×
×
homepage logo

Remember When: A Community Review of Tonganoxie

By Billie Aye - | Feb 5, 2013

10 years ago: Jan. 29, 2003

THS debaters sweep state: “We won it all!” Megan Needham’s comment sums up Tonganoxie’s victorious weekend at the state debate tournament. The 14 Tonganoxie High School debaters came home victorious in their competition against 40 schools — with a combined total of 37 wins and six losses.

Deaths: Allen Earl Hehn, 86, McLouth, died Jan. 22, 2003; Peggy Ann Hill, 69, Leavenworth, died Jan.. 25, 2003; Services were held January 26, 2003 for Gertrude Olivette Wyrick, 79, Tonganoxie; Ethan Joseph Nave, 12, McLouth died January 23, 2003 in a vehicle accident near Oskaloosa.

Tonganoxie students spell way into annual bee: When the last word was presented, Sarah Swaim didn’t falter. The Tonganoxie fifth-grader spelled “diagram” correctly Friday morning, making her the first-place winner in the annual Tonganoxie spelling bee. Close behind her, taking second place, was another fifth-grader, Austin Baragary, who had mistakenly added the letter e to the end of the word, “devout.” And next in line was sixth-grader Josh Hendrix. All three, who received trophies for Friday’s win, will compete at the county’s spelling bee, which is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 7 at Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth.

25 years ago: Jan. 20, 1988

On Feb. 1, 1988, Henry McGraw Sr., will celebrate a big day — his 100th birthday. The longtime area resident is looking forward to it. “It will be nice to see my family, but when we all get together it’s quite a scrap,” said McGraw, who has 114 direct descendants. McGraw lives in Bonner Springs with his daughter, Dorothy Miller. McGraw’s family and friends will celebrate his birthday from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 with an open house at the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds administration building.

Alvin and Alta Shilling were honored with a 50th wedding anniversary party 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, 1988, at the Tonganoxie Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Shilling celebrated 40 years with the Shilling Electric and as of Jan. 1, 1988, turned over the business to Roger and Phyllis Shilling, the new owners, and their son and daughter-in-law (Every day since they retired, both have been back in the store during their usual hours.).

Births: Mike and Sandra Brock are proud to announce the birth of their son, Michael E. Brock 11, born Jan. 9, 1988; Janet and Jay Spencer are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Hillary Jo, born Jan. 17, 1988; Major Robert Mays and his wife, Sheila, of Colorado Springs, Colo., are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Ashley Ann, on Jan. 11, 1988; Danny and Donna Bradley of Tonganoxie are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Jenna Rachel, born Dec. 28, 1987; Mr. and Mrs. David A. Snyder, McLouth, announce the birth of a son, Ross Colten (Colt) born Jan. 11, 1988.

Deaths: Estle Charles Chapman, 90, Kansas City, Kan., died Jan. 19, 1988; Edward W. Cannell, 81, Tonganoxie, died Jan. 7, 1988; Ethel L. Brown, 55, Tonganoxie, died Jan. 17, 1988.

McLouth News: Mrs. Gertrude Courtney, McLouth, has received word of the birth of her great-granddaughter to Mr. and Mrs. David Tomiasini in Salinas, Calif. They have named her Courtney Ann.

50 years ago: Feb. 7, 1963

Tonight, (Thursday) Tammy Marihugh will appear in “Twilight Zone” in a script entitled “Death Ship.” Eight o’clock on Channel 5.

Birth: Mr. and Mrs. George Laughlin, Roeland Park, a daughter, born Jan. 24, 1963. Mr. Laughlin is the son of Mrs. Boyd Lewis of Tonganoxie.

Saturday evening relatives and friends surprised Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Mosser, Linwood, in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary. A silver money tree and wedding cake decorated the dining table.

Deaths: Mrs. Aurelia Sanders died Jan. 25, 1963, at the age of 96 years, 2 months, 5 days; Melville K. Thompson, 52, former resident of the McLouth community, died Jan. 30 in Topeka; Mrs. Carrie E. Yates died Feb. 5, 1963, in Wichita; Ralph Burdick, 77, died early Sunday at his home in Oskaloosa; Mrs. Lucille D. Pemberton, 62, Tonganoxie, died Feb. 1, 1963.

75 years ago: Jan. 13, 1938

Andrew Smith, who is purser on the S.S. Scan-mail, is visiting with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fount Smith and friends here. It is indeed interesting to “stay-at-home” friends to hear him tell of the countries he has seen and people he has come in contact with, far removed from Tonganoxie’s main street. The Scanmail is a commercial combination freight and passenger boat with a 100-passenger capacity. After leaving New York, she sails 3700 miles before touching her first port, Goteborg, Sweden.

Wm. Jamison, 81, Jarbalo, died this morning in a hospital in Kansas City.

Mary Arnold Jones, Tonganoxie, died at her home Jan. 10.

Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Osdahl of near Lawrence, a daughter, born Jan. 5, 1938.

Philip M. Robinson, 36, World War veteran, died of double pneumonia Saturday.

The Osborn Farmer is not impressed with the book, “How To Win Friends and Influence People.” The short answer, it says, is to get control of the U. S. Treasury.

As A Woman Sees It. — Frances Myers: The much photographed Duke and Duchess of Windsor sent Christmas cards with their photographs on them. They must think people are gluttons for punishment.

Lawrence: More than a thousand men took part in the annual C.P.A. Wolf Hunt held on New Year’s Day. The weather was ideal, the hunt was well-managed and four coyotes were killed. The hunt covered 25 square miles. The pelts were sold for $5 each.

100 years ago: Jan. 23, 1913

Mrs. Angeline Huffman, for 46 years a resident of the neighborhood, died suddenly Friday morning at seven o’clock of neuralgia of the heart.

John Hayworth, a former Tonganoxie boy, died in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, about Dec. 25th, at the age of 30 years.

J.C. Laming has a sow that has farrowed three times within a year and produced 31 pigs. He wants to find someone who can beat this record.

Zimri Mills went back to Oklahoma on Monday He says he has made considerable money since he left here eight years ago, but has spent it all traveling around.

Otto Freienmuth is taking a couple of months vacation in Old Mexico. He left last week with his uncle, Carl Fisher, of Emporia, for San Antonio and from there they were to journey across the border to a 65,000 acre ranch in Northern Mexico, where they will sample tortillas and frijolis, the diet of the plain, common people.

At her residence in Basehor on Jan. 12, 1913, Mrs. Nancy E. Budd died at the advanced age of 87 years.

Mrs. Mary S. Collins, wife of Chas. Collins, a pioneer of Kansas, for many years a resident near Tonganoxie, died at the home of her son, Ralph Collins, near Del Norte, Colo.., Jan. 14.