News Stories for Reno County, Kansas

MRS. DANIEL MURPHY RETURNED HOME

Mrs. Daniel Murphy returned to her home in Pratt county Wednesday morning, after two weeks pleasant visit with her grandmother, Mrs. Sophia Grindle. (Haven Independent Haven, Reno County, Kansas March 20, 1897 page - 3 *** column - 2 submitted by Rose Stout)

FRANK GASTON HAD TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

Another Terrible Accident.

Frank Gaston, a Lincoln township farmer, was the victim yesterday of a terrible accident that places his possible recovery almost in the line of miracles. In his hast to get along with his farm work rapidly he was operating two stalk cutters, driving one and leading the team hitched to the other behind. The teams both became frightened and unmanageable and Mr. Gaston was thrown to the ground and dragged under the second stalk cutter.

The flesh from one of his legs was literally scraped from the bone, several rigs were broke, the end of one piercing one of his lings. His injuries were frightful; and it was thought yesterday that all hope of recovery was futile.

Every effort was put forth to take advantage of the least chance, and a corps of physicians from Hutchinson were summoned. The mangled leg was amputated yesterday evening.

Since the above was written, Drs. Klippel and Duval returned from Mr. Gaston's home Dr. Klippel stated to the News reporter that it was one of the worst accidents he had ever seen outside of a railroad wreck, but that here was still a chance for Gaston's recovery. DAILY NEWS.

Frank Gaston is a brother of W. E. Gaston of this place and is well known to many of our readers. (Haven Independent Haven, Reno County, Kansas April 17, 1897 page - 3 *** column - 2 submitted by Rose Stout)

DAVIS FAMILY REUNION HELD AUGUST 11TH

The fifth Davis family reunion was held Sunday, August 11, at the old Olcott church and school ground. A number of the families gathered Saturday evening for a wiener roast and spent the night. Sixty-four persons were present for the wiener roast and sunrise breakfast.

A picnic dinner was served to seventy-two relatives and twenty-four guests. Several stopped in the afternoon to visit old friends.

The next reunion will be held at the Joe Davis home at Rozel, Kans.

Those present were Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Amerine and Earl, Belle Plaines, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Amerine, St. Frances, Kans.; Mrs. Lucille Risinger and son, St. Louis, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ross and son, Shawnee, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Amerine and Daughter, Hazelton, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Crotts and family, Pampa, Texas; Mrs. Autry Holmes and daughter, Amarillo, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Willard Franklin and children, Groom, Tex.; Mr. and Mrs. R. I. Davis, Groom, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Davis and family, Rozel, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Davis and Family Hutchinson, Kansas; Pearl Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Omar Tope and family; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Tope and baby; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Oller and sons; Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Dimitt and family; Mr. and Mrs. Vasco Spain and sons; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fluke; Mr. and Mrs. Elton Dimitt and baby and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tubbs and sons, all of Turon.

Those who attended as visitors were Mrs. Allena Elder, Weslaco, Tex.; Ernest Maphet and son Dick, Hutchinson, Kans.; Herman Bridenstein, Julius Bridenstein, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bridenstein and children, and Elmer Bridenstein of Arlington; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Wheat and son, Wichita, Kans.; Jacyne Langseth, Amarillo, Tex.; Helen Smith and Frances Cunningham, Turon, Kans.; Zena Breeze, Preston, Kans.; Mrs. C. L. Jenkins and Mr. and Mrs. Owen Jenkins, Moundridge, Kans., and mr. and Mrs. Quentin Weltz, Halstead.

Afternoon callers were: Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells, Mr. Arthur Laughlin, Mrs. Clarence Crotts, Ted Combs of Penalosa, Mr. and Mrs. Clem Wise of Penalosa, and Mr. and Mrs. Clark Wardell and granddaughter of Penalosa. (Turon Press Turon, Reno County, Kansas Thursday, August 15, 1940 page - front *** column - 2 submitted by Rose Stout)

CHARLIE WARD LEFT FOR GALENA

Charlie Ward left for Galena Tuesday morning, where he will open up a blacksmith shop. His family will remain here for the present. (Haven Independent Haven, Reno County, Kansas February 27, 1897 page - 3 *** column - 2 submitted by Rose Stout)

W. B. BROADWELL STARTING A NEW TOWN

W. B. Broadwell, of Hutchinson, was starting a new town in Comanche county to be known as Nashville. (Hutchinson News (Weekly) Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas January 26, 1911 page - 3 *** column - 1 submitted by Rose Stout)

