News & Events – Page 8

Francis L. and Carolina V. Pierce

There is no better time than Kearny County Fair week to learn more about Francis Livingston Pierce, the first treasurer of the Kearny County Fair Association. Known to many as Frank, F.L. Pierce was 100 years old when he died in 1947 and was considered by many to be the authority on Kearny County history as he had been around for most of it.

Pierce arrived here by covered wagon in 1879. He was born in Connecticut of honored New England ancestry, and his family lineage traced directly back to five of the 100 people aboard the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock, among them Miles Standish and John Alden. Pierce’s parents, Hezekiah and Julia Wilson Pierce, later moved to Illinois where Frank acquired his preliminary education. The family then went to Iowa in 1864, and F.L. completed his studies at Grinnell College. He engaged in farming, taught school a number of terms, and became active in public life. He served two years as the auditor of Powesheik County, Iowa and filled various township offices.

While in Iowa, Frank married Carolina Virginia Gray-McClellan, daughter of Major General Francis Gray and Sarah Roseberry Gray of Pennsylvania. It was the second marriage for Carolina who had divorced her first husband, James McClellan, with whom she had two children. Carolina and James’ daughter, Virginia Bell, died giving birth to her first child, and their son, Francis Gray, died at the age of 10. Frank Pierce and Carolina also had a son and a daughter. They named their son “Francis Gray” like his older half-sibling, but he had no better fate. The boy died before the age of one. Frank and Callie’s daughter, Virginia Pierce Hicks, was the third girl born in Kearny County and lived a long and industrious life. Sharing her father’s love for history, she became the first president of the Kearny County Historical Society.

When coming to Lakin, Frank Pierce filed homestead and timber claims just west of Lakin and planted a grove of trees where the first Kearny County Fairground was located. Pierce had the distinction of being the first farmer in Kearny County to fence his property. Paying 35 cents each for oak posts and 12.5 cents a pound for wire, he fenced a whole section of land. He was the first to introduce alfalfa into this section of country and made a specialty of raising alfalfa, cattle and horses. Pierce engaged in the real estate business for a while to sell railroad lands, setting up shop on Lakin’s Front Street first with C.O. Chapman and later with C.H. Longstreth. As justice of the peace in 1880, he solemnized the first weddings in this part of the country and also served three terms as county clerk. F.L. was identified with most civic movements in the early history of Kearny County and was a member of several fraternal organizations including Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and others. He was the first Knight Templar to reside in Lakin and a charter member of the local Masons. Pierce served 45 years as the secretary of Emerald Lodge #289 garnering him recognition for the longest continuous service in the state of Kansas. He was instrumental in organizing not only the Kearny County Fair Association but also the Kearny County Old Settlers Association of which he served 17 years as secretary.

Many of the early county newspapers that were digitalized by the Kansas State Historical Society were those belonging to Francis L. Pierce, and much is written about his experiences in the first volume of our county history. In the Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, Pierce was spoken of as being distinguished not only for being a pioneer settler of this county but also for the prominence he attained in literary, political and fraternal circles. Francis L. Pierce died February 22, 1947.

Like her husband, Carolina Pierce took an active part in the transactions of the county, and she was one of the main characters in Chantilly’s battle for the county seat. She was an excellent horseback rider. Along with her sister, Mrs. George Garrettson, and niece, Ella Garrettson, Callie started the Double PL Bar Cattle Company running over 500 head of cattle. Their successful cow camp was located on sec. 36-22-37 north of Lakin. Then came the blizzard of 1886, and the women lost a large percentage of their herd like so many ranchers did. Mrs. Pierce offered 80 acres of cow camp land to locate the proposed county seat. Originally known as Myton, the site was then renamed Chantilly. Carolina helped make the first flag that was used at Lakin as well as the first one at Chantilly. She was one of the charter members of the Order of Eastern Star and served as the chapter’s first secretary. She was also a Rebekah and a member of the Old Settler’s Organization. In 1889, Callie became afflicted with an abscess and consulted the best surgeons of western Kansas but found no relief. She went to Chicago in June of 1889 to have the abscess removed and came through the severe operation but never fully recovered. Carolina Virginia Pierce was an invalid for the last few years of her life, passing away in 1908 at the age of 64.

Kearny Countians owe the F.L. Pierce family a debt of gratitude not only for what they did for the county in those early years but also for helping preserve county history. The Museum has several photographs, archives and artifacts which belonged to the family and were donated by Virginia Pierce Hicks and her daughter, Virginia Womble. These items give us a glimpse into the lives of not only these important pioneers but also the many others who saw the potential in the rugged, undeveloped prairie of Kearny County.

Virginia Pierce Hicks near her father’s tree grove.

Virginia Hicks Womble, daughter of Virginia Pierce Hicks and Chauncey Hicks. Granddaughter of F.L. and Carolina Pierce.

SOURCES: Diggin’ Up Bones by Betty Barnes; History of Kansas and Kansans by William E. Connelley; History of Kearny County Vol. I; and Museum archives.

The first Kearny County Fair & Fairgrounds

The Kearny County Fair is a long-standing tradition that began in 1914 in a shady grove just west of Lakin. The fairgrounds were west of present-day Bopp Boulevard between Lincoln and Railroad avenues on the timber claim of F.L. Pierce where he had planted walnut, Osage orange, cottonwood, locust, catalpa and mulberry trees in the 1880s. Through Pierce’s continued efforts, the fairgrounds became a shady picnic ground. A large grandstand sufficient to hold 400 or more people overlooked a half-mile race track and baseball park, and amusements and lunch counters dotted the grounds under the shade of the walnut trees.

The highly anticipated fair opened Thursday, Sept. 24, and attendance for the first two days was estimated at 1,100. Even Lakin’s schools closed so that all the children and teachers could have the opportunity to attend. The Lakin Independent reported that Pierce, who was the fair association’s secretary, “was in the ticket office shoving out the tickets and gathering in the nickels. Crowds from the four corners surged through the ground looking over the displays of machinery, farm products, horses and cattle, quilts, needlework, finery, etc.” To maintain order and make all fair visitors feel at home, the fair association recruited a squad of mounted police.

