- 236 - 237 - 238 - 239 - 240 - 
- 236 - 237 - 238 - 239 - 240 - Dr. Girod passed away in 1986. The farm still belongs to the Girod family. The house has been redecorated and is owned by Dr. Charles' daughter and her husband, the Dennis Baxters.
Submitted Lucile Thompson Horn
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 236.
Samuel Walter Mayhill and I were married on December 27, 1938. Previously Sam had purchased the Glen Pike farm north of the Grandview Church. I came to this farm as a bride and I an still living here more than fifty years later.
My parents were Herbert and Melissa Nellis of the Dexter area. They moved to a farm east of Arkansas City which is now known as the Ark Valley Feedlot. My sister is Iva Plumer of Newkirk and my brothers are Ivan and Clyde Nellis. Francis Nellis passed away in 1988.
Our four children are Robert Wesley (Bobby), Dorothy Louise, Doris Belle, and Samuel Allen. Walter Glenn died at birth.
Beginning with a Normal Training Certificate in 1927, I have taught school for thirty-three and one-half years. I retired in 1973. My husband died ten years later.
Allen attended Manhattan State College for a short time. He married Cindy Beard, and they are the parents of two children, Heather and Cheryl. He has worked as switchman for the Santa Fe Railroad for about twenty years and Cindy works for the Rodeo Credit Union.
Doris received her BS Degree from Kansas State and a Muster's Degree from Emporia. She taught in the Shawnee Mission Schools for many years. She later moved back to Cowley County and married Albert Miller. They live in the Ridge Acres area east of Arkansas City. She is working as an accountant at The Winfield Correctional Facility and Albert is working at General Electric.
Dorothy received her BS Degree from Hays and became a Nurse Practioner through The University of Utah in 1976. For the next decade, she was employed in Burley, Idaho and Incline Vfllage, Nevada. She returned to Cowley County and married Dale Dowler of the Newkirk area. She has one son, Christopher Eric Casey, by a former marriage.
Bobby attended Kansas State for two years and then went to work for the Santa Fe. He joined the National Guard in 1965, and was activated within three years and sent to Vietnam. We were very happy for his return nine months later. He then married Cathy Fry and has continued to work for the Santa Fe Railroad. Cathy has two children and four grandchildren. She is employed at the Memorial hospital.
Bobby and Allen are working together farming the home place and raising Charolais Cattle.
By Ferne (Nellis) Mayhill
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 236.
Adaline had only a third grade education when she started work as a waitress. She worked at the St. James Hotel and the Brettun House Dining Room as a young woman.
On Dec. 24, 1895 she married Delno McAllister. He owned a restaurant at the time. He was born in Ohio Feb. 29, 1868 and came to Kansas as a young man, with the whole fum@y. The boys made the run to Oklahoma when the Cherokee Strip opened. Delno staked a claim in the middle of a street that was laid out, otherwise I might have been an Okie. His brothers settled in Oklahoma. The Strip opened in 1893.
Adaline attended cosmetology school in Chicago and returned to Winfield to open the first beauty shop west of the Mississippi. It was the only one for about ten years. This shop was located in the 700 block of Main on the west side of the street. The building also housed the Winfield Transfer and Storage Business Delno started. The family moved upstairs. They set up housekeeping in the 500 block of Manning in a new house father built for his bride. Adaline bragged that she never paid a month's rent.
They raised two adopted daughters and one niece (oldest child of her sister Catherine Basden Abbott), Both daughters followed her into cosmetology. Margaret, the oldest daughter (Aug. 10, 1907-Dec. 8, 1958) ran the McAllister Beauty Shop until she married and moved to Oklahoma in 1952. Adaline retired in 1948 by simply not renewing her license.
In the early days she had made wigs from human hair, and performed many other techniques that are unheard of in today's shops. She also trained many operators who learned by being her apprentice.
Adaline was the first president of the Kansas Cosmotologist Assoc. and in that capacity she toured Europe with others from all over America in 1923. While in Paris they met Marcel and had their group picture taken with him. He was in his 80's at the time. Marcel was the inventor of the "Marcel Iron" known today as a curling iron.
