Who We Were, Are & Will Be Our Family: Kansas

Showing posts with label Kansas. Show all posts

20 July 2021

Tombstone Tuesday: Emma (Gibson) Calkins Waggener Boll

Emma Gibson Calkins Waggener Boll
Born: September 3, 1898, Kansas
Died: May 7, 1975, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California
Buried: Glen Haven Memorial Park, Sylmar, Los Angeles County, California

Emma was my much beloved grandaunt on my mother's paternal side. Not much of a "tombstone," but a beloved ancestral relative.

11 July 2021

Another Shooting in the Family Tree: John McGill Shoots Mr. & Mrs. Irvin Gurwell (1909) Part 1

The Humboldt Daily Herald (Humboldt, Kansas), April 22, 1909, Thursday, Page 1 --

INTENDED MURDER
FAMILY QUARREL IS ENDED WITH FIRE ARM
SHOOTS SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW, AT ROSE,

THEN GIVES HIMSELF UP TO SHERIFF

A serious shooting affray occured about nine miles west of Humboldt yesterday afternoon. From what we could learn, Irvin Gerwell and wife had gone over to visit John McGill, who is a brother of Mrs. Gerwell. It is supposed that the three got into some dispute, which became so serious that McGill shot his sister and brother-in-law with a revolver.
It seems that Frank McGill, who lives near where the shooting took place, was the first to hear of it and he phoned the news to the home of Jake Gerwell. A brother of Irvin Gerwell immediately jumped on a horse and rode to the home of the injured man. Finding no one there he rode with all haste into Humboldt, supposing that the injured people had been brought here.
Instead, however, Irvin Gerwell, who is not seriously hurt, took his wife to the home of her parents, who live one mile north and four miles east of Rose. Dr. Dingus, of Yates Center, was immediately called and made an examination of Mrs. Gerwell's wound.
The bullet penetrated her right side, but the doctor does not think it touched any vital part. He says her injury is not dangerous. The bullet which was fired at Mr. Gerwell hit a button on his clothing and glanced off without doing any harm.
John McGill, the man who did the shooting, went directly to Yates Center, where he surrendered himself to the sheriff. He is now in jail at Yates Center. The authorities will make a full investigation of the affair today.

Irvin Gurwell was my 1st Cousin, twice removed, on my mother's paternal side. There is a lot more to be fleshed out about this story, like why and what were the consequences? Stay tuned.

09 July 2021

Death of Sadie Armor Reported Back in Butler County, KS (1920)

From El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, Kansas), December 17, 1920, Friday, Page 2 --

SADIE ARMOUR
Miss Sadie Armour, age 18, formerly a resident of Rosalia, but who has been living with her mother, Mrs. William Armour, at Wichita, for the past several months, died last night after a short illness caused by diphtheria. The girl's father lives in El Dorado. The body was taken to Rosalia this morning where services will be held tomorrow and burial made in the Blankinship Cemetery.

Sadie Armor was my 1st cousin 2x removed on my mother's maternal side. You might notice I use the spelling "Armor" instead of "Armour." I am trying to follow the convention that the family used at the time according to written records, not the form that sources like newspapers used. It is not easy. It was during Sadie's generation the family made the switch.

08 July 2021

Traumatic Experience for Josie (Surpluss) Armor at Death of Daughter (1920)

From The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), December 12, 1920, Sunday, Page 5 --

Stricken While Caring for Her Dying Child, Woman Near Death
Mrs. William Armour Suffers Stroke While Administering Anti-Toxin;

