Bits from the Past

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J.J. Wardell, former manager of the Anderson Co. poor farm, is now living on the Wardell farm on the head of Cedar and says he does all his trading in Colony. His brother Frank expects to move here from Ohio about March 1st and has rented the Martin Woods Farm.  Feb. 17, 1887--A force of 12-18 men are now engaged in the cut on the Colony & Neosho Falls road, just on the edge of Colony, cleaning it out so that the construction train can run through it. The rains loosened the dirt to such a degree that it caved in and covered the track, and the cut will have to be widened and fixed up considerably before it can be kept permanently clear.

F.B. Sherley of Kansas Action Co. met with our businessmen this week and gave his plans for building an electric line from Coffeyville to Kansas City by way of Iola, Colony, Ottawa, Kansas City, Lawrenc and Topeka. In order for the work to start he asks Anderson County for $3,000. After the survey is done an additional $15,000 will be needed for actual work. It will run as nearly as possible alongside the Santa Fe. Stations will be located every two miles, with stops every half mile for taking on and letting off passengers. the road will carry passengers, mail, express and freight. An hourly passenger service will be provided for the people. The money is to be raised by sale of stock in the company.

 A well known Garnett man found it necessary a few days ago to lay aside his good clothes, put on a dirty ragged suit and clean up some machinery at his place of business. When he went home and was entering the front gate he met a tramp coming out. The tramp mistook him for one of his kind and said, “There’s no use to go in there pard, that’s the meanest white woman living”.   Garnett Journal-Plaindealer, pg 6.

Schools

Did you know there were over 100 schools in Anderson County at one time? Schools were place across the county no more than 6 miles apart as most students either walked to school, rode horseback or went by wagon. The county population was much larger and in 1880 the county had a population of between 15,000 and 16,000 residents. This meant every square mile of Anderson County had approximately 27 people living in it. The number is double to what it is today. Reason for this population was the county population was more rural as large families were needed to farm without today's modern farming equipment.