The Valley Falls New Era Jefferson County Thursday October 6, 1910 Fisher-Smith. Miss Faye FISHER and Mr. Robert SMITH, both of Meriden, Kan., were married at 11 o'clock this morning, at the manse of the Presbyterian church, 317 North Seventh street, by the Rev. William Ray Dobyns, pastor of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Smith will spend several days in St. Joseph before returning to Meriden.--St. Joseph News Press. Robert SMITH is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, sr., who are so well known near and far, as they have been in the general merchandise business here for a great many years. The groom was reared in this community and a large number of Ledger readers area as well acquainted with him as is the writer. The bride is a pretty and accomplished young lady of many graces. She came to Meriden from near Valley Falls about two years ago and took the place of "Hello girl" at the Independent Telephone office where she deserves credit fo rbing a kind, competent and faithful operator. About a year and since that time she has been clerking in the dry goods department of Smith's store. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been visiting in St. Joseph, Kansas City and Leavenworth since their marriage. They are expected home the last of this week. The heartfelt congratulations of a host of friends are extended to the happy couple, all of whom wish them the fullest realization of life's blessing and the fondest hopes in married life.

The Valley Fall New Era Jefferson County Thurday October 6, 1910 Died of Grief. Mrs. Elizabeth E. POWELL, age 81 years, died Saturday morning, Oct. 1, 1910, of grief over the death of her aged husband, Robert M. Powell, who died the Tuesday before, and the death of her last surviving sister, who died in Peoria, Ill., September 11. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Powell told her friends there was nothing more for her to live for, made no effort to live, and death soon relieved her. Mrs. Powell was born in Hampshire, county, Va., in 1829. In 1879 the family moved to Valley Falls, where they lived four years, and then moved to Atchison. Three children survive: Frank F. POWELL, and Mrs. S.E. McCLURE, of Atchison, and Curtis POWELL, who has not been heard from in years. Funeral services were held at the home, 1026 Kansas avenue, Atchison, at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, the rev. Z. E. Bates officiating. Burial in Oak Hill cemetery.--Atchison Globe.

The Valley Falls New Era Jefferson County Thursday September 29, 1910 Met a Runaway. Wednesday about sundown, Miss Etta ROYER, coming in from Jess GLASSEL's with a can of cream in a buggy, met the BATCHELOR automobile on that mountain of a Santa Fe crossing north of the bridge. Whie the frightened horse, backed and turned off the narrow, steep dump Miss Royer climbed out the back "window" landing safely on the ground ast he horse ran away leaving the buggy in pieces between the dump and Carl PAINTER's. Miss Etta suffered only slight bruises on head and thigh, besides the fright. Bryon Batchelor in charge of the car, took Etta home, sorry for the unavoidable accident and the loss of the cream. That crossing needs some attention. The approaches should be longer and higher. Between the Santa Fe and the road district it shoud be improved. It is dangerous. Drivers can't see through the mountain as they approach. And we wonder why the earth, many yards of it, should not be removed from the ends of the bridge floor at the Piazzek mill.

The Valley Falls New Era Jefferson County Thursday September 29, 1910 John Sloop was born at Pittsburg, Pa., February 3, 1861, and died in Norton county, Kansas, in a railroad wreck, September 23, 1910, in his 50th year. When a small boy, his parents, Nicholas and Caroline Sloop, came to Kansas, locating on a farm seven miles east of Valley Falls, where John grew to manhood. Excepting eight years homesteading in Norton county, Jefferson county has been his home for forty-five years. February 4, 1886, John Sloop was married to Miss Rosa HUGHES, of Nortonville. To them were born four children, Roy, Homer, Lola and Carrie. Roy, the eldest, died in infancy. Mr. Sloop was the oldest of a family of thirteen children, and leaves behind him his mother, wife, son, two daughters, and six brothers, Nicholas, Edward and James of Lyndon, George near Winchester, Frederick and Joseph north of Boyle, and three sisters, Mrs. Lizzie ZEIGLER, Oklahoma City, Mrs. Alice McDERMOND, Winchester and Mrs. Irene Marshall, Oakley, Kans., the father and two sisters, Mrs. W.B. COPPINGER and Mrs. I.W. DODGE and an infant brother having preceded him to the great beyond. The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church at Nortonville Monday afternoon. Rev. F.M. Wilson of the R.P. Church of Winchester officiating in the presence of a large congregation. Rev. Hood assisted. The burial was in the family lot in the Nortonville cemetery. There were forty-nine carriages in the procession, a number corresponding to his age in years. John Sloop was a man among men, respected by all who knew im, industrious, a kind neighbor, and indulgent father and beloved husband, and his untimely loss will be deeply felt in the community. Card of Thanks. To the many friends, who were so kind to us in our great affliction, we can only say: May God in his infinite goodness reward each and everyone of you for your many kind deeds, loving sympathy, and beautiful floral gifts, is the prayer of Mrs. John Sloop and Family.

