USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 31
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Young people who are contemplating teach- ing and teachers who wish to become better prepared for their work should make arrangc- ments to take this course. It is possible to complete the Normal Training Course and at the same time complete work sufficient for col- lege entrance.
The Business Course is composed of the regular commercial subjects, book-keeping, short-hand, typewriting, commercial arithme- tic, commercial geography, and commercial law, similar to those found in the leading bus- iness colleges, and in addition this course in- cludes a greater amount of academic work. A great many difficulties on account of imma- turity found among eighth grade graduates who complete a course will be overcome by the time a good high school course is com- pleted. Such a course gives one who enters business life an advantage that is worth secur- ing. Knowledge is power, and the broader the culture the greater chance of success. If a bus- iness course without such training is good, a business course with such training is very good.
The Manual Training department which was established two years ago, and which has been in charge of experts during this time has proved very popular as well as profitable to the boys of the school.
No young man whatever his station in life finds the ability to use his hands in the produc- tion of some useful article detrimental to his success. All persons are not endowed with power to become proficient in classical or pro- fessional courses, hence the popular demand for courses which train for useful vocations along practical lines. The work done in this department has called forth much favorable comment on account of its high grade.
Tables, chairs, tabourets, pedestals and dozens of other useful articles suitable for any home have been made by the students. This work is carried by the pupils while doing reg- ular high school work in English, Mathematics and Science.
A visit to this department would reveal a busy work shop or laboratory filled with busy contented boys, happy in the joy which comes from the conscious direction of muscular effort to the accomplishment of some useful end. No cne can well deny that there is just as valua- ble kind of training coming from this effort as that which comes from the translation of a Latin sentence or the conjugation of a Greek verb. It is not the purpose to turn out finished workmen but young men with the power to direct the hands to execute what the mind con- structs.
The coming year will see installed Domes- tic Science and Art for the girls. A room is being arranged with tables, sinks, cupboards, stoves and cooking utensils of all kinds. There under the direction of a competent instructor the young ladies of the school will be taught household economy. It is doubtful if a more useful or practical line of work can be found than this which teaches the future mothers of our state how to prepare food and care for the home.
The Domestic Art room will be fitted with sewing tables, chairs, machines and rockers. The work in sewing is just as essential as either Manual Training or Domestic Art. It may never be necessary for many young ladies to sew for themselves or others, but it certain- ly will ever be a source of satisfaction to know when a garment is made correctly and fitted accurately. It is believed these courses will prove very popular among the girls.
Another course for next year, which should reach practical needs in our county is agricul- ture. It is not the purpose of this study to do demonstrative work, but to teach in a practi- cal way the science of agriculture. The course will be outlined by the state department and will include a thorough study of soil; its for- mation, kinds, properties, moisture holding power, methods of enriching and tillage; seeds; their structure, selection and planting; rotation of crops; principal crops, dairying, stock raising, etc.
This article should not close without call- ing attention to the school organization, which go to make up the school life as well as give a very useful training. These are the two library or rhetorical societies, the Y. M. C. A. and the chorus, the orchestra and the enter- tainment association. The latter conducts a splendid course of lectures and entertainments during the school year.
It is hoped the young people of Barton County will avail themselves of the opportun- ity to secure an education in this well organ- ized and well equipped school.
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
233
GREAT BEND CHURCHES
G REAT BEND is blessed with a large num- ber of churches representing nearly all denominations of Christian faith. Their
history has been printed before but their growth has been most gratifying to those who work for the cause of religion in this section of the country and is most interesting. The
history of these churches has been one of con- tinuous struggle during the early days but all are now on a sound financial basis and have accomplished a great deal of good among the people and they add greatly to the desirability of Great Bend as a home city.
First Congregational Church
In the spring of 1872 a Sunday school was organized in Great Bend which was the foun- dation for what is now the First Congrega- tional Church, the same being organized Au- gust 10, 1872. But one of the original charter
gregation from one to eight years. Revs. Pal- mer, Prior, Bosworth, Carson, Schnacke, Suth- erland, Brehm, and the present pastor, is Rev. Victor Lynch Greenwood, whose ministry be- gan in 1912.
First Congregational Church, Great Bend
members remains today in the person of Mrs. G. N. Moses, then Miss Ida Mitchell.
The Reverend Mr. Brundige was the first pastor, remaining three years, Rev. I. D. Phil- lips following for a period of four years. The following named pastors have served the con-
The Congregational church has always filled a large place in the community and now has one of the most beautiful and modern houses of worship to be found in this part of the state.
