- 186 - 187 - 188 - 189 - 190 - 
- 186 - 187 - 188 - 189 - 190 - The five Haney children attended the one-room Prairie Ridge school, and later, as they grew up, lived on their own farms or in Winfield. My grandparents later lived in Winfield, on a small tract on or near Wheat Road.
Daniel, eldest son, married Ida Hoel, lived in Winfield and reared four children: Vee, Cora, Homer and Gladys. Vee became Mrs. Otto Robinson; Cora married John Hoben; Homer had no family; Gladys married Dean Busby, had three daughters, Barbara, Joan, and Jane. Barbara (Solsby) and Joan (Mazzanti) still live in Winfield.
Perry married Minnie Morrell, had three sons: Winfred, Glen, and Ralph. Winfred married Clarice Day, and their two children, Lee Ellsworth and Ann, live in or near Rose Hill, Kansas.
Glen and Lucile Haney had two sons, who may still live in Winfield. Ralph married Kathryn Hudson, and had no family.
Almeda married Otto Williams, lived in Winfield, with children Alva, Lester, and Carnette. There are no survivors of this family.
Charles Elmer Haney, wife Blanche and their three children, Mary (Freed), Leo, and Loren lived on a farm in the Prairie Ridge area.
My father, Frances Andrew, married Grace Moyer, and lived for forty-six years on a farm four miles west of Dexter, and joined the property of our maternal grandparents, the Edward Moyer's. They came to Kansas in 1888 from Iowa. In our family were Clarence, married to Neta Kingsbury and farmed for many years near Courtland, Kansas. Their children are Phillip Eugene, who married Glorene Schwalm, and now living in Wichita. Daughter, Dorothy, married Donovan McCarty, and lives in Belleville, Kansas, My sister, Eunice, married Ivan Ott, and they had no children, living in or near Winfield all their lives.
The writer of this sketch, Hazel, married Albert Elfman, and lived in Cherryvcile, Kansas where their son, Frank Stanley, was born. After Albert's death in 1928, I returned to teaching, my last position being at Atlanta, Kansas grade school. In 1934, I moved to Boulder and married my distant cousin, Marion Ray Haney. Our son Stanley married Patricia Thoman of Lamar Colorado and now lives in Virginia.
Submitted by Hazel (Haney) Elfman Haney
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 186.
After my retirement in 1978, I was asked by Cowley County Community College to fill a one year full-time position, after which I continued on a part-time basis. Later I taught Inter-personal Communication for Butler County at McConnell Air Force Base.
All four of my grandparents had left the militarism of Bismark's Germany in the late 1860's, lured to America by the prospect of virgin land and unlimited opportunities. My paternal grandfather, John Binger, a cabinetmaker in the city of Rostock in Mecklenberg, came to Wisconsin in 1868 with two teenage sons to find a farm near Madison. My grandmother, Elisa von Kuhlman, followed in January of 1869, when my father was eleven months old. The rough Atlantic made her seasick for most of the six weeks voyage; her six and eight year old daughters took care of my father.
My mother's father, William Roeber, an eighteen year old forester in Hanover, caught America fever and emigrated to the northeast corner of Iowa called "Little Switzerland," where German relatives and neighbors had settled. My grandmother came about the same time. They met, married and had several children before homesteading in Dakota Territory, where my mother and father met. My father attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, for two years before he bought a tree claim in the southwest corner of Spink County, Dakota Territory. Later in his life he served as President of the Bank in Tulare and managed a lumber yard and two grain eievators, of which he was part owner.
I was born January 8, 1913, the eleventh of twelve children, the first in my family to be delivered by a doctor. I spent eight years in a one room country school and graduated from high school in Redfield, the county seat, 25 miles away.
In 1934 I received my Bachelor's degree from Morningside College in Sioux City and taught in high schools at Oto and Onawa, Iowa, before marrying Grant D. Hanson of Sioux City in 194 1. I went as a bride to Rack Island, Illinois, then to Michigan and Minnesota before coming to Ames, Iowa, in 1950. At the time of my husband's sudden death in 1962, he was Assistant Director of the Library at Iowa State University.
I returned to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for my Masters' in Speech in 1963, but stayed for another year of graduate study. During the summers of the years at Southwestern I attended travel-study seminars in Lebanon, Jugoslavia, Austria and India; I studied at SUNY in Binghamton, Trinity University in San Antonio and the University of Denver.
Although I have traveled to many beautiful places, I chose to stay in Winfield during my retirement. I have found remarkable friends who share my interest in music, literature, travel, photography and people. I have remained active in college and community organizations including Grace United Methodist Church, Delta Kappa Gamma, P.E.O., a Wichitti Camera Club, the Winfield Arts and Humanities Council.
