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Remember When: A community review of Tonganoxie

By Billie Aye - | Oct 25, 2011

10 years ago: Oct. 10, 2001

Deaths: Joe F. Jenkins, Sr., age 88, Linwood, died Oct. 6, 2001; Alberta Jean Riddle, age 62, Tonganoxie, died Oct. 8, 2001; Francis E. “Butch” Uhlrich, age 58, Greenwood, Mo., died Oct. 4, 2001; Mary Ussery, age 72, Everest, died Oct. 6, 2001.

Ernie Morrow takes rooftop gardening to new heights. Morrow, a horticulturist who lives in Tonganoxie, spends his workdays tending what must be the largest rooftop garden in the Kansas City area — the roof above the Crown Center parking garage. Drivers maneuvering their way into the parking garage entrance of the Crown Center shops may notice trees growing overhead. But chances are they might think the garage is cut into a hillside and that the trees are a natural part of the landscape (Mr. Morrow had tended the garden for twelve years. It was a private gated garden created for residents of an upscale apartment building to the west and a luxury condominium to the east.).

Teri Brittingham and Tonya Ketchem, both of whom work in the Leavenworth Social and Rehabilitation Services office, have been honored for their length of service with the state.

McLouth Church of the Nazarene started meeting in its new church home on Sept. 16.

25 years ago: Oct. 8, 1986

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Wiley, Leavenworth, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 12, 1986. No formal celebration is planned due to illness; however, a family dinner will be held.

Births: Lawrence and Connie Torneden, a son, James Milton, born Sept. 11, 1986; Springdale: Gary and Marcia Zimmerman of Holton, a son, Cody Morgan, Sept. 14, 1986.

Death: Ida Imogene Brinkman, 89, Lawrence, died Oct. 3, 1986.

Mr. Charles “Ed” Hunter and his wife, Dorothy Hunter, attended the second reunion of the members of the 31st Army Division that served during World War ll, which was held last month at Sugar Lake near Atchison. These men spent about 37 months together in the same company going through maneuvers in Louisiana and Virginia before being shipped out in March 1944 to New Guinea. The war took them on to Morati Island in the Philippines.

(Caption under picture.) This Texas Star quilt, being held by Norma Breshears and Aiko Gouge, is on display at Zoellners. Made by the women of the United Methodist Church, it will be given away at the Annual Dinner and Bazaar, Oct. 15.

50 years ago: Oct. 26, 1961

Deaths: Ednah Gertrude Hickman, daughter of William Franklin and Asenath Wrigley Norton, was born in Geary County, Kansas, March 19, 1893, and died Oct. 18, 1961. Mrs. Hickman spent the major portion of her life in Junction City; Mrs. Mattie Pinken Buffington, Tonganoxie, died Oct. 19, 1961, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Kolkmann, in Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. Buffington was 70 years of age.

Jarbalo Community: Mrs. Olive Opliger received word Monday of the death of W.O. Gibbon, age 76. Funeral and burial was in Howard, Kan.

Reno Community News: Reno people were shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Mrs. Floyd Channel Monday evening, October 16, 1961.

The Friendship Valley Get-Together Club met Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the home of Virginia Mills for an all-day meeting. The day was spent tacking and binding a quilt for the club.

75 years ago: Oct. 1, 1936

Tonga’s orphan bridge is undergoing renovation and is all spread out like the family attic in housecleaning time.

Hiram and Miss Nettie Haworth received word Monday that their brother, Ely Haworth, had died Sept. 17, after a short illness, following a paralytic stroke. He was 72 years of age at the time of his death.

Mrs. J.A. Keller, age 61, died at her home 7 miles northwest of Tonganoxie, Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Jarbalo News: Mrs. I.N. Ecton is the proud grandmother of Barbara Ann, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kraxner, Kansas City. She was born Sept. 22, 1936.

From ‘It Happened in Kansas’ by F. A. Cooper: What became of the Plains heroes? Kit Carson, scout, fur trader, pioneer and brigadier general, greatest of the plainsmen, BUT, he died penniless and alone. Strangely enough he died helping his enemies, the Indians. While accompanying a delegation of Utes to Washington he became ill and returned to Ft. Lyon, Colo., where he died May 23, 1860. … Oil is not a modern discovery! It was known to the Indians of Kansas many years before its discovery by white men. Beaver Springs in Miami County was the first spring in Kansas showing crude oil on its surface … Indians camped here to gather oil by placing their blankets on the surface and in a few hours wringing them out to secure the refined oil. They used the oil for medicinal purposes. And: While walking in the country near Hoisington, Rosie Rowe (now Mrs. H. Arnold) was caught in a tornado. She clung to a barbed wire fence to keep from blowing away and her long hair became so entangled in the fence that it was necessary to cut it off to free her.

100 years ago: Oct. 12, 1911

An Old Soldier Dead: Jerry McCarthy, an old resident of Leavenworth County, died at the home of Mike Callahan, 5 miles east of here, last Thursday. Jerry McCarthy was born in Ireland about 75 years ago and came to this country before the war, settling in Leavenworth. Last summer he was allowed a pension of $20 a month.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gallagher, Jr., a son; Mr. and Mrs. John Caldwell, Jr., a son.

Mrs. Charlotte Holliday, living 5 miles west, died last Saturday of apoplexy at her home. She was in her 68th year.

Miss Florence Watson, aged 24 years, died at the home of her half-brother Sam Clements 4 miles east of Jarbalo Tuesday evening of Bright’s disease.

Elizabeth Catherine Howard, living with her grandson on Sam Ward’s place east of town, died yesterday morning.

Miss Olive Skeet, age 24, died Thursday. She was a stenographer in Kansas City, Missouri.

The boys who left about two weeks ago with three horses and their baggage came back in about a week. The boys have perhaps become greatly impressed with that old melody “Home Sweet Home.”

F.M. Jacobs, one of the aeronauts who made the balloon race out of Kansas City, has been building an aeroplane for some time in Atchison. Will Leighty, formerly of Tonganoxie, is doing most of the engineering work on the aerial flyer.