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PIONEERS
The Pioneers of any country are those people who came first and settled it. They are the ones who came and took homesteads, lived in sod houses and dug outs. They are the ones who laid the foundations. They endured the droughts, blizzards, grasshoppers and prairie fires. They lived far apart. It was from twenty-five to thirty-five miles to a town where supplies for the family could be bought.
Here is a list of pioneers taken from the 1936, October 15 and October 22 issues of the Macksville Enterprise.
Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey Hibbs came to Macksville with the railroad in 1886. Mr. Hibbs was section foreman for the Santa Fe Railroad for many years, retiring a few years prior to his death. Mrs. Hibbs was active in church, lodge work, and the Flower Club.
Billy Wilson brought his brothers, Cliff and Albert, to Clear Creek townships in 1885. Brother Ben came with the rest of the Thomas Wilson family in 1886.
Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Hart were pioneers south of town, coming from Cameron, Missouri, in November of 1885. Their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Isa Hart, whose name was Stimatze before her marriage, was also a pioneer.
The three Frick brothers, Emil, Louis, and Charlie came in 1876. Martha Burger came in 1876. Ed Sparks was only a boy of 12 when he came to Stafford County in 1879.
George Smith is another pioneer who came in 1878. Julius Whitmarsh and Gus Hupp came in 1885. W.C. and Jack Stambaugh settled with their parents, Eli Stambaugh and wife, three miles east and 5 south Macksville in 1886. John McKibben was one of the real pioneers, coming in 1877.
Barney Ezra Searls came from Rome, N.Y. in 1878 and homesteaded four quarters in Clearcreek township. C.G. Seibert came in 1882 and lived on the farm homesteaded by his father. William Hohner, who lived northeast of town came to Stafford County in 1878.
J.E. Tuttle had lived in this section since 1878. J.H. McMorran, Miss Jennie McMorran, and Mrs. A.G. English came in 1885 from Pennsylvania. John was just a little boy.
George Hall came in 1887. The Starke sisters, Mrs. Eliza Aultman, Mrs. Nelia Poling and Miss Janie Starke came to Macksville in 1884. The Smith and Ackerman families settled in Pawnee County about 1886. Mrs. Rosine Smith and Mrs. M.M. Hart were the Ackerman sisters.
F.M. Battin, son of John Battin, settled in Hopewell in
1883. J.M. Hammond of Clear Creek, came to the area in
1884. A.L. Muse was one of the oldest native born Kansans in the state, being born in Bourbon County, August 22,1860.
Mr. and Mrs. O.M. Young had lived in Macksville as long as anyone. Mr. Young was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Young who came with his parents, October 1877. Mrs. Young who was Miss Abbie McNinch came in 1878 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. McNinch. Mr. McNinch died in 1880.
The following is a list of those who did register and whose names have not been mentioned heretofore: W.T. Shute, Kansas 1876; Mrs. F.T. Carpenter, Kansas 1883; Fred E. Vance, Belpre 1884; Flora Prose, Kansas 1882, Macksville 1886; George A.P. and C.J. Grisier, Macksville 1882; F.M. Cudney, Kansas 1884; A.A. Shaw, Kansas 1872, Macksville 1911; Mrs. Rhoda Hursh, Kansas 1884, Macksville 1903; J.F. Carr, Kansas 1883; B.A. Holland, Kansas 1878; George R. Cooper, Kansas 1879; Sherm Youtsey, Kansas 1882; O.S. Thomason, Kansas 1882, Macksville 1885; M.R. Becktell, Macksville 1878.
The Mack Family
George Mack and wife Nancy came from Phelps, New York, to Kansas in 1877. He took land which included the site of the town which bears his name, Macksville. He donated the ground for the Methodist Church and parsonage. The Macks had two children, Sarah Kirkland and George Edwin. George Mack was appointed postmaster in 1879 and served two terms, being the first postmaster in Stafford County.
George Edwin Mack and wife Mary came to Kansas from Michigan in 1885 with three of their children. The youngest, Christabel Greene, was born in Macksville. The older ones were Carrie Lockwood, E. Lewis Mack and Anne Hilliary Steen.
George Edwin constructed and operated a hardware store, served on Macksville’s first city council, and, also, was postmaster for two terms.
George E. Mack family - Lewis Mack, Carrie Lock-wood, Annie Hillery, Christabel Greene.
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Grandpa George E. Mack.
Mary Mack
James Hopley
Amy Hopley
Hopley
My father and mother, James A. Hopley and Amy Clark were married In Denver, Colorado May 19, 1884. Father at once sold his holdings in Denver bought a new wagon, a team and a plow and started out to find a place where they could have a farm home with livestock.
For days they drove east and south until one night they camped a mile west of a small settlement called Macksville, Kansas. The land was covered with blue stem and buffalo grass. It looked to father like a good place for cattle.
One half mile south of their camp was a large white house owned by the Colyer family. It was used as a Halfway House or Wayside Hotel between Larned and Pratt. Father thought that some day he would own that place.
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One fourth mile north of their camp was a new development. Someone had started a new home, then starved out and gone back east. There was a two room dug-out. It was dug partly into the earth, the upper part was sod. It had windows above the ground. One room had a dirt floor, the other room had a wood floor. Both rooms were plastered and white washed. There was a sod barn, a sod chicken house, and an open, dug well. The water was pulled up in buckets. Father bought the place, and he and mother started housekeeping there. They had their furniture shipped to Larned the closest point on the railroad.
At that time the settlement at Macksville consisted of a few houses and centered around a junction of two roads. One east and west road which is now Highway 50. The other a north and south road which later became the Main Street. On the southeast corner was Jay Pinneys General Store. Across the road north was the Mack home. It was, also, used as a Hotel. Just north of the Mack home Ed Mack, a son of Geo Mack, the founder of the settlement had a hardware store, and in it was the first Post Office. There was a long, narrow building across the street west that was used as a town meeting place. A small group of Methodists sometimes held meetings there. In the center of the road Junction they had put down a well, and windmill with a large stock tank where there was always water for people to water their horses. (That well and windmill stood there for many years until the coming of automotive travel.) A half mile north of this Junction there was another small settlement of several houses, and the DeArmond General Store. This settlement was called Cassady, and held that name many years.
There were few settlers in the country and they were miles apart. Some took up homesteads, others took timber claims where trees had to be planted. Others bought the land.
Father broke up the sod and by the spring of 1885 had a part of the land ready to plant to corn. Amy was pregnant and had spent the winter sewing a layette for the baby. Each time that father went to Larned for supplies he brought home material for her to sew. She was thirty-five years old and they were twenty-one miles to a doctor. They were happy and did not worry. When her time came father went to Macksville and brought home Mrs. Sarah Kirtland, a daughter of Geo Mack, a dear little lady. On April 26,1885 Ida Amelia Hopley was born.
The baby did not do well. They needed milk. There were no prepared baby foods. There was no money to buy a cow. In her trunk, mother had a beautiful piece of silk that she had brought from Denver which she had intended to have made into a suit. She took the silk to Mrs. Colyer who lived in the big white house and traded it for a fresh cow. They had milk for the baby. They made a crib of boxes for the baby. Mother had a new, woolen paisley shawl which she used to cover the baby. At night the baby would scream and cry out. When mother bathed her she found that small pieces of skin were eaten off. She shook out the paisley shawl, and it was full of crickets that had come in from the sod walls.
The water in their open well became so foul tasting that they could not use it. While father was gone to Larned for supplies, Mother went out and kept pulling water from the well. Finally in the bucket she pulled up a dead cat. My little mother spent the day pulling water from the well until the water seemed clear and sweet.
On the new sod ground father raised a corn crop. In harvesting, he saved the best ears for seed and stored them in barrels in the kitchen part of the dug-out.
During the winter of 1885-1886 there was the most severe blizzard that Kansas has ever known. It lasted for three days with the temperature below zero with heavy, wind driven snow. Father had a small flock of sheep which he placed in the sod barn with the cow. He had built a temporary lean-to on the sod barn where he kept the horses. Not having money to buy roofing he had covered the top with corn fodder. Each night of the storm he would go out and feed and water the stock, and bring in fuel for the dug-out. The second night the storm was so severe that he lost his way back to the dug-out. He was completely blinded by the storm. In wandering about, trying to find the way he ran into a sod wall. He realized that it was the sod chicken house. There was a clothes line from one corner of that building to one corner of the dug-out. He found the clothes line, and holding it reached the dug-out. He would never go out again until the storm ceased. But, they were out of fuel; the baby must be kept warm, so, they burned the seed corn, and had used it all when the storm was over.
It was over. The morning came clear and cold, what a sight, the snow had drifted into the lean-to. The horses were standing on great drifts. Their heads were sticking out of the top where they had eaten through the corn fodder roof.
Hundreds of cattle had been lost in the storm. There were no fences. Cattle were driven south by the blinding storm until they would fall and pile up in a low place and were frozen.
Father was concerned about the settlers in Macksville. Did they have food? He butchered a lamb, put half of it on his shoulders and walked over the drifts through the field and placed the lamb on Mrs. Mack's kitchen table. They were so grateful for it, and asked him to stay and get warm. He told them, “No,” for five prairie wolves had followed him all the way and he must get home before dark. Mother was watching and saw the wolves. She sent the dog, “Tige” out to meet him.
In the spring of 1886 the Methodists and other settlers felt that they should have a Church building. Geo Mack gave them one block of land on a hill one block east of Main Street. The lumber had to be hauled from Larned twenty-one miles away. Father took his wagon and team, and with another settler made several trips and hauled the lumber and the great bell for the first church in Macksville.
In the fall of 1885 and spring of 1886 the Santa Fe people were building the railroad called, “the cut-off,” from Hutchinson to Kinsley. There was some litigation about where the railroad was to go through. Cassady wanted it, and Macksville wanted it. To please all, the
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railroad was built exactly between the two settlements. They promised to build a depot one half mile from the town well and windmill. This they did.
With the coming of the railroad a flood of settlers came in and took over the land.
As the railroad was built on west it cut father’s farm in two. But, they gave him a good price for his land, and with that money he purchased the quarter section just south of him. The family moved to Macksville and he built a Meat Market and small store on south Main Street. He built stockyards, a granary, a well and slaughter house on the east side of the land that he had bought. He began to buy and feed and ship the stock raised by the settlers. He had a little bay Morgan cattle horse which he hitched to a two wheel cart, and with that he drove and bought cattle and hogs from four counties, Stafford, Pratt, Pawnee and Edwards.
The town grew, new businesses were started, a hardware store, a harness shop, and, in 1891 Alex English started the Macksville State Bank. Another church was built, the Free Methodist Church.
In April 1891 father sold the Meat Market Store and bought the Colyer place with the large white house. He moved all of his yards, granary, slaughter house, etc. to the new home.
The house had been rented for a year to a family with seventeen children. It was a dirty place. Mother used a box of 100 bars of soap and washed the house completely. She had two little girls to care for and a hired man to cook and wash for with no water in the house.
On September 7th, 1891 (yours truly) Frances Lurelia Hopley was born. A tiny, frail, tired little baby. They were sure that she would never live. A new doctor, a young man, had come to Macksville, a Dr. Lojay, and for the first time mother had a doctor to care for her and the baby.
Among many of the early settlers there was a friendship, a bond that lasted through life. A widow, Mrs. Nancy McNinch and daughter Abbey were close friends of the Hopleys all through life.
Mrs. Sarah Kirtland who was with mother at the first birth was the first person to reach mother at father’s death twenty-six years later.
Among the early settlers there are some that remain in mind. There were the Stark brothers, Hardy and Creed. Hardy, who lived in Cassady was the father of Wilson Stark who was the founder of The Farmer’s and Merchants Bank. He also built the large home on north Main Street known later as the McComas or Wiles home. He was also the father of Chas. Starke a prominent merchant there for many years. Creed Starke had a family of two sons, several girls, and was the father of the late Janie Starke.
The McMorran family whose oldest daughter, Flora became Mrs. Alex English, also had a son, John McMorran and a daughter Jennie.
The W.T. English family whose farm joined the Hopley farm on the southwest had sons, Alex, Scott, Jimmie and Joe, and daughter Belle.
The Welch brothers, John and David, each had large families. They each planted orchards the first fruit
trees planted in that part of the country.
The Hall family, who were from England, settled down on the Creek south of the sand hills.
All of these families were faithful workers in the church.