Submitted By Gleva M Hanson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 186.
My schooling continued and I graduated from the local high school in 1935. Upon graduation I entered the maritime service and had a chance to travel. Upon returning home I was employed by the Keefe-LeStourgeon Packing Company, and worked there until it went defunct.
I worked my way through school by being employed as a messenger for the Western Union, and later as a grocery clerk. I was employed by the Shutter Brothers Grocery at the outbreak of World War 11. My mother being a widow, and I the only son, could have been deferred, however I joined the army and served with the Third Infantry Division in the 15th Infantry. My jobs consisted of being a driver, a gunner, and a general infantryman. I received several decorations and was honorably discharged.
Returning home, I was employed in several occupations, those being the local newspaper, radio station, then entered into business for myself as a real estate salesman. Having retired twice, I still work a few days a week in a heating and cooling company.
As a longtime resident of the city, I have seen the demise of such places of entertainment as the old Isis Theater, the Starr Theater, the Strand Theater, the Howard, and the old Opera House. Once we had several hotels: the Majestic, the Monroe, the St. Clair, the Osage, and a smaller one by the Santa Fe depot.
Although Arkansas City shows no noticeable increase in population, the surrounding area has grown tremendously. Entertainment is now what we make it and television seems to be the most dominant. Many families that at one time could hardly afford two pounds of navy beans now have nicer homes, and no doubt two cars in the drive.
As one of the "old timers" that have stuck it out, I have a large group of friends. My mother and sisters left here years ago, and mother and one sister have passed away and are buried in California. My wife Bessie (Brownlee) and my stepson Alex Leith are my "family". Bess and I were married in 1964, and have lived ever since at 1302 North 8th Street.
Once we played at "Natural Bridge Park", now known as Crestwood. We hiked and shot rabbits north of Kansas Avenue, now recognized as Brad-Meek Addition. It was an all day event to hunt around the "Christ Died for the Ungodly", my first image of Arkansas City from a railroad Gar window sixty-one years ago. When I was told we were going to a place called "AC", I had thought it was the home of the spark plug company. I soon learned how wrong I was.
Submitted By Fitzgerald F. Harder
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 186.
Ben E. Harris and Betty Jo Barney were raised in Sumner County, Kansas. Ben worked at Mauer-Neuer Meat Packing in the 50's. Betty entered nursing training at William Newton Memorial Hospital in August, 1952.
Their parents are Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Harris and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Barney (Erna Munroe) all of South Haven, Kansas.
After many neat learning experiences in nursing and affiliations completed at Kansas City, Kansas, and Wichita, Ben and Betty were married at the South Haven Methodist Church on July 1, 1955. Alcia (Clavin), classmate, and Glen R. Harris, his brother, as attendants. Eleanor (Berline) Patton played the piano. Her uncles Ted Kling (deceased) and Charles (Bob) E. Munro of Oregon signed the wedding book as witnesses. Uncle Bob later received a ticket for speeding while chasing them out of town.
Ben and Betty purchased and spent their wedding night at their brand new home at 1509 Mound, with several of Betty's classmates calling on them that night. Ben continued as airman with Mauer-Neur and Betty was evening supervisor at William Newton Memorial Hospital.
To this union were born four daughters and one son while at this address- Tresa Renee, Tamra Laree, Dana Michelle, (continued on page 187)
Submitted by Betty Harris
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 186.
Since Ben and Betty both being raised on a farm, they wanted their children farm oriented. They purchased the Biddle 88 acres on September 28, 1964. Ben continued to be in farming with his dad and brother while employed at William Newton Memorial Hospital as an electrician.
All of their five children were educated at District #465 and graduated from Winfield High School in '74, '75, '77, '80, and '83 respectively.
With all the activities of 4-H, FHA, FFA, music lessons orthodontist, cheerleading, Little League, track, girls basketball, summer activities and mother working 11-7, they survived.
Tresa Renee, born 8-21-56, married Dr. Michael D. Rich ardson of Maine in October 1982 at Hannibal, Mo. on the steps where Mark Twain gave his speech at the Rockclif fe mansion Tresa had received her Masters Degree at Columbia, Mo. in social work. They live in rural Hannibal, Mo. Benjamin David, born Sept. 1985 and Rachel Erin born Sept 1987 look forward to harvest and holidays at Winfield.
Tamra, born 10-17-57 graduated from Cowley County Community College and does computer work at Gordon Piatt Nisha Renee Watson, being the first grandchild for Ben and Betty, was born 1-79 and is currently in fifth grade. Michael Shannon, born 5-80 is in fourth grade. Tamra is married to Bruce Watson and they've purchased a home in Arkansas City. Nisha, born 7-59 helps Grandma and Mike likes to mow the yard and fish. They are very busy in church and civic activities.
