Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas Susan B. Allen Bio

Butler County’s Eighty Years ~ 1855-1935

by Jessie Perry Stratford

A History of Butler County Biographical Sketches and Portraits with Foreword by Rolla A. Clymer

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Body for that period in its history was the promotion of the municipal auditorium, built as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors. Mr. Kennedy was succeeded as secretary by Russell H. Fisher who was followed by J. D. Turner, Vic Amman and Edgar Golden, the present secretary. L. M. Burns is the president.

Kafir Corn Carnivals, nationally known fall festivals, have largely been Chamber of Commerce projects. The last one of these, held in 1929, included these exhibits and entertainment features: One section of township booths, decorated with kafir corn and other grains, in which were displayed the farm products of the townships represented; one section of booths devoted to exhibits of rural school projects; a section of booths in which were featured art work and other projects of the grade schools, high school and junior college; an entire block devoted to booth displays of oil field equipment; a baby parade, including floats, decorated tricycles, baby buggies, etc.; a parade featuring the Queen of the Carnival, Miss El Dorado and maids of honor, and including floats, trade displays and marching groups; a rodeo of western sports in which more than 200 contestants competed for cash awards. The total cost of this carnival, which was self-supporting, was $27,000. During the same year (192) Chamber of Commerce sponsored a series of Saturday night band concerts which were played by the El Dorado and Oil Hill bands.

During 1930, Chamber of Commerce activities included a Fall Round-Up and Terrapin Derby costing $16,000; entertained the Butler County boys and girls’ 4-H Club with a luncheon; its committees, through a canvas of the business men raised funds to aid in the Independent Petroleum Association’s fight for an oil tariff and in March 1930 the first monthly auction sale was held under its auspices. These sales, held monthly since, provide a market for products and property of farmers in El Dorado’s trade territory, stimulate trade and foster good will between merchant and farmer. During 1930, a special committee endeavored to bring the Veteran’s Hospital, later place at Wichita, to El Dorado.

In 1931 El Dorado’s first Community Chest was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the first funds campaign was initiated in October. The organization also furnished a barbecue picnic dinner for residents of Eureka and Greenwood County, attended by 1,500. In the spring, free entertainment at El Dorado Theatre for 300 eighth grade graduates was furnished.

In September, 1931, an air circus, more than self-supporting was sponsored. The Passion Play, presented at the Municipal Auditorium under auspices of the Chamber, was one of its first activities of 1932. During the year it entertained officials and employees of the Missouri Pacific and the Santa Fe Railroads, furnished a barbecue dinner for the Butler County Farm Bureau, and a Trade Survey for the firms, Skelly Oil Co., El Dorado Refining Co., Cities Service Oil Co., S. and H. Baking CO., Superior Bakery, Jersey Pride Creamery, Southwest Utility Ice Co., El Dorado Bottling Works was concluded.

1933-34

During 1933 the Chamber of Commerce worked unceasingly to secure highway improvements on state and federal roads leading into El Dorado, such as the replacement of the bridge on North Main, now under way; worked in promoting travel on and recognition of the Mexico City-Winnipeg highway with fine results. Among other Chamber of Commerce projects aided in 1933-34 were the establishment of an emergency airport, personal cooperation in the N. R. A.; holding of the State G. A. R. encampment at El Dorado, establishment of the Butler County Re-Employment Bureau, Community Chest campaign and continuance of the Credit Bureau.

In addition to these various large undertakings Chamber of Commerce constantly handled routine matters such as spring and fall window unveilings and merchandising events, dinners, programs, and meetings; investigation and reports on schemes and promotions, decoration of streets for holidays and similar activities.

EL DORADO CIVIC CLUBS

Three principal civic service clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions, have been active for the past fifteen years. Rotary Club, organized in April, 1920, is the oldest of the three and has a membership of thirty. The Kiwanis, organized in May, 1921, has thirty-two members. The Lions, organized December 14, 1921, has fifty-five members.

