Elizabeth Hewitt of Huntington County, Pennsylvania, on December 29, 1865.
In 1866 they responded to the call of the West and came to Kansas City, Missouri, where a daughter, Mary, was born on October 27, 1872, and a son, Calvin Blythe, was born January 11, 1875.
In 1876 they removed to Walnut township, Butler County, Kansas, where twin sons - Robert R. and John H. - were born on April 8, I B79. In 1887 they moved to Winfield where they spent the remainder of their lives. IT. Hamilton opened a butcher shop at 816 East Ninth advertising all kinds of fresh and salt meats. The Hamilton family resided at 1404 East Fifth Street.
Between 1891 and 1900 all four of the Hamilton children attended Southwestern College. Mary Hamilton taught Latin at Winfield High School for seven years. Jane (Jennie) Hewitt Hamilton died March 12, 1916. I.T. Hamilton died March 4, 1919.
Mary Hamilton married Dr. Melvin L. Wortman May 23, 1903 in Winfield. They had three children, Marie Wortman, born in 1904, married Tom Fatout in 1930. She died in 1980. Russell Wortman was born in 1905 and died in 1925. Donald Wortman, born in 1919, married Ethel Donaldson in 1933. Donald is now living in Florida.
Calvin Blythe Hamilton (Cebe) worked for railroads over the United States and Mexico, building bridges, until he founded the Winfield Plumbing and Heating Co. in 1908. In 1909 he married Pearl Heinekin and they had two children: Helen and Thomas. Calvin and Pearl were divorced Marcti 22, 1950. In September 1950 he married Addie McAllister, widow of Delno McAllister. She owned the Adeline and Delno Apartments. Mr. Hamilton was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the First Methodist Church for over fifty years, and served as president of the Winfield Board of Education for twenty-nine years. He died February 25, 1953 being survived by two children: Helen P. Henderson and Ton Hamilton. They both moved to San Diego, California.
John Hewitt Hamilton joined his older brother, Calvin B. Hamilton, in founding the Winfield Plumbing and Heating Co. in 1908. In 1909 he married Edna Franks (youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs Charles T. and Amanda Franks, who came to Winfield in 1900). She died May 17, 1960. John Hamilton ended his working career with the Kyger Furniture Store. He died July 25, 1965, survived by two sons Robert F. Hamilton, who moved to ElDorado, Kansas: and John B. Hamilton, who moved to Loraine, Ohio.
Robert R. Hamilton (twin brother of John) was employed in Winfield as a Deputy District Court Clerk in 1903. He left for San Diego, California prior to IDIO and spent the rest of his life there.
Submitted BY Kevilin C. Wortman
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 184.
John's parents were Isaac T. and Jennie E. (Hewitt) Hamilton. They moved to Winfield in 1881 from Gordon, Kansas. Originally from Pennsylvania, Isaac T. served as a Major with the 11Oth Pennsylvania Infantry during the War of the Rebellion. Isaac T. was born November 18, 1836 and died March 2, 1919. Jennie E. was born May 5, 1840 and died March 12, 1916. Both are buried in the Union Cemetery in Winfield. Other children were a daughter Mary, son Calvin Blyth "C.B.", and son Robert R. John and Robert were twins.
Edna's parents were Charles Tupper Franks and Amanda Ellen "Nellie" (Zimmerman) Franks. They came to Winfield in 1901 from Mendota, Illinois. Charles Tupper was born March 9, 1853 and died January B, 1933. Amanda Ellen was born July 3, 1851 and died July 5, 1934. Both are buried in Highland Cemetery. Other children were a daughter Winnie Ellen, a son Willard J. and a son Urie, who died when a small child.
John and Edna Hamilton attended the Methodist Church and participated in all church activities. They were also staunch supporters of Southwestern College. John was a 32nd Degree Mason and Edna was active in the Rebecca's.
