https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/17/505/Families-P_Q.pdf 1d2cd9f4732e71f40080e30b3e7ad2e7 PDF Text Text Francie. Frances Emma La-pe was born December 16, 1923, to Henry and Lydia (Walz) Lampe on a farm twelve miles west and two south of St. Francis. She was the fourth child with two eisters: Ella (Mrs. Bus Johnson) and Nina (Mrs. Harold Raile), and two brothers: Leland and Harvey. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, fourteen miles southwest of St. Francis. She attended parochial school here, also Pleasant Hill and East Gurney schools, graduated in 1937. Later she earned her High School diploma by correspondence. Frances went to Denver, CO. after gradua- tion and worked for Montgomery Ward and Co. in the Mail Order transferring office. She later worked at Stapleton Airport as a Roto- Bin-Clerk, where they modified B-29 airplanes during the war. Her brother, Leland, was in the service and when Harvey was called to serve his country, she went back home to help her parents with the farmwork. After marriage, Hehnuth and Frances built a new home and lived at 521 S. Scott in St. Francis. They have two children: Dennis Deloy, born March 10, 1949; and JoEllen Sue, born November 2, L95L. Helmuth worked as a Laboratory Technician for the Bureau of Reclnmation from 1948 to 1951, while Bonny Dam, Hale, CO, was being built. It was completed in 1951. He then worked for P.M.A. until 1953, when he and Frances decided to go into business for themselves. They built and operated the Dairy King and two and one-half years later built the A.&W. Rootbeer, leasing it out. In the Spring of 1959, they sold both establishments and moved to Burlington, CO. In August they opened Orth's Skogmo Store, now Orth's Dept. Store, which they still own and operate. Their son Dennis, and wife Jean, are in the business with them. Dennis married Jean Yvonne Heider of Omaha, NE. They have one child, Sterling David, born August 12, 1986. JoEllen maried Timothy Beattie of Aukland, New Zealand. Helmuth and Frances both like, to play bridge, and enjoy fishing and golfing. Frances was the "Lucky Ace" to get the first "Holein-One" on Burlington's new golf course, July 31, 1973. No one will beat that! They both enjoy traveling, and have traveled the U.S. from East to West, North to South, including Hawaii, nine foreign countries and islands, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Africa, Canari Islands, Bahama Islands, Germany, Canada, and Mexico. They have been to some beautiful places, but still like the Good Old U.S.A. by Frances Orth OSTROWSKI, JOSEF AND FRANCES F490 1909 Homeetead Days ofJosefand Frances Ostrowski and family in Kit Carson County, Flagler, Colorado. Josef Ostrowski and Frances (Groffin) Ostrowski were born and raised in Jarnova, Poland. Josef learned the plumbing trade in Jarnova. Theycnme toBoston, Mass. in 1887, then on to the southern states to find work. They worked in the cotton fields picking cotton in Miesissippi, Alabo-a and Texas for several years. Later the family moved to St. Paul Minnesota where Josef worked with a plumber, digging trenches and laying pipe. He came to Flagler, Colorado in 1909 and took a homestead 1872 miles northwest of Flagler in Kit Carson County. His wife Frances and their two youngest sons, Vincent, age l0 years old and John, aged 12 years old made the trip to Colorado July 4, 1910 to their new home. Joeef worked in Denver during the winter months to buy a team of horses and two cows, also what machinery he needed to farm with. Josef and Frances lived on the farm until Frances passed away in 1935. Josef passed away in 1941. Vincent, the youngest son, spent his early years helping his father improve and farm the land. His father suffered a stroke while working in Denver in he early days, which left his arm paralyzed. Vincent married a neighbor girl, Cecilia Andrewjeski, on November 3, 1931. They bought the home place and raised their 5 children there. They have retired now and their sons Robert and Js-es have taken over the farm. by Cecilia Ostrowski Lorraine manied George A. Simon, son of George R. and Ruth Simon of Seibert on November 17, 1946. They moved from Flagler in 1955. Marian lived with D.V. Rowden fanily and graduated from Flagler High School. She died of leukemia in 1951. Fred and Agnes farmed with her father for five years before they bought what was to become Otteman's Cash Store in 1950. The brick building on Main Street in Flagler was built in about 1911 and has housed not only a store but the Flagler News, the Flagler Post Office, and later the First National Bank of Flagler. The building had apartments upstairs that many young couples started out in. The apartments are now closed and the bank has moved into their own building. The USDA Soil Conservation Service now is housed in the building. Fred continued to develop the locker and meat business by building the slaughter house in South Flagler in 1963. All four of their children, Gail, Carl, Marla and Mark, became familiar with the business, helping in all phases. Daughters, Gail and Marla, became school teachers and son, Carl,. graduated with a degree in Business Admin- istration and is the Business Manager at LaJunta Medical Center in Lalunta, Colorado. After Fred closed out the grocery business OTTEMAN FAMILY F491 Frederick A. Otteman and Lillian Rathert were married in Colorado Springs, May 19, 1921. Mr. Otteman was an immigrant from in 1978 and concentrated on the meat business, son Mark graduated from Colorado State University and joined his father in the family business becoming the third generation Otteman to become a Flagler businessman. When Fred died of cancer in 1980, Mark bought the family business and continues to Germany and his wife was born and raised in Kansas. They moved to Flagler soon after their marriage. They owned farmland in both Lincoln County and Kit Carson County. This land was rented out for farming. Mr. Otteman became a Flagler businessman when he opened a bakery with a partner by the nnme of Mr. Werner. Mr. Otteman had suffered a sunstroke at an earlier age and became a familiar sight walking downtown from the family home on Main Street carrying his black umbrella. The fanily was very active in Zion Lutheran Church in Flagler. Mrs. Otteman was a renowned cook and baker and during the 30's when the bakery closed, she maintained her family by baking in her home. operate it. Agnes worked as Public Health Nurse for Kit Carson County for thirteen years before she accepted the new position in 1979 with Centennial Mental Health Center to provide Elizabeth died in infancy. Daughters, The horse was so was the rider. It was 5fi) miles from -Peru, Nebraska to They were parents of four children. Mary Lorraine and Marian, not only helped their mother in the kitchen but delivered the baked goods to homes in Flagler. Son, Fred, also helped his mother in the kitchen. During the 30's Mr. Otteman bought seed wheat for his renters to plant back when they failed to raise enough for seed. The mother died in 1941, leaving a young family. The father died in 1943, leaving the youngest, Marian, still in high school. Lorraine and Fred had graduated from Flagler High School by that time. Lorraine entered St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in Denver. Fred (algo Frederick A. Otteman) joined the Navy during World War II and served in the Pacific aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Colohan as an Electrician's Mate. After the end of the war, Fred married Agnes Huntzinger, daughter of Sidney V. and Gerda Huntzinger on December 2, 1945. Fred's wife, Agnes, and sister, Lorraine, both graduated from St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. the geriatrics nursing for the Center for Region V, a position she still holds in 1986. by Agnes Otteman PAGE, FRED AND AGNES F4S2 jagged Flagler, Colorado, and Fred Page with all his property tied behind the saddle had followed the trail by the Rock Island Railroad to Rice's place in Flagler. There he had applied for a homestead, was to bring his bride - a school teacher also from Nebraska Agnes Black - and on that Blank - Page and that bleak prairie, write the story of their family. They would shove three homestead shacks together, plaster the out- side and build a house and a home for themselveg and the five children of their marriage - Betty, Margaret, Avis, Agnes and Don. But if the prairie and the structure of their house was bleak, their home was fun, warm, cultured and varied. Fred had been a semi-orphan, living with anyone who had work to do in exchange for board and room. He was immensely proud of his wife and family and constantly reminded them how lucky he felt to have them. Far �from having the stereotyped upbringing we hear of the times, he taught his girls they could be anything they were willing to work @\t lilnitril frtuttx uf Arnlriru, to be. itro sll to nfion tlrrr yrurrrlt r$ull romr, 6nrting: I especially remember his sitting down at the head of the table, looking from face to face about it thoughtfully and saying, "How lucky is the man who can come home to this at the end of a day's work." Agnes, despite the grinding hard work of a ranch wife, the extremely meticulous care of a son with cardiac anomaly (who did far better than anyone dared to let them hope) maintained an atmosphere of joy and some time for music, literature and fun. This couples' interests were their family, Agnes'family, their ranch, and their community. They backed everything they felt was good for the community school, - church, recreation grounds, the country club (twelve farnilies who would eat and spend the day together once monthly 100 - sometimee persons). He the Democratic party, she the Republican. They were interested in friends and neighbors. The doctor's family, the teachers, the bankers, the immigrants who talked with a brogue and dressed funny, the new neighbors from Missouri that were so abrasive no other neighbors dealt with them, the "old maid" who struggled to farm alone, the man who advertised for a wife and got one as socially inadequate as he, the man who had had both legs cut off by a train yet was cheerful and independent. WHEREAS' a Certlffcate of the Reglster of the Land ofice at liuGo, 0oLORADot hs bosn deposilod In tho General Land ofrce' wh€reby it app0a,3 that' pursuant to the Act of Congro$ of ]{ry 20r 1862, ,'To S€cure Homcsteads to Actual Settlerc or tho Publlc Domaln"' and tho act! supplemontal th€f€tor the chlm of FilED TJ. PAGE har beon ostlbllsh€d rnd duly consummatodr In conformlty to law, for tho NORIHEAST QIJaRTER oF s€cTl ON Nl NE- TEEN I N TOWNSHI P EI GHT SUUTh OF RANGE FI FTY WEST Of IhE $I XTIT PRI NCI PAL ME- Bl0tAN, 0oLoRAoo, 0oNrAtNlNG oNE nuNDRE0 SIxTY A0riES, accordlng to the 0fficlal Plat of tho Survey of the.sld [rnd, returned to the GEIIERA! tAt{D OtFlCE by the Suneyor-ienenl: t{ow Kllow YE, That there ls, therefore, gnnted by the UNITED STATES unto th€ sld chlmant thc tnct of Land abovo dsr$lbsdi T0 IIAVE Al{D T0 tloLD the said tract of [and, with the appurienances lhereof' unto tho sld claimant and to the holrs and assigns of the sid claimant forever; subject to any vested and accrued wat6r rlghts for mining' agrlcultuml, manrfacturlnt, of oth€r pu.poselr and rights t0 ditch$ and resenolrs ussd In connection wlth such wator righls' a! may bo recognizod and acknowledgod bytho local customs' laws' and decislons 0f courtsi and lhero ls resened from tho lands hereby granted' a tight of way theroon for dltche8 0r canals conrtructod by tho authorlty of the United Statos, This couple who met in a graveyard at Peru, Nebraska, have met at one in Flagler, Colorado. I miss them when it's Sunday night calling time. I miss them when it storms and we'd be out rounding up the cattle. I misg ll{ TESTIM0I{Y WHERE0f' l, them when I'm disappointed and want a warm place to relax or when I'm proud and know if I brag it's o.k. a little, - they'll brag too. But that is not strange we are only allowed two parents apiece. rJ I LL I Alrt fi. TAFT Prcsldent 0t tho Unltod Siat$ of Amorlm, havc caused theso letisn to bo mrdo Pddf, ud th! sed oflts Crn.nl lr"i{ n6.. lo hci!ruto.Rr./ - GIYEN undor my hand, rr tho clty of Ytuhlngton, llvEt{TY'tlfTll In the yoar of our Lord ono thou&nd day of by Avis Bray M.D. the 'UI.Y nlne hundred and TWELVE Unitod states the one hundred rnd rnd of tho Indeosndonco of thc THIRTY-SEVEi{TH' PAGE, FRED J. AND AGNES F493 One of the reasons life was far simpler in the very early 1900's was that the range of choices in career planning (or any other planning, for that matter) was extremely limited. Therefore, when Margaret Agnes Blank, a native of Creighton (Knox County) Nebraska decided that it was time to improve her teaching skills with a college education her decision as to the location of the college was already made. Nebraska had only one state supported college and it was at Peru on the Missouri River south of Nebraska City Peru State Normal as teachers colleges were then called "Normals." She, as many others, had taught in one room country schools after completion of the 10th grade and had then gone back and finished high school. Now she was ready for an education that would make it possible to teach in "town" schools. In college at Peru she met a young man, a native of Peru, also attending but part-time as he was an orphan and, in addition to himself, was supporting a younger sister. By the year Agnes graduated, 1907, they were RECoRDED, Paton'rumber 286091 Fred J. Page Land Patent. engaged - but not in the near future for he, Fred Joseph Page, was leaving the same week of her graduation to go to Flagler, Colorado in order to look over possible homesteads. He found one about five miles northeast of town and promptly took out papers to improve and claim. She, in the meantime, taught in such "city" schools as Fremont and others in Nebraska, all the time saving (as this Scotswoman would always do) for the day they would marry and need start-up money very badly indeed. Meanwhile, back at the ranch between 1907 and 1913, Fred "improved" the 160 acre claim and built a 12 x 16 structure in which he "batched" when not going back to Nebraska to visit Agnes. Most of his time, however, was working (a) on his own place from early morning darkness to late evening darkness or (b) for neighbors, working the same hours for one dollar a day. He was pretty much a stand- by hired hand for the Robbs, Schwins, Kliewers and others - known, Among other reasons, for his strength and endurance. By the spring of 1913, Agnes had the magnificent sum of 9265 saved and they were married at Creighton on March 8th of that year. The Creighton newspaper carried the story under the heading, "Blank-Page Nuptials." Fred, whose sense of humor owed little to sophistication, would comment in future years that he had looked for a wife but drew a Blank. The honeymoon was the train ride from Creighton to Flagler where fellow homesteader Aubrey Walker, with tea- and buggy, met them at the station and drove them to the farm-house Fred had rented (the "improvements" on the homestead did not �yet include a livable dwelling) for his bride. This house, 3% milee due west of town still stands and is now owned by Monty Strodes. On arrival, the new Mrs. Page joined the Congregational Church - Fred had been a charter member a few years earlier and also, at that time. President of the Christian Endeavor, the young people's society. In their leased home, Bethayne (Betty), now Mrs. Lloyd Robinson of Sandpoint, Idaho, was born in 1914 and Margaret, now Mrs. Fred Nemoede of Cambria, Calif., was born in 1915. Shortly after Margaret's birth the house was completed on the homestead and they moved to what was to become their permanent home until 1949. This home, by the way, was built in the following manner: first, Fred's original bachelor shack, 12 x 16, was attached to an identical structure on their long, i.e., 16 foot sides. Then a kitchendining area was added across the east end and a bedroom across the west end and an attic above. Pretty basic but fully as good as most and somewhat better than others as far as livability was concerned. The building no longer stands. Here, however, Avis was born in 1917, now Dr. Avis Bray of Concordia, Kansas, and Agnes was born in 1919, now Mrs. Clair Loutzenhiser of Flagler. Not content with leaving well enough alone, thing holding this farm together is mortgages and baling wire and I think I just ran out of baling wire." It is difficult to find the slightest trace of self-pity there. In the 1940's crme war. came rains for the parched earth and came reasonable prices for cattle, land and farm products. They, like all of the others who had stuck it out. who had persevered, reached financial security bordering, in retrospect at least, prosperity. At the closing of the 1940's they moved into town, travelled a good deal and lived in comfort. Fred raised a garden that came near to supplying the entire town of Flagler. Agnes was on the Library Board until her death and they were in countless card and supper clubs. Fred, who had been born 2-10-85, died just two days before Thanksgiving in 1967. Agnes insisted on staying on and living alone, died on September 21, 1969. She had been born on 10-29-85. Their wish, now fulfilled, was to be buried side by side near old and dear friends in the Flagler Cemetery. by Donald Page PAINE, MARY F494 Paine, and her daughter, Bertha Gulley, and her family. My Grandma Paine never forgot her first morning on the prairie. She awoke early and went outside for a look at the country she was to call her home. She had never seen a mirage, as she had always lived in wooded areas. On this morning the mirage was very clear; trees and water appeared on the horizon. She had not noticed them the evening before and thought what a pretty place this was. She went back in the house to eat her breakfast and then went back outside to find that the trees and water had di- sappeared and only the sage, tall prairie grass and soap weeds remained, stretching into the far horizon. She wrote ofthis to her youngest daughter, Mary, in Missouri. Upon reading it, Aunt Mary burst into tears and said, "I knew poor old Ma would go crazy if she went way out there!" Far from going crazy, Mary soon becane known as a dear little old lady who knew a lot about cures and medicine. She had cures for most ailments such as, 6amphor for nervousness to different teas for "Summer Complaint". She assisted at the birth of many ' babies and with all childhood diseases. Grandma seemed to have a little ESP, although that erpression was unheard of then. Her daughters often told of their Donald (now of Placerville, Calif.) was born inL924. All five attended first through 12th grades in Flagler. Incidentally, Avis becnme the only female graduate of Flagler High School to go on to become an M.D. The Pages were unique in some respects. First of all, they were Democrats and while this did not actually qualify as a disgrace, it did prove unorthodox in the extreme. Secondly, Fred did not like to farm at all - his mother getting out of bed one night at involved 400 to 450 head of Herefords and around 75 Percherons and riding (Quarter) horses. Going back to the subject of Democrats for a moment, while it would be untrue to state that all Flagler Democrats could be wild geraniums reaching out as far as the road. This patch of ground, when in bloom, was a solid orange-red. Grandma never midnight and starting to dress. She explained that a neighbor lady, who had a three day old baby, had just died and she was going to get the baby. When they ask her how she knew, she said that the woman's soul had just passed over the house crying, "Take care of my baby", and that is just what she did. I spent many days with Grandma while my mom helped Dad with field work. She always had plenty of time for me and was never anything but kind. By then she was in her sixties and had given up most of her doctoring. My mother, Bertha Gulley, took her place in tending the sick. In Grandma's yard there grew a patch of love was raising Hereford cattle and Percheron horses. Farming was only a necessary evil to help keep mortgage payments made. From their basic 160 acre homestead, a ranch close to 5,000 acres evolved, some of it, of course, leased land. Peak production years probably wanted any of these flowers picked. She was as proud of them as she would have been of a garden of tame flowers. Not many flowers counted on one hand, you could count them on two hands with a finger or two left over. From up north there were the Ja-eses and Moores. Cloeer in were the Walkers, the Pages, the Robbs. In town, the Borlands and, later, the T. Guards and finally the one, the only and the inimitable Leroy Cuckow - and if you weren't already on somewhat shaky ground even being a Democrat, having Cuckow among your number pretty much were planted and grown in those days. However, the prairie was beautiful in the early summer with the wild pink phlox growing all over the sandhills, the clumps of purple sweet peas, the white sand lilies, and the tall spikes of bluebells. The blue-gray sage added it's fragrance to the land. Grandma and I would take longwalks and pickhugh bouquets. Mary Paine died on March 2,L935, during the "dust bowl" days. Inside our homes, dust fixed you. The 1930's with the double-wha-my of drought and depression, touched this family just as hard, but no harder, than countless other farmers and ranchers. They, like the others, lived nlmost devoid of cash income and hung on by the skin of their teeth for a very simple reason: there was virtually nothing else that could be done and pride in self-reliance would not tolerate quitters. But there were unusual aspects to those terribly, terribly hard days. There was damned little self-pity. People laughed, they cared for and about each other. There was a tremendous "we're all in the same boat" attitude among the people. Hardships could actually produce humor - I remember how frequently Fred quoted a neighbor's statement that "the only Bertha Gulley and her mother, Mary Paine, at the home of Opal Boger at Vona in 1930. covered everything; the food, furniture, clothing, etc. After the wind stilled, about My grandmother, Mary Eliza Castor, was born in Dublin, Indiana on March 28, L846. Before her 18th birthday she was a wife, a mother, and a widow. At the age of nineteen sundown, we would sweep down the walls and curtains and shake out the bedcovers getting as much ofthe dust as we could onto the floor then sweep it up into piles and scoop it out. At the time of my Grandma Paine's death, we had to hold a sheet across her bed to keep the she married Dr. John Paine. He was a country doctor and his practice extended many miles, centering around Hutton Valley, Missouri. After their marriage, Mary often accompanied him on his calls to visit the sick. Many times she remained in the patient's home to care for them. Dr. Paine died in 1900 and in 1909 Mary came to the Stratton area with her son, Oscar dust out of her eyes and mouth. At her funeral, the dirt was terrible and we could hardly see to leave the cemetery. She was buried at Kirk beside her two sons Oscar and Claude. by Opal Boger �PAINTIN, GAROLD AND JEAN F495 Garold is a native of Stratton but I was transplanted from Towner, Colorado to Bird City, Kansas and rural Cheyenne County, Kansas then back to Seibert, Colorado before my parents, Lawrence and Clara McGriff put down roots. Garold and I were married in the First Methodist Church at Colorado Springs, Colorado August 20, L949. Garolds parents, George and Agnes Paintin and my parents had instilled the knowledge ofhard work in both ofus. They gave us their blessings. Our first home for our ranching career was the little two room house across the river east Tony married Susie Knodel, daughter of Ruth and Lawrence Knodel of Burlington. They are the parents of Christina Elizabeth, Kathleen Renae, and Lisa Ann. Marilyn married David Cranmer of Colorado Springs and they have a daughter, Julie Marie and a son, Williem Scott. We are enjoying the privilege of being grandparents and look forward to years to come. by Jean Paintin PAINTIN, GEORGE AND AGNES F496 of the Paintin parents on the Elzy Newby property. We had no electricity or running water but we did have a battery operated radio. There were no clothes closets except the two nails on the back ofthe door. I vowed to change that. My knowledge of the carpentry trade began with the process of putting my closet together. Dad Paintin appeared and gave me some help along with some good advice. He said "it is never to expensive, if you do it yourself'. Garold served in the U.S. Army for two in the Army attached to the Air Force. Our daughter, Marilyn Sue was born while we the England Air Force Base at Alexandria, Louisiana. We cs-e home in February 1956. While we were traveling with the Army the cattle prices were down and the dirt wae blowing here. Joe Paintin had taken our 'cattle to his place north of Burlington. He put up thistles and anything else available for a feed supply but eventually had to sell most Waterwas piped in from the adobe wellhouse easier. A traveling salesman cnme with a new Home Comfort cookstove. This beauty was soon installed in the new kitchen. A new gas engine Deluxe Maytag washing machine caught Dad's eye. This machine served the Leo and Agnes Paintin Wedding picture, Oct. 14, were gone. We moved a mobile home in to be close by to help. After his death January 16, 1908, Hill City, Kansas. 