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ROTARY – R. A. Clymer was the first president of the Rotary. His successors in that office include J. C. Powell, R. H. Bradford, S. B. Severson, Carl E. Powell, James Blaine McKay, W. R. Brown, E. V. Yingling, C. O. Boston, Joe Davis Powell, N. M. Hutchinson, Dallas Convis, Richard C. Woodward, Preston Straight and I. H. McIntire, the present president. Robert L. Lear has been secretary since 1930. Preceding him in that office were Theodore Slade, Joe Davis Turner, Henry Clay (Harry) Cox, and Dallas Convis.

Some of the club’s major activities have been listed and indicate the channels in which its efforts are directed: In 1924, the club raised $1,200 for the benefit of the Welfare Association. It furnished and maintains rooms at the Allen Memorial Hospital, to which it donated $1,000; annually entertains the children of the members and the programs are given by these junior guests; entertains High School boys as Junior Rotarians; in 1927 established a student loan fund available to worthy students of the High School or Junior College, the sum of $250 a year on a five year basis, has been seeking to obtain a zoning ordinance for the last several years; 1926-27, cooperated with the county commissioners in providing hospital services for crippled children; helped to entertain the throng attending the Hazford Place picnic in 1925; in October, 1925, took responsibility and succeeded in securing 100 new memberships for the Chamber of Commerce; regularly entertains survivors of the local G. A. R. Post on Lincoln’s Birthday; distributes Christmas baskets to needy children annually; in 1926, entered the prize-winning float at the Kafir Corn Carnival; same year, raised $600 for the Welfare Association; brought nationally renowned boys’ lecturer here for series of addresses; has sponsored baseball club in Junior league since 1926; and individual members of the club have stood sponsor for boys released from the state reformatory.

KIWANIS – Philip Higdon is the twelfth president of Kiwanis Club, which has a membership of thirty-two. C. M. Penwell is secretary. Former presidents in the order of their service are L. J. Bond, Robt. H. Hazlett, the late George A. Ramsey, Roy A. Thompson, Harry J. Haberlein, Dr. C. M. Kelley, Rev. Fred W. Condit, Hobart Kilgore, Charles M. Penwell, Harvey Songer, and Carroll H. Smith.

The club’s major activities have proved of tremendous benefit to the community, particularly its aid to school children. The club has sponsored Augusta, Eureka and Marion Kiwanis clubs; gave 724 sweaters to children; gave groceries to twenty-eight families at Christmastime; sent groceries to Old Folks Home and furnished clothing for 153 children at Christmas; contributed $300 to the Elks fund for Christmas party; furnished speakers for boys and girls meetings four times; have held farmers’ meetings; have held six meetings in towns in El Dorado trade territory; sponsored and practically financed three big picnics for boys of city; entertained High School football team six times and basketball team five times; sent three boys to Hi-Y Conference three consecutive years; secured “quiet zone” for hospital; furnished milk for under-nourished school children for five years, until taken over by school board; furnished thirty-one school children with clothing in 1929; same year spent $344 for school books for children; furnished twenty-nine school children with shoes; had tonsils removed from 52 school children; adenoids removed from 20 school children; eyes treated and glasses fitted on thirty-one school children; had four hundred eighty one teeth treated for school children; for three years was instrumental in getting a great number of children who were not going back to High School to re-enter; had city install “slow” signs around school buildings; donated cup to Butler County School Association; sent two children to state spelling contest; raised money to send track team to Chicago National Tourney three times; gave sweaters to High School football team; gave $50 to High School Debaters and orators; sponsored High School football training camp two years. Through Kiwanis Club the conditions at the County Farm were investigated and resulted in the building of the new home; put on two Aerial Circuses and established municipal landing field; gave $150 to Army Mess Fund; caused “El Dorado” signs placed at Missouri Pacific and Santa Fe Stations; provided four major operations on children; sent mother and child to tuberculosis sanatorium at St. Louis; had special jacket and shoes made for child with spinal trouble; had special shoes and braces made for child with infantile paralysis; sent one child to Wichita ten times for treatment for spinal trouble; sent thirty-two girls to Y. W. C. A. Camp; gave $50 to Y. W. C. A. sewing classes; gave $15 to Y. W. C. A. for its

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Christmas party; gave $50 towards Peace Officers Conventions; entered float in every Kafir Corn Carnival; sponsored Courtesy Week; built swimming pool; sponsored boys baseball team five years; established “Indian Scouts Cabin” for boys; and originated and donated each Christmas for the lighting of homes at Christmas time. The club has paid $800 of its $1,000 pledge to Allen Memorial Hospital and expects soon to finish paying the entire sum.

