Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Death takes no holidays and plays no favorites.
The Farmer's Vindicator, Aug. 8, 1913, reported the tragic death of Greta, the four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Schuler. Mr. Schuler was a partner in the Schuler family of undertakers and funeral directors.
Quoting the newspaper report:
"From playing with her little brother in front of the house, the little girl (Greta) ran to the rear when from the back door came a flaming pitcher of gasoline thrown by the frightened mother from the kitchen, into the path from which the unsuspecting child ran.
"Immediately the child was enveloped in flames and dead grass around her was burning. She screamed and struggled in pain and fell a few feet away again setting the grass on fire. Edna Hukill ran to her assistance and rolled the burning body on the ground, extinguishing the fire on the clothing and with her hands snuffed out the fire in the little girl's hair and ribbons.
"Dr. Lowry was called by phone, but the answer seemed unsatisfactory to anxious friends so Mrs. Schuler's sister and Virginia Mitchell ran to his home, to hasten the call. He was already on his way, going by way of his office for bandages and ointments.
"Dr. Pecinovsky ran over from the Catholic church, dressed the burns with flour and syrup and wrapped the screaming child in sheets. When Dr. Lowry arrived, chloroform had been administered, easing the suffering of the child. The little bare legs and arms and face were severely blistered, but not thought to be fatal. The condition of the little patient was favorable all day. She rested and knew Papa and Grandma and called them by name. Toward sundown unfavorable symptoms appeared. The shock was too much for the little heart. The little girl passed away at three the following morning.
"A series of household events caused the fatal accident. Gasoline was low for a household facility and a quart can had been borrowed. An attempt to fill the facility from an open can proved unsatisfactory, gas vapors filled the room and gasoline was poured into a pitcher — a sudden flash and the whole kitchen seemed afire. The flaming pitcher was thrown out the back door in the path of Greta who was known to have been playing at the front door a few minutes before and the awful accident happened, never to be forgotten."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
November 20, 2012
November 13, 2012
Animal tales
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A blind cow and thriving silkworms gained newsworthy attention and stories about them were printed in the Valley Falls New Era from 1878 to 1906. Examples of the incidents:
October 5, 1878 — "We'll guarantee that Aunt Kitty Gragg has the oldest cat in the state. While in Cedar Creek the other day, we gave the lady (Aunt Kitty) a call. We noticed the old familiar cat, and asked its age. When Billy Gragg was a baby, the cat was a kitten and the two played together. Billy now has four children, all of whom have played with the same old cat, which is over 21 years old. Per Aunt Kitty."
The Valley Falls New Era, June 24, 1882 — "Last Friday evening, Mr. C.A. Harding's blind cow walked into Coy's Drug Store and attempted to go behind the counter on the east side of the store. In doing so, she broke one of the panes of glass of the window. While Mr. Coy and his assistant were trying to lead her out by the ear, she broke another pane out of the window on the other side. No other damage was done."
The Valley Falls New Era, June 7, 1890 — "Minnie Maxwell's silkworm eggs hatched well. She now has about 8,500 of them about an inch long with an appetite that causes them to devour Osage leaves very rapidly. They are now white and do not leave their feeding shell — "
Continuing on July 5, 1890 — "Minnie Maxwell expressed what marketable silk cocoons she had produced from 1/4 ounce of eggs to Peabody, Kan., and received 33 1/3 cents per pound for 19 1/2 pounds. She now has her curiosity satisfied in that line of business. Blue Mound News."
The Valley Falls New Era, Feb. 5, 1906 — "Inez Batchlor's pet goose is dead. Martin Goodman accidentally caused its death. Goosie was out for a walk and a talk when Martin came dashing along in a burst of speed and hit the pet a fatal blow with his buggy wheels. There was sorrow in the household of Inez. Kind friends carried poor Goosie to her home and laid her out.
