--The Story of Joseph Skaggs--

And his Descendants

Written by: Ann Holt-Jorgensen

2018
 -Part 1-

-Virginia-

Joseph Lively Skaggs was born on the 27th of October 1860, on a beautiful
Autumn day in Monroe County, Virginia. His father’s farm was nestled in a pretty
valley just northeast of the hamlet of Peterstown, Virginia, in the Appalacian
Mountains.

-Joseph’s Parents-

Love was in the air on February 19, 1844 when 19 year old James Addison Skaggs
married the beautiful 21 year old Rebecca Lively on a farm near Lindside, Monroe
County, Virginia. Their familes had enjoyed a close and happy aquaintance with
each other for several generations.
Both James and Rebecca were of old Virginian stock. Their Virginian ancestry can
be traced back to the 1600’s. These were hardy pioneers of English, Irish, and
Welsh stock. The name Skaggs/Skeggs/Scaggs has been used interchangeably in
documentation. The name is from the old Norse, meaning 'beard'. The Lively
name is of English origin, meaning ‘one who is lively’.

When James and Rebecca married, they united 2 of the oldest familes in Virginia.

The young couple settled on a farm in Monroe Co., Virgina on land that had been
in James’ family over a hundred years.

James and Rebecca’s Children:

James Rufus 1845

Sarah Ellen 1847

Mary Jane 1849

Theodore 1850 (died before 1860)

John Alexander 1852

Louise Emeline 1854

Margaret Matilda 1856

Joseph Lively 1860

Alonzo Pim 1862

Alice Rebecca 1867

James became a successful farmer and landowner. However his farm appears to
have been smaller by scale than his father's or grandfather's. His grandfather
(John Henry Skaggs) may have been granted land for his service in the
Revolutionary War, and the land may have been parcled out to the sons and
therefore became smaller individually or with each generation. James, or his
father, also owned land in Raleigh Co. Virginia, and James lived on it a few years
prior to 1860 and several of his children were born there.
 Crude Map of Monroe Co. Virgina showing family locations around 1860. Rebecca Lively’s parents
lived near Lindside. James’ parents lived near Wolf Creek, the Pack family (Rebecca’s cousins), John
and Charles, lived near Peterstown, and several other relatives lived in the vicinity.

-Virginia-

The Appalachian Valley, was not only beautiful, it was verdant and lush. Farmers
in the Monroe Co. area grew wheat, corn, hay, and raised sheep, goats and hogs.
Many had apple and peach orchards. James, like others in his neighborhood, did
not own slaves. His father and siblings owned land and farms around him. These
familes lived in either stone houses, wood, or rough hewn log houses of oak or
chestnut with stone fireplaces. Log homes were study, warm, and lasted
generations in some instances. Often these homes were build with the door facing
east, and the views must have spectacular.

From a religious standpoint the Skaggs and Lively families, and most of their
neighbors were Baptist. James' grandfather, John Henry Skaggs, was one of the
founding members of the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, built in 1787. It was the
first church established in the southern Appalachians (in Alderson, Monroe Co,
Virginia) and is still in operation today. James and his family lived about 35 miles
from this church, too far for regular attendence. To maintain membership, one
had only to attend services once a year. Altogether, one can imagine James and
 his family living on the land with close ties to neighbors and extended family,
sharing in building and growning their farms in peaceful proximity and hospitality.

Old Greenbrier Baptist Church (photo circa 1910)

-October 1860-

The autumn of Joseph’s birth was recorded as being unusally warm. James would
have been harvesting fruit, and vegetables, like pumkins and squash, and getting
his livestock ready for winter. There were 6 children in the household, and a new
baby. The oldest child was 15, and worked along side his father. The boys
attended a local school and were bright and eager learners. The girls were kept at
home, taught the womanly arts, and were unable to read or write. They helped
Rebecca with canning, cooking, weaving, watching the smaller children, etc. It
was a busy but peaceful time in Monroe Co., but things were soon to change.

The winter of 1860-1861 was called, The Great Seccession Winter. There was a
Big Weather event that led up to the Civil War, starting with the arrival of Comet
Donanti late in 1859. The people of the day regarded this visible comet as a
harbinger of war or natural disasters. In November of 1860, the first of several
rain, and snow storms hit the Appalachians with 17 inches of snow reported in
some areas, and rain that was recorded as prolific. Although baby Joseph was
snug in his family’s cabin, outside the world was reeling with worsening weather
and political conditions.
 The Virginia State Bird

Less then 2 weeks after Joseph was born, on November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln
was elected president. Lincoln's own father was born in Virginia, but it did not turn
the hearts of the local population, and Lincoln was held in contempt by a vast
majority of the state. By April 1861, when Joseph was 6 months old, Civil War had
erupted and Virginia seceded.
 In June of 1861 James Skaggs enlisted as a Confederate. He joined the 59th
Virginia Infantry, Co. B. (later became Co. A 60th) with Captain Christopher James
Beirne. (Beirne's Sharpshooters). This was a rifle regiment. The men had no
uniforms, and had to supply their own weapons. James may have participated in
a few skirmishes, but he was back home by late 1861, perhaps on a holiday
reprieve. After the first of the year (1862), James may have rejoined his unit. He
possibly participated in the Seven Days Battles near Richmond in June 1862, but it
seems more likely he remained at home, taking care of his farm and family.

James’ eldest son, James Rufus Skaggs, left home and enlisted in the Virgina
Regiment Sept 1, 1862. Age 17. This was Company C, Virginia, 30th Sharp
Shooter Battallion. James Jr.’s regiment fought at New Market, Cold Harbour,
protected the vital supply center at Lychburg, Virginia, and participated in all the
major battles during the raid on Washington, DC. James R. retunred home safely,
and in good health, and was revered by his family.

West Virginia Flag

The Skaggs family were very lucky to live where they did, for the fighting was far
removed from their isolated farm. However, many of their neighbors did report
sighting a stray “yankee”, and thefts to personal property were numerous. On
June 20th, 1863 Monroe Co. became part of the new state of West Virginia.
Confederate General, Robert E. Lee surrendred at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9,
1865 to Union General, Ulysses S. Grant, and the Civil War was ended.

-Travels West-

Skaggs Family prior to leaving West Virginia. Joseph is thought to be the little boy on top of the hay
wagon.

Life on the Skaggs farm was a family affair. By a very early age Joseph and his
siblings were put to work, herding small farm animals, feeding chickens, working in
the vegetable garden, collecting eggs, etc. Joseph grew up with a work ethic that
would be the driving force of his life.

After the war, Monroe Co. suffered on many levels. Spirtually, economically and
socially. Many communities kept up fellowship and support as well as could be
expected, but Monroe Co. failed to thrive. James could no longer be a success in a
failing economic market. Though it would take courage, strength and a mainstay
of faith, James would do something his forefathers had done over 200 years ago,
he would become a pioneer!
 -Kansas-

As early as the 1860's ads of Kansas were showing up in Virginian newspapers.

Kansas was advertised in glorious terms which exaggerated its splendors. In 1869
Isaac Goodnow, Land Commissioner at Neosho Falls, Kansas wrote an article that
was widely circulated in the east. This following is an excerpt describing Coffey
County.

“The Missouri, Kansas, Texas Railroad Company offers for sale 1,3000,000 acres
of the Best Land in Kansas. The lands are situated mainly within twenty miles on
each side of the road, extending one hundred and eighty miles along the Neosho
Valley. The richest, finest, and most inviting valley for settlement in the West.
The lands are admirably adapted to fruit and vine culture, stock raising and
dairy business. They consist of rich bottoms, level, undulating and rolling prairie,
usually convenient to wood and stone, spring creek, or river water....the
tremperature is generally mild and equable, requiring little hay for the wintering
of stock. The rich native grasses of the prairies and bottoms, with the large area
of unoccupied lands, in connection with the dry, mild and open winters, present
unequaled advantages for the raising of cattle, sheep and horses.”

To the war wreary Skaggs family, this must have seemed like paradise. Land was
selling for 2-10 dollars an acre, and was apparently ripe for the picking.

-Coffey Co. or Bust-

James Skaggs, and his neighbor’s, the Pack brothers, were by the late 1860’s and
early 1870’s, contemplating moving west. The following is a possible theory that
led up to the pilgrimage to Coffey Co., Kansas.

-Homestead Act-

The homestead act was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. The
act encouraged westward migration. The land patents that the family qualified for
were called State Volume Patents. One had to travel to the filing office, pay a
small fee, then live on the land for 5 years. It was only necessary to live on the
land part of the time, but necessary to make some type of improvement on it the
first 6 months. One could rent out the land if they chose. After 5 years he would
own the land and get the deed.

-Pack Brothers-

The Pack brothers were cousins of Rebecca Lively Skaggs, and Charles H. Pack was
married to daughter Louise Emeline. Charles left West Virginia as early as May 10,
 1869, according to his granddaughter, Mrs. W. I Cannon in 1939. (Infomation
came from a family bible). He was scouting for land to purchase but he did not get
a land patent until 1896 in Oklahoma Co., Oklahoma where he eventually settled
with his family.

His brothers John A. Pack and Allen C. Pack traveled to Wichita, Kansas, in 1869,
filed for land patents in Cowley Co., Kansas and later settled there. The brothers
returned home in 1870, after making their initial improvements. Back home they
told James of the lands they had seen and how they were ideal for farming. But
James wanted land for stock raising, not just farming.

During the early 70’s the Pack brothers likely made several trips to and from
Kansas, and may have had John, Joseph or other Skaggs brothers along on some of
these trips. At some point the group traveled to Coffey Co., Kansas and scouted
that area.

The land was low (botton land), and the blue stem grasses were exceptionally
suited for cattle grazing. This land may have been similar to the bottom lands of
Monroe Co., where they may have already been raising sheep, hogs, and possibly
cattle. It is unclear if James Skaggs, himself, came to Kansas prior to 1878. It
appears he may have sent his son John A. Skaggs to act on his behalf.

-Mr. Skaggs Visits Coffey Co., Kansas-

A short paragraph from The Burlington (Kansas) Democrat, posted March 2, 1877:

“Mr.Skaggs returned from West Virginia. He says he likes Kansas the best; there
is not enough bottom land In Virginia for him. His brother came with him here.”

This was probably John A. Skaggs, age 25, and his brother Joseph, age 16.

John may have initially came to Coffey Co. as early as 1874. If so, he was probably
not impressed. That was a hard year in the county. A grasshopper invasion and a
severe drought had devastated the land, and left many destitute. However, the
conditions had vastly improved by 1877, and this reassured John, and he returned
home to give his father the report of his findings.
 It is believed that Joseph stayed behind in Kansas, and hired on with a local
rancher. Family legend has it that Joseph was in Coffey Co., Ks at age 15.
Note....Joseph Lively Skaggs’ death certificate states he had been in Kansas for
69 years, which would have put his arrival in 1875.)

Back in West Virginia, preparations for the journey were made in haste, for James
had a nervous wife at hand who was anxious about her young son being alone in
Kansas. James quickly sold his property in Monroe Co., perhaps taking a loss.
After their affairs were in order, the James Skaggs family, and the John and Charles
Pack families set off for Kansas early in the Spring of 1878. For Rebecca this would
have been a bittersweet journey. Behind her she left a trail of cherished personal
items, and precious memories.

James’ oldest son, James Rufus Skaggs, would stay behind and run his 100 acre
farm in Raleigh Co. West Virginia, which he inherited and lived on most of his life.
(He eventually settled in Wilson Co., Ks.) Son John A. Skaggs would return and
settle in Coffey Co., sometime after 1880.

By 1874 there were railroads available and the Skaggs’ could have traveled almost
the entire journey on the cars. The railcars were, in the 1870’s, steam engine
propelled by wood burners. However, many pioneers coming to Kansas during this
time came in Prairie Schooners, which were basically covered farm wagons,
carrying with them their household goods. Most were driven by ox team, but
some had horse or mule pulled wagons. Many wrote on the sides of their wagons
their destinations.

It is likely that the Skaggs family came in 3 or more wagons, driven by their farm
horses, and that the youngest of them walked and herded a few cows or pigs
along the way. They had decent well used roads for most of their journey. They
traveled through Missouri, and stopped at Sedalia where The Neosho Land Office
had a branch. There they spoke with the agent, and looked at land maps.

Most of the land in Coffey, Co. was settled and cleared by the 1860's, and the
majority of the land was owned by large landowners who had received the land
from Military Warrants for their participation in the War of 1812. There were still
small parcels of land for sale, and the Pack brothers made purchases. James was
looking to make a purchase, but did not find land suitable for his needs. The agent
reassured him to bide his time, as land was constantly being bought and sold.
Back on the road with enthusiastic hearts, our travelers, more then half way to
their destination, rode off towards the sunset with their rambling wagons and
“Coffey County Kansas or Bust” written on the side.

-Coffey County, Kansas-

Our pioneer families; James Skaggs and family, son-in-law, Charles H. Pack, his
wife Louisa Emeline and children, his brother John A. Pack, and 3 year old son,
arrived in Burlington, Coffey Co., Ks. in late Spring of 1878. They found Burlington
friendly, yet crowded with wagons and immigrants. Not daunted, they proceeded
with their first order of business, which was to locate Joseph, and on doing so, they
were much relieved. He was working and living on a ranch south of Burlington.
The reunion found him well, if not radiant. He had grown like a weed and the
family was greatly encouraged.

Secondly they needed to find their land. They traveled northwest out of Burlington
for 8 miles, crossing the Neosho River and passing many pretty farm houses. They
arrived at the little town of Strawn after a pleasant, scenic drive. They were
impressed by the newly built town and the people, who were generous and kindly
 pointed them in the right direction.

Within the first month, our families were settled in Pleasant Township, just east of
Strawn.

The Meadowlark

In 1878, Strawn was just a tiny town, situated in a rolling valley of prairie, and
tall waving grasses, south of the Neosho River. The town had a dry goods, a
grocery, a shoe shop, a blacksmith, a hotel, a post office, and a grist mill. The
Methodist Church was just being built. It also had the The Missouri, Kansas, Texas
(MKT) Railroad established there, and a depot. Successful ranchers, and farmers
in the area had been instrumental in bringing the rail road in. Cattle, hogs, grain
and fruit was being shipped by this time and the town also had a stockyard.

Charles H. Pack settled on a 7 acre farm, less then a mile NE of Strawn. Charles
and wife, Louise Emeline, had 3 children and one on the way. Their farm
overlooked the Neosho River.

John A. Pack’s land of 6 acres was next to his brother and they shared a border. He
was living there with Mary Jane Skaggs. (James and Rebecca’s daughter), and his
son Doane, from his first wife. Mary Jane may have been living with John in the
role of housekeeper. This farm was also on the south bank of the Neosho River.

A few miles down the road to the east was the property James Skaggs had rented.
He was sharecropping on 80 acres. (He worked the land for a share of the
products.) Mr. M. Kennedy probably owned the land.
 The Neosho River in Coffey County, Kansas

In 1878, the Skaggs household consisted of James, wife Rebecca, and children:
Joseph 17, Alonzo Pim 15, and Alice 11. A house came with the property, and
there were outbuildings, including barns, pens, and coops. The farm had 50 acres
of indian corn in rotation, 1 acre of apple trees, and 2 acres of peach trees. 70
trees in all. There was also 1/4 acre of irish potatoes. James owned 2 horses, 6
cows, a milch cow, and a calf. There were 38 chickens, and to share the barnyard
were 3 swine. He may have brought the livestock with him from W. Virginia.

This was a beautiful county but not without it’s share of natural disasters. Floods,
fires, and storms were a constant threat to the area, and there were even a few
reports of earthquakes. Rattle snakes and mad dogs were frequently reported.
An occasional Indian would have been seen, and these were of the Sac and Fox
 Tribe that had a camp a few miles away, north of nearby Ottumwa. They were
reported to be quite friendly, but would visit farmers asking for food or tobacco.

All in all, these were quiet farms, neighbors were widely spaced, and the land was
beautifully lush, especially in Spring, when all the fruit trees began to bloom, and
the family had never seen such beautiful sunsets! Although there were flat prairies
instead of stately mountains, James and Rebecca found the land held a certain
enchantment of it’s own, and within it they found peace and contentment.

-Their first Celebrations-

The first of the Skaggs family born on Kansas soil was Charles Emmet Pack, born
July 8th, 1878 to Charles H. Pack and wife Sarah Emeline, in their farmhouse
outside of Strawn. How good it was to have a growing family here in Kansas!

A wedding was celebrated on Wednesday, October 2, 1878 when John A. Pack

married Mary Jane Skaggs. They were quietly married by Rev. Thomas S. Walker.

-1880-

The Skaggs family were settled into the community, making friends, and improving
their farms. The warm early April sun had them excited for planting. However the
heavy Spring rains were ferocious, bringing heavy downpours, and hail. Water
was running in ravines in Strawn and the surrounding area.

On the wee hours of Sunday, April 18, 1880, a huge storm system came through
the Strawn area, bringing tornados. It awoke the inhabitants from their slumber
with terror. Their storm shelters, and cellars were likley already full of water, and
they could not seek shelter there. Somehow they rode out the storm, and in the
morning found destruction everywhere.