Also, we remember the Askew brothers, John and Dion who lived north of the railroad tracks.
Another prominent farmer and friend was J.D. Brown who had a fine farm east of Macksville. He was the father of Alice Brown Suiter, and grandfather of Ralph Suiter. Many other pioneer families we could name.
These early settlers were the salt of the earth, honest, hard working people. There seemed to be a bond between them. They knew that to live they must help each other. They lived throught the hardships of pioneer life to make a better place for themselves and their families.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneers for their early development of this beloved land of ours.
I am Lucile Hopley Holcomb the youngest daughter of James A. and Amy Clark Hopley, and the widow of the late Z.M. Holcomb who owned a Jewelry Store in Macksville from 1910 to 1923. I am 93 years old.
The big, white house on the farm still stands. Like the pioneers it is strong, sturdy and has withstood the storms for over 100 years. Kansas winds, rain and hail have beat upon it. Cyclones have played all around it. It has sheltered some members of the Hopley family for 93 years. It is one of the dearest spots on earth. It is owned by Mrs. Winnie Hopley the last to ever bear the Hopley name.
Signed: Mrs. Lucile Hopley Holcomb Dec. 13,1984 R. 2, Box 141 Caldwell, Idaho 83605
William Enoch Edward Biggs and Anna Regina Stanley.
William E. Biggs Family
My father, William E. Biggs was born May 18,1880, at San Jose, Illinois. His father was Edmond Edward Biggs, and mother was Bella Carrothers.
Edmond Biggs and his wife “Bella" moved west in 1885 to Erie, Kansas. They lived in Erie for two years, then settled on a homestead one and one-half miles west of Macksville.
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After Edmond Biggs death, they were forced to move to Macksville, where my grandmother did dressmaking and ran a millinery store. My father at this found work at Young Brothers Department Store.
William E. Biggs married Anna R. Stanley on November 4, 1903. They lived in Macksville a short time in a small house north of the Christian Church. Then he built the first of the present Biggs house on his farm 1/4 mile north of Macksville in 1903.
My father did painting and paperhanging in the community until the farm started to pay off. He also raised fancy breeds of poultry, and marketed the eggs for hatching purposes. He also drug the roads from Macksville north to the county line for years. He served for many years as one of the directors for the Farmers Coop, the last year he served as President. Mr. and Mrs. Biggs were members of the Methodist Church, and both served on various committees of the church during their lifetimes.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Biggs are Hazel L. Biggs, who is in a nursing home at Moundridge, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Verlan Biggs, they live on a farm north of Macksville, their children are all grown and have moved away from Macksville.
Submitted by Verlan Biggs
JOHN HARDEN STARKE FAMILY
By Letha Starke Stults
John Harden and Elizabeth Starke were surprised and honored on their golden wedding anniversary, Feb. 15, 1916 by the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of Macksville at their hall. “Uncle Hardy” and “Aunt Lizzie” were greeted and welcomed at the hall which was gaily decorated with cupids and hearts. A program of songs, music and readings were given. The honorees were presented with a beautiful loving cup engraved with the dates 1866-1916, the donors names and the recipients.
John Harden Starke
Born: Dec. 31,1841, Cooper Co., Mo.
Married: Feb. 15,1866, Cooper Co., Mo.
Died: Jan. 16,1927, Macksville, Kansas Elizabeth Susannah Koontz Starke
Born: March 25,1844, Jackson Co., West Virginia
Died: April 8,1923, Macksville, Kansas
His parents were: Milton and Sarah Starke. He was born Sept. 9, 1805 in West Virginia and died March 14, 1886 in Otterville, Cooper Co., Mo. She was born March 7, 1821 in Surry Co., North Carolina and died Dec. 22, 1892 in Humansville, Mo. They were married Nov. 26, 1840.
Her parents were: Wilson and Christena Pfost Koontz. He was born May 15,1818, Kanawha (now Jackson Co.) West Virginia and died May 7, 1879. Johnson Co., Mo. She was born April 15,1817 and died about 1852.
Civil War Record of John Harden Starke
John Harden Starke served in the Grand Army of the Republic from Oct. 1, 1864 til his discharge June 29, 1865 at the St. Louis Benton Bks., Mo.
On Sept. 5,1865 he was appointed and commissioned by the Governor of the State of Missouri as First Lieutenant, Co. “E" Cooper Co., Battalion on the Missouri Militia.
His death brought to a close the Macksville GAR Post.
John Harden Starke came to his homestead five miles north and two east of Macksville in early 1886 by covered wagon. He prepared a dugout in the south knoll and had a water well drilled. His family came in the fall and were: wife, Elizabeth Susannah Koontz Starke and five children: Christena, Wilson, Charles, Sidney and John.
"Tena” being 19 at that time drove one of the covered wagons to Kansas. The family passed through all the trials of the pioneers and survived to live full fruitful Christian lives. The Starkes moved to Macksville in 1901 where they lived until their deaths.
"Tena” married Edward Poling, Sept. 4, 1888. He helped layout the City of Macksville where a street was named in his honor. They later moved to Kansas City, Kans. where they spent their married life. She died on Nov. 22,1955.
A son, William, died at the age of 15, in 1883 as the result of an accident.
Wilson was 15 years old when the family came to Kansas. He married Cora Mae Smith at Larned, Kansas, Sept. 4, 1895. He was involved in many business ventures: a part owner of an early store with his brother, Charles; the real estate business; and founded the Farmers and Merchants State Bank in Jan. 1907 as president. He spent his later years at Stillwater, Okla. dying there on April 17,1939.
Charles was twelve years old when he came to this area with his parents. His life is told in a separate article.
Sidney was eight when the family left Vernon Co., Mo. for Kansas. He married Dora B. Harrison at Winfield, Nov. 1, 1905. They later moved to Bellingham, Wash. to spend the remaining years, owning and operating Starke Music Co. He died Apr. 6,1953.
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John Dave was only two when he accompanied his parents to Kansas. He was part owner of Starke Music Co., Winfield several years. He spent the remainder of his life farming the homestead and the north quarter section. His death was Jan. 1,1956.
Seibert
Clifford G. Seibert came to Macksville community in 1882 as a ten year old boy from Illinois to herd sheep for his brother southwest of Macksville. He married Sarah L. Pitts from Rice County. They had four children Effie (Dutton), John E., Mabel (Parmely) Edith (Beaver). They spent a short time in Oklahoma and the rest of their life time on the farm southwest of Macksville.
Sarah died 1953. Clifford died 1958.
The Willis Becker Family
Willis Becker was born December 25, 1861 at Gallup-ville, New York. Died of heart attack August 9, 1934, in the garden, at his home in Macksville. He came to Kansas in the spring of 1884, settling in Pawnee County near Larned.
Harriet Kathyrn Johnson was born September 29, 1870 at Maysville, Kentucky, died January 19,1943 at her
sons home in Sublette, Ks. She had fractured a hip September 23, 1942, was in hospital in Dodge City for five weeks and from there went to her sons home in Sublette.
Willis and Hattie (as she was known) were united in marriage on December 26, 1885 at Macksville, Ks. W.H. Becker was their only child. Shortly after their marriage they moved to a farm north of Macksville, (Adrian Suiter farm now), where they lived until 1909 when they moved into Macksville, living there until Mr. Becker’s death. Son Willie and Annie moved to farm and later to Sublette. (Home where Clinton Blount lives now). The 3 granddaughters and great grandchildren surviving.
Mr. Becker united with the Christian church in Macksville, of which he and Mrs. Becker were charter members. He was on the building committee when the present church was built, giving liberally of his time and money. The church had first place in his life. He loved it and stood for the Gospel in its ancient purity. He was loved, honored and respected by all who knew him, always with a cheerful optimistic spirit that gladdened and buoyed up all with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Becker, or Grandma Becker as we Helwig children knew her, was lavender and lace to Irene. She was one of the pioneers of this part of Stafford County. She was a faithful worker in the church. They both were very kind, loving, considerate people.
An almost Granddaughter Submitted By: E. Irene Helwig, Preston
Back row, left to right: Elsie Becker (Garrett), Melba Becker (Stegall), Peggy Becker (Winn). Front row, left to right: Annie Wallace Becker. William H. Becker.
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Horace Frack
Frack
Horace Frack was born in Iowa May 7, 1867, died in Macksville July 27, 1957. He came to Kansas when 9 years old and spent most of his boyhood working for ranchers, mostly for John Garvin, north of the present site of Byers, Kansas. He started for 25 cents per week and room and board.
When 17 years old he staked a timber claim under President Cleveland 7 miles south of Macksville. He accumulated a section of ground and spent the remainder of his 88 years in the community.
William T. English History
Sarah and William T. English moved to this area in 1885 from Reeseville, Ohio, with their five children, one daughter Belle (Welch) and four sons, Jim, Alex, Scott and Joe. Joe English was ten years old at that time.
When Andy Aiken, a St. John resident, was looking for an industrious young man to open a lumber yard, he went to Joe. Joe agreed if he could be a full partner. This was 1895. Later they were partners in five other lumber yards. In 1920 Joe sold his interest in all the yards to Mr. Aiken and invested in land.
Joe English and Myrtle Rixon of St. John were married on Nov. 20, 1907. Four children were born, Harold (deceased), William T., Robert H. and Josephine (Campbell). The last three children were born in the house Joe built for his bride, where Harry Seibert lives now.
The grandparents, Sarah and William T. English built the house where Donald Sparks lives. William T. English had a blacksmith shop across from the lumber yard for several years. He was a Civil War veteran and a charter member of the Macksville Methodist Church.
When the Aiken heirs sold all their lumber yards in 1939, Joe bought the yard in St. John moved there with his wife. He passed away in 1958. His wife in 1965. The three children, William T., Robert H. and Josephine Campbell live in St. John.
THE JOHN HAMILTON MCMORRAN FAMILY
Born in Bakerstown, Penn. in 1881, John McMorran, with his parents, moved to Kansas when he was a small boy. So he experienced the growth of a new state and the establishment of the small town of Macksville.
Ella Bryan McMorran was born in Kahoka, Missouri in 1884 and with her family moved to St. John, Kans. when she was a young girl. Later she moved to Macksville to work in Charles Stark’s Merchantile Store.
She and John were married in 1908. They had three children, Helen and Kathleen, both now living in Larned, Ks. and Donald who is retired and lives in Green Valley, Arizona.
Mrs. McMorran’s greatest interest was her children, her church, and making a pleasant and comfortable home.
As a young boy, John worked in the first hardware store in Macksville. He went to work in the Macksville State Bank soon after its organization in 1892. He became president of that bank in 1953 and continued in that office until his death in 1966.
In 1961, Mr. McMorran was chosen for recognition by the State Bank news, for fifty years of devoted service in the business of banking with great credit to the profession.
His warm and friendly personality made him a favorite with bank customers from all around the area.
John was avidly interested in community activities. He served on many committees and was a long-term member of the city council and the school board.
Ella, as she was known to friends, was a gentle, kind and gracious lady. In her quiet way, she also helped to promote many community activities. She was a longtime member of the Macksville Research Club, serving as president for several years.
Mrs. McMorran was also a member of D.A.R. She was a descendant of Lt. Stephen Bassford of the Revolutionary War. Ella was Kanza Chapter’s Registrar at the time of her death in 1952.
The years spent on the schoolboard, were typical of John’s great interest in education. It was important to both John and Ella that all three of their children receive college degrees. They sent each one through the Universtiy of Kansas; two of them were in college during the Great Depression. This meant a great sacrifice. But faith and determination helped these loyal parents through some rough years.
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The church and its influence in the community was a major concern of the McMorrans. John’s father, in 1885, helped to establish the First Methodist Church in Macksville. He was one of its charter members and on the first Board of Trustees. Tradition was carried on. John served on the Board of Trustees for over forty years. When the new church was started, he served on the building committee and was one of the members to assist in laying the cornerstone.
The ladies helped with the building of the Church in quite a different way. Bazaars and counties bountiful church dinners were given. Ella could always be seen working in the kitchen. She was on the kitchen-detail for many years. She was an excellent cook, noted for her delicious homemade rolls and Lady Baltimore cakes. Any time a church dinner was scheduled, her kitchen at home was a busy place, getting food ready to take to the church.
Ella was a devoted member of the Methodist Women’s organization and served as its president for many years. Both John and Ella were faithful servants of the church.
