Barber County Kansas
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Barber County Kansas |
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The Chosen Land: Barber County, Kansas, page 402.
Emmitt L. Schiff and Mary Huffaker, schoolmates of the Sharon High School, were united in marriage at Wichita, Kansas, November 3, 1933, while Mary was attending a State Teachers' Meeting. She continued teaching in the rural schools until 1936.October 31, 1937, their first child, James Lewis (Jim) was born in the local hospital at Sharon, Kansas. The hospital was located at the former Duckworth residence with Dr. J.M. Gacusana as the attending physician. In two more years another child, Charlotte Gloria, was born at this hospital. By this time Dr. Gacusana was called to be an Army doctor in Minnesota. The hospital was discontinued; so when the next child was born, Mary Ann, Dr. Galloway's intern, J.T. Terry, M.D., at the Anthony hospital was the attending physician.
This family lived five miles west of Sharon on the Crawford farm, owned by W.C. Schiff. In 1944 another girl was welcomed into the family, and they named her Emma Lou.
Jim, Charlotte, and Mary Ann attended the country school Central View, one and one-half miles from their home. This was their dad's childhood school, where he graduated from the eighth grade, later attending Sharon High School.
In the spring of 1947 a tornado swept through this vicinity, demolishing the bedroom in which the three older children slept. Charlotte and Mary were blown out of their bed into the yard, but uninjured. Charlotte quickly grabbed Mary Ann's hand, and they both ran into the storm cellar nearby.
In October the family moved to Mary's birthplace, one-half mile south of Sharon. The children attended Sharon Grade School, all graduating from the high school.
In the meantime, on September 22, 1950, another girl, Kathleen Diane (Kathy), was added to the happy family. She, too, attended the grade and high school, later completing nurses' training at St. Joseph's Hospital at Wichita in 1971. She earned the Sister M. Mel Bride C.S.J. award.
In 1952 an epidemic of polio broke out in the Sharon community, striking over 30 children. They were rushed to hospitals in Wichita for treatment, where all but two survived. James (Jim), Charlotte, Mary Ann, and Kathy suffered from this disease. Kathy and Jim were in the Wesley Hospital at Wichita for several weeks, while Mary Ann and Charlotte were treated at home by the local Nashville doctor, T.L. Waylan.
All of these children are grown and married, living with their families within one hundred sixty miles from their home town. Emmitt and Mary reside on the homestead. Emmitt has participated in all of the Peace Treaty Pageants since its beginning in 1927.
Articles on this site about the Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Treaty
Signing of Indian Treaty to be Celebrated in 1927, The Western Star, June 25, 1926.
Ten Bears, Comanche Chief, Made an Eloquent Address At The Medicine Lodge Peace Council
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council", New York Daily Tribune Report
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council": A Graphic Description of Famous Peace Council By An Eye Witness, Gov. A. A. Taylor of Tenn.
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927.The Medicine Lodge Peace Council Location:
Sworn Statement of I-See-O
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council" by George Bent
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council": Some More Interesting Articles Telling About Famous Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Council
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927.Governor Paulen's Address Regarding the Medicine Lodge Peace Council
Barber County Index, October 20, 1927.It Went Over!
Barber County Index, October 20, 1927.
Also see:
Maxine Phyllis (Martin) Schiff
Kenneth Lawrence Schiff, husband of Maxine Phyllis Martin.
William C. and Mary (Reinke) Schiff
Being a rural school teacher in the thirties wasn't easy; but since we did not know the conveniences that schools have now, we were happy to do our duty as best we knew.For instance, imagine the feeling of walking into a cold, drafty school - room on a Monday morning with the temperature around 10 degrees below outside and the floor cracking as you walked. Sometimes the fire wouldn't start easily, even with lots of kerosene (coal oil) on the kindling. The coal put out a black smoke in the room every time the stove door was opened, even with the damper adjusted. By noon the room was warm enough to eat our dinners while sitting at the desks. Sometimes the lunches were frozen and had to be thawed before eating.
Once a week, I always had one hot lunch cooked in the schoolroom. I can remember only one schoolroom that had a two-burner kerosene stove on which to prepare meals; otherwise it was prepared in a large kettle on top of the huge heater. I always had to stand on a stool to stir the vegetable soup, which consisted of vegetables the pupils brought and meat or a soup bone I bought at the local butcher shop. It was always delicious and wholesome.
My most memorable meal was while teaching my third term at Blackmore School, District 66, about three and one half miles north of Sharon. Martin Landwehr, Otis Garrett, and Mrs. Max Rowe were the school board members. In order to get my monthly pay check, two members signed a voucher, which the teacher presented to the board treasurer, who in turn issued the check, which ranged from sixty to eighty dollars a month.
After finishing my janitor work one winter evening at the end of the month, I proceeded to make the calls to obtain my check. By the time I had called on the first two board members, it was getting dark. When I chugged into Martin Landwehr's (the third board member and treasurer) in my Model-T Ford, it was supper-time. Four of his children - Francis, Raymond, Martin Jr., and Mildred - were my pupils. The family and hired man (Clint Hall) were seated around a long dining table covered with a pretty oilcloth cover and loaded with all sorts of country food. They insisted I eat supper with them. Since I hadn't eaten a drop of food since my cold lunch at noon, you can imagine how hungry I was.
It was a Friday evening meal, so this Catholic family didn't have meat, but there was a huge bowl of boiled eggs, homemade bread, fresh churned butter, james, jellies, two or three homegrown vegetables, potatoes, cookies, and pie. As they passed the food to me, I became confused that I am sure they thought I had a bird-like appetite. Everything was delicious. You may be sure it was really dark when I started home. I can't remember what my mother said when I told her I had already eaten my supper. It was truly a memorable meal to me, but probably an ordinary evening meal to that hospitable family.
Besides the Blackmore School, I taught in the Unity, North Star, and Hillside districts.
Also see:
Daryl Schiff, son of Kenneth Lawrence & Maxine Phyllis (Martin) Schiff.
Maxine Phyllis (Martin) Schiff
William C. and Mary (Reinke) Schiff
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