November - December 2001 - Lenexa Historical Society

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A Nt~letter for Mcmben & Fl'iu d:!i
No .. eml:7erlDeumbu2001
or th UIIU.1 Historital So<:idy
VOIIIIM 19,!'I\lImber6
Our next General Meeting will be held Thursday, November 29 at 7pm at the Lenexa United Methodist Church 91" & Caenen Lake Road Lenexa, KS
The Program will be presented by
Dr. William Worley, who portrays
our own Harry Truman!
r
Dr. Worley holds a PhD in history
from the University of Kansas.
His presentation will describe the
life and political career of Harry
S. Truman.
The program is brought by the
Kansas Humanities Council.
Dr. Worley as Harry s . Tnman
The First Gandy Dancers' Ball Has Come and Gone
By Katie Evans, Committee Chair
Sixty-six gueS1S enjoyed the First Annual Gandy Dancers' Ball at the Holiday Inn-Lenexa on
November 3. Two corporations bought complete tables. We thank: U.S. Central Credit Union and Turner
Construction for coming. Also, thanks to eight members of the Lenexa Rotary for occupying a table, as
well as all the LHS members who came. We were delighted to have you all as guests!
Dinner was excellent! The desserts, prepared from old Lenexa family recipes, were beautifully
presented, as well as delicious. Very little of the food served went back to the kitchen.
Guests finished dessert while viewing the slide presentation on Lenexa's founding and first 10 years.
What a superb job by our Society actors' Irv Hoffinan played Adam Legler and Dr. George Bower,
Dennis Evans played Henry Wedd, Walt McKenzie played Squire Bradshaw, and Beryl Hennigh played a
townswoman who explained all about Na-Nex-Se. They did a wonderful job of relating information
arout Lenexa's founders in a most entertaining way. Everyone present seemed to very much appreciate
this part of the evening. Thanks to all Oill actors, and our host, Jim Spaid!, who was smooth, and cool as a
cucumber as he introduced the evening's events.
Following the slide show, the Missouri Town Dancers, accompanied by the Missouri Town Band,
wowed everyone with their skill in demonstrating popular dances of the 19 th century. Their authent ic
costumes added to the historicaJ atmosphere.
At 9:00, The Boulevard Band played dance music to those guests who wanted to pany some more. The
last guests left arouod II :30, at which time the band stopped playing.
I would like to thank the cor.nmittee for all their hard work and the thought they put into making Oill
ftrst Ball a success: Doug Bartley. Becca Coleman. Sharon Hammontree, and Walt McKenzie. My
profuse thanks to you all!
­
I don't have final figures yet to give you on the total cost/profit. It has been estimated at a total profit
of$900-1000. Without any major corporate donations, we presumed. we could take a loss on the first Ball.
We didn't get any major corporate donations this year, but will begin working later this month to try to
change that. We have been told that businesses budget their charitable giving at this time of year for the
coming year, so we hope by an early appeal that businesses will put our S a U in their budgets.
But money wasn' t the only reason to have the Ball. Our plan was to use the SaU as a way of
introducing LHS and the Bam to citizens that may not usuaUy have an interest in history or museums.
This year, 29 people attended who were not LHS members. That is 29 more people than there were before
who are DOW aware of us. the Bam, and a little more about the importance of preservation. Maybe they 'll
tell 29 others, and bring those people next year.
Now the committee has another task ahead: to make next year's Ball better. After a break til January,
we will be discussing entertainment, food, and plans in general. We welcome new faces on the committee,
and yo ur ideas. We meet every other Thursday at 4:30 at the restaurant in Holiday Inn-Lenexa. 1·35 and
th
95 St. If you have any ideas, or would like to be on the committee, call me at 268-4606 or e-mail me at
[email protected].
.­
Meanderings
by Norm Keeeb
This article was written by James J. Fisher and
appeared in The Kansas City Times August
18, 1966.
Rope 'Vas Highest Court in 1866
As the summer of 1966 cornes to an end.
so does a centennial of sorts in Kansas:
It's not a regular centenniaJ with bands
and speeches and talk of the last 100
years. These last 100 years don't bear
much talking about.
There' s not even a monument. If there
was one, however it might be the long­
lost grave near MOWld City, KS., of
Elias Foster. murderer, who was lynched
near there in the summer of 1866, tbe
last of 21 men to die under lynch law in
that year.
That year, 1866, set a record for
Iynchlng in Kansas and accounted for a
tenth of the 206 men who have died at
the bands of a mob in the state since tbe
fITS! sett lers carne. The last lynching was
in Rawlins County in Northwest Kansas
in 1932.
There would be other years but none like
1866, when Kansas, a state fOT five
years, truly lived up to its pre-Civil War
name of"Bleeding Kansas",
There would be 1868, when a man
identified as only "an Indian half-breed" ,
would be hanged near Chetopa in
Labette County in Southeast Kansas.
