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Remember When: A Community Review of Tonganoxie

By Billie Aye - | Jan 24, 2012

10 years ago: Jan. 9, 2002

The county’s infirmary is shaping up. On Monday afternoon, Jeffrey Phillips, whose firm, Citadel Holdings, is negotiating a 15-year lease agreement for the county owned nursing home, led Leavenworth County commissioners on a tour. In the home’s south wing, Phillips pointed out the recently touched up paint on door jams, freshly polished floors and repainted doors.

Deaths: Carrie Edith McAlexander, 75, Fort Meyers, Fla., died Dec. 30, 2001; Lela V. (Sanders) Vassar, 85, Tonganoxie, died Jan. 7, 2002.

Turning another page: Sunday morning, the Rev. Bob Kasper hung up his robe at Tonganoxie’s First Congregational Church for the last time. As daylight poured through a tall stained glass window next to the pulpit, Kasper had minutes before preached his final sermon, using no notes, as he faced the congregation he has known for 22 years. When Bob Kasper and his wife, Shirley, move from Tonganoxie to Lawrence next week, their absence will be felt. For 22 years the Kaspers have dedicated their lives to volunteerism. From the Thrift Shop and Food Pantry to the Breast Cancer Support Group, the Tonganoxie Historical Society, to 4-H, the churches, schools and throughout the community, the Kaspers will be missed.

Births: Corbin and Barb Hofstetter, Shawnee, announce the birth of triplets, Aubrey, Claire and Wyatt, born Dec. 11, 2001; Brian Galyean and Tonya Gregory, Tonganoxie, announce the birth of a son, Austin Scott Galyean, on Dec. 9, 2001.

And baby makes five: The winner of the Mirror’s 2002 new-baby contest is far from the first child in her family. Meredith Ruth Derzinski, daughter of Mike and Becky Derzinski, joins triplet brothers, Jonathan, Jacob and Joseph, 2 1/2, and a sister, Maggie, who is 10 (Meredith was born at 12:28 last Wednesday).

25 years ago: Jan. 7, 1987

Mr. Albert Doege on County Road 5 has welcomed 92 lambs this season. Marvin Throop noticed the abundant group on his rounds with the Senior Citizen meals (Caption under picture).

Mr. and Mrs. L.A. (Farmer) Jamison of Linwood recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a dinner and program at the Lawrence Holidome (Fifty-three family members joined the anniversary celebration).

Deaths: Ella Leana Graham, 78, McLouth, died Dec. 31, 1986, at her home; Gertrude Catherine Swan, 78, Great Bend, died Dec. 28, 1986.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Smith of Lawrence, proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Samantha Elizabeth, born Dec. 14, 1986; Brian and Sheri Smith, Kansas City, Kansas, announce the birth of a daughter, Tara Michelle, born December 31, 1987.

McLouth News: Mr. and Mrs. Mike Turdon of Topeka announce the birth of a baby boy, Michael Scott, born December 24, 1986.

Mrs. Don (Georgina) Himpel has retired from the Hercules, Inc. at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant at De Soto. Georgina was the group leader in the payroll department. She was employed there for thirteen years.

50 years ago: Jan. 25, 1962

Smoke Signals by J.J.N. (Jere Neibarger): A letter from the Delano Granite Work, in Delano, Minn., makers of burial monuments, carries the following inscription: “Drive carefully — we can wait”.

The January meeting of the Fairmount Community Club will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the grade school. The guest speaker will be Bill New who will speak on his recent trip to Turkey and will also show films. Bill is a senior at Kansas State University, Manhattan, and is majoring in agricultural economy (Bill spent six months studying and touring in Turkey, with a group of other young people).

Deaths: Mrs. Henrietta Johnson, age 85, Winchester, died Jan. 19, 1962; G.D. (Dick) Whitaker, of Colony, died Jan. 20, 1962; Joshua Steven Quisenberry, Topeka, died January 23, 1962; Jarbalo Community: Mrs. Rose Dunlap, mother of Ervie Dunlap, died Sunday morning.

Up Fairmount Way: Mr. and Mrs. Bill Millar, Lawrence, have received word of the death of Mr. Millar’s mother, Mrs. Isa Millar, Liverpool, England, Jan. 5, 1962.

75 years ago: Dec. 31, 1936

John E. Todd, son of William and Jane Todd, was born March 15, 1865, near Oskaloosa, Iowa, and passed away at his home, Dec. 30, 1936, age 71 years. He came to Lawrence with his parents at the age of 5 where he lived for three years then came to Tonganoxie, living in this community ever since.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Lon Chambers announce the birth of a son, Dec. 23. Elmwood. Mr. And Mrs. Leonard Hamm announce the birth of a son at their home, Dec. 25.

Oddities: Willie Brown and Clarence Wolfe, Tonganoxie boys in the Navy, were on the same ship a year, hadn’t met each other.

From “It Happened in Kansas” by F.A. Cooper: The first train wreck in Kansas happened in Kansas City, Kan., April 22, 1864. A short spur had been laid from the Missouri River at the foot of Minnesota Avenue and a small engine had been unloaded from a barge and was standing on the bank when J.L. Hallett, a self-appointed engineer, attempted to back the engine away from the river. Unfortunately he was unacquainted with locomotives and promptly drove the engine into the river.

Also from “It Happened in Kansas:” A hill near Ashland was named Mt. Jesus from an expression made by an Irish member of Custer’s army when he was ordered to climb to its summit — he was right! It is a mountain with an altitude of 2,340 ft., which is higher than any of the Allegheny Mountains.

Mr. and Mrs. John Blevins of Oskaloosa will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Christmas Day.

100 years ago: Jan. 11, 1912

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Modlin was the scene of a joyous occasion when on Jan. 5, 25 relatives helped celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

“Wish I had a thermometer so I could see how cold it is.” These were the last words Michael Kavanagh uttered Friday morning at 11:30, for a few minutes later he was dead. An attack of heart trouble had proven fatal. Mr. Kavanagh, age 83, was born in Ballinamora, Wexford County, Ireland and left his native land at the age of 21 years to come to America.

The state began taking vital statistics here Aug. 1, and until Jan. 1, 27 births have been registered and 24 deaths for the townships of Tonganoxie and Stranger. The male births exceed the female births 17 to 10. There were two colored births and one death. The male deaths over female deaths were 14 to 10.

Early Settler Goes Suddenly. Mrs. Sarah Barnes, living with her grandson, Ray Barnes and granddaughter, Miss Mary Barnes, on the Charlie Baldwin place adjoining town on the southeast, died at nine o’clock Tuesday evening as she was being put to bed by her granddaughter (Mrs. Barnes had been injured in a fall from a porch seven or eight years before her death and became helpless.). Mrs. Barnes was in her 90th year and was one of the first settlers of the town of Tonganoxie.

Frank Lenahan slipped Saturday morning at the Star Creamery and fell against a window light. His body broke the pane, and his right hand struck the rough edge of the glass. He was so badly cut in the palm of his hand that five stitches were necessary to close he wound. The injury is a painful one and will take some time to heal.