Vivian Mae Corbin: The Youngest Child of Robert and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin-Clark

Vivian Mae Corbin, was born on August 3, 1932 at Maple Hill, Kansas.   She was the youngest child of Robert and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin-Clark.  She was my aunt and the "little" sister of my mother, Lucille (Corbin) Clark.  Vivian was the paternal granddaughter of George Washington and Sarah Ann (Todd) Corbin.   Sarah Ann (Todd) Corbin died in 1916 and George Washington Corbin in 1925, so both were dead before she was born.   She was the maternal granddaughter of Samuel McCauley, who died in 1911 and Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley-Banta-Billings-Strong who lived until 1951.   Vivian received her middle name from Lucy Mae Lemon was the only grandparent Vivian Corbin knew.

I knew Aunt Vivian particularly well, because she was just about 10 years older than I, and was still single and living with her parents (my maternal grandparents) when my early memories began.   Since I spent a lot of time with Robert and Mildred Corbin, I also spent a lot of time with Aunt Vivian.  I was born in 1944, when Aunt Vivian was 12, so she and my other aunts all spoiled me.   I believe the term "rotten" is certainly appropriately applied!

Perhaps one of the earliest photographs of the Corbin Family, taken about 1936 or 1937 in Maple Hill, Kansas.  L-R:  George S. Corbin, Lucille Corbin, Mildred M. (McCauley) Corbin and Robert Corbin.  Front row L-R:  Joan Corbin, Sarah Emma Corbin and Vivian Mae Corbin.

Aunt Vivian attended Maple Hill Grade School and Maple Hill High School, graduating in 1951.   She was musically talented and played in the Maple Hill High School Band and sang in the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church choir.  I remember Aunt Vivian and my other aunts, Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier, Sarah Emma (Corbin) Justice and my mother Lucille (Corbin) Clark, all spending a great deal of time at the piano and in singing.   Grandmother Mildred (McCauley) Corbin usually prepared and hosted Sunday Dinner (which was served at lunchtime) and when the dishes were cleaned up, almost always, everyone headed to the living room when we sang popular songs as well as hymns.   It is one of my favorite memories and where I learned to sing and appreciate music.

All of my aunts spoiled me.   They all had good jobs in Topeka, Kansas and since I was the first maternal grandchild, birthdays, Christmas and other occasions were usually times when they brought me toys and clothes.   I remember Aunt Vivian giving me a record player for Christmas when I was 5 or 6, and several records with children's stories and songs.   I loved that record player.

This 1944 photograph was taken when Robert and Mildred Corbin lived three miles east of Maple Hill in the Holmden Stone House.   Robert was working for the Franklin Adams Estate.   L-R are:  Vivian Mae Corbin, Lucille Corbin, Joan Corbin and Sarah Emma Corbin.   I have to say that my mother, Lucille Corbin and Aunt Vivian both hated this picture, so I'm glad they are not here to see me using it in this blog :)

I became a pupil at Maple Hill Grade School in 1951 and Aunt Vivian was in high school.   I'm sure she may have dated others, but I only remember her dating her future husband, George Wild, Jr.  He was a tall, athletic guy who our family enjoyed having around at gatherings.  He had a really good looking 1950 Ford and always kept it in immaculate condition.   Robert and Mildred (McCauley) Corbin lived on a farm about 1.5 miles south of Maple Hill, Kansas and the homestead had a circle driveway.  I can still see George Wild driving in and making that circle to pick up Aunt Vivian.   If memory serves me well, my grandparents would not let Aunt Vivian date on week nights, so she and George dated on Friday and Saturday night, and then attended the Pilgrim Fellowship Youth Group at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church on Sunday evenings.