Horse racing was a big draw of the fair. Good purses attracted owners of some of the best horses in the country. Categories included pony racing, horse racing, ladies riding, Roman racing, harness trotting race and a relay race, but the racing was not limited to horses. There were also foot races, auto races and dog races. Other competitions included wrestling, a potato race on horseback, a sack race, bucking broncos, greased pig contest, and a challenge to see who could stay under long enough in a tub filled with water to secure a big silver dollar with their teeth. Fair-goers were also entertained by the Lakin band, the “hippodrome” or equestrian riding performance, and pole-vaulting demonstrations. A baseball game was played in the late afternoon each of the three days, and every game was called before ending because of darkness. Lakin, Deerfield, Midway and South Side were the competing teams, with Deerfield taking the championship game, 5-3.

That year was a very good year for gardeners, and produce entries ranged from grapes and sweet potatoes to an 80-pound pumpkin. Crops of wheat, corn, rye, oats, and broom corn were also entered. The poultry department had a good showing of geese, ducks, turkeys and chickens. Mules, a fawn and even guinea pigs were on display. Baked goods, handiwork and art rounded out the line-up.

The Oct. 2, 1914 Advocate declared, “The fair is over and success is written in large letters by the large number of people who attended the exhibition.” The Kearny County Fair Association attributed much of the fair’s success to local farmers and other exhibitors but also gave credit to those from Grant County who had entered items in the fair.

The movement for a county fair and fairgrounds had begun two years earlier. Stocks in the Kearny County Agriculture and Fair Association were sold for $10 each, and a board of directors was elected in the spring of 1914 to lead the organization. The association secured a membership in the Grain Belt Racing Association in May of 1914, and the fairgrounds were officially opened on June 13^th with a running race between George Rider’s and William Gillespie’s horses followed by a baseball game.

The annual fair took a hiatus in 1918 and 1919 during World War I but resumed in 1920. As time progressed, more buildings were added and amusements and lunch counters increased. The fair took on a carnival air adding such amusements as a tug-of-war between communities, motorcycle races, airplane exhibitions, and a fat man’s race. The hard times of the 1930s forced the fair association to disband and dismantle its buildings and discontinue the fair. About that time, 4-H club work was started, and the annual fair became a 4-H event. A location was hard to find so booths and home economics projects were displayed in stores, the courthouse or wherever possible. Livestock was exhibited in some vacant lot, in the lumber yard or on a town street where trees could provide shelter. A few interested persons started working on a regular location for a fair and other entertainment early in 1950. Many were interested in horses so the Kearny County Saddle Club was organized, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Loucks deeded a tract of land where the rodeo and fairgrounds are now located.

When county commissioners were preparing their budget for 1957, they approved the allocation of funds to operate a free county fair and the establishment of a fair board. Although the fairs may look differently than they did in the 1900s, commissioners, fair boards, the Kearny County Extension Service, 4-H groups, Kearny County Saddle Club, and other organizations, businesses and individuals have worked cooperatively through the years to ensure that the tradition that started over a century ago continues.

If you get the opportunity, venture out to the rodeo and fairgrounds this weekend and next week to partake in the fun at the Kearny County Saddle Club’s annual amateur rodeo and the Kearny County Fair! And don’t forget to attend the rodeo parade Saturday morning at 10 a.m. followed by a free ice cream social at the Kearny County Museum!

Sources: History of Kearny County Vol. I; Advocate and Lakin Independent archives; museum archives.

Mother Nature wreaking havoc on Kearny County’s 2023 wheat crop

Wheat harvest is usually either in full swing or finished in Southwest Kansas by this time of year, but an unusual amount of precipitation in recent weeks has delayed the cutting of the crop in our neck of the Wheat State. According to Mark Goudy, Kearny County Executive Director of Farm Services, this year’s crop may be hurt if farmers cannot get into their fields soon. The quality of the wheat will diminish because of the moisture content, and the longer the crop is in the field the greater the risk that inclement weather will do further damage. It is an uncommon dilemma in this area which has been plagued by drought the past several years, but the relationship between Mother Nature and wheat farmers has always been on shaky ground.

Turkey Red wheat was introduced into Kansas by Mennonite settlers from Russia almost as soon as Kansas was opened to settlement in 1854. Accustomed to growing the crop in a prairie climate, the Mennonites met with success and encouraged other farmers to plant wheat. As early as 1888, Kansas was being referred to as the “Wheat State.”

Like elsewhere in Kansas, Kearny County farmers began trying their luck at growing wheat as nearly as soon as the county was organized. Wheat did well under irrigation but did not respond to additional water as did sugar beets, corn, alfalfa, melons and other crops. As good as Turkey Red was, it lacked the drought resistance and yielding ability that was bred into later varieties. Successful wheat growing on dry land was not accomplished here until the 1930s when the practice of summer fallow was inaugurated. With this process, cropland is purposely kept out of production during a regular growing season. Resting the ground in this manner allows one crop to be grown using the moisture and nutrients of more than one crop cycle.

According to the Kansas State Historical Society, the standard farm size in the pioneering years was 160 acres which was not quite large enough for commercial ventures but more than what one farmer could plant. Like other industries, technology propelled farming into big business. Manual operations were replaced with draft animals enabling a single Kansas farmer to do the work of several men. In 1910, there were more than 24 million horses and mules on American farms with an average of three or four per farm. With three workhorses pulling a one-bottom walking plow, a farmer could break only about two acres in one day. With a two-bottom plow and a four or five horse-drawn sulky plow, he could plow five to seven acres.

As technology continued to advance, the way was paved for working larger areas of cropland in shorter periods of time. Threshing machines powered by steam traction engines in the 1870s and 1880s were replaced by internal combustion engines during the early 20th century. By 1938, the technology of tractor development had achieved what is known as a ‘dominant design.’ During World War II in the 40s, the U.S. Government was faced with the dilemma of how to provide both military tanks and tractors. On one hand, farmers were needed to produce more food than ever before, but many of their farmhands had been drafted. New challenges created innovation. Tractors got smaller and more powerful, self-propelled combines were introduced, and hydraulic systems made it possible to control larger implements.