St. John's Episcopal Church
It was in the late 70s that the Rt. Rev. T. H. Vail, the first Bishop of the Episcopal church in Kansas, visited Great Bend and bap- tized the children of some of the church fam- ilies then living here. Among these pioneer members of the church are found the names of Poole, Grimes, Livington, Shore, Manning, Ogle and Moss. These all at one time or another have done good work for the church, and of
these only Mrs. and Miss Poole are left to re- call the early struggle of this Mission.
Several years after Bishop Vail's visit, his successor, Bishop Thomas, came to Great Bend and after looking over the field, arranged for services in the court house, which were held by the Rev. Dr. Beatty of Newton, and, after- ward, by the Rev. Kersey Thomas of Larned. These occasional services, however, soon laps-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ed, but with the advent of the Rev. B. Hartley who gave regular services from Larned, things began to look up. The German-Methodist church was rented for services and the pros- pect seemed to be very encouraging. Then came, as the first resident pastor, the Rev. W. Richmond, who was followed by Archdcacon Watkins giving occasional services.
While the Archdeacon was in charge, the congregation purchased the church, and now having a building of their own, church work began to take on a more roseate hue. The Rev.
L. G. Morony now came as pastor, and was followed by the Rev. Geo. Belsey, and the Rev. A. H. W. Anderson, all of whom did good work for the Master. Then came days of de- cline, the church, losing her strength chiefly by removals and the pastors who have come in the later days have been able to do scarcely more than minister to the few faithful ones left. These have been the Rev. H. M. Green, the Rev. J. C. Anderson and B. T. Bensted.
The present pastor of the church is Rev. Robert Francis Hill who is doing good work.
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal church was organ- ized in March, 1873, by Rev. A. Hartman, who remained for some time as the first pastor. The Rev. John McQuiston was presiding elder.
bought and the present church and a parson- age built. The church was dedicated January 16, 1887, by Rev. J. C. Hall, assisted by Rev. Enyart, the pastor. The present membership
0
M. E. Church, Great Bend
The first church building was erected in the fall of 1877, and dedicated on January 20, 1878, by Bishop Bowman. This church was sold in 1887, a new site, the present one was
of the church is 500, and all matters in con- nection with the congregation are in excellent condition. The present pastor is Rev. H. J. Cockerill.
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church of Great Bend, Kansas, was organized April 2, 1887. It started with sixteen members, viz: Fred J. Lewis and wife, S. M. Smith and wife, Lucinda Tucker, Mrs. C. J. Crilly, J. E. Patton and wife, J. A. Miller and wife, David Mathewson, wife and daughter, C. C. Lewis, Morgan Caraway and Mrs. M. E. Fouch. Rev. N. G. Collins of Dodge City, presided over the meeting at which the organization was effected. What are known as the New Hampshire Articles of Faith were read, and it was agreed that they fairly ex- pressed the Scriptural views of those entering the new church.
The following were the first officers: Dea- cons, Fred J. Lewis and David Mathewson; clerk, Morgan Caraway; treasurer, David Mathewson; S. S. Supt. J. E. Patton; trustees,
S. M. Smith, J. A. Miller, M. Caraway, J. E. Patton and C. C. Lewis. The young church seems to have gone without a pastor until Oc- tober, 1887, when Rev. G. E. Burdick entered upon the work, which, however, he soon re- signed.
The present pastor, Rev. E. H. H. Tubbs, is a native of Pulaski County, Ky. In his young manhocd he was a school teacher in his native county. His first pastorate was with his home church in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky., after which he was pastor at Browntown, Ind., four years, Free- landville, Ind., four years and Alfordsville, Ind. seven years. Then he came to Stafford, Kan- sas, for three and one-half years. This last work he resigned to accept the call to this field.
Presbyterian Church
Monday, May 5, 1885, by previous appoint- ments, Revs, J. C. McEnroy, D. Kingroy and J. H. Ralston, representing the Home Mis- sionary Committee or Larned Presbytery, con- vened in the M. E. church of Great Bend, for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church if the way appeared clear. Rev. D.
Kingroy preached a sermon on "Church Or- der." The way being clear an organization was effected, eleven members being received. Present membership 148. Present value of the church building and manse, $15,000. Rev. Wm. Westwood is the present pastor.