1957, we purchased the home place and George Edward Paintin and Agnes Elizabeth Garner began their life together October 14, 1908 at Hill City, Kansas. Their first four years were spent near Morland, Kansas. Letters came to them from Agnes' brother, Joe Garner and his wife Susie. They had come to Colorado in August 1911 and settled on a claim ten miles north and two miles west of We started their music education early. Tony decided two years was long enough for him but Marilyn continued studying piano and organ with Lola Kechter for nine years. The flute was her band instrument. She participated with music in Church and school. She continues enjoying music by teaching. Marilyn and Tony both loved horses. Several years were spent as members of the Country 4-H Club. We were all members of the original Stratton Roping Club. I enjoyed the Stratton Homemakers Extension Club membership. Our carpentry skills learned over the years were put to use when we built our new home in 1977. catalog. Nothing was wasted. Quilt tops were made from new scraps and used material was made into braided rugs. This machine lasted her a life time. Trees were planted in the early years. Water was carried to them to insure their life. Some are still standing today. A large garden was planted yearly with the surplus being preserved for winter use. Butchering, curing and canning their meat was an annual event. to a gink with an outside drain to make life of them. two years. were purchased at the Fuller General Store in Stratton or from the Montgomery Ward and Doris. Leroy died at birth. About 1919 they had outgrown the little sod house so a new four room adobe house was built. A new kitchen with a basement was added in 1929. were there. Six weeks later we were sent to after each event. Marilyn and Tony are both graduates of the Stratton High School. Marilyn also went on to graduate from Northeastern Junior College at Sterling, Colorado. She received the Jack Petty's award to help her thru the sewing machine made the job easier. Supplies The family grew to a total of ten children. Joe was their first born in Colorado followed by Ivan, Gladys, Leona, Leroy, Wilda, Garold Force Base at Mineral Wells, Texas. He wae fire in June 1963 made us count our blessings Aydelot, come to stay in with them. Mending was a never ending job. A prized possession of a new twelve dollar treadle Prairie chicken and cottontail rabbits occa- to Ft. Ord, California, then to Wolters Air Mother Paintin moved to Stratton. Our son Tony Ray was born April 6, 1957. A car accident with injuries to Garold and Marilyn in September 1959 and a disastrous from the cook and heating stoves. She worried about leaving the small children alone so she had a neighbor girl, Cora sionally changed the menu. When a new supply of lard was rendered any from the previous year was made into soap. years. He was inducted May 24, 1954 and sent Dad Paintin's health had failed while we Uncle Joe and Aunt Susie helped them get settled. Work began before dawn and ended at dusk. George returned to Kansas in the fall to pick the corn crop they had left behind.Agnes stayed behind to keep the chores done. She had to milk the cows, feed and water horses, pigs, and the chickens besides doing her everyday outside chores of getting in wood, cobs, water and carry out the ashes Stratton. They wrote of property that was available for reclaiming which joined them to the east. Along with their small daughter Eva and baby son Guy, they let their pioneer spirit guide them to Colorado in the summer of 1912. Most of their possessions along with the chickens were in one covered wagon and the other carried their beds and clothing. They trailed their milk cows behind. As they approached the property, they were impressed with the view. Behind them to the east was the dry Republican River and to the west were slightly rolling hills covered with knee high grass. They settled on the reclaimed quarter section of land. The property had a good well, a two room sod house, a lean-to barn and one scrawny tree. They traded one covered wagon to the fellow that held the claim on the land and he headed back east. family faithfully for years. A big red barn with a hayloft replaced the little lean-to barn. Their cattle herd started with a variety of breeds but progressed to be predominantly Black Angus. They carried the Quarter Circle Triangle brand. A herd of horses were kept for work and pleasure. At one time Dad sold horses to the U.S. Cavalry for extra money to pay the property taxes. After a long life of ranching and enjoying his children and grandchildren, Dad went to his heavenly home Januar5r 16, 1957. Mother went to join him on November 25, 1961. The original quarter section ofland grew to 1440 acres and was purchased by Garold. Their beginning created ten children, twenty four grand-children, forty five great grand-chil- dren and four great-great-grand-children thru May 1986. by Jean Paintin �PALMER, EUGENE AND SYLVIA helped start Dakota Bible College at Ar- lington. Eugene taught classes and Sylvia took classes. During his ministry at Lamar, Nebraska, their son, Eugene Rogeray Palmer was born Jan. 30, 1946. During his ministry (ROGERS) F4g7 at Burlington their son, Paul Andrew Palmer was born April 13, 1948, at Vona at the home of Harry and Amelia Howell with Dr. V.M. Hewitt the attending physician assisted by his wife, Edith Hewitt. We moved back to Vona in June 1948 and again Eugene preached for the Vona Church of Christ. He also did other jobs: section crew, plumbing jobs, ran the creem station, and they operated the Vona & Joes Telephone Exchange in Vona for several years until it went dial in 1958. In 1951 Eugene started working with the Colorado Dept. of Highways with the survey crew and retired from it in L972. Eugene Palmer family. L. to R.: Rogeray, Sylvia, Eugene, and Paul. Taken on their 25th Anniversary open house celebration on August 28, 1966. January 3, 1955, we had the misfortune of losing our frnme house in Vona and all its contents by fire without any insurance. Vona didn't have any fire truck then but within a few days they purchased one. By pick and shovel and wheel barrow, Eugene dug a basement and built a concrete block house, even making the blocks. He did this mornings Eugene Raymond Palmer and Sylvia June Rogers met at a Tri-County Christian Endeavor Rally at the Flagler Congregational Church in June, 1940, and were married at the Church of Christ Church - Christian in Vona, August 31, 1941, where he was ministpr. Sylvia and younger sister, Beulah, and their parents, Claude W. and Jane (Brennan) Rogers moved from Syracuse, Nebraska March 6, 1925. Claude came by immigrant car on the Rock Island Railroad and family by p$Fenger train to Flagler to take up residency at their farm at Saugus west - 6inmiles of Flagler but one mile over Lincoln County north of the R.R. where there had formerly been the Saugus General Store and Saugus Post Office. Her mother died May 29, 1930 of cancer. Her father remarried July 30, 1931 to Hester Holmes. They had five children: Claude, Marilyn, Paul, Donna, and Betty. The children attended the Arriba School. The family all attended the Arriba Christian Church. Sylvia recalls one bad dust storm of this and evenings and days off work from the highway. He never worked a bit on the house on Sundays. That day was for the church and family. Starting in Sept. 1981 Sylvia served as a school bus driver for four school terms on a north route from Vona. Starting Dec. 1, 1981 Sylvia also started driving the Senior Citizens'Bus, "The Road Runner," for Vona and Seibert. Both of our sons are married and living in Nebraska. We have three granddaughters and one grandson. We made a home for Sylvia's dad his last ten years of his life with us, ending July 22, 1984, at the age of 91. Note: Eugene passed away 1986. by Sylvia Palmer PANGBORN, HERSCHELL NAPOLEON AND JANE ELVINA BLAKE F498 Herschell and Jane Pangborn were married the eleventh day of September, 1867, in Maquoketa, Iowa. To this union were born While our boys were growing up we had our own milk cow, pigs, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, cats, calves, and a dog. The boys were in 4-H with rabbits and gardening projects. They also had paper routes intown- Denver Post and Grit. They helped with the chores and activities around the home and church. three sons and two daughters. Their youngest child, RoyJason, was born in Aurora, Nebras- They enjoyed the church, Vacation Bible blacksmith. He was born March 29, 1842, and died in Flagler in 1919. His wife, Jane, was born the second of March, 1849, and died in Flagler in 1925. Schools, camps, and rallies and all the sports in school besides band. After graduating from high school they each attended Platte Valley Bible College at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. After Eugene retired from the Highway Dept. he held ministries at Meeker and Mesa, Colorado, and Deming, New Mexico, from 1972 through L977. In January, 1978, he started serving the Vona church again and continues now in that capacity. He has also enjoyed gardening. He has two lovely large well-producing apple trees he started from seeds he plantpd in a flower pot one day while area when echool was let out early. The school bus had stopped at the R.R. crossing at Arriba and just start€d to move to cross when Sylvia saw the light of an approaching passenger train, No. 8, from the west and hollered at the bus driver. He stopped in time to avoid being hit. Seconds do make a difference sometimes between life and death. Be watchful! She recalls her worst work of childhood days was shaking and picking gray beetles off potato vines into a pan of distillate. She and Beulah piled up several gallons at the ends ofthe patch during the eeason. It was worth it; they did have a good crop. Sylvia worked at the Soil Conservation Office in Hugo a number of years aftcr graduation from high school. Eugene was the oldest of seven children born to Eugene Allen and Jessie Maria (Parsons) Palmer at Stamford, Nebr. His father was also a minister of the Christian Church. He died in 1928 and his mother in 1963. Eugene and Sylvia moved to Blunt, South Dakota, March I, 1942, to minister and eating an apple. The amazing thing to us is the difference in the fruit from these two trees, both are very good but different in color and shape. The Pangborn Ranch at Thurman, Colorado. ka, October 16, 1886, and when he was a young boy, the family moved to Colorado and settled first in Thurman, Washington County, Colorado, and later in Flagler, Colorado. Herschell was a farmer and a by Mrs. William E. Pangborn �Roy and Faye originally resided in Thurman and then later moved to Flagler, Colorado, and stayed with Roy's mother to help out after the death of his father. In 1924, they moved to Burlington, Colorado. Roy Jason Pangborn was born October 16, 1886, at Aurora, Nebraska, the youngest child Hergchell and Jane Pangborn (seated). TWo of their children, Addie and Roy Jason (standing). PANGBORN, ROY JASON AND FANNY zooI( F499 of Herschell N. and Jane (Blake) Pangborn. He had two brothers and two sisters. In 1906, he went to work for the Rock Island Railroad as fireman. He continued in this work for two or three years until the wreck of the Rock Island Flyer near Omaha. He did not return to this job after the wreck. Roy was a skilled mechanic and in October of 1918, shortly after his marriage, he enlist€d in the Coast Guard Artillery as a mechanic and served until his discharge on January 21, 1919. Roy worked as a mechanic in Flagler and again later in Burlington for the Anderson Motor Company and the Victory Garage. He played the violin and enjoyed music. He died of a heart attack in 1953. Faye Pangborn Ferguson was born Fanny s -v outing in 1928. garden, and tended a herd of milk cows, as large as 21 head at one time. Each of the family members had their own jobs. Faye and her sisters were responsible for milking the school. Faye always enjoyed learning and her favorite subject was math. She used it too! In her mid eighties, she could still tell you down to the penny the balance in her checkbook. She was a good manager. She was very frugal and never wasted anything. She was a good neighbor and friend and always shared what she had with others. Her garden was a good sanmple of this. Her green thumb and hard work always produced a bounty of fruits and attest to her ability and are cherished heirlooms of the family. She also enjoyed crocheting and took up china painting in her later years. Music has always been a part of Faye's life. Her second husband, Maurice E. (Mack) Roy and Fanny (Faye) Pangborn were united in marriage at Hugo, Colorado, June 27, L9L7 .They grew up together and attended the same country school. To this union was born one son, Willinm E., on July 23, 1919, in the sod house of Faye's parents, Jonathan and Barbara 7,ook, aI Thurman, Colorado. F500 French, and German origin. They lived on a farm, planted wheat, corn, applique work and colorful, artistic quilts enjoyrng an evening of music in the 1950's. PANGBORN, WILLIAM E. AND ELEANOR M. PENNOCK Colorado. The second youngest of nine children born to Jonathan S. and Barbara (Reber) Zook, Faye was raised in a sod house with her two brothers and six sisters. The family was Amish Mennonite and of Swiss, vegetables, which she canned. There was always plenty for her friends and neighbors. Her family looked forward to the harvest of sweet corn and homemade jellies and jams. She was an excellent cook, and for a few years worked at Beatty's Cafe in Burlington. Faye was well rounded in her abilities. Her home was adorned with beautiful flowers. She was an excellent seamstress and applied this skill though her efforts while working in the Sewing Room during World War II. Her Mack and Faye Ferguson and BilI Pangborn by Mrs. William E. Pangborn homestead in Thurman, Washington County, cows and separating out the cream. The crenm was then sold. The children attended a one room country Roy and Faye Pangborn with their son Bill on an and raised chickens and hogs. Mack passed away at the age of 88 in August, 1980. Faye continued residence at her home for another couple years. At 92 years old, she now resides in Grace Manor Nursing Home in Burlington. Zook on April 14, 1895, on the family barley, and oats, raised chickens, had a family '.\ over forty years. For many years, they farmed Ferguson was a musician, and together with her son, Bill, the three of them spent many an evening singing and playing their various instruments. Faye was proficient at the mouth harp, ukelele, and guitar. Mack and Faye purchased an acreage north of Burlington during the war and built their home with the help of Bill when he returned from the service in 1945. Their "place" was their pride and joy, and they lived there for Bill and Penny Pangborn, newlyweds, 194?. William and Eleanor (Penny) Pangborn were married in Denver, Colorado, on June 23,L946,and settled in Burlington, Colorado, where Bill was employed as a pharmacist for Weinandt and Brown Drug Store. When the opportunity arose, Bill and Penny purchased Joe Brown's interest in the store, and they, in turn, sold out in 1958. Bill was employed by Standish Drug for eight years prior to opening his own store, Pangborn's Pharmacy, on February 4, 1966. Pangborn's Pharmacy located at 347 L4th Street, Burlington, Colorado, began as a family business and remained one. In 1975, following college graduation, their son, Thomas William (Tom), born May 15, 1951, returned to Burlington and expanded the electronic section into a full service Sound Center/Radio Shack. The business prospered and on April 1, 1987, twenty-one years after it began, Pangborn's Pharmacy, Photo and Sound Center, Inc. was sold. Their eldest child, Marcia Mae (Marcie) Smith, was born on July 14, 1949, and married John A. Smith on June 29, 1974. They own their own video production business, Media Resources, Inc., and reside in Littleton, Colorado. William Earl Pangborn was born in Thurman, Colorado, on July 23, 1919, the son of Roy Jason and Fanny (Zook) Pangborn. The family resided in Flagler, Colorado, until Bill was five years old. ln L924, they moved to Burlington, where Roy was employed as an auto mechanic. Bill was raised in Burlington and graduated with the Burlington High School Class of 1937. In school he enjoyed his studies and participated in dramatics. He also took part in the sports program and particularly enjoyed basketball. In later years, he became proficient at tennis and bowling. Prior to joining the service in 1941, Bill owned and operated a duck pin alley in Holly, Colorado. He served with the 440th Signal Battalion �attached to the 5th Air Force during his four years in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1945, Bill PANKRATZ - HINTZ FAMILY attended and subsequently graduated from Capitol College of Pharmacy in Denver, Colorado. It was at this time that he met his future bride. Bill is a dedicated pharmacist, seldom completed a holiday meal without a call from someone needing medicine, but he never complained. He loves his work, and has F501 enjoyed the association with the people in the trade area. Bill's main passions are his work, his family, and sports! The entire family bowled, in the lung. and his business sponsored many teams over Dad and a few friends were in the process the years. He is a loyal fan of the Denver Bronco football team and has had season tickets for many years. Bronco season is always the highlight of every year, and the games are a fun family event. His other of building a duplex when on October 26, 1968 I was born. The three of us lived in a house on 17th Street until the duplex was finished. Three years later on May 12, 1971 Lorna was born. When I was six years old we moved a mile north into a house. I remember in the Spring of.L977 we had a terrible snow storm that left hobby, photography, was incorporated into his business, but he still is able to apply his skill on the family vacations. Eleanor Mae Pennock was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado, November 18, 1924, to us without electricity for about four days. The snow drifts were taller than some of the Arthur E. and Iola M. (Oglesby) Pennock. They had three daughters and Eleanor (Penny) was the middle child. When she was in high school the family moved to Walden, Colorado. They spent two years there, and in 1942, returned to Ft. Collins where Penny completed her senior year and graduated from Ft. Collins High School with the Class of L943. She attended college in Ft. Collins at Colorado A&M and worked parttime at Walgreens Drug Store. During summer break, Penny returned to Walden and spent the summer working in the local drug store there. In 1946, she met Bill Pangborn, married, and moved to Burlington. In her youth, Penny was an avid tennis player. She was also an accomplished pianist, Orin and Norma Pankratz, taken spring 1977. :,,.:'ai .,- having the rare distinction of possessing "perfect pitch". However, once she married and had a family, she had little time to continue these interests. When the children were growing up, she took up sewing and became proficient at it, much to the delight of her daughter. Penny worked at Weinandt and Brown Drug with Bill and later as a checker at SaveU Market on Rose Avenue. When Pangborn's the restoration of the Kit Carson County Carousel. The four of us helped with the Flea Market fund raiser held at the fair grounds. We helped sell and take tickets and sell souvenirs. As a family we also spent many hours opening and closing the carousel. Dad helped take the paintings down and he and Bob McClelland put them back in their places after they had been restored. In 1977 Ray Crouse painted original oil paintings of Lorna and I each on our favorite carousel wonderful parents and successful business people. They have much to be proud of. Their next challenge is their retirement, and we have the feeling they will work by Marcie Pangborn Smith that walking across the windbreak was not a wise idea because I fell in on top of one of the trees and we weren't sure how I was going to get out. All in all Lorna and I enjoyed the storm because that meant no school for a few days and that was definitely okay with us. Dad was a member of the Lions Club and every summer they held a fishing party out at Hale Ponds. So every summer, we looked foreward to a day of fishing with all the other families. The only things I hated was putting the worm on the hook, so I let Dad have the honor. One year, Lorna caught the largest fish, a sucker. In 1975 Mom was a member of the Kit Bill made an excellent team. They are dancing and golf, travel, work parttime, and enjoy their family and friends. trees in the windbreak next to our house. We had to put sheets over all the doorways to the livingroom so that the heat from the fireplace would keep us warm. The fireplace was used to cook and roast many, many marshmallows and served as a light in the evening. Most of the time was spent playing games and when things cleared up outside Lorna and I enjoyed playing outside in the snow drifts. We found Carson County Centennial, - Bi-Centennial Committee. Their main project was starting Pharmacy opened its doors for business in 1966 she worked side by side Bill and the kids, clerking, keeping the books, and managing the office. She was a very positive force behind the business, and together, she and together at enjoying it equally the same. They plan to remain in Burlington, resume square Extension Agent in Goodland when they met in 1964. They were manied a year later on June 12, 1965 - the year of the South Platte flood in Colorado - in Canton, Kansas at the First Baptist Church. For the first year they lived in Flagler where Dad taught Industrial Arts and Mon taught 6th grade. In 1966 they moved to Burlington. Mom had the position of Home Economics Extension Agent and Dad started to build a custom building business. That fall he started teaching Industrial Arts at the Bethune School. He was teaching there when he died November 11, 1978 from a blood clot Lorna (right) and Karla (left) Pankratz, taken spring 1977. My father, Orin Owen Pankratz, was born March 21, 1935 in a sod house south of the Smokey Hill School in Kit Carson County. The dust in the area kept everything covered for the first many months and you couldn't see the light of day. When he was about five years old his family moved to Kanarado Kansas. My mother, Norma Jean (Hintz) Pankratz, was born May 22,1939 in McPherson, Kansas. Dad was teaching Industrial Arts at the Flagler School and Mom was the animal. I was on the giraffe and Lorna was on the deer. In 1983 and 1984 Lorna and I helped out in hosting the American Carousel Association and the National Carousel Association. by Karla Pankratz �PARKE, MABEL WALTERS HUDSON F502 Mabel Walters Hudson Parke was manied to my uncle, Bert Hudson, for slightly less than a year, but she remained in the Hudson family until her death at age 90, in 1982. Bert (who "was known as one ofthe best threshers or custom harvesters, in eastern Colorado") and Mabel had a baby son who died from some kind of fever when he was only 3 weeks old and then within a month Bert also died (of "consumption") or tubercolsis) in 1921. Sixty years later when Mabel told me about this, she got tears in her eyes, saying it was such a shock to lose both of her dearest loved ones, that there were many things she couldn't remember from that period. Other- wise she had a exceedingly sharp memory up to the last. The very characteristics that made Aunt Mabel somewhat unyielding, no doubt were the same traits that made her able to survive the double deaths, and later, to get ahead financially in the man's world of ranching and farming. Mabel was practical, conservative and self-disciplined! And apparently she felt the need to amountto something, to shoulder her responsibilities and to be socially acceptable in the community. A few examples of her outstanding traits are the following: As an adult, she disciplined herself to practice the piano until finally arthritis prevented her from doing so. If a thing worked or wasn't worn out, she used it. whether or not it was old fashioned! (Thus she was able to leave quite a legacy to Burlington's Old Town.) When she was 21 and still single she had the courage to take out a homestead, having "to spend the night there six months of the year for five years in order to prove up on it," which she did by riding her pony several miles from her parents place, returning daily to help at home. "I had a telephone, the barbed wire type, so I was not completely alone . . One time after a bad storm at night the water in the creek was high and I wasn't able to cross it, so had to remain in my little shack until the water went down . . . I used to ride all over my homestead . . Whenever I would see a sunflower growing I would always get off my pony and pull it up so they would not spread so much ." When Mabel was a small girl with no nearby neighbor children, she made the best of it by playing with her dog, kitty and five dolls that she had accumulated over the years. "I would line up the family on a chair and pretend we did lots of traveling. I had quite an imagination . . . Grandma Walters gave Cornelia to me . . . Christmas 1895 . . . and cracked a chunk out of her head. Mama cemented it in some way and it is still holding 88. Mabel was born at her grandparent Shaw's home but she grew up in the "Flat-top," a large two-story house with a flat roof that her father had built. It later became a landmark in the county, used for giving directions. Mabel didn't go to a school, because there were none close by, so her mother, a school teacher, taught her at home through the first eight grades. "When I was ready for high school my parents sent me to Pennsylvania to live with my mother's parents. Here I remained until I was called home by the illness and death of my mother. I did not return to Pennsylvania to finish my schooling but went to Denver to take a business course." After nursing her mother during her final illness, Mabel lived with and cared for her widower father for many years, first at the ranch, then in Burlington at the north end of Main Street (562-14th) and finally in Wray, CO., where they had a dry goods store and where she met Cliff Parke. In 1937 Cliff and Mabel were married, living in Burlington, traveling extensively, and having a happy interesting life together until Cliff died in 1954. From then on Aunt Mabel was on her own here and there, often glancing at -herhustling watch, never wasting any time because she managed her ranch, did her own office work, was active in Garden Club, Cattleman's Association, Cowbelles, and the Methodist church. She had many friends much younger than herself, kept up with world affairs, had a good sense of humor, was generous with her friends and, last but not least, she had Brownie,- her much loved cat that lived to be more than 20 years old. "In 1975 she still has her own cattle, drives her own car. takes care of her own business and lives alone." She was 83 at the time of this quote and things were much the same, four or five years later when she entered the rest home as a "matter of practicality", since she Aunt Mabel came by her "do or die" pioneering spirit quite honestly, since she was the only child of W.A. (Albert) and Leila (Shaw) Walters. Both Albert and his neighbors, the Dana Shaws (parents of Leila) were homesteaders, south of Burlington, by 1887- 1911. slowed down by arthritis. However, she continued to conduct her own business - but she didn't enter into the home's recreation as they thought she should. They called me in to try to convince her to do so, but I told them "As long as she can conduct her own business, she has more than enough to keep her busy, keep her mind active, and to stay in touch with people. When she can no longer run her own affairs, then we'll worry about recreation. The problem never came up again, as she had a massive heart attack several months later. She died as she Iived - with decisiveness and no dilly-dallying around. And that's the way she wanted it! by Georgeanna Hudson Grusing, using excerpts from material written and gathered by Mabel's close friend, Avis Bader Schritter. . . . I got Dorothy at the OId Methodist Church when they had a Christmas tree in 1899 and Billy Boyles was Santa . . . Angelina was a rag doll. She wore out. . so Mama took pity on me and gave her a black stocking face which she still has (1968)." The happy couple is Frank Homer and Lona Fay Parmer, Woodston, Kansas, date approrimately PARMER - JOHNSON FAMILY F503 The parents of Ben F. Parmer were Frank Homer Parmer, born November 19, 1890, in Osborne County, Kansas, and Lona Fay Plumb, born February 3, 1893, in Russell, Kansas. They were married in Russell, Wedding picture of Ben F. Parmer and Mildred Helen Johnson at home on the ranch, April 1937. Kansas. Frank used his dray service to unload freight from railroad cars and haul it to the stores in Woodston, Kansas. In 1914 Frank and Fay loaded the children, Robert and Maxine, into a truck to relocate in Colorado. In 1915 they occupied a homestead 20 miles northeast of Burlington in what became the Happy Hollow School District. They lived in a two-room frame house which was moved onto the homestead. Later two more rooms were added. Sons, Ben and Don, were born in the home. Most of the food was either grown in the garden or raised on the farm. During the winter beef was kept in a cold building. [n the summer milk and butter were stored in cool water. Corn was cut off of the cob and dried. Other food was preserved by �received a teacher's life certificate from Colorado State Teachers College in Greeley. She came to eastern Colorado to begin her teaching career at Mount Pleasant, a oneroom school a few miles southeast of Hale. Her brother, older than she, drove her down in a car. She taught for five years at different schools, one in Kit Carson County. Mildred attended church at the Gospel Hall, 16 miles north of Kanorado, Kansas, where one night she accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior. Ben and Mildred met at the Gospel Hall. They were married on April 23, 1937, in the home of Ben's parents, A severe snowstorm on their wedding day nearly delayed the ceremony. Immediately after saying their vows, Ben's younger brother, Don, and Mildred's younger sister, Elsie, followed suit and also were married. This was during the Depression and in an area that was part of the Ben F. Parmer with his daughter, Tony Helen Parmer, on his paint stallion after shooting 25 rabbits in one day's hunt. The two coyote hides were caught previously, winter 1940. infamous Dust Bowl. At that time most young couples moved in with their parents. However, Ben, having determined not to do this, took his wife to his home where he had bached for six months. He followed the Biblical instruction to leave father and w&g March 31, 1930, at the age of 60 years. Alna was born Novembet 20,1877 , in Ryd Almenoryd, Sweden. There is a mystery surrounding Alma's family. Her father began a trip in 1885 to the United States on board a ship but did not anive in New York. He apparently died at sea. He had planned to bring his family to America. At the age of eleven Alma sailed from Liverpool, England, g{.,:::.::.]:ti' Evangelists Ben F. Parmer and Joseph Balsan sharing an evangelistic crusade in Hartun, Colorado. June 1954. on a Cunard Line stenmship and arrived in New York on September 6, 1889. She went by train to Bertrand, Nebraska, to stay with her uncle, S.M. Alveen and family. Alma moved to Greeley, Colorado, when she was 18 years old to work as a uniformed maid. Alma was known in the community as a practical nurse. She cared for ex-governor George curing and canning. Frank started farming with 160 acres and built up his holdings to 1600 acres before retiring in 1946. During the first few years dl of the farming was done with horses. Frank was Fmong the first in the community to get a tractor. Then both the tractor and the horses were used. Frank and Fay moved to Burlington in 1947. From 1953 until his death of a heart attack on April 22,1968, Frank held public office as either Justice of the Peace or Police Magistrate. Fay had family dinners on Easter and Christmas. She crocheted tablecloths, pillowcases, dresser scarves, and afghans for her children and grandchildren. She taught Sunday School and visited people in the community. In later years she operated a card and gift business out of her home. Much like artist Grandma Moses, she learned how to paint when older, first by