The peak year of tractor production was 1951 during which 564,000 units were made. According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, 1954 was the first time in recorded history that tractors outnumbered horses and mules on U.S. farms. Competing manufacturers began enticing farmers with more horsepower and more labor-saving features. In time, creature comforts became almost as important as the tractor’s performance. Enclosed cabs with heating and air conditioning, stereo systems and even built-in televisions make modern tractors quite comfortable in comparison with the machines of yesteryear.

In the 1950s, harvested crops were hauled to the elevators in small trucks that handled between 150 to 250 bushels. These were replaced by tandem dual-axle trucks with a load capacity of about 600 bushels. Now semi-trucks are used to haul the grain. Some of the most important developments for combine owners are advancements that have not only increased performance but operator’s comfort as well. The arrival of enclosed cabs in the 1970s and 1980s led to developments to manage the cab interior environment with reduced noise levels, dust suppression and air-conditioning. Major controls accessible in the cab enabled the driver to complete the starting procedure and carry out virtually all the operating adjustments without leaving the seat.

Kearny County’s modern farmers routinely embrace sophisticated technologies such as drones, robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, programmable variable rate applicators, the internet and GPS. With these tools, farming has become more profitable and efficient as well as safer and more environmentally friendly. These high-tech practices combined with hardy wheat varieties have helped Kearny County farmers do their part in securing that Kansas’s reign as the Wheat State continues. Last year 114,862 acres in the county were planted into wheat with an average yield of 35 to 36 bushels per seeded acre according to USDA statistics. This year’s production remains to be seen, but with a little help from Mother Nature, crews hopefully will be headed into the fields soon.

John Kash’s horse-powered wheat threshing crew. Date unknown.

Harvesting wheat in 1941. Rhene Stinchcomb on tractor, W.H. Botts on combine and I.C. Wiatt on truck.

Harvest in 1960 on the R.W. and LeRoy Lohman farm. The combine is being pulled by an R John Deere tractor. Tractor is being controlled from combine so no tractor driver was needed.

Undated photo of 7700 24’ header cutting wheat and loading truck on Lohman farm. The 7700 was produced in the 1970s.

Wheat harvest 2017 at Kysar Farms. Photo courtesy of Janel Kysar.

Wheat is unloaded from the grain car into the semi at Kysar Farms during 2017’s wheat harvest. Photo courtesy of Janel Kysar.

SOURCES: Kansas State Historical Society; Economic History Association; 1954 U.S. Census of Agriculture; “Wheat” by Iman Wiatt for History of Kearny County Vol. 1; Museum archives; and USDA.gov, with special thanks to Kearny County CED Mark Goudy, and Joyce Kopfman who retired from the U.S.D.A. – Farm Service Agency in 2004 after 27 years of service.

Lakin’s Centennial Celebration

Visitors to Lakin in 1973 may have thought they had entered a time warp. Ladies in pioneer dresses and bearded men were a common scene as the community celebrated Lakin’s 100^th birthday in a stylish year-long celebration. The “fuzz” phenom was the result of a beard and mustache contest, and some men began growing their facial adornments as soon as the year started. For beardless wonders, shaving permits could be bought for $5 each to save a fine or a dunking. The Blossom Club requested all women who were working downtown (and shoppers too) to wear pioneer dresses on Fridays in observance of the centennial year. Those who opted not to either faced a fine or wore a permit that was sold by the club for 50¢.

Many kept the permits as souvenirs for the big occasion. Other specially made souvenirs included plates, coins, car tags, and special edition Winchester rifles. A seal picturing key events and industries in Lakin was created for use on advertising materials to call attention to Lakin’s “big 100.” The seal was designed by Don Musick, a former Lakin High School principal whose painted school mascots adorned many gymnasiums in Kansas including Lakin’s.

Pitchers of beer, soft drinks, and food were available at the Centennial Ale House which was set up a half block west of Main and Waterman in a building that was owned at the time by Guy McCombs. Musical entertainment was also on tap there. The beer garden was the brainchild of a group of Lakin women who voluntarily worked the venue to raise money for centennial activities. The grand opening was held April 13, and the ale house was open to customers several Friday and Saturday nights throughout 1973.

Also in April, Gladys Hoyt and Ruben Maerz were selected as Queen and King by Lakin Manor residents and staff to represent the manor in centennial events. An old-fashioned basket dinner and hymnfest were conducted later that month at the Methodist Church under the direction of Rev. Duane Harms.

Former Lakinites came from all over the country to attend Centennial Days June 1-3. Frances Bostrom of the Lakin Booster Club was the chairman and coordinator of the big shindig which took the cooperation of dozens of organizations and scores of individuals to successfully orchestrate. The V.F.W. Auxiliary assembled a display of historic significance in the Memorial Building and served chuckwagon lunches on Friday and Saturday and a dinner on Saturday night. Job’s Daughters held old-time ice cream socials Friday and Saturday afternoons at the Masonic Temple, and the Museum, located in the building now housing Golden Plains Credit Union, was open all three days. A carnival with rides was a major attraction for the kiddies.

The Lakin Methodist Women held a rummage sale, and the Lakin Young Women’s Club conducted a pie sale on Friday. That evening the Lakin 50 Club presented a fashion show featuring yesteryear fashions modeled by beautiful young girls and distinguished dames. The Rhythm Rangers played a dance to close out the day’s events. On Saturday, Homemakers E.H.U. hosted a bake sale, and the Civic and Study Club served hot homemade bread and rolls from the Country Kitchen in the Memorial Building. The afternoon parade was seven blocks long and had 49 entries with winners chosen among both the float and antique car entries.

Shortly before the parade started, a “raid on the village store” was staged for the amusement of the crowd which had gathered on Main Street. Desperadoes Jon Wheat and Stephen McCormick entered Gary’s Grocery and demanded the hidden money sacks. The dastardly duo fled the scene after taking Janice Spencer Urie, an innocent bystander, as hostage. Gary Hayzlett, the irate storekeeper, pursued the bandits with his famous Civil War musket in hand. According to the Lakin Independent, “the scoundrels escaped to their hideaway on the shores of Lake McKinney.”