John McMorran was a great outdoorsman. He was very fond of hunting, and enjoyed many sports. Ella just enjoyed planning picnics. She was not such a venturesome person as John.
Tennis was John’s forte. He won many trophies in tournament play. Elia and the children always followed him to the tennis meets, no matter how hot the day. When John began to be troubled with arthritis in his knee, he turned to golf. Later on, he settled for croquet. He excelled in whatever sport or game he took up. He was a fair-minded, even-tempered man. These traits were apparent in everything he did. When reminiscing, after his death, about all of his activities, his son Don remarked, “I couldn’t do anything that Dad couldn’t do better.”
Both John and Ella were very good bridge and canasta players, and enjoyed many pleasant evenings with friends playing cards.
John and Ella McMorran were proud to be a part of the physical and spiritual growth of Macksville. Along with others, they had great influence in the building and shaping of the community.
Submitted by daughter Helen (McMorran) Adams
Asbury Long McMillan, a Pioneer
Mr. McMillan was born Jan. 11, 1859 the fourth of twelve children. Born in Ohio, there he received his schooling. When he was 14 he moved with his family to Missouri and in 1876 moved to Reno County, Ks. and the next year moved to Stafford, Kansas, settling on a homestead southwest of Stafford. These journeys westward were made in covered wagons. Before leaving Missouri he had planned to be a school teacher, but having made a trip to Western Kansas, he became filled with the spirit of pioneering and returned with his family
to Kansas, and for more than a half century was associated with the development of Stafford and adjoining counties. When he came to Stafford County the town of Stafford was only a four corners at a cross roads, and other towns had not yet been born.
Between the years of 1882 and 1914 he served as register of deed, published the Stafford County Republican and was the postmaster of Stafford. In 1914 he bought the Macksville Enterprise and devoted his time to the paper.
Mr. McMillan was a newspaper man of the old school. He learned the mechanical side of the business at the cases, and trained himself as an editor with a Harvey’s grammer and a Webster’s dictionary on his desk. He was a fluent and interesting writer of news articles, sketches and stories, and his feature stories were used by editors far and wide.
Mr. McMillan was a builder. He came to Kansas when only trails crossed the prairies and he helped build the roads and later on the highways of his adopted state. He helped build homes, and he saw the soddies give way to a substantial buildings both on the farms and in towns. He was a constructive citizen. He was one of many, but of whom few survive who helped lay the foundations on which the present high type of civilization in Kansas rest.
He was married in 1902 to Bertha A. Shaw. There were two children Maxine and Josephine to this union.
After Mr. McMillan’s death in Oct. 1933 his wife Bertha continued as editor and publisher of the Enterprise. Bertha wrote a column for the Enterprise called "A Woman’s Way” which was copied by many papers. She was active in Research, Eastern Star and her church activities as well as a full time business woman until she retired in 1942.
Material contributed by daughter Josephine Howell
Asbury Long McMillan and Bertha A. (Shaw) McMillan
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C.E. Peacock
C.E. Peacock “Watermelon Ring”
C.E. Peacock, one of Macksville’s champion watermelon raisers. He was a pioneer in this country and was once a stage coach driver from Farmington, N.M. to Durango, Colo.
Mr. Peacock is the father of Naomi “Doll” Cotton.
Robert T. Anderson Family
Robert T. was the fifth son of John and Martha Anderson. Robert was born May 12, 1829 near Lake Ontario. Canada. He moved to Michigan in 1843 with his parents, and then to Illinois in 1852.
He married Lavina Clothier in 1852. To this union 3 children were born. Alice (Anderson) Howard, Albert C. Anderson and Jay Anderson.
In 1884 he and his family moved to Stafford County.
He was one of the early settlers of Macksville and founders of the Free Methodist Church. He passed away on January 29,1909.
Submitted by Jerrel Wood
Robert T. Anderson
Kennedy
Robert Kennedy was born July 21,1853, in Lee County, Iowa. August 29,1879 he married Mary Anne Ware of Lee County Iowa. They came to Kansas in 1888. They lived one year northwest of Rozel, then moved to a farm north of Macksville where Eddie Walker lives.
Mr. Kennedy suffered heavy hail losses on his wheat for two years in succession, and drought one year which caused him to move to Macksville “Cassady”. Where he went into the meat marketing business.
While living in the Macksville area Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy helped start the Christian Church. They were charter members. Mr. Kennedy was the City Marshall for several years.
Robert Kennedy took up claims in Gray County near Cimmaron in 1907. He died on April 11, 1909 in Cim-maron. He was buried in Farmington Cemetery in Macksville.
Mrs. Kennedy lived in Gray County until 1915, then she moved to Commanche County and lived on a farm near Wilmore with her son George Kennedy until the time of her death on June 27, 1920. She with two of her children Frank and Grace are buried also in Farmington Cemetery.
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Additional children were Alice Jane Kennedy, wife of John Lill, St. John; George Kennedy who was married and raised a family in Wilmore, Kansas.
Mrs. Verlan Biggs of Macksville is the daughter of John and Alice Lill.
Submitted by Verlan Biggs
Mrs. Robert Kennedy
Mr. Robert Kennedy
Rebeca Jane Neill and Hunter Scott Neill Hunter Scott Neill Family
Hunter Neill was born 31 January 1835 near Bellefon-te in Centre County Pennsylvania. He was the son of John and Mary Neill. On 15 March 1860 Hunter married Rebeca Jane Maughamer who was born in Pennsylvania 27 October 1841. During the Civil War Hunter Neill enlisted and served for 3 years in the Union Cavalry.
Hunter and Rebeca Neill left Pennsylvania with their 5 small children in February of 1878 and homesteaded 160 acres of land in Richland Township southeast of Macksville.
Hunter and Rebeca Neill had six children: John Lincoln Neill born 23 February 1861 (married Susie Carter and settled west of St. John), Margaret Bell Neill born 25 May 1866 (married Charles Frederick Elerding and settled near Liberal, Kansas), Harry Frank Neill born 1 October 1869 (married Fannie Belle Gilchrist and settled southwest of St. John, Kansas), Ida Jane Neill born 13 February 1873 (married Albert Long and settled near Gate, Oklahoma), Wilbert “Bert” Hunter Neill born 4 January 1875 (married Mabel C. Bloss and settled near Macksville) and Walter Scott Neill born 7 April 1885 (married Nora Shilt and settled near Holly, Colorado).
Rebeca Jane Neill died 8 May 1889 and Hunter Scott Neill died 9 January 1900. They are both buried in Neelands Cemetery.
From: Ethelmae Page 8113 Birnam Wood Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
BELLA AND EDMUND BIGGS
Edmund Edwards Biggs born Clemont Co. Ohio, Sept. 15, 1853 and Bella Carrothers born Taswell Co. Illinois Dec. 27, 1957 were married at the home of her parents E.D. and Adeline Carrothers in San Jose, III Feb. 26, 1879.
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The first years of married life were spent on a farm near San Jose, III. Here their first son William E. was born May 18, 1880. In Feb. 1885 they left III. by wagon-train and settled at Erie, Ks. living there until 1888 when coming farther west they settled 1 1/2 mile west of Macksville. This had been railroad land. The long trip to Larned had to be made by wagon to get supplies for building their two-room house. It was here their second son Samuel Edmond was born Oct. 31,1889.
June 17, 1896, just 8 years after moving near Macksville, Mr. Biggs died after a short illness of typhoid fever.
Bella and her boys 6 and 16 stayed on the farm until 1898 when Bella rented the homeplace and bought a home in Macksville on Main St. to supplement her income from the farm Bella clerked and had a stock of millinery in Young Brothers store. She also did dressmaking and later had her own millinery shop upstairs in Joe Demain Drug Store.
The Biggs were pioneers of Macksville. They belonged to the Presbyterian Church at Macksville and later when it disbanded Bella joined the Methodist Church.
After a long life of courage and thrift and helping her neighbors, friends and family, Bella died at her home at the age of 80, Mar. 27,1938.
Submitted by Beth (Biggs) Stephenson
Edmond Edward Biggs and Bella Carrothers.
PIONEER GRANDPARENTS Joseph Scott and Francis Waddle
My grandparents, Joseph Scott and Frances Waddle came to Kansas in 1873 or 1874. They came by train, all livestock and household goods were on the same train.
They first settled west of Larned, Ks., close to where the State Hospital is located. They lived there one year. My grandfather came to what is Macksville. He staked a tree claim 7 miles south, one mile east and one half mile
Pictured left to right: Joseph Scott Waddle, Oliver Samuel Waddle, Frances Waddle.
south. He dug a dugout first, then built a sod house.
Before he moved all of the family, he brought the three older girls and left them and went back to Larned to move the household goods and the remaining family. He had two oxen and a wagon to move with. There were only two houses between his farm and Larned. The trip took several days. They moved here in 1875. He planted the timber claim with cottonwoods that came from Medicine Lodge. He broke the land with the two oxen.
I have faint memories of my grandparents. I was only (4) four years old when they passed away. Grandfather was a little short man and grandmother was very tall slender like my father Oliver S. Waddle. My grandfather could not read or write. They were both born in Virginia so they were considered southerners. The Union Army captured them during the Civil War and moved the family north.
Grandfather was a very religious man. I have his little song book that he sang out of while leading the singing at church. How he knew which song he was singing I wouldn’t know.
After my grandparents death, my father, Oliver, took over the farming and now, since his death the farm is still in the family. There were lots of hardships and trying times. I feel certain they were real pioneers.
Submitted by: Edna Waddle Suiter, a granddaughter
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John and Amanda Gilchrist
John Henry Gilchrist Family
John Gilchrist was born 11 January 1848 in Scotland (probably Dumfrishire). He was the son of David Gilchrist and Frances “Fannie” Harkness Gilchrist. The family immigrated to Trunton, New York, in 1858. Eight years later they moved to a farm near North English, Iowa, where on 2 February 1871 he married Amanda Jane Williams who was born in Iowa 27 August 1847. She was the daughter of John Locke Williams and Nancy Barkley McCracken who had moved there from Tennessee.
In the summer of 1878 John and Amanda Gilchrist traveled by covered wagon with their family to homestead land in Kansas and settled a few miles east of Macksville.
John and Amanda Gilchrist had five children: Charles H. Gilchrist born 11 Nov. 1871 (married Josephine Blount and settled near Seiling, Oklahoma), Fannie Belle Gilchrist born 16 March 1873 (married Harry Frank Neill and settled southwest of St. John, Kansas), James Alegar Gilchrist born 9 March 1874 (married Edith and settled in Macksville), Jane N. Gilchrist born 29 June 1875 (married Claude Davidson and settled near Macksville), Ida Gilchrist born 4 July 1881 (married Sam Thomason and settled near Cherokee, Oklahoma).
Amanda Jane Gilchrist died 6 February 1918 and John Henry Gilchrist died 30 July 1929. Both are buried in the Farmington Cemetery in Macksville.
From: Ethelmae Page 8113 Birnam Wood Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
DeVore
John W. DeVore and Nancy Amanda Crull DeVore came to Kansas in the early 1890’s from Champaign, III. to settle 2 1/2 miles east and 1/2 mile south of Macksville what is now the Locke Farm. They planted trees of all kinds including peach and apple orchard.
Their family was - Clara DeVore Barton, Grace DeVore Wolf, Lurena DeVore DeBusk, Glide DeVore Hinshaw, James A. and Roll DeVore.
The family were farmers using horses to do their farm work.
Strickling
John W. Strickling and Sarah Jane Strickling came from Blairstown, Iowa to settle 2 miles east of Macksville on what is now Ralph Suiter place. Both were faithful members of the church, John W. serving as superintendent of S.S. for 17 years. Their family, Vesta Strickling Tune, Lou Strickling Ingalls, Pearl Strickling Roberts, Jennie (Sarah Jane) Strickling DeVore and Oliver and John Strickling.
DeVore
James A. DeVore and Sarah Jane Strickling were married in Stafford Co. in 1892. J.A. and Jennie were faithful members of the Christian Church and Mr. DeVore served on the school board, city council and as Mayor of Macksville.
Their family - Faye DeVore Pruitt, Floy DeVore Hanson, Ed DeVore, Leona DeVore Smith, Laurel DeVore Smith, Rhe DeVore, Roy DeVore, Omer DeVore, Otis DeVore.
Mr. DeVore was a farmer, farming around Macksville and in Western Kansas.