Christian Church
The Christian Church of this city was or- ganized on October 14, 1899 by Rev. J. M. McConnell, who was the first pastor, and under whose supervision the present church building was erected in the spring of 1900. The pres-
ent pastor is Rev. B. E. Parker. The member- ship of the congregation is 150, and the Sun- day school has an enrollment of 120. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has a membership of 65.
Roman Catholic Church
St. Rosa of Lima Church was built in 1878 under the direction of Father Lelix P. Swen- bergh and Father Ferdinand Wolf. For many years before that the community and Fort, while there was nothing here but Indians, were visited by Catholic Missionaries. Father Wolf held services here while he was stationed at Dodge City, until October 23, 1881, when Father Schurtz succeeded him. He was locat- ed at Ellinwood, as was also Father Epp, who followed him. In 1885 Father Disselkamp took charge and held until 1888. Under his pastor- ate the church building was moved to the loca- tion it has at this time. He also made some
extensive improvements. His successor was Father Hartman, and he was succeeded in 1888 by Father Kelley, who was the first resident priest. During his administration the bells were purchased. He was succeeded in 1893 by Father Browne, who was here during the hard- est years that any pastor of the congregation has ever seen. His successor was Father Pod- gorseck, and under his term the parish house was built. In 1901 he was succeeded by Father Weirsma, who in 104, was succeeded by Father Schultz then who was in turn succeeded by Father Hermanns. Father Hull is the present pastor.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
German Lutheran Church
Regular Lutheran preaching was begun in the city of Great Bend in September, 1905, services being conducted by the neighboring ministers alternately, first in the old school
still very small in numbers had the courage to do what seemed necessary for the progress of Lutheranism is this city, ie., to build a church house of their own. The new struc-
Lutheran Trinity Church
building and later in the present Baptist church. A congregation was organized Au-
gust 30, 1908, professing the doctrines as
taught by the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri
Synod. In the year 1910 the congregation,
ture shown in the picture was dedicated July 31, 1910, and bears the name Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church. Two weeks after the dedication the first permanent pastor, R. Graebner, was installed into office.
The Colored Churches
Great Bend has two colored congregations, the Baptists and Methodists. Both have hand- some church edifices and have grown greatly since their establishment. The Baptists organ-
ized about thirty years ago and the Methodists some time later. Rev. Raimy is pastor of the Baptist. Rev. Greenlee is the pastor of the Methodist church.
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
237
A CAKE THAT BROUGHT $677.50
F EBRUARY 25, 1874, the Odd Fellows lodge of Great Bend gave a grand ball which was the event of the season, and on this occasion there was a cake given to the one who received the largest number of votes at 25 cents per vote. According to old timers who attended the ball it was a swell affair. The following taken from the Barton County Progress, a newspaper published in Great Bend at that time, will give an idea of the event. We also print a likeness of the cake and Miss Typer, the winner. Miss Typer is now Mrs. Crocker of Hoisington:
"Of course it was an Odd Fellows ball and if the secret meetings of this order are as
vision had been made for all who were there.
"After supper Judge Martin, at the solici- tation of some of his friends, consented to auc- tion off a big cake that had been made by Mrs. Faussel, and presented to the lodge. The cake was a handsome pyramid of the sweetest com- .pounds, weighing about 60 pounds and highly ornamented with symbols of the Odd Fellows lodge.
"The cake was offered to be voted for at 75 cents per vote, and was to be given to the most popular young lady in the hall. The vot- ing commenced with four votes for Miss Hattie Wells . Miss Mollie Typer received twenty votes, and somebody just in fun dug up six
Miss Typer, Now Mrs. Crocker of Hoisington
pleasant and harmonizing as was the ball of last night the order is truly symbolical of the letters F. L. T. The music was excellent and the Great Bend string band's repertoire would do credit to a musical organization of the largest cities.
Dancing commenced about 8 o'clock aud continued until 5 in the morning. The ladies' toilets were magnificent. A great many of Great Bend's women were dressed richly and handsomely and exceedingly good taste was displayed. We venture to say that the toilets displayed at the gubernatorial ball at Topeka recently were not superior to those seen at the ball last night. The dancing was in the court- room at the court house while the refresh- ments were served in the clerk's office. The refreshments were delicious and ample pro-
bits for three votes for Pollie Parkins, there being no such person in the assemblage. At the end of the first ten minutes the vote stood : Miss Typer, 180; Miss Wells, 170. By this time Mr. Markwort was championing the cause of Miss Typer while G. L. Brinkman was leading the Wells forces in the battle of ballots. After twenty minutes the vote stood: Miss Typer, 500; Miss Wells, 490. Then the voting was fast and furious and, finally after 2,700 votes had been cast, the auctioneer an- nounced that Miss Wells and Miss Typer were tied with 1,350 votes each. Then there were ten votes added to Miss Typer's list and as the other side made no more offers she was announced the winner and the lodge was rich- er by $677.50."
