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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Charles Girod, Lester Clair Shuemacker; grade faculty—Wren Porter, Helen Million, Ruth Snyder, Ruth Ellis.

RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS

LEON—L. B. Neece, superintendent; Carl B. Carpenter, Ruby Mider, Arlone Marshall, Lillian Dedrick, Bob Boley, Dorothy Moran, Letha Bissitt; CASSODAY—C. R. Edwards, superintendent; Ruth Furnas, Edith Hanson, John C. Powell; LATHAM—S. E. Tedlock, superintendent; George L. Cushman, Kathryn Ellis and Melba Maurer.

SECOND CLASS CITY

AUGUSTA—J. W. Murphy, superintendent; Howard H. Robinson, principal Senior High; Harry L. White, principal Junior High.

L. B. Gregg, principal of Lincoln School and Lycia Gutsch, principal of Garfield School; Althea McQuoid and Eleanor M. Rumsey, kindergarten; Alma Bertha Hite, secretary to the superintendent and clerk of the board of education; Merle Bailey, secretary to Senior High principal; Mrs. Hanna C. Krumbach, school nurse.

Additional teachers: Senior High—Elizabeth Cary, Gertrude Dalton, L. V. Davis, B. H. Folks, K. L. Grimes, Charles W. Gustafson, V. W. Hayes, Esther L. Holcomb, Ella Larner, Arethusa Lowery, Ruth Parker, Morris E. Rower, Russell Samuel, Herbert W. Worl; Junior High—J. DeVere Anderson, Edna Chapin, Vivian Gould, May Belle Gruver, Mary Ann Haines, Milton Schrag, John J. Snodgrass and Della Walker; Lincoln—Aurice Jones, Myrtle Thompson, Lois Lewton, Helen Peabody, Grace Starlin, Mrs. Jeanne Johnston, Edith Wilvers; Garfield—Ruby Harness, Hazel Williams, Vera Clark, Dehlia Larner, Audna Reeves.

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EL DORADO SCHOOLS

The first schoolhouse in El Dorado was a log cabin, erected by popular subscription, in 1869. Fifteen pupils were enrolled. Miss Jane Wentworth, Miss Lizzie Atwood and Dr. Edwin Cowles were the earliest teachers.

In 1869-70 the historic stone schoolhouse, located near the present Gordy Park, was erected at a cost of $2,000, and regular terms of school began. In 1879, an addition costing $4,000 was made. Mrs. Marie Antoinette O’Daniel, later Mrs. Thomas Benton Murdock, came from Baltimore, Maryland, to organize and take charge of this school. Her sister, Miss Ellina Culbreth, came from Baltimore to teach the 1894-95 term.

In 1882, it again became necessary to use the old building. At that time the entire school enrollment was 600 pupils and there were eight teachers. Old Central School Building burned February 14, 1900. On January 7, 1901, the new building was ready for occupancy. Miss Mabel McCarty recalls that all were proud of the lighting, single seats, slate boards and dustless crayon. The auditorium seated between 500 and 600 and was equipped with 19-inch opera chairs and lighted with gas. A reading room and library contained 1,000 volumes with thirty current magazines. The high school had then a full four years’ course, fitting the student for the University of Kansas. There were four teachers and 157 students. Since then there has been a constant increase in the enrollment of the El Dorado schools and an intensive building expansion, with all the necessary equipment and all modern educational facilities.

In 1934, El Dorado public and parochial schools represent a physical valuation of approximately $700,000. St. John’s Parochial School consists of eight grades, with five teachers. Father John F. Kraemer is superintendent.

John Francis Hughes is superintendent of El Dorado schools, which afford fifteen years’ work, from kindergarten through Junior College. It was through the vision and energy of Mr. Hughes that El Dorado Junior College was established. In December of the 1934-35 term, the average daily attendance of El Dorado public schools is 3,031. Exclusive of Mr. Hughes, and the school nurse, Miss Elizabeth Condell, there are ninety-three teachers. Mrs. Charlotte Byrum has been the efficient secretary in the office of superintendent the past nine years. Mrs. Lillian Benson, secretary to E. L. Harms, has served with ability as secretary in the office of principal of high schools here the past eleven years. During the 1934-35 term, Miss June Owen and Miss Blanche Wynn, Junior College students, are employed as secretaries in the office of Paul Hawkins, principal of Junior High School.