There would be 1885, when Frank
Noyes was hanged near Ca ldweU fo r
burning down a house.
But 1866 was the record year. Five of
those banged died for murder. Founeen
because they stole the most
valuabLe of all posessions on the plains ­
died
a horse.
One hundred years ago, 100 yean; before
Kansas was crossed by Interstate
highways, aircraft and rumbling freight
trains, things were a little different.
Lynchlng in the 1860s was often a
matter of personal opinion and party
affiliation. It was very casual Seven of
those hanged in 1866 were never
identified.
In Johnson County, one horse thief was
caught near Tomahawk Creek. Before he
was strung UP. he refused to divulge his
name, saying he didn' t want his family
hurt.
The Olathe Mirror ran this item on the
man's execution: '1t is rumored that last
Saturday a horse theu had been caught
~d hung out on Tomahawk creek. We
can gatber nothing definite about this
matter."
Lynching was so prevalent that year that
when Elias Foster was hanged, nobody
recorded the date he died - just that it
was summer. The same was true of the
first two men hanged in that year, in
Wyandotte
County.
Nobody
remembered what crime they committed.
Newt Morrison, April 13, Wyandotte
County, murder. Charles Quinn, May I,
at
Leavenworth,
murder.
Peter
Baysinger, May 13 , near Monticello in
Johnson County, horse stealing. (Not all
in the article are listed, NK)
And then there was Elias Foster, who
died "sometime during the summer of
1866" near Mound City, the last of 21
meo to die on the end of a rope in 1866.
Gandy Dancer's Ball 2001 Misso:.:::i Town ::r.mce;s
LHS "Actors"
Walt McKenzie, ltv Hoffman
Beryl Heo.oigh. Dennis Evans
Peggy Stanton &
Sharon Hammoo~
(Cnairlady) Kalie Evans &
(MClLHS President) Jim Spaith
Gandy Dancer's BaU 2001
•,
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HA "'~_"~
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Dennis & (Chairlady) Katie Evans
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1"'.""'1. ~Q;.-
(LHS President Elect) Bob and Karen Li llie ,
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Spinach Festival 2001 Justin Uptergrove (Bartley's Grandson) I" Place Rock Skipping, 2"'; Place Pie Bal.:.'ng "Popeye" stirs Spinach Salad
as -Ol ive Oyl"", Doug Bartley,
Justin & Drew Uptergrove
"'supervise" .. ...
Linda Bartley ( I"' Place Pie) & Justin Uptergrove (2M Place Pie)
Linda Bartley & Grandson Chuck Uptergrove
...... .. and . ...... .
V~"to-LtlS
Legler Bam Museum ~olunteer's
Granddaughter Wins Quilt!
Recently the Lenexa Historical Society
Board of Directors voted to accept some
very nice donations.
Wilbert and Judy Miller have donated a
corn wagon that was used by Judy's
ancestors, the Taeschner family. The
wagon is in excellent shape and has been
housed in a building on the Taeschner
(now Miller) property at 87" and
Candlelight Lane. This is a wonderful
addition to the Lenexa Historical
Society's coUection. Not onJy is it in
good condition, it has a Lenexa history
and is secure ly associated with a long­
time Lenexa family. We hope to be
moving It mla the bam soon. Many
thanks to Judy and "Sonny" Wilbert
Miller.
Jennie Pumphrey recently donated a
U.S. Army dress jacket that also is an
excellent artifact for the collection.
Earlier in the year, Jennie donated ber
own nurse's cape and cap that she wore
when she graduated the Kansas City
General Hospital School ofNucsing.
By Beely Henrugh
Kaitlyn Arnold, 9 year old daughter of
Scott and Sandy Arnold of Overland
Park won the "Star Dance" patterned
quilt given away by LHS at the 2001
Spinach Festival in September.
Kaitlyn is a fourth grade student in the
Blue Valley District/Sunset Ridge Ele­
Mentary School. She is engaged in a
number of activities including soccer,
softball. haskethal~ enjoys sewing, jazz,
ballet dance. plays the piano and is with
the Girl Scouts and is a camping
enthusiast. She has a brother Garren, 7.
Sharon Hammontree. a free-lance artist
for HaUmark Cards, wbo bas been a
vo lunteer with the LHS for the past four
years, is Kaitlyn 's Grandmother. She
has been assisting Peggy Stanton, LBM
Director, v..i.th most of the recent
exhibits.
The Legler Barn Quilters group has 17
active participants at this time. They
quilt every Wednesday for 5 hours.
