— compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Kansas New Era, December 11, 1873, nearly one century and a half past of Valley Falls history, reported "Hard Times. No Potatoes in Town."
Without further comment on the town's nutrition plight continued, "Five inches of snow last Sunday. Sleighs and sleds of every conceivable kind and description could be seen on our streets last Saturday. We saw a portly gent sit down on the pavement of Sycamore Street very suddenly last Saturday morning. He wears spikes in his boot heels now.
"All day last Sunday a huge and stern looking statue, with a large club in his hand, kept watch and war?? in front of Mr. Lutt's house on Walnut Street, but during Sunday night it vanished away like a phantom; it is needed less to add, it was a snowman."
A few months earlier, September 1873, the same publication published a now historic listing of businesses and professionals of the pioneer village, Grasshopper Falls, later christened Valley Falls.
Following are those who dared to share in the town's growth:
W.D. Lane, Attorney; A.M. Cown, homeopathic physician and surgeon; J. Becand, notary public; Valley Bank and Savings; Sawyer and Mitchell, Broadway Meat Market; J.T.B. Gephart, physician; E.M. Coluin, Mgr., Cataract House; Frazier and Wetherholt, grocers; L.A. Myers, drugs, books, stationary, Magazines; Lord and Waite, manufacturers and dealers in books and shoes;
Weber and Keplinger, dealers in ready made clothing, groceries, etc.; Beland, Meyers and Best, dealers in drugs, medicince, groceries, etc.; J.J. Winterburg, manufacturers and dealers in saddles, harness and collars; W.D. Ward, house and sign painting and paper hanging; Wm. Crosby, dealers in stoves, tinware, and implements; J.W. Eshelman, auctioneer; John R. Lambert, auctioneer; Wm. Clark, justice of the peace and police judge; Strickland and Bliss Hardware, tin ware and agricultural implements;
W. E. Parker, grain, coal, plaster and cement; A. W. Post, Grasshopper Falls Mill; Crosby and Kendall, dealers in dry goods, groceries, clothing and boots; E.M. Hutchens, Broadway Livery; L.F. Eggers, Attorney at Law and land agent; I.O.O.F. Crescent Lodge No. 86; Masonic Lodge; L. Northrup, physician and surgeon; D.J.B. Gish physician and surgeon; T.A. Aitkin, dentist; Prof. A.F. Gibsen, violen lessons; Felix Theibaud, restaurant; A. Wirtz, watchmaker and jeweler; W.C. Butts, land agent; Valley Bank and Savings; Great Western Blacksmith and Wagon Shop, V.F. Newman and Co.; Pioneer Shop Blacksmithing, S.H. Dunn; F.A. Dudgeon and Co., coal and lumber.
The museum will be open starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
December 17, 2013
December window displays at museum
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"Toyland, Joyland, Girl and Boyland" words from the 1903 Broadway musical, "Babes inToyland," inspired the December historical society museum window display.
A giant Christmas tree docorated with colored Christmas ornaments and twinkling lights predominates with a host of dolls and toys surrounding the holiday tree.
Yesteryear TiddlyWinks and dominoes grab the attention with gifts from other past and more recent generations that capture the viewer's eye and help fill the wish book.
A "Happy Birthday Grasshopper Falls 1854-2013" poster reminder completes the scene.
The veterans' window framed with gold garland interspersed with bright red poinsettias, features a miniature Christmas tree decorated with subdued patriotic ribbon and twinkling lights encircled with military service flags. American flags and "Support our Troops" reminder complete the holiday scene.
The Valley Falls museum will be open Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m.
"Toyland, Joyland, Girl and Boyland" words from the 1903 Broadway musical, "Babes inToyland," inspired the December historical society museum window display.
A giant Christmas tree docorated with colored Christmas ornaments and twinkling lights predominates with a host of dolls and toys surrounding the holiday tree.
Yesteryear TiddlyWinks and dominoes grab the attention with gifts from other past and more recent generations that capture the viewer's eye and help fill the wish book.
A "Happy Birthday Grasshopper Falls 1854-2013" poster reminder completes the scene.
The veterans' window framed with gold garland interspersed with bright red poinsettias, features a miniature Christmas tree decorated with subdued patriotic ribbon and twinkling lights encircled with military service flags. American flags and "Support our Troops" reminder complete the holiday scene.
The Valley Falls museum will be open Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m.
December 05, 2013
Horse thieves in Grasshopper Falls
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president,
According to the 1863 Kansas Jeffersonian news publication, Grasshopper Falls was plagued with horse thievery woes (no pun intended). Following is one of the tales (woops!)
Oct. 28, 1863:
"A couple of bold jaywalkers—Mr. Herman, keeper of the Travelers' home one mile east of town, had two valuable mares stolen just in the edge of the evening on Monday last.