Nellie Abbott came to live with Uncle Dell and Aunt Addie in 1910. Margaret was adopted from an "Orphan Train" from New York in 1916. The lady who was in charge of the children came into the shop to get a manicure and during the conversation Adaline learned about the orphans.
In the early 1920's they bought the Axtell property, a funeral home at 11th and Millington. They moved the house to 1520 Millington, made it into apartments, and it is still there today. The livery stable was transformed into the Delno Apartments, (another first for Adaline). My father thought she was crazy, so she named the first building after him to soothe his ire. The Delno was completed in 1923 and in 1925 they finished the Adaline Apartments. Delno retired from the transfer and storage business to help manage the new business. The beauty shop and family were installed in the basement of the new building. Adaline remained there until her death on Jan. 25, 1960. Delno preceded her in death on Aug. 6, 1945 just four months away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
When my parents Dame to Kansas, Island Park was an Indian Reservation. Later families would erect tents there and spend the hot summer months. My mother claimed that Dell put up the first swings for the kids and that is how it started as a park.
Adaline remarried in 1950, an old beau who had been a friend of her brothers when she was a girl. C.B. Hamilton also preceded her in death on Jan. 31, 1953. Both husbands, her father, a baby brother and her daughter, Margaret, are buried with Adaline in Highland Cemetery in the Basden family plot.
This history is respectfully submitted by the youngest daughter of Adaline and Delno, adopted as a baby in 1928.
Josephine McAllister Miers
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 235.
Oscar worked for the railroad maintenance crew out of Wilmot, Kansas, until the went to Winfield to work at the Independent Ice Co., owned by John and Anna Elam. In Winfield he also worked for International Harvester Co., Dawson Monument, and Smith & Moon Steel Co. at Strother Field. His sister, Opal, introduced him to Helen Chapman and they were married on August 2, 1935. Helen was born June 24, 1913. Together they owned and operated Mac's Help-Yourself Laundry in the basement of their home at 115 W. 15th Street. In 1966 he moved to Wichita where he worked for Beech Aircraft Co. He retired from Beech in 1973.
Oscar and Helen had four children: Norman, born November 1, 1937; James born September 7, 1943; they live in Glendale, Arizona. Alice was born March 11, 1936; Jessie born December 16, 1945; they live in Winfield, Kansas.
Oscar built or remodeled seven houses on the corner section of Manning and 15th Street in Winfield. One of the homes he finished just in time for Norman and Joan to move in after their marriage in 1959. Jessie and Philip Stover live in this home at 1508 Manning today. In 1945 Oscar took up flying and obtained his pilot's license.
On May 13, 1968 Oscar married Mabel Robb from Tempe, Arizona. They enjoyed traveling around the United States visiting their children and sightseeing. In 1977 they parked their trailer on a lot in Arizona to help Norman and loan build a new home. When the weather grew hot, they returned to Winfield.
Oscar loved growing a garden and getting fresh fruit from the orchards. He would go to Colorado to pick peaches and loved apples. He always had ice cream for his children and grandchildren.
Oscar moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1988 to be near his sons when his health started failing. He died in Good Samaritan Hospital December 6, 1988. He was returned to Winfield for services and is buried at the Wilmot Cemetery.
Joan Rundle McBride
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 236.
Edna Alice Ramsey McBride was born October 11, 1884 near Winfield, Kansas, the oldest of nine children. Her parents were James and Alice Ramsey, who came to the area from Springfield, Ohio, as a newly married couple. Edna died December 8, 1984 at the age of 100. Both Edna and Frank are buried at the Wilmot Cemetery.
The McBride-Ramsey farms adjoined each other. Frank and Edna went to the same country school and became sweethearts. They married March 23, 1905. For awhile, they lived on the McBride farm, then moved to Winfield, and then to a farm east of Winfield. From there they moved to the Wilmot community and bought an 80-acre farm that was home for 22 years.