Many homes were leveled in the Strawn area, some moved off their foundations,
others lost roofs. Fences were down, horses were turned over and farmers had to
go after their stock in the fields.

In May, farmers were still rebuilding their homes, and reinforcing their shelters.
The Skaggs, in all likelihood, had never been in the direct line of a tornado before,
as wind storms, and cyclones, were uncommon in the Appalachains. Dark skies
 would never be looked at casually again. However, they were soon back on their
feet and started the planting.

-Farm Life-

Farm life was difficult in the early 1880's. Tractors and other mechanical devices
were not in common use yet, and fields had to be plowed by hand, or with a horse
drawn sulky plow. McCormick self-binding harvesters were newly in use, requiring
3 horses to power. (James only had 2). It was necessary the children help their
father in the fields and with the livestock, including Alice. They were able to get a
decent crop planted the first few years despite the obstacles, and were feeling
happy and confident.

However by September of 1880, illness was rife in the Skaggs household. Alonzo
Pim was sick with typhoid-malaria and James was quite bad off with chronic
diarrhea (which was probably typhoid). Corn cutting and other chores would be
left to a hired man, as it is suposed that Joseph was away at school. In his absence
13 year old Alice was helping in the fields, she was strong and preferred the work
to household chores. Rebecca did the best she could as nurse and cook.

Winter would be spent looking after the stock, putting the corn in the crib, and
recovering their strength. This year had tested their strength, if not drained it.

-Joseph’s education-

It is known that Joseph had formal education (4-5 years of College). He may have
attended Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan, Ks., or the University
of Kansas in Lawrence, Ks. as early as the fall of 1880, boarding in the winter in a
dorm and returning in the Spring to help the family and paying his way through, by
working for Mr. Crotty. (Note-Joseph’s leaving the area for school may have kept
him healthier than he would have been on the farm. And The ranch he worked for
was also out of the zone where so many were sick with malaria.)

-Mr. Crotty-

William Crotty was a sucsessful cattleman and owned over 1,000 acres, and a
ranch South of Burlington. Crotty even had a depot on his ranch to ship his cattle.
(The Missouri Pacific Railroad). It is family legend that Joseph worked for him
while he was in school. Joseph may have worked on this ranch as early as 1877.
Mr. Crotty was a wonderful role model to Joseph. He was highly esteemed in his
community as one can see by a few words from his obituary of Nov. 26, 1917.

"...A wise and safe counsellor of young men, a genial big hearted companion
and brother, a sucsessful businessman, a just and upright citizen, but the
predominate trait in his character was his great love for his fellow man, and his
unfaultering kindness and devotion to the poor and unfortunate,...who will miss
the well filled baskets, the genial smile and kindly ministrations of William
Crotty."

What good fortune for Joseph to be employed by such a generous employer who
took Joseph under his wing and taught him the cattle business.

-1881-

Although their first few years in Coffey County had been difficult, James was
 eternally optimistic, and looked to the future. The New Year brought new hopes
and dreams. The Skaggs family was enjoying some improvement to their
circumstances, and things were on the up and up. Joseph was continuing in his
studies, and James had recovered his health sufficiently to resume his farm duties.

Early this year, Alonzo Pim, age 18, and in improved health, left for the Indian
Territory (Probably Wilson Co.) looking for work in a dryer climate, perhaps to
benefit his health. He may have been accompanied by one or more of his brother’s
or cousins. He appears to have been gone most of the year.

In the Spring, John Pack moved his family to Cowley Co., Ks. His brother, Charles
Pack, and his wife Louise Emeline, were looking to expand. Charles sold his small
farm and purchased a farm 3 miles south of Strawn, and moved his growing
family there.

In December of 1881 it is noted in a local paper that James is wanting to sell his
property. (It is unknown if had purchased some land prior to 1881 or was just
selling his interest in the land he was working.) Alonzo Pim had been gone almost
a year, and James wanted to own his own land, and possibly downgrade. He
moved to John Pack’s farm and started making payments on the land. This
property was on the door step of Strawn, close enough they could hear the train
whistles from the nearby depot, then known as Rockaby or Rock-a-bye. This farm
had a frame house, some farm buildings, and was likely fenced. James brought
his livestock and chickens with him. The land had 5 or more acres of wheat in
rotation, and 1/4 an acre in apple trees.

James and Rebecca’s son, John A. Skaggs and wife, Susan moved to Strawn some
time in 1881, and settled into town, running a grocery store. In December they
bought land west of Strawn and moved there. John was interested in going into
the stock business. The couple moved to Hartford, Ks by 1889, and eventually
Pottawatomie Co. Oklahoma. (They were childless).

Christmas of 1881 found Alonzo Pim home with his family. They celebrated with a
large meal, of chicken or turkey. (No Christmas tree or gift exchanges in those
days.) Alonzo told them all about the wonderful farm lands of Wilson Co., Ks, and
his dreams of owning land there. He was working for a farmer west of Fredonia,
 William Williamson, a man with eight daughters, and no sons.

-1882-

In the Spring, Charles Pack sold his land, and relocated near Ottumwa, Ks. and by
the end of the year had relocated to Cowley, Co. Daughter, Margaret Matilda, and
her husband (J. W. Dillion) would settle in Cowley Co. by 1885. (John Pack and
Allen Pack were already in Cowley Co.) If James had been in different
circumstances, he may have followed his children south, but he stayed to see
things through in Coffey Co., and perhaps to see Joseph through his education.
Rebecca was reluctant to leave Joseph again, and she may have encouraged
James, that this was where they needed to stay. There was something special in
Joseph, and James and Rebecca saw it! Joseph, like the rest of his brothers was
self driven and passionate, traits that many of his forefathers had possessed.

Sarah Ellen Shultz, James and Rebecca’s oldest daughter, arrived in Coffey Co., in
the Spring of 1882. She had been left alone and destitute by her husband, John W.
Shultz, in West Virginia for 2 years, leaving her dependent on friends and family.
James heard of her plight and sent word and money for her to come to Kansas.
She travelled by train and brought her four children with her, the oldest being 14
years old. She had some kind of mental illness, and her husband may have
divorced her on grounds of emotional instability. By 1882, John Shultz had
remarried and had a child.

Sarah and her children, moved in with James and Rebecca the summer of 82.
There would be tight quarters, but the family was happy to have her safe in Kansas
where they could look after her. Her children were reported to be beautiful, with
dark eyes, and black curly hair, and Rebecca was happy to have some of her
grandchildren around her once again.

As Sarah settled in, it offered a bit of freedom for Alice, who at age 15, worked
with her father in the fields this summer, wearing overalls, and tucking her hair up
under her hat..
 Sarah Ellen Skaggs Shultz & Family

-Illness-

Due to it’s proximity to the Neosho River, the climate of Coffey Co. was more
humid than the valleys of West Virginia. It is suspected that James and Rebecca
had a harder time adjusting than the children and it appears they were frequently
ill. In Sept of 1882, Rebecca became sick with malaria. She was basically out of
commission during her illness, and Sarah Ellen stepped in to nurse her and run the
household. Rebecca had a strong constitution and rallied, though it may have
taken months of nursing for even a partial recuperation. The ‘ague’, was often
chronic.

Malaria was common in this area, as was typhoid fever. Sometimes the ill person
was referred to as having, Remitting Fever. The Neosho River was constantly
flooding and mosquitos carried Malaria. Some would burn ‘smoke fires’ outside
their doors during the summer to keep the mosquitos out. Others swore by apple
or peach brandy as a preventative. The doctor of the day would give the patient
bitter quinine, but it was not a cure. Local folk remedies including green coffee,
 herbs, and sassafras tea usually provided the best cure.

Contaminated food and water caused the typhoid (salmonella). The well water
often became contaminated from frequent rains. Remedies for typhoid included
molassis, honey, vinegar, and barely water. The very young, weak and elderly
were the most susceptible. Each year several people died of these diseases in the
Strawn area. To aid to the distress, often there was only one doctor for several
thousand people, and he was often difficult to locate. One’s best line of defense
would be to be ones own herbalist.

In November, James, his wife, his daughters Alice, and Sarah Ellen and her
children, moved into the Hotel, or other building at Strawn for the winter. (Joseph
was in school). They were either over crowded on the farm, or James and Rebecca
may have been seriously ill. Their host was their old friend from West Virginia,
Austin A. Woodson, who was either running a hotel or a mercantile business of
sorts, that had rooms overhead or behind the building.

Sarah Ellen was looking to improve her circumstances. She could not depend on
 her parents to support her. She started a flirtation with Mr. Woodson, that
culminated with a marriage proposal. They were married by Squire Strawn, on
Dec. 19, 1882, and had a serenading party and a Kansas chivary. The family was
happy and relieved to see her settled again, but were perhaps wary. Sarah would
start married life at Mr. Woodson’s home, with her children, and extended family
in residence.

-Joseph the Businessman-

Young and healthy, and strong of constitution, Joesph had avoided illness, and was
in the prime of his youth. In April 1883 he tried his hand at his first business
venture. He was 22 and full of confidence, and likely still in school. He partnered
up with brother-in-law Austin A. Woodson. The business was tin. Austin had been
selling it in West Virginia, with much success for over 20 years. They likely sold the
tin from Mr. Woodson’s shop, which was on the main street of Strawn. This shop
was a general meeting place. They sold tin, wax, and other supplies used in
canning. Apple and other orchards in the area created a demand for this type of
equipment. Tree vendors made yearly rounds selling various fruit trees.

By late Spring, James and Rebecca were back on their farm, and Joseph was likely
working for Mr. Crotty. Joseph’s investment in the tin business was short lived and
Austin bought him out, although Mr. Woodson continued to cultivate it and
eventually started a hardware business in Burlington. This early business interprise
wet Joseph’s appetite.

-1883-

In August of 1883, Rebecca was sick again. Likely a recurrance of her previous
illness, as often the symptoms would come and go for the duration of a person’s
lifetime. Rebecca had little resistance to any micro organisms due to this remitting
debility. Joseph was almost 23 at this time. (Alonzo Pim was 21, and in Fredonia),
and Alice was 16, and doing men’s work about the farm. The nursing fell to Sarah
Ellen. Unstable of mind, but strong of body.
 -1884-

By late 1883, Alice may have been partially on her own, traveling with a job on the
Katy Railroad. She was one of a very few female brakemen, and had been
working near Hartford, Kansas. She was a hard working girl that had spent her
youth doing hard physical labor. She may have had some sort of falling out with
her family that caused her to seek employment outside of the farm, or she may
have just been interested in the railroad and trains with all their mechanical parts.
She returned to the Strawn area on April 18, 1884. On April 25, it is announced in
a Burlington newspaper that Alice Skaggs (age 17) was “arrested for appearing on
the streets of Burlington, Ks. in male attire.” This was probably not unusual attire
for a railroad employee, or a farm hand and Alice forgot herself.

This articled appeared in the Burlington Democrat on April 25, 1884:

“Alice Skaggs, of Strawn, a nymph du pave, of the lowest order, was pulled
Sunday Morning by Marshal Jackson for appearing on the streets of Burlington
in male attire. Three or four of our young bloods were mixed up in the
 disgraceful affair and were it not for the feelings of their relatives their names
would go to the public in full. The boys whacked up $15 to pay the girl out of the
scrape and the soiled dove was fired out of the city. It will be a long time before
the boys will do naughty that way again.”

This articles calls for one to draw their own conclusions. Railroads were notorious
in the 1880’s for drawing in prostitutes. It may be that Alice acquired a reputation
for being something that she wasn’t due to her appearance. Most prostitutes did
not wear men’s clothing!

Before 1886, Alice, married Clark Cleveland. Little more is know about her life, or
where she relocated to. She was unfortunately the family outcast.

----<>--=-=<>----------------------------------<>=-=--<>----

The summer of ’84, found Joseph once again, working on the Crotty Ranch,
learning the stock trade. He had one more term of school. On July 24, 1884 James
became the owner of his 6 acres. 400 dollars had been paid in full to John Pack.

Enjoying good health this year, James and Rebecca took a trip in July to visit
Alonzo Pim, in Fredonia. Charles Pack was in Wilson Co. working at this time as
well. Pim would be back in the Strawn area to celebrate Thanksgiving and
Christmas with his folks.

-Courting-

Joseph had completed his schooling by late 1884, perhaps graduating in

December. He had been courting a lovely lady, Miss Viola Funk, who had also
recently graduated from University. (Viola had presumably attended Kansas
Normal School with a degree in teaching.) They met at a local social function,
such as an ice cream social, a hop (dance) or literary society. It was a match made
in heaven!! From what is known of Viola, she was reserved, ladylike, shy, and
religious. She always had her head in a book. As a young girl, she attended
primary school in district 17, Coffey Co, near Hartford, where she excelled in her
studies. But most of all, Viola, was very much in love with Joseph, who was
(according to his grandchildren) a clever, handsome, playful husband. The
relationship would last over 50 years!
 -Marriage-

On Wednesday, January 14, 1885, Joseph married Viola Pearl Funk. They were
married in her father’s home by I. F. Nichols a traveling Congregational Minister.
(Rev. Nichols was a graduate of Oberlin University).

A polular rhyme of the day:

Marry on Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses, and
Saturday for no luck at all.

Viola was the daughter of Hardin Funk and Sarah Ann Hooper. She was born in
New Amsterdam, Harrison Co., Indiana on Sept 25., 1866. She was 18 and
strikingly beautiful with chestnut hair and blue eyes. She came with her family to
Coffey Co., Kansas in 1869 when she was only 3. She was a Methodist. Her family
lived 3 miles northwest of Strawn. Her father was a farmer, had apple orchards,
had once served as Justice of the Peace, and was active in the Methodist Church.
He also fought for the Union in the Civil War.
 The first 2 months or more of married life they lived with Joseph’s aging parents,
who were frequently ill. This extended family that Viola married into would not
have been uncommon in 1885, but perhaps overwhleming to a shy new bride. She
would have taken her duties in stride, nursing and housekeeping for the family.
But it was not ideally romantic for a young couple. At the time of Joseph’s
marriage, it is presumed that James gave the 6 acre property on the south bank of
the Neosho River to Joseph as a wedding present. James then put a down
payment on a 37.5 acres farm, one mile south of the little town of Ottumwa on
Hickory Creek and moved there with Rebecca some time in the Spring.

After James left, Joseph and Viola enjoyed a year together of wedded bliss. Joseph
farmed, growing wheat. As he cultivated the wheat he also cultivated his dreams
of raising cattle.

-Father Skaggs passes-

The fall of 1886 brought another round of sickness to many in the Strawn area.
James was striken down with malaria. He may have been ill for the duration of his
time in Kansas. His lust for life and his determination to succeed kept him out in
the fields working until the illness had him completely knocked down. James
passed away on Sept. 25, 1886. (Viola’s 20th birthday) His actual birthdate is
uncertain, but he was reported to be 63 years old. He was gently laid to rest in the
Bowman Cemetery. (James Skaggs Location in Bowman Cemetery, Row 17N
#27A)

The Bowman cemetery was beautifully situated on a bluff overlooking a bend in

the Neosho River. It was located 2.5 miles northeast of Strawn on the property of
L. V. Bowman. For Joseph, it just was a short buggy ride to the cemetery from his
little farm.

After James’ death it appears Joseph may have initially moved to his father’s farm,
to look after his mother. There were likley a few hired hands, but the farm would
need supervision. This was a stretch for Joseph. It would test his mettle.

Rebecca was lost without James, was consumed with grief, and could not be
consoled. Along with James, Rebecca had not tolerated the humid climate of
 Coffey County, and had been habitually ill. Viola was now pregnant and the
family felt it in the best interest of both Viola and Rebecca’s health that mother
Skaggs be moved. After much consideration and counsel with the family, Rebecca
was moved to either Oklahoma or Cowley Co., Kansas to live out the rest of her life
with family in a healthier climate. It is unknown where she moved. (Most of the
1890 census records were destroyed in a fire). It is supposed she passed away
sometime after 1890, surround by her family. She was not buried in the the
Bowman Cemetery, and her actual burial location is unknown.

-1886-

The winter of 1885-86 was remembered as the winter of The Blizzard of 86. It was
reported that it was cold enough to ‘freeze the teeth off a hay rake.’ It snowed so
heavily that many in the area lost their livestock. Joseph by this time had started
to grow a small herd. The shrewd Joseph, learned from his neighbor’s loses.

On September 29, 1886, Alonzo Pim Skaggs married Elizabeth Caroline

Williamson in Fredonia, Ks. He was 24, and she was 17. She was the daughter of
his employer William Williamson. He would spend the rest of his life in the
Fredonia area as a sucessful farmer, having been mentored by his father-in-law.

-Pearl-

Although the passing of James was a blow to the family, and the relocation of
Rebecca left a void in their lives, there was good news shortly to follow. On Feb.
15, 1887 a daughter was born to Joseph and Viola. Pearl M. Skaggs, affectionally
called Pearlie. One may presume her middle name was Maud. Pearlie must have
been the joy of this little family. Viola’s sister Olivia Funk Kelley, living nearby, had
just had her first baby that past September (Dollie), and the sisters likely took turns
showing off their baby girls. Joseph and Viola were living a happy dream.

