Sarah Emma Corbin, 1945 Maple Hill High School Graduation photograph.
Sarah Emma Corbin was born on December 4, 1929 to Robert and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin. According to family tradition, she was born on the farm of her maternal grandmother, Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley in the Snokomo Community south of Paxico, in Wabaunsee County, Kansas. Sarah was the fourth child of five born to Robert and Mildred.
At a young age, she moved to a farm in the vicinity of Lake Wabaunsee, in Mill Creek Township, where Robert was a tenant farmer and day laborer for the Herman Kraus Family. The Corbins later moved into the town of Eskridge, where Robert and Mildred worked for Frank and Amy Penrice. The Corbins were life-long friends of both the Kraus and Penrice families.
The 1940 U. S. Census, which asked where the individuals were living five years previous, indicates that Robert and Mildred Corbin had moved their family of five to Maple Hill, Wabaunsee County, Kansas by 1935. This is in agreement with family tradition. Robert took a job as a ranch hand at the ranch of Raymond Adams, Sr. north of Maple Hill. The family then moved from the ranch into the town of Maple Hill, where they lived in the 400 block of Fowler Avenue.
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The photograph above was taken in front of that house. The house is remains occupied as a home in 2013, and while the author was growing up, the house was owned and occupied by Buck and Millie Tarbutton and by Albert LaBranch. Pictured in the photograph are: L-R Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin, Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Strong, Charles M. Mitchell with Vivian Mae Corbin in front, Bonnie Lou (Thomas) Mitchell, Sarah Emma Corbin, Jared T. Strong, Virginia Kelling, and William Alexander Mitchell. The purpose of this gathering is not now known, but Sarah looks to be about 7 or 8 years old, so the estimated date is 1936 or 1937. The Corbins continued to live in this house for several years.
Sarah Emma Corbin attended grade and high school at Maple Hill, graduating at the conclusion of World War II in 1947. She was married to Leslie Forest Justice on October 10, 1947 at Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas.
Leslie "Les" Justice is the son of Clifford Leslie and Gladys Lucille (Hamm) Justice and was born November 17, 1926 at Maple Hill, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. Leslie was an only child. Clifford Justice spent his entire working career as an employee of the Rock Island Railroad and lived in Maple Hill the entire time. He retired as Section Foreman.
Leslie Justice attended Maple Hill schools and enlisted in the United States Army on December 4, 1945 and was sent to Camp Hood, Kileen, Texas for training. Les was then sent to Europe where he was a part of the force of occupation after the war ended.
Les and Sarah (Corbin) Justice lived in Topeka, Kansas for several years after they were married. The 1954 Topeka City Directory shows them living at 1187 Grand Street and the 1954 Topeka City Director shows them living at 637 Central Park. Les was employed at the Veterans Hospital in Topeka as an nursing attendant.
My first memories of Uncle Les and Aunt Sarah (Corbin) Justice were as a small child. I remember them as a very happy couple who came to family gatherings and enjoying spoiling all of their nieces and nephews. Both had infectious laughs that were heard often. They lived in Topeka, and it was nearly ten years before they had children, so they frequently took me and my brother Gary to visit in their home. We have some very good times there.
L-R: Clifford Justice, Gladys (Hamm) Justice, and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin-Clark. This picture was taken about 1960 on the west side of Main Street in Maple Hill, Kansas. The home of Dr. J. Wilson Lauck, later owned by Lon and Arlene Wright, is in the background.
It was with great joy that Uncle Les and Aunt Sarah Justice announced to family and friends that they were expecting a child. Robert Clifford Justice was born on January 12, 1953 at Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Almost from the beginning, Robert was given the nickname "Skip." I don't ever remember calling him by any other name. Skip Justice attended schools at Maple Hill, Kansas. He was fascinated by law enforcement from childhood onward, and his entire life was spent in that field of endeavor.
Skip and Jennifer adopted two children, brothers and sisters. They are Brandon Clifford Justice born June 26, 1995 and Chey An April Justice born February 8, 1997. Brandon and CheyAn Justice are presently attending high school in the Rossville School District.
Robert "Skip" Justice passed away suddenly after attending the funeral of his paternal grandmother, Gladys (Hamm) Justice, on January 24, 2005.
The Robert "Skip" Justice Family: L-R Robert, Brandon, Jennifer, and CheyAn Justice.
L-R: Loren Lee Justice, Robert Clifford "Skip" Justice, Sarah Emma (Corbin) Justice and Leslie Forest Justice. The exact date of this photograph is not known but is circa 1995. A second child was born to Leslie and Sarah (Corbin) Justice. Loren Lee Justice was born on November 30, 1955 at Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas. Loren attended Maple Hill Public Schools and is currently a manager at 24/7 Travel Store at Maple Hill, Kansas. Loren and his father, Leslie F. Justice live in the family home on Maple Hill's Main Street as of this writing.
L-R: Loren Lee Justice, Leslie F. Justice, Sarah Emma (Corbin) Justice, Robert "Skip" Justice and Jennifer J. (Volavka) Justice.
Leslie F. and Sarah E. (Corbin) Justice celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with family and friends at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church Fellowship Hall on December 10, 1997.
Les Justice worked as an attendant at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka, Kansas and then became a sales associate for The Fleming Company in Topeka. Flemings was one of the largest food distribution companies in the Midwest. Les worked his way up through the company and traveled widely visiting grocery stores throughout northeast Kansas. He retired with over 30 years service to the company.Les and Sarah Justice moved to Maple Hill, Kansas in the 1950s and purchased the home of Billy and Mary (Watt) Turnbull on Main Street. Their family continues to live there. Les and Sarah were active in the Maple Hill Community. They were members of various Maple Hill School organizations when their children were in the system, Les played basketball on the Maple Hill Men's Basketball Team for many years, they were both members of the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church, and Uncle Les was a member of the Maple Hill Kiwanis Club and the Maple Hill Senior Citizens Club until they disbanded.
I particularly remember Aunt Sarah Justice as a great lover of music. I don't think she ever took piano lessons, but when there was a family gathering, you could always find Aunt Sarah at the piano making beautiful music, playing "by ear." In later years, she got a two-manual electric organ in her home and enjoyed playing. When I was very young, she and Uncle Les would come to Sunday dinner and song fests at the home of my maternal grandparents, Robert and Mildred (McCauley) Corbin. We would all eat, then clear the table and head for the living room, where all of the Corbin sisters played the piano and sang. Aunt Sarah used to play "boogie woogie" and we all loved it. Aunt Vivian and Aunt Joan both played by note and my mother, Lucille (Corbin) Clark had a very nice soprano voice. That's where I learned to love to sing and still do.
Sarah Emma (Corbin) Justice died peacefully in her sleep on December 9, 2001 at her home. She was buried in the Old Stone Church Cemetery at Maple Hill, Kansas. She had just celebrated her 72nd birthday. She will be remembered by family and friends as a wonderful wife and mother, devoted to her family. She will also be remembered for her great sense of humor and for her devotion to the Democratic Party. Nothing would fire Aunt Sarah up like a good discussion about politics! She was much loved, by her family and friends.