They remodeled this house by putting in a new floor of 1"x3"xl2" pine boards, staining it, and treating it with a (continued on page 237)
Joan Rundle McBride
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 236.
Their source of entertainment was visiting with other families and attending the community get-togethers held once a month at the Wilmot Town Hall.
Frank and Edna had three children: Oscar, born May 20, 1908; Opal, born July 4, 1915; and Ruth born July 2, 1921. They all attended the Queen Village District 19 school through the eighth grade. Ruth went on to graduate from Winfield High School and nurses training school. She married Earl Kerr December 21, 1941. They had one adopted son, David Lewis. Ruth died when given the wrong type of blood in a blood transfusion during surgery from a tubal pregnancy when David was 14 months old.
Oscar married Helen Chapman, August 2, 1935, and Mabel Robb, May 13, 1968. He died December 6, 1988 in Phoenix, Arizona where he had gone to be near his sons. He is buried at the Wilmot Cemetery. Oscar and Helen had four children: Norman and James of Glendale, Arizona; Alice and Jessie of Winfield, Kansas.
Opal married Merle Diechman March 6, 1935. Merle died of heart failure on August 23, 1962. Opal married Stanley Fisher on March 13, 1964 and died in 1986. Opal now lives in Hutchinson, Kansas, Opal and Merle had three children: Dorothea, Naomi, and Mack.
Joan Rundle McBride
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 237.
Norman lived with his family at 115 W. 15th Street in Winfield, Kansas. His first job was with the Dawson's feeding their goats for 50 cents a day. He also delivered newspapers for the Wichita Beacon. While attending high school and junior college he worked for Sandell's Gas Station at 15th and Main in Winfield. After that he worked for Rundle Electric in Winfield and Endicott Electric in Manhattan, Kansas. Norman graduated from Winfield High School in 1956 and Arkansas City Junior College in 1958.
On June 14, 1959 he married Joan Rundle of 1412 John Street in Winfield, Kansas. Joan was born on August 22, 1939 the oldest child of Earl and Darlene Rundle. She has two brothers: Darrell and Gary. Joan worked for Pierce Bookstore and Montgomery Wards catalog office in Winfield during her high school days. She graduated from Winfield High School in 1957 and worked for Gordon & Piatt at Strother Field.
After their marriage, Norman and Joan lived at 1508 Manning in a home that Norman's father, Oscar, had just completed. In September of 1959 they moved to the Jardine Apartments on the campus of Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Joan worked as a secretary for the Psychology Department and Norman attended classes and worked for Endicott Electric. In 1961 Norman graduated from Kansas State University with an electrical engineering degree and started work at Boeing Co. in Wichita, Kansas. There he worked in the experimental flight test department on B-52 bombers.
In Wichita they lived at 943 S. Vassar Street. Greg Allan was born on April 22, 1961 and Eric Eugene arrived on March 13, 1963.
In June of 1963 they moved to 3735 W. Cactus Wren Drive, Phoenix, Arizona. Here Norman attended graduate classes at Arizona State University and worked for Goodyear Aerospace Corp. as an electrical engineer on radar systems for F-4, U-2, and SR-71 airplanes. During this time Scott Dwayne was born March 18, 1969. Norman retired from Loral Corp. (formerly Goodyear Aerospace Corp.) in 1990.
In 1977 Norman and Joan built a new home at 9134 W. Missouri Ave. Norman drew the plans for the home and every available moment the family would take their truck and camper and work on the house. Norman's dad and loan's dad came from Kansas to help build and put the electrical in the house. Earl and Darlene Rundle bought the acre lot next door where Norman grows alfalfa for the beef cattle he raises for the family to eat, usually two or three cows at a time.
In Arizona, Norman and Joan began camping; first in a tent trailer, then they purchased a camper for their truck. They enjoyed visiting the beautiful areas in Arizona and traveling some in the western part of the United States. Norman took up hunting and as each boy became of age, they would join him.