John H. and his older brother C.B. for many years owned and operated the Winfield Plumbing and Heating located in a three-story native stone building on the northeast corner of the intersection of Ninth & Loomis just across the street east of the Lagonda Hotel. They not only served the town of Winfield but put plumbing and heating in many large buildings, such as churches and schools all over southern Kansas and into northern Oklahoma.
CAMP GABALOT: In the early 1920s five families formed Camp Gabalot. They were the J.H. Hamiltons, C.B. Hamiltons, C.R. Calverts, W.J. Robinsons, and Lloyd Thompsons. The first year they camped in tents among the trees on Timber Creek at Grandview Ranch, 7 miles northeast of Winfield, operated by W. O. Bender, Mrs. Bender and Mrs. Hamilton were sisters. It was a good way to escape the city heat. The next year the men built cabins, one for each family, and one large community kitchen and dining area, using the heavy lumber used to protect plumbing supplies and sewer tile shipped by rail to Winfield Plumbing and Heating. The families stayed at the camp and the men drove back and forth to work in Winfield. During the June 1923 flood they realized in the middle of the night that they must abandon their camp. As best they could, they put furniture up high and tied the Winfield Plumbing and Heating truck and the cars to surrounding trees. Then they made their way to the hayloft in the barn on the Bender Ranch. While waiting for the water to recede, W.D. Bender had to swim his horse to the barn and bring them food.
John and Edna Hamilton had two sons, Robert Franks Hamilton born January 7, 1910 and John Blythe Hamilton born February 22, 1911. Both boys graduated from Southwestern College.
Robert F. married Jeannette King in 1937. Her parents were Clyde B. King and Bessie A. King. They lived in Arkansas City where Clyde B. was City Manager for about twenty years. While serving as City Manager, he was instrumental in obtaining Strother Field for the two cities of Winfield and Arkansas City. Robert and Jeannette now live in El Dorado, Kansas.
John B. married Jean Elizabeth Snyder in 1941. Her parents Claude and Mary Frances Snyder lived in New Castle, Pennsylvania. John and Jean now live in Loraine, Ohio.
John Hewitt Hamilton was born April 8, 1879 and died July 26, 1965. Edna Constance Hamilton was born February 8, 1879 and died May 17, 1960. Both are buried at Highland Cemetery.
With the exception of the first year or so of their married life, John and Edna lived at 1007 E. Ninth until their deaths.
Submitted by Robert F. Hamilton
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 184.
They are the parents of two daughters, Evelyn Marie Hamlin born October 6, 1931 at Winfield and married to Daniel E. Smith on April 6, 1952; and Carlene Louise Hamlin born February 23, 1935 at Winfield and married to Richard Donovan Brown on January 12, 1958 at Winfield.
They all reside in Cowley County. Carl worked as a parts man for Stuber Brothers Ford and Kline Motors-later as a parts man for General Electric at Strother Field until his retirement in 1974.
They are both members of First Christian Church, many Masonic affiliations, and she is a member of Peleg Gorton Chapter DAR and Rosetti.
They have six grandchildren, five who are married and nine great-grandchildren. Part reside in Cowley County, the remainder in Kansas.
Carl and Marie are both descendants of those who fought in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War.
Submitted By C. Marie Hamlin
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 184.
To this union were born seven children; James Martin Hamlin, Mary Sumanth Hamlin, Francis (Frank) Eoland Hamlin, Charles Fredie Hamlin, Charity Boyd Hamlin, Amanda Louella Alice Hamlin, Ernest Washington Hamlin born July 9, 1879 near Chanute, Kansas. (continued on page 185)
Submitted by Carl W. Hamlin (son)
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 184.
Ernest married Carolyn (Calla) Elsie Weakly, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Dressell Weakly, born March 6, 1882 in Walnut Township, Cowley County.
