2018 Spring Newsletter

Wash Day 1916 – from Progressive Farmer, March 1974 A Kentucky grandmother gave a new bride the following “receipt” for washing clothes. It appears below just as it was written and despite the spelling, has a bit of philosophy. 1. Bilt fire in back yard to heet kettle of rain water. 2. Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert. 3. Shave one whole cake lye soap in bilin’ water. 4. Sort things, make 3 piles, 1 pile white, 1 pile collored, 1 pile work britches and rags. 5. Stir flour in cold water to smooth, then thin down with bilin’ water. 6. Rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, then bile. Rub collored, don’t bile, just rinch and starch. 7. Take white things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then rinch and starch. 8. Hang old rags on fence. 9. Spread tee towels on grass. 10. Pore rinch water on grass. 11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 12. Turn tubs upside down. 13. Go put on house dress, smooth hair with side combs, brew cup of tee, sit and rest and rock a spell, and count blessings. In the fall of 1865 a party of nine men, with their wives and families left New Douglas, Ill., and came by wagon to Miami County, arriving here October 20 of that year. There were in the party Peter Lowe and family, W. F. Edwards and family, Robert Gregg and family, George Laws and family, James Jones and family, Mr. Hittle and family and others whose names do not recur to memory. All the men and women who were in that party are dead except Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Edwards who removed to California two weeks ago, and Mrs. Robert Gregg, who lives in Chanute. W. A Lowe of Middle Creek Township, who was then a boy of eight years, is the oldest one of the children who came with the party who now lives in the county. With what fond hopes and bright prospects those young husbands and wives --- for all were then young --- with their little families faced the west as they left their Illinois home. And what promise the beautiful fertile prairies of Kansas held out to them. They endured many hardships, as all pioneers everywhere do, but they faced them bravely, and the joy of life in the new country brought happiness and contentment. They helped build up Miami County into one of the richest portions of this great State, and most of them died and were buried here amidst the scenes of their best endeavor, leaving the memories of lives well lived and deeds well done. Hang this above your automatic washer. When things look black, read again. A MEMORY OF THE PAST

All this reminds us of how fleeting is life --- how near the end is to the beginning.

(from Miami Republican, Oct. 11, 1912, f. page)

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER TOWN The Anatomy of a Circus An autobiography by James R. Patterson A history of the Great Patterson Shows when the circus maintained winter quarters in Paola. Tax included price is $28.00

How to purchase on page 18

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