"Arrangements were made for the last sad rites. A funeral robe was prepared, a grave was dug, and at the appointed hour, the mourners, a score or more of the children in the neighborhood, buried Goosie in a corner lot of her pasture, closing the ceremony with the familiar hymn: 'Old Rhoda — The Gray Goose is Dead.' "
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
A blind cow and thriving silkworms gained newsworthy attention and stories about them were printed in the Valley Falls New Era from 1878 to 1906. Examples of the incidents:
October 5, 1878 — "We'll guarantee that Aunt Kitty Gragg has the oldest cat in the state. While in Cedar Creek the other day, we gave the lady (Aunt Kitty) a call. We noticed the old familiar cat, and asked its age. When Billy Gragg was a baby, the cat was a kitten and the two played together. Billy now has four children, all of whom have played with the same old cat, which is over 21 years old. Per Aunt Kitty."
The Valley Falls New Era, June 24, 1882 — "Last Friday evening, Mr. C.A. Harding's blind cow walked into Coy's Drug Store and attempted to go behind the counter on the east side of the store. In doing so, she broke one of the panes of glass of the window. While Mr. Coy and his assistant were trying to lead her out by the ear, she broke another pane out of the window on the other side. No other damage was done."
The Valley Falls New Era, June 7, 1890 — "Minnie Maxwell's silkworm eggs hatched well. She now has about 8,500 of them about an inch long with an appetite that causes them to devour Osage leaves very rapidly. They are now white and do not leave their feeding shell — "
Continuing on July 5, 1890 — "Minnie Maxwell expressed what marketable silk cocoons she had produced from 1/4 ounce of eggs to Peabody, Kan., and received 33 1/3 cents per pound for 19 1/2 pounds. She now has her curiosity satisfied in that line of business. Blue Mound News."
The Valley Falls New Era, Feb. 5, 1906 — "Inez Batchlor's pet goose is dead. Martin Goodman accidentally caused its death. Goosie was out for a walk and a talk when Martin came dashing along in a burst of speed and hit the pet a fatal blow with his buggy wheels. There was sorrow in the household of Inez. Kind friends carried poor Goosie to her home and laid her out.
"Arrangements were made for the last sad rites. A funeral robe was prepared, a grave was dug, and at the appointed hour, the mourners, a score or more of the children in the neighborhood, buried Goosie in a corner lot of her pasture, closing the ceremony with the familiar hymn: 'Old Rhoda — The Gray Goose is Dead.' "
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
November 02, 2012
Mildfelt speaks to members at 45th annual meeting
The 45th annual meeting of the Valley Falls Historical Society was held Sunday, Oct. 28, at The Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn.
A short business meeting was held following the buffet dinner. The following officers and directors were elected to serve the society for the 2012-2013 term:
Betty Jane Wilson, president, Rosalind Jackson, vice president, Lesa Brose, secretary, Gary Coleman, treasurer, and directors Joan Reichart, term 2015, Anita Stutesman, term 2013, and James Durand, term 2014, and Frank Shrimplin, historian.
The guest speaker was Todd Mildfelt, author and teacher from Richmond. His subject, "The Underground Railroad on the Western Frontier" emphasized the involvement of territorial Kansas.
Author of "The Secret Danites: Kansas' First Jayhawkers," the story of the secret society organized to make Kansas a free state, features Charles Leonhardt, James Lane, the Rev. John E. Stewart, and John Brown and their involvement in the society.
"Wagon Train to Freedom," also authored by Mildfelt, is a story based on an actual underground railroad trip that took place less than a year before the Civil War began traveling approximately 35 miles west of Topeka north for Nebraska. The book is illustrated with black and white sketches by Kelly Hartman who accompanied Mildfelt and was a guest of the historical society. Both of Mildfelt's books were for sale after the meeting.
The historical museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.
A short business meeting was held following the buffet dinner. The following officers and directors were elected to serve the society for the 2012-2013 term:
Betty Jane Wilson, president, Rosalind Jackson, vice president, Lesa Brose, secretary, Gary Coleman, treasurer, and directors Joan Reichart, term 2015, Anita Stutesman, term 2013, and James Durand, term 2014, and Frank Shrimplin, historian.
The guest speaker was Todd Mildfelt, author and teacher from Richmond. His subject, "The Underground Railroad on the Western Frontier" emphasized the involvement of territorial Kansas.