MR. AND MRS. DON HARGROVE HERE FOR VISIT

Mr. and Mrs. Don Hargrove of Seattle, Washington came for a holiday visit at the L. B. Blachly home. Mrs. Hargrove is a sister of Mrs. Blachly. Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove, Mr. and Mrs. Blachly and Mrs. Maude Cross drove to Jett Oklahoma for a visit with a brother last Friday. (Haven Journal
Haven, Reno County, Kansas Thursday, January 2, 1941 page - front *** column - 4 submitted by Rose Stout)

MISS GRACE WILCOX HERE FROM McPHERSON

Miss. Grace Wilcox is here from McPherson, visiting friends, and incidentally endeavoring to get up a class in music. (Haven Independent
Haven, Reno County, Kansas February 27, 1897 Page - 3 *** column - 2 submitted by Rose Stout)

VISITORS FROM OHIO

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Washburn, Mrs. R. P. Gibson and Mrs. Harry Simes, all of Nelsonville, Ohio, came Sunday for a visit with Uncle Noah Bellew and the Boles families. Mrs. Gibson is a sister of Mr. Bellew. The motored through from Nelsonville in three and one half days and said they drove on pavements from their home town to Topeka, and on sections of pavement from there here. They are enjoying the trip very much. (Turon Weekly Turon, Reno County, Kansas Thursday, May 2, 1929 page - front *** column - 4 submitted by Rose Stout)

NEWCOMERS HERE

Mrs. George Moore and son of Texas have moved to Haven to be with Mr. Moore who was transferred here in May by the Sinclair Oil Co. The Moore's are living in Mrs. Lina Rupp's apartment. (Haven Journal Haven, Reno County, Kansas Thursday, July 9, 1942 page - front *** column - 1 submitted by Rose stout)

MINNIE BLACK T TEACH OLD NEOLA

iss. Minnie Black has been employed to teach the Old Neola (Dist. No. 1) school again. This will be her third term at the same school. Mr. Fred Nies will teach Pleasant Hill, just over in Reno county, and Miss. Josephine Schmidt will teach in Reno county next year. (Turon Weekly Press
Turon, Reno County, Kansas Thursday, April 25, 1929 page - 4 *** column - 3 submitted by Rose Stout)

ROBERT KINAST SON'S 16TH BIRTHDAY

A large crowd of young people, and old people, gathered at Robert Kinast's last Friday night, to celebrate his son's 16th birthday anniversary. It is needless to add that everyone present enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent that is generally understood. (Haven Independent Haven, Reno County, Kansas February 27, 1897 page - 3 *** column - 3 submitted by Rose Stout)

PICNIC AT CONWAY SPRINGS

Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Jurgemeyer went to Conway Springs Saturday evening to visit their niece, Mrs. Summer Charles and Mr. Charles.

Other relatives who joined the group for a picnic supper were Messrs. And Mmes. Raymond Booth, M. R. Holder, Mrs. Andy Robertson, Keefton, Okla., Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hastings and son, Mrs. Dora Hastings, Miss. Padie Loger, Wichita. (Haven Journal Haven, Reno County, Kansas
Thursday, August 2, 1951 page - front *** column - 1 submitted by Rose Stout)

FAREWELL PARTY

Glennys and Maxine Kirkhuff entertained a number of friends with a lawn party Monday evening honoring Miss Billie Hagan, who will leave soon for Chicago. Other guests were Misses Bernice Kitson, Ann Gorham, Ellen Fall, Virginia Edwards, Velma McCullough, Lois Crotts, Phyllis Lamont and Phyllis and Avis Kirkhuff. (Turon Press Turon, Reno County, Kansas Thrusday, August 15, 1940 page - front *** column - 3 submitted by Rose Stout)

Burned to Death

Awful Accident Befalls an Aged Woman

Mrs. Jacobs Mason’s Clothes Catch Fire and She Is Cremated – Burned to a Crisp

News was received in the city last evening of a most horrible accident which happened near noon yesterday 12 miles west of Orlando.