Does Not Know of Death

Having suffered a paralytic stroke a week ago as she was assisting in administering anti-toxin to her dying child, Mrs. William Armour, 1218 S. Main street, is in a dangerous condition from which her recovery is not expected.
Her daughter, Sadie Ellen Armour, 17 years old, died at 2:45 o'clock Saturday morning, after an illness of two weeks of diphtheria. Over exertion from constant attendance at her daughter's bedside diminished Mrs. Armour's strength and the stroke followed.
During the girl's illness Mrs. Armour was taken to her room in a wheel chair. Because of the serious ness of her illness, Mrs. Armour hasn't been told of Sadie's death.
Sadie's parents are said to be separated, the father residing outside the state. She was born at Rosalia Kans., January 1, 1903, and came to Wichita in 1916 from El Dorado. Besides her mother and father she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Mabel Owings, Woodward, Okla., and three brothers. J. W. Armour, 1915 Gold street; Frank Armour, 303 West Dewey street, and Everett Armour 1218 South Main street.
The body will be taken to Rosalia at 9:40 o'clock Monday morning for funeral services and burial. Wichita Undertaking company has charge.

Anna Josephine "Josie" Armor (nee. Surpluss, 1866-1958) was my great-grandaunt on my mother's maternal side. Her daughter Sarah "Sadie" Armor was my 1st Cousin, 2x Removed.

06 July 2021

Tombstone Tuesday: Infant Child Surpluss (July 25, 1905)

"Infant Child of J.A. and E.R. Surpluss Died July 25, 1905"

Birth: 1905
Death: 25 Jul 1905
Buried: Blankinship Cemetery, Butler County, Kansas

The initials belong to my maternal g-grandparents James Alexander Surpluss, and Elsie Rue (Hall) Surpluss. This was a recent "discovery" for me. My cousin Tony who also does genealogy already knew about it and told me. This one kind of hit hard emotionally. Maybe the deaths of little ones are supposed to bother us? This child would have been my grandaunt or granduncle, the sibling to my maternal grandmother.

03 July 2021

Divorce of Josie (Surpluss) Armor from William Armor (1910)

El Dorado Daily Republican (El Dorado, Kansas), June 10, 1910, Friday, Page 4 --

Mrs. Josie Armor of Rosalia, has filed suit for divorce from William Armor, alleging cruelty.

El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, Kansas), November 11, 1910, Friday, Page 2 --

Josie Armor is granted divorce from William Armor and given custody of two minor daughters.

Anna Josephine Armor (nee. Surpluss, 1866-1958) was my great-grandaunt on my mom's maternal side. The two "minor daughters" are Tillie Jane (1899-1968) and Sarah Ellen (1903-1920). The marriage also produced four other siblings who had grown and moved out.

28 June 2021

"Card of Thanks" RE: Death of Margaret Ann Decker (nee. MacLean, 1840-1913)

From the Pleasanton Observer-Enterprise (Pleasanton, Kansas), February 13, 1913, Thursday, Page 2 --

Card of Thanks.
We thank the friends and neighbors who was ever so kind in helping to care for our wife, sister and aunt.
L. W. Decker.
Sarah Surplus.
Lucy McClure.
Josie Armor.

Margaret Decker was my 2xg-aunt on my mother's maternal side. "L.W." was her husband Lawrence; Sarah Surpluss (1843-1913) was Margaret's sister, and my 2xg-grandmother; Lucy McClure (1851-1920) of Oklahoma was another sister; and Josie Armor (1866-1958) was Margaret's niece, Sarah's daughter, and my great-aunt.

Less than one year later Margaret's husband Lawrence will be murdered. More about that soon.

26 June 2021

Future Families Mixing (1900)

From The Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, Kansas), February 27, 1900, Tuesday, Page 4 --

A pleasant surprise was given by the members of the Walnut Valley Sunday School on Mrs. James Knox at the home of her brothers In Rosalia township Monday evening, February 19. Alex Surplus in behalf of the Sunday school presented Mrs. Knox with a lovely parlor table. The evening was pleasantly spent and refreshments formed a part. The company dispersed at a late hour with a cordial invitation to visit Mr. and Mrs. Knox in their new home on the Purdy farm a mile south of Harmony church. Those present, Mr. and Mrs. J Knox, Mr. and Mrs. George Hall, Mr. Bonnel, Mary Bonnel, Miss McKee, Carrie Young, Elsie Hall, Agnes Long, Arthur Young, Alex Surplus, George Clark, Will and John Long.