LIONS CLUB, organized in December, 1921, has been of much constructive help to the city in initiating movements and in cooperating with other groups. Presidents of Lions Club have been R. T. McCluggage, Judge George J. Benson, Homer Ira, E. R. Sandberg, H. M. Williams, Stanley Taylor, C. R. Edwards, L. B. Kimball, Wilbur Morris, J. Earl Tanner, H. I. French, L. G. Trombla, present president. William L. Blair is secretary. E. E. Snyder served as secretary for ten years. There are fifty-five members. Principal among the club’s achievements has been the establishment in 1925 and maintenance of a Lion’s Camp on a 40-acre tract near the city, which, until the building of Lake El Dorado and the improvements at Forest Park, was the chief picnic grounds of this section. The club also built a Boy Scout Cabin, at a cost of $2500 on West Third Avenue; created a Scout Boys’ Band, sponsors three Scout troops, brought the United States Marine band to El Dorado. Other items include direction of the organization of the Civic Baseball league; sent High School boys to a number of older boys’ conferences; assisted in Near East Relief Drives; assisted the Salvation Army and Welfare Association with Christmas programs; donated $200 for the Elks’ 1293 Christmas Tree; assisted in the movement looking to the improvement of the East and West Cemeteries; during January, February and Mark, 1923, joined with the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs in re-financing the Hotel project; appointed a committee to make a special investigation of the water supply system of El Dorado; assisted the American Legion to raise funds for the convention of the Kansas department of the American Legion; helped on various occasions to get employment for students who were working their way through school; cooperated with the Kiwanis in its vigorous campaign to effect better living conditions for the old folks at the county home for the poor; lent its influence towards obtaining another judge for the Thirteenth Judicial District for Kansas; joined with the Rotary and Kiwanis, in 1923, in annual Chamber of Commerce membership campaign and won loving cup for obtaining more points for new members and money collected; contributed $87.50 to help send the High School Athletic Track Team to the national meet in Chicago in 1923; gave to Minstrel Shows in 1928; sponsored a “Trade at Home” essay contest in city schools and awarded $50 in prizes; entered a float in Kafir Corn Carnival parade and took second prize; made loans to worthy boys needing funds to finish school; fitted out Lions Junior baseball team at a cost of $70.75; entertained two representative students from Junior College and High School at each meeting of the club; contracted to bring “Private Pete” to El Dorado for one of his entertainments in December, 1929; subscribed $50 to Kansas peace officers convention; supported American Legion in its Orphans Home project; placed the Moral Code for school children in every school room in the county.

The club initiated and carried through the project of securing athletic field for the city schools; set out and cared for 87 trees around the athletic field; purchased band instruments for boys who could not buy their own equipment; sent Scout Band to Independence convention, Scout Band to Hutchinson meeting of music clubs and Junior Municipal Band (formerly Scout Band) to the Salina convention; presented winner of County Debate League with loving cup in 1926-27-28-29; and entertained High School scholarship teams which represented the local school at state meet at Emporia; sponsored for last two years, the Butler County Scholastic contests; filled Swinging Gardens of Friends University for the last two years; elected R. T. McCluggage for 1924, and J. Earl Tanner for 1933, as district governors of Lions International Meeting and issued special publications of The El Dorado Times three different times during the first ten years; each issue contained about forty-two pages. The Lions entertained the State Convention in 1925.

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This picture was taken in January 1900, in front of the old stone courthouse. Of the seventeen El Doradoans, nearly all of whom were Butler County officials or deputies, ten are living. Reading from left to right, the photograph includes Andrew Forgy, Frank H. Cron, deputy county treasurer, J. B. Riddle (now postmaster of Wichita) deputy register of deeds; George Lane, Dr. J. D. Hamilton, county treasurer; John H. Austin; William G. Turner, sheriff; Harry T. Brown; Captain Randall, probate judge; Andy Swigget; Lee Scott, county surveyor; Ed. Brumback, county attorney; V. A. Osburn, clerk of the district court; Frank S. Allen, register of deeds; H. A. J. Coppins, county clerk; George Young, deputy sheriff; John Mathers, county superintendent.

