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Jack and Judy Perrigo moved to Winfield after their marriage in May 1967. Jack has worked at Binney and Smith Crayola Factory since 1966. Judy operated a beauty shop (Judy's Stylistic) in and around Winfield for many years and is currently employed in the offices of Snyder Clinic. They raised three children: Brian, Brant and Kristy. In 1982 the family returned to live in Elk County while commuting to work in Winfield daily.
I have lived in Cowley County for several years between educational programs and relocation. I was graduated from Southwestern College in 1968 and a Doctoral Candidate in the United Methodist Ministry. In Winfield I am active in church, and historical research of the region.
Submitted by Joe Wayne Perrigo
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 260.
Dr. Pettit, a Chiropractor, also owned the Winfield Auditorium, "Home of the best summer shows on the road" and skating rink in the winter. There were seven children: Earl, Ross, Lloyd, Florence, Nora, Irene, and Marie.
Earl Pettit, at eighteen, earned the title of World Champion Long Distance Skater by roller skating twenty-five and onehalf hours and covering 167-1/2 miles without stopping. During the event a wheel came off his skate and without even slacking up he took off his shoe, unfastened the skate and put on an unbroken one.
Earl and Ross stayed in Winfield. In 1932, Earl bought a blacksmith's shop at 114 East 8th Street, and established a "Modern Day Dry Cleaning Parlor" and invented and patented the "Adjust-a-form", a steam inflated manikin used to press garments. This is a very important piece of equipment in the industry today.
Ross Pettit married Hazel Powers and had two children: Ross Jr., and Christine. He worked at Pettit Cleaners and repaired watches. After Hazel died, Ross married Maude Galyon.
Earl Pettit married Edith "Ted" Marston, daughter of William and Mary (Flower) Marston in 1916. Ted died unexpectedly of Goiter in 1924, leaving three children: Donald 4-1/2; Ned 2; and Mary Lee eleven months. Earl then married Ione Gordon, they had one child, Carma, born in 1946.
Donald bought the Culligan Soft Water plant in Wichita and married Bette Loppold. They had three boys: Kelly, Mike, and Todd.
Ned was career Air Force and married Roberta Kcinitz. There were three boys: Roger, Randy, and Buddy.
Mary Lee married Robert L. Beckwith Jr. in Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1941. After daughter Karen was born they moved back to Winfield in 1943. After World War II, Robert L."Bob" Beckwith Jr., went to work for Earl Pettit at Pettit Cleaners, buying it in 1950.
Bob Beckwith was voted Outstanding Man in the J. C.'s and served as President and on its Board of Directors. He was President of the Merchants Association and President of the Kansas Dry Cleaners Association, also serving on the Board of Directors. Bob and Mary Lee had four children: Karen, Tracy, Russell, and Barry.
Bob and Tracy hold the distinction of being the only father and son to both be J.C. President in Winfield.
Pettit Cleaners was bought by son Tracy in 9-1-79. Tracy sold it in May 1985 and it became Stewart Cleaners, and at recently became Monarch Cleaners.
Along with Pettit Cleaners, Bob also acquired Beck with Men's Shop and Beckwith Real Estate of which he is still an active Broker.
Tracy Beckwith, Dale Fruits, and Rex Kendall established DTR Recycling in May 1985. Tracy bought out his partners in 1989. They have expanded from aluminum cans to processing paper, glass and plastic.
Robert L Beckwith
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 261.
Helen is of English descent. Her ancestors include Richmond County, Virginia settlers dating back to 1693, and Robert Lee "Bobby" Gipson, who according to a Macon County, Missouri newspaper article, is thought to be the oldest man to ever live in this county. He died in 1886 a few days before his 120th birthday.
Leo and Helen were married in June, 1942 near Pryor, Oklahoma. They moved to Dexter in 1946, then in 1948 to a farm north of Winfield owned by J.0. Campbell, who wcrs then the County Clerk. The Sunnysida School was built across the road from them while they lived there. Their two oldest daughters were among the first to attend the school. In 1951 they started Phillips Auto Service, a small service station and used car lot, in Udall. They moved it to Winfield in 1953 to a location on South Main Street. Later it was located on North Main, then on August 1, 1963 they moved to the present location at 14th and Country Club Road.