number, then by taking oil painting classes. She painted at least one scenic picture for each child and grandchild. One of her paintings is hanging in the Limon Bible Chapel, Limon, Colorado, in her memory. Fay died of a heart attack on May 25, L967. Mildred Helen Johnson's parents were Charles and Alna Johnson who immigrated from Sweden. Charles Johnson was born November 21, 1869, in Kronoberg, Sweden, and came to America at the age of 18 years. Charles married Alma Peterson and they lived in Weld County working on several farms. Charles died of cancer of the spleen on Carlson's mother, who lived west of Greeley, for several years. Alma died of a heart attack on October L7,1954. Gustaf, Mildred and Elsie were the offspring of Charles and Alma. Gustaf died of spinal meningitis in December 1938. Ben F. Parmer, his full name, was born August 29, 1916 on his parent's homestead. He walked Yz mile to the Happy Hollow School which at first was a one-room school. Later another room was added. As an eleven year old boy, he also attended evangelistic services there, and one night after going to bed, he trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. When he was about 13 years old, he and his younger brother built an adobe house in which they slept. It had a door, two windows, a cement floor and plaster walls. It was about 8 ft. by 11 ft. inside, just large enough for a bed, a table and a few things. Ben hunted, trapped, and raised fowl and animals. He kept some of them in adobe houses. At the age of 17 he shucked 4,000 bushels of corn in one year, picking as much as 100 bushels in one day. He was known as one ofthe best hand corn huskers in the area. While continuing to help his father farm, he rented 240 acres ofhis own in 1935. The next year he moved to a farm 3%miles from his parents and rented 320 acres. Mildred Helen Johnson was born November 21, 1909, near Pierce, Colorado,and grew up in the area around Greeley. As a child she helped her father on the farm by hoeing beans and picking bugs off of potatoes. In 1930 she mother and cleave to his wife. The house was a very modest three-room cement basement with cold running water, furniture in two of the rooms, and was lit by kelossns Inmps. Ben built a cave with an entry-way at the bottom of the stairs in which to store canned meat, vegetables, fruit and dairy goods all produced on the farm. Hogs and cattle were butchered and the meat cured. Thus most of the food except flour and sugar was prepared on the farm. The first few years on the farm were sometimes discouraging because of poor crops, hail, dust storms. During some of the worst dust storms, so much dust filtered into the house that they swept the dust into a scoop shovel and emptied it into a pail in order to carry it out. During the first few years, the farming was done with both horses and tractors but tractors gradually replaced horse power for farming. Ben and Mildred participated in special school programs and box suppers held at the local school which also functioned as the community center. A box supper consisted of a lunch made by the girls and ladies which was put into a decorated box that was auctioned off to the men and boys. After the auction the girl or lady who prepared the lunch and the buyer ate it together. This was an exciting time when the bidding kept going up and up on some boxes and people were guessing whose box it was. The proceeds went to various projects, usually for the school. After a few discouraging years Ben and MIIdred began to prosper. Ben began buying land in 1942, eventually purchasing his father's homestead. He once owned about 10.000 acres. He ran a herd of commercialgrade Hereford cattle, as many as 500 head a year. His herd was known as one ofthe best in the area, often topping the market. Ben's brand was, and still is, -)7. Mildred did not do much field work but took care of chores such as raising chickens, milking cows, and gardening. By 1948 they wanted to devote more time to the work of the Lord so they built a house in Burlington and operated the ranch with hired help. In 1964 the farm equipment was sold and the land leased. For many years the ranch has operated under the name of Happy Hollow Ranch and is still in �the Parmer family. In February 1949, Ben founded the Burlington Gospel Church. The congregation had grown to about 100 by the time he resigned from his responsibilities. Ben then devoted more time to the Limon Bible Chapel, Limon, Colorado, a church he founded in 1967. He traveled extensively conducting evangelistic crusades from one to three weeks at a time in many states, holding several of them in a tent. For many years Ben accepted speaking engagements over a wide area; for example, during 1972 he spoke in over 50 churches in twenty-one states. Ben began a weekly Sunday radio progrnm entitled the FAMILY BIBLE HOUR on KLOE in Goodland, Kansas, in April 1965. As of January 1988, em6ng the many radio stations that carry the FAMILY BIBLE HOUR, about half are 50,000 watt stations, some of which reach foreign countries. Ben continues to speak at several $ills snmps in the summer and still accepts requests to speak in many states, as well as fulfill many other pastoral functions. Mildred was a faithful partner in these endeavors as well as providing leadership in Bible studies for women in the community. During the last 14 years of her life she remained active in helping with a church youth group, a boys and girls Bible club, daily vacation Bible school and a summer Bible gnmp. For many years she served others by Street and Frank Street which were named after Ben's parents. Ben has long been held in high esteem by all who have known him in the community for his great interest in the welfare of its residents, and for his many activities in the personal furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whom he accepted as his personal Savior early in life. Mildred was held in high esteem by many who knew her throughout a large part of the country, and several spoke of her as a model Christian lady. Children born to Ben F. and Mildred Helen Parmer are Tony Helen, Judy Ellen and Paul B. Tony lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She has a master's degree in social work, is licensed and certified, and specializes in family counseling and psychotherapy. Judy married Phillip Sandley and they have three day dinner for Ben's mother and her family which Mildred hosted each year until her mother-in-law passed away. She was a commendable homemaker, excellent cook, and willingly helped others in the community. Ben and Mildred celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 23, L987. Mildred was hospitalized in Denver but their sales and service business. Judy also does volunteer work, especially in the schools. Paul lives in Burlington, Colorado. He attended Bible College and is active in the Lord's work. This includes leading a youth group and a boys and girls Bible club weekly during the school year. In the summer he speaks at several Bible camps and daily vacation Bible schools. He is in demand as a guest speaker at churches in various states. by Tony llelen Parmer PAUTLER, ARTHUR AND SUE F504 George Pautler made his first trip to Kit Carson County in 1911. He arrived by train from Crofton, Nebraska, to Burlington. He contacted a land agent in Burlington by the name of Winegar, who had an automobile. He had for sale a Yz section, 320 acres, 5 miles northeast of Stratton. The land had very modest improvements, an adobe 4 room house, 2 sod buildings and a freme grmdy, plus a very dilapidated barn. George signed a contract for the property and deposited corner where now Kenny Pottorff has a fertilizer plant. The hotel was raised in the Pautler Farme, Inc. Headquarters, 1987 Arthur Pautler and Sue Keller were homes. Included in this development are Fay F506 George and Louisa, his wife, and four children moved to Stratton in February 1913, landing here by train a few days before March lst. They could not get possession ofthe land until March 1, so they stayed at what was then the Commercial Hotel, located on the married August 2, 1938 and located on the farm 5 miles northeast of Stratton where they still live. The great depression was going on at that time; the means for a livelihood were adjacent to the Parmer Addition of fine PAUTLER, GEORGE $1000 as earnest money. He boarded the train Happy Hollow School District. For over Rockies Bible Camp and Conference and was chairman of its board. There is a seven-acre park in Burlington for which Ben donated the land. It is nnmed the Ben F. Parmer Municipal Park. It is one of the nicest, if not the nicest, park along highway I-70 between Kansas City, Kansas, and Denver, Colorado. The park is also adjacent to the high school which was built on land the Parmer family once owned and farmed. The park and high school are by Arthur Pautler the same day for Nebraska. twenty years he actively served on the board children. He also helped found Colorado Greeley, Co. The years ofthe 1940's were good years for farmers, then in the 1950's it was dry windy and dusty, and farming again was questionable. However about that time irrigation was economy reached a much higher level. Gary and Tim operate the farm at present. Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington. The chapel in the hospital is dedicated to the memory of Mildred Helen Colorado Springs, Colorado. Most of these years he was president or treasurer. At times the Children's Home cared for fifty needy wife Janice and son Christopher live in Kansas. They own and operate an electronics 1987, in Burlington. After nearly a year of illness, Mildred died on September 12, L987 , of cancer while in the of the Christian Home for Children in grandfather) purchased in 1913, Leon Pautler, who lost his life in a tragic auto accident at the age of 35 in 1985, Timothy Pautler and his wife Elizabeth and their three daughters live in the house that Art and Sue lived in for 45 years, at present it is the Pautler Farms Inc. headquarters, and Paul Pautler with his introduced into the country and the farm children decorated her room and held a small reception for them which included staff and visitors. A public reception was given by their children and their grandchildren on May 9, Parmer and named after her. Years earlier it had been built by her husband. In the past Ben served as president of the Denver, Co., and four sons, Gary Pautler who with his wife Arlyne and two sons live on the original farm which George Pautler (his daughters, Philippa, Judith, and Rachel; and one son Phillip. They live in Mulvane, extending hospitality to ministers, mis- sionaries and many other house guests, some of whom stayed for weeks at a time. She also entertained on special family occasions. A prime exnmple of this was the annual birth- family of six children. Two daughters, Angela Pautler Beaner now of Billings, Mont., Elizabeth Pautler Meierotto now living in hard to come by. A dollar per day was about all one could earn working for neighbors in the busy season. The first two winters, Art worked for the Great Western Sugar Co. at Brush Co. during the sugar campaign. Somehow Art and Sue struggled through these times and in 1942 things took a turn for the better. Average rainfall brought a good crop ofbarley and feed. A loan was secured from Farmers Home Administration which made it possible to purchase ten milk cows and a small Model A John Deere tractor. It was from then on that times gradually got bett€r. It was here that Art and Sue raised their late 1920's. Skelly Oil had a service station on that corner until Pottorff removed se-e and put the fertilizer plant there. The four Pautler children ranged in age from 5 to 1 year. Two more were born later in the adobe house, for a total ofsix children, Louis, Arthur, Francis, Clara, Oswald, and Mary. Two years later George built a nice barn, 60'x40', which was enough to stall eight horses and stations for twelve milk cows. Milking was one of the main sources of income for many years. In 1918, the adobe house was replaced with an eight room, two story house, but still not modern. The outhouse was still the nain stay. Besides the milk cows, there were always about 100 other cattle. A car load of cattle were fattened each winter plus about 100 head of hogs. That is where the corn crop went. Corn was the main crop, some wheat, but that had second place; all dry land farming. The operation was truly family oriented. The four boys all worked on the farm. The three older boys did not go to high school, as they were needed on the farm. The entire labor was done by the family. The first dust storm hit on Thanksgiving �day, 1926. It was quite severe and we hardly knew what to make of it. It had been a summer with below normal moisture and the land was in condition to blow. However, the spring of 1927 was wet and a good crop of barley, oats, and corn were raised. Things went well until the 30's. No comment. Louisa passed away in 1937 and it is possible that the drought and low income was a big part of her problem as she was a very nervous person and could not adapt to the miserable conditions. Also because of the bad financial times the children, who were now adults, were forced to leave home and find was employed with the Rock Island Railroad, which he helped build in 1889. He had this land sowed to wheat, but he did not live to see a crop harvested. He died within a year from a kidney problem. They had the Cook Shack parked across the road from us, so they could have some water nearby. He could tell us interesting tales of life in those early times. We were in Colorado nine years at that time, and he would always mention thirty-three years ago, which went back, ofcourse, to 1889. Nice people. We worked and we kids went to school, and life went forward as always. I was 21 years old in 1929 and the future looked rosy. But by the employment elsewhere. In the 1940's when things returned to normal, George and the oldest son, Louis, lived on the home place and did very well. Louis married in 1948 and he took care of George until he passed away in 1970. Most of the land is still in the family and goes under the name of Pautler Farms. Inc. Arthur and Sue Pautler are owners and Gary and Tim, two of their sons, run the operation. headed for the severe drouth and dust storms of the mid-thirties. Our mother died on Easter Sunday of 1937, which was the worst blow of all. However, that year it began to rain again and we raised some feed for our livestock and the grass cErme back in two or three years so our economy improved. by Arthur Pautler gone from home by 1940, so my father and I end of the year the country was in an economic panic and worse yet, we were ourselves. Arthur married in August of 1938, and in early 1939, moved on the farm on which he and Sue now live and which they F506 bought a few years later. I did not become mature enough for marriage until I was 40 I was the oldest of six children. In 1913, our parents came from Nebraska and moved to years of age, which was in 1948. Catherine was 42 years of age at the time of our marriage. We were married a short 29 years when she Stratton. The house on this farm was fairly large and the walls were of adobe and about two feet wide; with walls so wide it was cool passed away. We were retired and living in a farm about seven miles northeast of in summer and warm in winter. We had two sod buildings and a Granery, also a frame barn and other sheds. all ofwhich were on the land when we came. Our father shipped a car from Nebraska, consisting of four horses, one cow, also a surry, wagon, furniture, and even some farm machinery, and a number of other items. In the fall of 1914 my brother, Arthur, and I enrolled in the district school, which was only Vz mile west of our home. There were ten students in all attending school. Our teacher was a young man by the name of Grover Tyler. In 1915, Father built a large barn with hay loft and in 1918, he built a new two-story house which pleased our mother and us kids very much. Very little land was fenced or farmed, so most of the livestock grazed on the free range. Father raised corn, feed and some small grains. We milked cows and fed hogs and sold some cattle off grass in the fall. It was not until 1918 that my father put cattle in the feed lot and fed them corn. We children were assigned the task of gathering corn cobs which were used for fuel in our home. Within 3/s mile east of our home was a hand dug well about 3% feet in diameter, and wells were dug to the 200 foot level before water could be had. There was a wagon trail from this well that made a bee line to Stratton. I have often wished I could know more about the history of this well. It was no longer in use when we came to Colorado. In 1922, a Mr. and Mrs. Ed Clother from Central City, Nebraska, very suddenly came on the scene, bringing a crew of three men who had a Coop Shack and a Rumley tractor, with a six bottom prairie breaker, and broke up some 300 acres of sod, which Mr. Clother had homesteaded and purchased while he pleasant. Paul and Janice now live in Greeley, Colorado. They have a little boy named Christopher Leon. Although they do not live in Kit Carson County anymore, they do enjoy occasional weekend visits with both sides of family who still reside in or near Stratton. One week of vacation time is spent during wheat harvest in Kit Carson Countv. by Paul Pautler My younger brothers and sisters had all operated the farm as well as we could by PAUTLER, LOUIS She attended a trade school in Denver and received a certificate in medical assisting. Janice then went to Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado and graduated in 1985 with an AAS degree. Paul and Janice met shortly after Paul got out of the Navy, but did not date until a few years later. They were married November 30, 1985, one ofthe coldest days ofthe year. The temperature recorded five below zero. The next Monday they flew to Jamaica where the temperature was 85 degrees, much more PAUTLER, TIM AND ELIZABETH F508 Stratton for 4Vz years at the time of her death. My father lived with us for 23 years until his death in 1970. I have my gardens on the old farm and in the sand land my brother and boys have north of Stratton. by Louis Pautler PAUTLER, PAUL AND JANICE F507 Paul John Pautler was born March 21. 1958, in the hospital at Burlington, Colorado. He is the sixth child of Art and Sue Pautler. He grew up five miles northeast of Stratton on the family farm. Paul attended St. Charles Catholic School until it closed, and then went to the Stratton Public Schools. He graduated in 1976. Paul joined the Navy in October, 1976. He was an electronics technician. He earned the rank of 1st Class Petty Officer, submarine qualified. Three and half years were spent aboard the USS Drum (SSN 677), where he was attached to the reactor controls division. Paul's job was to maintain and run the nuclear power plant. He was discharged September 1982. He then went home and helped his parents build their new home on the farm. Janice Christine Simon was born August 22, L963, at Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. She is the sixth of nine children born to Con and Serena Simon. She grew up on the family farm 16 % miles northwest of Cheyenne Wells. She attended the public schools in Cheyenne Wells through her sophomore year. On her 16th birthday, her family moved to the family farm, one mile north of Stratton. She graduated from Stratton High in 1981. Tim Pautler Family: Tim, Liz, Jesica, Kylee, and Nichole Tim Pautler. son of Art and Sue Keller Pautler and Elizabeth Stegman, daughter of Jerome and Dorothy Katz Stegman, were married August 2, 1975. We made our first home 5 miles northeast of Stratton in a mobile home on the Art Pautler farm. Tim worked with his father until December, 1975, when he went into partnership with his brother Gary forming Pautler Brothers. Art, semi-retired, and the two brothers took over the operating of the farm. Tim and Liz began their family in March of L977. They have three daughters, Jessica, Kylee and Nichole. The girls stay busy with chores, school activities.4-H. Girl Scouts and swimming during the summer. They all enjoy helping their dad with tasks around the farm. �In January of 1980 Liz went into a partnership with her sister-in-law. They purchased the local clothing store. For the first two years He is a sub-contractor building houses. Ralph has a son Brad who will graduate on May 17, 1987 from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kan- they did very well, then due to the failing sas. He also has a daughter Theresa who will farm prices the business began to decline. So in the fall of 1984 the business was liquidated. Liz once again was a full time housewife. On March 9, 1983 we moved into the house that Art and Sue had lived in for 45 years. What a change! This is where the Pautler Brothers headquarters are. Tim serves on the District Soil Conservation board, is a member of the Knights of Columbus. and serves on the Church Council. Liz is active in 4-H as a leader, is a member of M.S.A., helps the local Girl Scouts, and is on the Home Ec Advisory Council. by Elizabeth Stegrran Pautler PEARCE, CARMIN A. F509 Carmen Pearce was born in Scotland county, Missouri, Jan. 20, 1856. In the year 18?9, he was married to Alice Valentine, and to this union was born a son Arthur J. Pearce. Mr. Pearce was married a second time on the 20th day of Jan. 1886, and to this union four children were born; Grace Pricilla, Edna Blanche, Tina, and Carl W. Two of the children Grace and Tina died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce came to Colorado in 1886 and located on a farm, four miles south of Burlington. Mr. Pearce was of the sturdy pioneer stock that won and transformed the wild west into a land of homes. He was a lifeIong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a charter member of the Burlington church, and for many years a member of the official board. He helped to build the old parsonage and church, and was active in all affairs of the church. Having made his home in this community, he was known to all. by Janice Sahnans PEERY - WATSON FAMILY FSlO turn twenty-one on April 12, 1987. She is employed at a down town Denver bank. In the spring of 1945, Joe was helping one of our neighbors Kenneth Leighty and family moved from Johnson, Kansas to Flagler. Kenneth and family had purchased the house where Bob and Linda Perry and boys recently moved. While Joe was here with a load he decided he liked the country and purchased the farm from C.M. Smith, realtor. C.M. Smith was Jerry Smith's grandfather and had his business where Jerry is now located. In Sept of 1945 Joe moved his family to Flagler. Minnie about had a heart attack when she saw the place he'd bought. There was not a building you could call a house. Joe promised he would rent a house in town. There was not a house to rent. Anyway we lived in a granary that winter. We also spent the winter trying to drill a well one mile west of the old improvements. We spent the whole winter putting casing in the hole. There was no water as Joe had thought. (The casing is still in the hole as far as I know.) In Kansas if Joe and his brothers decided they needed a new well, they started drilling and had water by evening or at least by the next day. We were told there was probably no water to be found on the place except where the line across where the old well was. Joe wouldn't hire a well driller. Anyway several years after Joe had passed away the old well just had to be replaced. I hired a driller; he drilled one test hole and was satisfied he had water. He bored the home bigger and there is a good well about % mile from the old well on top of a hill where my renter wanted it. It is good water also at about 180 feet. Joe passed away suddenly May 18, 1965 of a massive heart attack. After Joe's death Minnie was very fortunate to get a job in Burlington at the Social Services Dept. The late Elmer Kueker, county commissioner, saw to it that someone from this end of the county got the job. Minnie moved to Burlington in August of 1968 and was employed there for nearly 16 years. After retiring in March of 1984 on account of health reasons, she moved back to Flagler in January of 1985. by Minnie E. Peery Joseph H. Peery born at Franklin, Nebras- ka and Minnie E. (Watson) Peery born at Jetmore, Kansas were married October 5, 1935 by the Methodist minister Roxie T. Powell at Ulysses, Kansas. They lived the first 10 years of their married life at Johnson and Syracuse, Kansas. Joe was engaged in farming with his brothers Howard and Vincent and their father Ernest A. Peery. Joe and Minnie became the parents ofthree sons. Lloyd, born Sept.6, 1936, is a Senior Electrical Engineer for AT&T. He and his wife Marilyn live in Middlesex, New Jersey. They have a son and three daughters. Warren, born May 2L, L942 is a diesel mechanic and also has his own semi-truck. He occasionally drives it but usually has a driver. He and his wife Judy live in Burlington, Colo. They have a son Joe, twenty-one, in the army in Calif. They also have a daughter Melody a junior at the high school in Burlington. Ralph, born October 7, 1944 lives with his wife Debra at Kiowa. Colo. Orin Penny Estella Penny PENNY - NESMITH FAMILY F51 1 Orin Painter Penny, was born Oct. 30, 1893, at Richmond, Mo. His life story is that of a young man, who by his own efforts, rose to a position of influence and trust among his associates and friends. He came to Burlington in 1916 and was employed in the hardware store of the late N.R. Brown. He enlisted in the Navy in World War I in 1917 and served until the close of the war. After his discharge he returned to Burlington, where his former employment awaited him. In 1920, he and C.H. Parke bought out the Tipton and Upton Hardware store which they conducted under the name of Parke and Penny until 1922, when Mr. Penny purchased Mr. Parke's interest. In 1934, he took his brother, Parvin, into the business and the firm was known as Penny Brothers. It was located on the N.E. corner of Main and Lowell St. Besides the hardware, implement, furniture, and undertaking business, Mr. Penny had successfully conducted a farm 6% miles south of town. He sold the undertaking business to Bill Hendricks in 1940. During his years of residence here he had contributed liberally to every venture that would help the Burlington community. He served as major ofBurlington in 1932 to 1934, and was a member of the local Masonic Lodge, Odd Fellow Lodge, and of Arthur H. Evans Post No. 60 of the American Legion. His business ability was unquestioned, and his deep devotion to his family and friends was perhaps his outstanding characteristic. On October 20, L920, he married Estella Nesmith. She had come to Colorado from �Atwood, Kansas, where she was born on September 11, 1889. She moved to Burlington in 1910 with her grandfather John Ratcliff, with whom ehe lived after her mother died. She attended Businese College and State Normal College. Three children were born to this union, John Curtis, Gene Willard, and Estella Eileen. Estella belonged to the Methodist Church, was a member of Eaet€rn Star, Inter Sese and was a member of the Library Board. She was a charter member of P.E.O. Orin passed away August 7, 1946, and Est€lla passed away January 23, 1972. Their home in Burlington was used for 11 years as the Burlington Museum. by Gene Penny PENNY. NIDER FAMILY Gene Willard Penny was born in Burlington, Colo., Feb. 7, L925, to Orin and Estelle Nesmith Penny. He had an older brother John, and younger sister Eileen. Gene received his early schooling in the Burlington Public Schools and finished at St. John's Military School in Salina, Kansas. After finishing high school, he joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was sent to school at Colorado College, and St. Mary's College in Calif. He was discharged in May 1946. After his father's death in August 1946, Gene took over management of the farm operation, and cattle business, located.6l/z miles southwest of Burlington. Gene has served on the Burlington School Board, town council, and the fire district. He is a past president of Rotary, past commander of the American Legion post, and past Master of the Masonic Lodge. He served as chairman of the F5l2 Burlington Country Club for 5 years, a director of Plaine Development Co., and member of Colo. Cattle Feeders, and Cattlemen's Assn. Gene's first love has been his farming and ranching business, building and teaching his family the same love. He was the first farmer to plant sugar beets in the area. He had given much time to the development of the sugar beet industry and irrigation in the county, putting in one of the first irrigation systems in this area. The Penny Ranch includes dry land, irrigated land, and a cattle feeding operation. On May 28, 1950, Gene married Dorothy Nider, daughter of Claude C. and Mathilde Wolters Nider. Dorothy was one of eight children. Born at Dille, Neb., on May 24, 1926. She attended school, and graduated in thie