The Valley Falls New Era Jefferson County Thursday September 29, 1910 Death of John Sloop In a Railroad Wreck. John SLOOP of Boyle was killed in a railroad wreck on a delayed Rock Island train near Clayton, a small town in Norton county, Kansas, last Friday morning, September 23rd. Fifteen others were killed and many injured. It was shortly after midnight when the train, bound for Denver, plunged into twenty feet of water in a usually dry creek, the fill and tracks having been washed out by a heavy rain and cloud burst that night. When too late the engineer realized the danger in the flood, reversed the levers, all he could do, and with the fireman went to his death in the scalding steam and wreckage. John Sloop was riding in the smoker, which being ripped into splinters by the chair car, was the car of death and injury. None in the three Pullmans was hurt and they hastened to the rescue. The Topeka ball team going to Denver helped John out of the wreck, by chopping a hole through the chair car. He was among the first taken to Norton. Mr. Sloop was going there to look after the lands and estate of his uncle, Gottlieb Sloop, who died last winter at John's house. The physician who first gave him attention was the one who had treated Gottlieb, and recognized John. Both of John's legs were broken, one in two places. There were internal injuries and bruises abotu his face and head. Realizing that he was fatally injured, John told the doctor to go aid the others, whose lives might be saved. Giving him a hyperermic injection to relieve John in his last moments, the doctor attended to others. Mr. Sloop lived about eight hours. The wreck occured near the home of Mr. HUGHES, Mrs. Sloop's uncle, who expecting John, had gone to Norton to meet him, where hearing of the trouble he hurried to the scene of the wreck, but could not find John, be having been taken to Norton on the first aid train, and concluding John was not on the train, Mr. Hughes returned home, not hearing of John's death until about noon. The remains accompanied by Mrs. Sloop's cousin, Mr. Hughes, were shipped to Topeka, on a delayed train, where Mrs. Sloop, in great sorrow and distraction, going in neighbor Schrick's car, viewed the body, Sunday. It was shipped to Nortonville Sunday evening and the funeral was held there Monday afternoon. He had left home for Norton, Wednesday evening, going to Topeka to visit his son Homer in a hospital and there boarded the ill-fated Rock Island train.

The Valley Falls New Era Jefferson County Thursday September 29,1910 Another Victim. W.E. SHIVELY, of Otego, Kans., a cousin of Ben F. SHIVELY, of Valley Falls was one of the number killed in the Rock Island railroad wreck in Norton county last Friday morning when our neighbor John Sloop lost his life. Wilbur E. Shively was about 25 years of age. He was on his way to Colorado where he was homesteading to visit a sister and occupy his claim. He had been on the fated train a few hours only. In the first report of the wreck his postoffice was given as Agar and friends were not sure at the time that a relative was among the slain. Confirmation came later. These railroad fatalities are getting too near home.

The Valley Falls New Era Thursday September 29, 1910 Nicholas SLOOP of Lyndon attended the funeral of his brother John at Nortonville Monday and visited old neighbors and friends. Ollie WILLIAMS, who visited his mother and sisters here over Saunday was on the Rock Island train Thursday night in which John SLOOP was killed in Norton County, early Friday morning, but left it at Clyde a few hours before the wreck. Ingle SHIELDS, 11 years old, was run over by their wagon Saturday in the rear of Hauck's store. He and his father C.C. had just loaded a barrel of sale and several hundred pounds of other stuff, when the boy fell under the hind wheels at the wagon started. It angled across his body without much injury, fortunately.

The Valley Falls New Era Thursday September 22, 1910 Mrs. W. FERGUSON returned Thurdsay from a weeks visit at Bonner Springs with her son, R. W. Ferguson and family. Ross is cashier of the First National Bank at that place and doing well in financial circles. The Valley Falls colony there is well and happy. W.W. MILLS and his son Hobart of Topeka were the guests over night Tuesday of Mr. and Mrs. A.D. KENDALL and enjoyed the "rough fare" and delightful outing. They came over in their big car and several joy rides about town by moonlight were experienced by visitors and hosts. Miss Bertha GRIFFITTS and Miss Daisy STEWART left Monday morning for Fisk National School Kansas City, Mo. Miss Daisy is a senior, and Miss Bertha will enter a junior. Five active workers have been sent out from the M.E. church of Valley Falls in the last five years: Mr. Roy REPPERT, now in Korea, as a missionary; Mr. Charles BRADEN, studying in New York; Mr. Albert STEWART, preparing for the ministry at Baker University; and Miss Stewart and Miss Griffitts at the Training School in Kansas City, Mo.

