Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
It was not "School Days, School Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days," according to the Valley Falls New Era Feb. 14, 1884. Reporting "A Skirmish in School," the news item continued:
"It appears from facts gleaned, that there was a pretty lively skirmish between the teacher, Mr. Wilson in District No. 38 (North Cedar), and one of the pupils named Gragg, the son of Zachariah Gragg.
"The lad had been guilty of some misdemeanor for which the teacher called him to account. This was in the evening before school closed. The next morning, just after school started, the teacher invited young Gragg to come forward and take off his coat for the purpose of receiving further punishment for his misconduct of the evening before. The lad refused, and Mr. Wilson waded into him with a good sized stick from a hedge fence. The boy offered stern resistance, grabbed up another big switch that was near at hand and for several minutes the teacher and pupil had a lively game of 'slapjack' and it was nip and tuck for a time, but the teacher finally got the mastery of the pupil, made him take off his coat, and take a severe castigation in his shirt sleeves. It is said he whipped the boy so severely that the blood ran down to the floor. The fracas so frightened the younger pupils that they fled in terror and went home. At last accounts, all was quiet and the teacher was still holding the fort."
However, the Feb. 28, 1884, issue of the same news source reported:
"Wilson, the school teacher in the Grace District (No. 38), called his school at the usual hour last Friday morning, and, when all were seated, proceeded to inform them that his labors among them were about to end and admonished them to 'steer their footsteps in another direction' — go to another district — 'if they would become Newtons, Washingtons, or Garfields.' The 'atmosphere of their own district was too demoralizing for the proper development of great minds, which they gave evidence of possessing.'
"He rattled on in this sarcastic strain for some time, then took his leave of the place, and a day or two later, after a settlement with the directors, he went back to his mother in Indiana. Kansas is doubtless too far west for such soft cracklins as Mr. Wilson."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2.
February 26, 2013
February 19, 2013
February displays feature Black History, Presidents' Day
- Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Remembering and honoring Black History Month, the mega portrait of Martin Luther King, and the veterans will dominate the Valley Falls Historical Society's museum throughout February.
The seasonal window of the museum features equally mega portraits of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, commemorating the Presidents Day holiday.
Revered as our founding father and our first president, George Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732. In 1796, his birthday was known as Washington's birthday, but it was not observed as a holiday until 1832.
Abraham Lincoln's birthday was the next to be so celebrated. Born Feb. 12, 1809, his birthday was first celebrated in 1865, a year after his assassination by southern sympathizer, John Wilkes Booth. Although not celebrated as a federal holiday, in many states, his birthday was observed as a legal holiday.
Congress passed legislation in 1968 placing all federal holidays on Monday, including Washington's birthday. Thus was born the three-day weekend. In 1971, during Richard Nixon's term Washington and Lincoln's birthdays were combined into Presidents Day. It is now celebrated on the third Monday in February regardless of the date on which it falls.
Presidents Day now honors all who have served as president.
The museum scene includes an unidentified landscape painting by the late Kansas painter, Howard Hamm, bordered by magazine cover replicas of paintings of Washington at Valley Forge by J.D. Leyendecker (Feb. 25, 1935, Saturday Evening Post) and Lincoln at Independence Hall by J.L.G. Ferris showing the president in 1861 raising the flag bearing the 34th star honoring Kansas as the newest state (Kansas History, Autumn 2001) Presidents Day Information Source.
And all under the watchful eye of a Lincoln silhouette created by local artist Susan Phillips.
Remembering and honoring Black History Month, the mega portrait of Martin Luther King, and the veterans will dominate the Valley Falls Historical Society's museum throughout February.
The seasonal window of the museum features equally mega portraits of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, commemorating the Presidents Day holiday.
Revered as our founding father and our first president, George Washington was born Feb. 22, 1732. In 1796, his birthday was known as Washington's birthday, but it was not observed as a holiday until 1832.
Abraham Lincoln's birthday was the next to be so celebrated. Born Feb. 12, 1809, his birthday was first celebrated in 1865, a year after his assassination by southern sympathizer, John Wilkes Booth. Although not celebrated as a federal holiday, in many states, his birthday was observed as a legal holiday.
Congress passed legislation in 1968 placing all federal holidays on Monday, including Washington's birthday. Thus was born the three-day weekend. In 1971, during Richard Nixon's term Washington and Lincoln's birthdays were combined into Presidents Day. It is now celebrated on the third Monday in February regardless of the date on which it falls.
Presidents Day now honors all who have served as president.
The museum scene includes an unidentified landscape painting by the late Kansas painter, Howard Hamm, bordered by magazine cover replicas of paintings of Washington at Valley Forge by J.D. Leyendecker (Feb. 25, 1935, Saturday Evening Post) and Lincoln at Independence Hall by J.L.G. Ferris showing the president in 1861 raising the flag bearing the 34th star honoring Kansas as the newest state (Kansas History, Autumn 2001) Presidents Day Information Source.
And all under the watchful eye of a Lincoln silhouette created by local artist Susan Phillips.
February 13, 2013
1885: tragic death of "Dad" Huff, after attack on city marshall
- compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Tragedy has neither friends nor enemies and has no consideration for circumstances as evidenced by the following story featured by the Valley Falls New Era Aug. 27 through Oct. 1885.
"The bloodiest and most exciting tragedy, which has occurred in Valley Falls for years was last Saturday night where one man was killed and three others were seriously wounded.
"A farmer who goes by the name 'Dad' Huff, a brother of J.M. Huff, well and favorably known in this community, was in town and in the company with a friend of his named Dave Delk. They visited the skating rink in the evening, both, it seems having imbibed too freely of liquor during the afternoon and evening.