Dana, born 7-26-59, attended Wichita State University on a track scholarship. was a Nanny for a year in New York. Later serving in the U.S. Navy meeting her husband, Tom Bovill, from Rhode Island. After a Japanese garden wedding at the Roger Williams Park in Providence on 6-83, they continued their Navy tour. Timothy J. Bovill was born Oct 1984 at Winter Harbor, Maine and Joshua Robert, born 10-89 in Gaeta, Italy where they lived for three years and Tim was on Belwap Ship. They now are at Norfolk, Va.
Dedra, born 8-11-61, attended Emporia State University and Oklahoma State University, marrying Ernest Ray Mitchell of Geuda Springs, Kansas. This made three weddings in a year hitting the pocketbook hard. The Mitchell's were married at First United Methodist Church on October 22, 1983. Besides three weddings it was Ben and Betty's 25th anniversary and her parents had a big 50th anniversary and two graduations. Betty and her five sisters teased and/or picked at Dedra to set her wedding date on her grandparents 50th to make it simpler, but she did not cooperate. They manage the K-W Ranch at Keatchie, La. Dedra works part-time at the local Post Office. Nathan Gary Mitchell was born 11-86 and Hannah Charisse in June 1989.
John, born 12-18-63, a week before Christmas, was quite a surprise. John is currently working at Strother Field and has a back hoe business. He also farms some. He has a son Jarret Tyler.
Ben and Betty began working at Winfield State Hospital and Training Center in 1965 as an electrician supervisor and a Registered Nurse. Ben is into farming more and has oriented new family members. Even converted potato farmers into combine drivers. The rest of the family cooks, runs errands, baby sits, moves machinery and all that goes with the hurried excitement of harvest, with Tamra Watson coordinating this. This year the whole family is expected to return.
Betty was a great-niece to Mrs. W.J. (Tula) Franks, who was a sister of her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Charles E. (Mabel Scroggy) Munroe. Many enjoyable times are recalled being with Willard and Tula Franks, who had the W.J. Franks Real Estate and Insurance, later being sold to the Higginbottoms.
By Betty Harris
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 187.
On September 28, 1915 he married Birdie Augusta Graham. She was born May21, 1894 in Dexter Township, Cowley County, Kansas. Her parents were Thomas Chorus and Elizabeth Ellen Mitchael Graham. They lived in Cowley County most of their lives.
Guy and Birdie had three daughters: Ellen Margaret Bonewell Curbow, Vera Elizabeth Pack, and Geneva Jo Higdon Todd.
Guy was a rancher most of his life and worked in the oil fields for a few years. They were both hard workers, took care of their family and had many friends. They always were in close touch with their parents, brothers, and sisters. Many group gatherings were held over the years.
The family nearly always lived on a ranch and the girls went to country one-room schools, except for about three years when they lived in Dexter while Guy worked in the oil fields.
In about 1929 Birdie became ill and was diagnosed as having cancer. She was in poor health the rest of her life and died December 13, 1931 at her parent's home in Dexter. She was baptized a Methodist as a child on Plum Creek. She was buried in Dexter Cemetery. Her favorite flower was the Gaillardia. She had a large collection of picture postcards she received from her many friends in the years before she married.
Guy continued to take care of his girls and worked on the ranch near Grand Summit, Kansas for several years. Later, he lived in Cambridge to be near his mother and sister. His daughters all grew up, were married and had families.
Guy liked to go to rodeos and did every chance he got. He also liked to play checkers, dominoes, cribbage, and Rook card game. One of his favorite songs was "Red Wings", which he sang to us girls often.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and telling them stories about things he had done in his life.
I believe Guy H. Harris was a well-liked person by all who knew him. He was always helping others and enjoyed doing it. He was not in good health after about 1958, when he had a stroke. But, he was always cheerful and enjoyed visiting with the many friends and family who visited him. He died on November 29, 1962 at the hospital in Winfield, Kansas and was buried next to his wife in Dexter Cemetery.
He is greatly missed by both family and friends.
Vera Elizabeth Harris Pack
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 187.
On February 17, 1883 James Chester Harris married Margaret Elizabeth Hamill, who was born on March 5, 1863 in Quindara Township, Wyandotte County, Kansas. Her parents were John Knox and Mary Jane Jackson Hamill. The Hamill had moved to Cowley County in 1878 and lived next to Isabella Harris and her family.
James and Maggie had eight children. They were Iola, John Chester, Arthur Roy, Edith Jane Harris, Guy H. (my father), Georgia Belle Sumner, Margaret Ethel Hawley, and Catherine Beatrice Jones.