Leo and Helen joined the Nazarene Church in 1950. Leo was a church board member for 17 years and Helen for 21. They had ten children and also raised a niece, Deanna M. Phillips Long, from Wellington, from the 7th grade on. All of the children graduated from Winfield High School and 5 still reside in Cowley Co.: L. Carlene Phillips, born in Oklahoma, now lives in Lyons, Ks.; D. Lynn Phillips Merritt, born in Arkansas City, Ks. now lives in Arkansas City; Karen S. Phillips Wylie, born in Oklahoma, now lives in Nocona, Texas; H. Diane Phillips Dean, born in Winfield, Ks., now lives in Carrollton, Texas; R. Kay Phillips Perdaris, born in Winfield, Ks., lives in Winfield, Ks.; James W. (Jim) Phillips, born in Winfield, Ks., lives in Winfield, Ks.; Pamela L. Phillips Doyle, born in Winfield, Ks., lives in Rose Hill, Ks.; Connie J. Phillips Lawson, born in Winfield, Ks., lives in Winfield, Ks,; Sherri D. Phillips Beebe, born in Winfield, Ks., lives in Fowler, Colorado; Lisa J. Phillips, born in Winfield, Ks., lives in Winfield, Ks.
Leo died in 1982 and is buried in Maple City cemetery. Helen is still operating Phillips Auto Service with her son, Jim.
She has 27 grandchildren, 10 of whom live in Cowley County, and another grandchild due in March 1990.
I am married to Ronald L. Lawson who is from Portland, Oregon. We returned to Winfield in 1985 and started Lawson Exteriors, a home improvement business. Our children are still very young, (Kathryn is 6 and Kyle is 3) but we plan to stay in Cowley County, educate our children here and help build a future for us all.
Submitted by Connie J. Phillips Lawson
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 261.
Junellia Jane Phillips was born August 14, 1925. A roving band of gypsies attempted to kidnap Junellia from 1220 Manning having been attracted by her golden curls. While livirg at 315 East Seventh, they became concerned about flooding and bought their permanent home at 1617 Millington, safe in next flood of 1928. Ruey joined the Order of Eastern Star September 25, 1928. While they attended church services their new car was stolen and never recovered.
Jennis Marylin Phillips was born July 22, 1932. Both girls attended Lowell school, studied expression, piano and voice appearing in many recitals in the Southwestern College School of fine Arts. They sang solos in many local churches, weddings, funerals, benefits, Elijah, Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, contests, clubs, religious and patriotic programs in Island Park Tabernacle, WSH&TC, pasture tours, USO and Strother Field. Junellia was Christian Science Church soloist. Her favorite role in high school was that of Julianna, the Burgermeister's daughter, in the Winfield Music Club's operetta, "It Happened in Holland." Jennis' favorite was a Southwestern College production of "Annie Get Your Gun."
Ruey became involved with antique collecting. Requests to find pieces for other collectors soon escalated and she became an "Antique Dealer," enjoying trips, auctions and yard salesBoth daughters became avid antique collectors with extensive collections.
Junellia graduated from Winfield High School Class of 1943. Strother Field was an active military base. She entered Civil Service, was assigned to Technical Inspection, Link Trainer then Quartermaster Supply. Strother Field closed. Junellia transferred to Brownsville then Harlingen, Texas. Leonard Ross Russell and Junellia Jane Phillips were married in Winfield February 17, 1946.
Jennis graduated from WHS Class of 1950, attended Southwestern College, graduating from Bethany, Oklahoma. She married Robert Dean Pinkstaff June 5, 1964 in Wichita. She received Master of Science in Education from KSU, Manhattan, Kansas June 1977.
Harold and Ruey continued to enjoy living in Winfield. Ruey enjoyed her many friends, church, various clubs including Rosetti Circle and most of all her daughters.
Harold Phillips died August 13, 1966. Jennis Phillips Pinkstaff died June 19, 1983 after being a public school teacher (continued on page 262)
Junellia Phillips Russell
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 261.