Author of "The Secret Danites: Kansas' First Jayhawkers," the story of the secret society organized to make Kansas a free state, features Charles Leonhardt, James Lane, the Rev. John E. Stewart, and John Brown and their involvement in the society.
"Wagon Train to Freedom," also authored by Mildfelt, is a story based on an actual underground railroad trip that took place less than a year before the Civil War began traveling approximately 35 miles west of Topeka north for Nebraska. The book is illustrated with black and white sketches by Kelly Hartman who accompanied Mildfelt and was a guest of the historical society. Both of Mildfelt's books were for sale after the meeting.
The historical museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.
October 10, 2012
Links aren't those of Odd Fellow; the doctor's daughter; and successful businesswomen
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A sundry of items from local news sources in the late 1800s included:
The Kansas New Era, Dec. 11, 1873, S. Weaver, Editor — "Last summer, as the workmen were engaged in tearing down the foundation walls of the old mill, three 'links' were found imbedded in the masonry and at a latter date some bones were found in another part of the wall. Later, portions of articles of clothing were discovered. Was the victim an Odd Fellow? A solution to this mystery was made.
"The links were from an old log chain; the bones were those of a defunct cat, and the clothing was part of the suit that Sid Squires used to go "a sparkin' " in."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E. P. Karr, Editor, Titled "Not A Harmony," the article continued: "Dr. Gillman and his daughter, Mrs. Blackwood, are having a good deal of trouble. The doctor says there is not a meaner woman on the face of the earth than his daughter and, in his own mind, he has no doubt that she poisoned his horse and she has threatened his life and that of his family a number of times. He says she can swear worse than any man in town and that she is a holy terror.
"Mrs. Blackwood, on the other hand, says her father is trying to get her out of town and has sent her threatening letters so that she is afraid to stay at home nights.
"The end of the trouble is not yet and something is liable to happen."
The 1893 New Era continued with a new subject. — "In the feminine business world in Valley Falls, none have been more successful than Mrs. A. Murray, who conducts the leading millinery establishment. Mrs. Murray came to Valley Falls 14 years ago, having lived in Louisville where she was the leading milliner.
"On Jan. 2, of this year, she lost her entire stock by fire. She replaced her stock and her store is now up to its reputation for neatness and stylishness.
"Another female business woman, Mrs. M.E. Witchner, is the proprietor of the City Hotel. Mrs. W. has resided in Valley Falls for 10 years and has been in the hotel business for five years.
"A restaurant is run in connection with the hotel. Cigars, tobacco, and confections, etc., are kept. Neat lunches for passengers travelling through the city are carried to the trains. The City Hotel is as good as any $1 per day house in the city and it is well patronized."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.
A sundry of items from local news sources in the late 1800s included:
The Kansas New Era, Dec. 11, 1873, S. Weaver, Editor — "Last summer, as the workmen were engaged in tearing down the foundation walls of the old mill, three 'links' were found imbedded in the masonry and at a latter date some bones were found in another part of the wall. Later, portions of articles of clothing were discovered. Was the victim an Odd Fellow? A solution to this mystery was made.
"The links were from an old log chain; the bones were those of a defunct cat, and the clothing was part of the suit that Sid Squires used to go "a sparkin' " in."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E. P. Karr, Editor, Titled "Not A Harmony," the article continued: "Dr. Gillman and his daughter, Mrs. Blackwood, are having a good deal of trouble. The doctor says there is not a meaner woman on the face of the earth than his daughter and, in his own mind, he has no doubt that she poisoned his horse and she has threatened his life and that of his family a number of times. He says she can swear worse than any man in town and that she is a holy terror.
"Mrs. Blackwood, on the other hand, says her father is trying to get her out of town and has sent her threatening letters so that she is afraid to stay at home nights.
"The end of the trouble is not yet and something is liable to happen."
The 1893 New Era continued with a new subject. — "In the feminine business world in Valley Falls, none have been more successful than Mrs. A. Murray, who conducts the leading millinery establishment. Mrs. Murray came to Valley Falls 14 years ago, having lived in Louisville where she was the leading milliner.