Have you ever sat in a crowded and room and just people watch? It is a beautiful thing! We are enlightened beings that puts us above the beasts, but at our base, we are still animals, and every thing we do, we say, we gesture, has a meaning to communicate. And for those of us who enjoy people watching, the above get-together would have been pure, almost choreographed, theater.

Mr. and Mrs. George and Miriam Hall are my 2xg-grandparents. I am assuming "Miss McKee" is Candace McKee, my2xg-grandaunt and Miriam Hall's sister. Elsie Rue Hall is George and Miriam's daughter, she would shortly marry Alex Surpluss, and they would become my g-grandparents. The John Long mentioned would marry Elsie's older sister Jennie.

24 June 2021

Death of George Hall (1845-1908) in Newspaper Back Home

From The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), November 3, 1908, Tuesday, Page 3 --

Danvers
DEATH OF GEORGE HALL OCCURS AT ELDORADO, KAS.
Remembered by Older Residents

The news of the death of George Hall was received here Monday from Eldorado, Kas. Mr. Hall was born here about 70 years ago, was the son of Jeremiah Hall. He was wounded in the army and this was the cause of his death. For many years he resided near Gibson City and Fairbury. He later moved to Kansas. His wife was Miss Marion McKee, a daughter of William McKee, near Oak Grove. He will be remembered by the older residents here and at Carlock.

George Hall was my 2xg-grandfather on my mother's maternal side. I did not know he lived near Gibson City and Fairbury! Clues for more research.

14 June 2021

Gurwells Implicated in Attempted Lynching

From The Kansas Chief (Troy, Kansas), August 23, 1894, Thursday, Page 3 --

The Highland Station Scrape-- A number of citizens of Highland Station and vicinity were arrested and brought to Troy, lost week, and had their trial before Justice Hawley, on Thursday, on complaint of Lute R. Mead, the man who was recently almost lynched at Highland Station. The persons arrested were N. N. Gallagher, Charles Sage, George Miller, Robert Sampson, James Gurwell, and Ralph Gurwell. There was no evidence showing that Gallagher, Miller, or Ralph Gurwell had any hand in the affair, and they were discharged. Sage, Sampson, and James Gurwell were permitted to plead guilty to assault and battery, and were fined $10 each, and costs. The report that the express money package that was stolen had been found, is a mistake. It is the prevalent belief that the partner of the complaining witness in this case got the money. He did not come over to participate in the trial. It seems, from their own story, that he raised the window of the depot, and got a drink of water.

James G. Gurwell (1834-1926) was my 2xg-grandfather. Ralph Wesley Gurwell (1873-1959) was his son, and my great-granduncle.

13 June 2021

Grace A. Hembree (1911-2005) Pledges Life to Christian Service

From The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), June 13, 1928, Wednesday, Page 3 --

PLEDGE LIVES TO CHURCH
Four young people pledged themselves for life service in Christian work at the seventh annual Christian Endeavor banquet of South Lawrence Avenue Christian church Monday evening. They include Miss Grace Hembree, Miss Eva Whitney, Miss Oma Lamb, and Harold Lovitt of Iola, who was In Wichita attending the state convention.

Grace Abigail Sims (nee. Hembree, 1911-2005) was my first cousin 2x removed on my mother's maternal side. Grace researched her ancestry too and I was able to use her work in mine.

12 June 2021

Picture of Grace Abigail Hembree (1911-2005)

Grace Abigail Hembree was born July 27, 1911 in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. She passed on January 21, 2005 in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles County, California. She was the daughter of my great-grandaunt Mary Hembree (nee. Surpluss, 1870-1957), making Grace my 1st cousin 2x removed. The picture is from her Wichita High School yearbook when she was seventeen.