Mrs. Jacob Mason, with her two sons, came from near Taron, Reno county, Kansas, ten days ago and encamped at the spot mentioned above. Yesterday Mrs. Mason, who is rather aged, was bending over a camp fire, preparing some meat, when a sudden gust of wind blew the blaze against her dress. The garment ignited and before help could be summoned the clothing was all burned off the poor woman and she lay writhing on the ground in agony. Her skin was latterly cooked in many places. The unfortunate suffered intensely for three hours when death relieved her. The body will be taken to Kansas for burial. (The Guthrie Daily Leader; Guthrie, Oklahoma; September 23, 1893 Transcribed as written by D. Donlon)

One of Dalton Gang from Here

Dick Broadwell Recalled by Old-Timers

"When the Daltons Rode" is a movie which has a local appeal to Hutchinson citizens who knew the Broadwell family in the '90's.

Probably few local residents remember Dick Broadwell, a respected son of a respected Hutchinson family by day, and train robber with the Daltons by night.

Barney Lee, Pharmacist at the Bert Moore drug, remembers Broadwell vividly.

"He was a nice young fellow," says Lee, who was a small boy at the time. "Everyone thought a lot of him. He was good looking, tall, and a pretty good horseman."

Lee doesn't remember whether Broadwell lived with his father of his grandfather, but he knows the Broadwell home was on East Third in the vicinity of the Richards-Scheble Candy Co.

At that time there was a row of trees down the center of the street and Broadwell tethered his horse to one in front of his home.

Ready For Get-Away

"I Guess he always left his horse there in order to make a quick getaway," explains Lee, "and one time I unhitched the horse because it was nibbling the bark off the tree trunk and Dick had to come out and get it."

Apparently Broadwell was a frontier edition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Although his family was among the best in the city, several righteous citizens frowned upon young Dick's gambling and sporting habits. And there was guarded talk about his rough companions. Otherwise he was accepted as a nice youth who had been given too much money to spend.

Not until that fateful day in 1892 when the infuriated citizenry of Coffeyville wiped out the dreaded Dalton gang with blasts of shot gun and rifle fire, did Hutchinson folk know that one of the feared outlaws had lived in their midst for years.

For days after the killing of Broadwell Hutchinson streets buzzed with his name.

Comprehensible now were his moody spells, his unexpected disappearances from home for several days, his habit of hitching his revolver holder around in front of his hip, and his mirthless eyes which never twinkled when he laughed.

A Mythical Character

"Not a person in town," emphasized Lee, "knew what kind of man he was until after his death. But he was a nice boy until he got to running with that gambling set, and then got in with the Daltons."

Just how many of his secrets Broadwell could have revealed will never be known for he was slain instantly by the furious hail of Bullets in the narrow Coffeyville alley.

And from that day Dick Broadwell has been a mysterious, almost a mythical character, whom oldsters mention occasionally as they gather around the bank corners. But the whole complex equation of Dick Broadwell was never solved.

(photo) - They Died With Their Boots On - But souvenir hunting Coffeyville citizens ripped the boots from these slain members of the Dalton gang following the ill-starred bank robbery. The man at the right is Dick Broadwell, son of a respected Hutchinson family. (The Hutchinson Kansas News-Herald, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, Sunday Morning, September 15, 1940, page 31, column 1, submitted by Rose Stout)

Dalton Gang member may be buried in Hutch

by Ray Hemman

Possibly buried amid the upper crust of earl-day Hutchinson society is one of the desperadoes that made Coffeyville famous.

Dick Broadwell, a Dalton Gang member who died Oct. 5, 1892, is thought to be buried in Hutchinson's Eastside Cemetery, though no one is exactly sue where.

Coffeyville residents are celebrating the centennial of the raid during activities that begin Thursday and extend through Monday, the actual anniversary. On Saturday, descendants of both the desperados and the city defenders will have reunions in Coffeyville.

The gang rode into Coffeyville shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 5, 1892, and attempted the rare feat of holding up two banks at one time. Four in the gang died; four Coffeyville residents, too, were gunned down.

Mary Broadwell, Dick's sister, was married to E. B. "Burt" Wilcox of Hutchinson, according to marriage records in Reno County. Broadwell has been described as "tall, handsome, well-dressed, filled with a jovial spirit of deviltry, he was popular and welcomed everywhere," according to an article that appeared in the Feb. 10, 1952, Salina Journal.

Broadwell's parents moved to Hutchinson from Meade, where they had a cattle operation, according to the story, leaving their son to operate it. Broadwell was supposed to have done very well in cattle.

Mead also was the site of the Daltons' hideout. Broadwell joined the Daltons for several train robberies in the 1890's.

Though critically wounded in the bank robberies at Coffeyville, Broadwell survived the initial gunfire and mounted his house for an escape. He was found dead two miles out of town, however.