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
FIRST NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION
(From Great Bend Tribune, January 29, 1909.)
A couple of weeks ago we received a letter from Dr. Lightfoot. The letter is published first, and is then followed by considerable matter from the Tribune of Janury 3, 1830, concerning the reception of that date, and oth- er New Year's news:
Mr. Will Townsley, Editor Tribune, Great Bend, Kansas. Dear Sir: In reading your ac- count of the New Year festivities in Great Bend, my mind went back to the beginning of the custom, and I thought it might be of inter- est to your readers to hear of it.
Eighteen-eighty being leap year I suggest- ed to some of the then young men of the town, that on New Year's Day we entertain the la- dies. At that time I had an office over Allen's drug store. Cal Weaver and E. W. Moses had a nicely furnished room near mine, and after some consultation we decided to use these rooms for our purpose-my office being used as a kitchen, presided over by Mose Wells, an old time darkey and the other room was con- verted into a reception room, by removing the bed and instituting a dining table in its place.
The reception party of five consisted of Cal Weaver, E. W. Moses, Will Moses, Ora Dodge and myself. I was appointed to receive at the door, Ora Dodge and E. W. Moses took charge of the refreshment table, and Will and Cal took a hand where it would do the most good. Quite a number of ladies, married and single, called, also some of the gentlemen. Prominent among the young girls who are still living in Great Bend were Miss Jennie Pursell, now Mrs. Castle and Miss Annie Wood, now Mrs. E. W. Moses.
The next year many of the ladies received calls, and D. N. Heizer originated the idea of a reception in the evening, he inviting those who received and made calls to his home, then the little cottage on the east side next to the Diffenbacher residence. This custom contin- ued for some years, but even when the calling was dropped the evening reception has con- tinued until the present day. It has been a great element in the social life of Great Bend and I hope it may long continue. Of the orig- inal five who received in 1880 all are living but Cal Weaver. I am,
Very respectfully yours, DR. FRANK LIGHTFOOT,
Excelsior Springs, Mo., 1-12-'09
In his letter Dr. Lightfoot says, the custom of having a ball in the evening originated the next year with D. N. Heizer. D. N. was un- doubtedly instrumental in promoting the mat- ter, but that same night of which the doctor writes, a big Leap Year ball was given at which the gentlemen were the guests of the ladies. Many of the couples noted in the write-up of the affair were afterwards married to each other, but we expect the ladies will deny that Leap Year had anything to do with the matter.
The write-up of the ball from the Tribune of January 3, 1880, is as follows:
"The Leap Year ball was the most pleasant one of the season. It was gotten up by the ladies who took advantage of the fourth year wherein they enjoyed certain privileges not ac- corded them often. They managed the affair in a business way, selected their company to suit themselves and for once in their lives -- if never before-had things all their way. We give the names of all who took part in the ex- ercises, and will say now, should there be any emission, we hope the ladies will not pounce en us, for it was with much labor and exceed- ing great embarrassment that we procured the list, in so large an assembly. It is possible that some may have escaped our observation: Mary Birdsell and James Hincheliff, Mrs. Sooy and husband, and E. W. Johnson, Mrs. E. R. Meses, husband and M. B. Fitts, Miss Zachary and Jchn Ccgan, Jennie Pursell, Ed Dunaway and Mr. Losecamp, Ada Birdsell and W. Kelly, Mrs. Frank Wilson and W. W. Kearney, Bessie Johnson and Frank Wilson, May Kelly and Dr. Castle, Mrs. Hulme and Geo. Kellar and Mr. Hulme, Emma Mitchell and Will Webster, Lizzie Dodge and Frank Peffer, Luella Miller and Will Stoke, Nettie Dick and Mr. Osmond, Mrs. Long and D. N. Heizer, Mrs. Heizer and Fred Long, Mrs. Wells and J. M. Fugate, Mrs. Doty and Wm. Maher, lillie Arnold and G. W. Wells, Mrs. John Lightbody and husband, Mrs. Evans and James Sweet, Mrs. Sweet and G. A. Evans, Mrs. S. B. Stokly and husband, Flo Diffenbacher and Will Dunaway, Ella Brown and John Taylor, Mrs. J. B. Mulks and hus- band, Mrs. Chaffee and Mrs. A. S. Allen and husband, Jennie Flint and Dr. Gebhart, Grace Buckland and Will Moses, Laura Lewis and W. M. James, Belle Brown and Ora Dodge, Mrs. Chapman and W. W. Winstead, Mrs. Win- stead and E. L. Chapman, Anna Wood and Ed Moses, Mrs. Kidder and husband, Stella Eastey and Fred Zutavern, Mrs. Rowell and husband, Maggie Dodge and George E. Mitch- ell, Mrs. G. L. Brinkman and Dr. Bain, Hattie Wells and G. L. Brinkman, Jessie Prescott and Clarence Birdsall, Mrs. Pickering and husband.