community. The family moved to Raymond, Calif., because of her father's health, two years later moving to Burlington, Colo. Dorothy's work at this time was in banking, At this writing, their son Kevin married Jeana Waters, from St. Frances, Kansas, on August 2, 1980. Jeana graduated from Hays State University in 1981, the same year as Kevin. They have two daughters, Noelle Page born May 3, 1983, and Abbey Lee born June 11, 1986. Gary married Teresa Errington from Goodland, Kansas on Feb. 18, 1984. She graduated from Manhattan, Kansas in 1983, with a Business degree. Norman was manied to Susanne Kreis of Kent, Wash., in 1987. Susanne graduated from Kent Meridian High School in 1975 and is now employed by The Wall Street Journal in Los Angeles, Ca. In 1968, our family started keeping exchange students from foreign countries, which through the years has brought learning, communication, and hopefully a better understanding of our country and we of theirs. We started with a Rotary exchange fellow from Switzerland, which in turn led to five others from that country, another from France, Australia, and one from Guymas, Mexico. As a family, we enjoyed trips to the mountains, fishing, skiing, hiking. Other trips were to Disneyland, and trips to visit relatives in Fresno, Houston, Seattle, Chicago. We enjoyed picnicing, boating, and water skiing at Bonny Dnm. 1ry" have spent many hours watching our children in their activitiee; football, baseball, basketball, twirling, and band . . . This is our life. by Dorothy Penny PETEFISII BRADSIIAW FAMILY F513 working in Burlington for the Bank of Burlington, which ended when their children Dorothy and Gene Penny at their wedding in 1950. were born. Five children were born to Gene and Dorothy. Norman, Gary, Gregory, Kevin, and Julie; all receiving their schooling in Burlington. Norman received his degree at CU in Businese and currently is working for Investors Daily in Los Angeles. Gary attended CSU, studying Agri-Bus, Greg received his AA at Sterling in Agri-Bus, Kevin attended Samuel Edward Petefish was born June 4, 1876 in Clyde Polk County, Iowa. From his obituary we learned that San went to Colorado with his widowed mother in 1887, at the age of eleven years. His mother died three vears later. He CSU, transferring and graduated with a degree in Agri-Bus, from Ft. Hays State University at Hays, Kansas. These three boys are agsociated with their father in the family ranching and farming businees. Julie attended Ft. Hays University in Hays for 2 years, then attended and graduated from the Hays Coemetology School in 1985, and is currently working in Denver. Dorothy's life has been taking care of her family and their interests, which took so much of her time in earlier years. Dorothy is Gene and Dorothy Penny in their backyard, 1983. amember of PEO, holding all offices, therein. She has a love for sewing, baking, painting, bridge, creating for a senee of accomplishment and sharing. Everyone in this community knows her love for golf and its association, and shares this interest with her husband. Gene and Dorothy have loved their community of Burlington; a very fine place to raise a family where their friends care and share for each other. They are members of the United Methodist Church, both working actively in this area. So-uel Petefrsh �returned to Iowa for one year, but again went to Colorado, naking his home with Charlie, his oldest brother and guardian. He remained in Colorado until sixteen and again returned to lowa to work. After one year he went back to Kit Carson Co. where he spent the remainder of his life except for the year 1912 which was spent in Denver becauee of his wife'e health. Sam wrote a letter to his sister tclling about a ranch job he had one half north of Claremont. The lettcr was dated December 12, 1898. After he returned to Colorado he worked at the old Bar T. Ranch and later at theJohn Pugh Ranch where he methis future wife Minnie. She was teaching school at the Tuttle School. Sn- married Minnie Est€lla Bradshaw, daughter of Charles Albert and Rebecca Ellen Bradehaw. To this union four children, Amy, Grace, Roy and Guy were born. After marriage they located on a homeetead 10 miles west of Burlington. The home is still standing and is located one mile west of Bethune, Colo. The Richard Guy family reside there. In 1912 she became ill and he took his family by wagon to Englewood, Colorado where she passed away in 1914. After his wife's death he along, with his four small children, Amy 13, Grace 12, Roy 10, Guy 8, cnme back to the family homestead. Here the children attended school and MiIIard and Sylvia Petersen on their Golden Wedding Anniversary, September 25, 1968. Millard and Sylvia Petersen on their wedding day, September 25, 1918. about a year and then moved to Haxtun, Colorado in the spring of 1920. Alma, mom's sister, had lost her husband and they moved to Haxtun and rented her place and farmed there for a year. They enjoyed a bountiful harvest and in the fall of 1921, they moved to Flagler. There they bought a quarter of land from Jack Molste and started up their farming once again. They planted both grain and feed crops and in the middle of the summer, a flash flood ca-e and washed out all the grain and feed and they lost a lot of their livestock at the snme time. They were quite disheartened by this experience, but they salvaged what they could, traded their quarter of land for 3 houses in Flagler which they fixed up for sale family to Littleton, Colorado where they spent the remainder of their lives. Son Roy had a dreem of a better life and he left the Minnesota where he married and went into the dime store business where he owned two stores for many years. Son Guy married Cora Armstrong and they moved to Englewood, Colorado. He was killed at an early age in a construction accident. Sam still has one grandson Jim McConnell, who was born in Kit Carson County and he and his family reeide south of Stratton, Colorado. by Florence McConnell PETERSEN FAMILY F6l4 Millard Petersen Millard and Sylvia Carie became husband and wife Sept. 25, 1918 at Hardy, Nebraska. Mom and Dad, following their marriage in 1918, lived on a farm in the Ruskin area for helped their father. He was a Methodist and a twenty-five year member of Knights of Pythias Lodge. In the years before his death he was road overseer in the county for some years. His children married and started homes of their own. He enjoyed his grandchildren. He passed away suddenly while on the job, in June of 1929 at the age of 53 years. Both Snm and Minnie are buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Burlington, Colorado. A long time friend and co-worker, Floyd Swogger, who resides in Stratton, Colorado still talks about the time he worked on the road with Snm. His oldest daughter Amy, married and resided in Kit Carson County, all of her 84 years. Grace married Peck Evans and lived here until hard times forced Peck to move hie county to seek work. He got a job working in a dime store. He later went to Minneapolis, a lasting maniage of over 50 years. Mr. and Mrs. Millard Petersen, wedding portrait. Millard had immigrated to America from Hjoring, Denmark in 1907 at the age of 10. The Petersen family of nine settled in Ruskin, Nuckols County, Nebraska. Millard adapted quickly to the new customs and the way of Americans and soon learned the English language quite well. His father had much more difficulty in learning English so he depended quite heavily on dad to be his spokesman. Dad had to translate the Danish into proper English expression in order to get many of the business transactions set out as they were supposed to be. Sylvia was born in Unionville, Missouri on August 19, 1895, the youngest of the family. Her mother died 3 years later so she and her older sister, Alma, went to live with an aunt in Malvern, Iowa. In 1917 Dad was invited to a party at mom's brother's place in Superior, Nebraska and itwas there that Mom and Dad first met. The courtship soon c rlminated into and traded them off, one at a time. They traded one of them for a cafe which they operated for some time and then traded the going business for another house, which they again remodeled and fixed up to sell. It took many jobs to get back on their feet following the flood. Dad undertook speculating in livestock and worked at the Mosier Elevator for some time, taking whatever job he could get. He then went intocustom sod breaking and custom farming. A little bit later, his brother, Arthur, moved out from Nebraska and joined him, helping him farm for about 3 years and then Arthur moved back to Nebraska. In November 1923. their first child was born. Dr. Neff, assisted by Mrs. Agnes Page, brought a son, Lowell Eugene, into the world. Mom and Dad were quite happy with this but their joy was short lived, for the baby died soon after. Dad continued in custom farming and whenever he had a little money to set aside, he would buy up option on different land around that was available for sale and speculated considerable in land. He broke out several hundred acres south of town in the immediate areas just north of Wild Horse. Norman Millard Petersen, a second child, �Millard Petersen was born to them on February LL, t925. Again, Mrs. Agnes Page assisted Dr. Neff in this birth. In 1928, Millard became a citizen by earning his naturalization papers, as did Sylvia. Because ghe had married an alien, she had been a citizen of Denmark for 8 years without actually realizing it. This procedure of naturalization began when he filed a declaration of intention called "The First Paper." Then he had the normal process that he had to go through to prove his lawful residence in the country and within the state. He had to prove that he was able to read and write and speak English. This was quite an experience for Mom to go through the same process, even though she was born in America to U.S. citizens. It was just one of those quirks of the law. On January 18,t929, another son, Richard Owen, was born to Mom and Dad. Again, Mrs. Page was called to help. A heavy snow storm was in progress at that time and many anxious moments were spent while waiting for Dr. Neff and Mrs. Page to come. by Richard Petersen Then in October 1929 with the news of the stock market crash, hundreds of banks folded. Among them was the Farmers State Bank, here in Flagler. Many people went broke and Mom and Dad were among the many who ended up with that problem. Some went bankrupt, some moved away, and others stuck it out and faced a bleak, debt ridden future. The assets of the Farmers State Bank were sold. One of the buyers hired Dad to make whatever settlement that he could make in a reasonable manner of the various notes and receivables that he had purchased at the sale. This was a great opportunity for Dad because jobs were scarce. This job took Dad to many different states and he spent much time away from home. But this was a means by which he could earn that much needed money to pay off his debts and feed his family. Mom and Dad were living in the Bernard house at this time, and to help fill in as far as income and to break the loneliness of Dad being gone so much, Mom took in lady school teachers and they had room and board there with Mom while Dad was off on this job. On December 30, 1930, Dr. Williams, PETERSEN FAMILY F515 assist€d by Jenny Beaman, delivered Lawrence Grant Petersen into the world. It was a joyous occasion and Dad ceme home very excited about the birth of his new son. It tore at his heart, having to be away from his family for so long, so in the fall of 1931, Dad gave up his job of collecting and working out settlements in order to be home with his family. New road work had begun on both North and South 40. Dad had an opportunity to place 2 trucks on, so he bought 2 fl u mp trucks The Petereen Tlucking business. and began hauling dirt, gravel, and rock for the road beds and fills for the bridges. This construction work was a Godsend for the people of this area and various communities adjacent to it. Jobs were terribly scarce but this did provide many needed jobs for a lot of people in the area. A new dentist, Dr. William O'Brian, was coming to town. He was moving into the Bernard house so the folks moved up to the Sherman property in the east part of town. Dad bought several cows, so we milked cows and tried to raise a few calves. But with the drought that was prevailing at the time, there was no feed and it was terribly erpensive to buy feed. The government came out with a program at which they would pay for the cattle if they were destroyed, but in doing so, you could not utilize the meat. I know of one morning when I came downstairs for breakfast and saw Mom and Dad sitting at the table, holding hands as they were crying. I really didn't understand a great lot about it and I wondered why the tears. They spoke very little about it but I did gather what was going to take place. They had decided they would have to go into the prograrn because they couldn't buy feed for the cattle. They were going to have them destroyed and the government had people designated throughout the different areas to come around to destroy the livestock and to be sure that they were destroyed. This was sure disheartening for Mom and Dad as well as many others in the area who went into the program. It seemed like one plague after another first the drought that we were in at that time and then an infestation of grasshoppers throughout a tremendously wide area. Many states were affected by it, especially here in eastern Colorado and western Kansas it was quite evident ofthe devastation ofthis. They had thought out ways to control them and had elected on a mixture of arsenic, bran, banana oil, and saw dust. Dad was given the job of hauling many, many loads of saw dust from the mills at Sedalia to Burlington, Cheyenne Wells and Kanorado and Goodland, Kansas and even as far east as Colby, Kansas. This program was instituted and was quite successful for several months. This was a pretty steady job for Dad. Dad saw the potential of a trucking business so he applied for the necessary permits and began a truck line here in Flagler. The folks moved from the Sherman property to the Madole house which they had just purchased. This house, being no different than the others, seemed to require some changing and some remodeling which was done in the spare time that they had from their trucking business. Mom helped Dad a lot, driving a truck on many occasions. The long, hard hours took their toll. Mom and Dad both required major surgery and due to the failing health of Dad, they sold the truck line to Van Goodwin in 1940. by Richard Petersen PETERSEN FAMILY F516 Millard Petersen As Dad recovered from his operation and gained his health back, he operated a sale barn for a short time and later bought the Epperson place just southwest oftown. There he kept his kids busy milking 25 cows, feeding out several bucket calves and utilizing the separated milk to fatten out a bunch of hogs. It too had long hours but it was of a different nature and not so binding. The family was all together and it was a good life. Norman graduated from high school in Norman Millard, Millard, Richard, Sylvia and Lawrence Petersen, 1939. 1943 and soon thereafter enlisted into the armed services. A week before he was to have �brick and stone mason. They thoroughly enjoyed this mountain home. by Richard Petersen PETERSEN FAMILY F617 The flooding of Buffalo Creek, 1922. The Petergen family. Standing L. to R.: Dovi Lynn, Virginia Mae and Lawrence, Richard and JoAnn, Mike Petersen. Seated: Roy Lee, Gayle Laureen, Millard, Sylvia, Janice Jo and Kris Delynn Petersen. been inducted, Norman and Cleveland Heid were both killed in a tragic auto accident near Rexford, Kangas. Disheartened by this loss, Mom and Dad sold the farm to Steve Leighty of Canon City and a short time later, they purchased Pearl's Garage in 1944. They changed the name to M&S Motor and obtained a Chrysler-Plymouth franchise to go along with the service station, cafe and garage operation. We move into the back of the garage where there were sleeping rooms and it was quite a comfortable place, cool in the summer and warm in the winter due to the adobe construction of the building. It was while we were there that a head-on train crash occurred in Flagler right in front of the depot during a also took his soh away from home. This too left its mark on Dad's hedth. Mom and Dad welcomed their first grandchild, Michael Lawrence Petersen. born to Richard and JoAnn on January 9, 1953. And then another welcomed time was Lawrence's discharge from the Army on July 1, 1953. On July 5, 1953, Lawrence was married to his fiance, Virginia Mae Dragoo. They lived at Flagler on the farm until moving on to Cheyenne, Wyomong. Dad's health had deteriorated to the point that it was necessary to get out of the garage, if at all possible. So he sold the garage to Rhynold Fager and William Bresser who operated it for the next 9 years. As Dad's health began to recover, they heavy snow storm. We slept through all of the noir,e and the commotion and didn't learn of it until early morning when many people cane in to drink coffee and discuss and talk traveled some. In their travels, they came about the incident. build a summer mountain cabin. They went back to purchase the land and then made plans of their new cabin. Before very much was done in the line of Richard graduated from high school in 1946 and then went to work for Dad in the garage and in the construction of a new cafe and motel units. Dad was needing a new show room for his new cars and a better shop for his mechanics. He converted the cafe portion into a showroom and then tore out the walls of the sleeping rooms in the rear, making that area into an enclosed shop and then continued on, building a new cafe across the street and an ll-unit motel. Lawrence graduated in 1948. It was a little different now for the folks having no one in school anymore. It was at this time that Richard took notice of a young lady, JoAnn Moody. After 2 years of courtship, Mom and Dad inherited a new daughter-in-law on June 30, 1950. Dad's dedication to the garage and car business involved many long, tiring hours and his health again was deteriorating. Lawrence's induction into the U.S. Army in 1951 took not only one of his help away but upon an attractive location near Grant, Colorado. After talking about it for some time, they decided it wold be a nice place to construction, there were two additions to the Petersen family. Dovi Lynn was born to Lawrence and Virginia on April 11, 1955 and Kris Delynn was born to Richard and JoAnn on May 28, 1955. This was a very exciting time for the parents as well as for the grandparents. They talked considerably as to what it would be like to have grandchildren up there to share with them when they got the mountain cabin built. They started their construction and completed a 7 room mountain cabin, completed with a guest house 3 years later. There was an interruption to its construction when Dad fell off my truck, breaking his leg. Mom and Dad built this cabin completely by themselves with the exception of a large fireplace that was put up by a professional Buffalo Creek leaves evidence of flood in L922 northeast of Flagler. Millard Petersen On June 27, L956, Roy Lee was born to the family of Lawrence and Virginia, this making grandchild number 4 for Mom and Dad. It was an exciting time for them as they witnessed the growth of the families of their kids and, of course, increasing numbers of grandkids. Grandchild number 5, Janice Jo, arrived July 12, 1959, also making child number 3 for Richard and JoAnn. Mom and Dad couldn't remain idle and in 1961, completed the purchase of the George Simon property here in Flagler and proceeded with the plans for remodeling it into their new Flagler home. They remodeled it entirely by themselves and made several changes to their liking and ended up with a beautiful home which they lived in until they left this world. September 1, 1961 was the first day in he life of Gayle Laureen Petersen, born to Lawrence and Virginia. She was the folks'6th grandchild and 3rd child for Lawrence and Virginia. In 1963, Dad went back into the garage which he operated with Lawrence and me and it was quite a time for him as business trends had changed and it was quite a thing after 9 years away from it to step right in where he had remembered thing leaving off. Dad's health continued to deteriorate and in 1965, he and I reached an agreement of purchase of the garage from Dad and Mom with me taking possession on January 1, 1966. As Dad recuperated, they would take short trips here and there but it was difficult for them to be gone any length of time. His health had deteriorated to the point that he just could not exert himself very much at a �time and continued to deteriorate until February 1971 when Dad passed away, just a few days short of his 74th birthday. Mom continued living in the house, taking care of the yard, the flowers and the garden. She enjoyed her many hours spent there, keeping the place beautiful both inside and out. She belonged to different card clubs and enjoyed these times. She enjoyed her many friends who co-e to visit and then as Mom's strength weakened, she was not able to get out as she had before and her eyesight began to fail. It was hard for her to go anywhere but she really enjoyed her visits from her many friends that she had gotten to know over the many years that she lived in Flagler. On January 1, 1981, Mom passed away. It was a sad time for the entire family but it was a joyous time in a way for we knew that Mom knew her Lord and Savior and we knew that peace now would abound. We continued on in our lives, holding many, many fond memories of Mom and Dad, of our childhood years, and of the years following up when Mom and Dad nurtured us in giving us counsel, giving us wisdom, giving us help and, above all, giving us love at all times. by Richard Petersen PETERSEN, LAWRENCE F6r8 The Lawrence Petersen family. hospital. In 1955 Lawrence and Virginia moved to Virginia's home place, the old Schwinn place, and began farm life there. The drought prevailed and it was fruitless in trying to farm when there was no rain. The dust storms co-e and it seemed impossible to get a dollar ahead. Lawrence and Virginia left the farm moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where Lawrence took a job driving for Western Auto Transport. The name was changed a little later to Commercial Carriers. He joined up with Deb Coryell, hauling new cars all over the western United States. Business was good and because of this, Lawrence purchased 2 trucks of his own, hiring a driver to run one while he drove the other. A short time later there was a slow down in the automotive business and hauling came to a near etandstill in many areas. They returned to Flagler doing some trucking and farming. He bought a bulldozer and began working on soil conservation prograrns. He worked at this for 2 years and then learned to fly and became a spray pilot. He flew for Nelson Stake and Fred Hilt in their spraying operations. Virginia completed her nurses training at the University of Southern Colo- him to retire. Virginia accepted the offering of a job €rs m{rnager of The Pioneer Valley Housing Development as well as managing the housing program at Arriba. Lawrence took an interest in locksmithing and worked and studied to become a certified locksmith. It is probably as much a hobby as it is a business for he is quite intrigued by the many styles and makes of locks, especially the older ones. Lawrence and Virginia will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary July 5, 1988. Dovi Lynn, their oldest daugher, married Robert Beal and live in Flagler with their 2 children, Jini Theresa and Robert Lee Beal. Bob drives an over the road truck for a transport company out of Cheyenne, Wyoming and is gone much of the time. Their son, Roy Lee and his wife Paula live in Durango, Colorado. Roy is the manager of the John Deere Industrial Store. Roy has 1 son, Randall Lawrence. Lawrence and Virginia's youngest daughter Gayle Laureen and her husband, Steve Pease also live in Durango where they are both employed. by Richard Petersen rado. Lawrence was also working for the U.S. Postal Service but resigned this position to go into business for himself in aerial crop spraying. He purchased 2 airplanes and began his spraying business. One of his pilots crashed one of his planes and a short time Lawrence and Virginia Mae Petersen Lawrence Petersen was born and raised in Flagler. Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army July 3, 1953 was joined together in marriage to Virginia Mae Dragoo on July 5, 1953. Virginia had moved here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Dragoo, from Springfield, Colorado in March of 1946. They first lived on the Fred Page farm 2 miles east after, the other one was destroyed by a small twister that hit where the plane was parked west of town. Discouragement didn't seem quite the term to use since "mother nature" had pounded them so heavy. Virginia had finished her nurses training and had begun working at the Burlington Hospital. Later, an opening came at the Lincoln Community Hospital. With less miles to travel, she took the job opportunity. Ruthie Jenkins came to their family as a foster child, living with them and 3 miles north of Flagler. They were until her graduation from high school 2 years engaged in a hog farm operation. 1954 was a dry year and the beginning ofa 3 year drought later. for this area. Like many others they had to turn to other sources of livelihood to make ends meet. Virginia worked at the local Virginia continued on with her nursing practice. In 1977 Lawrence purchased the Flagler Pool Hall which he operated for the next 2 years. Lawrence's health failed, forcing PETERSEN, RICHARD F5t9 In reviewing my maried life of 38 years to my good wife, JoAnn, our first source of livelihood was in trucking and salvage business and working part time for my dad at the M&S Motor Co. We moved to Grangeville, Idaho in July of 1951 for a short time working for my father-in-law, Bert Moody, in housing construction and remodeling. We returned to Flagler in January of 1952. I went to work for dad at the M&S until late summer of 1953 when we purchased the old LeRoy Cuckoo building on Main Street. We opened a glass and sporting good shop with a small auto repair shop and parts store. A drought had just begun and for 3 years there was little or no crops and likewise little or no business. In 1956 I accepted the J.I. Case dealership. Wow. what a time to take that on. I learned AEA �thought about building a new station across the interstate. We owned the property on the Denmark and his Mother was born in Wisconsin and was German and English seeking the necessary arrangements, we built a new gervice station with 2 service bays and descent. Charley was oldest son of Rudolph & Mary Peterson. Charley, his brother Edgar, and his parents moved to Kanorado, Kansas, where they homesteaded on 160 acres. They southwest corner of the interchange so fuel islands set up to serve both farm and truck diesel and 3 grades of gasoline. We left the old M&S building and moved to our new one celebrating open house July 23, L979. We were affiliated with the A.