Word of the Dalton raid arrived back in the Salt city with William Tell Jones, a bricklayer who had been in Coffeyville on business. Jones, upon seeing Broadwell, is said to have blurted out, "Great jumpin' catfish! That's Dick Broadwell! Why, he's from Hutchinson - same as me." Because of his comments, Jones was temporarily detained in the Coffeyville jail because he was suspected of being a member of the gang.

Broadwell was buried in a pauper's grave in Coffeyville, but not for long, according to information collected by officials at Johnson & Sons Funeral Home. For 75years, Johnson & Sons was located in the old Wilcox home at 134 East Sherman, moving to its current location on East 30th avenue earlier this year.

According to funeral director's records from Skinner-Hamlin Funeral Home in Coffeyville, Broadwell died on Oct. 5, 1892, and was buried Oct. 6. The records then show that a G. R. Broadwell and an E. B. Wilcox paid $10 for Broadwell's body.

Edward and Burt Wilcox, Mary Broadwell Wilcox's husband, are thought to have gone to Coffeyville a few days after the robbery, had Broadwell's body exhumed and quietly returned to Hutchinson.

No one knows exactly what happened to Broadwell's body after it was brought back to Hutchinson. There are two theories; The first is that Broadwell was buried under an assumed named in an unmarked grave in the Eastside Cemetery.

The other school is that Broadwell was buried in the Wilcox family plot, which is just west of the cemetery office and near the graves of Hutchinsons, Conklins, Rayls, Harshas and others who were early-day leaders in Hutchinson.

(photo) - This photo taken at Coffeyville in 1892 shows, from left, the bodies of Dalton gang members Bill Posers, Bob Dalton, Grat Dalton and Dick Broadwell. A fifth gang member, Emmett Dalton, survived 21 bullet wounds during the gang's attempted bank heist. He served a prison term and later was paroled. (Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, Wednesday, September 30, 1992, page 3, columns 2, 3, 4 & 5, submitted by Rose Stout)

THE LAST BUFFALO

The last buffalo killed in Haven township was in the spring of 1874. The animal was shot by Mr. M. C. Yaokam, who at that time lived two miles east of the present town of Yoder. The buffalo was overtaken and killed on the northeast quarter of section 30-24-4, farm now owned by Wm. Mueller, Haven, Kansas.

No guess work about this, it's facts. One member of this committee, then a small boy, witnessed the scene after the animal was slaughtered.

Mr. Yoakam was an uncle of Mrs. L. Heitt, and Mrs. M. E. Henderson of Haven. (The Haven Journal, Haven's 50th Birthday Edition, May 27, 1936, page 11, column 2, submitted by Rose Stout)

OLDEST RESIDENT OF HAVEN TOWNSHIP (Amos Rodgers)

Oldest Resident of Haven Township

Amos Rodgers came to Haven township on October 11, 1871 and homesteaded the farm he still owns.

There wasn't a house nor a tree in the township. Two campers were located where Reno school house now is. All the lumber for houses was hauled from Newton.

Mr. Rogers claims to be the longest resident in this township, having preceded Geo. Bishop by about 9 days.

His first home was a dugout. (Haven Journal Haven's 50th Birthday issue Haven, Reno County, Kansas May 27,1936 page - 3 *** column - 4 submitted by Rose Stout)

MEMORIES OF YOUTH BY A PIONEER'S DAUGHTER

(Names in this article below are: Etta Williams Astle; George S. Astle; Joseph Astle; Richard Astle; WIll Astle; Cupps Family, James Doles; Mrs. James Forker; Mr & Mrs. Hartzler; Mrs. Ella Herlacher; Mrs. John Marshall; A. McGowan; Ed Mount; Mount Family; Mr. & Mrs. Myers; Franklin Pierce; Mrs. Richard Ralph; Schoonover Family; Stagg's Store; Mr. Steher; Tyler Family; Van Buren Family; Moses Wittum)

Memories of Youth By A Pioneer's Daughter

To The Journal Editors: I really feel flattered that you and some of the old time residents have asked me to pen a few lines for your Golden Jubilee anniversary number. I am proud to identify myself as a pioneer of Haven Township and to belong to a generation that developed it from a desert or wilderness into a veritable garden.