There were 47 entries in the beard and mustache contest which was judged after the parade. Awards were presented in eight categories with Warren Elliott awarded for fanciest beard and best all-around. Don Bemis won the longest beard category, Charles Hannagan won for fullest beard, and Paul Garcia won for whitest beard. Winning honors for their mustaches were Floyd Schwindt, longest mustache, and Everett Moreland, best trimmed mustache. The Rainbow King hosted a free dance that evening. The weekend’s festivities concluded Sunday with the LaFlora Garden Club and Ministerial Alliance hosting an old-fashioned picnic in the City Park.

There was plenty of do-si-doing going on at the outdoor square dance sponsored by the Lakin Square Dance Club the following weekend, and in July, an enthusiastic and appreciative audience came out to boo the villain and cheer on the hero in an old-fashioned melodrama put on by the Centennial Players at the high school auditorium. Admission was 11¢ or free if wearing centennial garb. Six lucky participants won Shetland ponies in the Shetland pony scramble at the Kearny County Saddle Club’s Centennial Rodeo July 21 and 22. Other events that weekend included the annual Rodeo Parade, an old-fashioned chuckwagon BBQ and a dance at the Ale House. The Santa Fe Railroad’s Centennial rail car was also in Lakin.

A baby beautiful contest for persons 65 and older was one of many activities added to the county fair in August. Ruby Enslow and Oliver Coder won the TOPS-sponsored event. Lakin’s birthday got special attention when Brad Tate arranged for August’s feature race at Santa Fe Downs to be called the Lakin Centennial Stakes. A chartered bus of race horse owners and racing fans from Lakin attended the competition, and Lennus and Frances Bostrom had the honor of presenting a cooling blanket to the winning horse’s owners.

September’s Centennial Art and Antique Show featured the art work of several area artists and an array of vintage items, and the Centennial Christmas Parade in December was called the best ever. Blessed with perfect weather, a large crowd gathered to witness the event which was preceded by an old west shootout on Main Street between a group of bad men from the sandhills and keepers of the peace who were concealed on the roofs of buildings. After the smoke cleared, the posse loaded up the losers in the farm wagon they came to town in and cleared the street for the parade. Lakin’s big birthday year wrapped up with a “Harvey House” Centennial Christmas Luncheon Dec. 21 which was sponsored by the Kearny County Council on Aging and Budget Shop. The program was centered around Lakin’s early railroad history.

The year closed, beards were shaved, and pioneer clothing was packed away. But the memories of 1973 would live on in the hearts and minds of all those who were lucky enough to take part in Lakin’s big 100^th birthday bash.

The Lakin Centennial Players standing L-R: Ric Meisel as the villain; Frank Thomas as the wealthy mill owner; Peggy Symes who directed the melodrama; Jay LeBeau, the hero, and Pat Fletcher, the heroine. Front row: Jeanette Wiatt, the other woman; and Cora Holt, Granny.

Rev. Duane Harms, far left, dressed as the Harvey House manager welcomes railroad passengers Esther and Billy Carter to the Centennial Christmas Luncheon. Standing behind them are Jerry Burden who led the singing of Christmas carols, Railroad station agent Frank Thomas, and musicians for the occasion—Jane Thomeczek and Red Harold Pebley.

Ralph Holden’s beard is carefully measured and inspected during the beard contest.

Centennial King Rube Maerz and Queen Gladys Hoyt were chauffeured in the Centennial parade by Lefty and Thelma Leonard.

In April 1973, Kearny County hosted the Southwest Kansas Association of Counties meeting at the Lakin Grade School gym. The theme of the gathering was the pioneer days of Kearny County, and all the employees dressed in the appropriate dresses for the theme. Front Row L-R: Rachel Erskine, Gladys Michel, Ruth Burns, Joan Wiley, Velma Cox, and Della Barchet. Middle Row: Norma Penick, Zelma Coyne, Elizabeth Williams, Vera Kuhlman, Donna Watkins, and Betty Barnes. Back Row: Ethel Simshauser, Leona Randolph, Thelma Oakley, Pat Jones, Cleo Fouser, and Alma McConaughey.

SOURCES: 1973 Lakin Independent archives. History of Kearny Co. Vol. II, Museum archives, and mikelynchcartoons.blogspot.com

1948 was a banner year for Lakin

Lakin celebrated its 75th birthday in August 1948 with a three-day “rip snortin” party. A mile-long parade kicked off the Diamond Jubilee on Aug. 24th with approximately 4,000 people witnessing local VFW and Legion Post members lead nearly 50 floats and decorated vehicles, cowboys and cowgirls, and several clown acts down Main Street. Music was furnished by a band composed of Lakin High School music students and former students dressed in pioneer and western garb. The band was under the direction of LHS’s music instructor Kathryn Crowder (Kay Loeppke).

Two buffalo were prepared for a free old-fashioned barbecue, and around 1,500 people watched an airshow which included wing walking by Joe Carroll of Lakin. Along with other spectacular feats, planes from nearby airports were open for the inspection of the crowd and rides were offered to those who wanted them. Other activities included a historical pageant on the courthouse lawn, model plane contest, baseball game, 4-H Day/Fair on the 25th, and a children’s parade which drew approximately 200 young participants. The Old Settlers Association hosted Old Settlers’ Day on the 26th and invited old timers from all of Southwest Kansas to participate. A fiddler’s contest, musical numbers, style show and picnic dinner were all part of the day’s festivities. Grandma Sarah Taggart was awarded a prize for being the oldest Old Settler present, and Virginia Pierce Hicks was honored for having resided in the county longer than any other member present.

The Lakin Independent went all out as well, publishing multiple special inserts in its August 27th edition. At more than 40 pages, the newspaper holds the distinction of being the largest paper ever published in the county. The inserts contained articles about county history along with photographs and advertisements from the businesses of the day. The publication took the cooperation of not only the newspaper staff but also Lakin merchants and volunteer contributors. Shirley White (Henderson) had been hired in May as the Independent’s local and society editor, and she had the enormous task of assembling material, writing features and historical articles. She also took, developed and printed pictures for the special edition.