"On Jan. 2, of this year, she lost her entire stock by fire. She replaced her stock and her store is now up to its reputation for neatness and stylishness.
"Another female business woman, Mrs. M.E. Witchner, is the proprietor of the City Hotel. Mrs. W. has resided in Valley Falls for 10 years and has been in the hotel business for five years.
"A restaurant is run in connection with the hotel. Cigars, tobacco, and confections, etc., are kept. Neat lunches for passengers travelling through the city are carried to the trains. The City Hotel is as good as any $1 per day house in the city and it is well patronized."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.
October 03, 2012
Flooding in 1914
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
When it rained it poured. "The worst rain storm in forty years. Bridges washed out, cattle, horses, and hogs drowned. Thousands of dollars damage to this district. From five to fifteen inches of rain," reported the Valley Falls New Era Thursday, June 25, 1914.
Excerpts from the story included the individual and transportation losses.
"Torrential rains, cloud bursts, Delaware flooding fell at Valley Falls last Sunday afternoon and evening. It averaged two inches per hour. An ordinary rain gauge could not hold it all the time. A continuous electrical storm accompanied the torrential downpour. The wind blew and shifted. Streams filled and became raging torrents. Flooding in the bottoms caused great damage to wheat and cornfields between Half Mound and Tosh's bridge along ten or twelve miles of river.
"Whole fields of wheat and shoulder high corn were carried downstream. All three railroads centering here were damaged by the floods. The Missouri Pacific had a 400-foot washout in Crow Hollow and another beyond Dunavant, but these were soon repaired delaying the morning train only 4 hours.
"Trains 503 and 504 passed at Valley Falls at 3 p.m. Trains on the Union Pacific were abandoned for two days by a washout at Walnut Creek bridge where passengers waded through water knee deep for a quarter of a mile to catch the Santa Fe 'plug' to Topeka, as it was the only way in or out on the Santa Fe for two days.
"McLellan, section foreman, with a workforce of men put in two hard days rebuilding the track. Dale Jones is a truthful farmer who lives southwest of town and were it not that his reputation for truth telling had never been questioned, it is doubtful this would be published, but Dale says during the rain, lightning struck a wheat shock in his field and though the rain was coming down in torrents, he went to see if the shock was really afire and when he got to the shock it really was burning brightly.
"If you don't believe his story, he'll show you the ashes. There are various stories as to the amount of rainfall. In the vicinity, from 5.5 inches at M.M. Maxwell's, 9.5 inches at Thos. Knouses, 11 inches at H. Boyers and a tub full at Fount Hurst's.
"Albert Keen of north of Valley Falls says the water coming down Walnut Creek washed a lot of rock uphill onto Dr. Van Meer's place. Some of the rock larger than himself. Of course, he adds, he does not expect anyone to believe it, for he would not, had he not seen it with his own eyes.
"Henry Senn on Walnut Creek suffered a great loss. Three colts were drowned and his hay, oats, wheat and 25 acres of corn were ruined. Sellers Bros. had 1,000 chickens drowned. Ampie Delk had just begun cutting his wheat field on Saturday morning. Monday morning it was buried in the overflow. Monday forenoon shocks and bundles of wheat floated down the current, heads buried in muddy waters. It was bread cast upon the waters to return no more.
"Bunker wheat field across from Piazzek Mill was under water. Joe Lange had damaged crops and a cow, one steer and two calves drowned. Henry Kroll lost crops and several hundred chickens. Will Stauffer of Peter's Creek suffered crop loss and 95 young turkeys. Bolton District farmers lost wheat by overflow from Rock Creek.
"Blue Mound District owners lost wheat from Delaware River overflow. Numerous farms were damaged, pastures covered with mud and some homes destroyed. Brush Creek bridge, three bridges on Rock Creek, and a number of culverts were out.
"An interesting sight was the new audience in the baseball grandstand. Will Bragg's hogs, including two litters of pigs had been marooned there all night. The pigs were rescued in a lumber wagon and the older hogs were made to swim ashore by Bragg and Seible steering them through waist-deep water by holding them by their ears and keeping their noses above water."