{A and Allstate Motor Clubs as their towing and service agent. Our good friends and Canadian family, Ken and Made Foss, from Pierceland, j ).,: ...'a:,.:a:: :l ,r', *.1 x , ::$ Richard and JoAnn Petersen a lot about the facts of business and lack of business in a short time. Had it not been for Saskatchewan, Canada drove down from Pierceland and blessed us with their presence at our open house. We leased out the old M&S Motor building to Mark Amos who operated a welding and machine shop until it was destroyed by fire in August 1985. My wife and I operate the station and between that, our 3 kids and 7 grandchildren and church, our time is pretty well taken up. The Lord and life has been good to us and we have been blessed. Mike, the oldest of our 3 kids, lives in Flagler. He has 2 boys, David Michael and Lance Allen. Mike owns and operates the Flagler Auto Salvage and is employed by the town of Flagler as town marshall. Kris, the second in line, lives in my friendly banker, I shudder to think of what could have happened at this crucial Flagler with her 3 children, Patrick Owen, Meggan Justine and Jonathan Dane. Kris, a registered nurse, has been employed by the time. Drought still in effect and sales almost nil. We put the truck to work hauling scrap iron, years. Our youngest daughter, Janice, and her ued on with trucking and some farming until May of 1963 when I went into business again with dad in the M&S Motor Co. Two and a half years later we purchased the business taking possession on January 1, 1966. We had ance Agency. coal and fruit. We closed out the Case dealership in the spring of 1960. We contin- Lincoln Community Hospital for several husband Dan Lackey, live in Elkhart, Kansas where they are both employed. Dan is the service manager for the John Deere and Ford dealership and Janice is the office manager of the Morton County Farm Bureau Insur- by Richard Petersen the Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge dealerships along with the Massey Ferguson farm equipment line. The Massey Ferguson business wan housed in my building uptown. In early 1969 we moved Massey Ferguson down PETERSON FAMILY F520 to the M&S Motor building. In October of 1969 Continental Oil approached me to buy the M&S. They were looking for a location on which to put up a large service station along Interstate 70. They bought an option on the property which Charley E. Peterson was born in Mt. Etna, Iowa, on April 30, 1884. His Dad was from covered wagon set in the ground on the side of a hill. Years later there was a lovely home built on this site. In the year of 1909 (when Charley was about 25 years of age), he went by himself to where he homesteaded about 20 miles south of Burlington. He lived there as a bachelor for about thirty years. He had several hired hands helping him during that time. He married my mother, Mary Neus- chwanger Hicks, on April 25, 1933. She lost her husband, Russell Hicks, in March 1928, from measles that turned into pneumonia. I was only 4 at that time and I remember my Mother telling me how sick I was with the measles at the same time. Charley's sister was married to my Mother's brother, Dave Neus- chwanger so that was the way they got acquainted. Archie was 21 so he wasn't home long and went to work for the Matthies family that lived just 1 % miles north of my stepdad's place. Since Charley was a bachelor for a number of years, he was capable of doing his own cooking. I was the youngest girl in a family of nine and was 8 when my Mother married Charley, so I did not know much about cooking or how to clean a chicken so Charley taught me how to cut up a chicken and get it ready to cook. There were four of us girls and all of us learned how to milk cows and do all the chores there are on a farm. There were also five brothers, but it wasn't long before the two oldest ones left home to work for other people. My brother, Wayne, was a joy for all of us but at age of 12 he was working about 3 lz miles from home and when he was bringing the horse home, he wrapped the rope around his wrist and the horse got spooked and he was dragged. He died a few hours later in Burlington Hospital. Charley was known for training ofdogs and for raising horses and trading them. He was known as "horse trader" in Kit Carson County. I remember Charley telling about the dog he had trained before we were living at his place that could go after either the horse or cow that he would pick out by name, or he would just bring in the milk cows and would become due upon the completion of the overpass at the interchange. Everything looked so promising that they would exercise their option that I began phasing down leave rest of the cows in the pasture. I remember one dog he trained so well that he could holler out of the bedroom window to bring in the milk cows and when Charley got up, the cows were there ready to be milked. During the 30'g when we had the dust storms so bad, the jack rabbits were so thick, and were taking most of the farmer's crops so Charley formed several rabbit drives. I remember one drive he had, a dust storm came up so fast and in the middle of the afternoon it got as dark as night, so all the people at the hunt had to stay at Charley's place until the storm was over. During a few of these storms we were caught at school so our teacher (Mrs. Wigton) kept us at school and we played dominoes. The stove door had to be open so we would be able to see. Charley everything in preparation to vacate the premises so they could put up the new station. Shortly before the option matured, the Colorado State Highway Department traded the property between the M&S and the highway to another party and in so doing, moved my property from first to second access and Continental Oil didn't want it then and declined and surrendered their option. This was a great disappointment to us for we had looked forward so much to have and operate a new station. Since we had resigned our dealerships for Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge and Massey Ferguson in preparation for the new station, we had to drop back and see whether to pass or punt. We operated the garage and station as best we could. Our son, Mike, graduated from high school in 1971 and Kris graduated in 1973. Janice was soon to have her graduation in 1977. We first live in a dugout which consisted of a Charley and Mary Peterson taken with their dog Tippy in front of schoolhouse that Charley bought and remodeled. They lived in it until they moved to Brulington. and my Mother lived on the place that Charley homesteaded until Charley was not able to keep up with farm work and my Mother had ill health. It forced them to move to town, where they bought a house just west of the park in Burlington. They were living �business in the care of some of his eight children and came and stayed with one of his two boys. One day, he borrowed a team and buggy from one of the boys and startpd out south of Bethune looking for a suitable homestead site. He always claimed that he found some blue grass growing right north of the Smokey River, 19 miles southwest of Bethune, and with this great find, he said this is it, and claimed this land as his homestead. Sometime during the snme year of 1909, another of Bill's sons, Martin, homestead a half section just northwest of his father's homestead. They both put up sod houses and sheds at first and drilled their own wells with a homemade drill. In 1910 or 1911, Bill's mother, Elizabeth Pfaffly and her daughter, Amelia, cane to Colorado and each homest€aded one mile north of Bill's. They each had their own ,._,:: "-*;_ -i This was taken close to chicken house on the place where Charley homesteaded. Front row; Nellie Carroll, Mabel Hawkins, Charley and Mary Peterson, Pearl Matthies, Archie Hicks. Back row; Viola Sullivan, Albert. Harold and Kenneth Hicks. there when my Mother had a heart attack and passed away at home on October 17, 1964. Charley lived there until 1968, when he entered Grace Manor Nursing Home. During that time he fell and broke his hip and spent a few weeks at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. He passed away from pneumonia in hospital at Burlington on March L4,L977, at age of 94 years. There were seven of us children left. My oldest sister, Nellie, died from cancer on May 3, 1951, at age of 37. She had two girls and one boy. Viola married Robert Sullivan and live in Montrose. They have one girl and two boys. Mabel who married George Hawkins and live in Le-ar. They have two boys. Archie married Clara Matthies and live in Colorado Springs. They have one daughter and their son Roy and family live in Burlington. Harold manied a girl from Oregon and they live on a farm near McMinnville, Oregon and they have one son. Kenneth married a girl from Cheyenne Wells and they are living in Sterling. They have one girl and two boys. My youngest brother, Albert, went to high school in Meeker and married a girl from there. They had three sons but youngest one drowned after they moved to Canada' He has recently retired in 1984 and is living at Nakusp which is about 200 miles from Kamloops, BC. I married Charles Matthies in April 1945, and have lived in several places but have been in Colorado Springs for about 30 years. We have one daughter and two sons. by Pearl llicks Matthies PFAFFLY FAMILY F62r Jnmes Buchanan Pfaffly, born December 27, 1856, of Swiss parents near Columbus, Ohio, was the first Pfaffly to come out west to Colorado. When he was two years old, his parents, Elizabeth and John Pfaffly, moved with Jim and older brother, William Dexter, from Ohio to Wathena, Kansas, where they, and three more brothers grew to manhood. In 1879, when Jim was 22 years old, it's said that his mother sent him after a pound of coffee and she never saw him again for over a decade. He thought Wathena was too crowded and should be thinned out,so he came to Colorado looking for work, and the first place he went was Leadville. When he got off the train, the first thing he saw was a man get shot down in the street, and he had a notion to leave, but he decided to stick around for awhile, and maybe see if some of that gold couldn't find him. For the next ten years, Jim and his adventuresome spirit roamed the northwestern Unitcd States and Canada. On Christmas day in 1890, he married Maria Field in Omaha, Nebraska, and four years later, he moved his wife and two young daughters, Erma and Gladys, back to Colorado. They located in Seibert, where Jim beca-e the foreman of the track work on the Rock Island Railroad. In 1901, after seven years on the railroad, he decided he wanted to homestead, so the family moved to about 1% miles southwest of Bethune. where Jim remained until his retirement in 1916. His daughter, Erma, met and married Frank Cordonnier in Wathena, Kansas,and after moving back to Bethune, she was the postmistress there for a good many years. The other daughter, Gladys, married Jess McFarland, of Stratton, and after mostly raising their large family here, they moved to Washington state. The next Pfafflys to come to Colorado were the sons of Jim's older brother, William Dexter Pfaffly. Julius Ceasar Pfaffly (Jude) and James Edward Pfaffly (Ed) came out from Wathena around 1907. Jude homesteaded about three miles southwest of Bethune on what is now the Doyle and Harry Roberson place. Ed homesteaded about two miles southwest of Bethune on what is now called the "old" Dvorak place. He got married in Stratton and they had three children in Colorado. In 1909, the boys'father, William Dexter Pfaffly (Bill) came to Colorado. Having lost his wife in 1890, he left his blacksmith "soddy" not far from a common dividing line, and there they lived for the next five years until they had "proved-up" on the land. They always told about the vastness of this Great American Desert known as eastern Colorado, and Ed Pfaffly proved it at least once. He set out one day from his homestead near Bethune with his trusty dog and teoto go to his father Bill's homestead to get some straw. A blizzard came up when he was nearing Bill's and before he knew it, he could not see where he was or where he was going. Although he had been able to see his father's place earlier, he lost it in the blinding snow and missed his mark. He must have been about, Yz mile east of Bill's when his teem of horses fell into the Smokey and were highcentered. Struggling to loosen the horses, he took one horse and leading it, followed the dog, who he figured knew where he was going. Unknown to Ed, at the time, the dog was going east, farther and farther away from Bill's. After walking for what seemed an eternity, Ed found a fence and followed it looking for a place to shelter. He found a place, and although their nnrnes are unknown, the people took him in and then he found he was three or four miles east of Bill Pfaffly's homestead. Around 1912, when Ed had proved-up on his homestead and gotten title to it, he used his land as collateral to buy a steam engine and a plow, and he went to breaking up sod for other people. Business wasn't very good for very long, and he lost the tractor, the plow, and the land. He said to heck with eastern Colorado and moved his family back to eastern Kansas. His brother, Jude, stayed long enough to prove-up on his homestead and also ended up going back to the Wathena area. By 1914, Bill Pfaffly and his son Mart, had proved-up on their land down by the Smokey. Mart moved in with his father and together, they built a good little barn, mixing all the concrete by hand. Bill went back to Wathena, to see if his daughter, Ida, and another son, Alfred Joseph (A.J.) wanted to come out to Colorado to live. Ida and Alfred had been living on the Pfaffly home place in Wathena. Ida said she wasn't going anywhere unless there was a decent house to live in. She said she wasn't going to live in any "soddy" with the bed bugs, so the idea of one of the fust pre-fab houses was formed. They started to cut lumber for a house and a very large barn. When the boards were all cut for the exact size of the house and barn, the lumber was loaded on a train and shipped to Stratton, �where it was then hauled by wagon and tea-s out to the Bill Pfaffly homestead. The Pfafflys sold their 40-acre farm near Wathe- na, and Ida and Alfred cnme to Colorado with their father. They built a cement mixer and started to build the house in 1917. It was finished in 1918, and construction of the big barn was gtarted. Around this time, Alfred bought his first car, a 1916 Model-T Ford, which was used for many purposes; later on, he used it to haul kids to the First Central School. In 1918. A.J. parked his Model-T in the barn and took the train back to Wathena. In December of that year, he married Sarah Elizabeth Beutler at her parents'he6s irr flrrm[olt, Nebraska. His mother loaned them some money so they could buy the west half of Bill's homestead section. In 1919, A.J. brought his bride and their belongings by train back to Colorado. One of their wedding gifts was a Washburn upright piano, which has survived and is still in good working order in 1987. Sarah, who came from the forested lands of eastern Nebraska said she had never seen such a desolatc place. There were no trees, only grassland and rolling hills as far as the eye could see. They bought the half section just west of Bill's, which had a house on it, but before they could move into the little house, brother Martin got sick and decided to go back to Kansas so he could be close to a doctor. Ida decided to go with him, so A.J. and Sarah moved into the big new house with Bill. It was quite a house for it's day, and lots of people talked about it being a mansion on the plains. Construction on the big new barn was completed in this year of 1919. In 1920, Sarah and A.J. had a son, LaMonte Alfred Pfaffly, and a year later, their daughter, Mary Elizabeth was born. In the early twenties, A.J. bought a threshing machine and a 2-cylinder tractor and did a lot ofcustom threshing around the country. Things were starting to look up and then World War II came along and farmers started getting better prices for their products, but then, some of our boys had to go into the service. La Monte had to stay with his father, who was crippled, to help him farm, so he never got to go, although he was in the National Guard for awhile. In 1947 A.J. and Sarah moved to Burlington. A.J. passed away in 1958. In 1948, LaMonte married Mary Jo West, of Hale, Colorado, at the "big" house on the Pfaffly farm. They had three children, Laurence Wayne, Glenda Jo, and Terance LaMonte. In 1982 "Monte" and Mary Jo moved to Burlington so they could be near Monte's mother, Sarah, and help care for her. Sarah passed away in Burlington on Oct. 2, 1986 at the age of 91 years old. Larry has two boys, Darell Wayne and Allan Dale and lives with his wife, Brenda, in Hannibal, Missouri. Daughter Glenda Jo, is married to Martin Bauman of Stratton, and has step-children Denise Newman, and Devin Bauman, and daughter, Erin Michelle. Terry, after going to college, moved back to the farm with his wife, Carol Moore, of Manasquan, New Jersey, in 1975. They had two children: Jason Joseph and Brianne Emily. In 1978, Terry went into partnership with his father. Times are also trying for farmers in this day and age, and Terry decided, as some of his ancestors did before him, that eastern Colorado may not hold the key to his future. He is currently using his college education at a nursery in Palisade, Colorado. The farm is still a Pfaffly farm, and even though there is no longer a Pfaffly living on {rny farm in eastern Colorado, one of LaMonte's grandchildren may one day decide to carry on the challenge and move back to Grandpa William Dexter Pfaffly's homestead. He also broke up some prairie. They had by Mary Jo Pfaffly cows, hogs, horses and a Jack and they raised a lot of mules to sell. They milked cows and had some chickens and a large garden which they used for fresh and canned food, as did most of the farmers around this area. Times started to get hard. Just trying to gurvive was uppermost in the mind. Most people say the worst times were in the 30's, but Uncle Jim, who was now living in Bethune with his daughter, Erma Cordonnier, said the droughts started in 1923, and that was the worst. For recreation in the twenties and thirties, they had picnics and ice creq- socials with neighbors. Prices were low for cattle and hogs and then the drought and the dirt storms were fierce. Pfafflys had to send their livestock up north on the river to be boarded where some food was available; or else there wan no hope for an animal. Father Bill got sick and they took him to Colorado General Hospital in Denver where he passed away in September of 1934. When LaMonte was 17 years old, he went to work for John Sedman on what was called the old Bridegroom place, or it was also Birdie Kellog's place until the dirty 30's ran him out. He got 75 cents a day which was good wages for then, and he worked from sun-up to sun-down as a farm hand, Around 1938, when people started growing PIERSON, LESTER F522 Lester Pierson and his wife, Buelah Mae (Weston) Pierson, came to Burlington, Co. by immigrant train from Fremont County, Iowa. The farm wasn't big enough to support their family and there was no land available around them. They arrived in March, 1921. Six children came with them, Eva, 10; Lester, 8; Paul,6; Mary,4; Alice, 2; and baby Helen. Grant and Gene were born in Colorado. They moved Southwest of Burlington for 1 year and then moved to a place they purchased 15 miles south of Burlington. Lester traded his place of80 acres in Iowa and $7,000 difference for 320 acres here. They lived on this place till they moved to Burlington in 1948. Their daughter, Mary and husband Ernest McArthur, own the home place so it has been in the family for these years. Mary started to school at District #20 "Fairview" School and went there for her first 8 grades, then she completed her education at "Smokey Hill" School. It was a 10 grade school. Alice died from a ruptured appendix, Paul something again, or were able to grow died in 1934 in a runaway team accident. something again, La Monte came back home Gene, age 9, died of blood poisoning from a wood splinter in his foot from jumping into the wagon. Lester died at the age of 67. Mary and started farming with his dad,A.J. They bought a 1929 - 3236 International tractor. married her neighbor, Ernest McArthur. Mary's parents, Beulah Pierson died on January g, L974 at the age of 82 and Lester Pierson died on July 1, 1985 at the age of 101. by Ernest and Mary McArthur PISCHKE FAMILY F623 Gustave Adolf Pischke was born June g, 1874, in Mecan, Wisconsin, to Daniel and Wilhelmina Laper Pischke. Daniel and Wilhelmina had come to America from Germany in 1845. Daniel was a bridge builder and contractor in northern Germany, and bought a farm after coming to America. Ida Johanna Strube was born May 31, 1881, in Chicago to Williem and Augusta Gomoll Strube. Her father was a mail carrier, delivering at first with a horse and cart. Augusta helped support the family by working in a factory making button holes in men's suits. In the early 1900s, Gustave Pischke had a painting business in Princeton, Wis. Ted Pischke, Gustave's brother, had a livery stable and jitney business. He met the trains and took people to their hotels. A pretty young lady from Chicago (Ida) wanted to go to the Shade family, who had a boarding house. Ted told her he knew of no people by that name. She showed him a letter with the name on it. The name was pronounced Shoddy, the German way. After all this discussion about the name, Ted asked her for a date, and through him Ida met Gustave. Gustave and Ida were married March 1?. 1904, at the home of her parents in Chicago. They went immediately to Princeton, where he continued his job and profession asr a painter. He farmed a little also. Their first two children were born in Princeton, Ruth on Jan. 9, 1905, and Lewis on April 25, 1906. They moved to Chicago for three years where Gustave became ill. Their second son, George, was born there on Sept. 28, 1909. They moved to Auburndale, Flor- ida, for eight years, hoping to cure what Gustave thought was asthma. Another daughter, Evelyn, was born there on Oct. 18, 1914. They moved again, this time to South Dakota for several months. Ida helped out by cooking for threshers in that state. The family next moved to Stratton, Colorado, where their last child, Alice, was born on Feb. 18, 1921. After living here for two years and with no improvement in his health, Gustave with his sister, Ottelia, took a trip to Raton, New Mexico, where he died shortly, May 23, 1922, at age 47. His death was the result of tuberculosis. The family remained on the farm at Stratton until 1928, when they moved to Burlington, Colo. Lewis died in Burlington on May 21, 1932, of tuberculosis. Ida lived in Burlington until her death on Aptil21, L972. Ruth was married to Albert Wells on Sept. 25, L927; George was married to Aldine Farnsworth on Dec. 1, 1935; Evelyn was married to C.H. Bollwinkel on May 4, 1938; Alice was married to Charles C. Bovles on July 1, 1945. by Marilyn Wells Zimmerman �POOLE, JIM AND NORA F624 summer school. We went four summers back home in Oklahoma and attended Southeast- ern Oklahoma Statp University where Jim received his Master of Teaching graduate degree in 1964. The next summer was spent at Southern lllinois University and the summer of 1966 was spent at Oklahoma University. The children were good travelers and liked people. Therefore summer school was an enjoyable experience. Occasionally Nora would become weary of trying to keep the children quiet so Jim could study. She must have succeeded since the grades were always good. (Can't resist bragging a little so everyone would know I did a good job!) The summer at Southern Illinois was very hot but very beautiful. We stayed in a new dormitory along with many other families. It but the studies were was a good summer daughter Jessica who is 4 and Mick who is 2. Kristy and her husband Robin Liming from Kirk have no children. An interesting story about the two babies Sadie and Dex is that they were born on the Friday the 13th, February 1987. same day - David is in the Air Force, Presently stationed in Homestead, Florida, where he is training to be a fighter pilot in F-4 Phantoms. Janet and Bill farm and ranch near Bethune. Jan taught kindergarten in Burlington for four years. Sharon and Mike live in Simla where Mike is co-owner of their supermarket. Kristy and Robin farm near Kirk and in Kit Carson County. They raise horses and hogs. Jim has been superintendent of Schools in Bethune for 24 years - since 1964. It has been a good life here and we look forward to many more good years. very tough! At the Knowles school Jim had the privi- by Nora Poole lege of setting up their Industrial Arts department from scratch. It was fun getting all new equipment and designing the shop. He also enjoyed drawing plans for the school teacherages. I think he considered it more fun Nora and Jim Poole 198?. POTTORFF, CALVIN D. (C. D.) F625 than work. Our move to Bethune was not much of a change as far as climate was concerned. However, the challenge of being school superintendent was exciting and still is! We had to become used to the winter weather, if that is possible. As of this writing we are spending our 24th winter here and have mixed feelings about snow. Blizzards were new to the family. The good memories we have of them were when Mrs. Esther Daum would come to our house. Her house was not heated very well when the electricity went off so we would persuade her to come to our house. She would enjoy our warm fireplace and entertain us with stories of her early teaching days in Kit Carson Christmas 1966, Nora, Jim and children, Kristy, David. Janet and Sharon' Jim and Nora Poole with three small David, Janet, and Sharon children moved to -Bethune in August 1964. Jim had accepted the position as superintendent of schools in Bethune. Kristy was born March 25, 1965. Both Jim and Nora were raised at Cumberland, Oklahoma and graduated from Madill High School. Nora'g mother Berniece liveg in Madill and Jim's mother Nina livee in Cumberland. Both fathers died in 1982. Jim received his undergraduate degree in 1960 from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma. Nora and Jim then moved to several construction jobs in Oklahoma and Kansas where he worked for Dresser Engineering Company. They then moved to Knowles, Oklahoma where Jim started his career in education. That area was our home for 3 years. During this time Jim taught, became principal and acting superin- tendent. Every summer from 1961 through 1966 we would pack up the kids and dog and go to County and East€rn Kansas. The unpleasant memories of blizzards are well known to anyone who has had to decide whether or not to have echool, shoveled snow or pushed it around with a tractor. Jim and David have dug out the school with shovels and a small tractor many times. It was "a great day" when the school bought a scoop tractor and snow blowers. Nora has been very involved in raising the children, church work, Young Mothers and school activities. She enjoyed sewing for herself and the girls and always had a vegetable garden. Since the kids have gone she spends lots of time working in the yard and flowers. When David, Janet and Sharon were teenagers they farmed for Dale Hanna in the summer. Perhaps driving huge four-wheel drive tractors was not the usual job for teenage girls but Janet and Sharon enjoyed it very much. Kristy farmed only briefly for Dale when one of the other girls was off on vacation or some church triP. all 1983 was a very busy year for Nora three girls were married. A family friend suggested it made Jim a good friend of the local bankers (and others)! Presently we have Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Pottorff Calvin Pottorff is one of the leading farmers in Stratton, Kit Carson County, Colorado, where he and his sons own and operate an 8,960 acre farm under the "C.D. Pottorff and Sons". Main crops are wheat and milo. His brands include Bar X, his Kansas brand, and X Upside down F, his Colorado brand. Mr. Pottorff was reared on his parents farm. His first place on his own was a farm near Dodge City, Kansas. In 1933, he bought a cattle ranch near Healy, Kan., where he ran a herd of about five hundred head of cattle. In 1944, he bought several large wheat farms near Stratton, which he and his sons now operate. Calvin D. Pottorff was born July 16, 1890' in Ford County, Kansas, to William H. and Rosie Recknor Pottorff. His birth place was a sod dugout on his parents homestead. His parents, who were married in Iowa in 1877, came to Kansas via covered wagon and six adorable grandchildren. David and his wife Janet Miller from Seibert have two homesteaded fifteen miles southwest of Dodge City. Calvin attended the "Third daughters, Sara who is 5 years old and Sadie is one year old. Janet and her husband Bill Cure from Stratton have two sons, Luke who is 3 and Dexter who is 1. Sharon and her husband Mike Green from Simla have one site of the Boot Hill Cemetery. Calvin spent his boyhood days herding cattle, his father herded the town cows. In those early days every family owned a cow. Calvin recalls large Ward" school there, which was built on the �herds of cattle coming into Dodge from Texas for shipment and remembers that train robberies were not all that all uncommon. Mr. Pottorff owned one of the few large steam STRATTON, COLORADO. FRIDA\" ALCUST 19, I92I COLLINS HOTEL threshing machines and stenm plows in the area and with it helped to put in many of the town'g streets. Calvin maried Miss Emily Belle Anderson CAFE In October 1966 we sold the farm and purchased the old Collins Hotel. What a AN D surprise when we moved into the hotel! There LUNCH ROOM the daughter of Thomas F. and EllaRobineon Anderson, on Sept. 25, 19L2, in Dodge City. Mrs. Pottorffs parents were married in Now Open Wayndotte County, Kansas, in 1891, and she, herself, was born in what is now Kansas City. Mrs. Pottorff attended Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, and taught school in FRANK A. THALER, MCR. former Mable Murray; Helen who is married former Darlene Taylor; Earnest, whose wife is the former Vanetta Langston; Doris who is now Mrs. Gene Thyne; Harley, who married the former June Kountz; Lela, who is married to Ed Wilkinson; Kenneth whose first wife is the former Marlyn Corwin, and now is married to Nancy Schwindt and Robert who married the former June Wittig. Mr. Pottorff served on the board of the livestock commissioners in Kansas City for sixteen years. He is a member of the Farmers Union, the Seibert Odd Fellows, and the Colorado Wheat Growers Association. Mr. happened in its early years came with the stayed one summer for his health. Others who