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FAMOUS COLLECTION OF PITCHERS

Eighteen hundred and fourteen pitchers are now included in Mrs. Al C. Spain’s famous Pitcher Collection. However, before the ink is dry on this page, the total number will be larger, so steadily does this remarkable assemblage increase in size.

This collection not only is the largest west of the Mississippi River, but is one of the most distinctive in the United States. Stories about these pitches, so exquisitely displayed in Mrs. Spain’s lovely home, have been published in numerous American and foreign newspapers, and in magazines. Visitors come from afar to view the exhibit, which Mrs. Spain delights in showing. She knows the story of each pitcher, from the tiniest which can hold but one-half a raindrop, to the largest, a green Weller ware, which holds green umbrellas in the hallway. Not one pitcher is for sale.

Artists linger over the display, entranced by astounding beauty, intricacy of design and fragility of rare wares. Writes are fascinated by the variety and general gorgeousness of the collection. Housewives gaze with rap amazement upon each of the 1814 speckless, gleaming pitchers, reposing at all times upon dustless, shining shelves. Collectors are awed, not only by the great number of pitchers, but by the varied types. There are practically no duplicates.

Twenty-three years ago, one snowy Christmas day, the late Theodore A. Kramer, El Dorado lawyer, presented Mrs. Spain with a Haviland pitcher. As she placed the gift beside a Majolica pitcher that had belonged in her family for 100 years, she became, for the first time in her life, a woman with a hobby – a hobby for collecting unusual pitchers. The bulk of the collection has not been increased by indiscriminate purchase of novelties. To attain a place upon Mrs. Spain’s burnished, impeccable shelves, a pitcher must be in some way unique. In consequence the collection is fascinating and valuable.

Mr. Spain shares his wife’s enthusiasm for the collection and in 1922 added to the home a room finished in hardwood and lined with glass cases. A book in which is recorded the number, history and name of donor of each pitcher, and a register for visitors, are the only other objects in the room.

There are pitchers from Egypt to Tia Juana, from coast to coast, from every foreign country, excepting South America, from every state in the union excepting the Dakotas, Carolinas and Rhode Island. There is an inlaid Greek pattern, a nailless wooden pitcher more than 200 years old; one made from a penny in Denver; three Venetians, one from the Mount of Olives, a red and while polka dot from the Argonne battle field – one shelf devoted entirely to pitchers in pastel shades, another to those of colored glass.

A Royal Doulton pitcher from Portland, Ore., stands beside a Royal Doulton pitcher from Portland, Me. Practically every pottery in America is represented. There are heirlooms and wares patented this year, designs of long ago and designs evolved by modern artists.

With amazing accuracy, the pitchers depict humanity’s vagaries and complexes. There are pitchers daring and sedate, solemn and jazzy, enticing and repelling, sacred and impious – subdued and flambuoyant – pitchers gracefully slender and piquant, and pitchers squatty and smug.

One pitcher is of horsehair; another is crocheted; one was blown of glass and one whittled from an apple tree bough. Miss Gretta Wilma Griffis, granddaughter of Mrs. Spain, wove one of tan straw. A crystal pitcher’s pattern is a lion’s head. One pitcher portrays 1,000 faces; another the face of Wagner; many have foreign coasts-of-arms. A tiny Doulton depicts a ruddy Santa Claus kneeling at a grate, filling a baby’s stocking. King George of England is on one side of a Ridgeway and General Pershing on the other. David Garrick is shown at St. John’s Gate, Clekenell, scene of his first performance in London. A pitcher made in Australia has the spout on the left side near the handle. Descriptions of even the most interesting of Mrs. Spain’s collection could fill pages.

For one pitcher the donor risked her life in Old Mexico. Two of the most prized are from the first tiny sets owned by Mrs. Spain’s granddaughters, Gretta Wilma Griffis and Virginia Lee Blackburn.

Royal Doulton predominates in wares, and is supplemented by Majolica, Minton, Rockwood, Wedgewood, Pickard, Rosewood, Royal Bayreuth, Cowan, Royal Ivory