I can still hear my grandparents establishing the rules for Aunt Vivian's dates.   The most important rule, was a signal for her to come into the house.   At 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday nights, Grandfather or Grandmother Corbin, usually Grandfather Corbin, would walk into the kitchen and flip the electrical switch for the big yard light off and on.   That was the signal that Aunt Vivian should soon appear in the house!  I do remember that there were occasional pleadings but Grandfather Corbin was pretty strict and Aunt Vivian usually lost the arguments.   It was a happy household and I don't really have any unpleasant memories of my times spent there.   I'm sure my first cousins would all agree.

Aunt Vivian and George Wild continued to date after graduating from Maple Hill High School.   George worked on his parent's farm, which was located in the Turkey Creek Community north of Maple Hill.   Aunt Vivian got a job in Topeka, and while I remember that it was clerical work, I don't recall what company she worked for.   They were engaged, and on September 25, 1953, they were married at the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church by Rev. Harold Wisegarver.   Their wedding reception was held in the American Legion Hall on Maple Hill's Main Street.   Their first home was in the upstairs apartment at the home of the bride's cousin, Charles M. and Bonnie (Thomas) Mitchell in Maple Hill, Kansas.

Uncle George Wild was just a great guy, always in the middle of everything fun and yet, I remember him as having a bashful side.   He was the son of George Randolph Wild, Sr. and Fern Ivy (Lacock) Wild and grew up on the family's farm in Turkey Creek.   He was a very hard worker.  He was born on June 28, 1932 and was about a year older than Aunt Vivian, although there were in the same class at Maple Hill High School.

Uncle George soon got a job as the custodian and bus driver for the Maple Hill Grade School.   It was great because I could get on his bus and ride to Grandmother and Grandfather Corbin's home, which I did regularly.   It wasn't long until they had moved to the old Meinhardt Farm north of Maple Hill, now owned by the Porter family.  I was invited to spend many weekends there and always enjoyed myself immensely.   Aunt Vivian and Uncle George kept a mild cow, a saddle horse, and lots of chickens.   They always had outdoor cats and spending the weekend there was full of good times.  I loved having homemade butter, fresh cream and all lots of good things to eat.   Uncle George would wake me up very early in the morning, and we'd drive to his parent's farm where he would scoop fresh silage out of their silage pit and take it to the cattle.  That insured that they always had fresh beef as well.   Uncle George's mother, Fern Wild had a huge garden on their river-bottom farm, and she was wonderful to can and freeze lots of food and share it with others.    Fern also loved antiques and visited auctions and shops, always finding bargains in poor condition which she refinished and made into beautiful heirlooms.

I'm not sure when Uncle George left the school job and began working for Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Topeka, Kansas.   He was still driving the school bus when I finished grade school at Maple Hill in 1958.    The work there was very hot and hard and Uncle George spent more than 30 years building tires.   Before long, they built a new home on Prairie Avenue in Maple Hill, Kansas.   They were both very proud of their new home, where they spent the rest of their lives.

Their first child, Randolph Corbin Wild, Sr., was born on September 26, 1955 and was nearly a second anniversary present!  Randy grew up in Maple Hill, Kansas and attended Maple Hill Grade School and graduated from St. Marys High School, St. Marys, Kansas.    Randy was a good athlete and enjoyed playing sports at St. Marys High School.

Randy married Kimberly A. Tarbutton, who was born March 26, 1959.   Kim is the daughter of Joseph E. and Donna (Vanlandingham) Tarbutton and has lived all of her life in Maple Hill, Kansas.   Kim attended Maple Hill Grade School, and St. Marys High School.   Kim was involved in school activities and was a cheerleader.

She and Randolph Corbin Wild, Sr. were married in the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church on September 29, 1979.   Kim and Randy were both active in the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church Pilgrim Fellowship youth group. 
Randy Wild has been employed for nearly 3 decades by Westar Energy at the Jeffery Energy Center north of St. Marys, Kansas.    Kim (Tarbutton) Wild is employed by the St. Marys Manor, St. Marys, Kansas.  They live in Maple Hill, Kansas.

Randy Wild recently celebrated his 58th birthday with a family dinner at the Brookville Hotel, Abilene, Kansas.  L-R are: Kim (Tarbutton) Wild, grandson Parker Heim, and Randolph Corbin Wild, Sr.