James Chester died on January 29, 1919 during the flu epidemic and was buried in Cambridge Cemetery. He had been a rancher and farmer all of his life. I do not know if they lived in Cambridge when he died or were still on their place east of Cambridge. The old house they lived in by the railroad tracks about four miles east of Cambridge is still there.
My first recollection of Grandma "Maggie" Harris was when she lived in what later was called her old house, just off the highway in Cambridge. We visited her and like to play the Victorola in the back bedroom. It had the roller records.
Later, Grandma "Maggie" and Aunt Edith, who never married, lived in a new house in Cambridge for the rest of their lives. This new house was built next door north to the old house. At different times over the years, different grandaughters lived with them. I was one of them.
Maggie was always interested in everyone. She kept in close touch with all her children and grandchildren, as well a her husband's sisters, over the years. There were many family (continued on page 188)
Submitted by Vera Elizabeth Harris Pack
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 187.
Margaret Elizabeth Harris died at her home on October 31, 1946 at the age of 83 years. She was a member of the Cambridge Presbyterian Church where the funeral service was held. Burial was in Cambridge Cemetery beside her husband.
Submitted by Vera Elizabeth Harris Pack
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 187 and 188.
"With her older sister Luticia and brother Tom, little Isabelle walked a mile to school, and it was during her school days the old log school house, beside the Zion Church, burned and school was held in the church for several years.
"About the time she was twenty, her father gave two acres on his farm, the very center of the township, (now Corinth Township) and a new school house was built, But Isabelle's heart had been captured by young Thomas Jefferson Harris, of Tennessee, and she already married and had three babies. Thus her education was continuing in the school of life. Her children adored her, and she is remembered as a good, devoted mother; one whose greatest interest in life centered in her children.
"At the age of forty-four (1877) the father of her children died in Windsor Township, Cowley County, Kansas where the last five of their ten children were born. After his funeral, her father persuaded her to rent the farm and return with him to Illinois. In these days, men had the idea women were helpless when left to support a family alone.
"The Harrises only remained in Illinois about three years. Homesick and very certain they could run the home farm, the children voiced Isabelle's own convictions on the matter, so they returned to their Kansas home, The older children recall the pleasures of those few years among their mother's people and regret they have had so little opportunity since of knowing them better.
"They enjoyed the school right there on their grandfather's farm, and the Sunday School in the large new frame church house that had replaced the old log one where their Mother attended both Day and Sunday School.
"In 1885 she died at the age of forty-five years. Had she lived to be ninety-seven she would have noted the possession of one hundred and twenty-five descendants."
"What is holiest below
Must forever live and grow."
- Lucy Larcom "The Harris Sisters"
Submitted By Vera Elizabeth Harris Pack, great-granddaughter
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 188.
Mary Marrilla (Hill) McDaniel, became William's second wife on June 5, 1870 at the bride's home in Franklin County, Kansas. Mary had moved her family of five children from Illinois after her husband had died. Five children were born to this marriage: twins, Ashby Tipseward and Sarah Frances (Clarci), Laura Bell, Margaret Elizabeth (Maggie) and one child who died in infancy. On January 21, 1879 Mary died on her 43rd birthday and was buried beside William's first wife, Susannah.
In 1881 William moved his family seven miles east of Atlanta to a homestead in Harvey Township of Cowley County. Two sons, George Alonzo and Nicholas, had taken homesteads, earlier, within a half-mile of William's new place. Two sisters, Milley Rice and Martha Tankisley, filed homesteads in the section adjoining. Martha is buried in the Box Cemetery in Harvey Township.
Soon after William moved to Cowley County he married for a third time to a Jennie M. This marriage failed when William would not consider dispersing his younger children with his older children and Jennie returned to the Kansas City area. AU of the second family attended Upper Timber Creek School and both Clara and Ashby taught terms at that school. William sold his Cowley County form to his son, Nicholas, during his marriage difficulties. Nicholas sold it in turn to his sister, Maggie, and her husband, Elmer Smith. William made his home with the Smiths until 1899 when he made his home with Clara and her husband, Morton Wilkins, near the town of Burden. He died on January 9, 1916 and was buried in the Mount Vernon Cemetery east of Atlanta. William was a member of the Baptist Church and the Burden Masonic Lodge. During the Civil War he was a member of the Missouri Home Guard and was later assigned to Co. K of the 49th Regt. of the Missouri Militia.
Submitted By Stanley C. Smith
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 188.
George S. Hartley moved his family to Arkansas City in 1894, after he completed 10 years as a federally licensed trader with the Osage Indians near Pawhuska, Oklahoma Territory. Hartley, in 1885 brought his family from Indiana to the untamed and unfamiliar Osage country for a business opportunity.