Lakin’s Diamond Jubilee was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce which was organized in the spring of 1948, and various clubs and individuals cooperated to pull off the 75th birthday party. The Independent declared the successful celebration as the top news of 1948, but that wasn’t the only big news by far. Lakin was in the midst of a growing surge fueled by the construction of Colorado Interstate west of Lakin, gas and oil well drilling, and irrigation. Over 24 new homes had gone up or were in the process of being built at the end of 1947, a trend that continued in 1948. Several of the business buildings in downtown Lakin were also built during this period.

The Lakin Theatre building on the east side of South Main was completed in 1947 by Fred Munson. He finished the building next door at 108 S. Main in early 1948, leasing it to Howard Brehm who operated Brehm’s Department Store there. The last business to operate at this site was Jim Powers’ barber shop.

Further down the street in the second block of North Main, the Beymer Building was the largest single business construction project at the time and included three business structures – one housed the post office and another a bowling alley called Bowlalyne. These two buildings now house Shnae Budd’s hair salon and Pat & Sonny’s Tossed and Found. The third building in the Beymer complex now houses the Budget Shop but was originally home to Davison’s Junior Department Store. Across the street, Dr. Sabo’s new clinic was opened in January of 1948. Dentist J.K. Atwood also occupied an office in Sabo’s clinic. The clinic building was incorporated into the Kearny County Bank several years later.

The west side of South Main was also transformed. Bernard Coerber opened the Inn Grocery in a new building at 117 S. Main in late 1947. Three new buildings went up to the north of this one in 1948. Just next door, Ralph Hutton leased his new building to Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company as an office. These two buildings combined now house Ramos Heat & AC.

The building at 113 S. Main was also built by Fred Munson. This became home to Bruner’s Flowers and Max Jewelry which had temporarily been housed across the street with Brehm’s. A staircase runs between this building and the one built by Ernest Sidebottom next door north which housed M.C. Glaspy’s Lakin Electric. The two store fronts were later combined by Walter and Carolyn Cone to house Cone’s Department Store. Diego’s Restaurant was the last business located here.

In August 1948, a 13-unit modern motel on Highway 50 known as Plaza Courts was officially opened. The motel was owned by J.L. Burden and was built by his son-in-law, Guy Harsha, who operated the motel with his wife, Beulah. Other buildings under construction in summer 1948 included Mary Thornbrough’s abstract office at 117 N. Main which now houses the Medill CPA agency, a 25×100 foot warehouse by Hart and Company now part of Main Street Supply, the Co-op’s new office on the corner of Buffalo and Railroad which is currently used for Museum storage, and the Evergreen alfalfa mill on the west edge of Lakin by the railroad tracks. All that remains of this structure is a concrete slab.

By October of ‘48, Lawrence “Beans” Urie was at work on one of the finest recreational buildings in southwest Kansas. The Rainbow King at 702 N. Campbell not only had a skating rink but also a stage for performers and boxing matches. Lakin Recreation now occupies this building.

Several grocery stores and two laundry mats were in service to meet the needs of the growing community and construction workers. At least four cafes were operating in town at any given time throughout 1948, and Southwestern Bell Telephone installed a new 300-line Western Electric switchboard, increasing the Lakin telephone exchange by 100 lines.

After learning that several hundred dollars could be saved annually by having their own engineer to directly supervise all the projects in the city’s jurisdiction, the City of Lakin hired Matt D. Sylvan as city engineer in the spring of 1948. A new swimming pool was opened in the city park, and a curb and guttering project was completed. The City initiated trash pick-up service for residents and businesses in the fall. Homer Watkins went to work in December as the first director of the newly formed Soil Conservation Service. Kearny County’s Civil Air Patrol was also organized that month for the help and protection of the county in case of emergency, and Arlin Sommers was named the commanding officer.

According to valuation figures, Kearny County was wealthier than ever before. Citizens were making more money and paying more taxes. The population of Lakin had reached its largest up to that point at 1,134, and there was a 10% increase over the previous year’s enrollment when high school opened in the fall of 1948. The average daily attendance doubled that of the previous two years at the grade school which had 300 pupils by October.

As 1948 drew to a close, there seemed to be no end to Lakin’s future building projects as voters had approved the construction of the Veteran’s Memorial Building, a new grade school, a vocational/agriculture building at Lakin Rural High School, and a county hospital. In December 1949, the Hutchinson News-Herald reported that Lakin’s size had doubled in a four-year span.

Max Sissom, local jeweler and publicity chairman for the Diamond Jubilee, designed this logo for Lakin’s big event.

This bird’s eye view of downtown Lakin was photographed by the late Shirley White Henderson. She was a passenger in a plane piloted by newly hired City of Lakin engineer, Matt D. Sylvan.

The Diamond Jubilee’s children’s parade on Aug. 26, 1948 featured this scale model train furnished by the Santa Fe Railroad.

SOURCES: Archives of the Lakin Independent from 1946 through 1949; Aug. 19, 1948 Garden City Daily Telegram; Dec. 4, 1949 Hutchinson News-Herald; and museum archives.

Celebrating 150 years of progress and community: even street names are a link to Lakin’s past

A walk, drive or bicycle ride through Lakin is a journey through our past. Old buildings that housed some of our earliest businesses and former homes of pioneering residents can be found throughout town, and even street names are a link to those who came before. While some of our streets may have been named for presidents or early Kansas dignitaries, several were named for locals and people with Lakin connections.

Waterman Avenue was once the main thoroughfare through Lakin and runs from Cemetery Road on the east edge of Lakin to Bopp Boulevard on the west side. The street was named for James Waterman who came to Lakin in 1880 in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad. Waterman had many occupations during his tenure here such as newspaper editor, postmaster, business owner, farmer and rancher. He was also appointed first county clerk by the governor in 1888.J

Located in the northeast part of the city, O’Loughlin Street was named for founding father John O’Loughlin and his family. This street intersects with Russell Road on the south and Thorpe Street on the north. Billy Russell came to Lakin in 1881 and worked nearly 40 years for the Santa Fe Railroad, and the Russell family’s former home still stands at 808 E. Russell Road. Thorpe Street was named for Thornton N. and Ettie Thorpe. The Thorpes came to Kearny County in the 1880s, and T.N. represented Kearny County for four years in the Kansas House of Representatives. The Thorpe name is well documented in county history for contributions to our community.