I like to think I am honoring my ancestors and relatives by remembering them, and Grace deserves remembering. She was another one of my ancestral relatives who started doing genealogy, and I was able to build on her work. Thank you Grace.

03 June 2021

Little Miss Mildred Earns a Dollar (From 1920)

From The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, Kansas), December 1, 1920, Wednesday, Page 11 --

Novel Way of Earning One Dollar.
Little Miss Mildred Surpluss, who resides on Rural Route No. 4 at Eldorado, has a way of earning money which not only adds to her store of funds but of knowledge as well. According to a letter from Mildred she says that at the beginning of school her aunt told her that every 100 she got on her report card she would give her a half dollar. As a result Mildred is getting a dollar and a half every six weeks.

Mildred Surpluss (1910-1987) was my grandaunt on my mom's maternal side.

01 June 2021

Tombstone Tuesday: Cpl. Ralph Surplus, Jr. (1930-1994)

Leavenworth National Cemetery
Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas, USA
Plot: 46, 17, 11

I thought this was a good choice for the day after Memorial Day. Ralph Surpluss, Jr. was my 1st-cousin one-time removed, on my mother's maternal side.

30 May 2021

Ralph Surpluss (1901-1989) Suffers Serious Burns in Work Explosion

From The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), September 19, 1924, Page 7 --

KANSAN MAY DIE FROM BURNS

EL DORADO, KAN., Sept. 18--Ralph Surpluss, an employe(sic) at a local refinery, was seriously burned today when a gasoline explosion occurred at the pumphouse of the refinery. Little hope is entertained for his recovery.

Ralph Surpluss survived his injuries, and in four more years would get married, and have a son whom he named Ralph Surpluss, Jr. A little irony, I guess. Ralph Surpluss was my granduncle on my mother's maternal side.

29 May 2021

Jacob Gurwell (1855-1944) Abandons Wife and Family and Elopes. . . .Oops

From The Kansas Chief (Troy, Kansas), August 4, 1887, Page 3 --

News comes from Highland Station, that Jacob Gurwell and the wife of Milton Rawls eloped together, Sunday night, after being at the Eagle Springs picnic. They had been the subjects of neighborhood talk, for some time. Gurwell leaves a wife and children, and Mrs. Rawls a husband and children. Mr. Rawls was in town, Tuesday, getting out a warrant for the arrest of the runaways, he claiming to know their whereabouts.

Further research shows that the couple returned to their respective spouses and families, and remained there the rest of their lives. Personally, I don't know how you do that, just return back to normal like nothing happened? But that is just me. And times were different back then.

Jacob Gurwell was my g-granduncle, on my mom's paternal side.

25 May 2021

Tombstone Tuesday: Jennie Mariam Long (nee. Hall, 1879-1968)

Jennie Mariam (Hall) Long
Born: 24 Mar 1879, Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, USA
Died: 3 Aug 1968 (aged 89), El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Sunset Lawns Cemetery (El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, USA),
Section: B Lot: 210 Space: E3

I have been doing genealogy and family history for about two decades now. One thing I have noticed is how easy it is to find the fingerprints (metaphorically speaking) of my ancestors who were also family historians. Here is my favorite example. I was searching the holdings at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and I discovered a picture of my 3xg-grandparents William (1810-1873) and Sarah (Moore) McKee (1817-1895). And who donated it? Jennie (Hall) Long.

Another? I found a published family history on the descendants of my 5xg-grandfather Guian McKee (1750-1827), and whose research does the the author include? Jennie (Hall) Long. Jennie was even able to identify the location of the grave of my 4xg-grandmother Martha Moore (nee. Cunningham, 1773-1853), no marker in a forgotten overgrown cemetery.

Jennie was remarkable, and she did all this before the digital age -- paper research, and lots of correspondence. It took lots of time, lots of patience, and lots of dedication. You will not be surprised to know she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Thank you Jennie.

Jennie Mariam (Hall) Long was my great-grandaunt, on my mother's maternal side.