Still in his 30s, George worked hard to earn the respect of the Osage tribe for it meant the difference between a successful business and failure. The young family led a life unknown to today's residents of Oklahoma and Kansas. Nut only did they live among the Indians, but with the desperadoes who roamed the trackless plains. As an example, members of the family became well acquainted with the infamous Dalton brothers gang, because they had little choice in a land without law enforcement.
When he moved to Arkansas City, George Hartley became president of the First National Bank. After retiring from the bank, Hartley was postmaster of Arkansas City for eight years. During these years, the family home was a familiar gathering place for political and business leaders from Kansas and more distant points. George S. Hartley died in 1925.
The second generation of Hartleys in Cowley County was the family of Earl M. Hartley, the middle child of George and Caroline Hartley. He moved to Winfield in 1897 at the age of 20 after schooling. Earl began his work in Winfield as deputy clerk of the District Court. Later, he joined Stafford & Albright abstract firm. He was an officer of the Commercial Club, an active organization of Winfield's business leaders. He also was secretary of Winfield Board of Education.
Hartley married Emma Nickel in 19 1 0 and they reared two children, Robert D. and Warren. Emma was the only daughter of John Nickel, who moved his family to Winfield in 1884 and established a harness company.
Later Earl formed a partnership with T,H. Harrod, an insurance and real estage agent in Winfield. By the late 1920s he was sole proprietor of Hartley Insurance Agency, and continued as senior member until his death in 1955.
Earl and Emma's older son, Bob, entered the family insurance agency in 1935 after attending Southwestern College. Later their son, Warren, became an insurance agent in the state of Washington. In 1935 Bob Hartley married Ruth Geesling of Turon, Kansas, with whom he attended Southwestern College. They reared two children, Robert Earl and Helen.
Thus the third Hartley began a business career in the county. Except for a period during World War II, Bob Hartley worked with his father in the insurance agency. until the senior Hartley died. From that point Bob Hartley maintained the Hartley Insurance Agency as sole proprietor, until 1968 when he merged firms with J.J, Banks. The firm of Hartley and Banks Continued the tradition of both families in the insurance business until 1980 when Bob Hartley retired. He and Ruth continue to live in Winfield.
Submitted by Robert D. Hartley
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 188.
They lived their entire life in Cowley County except for one year in Arkansas. They had five children: Leonard Miles Barton, Jan. 19. 1911-1978; Marion Annabelle, Feb. 11, 1912-1989; Harry Maynard, March 6, 1913; Mary Muriel, Nov. 1917-1925; and John Raymond, Feb. 4, 1919-1984.
Leonard married Effie Swensen of Arkansas City in 1937. They spent their entire married life there. They had three children: Ceola, Mary and John. Marion married John Townsley of Ark City in 1936. They had five children: Beverly, Bob (continued on page 189)
Submitted by Maxine Hart & Ruth Townsley Martin
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 188.
The fall of 1925 Leonard and Maynard along with four other local boys were in an explosion on South Main. Two of the boys were released from Winfield Hospital immediately, but the other four spent six weeks there. Leonard and Maynard went home from the hospital for six weeks, then to the Mercy Hospital for Burns at Kansas City where they stayed for six months. Their mother got a job in a restaurant near the hospital so she could be with the boys.
H.L.Hart played basketball for the Academy at Southwestern in 1907 and they won 14 of the 20 games with seven players. H.L. worked for the Courier for 53 years. Much of that time was spent with sports. Because of his long association with local and state sports, he was an authority on sport personalities, records and performances. THere is a plaque at the Air Force Academy football stadium honoring Harry Hart for his pioneering in radio broadcasting of sports in Winfield. He had a column What They Say for many years. He wrote the editorial naming Kansas "The Wheat State" which was used on the license plates for several years. He had opportunities to leave and work for bigger newspapers, but wanted to raise his family in Winfield, his hometown and a good place to be, he always said.
Submitted by Maxine Hart & Ruth Townsley Martin
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 189.
Frieda Jean married Robert Joe Hauger 4 Nov. 1966, Bob, born 30 July 1947 in Chickasha, OK, is the son of Robert Eugene and Irma Jo (Burmeister) Hauger.
Bob served four years in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970. Frieda and Bob now live in Chickasha, OK and own the A-Alert Alarm Company. They have one daughter, Candice Jean, born 22 Jan. 1974 in Winfield, KS.
Submitted by Glenda L. Martin, Frieda's sister
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 189.