July of this year, Alonzo also became the father of a little girl, Delia Blanche.
 Spring of 1887 showed Pleasant township moving into the modern age with the
placing up of telegraph wires. The community was thriving. On the 4th of July of
this year, in Strawn, there were parades, marching bands, speeches, picnics,
basket dinners, a potato race, and a dance. Our little family must of enjoyed being
out and about socializing and pushing baby Pearlie in her Pram.

The matter of the disposal of James’ property came on the court docket on Sept.
29, 1887. Harrison Kelly was the administrator, and all the remaining family were
called to court. The land would be sold to pay off James’ debt.

The rest of the year passed pleasantly, and into 1888, where all was well until the
early fall. Another round of sickness came to the community and Pearlie
succumbed to inflammation of the brain on Sept 17, 1888. (Perhaps high fever and
seizures). She was 1 year and 7 months old. Burial was in the Bowman Cemetery.

There were now 2 in the little Skaggs lot. The closeness of this cemetery allowed
regular visits by the bereved parents where flowers were oft laid, and the plots
gently tended. (Loacation in the Bowman Cemetery was Row 17N, #27B.)

It would take time, but their hearts would mend.

 -Skaggs Family and birth of Maud-

In March of 1889, Joseph's sister Sarah Ellen and her daughter, Florence (age 16),
were living with Joseph and Viola. Sarah was recently separated from her 2nd
husband of 6 years, A. A. Woodson, who was running a grocery store in Strawn. At
41, Sarah continued to be emotionally unstable. One can hope she wasn’t too
much of a burden on Viola, who was expecting her 2nd baby, and was probably
very nervous.

Joseph had worked hard over the years, saving quite a bit of money, farming and
growing a small herd of cattle. By 1889 he was ready to make a major purchase.
He bought 13 acres of prime land, 5 miles east, and 1 mile N. of Stawn, in
Ottumwa Township. (He most likely sold the little 6 acre farm.) The property and
the land surrounding it were thick with blackjack and walnut trees. There were
fields full of blue stem grasses and meadow fescue. His neighbor to the SE was
William Crotty. Joseph had purchased this property (on account), and probably
cattle from W. & T. Kennedy. (Or W. W. Kennedy). This was part of an established
farm and ranch with a frame home, barns, corrals and stables.

It was on that Ranch on Sept 25, 1889 that Maud Cecil Skaggs was born. It must
have been a lucky omen, for little Maud was born on Viola's 23rd birthday, full of
health and wild of spirit! A welcome blessing to this family! Viola and Joseph once
again opened their hearts to new possibilites! (Note-Maud was born 3 years to the
day of James A. Skaggs death.)

Viola prayed and prayed for a healthy baby all that year. Her prayers were
answered and would stick to that baby for over 90 years, for this little girl would
never know sickness.
 A popular beverage

-1890 to 1893-

By 1890, the Skaggs family appeared to be thriving. Joseph had aquired more
stock, was running his ranch, and conducting business out of Hartford, Ks. with C.
S. Perkins. Their business was to buy, sell, and ship cattle and hogs for profit. In
July this year it was noted in a local newspaper that Joseph was suffering with
rheumatism. He was seen in Hartford with his arm in a sling.

Also this year, Joseph’s sister Sarah Ellen had reunited with her husband, Mr.
Woodson, and they were running the hotel in Strawn. Viola would finally enjoy
some peace, although she had enjoyed her company with Sarah’s bright daughter,
Florence, who had helped her with baby Maud.

In November 1891, Joseph was serving as Pleasant Township officer. (Note-

township lines and borders were frequently changing, and their ranch was often in
one of 2 townships, Pleasant and Ottumwa.) This put him in charge of several
 commitees, the budget, record keeping, meetings, etc. Joseph was doing quite
well for himself. His affluence in the community was growning and he had
exceeded the prosperity of his father. He was employer to many ranch hands, and
kept everything is perfect balance. The raising of crops had been replaced with the
more lucrative business of cattle. At 30, he was more likely to be seen in a
business suit then in overalls. His profession would now be known as : Stockman,
and he had the midas touch.

In May 1892, Joseph purchased property to his south, and resold it 3 months later.
His profit was $150.00. At this time, he was doing a great deal of travelling,
looking for grazing land, cattle, etc.

By the winter of 1892-3 Joseph was feeding 240 head of cattle and 250 head of
hogs. Joseph was wintering cattle for The Seigel-Sanders Company on a
commission.

From the Feb. 10, 1893 Burlington Democrat:

“If the price of beef and pork continue on the up grade much longer, Joe will be
wearing diamonds.”

-Viola-

While Joseph was prospering, and Maud was growing full of health, Viola was
struggling with problems, sorrows and fears only a mother can understand.
Joseph’s frequent absences, made life lonely for Viola. The winters were especially
difficult. The 1890’s saw some of the coldest, snowiest winters since their arrival in
Kansas. For Viola, the early 90’s were full of loss. On Jan 8, 1893 Viola and Joseph
suffered the loss of a stillborn baby. The grief was heartbreaking. With every loss
Viola became more paralysed with fears of future pregancies. Every winter
brought news of more children dying, including her neighbor’s. Mumps, diptheria,
whooping cough and other diseases ravaged Coffey Co. during this time.

-Twins-

At some point, when Maud was quite little, Viola suffered the loss of a set of twins.
The babies were sleeping with Maud in the same bed, and Maud wet the bed and
one of the babies got wet. That baby, who may have been premature, died within
a few days or weeks and the other twin also died shortly thereafter, Maud never
got over feeling responsible.

Through these difficult days, Maud continued to cheer Viola, as she was a very
nurturing child. Viola’s sister, Olivia, who lived quite near, was also very
sympathetic, and Viola relied upon her heavily.

-Funks move to Tulare-

By 1893, Hardin and Sarah Funk had moved to the west coast to farm and start a
new life. Viola missed them terribly, but she understood. Brother Lafeyette (Lafe)
had consumption and needed a drier climate. Tulare, California was advertised as
having a restorative environment. It was located in the San Joaquin Valley, and
was surrounded by moutains. Unlike Coffey Co., it was very dry and received little
rain. The land was selling for low prices and the Funk’s took their 6 youngest
children, and left their married children, Viola and Olivia in Kansas. Hardin started
a fruit farm, which had always been his passion.

-1894-

This year Joseph purchased, from W.W. Kennedy, 100 acres ajoining his 13 acres,
for $1,500.00. Big Creek ran through this property, and was suitable for watering
cattle. He then owned 113 acres.

Viola’s brother, Oliver Funk, was staying with the family this summer, and may
have been working on the ranch. In June, the family traveled to Oklahoma on
vacation, where they visited several relatives. (It is possible that they were
attending Rebecca’s funeral.) By the autumn of 1894 Viola was pregnant again.
Viola's 2nd cousin, Elizabeth Funk (Knows as Bettie), age 29 was staying with the
family, and was there to help with the confinement. Bettie had travelled with
Viola and her family to Kansas in 1869, and they must have been as close as
sisters. (Their father's were cousins).

February of 1895 blew in with the coldest weather ever recorded. Several head of
stock froze to death in the township that month. On February the 15th, it was a
reported record low of 13 below zero. Thankfully, all were warm in the ranch
 house, and on a very cold night, Feb. 19, happy news came once again with the
arrival of another healthy little girl, named Veora Inez Skaggs. They would call her
Inez, and she was a blonde haired beauty! Maud, at age 5, was a big sister, and a
big helper to her mother.

-1895 to 1898-

Common tranportation of the day.

The previous winters had been hard on Joseph’s cattle, and the cattle he had
wintered. He had lost a few that froze to death during the blizzards and cold
spells. The autumn rains this year were fierce. Sept 8-9, 1895 brought wind
storms and torrential rains. The Neosho River flooded at a record 22 ft. There was
much destruction of crops, property and a nearby church was blown down. Many
of Joseph’s outbuilding may have suffered, or were destroyed, but Joseph was not
daunted and by 1896 he had become one of the townships leading citizens. He
was elected one of the dirctors of the Ottumwa Building Association.

By early December 1896, Viola and the girls, 7 year old Maud, almost 2 year old
Inez, and Bettie Funk, travelled by train to California to stay with Viola’s parents
for the winter, in sunny and warm Tulare, California. They did not returned until
April 23, 1897. Viola was not present in Feburary to witness her brother Lafe’s
marriage to Miss. Emma Smith, in Burlington, but likely spent time with them on
 their return to Tulare, where they set up housekeeping.

A typical train ride to Tulare took 5-6 days. There were stops every evening for
supper, and the train would travel at night. They traveled through Oklahoma, and
Texas, before heading west through New Mexico and Arizona. The family changed
trains 3 times. The scenery would have been outstanding. Along the way they
would tour the local towns, if time permitted, and buy souvenirs. It was a relaxing
ride for Viola, and exciting for the children.

By Jan. 1897 Joseph was a candidate for Coffey Co. Livestock Sanitary
Commissioner. In Oct 1897 he spent a month buying cattle in Oklahoma, and
visiting family. He would visit the local farmers when he traveled, to see what they
were planting, and what was growing well, and what was not. He was 37 and had
his hand in several interprises.

At home, Maud was attending the relatively new school in Ottumwa and doing
well with her studies. Besides being the housewife, and mother, Viola was cooking
for the ranch hands. The girls helped, and in summer shoo’d the flies, and fanned
the men while they ate. Life was busy and everyone was expected to do their
share, although Viola often had hired help. Charles Pack, and other family
members were occasional workman on the Skaggs Ranch.

Viola was active in the nearby Methodist Church, and hostess to many social and
fund raising events. She was renown for her cooking skills, including baking cakes
and pastries.

-Hardin Funk-

On May 12, 1898, Viola lost her father, who died at age 53. He died suddenly from
apoplexy, or a stroke. (Perhaps heat stroke). Hardin had been a loving father and
had a spiritual influence on Viola that would stay with her the rest of her life. The
funeral was in Tulare, California. Joseph and family, along with other family
members traveled to attend it. Viola may have made an extended visit. Viola bore
the pain and grief of losing her father in her usual way of poise and drew within
herself for strength. In Hardin’s absence, Sarah Funk would move to downtown
Tulare and seek employment.

-Business Dealings-

In June of 1898, Joseph became a partner with John Griffiths. This was a
butchering business. Griffiths owned a Meat market in Hartford, Ks. The shop was
called, The South End Meat Market. It was located in the Muir Building, next to
Dudley Brother's Hardware. The hotel and restaurants of Hartford were serving
big steaks to their happy customers. The pair also bought a meat market in
Burlington. This was the Uncapher Meat Market on 3rd Street. A month later the
two men disolved their partnership, and sold the meat markets. This left Joseph in
good standing financially, but it left Mr. Griffiths in poor shape, as he had gone all
 in, and would be forced to start over, unable to get his original business back.

Mr. Griffith’s was described by a local newspaper as... “One of the best butcher’s
to be found anywhere, ...a kind hearted, genial and accomodating gentleman
and everyone in this vicinity is his friend....” After this, Mr. Griffiths left the state
seeking employment, but eventually returned to Hartford and reopened a Meat
Market.

At this time, articles were showing up in local newspapers, that had a spiteful air
to them. Perhpas Joseph, needed to exit the area for awhile. September of this
year, Joseph travelled to West Virginia to visit relatives. Including his brother,
James R. Skaggs. He was home by October 14th.

Joseph was apparently growing a few crops on his ranch, including wheat. On
October 21, 1898, The Hartford Times wrote a telling article of some of the
township’s farmer’s yields. The last paragraph is interesting and sums it all up:

“Joe Skaggs we learn, raised the best wheat, in this township, grading number 2,
and receiving 60 cents per bushel. Joe likes to be in the lead.”

In November of 1898 a traveleling man and his wife gave an exhibition with a
talking machine and a magic latern. They showed scenes of the Cuban War and
views of the Klondike gold fields. Soon after this, a man gave a phonograph
concert. Things were getting real modern there in Coffey Co., Kansas.

-A son-

By late 1899, Viola was expecting again. The girls were 10 and 4. Maud was in
school, and her teacher was Mrs. Rose Sutton. Joseph was the Livestock Sanitary
Commissioner, and was busy with the cattle business. His holdings were
growning, but at the expense of being away more than he was home, coming
home about every 2 weeks. He became a partner with George Antrim, his
neighbor, selling hogs. This winter 1889-1900 he would feed 500 head of cattle,
on commision.
 From the Sept 29, 1899 Burlington Democrat:

“Joseph Skaggs sold fourty-two calves the first of the week for $22.75 a head.
Who says that there is not money in raising calves. Think of it. $22.50 for a calf,
and this is on a gold standard basis.”

-1900-

An interesting artcle appeared in the May 11, 1900 Burlington Democrat:

“A great many busybodies have asked of late as to the whereabouts of Joseph

Skaggs. Early last fall he took some 1,500 head of cattle to winter and until
recently kept them near Hartford and Emporia, but recently he took them down
near Eureka and turned them on pasture. He received a good round figure for
his labor and has returned to his farm near here. Will say for him that he is an
all around money maker and pays but little attention to anything but his own
business. When asked what he thought of the rot that was dished up in the Lebo
Interprise, he said that tattlers and gossipers could not hurt a Christian. The fact
is, we have a few people who have nothing themselves, hence they are jealous
of a man who is a rustler and tries to get ahead.”

Note: Joseph is reported to have later remarked he had not set foot in a church in
30 years.

<<---------------<><>--------<><>--------------->>

From the June 22, 1900 Burlington Democrat:

“Joe Skaggs wears a broad smile of late, he says it is a boy, sure.”

On a very hot day, July 24, 1900, John Addison Skaggs was born. He was a
healthy little boy, and Joseph was very proud to finally have a son!

-1901-

John was a happy little boy, crawling around the house and playing with his toys.
He was a delight to the family, and Maud and Inez played with him that summer
 while Viola was working. His laughter rang through out the house as the girls
chased him. He was the adored little brother. But, John became ill with a high
fever right before his birthday, so ill, that the family was unable to celebrate. He
passed away on July 26, 1901, just two days after his first birthday. A childhood
disease carried him away. He was buried in the Bowman Cemetery on Saturday
July 28, 1901 next to his grandfather and sister Pearl. (Location in cemetery was
17N, 27C)

-Sorrow-

What a sad Autumn it was on the ranch. Weeping and wailing was the song of the
day. Inez, at 5 was able to play and be happy, but Maud would spend the winter in
quiet contemplation, and grief. Viola turned to her faith, and Joseph to his
business. The memory of this lovely little boy would never be forgotten.

By November 1901, Joseph was residing in the Hotel at Strawn, The Woodson
House. He was “batching it”. His brother-in-law, Austin Woodson, was running
the hotel, and had recently divorced Joseph’s sister Sarah, who was now living in
 Oklahoma. Viola went to California to spend the winter with the girls, she sought
the comforting embrace of her mother. Sarah Funk was living in downtown Tulare
then, and working as a dress maker. Her 3 youngest children lived with her; Oliver,
Edward, and Lizzie who was just a few years older then Maud. Sarah was working
to pay her husband’s debt.

Teddy Roosevelt became President in 1901

-Strawn Hotel-

By January of 1902 the Woodson House in Strawn, had been renamed The Skaggs
Hotel. It was located on the north side of 2nd Street, between Cherokee and
Delaware Streets. Joseph had bought the property from his brother-in-law, and
had the hotel painted and some improvements made to the front of it. Joseph
continued his other business dealings as usual and had rented out his ranch. In
March he was in Hartford buying pigs that weighed 240 lbs. a piece.

Viola returned from her trip early this year, having received word from Joseph that
 he had purchased the hotel, and needed her. It appears this hotel was a small
affair, but not a walk in the park for Viola either, as she would basically be the one
running it. Joseph promised her she would be able to have ‘help’ of some sort with
the cooking, housekeeping, and the children. So, Viola packed up their
possessions, moved Maud from her school, and set up housekeeping in the hotel.

Viola’s friend, Sarah Sturges, was soon living in the Hotel as a paid employee.
Joseph’s sister Sarah Ellen appears to have retuned to Strawn and soon moved
back into the hotel, as well. It is uncertain if she was a help or a hinderance.

By late March, Viola was rundown, and she and Inez became sick with the flu and
needed nursing from Sarah Ellen and Sarah Sturges. Twelve year old Maud was
busy helping taking care of “mama”. Joseph and Maud were rarely ill but Viola
was no stranger to sickness. As a young girl she had the flu frequently, and almost
died of it on one occasion.

1901 Map of Strawn, Ks.

 June 1902 brought another round of heavy rains, and record breaking flooding of
the Neosho River. Strawn was hit hard by the flooding. The railroad was shut
down until the waters receded. Several feet of water were running through town.
It got into the shops, and houses, and was taken in stride by most of the residents,
as it had become a yearly occurance. The cellars, and the bottom floors of all the
buildings were full of water. The clean up was a consuming task for Viola, as she
had Sarah Ellen as a helper, and had to instruct her with every task. Viola feared
the malaria and typhoid that might follow, but stayed poised and in control.

