• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sandhenge Publications

Jim Potter, Author

  • About the Author
  • Author Blog
    • Sign Up for Jim’s Posts
  • Blog Podcasts
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact the Author
  • Read the Behind the Books Blog
    • Listen to the Audio Blog
  • Check Book Reviews
  • Sign Up to Receive Blog Posts
  • All Books

Reno County: Searching for Alice

April 28, 2021 by Jim Potter 6 Comments

Share this blog post

Email
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin

 

https://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Reno-County-Searching-for-Alice.mp3

· Searching for Alice, Finding Elizabeth:

Alice Elizabeth Thomas Hartford

*

This photo is from the Hutchinson News, February 13, 1935, announcing the death of Mrs. Alice E. Hartford.

It’s Tuesday, February 12, 1935, at 108 E. 14th Street, Hutchinson, Kansas. Alice Elizabeth Thomas Hartford, 80, is on her death bed.

*

Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, KS, Photo by author

“Ethel, Ethel,” Elizabeth cried out, “stay with us, we love you.” Elizabeth was talking to her eldest daughter who was dying of typhoid malaria on a Saturday night, September 8, 1894, when Ethel Winter was 15 years old.

“You’re our pride and joy, Ethel,” continued Elizabeth. “You’re so bright and accomplished. School awaits you.”

But, the grim reaper stepped in and claimed Ethel for his own.

*

Eastside Cemetery. Photo by author

“Harry,” said Elizabeth, “I still remember the day your father started treating me as a woman, not just a neighbor girl. Our family had known the Hartfords since we homesteaded in 1873. Back then Little River Township was larger than it is today. Your father helped promote our very own Medora Township.

“We married February 28, 1879. As with you and Jennie, there was a big age difference between us, but it was of no consequence. Henry was a Civil War veteran, a stockman, and farmer. He’d already been Reno County sheriff. I’d been a school teacher. He was 42. I was 25.”

*

Obee School, erected 1873, unknown date of photo. Credit to Reno County Historical Society.

“Etta and May, I’m so proud of both of you for being school teachers in Hutchinson,” said Elizabeth, “and look at you now, May, a principal.

“Teachers help change the world. It was 1875 when I was hired to be the teacher in District 32, Obee School. The one-room schoolhouse is long gone now, replaced by a modern building.

“Free schools were important to a free country. For me, it was quite the stepping out party.

“It was difficult and exhilarating. The school terms were short, the students interested in their studies, but attendance was determined by their farm chores and the weather.”

*

“Daile,” said Elizabeth, “your papa raised pure-blood Shorthorn cattle, Berkshire hogs, and crops; I raised you children. We all accomplished a lot. Now, you and John have loving children.”

*

Eastside Cemetery. Photo by author

“Grandma Hartford, is that you?” asked Elizabeth, speaking of Henry’s mother who died in 1904 at age 92.

“Yes, dear, it’s me,” answered Martha.

“You lived a long life,” said Elizabeth. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Life is nothing without death,” said Martha. “The machinery of life wears out and then we go to our just reward.”

*

Photograph from History of Reno County, Kansas: It’s People, Industries and Institutions, Vol 2, by Sheridan Ploughe (B.F. Bowen & Co., 1917)

“Henry, you were a courageous man,” said Elizabeth. “In 1913, when you visited Gettysburg for the battle’s 50th anniversary, I was concerned whether you’d survive the memories. You were already my champion. I knew you were a hero on the battlefield, having been wounded twice at Gettysburg, but I was worried what the visit might do to you. I remember hearing about you being sent home to die and how your mother probed the wound in your hip because it wouldn’t heal. Fortunately, she found a piece of your uniform. She saved your life.”

*

Hillsview Stock Farm, 1893 (2.5 miles east of Medora, KS). Collection of Lynne Hartford. L-R: Henry Hartford (1837-1919), Ethel Winter Hartford (1879-1894), Ida Massingale (hired girl), Etta Dale Hartford (1881-1957), Martha “May” Hartford (1889-1980), Alice Elizabeth Thomas Hartford (1854-1935), Nina “Daile” Hartford (1886-1980), Ben Decker, Harry Emmet Hartford (1879-1968), “Grandma” Martha Hartford (1812-1904) in doorway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We all grew close together at Hillsview,” said Elizabeth. “It was our home for births and birthdays, marriages, deaths, and holidays. Eventually though, one thousand acres was too much of a ranch for us to handle.”

“It was another world from being born in Londonderry County, Ireland,” said Henry. “My father was a coach maker, but you and I drove automobiles.”

*

“Hello, Elizabeth,” said a voice. “It’s Sarah King from the Needlecraft Club.”

“Have you made any fancywork recently?” asked Elizabeth.

“You know us,” said Sarah with a laugh, “needlecraft is only an excuse for gossiping and eating.”

*

Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument at First Ave. & Walnut Street, Hutchinson. Unknown artisans. Photo by author
Eastside Cemetery. Photo by author

“Henry,” said Elizabeth, “the 30 foot tall monument represents all Union veterans of the war. I’m so glad you lived long enough to see it. Citizens, especially today, need a reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals who fought and died to keep this country as one.”

“Elizabeth,” said Henry, “your leadership with the Women’s Relief Club, locally and at the state level, has honored countless veterans. The programs of the Grand Army of the Republic wouldn’t have been successful without women as the doers, preparing the flowers and wreaths that decorated graves.”

