Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A variety of items gleaned from the Jefferson County Historical Society newsletter, Editor John Bower, taken from Kansas Historical Society news sources:
OVER THE STATE columns in the Emporia news, Feb. 7 and 14, 1879, included,
"Oskaloosa Has Marvin College." "The Union Depot at Atchison will cost $100,000."
"Kansas had 19 completed railroads, 2,302 miles of rail and they are worth $15,525,033."
"John Bull, a farmer of Washington County had 450 bushels of corn stolen from his corn crib."
"A vein of coal has been struck ten miles north of Topeka. Four men are taking out 200 bushels a day."
"Four miners in Scranton, Osage County, got into a row in which one Dobson got his skull fractured and will probably die. His assailants were fined $2."
"Louis Jackson of Leavenworth was sent to jail for 200 days for carrying concealed weapons."
"Died within a few days, the Troy Bulletin and Fredonia Tribune."
"A woman in male attire has been operating in cattle business in Kingman County."
A poetic tribute to early days from the proceedings of an Old Settlers Reunion recorded in the Manhattan Nationalist, Feb. 28, 1879. One of the speakers, a Mrs. Jacquith, presented a poem "composed in haste for the occasion."
"When Settlers Old Were New"
With loving hearts though faulty rhyme,
We meet to boast the good ole time,
We do not laud the present time.
The good old times — to speak their praise,
When settlers old were new,
Roll backward time, thy years a score,
As we recount these memories o'er.
E're 'times were hard' 'ere' greenbacks came,
When railroad bonds we did not blame,
Repudiation but a name — our Capitol was a traveling one
It changed with every season's sun.
A townsite on each farm did lie,
Each held his town lots very high,
and had fortune 'in his eye.'
When settlers old were new,
We shot the buffalo on the trail,
We killed the chicken and the quail,
Of games laws with their fines severe,
To bleed our purse we had no fear.
We dined on 'possum, coon and deer.
When Kansas state was new.
We rode behind the amblin' ox,
We rattled safely o'er the rocks,
We worshipped God in cabins small, between the chinks in mud daubed walls.
We watched the stars and saw them fall,
When Kansas state was new."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9.
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