In July, Joseph and Viola went to Fowler and Rocky Ford, Colorado, perhaps to visit
friends, family or perhaps just to get away. Joseph could see Viola needed a rest.
She came home restored and full of faith.

September of this year, Joseph purchased from W. Barton Smith, 80 acres, ajoining
his property on the east. The sum was $1,100.00. He then owned a total of 193
acres. He had some of his cattle on the new property soon after purchase.
 1901 Map of Strawn and surrounding area. Joseph’s property is shown in Section 25 (before he
purchased the 80 extra acres).

NE of Strawn in the bend of the River was the Bowman Cemetery. Joseph’s original 6 acre farm was in
section 34.

By October of ’02, Joseph was conducting so much business in Hartford that he

rented a house, owned by Mr. Tom Gibbon. Joseph had his eye on the hotel in
Hartford as well. It was around this time that the hotel in Strawn was either sold
or rented out. It was too much for Viola to run the hotel without Joseph’s more
frequent attendence and support, but most importantly, it was not lucrative. The
family moved back to the ranch. Viola had, by this time, become efficient at
packing and unpacking.
 -1903-

In May, Joseph hired a man (Mr. Austin) to make repairs on the ranch, including
new fences, barns, sheds, and repainting of other buildings. Joseph may have been
looking to sell the property.

Joseph’s sister Sarah Ellen married Mr. William Millard this year. It was her 3rd
husband, and the family had their fingers crossed.

In June of 03, Viola and the girls traveled to California for the summer. Their trip
was likley delayed by flooding. August found Joseph Treasurer of the Strawn Oil
Company. The company was organized to prospect for oil and gas in the Neosho
bottoms near Strawn. The business was located in Emporia, Ks. Joseph and his
friend and partner George Antrim were, at that time, in the business of purchasing
corn for cattle.

In July, Joseph was one of several directors for the Emporia Morgage Company. It
was a newly formed company, and held it’s first meeting in July of this year. This
was a growing interest for him. One which he would soon be cultivating.
 -1904-

June of 1904, brought, once again, heavy rains and local flooding. Each year broke
the previous record. This year was 23.9 feet. The hearty stock of residents in
Strawn evacuated. In July they received 7 additional inches of rain, and another
record was broken. Viola was thankful they were at the Ranch which was on
higher ground.

On July 22, 1904, Alonzo Pim Skaggs passed away at age 41. He left a widow,
Lizzie, and a 17 year old daughter, Delia Blanche. He may have died from
complications of malaria. His funeral and burial were in Fredonia, Kansas. He had
purchased and grown wealthy on 80 acres of Fall River bottom land west of
Fredonia, where he grew wheat and oats. In 1901, he purchased a large home for
his family in Fredonia, Ks. (902 E. Madison). After his death his widow continued
to benefit financially from the land, and owned the house until she died in 1965.
Lizzie’s grandfather (Justice William Fellows) had been one of the original
members of the Fredonia Town Co., which platted and named the city. In 1957,
Lizzie was considered the oldest living native Fredonian. She was active in the
community and generously loaned money to others. (Including the Darst family).

In early September, Viola took sick again. However, she may not have had the
luxury to be sick very long and had recovered enough to have a social at their
house on the 15th. This was a social for The League (L.A.S or Ladies Aid Society)
to sew carpet rags. This was a league associated with the Methodist Church
involved in quilt making, and bible study. They sewed and sold the homemade
items to pay the minister’s salary or donated it to other charities. Viola’s sister
Olivia was also a member. The ladies would typically prepare a large supper and
enjoy an evening of socializing. The evenings when Viola hosted were generally a
highlight for those in the group, because they got to sample her fine cooking.

Sept. 25th was Maud’s 15th birthday and she had a tea with some close friends at
her house. (The ranch) In October she attended another party with her teacher,
Miss. McCormic, and classmates. It was certainly a busy time for the family.

Maud was growing into a beautiful, spirited young lady. She was very comfortable
around horses. She would often drive her friends around in the buggy. Her great
love though, was riding them. These were the years Maud fondly remembered as
living on the ranch and riding horseback through the fields. She was a good
horsewoman and would ride with the wind blowing in her face for what seemed
like endless expanses of prairie. At night these fields were lit up by bright and
shining stars, as far as the eye could see. There was in Maud, something deep and
stirring. She loved and thought very deeply. Although, not a scholar like her
mother, she was equally as intelligent, and her place of solace would always be the
outdoors, around growing things, and animals.

-World’s Fair-

On October 30th, Joseph and Viola set off to attend the World’s Fair in St. Louis,
Missouri. Viola’s friend, Mrs. Sturges (Sarah), would stay at their home with the
girls, now 15, and almost 10. The fair was very largely attended by Kansans.
Several railroads were offering round trip fares and local newspapers reported
their various exhibitions. The Skaggs’ traveled via the KATY Railroad, likely
boarding at Hartford, Ks. They may have been gone for a number of weeks. It
would prove to be a romantic get away for the couple.

They would come home to find that Inez had been ill in their absence, and life was
at once thrust back into the normal routine.
 -1905-

In February Joseph was living in the hotel in Hartford, which he had purchased. He
renamed it, The Skaggs Hotel. Late Feburary, the family moved into the hotel.
This Hotel had been previously known as, The Hazelett House. It was located on
Commercial Street, across from the depot on Plumb Ave. (NE corner of Plumb and
Commercial). Viola’s friend Mrs. Sturges worked for Viola at the Hotel at
intervals.

Hartford, Kansas as it looked when the Skaggs lived there. ( Looking North on Commercial Street.) The
2 story building, 6th from the right was the hotel, it faced west. It had a covered porch.
 1901 Map of Hartford, Kansas (Skaggs Hotel in Block 12)

The first several months of this year found a round of social events. Viola had
joined the Methodist Church in Hartford, and became active in the Eagle Creek Aid
Society. Maud was becoming popular with her fellow students, and was attending
parties, and socials. Joseph added Court Commissioner to his repertoire. His job
was to assist with property disputes, and he reported to Judge Meckel in
Burlington. In March, John Meeks moved into the Skaggs’ Ranch house in
Ottumwa township. He was likely running it for Joseph. During all this moving,
Viola discovered she was pregnant again! Her baby was due in late summer.

-Howard-

Tuesday, August 22, 1905, brought the arrival of a bouncing baby boy! He was
given the name of Howard Dean Skaggs. The family was living in the hotel at
Hartford, and this is where he was born. Howard was a delightful, dark haired
baby, and had the rapt attention of 2 older sisters, his adoring parents, and the
patrons of the hotel.
 -The Eating House-

From The Emporia Times, April 26, 1906

“Hartford is blessed with one of the best hotels in the state of Kansas, generally
known as the Hartford House, or the M. K. & T. Eating House. The Katy
passenger trains meet here at noon and stop for dinner. The reputation of the
hotel is known from Parsons, to Junction City, and it is no uncommon thing to
hear commercial men all along the line complimenting the fine dinner and
cooking of the Hartford Hotel. No doubt much of the popularity of the house
should go to the credit of the proprietor, Mr. J. L. Skaggs, who as the boys term
it, “is a jolly good fellow”, who enjoys the esteem and friendship of his
townsmen. The hotel has a large commercial and local trade, and is one of the
industries of which the people of Hartford are very proud.”

In June of 1906, Joseph moved the hotel into a larger building and added an
addition. (He bought the lot or lots next to him in this block, which then gave him
three lots, on block 12.) Maud was working in the dining room, with some of her
girl friends, while her mother was cooking. It was Viola’s wonderful cooking that
brought in the customers!

Grandmother Funk had been staying with the family this summer, helping Viola
with the baby, and perhaps considering moving back to Kansas. There were
several rounds of visiting during her stay. In August of this year, Joseph travelled
to Coffeyville, Ks. and purchased 400 ft. of store space on Walnut Street. Right
across from the railroad tracks in the 1600 block. He must have had designs for a
new hotel and restaurant. (It is unknown what became of this property, but he
likely sold it) Christmas of 06’ was spent in Copan, Oklahoma, visiting some
Skaggs relations.
 -1907-

Maud’s Graduation photo, Hartford, Ks. (She is on the far left).

In early January of 1907, Maud graduated from high school in Hartford. She had
plans to enroll at the Kansas State Normal School in Emporia in the fall. (Name
changed to Kansas State Teachers College in 1923), which had an excellent
teaching program.
 Inez wrote a note in Maud’s autograph book dated January 9, 1907:
Dear Sister--

If you want to go to Heaven

And you love it’s joys,

Think more of the Lord,

And less of the boys.

Your Sister, Inez Skaggs

Kansas State Normal School

Joseph continued to have trouble with rhematism. (Sciatic Rhematism), and on the
11th of January he traveled to Excelsior Springs in Missouri for a treatment. This
may have consisted of massages, soaking in the springs, and drinking the spring
water. He came back in a vigorous state!

With improved health, Joseph was ready for a change. He wanted to sell out and
start a real estate business. He was 46, and the years of working on the ranch had
aggravated his rhematism, and the constant flooding of the Neosho River had
wrecked havoc on the cattle business.
 The Skaggs’ ran the hotel until March of 1907, when Joseph traded it in April of
that year to Mr. Commodore P. Binkley, for several lots in downtown Winfield, Ks.
and 220 acres of land in Cowley Co., Kansas. The value of the hotel was $3,500,
and the land and lots in Winfield had a total value of $11,000. How Joseph
negotiated this deal is uncertain, but it was a one sided deal greatly in Joseph’s
favor. (Perhaps Mr. Binkley did not read the contract fully.) At this time Joseph
traveled to Winfield, and stayed at the St. James Hotel on 10th and Main, while he
inspected this property and closed the deal. It is assumed he never planned to
move there, it was just a business deal. He had his sights on Fredonia, the logical
choice.

Viola and the girls apparently remained living and working in the hotel until early
May. Joseph was in Fredonia most of this time, making arrangments. The Skaggs
family spent a week saying good-bye to old friends, packing, and wrapping up their
affairs. With hopeful hearts, they were ready to move on.

From the Topeka Daily Capital, May 14, 1905:

-<>-FLOURISHING FREDONIA-<>-
“One of Kansas’ Most Prosperous and Beautiful Cities---

An Unsurpased Location in the Gas and Oil Belt.”

The 2nd week of May the family was on the road. They traveled to Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, apparently for a visit with family, and then went to Fredonia. They
travelled by train, having their household goods shipped separately. Dean was not
quite 2, and a handful for Viola and the girls to manage on the trip. Maud was
indispenable, and kept the baby quiet by reading to him.
 ’’Stick to it”, said Peter; everything has an end,

and you get to it if you only keep all on.”

From the children’s book:

The Railroad Children, written by Edith Nesbit in 1906.

<<--------------------<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>-------------------->>

Fredonia, Kansas

400 N. 10th, Fredonia, Ks

 The family settled into Fredonia by late May 1907. Joseph purchased a lovely
home for the family at 400 N. 10th Street. It was an established boarding house.

In 1907, Fredonia, was a pretty little town sitting on a plateu at the base of the
“Twin Mounds”, and situated between the Fall and Verdigris Rivers. It was the
county seat of Wilson County. Many successful men had grown significant farms
and ranches in the outlying areas. The bottom lands of rich loam soil saw little of
the flooding that Coffey Co. had experienced. This city of 3,000 souls had two
railroads: The Atchinson, Topeka, and Santa Fe, and The Missouri, Pacific.

Maud Skaggs. College photo

By fall of 1907, it is presumed Maud started her classes at the University, and was
comfortably situated in a dorm or boarding house in Emporia.

-1908-

The 2nd of January 1908, brought a dispute of propterty between C. P. Binkley and
Joseph. The complaint was filed in Emporia. (This was the hotel property in
Hartford, that Joseph made the $7,500 profit on.) Joseph sought to recover
property that Binkley claimed did not belong to him. Joseph won his case.
Between Jan. 16th and 21st of 1908, Joseph sold his property in Winfield to P. H.
Albright for $7,900.00.

-From Cattleman to Real Estate Magnet-

Sometime in 1908, Joseph set up a store front in downtown Fredonia. The name
was, Skaggs & Co. The address was 401 1/2 N. 6th, Fredonia, Ks. The business
was: Real Estate, Farm and Land Loans. His partner was J. C. Smith. (Until about
1916). This buisness was located on the corner of 6th and Madison. (The NW
corner) It faced the Courthouse Square. Joseph shared the upstairs of the building
with D. A. Loomis, photographer, who had 4 rooms on the southeast. Joseph had
his offices in the back, and had southwest windows.

Real Estate, Farm and Land Loans. Circa 1908. Located on the very left in this photo.
 Viola kept up correspondence with her friends and family, and in July she traveled
to Hartford with the children for a short visit. After her return, it was back to work
in the boarding house. This was a more relaxed set up than running the hotels,
and even the ranch. She did, however have several boarders to cook and clean for,
with no apparent help.

In October, Joseph’s sister Sarah Ellen, now Mrs. William Millard, sunk deeper into
mental illness. She inherited several lots of property from her 2nd husband, who
had died, (A.A. Woodson), and in 1907 she gave 14 city lots in Strawn, Ks. to a
church; The Israelite House of David of the Eve and Body of Christ Incorp. which
caused quite a scandal. Communisim was a tenant of their faith, and followers
were expected to give to the church all their worldy goods. After a dispute, the
church returned the lots to her children. Soon after this affair, she was admitted
into a hospital in Oklahoma for the insane, where she lived for some time.
Eventually her children had her relocated to California, where she died near family
on Dec. 4th 1923.

In December 1908, son Howard was 3 years old. (The family called him Dean).
Maud was away at school, and Inez was 12. Little Dean was running around
underfoot one afternoon, and was playing in the kitchen. As he was playing about
the cook stove the base broke causing the stove to tilt and upset a boiler of
scalding water upon him. Viola was standing next to him during the accident and
saved his life by catching the boiler with one hand. Dean was badly scaulded. The
skin came off his forehead, nose, chin and right side of his face. His right arm and
feet were badly scaulded as well. Viola immediatly called for the doctor. Dean
was put in bed and remarkably improved fairly rapidly. His eyesight was not
affected, and he suffered no disfigurement. He was one tough little guy.

-1909 to 1910-

The years 1909-10 were successful for the family. Joseph was kept busy at work,
buying and selling land and Viola was busy at home. By 1910, Maud was home,
and at age 20 very independent. She had a secured a position as a sales lady at
Hubbell Brother’s Dept. Store in downtown Fredonia, working in the fine china
department. (Owned by Lois Hubbell and ran by her 3 sons.) This business was
located 4 buildings north of Joseph’s office. Maud, to Viola’s disappointment, did
not finished her degree in teaching. Instead, Maud had become a social bee,
attending dances, picnics, and other social events. Maud was going out with a
group of friends and perhaps seeing several men. Nothing serious it appears, but
perhaps, as one gentleman put it, “Say, have you got your sowing done
yet?”....Frank Darst (in a letter written to Maud on July 6, 1910)

At this time Inez was 15 and attending school. (This was the old High School that
was in use until 1914.) She was a lovely girl with her share of suitors as well. She
was a typical little sister, and wanted to do everything that Maud did. Viola had
hopes for her attending College after graduation.

In April 1910 several changes were happening to downtown Fredonia, affecting

Maud and Joseph. The old hitch posts were removed and concrete paving was
placed all around the courthouse square, including the front of Joseph’s building
and Hubbell’s Dept Store, despite a petition against it. Much of the town was still
getting around in horse and buggy, and this change caused quite a stir. Several
roads about the city and connecting towns were being paved around this time as
well. Fredonia was joining the 20th Century!

Fredonia, Kansas. Court House in the Square.

 -1911-

In October of 1911, Joseph attended the Rosebud Land drawing in South, Dakota.
This was the opening of the Sioux Indian lands. Joseph traveled up on the train
with several of the local businessmen. He did not win any land, but he enjoyed the
trip and found the Native American culture fascinating.

<<<<<<-------------------->>>>>>

The Skaggs Family quietly welcomed the New Year. A year of change.

-The Marriage Year-1912-

Early January of 1912 was a happy, bustling place at the Skaggs home on 10th
Street. Maud and Inez both had beau’s. Maud had been seeing Mr. Frank Cloe
Darst for almost 2 years, and their fondness for each other was growing. Frank
was the youngest child of John Darst and Regenia Sheets. His father had passed
way in 1910, and left Frank and his mother alone on their farm. Frank supported
himself and his mother by farming, and working for the county, building bridges.
 Frank would be 32 in March of 1912, and was affectionatley known as Uncle
Frank to his many neices and nephews. He was of German extraction, and was tall
and slender with brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. From all accounts, one could
gather he was a hard working, patient, soft spoken, country boy, with only a high
school education.