certificates for long and distinguished service in Home Demonstration Club work. She has been a member since 1924 and was organizer and charter member of the Stratton Homemakers Club. She has also been a 4-H Club leader for many years, and all of the Pottorff children have been 4-H Club members. Mr. and Mrs. Pottorff are the parents of eleven children, and they have thirty-eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Their children are Neva. who is married to Albert Wasson; Bill, who is a member of the to Joe Mclean; Loren, who married the many memories and lots of stories that llig Dinner 50 Cents A S5.25 Meal Ticket for $4.50 Winnie Cook; Homer, who married the were 80 small roons, each with a sink and there were 20 more doors with small closetsized rooms behind them. Little of the original furnishings were left, but there were hotel. One story said that Jack Dempsey stayed at the hotel at one time, as well as Paul in the Stat€ of Colorado to be awarded eight-man Wheat Administrative Board of Colorado, and who married the former engineer. Prices Reasonable Better Food and Service Wayndotte and Ford Countieg. Her parents brought their family to Dodge City in 1910. In 1959, Mrs. Pottorff was one of two women graduated from Colorado School of Mines in the fall of 1987 and resides in Ogden, Utah where he is employed as a mechanical The newspaper carried the Collins Hotel Cafe ads for many years. January 8th 1947 was the scene of the wedding of June Kountz, Flagler and Harley Pottorff, Stratton. After a short hone5rmoon we were at home on a little farm one-half mile south of Stratton, where we remained until 1966. In addition to farming, we had a dairy and raised four children: Connie (1949), Sherri (1952), Ed (1958), and Todd (1964). Connie married Will Volskis in 1973. She works for a Denver area airline and Will is employed as a chemist. They have one son Brandon. In 1971 Sherri married Van Lupher. Van's parents were living in Stratton at the time, after residing in Grand Junction for many years. Sherri and Van now live in Aurora where Sherri works as a beautician and Van is a general manager of a large vending machine company. They have three children: Brad, Travis, and Eric. Ed graduated from CSU in 1980 and finished his graduate degree in Hydro Geology in 1987. He currently lives in Reno, Nevada where he works as a geologist. Todd Harris, founder of Rotary of Chicago. He registered: Babe Ruth, Paul Whiteman, Marion Davies and Colorado Governor Johnson. This hotel was considered the best one between Kansas City and Denver. It had hot and cold water and electricity which were real luxuries at that time. One unique and interesting fact was that wires were strung in the attic so cowboys who came there could hang their blankets and sleep there. These wires still remain today. A beautiful sunken garden made it a favorite honeymoon hotel, also. The first month after we bought the hotel we worked extremely hard getting it cleaned up and ready for pheasant season which was almost right upon us. Harley painted all the rooms upstairs, the lobby, and the hallway down stairs. This took 80 gallons of paint and a truck load of carpet. We filled all those rooms that year at pheasant season at $3.00 per room. Around 1969 we remodeled for the first time. The south half was converted into motel units. In L977 we renovated the north end and made those units into 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. Some of these apartments were rented as offices and now house the Senior Citizens Center, The East Central Council of Governments and the Colorado East Community Action Agency. Harley and I converted what had been the Pottorff is well verged in all phases of farming. Ernest Pottorff POTTORFF, HARLEY AND JUNE F626 Cleaning up and remodeling on the old Colling Hotel . . now the Tbin Oaks. TVin Oaks Motel, Stratton, in 1988. Note the beautiful oak trees on the right, trademark for its present name. �Indiana. John B. Scotton was of English Old Hotel Kitchen into our personal living quarters. As this is written in 1988, we are excited that the Stratton Centennial observence will commemorate this building we chose to put so much into as one of the features on its commemorative belt buckle. descent whose father, Judge John J. Scotton (mill and land owner in Indiana) was second cousin to Queen Victoria. Katie Scotton was five years old when her mother died of small pox. Their father, Dr. Charles Greiss, a wounded veteran of the Civil War, was unable to care for the five children, and they were placed in an orphanage in Cincinnati, Ohio. Katie Greiss Scotton, whose name in German was Kathe, corres- by June Pottorff PRATT FAMILY During the 1880's, settlers from the eastern states began to arrive in eastern Colorado. In the year 1887, Rueben and Martha Kline came to Colorado from Marion county, Iowa. They came to what is now Yuma County and the little town of Kirk. They thought it to be the prettiest country they had ever seen; as they were emong the first settlers, the virgin prairie had never seen a plow and the knee deep prairie grass waved in the gentle breeze. Rueben Kline became the postmaster in 1890. The mail came from Claremont (which is now Stratton), to old Tuttle where it was picked up and brought to Kirk for local distribution. The first Kirk post office at its present location was far from fancy. It was literally run out of the bottom drawer of a chest of drawers brought from Iowa by Mrs. Kline in the covered wagon that was pulled by the oxen teams. During this period, many began carrying buffalo bones found in the area to Haigler, Nebraska, trading them for flour and staples. Haigler, Nebraska and Bird City, Kansas were the trading centers for the people of this region, as the Republican River was hard to get across with the wagons to get to Stratton or Burlington. James A. Pratt and Lina came to Colorado with her parents Rueben and Martha Kline in the year of 1887 and took up a homestead which part of the town now sets on. As the area began to fill up with more settlers, Mrs. Pratt taught school and they ran a store in Kirk. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt had three children: Rueben, Harlan, and Muriel. Harlan moved to Kit Carson County in the 1920's, where he married Nora Bolin. Nora's folk, Charlie and Bertie Bolin, came from Missouri in the early 1900's. Harlan and Nora had two children: Harold and Glen, who were born and raised up in Kit Carson Cunty, NW of Stratton where Harlan farmed. Harold Pratt was mauied to Wilda Paintin whose parents were George and Agnes Paintin. cane to Colorado from Kansas in the early years of the nineteen hundreds. Harold and Wilda farmed and ranched in Kit Carson County. They raised three boys; Randy, Ricky and Larry. At this time in the year of 1987, Harold and Wilda are both retired and living in Lamar, Colorado. by Harold and Wilda Pratt PRATT - SCOTTON FAMILY ponded with her relatives in Germany. A r527 F528 Early-Time Stories of Maynard and Katheryn Scotton Pratt As of 1988, Maynard Pratt and Katheryn Scotton Pratt together represent 140 years in Children having fun, Edgar on tractor seat holding Lois and Ellen on fender. 1930. letter from Uncle Johann Hauck in Permasans, Germany dated June 8, 1896, tells ofher grandmother's death and Katie's inheritance of 72 Marks, or 917.14 (a dollar was 4 Marks, 20 Pfennig in 1896). Katie met and married John B. Scotton in Indiana where she worked after leaving the orphanage. by Lois Havens Kit Carson County. They came with their parents, brothers, and sisters to the county in the early part of this century, and as the other members of their families left one by one, Kate and Maynard stayed behind to make a home and to provide for their five children. This says alot about their character. They held on through all the hardships and hard times - through the dirty 30s dustbowl, the grasshopper plagues, the devastating hail storms, and the hard, cold winters. I cannot recall my parents ever complaining about the dirt stacked high between window and screen after a dirt storm, the fences being covered by dirt, or having to start over year after year when the rains didn't come. As the other PRATT - SCOTTON FAMILY F529 neighbors moved away and others came to try their luck in farming, our parents stayed and saw it through. When it finally began to rain in the late 1930s, it also brought the hail storms. One particularly heavy hail storm came through one year that nearly wiped out all the wheat fields in a mile-wide strip northeast of town. We drove by the fields to see how bad the dn-age was to our parents'crops. The wheat fields, which were full of flowing, waving grain that looked to be the best of the crops since it had begun to rain, were bare stalks. The leaves and heads of grain had been pounded into the ground. The destruction, which took less than an hour, represented months of cultivating and planting - wheat that once was beautiful waving grain, was now bare stubs. I can remember wondering how my father still had the faith in the land and the will to plant again. But plant they did, again and again. They saw the county change from a grassland to a dust bowl, and then to an oasis. During the 1950s, the farmers around Burlington began irrigating quarter (or more) sections of ground by pumping the water from the Ogallala aquifer. And another era in Kit Carson County began. But that is only 35 years ago. We prefer to document the earlier history of our family by recording some of the events of the first half of the 20th century. Kit Carson County became the lifelong home of Maynard Pratt and Katheryn Scotton Pratt, each coming to the county when they were young - Maynard was seventeen years of age and Katheryn was eight. Our mother's parents were John Brecken- ridge Scotton and Katie (Kathe) Greiss Scotton, who were married in 1891 in Marion, Loading corn on trailer on farm northeast of Burlington. Maynard Pratt and children, Edgar and Ellen. Nine children were born to John and Katie, but only five came to Kit Carson County with their parents. Two babies died in infancy, Elmer died at the age of seven, and Charles was killed at the age of 23 in a farming accident in Gem, Kansas, while he was working his way to Colorado to join the family. Rachel, Glenn, Dorothy, Katheryn, and Geneva cnme with their parents from Bentonville, Arkansas in 1915 in a covered wagon pulled by 2 mules. The mules'n4mes were Kate and Maude. John Scotton swapped a 320-acre wooded farm with a 2-story house in Arkansas for 160 acres of grassland on the Smokey Hill River. Our mother remembers the beautiful waving prairie grasses and the abundant wildflowers as far as the eye could see when they carne across the prairies to Colorado. The family spent the first night in the Prairie School house. They then moved to the "Jones place" which had a cement house where they lived until John could build a sod house on the 160 acres. It took about a month for Henry Fanslau and John to build the "soddie." John plowed up forty acres of the grassland to grow feed and corn. Since the prairies had no trees, the only means that the Scottons had of heating the two-room soddie was with dry cow chips. �Kate and the family gathered them by the wagonfull. The chips furnished a hot fire but er, Flora, had died. His father, Ernest Pratt, was already living in Burlington, but Virgil also burned fast, so a large supply was always remained with Pleasant and Ellen, and they raised him as though he were one oftheir own. Pleasant brought a tenm of horses, two cows, and four sows, and all their household belongings on an "immigrant car" on the Rock Island Railroad. Ellen and the children needed. When the children found cow chips bhat were not quite dry enough, they turned bhem over so the sun would dry them faster. Kate and her brother and sisters walked 3 7z miles to attend grade school in a sod house donated by Nellie Burk'e grandfather, H.D. Holton. They then attended the Prairie View lchool before the Smokey Hill echool wag built. The teachers at Prairie View were Jessie Clark and Clarence Kennedy. The children later went to the new Smokey Hill School where there were clasges for the first bhrough the tenth grades. The teachers for Smokey Hill were Mr. and Mrs. Elvis Berry Rhoades (Mary) and Taylor K. McKane. McKane's brother-in-law was superintendent. Kate quit high school at Smokey Hill in 1923 to herd cattle on the free range, riding l saddle horse named "Min," Rachel moved Katie moved to Santa Ana, California, taking Glenn and Geneva with them. Dorothy married Harry Pettibone of Kanarado, Kanras, later moving to California with their two :hildren, Clarice and Jerald. Our father's parents were Pleasant Green Pratt born in Johnson County, Nebraska, rnd Ellen Johnson Pratt, both born in Otoe County, Nebraska. Pleasant Pratt's fanily were of lrish and English descent, according bo Kenneth Pratt, family genealogy expert, rho has researched records from a church in 0ngland and found ancestors back to the t2th century. Ellen Johnson Pratt's parents immigrated from Sweden in 1881 with two :hildren and settled in Nebraska. Ellen was lhe second of four more born here in America. Many of her mother's parents'relatives ceme irom Sweden to Nebraska. Many settled rround Syracuse in an area that was known rs the Swede Section. The Jacobsons of Burlington are also of the same descendants rs Ellen Johnson Pratt. by Lois Havens came on a passenger train, and Pleasant rode in the immigrant car to take care of the FAMILY F530 When hard times hit Nebragka in 1921, ;hey came to Kit Carson County with their lour children: Maynard, Victor, Esther, Doris, and their nephew Virgil, whoee moth- by the Citizen State Bank of Waterville, Kansas. Foster Farms of Rexford, Kansas bought the farm in 1939 and Maynard purchased the farm from the Foster Farm Estate in 1962. Pleagant rented the Bushart place, a grassland farm east of Burlington which is now known as the Rosser B. Davis family farm. Pleasant also rented the Reed section east of Burlington for farming. A third son, Kenneth, was born on the farm east of by Lois llavens PRATT - SCOTTON FAMILY Burlington. In August of 1922, our father Maynard, and Victor, his brother, were plowing a field one F53t mile west of their home. Both boys were riding on the tractor. When Maynard got off to open the gate, lightning struck the tractor killing Victor. In 1923, the family moved to a farm southeast of Smokey Hill. In 1925, they moved to Arapahoe to the Bill Howard farm where they lived until Pleasant died in 1933. After losing her husband, Ellen moved back to Syracuse, Nebraska, with her chil- dren, Doris and Kenneth, where they lived with her aging father, John Johnson. Esther married John Owens and moved to Oklahoma City, and Virgil married Ruth Murphy of Cheyenne Wells and later moved to the Colorado Springs area. When her father passed away in 1936 in Nebraska, Ellen moved to Colorado Springs area with Kenneth and Doris. She passed away in 1966 in Colorado Springs and is buried with Pleasant and Victor in Burlington. Kenneth attended Denver University after five years in the service during World War II, graduated with an engineering degree, and worked for Mountain Bell, and retired in Denver where he and his wife Jewel (nee Jones from Idaho) still live. Doris married Robert Higgins and they raised their family for the most part in Albuquerque. After Bob's death, Doris reMaynard Chesley Pratt and Katheryn May Scotton were married in L924 and lived at Smokey Hill school where Maynard was the bus driver and janitor at the school. From there they moved to Arapahoe and rented the Tom Howard place. First child, Edgar arrived while our parents were living northeast of Arapahoe and Kate made the long trek on dirt roads to Burlington in a Model T Ford where Edgar was born at the home of Mrs. Boyles. Ellen was born at the 2-room farmhouse near Arapahoe. In this vast grassland which was gradually becoming farm land, rattlesnakes were very common. Our mother recalls a time when on wash-day she had gone outside the house and left baby Edgar inside. When she returned, she found a rattlesnake in the home on a pile of clothes near Edgar. Maynard worked at Ordway picking cantaloupe and at an alfalfa mill. He also worked for Lloyd Jacobson (a relative of Ellen Johnson Pratt's mother) and Jack Chalfant Vlaynard Pratt, 19, worked as bus driver and anitor at Smokey Hill School, 1923. Maynard, Kate and their two children moved to the Adna Chapman farm in 1928 and rented from him until it was purchased animals. tired in Durango where she now lives. PRATT - SCOTTON Chapman farm. Henry's wife, Frances, is also a relative of Ellen Johnson Pratt's mother. in Burlington. It was there that he met Henry Genthe who lived on the Chapman farm northeast of Burlington. Henry was moving, and he suggested to Maynard that he rent the Maynard Pratt and son, Edgar, at Arapahoe farm, 3 horses and a mule pulling a disc, 1926. After moving to the farm in 1928, Maynard continued to work for Jack Chalfant on his farm and at his repair shop in Burlington - the Victory Garage, for 50 cents a day. When the rains were scarce and the county had become part of the vast dust bowl of central America, our parents moved in the fall of 1934 to Santa Ana, California and later to Sanger, California. Kate's parents were in Santa Ana and they had hopes of a better living in California. But the farming fever never left our father, and they came back to Colorado the following spring, to the same farm northeast of Burlington. The house wag just as they had left it, and they simply moved back in as though they had never been gone. Maynard worked for Foster Farms on the Republican River and Blondie Bollwinkel was the boss of the crew As children, we can remember the big flood of 1935 when the banks of the Republican River overflowed, causing severe demage along the river. Later we had a cloudburst in our neighborhood that washed out all the lister rows in the fields. Our house looked as though it were sitting in the middle of a huge lagoon; the roof leaked and we placed buckets and pans under the leaks to catch the rain. Water ceme in the kitchen door. Our mother swept it back out with a broom. After the storm passed, we children had great fun wading and playing in the cow lot. Maynard and Blondie Bollwinkel were partners in farming for several years before Blondie and Evelyn Pischke were married and moved to a farm of their own, also northeast of Burlington. Besides working together, Maynard, Blondie, and other neighbor farmers went deer hunting in the Rockies during the 1940s. Lois was born on the Chapman farm and �Well, needless to say, the fire was soon discovered and extinguished with the help of the neighbors before too much da-age was Ruby was born in Burlington at the Farnsworth home. The fifth and last child, Orville (Pete), was born on the farm in 1935. A German farnily nn-ed Shultz lived east of us before the Abe Ratzlaff family moved there. The Arnsmeiers lived on farther east and Mr. Arnsmeier died of a heart attack one day trying to push a car from a snowbank. Other neighbors were Howard and Raymond Kite northeast of us; John and Anna Buol with sons Kermit, Martin, and Russell, to the west of u8; the Hansens with two song Russell and Charles across the road from the Ratzlaffs; and two Winslow families southeast of us by the railroad tracks. The principal crop for Kit Carson County during the 30s and 40s was wheat. This was done. by Lois Havens PRATT - SCOTTON FAMILY F533 also before the days of the combine' The farmers would get together with one threshing machine, hire as many men as they could find, and help each other thresh their grain. The grain was cut in the fields and hauled to the threshing machine. This operation \ilas hard work and it took a large crew of men to keep the process moving from field to thresher. And. of course, all these men had to be fed. Our mother was a great cook, and she cooked and served the most bountiful, sumptuous meals which included fried chicken or roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade bread and pies, with the rich farm creom and butter that we all enjoyed in those days. We girls helped with the meals, but when it came time for the men to come in for dinner, we had to retire to the bedroom - especially if we were wearing shorts, because this was unbecoming for your girls. One day when the threshing crew wan in our home eating, one ofthe hired men spat on the floor. Needless to say, we were short one man from the harvest crew from that day on. by Lois Havens PRATT - SCOTTON FAMILY F532 We stayed in contact with the people in the Smokey Hill area since our parents had both lived there at one time. The Smokey Hill area was well populated, with many families that are now gone. Among those living there in the 1930s were the families of Lester Beveridge; the Bartles with a son and daughter, Loyd and Cleo; Henry Fanslau; M.S. McCrarys with children, Will and Nellie; the Henry Dragers with Evelyn, June, and Kenneth; the Arnold Elders: the Carlsons with Beth, Doris, Bud, Inez, and Bonita; John and Mary Murphy ar.rd family; the Frank Murphy family; the Bassetts with son Earl; and the Bill Kelleys with Anna and Doris. Tillie Gord Maynard Pratt and Blondie Bollwinkel, partners in farming and good hunting buddids. Taken near Williams Creek, Colorado, 1940. In addition to the dances, there were neighborhood get-togethers on Sundays and holidays with pot-luck dinners at someone'g home in the Smokey Hill area. There were always huge amounts of luscious food, all kinds of desserts, and homemade ice cream. In our childhood, it was very unusual for children to stay overnight with other children. My mother relinquished her rule this one time and allowed me to stay at the home of Nellie McCrary Burk and Earl Burk (a "newcomer" from Nebraska) with their daughter, Helen. When we were napping, we heard a loud wind that became a roar at times. There had been a tornado that passed quite closely to the Burk home and had demolished several farms as well as the Smokey Hill school house. One farm had lost all their livestock and buildings. The house was in shambles with walls and windows gone, but there was a bowl of fruit sitting on the windowsill that was completely untouched. The mattress on the bed had been lifted and an accordion deposited beneath it. There were stories of people having seen straw sticking out of telephone poles and machinery that was carried aloft by the tornado and deposited several miles away, completely intact and undo-aged. We attended rocky mountain oyster fries in the Burlington area at different farmhomes. There were always lots of people there; the men would fry the "oysters" and the camaraderie would go on long into the night. Childhood pranks were not lacking in the also lived there and later moved to Kanarado Pratt family or with our friends in Burlington. One time when we Pratt children Evelyn. We attended many Saturday night dances at the Smokey Hill School and we all learned at a very early age to square dance as well as were still quite young, we were playing in the with her children, Leland, Jerald, and to waltz, schottische, and two-st€p. The music was a piano and violin, and someone would call the square dances. The long drive there and home again never seemed far because of the good times that were shared by all. haymow with some neighbor children. We were experimenting with that mystical little stick, the match. We caught some gtraw on fire and ran to the house, vowing to each other that we wouldn't tell anyone that there was a fire (that way our parents wouldn't think we did it!). We weren't concerned with the barn burning down, just about the licking we were going to get if our parents found out. Katheryn Pratt on the farm northeast of Burlington. The elevated road that runs by our farm northeast of Burlington was Highway 40 (becoming Highway 24 when it was later moved south of the tracks) during the 1930s and because of the hard times, there were many bums that walked past on this road. Some would stop and ask for a handout, and some would ask for something to do in exchange for a handout. Although we never had any trouble, our mother always cautioned us to come into the house when we saw a bum walking along the road. Hallowe'en was usually a time when the teenagers pulled more pranks than should have been allowed. But in those days, the members of the community felt that kids were kids and that they would eventually grow up to be responsible law-abiding citizens. But a couple of times during World War II, the teenagers pulled more pranks than the townspeople cared to absorb. Mr. Shook, who owned a store in northeast Burlington, shot at some boys who attempted to push over his outdoor toilet and they had to have the buckshot removed from their behinds at the local hospital. One activity that was a major achievement for the Hallowe'en regulars was the pushing over ofthe 3-holer that belonged to the Catholic Church. But that almost ended in disaster as well when several of the kids almost fell in. Another year some boys got a goat in the town marshall's car. The goat promptly proceeded to eat up all the upholstery, and by the time the marshall returned to his car, the seats were nearly gone. And by �some strange circumstance, a piece of farm machinery from a farm implement dealership mysteriously appeared on the school grounds. And, of course, Mr. Beezley's Midway Theatre was always peppered with eggs, rotten, if possible. Shivarees (a derivative of charivari, mean- ing headache) reflected the unwritten rule that newlyweds must have on hand enough refreshments for the participants of their shivaree or suffer grievous circumgtances, Shivarees were special affairs that took place geveral weeks after the married couple had settled into wedding bliss. All who wanted to join into the festivitieg met at home of the newlyweds where they were quickly roust€d out of bed and made to perform certain feats. The groom always had to push his bride down Main Street in a wheelbarrow. While this and other mischief was going on to keep the bride and groom occupied, more mischief was being performed in the living quarters of the newly married couple: The bed was "short-sheeted," clothes were tied in knots, salt shackers were emptied and filled with sugar, and sugar bowls were filled with galt, toilet paper was strewn all about, and the labels were removed from the cans of food. But it all ended in good spirits with the groom handing out cigars to all the men and candy bars to the women and children. The 1940s brought World War II and the war brought good prices for the farmer. It was also raining more and the farmers were able to make a good living. With the war, we also had rationing of tires, gasoline, and eugar. Since the farmers were rationed more tires and gasoline than the town folk, suddenly the farm kids were looked upon in a different light by the town kids. The farm kids were now the ones who had the cars and the gasoline to drive to a dance in neighboring towns when there wasn't one in Burlington. by Lois Havens PRATT - SCOTTON FAMILY F534 But along with the good fortune and better living standards the war brought, we also had the tough times, for our brothers and friends were going off to war. This left the farmers without their help to keep the fields cultivated and the crops planted and harvest€d. Our mother and we three girls helped in the fields as much as we could while our brother Edgar went to fight the Japanese in the Pacific. It was the saddest day ofour lives when we said good-bye to him before he was shipped overseas, not knowing whether we would ever see him again. Because our young men were all overseag fighting for our freedom and democracy, we were more than willing to help in the fields, grow Victory gardens, save and roll tinfoil into balls, and stamp the tin cans flat for the war effort. The story that materialized later was that all the tinfoil and tin cans were never recycled, it was just a way to get the nation involved in patriotism and to help keep the morale high. The entire Burlington area celebrated the end of the war with great elation and joy. A bonfire thirty feet in dinmeter was built at the Children of Maynard and Katheryn Pratt, L. to R.: Lois holding OrviIIe, Edgar holding Ruby and Ellen, 1936. intersection of Main Street and Senter. All manner of things were thrown into the fire. The men were throwing their shirts into the fire and when Mr. Beezley, owner of the Midway Theatre, refused to take his off and throw it in, several people "helped" him remove it and throw it into the fire. Jerry Penny, with the help of his buddies, pushed his car into the fire and let it burn. The celebration lasted until the wee hours of the morning. Our soldier brothers and friends came home one by one - Kermit Buol from a prisoner-of-way semp in Germany, and Edgar from Japan after serving as supply sergeant for the U.S. Air Force. World War II marked the end of the first fifty years of the twentieth century. This was also the beginning of a long period of prosperity for the farmer. By 1950, farm homes for the most part had running water, indoor pl rmfint, electricity, telephones, and central heating that didn't burn coal or cow chips. The farmers had cars, tractors instead of horses, and farm machinery that made farming a breeze compared to the "old days." Now in 1988, times have changed again and the farmers are meeting new difficulties, experiencing hard times but for different reasons: low commodity prices, extremely high production costs, and federal government regulations which stifle the farming industry. The supply of irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer may be gone in twenty years and the supply of oil in the world will be depleted in twenty-five years. But the farmers of today who have perseverance and faith in the land will survive. But just as Maynard and Kate Pratt and the other early settlers of Kit Carson County did, these farmers will also find ways to overcome the difficulties that will face them in the future. by Lois Havens PRICE, WILLIS F635 Willis L. Price was born at Liverpool, New York, June 28th, L874. He spent his childhood in that vicinity and graduated from high school at Syracuse, New York. He then entered the Syracuse Medical College, having a great desire to become a physician, but in his second year of college life, his health began to fail and he was compelled to give up his educational career. In the spring of 1900, he came to Flagler, Co., where his cousins, W.H. Lavington and W.E. Weller, were Iocated. He spent the first summer on the Lavington ranch north of Vona, and after partly regaining his health, he took the position of teacher in the school in District 19, the school house then being located just east of Flagler, after which, he held the position of principal of the Flagler school for 2 years. The next two years Mr. Price spent as manager of the lumber yard owned by Mrs. Cornwell, later Mrs. S.A. Johnson. In the fall of 1906, he was elected county treasurer, serving one term. During this term of office the court house burned at Burlington, and Mr. Price broke in the window of his office and saved all the treasurer's books except one. But in doing so he becn-e so excited, and inhaled so much smoke that on his arrival home a physician was called. He rallied and was in pretty fair health until the following May, when he broke down again. He went back to New York and on Oct. 7, 1907, he was married to Florence Reese. They returned to Burlington where they resided until May, 1909, when they returned to Flagler. During the summer of 1909, he and his cousin, W.H. Lavington, built the Flagler Hotel, and a little later they erected an elevator here, which Mr. Price managed during the fall and winter. In the fall of 1910, he became associated with the Flagler State Bank, and was chosen as cashier. He served in this capacity until �June, 1918, when his tuberculosis had so impaired him, that he gave up active management of the bank. He was then elected vice president of the bank, a position he held until his death. The bank had been converted into the First National Bank of Flagler. Wiilis and Florence were the parents of two children; Jeanette and Willis. Mr. Price was a conscientious christian man, and devoted a great deal of his time in religious work, and work for the uplift of humanity. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. and Masonic lodges of Flagler. Friday morning, Nov. 3, 1922, Mr. Price was making his daily trip to the bank, but stopped at the Lemon blacksmith shop to visit with friends. It was presumed he felt uneasy and was taken with a fit of coughing. He start€d for home (a short distance away) and when reaching the yard called for his wife. She rushed to his side, medical aid was summoned to no avail and Mr. Price passed away. by Janice Salmane PROAPS, SIIEPARD L. F636 homestead with her husband. Edward Proaps, son of S.L. Proaps, was in World War I in the Army where he met Miss Carolyn Wittner, an American Red Cross nurse in France, who became his bride September 10, 1919, at Hugo, Colorado. He was an American soldier boy wounded by shrapnel. He cn-e home in the spring of 1918 with an honorable discharge. They raised two sons, Jackie and Lloyd. Both served in World War II; Jackie lost his life over Japan. Roy Proaps, son of Shepard and Mary Jane Proaps, was born August 31, 1888, at Logan, Kansas. In the spring of 1906 he came to Colorado with his parents to a homestead north of Flagler. He was married to Catherine Ruby at Wray, Colorado, January 15, 1914. There were 5 children born to this couple: Edna, Esther, Elma, Harold, and Sherman. The earlier part of his life was spent in the vicinity of Flagler and Thurman farming. In the fall of 1936, he and his family moved to the valley where they made their home Grandpa and Uncle Bob Proaps drilling a weII He lost his wife April26, 1913. On the 19th ofFebruary, 1918, he was united in a second marriage to Rose Ann Smith of Flagler. He and his son Robert drilled manv water wells with a team of horses. around Ordway and Rocky Ford. Robert H. Proaps, a son of S.L. Proaps, was born March 22, L893, at Logan, Kansas. He married Caroline A. Martin, October 18, 1916, in Genoa, Colorado. He farmed in the Genoa area for a short while and was in the well drilling business with his father for many years. He was a talented rhusician. He played many a night at the Flagler Hotel in years by Dorothy Ilarwood PROCTOR, SIGEL AND LULU gone by and all around the country. He moved to California in 1934 with his family and passed away on February 24, L984, at F538 Napa, California. by Dorothy Harwood PROAPS, SIIEPARD L. F637 ?,r:.i;.,- -. The Proctor twins first year at Smelker School: Front row: (l tn r) Ivan Smelker, Faye and Fern Proctor, ? Austin. Back row: Theodore and Westley Smelker, teacher Miss Anioner, and Jess Hardin. My parents, Sigel and Lulu Proctor, came west from Norton, Kansas in 1916. They traveled in an immigrant wagon to homestead 16 miles south-west of Stratton. My twin sister, Faye Byrne, and I, Fern Penick, were born on that homestead claim in a sod Edward Proaps in service, 191?, lower right. house. Mother said they built the barn first, Children Frank Proaps, when a young man, lived in and around Flagler for many years. He was the mail carrier on the star route to Thurman, Colorado. He was born near Centerville, Washington, on August 30, 1877. He moved partitioned it off with the horses on one half and they lived in the other half while they put up a two room sod house; later they added another room. This house was very cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and the Shepard L. Proaps to Flagler, Colorado, when his dad moved there. He was married to Bertha Cross, July 11, 1900. Three children blessed their home. Ella Proaps Dowd was born July 4, 1881, in Jewell County, Kangas to Shepard L. and Mary Jane Proaps. When but a gmall child, she moved with her parents to Phillips County, Kansas where she attended public school and was married to John Dowd, August 21, 1900. She was well known around Flagler, having lived north of town on a Shepard L. Proaps was born April 6, 1853, near Granville, Ohio. He was married December 18, 1871, to Mary Jane Judd who was kidnapped in Illinois in childhood and then raised in Montana. They moved to Colorado in 1906 and took up a homestead north of Flagler. There were twelve children born to this couple John, William, Charles, Frank, Albert, Ella, Mae, June, Sherman, Edward, Roy and Robert. windows were deep which served as a wonderful desk for the children's school work. Later a frame house was built with a full basement, running water and other super-great conveniences! Father drilled his own well with the help of neighbors and later helped with several others in the county. He worked hard in the field and chores; he had no sons to help him. However he always took time for my sister and I, to answer our questions, tell funny stories, and play games. We attended a one room small school �house, thru the 8th grade and went to High School in Stratton. When we first started to school in the first grade, we walked the 2Vz miles when the weather permitted. Our mother always sent our faithful dog along with us to school because she worried about the rattlesnakes. He would run along ahead of our path and sniff out the snakes, grab them and shake them to death. In the early spring he was kept busy. In those days we had what was called'free range'or'open range'. My father had several head of cattle; they could travel miles in the summer of 'fly time' as it was called. Sometimes it was my job to keep track of them and bring in the milk cows at night. That meant riding the range several hours a day and I enjoyed this assignment on my fast and gentle cutting horse. Sometimes all the milk cows were not found by dark and I would return without them. This meant my father had to get a fresh horse and go back for them; he was always understanding even tho it was sometimes late in the night before he got home again. My parents' days started early and they were long; Mother made her own soap, helped with the chores, churned butter and sold eggs. was She raised chickens and turkeys. always planned to have our first fried chicken on the 4th of July; what a treat! She planted It a huge garden and worked long hours in the summer in it. She always canned fruit and vegetables, made sausage and cured hnms from the butchered beef and pork. My father usually had help to butcher the animals and the helper always took meat home for his pay. Mother cooked on a coal-stove, sometimes it was with cow-chips; she made all our bread try his luck once again. He bought wheat land and enjoyed seeing Kit Carson County develop into the wheat area it is today. After suffering several strokes, he was a big care for Mother, who was by now making all the decisions and working long hours again. Our father passed away in 1968, at 78 years of age. Mother remained active and alert, living alone and keeping her yard and flowers. She loved working in the yard and driving her car for her pleasure and taking others to Burlington to the doctor's office orjust shopping and lunch. Her sense of humor was always there except for her last year when her arthritis made some of her days painful and kept her inside. She was 91 years when she passed away in 1981. There were struggles and hard times on the farm but she always referred to those times as her happiest years. My twin sister and husband now reside in Englewood, Co. I live in Cheyenne Wy. which has been home to me for forty years. I'm retired from Civil Service here. We continue to have our interest in wheat. tho I'm sure our parents never dreamed how depressed the market would be and how the property tax would double and triple. With time all that will change, too. by Mrs. Fern Penick returned to Stratton by team and wagon in April of 1910. Frank brought his family back to his homestead by immigrant train in April of 1910. Fred stayed on the J.W. Borders homestead northwest of Stratton while he to. The tin sided shack still stands on the F639 homestead. Our mother, Alta M. Miles, daughter of Louis Edward and Cora Ann (Scott) Miles, born October 17, 1904 in Tonganoxie, Kan- and ironing with 'flat' irons; she worked constantly! In the early days everyone more or less sas, was 1 of 9 children. Alta's mother passed away December 14, 1911 when Alta was 7 made their own amusement; Bocial life centered around church and the school house years old. Alta came to Colorado from with card playing, picnics and dinners; and barn dances which lasted until almost sunup at times. There were programs and box suppers and fun get togethers at the school Lawtence, Kansas with her father and younger sister, Ruth, in 1913 by covered wagon drawn by a tee'n of mules. Alta and her family lived on the Hell Creek River northeast of Stratton near Kirk. Alta attended school at the Hell Creek School. U.S.D. #53. Fred & Alta met at a "Barn Dance" and were maried November 13, 1919 at Stratton, Co. The evening they were married Fred picked Alta up in a sled as there had been a big snow and they could not use a car. They got stranded in town and had to spend the house and at church. Some days in the winter we were very much snowed in and isolated with no telephone in the earlier times. [t was necessaq/ for my father to drive a wagon and team of horsee to town for supplies. In deep snow it took 3 night at the "Collins Hotel". Walter, the oldest child of Fred and Alta was born in the little tin-sided shack. Ap- However, they managed to stay on the farm L to R: Clyde Pugh (Fred's brother) and Fred and Alta Pugh standing in front of tin sided shack on homestead in the summer of 1978. home place and moved to Stratton; my father's health was failing and taking life easier seemed the thing to do at that place and time. He soon realized he missed the Our father, Freddie Harrison Pugh, son of Jameg Kay and Zilpha Eliza (Craft) Pugh, born January 28, 1889 in Dighton, Kansas, was 1 of 13 children. Fred came to Stratton fields and needed to be in touch with his past. He had so much faith in the land, he had to from Grinnell, Grove County, Kansas with several years after the dust quit. It was sometime in the early forties they sold the Fred's sister, Daisy. Fred returned to Kansas to pick up his personal possessions and sided with tin cans. Later he built on a lean- and all our meals, not to mention the washing or 4 days. He was always glad to arrive home cold and hungry and we were glad to see him and have some goodies to eat again. The depression in the early thirties, grasshoppers and the drought were all difficulties, but the dust bowl days, as I recall, were my parents most trying times. It was at this time they discussed, for the first time, having a sale and leaving the farm. Forever highlighted in my memory was a day when a big black cloud of dust came rolling in just as Mother finished two long days of work cleaning our house. She sat down and cried. too tired and depressed to hang all those wet sheets to the windows and doors again. their homesteads northeast of Stratton in November of 1909. Frank was married to built a house on his homestead, Section 9 Township 7 South, Range 46 West of the 6th Principal Meridian. Fred's first house on the homestead was a little fra-e shack which he PUGH - MILES FAMILY Fred and Alta Pugh in front of convertible owned by son Louis, home visiting from California. Taken at 412 Iowa after building their home here. Frank Louis Beattie and thev filed claims on proximatcly late 1920 or early 1921 Fred built a big two story house on the homestead. This house had now been moved and added onto and is on the Gerald Lempp farm. Fred was a farmer, also having a threshing machine and corn sheller which he traveled from place to place with before his marriage to Alta. Fred had an unfortunate accident in 1915 when the steam engine blew up and he was thought dead for sometime. Fred and Alta had good crops and good luck until the beginning of the depression in 1929 when everything seemed to go wrong as it had with many others. Their crops failed on account of no rain, no snow, dust storms and etc. They lost most of their corn crop in 1934. Fred always did Blacksmith work for all the neighbors. In the spring of 1940 Fred started working in the W.O. Pickerill Welding Shop �for a few years. Later Fred opened a Blacksmith and Welding Shop of his own which was located Vz block west of Colorado St. on 2nd St. Later he moved his shop to their residence at 412 Iowa St. where he worked until his retirement. Fred also spend many years in different fields sharpening one-ways. In Fred's earlier years he did the calling at the Square Dances and enjoyed playing his harmonica. Alta always helped on the farm, raised big gardens and canned their fruits and vegetables. Alta sewed nearly all the clothes for herselfand the children and pieced quilts and had quilted them. She took in ironing and did wallpapering to help out and worked as a cook at the "Stratton Cafe" and for several years was a Stanley Home Products dealer. Alta was a sewing and cooking 4-H leader for several years and she belonged to the Helping Hand Club, Home Demonstration Club and Ladies Aide. Fred & Alta had 12 children - (7 sons & 5 daughters) - as follows: Walter Freddie born September 8, 1920, married Aileen McCorkle August 19, 1941 and have 9 children - (5 sons & 4 daughters), 26 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Walter now divorced resides in Goodland, Kansas. Ernest Ja-es born February 13, L922 and served in the Marines from 1944-45. From his lst marriage he has 2 children - (1 son & 1 daughter), 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. From his 2nd marriage he has 1 daughter and 3 grandchildren. From his 3rd marriage he has 2 daughtcrs and 4 grandchildren. From his 4th marriage he has 1 son and 2 grandchildren. His 5th marriage gives him 3 sons and 3 grandchildren. Ernest and Linda reside in Byers, Colorado. Louis Joseph born September 20, 1922 served in the Navy from 1941-1946. He maried Martha Fishley November 24, L945 and they have 1 daughter. Louis now divorced resides in Stratton. Colorado. Rosalie Pickerill born Api122,1925, married William (Bill) Wayne Pickerill October 25, L94L. They had 1 daughter who lived only a few hours and have 2 sons and 4 grandchildren. Rosalie & Bill reside in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Orville Albert born September 21, 1927. Orville died in a house fire April L9, L947 at the age of 19 in Limon, Colorado. Evelyn Margie born December 2, L929 being stillborn. Virgil Harrison born February 23, L932 served in the Navy from 1951-1955. He married Canell Stull September 2, 1953. They have 2 sons and 1 grandchild. Virgil married Janice (Vanderloop) Davlin November 4, L967. They had 1 son who was killed in a car accident August 11, 1983 at the age of 14 in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. Virgil & Jan reside in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. LavinaAltaborn October 27, L933, married Ervin Carl Decker June 30, 1950 and they have 3 children (1 son & 2 daughters) and 8 grandchildren, 2 of these died in infancy. Lavina married Earl Rankin in 1969 and they have 2 children (1 son & l daughter). She married Duane Hall, September 29, 1976. Lavina & Duane reside in Anchorage, Alaska. Orilla Marie born April 27,L93l,married Don Doyle Harless October 21, 1956. They had 1 son who was killed in a car accident April 4, L976 at the age of 18 in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado and they have 5 daughters and 7 grandchildren. Orilla married Floyd Jestes July 17, 1982. Floyd adopted the 2 youngest girls in 1983. Orilla & Floyd reside in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. Hazel Greeta Viola born June 24, 1936 passed away November 3, 1936 of double pneumonia. Grace Maxine born January 22, 1940 married Terry Kiefer July 20, 1958. They have 4 children (2 boys & 2 girls) and 7 grandchildren. Grace married Frank Mahaffey September27,L982. Grace & Frank reside in Goodland, Kansas. Jodell Elaine born January 9, L944 maried John Westen Fox June 3, 1962. They have 2 children (1 son & 1 daughter). Jodell married Robert LeRoy Musgrove May 8, 1974 and they have 1 daughter. Jodell now divorced resides in Wichita, Kansas. Fred & Alta's total number of grandchildten - 44; great grandchildren - 74; great great grandchildren - 5. All the children except Jodell spent part of their childhood days on the homestead. Fred moved his family into Stratton during the winter months starting in 1939 so the children could go to school then back to the homestead during the summer months. the winter of 1943-44 the family moved into town permanently living in two different apart- ments on Colorado St. then moving to a house on New York Avenue across from the old Foster Lumber Company Fred built their last home at 412 lowa St. in 1947 where they resided until February 5, 1983 when they both entered the Cheyenne Manor Nursing Home in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado and remained there until the time of their deaths. All 9 children returned home in 1969 to help celebrate Fred & Alta's 50th wedding anniversary and again in 1974 to help celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary and once again in 1979 to help celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Fred & Alta spent 63 loving years together. Fred & Alta were members of the Stratton United Methodist Church. Fred passed away May 23, 1983 at the age of 94. Alta passed away December 31, 1984 at the age of 80. Grace & Jodell hope to keep the home at 4L2lovta, Stratton, Colorado in the family by purchasing the shares of the other 7 brothers and sisters. This story was written by 3 of the girls Rosalie, Grace & Jodell with the help of their dear cousin, Blanche (Beattie) Dove. by Jodel Musgrove PUGH, JOHN John and Jane Pugh. his apprenticeship in the coal mines, but decided this was not to be his life. He went to Liverpool, planning to book passage to Canada or Australia; however, there was no steamer leaving for weeks and there was one leaving for New York the next day. John arrived in America in September of 1878. (It would be 33 years before he returned to Wales, with his oldest daughter, Leona, to visit his mother.) In America, he first went to a Welsh settlement in Pennsylvania, only to find that this was a coal mining community, so he went on to Iowa, where he found work on Jane's father's farm. John worked here as a farmhand for five years before he went to work on the Springer ranch in New Mexico. It was here that he learned the cattle business that was to be his way of life. He had not forgotten the little girl in the cornfield; he returned to marry Jane Richards in the Bethel Church, Columbus City, Iowa on February 22, L886. After their marriage, Jane and John went to Springer, New Mexico, where John had been working. Homestead land in eastern Colorado was available that year; and, on October of 1886, the Pughs decided to come to Colorado. Travelling with Mr. and Mrs. Jones, they came by railroad to Wray, where they bought F640 Jane E. Richards, born in Columbus City, Iowa, August 13, 1864, was one of seven children of John and Ann (Arthur) Richards. Her father, a Welch immigrant, had returned to his farm in lowa after serving in the Civil War. One autumn day in 1879 Jane and a group of schoolgirls went to her father's cornfield to meet the young immigrant from Wales - John J. Pugh. Many years later, Jane recalled that she "would never forget his shoes, for they had such thick soles. They made him even taller and his native trousers were so thick .-.-. his mother must have thought America a very cold country to have spun them so thick." John Pugh was born in Llanidloes, Powys County, Wales on Dec. 25, 1857. His father had been killed in a coal mine accident and his mother had remarried. John completed a horse and wagon. An early "northeaster" forced them to stop in Friend (near ldalia) where there were a few soddies. The first night, the horses broke loose from their tether. After three days walking to find the horses, it was decided to leave the women in Friend while the men went on to stake the claims. Here on the Colorado prairie, just before Christmas (Dec. 22, 1886) Leona Alice Pugh, the first white child in Kit Carson County was born. John staked his claim on the "divide" nean the Republican River. At this time it was as bleak on the river as on the upland; however, the grass was taller and water was available. He made a dugout about 10 by 14 feet, added a roof, and a window, a door, and went back to Friend to get Jane and his new baby. Jane Pugh later wrote (1911); We placed our all in 320 acres of land. We built a barn, chicken house, pig pen, and hand dug a well. We broke �land for corn fodder, and for several years, we had hopes, sometimes high and sometimes low. Again, was the vast wilderness of land, sky, Bun, wind, and mirage, our nearest neighbor was seven miles. After the railroad cnme through in 1900, settlers began coming and life was not so lonely. Then a wave of financial adversity struck and a great many left the best way they could. Many more would if they could (myself, for one), but we stayed put. We had considered ourselves good farmers in the east (Iowa), but dry land farming was different. We concluded we must have something besides hope to live on and turned in the direction of stock raising. We had gathered a few cows and could see the possibility of a living, as grass was plenty and good quality. It was a great deal of hard work, but we were young, well, and strong. Sometimes we thought it all a mistake. No church, no school, few neighbors, but quite congenial. Yet we couldn't see beyond. We, like many others, were obliged to go with out coal for years, and had only the bare necessities of life. Looking back, I find it has been worth the while. It has the means to bring out the best all that is in one, had fascination, independence, sorrows, and joy. John bought his first cow for thirty dollars; the second was a gift from Jane's father and a third was traded for plowing ten acres for a neighbor the Pugh Ranch was on its way. In 1891, the- Pughs bought the Tuttle Ranch on the Republican River, later adding the Six Mile and the Cox ranches to their holdings. house was built and just in time - Laura Helen was born in November of 1905 in the "big house". Twelve children, four died as babies, what a heartbreak pioneers endured! The Pughs were a h"ppy, close family. The children roamed the hills, looking for Indian beads, trinkets and arrow heads. They played in the "willows" and in the meadows. They played and they worked, the girls helped in the fields and in the house and the boys did a man's job. On April 13, 1913, tragedy struck. John Pugh had a stroke. He died April 23. Jane was left with six children under eighteen and a ranch to run. This she did, with the help of her family untilLg24.In 1937 Leona, who had been living in Iowa, lost her husband and returned to Colorado. Leona and Jane made their home together for the next twenty-five years. This was the "Grandma and Aunt Onie" I knew as a child. Grandma had long white hair held up by combs. She spent her time reading and writing and she loved the old hymns. In her bedroom was a big high feather bed that no one ever sat on. A quilting frame often took up most of the front room. There was always peppermint candy in the cupboard. Jane Pugh died October 18, 1961, at the age of 97. Her legacy was love. by Betty Roehr LLEWELLYN AND Landholdings included Six Mile (sold to Harry Cox in 1890) and Tuttle Ranches). By TRESSIE REBECCA 1913 the Pugh Ranch consisted of 2,000 acres; the herds numbered some 1400 head of cattle, (R.EZZEIr-) 80 to 100 horses, and a large number ofhogs, F541 (from obituary ofJ. Pugh, 1913). The brand The Pughs were active in the community. They were involved in the organization of the Tuttle school in 1890, a district about fifteen miles long. The first school was an old sod riding, shooting and roping in the best traditions of eastern Colorado boys. When World War I came along, he enlisted in the Air Force, with his mother's permission since he was under 18, and served until the armistice. Tressie Rebecca Rezzer was born in Beaver County, Oklahoma in 1905 to Will and Laura Rezzer. Will Rezzer,afarmer of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction, had migrated to Oklahoma with his mother, and Laura E. Reid of Scots and Irish descent, met and married in mines at Minden Mines, Kansas, and had followed her family when they had moved on however, he lost his herd with roving buffalo. raised. Ranch was located 18 miles northeast of Stratton in the valley ofthe South Fork ofthe Republican and Spring Creek. Lloyd grew up Oklahoma. Laura had "worked out" from the PUGH, LLOYD was P/9. John farmed, but it was an adjunct to the stock business; he fed most of what he parents, John J. and Jane E. Pugh. The P/9 age of twelve in the boarding houses near the (Tuttle first saw land while with U.S. Cal- vary. He returned in 1870 with cattle; Loyd and Tressie Pugh Lloyd Llewellyn Pugh, one of 12 children, was born October 4, 1898 in the sod house that was the predecessor of the proud Victorian home built in 1902 by Lloyd's to Oklahoma. Two children, Tressie Rebecca and Orville Winfield, were aged two and seven when the family moved by covered wagon to a quitclaim south and east of Kirk where Will built a soddy that still stands today. Tressie attended Clark school through eight grades and, there being no high school available, found a job working in the Joes store. She also farmed along with her brother and drove wheat trucks (Model A variety) to the elevator in Stratton. Her father, Will, contracted diabetes prior to the wide spread house with no window. William Arthur Richards (Jane Pugh's brother) taught the first three month term for $25.00 per month. Later, both Gladys and Mabel Pugh taught in the Tuttle School. Both Jane and John were active in the establishment of the Congregational Church in the Tuttle Community. John had a good voice and loved to lead group singing. The first Sunday School was in the home of Mr. E.G. Davis. Jane taught Sunday School. As the Pugh Ranch grew, so did the family, twelve children were born to John and Jane. Leona was not yet two when Arthur Lewis was born in July, 1888. In 1890 Evan Albert was born, but he lived only six weeks. In 1891 the family moved to the Tuttle Ranch. The house had been an army fort and the walls were three feet thick with an outside door in every room. It was here that John Jay (189f) was born. In 1893 the Pughs had another ilaughter, Mabel Ann. Two years later, Mary Gladys was born. The next year, John Jay who was five, died of cholera infantile. The little fort must have been filled to overflowing rs Lloyd Llewllyn and Richard Luther joined t'he family. Three years later, in 1903, Clara Amy was born. The next year a new large ' .