Happenings: November 1873

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Pessimism, optimism, criticism, and a sundry of matters comprised the 1873 November issues of the Kansas New Era (predecessor to the Valley Falls Vindicator. Editor, S. Weaver, predicted in the Nov. 13 issue:

“A hard winter is coming; poverty, misery, and crime will be abundant, Therefore, be generous to the poor and keep your stable locked.

“Potatoes, $1.25 per bushel, apples, $1.50, and money so scarce that three nickles makes a man rich.

“Every night the lurid blazes of burning prairies light up the horizon in every direction. At this season of the year, farmers should keep a careful watch on their hay stacks and out buildings and be prepared at all time to fight the fire:

Nov. 27:
“We had a fine rain last Saturday and it was repeated on Sunday night. This is encouraging to farmers who have fall wheat sown or fall plowing to do.

“Last Saturday and Sunday the need of side walks or ferry boats on the north side of Broadway was strongly demonstrated.

“Some of the people who come to town are exceedingly careless. They will drive their team in front of a store door, then jump off and run into the store without hitching the horses. There would have been a run off and a break up the other day had it not been that a pedestrian was more careful of the team than the owner.

“A thieving cow . . . a few nights ago an old cow took into her head to steal a bridle. She wrapped it around her horns and carried it off, . . . she carried it around town until after sun up; finally she laid it down near Nolker’s wagon shop. A gentleman picked it up and brought it to this office. The owner can have it by proving property and paying for this notice.”

Nov. 13:
A cow thief . . . “One night, nearly a month ago, some fellow went to John Wunder’s cow yard and drove away two cows. The same night, a man by the name of A.J. Smith sold two cows to Henry Priddy at Larkin Station. The cows answered the description of the cows taken from Mr. Wunder. They were shipped to a butcher in Leavenworth. . . Smith was arrested and brought before Justice Clark of this city. . . He was bound over under a bond of $1,000, but being unable to furnish the requisite security, was committed to jail.”

Nov. 27, 1875: “Today, Thursday, is Thanksgiving Day. Give Thanks.”

Dodie Bolz, Ella May Holding, and Dee Bayless will be Valley Falls Historical Society Museum hostesses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.