Randy and Kim Wild are the parents of three children:   Rebecca Ann, born July 1, 1980; Shannon Kay Wild, born May 29, 1983 and Randolph Corbin Wild, Jr. born December 20, 1984.

All three children attended Maple Hill Grade School and all three graduated from St. Marys High School, St. Marys, Kansas.  All of the children were active in school organizations and in athletics.

Rebecca "Becky" Wild, attended Maple Hill Grade School and St. Marys High School before graduating from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in 2003.  Becky was on an athletic scholarship at OPSU. 

Barry and Becky (Wild) Sandstrom

On June 10, 2006 she was married to Barry Sandstrom at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys, Kansas.   Becky (Wild) Sandstrom is employed by Unified School District #321 at St. Marys High School as a teacher and coach.  Barry Sandstrom is employed at Home Depot in Topeka, Kansas.  The Sandstroms live in Topeka, Kansas.

L-R:  Shannon Wild, Kimberly (Tarbutton) Wild, Rebecca (Wild) Sandstrom and Randy Wild.

Shannon Wild attended Maple Hill Grade School and graduated from Washburn University in 2005 with a degree in Health Sciences and Physical Therapy.   She was married to Wade Michael Heim on July 7, 2007 at First Methodist Church in Topeka, Kansas.   Wade attended schools in St. Marys, Kanas and Kansas State University in Manhattan.   Wade is currently employed as a civil engineer and Shannon is a Rehabilitation Director and CTPA Program Manager for Genesis Services in Wamego, Kansas.

L-R:  Shannon (Wild) and Wade Heim

Shannon and Wade Heim have one child, Parker Heim, born October 23, 2008 and are expecting another in 2014.    They are building a new home west of St. Marys, Kansas.

L-R:   Shannon (Wild), Parker Heim and Wade Heim

Randolph Corbin Wild, Jr., who is called Randy, attended Maple Hill High School and St. Marys High School and was graduated from Washburn University.     Randy played on the Washburn Ichabod Baseball Team and also played semi-professional baseball during summers.  Randy was named to the All-MIAA Baseball Team twice and threw several no-hit games as an Ichabod pitcher.  Randy is a Special Education teacher at St. Marys High School and is also head girls basketball coach.   He was married to Beth Mitchell of St. Marys, Kansas on July 3, 2010.  Beth is employed at Custom Woods of St. Marys.

L-R:   Randy and Beth (Mitchell) Wild


This is a 1964 Maple Hill Grade School photo of Pamela Mae Wild.

Pamela Mae Wild was born to George and Vivian (Corbin) Wild on July 18, 1958 at Gen Hospital in Wamego, Kansas.   Pam's family lived in Maple Hill, Kansas where she attended Maple Hill Grade School and graduated from St. Marys High School.

Pam and Russell John Martin, were married on March 19, 1977.  Russ Martin is the son of John H. and Anges Martin and was raised in the Emmett Community of Pottawatomie County, Kansas where he attended elementary school and graduated from St. Marys High School.  The couple met at St. Marys High School where both were students.

Pam and Russ have lived in the Maple Hill and Paxico Communities of Wabaunsee County all of their married lives.  Russ was a carpet installer and estimater at Country Carpets, Maple Hill, Kansas.    For more than 25 years, Pam has been the clerk of the Unified School District #321 at St. Marys, Kansas.   Russ and Pam built a new home on land north of Paxico, Kansas which had been in the Wild Family for several generations.   They continue to live there. 

Russ and Pam are the parents of two children: Ryan Christopher Martin and Hillary Leigh Martin.

The Ryan Martin Family: Back Row L-R: Ryan, Leo Christopher and Michelle (Pearl) Martin.  Front Row: Vivian Paige, and Atticus Michael Martin.   The occasion was the first communion of Vivian Martin at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys, Kansas.