He built several homes in Macksville - the big house in the east part of Macksville where Mrs. Leona Smith lives was their home from 1911 until their death.
Submitted by Lacie DeVore
Mrs. J.A. DeVore and Omer DeVore.
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Roy D. Beck
Roy D. Beck was born April 25,1874 at Maroa, Illinois. He was the only son of Aaron and Susan Beck. He came with his mother and little sister, Anna Marie, to Kansas as a child of six in the Spring of 1880, the husband and father having preceded them and established a pioneer home in the northwest part of what is Pratt County. A few years later the family moved across the line into Stafford County, which has been his home almost continuously ever since.
On July 21,1901 he was united in marriage with Lillian Hall, daughter of George and Theresa Hall. To this union seven children were born.
Roy was a progressive farmer, stockman and businessman of this county. He was always active in all public affairs. He served many years as director of the Emerson School and for years as Trustee of Albano township. He was a member and officer of the Livingston Farmers Union. He served as president of the Stafford County School Officers Association.
He was State Representative of Stafford County for two terms, 1929 and 1933, where he served on the Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Education. He was a member of the Byers Methodist Church and for some years taught a class of younger boys.
He was a staunch Republican but a firm believer in the best man for the place. Baseball held first place and although for many years he could take no part in this active sport he never lost his enthusiasm for this game.
Submitted by daughter in law Pauline Beck
Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson was born Oct. 14, 1846 at Sabina, Ohio. His father died when he was three years old. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 in the year 1863. Served one year and received an honorable discharge on Feb. 14, 1864. He then enlisted in the Army, serving in Company G-192 Reg. Ohio Volunteer Inf. in the Civil War. He received an honorable discharge Sept. 1,1865.
At the age of 19 in 1865 he married Luella Harper and to this union 9 children were born. In 1885, having already lost his wife in death, with all his children except the two oldest boys, who stayed in Ohio and worked for the Railroad, and an only daughter who died in childhood, came by train to Kansas. He homesteaded southeast of Macksville.
He married Mary Martha Hall when she was 21 and Thomas 43 years old, in the year of May 14, 1889. They drove by buggy to St. John and were married by the Probate Judge. Upon returning they found the hay stack on fire. The fire was set by Tom’s three youngest boys to welcome their new mother.
To this union 9 more children were born of which Maude Wilson Hawk was the youngest of three girls, the rest being boys, who all by Harper Wilson farmed in the
Macksville community. Harper was a barber in Macksville.
After their farm house burned in 1902 they replaced it with four large rooms. In 1910 Tom bought a house in Macksville from Mr. Pitts, Gt. grandfather of Harry Seibert. The house was only one year old and had four rooms and two porches. Thomas added three rooms and screened in the porches. (The same house where Ruth Waters now lives).
Tom hired Barbara Burger Huffman to teach his children in their home. Maude had two teachers in the country school she attended. They were Gerty Nolder Jennings and Mary Carter.
The children all gathered cowchips to burn. They first turned them over with a sharp stick to check for centipedes and rattlesnakes before picking them up. Tom hauled bones to Larned to sell and buy groceries.
After moving into Macksville, Thomas sold the farm to Ed Baker.
Thomas arrived in Stafford County in 1885. The Railroad came through what was then known as Cassady in 1886. Cassady had a postoffice, rooming house, Blacksmith Shop. McNinch ran the Rooming House.
Tom spent many hours caring for the cemetery and served as city Marshall. He was always proud to be a Civil War Veteran. He died in May 1923.
Submitted by granddaughter Pauline Beck
Mr. and Mrs. J.A. DeBusk and sons, Clive, Clinton and Lyle.
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DeBusk
J.A. DeBusk came to Stafford County in 1885, locating 3 1/2 miles east and 1 mile south of Macksville with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy DeBusk. They came from Johnston County, Tennessee, landing in Larned. He married the daughter of another pioneer family, Miss Rena DeVore, daughter of John DeVore. They had three sons, Clinton, Clive and Lyle.
Albert C. Anderson Family
Albert C. Anderson, oldest son of Robert T. and Lavina Anderson. He was born in Blackhawk County, Iowa August 27,1857. As a young man, he lived with his family near Bourbon County, Kansas.
He married Phila (Cramp) Anderson November 2,1880 in Bronson, Bourbon County, Kansas.
He moved to Stafford County in April, 1885 with his wife and took a claim in October 1885 5 miles west of Macksville in Edwards County when Macksville’s population was one family and no railroads existed.
They lived, toiled, and raised their family on the claim there. They raised six children, 4 girls and 2 boys, Laura (Anderson) Wright, Emma (Anderson) Youncker, Fred Anderson, Harriett (Anderson) Pyle, William Anderson, and Adeline (Anderson) Wood. In 1925, he moved from the farm to Macksville so he could be closer to the Free Methodist Church which he and his father were charter members.
He departed this life Sept. 5, 1945. He spent most of his life in the Macksville community.
Submitted by Jerrel Wood
A.C. Anderson Family. Back row - Fred, Harriett, Willie and Emma Younker, William Anderson and Laura. Front
Alfred William Lamb Family
Alfred William Lamb was born in Nottingham, England in 1839. He was a lace maker in Callis, France before coming to Canada. He married Ellen Elizabeth Riley in Canada. They moved to Boston where four children were born, Charles, George, Louisa and Fred. George and Charles died as small children as a result of an epidemic of scarlet fever, in 1878.
Alfred worked in the rail yards until 1878. The family took a Homestead and filed for a tree claim. They moved to Kansas, 7 miles south and 216 miles west of Macksville.
After Ellen died in 1899, Alfred made several trips to England to visit his sister and niece. Their son, Fred grew up on the farm. He and his father farmed the homestead until Alfred died in 1914.
Submitted by Bryce and Doris Lamb
Fred William Lamb Family
Fred William Lamb was born in Boston in 1876. He moved with his family to the Lamb Homestead in 1878.
Cora Marie Hockett was born in Marshalltoen, Iowa in 1878. She and Fred were married on May 22,1907. Their children were Byron, Loren, Fred Bryce and Robert Charles. Byron and Loren died in infancy.
Fred, Cora and Bryce moved to Macksville in 1919, when Bryce started to school. Robert was born in Macksville. Bryce and Robert both attended school in Macksville and graduated from Macksville High School. Robert served in the Air Corp during World War II.
The family was active in church and community affairs. Fred was in the hardware and implement business for ten years in Macksville.
Submitted by Bryce and Doris Lamb
row - A.C., Adeline and Phila. Taken early 1900’s. Adeline is the only one left and she is 86.
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W.W. Mills, Lloyd Mills, Bill Mills
Mills
William Wirt Mills came to Kansas in 1875 from Catlin, Illinois to settle first on Frizzell Ranch west of Larned, Kansas. W.W. Mills parents Jane and Nathaniel Mills were one of the first settlers to settle on a farm south of Macksville along Rattlesnake Creek in Clear Creek township in Stafford Co. Early in 1878 the Mills homestead became a community known as Prattsburg. This community center consisted of a blacksmith shop, post office, store and on Sunday a church. This community was the only stopping place between Fort Larned and Sun City, 3 day drive either direction by horse, for early settlers. Every community needed a cemetery for its settlers, so a cemetery was started south across the creek known as Prattsburg too, it can still be seen today. This community was named Prattsburg because all settlers knew it would be located in Pratt Co. It was settled before county lines were determined. The Mills farm was the first in the county to carry out a timber claim. Cottonwood trees were dug and brought from Medicine River north of Medicine Lodge, Ks. in 1885.
W.W. Mills passed away March 25, 1943. His homestead was passed on to his daughter Sylvia May Gibson.
Submitted by Janell Gibson,
granddaughter of W.W. Mills
WILLIAM AND HANNAH ELLEN FRY REYNOLDS
William and Hannah and two small sons, William Dwyre and John McCray, came from Brown County Ohio in 1878 and homesteaded north of Macksville. They came in a covered wagon and were 40 days on the way, stopping first at Larned, KS where they spent a few weeks looking for a place to make a home. They located in what is now Richland Township, Stafford County, KS in the late fall of 1878 on land they purchased from the Santa Fe Railroad. Here they built a two-room by eighteen foot house in which they lived and farmed their land for about twenty-two years, going through all the hardships of early pioneer days in this part of Kansas. A daughter, Alta Ethel was born in 1882. Alta died in 1907 at the age of 24 1/2 years.
When the original First National Bank building was being built in St. John, KS in 1904, the south wall crumbled during a storm, falling onto Teetzel’s Barber Shop, seriously injuring William, leaving him crippled and bed ridden until his death a few years later in 1909.
In 1899 William and Ellen purchased a home at the corner of Fourth and West Streets in St. John. Ellen remained in this home until her death in 1935 at the age of about 82.
The oldest son, William Dwyre (Will) married Maude Northrup. Their children were Alton Courtney who married Nellie Asher first Hazel Filson second; Paul R.
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(Jack) who married Grayce Holderness; Nina Elizabeth who married Taylor Kirby and now lives in Newton, KS (the only child still alive); Dwyre Dudley who married Rose Marie; and Billy Elmo.
The second son, John McCray started farming in northern Pratt County. He married Arminna Davis Sept. 28, 1902 in Pratt, KS. They had two children, Basil Leno, born 1904 and William Renfro, who only lived for two months. They moved to a farm two miles west of Macksville about 1909. They bought, remodeled and moved into the Galloway house in Macksville about 1945. John passed away Feb. 9, 1953. Arminna (Minnie) passed away Jan. 25,1971.
Basil married Beaulah Rickets in 1923. They had three children, Leroy Wayne, Robert Melvin and Evelyn Marie. Basil and Beaulah were divorced about 1930. He then married Laura Jane Spangler of Belpre, KS in 1933. Their children are Phyllis Joan, married to Victor Lee Staub, living in St. John, KS. They have four children and four grandchildren. Lenna Jane, married to Merwin H. Frye, living in Hutchinson, KS. They have two sons. Doris Elaine, married to Dennis Michael Rice, living in San Diego, CA. They have three children and two granddaughters. Gordon Eugene, married to Janis Ada Hawkins, living in Lakewood, CO. They have two daughters. Catherine Bea, married to Duane Naccarato, living in Rogers, AK.. They have four children. Carol Mildene, married first to Gregory L. Smith. They have two children. Married to Michael Collins, second. They have one son and live in Garden City, KS.
Basil and Laura and family lived in Macksville about 23 years where Basil was in the trucking business. Laura worked for 2-3 years at the Macksville Enterprise; 2 years for Hammond Real Estate and 4 years as switchboard operator for the telephone company. Phyllis, Lenna and Doris worked several consecutive years for Paul and Violet Thomas at Pinkies Cafe while attending high school. Phyllis was a 1952 graduate and Lenna was a
Left to right: Reynolds: Paul (Jack), Nina, Dwyre, Basil.
1954 graduate of Macksville High School. The family moved from Macksville in Oct. 1956 when Doris was a Junior and Gordon a Freshman in High School. The family were members of, and active in the Grace United Methodist Church and a number of school activities. Basil and Laura lived several years in Dodge City, KS where Laura was personnel manager for Eckels Dept. Store. Doris, Gordon, Cathy and Carol were all graduates of Dodge City High School. Basil passed away at Dodge City April 2, 1974. Laura moved to Lakewood, CO in 1977, where Gordon and family were living. She married Clifford Wyatt Nov. 28,1981 and they reside at 3936 W. Grand Ave., Littleton, CO.
Submitted by Phyllis Staub
Basil and Laura Reynolds, Phyllis, Lenna, Doris and Gordon.
John and Minnie Reynolds
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JAMES G. AND SARAH ANN HOLLAND DAVIS
James G. and Sarah Holland Davis and six children came by covered wagon to an area north of Macksville in 1884 from Lexington, KY. Two older children were already married. Charles Nicholas lived in Tulsa, OK and William Henry lived in Stricklett, KY. They had four children who
had died in infancy, Nancy Susan, Mildred J.t Sarah Margaret and John. James and Sarah lived for two years in Nebraska before coming to Kansas. They settled in Pawnee County where another daughter, Cora Lee, was born. They operated a business in the community of Cassady for several years. They later came to live four and one quarter miles west of St. John where they lived the rest of their lives. They owned and operated a Mer-chantile store in Macksville for many years.
