THE CHILD IN THIS 1910 PICTURE is John B. Smith and his mother, Eva B. Smith, who is standing by the table with a group of ladies. They are at Camp Jackson located about one-half mile southwest of the Solomon River south of town. Families would camp there for about two or three weeks during the summer. Men would go to town to work during the day while the families stayed at the camp. John was the funeral director for many years in Stockton and his wife, Roma, owned Smith’s on Main Street. The store sold a bit of everything, first starting out with furniture and then over the years offering lovely wedding items of china and glassware to exquisite pieces of artwork, furniture, etc. from around the world.

* And So They Say: Vernie Degenhardt: “It’s a nice day, but it would be a lot nicer out on the bank at the lake.” Robert Osborn: “I resemble my late grandfather quite a bit, except that he wore a beard and I don’t, and he was short and I am tall.” Howard Wanamaker: “Nothing has happened to me this past week except that I’ve gotten to be a week older.” Jess Riffe: “It doesn’t hurt to try to make people think you do all the housework.”

Continued increases in the volume of freight handled by the Missouri Pacific are recorded in the regular monthly statement issued by President L.W. Baldwin of that railroad. Notwithstanding cold weather, snow and rain, which prevailed the greater part of the month, the total local loading along the lines of the Missouri Pacific during March amounted to 82,619 cars while receipts from connections were 34,400 cars, a total of 117, 028 over the month, an increase of 14 per cent over March 1923. The daily average local loads and receipts from connections numbered 4,501, exceeding any previous March in history of the railroad. According to Mr. Baldwin, these figures bear out optimistic forecasts for a continuation of prosperous conditions. The statement contains an optimistic note throughout, and points out that the Missouri Pacific, especially and railroads generally, are preparing to handle efficiently another record-breaking volume of business this year.

RALPH KEILHOTZ (circa 1910) is pictured with what he deemed to be the “First Motorcycle west of the Mississippi.”.

* And So They Say: Floyd Fix: “Doesn’t it always rain on the day of the junior/ senior banquet?” Twila Strutt: “At the secretarial seminar we went to on Saturday, we didn’t really learn anything new, but were reminded of what we already knew and weren’t putting into practice.” Lloyd Hollern: “I got some smart pills in Hays on Sunday.” Clark Stocking: “Well, this is the big week—the week that Batman comes to local television screens.”

Darrell Sammons and Mike Heenan were sworn in as city commissioners at the April 1st, 2008 meeting, joining other commissioners Reesa Brown, Twila Sander and Wayne Madison, as well as city manager Connie Conyac, and clerk Sandi Rogers. Recognition was given to Mayor Kim Thomas for all her years of service. An election for a new mayor was first on the agenda. Wayne Madison was nominated and duly approved by a vote of the other commissioners. The Oath of Office was then given to Madison by clerk Sandi Rogers.

Scotty Muir is no more! The announcement of his death last week cast a cloudy of gloom that saddens every heart. Possibly no death in this community has caused the pall of sorrow to rest over the entire community as the passing of Andrew G. Muir. “Scotty,” as he was more commonly known by friend and child, lived his life in Rooks County. He grew to manhood here, married here and gave the world a fine family of children. Scotty came to this county in the latter seventies and was one of the first settlers in Lanark Township. In fact, it is said that he named the township after Lanarkshire, Scotland, his birthplace. He gave his life to the great and noble organization— Independent Order of Odd Fellowship. He was one of the charter members of the local lodge and with his talent and heart in fraternalism; he has watched the local order rise to one of the strongest in this part of Kansas. He has spent his money and time as representative to the national conventions of the Odd Fellows order and was recognized as Scotty Muir of Kansas to Odd Fellows all over the nation. The loss of the fellowship of Mr. Muir will be a severe blow to Stockton lodge, of which he was also the last surviving charter member. The entire community joins the local order and some sixty relatives in paying the last tribute to the member of the greatest lodge worker of Kansas.

The Board of Education of Stockton USD 2761 was pleased to announce that a contract for Superintendent of Schools had been offered and accepted by Mr. W. Luis Cass of Wallace, Nebr. This action was taken at a special meeting of the board on April 7, 2008.

THIS PICTURE is of the business shingle of Judge William K. Skinner, who practiced law in Stockton as the city attorney as well as being appointed district judge in the early 1900s. He served in that capacity until 1952. The shingle hung on the side of the building next to the doorway that led to his law office in Stockton and has now been donated to the Rooks County Historical Museum.

* And So They Say: Virgil Bird: “I went bowling and made a strike, and I think it should be in the paper.” Kenneth Medley: “I’d get into trouble if I told you what I know.” Erma Jean Price: “We have fewer little pigs now than we’ve had anytime since the first of the year. We only have 180 now.” Jessie Hammond: “Believe it or not, but I gained this weight on my own cooking.”