Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Rev. J.B. McAfee was active in public affairs of Kansas for 40 years. Relative to local history in 1857, he organized a Lutheran congregation and built a church, the first Lutheran Church in Kansas, at Grasshopper Falls — now Valley Falls, where the Shrine Church still stands.
During 1862-63 and '64 he served in the Civil War in various capacities. Later, other accomplishments included private secretary to the governor of Kansas, Adjunt General of Kansas, a member of the Kansas Legislature three times, and mayor of Topeka.
He was a lifelong temperance man. When mayor of Topeka, he put prohibition into practice amidst threats to take his life.
Quoting a source, "He enacted prohibition by refusing to sign any license to saloon keepers as long as he was mayor, though they threatened to hang him from a lamp post.
"C.R. Jennison was running a Faro Bank in Topeka while Mr. McAfee was mayor, though the business was prohibited by city ordinance. McAfee found his gambling house, and, being refused admission, he heeded not the threats nor the warnings, but taking an ax in his hand he battered down the door, cleaned out the establishment and prepared to burn it as the law directed.
"He was told by the gamblers that he would not dare to do that if Jennison were present.
'When will he be back?' asked the mayor.
'At 2 o'clock tomorrow,' was the response.
'Well, we will adjourn the burning until the gambler comes,' said the fearless mayor.
"The next day, in the presence of Jennison, the bonfire was kindled and Jennison was meek as a lamb."
(Source: The Topeka Mail and Breeze, May 22, 1896.)
The Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Admission is free.
September 12, 2012
September 05, 2012
Water troughs installed; an attempted break-in; 1898 meat prices; catching 437 lbs. of fish; Carrie Nation
- Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"The city has put in two large watering troughs for the accommodations of the public," reported the Valley Falls New Era March 7, 1889. "One for the benefit of the farmers who enter town from the south and west, is near the city park. The other, which will benefit more those who come from the north and east, is on Maple near James Blacksmith Shop. They will always be full of water."
From the New Era, March 26, 1898:
"Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock some person or persons tried to enter the home of James F. Batchelor. They were prying and cutting at the window when Mrs. Batchelor was awakened by the noise. She quietly aroused Maggie Flora, a young lady employed by Mrs. B., and together they got up and Miss Flora, with great presence of mind, took a revolver laying on the dresser and fired several shots through the window at the light outside.
"None of the shots were effective only in shattering the window pane and arousing the neighbors. Mayor Evans, J.H. McNutt and others were soon searching for some trace of the parties, but failed to find even a clue. it was quite a trying situation for the ladies who were entirely alone."
Continuing from the New Era, same month and year:
"Notice: From now on the following prices will rule at our meat market: Loin steak, 15 cents per pound; round steak, 12 cents per pound; chuck steak, 10 cents per pound; rib roast, 12 cents per pound; rump roast, 8 cents per pound; and boiling meat, 6 and 7 cents per pound. —Dort Bros."
From the New Era, October 28, 1899:
Headline: "A Good Catch"
"A fishing party composed of S.T. Mayhew, B.B. Reppert, C.L. Overhosler, S.E. Mitchell and J.W. Mitchell, F. Glenn and Charley Rice were out about an hour Monday seining the Mitchell pond east of the city. The pond is not a deep one and unless the fish were removed, they would be frozen in the ice during the winter.
"A trammel net was used and only three hauls were made in the south half of the pond which resulted in a catch of 437 pounds of fish. The species of fish were principally buffalo and German carp with a few small cats.
"The catch was taken to Mitchell Bros. Meat Market where they were strung up and together with the fishermen were photographed by A.A. Reiderer. After the photo was taken, the fish were put on ice and retailed at 5 cents a pound and most of them were disposed of in a very short time."
Valley Falls New Era, December 29, 1900:
"Mrs. Carrie Nation, president of the W.C.T.U. of Barber County, is in jail at Wichita for trying to destroy the Carey Hotel saloon. She threw a stone through a valuable painting, also a $1,500 mirror, and did considerable other damage."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.
Clarke Davis
Davis Publications, Inc.
The Oskaloosa Independent
The Valley Falls Vindicator
785-945-3257
Fax: 785-945-3444
"The city has put in two large watering troughs for the accommodations of the public," reported the Valley Falls New Era March 7, 1889. "One for the benefit of the farmers who enter town from the south and west, is near the city park. The other, which will benefit more those who come from the north and east, is on Maple near James Blacksmith Shop. They will always be full of water."
From the New Era, March 26, 1898:
"Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock some person or persons tried to enter the home of James F. Batchelor. They were prying and cutting at the window when Mrs. Batchelor was awakened by the noise. She quietly aroused Maggie Flora, a young lady employed by Mrs. B., and together they got up and Miss Flora, with great presence of mind, took a revolver laying on the dresser and fired several shots through the window at the light outside.
"None of the shots were effective only in shattering the window pane and arousing the neighbors. Mayor Evans, J.H. McNutt and others were soon searching for some trace of the parties, but failed to find even a clue. it was quite a trying situation for the ladies who were entirely alone."
Continuing from the New Era, same month and year:
"Notice: From now on the following prices will rule at our meat market: Loin steak, 15 cents per pound; round steak, 12 cents per pound; chuck steak, 10 cents per pound; rib roast, 12 cents per pound; rump roast, 8 cents per pound; and boiling meat, 6 and 7 cents per pound. —Dort Bros."
From the New Era, October 28, 1899:
Headline: "A Good Catch"
"A fishing party composed of S.T. Mayhew, B.B. Reppert, C.L. Overhosler, S.E. Mitchell and J.W. Mitchell, F. Glenn and Charley Rice were out about an hour Monday seining the Mitchell pond east of the city. The pond is not a deep one and unless the fish were removed, they would be frozen in the ice during the winter.
"A trammel net was used and only three hauls were made in the south half of the pond which resulted in a catch of 437 pounds of fish. The species of fish were principally buffalo and German carp with a few small cats.
"The catch was taken to Mitchell Bros. Meat Market where they were strung up and together with the fishermen were photographed by A.A. Reiderer. After the photo was taken, the fish were put on ice and retailed at 5 cents a pound and most of them were disposed of in a very short time."
Valley Falls New Era, December 29, 1900:
"Mrs. Carrie Nation, president of the W.C.T.U. of Barber County, is in jail at Wichita for trying to destroy the Carey Hotel saloon. She threw a stone through a valuable painting, also a $1,500 mirror, and did considerable other damage."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.
Clarke Davis
Davis Publications, Inc.
The Oskaloosa Independent
The Valley Falls Vindicator
785-945-3257
Fax: 785-945-3444
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