Ernest and Calla were married February 1, 1902 at Winfield. To this union were born seven children: Charles Ernest Hamlin, Charity Louella Grace Hamlin, Raymond Harvey Hamlin, Carl Wright Hamlin, Melvin Howard Hamlin, Elsie Ruth Hamlin, and Ralph Warren Hamlin.
Ernest was a farmer and called for square dances all over the area. Ernest died August 25, 1968 at Winfield. Calla died November 11, 1967 at Winfield. Both are buried at Highland Cemetery in Winfield.
Submitted By Carl W. Hamlin (son)
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 185.
On July 9, 1893 he married Eliza Jane (Lizzie) McWard the daughter of David McWard and Ellen (Holmes) McWard. Mrs. Hammer was born in White Oak, Illinois, October 15, 1868.
Her parents came to Illinois from Scotland in 1867 leaving her older sister, Sarah, with their parents Richard McWard and Eliza (Wilson) McWard, and Andrew and Helen (Elliott) Holmes. Sarah did not Game to the United States until 1888. She married Jerry Sheltar, raised a family and remained in the U.S.
In 1908 Hugh L. and Eliza (Lizzie) Jane bought a farm Southwest of Dexter, Kansas and moved there from Clarksdale, Ill., with their children, remaining there the rest of their lives. The farm is still owned by members of the Hammer family.
Mr. Hammer's first wife died leaving three children: Fred, Myrtle Reavis, and Glenna Pound.
Hugh L. and Eliza (Lizzie) Jane were parents of David McKinley Hammer, Sanford Gibson Hammer, Harold Hugh (Earl) Hammer and Francie Lester Hammer.
Mrs. Hammer was baptized into the Episcopalian Church and later affiliated with the Dexter Baptist Church. She was a member of the Eastern Star of the Dexter Chapter. She died Jan. 9, 1944. Mr. Hammer died March 6, 1932. They are both buried in the Dexter, KS. Cemetery.
Two of their grandchildren and their families live in Cowley County. They are Mrs. Fuller (Evelyn) Watt and Stanley G. Hammer.
Submitted By Evelyn Watt
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 185.
Gibson was born June 1, 1895 to Hugh Lincoln Hammer and Eliza Jane (Lizzie) McWard in Clarksdale, Ill. In 1908 he moved with his parents from Illinois to a farm they had purchased on Grouse Creek southwest of Dexter, Ks.
After attending the Dexter schools he graduated from Winfield High School in 1914, He attended Normal School and was a school teacher before becoming a postal rural mail carrier in July, 1917 at Maple City, Ks. He always enjoyed telling about carrying the mail by horseback and horse and buggy. In 1919 he was transferred to Cambridge, Ks. He was located there until 1945 when he was transferred to Burden, Ks. where he retired in 1967 after 50 years service. Gibson had other business interests including cattle and farming. The family farm is still owned by the Hammer family.
Alice was born to William Thomas Williams and Barbara Elmira Littleton in rural Cambridge Dec. 24, 1897. She resided on a farm her father homesteaded in 1872. This farm is still in her family and owned by her brother, Robert R. Williams. For ten years she owned and operated a general store in Cambridge, Ks.
Mr. and Mrs. Hammer moved to 1512 E. 14th, Winfield uponhis retirement in 1967. Mr. Hammer passed away March 15, 1981 and is buried in the Dexter Cemetery.
They are the parents of three children: Evelyn Alice (Mrs. Fuller Watt), Winfield; Stanley Gibson, Winfield; Gael Warren, Washington Depot, Conn. They have eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Hammer is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield and resides at 1512 E. 14th, Winfield.
Submitted by Evelyn Watt
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 185.
My grandfather, Robert Hanahan (1904-1989) was born and lived his entire 85 years on a farm 5 miles south of Otto Corner in Cowley County, Kansas (the southern boundary of the property is the Kansas/Oklahoma border).