Junellia accompanied her military husband. They raised three sons, Leonard Bruce, William Bevin and Stephen Benet Russell, returning upon retirement to Winfield where Leonard Ross Russell died November 28, 1985. Junellia, her sons and their families including grandsons Seth Benet, Koby Andrew and John Bevin Russell live in Winfield today.
Junellia Phillips Russell
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 262.
I started in school here, going to Bryant and on to junior High. I married at the early age of fifteen years old, to Clifford Mathews. Two children were born: Leoda and James, in western Kansas. I lived in Ellis and Logan County. We separated, I came back to Winfield where I met and married Leroy Phillips. We were married fifty-three years. We were happy. Buying our home during the depression was very hard. I ran the elevator at the State Bank for twenty years.
I took piano at Southwestern and organ at St. John's. I taught piano a few years, I worked at the State Training school until I retired.
I am Worthy Matron of Manila Chapter, Eastern Star, member of First Presbyterian Church, work in community, ordained a Deacon.
Leroy Phillips was born in Fredricksburg, Texas. His parents were Paul and Cora Phillips. Both were born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Leroy attended school in Fredricksburg until he was seventeen years old. His parents sent him to Winfield, Kansas where he finished his schooling. The year 1928 he met and married Mattie Campbell. They were married fifty-three years.
Leroy joined and worked in the church at Second Baptist, was a deacon there and treasurer until he united with the First Presbyterian Church, was ordained an Elder and a member of Merri Mac Mariners, in which he and his wife were skippers. He was a member of Kiwanis and secretary a number of years, president of the Council of Churches, served twelve years on the Salvation Army board, W. Master of Local Lodge F.A.M., and was grand treasurer until ill health took over.
Leroy worked at the State Bank thirty-five years, served in the U.S. Navy two years. He lived all his married life in Winfield ant 515 W. 12th Street.
Mattie Phillips
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 262.
Submitted by Glenda S. Schmidt
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 262.
Elizabeth Jane Fountain was born March 22, 1843 in Davis County Iowa and passed away October 20, 1927. Both are buried in the Burden, Kansas cemetery.
Samuel Pickens came from Tennessee to Davis County, Iowa at an early age. Here he met and married Elizabeth Jane Fountain. They moved to Worth County, Missouri where two sons, Levi Pickens and Joseph B. Pickens were born. In 1883 the family moved to the Torrance, Kansas area.
Thomas Jefferson Hughes was born in Hendricks County, Indiana October 1, 1854. He passed away September 2, 1929 in Kay City, Oklahoma, where he had resided since 1910.
Julia Ann Rebecca Lewis was born in Indiana, November 16, 1857. She passed away January 1, 1899.
Thomas Hughes came to Kansas in 1872. In 1876 he returned to Indiana where he and Julia Ann Rebecca Lewis were married. They returned to Kansas and settled in Chautauqua County. In 1878 they moved to the Torrance, Kansas area in Cowley County. There was born to this couple eight sons and four daughters. Torrance was a small town on the Santa Fe Railroad between Cambridge and Burden, Kansas.
Joseph B. Pickens and Julia Maud Hughes were united in marriage May 21, 1901. They made their home in Burden, Kansas where they raised ten children. They were: Marie who married Grover Adams and lived in Winfield until their deaths. They had no children; Herbert H. Pickens who married Margaret E. Varns. They had no children. They operated a meat processing plant in Burden for thirty years; Alice Pickens married Charles W. Ryan and they were in business in Burden for thirty years. They had four children. They are Joe Ryan, Lorene Ryan Cunningham, Leola Ryan Teel, and Lucille Ryan Gardner: Thelma Pickens who passed away when she was only four years old; Clara Pickens Wright married Claud Wright who was an engineer for the Texaco Company. She was a graduate nurse. They had one son, George J. Wright who is in the Air Force; Henry D. Pickens married Helen M. Young. They had no children. He served in the army in World War II; Williams W. Pickens and wife Margie have lived in California since his retirement from the Air Force. They have no children; Charles F Pickens married Stella Libby. They have no children. He served in the Air Force and worked in construction as a pipe fitter; John Joseph Pickens married Kathryn Mayfield. They have two children, Bart Pickens and Julia Pickens. Joseph Pickens served in the Air Force then worked for the Texaco Company; Reva Pickens married Edwin Reynolds. They lived in Wichita where he was in business. He served in the Air Force. They have two sons, William and Richard.