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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

The Junior High School was organized (1921) in a building costing $210,000. During its first year, the enrollment was 380. On the first day of the 1934-35 term, 773 students enrolled, and the entire Junior High building was converted to the use of Junior High work. El Dorado Junior College, which until 1934 had occupied the top floor, was transferred to the McKinley School building.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOOL

The El Dorado High School was organized in 1880. The first high school building burned February 14, 1900 and the present Senior High Building, except the west wing, was erected to replace it. Until 1915, the high school used the upper floor and the lower floor was devoted to grade school work. With the addition of manual training, domestic science, agricultural and normal training courses, more room was needed. The west wing was added and the high school occupied the entire building.

Enrollment on the first day of the 1934-35 term in Senior High School was 571.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

El Dorado Junior College was established April 5, 1927, and began its first session in September of that year, with 122 enrolled. Its initial enrollment in 1934, was 276 students. Young men and women from over the entire county, from other counties, and from outside the state attend. Earl Walker has been dean since the college was founded.

SUPERINTENDENTS—LIST OF TEACHERS

A list of county superintendents of Butler County schools appears in another section of this book. Following is a list of superintendents of El Dorado schools and the years served:

E. W. Hulsa, 1881-83.

Alfred McCaskey, 1883-84.

O. E. Olin, 1884-87.

H. C. Ford, 1887-88.

C. F. Gates, 1888-90.

W. H. Fertich, 1890-91.

Lemuel Tomlin, 1891-98.

W. M. Sinclair, 1898-1903.

Ida Capen Fleming, 1903-04.

C. A. Strong, 1904-05.

Warren Baker, 1905-09.

B. F. Martin, 1909-12.

J. B. Heffelfinger, 1912-14.

J. W. Murphy, 1914-26.

John F. Hughes, 1926-_____ .

Among those who by inspiration and example, have been of vital worth in the school as well as in the community life, are two who taught more than forty-five years in El Dorado schools before retiring—Miss Metta Robb and Miss Mae Schmucker.

In addition to John Francis Hughes, superintendent, the El Dorado schools faculty includes:

JUNIOR COLLEGE

Earl Walker, dean; Gladys Beuchat, Ruth Milford, L. W. Nixon, H. A. Shumway and Ferna Wrestler.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

E. L. Harms, principal; Madge Altman, Lottie Clark, S. H. Coffman, G. Haldane Crooks, Glenn Day, E. G. Dick, Pauline Eagle, E. E. Fink, Myrrl Houck, Rachel Hoyt, Frances Hutchison, H. G. Leet, Odessa McClellan, George E. Shaffer, Clara Staadt, Robertson Strawn, E. E. Snyder, C. F. Smith, Carroll H. Smith, Ralph Wallingford, L. B. Wharton.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Paul Hawkins, principal; Helen Baker, Lora Boydston, F. M. Brandenburg, Wayne Brainerd, Grace Compton, J. R. DeArmond, Alberta Doyle, Mary Jane Hubbard, Evelyn Hunter, Bernice Keho, Mabel McCarty, Lena Marcum, Charles W. Omer, Gertrude Preston, Mary Poughe, Helen Ramsey, Margaret Royster, Gene Shelden, Althea Sims, F. W. Thomas, Icy B. Villars, Frances Frazier, Grace Lill.

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LINCOLN SCHOOL

Roy Cole, principal; Bessie Oursler, Ermah Williams, Hazel Stewart, Gladys Zimmerman, Eva Chalfant, Joy Wigginton, Nell Ferrell, Elma Blair, Florence Turner, Sadie Brainerd, Ada Tidd, Edna Turner.

WASHINGTON SCHOOL

C. W. Thomas, principal; Violet Dial, Nellie Cronk, Cora Cameron, Kathryn Angleton, Elsa Stiller, Elfrieda Stiller, Pearl Cameron, Hylen Myers, Lela Cary, Elizabeth Fisher, Alma Van Middlesworth, Winnifred Nida.