On May 28, 1983 the 47th anniversary of their grandparents, Earl and Darlene Rundle, Greg married Carol Ann Arico, On May 7, 1987 Bethany Lynn arrived and on May 5, 1990 Ashlyn Lee was born.
Eric married Doreen Houle on May 30, 1987, in Tucson, Arizona. June 26, 1989 Karl Lynn arrived.
Scott married Shani LaSalvia on March 17, 1990.
Submitted by Joan Rundle McBride
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 237.
The McCardwell's farmed in Liberty Township, Cowley County, moving to the Walch Addition, west of Winfield, in the early 1930's. William ran the cream collecting route for Rodley's Dairy many years. Later he was the caretaker for Mt. Zion and Mt. Vernon cemeteries until he retired. William died on 12-16-1959 and Margaret died 4-4-1962.
The McCardwell's had three children: Howard Colby, born 12-10-1904; Mary Margaret, born 5-12-1907; and Mark Twain, born 9-11-1909. Howard Colby married Dorothy Messick in 1931, they had one son, James Colby, born 4-25-1933. He later married Velma Harris LaPorte in 1947. Howard died at Wetumka, Oklahoma in 1979.
Mark Twain was married to Virginia E. Sanders of Hays, Kansas, 6-9-1937. They had one daughter, LaDonna Marie, born 5-11-1938. LaDonna married Robert A. Wind, 8-18-1956, and they had three children: Deborah, born 7-17-1957; Robert born 2-27-1959; Steven born 7-10-1960. Mark was a rodeo calf roper for many years. He died at Winfield, on 10-23-1977.
Mary Margaret married Robert Joseph Fry at Wellington, Kansas, on 7-10-1926. Robert J. Fry was the son of Ira L. and Martha Shinn Fry, of the Tisdale community. Robert and Mary had four children: Barbara Joan, born 5-26-1927; Roberta Jean born 9-18-1928; Robert Lee born 6-2-1930; Mary Joyce born 10-25-1935. The son, Robert Lee died in a car accident 1-23-1950. Robert J. died 3-25-1956 and Mary M. Fry died on 10-4-1978, both at Winfield.
In the Robert and Mary Fry family, Barbara loan married M. Wayne Rush, B-26-1951, in Winfield. They had two daughters, Karen Joan born 4-23-1952, and Lucia Kay born 7-6-1953. Lucia married Neal A. Balzer 6-30-1973, at Winfield, and they have three sons; Roberta Jean married Gerald L. Ehmke 9-18-1949, at Winfield. They have one son, Gary Bruce born 11-20-1952; Mary Joyce married Millard L. Patrick 6-24-1962, at San Clemente, California, and they had one son Van Robert born 9-2-1965.
Of historical note, William C. McCardwefl's father, James Thomas, enlisted 9-14-1861, with Company D., Fourth Regiment Infantry of the Kentucky Volunteers, serving in the Confederate Army until General Lee surrendered. He had fought under Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and others, and was at the battle of Lookout Mountain, He was not wounded at any time. His father, also named James Thomas, was born in County Down, Ireland, and was a teacher.
Written by Roberta Jean (Fry) Ehmke
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 237.
Harry's family originated in Ireland and the first family settlers came to Western Pennsylvania in 1807. Harry's father and mother and family moved to eastern Iowa and then to Amoret, Missouri, where Harry grew to manhood. Harry served in France during World War I then returned to Butler, Missouri, before going out on his own, first to Colorado then to the oil fields of Oklahoma, where he met Mae in Kaw City. Mae's father, Sylvester Taylor, came from Iowa in 1884 and lived in Maple City until the land run of 1893, where he homesteaded 160 acres, married and raised a family.
Harry and Mae had a small son, Joe, when they came to Cowley County, in 1930 they had another son, Vaughn who died in 1934, and then in 1942, a daughter, Judith.
Joe married Alberta Rowe, March 18, 1950, and they have two daughters, Shavaun McChesney Vernon and Brenna McChesney Dwight, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Judy had two grown sons, a granddaughter, and she and a daughter live in Wichita. Both Joe and Judy received their early education in Cambridge schools and both attended Kansas State College at Manhattan.