Click the following link to see Alice Elizabeth Hartford’s  US Army Widow Pension Record 

*

Emily Hopkins Thomas, 1832-1927; & Joseph V. Thomas, 1831-1899. Photo permission by “Zeno from Find-A-Grave.” Timberlake Cemetery, Cherokee, Alfalfa County, OK.

“Mother,” said Elizabeth, “us women have to bear life without our husbands. When you two married in 1852 in Jennings, Indiana, did you imagine you’d outlive Papa by 28 years?”

“Elizabeth,” replied Emily, “We were about the same age and we figured we’d live a long life together. You know what they say about looking too far into the future, ‘if you want to make god laugh, tell him your plans.’

Elizabeth gave a weak smile, laughed, then coughed uncontrollably.

“You’re coming home, Elizabeth,” said her mother. “We’ll see you on the other side.”

*

“Elizabeth,” said Henry, “I’ll be with you soon. You were the love of my life. You were a woman of great character and clarity. You were of pioneer stock and weathered days of hard living in a new country, yet you were always prim and proper. You were a leader in many phases of your life, especially around Medora and in Hutchinson. Together, we raised the best children in the world. Thank you for all you’ve done and for who you were.”

*

First Christian Church, southeast corner of 5th & Main, Hutchinson. Photo by Marion W. Bailey, 1909. Author’s collection
Eastside Cemetery. Photo by author

Elizabeth died the night of Tuesday, February 12, 1935. Her funeral services were held two days later at 3:30 o’clock from the First Christian Church in Hutchinson, Kansas, where she was a long-time member. Reverend Claude J. Miller was in charge of internment at Eastside Cemetery.

*

“Blessed Assurance” is a Christian song sung by Alan Jackson (2017), but the text was written in 1873, the year the Hartford and Thomas families settled in Little River Township, Reno County, as neighbors. The text was written by Fanny Crosby and the melody by Phoebe Knapp.

Click the following link to hear the 2:20 minute recording by Alan Jackson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vfqYwfTqlE

Thanks so much to Lynne Hartford for helping me answer questions about her ancestors that I couldn’t find in the US Census, a city directory, or in an old newspaper. “Alice” is the name used in her widow’s pension paperwork, in her obituary, and on her gravestone, but with friends and family she answered to “Elizabeth.”

*

Note: Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. once said, “For women have constituted the most spectacular casualty of traditional history. They have made up at least half the human race; but you could never tell that by looking at the books historians write. The forgotten man is nothing to the forgotten woman.” Introduction to the book, Pioneer Women: Voices from the Kansas Frontier, by Joanna L. Stratton (Simon & Schuster, 1981).

*

Until next time, happy writing and reading.

Share this blog post

Email
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin

Related

Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: Alice Elizabeth Thomas Hartford, Ben Decker, David Reed, Eastside Cemetery, Elizabeth Alice Thomas Hartford, Elizabeth Thomas Hartford, Emily Hopkins Thomas, Ethel Winter Hartford, Etta Dale Hartford, First Christian Church, Gettysburg, Grand Army of the Republic, Grandma Martha Hartford, Harry Emmet Hartford, Harry Hartford, Hutchinson Kansas, Hutchinson News, Ida Massingale, Jennie Hartford, Jim Potter, John Henry Hartford, Joseph V. Thomas, Kansas Authors Club, Little River Township, Lynne Hartford, Marion W. Bailey, Martha May Hartford, Nina Daile Hartford, Obee School, Reno County, Reno County Historical Society, Reno County Museum, Reno County Sheriff, Reverend Claude J. Miller, Sheriffs of Reno County, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Timberlake Cemetery, Women's Relief Corps

Sign Up for the Blog

You will never have to check this site for the latest blog post, and you’ll get the latest and the greatest first! You will receive a confirmation email that you must respond to in order to be officially subscribed.

IMPORTANT! Check your Junk and Spam folders as needed!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    April 28, 2021 at 9:08 am

    Powerful and emotional deathbed tribute.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      April 28, 2021 at 9:42 am

      Thanks! It could have happened . . .

      Reply
  2. Anne Hartford says

    April 28, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    Thanks for this! Along with your research, it taught me new things about my ancestor that I’m not sure I would have found on my own!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      April 28, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      You’re welcome, Anne. Thanks for the help. Sorting through my own relatives is often a challenge.

      Reply
  3. Susie says

    April 28, 2021 at 11:24 pm

    I knew those people. They were my people. My aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and friends. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      May 3, 2021 at 11:54 am

      You’re welcome. My pleasure.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Jim Potter, Author

author

Recent Blog Posts

  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Draft Status February 2, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Choosing a Title January 26, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Multitasking January 19, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Networking January 12, 2023
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Introduction January 5, 2023

If you prefer to listen . . .

If you prefer to listen to my blog posts, you can do so … List of podcasts about Podcasts

Post Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017

What People Are Saying

Footer

Follow Jim on Facebook

Follow Jim on Facebook

Interviews with Jim Potter

Video interview with James Lowe outside Bookends Bookstore July 21, 2022

Print interview with author Bill Bush September 1, 2022

Print interview with author Cheryl Unruh February 28, 2019

Hutchinson Magazine Article

Copyright © 2023 Sandhenge Publications · Website by Rosemary Miller