Biographical Sketch of Leidhigh, J. M.

J. M. Leidhigh, of the firm of T. F. Leidigh & Co., dealers in general merchandise. They opened trade in Spear Ville in April 1878, with a stock of $1,800. They now carry an average stock of $10,000. Their store building was erected of stone in 1881 at a cost of $2,000. Size is 25×80 feet. They employ three men in the business. Mr. J. M. Leidigh is also extensively engaged in raising stock. He first came to Kansas in 1870, locating at St. Mary’s, and engaged in the lumber trade, and in 1872 moved to Hutchinson, Kan., where he … Read more

Craig, Edwin L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon 1923-2007 Edwin Leonard Craig, 83, of La Grande, died March 9 at his home. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Mr. Craig was born May 13, 1923, to Leonard Clinton and Marguerite Elizabeth (Kinsloe) Craig in Hutchinson, Kan. He was raised in Twin Falls, Idaho, and graduated from high school in Rock Springs, Wyo. He married Norma Bluhm Aug. 7, 1942, and served in the Army during World War II. Norma died while he was stationed in France. On April 14, 1946, Mr. Craig married Sylva Fay Gilson in … Read more

History of Hutchinson Kansas

Hutchinson a Prairie City in Kansas

Published in 1946 by McCormick-Armstrong Co., Wichita, Kansas, “Hutchinson, a Prairie City in Kansas” is an important historical resource that captures the quintessence of a small city transitioning through time. The author, Willard Welsh, has painstakingly collected stories, facts, and photographs to compose a narrative that preserves the memory of Hutchinson’s development from its early days to an expanding city center.

Biography of Simon P. Kramer

Simon P. Kramer. During the greater part of the years since 1880, Simon P. Kramer had been a resident of Kansas and had been identified with the milling industry. He is one of the oldest flour millers in the state and had operated in many different towns. In 1915 he removed to Topeka, where he bought and reorganized the Topeka Flour Mills Company, of which he is now president. He had now one of the finest mills in equipment and service in this section of the state. It is equipped throughout with Allis-Chalmers machinery and only recently he gave an … Read more

Christensen, Betty Jane – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Betty Jane Christensen, 88, formerly of La Grande, died March 17 in Gilbert, Ariz. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande, and 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 1802 Gekeler. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the LDS Stake Center, followed by dedication of the grave at Grandview Cemetery. Mrs. Chistensen was born March 16, 1919, to Roy and Blanche (Kessler) Grice in Hutchinson, Kan. Her family moved to Oregon when she … Read more

Myers, Millie E. – Obituary

Summerville, Union County, Oregon Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at Summerville for Mrs. Millie E. Myers who passed away at a La Grande hospital Saturday night. Mrs. Meyers was the mother of Mrs. Wayne Crow, of Tracy, Calif., who had been with her for several weeks. Mrs. Meyers was born at Hutchinson, Kansas, March 22, 1885, being 55 years of age, and had made her home in the Grande Ronde valley for 52 years. Survivors are her husband, Edgar Clyde Myers; a son, Charles H., Summerville; two daughters, Mrs. Crow, Tracy Cal.; and Mrs. Lawana Carlson, Portland; two brothers, … Read more

Biography of John B. Furstenberg

John B. Furstenberg is the president and treasurer of the Boggs Broom Corn Company and his efforts have been an important factor in making St. Louis the center of the broom corn trade of the world. He is at all times actuated by a most progressive spirit and his initiative and energy have enabled him to formulate new plans that have led to the continued growth and development of the business. He is possessed of the spirit of western enterprise and progress and is by birth, training and preference a western man, for he was born in Sterling, Kansas, July … Read more

Biography of Hon. George A. Neeley

Hon. George A. Neeley, of Hutchinson, is one of the younger men of Kansas, but had already gained distinction both in the law and business and as a valiant fighter for the cause of advanced principles in public affairs. Mr. Neeley came into special prominence not only in Kansas but over the nation during his two terms as congressman from the “Big Seventh” district. He was elected on the democratic ticket. In 1910 he was a candidate for the office against the redoubtable E. H. Madison. Madison was elected, but died in September, 1911, before finishing his term. At a … Read more

Biography of Charley W. Oswald

Charley W. Oswald. Few cities of its size anywhere have a livelier commercial organization than Hutchinson, and for a number of years the Hutchinson Commercial Club had spelled power and influence and had had much to do with the substantial prosperity and well being of the community. It indicates the general esteem in which he is held in Hutchinson that the president of this organization is Mr. Charles W. Oswald, who had had a business record identified with the city for more than a quarter of a century. Mr. Oswald was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 3, 1867, son … Read more

Biography of Justus Otho Hall

Justus Otho Hall is superintendent of schools at Hutchinson. By his work and influence there and elsewhere he is one of the leading educators of Kansas today. Mr. Hall had been active in school work almost twenty years. Born near Warner, Ohio, February 27, 1870, he came with his parents to Kansas at the age of fifteen. He received his early training in the country schools near Warner, Ohio, and at Morse, Kansas. After spending some time at work on his father’s farm and after three years spent in the United States Railway Mail Service he entered the high school … Read more