JEFFERSON SCHOOL

Harley I. French, principal; Mary Hawes, Esther Dean, Harriet Hull Fisher, Mildred Auer, Alice Lill, Mary Fast, Nan Smith, Katherine Lill, Verna Griggs, Margueritte Briggs, Ruby Oursler, Grace Coover.

Miss Verla Towner and Maytie Rodgers are teachers in Riverside School. Miss Nellie McGee is teacher of music and art in the grades. Miss Elizabeth Condell is school nurse. Frank Hollowell teaches violin.

NOTES—SCHOOLS

E. W. Hulse was county superintendent of school in 1881, when the first class was graduated from El Dorado High School. The school board comprised C. N. James, L. B. Snow and M. Bradley. Mrs. Effie Hughey-Steele, Mrs. Nora Brown Brumback and Mrs. Rose Smith Clark were the graduates.

Exercises were held in the Presbyterian Church June 1, at two o’clock. Rev. S. M. Anderson was pastor. Business was suspended, the church was crowded and many stood outside in the sun, holding umbrellas. Mrs. Harriet Horner Louthan, dressed in pink, delivered an original poem. The graduates were dressed in blue. The Walnut Valley Times printed small blue and pink folders. Miss Hughey, the essayist, lost her manuscript at the last minute and found that J. W. Snively, superintendent of the Augusta schools, was sitting on it. Miss Brown delivered an oration. Miss Smith was valedictorian.

The first alumni meeting was held in 1887, called by Mrs. Nora Brown Brumback, at her home. Those present were Lew Betts, Charles Bechtel, John Knowles, George McIntyre and Elvis Marshall. The next meeting was held in the Central School building and a constitution was modeled after that of the alumni of the University of Kansas. This was adopted. Mrs. Brumback was president in 1887-1892. In 1889, a secretary’s book was purchased and the record of formal meetings began.

The first formal meeting was held at the Y. M. C. A. rooms. The constitution and by-laws were revised. Vice presidents from the different classes were elected as follows: 1882—Mrs. Ida Chain-Robison; 1884—Walter Olin; 1885—Mrs. Laura Bassett Smith; 1187—Albert Parker; 1888—O. Earl Louthan; 1889—Sallie Applegate.

The first reception was held in honor of the class of 1890, on May 31, of that year. Lew Betts issued the invitations. The Delmonico served the banquet. Albert Parker was toast-master. Walter Olin of Manhattan (class of 1884) was the honored guest and orator. His subject was “Who, Which, and What?”

The second reception was held at the Y. M. C. A. rooms for the class of 1891. It was a stormy night and the affair was informal. The third reception was held for the class of 1892 at the Masonic Hall. The first initiation was arranged. The class members were hooded with paper caps and gave a calisthenic drill.

Early classes: 1881: Miss Effie Hughey, Miss Nora Brown, Miss Rose Smith; 1882: Charles Elmer Bechtel, Ida Chain, Minnie Gordon, Matt Long, Helen Sallee, Jennie Sears and D. S. Mussleman; 1884—William Allen White, Mary Pratt, Lizzie McIntyre, Walter H. Olin, Carrie Bacon, Julia Fullenwider, Theodore Dunlevy, Virgil Mays; 1885—Walter Sandifer, Elsie Brown, Ed. L. Foutch, William E. McCune, John W. Knowles, Emma Wallace, Minnie Green, Elizabeth Ruddick, A. J. Williams, (colored;) Alice Barnes, Elvis Marshall, Agnes Riley, Jennie Young, Jennie Appleman, Laura Bassett, Jennie Goodsell, D. P. Kellogg, F. L. Overstreet; 1887—Paul D. Masters, Maud Johnson, Etta Fraim, Albert Parker and Cora Nicholson; 1888—Lew Betts, Overton Earl Louthan, Dora Green and George McIntyre.