John and Mary O’Loughlin and their six children.

Osborn Drive runs beside Osborn Park which was originally the location of the Osborn family home. Bert Osborn worked 53 years as Santa Fe agent and telegrapher, 42 of those years in Lakin. He and his wife, Ethel, were very community-minded and had a petting zoo, swimming pool, duck pond, and rock garden on their property.

Soderberg Street near St. Anthony’s church was named for David Soderberg who was in charge of the building operations when the Kearny County courthouse was built in 1939. The son-in-law of Clyde Sr. and Ethel Beymer, he was married to their daughter, Cledythe. Soderberg was killed in a car accident west of Wichita on Christmas Day of 1945.

Simshauser Street is located in the Simshauser subdivision in east Lakin which was established by Norman and Ethel Kleeman Simshauser. A World War II veteran, Norman moved with his family to Kearny County at the age of one and lived the remainder of his life here except for his time in the service. Ethel was born in Kearny County and lived here all of her 92 years. The Simshausers were both very active in community organizations such as the Kearny County Historical Society, Senior Center, VFW and EHU as well as the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Norman also served on the City Council and Veteran’s Memorial Building board.

Harold’s Place is located in the White Subdivision near Kearny County Hospital and is named for Harold White, native Kearny Countian, farmer, rancher, and Army veteran. Harold also served on the Kearny County Farm Bureau board of directors as president. White subdivision was created in 1974 by Harold and his mother and also includes Thelma Drive which was named for Harold’s wife. Thelma owned and operated Antiques ‘N Things and was very involved with the Lakin Presbyterian Church.

West of Main Street, Campbell Street runs from HWY 50 to Railroad Avenue and was named for early pioneer James Campbell.

Campbell came to Kearny County in 1886 and served as sheriff when the county seat was moved from Hartland to Lakin. He also served two terms as county commissioner.

Kendall Avenue flanks Thornbrough Park on the south. One block north is Wayne Avenue. These streets are part of the Thornbrough Subdivision and named for cousins Kendall Campbell and Wayne Thornbrough. Both of these Lakin High School graduates lost their lives while serving in World War II.

Robroyce Avenue lies one street south of Kendall Avenue and was named for two young LHS graduates who died in 1973. Rob Wiley was 20 years old when he was killed in a vehicle accident, and Royce Burch died at the age of 22 after undergoing surgery for brain tumors.

Smith Avenue is three blocks south of Robroyce. To the west in this vicinity was the Charles S. Smith place where Lakin’s first cemetery was located. It was just a burial place out on the prairie, and most of the people were buried in rough pine boxes without being embalmed. About 40 graves accumulated in this place. The graves were transferred to what is now the Lakin Cemetery about 1892. According to the first volume of History of Kearny County, a few of the bodies remained in their original resting place. The Raymond and Rose Smith family lived at the east end of the block where Smith meets up with Campbell Street. Raymond Smith was a lifetime Lakin resident. A farmer, he married Rose in 1934. They were the parents of former Kearny County Museum director Harold Smith.

Bopp Boulevard is in the Gropp addition and is the farthest street west that runs all the way from HWY 50 to Railroad Ave. This was named by Ralph Gropp in honor of his mother’s family, and Mattie Street was named specifically for his mother, Mattie Bopp Gropp. Frank and Sarah Bopp came to Kearny County in 1886, and all three of their daughters became teachers. In 1912, Mattie married Albert Gropp, a farmer, rancher, brand inspector, and member of the Gropp family who located on a homestead near Kendall in 1887. Albert Street, one block west of Bopp, is named for him.

Edward Loeppke purchased 30 acres on the west edge of Lakin in 1945. The Loeppke Subdivision was established in 1958 and includes the following street names: Loeppke, Edward, Sarah, Kraus, and Tampa. Edward Loeppke and Sarah Kraus were married at Tampa, Kansas in 1905 and came to Kearny County in 1930 where they were engaged in farming. They had seven children, several of whom had homes in this subdivision and were involved with local organizations, schools and churches.

Nabocoho Lane is often referred to as Airport Road and sometimes White Road. The origins of the name, “Nabocoho” were somewhat of a mystery until recently when museum staff happened across an article written in 1990 by Thelma Leonard. Thelma explained that the Civic and Study Club took on the project of getting street signs for Lakin in the 1950s, and club member Gladys Hoyt wanted her road to have a proper name. Gladys took the first two letters of the surnames of the first four families who lived on the road between Highway 50 and the south branch of the Great Eastern Canal—Bernard and Kay Nash and Bernard’s mother, Ann Nash; Jake and Olive Bodam; Delbert and Marjorie Cox; and N.E. and Gladys Hoyt—and came up with Nabocoho. The C.A. Leonards lived on the road in the house closest to town, and Gladys wanted to incorporate their name as well. She decided on “Lane” as it began with L, and all four letters of the word are also in “Leonard.”

When you are out and about in our little town and spot these street names, perhaps you will now think of the people for whom they were so fondly named.

SOURCES: Earle D. Rice, LHS graduate and former owner of Kearny Co. Title Company; History of Kearny Co. Volumes I & II, Digging up Bones, and museum archives.

*Kearny County Museum does not have pictures on file for each person mentioned in this article.

Museum sponsoring community scavenger hunt

Loucks left lasting impression on the community they loved

Charles Loucks was a self-made man with an undying love for this Kansas prairie land. He amassed a large personal fortune of which a considerable amount was used towards the betterment of Lakin. Loucks Park just west of town is but one example of the generosity of Charles and his wife, Rhoda.

Born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Charles was six years old when he came to Kearny County in 1879 with his parents, William and Amy Loucks, and his older brother, Fay. The family settled near Deerfield but within months made the move to Lakin. In 1899, Charles married Rhoda Long, a teacher who had moved to Kearny County in 1885 with her parents, Joseph and Amanda Long, and older brother, Adelbert. Charles and Rhoda were companions in life, bonding through love of their community and through loss. All of their siblings died before the age of 21, and Charles and Rhoda’s only child, a son, died at birth.