His father, John Hanahan, was a government surveyor. Among other notable sites, he surveyed Yellowstone National Park. During the surveying project John was giving some visiting "officials" a tour of the park and the stagecoach they were riding in turned over. 7he Winfield Courier proclaimed in a large front page hecidline"Wild Irishman John Hanahan of Maple City Turns Over Stagecoach with Governor Aboard".
When John ran across the 200 acre piece of land which is the Hanahan farm today he liked it so well that he wanted it for his own. He bought the land from the United States Government for about three dollars per acre. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the original deed establishing the first "legal ownership" of the land by an individual. John lived on it until his death in 1910 and it remains in the Hanahan name to this day.
Before marrying his father, Robert's mother, Phebe Flynn (1863-1947), had run in the Cherokee Strip Land Run into Oklahoma Territory. She won a "claim" but she and her infant daughter nearly starved to death that first winter subsisting entirely on dried apples and water.
Robert had one brother, Scott (1909-1967), and one sister, Bessie (1893-1951).
At twenty-one years-of-age, Robert married Lois Stockdale, a girl who lived on the adjoining farm (in Oklahoma). They were married at the county seat, Winfield, and on the way back home they heard the news of Lindburgh's flight across the Atlantic.
Lois' father, Lewis Stockdale (1852-1952), was originally from Zanesville, Ohio. He had first come to Kansas in 1878. He ad "rode the t ain to the end of the line" - Arkansas City, There were Indians riding through the streets firing their guns. He decided it was "too wild for him"; he never got off the train, turned around and went right back to Ohio!
He returned 20 years later in 1898, when "things had settled down a bit." He brought with him "the first steam powered threshing machine in Oklahoma territory." He raised wheat and corn and later opened a "livery stable" in Bliss (the present Marland), Oklahoma. A large part of his business was transporting people back and forth from the " 101 Ranch". He "smoked peace pipes" and became great friends with the Indians. He was well acquainted with, and told many stories about, various "celebrities" who frequented the "101 Ranch"; people such as Tom Mix (motion picture "cowboy" star) and Bill Pickett (Pickett originated "bulldogging"; but he "bulldogged" steers with his teeth! He bit the flesh between their nostrils and brought them down by twisting it!)
Robert and Lois raised 4 children: Wynema (born 1919), Janice (born 1931), Lloyd (born 1937), and Linda (born 1946), all presently living.
Robert and Lois "toughed it out" and stuck together through the good times and the hard times. And there were sure some "lean years". They made it through the floods, the mud, the droughts, the "dustbowls", the depression, the locusts and not only survived but thrived. They built the little plot of land into one of the most modern and productive (per acre) dairy farms in the nation. Robert received a "Star Farmer Award" in 1950. In 1951 the milkbarn he designed and built himself was featured in the Arkansas City newspaper as the "epitome of a modern dairy."
Robert served on the Grant Township Board for 52 years and on the Caney Valley Electric Cooperative Association Board for 10 years. He passed away in December, 1989 but Lois is still in excellent health. She participates in the Cowley County Farm Extension Unit and is very prolific and active in crafts and craft shows (baking, sewing, crocheting, embroidery, etc.).
To me, this story illustrates what America is supposed to be all about, self-sufficiency, independence, imitative, freedom; the freedom to dream and the guaranteed right to pursue your dreams.
Robert and Lois are two of the heroes of this county and of this country.
Submitted By Hanahan Bennett, Grandson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 185.
In 1878 Andrew and wife Esther (Crown) and their five children, Daniel, Perry, Francis Andrew, (my father), Almeda, and Charles Elmer emigrated from their home near Kentland, Indiana, by covered wagon to Cowley County, Kansas. A nephew, Darius Haney and his bride, Evaline, accompanied them, and they all spent their first winter with friends in a small three-room house about ten miles east of Winfield. In the (continued on page 186)
Submitted by Hazel Elfman Haney
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 185.
- 181 - 182 - 183 - 184 - 185 - | State Coordinators Tom & Carolyn Ward, Columbus, KS tcward@columbus-ks.com |