- Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Valley Falls New Era, Jan. 14, 1899, featured the following story from the Kansas City Journal:
"An old colored woman sat in the Union Depot yesterday, rocking to and fro, whimpering and moaning softly, while her tears fell on an envelope, which bore her address, 'Charity Ross, Valley Falls, Kan.,' written neatly but crudely. It was the first and only word she has had from her daughter for 45 years.
"The old woman said she had passed the 100-year mark. She had just learned that her daughter, whom she saw sold to a southern slave dealer and carried away as a young woman, was still alive and living on a small farm in Mississippi. The old mother did not have enough money to buy her ticket. She had nothing to eat.
"The notion of trying to find what had become of her child came to her over a year ago. It was 15 years before the war when her daughter was sold. When she went to Kansas about five years after the close of the (Civil) war, she gave up all hopes of ever seeing her daughter.
"The first letter was written for her by a neighbor and was directed to her old master. After months of waiting, she received a letter from him telling her to write to a man who is today living on the farm which forms part of the old plantation. He was the man who brought the purchaser of her daughter to him and from him she might get definite information.
"Another letter was written and again she waited for months before a reply came. This time she secured information by which she came into communication with her daughter. She said she sold everything she owned in Valley Falls to raise money to go to Gunnison, Miss. She sold her cow and the little house in which she had lived with all its furniture.
"Detective Bradley counted her money and found she lacked only 40 cents. He spoke to several people around the depot, raised the balance and purchased a ticket. The porter brought her a basket of food which would last until she got to Memphis. She says her daughter is about 63 years old."
The local museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Admission is free.
August 15, 2012
Horse thieves, Bill Cody, walnuts, street lights and a marital dispute
— Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A sundry of news items from a sundry of newspapers and editors:
The Grasshopper, Grasshopper Falls, June 8, 1858, J. A. Cody, Editor — "A gang of horse thieves are now infesting our neighborhood and stealing many valuable hourses. We propose that a vigilance committee be organized to look after these gentry and bring them to account. There are some individuals among us who have no visible means of support. Now and then one of them disappears and a horse with him. Let us see to these men and if there is no other way to get rid of them, drive them from the country anyway so that they vamoose the ranche."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 24, 1878, A.G. Patrick, Editor and Proprietor — "Buffalo Bill (Wm. F. Cody) visited the fairgrounds last week with his rifle and illustrated to the boys how he could shoot. A walnut tossed into the air was hit nine times out of ten tosses. A small plum was hit two times out of three and a nickel hit two times out of three, all with a small rifle."
The Valley Falls New Era, Oct. 12, 1878, G. D. Ingersoll, Editor and Proprietor — "The envy of the masculine side of the Sunday school at this season of the year is the boy whose hands show the blackest with walnut juice stain."
Continuing with the New Era and G.D. Ingersoll, Editor, Dec. 14, 1878, — "Two of our business men have exhibited a degree of enterprise for which they deserve praise. We allude now to Mr. Wm. Steffins and Mr. F. LaFountaine who have each erected nice street lamps in front of their business houses. We think this is a matter that our city council should look after, the lighting of our streets. It is not necessary that we should have a gas factory. A great many cities are using the Chicago street system because they are much cheaper. Coal oil is used in them and it is estimated the cost is about a dollar a month per light."
Continuing with the New Era and Ingersoll, Dec. 21, 1878 — "Mr. W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) has been appointed a special agent for the Nez Perce and Shawnee Indian tribes on account of valuable services rendered the government as Chief of Scouts."
Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E.P. Karr, Editor and Proprietor — "Frank LaFountaine and wife got into a fair-sized row in their store Thursday evening over some books, which the old lady refused to give up. They were going at each other rough and tumble and filling the air with profanity when Marshal Stockwell separated them and quited them. Frank went out to Turner Hall and when she returned, the old lady had nailed shut the doors of the store and held possession. The marshal was called again and had to break in. Mrs. LaFountaine went upstairs and took possession there and left the old man downstairs. His troubles have just commenced now since she came home from jail in Oskaloosa."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
A sundry of news items from a sundry of newspapers and editors:
The Grasshopper, Grasshopper Falls, June 8, 1858, J. A. Cody, Editor — "A gang of horse thieves are now infesting our neighborhood and stealing many valuable hourses. We propose that a vigilance committee be organized to look after these gentry and bring them to account. There are some individuals among us who have no visible means of support. Now and then one of them disappears and a horse with him. Let us see to these men and if there is no other way to get rid of them, drive them from the country anyway so that they vamoose the ranche."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 24, 1878, A.G. Patrick, Editor and Proprietor — "Buffalo Bill (Wm. F. Cody) visited the fairgrounds last week with his rifle and illustrated to the boys how he could shoot. A walnut tossed into the air was hit nine times out of ten tosses. A small plum was hit two times out of three and a nickel hit two times out of three, all with a small rifle."
