by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"Rain drops keep falling on my head . . . " reminiscent of a lively tune and a window filled with colorful parasols, umbrellas or "bumper shoots" provided both the theme and the scene for the April window display of the historical society's museum.
Shy rabbits peeking out from under rain shower protectors, familiar plants and flowers springing from their hibernating roots and baby ducks paddling on a small pond add up to welcome harbingers of spring, long anticipated following winter's bleak days, freezing temperatures, snow and ice, landscapes of barren trees and colorless lawns.
Military service headgear claims front and center billing for the veterans' window display. A formal lineup of miniature American flags interspersed with "support our troops" signs enhance the scene and are constant reminders of the vigilence and protection of our freedom attributed to our servicemen and women all over the world.
The museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
April 25, 2013
Siblings reunited after 40 years
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
When Postmaster Karr received a letter addressed as follows: "To P.M., Grasshopper or Sautrelle Falls, Jefferson County, Kansas" one September day in 1901, he did not realize he was about to help solve a mystery of 37 years.
The Valley Falls New Era, Sept. 14, 1901, reported the events leading to the mystery and carried the following story:
"In 1864, there lived near this city, in the neighborhood of Half Mound, a young man whose ambition led him from the farm to seek his fortune in the West. It was a bright, spring morning in 1864, when John Krawetzki bade farewell to friends, relatives and home and started westward across the then Great American Desert of Kansas and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
"Since leaving home nearly 40 years ago, nothing has been heard of the young man. Now, a man of 60 years, apparently amply provided for and alone in the world, as revealed in his letter, he is anxious to claim relationship before it's too late.
"He wrote, 'Dear Sir . . . about 1865, there lived about four miles up Grasshopper Creek, a man by the name of Francis Ammen, who was my stepfather. He married my stepmother, who married my father on my mother's death. My father and my stepmother had a daughter, who was my stepsister and whose name was Johannah Krawetzki.
"I left there in 1864 and came to California, and have heard nothing of them since. Now, as I have no personal friends, and am 60 years of age, I am desirous of finding out the whereabouts of my stepsister or her offspring, if any, and if living, so as to make some provisions for them at my death. By looking this matter up, you will confer a great favor, and if there is any expense attached, send me the bills and I will remit. Your very truly, John Julius Krawetzki, 102 Main St., Santa Rosa, Cal."
"Postmaster Karr began making inquiries among those living in the Ammen neighborhood and soon learned from some older residents that there once was a man named Krawetzki in the vicinity, but it was difficult to locate a stepsister or any other relatives.
"By continued inquiry, it was learned that Mrs. Lawrence Hilty was a Miss Johannah Krawetzki and when notified of the receipt of the letter was wild with joy and came to town to learn the facts from the postmaster.
"Mrs. Hilty resides with her family north of town in the neighborhood her stepbrother left long ago. The family consists of father, mother, a son and two daughters. Being the wife of T. Gettler, Mrs. Hilty is now in correspondence with her stepbrother and they hope to see each other before death separates them for all time."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27.
When Postmaster Karr received a letter addressed as follows: "To P.M., Grasshopper or Sautrelle Falls, Jefferson County, Kansas" one September day in 1901, he did not realize he was about to help solve a mystery of 37 years.
The Valley Falls New Era, Sept. 14, 1901, reported the events leading to the mystery and carried the following story:
"In 1864, there lived near this city, in the neighborhood of Half Mound, a young man whose ambition led him from the farm to seek his fortune in the West. It was a bright, spring morning in 1864, when John Krawetzki bade farewell to friends, relatives and home and started westward across the then Great American Desert of Kansas and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
"Since leaving home nearly 40 years ago, nothing has been heard of the young man. Now, a man of 60 years, apparently amply provided for and alone in the world, as revealed in his letter, he is anxious to claim relationship before it's too late.
"He wrote, 'Dear Sir . . . about 1865, there lived about four miles up Grasshopper Creek, a man by the name of Francis Ammen, who was my stepfather. He married my stepmother, who married my father on my mother's death. My father and my stepmother had a daughter, who was my stepsister and whose name was Johannah Krawetzki.
"I left there in 1864 and came to California, and have heard nothing of them since. Now, as I have no personal friends, and am 60 years of age, I am desirous of finding out the whereabouts of my stepsister or her offspring, if any, and if living, so as to make some provisions for them at my death. By looking this matter up, you will confer a great favor, and if there is any expense attached, send me the bills and I will remit. Your very truly, John Julius Krawetzki, 102 Main St., Santa Rosa, Cal."
"Postmaster Karr began making inquiries among those living in the Ammen neighborhood and soon learned from some older residents that there once was a man named Krawetzki in the vicinity, but it was difficult to locate a stepsister or any other relatives.
"By continued inquiry, it was learned that Mrs. Lawrence Hilty was a Miss Johannah Krawetzki and when notified of the receipt of the letter was wild with joy and came to town to learn the facts from the postmaster.
"Mrs. Hilty resides with her family north of town in the neighborhood her stepbrother left long ago. The family consists of father, mother, a son and two daughters. Being the wife of T. Gettler, Mrs. Hilty is now in correspondence with her stepbrother and they hope to see each other before death separates them for all time."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27.
April 10, 2013
Bob Weiser, horse thief, 1884
Compiled by Betty Jane WIlson, society president
Reports of a horse thief capture were confirmed by the following Valley Falls New Era news item May 29, 1884:
"It becomes our painful duty to chronicle the circumstances relative to the theft of a valuable horse belonging to Louis Beland.