Gladys Laura Logsdon, daughter of Jacob and Bertha (Pefley) Logsdon, was born at Grenola, Kansas on January 26, 1904 The Logsdons had come to Kansas from Hart County, Kentucky in 1877. They moved to the Cambridge area when Gladys was fourteen. Both Gladys and Pearl received ninth grade educations at the old Windsor school east of Cambridge.
Pearl and Gladys were married on December 15, 1926. They started housekeeping on the "Brown" farm about two miles east of Cambridge. They bought this farm in 1941 and later purchased two other farms. Pearl farmed and raised cattle. He also did custom hay baling.
Their four children grew up on the farm near Cambridge. They are all graduates of Cambridge High School.
Ellis Wayne, born June 2, 1929, is a professor of history at the University of Iowa. He married Sofia Koltum of Germany. They have two children, Arnold and Agness.
Dorothy May, born May 8, 1934, married Dean Keplinger. They live on a farm south of Grenola She teaches math at Central High School in Burden. They have three children: Curtis, Kay, and Rebecca.
Carl Elbert, born March 4, 1937, married Joan Sutton of Grenola. They live at Cambridge where Carl has an ice business, repairs appliances, and farms. Joan is the Cambridge postmaster. Their older daughter, Carla, died in an automobile accident in 1975. Their younger daughter, Jackie, is married to Chuck Liebau and lives in Cambridge.
Raymond Glen, born January 13, 1939, is a pathologist at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. He is married to Phyllis Williams of Newton. They have three sons: Brad, Craig, and Douglas.
Submitted by Dorothy Keplinger
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 189
Wing served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was in the Union prison at Point Lookout, Maryland for ten months. He vowed during the war that if the Yanks won, he would never shave again. He wore a full beard for the rest of his life.
On August 28, 1884 he married Margaret Luvena (Maggie) Faulkner, daughter of Gordon and Ann (Taylor) Faulkner, in Mercer County, West Virginia and went to Rugby, North Dakota to homestead. They became discouraged after a dry summer and decided to move to Kansas. In the fall of 1900, they moved to Cambridge, Kansas in a covered wagon. The trip took fifty-four days. They lived around Cambridge for the rest of their lives. Wing was a farmer, blacksmith, and carpenter. He died in 1922 and Maggie in 1931 Both are buried in the Cambridge Cemetery.
They were the parents of twelve children. These children grew up at Cambridge and many of them remained there to raise their families. Sixteen of their grandchildren are graduates of Cambridge High School. Charlotte Ann (9-29-85) was married to Fred Hillier, they were the parents of one son, Sydney. They lived at Cambridge. Robert Lee (11-15-86) was married to Maude Spencer, they had one adopted daughter, Mary. This family lived at Jerome, Idaho. Luther Cleveland (8-13-88) was married to Ethel Harris. They farmed in the Dexter and Cambridge communities. Conrad N. (12-31-90) was married to Lenna Hill. They had two sons, Wilbur and Leonard. They lived at LaCrosse, Kansas and later in California. Conrad died in 1927 from an accidental gunshot wound. Sarah Ella (12-17-92) was married to Pearl Goddard. They had one son, Benjamin. Ella and Pearl farmed near Cambridge. Cora Jane (3-13-95) was married to Drayphus (Swede) Wade. They were the parents of four children; Martha Jean, Milton, Robert, and Charlotte. They lived at Cambridge where Swede worked in the oil fields. Mary Nora (3-13-95) was a twin to Cora, She married William Martling. They lived in the Cambridge and Dexter communities until 1936 when they moved to Winfield. They had nine children; Eva, Noreen, Lucille, Frank, Everett, Dean, Nellie, Ruby, and Neva. Jenning Bryan (Jinks) (3-22-97) was married to Ethel Garretson. They had three children; Leonard, Lloyd, and Ruth. They farmed in the Cambridge and Burden areas. George Fitzhugh (Fitz) (8-31-98) was married to Elsie Manahan. They lived at Cambridge where Fitz worked as a pipeliner for an oil company. They were the parents of five children; Shirley, Juvene, Lorna, Joe, and Richard. Elsie Marie (7-23-1900) was married to Archie Dwyer. They had three children; Bethel, Luvena, and Eugene. Archie worked for the Seymour Packing Company. They lived most of their lives in or around Cambridge. Earl Theodore (Jube) (10-27-03) was married to Frances Kelso. They had five children; Wanda, Waunita, Conrad, Jackie, and Douglas. They lived at Hayward, California where Earl was a plasterer. They moved back to Burden in 1976. Pearl Washington (10-27-03) was a twin to Earl. He married Gladys Logsdon. They farmed near Cambridge where they raised their four children; Ellis, Dorothy, Carl, and Raymond.