Harry and Mae were both active fifty-year members in the Burden Eastern Star and Harry a fifty-year member of the Masonic Lodge. They were also active members of the Cambridge Presbyterian Church, They have curtailed their activities the past few years but are most interested in family and friends and in November 1989 celebrated sixty-six years together
Submitted by Alberta Rowe McChesney
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 237.
Irene married Henry Spruens in 1904 and they farmed in the Tannehill Community. Both are buried in the Tannehill Cemetery. Earnest married Edith Brandon of the Mt * Zion Community in 1910 and they moved to a farm west of Ponca City, Oklahoma. They had four children.
My father, Arthur, served in the U.S. Navy prior to WW I before his marriage to Bessie May Heydecker in 1915. She was the daughter of Eugene and Nellie Miller Heydecker of the Easterly Community (northeastern Beaver Township). They lived on the McClung family farm until 1923 when they purchased a farm adjoining the family farm. Their children were myself (Irvin), Jeanette and Perle.
I served in the Army Air Corps as a Ground School Instructor, B-17 Bomber Group, during WWII and returned to the farm in 1947. Lila Grace Soule, the daughter of Frank and Grace Palmer Soule of Vernon Township, and I were married in 1949. We have three children: Vic, Jim and Jo Ann.
Gracie and I have served on many committees and for a number of organizations. Gracie was a charter member of the Town and Country Extension Homemaker Unit and for the past ten years she has been active in the Tri-Township EHU. We were both Valley View 4-H Club leaders and served on the Cowley County Extension Service Council. I also have served on Kellogg Farmers Union Coop board of directors, Kansas Poultry Assn., Kansas Assn. of Wheat Growers, Tannehill School board and Cowley County Soil Conservation District. I judged poultry and photography shows at county fairs in south central Kansas.
Vic and his wife, Janis Widler, are our nearest neighbors, living one-half mile from us. Jim and his wife, Dianna (Dede) Reed, live on the farm that my Aunt Irene and Henry Spruens owned. Vic and Jan are farming, raising hogs, cattle and grain. Jim farms and raises cattle, also, is in farming partnership with Vic. Dede is employed by the Cowley County Appraiser Office and enjoys horses and barrel racing. Jo Ann Parsons, our daughter, lives in Winfield and is employed by the Cowley County Special Services Coop as a paraprofessional in a special education preschool.
We have seven grandchildren: Shannon, Erin, Allison, Ashley and Travis McClung and Kerri and Jill Parsons.
Our farm products have included watermelons, sweet corn, pumpkins, peaches, and apples. For many years we maintained a commercial egg production flock of hens. Also, we raise beef cattle, grain sorghum, alfalfa and wheat. Gracie and I have been seed dealers for DeKalb AgReasearch for 35 years. We have grown and marketed certified seed wheat for many years.
My sister, Jeanette Foskett, lives in Winfield. She is retired from Beech Aircraft, Wichita. Perle Miles, my younger sister, a graduate of Win. Newton Memorial Hospital School of Nursing lives in Wichita and is retired from St. Francis Medical Center. She has one son, Mark Miles.
Submitted by Irving McClung
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 238.
Bill and Bertha McClure were Ralph's father and mother. He was one of two boys and four girls.
We were both born in 1920. My father was a rancher and stockman and Ralph's father was a farmer and stockman. I was born three miles east of Cambridge on the Harris place and Ralph was born at Grand Summit on the McClure farm, which we still own. It has been in the McClure family for 72 years.
Ralph and I were united in marriage Feb. 14, 1946 after he returned from India, Burma and China in World War II. To this union three children were born; Ralph LeRoy II, Velma Aldine Utt and Mary Elvina Owen. We have five grandchildren; four girls and one boy. We adopted one grandchild, Jessi Aldine McClure.
We have been raising Longhorn cattle for better than ten years. Since we have retired we have been handling buffalo also. We have had ox teams since 1969 and have driven in most of the centennial parades from Baxter Springs, KS to Lindsburg, KS and Fort Larned, KS. The last team being a team of Longhorns.