Submitted by H.H. Pickens
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 262.
I was married 06-11-1921 in Sedan to Sam Lewis Pickens, Cambridge. We had four children, nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, Lois Norene, born 11-01-1922; Sam Lewis, Jr., born 03-28-1924; both reside in Arkansas City. Bernard Lee, born 05-30-1929 lives in Winfield. Phyllis Joan, born 09-21-1931 lives in Derby, Kansas. My husband, Sam, was a farmer-carpenter. We lived in Cambridge 1921-1926, moving to farm near Grenola 19-26-1931. Returning to Cambridge 1931-1942, we moved to Winfield 1942-1956. I shared a home with Lois and Lewis 1956-1987; Wichita 1956-1962, Merced, California 1963-1967, Wichita 1967-1982, Arkansas 1982-1987. Since suffering a (continued on page 263)
Submitted by Ruby F. Pickens
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 262.
Both are buried at Highland Cemetery, Winfield. Father, John Simeon Weaver born 01-10-1868 near Oakdale, Washington County, Illinois; Died 01-10-1955. Mother, Lillie Jane McMfllian born 12-27-1872 near Craig Station, Perry County, Illinois; Died 05-12-1961. Mother had a twin sister, Elizabeth E. McMillian, John and Lillie were married 11-04-1890, Howard Kansas. Shortly afterthey were married, they went to California for two years. Returning they farmed in Elk County until retirement in 1934, moving then to Winfield. Brother, Clifford Henry born 09-17-1893; died 02- 06-1959, buried Highland Cemetery. Clifford worked at lawn and yard work after moving to Winfield in 1934. Sister, Olive Margaret born 06-22-1900, resides Heritage House, Winfield. Brother, B.T. "Bennie" born 05-31-1905; died 08-25-1978, buried Mulvane cemetery. Bennie operated grocery store in Udall, later a locker plant in Mulvane, then the Chevrolet Agency in Belle Plaine.
My paternal grandparents were born in Newton Stewart, Scotland. They are buried in Clear Creek cemetery near Howard, Robert Weaver, born 08-??-1828; died 06-27-1914. Mary Davis born 08-20-1830; died 03-15-1904. Robert came to New York state in 1849 with his parents, He worked, saved his money so Mary could come to America. Shortly after their marriage in 1853, they moved to Washington County, Illinois.
They had two sons and four daughters. Robert, a farmer, moved his family to Elk County, Kansas in 1885.
My maternal grandparents John A McMillian born 08-16-1832; died 10-23-1905, Margaret E. McAnulty born 08-30-1835; died 10-12-1892, John was a mail carrier in Nashville, Illinois. They had four sons and five daughters. He moved his family to Pittsburg, Kansas area in 1882 to farm. Three teams and three wagons were used in the six-week trek. The farm land wasn't suitable, so shortly the McMillian family moved to the Flint Hills near Howard, Kansas.
Submitted by Ruby F. Pickens
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 263.
Parents: Sam Lewis Pickens B-07/09/1899 Torrance, Kansas, D-02/01/1960 Arkansas City, BD-Cambridge Cemetery. Ruby Florence Weaver, daughter of John S. Weaver, Elk County. They MD-06/11/1921 in Sedan. Children: Lois Norene B-11/01/1922, Sam Lewis, Jr., Bernard Lee B-05/ 30/1929, Phyllis Joan B-09/21/1931. Sam loved animals, training his dogs until they responded to every command. Every hill and stream in eastern Cowley County was hunted and fished by this farmer-carpenter.