From the Pioneers. Compiled by Mary Kay Smith
ST.AJVG-:
A whoop & a holler: a coru;iderable
Distance
Catawaropus: crosswise
Hit the shucks: go to bed
Lit a rag: left in a hurry
Sapsucker: a half wit
Smackdab: exactly
Soup Strainer: mustache
Split the quilt: [0 separate or divorce
Thunderjug: chamber pot
~ISD<>DIX:
Bread & company spoil after three days
!fyou like music, get married & play 2" fiddle
If you can't improve on silence, keep silent
Pray for a good harvest, but keep hoeing
A sour faced wife, is a liquor dealer's friend
Keep your mouth shut & your eyes wide open
Strive to be the kind ofperson your dog thinks
you are
Idleness is the devil's workshop
Looks won't split rails
K;jn5~5 Trivi~ Fwm wo~ld Trivi~ M~ste~ Walt McKeDzie
Mennonites from Russia are credited for
what Kansas Product?
a Turkey red wheat
b. Maple molasses
c. Stone fence posts
d. Strapping farm hands
Charles Curtis (Kansan) was vice
pres ident under what U.S. President?
a Theordore Roosevelt
b. Herbert Hoover
c. Franklin Roosevelt
d. Calvin Coolidge
"Wichita" is an indian word meaning:
a. Pretty water
b. Good land
c. Painted face
d. Evil spirit
(answers on last page! Don'! cheat!)
Groee. Rtlger. Ilrtist
By Peggy Stanton
Former Johnson County Registrar of
Deeds, Rubie Scon, brought us another
Grace Bilger original watercolor. At one
lime, Ms. Bilger was commissioned to
create a work for all elected officials.
Ms. Scott wanted her painting to be safe
and protected for future generations.
In 1999, Legler Barn Musem held an
exhibit of Grace Bilger's works. Ms.
Bilger, who painted numerous scenes
from Lenexa and Johnson County, was
in her 80s at the time. The Historical
Society holds a nice coUection of Bilger
originals, so this piece, depicting the old
Johnson County Cowt House, enhances
those works the society already owns.
Meanderings
by Norm Keech
Shawnee Chiefs Philosophy]s Relevant
In Today's Chaos
"So live your life that the fear of death
can never enter your heart. Trouble no
one about their religion; respect others in
their view, and demand that they respect
yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life. Seek to
make your life long and its pW'JX>se in
the service of your people. Prepare a
noble death song for the day when you
go over the great divide. Always give a
word or a sign of salute when meeting or
passing a friend, even a stranger, when
in a lonely place. Show respect to all
people and grovel to none. When you
arise in the morning give thanks for the
food and for the joy of living. If you see
no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies
only in yourself Abuse no one and DO
thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to
fools and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time 10 die, be DOt
like those whose hearts are filled with
the fear of death, so that when their time
comes they weep and pray for a little
more time to live their lives over again
in a different way. Sing your tleath song
and die like a bero going home ."
CbiefTecumseh, Sbawoee Nation
Letter To The Editor
Kudos to the Gandy Dancer's Ball
committee for the fabulous evening we
had Nov. 3. These persons were creative
and, in my opinion, daring.
Begi.nning with the sumptuous dinner to
the Boulevard Band, the entertainment
was interesting and varied. There was
something for everyone to enJoy, even
for the non-dancers.
This was a first rate affair for which
LHS members and all Lenexa ean be
proud. I'm happy to know that plans are
in place to make this an annual affair.
LHS members have always been great to
get behind their fundraisers and all of
them are successful Everyone should
get behind this one as well to make it
even a better success in the future.
Carolyn Keecb
Honorary Membership
The Board of Directors has conferred
honorary membership to the following
persons in recognition of their
outstanding service to the society. Our
staff says that these
two are
indispensable:
Sharon Hammontree .... Sharon is a
talented artist who shares her expertise
in designing and sening up exhibits,
creating brochures and posters, etc. She
is involved in almost aU of the activities
of the Bam.
Carl Kaw3 . ... For several years Carl has
volWlteered every Thursday from l Oa to
3p. He assists Peggy in the documenta~
tion of photographs, clippings, etc. Carl
is retired from Mobil Oil, and recently
LHS received a check for $500 from
Mobil Oil which Carl "earned" with his
service hours to LHS. The Society bas
benefited from other such checks, which
Carl has earned for us in previous years.
The Board also awarded honorary
membership to the foUowing companies
in recognition of their contributions to
LHS:
Christmas shopping is uoderway
al Ihe GIFT SHOP in Ihe Bam!
We have a great selection of
cookbooks and local history books,
maps,
notecards,
gifts
and
stocking stuffers for adults and
kids. All proceeds to directly to
LHS and members get 8 10%
discount.
Check out tbe new
license plates whicb have just
arrived!
Cookbook Publisher (Dennis Evans) ....
This is one of our strongest supporters.
The contributions are numerous--mone­
tary, et aI.
Sebring & Co. (Dave Edwards) ....
Sebring provides storage space for
materials and supplies belonging to LHS
It would be difficult to manage without
this space.