Charles picked up his early education from his mother at home and at a subscription school she organized in 1879. He later attended Lakin’s public schools and was 10 years old when he began wrangling horses for the N.H. Triangle Ranch. Not long after Kearny County was organized, he became deputy county clerk and served in various county offices as deputy until 1893. At the tender age of 16, he launched his first major business enterprise when he took over the abstract business of D.A. Andrews and expanded into real estate and insurance. In 1906, Charles joined the firm of Hart, Thorpe and Company as a partner in the hardware and lumber business. Also that year, he entered into the banking business by purchasing a large amount of stock in the Kearny County Bank and was serving as president of the bank at the time of his death. Farming and oil/gas development were also among his many interests.

Charles inherited a sense of service to his fellow man from his parents. William Loucks enlisted in the Civil War with the McClellan’s Dragoons, an organization which later merged with the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. He became justice of the peace at Lakin, and his wife tended to the injured and sick in the community. In 1892, William and Amy Loucks gifted their land near Deerfield to be used for the Deerfield Cemetery.

Charles served overseas with the YMCA in World War I. He was a devoted Freemason, and during his long and distinguished Masonic career, Charles received practically every honor and filled most of the offices of the order both locally and on the state level. He was bestowed with the highest degree in the Masons when the honorary 33rd degree was conferred upon him in 1958. Loucks also served as president of the Kearny County Historical Society and was on the first Kearny County Library board of directors. Among his many memberships were the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Saddle Club, and the Sportman’s Club. Rhoda was a member of the Historical Society, PEO, Mus-Art Club, Past Matron’s Association of the Order of Eastern Star, and also served as Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star. She taught Sunday School classes and held many offices in the local Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterial of Kansas.

Formal Emerald Lodge member William H. Johnson had left a considerable sum of money for the construction of Lakin’s Masonic Temple, but when the temple was completed in 1956, there was not enough money to fully fund the project. Charles and Rhoda agreed not only to provide the additional construction costs but to also furnish the temple. They also generously contributed to the Presbyterian Church when it was built.

The couple gave 80 acres of land to the City in 1950 for a park and recreational area, and they provided funds to help develop the area which became known as Loucks Park. The park is home to the municipal golf course, rodeo arena, baseball field, fairgrounds and 4-H buildings. After Charles’ death in 1960, Rhoda gifted the city additional monies to build a golf clubhouse and improve upon the course’s irrigation system. Rhoda passed in 1967, and in her will, Mrs. Loucks specified that a percentage of her estate was to be set up in a trust fund as a memorial to her husband. The funds were to be invested in government securities and the interest used for repair and maintenance of the club house and watering trees, shrubbery and landscaping, and beautifying the golf course. This trust is managed by the Kearny County Bank.

Other county entities benefiting from the Loucks estate were the First Baptist, First Methodist, Pilgrim Holiness and First Christian churches of Lakin; the Immanuel Lutheran Church and First United Methodist Church of Deerfield; Lakin Cemetery District; Kearny County Library Association; and the Lakin O.E.S. Estate monies were also designated for establishing endowment funds for the Kansas Masonic Home of Wichita and Lakin’s Presbyterian Church.

Even decades after their deaths, the love that Charles and Rhoda Loucks had for this community and their influence continue to be felt. Their former home still stands at 301 N. Western Street.

SOURCES: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans written and compiled by William E. Connelley; Kansas: The First Century by Dr. John D. Bright; Diggin’ Up Bones by Betty Barnes; History of Kearny County, Ks. Vols. I & II; City of Lakin minutes; Lakin Independent and Museum archives, with special thanks to Bob Beymer.

Charles Loucks and Rhoda Long on their wedding day in 1899.

Charles and Rhoda Loucks pose in front of Balancing Rock at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado in the early 1900s.

Lakin’s City Park is a source of pride and has taken the efforts of many

In just a few days, the shrills and splashes of delighted children will be heard at Lakin’s outdoor swimming pool in the City Park. The opening of the swimming pool is an annual tradition that children and adults alike have been enjoying for nearly 75 years. Lakin’s City Park is the result of cooperative efforts over the years between the City of Lakin, Kearny County commissioners, Lakin Recreation Commission, countless donors and volunteers, and organizations like Lakin PRIDE, Lakin “50” Club, Civic and Study Club, Moonlight Chicks, Lakin Young Woman’s Club, La Flora Garden Club, PICS (Partners in Community Service) and the VFW Auxiliary.

In September 1946, voters approved general obligation bonds in the amount of $40,000 to establish a municipal park and swimming pool. Land was purchased from Howard Brehm, Elton Beymer, James Doyle and John Campbell. A swimming pool was constructed by Walters Sand Company of Manhattan in 1948. The City had hoped to have the pool open for July 4th that year, but two valves for the filtering equipment did not arrive in time. Undaunted, the savvy city crew used fire hoses to fill the pool. A bathhouse was added the following year. In 1966, voters approved a $45,000 bond issue to replace the pool and bathhouse because they could not accommodate the large number of swimmers and maintenance costs had been excessive. With the federal government funding half of the project, contractor P. L. Dale completed the pool and new bathhouse in 1968. Since then, other improvements have been made including the installment of slides and shade shelters.

In 1999, Clyde Beymer donated a million dollars in memory of his wife, Barbara, to construct an indoor swimming pool, and county commissioners agreed to chip in up to $250,000. The old bathhouse was demolished as locker rooms with private showers and a concession area were included in the Beymer Aquatic Center which opened May 2001. The pool was a welcome addition in the community and is used year-round.

In the ‘50s, the Lakin “50” Club donated a complete set of playground equipment, and along with the VFW Auxillary, donated money for a picnic area in the park. Many of the original trees and shrubs were donated and planted by volunteers and City employees under the direction of Ad McVey, former superintendent of parks. Plantings included spruce trees, red cedars, Lombardy poplars, shade trees and flowering peach trees. At one time, a large Christmas tree and nativity set were placed in the park for the yuletide holidays.