At this time (1990) Ralph has decided to pretty well hang it up. We have put our sleigh, doctor's buggy and Hamley saddle and some signs in the Cedar Vale Museum. Since then we put our 1800 grocery wagon, and our surrey with the fringe on top, our 1934 Master Chevrolet and antiques too numerous to mention, in the Grenola Museum. We have hauled many, many kids around in some of the wagons and really enjoyed it.
At the present time we have seven large buffalo, three baby, calves, plus a dozen Longhorn bulls and our Longhorn cows. We also have various breeds of pigeons, opossums, wild turkeys, ducks, geese, chickens, goats, horses, and a wolf-malamute dog. Visitors are welcome. We live in the westen edge of Cambridge.
Ralph "Jake" & Aldine McClure
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 238.
Her father was killed by lightening 7-4-1875 and she later married his nephew, Moses Banks. They had two children, Abel "Ben" and Dora.
Elton worked as a section hand for Missouri Pacific Railroad and they lived in Rosalia. In 1896 they moved to his mother's farm. In 1909 they moved to a farm north of Rock Kansas. They lived on several different farms in the Rock, Douglass area.
They were the parents of 8 children: Elsie, (married Harry Clyde "Bob" Kunkle, children: Vadna, Robert "Bill" or "Bob", Virgil, Maurice "Mike", Lawrence "Barney", Gerald "Jake", or "Jerry", Marcella and Mary), Harry (married Ida Spires, children: Naida and Wallace "Wally". Harry and Ida divorced. He married Marie Dewitt Witmer. Her childre Emily, William "Bill", and Melba. Harry and Marie adopted Kay), Floyd "Pete" (married Esther Daniels, daughters Vinta and Opal May "Amelia"), Herbert (married Martha "Mattie" Hahn. Children: Howard, LaJune, Doris, Ilene and Iris), (married Albert Sandberg. She was killed in a car accident 1923), Cora married Robert Meyer. His son Lamont, sons Robert Eldon, Donald, Walter and Jack), Lyle (married Bernice Widener, sons John and Melvin), and Raye (married Phyllis Essex, son Eugene "Gene". She died then he married Ila Butts, son Gary).
In 1914 they moved to a farm 2 1/2 miles northeast of Rock and lived there nine years. Elton owned a threshing machine and had a threshing crew. Lottie and some other women did the cooking for the threshing crew in a cookshack. Their children did the farming and work at home. The threshing kept Elton and Lottie away from home so much that he sold it. They moved to Rock in 1923 then to three other farms. "Lottie" passed 1-14-38 and Elton moved into Rock. He lived there until his death 11-4-46. Their funerals were in the Rock United Methodist Church where they had been faithful members (continued on page 239)
Submitted by
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 238.
She graduated from Winfield High School in 1916 and entered Southwestern College that fall. Throughout her college days she worked for Prof. John Pillips, Vice-president of the College, in the business office. Other professors she remembers were Eleanor Hayes, who taught English, Lawrence Oncly, Chemistry and a Miss Kate who taught French. In 1918, while all the boys were away fighting World War I, she and Miss Lucy Headrick put together the Moundbuilder yearbook.
She graduated in 1920 and immediately started her teaching career at Latham. She taught high school for two years there, one in Nardin, OK and one in Bucklin, KS before marrying Marion A. McKeever at Bucklin in March, 1925. They built a house at 1702 Winfield St. and had three children: Marjorie Louise, born Jan. 25, 1926; Mary Jo, born Mar. 19, 1932; and Richard Bruce, born Jan. 15, 1934.
In 1936 she took a position in the newly-created County Welfare office and worked as a case-worker there until 1940. She then taught school at Victor Point Country School, 10 miles east of Winfield. Later, she became a dealer for Stanley Home Products, which she continued for many years. In 1954 she purchased The College Inn and ran it until 1965 when she retired.
She was a charter member of Grace Methodist Church and remembers it played a very important role in her college days. A strong Christian belief has sustained her throughout her 95 years.