Submitted by Dorothy Kiplinger
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 189
Tom, Parthenia, Malinda families moved to Indian Territory in the late 1800's. Settled what in now known as Norman, Oklahoma. Later bought farms four and one-half miles east of Wynnewood, Oklahoma, (Big Wood Community).
The Ruckers family lived there until 1933. Tom died in 1938, Parthenia 1928.
I moved to Winfield, Kansas, Cowley County, September 15, 1941. After visiting a cousin, Rubie Faust in 1940, who encouraged my moving here. I accepted a job with Mr. and Mrs. Grover Collinson, worked there for forty-three and one-half years.
I married Verlett P. Hayden January 13, 1945, the son of William and Jennie Fleming Hayden. Verlett was born in Columbus, Kansas. His step-father, Rev. Robert Lee and mother, Jennie, moved to Winfield, Kansas, Cowley County, where Rev. Lee was pastor of Bethel AME Church and served for many years.
Bertha and Verlett P. had one daughter, Carol Jennifer, who was named for Mrs Carol Collinson at her request.
Verlett and Carol attended the public schools in Winfield, Kansas. Carol graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in Music Education. She has taught in the Shawnee Mission School District seventeen years. She was a Girl Scout, pianist for the Second Baptist Church, piano student of Miss Marie Burdette, violin study under Mrs. Leoti Newland.
Winfield is a wonderful place to live and raise your family. It has a lot of history. I am happy to be a part of Winfield, Kansas.
Submitted By Bertha R. Hayden
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 190
George Washington Headley was born in 1858 to John and Mary Dean Headley who came to America in 1851 from Warboys Parish, Huntingdonshire County, in England. Their first home was in Indiana and later in Tower Hill, Illinois.
George Washington and Alice Robinson were married in 1883 and these children were born to them: George Milton, John Robinson, Mary Headley Medearis, Charles Allen and William Oscar (Bill) Headley. Only the two younger boys moved to Kansas when their parents first came and they were teenagers. Charles and Bill were interested in baseball and became quite good at the sport. Eventually, all of the Headley children would live in Cowley County at some time, and each of the boys spent some time in farming.
The family was industrious and religious. The father was a long-time deacon at the First Baptist Church at Burden where he Contributed his time, service and finance.
Some of the early-day friends and neighbors of the Headleys were: Sittons, McMinns, Dyers, Lauppes, Ores, Brooks, Martins, Abels, Gdmores, Brandons, Selbys, Gulicks, Blakleys, Goforths, Triplets and Higginbottoms.
The Headley children married, as listed: George Milton Headley to Betty Medearis in 1907, John Robinson Headley to Maggie Abel, in 1909, Mary Alice Headley to Frank C. Medearis in 1907, Charles Allen Headley to Hilda Fern Ryan in 1916, William Oscar Headley to Ruthe Ann Peck in 1918.
George and Alice Headley had 17 grandchildren who survived them, They left their farm in 1928 to retire in Burden. William (Bill) and Ruthe moved onto the form; then later bought it from the other heirs. They lived there until Bill's death in 1963. The children of Bill and Ruthe: Mrs. Wilbur (Willeva) Vansickle, Mrs. Bud (Sarah) Sumner, and George (Billy) Richard still own this farm.
William (Bill) and Ruthe were active in the Baptist Church at Burden, and ministered through music for many, many years. They loved young people and sports and attended all school and community activities.
The George Headley's only son-in-law, Frank Calvin Medearis, was a minister of the gospel and pastored the Baptist Church at Burden from 1915-1922, and again from 1934-1941.
The complete Headley family and spouses are buried at the Burden Cemetery with the exception of John and Maggie Headley who are buried at Nevada, Missouri and George and Betty Headley who are buried at Towanda, Kansas.
The Headley cousins have a reunion every two years an the first Sunday in June.
Submitted by Ava Medearis Ore
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 190
Sarah made all of Robert's clothes until he was sixteen. She spun the yarn, wove the cloth, and sewed the clothes herself. She died when Robert was about twenty.
Orville was a wealthy landowner and clerk of the County Court of Greene County, Tennessee. He was the leading pallbearer at the funeral of former President Andrew Johnson.
Orville and Sarah had five children: Robert and four daughters. At Orvihe's death, he left each one of them $10,000.00 in gold coin.
Robert married Uona Belle Lavelle (1873-1962) in Greeneville, Tennessee, in 1894. Onie, so called by those who knew her well, at age six, stuffed straw in clay to make bricks that were used to build Woolsey College on Camp Creek above Greeneville. Robert was suffering from tuberculosis and moved west in search of a drier climate. In 1910, he and his family took up residence at a farmhouse near the Wright Canyon School, half way between Winfield and Ark City, and kept cows there until August of 1913. At that time, the family moved to 901 East 10th in Winfield, next door to the Albright Mansion.