Mary Thornbrough covered the bulk of the expense to build the Boy Scout Cabin in City Park in memory of her son Wayne, a pilot who perished during a combat mission in World War II. Doyle and Campbell contributed the $1,195 they had received for park land to the cause as well. The Scouts also raised funds and received other donations. Scout members did much of the rough work, and some of the finishing was done by the Legionnaires. Under the direction of Paul McVey, City Manager from 1953-1956, the City crew and volunteers completed the project. According to the City of Lakin, the fireplace was built about 1957 from stone donated by Marvin Kash, and the cement floor was poured about 1959. The Lakin YWCA bought evergreens that were planted in front of the scout cabin in memory of Ethel Norris and Marion Hurst, past presidents of the club. Thelma Leonard planted a bed of cannas just east of the building.

In 1964, the City Council gave permission to the Girl Scouts to build their scout house in the park. The Jaycees ran the foundation in September of 1965 but did not start constructing the building until two years later. The building was funded by the Jaycees, American Legion, BPW, Girl Scout fundraisers, and other group and individual donations. The Girl Scout Cabin is now being renovated and will be the site of the City’s new community daycare.

As his Eagle Scout project in 2014, Yordi Siersema built an awning for a covered picnic area towards the east end of the park. The project was dedicated in memory of siblings Catherine and Bryan Elliott who were both active in scouting and killed in a vehicle accident in August 2005. In 2020, Conor Jones came up with the idea of a bicycle repair station for his Eagle Scout project. Located near the basketball courts, the project was completed by Jones, some of his scouting friends, and the City crew.

The basketball courts were originally tennis courts. Construction began in 1965 with Don Canfield, then minister for the First Christian Church, leading the charge. The courts were built with youth and volunteer labor and funded solely through donations and fundraisers. Over the years, the popularity of tennis waned, and the courts gave way to basketball courts in the early ‘90s. The renovation of the courts was a 2015 PRIDE project. The old concrete was removed and new poured, court lines painted, and six goals installed. A donor sidewalk engraved with names of the top donors was also included in the project.

SOURCES: City of Lakin minutes, Lakin Independent and Museum archives

Members of the Beymer Family are shown during groundbreaking ceremonies for the Beymer Aquatic Center in April 2000. Pictured are Gary and Dixie Beymer, Clyde Beymer holding the shovel, and Bob and Diane Beymer with their daughters, Michelle, Taryn and Caitlin. Pictured below is the indoor swimming facility.

Lakin’s post of the Grand Army of the Republic organized in 1885

From the May 4, 1893 Advocate: “members of the G.A.R. Post had their photos taken in a group on Tuesday afternoon, with colors loyally on guard and conquering heroes all together.” Standing left to right: Capt. W.B. Logan, D.H. Camp, Benjamin Farrell, Charles Schultz, Benjamin F. Dye, George H. Tate, Sr., Charles Otto, and William P. Loucks. Seated L-R: James L. Simmons, Charles O. Chapman, William P. Haywood, Arthur W. Sudduth and James Mullany.

Among the many accomplishments credited to the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) is the designation of Memorial Day as a yearly tradition. By the late 1860s, various communities had already been holding springtime tributes to fallen soldiers of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, national commander-in-chief of the G.A.R., issued the order that established Decoration Day as May 30, and Logan called upon G.A.R. members to make the May 30 observance an annual occurrence. The first large ceremony was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery where General James Garfield gave a speech, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there with small American flags. By the end of the 19^th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. After World War I, the day was expanded to honor soldiers who died in all American Wars, but it was not until 1971 that Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday. At that time, the last Monday of May was designated as the official day of observance.

The Grand Army of the Republic was founded in 1866 as a fraternal organization composed of Civil War veterans who served in the Union Army, Union Navy and the Marines. The organization began as an outlet for fellowship between those with shared experiences but grew to be the most powerful single-issue political lobby of the late 19^th century promoting voting rights for black veterans, advocating for federal pensions for veterans, supporting Republican candidates, and helping to elect five U.S. presidents from its own membership. G.A.R. was the largest of all the Union Army veterans’ organizations with a membership of 410,000 at its peak in 1890. At one time, the G.A.R. in Kansas had over 19,000 members in 478 posts.

The Lakin Post #364 of the G.A.R. was organized September 8, 1885. According to the Sept. 12, 1885 Advocate, over 5,000 people attended the affair. About 25 members of the Garden City G.A.R. Post arrived by train in the afternoon accompanied by their wives, daughters, and sweethearts. Also onboard were a large number of Garden City residents and the Garden City Brass Band which had the honor of being the first band to ever play on the streets of Lakin. While the ladies and citizens were escorted to the Commercial House, the band and G.A.R. boys formed in line and marched to the town hall where Judge H.M. Wheeler of Garden City took charge and proceeded to muster in the Lakin post. Thirteen charter members were included on the muster roll. Following the election of officers, the men formed again and marched over to the hotel where they joined those waiting there for a sumptuous supper served up by the hotel’s genial hostess, Amy Loucks. Everyone returned afterwards to the town hall which was packed by locals and people from surrounding towns. The new officers were installed, and the audience sang, “Marching Through Georgia.” A grand ball followed with the crowd dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

Lakin’s G.A.R. was a provider of entertainment, source of local charity, and organizer of patriotic events including the annual Decoration Day procession and services. The last member of Lakin’s post was Captain William Barringer Logan, no apparent relation to G.A.R. Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan. When William died on September 16^th, 1926 at 90 years of age, flags in Lakin were placed at half-mast in recognition of the service he had given to his country.

The national G.A.R. was dissolved in 1956 following the death of its last member, Albert Woolson of Minnesota who is also widely considered the last surviving veteran of the Civil War. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Kansas State Historical Society; Diggin’ Up Bones by Betty Barnes; History of Kearny County Vol. 1; Sept. 12, 1885 and May 4, 1893 Advocate; Sept. 24, 1926 Lakin Independent; Wikipedia; History.com; Ancestry.com, and museum archives.