Perhaps I should not have used the word desert, but I have done so because my father had an old map that he probably used when he went to school in Kentucky about the time Franklin Pierce was president, and on this map the region, of which Kansas is now a part, was designated as The Great American Desert. The term, wilderness, would be more nearly correct, because there was good soil; and there was moisture, and there was some vegetation.

The settlers had hopes that were realized, and visions which were surpassed, and hardships which were forgotten,. Progress was in the air, and had its filing. The ox team gave was to the horse team even more quickly and readily than the horse team gave way to tractors and automobiles.

Youth was there and tried the unknown and succeeded.

My young parents were there on a soldier's homestead three miles west of the site of Haven, which was founded 13 years later. And there were their young neighbors, the youthful Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Astle, parents of your fellow townsman, C. R.; Mr. and Mrs. John Marshall, foster parents of Mrs. Richard Ralph; Mr. and Mrs. James Doles; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Astle, Jr., parents of Mrs. Ella Herlacher and George S. Astle; Mr. and Mrs. A. McGowan, who with their three daughters were the life of all the parties; Mr. and Mrs. Moses Wittum, who had a son of ten or a dozen years of age who later was to build and operate Haven's first hotel and boarding house. The building still stands on its original site just north of Stagg's store.

These young folks were not bored to death with oldsters who were always looking back through a rosy haze and telling about the good old days. To them there was no day like the present day; and they made the most of it. With their faces toward the future, they grabbed their charm, hope, and it worked.

But I must not dwell too long upon the past that is too far past since this celebration is of the anniversary of a more recent event, viz: the founding of the town of Haven. I shall not even try to be an authentic chronicler of events worthy of record but will leave that to more able annalists such as Mr. and Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. and Mrs. Myers and Mr. Stecher.

It was a great joy to my neighborhood, the Olive school district, which just about comprised my world then, to have railroad facilities closer than Hutchinson. To have postal service so we could get mail once a week or oftener by going such a short distance after it. The new town became a sort of social center. We youngsters, who hardly knew whether to classify ourselves as grownups or children, met there and became acquainted. I found out about a family of Mounts who lived over east with some youngsters about my age; and a family by the name of Cupps; another, a Schoonover family, who had several girls, one of which (Mrs. James Forker) was just my age; and there was a jolly, very likable young couple, who lived less than a mile on the other side of Haven. They didn't have "Welcome" on their door mat because it wasn't needed there. It was in the air everywhere about their place. Their name? It was Tyler. A little farther up the road a family by the name of Van Buren had a beautiful farmstead with fruit and ornamental trees a plenty; and growing right in the place marked desert on the old map. They had several children, some about my age, some older and some younger.

I got to know the Ash girls who had moved into town from some farm I never heard of, for then we did not have telephones. Nor did we have mail brought to our doors daily. We had no automobiles that annihilated distance. Our means of going places was by means of the same horses that furnished power for farming. Not many farms had horses, especially for riding and driving.

Were there thrills and entertainment for us 'teen-agers when Haven was young? To be sure there were no high-powered streamlined automobiles, no filling stations to dash up to and have a tank of gas charged, no moving picture shows with sound and "audioscopiks." But we had spirited horses hitched to shiny buggies, and long, slender whips waving from whip-sockets, and if the driver was inclined to be sporty, he tied a bow of gaily-colored ribbon on the whip and in place of the "talkies" we had magic lantern shows. Yes, magic is the correct word.

The home talent entertainments were really good shows. We never thought of sending out and hiring talent to entertain us. We had plenty in our midst.

In short, when Haven was young, life was thrilling and entertaining for teen-agers and all others as it is now.

Elsewhere in your columns will be mentioned of Haven's first church, Haven's first teacher, Haven's first store, and so on until you will think you have named all the firsts.

I will mention Haven's first gamblers, Ed Mount and Will Astle.

The very day Haven was organized they played marbles for "keeps" right out where the first livery stable was afterwards located. They were about five or six years old then.

I have made mention of "when Haven was young." Is it old now? You answer. I will say concerning the fifty years ending now, in this month, in this year, that I know of no half century in the history of civilization during which I would rather have lived.

I offer congratulations to the town of Haven and to everyone who is fifty years or more of age, for having lived during the most wonderful half century the world has ever known, a half century of invention and science and progress.

Looking forward to a greater half century, I am.

Sincerely yours,
Etta Williams Astle
(The Haven Journal Haven's 50th Birthday Edition Haven, Reno County, Kansas May 27, 1936 page -9 *** columns - 1 & 2 submitted by Rose Stout)