+: 4 P:.ia Old original Pugh ranch; Lloyd the babe in arms . . before 1902 �use of insulin and died in 1932. Lloyd and Tressie were married March 7, L927. at Grant Methodist Church in Denver. Lloyd and Tressie set up housekeeping on the old Colonel Osborn place on the Kirk High- Lodge and Eastern Star, Boy Scouts, and the Kit Carson County Fair where Lloyd had charge of the horse barns during the 1940's all benefited from their labors. Tressie was -a committeewoman for the Republican Party way and, after a year there, moved to the location of the old Pugh Ranch, and established the XT Cross. A son, Robert Lloyd, was born in 1928. The Dirty Thirtiee began a little later for the valley, but by 1932 the grass was exhausted and Cressie Seal and Lloyd rented pasturage around the Limon Breaks to run for many years. In 1948, Swede Hornung and Lloyd built and operated the brick sale barn about 500 head of cattle through the summer. served as mayor of Stratton during the early Fall's arrival marked sale time for the cattle and they were loaded out on the railroad in Limon at 4 a.m. for Kansas City. Lloyd and Tressie's second son, William John was born the next day, September 8, 1932. Conditions improved through some leased grasslands closer to home but the drought really didn't break until Memorial Day, 1935, when 24 inches ofrain fell in less than t hours. Lloyd and Tressie awoke to find the house entirely surrounded with water lapping at the front doorstep. The Flood of 1935 deciminated the ranch including 40 head of cattle, all the corrals and fences, the hogs and pens, all the machinery and ruined the meadow hayfields. The snakes were particularly bad that summer, having washed down river to be caught in the willows and cottonwoods that lined Spring Creek. Lloyd and Tressie weathered the depression by trading eggs and cream for staples, marketing cattle during intolerable markets and butchering beef for the local butcher shop when prices were down. Laura Marie, born in 1938, completed the family. The late Thirties and early Forties brought better days. To quote Tressie's words, "We didn't have any money but we could get credit!" They used that privilege wisely and expanded the operation to nearly double the size of their holdings. About 500-700 cattle were wintered over in an average year. Late winter through spring was calving season and fence repair time. The fences crossing the creeks were particularly vulner- able and had to be restrung and weighted after almost every flood. Weaning the calves one slept during the fall was a sad time - nocalves were much that first night as the little penned in the corral separated from their mothers. Branding, beginning with the roun- dup and marking all the yearlings, was a community effort, shared by representatives the Woods, of most of the nearby families Corliss, Daffer, Whipple, Lucas,- Belt. Haying time brought large crews who boarded and slept at the ranch until the job was completed - usually about two weeks. The stacker, mower, bucks, rakes and wagons were powthe pitchered by horses - unfortunately, forks weren't! One of the fond memories of childhood was riding the stacker and being thrown onto the top ofthe stack. Second best was riding on top of the hay wagon as the horses, Beauty and Bette, plodded down the lane to the barn. Fall roundup for market meant either the long cattle drive to town to the railroad or trucking out the livestock to the various sale barns in the area. Despite the isolation of living on the ranch, Tressie and Lloyd were active members of the community and involved in all facets of its development. The Colorado Cattlemen's Association and its auxiliary, the Cowbelles, the American Legion and Auxiliary, Masonic north of the railroad tracks in Stratton. In 1951 Lloyd and Tressie built and moved into the first modern brick home in Stratton and "livin' in town". Lloyd served on the Board of Directors for the First National Bank and began a life of civic service. He 50's when a modern sewer system was installed and later as police magistrate. They both have been very active in the Evangelical United Brethren Church, now the United Methodist. Travelling has always been a "Pugh" characteristic and Lloyd and Tressie upheld that fine old tradition. Europe, Africa, Alaska, and every state in the nation as well as lots of Canada and Mexico beca-e places of fond remembrance. They owned one of the first sampers on the nation's highways and spent most of the winters in sunny climes nineteen of them in Port Isabel, Texas. They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with their friends in Port Isabel in March of 1977 and again in June with their Colorado friends and relatives. Lloyd passed away on October 8, 1983, four days after his 85th birthday and is buried in Claremont Cemetery near Stratton. Tressie continues to live in their home in Stratton. by Marie Pugh Idler received a Golden Award (50 years) for animation from the Motion Picture Cartoonists Guild in 1987. He is retired and lives in New York City. He has also been doing fine art for many years and some of his paintings are being shown in some of the Madison Avenue galleries. Lorraine moved to California in 1939 where she first worked for an advertising agency, and then, first radio, and then television production in both Hollywood and New York City until 1978 when she retired. Ben Pyle died in 1970 at the age of 82. Maude Pyle Campbell lives in Leisure World at Long Beach, California. She is 95 years of age and still very active in bridge tournaments and other activities. Denver Pyle, the youngest of the three children, attended grade school in Bethune, and junior and senior high school in Boulder, later studying at the University of Colorado for two years. He supported himself and his education by playing the drums in the college band. After leaving the university, Denver became restless and decided to give Gene Krupa some competition in the drumming world. The gigs were few and money was tight. He soon hocked his drums and hit the road, hitchhiking. He worked as a roust-about in the oil fields of Oklahoma, a shrimp fisherman out of Galveston, and followed the wheat harvest from North Texas to Canada. After working for Mid-Continent Petroleum in Tulsa as a still cleaner, he hit the road again and hitchhiked to Hollywood to see his brother and sister in 1940. Soon after he arrived he worked for NBC as a page boy and tour guide. He tried to enlist but was rejected by the PYLE, DENVER F642 Ben H. Pyle, his wife Maude, and two children Lorraine age 4 and Willis age 3, moved to Bethune in 1917. They came by train from Smith Center, Kansas, and settled on a homestead located 9 miles south of Bethune, which they farmed until 1919, when they moved into Bethune. They built a house and Ben went into the real estate business. Denver was born in 1920. Until the new school was built, all three children attended school in the first white one-room schoolhouse and then the second one built later on. The whole family remembers those days in Bethune as very happy ones, and will always remember this as "home." They survived the great depression, always managing to have enough food and clothing as well as a home. Ben also managed a grain elevator in Bethune at this time. In 1933 the family moved to Boulder so the children could attend the University of Colorado. Maude Pyle had a boarding house for students and Ben worked with a grain company. Lorraine returned to this area in 1935 when she taught at the one-room school north of Burlington. She remembers staying with the William and Martha (Stutz) Schlichenmayers when their twin sons Roland and Raymond were born. The babies were so small they were put in shoe boxes and kept warm on the oven door. Wilis Pyle went to Hollywood, California in 1938, where he became an animator for the Walt Disney Studios for many years. He Army. He signed up as a Cadet Midshipman for the Maritime Commission and carried his 4F card throughout the South Pacific on his tour of duty. Following World War II he became inter- ested in acting. His first part in the play, "Out of the Frying Pan," was in a girls drama school in need of some boys for the play. The director encouraged him to study acting whereupon Denver took her advice and signed to study with Josephine Dillion, the teacher that launched Clark Gable. Following parts in several theater productions his first big part came in "The Man From Colorado" with Glenn Ford and Bill Holden, which was released in 1946. He made 4 motion pictures with John Wayne as well as many others. The advent of television helped his career immeasurably. "Tammy," "The Doris Day Show," "Grizzly Adams," and "The Dukes of Hazzard" were among the more popular roles he became known for. Following "The Dukes of Hazzard" series he no longer accepted personal appearance contracts. Instead, he and his wife, Tippi, whom he married in 1983, have travelled back and forth across the United States using 'Uncle Jesse' to raise millions of dollars for childrens'charities. His fee? A clean room, an airline ticket, or sometimes at his own expense. As he says, "A hug from a Special Olympic contender is a lot more rewarding than an envelope full of money." He feels as though he has accomplished what he set out to do. He has worked with most of the great actors of his time, and has �collect the eggs. Since I was the fastest runner, I always gathered more eggs than anyone elee and it made my brothers and sisters angry". Gladys met George in Flagler the year the Stratton School Dietrict shut down. Both were avid hunters and loved to dance. "Those were the only real types of entertainment in those days, and we used to dance until the wee hours of the morning. George always made sure they played the song, "My wild Irish Rose". It was his favorite song and he would always sing along with it. I also remember th6f, nlmsst, eysrybody rode horseback because automobiles were etill scarce in our atea." They were united 3 years after George returned from the service and Tony Dischner Kr:ti. was a witness at their wedding. The very next 1 day, Gladys took over duties as Postmaster and George as clerk and mail carrier of the Stratton Post Office, a position they held from 1922-1935. "In those days, the postmaster had to be of the snme political party as the President. We were lucky to have 3 Republican Presidents in a row before Roosevelt became president and we were replaced. I also remember the Post Office being constantly harassed by the Ku Klux Klan", Gladys says. After the Post Office, George held various jobs at the Lumber Yard, Snell Grain Elevator and the Rock Island Railroad, while Gladys began teaching. She taught in the Country Schools for 10 years and another 17 years in Stratton as an Elementary Teacher. She often jokes, "It took me 13 years to get out of the 1st grade". Many of the long-time residents ofStratton were once pupils ofhers, as a walk down the street attests to by the warm greetings she receives. The love and support of friendship is a very treasured gift ,:1.:' s .:' , f'j! t,{.1 j : to her. From this union 3 children were born; The popular character actor, Denver Pyle, spent his early years in Bethune. become one of the top character men in the businees. by Bonnie Witzel Lynn, Sheila, Cheryl Roehr; Brenda, hus- QUINN - PUGH FAMILY Betty Jo, Patrick George and Mary Margaret. In 1963 tragedy struck the Quinn's when their son, Patrick, was lost in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains near Westcliffe. Search efforts were unsuccessful and his fate was uncertain until 14 years later when his remains were found. Upon retirement, George and Gladys continued to live in Stratton, cherishing God, their Church, Family and Friends. George and Glady's family now includes: 2 daughters, Betty Jo and husband Paul Roehr of Fort Collins, Colo.; Mary Margaret and husband Norman Sandy of Granby, Colo.; 6 grand-daughters, Laura, husband Jim Pool, band Al Courtney; Lisa Sandy; one grandson, Brian Sandy and three great grandchildren. George passed away on March 13, 1984, at the age of 88 after a lingering illness, while F643 George Edward Quinn and Mary Gladys Pugh were maried in Cheyenne Wells, Colo., on January 2,1922. They lived all of their 62 married years in Stratton, Colorado. George and Gladys (right) at Eads, CO with good friende Jim and Ruby Hollowas (left) display their results of a successful day of their favorite sport, goose hunting. Back in those days, there was no limit to the "mount taken. George Edward Quinn was born on June 1, 1895, the llth of 13 children born to Michael First Lieutenant. and Anna Boyd Quinn, early pioneers from lreland who came to Eastern Colorado with bhe Rock Island Railroad. George lived in Flagler all of his childhood years and attended echool there. He joined the Army in May of 1917, and was commissioned as 2nd Lt. before serving in the 157th Regiment Infanbry Division in France in World War I. He was honorably discharged on October 3, 1919, as Mary Gladys Pugh Quinn was born October 14, 1895, the 6th of 12 children born to John and Jane Pugh, both of Welsh origin. Gladys was raised on the Republican River and attended school at Tuttle, 18 miles north of Stratton. Gladys recalls many fond memories of her childhood days; "Mother used to pay us I penny for every egg we gathered; so all of us kids would run home after school to Gladys continues to live in good health at her home in Stratton. by Mary Quinn Sandy �prairie while she did her washing. Of course, she had to keep a sharp lookout for snakes; there were many of them on the prairies. And there were thousands ofwild range cattle that would flock around our little sod shack at night and dig their horns into the walls and bellow. Then we would open the door and yell at them and when they were running away @.{ the noise oftheir hoofs sounded like thunder. Hundreds of antelope furnished meat for the settlers who were then coming in. There were plenty of coyotes, too. After proving up on this claim, they took T I a pre-emption one quarter of a mile south of Flagler and nearer to town. Anna's husband lived at home with them and helped more with the work, still doing his work as section foreman on the railroad. They went into the cattle business; the older children and Anna were running the ranch until the oldest son got old enough to help. Often times they would hear the wind blowing ahead of a blizzard and would go out at night and get the cattle rounded up and home before the blizzard struck and the cattle started to drift. Anna remembered one time an awful blizzatd, came and snowed them in their hundred men. Anna's husband, Michael dugout south of town. Her husband shoveled the snow back into the house and burrowed his way out. When the snow melted there was about a foot of water on the floor, and the children had to stay on the bed and chairs until we got the floor dried up. As time went on they were able to improve their place and when the children got older Quiirn, was Walking Boss, Bo they stayed in qnmp until our contract was finished. some years. After her husband's death she George and Gladys at their window in the Stratton Post Office, and later of Denver; Mary Green (Mrs. Charlies) Denver; Jim Quinn, Stratton; Jo Quinn, Lincoln, Nebr. There were two other women with small children and over one Anna's husband then became Section Foreman with headquarters in Flagler, so we then located on a claim two miles north of where the town now stands. We built a one room and house and as the walls were Gladys Pugh homestead houae "Quovadis" on the Arickaree River north of Stratton. QUINN, ANNA F644 Anna Quinn was born in Ohio on September 7, 1858, and cnme to Iowa with her parents when six years of age. She lived in Iowa twenty-two years, then came to Kansas in 1885. On March 28, 1888, they arrived in Kit Carson County and made eernp at the place where Flagler is now located. They had come west with the P.J. Murphy Grading Outfit to build the grade for the Rock Island Railroad from Goodland, Kansas to Colorado Springs. They unloaded the mules, horses and grading outfit at Kit Carson (Cheyenne County), Colorado, having shipped to that point via the Union Pacific Railroad. They then went overland to our location, Flagler, Colorado. Nothing before them on the stretch of lonesome prairie but one home where Grandma Doughty's girls later taught school after the settlement start€d and taught throughout the county for some years. They had no idea of the hardships they would meet, so were unprepared for blizzards or storms and had but one ton of coal with the outfit and were thirty milee from where they could get more. The men pitched camp, eetting up the tents, and feed racks, etc. Anna had five emall children, Margaret Epperson (Mrs. George), Flagler; Bess Miller, Stratton unplastered we were bothered terribly with the prairie fleas; they were so plentiful here they moved into town and lived there for stayed with her children for awhile, but she enjoyes her own little apartment now, and still gets a lot out of life. There were other children born to Anna and her husband; Bill Quinn, Sterling, Co.; Agnes Quinn, Cheyenne Wells, Co.; Hugh Quinn, also of Cheyenne Wells; George Anna, on the claim while her husband bached Quinn, Stratton, Co.; Grace Heid (Mrs. George), Burlington, Co. Mary Korbelik is the daughter of Grace Heid. All the other in town. On Saturday night he would walk children are deceased. in early days. Anna's five children lived, along with two miles to claim carrying the weeks supplies on his shoulder. We had no horse nor vehicle at that time and had but two milk cows. They were lariated out on the prairie and often times they would break loose and I would need to walk miles over the prairie looking for them, leaving the children alone in the sod shack. The town of Flagler began to be built by this time; a few shacks, a sod school house and a tent grocery store. Anna's two older girls, then being of school age, walked to town to school. Many a day of worry she put in, for the terrible blizzards would come up so suddenly and she would fear the girls would get confused in direction and become lost on the prairie; So she would leave the three small children in the shack alone and go out to meet the girls. She never stopped to think that she, too, could easily become confuged and lost as well as the girls. Anna caried water one-quarter of a mile from a well on the creek, always using buckets as we had no other means of hauling it. When washday crme, she would take her washing and wash boiler to the well, dig a hole in the ground, and make a fire with buffalo chips, set the wash boiler over the fire and do her washing. Often times she took her baby along and set the little fellow on a quilt on the by Mary Korbelik QUINN, MICIIAEL AND ANNA ISABEL BOYD F545 Michael Quinn was born April 13, 1842 in Tipperary, Ireland. There were ten children in his family. In the 1850's Michael's father decided to come to America. He and the two oldest boys went to Toronto, Canada. Later, his mother followed, bringing with her the other children. She had become ill on the long voyage from Ireland and died of pneumonia soon after they arrived in Toronto. Michael's father brought his large fanily to Wash- ington County, Iowa, where he worked on the railroad. He later filed a homestead claim and, with the help of the older children, he raised his family. Michael, one of the younger children, enlisted for service in the Civil War in Muscatine, Iowa in 1861. After the war, Michael (Mike) was not ready to settled �some stretch of prairie where Grandma Doughty lived with her son and his children. The railroaders had no idea of the hardships they would meet and were not prepared for the harsh Colorado climate. The grading contract was completed that fall and the Quinn family was still moving, one winter in Goodland, Kansas, and then to Limon where William Frances was born in 1889. Mike was made Section Foreman for the Rock Island and the Quinns finally settled down on a a little woman all spunk and gumption and rawhide and sharp tongue, who would have gone out and butchered a range steer, any one's steer, and dragged it home by the tail before she would have fed her family coyote meat. But when he talked about how they built the railroad, Mike Quinn was listened to with attention and respect. Mike died April 29, L929, at the age of 87. After his death, Anna lived in Flagler in an apartment, later moving to Denver. She died December the children lived on the claim while Mike by Betty Roehr homestead two miles north of Flagler where they built a one room sod house. Anna and batched in town, walking home each week with the week'g provisions on his shoulder. They had no horse, but they did have two cows. (Later, the children delivered milk to the people of Flagler). By 1890, the 165 miles of track had been completed. The town of Flagler was beginning to build as few houses, a sod school and a tent grocery store. Anna wrote in 1943: My two older girls walked to school. Many a day of worry I put in, for the blizzards would come Mike Quinn and Anna Boyd. down; and, for the next decade, he was a maverick. It was during this time that his love of railroads began. Mike traveled the United States and Mexico and was in Ogden, Utah when the golden spike was driven in 1869. Anna's parents, James Boyd (June 9, 1827) and Mary Jane Reid (htg. 27, 1837) were both born in County Down, Ireland. James had come to New York with his three brothers. Mary Jane, who had been his sweetheart in Ireland, came to New Jersey with her aunt. She and Michael were married in Urban, Ohio on August 5, 1855. It was here that Anna Boyd was born Sept. 7, 1858. The Boyds moved to Illinois then to Iowa in 1864, when Anna was six years old. The Boyds had nine children. On May 6, 1878, Anna Boyd and Michael Quinn were maried in Washington, Iowa. Mike farmed for seven years; and, it was here that Joanna Margaret (Maggie) was born in 1879. The next year, Stephen Andrew was born, but he lived only one year. Two more little girls were born in Iowa: Ellen Elizabeth (Bess) in 1882 and Mary Anastasia in 1883. Two years later, James Michael was born. At this time Mike decided that farmingwas not to be his life. The Quinns had a sale and Mike left his family in Iowa while he went to find a new home. Anna and the four children joined him in Kansas and the next two years were spent in construction camps int he summer and near Hanington, Kansas in the winter, where Mike worked in the railroad yards. PhiUip Joseph was born in a covered wagon in a construction camp. In the spring of 1888, the Quinns came to Colorado with the J.P. Murphy grading outfit. Mike was to be the grade foreman of the outfit that would build grade for laying track for the railroad through eastern Colorado. They ceme by Union Pacific to Kit Carson, unloading the mules and the grading equipment and went to the camp at Bowerville (1 7z miles east of Flagler). the c'mp consisted ofover one hundred men, Anna and her five children. and two other women. The women cooked for the men and the children played around the camp, sometimes riding the mules. There was no town then, not even the beginning of one, nothing but the lone- up so suddenly and I would fear the girls would become lost. I would leave the three small children in the shack alone and go out to meet the girls. I carried water one quarter mile from a well on the creek, always using buckets. I would take my washing and wash boiler over to the well, dig a hole in the ground and fire with buffalo chips, set the boiler over the fire to do my washing, drying the clothes on the grass. Often times I took my baby along and set the little fellow on a quilt. Between 1891 and 1900, six more children were born: John Samuel, Grace Ruth, George Edward, Agnes Annabel, John Paul, and Hugh Robert. Two babies, John Samuel and John Paul, died as infants. Thirteen children had been born to Michael and Anna, three died in infancy and ten would live out their lives in Colorado. After proving up on the homestead claim, the Quinns took up a pre-emption on quarter mile south of Flagler. This was nearer town and Mike lived at home. They bought some cattle and Anna and the children ran the ranch while Mike was working. In the time span between 1899 and 1920, the older children married. The Quinns moved to town where they lived in the railroad section house. The children had all attended school, and George and Hugh played on the high school basketball teams. George enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917. Hugh, the youngest, was seventeen years old. Mike was now 78 and spent much of his time in the blacksmith shop. Hal Borland, in "Country Editor's Boy" wrote about the Flagler Blacksmith shop in the 1920s: Among them were old-timers who had been in that country when it was young, before the railroad was built. Mike Quinn qualified because he helped build the railroad. And 15, 1943 at the age of 95. RADCLIFF FAI\IILY F546 Earl Radcliff was born near Hale, Colorado, in Arapahoe County, on Nov. 15, 1893. He was a farmer and rancher by location and avocation. One of his early teachers was Nellie Grabb who lived north of Burlington, Colo. During the 1930's, he was feeding Hereford cattle on the Pugh Ranch north of Stratton, Kit Carson County, Colorado, when the awful flood of May 1935 hit, and took many of his Herefords downstream and ruined the hay land for many yeEus. He stayed here through the winter and beceme better acquainted with Maxine Messinger, the teacher at Tuttle School. By spring he had decided to move back to the Radcliff homestead near Hale, Colorado. During the summer of 1936, Earl worked in Denver in the building trade while Maxine was on leave from teaching. He asked Maxine to marry him and a Christmas wedding was planned. Maxine was then teaching at the Newton School on Highway 51 about 25 miles north of Burlington. On Dec. 23, 1936, Earl and she were married in the rectory of St. Charles Church at Stratton, Colo., Kit Carson County, with Jesse Messinger, Bonny Gaunt, and Mrs. Gaunt as witnesses. Earl continued to farm and raise cattle near Hale. Some of these years were poor for farming following the "dust bowl years". When the plans were made for the building of Bonny Dam, Earl and Maxine decided to sell everything on the Radcliff farm-including the buildings-and move to Denver in November, 1943. By this time four of their daughters (Earline, Helen, Sue, and Bonny) had been born in Burlington Hospital with Dr. Robinson in attendance. Four more daughters (Carmine, Kathy, Mary, and Jane) were born in St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver. Earl worked for Eaton Metal Products Company for fifteen years then he retired. He passed away in Denver on June 15, 1965. Mike was a veteran of the Civil War. He was full of stories about the old days, at least half of them true and all of them rich with Irish wit and Irish brogue. When he told a whopper, most of his listeners knew what it was. As the one he told about how he used to be a great foot racer, how he kept in trim by running down coyotes, which he butchered to keep his family in meat. That was a wheeze, first because nobody could picture Mike, a big, brawny, white-mustached and with a geme leg that needed a cane, as a foot racer; and second because everyone knew his wife, by Mrs. Earl Radcliff � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Families of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief biographies of the founding families of Kit Carson County Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Families- P&Q Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Description An account of the resource Brief histories of founding families of Kit Carson County with names starting with "P" and "Q." As told in the book, History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Subject The topic of the resource History Kit Carson County Biography Genealogy Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a>