Paternal grandparents: Levi Lewis Pickens B-11/18/ 1871 Grant City, Worth County, Missouri, D-10/08/1951. Ruth Amberzine Sm?????? XX/27/2872 Denton County, Missouri, D-02/23/1960, both BD-Cambridge Cemetery. Ruth's father, Brittian Caprfl Smith homesteaded an 80-acre farm near Burden in 1875. They MD-04/02/1894 in Winfield. Children: Walter Alfred B-01/24/1896, D-04/27/1986, BD-Cambridge Cemetery, MD-02/08/1917 Annis Velva Ledgerwood; Betty Jane B-07/14/1897, D-03/26/1982, BD-Cambridge Cemetery, MD-12-21-1916 Walter Alvin Cook; Sam Lewis; Elwin Ray B-08/10/1912, D-11/05/1988, BD-Shiloh Cemetery, Lawrence County, Indiana, MD-Virginia M?????? XX/26/1937.
Levi was a farmer and master carpenter, serving as Cambridge City Marshall. He was a bee-keeper with apparatus to remove honey from hives or bee trees; once house siding had to be removed to remove the honey. He could sit quietly next to timber water, or a field of pollen, shortly he's spot the bee trail, find and mark the tree for later honey removal. He was a musician, teaching his children to play various instruments. Sunday afternoons and special occasions music from the parlor organ, violin, guitar, and banjo would fill the house. The family furnished music for some dances in the area. Levi's family moved to Cambridge in 1914. A man of great physical strength and endurance with large hands, Levi hand dug many of the graves in the Cambridge Cemetery gratis.
Paternal great-grandparents: Samuel Pickens B-02/20/1844, D-09/02/1920. Elizabeth Jane Fountain B-03/22/1843, Davis County, Iowa, D-10/20/1927. Both D-Cambridge, BD-Burden Cemetery. They were MD-11/17/1870 by R.G. Peak, M.G. at the Fountain residence in Davis County, Iowa. Children: Levi Lewis, Joseph Birtley. Eva Pickens (Tubbs), a foster daughter, was reared by them. Samuel was a farmer in Worth County, Missouri. In 1883 he moved his family near Torrance, Cowley County.
Paternal great-great-grandparents: Joseph Fountain B-Ol/20/1812 in Ohio, D-09/15/1899. Elizabeth Hardesty B-06/16/1820 Wheeling County, Ohio, D-12/08/1915. Both D-Davis County, Iowa and are BD-Fountain Cemetery near Pulaski, Iowa. They were MD-03/24/1842 in Troy, Iowa. Children: Elizabeth Jane, Abner Milton, Cynthia Ellen, Rebecca Ann, Joseph Jefferson, John Lewis, William Franklin, Andrew Jackson, Nancy Melissa, Mary Matilda, Richard Hartley, Charity Catherine Zoah Clementine, Sarcih Maria. Joseph Fountain's father and a brother emigrated to the United States from France.
Sam L. Pickens, Jr.
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 263.
Janis Ramsey Reinhardt
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 263.
Children born to this union were; Gladys Elizabeth 30 May 1904; Olive 9 January 1911; Marjorie 9 April 1913; Kenneth James 29 April 1909; Claude II September 1905 who died at age 11 after a bout with diptheria; Carl 14 May 1917 who died of summer complaint at age two; and Hildreth 9 February 1907 died at 6 months from meningitis.
All the children were educated in the Minneola schools and active in community and school functions. Gladys and Olive graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield. Gladys married Wayne Ramsey July 27, 1932. They are parents of Janis, Dwight, and Lois. (Refer to Wayne and Gladys Ramsey story)
Olive married Ronald Musser from Jewell County, Kansas July 1946 and now lives in Topeka, Kansas. They are parents of Ronald Dean who lives in Vancouver, Washington.
Marjorie married Joe Preisner from Clark County, Kansas, Dec. 27,1938 and lives in Ashland, Kansas. Joe died July 1989 and is buried in Ashland Cemetery. They are parents of Marilyn Kay, Steven, Ivan all of Ashland and Janet Faye living in Holcomb, Kansas.
Kenneth married Dorothy Gribble of Ashland, May 27, 1933 and raised their family in Winfield and Littlefield, Texas. Kenneth died in 1968 and is buried in Ashland Cemetery. Dorothy now lives in Lubbock, Texas. They are parents of Jim, Rosalie, Bob, Carl, John, Mary, Gary and Don.