Winchester isn't all that far from Leavenworth and the Leavenworth county line. My dad (who grew up at McLouth) said they used to take the train to Leavenworth to buy school clothes, so maybe it would have been the nearest big town for your families. My mother's people were down closer to the Douglas County line, so they went to Lawrence, but some of my Kimmel cousins felt more kinship with Topeka (Shawnee County). Jefferson County must be one of the few counties with NO big towns. Happy hunting. Jan

I checked the Lindsay and Lindsey listings but couldn't match any names. No Cora Belle, no Lou, no Edward, no Sallie, no Joseph. Sorry. The only Bonner listed is Jesse from Grasshopper Falls, who married Emily Tannehill. No McClain matches. Several Kellers but no Peter. No Bohan. The closest I could find was Boen and Bohn and they didn't work either. No VanMeters at all. No Walz. No Larson matches either. The only Fairhursts listed are Paul M (Muriel Davis) in 1928, and Ruth (Lieut. Karl Royer) in 1918. The only Mark listing is Peal Mark marrying Lee Harding in 1911. Sorry I didn't find matches.

I checked the tombstone listings re WALZ and found: Walz, Martin, 30 Mar 1864 - 30 Dec 1913 RFPR. No Rosina or Justina or Teen Walz. No Jeanette or Virginia. No LaVerne No Andreas Josef. No Gladys. No Heinrich or Friedrich. No Marie. No Emma. No Merritt McKay. No Gladys Phelps. No Nielsen. No Raymond or Emma Larson. Sorry. I'll check the marriage book next. Jan

No Bohan in the tombstone book. No Van Meter except Percy Norton. I looked under Norton as suggested and found: Norton, Percy, 20 June 1884, 19 Dec 1884, s/Robie & Geneva M Van Meter, RHVF. RHVF is Rose Hill Valley Falls Cem. Jan

In the Jeffco Gen Soc's wonderful tombstone inscription book I found these folks among the Lindsays: Lindsay, Edward C, 20 Mar 1869 - 22 May 1935, h/Ida McClaine, h/Margaret Wilkerson, RFPR. Lindsay, Margaret (Wilkerson), 24 Jan 1871-13 Mar 1935, w/ Edward C Lindsay, RFPR. No Ida, no James, no Lou, no Mattie, no Sallie, no Joseph or Goldie, alas, amonst the Lindsays. No Fairhurst. No McClain. No Bonner. Lots of Kellers but no Peter or Sallie. A bunch of folks named Mark at McLouth & Meriden, but no Goldie. Jan

I hadn't thought to look in Leavenworth. That would be worth checking. Thanks again, JoLynne -----Original Message----- From: ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of KTompk7744@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:11 PM To: ksjeffer@rootsweb.com Subject: [KSJEFFER] Jeffco Marriage Book: Walz VanMeter Winchester isn't all that far from Leavenworth and the Leavenworth county line. My dad (who grew up at McLouth) said they used to take the train to Leavenworth to buy school clothes, so maybe it would have been the nearest big town for your families. My mother's people were down closer to the Douglas County line, so they went to Lawrence, but some of my Kimmel cousins felt more kinship with Topeka (Shawnee County). Jefferson County must be one of the few counties with NO big towns. Happy hunting. Jan

I found eight or so WALZ listings in the Jeffco Gen Soc's tombstone inscription book, including: Walz, Martin, 30 Mar 1864 - 30 Dec 1913, RFPR Walz, Bertha, 17 Oct 1903 - 26 Nov 1905, d/M & B E Walz, CRCR CRCR is Corpus Cristi (Mooney Creek) Cem. RFPR is Reformed Presbyterian. The numbering on the map in the tombstone book is a bit hard for me to read, but it looks to me like RFPR is closer to Winchester than CRCR. Jan