In 1914, the family moved to a farm four and one-half miles north of Winfield and stayed there until 1915, when they moved to "The Cedars" (a name later given by Lucy, Robert's older daughter) one mile north of Island Park, where they stayed until 1923.
After a third trip to Arizona in four years, Robert died in March of 1917. His body was borne by horse to Union Cemetery. He was anti-automobile!
His wife, Uona Belle Lovette, was a fourth generation descendant of Michael Garoutte, a French nobleman, who had contributed two ships of his own and voluntary crews to the American Revolution in 1777.
Robert had inherited $10,000.00 in gold coin at his father's death, but this money remained intact during his life. He was a saver because of his ill health. Despite this fortune, his children walked barefoot to Southward School, in a poor section, rather than to the Eastward School, which was nearby and in a "better" section.
After Robert's death, the family used the inheritance to buy a house at 101 Michigan in Winfield, and rented out the farm.
Robert and Uona Belle had five children: Lucy, Grace, Herbert, Luke, and Cecil, all born in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Robert's older daughter, Lucy, after taking second place in graduating from WHS, taught at the Odessa Rural School from 1914 to 1916, and took care of lawyer McDermott's children while attending Southwestern, from where she graduated in 1920. She then taught in Hutchinson under Superintendent J.W. Gowan, whom she had known at Winfield High School. In 1926 she came back to Winfield to teach and coach dramatics at Winfield High School, where she remained until her retirement in 1960. She was much loved by her third-year English students, to whom she read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Dickens 146 times in her thirty-four years of teaching. In 1954, she was chosen as one of seven master teachers in the State of Kansas. Even in her dying years at the Winfield Rest Haven, many people swore their love for her.
One of these expressions of love remained as a good intention. While Lucy was in Rest Haven, Norman Albright called on her and, in a friendly, eager and enthusiastic way, asked if she would permit the realtors to have her house painted, to show their appreciation to her for her part in community life. She replied yes, of course. Cecil, who was then staying in Lucy's house, contributed $50.00 toward the cost of the paint. Norman had said that the painters would come on a Friday afternoon. Each Friday, Cecil cleared the furniture away from the windows, in expectation of the painters. Each Saturday, he would put them back in place. This process lasted for a full six months, until finally Cecil received a brush-off letter, saying that the realtors had refused to take part in the work, because they believed that Lucy would not return to reside in her house. Cecil was asked to come by and pick up his $50.00. He was left to console his disappointment by repeating to himself the old saying "With a friend like that, you don't need an enemy". Lucy died in August of 1989.
Robert's second and third children, Grace and Herbert, graduated from Winfield High School in 1917 and from the State Agricultural and Mechanical College at Manhattan in 1922. Grace went into teaching and later became a dietitian at the Beloit Community Hospital, where she remained from 1930 to her retirement in 1965.
Herbert had taken officer training and became a second lieutenant. He was employed at Westinghouse as a constructor of electrical power stations until his premature death from a heart attack in 1939. His son, Lewis, became a member of the IBM staff for twenty-four years, and is still active as a computer engineer. His other son, Robert, was for twenty years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics expert, and later worked for General Motors. Another son, Homer Frank, became an oil expert.
The two youngest offsprings of Robert's, Luke and Cecil, graduated from Winfield High in 1920 and 1923, and from Southwestern in 1925 and 1926.
Luke married Ruth Corren, a cousin of Amos or Andy. They had no children. Luke taught in high schools and junior colleges and settled down in a nursery and lawn business in El Dorado.
Cecil, while a Freshman at Southwestern, in the spring of 1923, together with a sophomore by the name of Percy Beck, was interviewed by the city editor of the Courier and reported as having stated that the Belgians in 1914 should have let the German army pass through their territory rather than lose one third of their men of military age. (In 1939, the Belgians in fact chose that course of action.) This expression of pacifism was noted by American Legion Post No. 10, which demanded that the college dismiss both students. But College President A.E. Kirk took a plane from the East Coast to address a crowd of several thousand Winfielders, gathered in the new Southwestern gym, to defend the right of students to express unpopular opinions. Many people in Winfield still recall the Kirk-Legion confrontation.
Cecil was gifted for public speech. While still in high school, he won the Cunningham Scholarship at the Southwestern Oratorical Contest. In graduate school at Columbia University in New York, John Wesley Wetzel gave Cecil a one-student course in speech. Wetzel had been the first "Speaker of Athens" at Southwestern, a post later held by Cecil in the spring of 1926. (continued on page 191)
Submitted by Cecil Hedrick
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 190.
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