The Valley Falls New Era, Oct. 12, 1878, G. D. Ingersoll, Editor and Proprietor — "The envy of the masculine side of the Sunday school at this season of the year is the boy whose hands show the blackest with walnut juice stain."
Continuing with the New Era and G.D. Ingersoll, Editor, Dec. 14, 1878, — "Two of our business men have exhibited a degree of enterprise for which they deserve praise. We allude now to Mr. Wm. Steffins and Mr. F. LaFountaine who have each erected nice street lamps in front of their business houses. We think this is a matter that our city council should look after, the lighting of our streets. It is not necessary that we should have a gas factory. A great many cities are using the Chicago street system because they are much cheaper. Coal oil is used in them and it is estimated the cost is about a dollar a month per light."
Continuing with the New Era and Ingersoll, Dec. 21, 1878 — "Mr. W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) has been appointed a special agent for the Nez Perce and Shawnee Indian tribes on account of valuable services rendered the government as Chief of Scouts."
Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E.P. Karr, Editor and Proprietor — "Frank LaFountaine and wife got into a fair-sized row in their store Thursday evening over some books, which the old lady refused to give up. They were going at each other rough and tumble and filling the air with profanity when Marshal Stockwell separated them and quited them. Frank went out to Turner Hall and when she returned, the old lady had nailed shut the doors of the store and held possession. The marshal was called again and had to break in. Mrs. LaFountaine went upstairs and took possession there and left the old man downstairs. His troubles have just commenced now since she came home from jail in Oskaloosa."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
August 08, 2012
Mr. Stewart's recollections of early Valley Falls, part 5
compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Part V
"Young folks seemed to enjoy fake patent medicine shows," continued E.J. Stewart in his "Early days in Valley Falls" story. "They set up each season in old Turner Hall (located on the corner of Walnut and Louisa Streets.) They always included an old time clog (tap) dance and a one act play. Oil burning footlights lighted the stage in Turner Hall. The seats were hard bottom chairs.
"The merry-go-round, when it came to town, was a joyful attraction. It was only a nickel a ride, but nickels were not very plentiful among the kids. One year there was a street carnival and the outstanding thing to be remembered was the man on the trapeze. The real thrill was the little one-ring circuses that made one-night stands up on the hill in Coy's addition at the south end of Walnut Street. Usually there was a parade. One year the circus used Mitchell's Feed Lot east of the Santa Fe tracks for a location. A shell game was operated in a tent and it took a lot of suckers.
"The attraction was outside the city limits and city officials could do nothing about it. Maj. Conser was constable and decided he would put a stop to it. The rowdys resented his action and showed him the way up town. He took a safe lead and secluded himself in the back room of Tom Gary's lunch room.
"Winters were plenty cold and rugged and it seemed as though there was a considerable snowfall. What fun it was to go for a ride in a bob sled or sleigh behind a spirited team of horses wearing a string of tuneful jingle bells. There were several who owned a fancy cutter (sleigh) or one could rent one at the livery stable.
"In the good old summertime, boys would gather on moonlight evenings for an exciting game of 'lay-low' or 'run-sheep-run.' Other games played in daylight included marbles, shinny, mumblepeg, and of course baseball. We didn't know anything about basketball, football, or volleyball. The boys called those Halloween pranks fun, but sometimes they went to extremes. There was a time when the keyhole of the lock of a hardware store was filled with cement and quite a number of 300 pound barrels of salt that Lou Hauck kept racked on the east side of his store were rolled down the hill toward the railroad. The upsetting of outhouses was always to be expected.
"In the horse and buggy days traveling salesmen seemed to like to stay in Valley Falls where there were three fairly good hotels. The Cataract was built by the Gardiner family in 1857. It was torn down years ago. The once famous Octagon hotel was erected by Dr. L. Northrup. It burned down 35 or 40 years ago. The Hillyer House was built by Mark Hillyer in the early '80s and was operated for many years by that very well known hotel man Dick Simpson. Just before noon and at 6 p.m. the porter would come out and beat a large gong to let people know that chow was ready to serve. The hotel burned after the turn of the century.
"It seems most fitting and proper to pay a tribute to the pioneers who founded Valley Falls and endured many hardships. They were of a type common in those days, but seldom found now. They were honest and hardworking. Their word was as good as a banker's note. I offer this toast to them! 'May you folks, men and women, always be remembered and never be forgotten.' "
Correction: Recipient of the story was Earl Roy Lillie, not Roy Earl Lillie.
The Society Museum will be open 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11.
Part V
"Young folks seemed to enjoy fake patent medicine shows," continued E.J. Stewart in his "Early days in Valley Falls" story. "They set up each season in old Turner Hall (located on the corner of Walnut and Louisa Streets.) They always included an old time clog (tap) dance and a one act play. Oil burning footlights lighted the stage in Turner Hall. The seats were hard bottom chairs.