Ah, within walking distance, eh? Martin died young and unexpectedly. Maybe Bertha did just want to be closer to him. That's a lovely thought. -- JoLynne -----Original Message----- From: ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Richard & Joy Wellman Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:45 PM To: ksjeffer@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [KSJEFFER] Cemetery info. The Reformed Presbyterian cemetery in Winchester is the only cemetery within walking distance from the town of Winchester. Many persons are buried there because of proximity to the town. Several of my ancestors are there and none were members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. My grandmother buried my grandfather there so she could walk to the grave as she had no automobile. The Wise cemetery is a couple miles SE of Winchester, which is often called the Winchester cemetery. I will copy the newspaper items the next trip I make to the Gen. Soc. Library in Oskaloosa. It will probably be a couple weeks due to the recent snow. Richard

Thank you so much, Richard. -- JoLynne -----Original Message----- From: ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Richard & Joy Wellman Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:45 PM To: ksjeffer@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [KSJEFFER] Cemetery info. The Reformed Presbyterian cemetery in Winchester is the only cemetery within walking distance from the town of Winchester. Many persons are buried there because of proximity to the town. Several of my ancestors are there and none were members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. My grandmother buried my grandfather there so she could walk to the grave as she had no automobile. The Wise cemetery is a couple miles SE of Winchester, which is often called the Winchester cemetery. I will copy the newspaper items the next trip I make to the Gen. Soc. Library in Oskaloosa. It will probably be a couple weeks due to the recent snow. Richard

I really appreciate you trying. Dunno where all those young people ran off to to get married. I've only found one couple (Effie Walz & Ed Kiernan -- not on the list I gave you) who were married in Kansas City, Mo. But none of the others. Hmmm. All the best, JoLynne -----Original Message----- From: ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of KTompk7744@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:52 PM To: ksjeffer@rootsweb.com Subject: [KSJEFFER] Jeffco Marriage Book: Walz VanMeter I checked the Lindsay and Lindsey listings but couldn't match any names. No Cora Belle, no Lou, no Edward, no Sallie, no Joseph. Sorry. The only Bonner listed is Jesse from Grasshopper Falls, who married Emily Tannehill. No McClain matches. Several Kellers but no Peter. No Bohan. The closest I could find was Boen and Bohn and they didn't work either. No VanMeters at all. No Walz. No Larson matches either. The only Fairhursts listed are Paul M (Muriel Davis) in 1928, and Ruth (Lieut. Karl Royer) in 1918. The only Mark listing is Peal Mark marrying Lee Harding in 1911. Sorry I didn't find matches.

Oh, wow! Richard, what can I say? Mrs. Mary Van Meter in Agency, Mo.? That sounds like a good clue. I didn't know anything about her. LOL! And I'm wondering if the Mr. and Mrs. M. VanMeter who were remarried were Bailey Mack (he sometimes went by Mack) and Cora? The family story is that they divorced and remarried. I know they were married but separated when Cora died. I didn't know that James Christian Lindsay was buried at Woodruff, Mo., and this is the first time I've seen that town name. Yes, all these are my people, and I do not have any of these articles. I would appreciate any copies you can send me. Please let me know how I can reimburse you for the copying expense and your time. All the best, JoLynne -----Original Message----- From: ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Richard & Joy Wellman Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:36 PM To: ksjeffer@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [KSJEFFER] Walz Here are 4 more items from the index to the Winchester newspaper that may be of interest. Winchester Star: 26 June 1914 issue Mr. and Mrs. M. VanMeter remarried on Tuesday. 17 May 1918 issue James Christian Lindsay died. Five children survive including Cora B. Van Meter. Buried at Woodruff, MO. 14 Feb. 1919 issue Mrs. Mary Van Meter died 30 Jan. 1919 at Agency, MO, age 85Y, mother of B. M. Van Meter. 16 June 1922 issue Cora Belle (Lindsay) Van Meter died 9 June 1922 in K.C. MO. includes list of survivors and some attendees at funeral. I can transcribe copies from the microfilm if you do not already have copies of these records. Richard Wellman

Thank you! -----Original Message----- From: ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ksjeffer-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of KTompk7744@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:39 PM To: ksjeffer@rootsweb.com Subject: [KSJEFFER] more Walz I checked the tombstone listings re WALZ and found: Walz, Martin, 30 Mar 1864 - 30 Dec 1913 RFPR. No Rosina or Justina or Teen Walz. No Jeanette or Virginia. No LaVerne No Andreas Josef. No Gladys. No Heinrich or Friedrich. No Marie. No Emma. No Merritt McKay. No Gladys Phelps. No Nielsen. No Raymond or Emma Larson. Sorry. I'll check the marriage book next. Jan