The Origins of Veterans Day In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National
Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of
Washington, became the focal point of reverence to America's veterans. Similar
ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was
buried in each nation's highesl place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey: in
France, the Arc de Trioropbe).
These memorial gestures all took place OD November 11 , giving universal recognition to
the celebrated ending of World Warl fighting at 11 a.m. November ll , 1018 (the ll U1
bour of the 1111> day of the 11111 month). The day became known as "Armistice Day."
Armistice Day official ly received its Dame in America in 1926 through a congressional
resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar congressional action. If
the idealistic hope bad been realized that World War I was "the war to end all wars,"
November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday
was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sbtteen and one-half million Americans took
part.. Our hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,()(X) in battle.
An answer to the question of how to pay tribute to those who had served in this latest,
great war came in a proposal made by Representative Edwin K. Rees of Kansas: Change
Armistice Day to veterans Day, and make it an occasion to honor those who have served
America in all wars. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November
11 as Veterans Day,
On Memorial Day 1958. two more unidentified American war dead were brought from
overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown doldier of World War l. One was
killed in World War II , the o ther in the Korean War. In 1m, a law passed providing
interment of an unknown American from the Vietnam was, but none was found for
several years. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from that conflict was place alongside
the olbers. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all
wars, an Army honor guard, the 3d U.S . Infantry (The Old Guard) keeps day and night
vigil.
A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth
Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however. that November 11 was a day of
historic significance to many Americans. Therefore. in 1978 Congress returned the
observance to its traditional date.
The focal point for official, national ceremonies for Veterans Day continues to be the
memorial amphitheater built around the Tomb of the Unknowns . At 11 a.m. on
November 11, a combined color guard representing all military service executes "Present
Arms" at the tomb. The nations's tribute to its was dead is sy mbolized by the Jaying of a
presidential wreath. The bugler plays "taps." The rest of tbe ceremony takes place in the
amphitheater.
No'Vem.ber 11 01 is now recognized as a day to pay tribute to honor American Soldiers
who served our country in the Armed Forces.
Membership Survey
Attendance at our bimonthly membership meetings has been Jow, despite the fact that we have had good
programs. A number of people have expressed the reluctance to attend evening meetings. An alternative
would be to schedule the meetings on a Saturday morning.
Please take the time to answer this questionnaire. Bring it to the November meeting or mail it to our LHS
office. We want to bear from you.
1. I would prefer to attend the LHS membership meeting on:
a
Saturday morning at l Oam _ __
b. Other _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
c. Leave it the way it is _ __ __
2. Suggestions for programs:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ _ __
3. COmmems,_ _ _ _ _ _ __ _________ __________________
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Lenexa Historical Society Membership Application
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for Renewals.or New Members
J Homeslfi>LldE?'r. Single ___$20 (Annual)
I Homesteader; Family _ __$30 (Annual)
I Spinach Farmer, Life _ :... :,..$200-249 (Ufe)
: Legl.r Bam Builder ____$250-499 (Annual)
I ~Ja-Nex-Se _ ___ ___ _$500-749 (Annual)
I Chie/ B!ackhoof's Tribe __ $750 and up
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(Annual)
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Corporate Memberships
•
Lenexa Stalion Agent ___ _ ___$1 00 (Annual) I
Stonemason __ _ _ ________$1000 (Life)
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Oclave Chanute Society __ ___ _$2,500 (Annuary:
and up
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·~Name(S)---------------------------I Authorized person, if corporation'_-,---'-_________________________________
JI $Ireet_________________________________________________
: Cily I Home__ phone SIal.
Zip,_ _ _ ___--,_ __
Business phone_-;;~==-=-==_;___;==,__
I Please mail io LHS, 14907 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66215-4135 by JANU­
IL ARY
31. Please make checks payable to Lenexa Historical Society, THANK
_________________________________________
lyOU!
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To Join LHS, or to renew your membersbip, please fill out tbe above form aDd send in by January 31.
Trivia Answers ....
First?: #l.. .. Turkey red wheat
Second?: #2....Herbert Hoover
Tlrird?: #3 ...Painted face
Deadline for the
January/February issue of
Thanks Sir Waher!!
UBIVEWC
Will be Saturday
January 5"' , 2002
at 2pm.".PLEASE'
UIC NE'WC is published by the Lenexa Historical Society. Editor: Doug Bartley, 913-541-8267
ReproductionfMailing: Katie Evans Contributing writers: Allison Elliott, Katie Evans, Sharon Hammontree, Beryl Hennigh,
Norman Keech, Walt McKenzie, Mary Kay Smith, Peggy Stanton, Jim Spaith
Lenexa Historical Society 14915 West 87m Street Parkway Lenexa, }(S 66215-4135 913-492-1568 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit Nnmber 57
Shawnee Mission, KS
66202-9503