"The merry-go-round, when it came to town, was a joyful attraction. It was only a nickel a ride, but nickels were not very plentiful among the kids. One year there was a street carnival and the outstanding thing to be remembered was the man on the trapeze. The real thrill was the little one-ring circuses that made one-night stands up on the hill in Coy's addition at the south end of Walnut Street. Usually there was a parade. One year the circus used Mitchell's Feed Lot east of the Santa Fe tracks for a location. A shell game was operated in a tent and it took a lot of suckers.
"The attraction was outside the city limits and city officials could do nothing about it. Maj. Conser was constable and decided he would put a stop to it. The rowdys resented his action and showed him the way up town. He took a safe lead and secluded himself in the back room of Tom Gary's lunch room.
"Winters were plenty cold and rugged and it seemed as though there was a considerable snowfall. What fun it was to go for a ride in a bob sled or sleigh behind a spirited team of horses wearing a string of tuneful jingle bells. There were several who owned a fancy cutter (sleigh) or one could rent one at the livery stable.
"In the good old summertime, boys would gather on moonlight evenings for an exciting game of 'lay-low' or 'run-sheep-run.' Other games played in daylight included marbles, shinny, mumblepeg, and of course baseball. We didn't know anything about basketball, football, or volleyball. The boys called those Halloween pranks fun, but sometimes they went to extremes. There was a time when the keyhole of the lock of a hardware store was filled with cement and quite a number of 300 pound barrels of salt that Lou Hauck kept racked on the east side of his store were rolled down the hill toward the railroad. The upsetting of outhouses was always to be expected.
"In the horse and buggy days traveling salesmen seemed to like to stay in Valley Falls where there were three fairly good hotels. The Cataract was built by the Gardiner family in 1857. It was torn down years ago. The once famous Octagon hotel was erected by Dr. L. Northrup. It burned down 35 or 40 years ago. The Hillyer House was built by Mark Hillyer in the early '80s and was operated for many years by that very well known hotel man Dick Simpson. Just before noon and at 6 p.m. the porter would come out and beat a large gong to let people know that chow was ready to serve. The hotel burned after the turn of the century.
"It seems most fitting and proper to pay a tribute to the pioneers who founded Valley Falls and endured many hardships. They were of a type common in those days, but seldom found now. They were honest and hardworking. Their word was as good as a banker's note. I offer this toast to them! 'May you folks, men and women, always be remembered and never be forgotten.' "
Correction: Recipient of the story was Earl Roy Lillie, not Roy Earl Lillie.
The Society Museum will be open 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11.
August 02, 2012
Mr. Stewart's recollections of early Valley Falls, part 4
compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Part IV
"At one time, Valley Falls was very much a railroad center," reminisced E.T. Stewart in his "early days in Valley Falls" story. Three roads served the community. The Kansas central or narrow gauge, later operated as a branch of the Union Pacific and later as the Leavenworth, Kansas and Western was built out from Leavenworth in 1872.
In May the same year, the Santa Fe from Topeka to Atchison was built, and in the 80's the Kansas City, Wyandotte, and North Western came through. For a long time there were 12 passenger and several freight trains in and out each day.
The narrow gauge locomotives were so small they could pull only 10 or 12 freight cars and often the train would stall on the hill east of town until the fireman could build up a head of steam when the train would be cut and the front hauled into Boyle Station then a return made for the other half.
Railroads used oil-burning locomotive headlights and oil burning lamps in the coaches. Railroad coaches were painted yellow and had no end vestibules. They were heated by coal stoves and used the old link and pin couplings.
Railroad section men (laborers) went to work on hand cars and often in the winter after a bad snow storm, they were called out to shovel snow off the tracks to let the trains go through.
Livestock was shipped to Kansas City over the Northwestern. One night, as the train was moving across the bridge over the Delaware southeast of town, the bridge collapsed and the locomotive and several cars of hogs and cattle dropped into the channel. It took a long time to rebuild the bridge.
Farmers 50 years ago lived a different life than they do now. The farmer and his hired hand toiled from sunup to sundown. Hired hands were paid from $10 to $15 per month including board. Men trailed along on foot behind plows, listers, harrows, and cultivators drawn by horses or mules.
Corn was shucked by hand. The farmer's wife generally had to do the milking and churning, feed the chickens, gather the eggs, and keep weeds out of the garden in addition to doing general housework. Cooking and baking were done on a coal or wood stove. The washing machine was a copper boiler, a tub, and a washboard.
Ordinary laborers were paid a dollar for 10 hours of work and there was no leaning on the shovel handle. Clerks in stores received about $25 per month and worked from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week.
For those dependent on farm products, milk was cheap at five cents a quart. Park Murray, the town milk man would come around morning and evening in a two-horse spring wagon which carried two 10-gallon cans equipped with faucets. As he drove up in front of the home, he would ring a large hand bell. The customer would go out with a small pail and Park would draw off in a quart or pint measuring cup the quantity desired.
Next: "Young folks seemed to enjoy fake patent medicine shows that set up each season in old Turner Hall."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)