"The thieves were in garb of soldiers and represented themselves to one of our settlers as jennison's men. They were in town just before dark enquiring the route to Nebraska City, which course they did in fact take.
"A part of our citizens were soon in close pursuit who pressed the scoundrels so hard that they quit the stolen animals and probably took to the brush on foot. The horses were found yesterday morning on their way home."
November 4, 1863:
"Mr. Eli Evans of Oskaloosa was lately robbed of $1500 on Kaw bottom. Mr. Evans was in the employ of S.L. North of Leavenworth who furnished the above sum of money for said Evans to buy horses with.
"Mr. E. was on his way to Topeka and had nearly reached the ferry when stopped by the highwaymen. There were four of the robbers. After securing the money, together with a pistol and $60 belonging to young Evans, they attempted to make way with him, but fortunately he escaped.
"The two thieves who stole Newman's horses were caught at Hiawatha. One of them was retained by the citizens there to pay them for assisting to catch the scoundrels. The other who goes by the name of Scott, was brought back to our place on Saturday.
"We saw the gentleman—a hard looking customer in soldier clothes—had a faint resemblance to the 'Grim Chieftan.' He proved to be a deserter from a Nebraska regiment and an old hand at horse stealing.
"It is said that he made some startling developments implicating certain persons at the lower end of the county. He had an unrighteous looking knife on his person when captured. It was upwards of a foot long.
"After he had said all that he was disposed to on the subject of his chosen profession, he was allowed to accompany a small party on a light scouting expedition, himself tied upon a horse.
"When the party returned along toward daylight Sunday morning, Mr. Thief was missing and the party did not seem disposed to render a satisfactory explanation of his mysterious disappearance. He probably 'went up a tree' temporarily."
November 18, 1863:
"Andrew Ogden, one of the theives who stole Newman's horses, is now in the Atchison County jail. So says the Champion (Atchison news) having been handed over by the citizens of Hiawatha for safe keeping."
December 23, 1863:
The Atchison Champion says, "An unknown gentleman was found hanging by the neck last week in the timber on Stranger Creek a few miles southwest of town. It is conjecture that he fell a victim to the established prejudice in the community against horse stealing."
—Yesteryears, April 1993
The local museum will be open Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
According to the 1863 Kansas Jeffersonian news publication, Grasshopper Falls was plagued with horse thievery woes (no pun intended). Following is one of the tales (woops!)
Oct. 28, 1863:
"A couple of bold jaywalkers—Mr. Herman, keeper of the Travelers' home one mile east of town, had two valuable mares stolen just in the edge of the evening on Monday last.
"The thieves were in garb of soldiers and represented themselves to one of our settlers as jennison's men. They were in town just before dark enquiring the route to Nebraska City, which course they did in fact take.
"A part of our citizens were soon in close pursuit who pressed the scoundrels so hard that they quit the stolen animals and probably took to the brush on foot. The horses were found yesterday morning on their way home."
November 4, 1863:
"Mr. Eli Evans of Oskaloosa was lately robbed of $1500 on Kaw bottom. Mr. Evans was in the employ of S.L. North of Leavenworth who furnished the above sum of money for said Evans to buy horses with.
"Mr. E. was on his way to Topeka and had nearly reached the ferry when stopped by the highwaymen. There were four of the robbers. After securing the money, together with a pistol and $60 belonging to young Evans, they attempted to make way with him, but fortunately he escaped.
"The two thieves who stole Newman's horses were caught at Hiawatha. One of them was retained by the citizens there to pay them for assisting to catch the scoundrels. The other who goes by the name of Scott, was brought back to our place on Saturday.
"We saw the gentleman—a hard looking customer in soldier clothes—had a faint resemblance to the 'Grim Chieftan.' He proved to be a deserter from a Nebraska regiment and an old hand at horse stealing.
"It is said that he made some startling developments implicating certain persons at the lower end of the county. He had an unrighteous looking knife on his person when captured. It was upwards of a foot long.
"After he had said all that he was disposed to on the subject of his chosen profession, he was allowed to accompany a small party on a light scouting expedition, himself tied upon a horse.
"When the party returned along toward daylight Sunday morning, Mr. Thief was missing and the party did not seem disposed to render a satisfactory explanation of his mysterious disappearance. He probably 'went up a tree' temporarily."
November 18, 1863:
"Andrew Ogden, one of the theives who stole Newman's horses, is now in the Atchison County jail. So says the Champion (Atchison news) having been handed over by the citizens of Hiawatha for safe keeping."
December 23, 1863:
The Atchison Champion says, "An unknown gentleman was found hanging by the neck last week in the timber on Stranger Creek a few miles southwest of town. It is conjecture that he fell a victim to the established prejudice in the community against horse stealing."
—Yesteryears, April 1993
The local museum will be open Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
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