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TEACHERS’ INSTITUTES

In an early day, the state law made it obligatory for county superintendents to hold normal institutes. In September, 1871, El Dorado’s first institute was held, with Professor Lee of Leavenworth present for two days and with forty teachers in attendance. One hundred and seventy-nine teachers attended El Dorado’s 1934 institute. The firsts County Teachers’ Association meeting was held at the close of the 1871 institute. This association has become so large and has such diversified interests that it is apportioned into grade, rural, and high school sections.

BRUMBACK ACADEMY

Brumback Academy was founded by Mrs. Nora Brown Brumback in 1903 at the suggestion of William F. Benson, Frank Dodge, and A. J. Holderman. The first pupils to enroll were Frank Allen Benson, Clair Dodge, Theodore Holderman, Edna Ow, James Crabtree, Edna Dodge, Frank Davis and Avis Brumback. At one time, approximately one-half of Butler County’s teachers were former students of this academy. Mrs. Brumback now teaches in Mexico.

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MEDICAL PROFESSION—1860-1935

Physicians and surgeons of Butler County, half a century ago, were graduates of the best schools in the nation. Among the first doctors in the county were: Dr. J. O. Bugher, who located on the Whitewater, south of Towanda, in the early sixties; Dr. John Horner, who located in Milton Township in 1870; Dr. J. A. McGinnis of Hickory Township, and Dr. Ensley and Dr. Cunningham, of Clay Township.

Dr. J. A. McKenzie, one of the first doctors to locate in El Dorado, was the first El Doradoan to own an automobile. He was killed when he lost control of his car as it backed down “Dead Man’s Hill” on Riverside and overturned, pinning him beneath. For years Dr. McKenzie as the leading physician of the county. Among other early physicians of El Dorado were Dr. Allen White, father of William Allen White; Dr. J. P. Gordon, Dr. C. E. Hunt, Dr. M. L. Fullenwider, Dr. M. A. Koogler, Dr. W. D. Kuhn and Dr. R. S. Miller. Among earliest physicians of Augusta were Drs. Hill, Shirley, Buck, Marshall, Hall and Polk. Those of Leon were Doctors J. B. Carlisle, Kline and McKinzie; Douglass doctors of an early day were Benepe, Knote, McGowen, Tucker, Thomas, McCluggage and J. D. Hamilton. Dr. Barklow practiced in Rose Hill; Dr. Phillips in Beaumont.

Officers of the Butler-Greenwood Medical Association in December 1934, are: Dr. Harry Lutz, president; Dr. R. J. Metcalf, vice president; Dr. W. E. Janes, secretary-treasurer.

Butler county members, in addition to Dr. Metcalf, include Dr. C. E. Boudreau, Dr. A. P. Cloyes, Dr. J. M. Devereux, Dr. Floyd Dillenbeck, Dr. Fred E. Dillenbeck, Dr. R. B. Earp, Dr. L. W. Fowler, Dr. J. H. Johnson, Dr. G. E. Kassebaum, Dr. L. C. Murray, Dr. Anna Perkins, Dr. E. J. G. Shultz, Dr. L. L. Williams, of El Dorado; Dr. R. S. Clark, Dr. F. A. Garvin, Dr. Harry Lutz, Dr. S. M. Mallison, Augusta; Dr. D. C. Stahlman, Potwin; Dr. W. J. Irbv, Benton; Dr. G. G. Whitley and Dr. F. F. Lemon, Douglass; Dr. R. J. Cabeen, Leon; Dr. John French, Latham; Dr. W. B. McClure, Towanda; Dr. H. G. Schaumloffel, Rosalia; Dr. E. S. McIntosh, Burns; Dr. W. E. Regier and Dr. H. H. Norris, Whitewater.

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Dr. Wilhelmina V. Cummings was the first osteopath to locate in El Dorado permanently. Dr. Brock Schreck, osteopath, located here ten years ago. A third osteopath, more recently established, is Dr. L. V. Devine. Dr. A. J. Darling was the first chiropractor to locate here, twenty-two years ago. Dr. A. M. Shields is also an established chiropractor.

El Dorado dentists are Dr. M. H. Farell, Dr. H. W. Fitzgerald, Dr. Dillon Hamilton, Dr. C. M. Kelley, Dr. E. W. Kerr, Dr. F. D. B. McCall, Dr. Herman Schuman, and Dr. F. B. Lawrance.