Reprinted from Yesteryears, April 2002 (Jefferson County Genealogical Society publication).
The society's museum will be open Saturday at 10 a.m.
When it rained it poured. "The worst rain storm in forty years. Bridges washed out, cattle, horses, and hogs drowned. Thousands of dollars damage to this district. From five to fifteen inches of rain," reported the Valley Falls New Era Thursday, June 25, 1914.
Excerpts from the story included the individual and transportation losses.
"Torrential rains, cloud bursts, Delaware flooding fell at Valley Falls last Sunday afternoon and evening. It averaged two inches per hour. An ordinary rain gauge could not hold it all the time. A continuous electrical storm accompanied the torrential downpour. The wind blew and shifted. Streams filled and became raging torrents. Flooding in the bottoms caused great damage to wheat and cornfields between Half Mound and Tosh's bridge along ten or twelve miles of river.
"Whole fields of wheat and shoulder high corn were carried downstream. All three railroads centering here were damaged by the floods. The Missouri Pacific had a 400-foot washout in Crow Hollow and another beyond Dunavant, but these were soon repaired delaying the morning train only 4 hours.
"Trains 503 and 504 passed at Valley Falls at 3 p.m. Trains on the Union Pacific were abandoned for two days by a washout at Walnut Creek bridge where passengers waded through water knee deep for a quarter of a mile to catch the Santa Fe 'plug' to Topeka, as it was the only way in or out on the Santa Fe for two days.
"McLellan, section foreman, with a workforce of men put in two hard days rebuilding the track. Dale Jones is a truthful farmer who lives southwest of town and were it not that his reputation for truth telling had never been questioned, it is doubtful this would be published, but Dale says during the rain, lightning struck a wheat shock in his field and though the rain was coming down in torrents, he went to see if the shock was really afire and when he got to the shock it really was burning brightly.
"If you don't believe his story, he'll show you the ashes. There are various stories as to the amount of rainfall. In the vicinity, from 5.5 inches at M.M. Maxwell's, 9.5 inches at Thos. Knouses, 11 inches at H. Boyers and a tub full at Fount Hurst's.
"Albert Keen of north of Valley Falls says the water coming down Walnut Creek washed a lot of rock uphill onto Dr. Van Meer's place. Some of the rock larger than himself. Of course, he adds, he does not expect anyone to believe it, for he would not, had he not seen it with his own eyes.
"Henry Senn on Walnut Creek suffered a great loss. Three colts were drowned and his hay, oats, wheat and 25 acres of corn were ruined. Sellers Bros. had 1,000 chickens drowned. Ampie Delk had just begun cutting his wheat field on Saturday morning. Monday morning it was buried in the overflow. Monday forenoon shocks and bundles of wheat floated down the current, heads buried in muddy waters. It was bread cast upon the waters to return no more.
"Bunker wheat field across from Piazzek Mill was under water. Joe Lange had damaged crops and a cow, one steer and two calves drowned. Henry Kroll lost crops and several hundred chickens. Will Stauffer of Peter's Creek suffered crop loss and 95 young turkeys. Bolton District farmers lost wheat by overflow from Rock Creek.
"Blue Mound District owners lost wheat from Delaware River overflow. Numerous farms were damaged, pastures covered with mud and some homes destroyed. Brush Creek bridge, three bridges on Rock Creek, and a number of culverts were out.
"An interesting sight was the new audience in the baseball grandstand. Will Bragg's hogs, including two litters of pigs had been marooned there all night. The pigs were rescued in a lumber wagon and the older hogs were made to swim ashore by Bragg and Seible steering them through waist-deep water by holding them by their ears and keeping their noses above water."
Reprinted from Yesteryears, April 2002 (Jefferson County Genealogical Society publication).
The society's museum will be open Saturday at 10 a.m.
September 12, 2012
Rev. J. B. McAfee: founder of Lutheran congregation in Valley Falls and fearless temperance man
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.
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 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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