After the crash of 1929 Jim and Mel lived in Ashland for a time, then moved to Cowley County southwest of Winfield. This was during my childhood and I have many fond memories of their years on the Weir place and the Cook place as the farms were known to us.
After Jim died May 1944, Mel moved into Winfield to 1301 East Tenth Street. Later she lived in her daughter's homes. Mel died in 1967 and both are buried in Highland Cemetery, Winfield.
Janis Ramsey Reinhardt
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 264.
Beginning in 1915, he ran the store and post office in Vinton, Kansas for a short time. Then moved back to Arkansas City to work for the V.A. Franklin Ice Cream Factory, There was not much demand for ice cream in those days as most grocery stores didn't carry it - only a few drug stores did. Their specialty was molded ice cream in shapes to correspond with holidays, such as turkey, Santos, etc.
Beulah May was born on August 17, 1918 in Arkansas City. Shortly after, they moved to Silverdale to run the store/post office/gas station combination. It was, as many stores were at that time, a general merchandise store - open early and late, selling hardware and clothing as well as groceries. People charged their groceries and when they paid their bills, they would receive a sack of candy. Often they would gather around a potbellied stove just to visit.
Ernestine was born to them on September 18, 1921. Jasper made weekly trips to Arkansas City to buy groceries from the Ranney-Davis Mercantile Co. In later years, he would take his granddaughter, Virginia, daughter of Nelson and Ila, with him. Jasper retired from the store in 1945 and the post office in 1946. The picture included shows the store front as it looked in 1922.
Jasper died in his Silverdale home January 28, 1950. Following his death, Dessa moved to Arkansas City where she died on September 13, 1962.
Carl Clements Pointer owned and operated the grocery store in Cambridge, KS, married Pearl Allison and his two children, Carl Wayne and Joan were born there. Ila married Nelson Haskins October 22, 1935 and settled in Silverdale where they raised their family of four children, Virginia (1937), Jim (1941), Linda (1945) and Mary (1947). Nelson worked as a mechanic and grocery store owner.
Submitted by Virginia Beck
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 264.
As the pages of my book of life unfolded, that education was needed in the worst way when I was left a young widow with a family to raise. (continued on page 265)
Submitted by Orvaleen Pritchett Post
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 264.
In my senior year of High School I met my future husband, Harold Pritchett and we were married in November of 1940. We lived on a farm near Cullison, Kansas until Harold was drafted in the army. Army days passed and the return home to the farm where four children were added to our family. We had the normal activities of an average family. Then my husband had a sudden heart attack in 1959 and a fatal one in 1963, What to do? Four children to finish raising and educating and a farm to pay for?
Then the peace and strength that comes from Him, as He said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding and He will direct your paths,"
The call to be a minister. As the Lord opened the door, I walked through. The call was answered and a Christian man, Bill Post was placed in my life.
We have a precious family. I can only claim Romans 8:28. There have been times of struggle, but many beautiful experiences have taken place in my life since I first heard the call. I have been a full time ordained pastor. In the past 20 years I have served six churches. In 1986 I was chosen as Kansas Mother of the Year. Bill and I continue to work some as an evangelistic team. I retired from the ministry 6-05-1990. Bill and I live on the Post Homestead 8 1/4 miles west of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Submitted by Orvaleen Pritchett Post
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 265.
My grandfather, William C. Baker, on my mother's side, was born in Illinois on 04-08-1841. He married Hanna Melissa Mendenhall. To this union was a daughter, Della Olive, and later a son, Glenn. My mother, Della Olive was born 02-18-1880 in Pike County, New Canton, Illinois. She weighed three lbs. at birth and it was 20 below zero, She was born at home and the only heat they had was a sheet iron stove that burned chips and wood. Her dad told her she would fit in a shoebox. When I was a little boy she told me that story and I asked, "Did you live?" The Baker's moved from Illinois to Sumner County, Kansas in a covered wagon in 1886 when my mother was six years old. They bought a farm one-mile south of the Post farm.