Biography of Will Shackelford Thompson

Will Shackelford Thompson has as much as any other citizen during the past twenty years identified himself with those activities which spell the vital and pulsing commercial life of the City of Hutchinson. He possesses that quality so much valued in any community of putting himself in line either as a leader or co-operator with movements and enterprises that are considered essential to the general welfare. Mr. Thompson’s main business at Hutchinson had been as an insurance man. The Thompson family seems to have been generally inclined in that line of work, his father and several of his brothers having … Read more

Biography of Edward Montieth Moore

Edward Montieth Moore, vice president and manager of the Hutchinson Office Supply and Printing Company, is one of the veterans of the newspaper and printing industry at Kansas, and in point of continuous service is one of the oldest men connected with the Hutchinson Daily News. Mr. Moore had spent most of his life in Kansas and is a son of the late Rev. D. M. Moore, D. D., one of the pioneer ministers of the Presbyterian Church in this state. Edward Montieth Moore was born at Greenfield, Ohio, April 27, 1861. His grandfather, Samuel Moore, was a native of … Read more

Biography of Norman B.Fall, M. D.

Norman B. Fall, M. D. Though established in his profession at Geuda Springs only a few years, Doctor Fall had proved himself a physician and surgeon of thorough competence and equal to all the emergencies and exigencies of his work, and at the same time had taken a decided interest and wholesome part in the affairs of his community. Doctor Fall is a native of Kansas, having been born at Hutchinson February 7, 1891. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish people who settled in North Carolina in colonial times. His grandfather, Abram Fall, who was born in South Carolina in 1843, was … Read more

Biography of Harris Winfield Hutchinson

Harris Winfield Hutchinson, deputy state grain inspector at Hutchinson, had been in the grain business the greater part of his active life and had as many and diverse qualifications for his present position as any one could ask. While he had lived at Hutchinson only a few years, he feels that the town had some specially intimate associations for him. It will be recalled that Hutchinson, Kansas, was established in 1871 and named for C. C. Hutchinson. A brother of this Kansas man, Asa Hutchinson, also founded the Town of Hutchinson, Minnesota. Mr. H. W. Hutchinson is related to both … Read more

Biography of F. Dumont Smith, F. Hon.

Hon. F. Dumont Smith. During his thirty years of membership in the Kansas bar, F. Dumont Smith has attained such distinction as to make him a well known figure in the life and activities of the state. Noted as an exceptionally well trained lawyer, he has also been prominent as a public speaker, editor and writer and has wielded an influence proportionate to his versatile abilities. For many years his home was in Kinsley, but he is now at Hutchinson. He is a man of fortunate endowment and of fine American ancestry. He was born on a farm near Kewanee, … Read more

Biography of Stewart P. Rowland

Stewart P. Rowland has devoted the best years of his life to teaching and education in the broader sense, and is now in his tenth consecutive year as superintendent of schools of Reno County. Mr. Rowland had lived in Kansas since early boyhood, having moved there with his parents at an early age. His parents were Perry and Mary E. (Ellison) Rowland. His mother was born about fifteen miles from the City of Liverpool, England, in 1831, and died at her home in Reno Township of Reno County, May 26, 1810. Perry Rowland was born in Noble County, Ohio, in … Read more

Biography of D. W. Stevick

D. W. Stevick. The people of Champaign County appreciate the ability and the achievements of D. W. Stevick, chiefly through the medium of his newspaper, The Champaign Daily News. Progress has always been the keynote of Mr. Stevicks life. He has been inspired with “that delightful discontent which the hope of better things inspires,” and this has given meaning and potency to his efforts as a newspaper man. When he came into possession of The Champaign Daily News, he was well aware of the deplorable conditions existing relative to the strongly entrenched liquor forces, and had a thorough understanding of … Read more

Biography of Eugene Hipple

Eugene Hipple is one of the enterprising young business men of Hutchinson, and is actively identified with the extensive grain and other business interests controlled by his father, Frank E. Hipple, one of Hutchinson’s business leaders for many years. The Hipple family is of Holland-Dutch ancestry and settled in Pennsylvania during Colonial times. Eugene Hipple’s great-grandfather was George Hipple. He was born in York County, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1790, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1841, with wagon and team, he moved across the country to Eden, Delaware County, Ohio, and lived on his farm there until his death … Read more

Biography of Judson Wheeler Mitchell

Judson Wheeler Mitchell, manager of The Emporia Ice & Cold Storage Company, had been a Kansas business man for a quarter of a century. He was born at West Damascus, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863, and was the son of Harvey Wheeler and Mary E. (Avery) Mitchell. The Mitchells were originally a Scotch family, one branch of which settled in England in the seventeenth century. Matthew Mitchell came to America in 1635, making the voyage in “The Good Ship James,” which was accompanied by an armed vessel, “The Angel Gabriel.” He landed at Boston, and later settled at Stamford, Connecticut, where … Read more

Gamble, Julia Florence Beatty – Obituary

Mrs. Julia F. Gamble, formerly of Hutchinson, died at midnight Tuesday [June 30] at her home in Tribune. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Tribune Methodist Church. Mrs. Gamble is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Bertha Kauffman and a son, Ralph Gamble, both of Tribune. Hutchinson News Herald, July 1, 1953 Contributed by: Shelli Steedman