Frank belonged to the Dunkard Church. (German Baptist Brethern). The

Dunkard’s led a conservative lifestyle similar to the Amish. The women wore plain
dresses and head coverings. The men wore long beards. They practiced baptism
by immersion, and refused military service. It does appear, however, that Frank’s
generation were of a more liberal mind set. Frank was a playful fellow, that went
to parties and drank. He wore no beard, but he did attend church with his mother.
 1912 was a leap year. This meant the girl could do the proposing. Sometime
during their courtship Maud sent a photo to Frank. On the back of the photo was
written:
“You can put this out in the wheat field to make the wheat grow. Daisy is not much better today,
she was not able to work. How are you and your chills? Margaret said your mother was one of the
nicest ladies in Fredonia. Now don't forget to tell her. Your answer soon. MCS —“

This is the photo Maud sent Frank

The question is, was Maud proposing? Was Frank stalling, claiming his mother
was too cantankerous?

-Maud’s Wedding-

Frank must have given the right answer, for he and Maud mutally consented to
marry each other. They had a beautiful connection, and shared similar ideas about
life. Maud had seen her father grow rich, if not greedy. Perhaps, she invisioned a
different life for herself. A life with a man who was strong, yet gentle. A man that
 was happy with the simple pleasures of life. A man that was honest and
dependable, and would never leave her side. That would be Mr. Frank Cloe Darst!

Preparations for Maud’s wedding began soon after. She would need a dress and
shoes, but she preferred modest trimmings. She did not want to appear superior
to her new family. Joseph and Viola had some reservations about the union, and it
may have caused tension on the proceedings. One can image Frank stayed clear of
the smoke and let Maud handle it. Maud was her father’s daughter, after all, and
stood her own ground!

No, she did not attend church with her mother, and would not be married there.
No, she did not finish her teaching degree, and was not going back to school. No,
Frank had no money, his farm was not profitable, he was a Dunkard. No, he had
no education. Yes, Frank was 9 years her senior. Yes, Frank’s mother was difficult.
Yes, there would be struggles. Yes, the neighbors would talk.

No, No, No, and Yes, Yes, Yes. She would marry Frank, and be Happy!
 Frank Darst

On Friday evening, the 12th of April, the week following Easter, there was a small
ceremony at the Skaggs’ house. Inez and, her beau, Lacy Maupin, stood up with
the couple. 6 year old Dean, may have participated as ring bearer. Maud stood
next to Frank, in her pretty new dress holding a bouquet of Spring flowers. Frank
wore his best suit. They repeated their vows before a Methodist Minister, then
Frank placed a small gold band on Maud’s finger with a twinkle in his eye, and a
grin on his face. They sealed the bond with a sweet kiss, giggling at what had just
happened. She was now Mrs. Frank C. Darst!!
 Afterwards, a large dinner was served to the small assemblage, consisting
primarily of family. There was also a delicious cake. The couple opened a few gifts
and after a few toasts the reception was over. Maud threw the bouquet to Inez
and the bride and groom ran out the front door to the awaiting horse and buggy.

There would be no honeymoon, but to this happy couple the warm night, the stars,
the moon, the cans clanking off the back of the buggy, and a bottle of wine to
drink on the ride home would be enough enchantment for their first night
together!

To others it would seem a difficult start for Maud, in the rambling old farm house,
with the cranky old mother-in-law, the broken down this, the worn out that.....But
Maud and Frank saw a future together filled with love and happiness!!

<-----<--<<<<--------<><>-------->>>>-->----->

-Inez’s Wedding-

In the Spring of 1912, Inez was attending the old Fredonia High School which was
located on Washington Street. A 5-6 block walk from her house. It is uncertain if
Inez graduated with her high school class, graduated early, or graduated at all.

Inez, turned 16 in Feburary of this year, and was quite smitten with 19 year old,
Mr. Berry Lacy Maupin. Lacy and Inez attended School together and may have
been sweet on each other for a year or more. Lacy spent his formative years in
Harrisonville, Missouri. He was on the short side, with light hair, and blue eyes. He
was the only child of Granville Maupin and Jesse Yocum. Lacy’s mother died when
he was 8, and his father remarried a lady named Rose Smith. Lacy and his father
ran The Globe Trading Co., in Elk City, Ks. (1909-1910). After that closed, they
moved to Fredonia in 1911 and opened a clothing shop at 319 N. 6th. This was
one short block south of Joseph’s building. Granville and Joseph may have been
friends, or at least of a comfortable acquaintance. The Maupin’s lived one block
over from the Skaggs, on the corner of 9th and Madison, in a boarding house.

Viola and Inez were very close. They attended the Methodist Church together, and
in many ways Inez was very much like Viola as a girl, with a quick wit, and
excellence in academics. Viola had dreamed for so long of College educated
daughters, spending sleepless nights fretting over their future. But Inez did not
even get as far as Maud. She threw everything in for the joys of married life.

Despite Viola’s protestations, Inez would follow her own star. Joseph wanted her
to be happy, and if she wanted to get married, so be it.

Inez and Lacy’s wedding was on Saturday, Sept 21, 1912 in the Skaggs’ parlour.
Inez looked beautiful in her expensive dress, with matching shoes, and gloves. As
the couple stood before the Methodist minister, they said their vows with flushed
cheeks and Lacy slipped a small gold band on Inez’s trembling finger. Maud, now
pregnant with her first child, stood up with Inez, and Frank with Lacy. It was a
beautiful evening, and sentimental for Viola, who now had 2 married daughters.

The couple started wedded life in Fredonia with Joseph and Viola in the boarding
house. Not too romantic, but Viola could remember those days when she was a
young bride, and there was no privacy.
 -1913-

The bustling community of Fredonia was populated by 3,019 souls this year. But
the population was growing!

Maud and Frank had settled into life on the farm, where Maud had sole
responsibilty of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. She leaned to cook from her
mother, and was soon making wonderful meals on that antique cook stove. Maud
was by nature very independent, and what would have been difficult for others,
she managed with ease. Before long she had turned the dusty, delapitated
farmhouse into a functional living space, with clean sheets on the beds, pretty
curtains at the windows, and flowers on the dinning room table.

At 75, Mother Darst was extremely difficult, quarrelsome, and suffering with
dementia. After her husband died (1910), she was often sent to live with daughter
Hattie and her husband Newt in Greenwood County, Kansas, or daughter Flaura
and her family near Fredonia, taking turns with her care. Frank had kept her at the
 farm by himself prior to his marriage probably only partially.

Hattie had welcomed Maud into the family with a greatful heart, with the hopes
that she wouldn’t be scared off, and hoping Regenia could be settled back
permanently into the Darst farm house.

Regenia would stay with Frank and Maud at the farm, Maud was firm on it. Maud
had a huge heart and “mother Darst” was sleeping in her own bed bed by the first
few months after their wedding.

The last year had shown that Maud was no shrinking violet. A character trait she
would carry thru her life, was Maud’s ability to take charge of a situation and
handle it with calm and reserve. Maud knew how to handle Regenia, and she did
so by taking no nonsense from her in a loving, yet firm way. Soon Regenia was
calmer and the household became a quiet place with a daily routine of work, rest,
play and LOVE. Maud was a peacemaker.

Darst Farm House

 Frank focused on the farm. It was 40 acres (a quarter section) The railroad
(Atchinson, Topeka, Santa Fe) took up 2 acres. Frank grew flax and corn, and had
a large vegetable garden and fruit trees. There was also a team of horses, some
chickens, turkeys, and dairy cows. A large pasture with a slough running through
it provided drinking water for the cows.

The first week of February 1913, was snowy and bitter cold. Gas meters were
freezing on the outside of houses. Maud may have used the old cookstove as well
as the fireplace for warmth.

On Tuesday, February 11, 1913, in the farmhouse, Maud gave birth to a son,
Bernard Raymond Darst. Bernard means Brave Bear in German. The name
suited this sturdy, healthy little boy. He was fair eyed with light wisps of blonde
hair, so much like his father.

Barney Darst

There hadn’t been a baby in that house for some time, and this beautiful baby’s
cries softened the heart of Grandmother Darst. Not to mention, Maud’s folks were
 elated! Barney would grow to be a quiet, loving soul. Maud’s life became
centered around this little visitor. She found that Regenia and Barney would
soothe each other and they would rock contendely while Maud did chores.

Soon after Bernard’s birth, (Feb. 1913) Joseph purchased some property (town
lots) in Gardner, Ks, just outside of Kansas City, Ks. This was an establish store.
The Cash Store. He sent Lacy and Inez, and Lacy’s parents up there to run it. They
settled in and made a good run of it.

By Spring, Inez had announced her pregnancy. In May, Inez and Lacy returned to
Fredonia on a visit. Inez was starting to show with her pregnancy, and had
possibly been sick. She may have been tearful and sullen, complaining to her
family about her life in Gardner. Soon after their visit, Joseph began to look for a
buyer. On June 3, Joseph purchased a building in Elk City, and commenced setting
up a general store in it. In mid June he took the Maupin’s to Kansas City and
together they bought supplies for the new store. Around this time, Viola and
Maud went to Gardner, presumedly to help Inez pack up her personal belongings.
By July 4th, the business in Gardner had been traded to E.E. Joyce who was a
member of the Dunkard Church in Fredonia, for 80 acres in Center Township. By
the end of June the Maupin’s had left Gardner, and were setting up the shop in Elk
City, Kansas.

During this time Viola was concerned with Inez’s health. She was more delicate
then Maud, and memories of losing her own babies may have surfaced. Inez was
certainly missing her mother, and was not happy being pregnant. At 18, she had
never been away from home before. Now she was a wife, and soon to be a
mother. On a happy note, Viola was cheered to have her daughter closer to home,
as Elk City was only about 22 miles away.

July found the Maupin’s extended family running their store in Elk City, Kansas.
The young couple and Lacy’s parents were all living in the upstairs of their shop
building. This was a general type of store, selling clothing, and dry goods, and
perhaps Inez worked behind the counter, if she felt well. The shop was doing well,
and the Maupins were making a fair living. However, Elk City was a rough sort of
town, with a typical evening consisting of several drunken men stumbling out of
 the town’s saloons or a loud fight over a card game. In the fall, Inez retruned to
her parents house to await the birth of her baby.

On October 25, 1913, Catherine Hope Maupin was born in Fredonia to Lacy and
Inez. She was a fine baby, and a delight to both families. After a period of rest,
Inez reluctantly returned to Elk City. Mother Maupin would help Inez care for the
baby, but Inez really just wanted to be near her own mother.

-1914-

April was a beautiful month in Kansas. Joseph was enjoying a busy business, and
to improve it he went to Chanute, Ks. and bought the latest stream line model
Buick, with a hand crank. There would be no stopping him now!

Joseph was one of 60 folks in town who owned an auto. He was certainly enjoying
his life, sporting around in the car, perhaps singing....

Popular Ditty of the Day:

He'd have to get under—get out and get under—to fix his little machine
 He was just dying to cuddle his queen
But ev'ry minute
When he'd begin it
He'd have to get under—get out and get under—then he'd get back at the wheel
A dozen times they'd start to hug and kiss
And then the darned old engine, it would miss
And then he'd have to get under—get out and get under—and fix up his automobile.

Viola was relaxed and doing minimal work in the boarding house. She and Joseph
would often visit the girls on the week-ends, taking little gifts, and bringing all the
news of Fredonia. During the week, evenings were spent helping Dean with his
studies. Ah, Dean! He was Viola’s little scholar!

-1915-

Maud was chasing little Bernard around the farm south of town and keeping her
extended family happy. She never saw a day of ill health, and it appears Barney
had her constitution. Frank was working on the farm, making repairs, raising a
few crops, and caring for a few farm animals, mostly cows. His machinery,
equipment, and tools were old and outdated, and when his horses became sick or
lame, he was required to support the family doing work for the county, building
bridges along rainbow creek. One bridge he helped build was the railroad bridge
over Fall River. He also had a little business of selling White Holland Turkey eggs.
The eggs sold for 20 cents each. The family were happy despite their troubles, and
always took time to dance and laugh together.
 Family photo of RR Bridge over Fall River

Frank had been paying off debts since his father died, including medical bills, legal
fees and court costs, and by November of 1915 he made his final payments. He
may have had other debts, but things were starting to improve for the Darst’s
financially.

Inez and Lacy were getting along fine in Elk City. Catherine Hope was healthy and
growing, and Inez was slowly adjusting to motherhood. The Maupin’s business was
apparently doing well, and Lacy and his father were respected businessmen in
their community.

Despite the normal routines of their lives, across the sea trouble was brewing. On
August 3rd, Germany declared war on France and invaded Belgium. The next day
Britain declared war on Germany.

-1916-

In March of this year, Maud was expecting her 2nd child. She was in excellent
health and was looking foward to the new addition. This month Frank suffered a
laceration on his arm which required a doctor to come out to the farm and sew
him up. Usually Maud would bandage his scrapes and cuts, but this was a rather
 severe laceration. He was unable to work for a short time, but in regular Darst
fashion, he healed up soon enough. It would be an early spring and summer with
record warm weather, and planting started early. Bernard enjoyed sitting out in
the sun on a blanket while Maud got the garden ready. The sun always made him
sneeze.

After a swelteringly hot summer, Maud gave birth to her 2nd son on Sept. 23,
1916, missing her birthday by 2 days. They named him John Skaggs Darst, after
both of his grandfathers. He was a beautiful, chubby baby, with a sweet
demeanor. Frank had never been happier. These were wonderful days on the
Darst Farm, with 2 healthy sons, and a pretty, smiling wife. Even Regenia was
happy, and content to have another baby to rock.

-1917-

Due to some local economic problems, Lacy and Inez closed up their shop in Elk
City in February and moved their business to Fredonia. Sometime prior to this they
had moved their household goods to Fredonia and rented a house, which Inez and
Catherine Hope were living in.

The United States entered WW1 on April 6th, despite the efforts of President
Woodrow Wilson to keep America out of it. All men born between 18 and 45 were
required to register for the draft. This included Frank Darst, and Lacy Maupin.
There hadn’t been a draft in the U.S. since 1863. In those days names were often
drawn out of a hat to fill a quota, and men were paid to volunteer, or could hire a
substitute. Things were certainly different in 1917, and most men did not even
understand the war or it’s particulars. It was a confusing time.

There were 3 Draft Registrations. The first were for men 21-30, this included Lacy
Maupin, who was 25. He registered on June 5, 1917. At this time the Maupin
family was living in a 2 bedroom house at 521 N. 11th in Fredonia, across from the
Dunkard Church.

By September, the 3rd Draft Registration was for men up to age 45. Frank was 37
and registered on Sept 12, 1917. Both Frank and Lacy were exempt, due to
extreme hardship. (Married registrants with dependent spouse or dependent
 children with insufficient family income if drafted.)

Wilson County, Kansas, had to call up 9 men to fill their quota in the first draft.
During the summer 100 men were called for medical examinations. This included
many young men in Fredonia.

Athough Maud already had a large garden, Viola may have put in a Victory
Garden. Many of Viola’s neighbors were putting in gardens, and by doing so, the
farm produce could be sent overseas. The Darst farm enjoyed a war time boon, as
the demand for produce, and grains had increased, and prices escalated.
 -1918-

March 13, 1918, Frank’s mother, Regenia Darst, passed peacefully away at home,
of age related illnesses. She was 80 years old, and had been sick only 2 weeks. She
died in the old, beautifully carved bed with the high head board the family brought
with them from Indiana. The funeral was at the farm house, and the service was
given by United Brethren Minister: Ralph W. Quakenbush.

Regenia was born near Middletown, Henry Co., Indiana, to Joshua Sheets and
Lydia Sherfy, on May 3, 1837. Her grandparents had been German immigrants.
She married John Darst in 1862, and had 8 children, all born in Indiana. (2 died in
infancy) John and Regenia came to Fredonia, Kansas in Sept. 1883 with others to
set up the Dunkard Church. On their arrival to Kansas, John purchased a 40 acre
farm with a one room log house on it, made quite study and held together with
mud plaster. The family of 8 lived here the first winter. (Frank was only 3 years
old.) In the Spring, John made an additon, framed it, and continued to add on to it
over the years, and that is the house Frank and Maud occupied. John Darst built a
 one room school with native limestone, just south of their property which he
named East Rainbow School. It was named for nearby Rainbow Creek. It was
important for his children to all attend school, something he may not have had the
privilege of himself. Immigrating from Germany, at age 14, he struggled to learn
the English language, and when he did, he would never allow his children to speak
German. They were Americans and would speak English!

Beloved by her large family, Regenia left behind, a sister, a brother, 6 children, and
numerous grand, and great grandchildren. She was buried beside her husband
John in the Fredonia Cemetery.

John and Regenia Darst circa 1900

Maud had been caring for Regenia during her illness. Friends and family had been
very supportive. In July, Frank’s sisters Hattie and Gladys turned over their shares
 of the 40 acre Darst farm to Frank, for $230.00. In September, brother Charles
Darst, turned over his intrest as well for $230.00. All of Frank’s profits during the
war years were put into the land.

After his mother’s death, Frank’s attendance in the Dunkard Church became less
frequent. At his last visit to the Church he was “expelled” for wearing a colorful
tie. (which Maud probably put on him.) After that he no longer attended their
services, but spent some time every Sunday morning alone in prayer and
meditation in the farmhouse. There was a very old, large bible that had been in his
family for a long time. It held a place of prominence in the front room of the
farmhouse.