"The thief was "Bob" Weiser, as he is familiarly known, who was born here we believe, and nearly all his life has lived here. He has always been of a rather wild and ungovernable disposition, and it is intimated that he has many times been implicated in rather unquestionable transactions (Prior to the theft of the Beland horse, it had been reported he was connected with a scheme to rob the night express, however, one of his confederates weakened and the robbery was abandoned).
"It appears that Weiser, who is perhaps in the neighborhood of 26 years old, got in desperate straits for money, and conceived the plan of getting it in the manner he did.
"On Thursday night, the 15th, he went to John Beland's stable between 10 and 11 o'clock, saddled and bridled Louis Beland's fine young bay horse, and rode him to Kansas City where he sold him.
"Weiser's absence from town just at that time, caused suspicion to point strongly to him. Meanwhile, not suspecting that he was being shadowed as the thief, Weiser came home, and was arrested here about the middle of the afternoon.
"Later, Weiser pleaded guilty before Judge Crozier, who sentenced him to four years in the penitentiary. The horse was recovered from T. J. Anderson of Buckner, Mo.
"Sympathy is felt for his family, who we believe are very industrious and above reproach."
Less than six months after his incarceration, late October 1884, Bob Weiser died in prison. No cause of death was reported.
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13.
Reports of a horse thief capture were confirmed by the following Valley Falls New Era news item May 29, 1884:
"It becomes our painful duty to chronicle the circumstances relative to the theft of a valuable horse belonging to Louis Beland.
"The thief was "Bob" Weiser, as he is familiarly known, who was born here we believe, and nearly all his life has lived here. He has always been of a rather wild and ungovernable disposition, and it is intimated that he has many times been implicated in rather unquestionable transactions (Prior to the theft of the Beland horse, it had been reported he was connected with a scheme to rob the night express, however, one of his confederates weakened and the robbery was abandoned).
"It appears that Weiser, who is perhaps in the neighborhood of 26 years old, got in desperate straits for money, and conceived the plan of getting it in the manner he did.
"On Thursday night, the 15th, he went to John Beland's stable between 10 and 11 o'clock, saddled and bridled Louis Beland's fine young bay horse, and rode him to Kansas City where he sold him.
"Weiser's absence from town just at that time, caused suspicion to point strongly to him. Meanwhile, not suspecting that he was being shadowed as the thief, Weiser came home, and was arrested here about the middle of the afternoon.
"Later, Weiser pleaded guilty before Judge Crozier, who sentenced him to four years in the penitentiary. The horse was recovered from T. J. Anderson of Buckner, Mo.
"Sympathy is felt for his family, who we believe are very industrious and above reproach."
Less than six months after his incarceration, late October 1884, Bob Weiser died in prison. No cause of death was reported.
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13.
Rescues from a well - 1901
- Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
All's well that ends well. One of a sundry of items from the 1901 Valley Falls New Era, July 27, 1901, included the following near-tragedy story:
"The well on Mr. Grigsby's place, in the ravine west of Frazier Avenue, has not been furnishing a sufficient supply of water, and he concluded to have it dug a few feet deeper. A man named Thomas was employed to assist him in the work, and on Monday evening they put in a heavy blast before quitting work. Tuesday morning, Mr. Grigsby went down the well and Mrs. Grigsby expected to haul up some of the stones, while wating for Mr. Thomas. Mr. Grigsby had been in the well but a few minutes when his wife saw him reel and fall over as if dead.
She began screaming for help, and the first to arrive was Rev. Braden, the Methodist minister, who went down and attempted to take the rope off the bucket to tie around Grigsby, but, before he could do so, he too, was overcome by the gas and fell across Grigsby. Rev. Braden's boy next went down to rescue his father, but he could not untie the rope and called for a knife with which to cut it. He then fastened the rope around his father and he was drawn up. The other end of the rope was sent down, but the boy began to feel the effects of the gas before he could rescue Grigsby, and was so far gone that he could not tie it around himself, but managed to wrap it around one arm and one leg in such a way that he was drawn to the top where he was caught by Alex Midghall just in time to keep him from falling back into the well.
Mr. Thomas then went down and rescued Mr. Grigsby and, after a great deal of hurried work by physicians, all three of the victims were brought back to life. It was a very close call for all of them, and the excitement was intense for a short time."
All's well that ends well. One of a sundry of items from the 1901 Valley Falls New Era, July 27, 1901, included the following near-tragedy story:
"The well on Mr. Grigsby's place, in the ravine west of Frazier Avenue, has not been furnishing a sufficient supply of water, and he concluded to have it dug a few feet deeper. A man named Thomas was employed to assist him in the work, and on Monday evening they put in a heavy blast before quitting work. Tuesday morning, Mr. Grigsby went down the well and Mrs. Grigsby expected to haul up some of the stones, while wating for Mr. Thomas. Mr. Grigsby had been in the well but a few minutes when his wife saw him reel and fall over as if dead.
She began screaming for help, and the first to arrive was Rev. Braden, the Methodist minister, who went down and attempted to take the rope off the bucket to tie around Grigsby, but, before he could do so, he too, was overcome by the gas and fell across Grigsby. Rev. Braden's boy next went down to rescue his father, but he could not untie the rope and called for a knife with which to cut it. He then fastened the rope around his father and he was drawn up. The other end of the rope was sent down, but the boy began to feel the effects of the gas before he could rescue Grigsby, and was so far gone that he could not tie it around himself, but managed to wrap it around one arm and one leg in such a way that he was drawn to the top where he was caught by Alex Midghall just in time to keep him from falling back into the well.
Mr. Thomas then went down and rescued Mr. Grigsby and, after a great deal of hurried work by physicians, all three of the victims were brought back to life. It was a very close call for all of them, and the excitement was intense for a short time."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)