Marjorie now lives in Florida, has three daughters and eight grandchildren. Mary Jo (Jodi) lives in Dallas and has been employed by Taylor Publishing Company for 25 years. She has five children and nine grandchildren. Richard lives in Lake Jackson, TX and is retired from Dow Chemical Company. He has four children. All three attended Winfield Schools; Marjorie attended Southwestern College for two years and Richard graduated from SC in 1957. Two granddaughters, Catherine Holmes McElroy and Teresa Holmes Chancellor, also graduated from Southwestern.
Leona is still able to take care of herself and lives in her house on Third Street where she has for many more than 50 years.
Submitted by Mary Jo (Jodi) Head
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 239.
My father, Donald Cameron McKinlay, was born in this house September 13, 1872. Family trading was done in Winfield, eleven miles away.
In the fall of 1874, grasshoppers came in hordes and devoured everything green. The McKinlays returned to Cameron where two sons, George and William were living. In Cameron, Angus farmed and made gloves and taught school.
In the fall of 1878 the family loaded the covered wagon with old "Boss" tied behind and returned to Kansas. My father remembered the return to the old house. There were no trees, only a few neighbors and no railroads. Angus made a trip back to Humbolt, Kansas for supplies he had shipped out. It was the nearest railroad point. Father remembered fording Walnut River in the lumber wagon at Consolidated Mill in the early days.
In the early years, the family attended Sunday School at Crooked Creek near Seely. Later they went to Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church and Udall Congregational. Frances (Fannie) McKinlay was the first president of the Missionary Society of Mt. Vernon Church in 1888 and she sang in the church choir. Angus and Donald were elders in Mr. Vernon Church.
Donald attended Blue School one mile north of the farm. He went to school only four months a year. He attended Southwestern in 1890-1891. He stayed in Winfield during the week and walked cross country eleven miles on weekends to the farm.
On Sept. 16, 1893 Donald McKiniciy, Lincoln McKinlay, Erskin McKinlay and William Kimball went to Hunnewell and slept on the ground in line to be registered for the opening of the Cherokee Strip. They had speedy teams but the fellows on horseback took the lead. They were bound for the Chiloski Valley. There they found men working the soil. They were called "Sooners." (continued on page 239)
Submitted by Elizabeth L. McKinley Carpenter Purdy
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 238.
My parents, Donald C. McKinlay and Grace B. Kimball, a school teacher from Fredonia, Kansas were married July 22, 1903. They lived on a farm five miles south of Udall until September 1, 1936. They later lived in Winfield and Wichita. Donald died March 10, 1948. Grace died June 1, 1953. Both are buried in Mt. Vernon. Their children are: Elizabeth Lois, born November 8, 1907 at Udall; Muriel Frances, born August 3, 1914, died August 28, 1914, buried at Mt. Vernon. Children of Elizabeth are: Margaret G. Sackheim, born July 19, 1944; Muriel E. Carpenter, born December 21, 1947.
Submitted by Elizabeth L. McKinley Carpenter Purdy
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 239.
Florence Alma Winner was the third daughter. Her father called her his little "Angie" (angel) from heaven. He was heard to remark, "The only males on the place are me and the old rooster." She was born in a sod house near Colby in Thomas County.
Florence was a teacher at North Ward, now Irving, for several years. Lucile Green (Powers) also taught there. She married George Thomas McNeish in 1924. To that union was born two children, Maralyn and George Robert. In announcing the birth of George, the Courier noted"no name has been selected for the child."
In 1946 Maralyn McNeish (Elliott) was playing viola in Verdi's "Requium." Florence fell in love with Louis Sudler's voice and told the Winfield Oratorio Society that was who they should get for "Elijah." He subsequently sang Elijah many times in Winfield.
Florence was widowed in 1958. She lived in Winfield until 1976 when she moved to the Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence. She died in 1979 and is buried at Highland Cemetery.
Submitted by Marilyn McNeish
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 240.
