Old Jefferson Town

The Towns on the Route Were Few and Far Between–Hickory Point Was An Important Place Where Travelers Were Fed From the Topeka Daily Capital, Feb. 27, 1909 By Frank A. Root It was in the spring of 1862 when I made my first visit to Topeka, although I had been a resident of Kansas five years previous, having come to the territory in mid-spring, 1857. My trip over here was from Atchison, where I then resided. At that time there was not a mile of railroad in Kansas, and I came ac

Oskaloosa, Jefferson Co., Kansas – During the dull times, in the early history of Oskaloosa (pre-1861 statehood) several of the most prominent men organized themselves into a “Lazy Club.” Among them were G.B. Carson, Thomas H. Noble, Abram Sinnard and W. Trapp. Carson was president for a long time. The club had rigid rules, and if any member was seen to have any implement of labor, his case was promptly investigated, and if he was proven guilty of having performed any work, h

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 Yo

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

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 O

Perry Reservoir Controversies In early April 1951, precipitation in Kansas was slightly below normal. However, a prolonged period of above-normal rainfall began on April 20 and continued into July. Totals were about twice average levels. In May and June, the major streams rose, and high continuous runoff occurred from May through July. An exceptionally severe storm began on July 9 and 10 and lasted through July 13. Flooding started on the Big Blue River above Manhattan. The w

From the Perry Mirror, July 5, 1951 June: Flash Flood On Friday morning June 22, 1951, in Perry, Kansas, the telephones began to ring. Oma Marrs, chief telephone operator was broadcasting a warning: Flood waters from the Delaware River and Wild Horse Creek were sweeping through the town. The flood raced down the north-south streets, pouring into cellars and submerging floors. Homeowners rushed to move furniture to upper levels and to rescue belongings from their basements. Ei

From the Valley Falls Register, July 11, 1884 Nortonville, Kas., July 5th, 1884. The grand and glorious old Fourth, for which we are all proud, was very handsomely and appropriately celebrated at Nortonville, under the management of the Nortonville Cornet band. At an early hour the people began coming to town in wagons, buggies and every other way until about t[w]o o’clock. The town was literally jammed with teams, at which time the procession began to form at the town hall,

by Ella Hull Fulton From the Valley Falls Vindicator, Sept. 10, 1926 Mrs. T.H. Fulton writes in a reminiscent way about the old settlers reunion which she and her husband attended this year, and recalls how it was about 26 years ago. The merry-go-round is still one of the main attractions of the Old Settlers Reunion. Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Historical Society. “We would get up early to make preparations and take our dinner and a bucket and cups for the splendid c

Chester "Chet" Peebler was born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1882. He married Cora McCoy in Meriden, Kansas, in 1907. Their daughter, Mildred, was born in 1908, and their son, John, in 1914. Chet and his brother, Paul, operated funeral homes in Meriden, Oskaloosa, and Topeka. Chester "Chet" and Johnny Peebler, 1915. Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Historical Society. The Oskaloosa Independent, March 28, 1919. On March 28, 1919, the Jefferson County Tribune reported, "It is with

Emancipation Celebrations In June 2023 at Old Jefferson Town, an exhibit by Sonya Boldridge, Patty Boldridge, and Leanne Chapman displayed local newspaper articles chronicling celebrations of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Valley Falls New Era, Sept. 17, 1908 Emancipation Proclamation: The announcement made by President Lincoln during the Civil War on September 22, 1862, emancipating all slaves in states still engaged in rebellion against the Union. Although implementatio

From the Winchester Star, July 10, 1966, John P. Hoskinson, editor and reporter As evening came on yesterday, June 8, the most devastating tornado to touch down in Kansas for many years, exploded the old myth that "Burnett's Mound" warded off such storms from our Capitol City.* Striking the earth near that particular mound, the giant funnel moved in the traditional Northeasterly path across the heart of the city and left the area near the municipal airport. Many messages a

By Ella Hull Fulton From the Winchester Star, Dec. 2, 1927 While in Kansas City we looked with admiration on the beautiful statuary, in Penn Valley park, called the “Pioneer Mother” with her child on her tired horse. She stands in a high windy bare place without protection, asking no favors; her face is not the face of a martyr, but like one going on a trip reassured that come what will she is ready; that she has God and her husband and child, and what else matters. Was it, d

By Rick Nichols Eva Florence Smith The Aug. 13, 1953, issue of The Oskaloosa Independent contained a front page story headlined “The Late Eva Smith Recalled In Saturday Eve Post Article,” a story that included the paragraph about Oskaloosa native Eva Smith that was part of John Kobler’s article “Smugglers are their quarry” for the July 11, 1953, issue of the Saturday Evening Post. Smith was the daughter of James and Nancy Smith, and among her several siblings were the multita

Written for the Independent By J.H. Bennet Jeremiah Howland “Squire” Bennet wrote captivating reminiscences about early Jefferson County for several county newspapers in the 1870s. Having moved to Kansas Territory near Coal Creek around Grasshopper Falls (now Valley Falls) in 1857, Bennet had a lot of material from which to write his stories. Bennet, a lawyer born in Maine in 1824, worked in various Jefferson County government jobs, including justice of the peace, probate jud

Personal Recollections of Life in Territorial Kansas in Border Ruffian Days In the early summer of 1857, there were premonitions of serious trouble in Utah. Brigham Young, president of the Mormon church, had, hitherto, by virtue of his supreme influence among the people of that territory, been successful in persuading the powers at Washington that he was the only individual in whom should reside the functions of government in Utah. [President] Buchanan decided to ignore his

Personal Recollections of Life in Territorial Kansas in Border Ruffian Days March 10, 1857, Robert J. Walker of Mississippi, was appointed governor of Kansas. Before his appointment, which he only accepted at the earnest solicitation of President [James] Buchanan, he stipulated as a condition of his acceptance that the constitution then provided for, and which was passed in the fall of the same year should be submitted to the people for their endorsement or rejection. Presid

Personal Recollections of Life in Territorial Kansas in Border Ruffian Days From the year 1855 to 1859 there was no character that stood out so prominently among the masses of the free state people of Kansas, or that aroused more enthusiasm among their friends in the north, as that of James H. Lane. He was in congress at the time of the formation of the Kansas-Nebraska bill [The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) left it to settlers’ votes to determine if Kansas and Nebraska would

Personal Recollections of Life in Territorial Kansas in Border Ruffian Days On the 15th day of July, 1857, commenced at Osawkie* the sale of the Delaware Trust lands. These lands include that part of the Delaware reservation lying north of a line drawn east and west, perhaps a mile south of the little hamlet. There was no homestead law at that time, and all lands obtained by settlers ranged in price from $1.25 per acre upward. The lands were however appraised, and those sett

Personal Recollections of Life in Territorial Kansas in Border Ruffian Days The next morning I was early on my road eastward toward Lawrence. My route lay along the Yellow Kansas river whose siren voice was ever murmuring in my ears, “come to my embrace and I will cleanse you of all exterior impurity, and fill you with exhilaration and strength for your journey.” I was no Ulysses that could resist the persuasive and enchanting voice ever babbling so melodiously in my ears, b