My mother and dad began grade school at the rural one room Johnson schoolhouse. They later attended Walton Center Grade School from the first year it was built. Mother and dad graduated from grade school but did not attend high school. In those days, especially in rural areas, parents needed the children to work on the farm. My dad was a good baseball pitcher. He struck out as many as 18 batters in one game. He used to practice throwing balls at circles on the barn. Eventually some of the balls put holes in the boards. When mother was 17 she began work as a rural mail carrier between Ashton, Guelph and Bitter Creek. Her transportation was a horse and buggy. She later hauled milk in a spring wagon, gathering it from the Geuda Springs neighborhood and transporting it to Arkansas City's first cheese factory. On her return trip to the farm she delivered groceries to neighbors along the way.
My mother and dad were married at the home of my mother's parents 01-31-1900. They had three children, Margaret Leota, Gladys Irene and I. The girls died prior to 1918. My dad said he reached the place in 1918 when he didn't want to look another horse in the eye and they moved to California where I was born 11-05-1919. In 1920 Grandmother Post became ill and the three of us returned to Kansas.
I was raised on Grandfather's farm and went to the same grade school that mother and father attended. I graduated from Cowley County Jr. College in 1939.
Submitted by William Harvey "Bill" Post
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 265.
Don's parents, Dean and Lenora M. Potter were reared in Marshall County. Dean's grandparents moved from Noble, Illinois in 1885 and settled near home. The great-grandfather of Lenora immigrated in 1834 from Kingsclere Parish, Hampshire, England and settled in Greene County, Wisconsin. They later moved to Iowa and then to Industry, Kansas. Lenora grew up and was educated in Irving, later teaching school in Barrett and Frankfort before her marriage in 1924.
My parents, George and Rosa Scholz, were born and lived their lives in Marshall County. My great grandfather, Carl Friedrich Scholz, brought his family to America in 1858 from Germany and settled near Frankfort. They located on Snipe Creek where they were the first settlers, acquiring 160 acres of land by pre-emption. A large stone house was built during the years 1861-1865. This house still stands and is the home of my sister. My father graduated from Kansas University with a degree in Pharmacy. Soon after he graduated from college, the death of his father made it necessary for him to return to the family home and help with the farming so that his younger brothers and sisters could be educated. My mother's parents were John Seematter, who was born in Switzerland and Rose Goetz, who was born in Germany. My mother graduated from Frankfort High School and taught in country schools until her marriage in 1920.
Our first child, Donelyn D., was born in Manhattan while Paul A., Jon H., and Kimberly M. were born in Winfield. All of our children call Winfield home.
Don and I and our children are graduates of Kansas State University.
Don served in the Infantry in World War II, being stationed in Texas, the Philippines and Japan. He has practiced Architecture in Winfield for forty years in partnerships with William N. Caton, Robert E. Yadon and Merrill K. Gordon. His work includes the Cowley County Courthouse, Irving, Whittier, and Lowell Elementary schools, Snyder Clinic and Foundation, Gott Corporation, Southwestern Bell Telephone Building, Trinity Lutheran and First Methodist Churches, Southwestern College Library and White Physical Education Building, Apartment building at 6th and College, the Library, Student Center, Business and Vo-Tec Buildings and Cowley County Community College, 800 Main Place, and Cumbernauld Village. Local residences include the homes of Norman Albright, Frederick Barnard, Fred Padden, Cliff Edens, Ron Pray, the Robert Kitch complex and hundreds of others, both locally and in surrounding communities.
I am a dietitian, working with feeding problems of the physically and mentally handicapped at WSH&TC for sixteen years, retiring in 1986.
All of our children were married in Winfield. Our grandchildren are: Jason and Leanne Weds, children of Donelyn Wells, Manhattan; Rebecca, Sara, and Laura Potter, children of Paul and Linda Kent Potter, Barrington, Illinois; Mackensie and Coy Potter, children of Jon and Sherry Fast Potter, Andover; Andrew and Brandon Tadtman, children of Kimberly and Jeffrey Tadtman, Winfield.
Submitted by Evelyn Potter
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 265.
Mama's Shirer family lived in Grafton, West Virginia, when she was born November 26, 1895. Her parents were Sidney Campbell Shirer and Minnie Gertrude (Reed) Shirer. (continued on page 266)
Submitted by June Powell Orton
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 265.
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