Dunkard Church, Fredonia, Ks.

In June of 1918, threre was another draft call, and 76 Wilson County men were
sent to either Camp Funston, Ks. or Camp Cody in Demming, New Mexico. So far
Frank’s family had been spared.

On November 11th, The Great War ended. 11 am, on the 11th day, of the 11th
month.
 -1919-

After the war, the cost of living sky rocketed. Inez and Lacy’s business suffered as
a result. However, Josepsh purchased another town lot on the 23rd of January. He
was able to thrive in any economic environment.

Frank was working this year on The Rainbow Creek Bridge. This was a concrete
arched bridge over Rainbow Creek. One mile west from the Darst farm house.
(Bridge replaced in 1999).

-1920-

The weather forcast for Tuesday, Jan. 6 1920, was rain, cold, and possible snow
overnight. On this wet night Maud and Frank welcomed Doreen Elizabeth Darst.
 Finally a girl, and Maud’s smallest baby. She was a dark haired beauty! Maud
couldn’t believe she finally had a little girl to fuss over! Viola would lavish her with
dresses and pink blankets. Inez adored her too, and gave Maud many of Catherine
Hope’s hand me downs. Frank and Maud were happy and content to fill up that
old farmhouse with love.

Sometime before 1920, Joseph sold his house at 400 N. 10th, and moved 2 1/2
blocks north to 621 N. 10th. This was a small one story house with 2 bedrooms. It
was just one block away from the new High School. He paid cash for it. The plan
was for Viola to retire from taking care of boarders, and to have her mother, Sarah
move in with them.

By April, Viola’s mother Sarah, aged 73, and Viola’s neice, Lavern Funk, aged 10,
had moved into the house. Lavern’s mother died when she was 4, her father
Oliver Funk could not care for her, and she had been with Sarah for the last several
years. Sarah even had Lavern’s brother, David, with her for a while, possibly at
Joseph’s, but he may have been unruly, and was sent back to California. Each of
Lavern’s 5 siblings had been sent to live with a different relative.

It is unsure how they all fit into that little house. It is possible that 15 year old
Dean slept in a room off the kitchen. After Doreen was born, shy Lavern went to
live with Maud and Frank, helping to care for the children, and stayed with the
Darsts until she married in 1930. On the farm, she thrived and came out of her
shell.

Inez and Lacy had moved their residence around a few times, perhaps looking for
the least expensive place. In 1920 that was a west side Fredonia boarding house.
They had opened a shop in downtown Fredonia, and had reopened a shop in Elk
City as well, but their financial struggles were ongoing. Their business in Elk City
suffered a tragic robbery in July, with a loss of $850.00. They may not have had
insurance.

At 7, Hope was a happy school girl who often visited her grandmother and
grandfather Skaggs, and enjoyed spending time with her cousins. She likely spent
quite a bit of time on the Darst farm. Maud was very welcoming, and another
mouth to feed for her was never an imposition.
 -1921-

This year Joseph purchased land (320 acres) near Buxton ( SW of Fredonia) and
started a little oil and gas compnay: Skaggs, Maupin, Darst. Perhaps it was an
investment for his children. There were 5 gas wells on it, that for some time made
the group a little money. On April 19th, they drilled and hit a well that was the
largest gusher yet found in that area. Their property proved to be the largest
shallow gas field in Wilson County, Kansas. Eventually, they sold this property for
a profit. This year, Joseph was also buying up more Fredonia city lots.

Dean, going on 16, spent the summer at a Boy’s Camp south of Elmdale, Ks. This
was a YMCA camp, Camp Wood.

On August 5th, Fredonia was hit with a major wind, rain, and hail storm. The
storm broke the glass in every business, and house on the south side of the city.
Trees were stripped, and corn was pulled off the stalks on the farms south of town.
The walnut sized hail killed a few chickens on Frank’s farm, and damaged his
crops. Frank’s brother in law, Newt Miller, had a number of hogs and chickens
killed from the hail. The hail covered the ground completely, and old timers
reported the sky resembled the darkness when the grasshoppers hit in 1874.

-1922-

On April 12th, Frank and Maud, celebrated their 10 year wedding anniversary with
family. Their love was evident.

On August 2, 1922 Frank and Maud welcomed another little girl to this happy,
growing family, Betty Ann Darst. She was a tiny, dark haired girl. Doreen was 2,
John was almost 7, and Barney was 10. Cousin Lavern was 13. Barney and Lavern,
mature for their ages, had their hands full going to school, and minding the
smaller children. Barney was dependable and was often left in charge.

Inez and Lacy’s struggles were many. Their Fredonia store was bankrupt, and
liquidated by August. In September, Inez filed for divorce. It appears the couple
may have been seperated the better part of 1922. Inez and Catherine Hope
remained in the west side boarding house in Fredonia and Inez sought
employment. Lacy moved in with his parents.
 At this time, Doreen would often spend time with Inez. She lived with her part of
the time to give Maud a break. Doreen it has been told, was a very beautiful little
girl, and a flirt by the age of 2. This was an amusement to Inez, and Doreen
adored Inez for she lavished her with attention.

-1923 to 1924-

In March of 1923, Baby Betty was ill with a sore throat, and had to have it lanced
several times. The baby seemed improved and when Frank turned 43 on March
30th his immediate family, including sister Hattie’s family, celebrated with a
dinner.

In April, Betty was critically ill with whooping cough. The doctor was called and
Maud never left her side. The other children were kept out of her room, and she
slowly recovered. None of the other children appear to have taken ill. By this time,
Maud was esteemed in the neighborhood as a nurse, helping others with ill
children, and never becoming ill herself.

For Frank Darst and his farm, this was the begining of some difficult times.
Farmers across the country were suffering an agricultural depression. Prices of
wheat, corn, and other crops had plummeted. Any hopes Frank may have had for
getting ahead were dashed.

While the Darst’s were frantically trying to stay on an even keel, and never had
enough hours in the day to complete chores, Inez was bored in Fredonia. There
was nothing interesting for her to do, and no one interesting to meet. Everywhere
she went, she ran in to Lacy, or his family. Lacy and his father reopened a shop on
the south square of Fredonia. Called: Maupin’s. They were selling discounted
men’s shoes in the in the Bauer Block. Inez must have been incredulous. She
wanted to get away. Hoping for a new start, Inez took Catherine Hope and moved
to Kansas City. The bright lights and excitement of the city were just what she was
looking for. Joseph and Viola helped her get situated and find the right apartment.
In no time at all she had found a job, met new friends, and had an admirer.
Howard Dean Skaggs graduated from High School in May of 1923. The graduation
ceremonies were held in the Hudson Opera House. His was the largest class in the
history of the High School and included 60 students. The Skaggs were proud of his
fine grades through school and were hopeful for his continued education. Dean
had been in the High School band, and the Sunday School Orchestra at the
Presbyterian church, and played the trombone quite well. He had also been
accepted into The DeMoley, a Franternal organization. He would soon be off to
Kansas State University in Manhattan, Ks. in the fall.
 Dean Skaggs

On October 13, 1923 Sarah Ann Hopper Funk died. She had returned to California
prior to her death, perhaps to live with daughter Olivia Funk Kelley. She was 76,
and had been hale and hearty most of her life. Born in Lousiana April 9, 1847, she
was the eldest of 4 children. By 13, her parents (Robert Edmund Hooper and Jane
Evelyn Godfrey) were both deceased. Sarah and her sister Mary Olivia were taken
in by neighbors until they finished school. Her 2 brothers were taken in by friends
or family. At age 17, Sarah went to Indiana, presumably to attend or teach school,
or perhaps as a domestic servant. She was bright, intelligent and valued
education. She married Hardin Funk on Jan. 4, 1866. After her marriage she
became active in the Methodist Church.
 Sarah Ann Funk

Viola and the family would miss “Grandmother Funk”, with her quiet ways, her
wise words, and comforting embrace.

Dean was soon settled into College life, and in 1924 he was a Cadet in the Kansas
State Agricultural College Military Band. He also was involved with the College
Orchestra. Dean was doing quite well, and was even taking summer classes. Viola
was beaming!!
 -1925-

In March, Lacy Maupin declared personal bankruptcy. It would not be the end of
the line for the Maupin’s. Lacy’s father, Granville, was determined they continue
to make a go at some sort of business, always preferring to be his own boss. And
they would start again.

The summer of 1925 Dean was playing trombone with The Yellow Jacket
Orchestra at Hotel Witter in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This band was based
out of Emporia State University. The hotel was very sophisticated and the band
were expected to be on their best behavior, which may have been impossible for
the playful Dean. The band found the gig so lucrative, they returned again in the
summer of1926.

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Inez was enjoying all things the big city offered her.
The family was impressed that she had become interested in politics. Come to find
out, her boyfriend was running for a political position. Inez admitted to her family
that she went to various polling stations and voted for him several times. Now
that’s Woman’s Sufferage at it’s finest!
 -1926-

One night, as Inez was enjoying the night life in Kansas City, she met the dashing
Todd Manfred Eshelman. Inez was young, beautiful, outgoing, and perhaps
flirtatious.

Todd was a tall gentleman with brown hair and blue eyes. He often wore a
railroad cap to cover his bald head. Born in Nebraska into a large family, Todd
who had never married, spent his adult years in Kansas City working as a pullman
conductor for the railroad and supporting his widowed, disabled mother until she
passed in 1922. He had also helped support his other siblings. He was stable, a
fine dresser, and had a growing savings account.

Todd Eshelman
 -1927-

On Wednesday, May 18, 1927, Inez married Todd, a week after his 39th birthday.
Inez was 32, and daughter Hope was 8. They set up housekeeping in the brand
new Alps Apartments in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Life in Kansas City
offered many pleasant experiences for the young couple. Jazz music, fine dinning,
culture, and for Inez it offered the security she had been longing for.

Howard Dean Skaggs was married this year to Elizabeth Mary Mesiner. Elizabeth
was a classmate of Dean’s at Kansas State University. She was born in Kansas City,
Mo. on March 15, 1904. Her parents were Edward Colfax Mesiner and Grace
Jackson, and were residents of Wichita, Ks. Liz’s father worked in the dairy
business. Dean and Liz made a very handsome couple. They had both completed 3
years of College. They would settle in Lafontaine, Ks. where Joseph helped them
set up a General Store. Lafontaine was 11 miles to the north of Elk City, and 10
miles south of Fredonia. This was a very rural area. The Missouri Pacific RR ran
 through it. It was in Tallyrand Township, and there were 150 familes in the town
and township combined. One might imagine how 2 College educated individuals
could find enough to stimulate, and entertain them in such a setting.

Liz Mesiner

Lacy Maupin also remarried this year to Miss Rubye Green. They moved to
Winfield, Kansas and Lacy set up a retail store. They would eventually have 2 sons.

-1928 to 1929-

On Friday, December 12, 1928, Dean and Liz Skaggs presented to the world,
Howard Dean Skaggs Jr. He was born in Fredonia, Ks. Like his father, he would be
musically inclined. Joseph was beyond proud!
 After almost 10 months of waiting, a spectacular event occured in the Darst
Farmhouse on June 5, 1929. The birth of a beautiful baby girl! She weighed 12 lbs
on the farm scale! This family of 6 welcomed her with great love and lavished her
with careful attention. Maud and Frank were unsure of a name, they were
expecting a boy. She would need a strong and beautiful name. They phoned Inez
and Todd with their happy news, and Todd suggested the name Gwendolyn, which
means: White Ring. The name suited this pretty blonde haired baby and she
became the adoring pet of this family. Strong and healthy, she grew fast that
summer and more beautiful every month. It is suspected she was her father’s
favorite!

Either to help Maud out or to satisfy Inez, Gwen stayed with Todd and Inez for
several weeks, or months when she was an infant. Inez either could not, or would
not have anymore children of her own, and she loved to take Maud’s girls when
ever she could. Doreen and Gwen were taken frequently into Inez’s care. Betty
may have been over protected by her mother, due to being sickly as an infant, and
was kept at home.

The autumn of 1929 was the beginning of the Great Depression. It began on
October 28th when Wall Street crashed and The United States experienced it’s
biggest stock market drop in history.

-1930-

Due to good weather and suficient rains, the farmers of the midwest experienced a
boon in crops this year, yet the prices were still low and the Darst family was on a
very tight budget. Selling eggs, milk, and vegetables was a way to increase their
income. Sometimes their dinner consisted of nothing more then sweet potates, or
other vegetables, which Bernard ate so many of, he could never stomach the rest
of his life. Maud had her hands very full with 6 children, and had been ministering
to the neighbors during illness, as well as tending her own flock. She had even
delivered a few babies. In 1930, there was still no indoor plumbling in the farm
house. There was a bath tub upstairs that had to be filled with water, and when
everyone was finished bathing in the same water, it was drained into a tub
downstairs that flowed outside.
 The older children were attending school. Lavern likely tutored the younger ones.
East Rainbow School was 1/2 mile south of their house and Frank was the head of
the Rainbow School board. It is unknown if the children attended this small school,
or the larger West Rainbow School which was located about 3 miles west of their
house. They more likely attended South Mound School in Fredonia which was
located at 6th and Washington in south Fredonia. During the school year, one of
the girls, usually Doreen, would stay with her grandparents in town. Viola may
have seen a future scholar in this bright little girl, who was active if not
impertinent. Viola would try to instill her love of books and learning on a new
generation. Perhaps she would even make a Methodist of her.

Joseph and Viola were in a new house that Joseph had purchased sometime before
1930. The address was 937 N. Jackson, Fredonia, Ks. This was a large rooming
house, and Joseph and Viola lived in the east part of the house, and rented the
west side. Viola did not have to cook or clean for the inhabitants, as their
apartments were separate. There were 2 other families living in the house. One
upstairs, one downstairs. On Joseph and Viola’s bedroom wall was a large portrait
of Hardin Funk. Joseph would turn 70 this year and was still managing his real
estate business, and other holdings. He owned the house to the west, and possibly
others in the neighborhood. It is suspected he had one of these houses burned to
the ground to collect the insurance money.

937 N. Jackson, Fredonia, Ks.

 Inez and Todd were living in a comfortable, rented home in the Marlborough
Neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. Viola was frequently in Kansas City, and
Inez was home in Fredonia quite often. The time spent together in Kansas City,
was often spent in shopping downtown. Inez loved shopping!

On April 30th, 1930, Lavern Funk married 21 year old Raymond Franklin Clark,
who was a book keeper in a pipe line office, (Prairie Pipeline Co.) LaVern was 20
and had been attending Fredonia Business College. Raymond’s mother had
picked out a bride for Raymond, and it wasn’t Lavern. It caused some friction, not
to mention there would be a baby in 7 months. (James Robert Clark was born in
October.)

<----<>----<>----<>--<<>>--<>----<>----<>---->

Eddie Joseph Skaggs was born to Dean and Liz on Tuesday, November 18, 1930,
while the family was still living in Lafontaine, Ks. Another handsome boy. He
would grow up and join the Air Force.

-1931-

Catherine Hope Maupin

 The 2 graduates this year at Fredonia High were Bernard Darst and Catherine
Hope Maupin.

Bernard was a jolly fellow, easy going, with a huge heart, who would do anything
for a laugh. At 18 he was handsome, with dark hair and blue eyes. He had
recently made the aquaintance of a sweet young lady, Blendena Kelso, from
Coffeyville, Ks. While travelling to a sporting event near Independence, Barney and
his pals, stopped along the road to help a carload of young ladies who had a flat
tire. Beautiful Blendena caught Barney’s eye. She was tall, with dark hair and
eyes. She was a student at Coffeyville Jr. College, and had excelled in her studies.

At Coffeyville High School Blendena, had been a Tornado Tilly (Cheerleader) and a
high jumper, and could jump her height. (5'7”). She was the daughter of Thomas
Kelso and Anna Raymond. Her mother died in 1930, and she had one younger
brother, Tommy. Her father ran a grocery store in Coffeyille, Ks.

Bernard Darst
 Blendena Kelso

-1932-

Bernard Darst was very much in love with Blendena. But Blendena was set on
continuing her education and getting her teaching degree. She worked her way
through school with the help of her father, and by working part time in a grade
school. After she finished her 2 years at the Coffeyille Jr. College, she set off for
The State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Ks. While there she lived in a dorm. Her
house mother (Florence Beard) was very sympathetic to her and allowed Barney to
stay there and sleep on a couch. Mrs. Beard’s son Floyd was a friend of John and
Barney Darst, and Floyd’s wife, Francis was a class and dorm mate of Blendena’s.

Blendena’s family did not support this union. They had worked hard to send her
to school, and had high hopes for her future. Blendena’s grandmother, Belle Kelso,
was of the mind set that Blendena ought to know better, and she suspected
Blendena of supporting Barney. The family was not even sure if he was employed,
as it was their understanding he could not hold down a job. Blendena eventually
graduated, got her degree, and would teach, and be the principle for many years
at rural Clymore School north of Coffeyville.

