|
|
Thanks to Maynard Harding and
the Iron Horse Historical Society for compiling the following information on "Famous
Folks" that have lived EVELYN BRIGGS BALDWIN July 22, 1862 - October 26, 1933 Evelyn Briggs Baldwin was born in Springfield, Missouri and
his family later became early pioneers of Labette County. Baldwin graduated from
Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois in 1885. Later he became principal
of Oswego High School at Oswego, Kansas. As a boy, he had been thrilled with
anything that had to do with exploration work in connection with the North Pole.
To gratify this ambition, his first opportunity came in 1893 with Perry's second
expedition to Greenland. Because of his knowledge in meteorology, he was given a
place in the party. His second expedition to the North Pole was with Walter
Wellman. Mr. Baldwin lectured throughout the country, taking with him many dogs,
furs and other things of interest from the arctic region. OSAGE CHIEF CHETOPAH On April 18, 1857, a young Doctor by the name of George Lisle came to the southern part of Dorn County (now Labette), looking for a place to settle and build a home. On the site of what is now the City of Chetopa, sat an Osage Indian village belonging to the Osage War Chief, Chetopah. Dr. Lisle befriended the Chief and built his log cabin with his bare hands. During the next six years, many other settlers arrived and built a small community, which they named Chetopah. Read more.... WILBUR "BUCK" CLAYTON November 12, 1911 - December 8, 1991
WILLIAM C. COLEMAN May 21, 1870 - November 6, 1957 When William Coffin Coleman was ten months old, his parents traveled 1,500 miles by train and wagon to move to Labette County, Kansas near the town of Mound Valley. After graduating from Parsons High School and working in the education field, he decided to study law. To pay for his studies, he sold typewriters. After being impressed by the illumination of a gasoline mantle lamp in a store window, he decided to sell a line of lamps instead. Mr. Coleman was so successful in selling the gasoline lamp that in 1900; he started the Hydro-Carbon Light Company in Wichita, Kansas. By 1905, he began manufacturing lamps at a small factory in Wichita. This was the beginning of the Coleman Company. Read more.... WALTER DAVIDSON Walter Davidson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1876. He graduated from common school but did not have the funds necessary for a higher education. In the fall of 1901, Walter Davidson arrived in Parsons, Kansas to take up a position of machinist in the machine shop of the Missouri-Kansas and Texas Railroad (The Katy). Walter worked for The Katy until April 17, 1903, when he returned to Milwaukee to attend a wedding. While at home for the wedding, his brother Arthur and his friend, Bill Harley, asked Walter to help with the assembly of a motorcycle that they were developing. Walter Davidson never returned to Parsons and the Katy. Instead, he became the founder and first president of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. GEORGE PEPPERDINE June 20, 1886 - July 31, 1962 George Pepperdine was born six miles south of Mound Valley, Kansas. In 1904, the Pepperdines moved to Parsons so that George could attend Professor Olson's Business College. George left Parsons in 1909 and moved to Kansas City, Missouri and founded the Western Auto Corporation the same year. He moved to California in 1920, and founded George Pepperdine College in 1937, which later became Pepperdine University. He sold his interest in Western Auto in 1939. George Pepperdine died July 31, 1962.
ZASU PITTS January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963 Eliza Susan Pitts was born in Parsons, Kansas. Her mother named her for her two sisters. The Pitts family moved to California in 1902. Zasu began her acting career with supportive roles in two Mary Pickford films. She played leading and supporting roles in almost 100 films and in the 1950's, she co-starred in the television series, "Oh! Susanna", which later became The Gale Storm Show". Zasu Pitts died on June 7, 1963 at Good Samartian Hospital in Los Angeles, California, of cancer. check out another site. PAYNE H. RATNER October 3, 1896 - December 27, 1974
Payne Harry Ratner was born in Casey, Illinois and graduated from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and served in World War 1 as an ensign in the Navy. In 1920, the Ratners moved to Parsons, Kansas. He was elected Labette County Attorney, serving from 1923 to 1927. He was twice elected to the Kansas State Senate, serving from 1929 to 1933 and from 1937 to 1939. In 1934, he built one of the nicest homes in Parsons at 725 E. Main. Payne H. Ratner was elected Governor on the Republican ticket and served two terms, from 1939 to 1943. After serving as Governor, he moved to Wichita. Payne Harry Ratner died on December 27, 1974. He is buried at Wichita Park Cemetary, Wichita, Kansas. CLYDE M. REED October 9, 1871 - November 8, 1949
In 1875, at the age of 4, Clyde Martin Reed came with his family to Labette County, settling on a farm south of Parsons. Reed entered the Railway Mail Service at the age of 18. He headed the Wichita Division of the MKT Railroad for 11 years and was Superintendent of the Railway Adjustment Division from 1910 to 1917. In 1914, with others, he purchased the Parsons Sun and was its president and publisher until his death. He moved his family to Topeka in 1920 when he became secretary to Governor Henry I. Allen. He was later chairman of the Kansas Public Utilities Commissioner. He was elected Governor of the State of Kansas in 1928, serving one term. Reed was elected to the United States Senate in 1938, was re-elected in 1944, and held that position at his death. KATHLEEN ELOISA ROCKWELL October 4, 1876 - February 21, 1957 Kathleen Eloisa Rockwell was born in Junction City, Kansas. Two months after her birth, the Rockwell family moved to Oswego, Kansas, where her father had accepted a position as freight and ticket agent with the newly completed Missouri and Western Railroad. In 1881, Kate's mother divorced her father and married her attorney, Frank Bettis, the next year. During his years in Oswego, Frank Bettis served on the bench and in the State Legislature. By 1890, Kate was a stage-struck girl in New York City and later toured through the country as a singer and dancer. Read more.... T. CLAUDE RYAN January 3, 1898 - September 11, 1982. Tubal Claude Ryan was born in Parsons, Kansas. In 1917, Claude moved to California. While there, Ryan became an aviator, founded the first airline with regular flights and designed the Ryan M-1 A Monoplane. Charles Lindbergh tried out a modified Ryan M-1 in San Diego on April 28, 1927. The following month, he flew it from New York to Paris. After Lindbergh's flight, Ryan formed the Ryan Aeronautical Company. During World War II, he made a training aircraft, the PT-22. He sold the company in 1969 to the Teledyne Corporation, but he retained an office in the plant and continued work on a new powered sailplane he called the "Cloudster". Development of the craft occupied him through his last years. T. Claude Ryan died at age 84 in San Diego on September 11, 1982. |
|
|
Buck Clayton was born in Parsons, Kansas. Buck’s mother, an
accomplished pianist and organist started him on the piano at age 6 which he
studied and played until the age of 15, at which time his father bought him a
trumpet. Buck’s father, a songwriter, poet and accomplished musician, felt that
the trumpet was the right instrument for Buck to take through life. At the age
of 18, Buck began his career playing his trumpet in various bands in California.
Later, joined the Count Basie Orchestra as leading soloist and arranger. He
recorded with famous jazz singer Billy
Holiday and other top stars.