24 May 2021

Amanuensis Monday: Dueling Obits -- Democrat vs. Republican

From The Butler County Democrat (El Dorado, Kansas) Friday, May 24, 1901, Page 8 --

Died: At his home in Rosalia township, Tuesday morning, May 21, of dropsy and heart trouble, J. N. Surplus, aged .62 years, 2 months and 7 days. He was born March 14, 1839 in Morrow county, Ohio and in early life removed to Illinois. He came to Kansas in 1870 and homesteaded the farm upon which he died. Many are the hardships himself and wife endured in pioneer days. The writer has often beard him tell of having to wade through snow drifts to El Dorado 16 miles and carry home a 50 pound sack of flour and this is but one of many of the harships(sic) he lived through. His wife and four children survive him, his son J, Alex Surplus and daughters Mrs. Wm. Armour and Misses Mary and Lulu Surplus. He was a member of the U. B. church, kind neighbor and good citizen. The funeral occurred Thursday at 2 p. m. from Walnut Valley Chapel, conducted by Rev. W. J. Shull and he was laid to rest in Blankenship cemetery.

From the El Dorado Republican (El Dorado, Kansas), Friday, May 24, 1901, Page 3 --

J. M. Surplus died at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday a m at his home near Rosalia. He has been ill for some time with a complication of heart disease and lung trouble. Mr. Surplus was an old resident of Butler county having come here in 1870 from Illinois. He was born March 14, 1839, in Morrow county, Ohio. His wife and four children, one boy, Alex, and three girls, Mrs. Wm. Armour, Mary and Lulu Surplus, survive him. The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at Blankenship chapel by Rev. Schull, of Pontiac. Mr. Surplus was a communicant of the Methodist church and was a man of irreproachable character. He was an affectionate friend to his family in the highest sense of the word, a fact which makes his removal more keenly felt by them.

John Nelson Surpluss (1839-1901) was my 2xg-grandfather on my mother's maternal side.

17 May 2021

Discovery of Leslie Gibson (1894?-1908)

From Allen County Herald (Humboldt, Kansas), January 20, 1908, Monday, Page 1--

LESLIE GIBSON DIED SATURDAY
---
Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Gibson Died of Typhoid Fever.
---
Leslie Gibson, the seventeen year old son of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Gibson, who live in Wakefield's Addition, died Saturday afternoon at 5:30, of typhoid fever. A brother of the boy is seriously ill also.
The funeral services were held by Rev. Engle Sunday afternoon and the body was interred in the Ellison cemetery. On account of the illness of his brother the services were short.
The family moved here last year from Rose, Kansas, where they had lived for several years. They have the sympathy of many friends in their bereavment(sic).

This is actually a pretty significant find for me. I am one of those poor unfortunate souls who got serious about genealogy and family history after my grandparents had passed, so I didn't get to ask them very much. But my grandparents did offer me some info about Leslie. Showing me a page from the family Bible I was told that Leslie was one of three sisters of my grandfather Bruce Gibson (1902-1994) who did not live to adulthood. They could not tell me anymore. They obviously were mistaken, "she" was a "he."

Notes

1) That should read "C.L." Gibson, not "C.O."

2) The family Bible says Leslie was born in 1894, that would make him thirteen, not seventeen.

16 May 2021

Newspaper Anecdote About George Hall (1845-1908)

From The Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, Kansas), October 28 1899, Saturday, Page 4 --

George Hall of Rosalia, (whose father, Hall says, was discreet and did not give "Washington" for his middle name) was among the Times visitors today. Hall was 15 years old when Sumpter was fired upon. He enlisted in the 26th Illinois Infantry and carries lead In his body at an evidence of his real service for his country.

I have had readers bemoan me publishing these little newspaper anecdotes. But look how rich this simple paragraph is for the genealogist! Residence, approximate age, military enlistment and regiment, and the fact he was wounded. And those are just the facts that jump out! I will examine every reference that my research and providence decide to reward me with. Even brief, short, little newspaper anecdotes.