-1934-

The Darst Farm would somehow survive the 2nd hottest summer on record this
year. Temperatures stayed above 90 well into September. Frank had few crops
this year, and was putting most of his energy into a small garden, and bridge work.

Some time this year, sad news came to the family when they learned that Lavern
Funk Clark had a 9 1/2 pound baby girl, named Peggy Diane. Lavern did not
survive the birth, and died of hermorrage. This was a tragic event and everyone in
the Darst family would mourn her deeply. The shy little girl they took in years
before, had grown into a lovely young lady. Her husband had her buried in the
Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, Ks. He eventually remarried and raised the
two children.

On a happier note, Catherine Hope Maupin fell in love and married sometime this
year to Charles H. Mitchell. Hope was happy, carefree, and loved to have a good
time. Like her grandmother she was an avid reader, but like her mother, she was
not a scholar. Charlie was 12 years Hope’s senior, had never married, was a
welder by trade, and grew up in the Fredonia area. The couple would start married
life in Fredonia.

-1935-

January 14, 1935 Joseph and Viola celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. A
family dinner was held at their house at noon. Friends visited between 3-5pm. The
rooms were decorated with bouquets of calendulas in golden baskets and the tea
table was centered with a four-tiered wedding cake topped with a miniture bride
and bridegroom. Inez presided at the tea table which was lighted with gold tapers
in crystal holders.
 Viola and Joseph Skaggs, 50th Anniversary Photo.

Inez must have looked quite elegant at the anniversary party. She was enjoying
her life in Kansas City and Todd was a generous husband and lavished her with furs
and fine clothing. Maud, in comparison may have appeared somewhat less
elegant, but it was not her style to be the belle of the ball.

Dean and Liz Skaggs who had moved to Wichita around this time, attended the
anniversary party and brought their rowdy young boys. They were still a
handsome couple after almost 8 years of marriage. Dean was working at the
Federal Land Bank, and was used to wearing a suit and tie. In many ways he was
very much like his father, and was playful and charming, and like his mother, he
was kind hearted. The couple were living at 1445 S. Market, in Wichita, in a small
 house they shared with Liz’s parents. The same house Liz grew up in.

Inez Skaggs Eshelman

On February 16, 1935, Barney and Blendena eloped and went to Joplin, Missouri to
be married by a justice of the peace. Blendena’s grandmother had passed away,
and was not there to chastise her. Her father, Tom, was a patient, kind soul who
let Blendena have her way. Frank and Maud, adored Blendena, but would
sometimes give her a hard time at family gatherings, teasing her about being thin,
and piling her plate with food they knew she wouldn’t eat. It would take a few
years for Blendena to feel comfortable at the Darst’s, and for Barney to win the
respect of the Kelso family. However, it all worked out in the end when all realized
that Barney was a patient, loving husband, and the marriage would last almost 60
years.
May 28th of this year, Charles Mitchell and Catherine Hope had a baby girl. It was
stillborn. She carried her 10 months, and they had to cut it out of her. Hope was
staying with her mother in Kansas City at the time, and had the baby there. She
brought the baby back to Fredonia for burial wrapped in a newspaper. Hope was
unable to have children after that. She remained married to Charlie until
sometime after 1945, when she divorced him. She would eventually settle in
Wichita, Ks. near her mother and in 1953 marry Kenneth Cain.

-1936-

John Skaggs Darst was a great help to his father around the farm. He would sing
while he worked, and seemed to enjoy the work. Perhaps Frank saw in him the
future of the farm. He was to graduate in May of this year, but 6 weeks prior to
graduation he and a cousin (Craig Smith) had a race hitch hiking out to California.
John got a ride with 2 school teachers. After arriving in California he led a sort of
hobo life, but soon got a job with a carvinal or circus. When he eventually came
back to Kansas, he was rundown and sick. Settled back in Fredonia, he helped his
dad some, but he had enjoyed his independence, and didn’t want to be tied down.
He migrated between Fredonia and Coffeyville, doing odd jobs. At night he would
go out to dances, sometimes playing the drums in a band. Often he would sleep
on Barney and Blendena’s couch in their house in Coffeyville. He would let himself
in during the wee hours, and they would find him there in the morning. Blendena
would send him straight away into the bath, for he was always dirty. Gwen, age 7
this summer, was living with Barney and Blendena, and remembered the delight of
seeing him on the couch when she woke up. Gwen would also be wearing the
pajamas that Barney snd Blendena bought for her that past Christmas, the only
present she ever received as a child, and very treasured!!
One night when John was at a dance, he met the beautiful Suzanne Anna Jantz.
Susie was born Feburary 19, 1917 in Durham Park, Marion Co., Kansas. She was
the daughter of Henry T. and Lena Jantz. Her family were members of the
Mennonite Church but Suzie and some of her siblings had recently left the church.
(Her brothers eventually returned to it. Suzie and her sisters would all marry
outside of the church.)

In Wichita, Dean and Liz were also feeling independent, and were living in a house
of their own, at 746 S. Estelle, near Linwood Park.
 -1937-

On Thursday, May 20th, 1937, Yvonne Irene Darst was born to Barney and
Blendena. She was born in Coffeyille, Ks. She was the first grandchild of Maud and
Frank! According to Blendena, Yvonne was the most beautiful child ever born,
with a pretty round face, and curly black hair!

Yvonne Darst

The Darst farm was a generally happy place, where summer baths were at the mill
dam with a floating bar of ivory soap, and where fun was made on evenings by
moving all the furniture in the living room, inviting the neighors over with their
various instruments, and singing and dancing the night away. John played the
drums. Gwen would fall asleep upstairs in her room listening to their music and
laughter. Maud loved music and she and Frank would sing silly songs to each
other, like...”Froggy Went a Courting.” Once a month they would go to the
American Legion where a real band played. John played in that band. Gwen
would dance one dance with her dad with other kids, behind a partition. When she
got tired, Gwen would sleep on 2 chairs with a coat over her. Frank and Maud
always danced the first and last dance together. The last song was always...Home
Sweet Home. It was sung slow, and dreamy.

‘Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there
Which seek through the world, is ne’er met with elsewhere.

-1938-

In May, Doreen graduated from Fredonia High School. That summer after
graduation, she worked for Sammy Sink, and did security work for him. He was an
insurance agent. She may have also attended the Fredonia Business College.

John Darst and Suzie Jantz had been enjoying their courtship this year. They were
madly in love. In December, they traveled to Miami, Oklahoma to stand up with
good friends at their wedding. While there, John proposed and Suzie accepted. On
Dec 2, 1938, John Skaggs Darst and Suzanne Anna Jantz were united in marrige
in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They would spend the first year of married life living in
the Darst farm house with John’s parents.

-1939-

Friday, Sept. 1, 1939 was the official start of WW2. On this day Nazi Germany
invaded Poland. Although the USA was yet uninvolved.

This was also the date that Inez lost her beloved husband Todd Eshelman, age 50.
Viola had been staying with Inez during Todd’s short illness. He had been suffering
with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Todd and Inez were living at 508
West 77th Street, Kansas City, Missouri at the time of Todd’s death. Hope, Viola,
Joseph, Maud and Barney attended the funeral. He was buried in Mt. Moriah
Cemetery in Kansas City on Sept. 2. After Todd’s death, Inez made plans to return
to Fredonia.

On September 12, 1939, pretty Paula Lee Darst was born to Johns Skaggs and
Susie Darst. She was born in the old Darst farm house and Maud delivered her.
Maud had John bring the bed down to the living room and that is where Paula was
born. Nobody got any sleep that night! Doreen 19, Betty 16, and Gwen 9, were all
 living there at the time.

-1940-

Model A Ford Coupe

The Darst’s were doing fairly well on the farm. Maud and her mother saw each
other often, and when they couldn’t get together, Viola would call Maud at her
phone # 39F4.

The days began early on the Darst Farm. Maud would take Frank to work at 5 am
on country roads, in their Model A Ford Coupe, which was always getting a flat
tire. He worked on many bridges near fall river, and the surrounding area. Maud
was making some extra cash by wallpapering houses. After taking Frank to work
she would return home and make 3 big buckets of paste out of argo starch to hang
paper. Her ladders and boards for work stuck out of the back of the coupe. She’d
go to whatever house needed the papering and charge them $1.00 a room. She
usually had to paste over cracks in old houses. Her record was 7 rooms in one day!

In the evenings Gwen would wash Frank’s feet, and sometimes apply polish. He
patiently let her practice her hair dressing, and she would put pin curls in his hair,
which was already naturally curly. He always called her, Honey, Baby or Sweetie,
never using her proper name.
 One memory Gwen had of those days was attending a service at the Dunkard
Church with her aunt Hattie and uncle Newt Miller. She witnessed a baptism there
that left a lingering memory. She thought they had drowned the person!!

This year, John Darst was working as a janitor in a theater in Fredonia, Ks. He,
Suzie, and baby Paula were living in a rented house on Township Road. Suzie’s
siter Anna was living with them.

Barney was working as a driver for Buckner Furniture in Coffeyville, Ks. Barney and
his family were renting a house at 106 E. 3rd, Coffeyville, Ks. Blendena’s father
Tom Kelso and her 18 year old brother, Tommy, lived with them.

Betty Ann Darst

 In May, Betty Ann Darst completed High School at Fredonia, Ks.

By 1940, Inez had moved back to Fredonia. She started going out on the town,
perhaps with some old friends. It was on such a night, at a local “beer joint” that
she met Mr. Benjamin J. Taylor. Ben was 33 and a welder for Atchinson Revolving
Door Co. Inez was 45, and still beautiful. Ben was known to have bragged to his
friends that he had met a rich lady from Kansas City. Inez was a feather in his cap.
He was alot of fun for Inez and she had him wrapped around her little finger. After
a short acquaintance, on October 12, 1940, the couple went to Nowata, Oklahoma
and were married. They would settle in Ben’s house in Independence at 401 S. 6th
Street.

Due to tensions around the globe, On Sept. 16, 1940, The United States instituted
the Selective Service and Training Act. This required all men between the ages of
21 and 35 to register with the local draft board. This was the first peace time draft
in the history of The United States.
 John and Barney Darst registered, but but Barney was exempt due to being
indispensible to his employer, Robert Buckner.

James Raymond Darst was born on November 4th, 1940 to Barney and Blendena,
in Coffeyille, Ks. He was born 2 months prematurely, but grew fast and was
beautiful with long black eye lashes.

-1941-

On February 1, 1941, Sierra Jane Darst, another sweet baby, was born to John and
Susie Darst in Fredonia, Ks. Each baby brought more love to the Darst and Skaggs
family, all the babies that Viola could have imagined for herself were now coming
in one after the other!

On June 17th, 1941 Doreen Darst married William Hadwin Kirk in Tacoma,
Washington. He was in the Air Force. The couple had met in Fredonia. He was 22,
Doreen was 21. Bill was stationed at the Mc Chord AFB in Tacoma when they
married. He had grown up in the Fredonia area.

The couple divorced sometime in 1942 and Doreen returned to Fredonia.

Apparently Bill’s mother did not care for her. She came out to the farm house one
afternoon, and kindly asked Doreen to take a stroll with her. When they got down
the road and out of sight, Mrs. Kirk gave Doreen a severe beating.

Later that year Doreen started corresponding with Bill Henry, who may have been
a friend of Bill Kirk’s. Betty and Doreen flew to Greensville, South Carolina where
Bill Henry was stationed. Soon the girls had obtained employement in the BX of
Greenville Army Air Base, serving drinks. It was there that Betty met Randall
Barnes.

December 7th of this year, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On December 8th,
the United States declared war on Japan and entered WW2. By December 11th,
Nazi Germany and it’s Axis partners declared war on the United States.

-1942-

The grand babies kept coming and on April 16, 1942, Peggy Diane Darst was born
to John and Susie Darst in Coffeyville, Ks. This made 5 grandchilren for Frank and
Maud. Later this year, John would move his family to Martinsburg, West Virginia
where he had employment.

John and Suzie Darst with daughters, Paula, Sierra and Peggy.

On April 26th, 1942, Frank Darst, age 62, enlisted for the draft. Occupation listed:
Bridge repair and building.

Frank had been unwell this summer, but continued his work. By the fall, he started
having black out spells. Sometimes he would pass out just sitting in a chair. One
time he went out to milk the cow, Betsy, and never came back. The family went
out looking for him and found him passed out in the barn. He had hit his head and
there was blood all over his face. At this point, Maud called the doctor out. It was
thought at that time he had diabetes, but he continued to have spells after some
treatment.

November 26 was Thanksgiving. Frank was very unwell, but he wanted to be

 together with all the family, and Maud likely prepared a lovely meal and had
family over. Gwen painted Frank’s toenails that day as he dozed, almost listless in
the big chair in the front room, unable to eat or do much of anything else. The
next day, he was transferred to Mercy Hospital in Independence. He died 2 days
later of kidney failure. He was buried in the Fredonia Cemetery and the funeral
was largely attended.

Maud’s heart was broken in two.

Frank left 5 children, 5 grandchildren, 3 sisters, (Mary Gladys Monroe of Los

Angeles, California, Hattie Maud Miller of Fredonia, and Lydia Catherine ‘Kitty’
Long of Joplin, Missouri.)

Somehow, the family got through the rest of the year. Life had to go on, but how
could Maud without her adoring husband?
 Frank with sisters Kitty and Hattie

-1943-

Even in trying times, love finds a way, and on Janurary 2, 1943, Betty Ann Darst
married Randall Barnes in Lampasses, Texas. She was 20 and Randal was 36.
Betty took after her father, and was good natured and soft spoken. Pretty and
petite with lovely dark hair and blue eyes she was a beautiful bride. Maud
travelled to attend the wedding, which was a happy distraction for her. Randal
was in the Army and stationed at Ft.Hood. He had enlisted in March of 1941.
Randall was the son of Zack B. and Clystus Jenkins Barnes, and grew up in the
Florida Pan Handle.
 Randall and Betty Barnes

After the wedding, Maud returned to Fredonia to face the problems at hand. She
tried to rent out the farm and house, but had no luck. Joseph likely helped Maud
out at this time financially, but he did not feel she could do well by trying to keep
the land and house, and he helped her find a buyer. Gwen was 13, and with
Doreen back home, they would not all fit in Joseph and Viola’s boarding house.

With a lump in her throat, and tears brimming in her eyes, Maud sold the 40 acres
of land and the old farm house to Max Keller for $3,000.

Mr. Keller immediatly set up to tear down the house, but had trouble when he got
to the living room, which was the original house, built to last a lifetime by the first
owner (German immigrant Abraham Ott), and had lasted over 69 years.

Maud, Doreen, and Gwen moved to Wichita.

 -Wichita-

In Wichita, Maud and the girls rented a few rooms in the basement of a rooming
house one block north of Douglas on Mathewson. Maud got a job at the Domestic
Laundry as a presser. This was at 1425 E. Douglas, a short walk from their
apartment. Doreen got a job at Boeing, and paid the rent. There was apparently a
lot of tension in the house. Doreen worked nights, and if she got woke up she
could not get back to sleep, and would yell and scream. She ended up moving into
the upstairs of the rooming house where she slept in a Murphy bed. None of them
were happy, and it was difficult trying to make the best of it. In her calm,
analytical way, Maud would find solutions.
 The Domestic Laundy, Wichita, Ks

Inez and Catherine Hope came to Wichita, at this time to visit Maud and brother
Dean. While there, Inez and Hope went on a shopping spree. The mother and
daughter got along like sisters, and enjoyed the fine things in life. Their lives were
very much in contrast to Maud’s, who could not afford to go shopping.

Inez and Hope were a cheerful pair, like children, without a care in the world, they
were happy and laughing, and it was cheering to Maud who felt the weight of the
world on her shoulders.

Dean and Liz were living in the Riverside area of Wichita, with their 2 teen age
boys. Dean was still working at the Federal Land Bank as a tabulator. The couple
appear to have been making a modest living and their boys were handsome and
intelligent, like their grandpa. They were the most academic of the grandchildren.
 Inez and Hope around 1943, Wichita, Ks.

Gwen was just a freshman in High School at this time, and Maud enrolled her at
East High. Gwen was unhappy there, and she had a hard time making friends.
There was a 20 minute lunch, but Gwen rarely had anything to eat. Things were
bad for Gwen both at school and at home. The straw that broke the camel’s back
was when Doreen yelled at Gwen one afternoon to , “Get out of this house!”

At that point, Maud gave Gwen 10 cents, and she rode on the bus to Plainview
where John and Suzie were living, with their 3 little girls. She moved in with them
and was enrolled in the Plainview School (Later named Jardine). Gwen felt more at
home there than with her mother and sister at this point. She loved being around
John’s children and the little girls became like sisters to her, as she was not close to
her own. As she grew older Gwen would keep up lasting, loving relationships with
all her neices and nephews.

John drove a white Lincoln Zephyr.

-1944-

June 19th was the invasion of Normandy. D-Day.