In college at Kansas University, he waited tables at Theta Tau, his engineering fraternity, until his senior year when the other boys in the house didn't think that looked right for their regent.
He graduated in 1951 from Kansas University with a degree in geological engineering. While attending he participated in the KU band, making the trip to the Orange Bowl one New Year's.
On July 13, 1951, a day of horrible floods in Kansas, he rode the bus to join the army having to detour many times. He did his basic training at Fort Riley before being shipped to Korea in January 1952.
In June of 1953 he returned to Winfield where he worked for Watson Drilling Company. June 12,1954 he married Marilyn Lucile Powers. Before they were married he had purchased a lot to build a house on at 1619 E. 11th. They broke ground in September and moved in April 1955 where one room was finished, carpeted, painted, etc. George finished their home, trimming, painting, laying tile and endlessly varnishing as the mahogany woodwork needed filled before finishing.
In June 1989 Cumbernauld Village Opened. This idea had been a part of George's thinking since the mid-1970's. Cumbernauld Village is a living center with four levels-garden homes, apartments, residential living and intermediate health care. It is a not-for-profit business. It's been an exciting adventure. Marilyn was involved in many phases of the project from helping the decorator to collecting prints at major art museums for the walls. As this is written, the thirty-three apartments are filled with a waiting list often. Residential living has seven rooms available and one health care bed.
Playing saxophone in the oldest and longest continuous city band provides George with many happy hours. He has enjoyed his oboe in the Winfield Community Orchestra.
Submitted by Marilyn McNeish
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 240
George's father came to the United States from Scotland at age 16 with all of his family but one sister. They are last listed in the Cumbernauld Village census in 1860. Cumbernauld means the confluence of the waters. At Cumbernauld the rivers flow to both the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. George died in 1958 of an apparent heart attack and is buried at Highland Cemetery.
During the many years he served as Southwestern College's attorney he collected no fees. Upon his death a scholarship was funded by the board of trustees for the highest ranking junior boy, grade wise. That is now amended to included the highest G.P.A. for a girl athlete, too.
Submitted by Marilyn McNeish
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 240.
She moved to Winfield in time for the seventh grade, A new friend, Peggy Miller, asked her what instrument she played. Her reply was, "the piano." Peggy said, "Everyone in Winfield has to play an instrument." Next thing Marilyn knew she was playing the string bass. In the middle of the eighth grade she was promoted to the high school symphony orchestra. What an exciting day! The first piece played was "The Moldau." Music has always played an important part in her life. A Cappello Choir being the one thing she missed from college.
June 12, 1954 George Robert McNeish and Marilyn Lucile Powers were married. George had returned to Winfield after serving in the Korean Conflict in 1953 to work for Watson Drilling Company that had as partners George T. McNeish, Joe Everly, Jim Watson and Ben Gralapp.
Their children are Greg Rollin McNeish born September 29, 1955. He graduated from Kansas University in 1977 in chemical engineering. He lives in Bakersfield, California with his wife Susan Fryer and two daughters, Sarah Kincheloe, nine years old, and Melanie Nichole McNeish born February 8, 1987, His work is petroleum engineering.
Jerry Alan McNeish was born August 24, 1957. His college career includes Carleton College, graduating in 1979. In 1987 he received a Master's degree in hydrogeology from the University of Texas. He works for Intera and spent two years in Baden, Switzerland, returning in December 1989.
George Thomas (Tom) McNeish, born June 19, 1961, finished his Master's Degree in Business in May 1990 at Wichita State University. He earlier had earned a computer science degree at Kansas University.
Marya Jeanne McNeish, born November 29, 1962 is agency relations coordinator for the food bank in North Carolina. The red tide disaster of 1988 and Hurricane Hugo, September 1989 have increased food needs in that area. Her husband, Robert Robinson, is the latin teacher in the Raleigh, North Carolina magnet school, Enooe High School.
Submitted by Marilyn McNeish
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 240
- 236 - 237 - 238 - 239 - 240 - | State Coordinators Tom & Carolyn Ward, Columbus, KS tcward@columbus-ks.com |