The dance lasted until five o'clock the next morning and the large hall was densely crowded. Supper was served at the Typer house. The managers of the ball will have enough left for new spring bonnets and other absolute necessities. The ladies established a rule forbidding any gentleman from leaving the hall until the close of the ball. Numerous efforts were made during the evening to es- cape on one pretext or another, but George Moses being doorkeeper, it was a waste of time to plead for 'breath of air.' The ladies set an example for the men in the expeditious man- ner in which they filled their engagement cards which occupied a remarkably short interval.
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
The result of it was that those who came late were unable to find partners.
In the Tribune of January 3, 1880, we find the following notices: Cal Weaver, Ed and Will Moses, Dr. Lightfoot and Ora Dodge kept open house Thursday and were visited by all the ladies who made calls. They received in the rooms of these gentlemen in Allen's build- ing up stairs and were elegantly fitted up with a beautiful supply of good things. They were the happiest set of mortals on earth and only regret that they had but one short day in three hundred and sixty-five to throw themselves away on ladies.
The following ladies honored the Tribune sanctum with their presence Thursday: Jes- sie Prescott, Stella Eastey, Mary Birdsall, Ada Birdsall, Jennie Flint, Emma Mitchell, Mrs. E. R. Moses, Mrs. G. L. Brinkman, Jessie Mil- ler, Belle Zachary, Mrs. Scoy, Mrs. Long, Miss Dick, Jennie Pursell, Ella Brown, Belle Brown, Mrs. John Lightbody, Mrs. A. S. Allen and Mrs. A. C. Moses.
We tender our thanks to the above ladies who won us with a call. We appreciate the compliment greatly, enjoyed their visits and wish them all a happy new year, and fondly hope that each succeeding day cf 1880 to its clase may be as happy a cne to them as the first one was to us.
Signed, Wm. Moses, Cal Weaver, Dr. Light- foct, Ora Dodge and Ed Moses.
But though these dashing young blades were the ones to follow the idea of a reception, the idea spread, as witness the following no- tice in the paper of the week before, and which was largely as a joke on the part of the editor cf the Tribune: "January the first is the be- ginning of the Leap Year and we are authorized to announce that the following young gentle-
men will keep open house for the accommoda- tion of such young ladies as may feel inclined to assert the privileges which the new year ac- cords to them: Wm. Naher, assisted by his brother, Stanley, and George Stovall; E. W. Johnson assisted by Ed and Will Dunaway; Cal Weaver, assisted by Drs. Gebhart and Lightfoot; W. M. James, assisted by M. D. Skinner and Henry Moore; Frank Eastey, (if he don't go to the country,) assisted by Ora Dodge and Lynn Moses; Ed Moses, assisted by his brothers Will and Cash: (N. B .- Owing to the peculiar circumstances of which the public seem better posted than he does, Clayt will not take an active part in this business.) Clarence Birdsall, assisted by James Hinch- cliff and John Cogan; Joe Howard, assisted by Ran Goit-no providential hindrance-and Ira D. Brougher; Will Stoke, assisted by James Clayton and Elrick C. Cole; (this is regarded as a sure thing all around.) Joey D. Fugate, assisted by the following kids: Ned Goit, Al- bert Kergs and Sammy Keifer; Wm. Webster, assisted by Wm. Kelly and Frank Peffer; Hen- T'y Moss, assisted by John, Al and Art; ladies over thirty ruled out; Wm. Osmond, assisted by Tom Clayton and Charley Carney; girls under fifteen strictly. W. W. Carney, no dis- crimination as to age but brunettes preferred ; Win. Losecamp, assisted by Wm. Teed and others. No reserved seats.
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