Their children were: George Thomas; Martha Ann (Mattie); Mary Francis; James Holland; Floyd Augustus and Arminna (Minnie).
Tommy married Sadie first. They raised a nephew,
Harry, and a niece, Beatrice. He then married Stella Harmon of Stafford. They had no children, but still had the nephew and niece. They lived near St. John, KS.
Mattie married Calvin P. Shaftsbury and lived in St. John, where he was a carpenter. They had two children, Archie and Agnes.
Mary married a Mercer first. Their children were Tommy, Earl and Clarabelle. She then married a Martin.
Jimmy married Anna M. Benton. They lived 4 1/2 miles west of St. John and their children are Paul, Carl and Juanita. Paul married Evelyn first and Vera Vern Toland second. Carl married Velma Clowers and lives in St. John. Their children are Donald, Donna and Jack. Juanita married Emery Fry and their children are Sharon and Brad. Emery passed away and Juanita married Ted Taylor and they live in Hutchinson, KS.
Floyd married Sadie’s daughter from a previous marriage and they had three children, Harry, Beatrice and Emily. Harry and Beatrice lived several years with Tommy Davis, their uncle. Floyd’s second wife was Wilma Delker Toland. Wilma’s son, Johnny Toland, lived with them for a while. They lived near St. John.
Cora married Shelor Thomason. They lived in the Macksville-St. John communities and had three children, Delorus, who died when she was 23 years old; Lorena, who died when she was 1 year old and John Wesley. Wes lives in Lincoln, NE and has two children, John and Julie.
Minnie married John McCray Reynolds Sept. 28,1902. They had two boys, Basil Leno, born in 1904 and William Renfro, who died in infancy.
(More on Minnie and John under the name of Reynolds)
Submitted by Phyllis Staub
1900-1902 era. Back row, left to right: Roy G. Waters 9-12-1878 • 12-3-1965, William H. Waters 12-17-1874 - 4-1-1963, Herbert E. Waters 11-19-1871 - 12-7-1933, Ray P. Waters 9-12-1878 • 6-12-1951. Front row, left to right:
Charles N. Waters 3-27-1842 • 2-9-1908, Esther Gamble Waters 6-14-1846 • 11-15 1914, Harry Waters 3-13-1896, Celia Smith Waters 2-12-1876 -1940.
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Waters
Roy and Ray Waters have the distinction of being the oldest twins born in Stafford County. They were born in a sod house on the homestead of their father C.N. Waters Sept. 12, 1898. The Waters homestead was the Livingston postoffice at that time and was a strong contestant for the county seat. At one time there was a hotel in Livingston.
PIONEER BUSINESS MAN
Charles H. Hatch with his wife Mary A. moved from a farm in Jefferson County, Mo. in March 1879 to a farm in Edwards Co., Kansas, where they homesteaded a quarter section and after living on it for five years, they took a timer claim the same size. There was only one other family to the southwest within twenty-five miles of them.
The prairies were dotted with wild horses and game and in this remote region they went through all vicissitudes of pioneer days. In fact had he not regularly received his pension of his Civil War service he might not have “pulled through.”
They finally developed their homestead into a good farm, and left it only at the call of the people, who chose him Probate Judge of Edwards County in 1889. He served in that office two years. He returned to his timber claim and after a period of farming, rented his land and 1892 engaged in The Insurance and Real Estate business at Bannock.
In March 1908 he moved to Macksville and continued in the Insurance and Real Estate business there. Owning an office Building on main street and his own home in the town. He still owned his homestead and timber claim. The former being four miles east of Trousdale and the timber claim one mile south of the homestead all together his farm interests comprised 1240 acres. He was a stock holder in The Farmer’s Elevator at Travel, Kansas.
Mr. Hatch served two years as undersheriff of Edwards Co. He was an independent Republican, a member of the Macksville Lodge No. 371 Ancient Free and accepted Masons, and of Kinsley Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Jan. 24,1872 in Jefferson Co. Mo. he married Mary A. Nelson, daughter of Jack and Maria Nelson, Jefferson County farmers.
Mr. and Mrs. Hatch had two daughters: Edith M. wife of S.G. Manning, a farmer, cattleman and in the Insurance Business at Mutual, Okla. and Ida R. wife of D.W. Johnson a farmer in Edwards County, Kansas.
Edith and S.G. Manning had six children. One is Pearl Bisel living in Pratt, Kansas in 1985.
Ida R. and D.W. Johnson had five children. Chester is living in Tribune, Kansas with his wife Esther, and Helen Wallace living with her husband John in Wichita, Kans. in 1985.
Mr. Hatch died in 1919 and Mrs. Hatch in 1931 in Macksville, Kans.
They were both active in The Grace Methodist Church in community affairs.
His business office building on main street was the small building just north of the Walker Manufacturing Building, where the Vance Cleaners shop was for years.
The homestead 1 1/2 miles west of Hopewell is still owned by Mr. Hatch’s granddaughter Pearl Bisel and her husband Ralph of Pratt, Kansas. Their grandson Larry Foulk farms and resides on it.
Submitted by Pearl Bisel 405 Saratoga Pratt, Kansas 67124
FAMILY HISTORIES
Kearney: Louise, Kristen, Erin, Thomas.
KEARNEY
Thomas Michael Kearney, son of Regina Kearney and the late John Kearney, Belpre, was born October 30, 1954. He attended St. Bernard’s Grade School, Belpre, graduated from Macksville High School in 1973 and from Barton County Community College in 1975. Tom received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Fort Hays State University in 1977.
Teresa Louise Kearney, daughter of Virgil and Virginia Goudy, was born November 6, 1957. She attended the Macksville schools and graduated in 1975. In 1979 she received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Fort Hays State University.
Tom and Louise were married July 14, 1979 in Macksville, Kansas. They have two daughters, Erin Michelle, born April 5, 1982, and Kristen Louise, born January 6, 1986. Currently, they reside in Hays, Kansas. Louise is active as a volunteer for La Leche League International and Tom is employed as a teacher and coach in the Palco School system.
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The Paul Satterlee Family in 1963. Rodney, Marcette, Roger, Donald, Paul, David, Kerry, Paulette.
Satterlee
Paul and Marcette Satterlee married Nov. 15, 1942 in Hutchinson at the First Methodist Church. Six children were born.
Roger born March 26, 1944 in Wellington while Paul was employed at Boeing in Wichita.
Rodney - June 24,1946 in Stafford. Paul was here farming for his dad, T.D.
Donald - June 17,1948 in Lyons. Paul was employed at L & S Dry Cleaning shop there in Lyons.
In Nov. 1948 Paul opened up the Dry Cleaning shop in Macksville. Renamed it Paul’s Cleaners. He operated a route in Byers, Hopewell, Trousdale and Belpre. We were in business until June of 1957. During this time we had 3 more children.
Paulette born April 27,1953 in St. John.
Kerry born Nov. 6,1954 in St. John.
David born Jan. 13,1957 in St. John.
Paul farmed for his dad, T.D. and himself until the farm sold in 1969. At that time he went to work at Cross Mfg. in Lewis along with his wife Marcie. Paul retired from Cross Mfg. after 15 years of service. During that length of time, all their children were married.
Roger to Paula Hesher from Pawnee Rock in 1965.
Rodney to Linda Cooper from Great Bend in 1967.
Donald to Dee Rose of Macksville in 1968.
Paulette to Larry Miller of rural Macksville in 1975.
Kerry to Teresa of Bakersfield, Calif. in 1980.
David to Kathy of Great Bend in 1981.
Marcette (Marcie) will retire from Cross Mfg. in Lewis April 11,1986 after 17 years of service.
We are planning a trip to Canada and Eastern states in July after our retirement. They have enjoyed camping and belong to 3 camping clubs, Good Sams, N.C.H.A. and Comet Club. They are all members of the United Methodist Church in Macksville. Three generations of Satterlees still reside in or around Macksville. Mrs. T.D. Satterlee (Ethel), Mr. and Mrs. Paul Satterlee, Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Satterlee and children, Troy and Trey, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Miller and children, Joshua and Matthew. Troy will be the fourth generation to graduate from Macksville High School. Ethel, Paul, Rodney, Troy, Mighty Proud of them ALL.
Our first home here in Macksville was on the Northwest corner, 1 block west of the Blinker light on the highway. We now reside in the home where Paul and his brothers and sisters were born in 1922. It is the second house north of Blinker light at 107 North Main.
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Reeser
My grandfather Martin Reeser (a carpenter by trade) his wife Maria and children Sophia Leonious (Lone to her friends) and Lula Kate traveled by wagon train from Brownstown, Illinois in the spring of 1886. They forded the Missouri River during flood conditions. Wagon trains came off their running gears and were carried down stream with families screaming in terror. They were never heard from again. Indians were never seen but they did see deserted Indian camp fires. Buffalo herds were still to be seen.
They settled in Dighton, Kansas in a sod house. That January, Grandpa Reeser and neighbors organized a wagon train to Wakeeney, Kansas for provisions (about 30 miles away). Upon their return the “Big Blizzard” of 1886 struck. To keep moving they shoveled a path in the snow but by the time one wagon got through, the path would be blocked shut and they would shovel again for the next team. Grandma Reeser and children were at home in bed to keep warm. They “got up just long enough to fix a bite to eat.” The wives didn’t know for three days whether their men were dead or alive.
After three years of failing crops due to hot winds they moved on to Pratt County and settled nine miles due south of Macksville, Kansas where Robert Howard, Vada Jennie and Charles David grew to adulthood. Many of the parts for their house built in 1904 were ordered from Sears Roebuck and brought by train from Kansas City. The house is still occupied today by the Johnson family. The farm became totally self sufficient with milk cows, cattle, hogs, chickens, horses, mules, a vegetable garden, a smoke house and fruit orchards. Each fall grandpa butchered “one hog for each family member and one for company and one beef.” Butter and eggs were sold to buy salt, pepper, sugar and other staples. The wheat was sold to pay for the farm. As long as Grandpa Reeser lived, Grandma Reeser made two pies for him each day. I watched Halley’s Comet from my west bedroom window night after night. It looked like a bright ball of light with a long tail.
In 1933 I moved to Macksville with my mother Sophia and children Gerald Dean and Cleta Ilene where they grew to adulthood. During World War II, I worked for Dr. Fred Powell. His office was located above the old Post Office which is now Lucy’s Sundries. I made $5.00 a week. Dr. Powell charged $1.00 per office call unless patients were poor and then it was free. I kept the books, gave shots, helped sew on fingers and anything else Dr. Powell needed done. He got to sick people any way and any time day or night. One day when the snow was bad he started on a call in a car then changed to a horse, then a tractor, then fell over a fence covered by a snow bank and walked the rest of the way. He and wife Grace retired in McAllen, Texas on a grapefruit farm where they are buried. I enjoyed working for him more than anyone I ever worked for.
I have spent all of my eighty-nine years in and around Macksville. I’ve lived through tornados, blizzards, dust bowls, a depression, a recession and four wars. You
name it, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen Macksville at its busiest with three churches, three doctors, three grocery stores, three cafes, 4 gas stations, 2 car repair garages, 2 schools, 2 banks, 2 drug stores, 2 dry goods stores, 2 lumber yards, a dentist, a movie theater, an ice house, a hotel, a mortuary, dance hall, dime store, shoe repair, dry cleaners and other thriving businesses. Saturday nights the streets were so busy you couldn’t find a place to park. The grocery stores were kept open until after the dance so folks could pick up groceries they had purchased before the dance started.
I’ve seen many happy times and some unhappy times but Macksville is still my home.
Vada Frink Heckel
Steve and Linda Gotsche
STEVE GOTSCHE FAMILY
Steven James Gotsche was born August 24, 1961 to Irving and Jeanne Gotsche in Wakeeney, Kansas, then moved to Great Bend four years later. He attended school in Great Bend and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1979. He attended Barton County Community College and the Universtiy of Nebraska on a golf scholarship. Steve is a Professional Golfer.
Steve married Linda Sue Wilson on June 9, 1984. She was born on February 7,1960 to Doyle and Peggy Wilson of Macksville. Linda grew up and attended school at Macksville. She was a 1978 graduate of Macksville High School, and then graduated from BCCC and Kansas State University with an elementary education degree. Linda is a first grade teacher at Washington Elementary School in Great Bend where they now live.
