Rees Fruit Farm Grantville, Jefferson County, Kansas [Editor: Family-owned Rees Fruit Farm has been in continuous operation and retained in the same family since start-up. It is the oldest commercial fruit farm in Kansas and one of the oldest businesses in Jefferson County. Rose Balao provided this review.] William Rees and a son, Francis (Frank), came to America in 1868, leaving the remainder of the family in Wales to join them once they had settled. After docking in New York, William and...

Floyd "Blackie" and Kate King and Don and Sadie Dewey in Don's new car. Photo by W.A. Kramer, contributed by Julie Durand. Automobile Ride, 1908 From the Meriden Ledger, May 7, 1908 Dr. Marks, with three ladies and a gentleman, rode out over our roads one evening last week just at dark in his big Rambler automobile, it all lighted up to perfection. Telephone messages ran ahead of them announcing their coming and the farmers were out looking at a nice scene. Now if our horses will only behave...

From the Oskaloosa Independent, June 14, 1945 Miss Ruth Payne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Payne, Oskaloosa, was a few days ago granted a civilian air pilot’s license, after completing a 35-hour course at the flying school in Lawrence and successfully passing the required examination. She thus became Oskaloosa’s first licensed girl flyer. Miss Payne had several hours of flying beyond the minimum requirement of her 35; her thirteen hours of solo flying included a trip over Oskaloosa; also...