In the Spring, Maud left Doreen in Wichita, and returned to Fredonia. Gwen was
with her. She moved in with Miller Howell, whose late wife, Blanche Reed, was
Frank Darst’s neice. (Daughter of Flaura Reed Darst and Owen F. Reed). Blanche
had passed away in Feburary, and Mr. Howell, “Uncle Miller”, offered Maud room
and board, and the use of his car, in exchange for keeping house and cooking. This
relationship was purely platonic. Mr. Howell was in his early 60’s and alone. His
first wife divorced him, and their only child, Letha, died at age 28 in a shooting
accident. He had no other children. He lived on township road (Old highway 40),
east of the Excellisor Brick Plant, where he worked as a brick burner, on the
graveyard shift. He was a kind gentleman to Maud and Gwen, and for a short time
they were content there.

On August 2, 1944, Doreen, 24, married William Watt Henry, 26, in Greensville,
South Carolina. Bill was 26 and from Paola, Ks. He was the son of Thomas James
Henry and Eunice Fawn Abney. He was stationed at the time of their marriage at
the Greenville Army Air Base. He joined the US Army Corps in 1941. He was an
airplane mechanic, engineer, gunner and flew many missions over Italy, and SE
Asia. He served 2 tours of duty.

Bill and Doreen 1946

-Joseph’s Passing-

Joseph became semi-retired some time before the war. He had been very active
his whole life, and during his retirement he still kept a hand in the business. Social
Security benefits did not start until 1935, and it wasn’t until 1940 that regular
social security checks were paid out on a regular basis. If Joseph got a SS check, it
 was probably not very significant.

Joseph remained healthy in his last years, but suffered with diabetes, and
hypertenseion, for which he moderated his died, and possibly took medication. All
those wonderful years of eating Viola’s delicious dishes had taken their toll.

On October 26, 1944, at 10:26 am, Joseph Lively Skaggs passed away, age 83. He
woke up that morning and suddenly collapsed. If he had lived one more day, he
would have been 84. Cause of death was determined to be a heart attack. At the
time of his death he was still residing at his home at 927 N. Jackson, Fredonia, Ks.
His funeral was in the chapel of the Cason Funeral Home. Rev. B. W. Hughes
conducted the service. The burial was on Oct 28, 1944, in the Fredonia Cemetery.

Joseph left a legacy for his family, one of inspiration and fortitude. Through his
tenacity he had built himself and his family a comfortable and successful life. He
became a shinning example for his family, his community, and for those who
would write his story.

After her father’s death, Maud moved in with Viola.

 Inez took over the management of Viola’s bank account, becoming assertive and
down right bossy with Maud. Viola would now be on a tight budget. Any available
space in the boarding house was rented out and Maud would share a bed with her
mother, leaving only a few rooms upstairs that were not rented. Under Inez’s
direction, Viola had to give up many of her nice things, perhaps selling many
articles, but she still dressed like a lady, and kept nice dishes to eat on and when
anyone visited her they were treated to beautifully laid out lunches on fine china.

With such tight quarters, it left no bed, no space for Gwen. Gwen had had her
share of being tossed about from brother to brother, always feeling like she had no
place of her own.

Gwen had a beau now, Milburn Cook. He was the son of John William Cook and
Zola Myra McGaugh. He grew up in the Guilford area of Wilson Co., NE of
Fredonia. His father was a farmer. He was a very nice guy, and extremely
handsome. Maud approved of him.

Despite what her aunt Hattie thought (that Gwen was pregnant), the couple
decided to marry because they were very much in love, but also because Gwen
needed a home. They got married in Independence at the court house before
Judge Blackburn on November 22, 1944. Beside them were their two friends, who
also married that day. As both were under the age of 21, their mothers signed for
them. Gwen was 15, and Milburn was 20.

Gwen and Milburn would start their married life in Fredonia, but would eventually
settle in Arkansas City, Ks. Gwen would one day see her dreams come true when
she had her own babies, and her own beauty shop!

Part 2

-The Skaggs Family-

-1945-

Early this year, Doreen and Betty were living on the west side in the Skaggs
Boarding House. Their husbands were both away. Maud then moved in with
them, for it was more roomy. Still being cramped, she briefly moved in with
 Milburn and Gwen.

On March 22nd 1945, John Skaggs Darst was enlisted in the Marine Corps. The
war ended before he had to go overseas. He was originally stationed in Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina. Toward the end of his enlistment, Suzie and the girls lived
with Suzie’s parents. Paula remembers the day he came home. “I remember him
coming home from the Marines, we lived with my Grandpa Jantz. Mom, me and
Sierra, we were at the front window and saw him walking down the country
road towards Grandpa’s house.”

Mid year, Maud and Betty moved to Coffeyville. They would live just down the
alley from Bernard and Blendena on the corner of Walnut and New Street. This
was a large 2 story boarding house with a screened in front porch. (5 E. New
Street). Maud was working in the laundry of the Coffeyville hospital at this time,
unhappily.

The rooming house on 5 E New as it appeared in 1900. It was the original Club House for the
Coffeyville Country Club.

In the fall, Maud answered an ad in a newspaper where a gentleman was looking

for a housekeeper in Medford, Oklahoma. She accepted the position and left Betty
in Coffeyville, and headed to Oklahoma. (Maud’s new employer would be Clement
Deloy Steininger)
 Later this year, the Skaggs boarding house was sold, and Viola moved to
Independence to live with Ben and Inez Taylor. Of all of Viola’s money, lovely
china, crystal, furniture, books, and possessions, all Inez saved for Maud was an
old tin kettle.

On Sept 2, 1945 WW2 was officially over.

-1946-

Maud settled into her position in Medford. She lived in and was a full time
housekeeper and also kept an eye on Clem’s 2 teenage step sons. After living and
working there a few months, she kicked the step sons out of the house. Clem was
impressed!

Clement Deloy Steininger was born April 14, 1884 in Bedford, Nebraska. He was
divorced once and widowed once, and had no children of his own. He worked for
the railroad as an agent, and was assigned to the Rock Island Depot in Medford,
Oklahoma. Clem was a heavy set man, with brown eyes and greying hair. He was
not handsome, but he was kind and gentle with Maud, and it was a comfortable
relationship.

On April 3rd, 1946 Gwen and Milburn were blessed with a daughter, named Cindra
Lea Cook. The name came from the combination of 2 names, Sandra and Lucinda.
They would call her “Cindy”. Maud had been living with the Cook’s a month or so
prior to the birth, to look after the young mother and stayed with them about a
week afterwards.
Back in Medford, Maud found Clem very happy to see her. He realized during her
absence that he could not live without her. He had a lot to offer, he loved her, and
he declared himself to her. When he proposed to Maud, she accepted. On April
14th, they went to Wellington, Kansas and made it official. Clem was 62, and
Maud was 56. They would live in Medford, Oklahoma until sometime in the mid
1960’s.

A story is told that on Mother’s day (May 12th) this year, Bernard and Blendena
went over to Gwen’s to see the new baby. Clem and Maud were there for the
weekend. Bernard went in the back room, got Maud’s corset, put it on and was
prancing about the house and yard, getting a laugh out of everyone!

The next grandbaby born was, John Richard Darst, born to John and Suzie Darst on
November 20, 1946, in Independence, Ks. John was working as a truck driver. The
family was living in a small apartment on 214 N. 2nd. Apt #4. This was a rooming
house, with a beautiful wooded back yard.
 -1947 to 1948-

On Feb. 2, 1947, Eunice Doreen Henry was born to Bill and Doreen Henry in The
Dalles, Oregon. Soon to follow was Billie Jean Henry on Jan 13, 1948.

Maud’s family kept growing. With the 2 new grand daughters, Maud and Clem
eagerly travelled to visit the family in the Spring of ’48. They made a relaxing trip
out of it, Clem enjoyed some fishing, and Maud relaxed and visited with Doreen.
Her greatest joy was holding those 2 baby girls. It brought a great deal of calm to
Maud to see Doreen so happy in her life, and settled down.

On their arrival back in Oklahoma they soon found out another baby was coming.
Maud would need to look after Gwen again. Terry Gene Cook was born to
Milburn and Gwen on August 31, 1948 in Independence, Ks. The couple would
move to Arkansas City some time prior to 1951, where Milburn worked at The New
Era Milling Company for many years. They initially lived at 6th Street and
Madison, which had a reputation of being a rough neighborhood. It was known
as “Little Chicago”.

-1949 to 1950-

John and Suzie Darst moved to Coffeyville, Ks. in 1949, and were living in a little
house on Warwick Road in west Coffeyville. John was working as a bus driver. A
profession he would continue until his retirement.

Phillip Mitchell Henry was born on October 31, 1949 in The Dalles, Oregon to Bill
and Doreen Henry. A happy addition to the Henry family!

By 1950, Viola was in failing health, and Inez was unable to properly care for her.
She had fractured her hip, and she was too frail to have it repaired surgically. She
became bed ridden. She was moved into a home where she would have 24 hour
nursing care. This was at 913 W. Locust, Independence, Ks.

-1951-

Viola passed away on April 21, 1951. Cause of death was cardiac dilitation from
coronary artery disease and hypertension.
 Viola’s Obituary

Mrs. Viola Skaggs, widow of J. L. Skaggs, passed away Saturday evening at

Independence. She was 84 years of age and had been in failing health for the
past year. Funeral Services will be held in the Chapel of the Cason Funeral Home
at 10:30 am Tuesday, conducted by the Rev. Arthur Hardy, minister of the
Methodist Church. Interment will be in the family lot in the Fredonia Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs came to Fredonia from Coffey County, Kansas in 1907 and
resided there until his passing in 1944. A year later, Mrs. Skaggs went to
Independence to be near her daughter, Mrs. Inez Taylor.

Surviving are two daughters: Mrs. Maud Steininger of Medford, Okla, and Mrs.
Taylor of Independence; one son Dean Skaggs of Wichita. Two brothers;
Aurthur Funk of Los Angeles, and Preston Funk of Rodeo, California; eight
grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.

Viola had been a loving mother and grandmother. Always optimistic and faithful,
she had lived her life with grace and poise.
 -Part 3-

At the time of Viola’s death, Ben and Inez had been living in a little house on W.
Cottonwood Street in Independence for several years and Ben was working in the
laboratory for the Union Gas System. Shortly after Viola passed they moved to
Wichita and stayed there the rest of their lives where Ben died in 1960. Inez and
Hope kept up a close mother and daughter relationship. Inez passed away Nov. 3,
1972. Like her father, she had complications of diabetes.

Skaggs Siblings, Maud, Inez, Dean, 1950’s

Catherine Hope married Kenneth Cain on Oct 2, 1953. In Joplin, Missouri. Always
one to elaborate a good story, Catherine Hope described the event as:

“Eloping in the middle of the night in a pink cadillac!”

Hope died on July 28th, 1989 of cancer in Wichita, Ks. Kenny passed away on Jan.
23, 1998. They were an intertaining couple at family reunions. Hope was a true
story teller, and some of those tales would raise a few eyebrows! She was a heavy
smoker, an avid reader, wore bright red lipstick and had a rough deep voice.
Kenny was mild mannered, generous, and friendly to everyone.

Maud with her grown children, Doreen, Bernard, Betty, John and Gwen

Taken in the 1950’s in Medford, Oklahoma.

 Maud’s 93rd Birthday, 1982

Maud traveled in the 1950’s and 60’s with Clem. They visited their children in
Oregon, Washington State, and Florida. Maud took up geneaology and went to
West Virginia, did some research, and perhaps met in person several cousins. She
had correspondence with many of them, and some of these letters remain. One
family she communicated with were the grandchildren of Sarah Ellen Skaggs.

Clem and Maud enjoyed 26 years of married life together. They hosted many
family reunions over the years, in Medford, Oklahoma. She was a wonderful cook,
and generous hostess. In the late 1960’s they moved to Arkansas City and then
Coffeyville, Ks. to be closer to family, where Clem passed away on October 2, 1972.
Maud was 83. They were living in the Dale Apartments at the time of his passing.
Clem was buried in the Fredonia Cemetery.
 Clem and Maud lived in various places over the years.

Summitt and Linden, Ark City, Ks. Clem and Maud lived here in the 1960’s. Their apartment was on
the left..

Maud remained in the Dale Apartments, enjoying relatively good health until the
last few years of her life. Bernard ate lunch or breakfast with her every day for
many years, and Blendend helped her with shopping, took her to the beauty shop,
etc. During these years Maud made many quilts. (Lucky are those that have one
of those cherished items!) She loved having visitors and seeing her family. She
passed away peacefully on November 30, 1983. She was 94.
The Dale Apartments in Coffeyville, Ks. 206 W. 8th. The last place Clem and Maud lived together.

Maud and Clem, date unknown

Dean and Liz Skaggs moved to Texas sometime after 1963. Liz died Nov 10, 1966
in Dallas, Texas. After her death, Dean moved to Sana Anna, California where he
died on Nov. 15, 1979. Their sons were both sucessful and College educated.

Bernard and Blendena Darst spent their entire married life in Coffeyville, where
Blendena taught school until her retirement some time in the 1970’s. Bernard
worked for 50 years for Buckner Furnture Co., working well into his 80’s. In the
1970’s he also worked at a liquor store in the evenings. The couple were married
59 years. Blendena passed away in 1994, and Bernard in 2007.

John and Suzie Darst were blessed with 55 years of marriage. John was a charter
bus driver for 45 years, and they retired in Cleveland, Oklahoma. Suzie passed
away in 1993, and John in 2008. Their descendants would be the largest in the
Darst/Skaggs family.

Doreen would spent many years of her life on the west coast, including Oregon,
Washington, and Alaska. She was married to Bill Henry for 29 years, until he
passed away in 1973. In her later years she married Donald Jensen. She passed
away in Alaska in 1991.

Betty and Randal spent 36 loving years together in Panama City, Florida. They
were the parents of son Phillip Randal b. 1959, daughters: Patricia Ann b. 1961,
and Vonda b. 1964. Randal passed away in 1979, and Betty remained in Florida
until her death in 2013.

Gwen remained married to Milburn Cook for over 20 years, until they divorced. In
the 1960’s she owned and ran a beauty salon in Arkansas City, named Charme.
She married Theo Spillman in 1973, and moved to Fredonia, and eventually Bella
Vista, Arkansas where they hosted many family reunions. They eventually
returned to Kansas, where Theo passed away in 2016, age 91.
 -Part 4-

Strawn, Kansas and The John Redmond Dam and Reservoir.

Plans for flood contol for Strawn and surrounding areas started in the 1940’s. The
devastating floods had worsened every year. Construction on the dam started
after the catastrophic flood of 1951 that flooded not only Strawn, but other areas
including Burlington. In 1960 Strawn lost it’s post office. Farmers in the flood
control area, were paid for their land. It was around this time that Maud got a
letter in the mail asking permission to move the 3 graves in the Bowman Cemetery
to the Bowman-Adgate Cemetery. The new cemetery is just north of the town of
Ottumwa, Ks. Land was purchased for the New Strawn site and the plat was filed
in May of 1961. In July of 1963, the dam was 77% complete, and by September
Strawn was a ghost town, the remaining buildings had been either moved or
razed. Strawn was inundated when the Redmond Reservoir dam was complete in
1965.

There are few photos that remain of Strawn.

Main Street (2nd Street) Strawn, Ks. early 1900’s Looking west. The old hotel is thought to be the 2nd

2 story building from the right.

 Strawn Depot

I wish to thank the following people for making this story possible:

Gwen Spillman, who patiently told me story after story, writting me letters, and
taking my persistent phone calls.

Paula Crozier for her memories.

Phillip Henry who generously wrote me letters, shared photos, and encouraged my
own research. I took some of my information from his compiled research and book
he wrote in 2008. (The Darst / Skaggs Genealogy) His mother Doreen wrote much
on the family, and I used her information.

Indira Darst who shared family stories.

Catherine Hope Cain who kept a cache of photos which I came into possession of.

My grandparents Bernard and Blendena Darst, spent endless hours telling me

stories, and showing me photos.

Maud Steininger shared several stories to my siblings and I when she lived in the
Dale apartments. (How I wish I had listened a little harder.)

Jolynn McWilliams shared with me what she knew of her family.

 Most of my research came from countless days and nights of searching through
the following sites: ancestry.com, findagrave.com, newspapers.com, the Kansas
Historical Society, Bureau of Land Management, Kansas Memory (Kansas Plat
Maps), and old online maps of Virginia and West Virginia. I read many articles and
books on the Civil War and of Virginia, Fredonia and Kansas. I visited the Wilson
Co. Historical Society in Fredonia, the Coffey County Historical Society and
Museum, and Coffey County Courthouse in Burlington, Ks.

Books:

Conrad Peters and wife Clara Snidow: Their descendants and their
ancestry/Compiled by Okey Erwin Peters.

Yesterday’s Tomorrow, a History of Strawn, Ks. by Mary Lou DeLong Atherly

Early Day History of Coffey County, Dating back to the 1870’s. Compiled from
Interviews and Articles Written by Old-Timers.

A History of of Monroe County, West Virginia by Oren Frederic Morton.

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Like those before me, I ask forgiveness in any errors I have made, and for taking
the liberty to weave in a bit of fiction to make the story flow.

The next generation is welcome to correct me and make additions to this

manuscript with my blessing.
“Great lives never go out, they go on”....Benjamin Harrison