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Alton and Gladys Neill
Alton Harry Neill Family
Alton Neill was born 27 August 1895 near St. John, Kansas. He was the son of Harry Frank Neill and Fannie Belle (Gilchrist) Neill. He was wounded in France while serving in the army during World War I. While con-valesing in the military hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, he met his future wife Gladys Gertrude Markley who was born 26 January 1895 in Lyndon, Kansas. She was the daughter of John Washington Markley and Elisabeth Day. They were married on 7 August 1920.
Alton and Gladys Neill settled in Macksville, Kansas, where he was a bulk mail carrier for the post office for many years and operated a black smith’s shop. Alton was very active in the American Legion and was a member of the Elks Lodge. Gladys was a member of the Christian Church and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Alton and Gladys Neill had two children: Alton Neill, Jr. born 16 July 1923 (married 1st Loraine Wilson and 2nd Ruth Henry and settled in Hutchinson, Kansas), and Ruth Anna Neill born 21 April 1930 (married Ivan Luther Stotts and settled near Byers, Kansas).
Gladys Neill died 1 June 1956 and Alton Neill died 4 July 1966. Both are buried in the Farmington Cemetery in Macksville.
From: Ethelmae Page 8113 Birnam Wood Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
Roy E. Wilson and Ethel F. Wilson
Roy Evert Wilson Family
Roy E. Wilson was born 6 August 1900 near Noble, Missouri. He was the son of Oliver Mahlon Wilson and Lutitia Evelyn Kirk. At the age of 17 Roy came to Kansas to work in the harvest fields. He spent the next seven years near Santa Maria, California, working for the Newhall Land and Cattle Company, where he learned about the cattle business.
Roy Wilson returned to St. John, Kansas and on 28 November 1928 was married to Ethel Fannie Neill who was born 24 July 1906 near St. John, Kansas. She was the daughter of Harry Frank Neill and Fannie Belle (Gilchrist) Neill.
Roy and Ethel had two children: Ethelmae Wilson born 1 October 1930 (Mrs. Leland Page of McLean, Virginia) and Doyle Edwards Wilson born 30 November 1933 of Macksville, Kansas.
They began farming northwest of Macksville and in 1938 bought a farm southeast of Macksville. This land included the homestead of Ethel’s grandfather, Hunter Neill, who came from Pennsylvania in 1878. Roy was a cattleman and farmer, but his main interest was the cattle business. He was very active in the Democratic Party and served as the Stafford County Chairman.
Roy and Ethel Wilson were always active in community affairs and were 4-H leaders for many years. Ethel Wilson died 17 December 1956 and Roy Wilson died 28 November 1960. Both are buried in the Farmington Cemetery in Macksville.
From: Ethelmae Page 8113 Birnam Wood Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
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Ethelmae Wilson Page Family. Top center: Neal S. Page. Bottom, left to right: Cynthia C. Page, Leland F. Page, Ethelmae Page.
Ethelmae Wilson Page Family
Ethelmae Wilson was born 1 October 1930 near Macksville, Kansas. She is the daughter of Roy Evert Wilson and Ethel Fannie (Neill) Wilson. Ethelmae graduated from Fort Hays State College with a degree in Theater Arts and English in 1952 and taught school in Haven, Kansas.
On 23 March 1957 Ethelmae Wilson married Leland Franklin Page in Hollywood, California. Leland Page was born in Prairie View Kansas 4 June 1928 and is the son of James Russell Page and Dolly Elizabeth (Gay) Page.
Leland and Ethelmae Page have two children: Neal Stephen Page born 15 December 1958 (married Lori Ann Williams and is living in Cary, North Carolina), and Cynthia Carol Page born 23 September 1960 (Living in Falls Church, Virginia).
Leland and Ethelmae Page lived in Santa Monica, California, until 1971 when they moved to McLean, Virginia. Leland Page was a Boy Scout leader both in California and in Virginia. He is the director of the System Engineering Service for the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C. Ethelmae has worked with many different types of youth activities: P.T.A., youth orchestra, Girl Scouts and has directed many plays for their church. They are members of the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia.
From: Ethelmae Page 8113 Birnam Wood Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
The William P. Helwig, Sr., Family, Macksville, Ks.
William P. Helwig, Sr., was born in Mexico, Mo. in 1888. Ardna A. Hardie was born in Kingsley, Iowa in 1895. Will came to Ellinwood, Kansas in 1901. Ardna came to Larned, Ks. in 1904. They were married in Macksville, Ks. Methodist Church in June, 1912. They had two sons:
William Philip Helwig, Jr., C.L. (Bud) Helwig, one daughter Emma Irene Helwig, Fenwick, Lightle, Preston. Bud and Irene are surviving. All were members of the Christian Church Macksville.
When first married, Will and Ardna were farmers, raising hogs, cattle and grains. Living on a Scammy farm, (where Philip was born) 4 miles north, 1/2 east of Macksville, then the Starke farm, (Irene and Bud born there). In 1918 they moved to the Thos. Ely farm a mile north of the Starke farm, Valley Center community. They were living there when hailed out in 1924 and no insurance.
Will or Bill as he was called, was very fond of Baseball and between 1922 and 1924 he organized and managed the Valley Center Baseball teams. Partial list of players are: Lawrence and Roy Prescott, Vernon and Ernie Kephart, Bill Richard, Bill Glenn, Rusty Kephart, Clarence Wilson. They won a lot of games. Bill challenged Macksville to a game but they would not play them. Bill challenged St. John, who had won in their league. St. John played Valley Center and Valley Center beat them.
In 1930 the house burned to the ground, losing all possessions except what was pulled to the window on a rug. Irene was lucky, her dad saw her new coat and red silk dress that her mother had made her, hanging on the wall and he dashed thru a window and got those for her.
Neighbors and friends were so very kind. They had showers and Fricks gave furniture to them. Roy D. Clowers, who was a dear friend, his wife not living, asked them to move in with he and his son and 2 daughters, which they did. In the summer after school was out the Helwigs moved to Ulysses, Ks. where they farmed. Bud and Irene attended school in Ulysses. In 1931 Will and Ardna and sons moved to Johnson, Ks., where they farmed and did custom work. Irene stayed in Ulysses and worked in the Don T. Hart, IGA grocery store.
Back Row: Philip, Irene, Levern. Front row: Ardna and W.P. Helwig
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In the “Dirty 30’s”, Ardna and Philip were sick from the dust so the family moved to Boyd farm in 1935 in Pawnee County, later moving into Macksville, in 1938 where W.P. and sons started a trucking business. First known as W.P. Helwig & Sons, later (Philip was 1 of first 3 to be drafted from Stafford Co.) when Philip came back from service, it was known as Helwig, Bros.
While living in Macksville, this time Will was City Marshall, cemetery sexton and for a few years he and Ardna were managers of the Standard Oil Station for Arlie Hoover. But again they left Macksville, in March, 1949, going back to Ulysses, Ks. where they were farmers, raising cattle, hogs and grains, and Ardna cooked at lunchroom in Golden, country school, south of Ulysses, she was loved by all.
They enjoyed and were active in their lodges, IOOF, and Rebekah. And Ardna in American Legion Auxiliary, when in Macksville. Will died in Ulysses, buried in Macksville. Ardna stayed on the farm awhile, but returned to Macksville and married Charles Clowers Feb. 15, 1962. They lived on his farm in Pawnee County until he died in 1963 and Ardna moved into Macksville and lived there until her passing in October 1967.
Submitted by Daughter: E. Irene Helwig Preston
Kenneth Fenwick, Philip Helwig, W.P. Helwig
Basil Reynolds, Ed O’Connor, C.L. Bud Helwig.
Oliver Mahlon Wilson
Oliver Mahlon Wilson Family
Oliver Wilson was born 27 January 1873 in Texas County, Missouri. He was the son of Abram Wilson and Cornelia Mary (Colvin) Wilson. On 26 February 1896 he married Lutitia Evelyn Kirk. She was born 28 January 1871 in Webster County, Missouri, and was the daughter of Isaiah Kirk and Minerva Jane (Adkinson) Kirk. On 26 March 1908 Lutitia Wilson died leaving her husband and 7 small children. Oliver married Elizabeth “Betty” Cates on 9 November 1908. During the early 1920s the Wilson children left Missouri and settled in California and Washington. Oliver and Betty Wilson followed the children in 1926 and Betty Wilson died in Santa Maria, California, in 1929. In the early 1930s Oliver M. Wilson settled near his son, Roy E. Wilson, who had returned to the Macksville area. Oliver married as his third wife Maggie Lewis of Squires, Missouri. They farmed south east of Macksville for many years and retired to Macksville in 1948.
The children born to Oliver and Lutitia Wilson were: Cread Lee Wilson born 8 August 1898, Roy Evert Wilson born 6 August 1900 (married Ethel Fannie Neill and settled near Macksville), Lewis Wilson born 21 April 1902, Bert Cecil Wilson born 13 August 1903, Freeman Doit Wilson born 19 November 1904, Effie Mae Wilson born 22 May 1906, and Ida Sybil Wilson born 20 October 1907.
Oliver joined the Baptist Church and the Masonic Modern Woodsman Lodges when he was a young man. He died 31 August 1952 and is buried in Macksville.
From:Ethelmae Page 8113 Birnam Wood Drive McLean, Virginia 22102
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Mr. and Mrs. (Esther) Verlan Biggs.
Left to right, first row: Alice Anne (Biggs) Elliott, Washington, D.C.; Verlan L. Biggs Jr., Hesston, Ks. Left to right, second row: Brenda Ruth (Biggs) Parker, Topeka, Ks.; Myron D. Biggs, Tulsa, Okla.
Verlan Biggs Family
Verlan L. Biggs was born on a farm 1/4 miles north of Macksville, Kansas on October 8,1911. His parents were William E. Biggs and Anna Stanley Biggs. He started school in the old Methodist Church basement. The four room white addition was not completed until the next year.
He started his high school as a Freshman in the new high school building. After graduating from high school in 1930, he spent one year in Wichita attending Dague
Business University. Returning to the farm he helped his father, and later went to work for Chas. Fitzsimmons both in the filling station and on the tank wagon.
December 31, 1937, Verlan Biggs married Esther Lill of St. John, Kansas. Her mother “Alice Kennedy” grew up in Macksville.
Her father "John W. Lill” was a former owner of the Macksville Enterprise and at the time of her marriage was the owner of the St. John Daily Capitol.
Esther graduated from both grade and high school in St. John and attended Central State Teachers College in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Esther and Verlan returned to Macksville after their marriage and ran the Phillips 66 Service Station for two years. Later they sold out and Verlan went to work again for Chas. Fitzsimmons.
After Verlans father died, Verlan took over the farming and his mother and Hazel moved to the late Belle Biggs home on north main street in Macksville. Verlan drove a school bus for district 351 while the children were in high school and college. Verlan and Esther’s children were Alice Anne who married Wayne Elliott, they live near Washington, D.C., Verlan L. Biggs, he married Martha Stucky, lives at Hesston, Kansas. Myron Biggs who married Kay Lynn Combs lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Brenda Biggs who lives in Topeka, Kansas, married Warren Parker of Belpre, Kansas.
Verlan and Esther are members of the Christian Church in Macksville.
Bert and Mabel Neill
Wilbert Hunter Neill Family
Wilbert "Bert” Neill was born 4 January 1875 near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Hunter Scott Neill and Rebeca Jane (Maughamer) Neill. On 1 January 1903 he married Mabel Clementine Bloss who
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was born 19 August 1895 in Great Bend, Kansas. She was the daughter of Parley C. Bloss and Sara Jane (Long) Bloss.
Bert was a farmer and raised horses near Coldwater, St. John, and spent many years farming the land his father homesteaded southeast of Macksville.
Bert and Mabel Neill had 11 children: Seth Wilbert Neill born 26 November 1903 (married Zelfa Carlton and settled in Wichita, Kansas), Hazel R. Neill born 13 June 1905 (married LeRoy Fugua and settled near Denver, Colorado), Francis William Neill born 7 March 1907 (married Blanche Marie Heston and settled near Liberal, Kansas), Blanche May Neill born 26 May 1908 (married Virgil E. Ketron and settled in Vancouver, Washington), Harold Neill born 10 August 1910 (married Sallie McWilliams and settled near Holly, Colorado), Lester Alvin Neill born 19 January 1913 (married 1st Jenny L. Weitner and 2nd Louella Bullard settled in Macksville and Larned, Kansas), Elsie Lenora Neill born 13 May 1915 (married Wendall Stambaugh and settled near Denver, Colorado), Alice Mariam Neill born 2 June 1917 (married Earl Ole Wood and settled near Ulysses, Kansas), Jessie Louise Neill born 20 February 1919 (married Andrew Johnson Wood and settled near Ulysses, Kansas), Mabel Pauline Neill born 10 July 1921 (married Forrest Alvin Keen and settled near Burlington, Kansas), and Bonita E. Neill born 30 October 1926 and died in infancy.
