25 years ago: Nov. 11, 1998

Fred Leimkuhler is surprised how visible some of the Northwestern Railroad’s rights-of-way are after all these years. And even though the railroad ceased operations through Tonganoxie in 1919, he still remembers as a kid how everyone in the area knew about the Northwestern.

“The depot stood about a mile east of town on the south side of 4th street,” said Leimkuhler, a reited groundskeeper who lives with his wife, Martha, near Tonganoxie. “Dexter Wiley later bought the depot, tore it down and used the wood to build a little barn on his farm.”

50 years ago: Nov. 15, 1973

Several dogs have been poisoned and this is being investigated. The guilty party or parties might do well to quit before they get into trouble.

Progress is the most important Tonganoxie product. Latest is the paving of Main Street from First Street to 24-40 Highway. The new hot asphalt service will make the roadway smooth again. It was originally built after World War II at the time new U.S. Highway 24-40 to Kansas City was built.

At a principal business intersection in Tonganoxie stands a real estate and insurance office in the Former First State Bank Building at Fourth and Bury Streets about which more exists than first meets the eye. As it stands there are five generations of Evanses involved, starting with the first Lemuel Evans who arrived in Kansas in 1864 at the age of 12. Today Mrs. Lavinia (John W.) Evans, age 97, who lives on Fifth Street, just west of the old Tonganoxie Academy site is the town’s oldest woman, just 3 years short of the century mark.

On Sept. 1 of this year, we were involved in automobile accident at the intersection of Route 16 and 40. Our V.W. bus was totaled, and we were stranded in your town on our return trip home to California from Indiana. We want to thank and compliment the citizens of Tonganoxie for their assistance and hospitality. Numerous people offered their homes to us and our two large dogs. Dr. Watson opened his veterinary clinic at 11 p.m. to board our dogs, even though he could barely walk that evening due to dog bites. Mr. Quisenberry and his son waited two hours at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to return us to the Sunset Motel. We arrived at 2 a.m. and Mr. Earl Bailey greeted us warmly. We will long remember our accident and the warmth and helping hands of your community.

75 years ago: Nov. 11, 1948

Flags are flying in our little community honoring Armistice Day, the end of World War I. However, we aren’t sure about World War II as it has not officially ended yet. Thirty years ago, Armistice meant peace, but what can we say now with the second conflict of our times not quite finished?

The Reno short-cut and Tonganoxie city connection will be open by December 1!

The Jefferson Douglas County Wolf and Fox Hunters Association announced plans for the biggest wolf hunt of modern times in Kansas or even this area of the US. The hunt will last two nights and days, November 12 and 13. The hunters will meet at Lone Tree School House south of Oskaloosa and begin with WIBW radio station songs and entertainment. No guns will be allowed.  

Almeda Tinberg attended the Cosmetology Convention in KC at the Hotel Continental. Wilma Barber accompanied her.

Sacred Heart’s annual turkey dinner and bazaar is November 21 in the Parish Hall. Everyone is invited – adults $1 and children $.50.  This is a delicious meal and gets you warmed up for your family’s Thanksgiving dinner.

And if you’re in the mood for more dinners, there will be a Democratic Victory Dinner on Nov. 17t at Gene’s Cafe in Leavenworth.  Those tickets are $2 per plate.  

100 years ago: Nov. 15, 1923

The Fair Hinshaw Milling Co. of Tonganoxie has been organized and chartered with a capital stock of $50,000.00 to take over and operate the milling property at this place.

The following Directors have been elected: J.R. Fair, Frank Zoellner, C.H. Cain, William Heynen and W.A. Hinshaw. The Directors elected the following officers: J.R. Fair, President and Manager; W.A. Hinshaw, Vice President; and William Heynen, Secretary-Treasurer. The officers and directors are actively interested in the project.

H.E. Zercher, a miller, well known in Tonganoxie as one of the best millers in the country, will be the head miller and superintend the cleaning of the property and getting it in shape to run. Mr. Zercher was the miller here when the mill was run by the Kemper-Fair Milling Co.

It is expected that the mill will be ready to run about Jan. 1, 1924. The company will manufacture the same high-class products, both flour and cornmeal, that the mill has been noted for in the past.

Mr. J.R. Fair first became interested when the Kemper Mill and Elevator Company sold the property to the Kemper-Fair Milling Co., with a capital stock of $75,000 in June 1916. That company operated the property until April 1918. The officers were J.R. Fair, President; R.C. Kemper, Vice President; and Walter M. Evans, Secretary.

In 1918 the Kramer-Fair Milling Company, with a capital stock of $200,000 took over the property. J.R. Fair was elected president; J.E. Kramer, vice president, W.M. Evans, treasurer and J.M. Blair, secretary.

This company did business until the after the war conditions caused the property to be sold at receiver’s sale, caused by the money condition. The new Company is proposing to do a cautious business and expand as the business warrants.

With Mr. Fair as manager the success of the project is practically assured.

125 years ago: Nov. 17, 1898

Another voter in our township, and Walter Bleakley is the proud father.

Reno – A gramophone entertainment was given Monday night at the schoolhouse. It is reported that a very few listened to the music.

Linc Ballou is at work building himself a cottage on Shawnee and Sixth streets.

Miss Carrie Needham has dug one-fourth of an acre of Jerusalem artichokes and secured a yield of 100 bushels. They were raised for hog feed and are excellent for that purpose.

David Baker, living six miles southeast of Tonganoxie, died yesterday morning at five o’clock of catarrh of the bladder. Mr. Baker was one of the early settlers of Leavenworth County, having located here in 1871. He was about eighty years old at the time of his death.