What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago
A chicken house on the Fred Wickland place east of town burned last Friday night. The loss was not so great to Fred as was the fact that nearly 100 little chickens perished in the fire. Fred knew nothing of the fire until sometime during the night when he answered a knock at the door and a passing motorist, who had discovered the building afire, reported the blaze. The fire was under too much headway to save the building or even attempt to rescue the chickens. The building caught fire, it is thought, from a brooder that was furnishing heat for the little chicks.
A change in Stockton business the past week that created some little surprise was that of W. I. Smith, transferring the ownership of his jewelry and optical store to R. E. Garland. The invoicing of the stock was been underway since Saturday, but it is an assured thing that Mr. Garland is the new owner. Mr. Garland comes from Beatrice, Nebr. He had made the city his home for the past six years, conducting a jewelry and optical establishment, and previous to that time had employment in those lines for eleven years in Nebraska cities. He comes well recommended and the community can be well assured of a continuation of high class jewelry and optical store. Mr. Garland’s family consists of a wife, two young sons, and Mrs. Garland’s mother, Mrs. Florence Dow. They are comfortably located in the former J. A. Bodine property. Mr. Smith located in Stockton in 1905 and for the past 20 years has conducted the business in the same building. During those years he has built a good business, carrying the largest stock of jewelry and optical goods in this art of Kansas. His records show that he has fitted more than 15,000 pairs of glasses, many of the patrons coming from a great distance of more than 100 miles. Mr. Smith has always been a consistent advertiser and gives credit to much of his success to the liberal use of newspaper advertising.
Mrs. Emma Hunter gave a miscellaneous shower on Wednesday afternoon in honor of Mrs. Margaret Caylor, who will be married on May 10th. There were 18 guests present and a very enjoyable afternoon was spent.
A birthday surprise was given on Ernest McCubbin on Saturday evening at his home. Fifty of his friends came to help him celebrate the day. Music served as an entertainment for the guests. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were served.
An exchange of properties was made the past week between John J. Thompson of the Twin Mound country and Leslie Pickerton of Phillips County. In the trade, Mr. Thompson received a section of land near Deer Trail, Colo., and Mr. Pickerton got the Stockton residence property, formerly the Chas. White home, and a cash consideration.
Dick Demaray returned Saturday night from Denver, where he had been attending a convention of the Byars managers, and also looking over merchandise lines to buy winter stock. Dick says he bought a large quantity and one of these days before next winter gets here, he will have much to say about the good for the season.
Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Cooper and daughter, Ina Grace, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Covert and son, Cranston, drove out to Oakley last Saturday evening to spend the night and Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones. The Joneses are enjoying good health and Paul has a fine business in the graphic office. He is expecting soon to take over the plant and be sole boss and proprietor. Returning by way of Colby and Hoxie, the writer found wheat to be fine and other crops equally as well.
Miss Bernice Pepper returned this past week from a trip to Hoyt, Kansas and on her return stopped at Topeka to visit the E. G. Davis family. Miss Bernice was elected teacher of the commercial department of the Hoyt schools for the coming term at an attractive salary. Bernice is one of Rooks County’s best girls and during the past year or two had been teaching at Hays. She will make good at Hoyt.
A couple of Stockton chaps were hauled into Justice McKanna’s court last Friday on a charge of speeding and wrong parking. The young fellows paid their fine and went on their way much wises than their act committed. City authorities are going to bear down on carless car drivers who permit themselves to want to speed and those who disobey the parking rules.
The junior/senior banquet was held on April 24th, at the Methodist Church. The church basement was beautifully decorated in the senior colors of purple and gold. The decorations represented a Japanese garden, which was carried out most successfully. An entertaining program was given with Miss Velma Hall as toastmistress. Everyone there witnessed a splendid time and the banquet was very much enjoyed by all.
From the Woodston Argus…..Walter Macy sold the Gem Barber Shop to Glen Wycoff of Bogue. Mr. Wycoff arrived here Tuesday and has been helping in the shop, but does not take possession until Monday. He appears to be a fine fellow and one who will take well in this community….. Fred Lambert and wife of Stockton and Omer Atkisson and wife autoed over to the Fairport oil fields last Sunday….. The Medicine Creek Baseball team defeated the Codell team last Sunday afternoon on the Medicine diamond. We failed to get the score, but those who saw the game report it was a walk away for the Medicine boys.