Wilbert Hunter Neill died 5 February 1957 and Mabel Clementine Neill died 19 January 1969. Both are buried in the Farmington Cemetery in Macksville.
From Ethelmae Page
Walter and Grace Eichenberger
Arch and Addie Campbell, parents of Grace Eichenberger moved to Macksville in 1900 from Franklin County, Ks. when Grace was 2 years old. They lived south of town and he farmed the land he owned there. When Grace was seven or eight years old they moved to town and lived in the house they built that is now owned by Jim VanArsdale.
The Campbell Theatre Building was built in 1912 after the fire destroyed that part of town.
Walter Eichenberger came to Macksville in 1915. He got work at the Macksville State Bank and lived in the room at the bank with a teacher, Mr. Chesky, for a short time.
Grace and Walter were married Dec. 3,1916, and lived in Macksville always except for about a year in Radium. Their daughter Jean was born and now lives in Leawood, Kansas.
Submitted By Jean Eichenberger Graybill
Memories
by Edna Suiter
Ralph L. Suiter and Edna Waddle were married March
27,1927 by Probate Judge Barnes in Pratt, Kansas. Their parents were William A. and Nora Alice Suiter and Oliver and Lillie Waddle.
The honeymoon was a trip to the Southern part of the United States. Lots of exciting and funny things happened along the way. One funny incident was when the car stalled in the middle of the Hi-way in Arkansas. Two men came along in a Model T Ford with the back seat full of kids. The car was very hot and when Ralph raised the hood I said, “Oh my, smell the alcohol.” One of the men said: “You don’t mean to tell me you are carrying that in your radiator." They took off and dropped us like hot cakes.
A new home was waiting our return, located two miles East of Macksville. We lived there until November 1972 when we moved to Macksville. Ralph farmed, raised and fed cattle. Lots of hard work for both of us, as about six months out of the year there were lots of hired help to cook for.
Five children blessed our home, Eugene, married Germaine Odom. They live on a farm between St. John and Macksville. Phyllis married Herbert Reimer and they reside in Loveland, Colorado. Donald married Katherine Risely and they live on the home place. Bernice married Gordon McMillan and they live in Portland, Oregon. Chas. married Jayne Berscheidt and they live in Edmond, Oklahoma. We have twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
During the depression of the 30’s we remember helping lots of people that stopped at our home needing help of some kind.
Today we enjoy our children and their families coming to see us.
William A. Kearns Family
W.A. (Billy), born 1897 in Pratt Co.
Parents: Pearl and Lee Kearns
Married: Ethel Johnson in 1917 she was born in Edwards Co. in 1897.
Parents: David and Addie Johnson.
Children: Geraldine Kearns married Archie Shepard. Reside in Greensburg. Wanda Lee married C. Junior Grizzell. Live at Macksville.
The Kearns were engaged in farming in the Macksville area their entire life. Active in Masonic Lodge, O.E.S., Methodist Church and other community activities. W.A. Kearns died in 1973. Ethel Kerns died in 1981.
Arlie C. Hoover Family
Arlie Hoover was born on July 18, 1896, at Tina, Missouri. Arlie graduated from Macksville High School in 1916. Arlie was a World War I veteran serving overseas and was discharged in 1919. He returned to Macksville and worked in his brother’s store, the C.H. Hoover Clothing Store. Arlie bought the Standard Oil bulk station from A.L. Muse in the late 1920’s. He retired in the early 1960’s.
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Arlie Calvin Hoover and Cena Belle Van Nattan were married on January 4, 1920, at Cowden, Illinois. Cena had completed her public schooling and a business course and worked as a secretary before moving to Macksville. A son, Van Henry Hoover, was born on February 22, 1921. Van completed public school in Macksville and became a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force. He married Hazel Bertram on August 15, 1942. Van was killed in a plane crash during World War II on July 10, 1943. Arlie died on August 16, 1962 and Cena died on August 13,1982.
Mr. and Mrs. Arlie Hoover.
Richard and Darlene Weers
Married April 3,1971
Address: 401 West Broadway, Macksville, Ks 67557
Two children, Darin and Chantel
Richard born 12-23-50. Attended Radium Grade School and Radium High School until the school closed in May, 1966. Finished last three years at Macksville High School graduating in 1969. Attended The United States Air Force Academy, Kansas State University, and Fort Hays State University graduating from Hays in 1973 with a BS in Mathematics. Taught school in Douglass, Kansas for two years, in Macksville for 4 years and has been employed by The Macksville State Bank since 1979.
Darlene born 8-9-51. Maiden name Darlene June Miller. Attended school in the Belpre/Trousdale system until the school closed in 1966. Finished last three years at Macksville graduating in 1969. Attended College at The University of Kansas and Fort Hays State University graduating from Hays caum laude with a BA in Music in 1973. Has taught piano privately since 1973 and has taught in the Kinsley/Offerle school system since 1982.
Mary (Mayme) Toney-Campbell
Elizabeth Brown, her daughter, Mary (Mayme) Toney,
and Mayme’s daughter, Doris, moved from English Indiana, to Macksville in 1920 to be near Mrs. Brown’s son, Guy Rothrock and family. Another daughter, Marjorie and her husband Tom Zimmerman lived in nearby St. John, Kansas. Elizabeth had been a widow many years when Mayme’s husband, Ivan, died of the Influenza that swept the nation in 1918.
Mayme worked at several jobs including that of being a telephone operator, a clerk at Hoover’s Dry Goods Store and for many years was a clerk at Tudor-Morgan’s Merc. Co.
Doris began working at age seven--delivering pints and quarts of milk for D.A. Askew -- behind a horse and buggy. For this work, she was paid the huge sum of a nickel a night and a pint of milk. She was soon raised to 10c a night plus the pint of milk. In her teen-age years Doris began working weekends and summers as a clerk for Tudor-Morgan. In 1935 she attended one year at Hutchinson Junior College, but on weekends home she met her future husband and her "career” plans were dropped for all time. In 1937 Doris married Glenn Roberts and in 1939 their daughter, Elaine, was born. They lived in Zenith, Stafford and Hutchinson.
Maymie married Art Campbell in 1945 and they lived in St. John until his death in 1970. Following Art’s death, Mayme moved to Hutchinson to be near Doris and Glenn. Glenn died in 1974 after many years suffering with cancer. Elaine had married Robert Herron in 1961. They had two children, Rob and Suzanne, who are at this writing, 23 and 20. Rob is in Creighton University in the dentistry program with 3 years to go and Suzie is in Pittsburg State U. studying Marketing.
Doris worked for the Hutchinson Public Schools as Secretary to the Superintendent, then became Director of Senior Services for the Hutchinson Recreation Commission. She remarried in 1980. Her husband is Alvin Regehr, a contractor and farmer, and they live on a farm by Buhler.
Mayme is 90 years old and a very spunky lady. She enjoys visiting with friends, church, and Friday afternoons at the Senior Center where several Golden Oldies meet to play their favorite game: Bingo.
FAMILY HISTORY OF FRED AND BOBBY CLARK
The marriage of Fred and Bobby, (Barbara Holland) was celebrated on Jan. 6, 1946 at the Macksville Methodist Church.
In 1947, Paul Graebner and Fred began an airport operation of which Fred bought out Paul and formed a crop spraying business. Currently named Clark Flying Service and located one mile north of Macksville, the business is operated by Fred and his son Jim.
Fred’s parents were Clyde and Bea Clark. At the age of four, Fred and his parents moved to Macksville in 1927. Clyde Clark operated the Palace Barber Shop until his death in 1967. 1969 marked the death of Fred’s mother.
Bobby’s parents were Harold and Emma Holland.
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Bobby was born on their farm four and one half miles north of Macksville. With a life centered on farming and the Masonic Lodge, Harold’s death in 1970 preceeded Emma’s in 1971.
James F. was born to Bobby and Fred on Oct. 27, 1946, and daughter Barbara Jo followed in 1950 on Jan. 1st. A veteran of Vietnam and co-owner of Clark Flying Service, James (Jim) lives in Macksville with his wife Francine; daughters Shannon and Shawn; and sons Casey and Ian. Barbara Jo Heinold resides in Great Bend, Ks. with her husband Gary and daughters Aimee and Natalie.
In World War II Fred served as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific.
Fred and Bobby Clark
William (Bill), Cinda, Dayettra, August and Elba.
William (Bill) E. Unruh Family
Bill was raised at Pawnee Rock, Ks.f the second of five children of the late Dean and Nancye Unruh of Pawnee Rock. He and his family still have farming interests there. Mother died October 1979. Father died in October 1983. Bill moved his family to Macksville in August, 1979 as he began working at the Northern Natural Gas Compressor Station.
Wife: Cinda (Tunnell) Unruh, raised in Lyons, Kansas, parents Charles and Mildred Tunnell of Lyons. Father died July 1966. Mother: the present Mrs. Paul (Millie) Campbell of Macksville. Bill and Cinda were married March 30,1972. Children: Dayettra (4-19-73), August (3-7-75), Elba (12-2-76).
Activities of Bill Unruh family, members Macksville First Christian Church, Lions, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Bill served in U.S. Army in Germany 1964-1967. Children active in church, school, 4-H, sports and Boy Scouting.
Doyle and Peggy Wilson.
Doyle Wilson Family
Doyle Wilson was born 30 November 1933. He is the son of Roy Evert Wilson and Ethel Fannie (Neill) Wilson. At the age of 5 he moved with his parents and sister from a farm northwest of Macksville to the farm southeast of Macksville where he lives now. Doyle was always interested in cattle and farming and went into business with his father after he graduated from high school.
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Shari Wilson
On 3 January 1953 Doyle Wilson married Peggy June Aves, daughter of Emerson Aves and Leatha Marie (Johnson) Aves. Peggy was born in Hopewell, Kansas 21 May 1934 and moved to Macksville with her parents and brother in 1948.
Doyle and Peggy Wilson have four daughters: Mrs. Allen (Denice) Bevan of Macksville, Mrs. Carey (Sandra) McAllister of Macksville, Mrs. Steve (Linda) Gotsche of Great Bend, Kansas, and Shari Wilson, a student at Fort Hays State University.
Doyle has received the Kansas Bank Award for Soil Conservation and has been a member of the Board of Directors at the Macksville State Bank for a number of years. Peggy is now serving on the Centennial Committee and is a supporter of the activities of the young people of the community. She has been an active member of the Junior Mothers Club for several years. They attend the Macksville Christian Church.
John Emerson Aves Family
John Emerson Aves was born 20 January 1907. He is the son of John H. Aves and Sarah (Leak) Aves. Emerson was born and raised in the Hopewell, Kansas, community. He attended grade school in Hopewell and graduated from high school at Macksville in 1925.
On 22 November 1930 John Emerson Aves married Leatha Marie Johnson. Leatha was born 22 January 1911 and died in April 1968. She was the daughter of Truie Johnson and Emma (Redford) Johnson. Leatha was born and raised in the Hopewell, Kansas, community. She attended school at Hopewell and Trousdale.
Emerson and Leatha Aves had two children: Edward Eugene Aves born 6 November 1931 and Peggy June Aves (Mrs. Doyle Wilson) born 21 May 1934. Both Gene Aves and Peggy Wilson live in the Macksville community.
Emerson and Leatha Aves
Emerson and Leatha Aves moved with their family to the Macksville area in 1948. Emerson was a farmer all of his life and retired from farming in 1977. Emerson resides in Wichita, Kansas.
Submitted by Peggy Aves Wilson
ALLEN B. BEVAN FAMILY
Allen was born September 16, 1953, in Monta Vista, Colorado. He is the son of Wilbert E. Bevan and the late Pauline Phyllis (Pike) Bevan. They moved to the Hopewell area south of Macksville in 1954 and he has lived in this area most of his life. Allen farms with his father and brother, Lawrence Bevan.