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NEWSPAPER HISTORY

Butler County’s newspaper history begins sixty-four years ago, when on March 4, 1870, the first copy of the Walnut Valley Times was issued by Thomas Benton Murdock and J. S. Danford. This paper was printed on an old Washington hand press, which was successively supplanted by a Potter cylinder, a Goss Comet, a Duplex and the present three-deck rotary press, with a speed of 30,000 papers printed and folded her hour.

In 1869, The Emigrant Guide, published by D. M. Bronson, in connection with his real estate business, was printed in Emporia and distributed in El Dorado.

However The Times was the first paper to be published in El Dorado, or in Butler County. At the top of its first column was this market quotation: “Gold dull at $1.20 1-3.” On June 1, 1870, the partnership of Murdock and Danford was dissolved and Murdock became sole owner. Intensely alive to the great possibilities of Butler County, Mr. Murdock prepared for the first issue of The Times, a condensed schedule of the county’s resources and expectations and this ran on the fourth page of the paper, week after week, month after month, until it was read by thousands. In addition to this, he published carefully prepared correspondence from every part of the county, giving detailed information regarding efforts to extend settlements.

On March 1, 1881, Alvah Shelden purchased The Walnut Valley Times, which carried a subscription list of 1,320. For the next thirty-six years, the ownership and editorship of The Walnut Valley Times remained in the Shelden family, in that Alvah Shelden’s son, Chester Conklin Shelden, purchased the paper in 1910, shortly before his father’s death, in 1911, and continued as its publisher until July 1, 1917, when he sold his interests to John Bunyan Adams. Mr. Adams continued publishing The Walnut Valley Times until November 18, 1919, when he and Rolla A. Clymer effected a merger of The Daily Times and The El Dorado Daily Republican, then owned by Mrs. Marie Antoinette Murdock, widow of T. B. Murdock. The El Dorado Republican had been started as a weekly on November 26, 1883, by T. B. Murdock, who, in 1887, established The Daily Sunflower Republican and edited the papers until his death, November 4, 1909. The two weeklies and two dailies—The Times and The Republican—were merged under the name of The El Dorado Times, owned by The Times Publishing Company. Mr. Clymer is editor and manager and he and Mrs. J. B. Adams are chief owners. The Times is the leading newspaper of Butler County and one of the outstanding newspapers of Kansas. On its staff is George F. Fullinwider, who for forty-five years has been identified with El Dorado newspapers. Will R. Feder is city editor. Earl Forby is advertising manager.

The only weekly published in El Dorado is The Butler County News, ably edited and managed by the owner, James W. Greenbank, formerly a student in Southwestern College, Winfield. The paper had its inception at Oil Hill in 1921, as a community news letter by Rev. Paul Holmes. Mr. Greenbank took charge of the paper in Oil Hill and in 1927 moved his plant to South Gordy Street, immediately east of the court house. It covers the local news field in a bright and intelligent manner and gives every indication of permanency.

The El Dorado Press first appeared as a 6-column quarto, March 1, 1877. It was a weekly owned and edited by J. M. Satterthwaite. The subscription list numbered 800. In July, 1880, T. P. Fulton established The Butler County Democrat, which he continued until the spring of 1882 when a stock company was formed, took over the plant and established The Eagle. Mr. Fulton who had been editor of The Democraft, became local editor of The Eagle and the size of the paper was reduced to a 6-column folio, all home print. Later E. A. Davis took charge of the office. The paper was a strong Greenback organ, with a circulation of about 900. According to old-timers, The El Dorado Eli was published from 1890 to 1891. This was during the period of Populism. Judge A. J. Miller and his son were responsible for the paper. It was later taken over by E. J. Garner. J. C. Riley, who lived up the West Branch at one time entered newspaper work in El Dorado. He had been a country correspondent for the Walnut Valley Times and acquired ownership of the plant formerly owned by T. P. Fulton as The Butler County Democrat. Mr. Riley was a strong Democrat but he named the new venture The Citizen. Later he sold the paper to E. D. Stratford, who disposed of it and moved

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