"Huff put on a pair of skates, and being a novice at the business, together with the liquor he had in him, made little progress in learning to skate. He maneuvered around for a time, and it is said, used vulgar and obscene language, something not tolerated by the skating rink management. Marshal Boles was sent for, and prevailed upon Huff to leave the place. But Huff became so unruly, it was thought best to take him into custody. Marshal Boles started with him to the calaboose, having called W.N Barnes for assistance.
"They were getting along o.k. until they reached the corner of Turner Hall where they were overtaken by Dave Delk who wanted to know what Marshal Boles was going to do with Huff. The marshal's reply was that he was taking the prisoner to the cooler. Delk swore that Huff should not be locked up and interfered, laying hold of Barnes first. Barnes released the prisoner to protect himself against Delk who had turned his attention to Huff and the marshal and Barnes again came to the rescue.
"While laying hold of Huff, Huff made a pass at Barnes with an open knife, cutting him on the left side, making a second thrust burying the knife in the muscle of Barnes's left arm. Barnes left at once for Dr. Northrup's office.
"In the meantime, Marshal Boles struggled with Huff and Delk. Huff plunged his knife into the marshal's back, inflicting a deep wound, freeing himself from the officer's hold, then discharged a revolver given to him by Delk, at Marshal Boles. But, Boles was too quick and returned first at Huff sending him crashing to the ground.
"Delk started to flee, but the marshal commanded him to halt three times. Delk continued his retreat and Boles fired after him striking him in the right hip. Huff, all the while was lying on the ground grappling with death and in about half an hour the grim reaper claimed the victory.
"On the following Sunday the verdict was reached that on the 22nd day of August, from a pistol shot in the hands of the city marshal, in self defense, in the discharge of his official duty, he (Huff) came to death.
"The deceased left a wife and two children. It is intimated that Mrs. Huff will prosecute the saloon keeper that sold her husband liquor. That is just what she should do and the temperance people of Valley Falls should assist her. Will they do it?"
Valley Falls New Era, Sept. 3, 1885, "Mary A. Huff, wife of deceased A.C. Huff, brought a $10,000 suit against Frank LaFontaine and Henry Senn, saloon keepers, charging them with selling liquor to her husband, the same being held to be the inciting cause of the tragedy which robbed Mr. Huff of his life."
Valley Falls New Era, Oct. 22, 1885, "The suit brought in the district court by Mrs. Mary Huff for $10,000 damages against LaFontaine and Senn, the Valley Falls saloon keepers, resulted in a verdict of $1,250 for Mrs. Huff."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Tragedy has neither friends nor enemies and has no consideration for circumstances as evidenced by the following story featured by the Valley Falls New Era Aug. 27 through Oct. 1885.
"The bloodiest and most exciting tragedy, which has occurred in Valley Falls for years was last Saturday night where one man was killed and three others were seriously wounded.
"A farmer who goes by the name 'Dad' Huff, a brother of J.M. Huff, well and favorably known in this community, was in town and in the company with a friend of his named Dave Delk. They visited the skating rink in the evening, both, it seems having imbibed too freely of liquor during the afternoon and evening.
"Huff put on a pair of skates, and being a novice at the business, together with the liquor he had in him, made little progress in learning to skate. He maneuvered around for a time, and it is said, used vulgar and obscene language, something not tolerated by the skating rink management. Marshal Boles was sent for, and prevailed upon Huff to leave the place. But Huff became so unruly, it was thought best to take him into custody. Marshal Boles started with him to the calaboose, having called W.N Barnes for assistance.
"They were getting along o.k. until they reached the corner of Turner Hall where they were overtaken by Dave Delk who wanted to know what Marshal Boles was going to do with Huff. The marshal's reply was that he was taking the prisoner to the cooler. Delk swore that Huff should not be locked up and interfered, laying hold of Barnes first. Barnes released the prisoner to protect himself against Delk who had turned his attention to Huff and the marshal and Barnes again came to the rescue.
"While laying hold of Huff, Huff made a pass at Barnes with an open knife, cutting him on the left side, making a second thrust burying the knife in the muscle of Barnes's left arm. Barnes left at once for Dr. Northrup's office.
"In the meantime, Marshal Boles struggled with Huff and Delk. Huff plunged his knife into the marshal's back, inflicting a deep wound, freeing himself from the officer's hold, then discharged a revolver given to him by Delk, at Marshal Boles. But, Boles was too quick and returned first at Huff sending him crashing to the ground.
"Delk started to flee, but the marshal commanded him to halt three times. Delk continued his retreat and Boles fired after him striking him in the right hip. Huff, all the while was lying on the ground grappling with death and in about half an hour the grim reaper claimed the victory.
"On the following Sunday the verdict was reached that on the 22nd day of August, from a pistol shot in the hands of the city marshal, in self defense, in the discharge of his official duty, he (Huff) came to death.
"The deceased left a wife and two children. It is intimated that Mrs. Huff will prosecute the saloon keeper that sold her husband liquor. That is just what she should do and the temperance people of Valley Falls should assist her. Will they do it?"
Valley Falls New Era, Sept. 3, 1885, "Mary A. Huff, wife of deceased A.C. Huff, brought a $10,000 suit against Frank LaFontaine and Henry Senn, saloon keepers, charging them with selling liquor to her husband, the same being held to be the inciting cause of the tragedy which robbed Mr. Huff of his life."
Valley Falls New Era, Oct. 22, 1885, "The suit brought in the district court by Mrs. Mary Huff for $10,000 damages against LaFontaine and Senn, the Valley Falls saloon keepers, resulted in a verdict of $1,250 for Mrs. Huff."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)