On April 5, 1975, Allen Bevan married Denice Kay Wilson, Daughter of Doyle E. Wilson and Peggy June (Aves) Wilson. Denice was born in Pratt, Kansas on October 27, 1953 and has lived in the Macksville area for most of her life. Allen and Denice both graduated from Macksville High School in 1971 and attended Barton County Community College the next year. Allen began
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ROBERT AND ELIZABETH HAINLINE
Robert (1876-1926) and Elizabeth Hargett Hainline (1881-1953) moved to Stafford County with their two children, Vanna (1899--) and Willard (1901-1963) shortly after the turn of the century. They had previously rented a farm in the Lerado community of Reno County. Their few worldly possessions included a team of four horses and a few personal belongings, but not enough to overload a Weber wagon headed for Stafford County.
Their destination was a small farm on the north side of the Rattlesnake Creek. Included in the contents of their wagon was a coffee pot stuffed with $800 in small denomination bills which was to pay for the farm.
Almost as important as the farm was the Rattlesnake Creek which furnished food for the family table for many years. Four more of their ten children were born there--Willis (1904-1971), Arlie (1905-1970), Menzo (1907-) and Viva (1909-1955). Robert (1912--), Eva (1913--), Elberta (1916--) and Wilma (1917--) were born at other farms, bringing the family to five boys and five girls.
Several more moves were made as the family prospered and acquired more land. Their last Stafford County home was a mile and half west of Macksville.
In 1926 the family moved to Emporia, Ks., where the children still at home could attend college. At one time most of the family, and their spouses, were school teachers. Father Robert was ill when the family moved,
farming a few years later and Denice worked in Great Bend until they were married in 1975. Denice now works for Unified School District #351 as Superintendent’s Secretary. Allen and Denice have two daughters: Tessa Kay Bevan born March 2, 1978 and Sheila Renee’ Bevan born November 10,1984.
Allen, Denice, Tessa, Sheila.
Hainline family early 1950’s. Back row, left to right: Robert, Willis, Willard, Menzo, Arlie. Front row, Eva, Viva, Mother Elizabeth, Vanna, Alberta, Wilma.
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and he died shortly thereafter at the young age of fifty years. Robert and Elizabeth are buried in the Farmington Cemetery at Macksville. Six of the children still survive at this date (August, 1985).
Elizabeth lived on after the death of her husband and ran a rooming house and boarding club for students of Emporia State University until the last child had finished college.
Submitted by Menzo Hainline
Waite and Mary Jo Hankla
Waite was born in Row, OK. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Willis Hankla of Macksville. Waite and the family moved to Macksville in April 1942. Waite is a veteran of the Korean conflict serving from Feb. 1951 to Jan. 1953. He is a carpenter and electrician.
Mary Jo Woodbridge came to Macksville June 1959 from Huntsville, Arkansas. She has owned and operated Marys Beauty Salon since that time.
Waite and Mary Jo were married July 16, 1960 in Macksville.
Waite is a life member of the National Rifleman’s Association and the V.F.W. Mary and Waite are members of the Chamber of Commerce and Christian Church.
Paul and Mildred Hankins
Paul and Mildred Hankins
Paul came to Macksville with his parents Rev. and Mrs. A.A. Hankins in 1923. Graduated from Macksville High in 1924 and it was in high school that he met and then married Mildred Shaw, daughter of A.A. Shaw and Marie Shaw in 1927.
Paul worked at the Purity Store for several years along with other jobs. Mildred taught school. We have three children:
Donald Hankins (Consulting engineer) and married to Betty Skinner (Reg. Surgical nurse) and live in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Gloria Hankins married to Robert Curtis (Retired Naval Officer) and live in San Diego, Calif. They have two boys, Phillip married and they have two children. Gregg is a college boy.
Gwendolyn Hankins married S.W. Beraska. Mr. Beraska has been with Rohr Aircraft for 30 years. They have one son, married with one boy. They live in Highland, Calif. and work also at Rohr Aircraft.
Paul and children moved to Calif. in the 1940s. Paul worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and Mildred pursued her teaching. Both retired and moved back to Macksville in 1968 and live in the house that Mildred grew up in. The family were members of the Methodist Church. Paul is PDG. of Lions and member of Macksville Lions Club and is also member of Masonic Lodge. We are both now members of the Macksville Retired Citizens of Macksville.
Larry D. Schmidt Family
Larry D. and Myra M. Schmidt came to Macksville in June of 1968. Larry was employed to teach and coach in the Macksville High School and Myra worked as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. In June of 1975, Larry was hired in the Macksville State Bank. He is presently serving as President of the bank and has served in this position since January of 1981. Larry and Myra also own the Kephart Insurance Agency which they purchased from Vernon Kephart in 1975.
Children: Cari Sue born December 21, 1971 in St. John, KS and Traci Lea born January 1975 in Larned, KS. Larry has been active in Lions Club, and Myra is a member of Cameo Club. Both are members of the Chamber of Commerce, Booster Club and the Grace United Methodist Church.
CHARLES L. STARKE FAMILY
By Letha Starke Stults
Charles Lafayette Starke
Born: Jan. 14,1874, Johnson Co., Mo.
Married: Oct. 6,1908, Macksville, Kansas Died: July 18,1950, Macksville, Kansas Carrie Ellen Bindley Starke Born: Jan. 14,1889, Larned, Kansas Died: April 25,1972, Scott City, Kansas.
His parents were: John Harden Starke and Elizabeth Susannah Koontz Starke. He was born Dec. 31, 1841, Cooper Co., Mo. and died Jan. 16,1927, Macksville, Kansas. She was born March 25,1844 and died April 8,1923. They were married Feb. 15,1866, Cooper Co., Mo.
Her parents were: John Elija and Jennet Adel Mather Bindley. He was born May 14, 1850, Sugar Grove, Pa. and died July 10,1894, Pueblo, Colo. She was born June 11, 1852, Chautauqua Co., N.Y. and died March 6, 1907,
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Burdett, Kansas. They were married Aug. 13, 1871, Chautauqua Co., N.Y.
In the fall of 1886, Charles, 12 years old, accompanied his parents, sister and brothers to the homestead five miles north and two miles east of Macksville located in the SE corner of Pawnee Co. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his education at the rural school, then attending Business College at Great Bend.
Charles began his business career at the age of 19. He was a clerk in Macksville’s only general store, the Jay Phinney Store. He clerked for Russell Hursh in the hardware store; was clerk in the postoffice for Mrs. McCann, postmaster; and had a partnership retail store with his brother, Wilson. He then built a frame building in 1906 (where the postoffice is now located) and operated a general mercantile store.
Tragedy struck on Nov. 11,1911, when over half of the west side of main street was burned to the ground. The frame buildings were: Woodman Hall, Wileys Hardware and Furniture Store, Starke’s Merchandise, Seibert’s Meat Market, Seal’s Restaurant and Rooming House, Sagerty’s Barber Shop, The Macksville State Bank, and the Purity Grocery. The estimated damage was $75,000. A year prior, a fire burned several other buildings on the same side of the street.
Charles opened his new modern brick store June 22, 1912 with a new line of merchandise that he had purchased in Chicago in May.
He finished his working years as manager of the Macksville Coop elevator and the luka Coop, retiring Dec. 31,1928.
Charles built a modern two story home on north main street in 1908. Here he and Carrie were married Oct. 6, 1908 and their eight children were born and seven reared.
Charles did many gratis jobs after his retirement, among them, clerk for the Farmington Cemetery Board and as a Macksville school board member. His health failed, caused by a heart condition. He and Carrie celebrated their 40th wedding quietly at their home Oct. 6,1948. His death was July 18,1950.
Carrie spent over 50 years in Macksville. She came to live with her sister, Millie and Sherly Payne following the death of her mother, Jennet Adel Mather Bindley, March 6,1907 at Burdett. Here she met and married Charles.
She too had heart problems and the doctor advised her to sell her home as stair climbing was prohibited. She bought a trailer house and lived in the side yard of her daughter, Letha in Minneola for several years. Then she moved to Scott City where she lived near her other daughter Janice until her death Apr. 25,1972.
Her family was first, last and always in her heart and mind.
The family of Charles and Carrie are grateful for their high standards and instructions as they grew to adulthood.
Their children and spouses:
Djalma was born Dec. 24, 1909; married Helen Amelia Cross May 7, 1933 at St. Louis, Mo. She was born July 10,1916 at Bonne Terre, Mo.
Letha was born Nov. 17, 1911; married Charles W. Stults May 4, 1943 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. He was born Nov. 29,1911 at Sheldon, Mo.
Avis was born Oct. 19,1914 and died April 21,1915.
John Dean was born Aug. 1,1917, married Wilma Jean Hainline Nov. 2,1939 at Lyons, Kans. She was born Nov. 7,1917 at Macksville. John died April 6,1984 at Prescott, Arizona.
Doyt was born Nov. 30, 1920; married (1) Wilma Faye Dutton April 8,1942 at Las Vegas, Nev.; divorced Aug. 2, 1948; (2) Karen Faye Menzel Briggs, Jan. 29, 1954 at Oldham, S.D. She was born March 17, 1929, Oldham, S.D.; divorced May 4,1971.
DeLoss was born Oct. 27, 1923; married Mary Beth McFerrin April 4,1952, Clayton, N.M. She was born Sept. 27,1926, at Girard, Kans.
Joe was born Aug. 30, 1925; married Moselle Marie Hainline, May 27, 1951 at Sublette, Kansas. She was born Aug. 8, 1928 at Liberal and died June 24, 1984 at Garden City, Ks.
Janice was born Dec. 16, 1927; married Orval Olen Copper, Aug. 17,1947 at Macksville. He was born March 24,1925 at Plainville, Kansas.
Submitted by Letha (Stark) Stults
Charles and Carrie Starke taken shortly after their wedding Oct. 6,1908.
Albert A. Shaw Family
Albert Shaw married Marie Wittenberg at Canton, Ks. in 1898. He was a barber and she a milliner. There were three children born to this union: Lester L. Shaw, Mildred F. Shaw (Hankins), Eileen H. Shaw (Olson).
The Shaw family came to Macksville September 1911. Mr. Shaw had purchased a barber shop and house from his nephew James Ware. A.A. Shaw continued in barber shop until 1917 when he became rural mail carrier and continued this up to his retirement. Mr. Shaw died in 1941 buried Canton, Ks.
The family belonged to the Methodist Church, serving in many capacities. Lester the eldest child finished
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school taking business training and was employed by the Farmers and Merchants State Bank where he worked and advanced for over 50 years. His hobby was selling Life Insurance. He married Faye Crews and they had two daughters.
Mildred Shaw finished school 12 years at Macksville and college at Bethany of Lindsborg, Hays State and Riverside Calif. Univ. of So. Calif. Taught school 14 years. She has three children.
Eileen Shaw graduated from Kansas State, Manhattan majoring in music. She married Leslie Olson and lived in Denver, Co. where she taught for 27 years. They had one married daughter who has three children and live in Ft. Collins, Co.
Eileen died in Jan. 1986.
Marie Shaw died in 1969 with burial at Canton, Ks.
Submitted by Mildred (Shaw) Hawkins
Marie (Wittenberg) Shaw
Albert Shaw
Gary, Nina, Dale, Amy.
Gary Duane Seibert Family
Gary is the son of Verne Seibert and June Johnson Seibert. He was born 4-17-45 at Stafford Hospital. Gary attended grade school and high school at Macksville graduating in 1963. He then attended KSU graduating in 1968. He married Nina Felbush of Abilene, Ks. on 6-8-68.
In July of 1970 Gary and wife Nina returned to Macksville. Gary having received an honorable discharge from the US Navy. Their first home was on the John Seibert farm southwest of Macksville. Gary began farming and Nina taught school. In May of 1971 they moved to the Oscar Johnson farm in the Valley Center community.
Their children are Dale Robert born 4-2-74 and Amy Ann born 11-28-78.. Foster children Lee Ann Maher, Jana Salmon Lamb, and Julie Ann Salmon.
Gary and Nina have been active members of the Macksville Christian Church and Cloverleaf 4-H Club Leaders. They are members of Chamber of Commerce and Eastern Star. Gary's other activities are Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Golden Belt Pork Producers, KLA, and school board member for USD 351. Nina’s other activities are American Legion Auxiliary, Porket-tes, Valley Center EHU and Cowbells.
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