Ryan Christopher Martin was born on July 28, 1977 and grew up in the Maple Hill, Paxico and St. Marys Communities where he attended schools.  Ryan was married to Michelle A. Pearl on June 1, 2002 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys, Kansas.   Michelle is the daughter of Gerald "Jerry" and Hildegard Pearl of St. Marys, Kansas.   Michelle attended and graduated from schools in St. Marys, Kansas.  Ryan is employed by Country Carpets, Maple Hill, Kansas and Michelle Martin is employed by US Stone Industries in St. Marys, Kansas.

L-R:  Vivian Paige, Atticus Michael and Leo Christopher Martin

Ryan and Michelle Martin are the parents of three children:  Vivian Paige born February 3, 2004, Atticus Michael, born December 5, 2005 and Leo Christopher Martin born March 9, 2010.     The Martins live in St. Marys, Kansas




The Mike and Hillary Brunin Family.

The second child of Russ and Pam Martin is Hillary Leigh Martin, born March 6, 1981.   Hillary is a graduate of St. Marys High School, St. Marys, Kansas.   On October 8, 2005 Hillary was married to Michael David Brunin At Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. Marys, Kansas.   Mike Brunin was born on March 2, 1982 and is the son of David and Kathy Brunin, St. Marys, Kansas.

Hillary (Martin) Brunin and twin sons Quinn and Corbin.

Mike and Hillary are the parents of twin sons, Quinn Robert and Corbin Nathaniel Brunin, born September 1, 2008.   The Brunins live in Eudora, Kansas where Hillary is a physical therapist and Mike is an architectural engineer.

Continuing With The Children of Robert and Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin Child Four: Sarah Emma Corbin

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.   

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 Forest Justice - 1945 Maple Hill High School graduation photograph.

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.

Robert "Skip" Justice was united in marriage with Jennifer Joel Volavka on May 22, 1994 at the Old Stone Church, Maple Hill, Kansas.  They later purchased a home in rural Shawnee County, near the western border between Wabaunsee and Shawnee Counties.

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.

Shall We Begin Again----I Think We Shall

I know----it haven't been very faithful to my readers!!!

I have done a lot of traveling this summer.   I enjoyed trips to Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Emigrant, Montana, Norfolk, Virginia, Maple Hill, Kansas and Cincinnati, Ohio.    Come on---I make no apologies---I'm going to be 69 next month and I have earned the right to enjoy a little travel.

However, I also take seriously the promises that I made to my paternal grandmother, Mable Rachel (Jones) Clark, to my maternal grandmother, Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin-Clark, and my dear mother, Lucille (Corbin) Clark.    These ladies shared hundreds of old, identified family photos and pages and pages of history which the understanding that I would share the information with anyone interested.

Over the past several months, I have written about the Corbin Family and I will continue to do so over this winter.   I was finishing the information about the James and Cynthia (Casteel) Corbin Family and I will continue to do so.   I will finish the information about George Washington and Sarah Ann "Sadie" (Todd) Corbin, and will then write about the two remaining children Martha Jane Corbin, who married Levi L. Plumber and Nancy Anna Corbin, who married Edgar Bell.   Both sisters lived most of their lives in Adams County, Nebraska.

It is interesting that I grew up knowing my Corbin Grandpartents, Robert and Mildred (McCauley) Corbin, and also Robert's siblings, Ira Corbin, Edna Corbin and Sylvia Corbin, but I never once heard any of them mention their Corbin cousins in Nebraska.   I now know that when they were young, the Corbin's exchanged visits from their homes in Ayr, Nebraska and Wichita, Kansas---but even my mother (Robert's daughter Lucille (Corbin) Clark) never mentioned knowing that there were cousins in Nebraska.  I have really enjoyed getting acquainted with several of them.

Once finished with the descendants of James and Cynthia (Casteel) Corbin, I will move to the Clark Family and then the McCauley Family.    As any of you who have worked with genealogy know, while I mention only three surnames, the descendants of these ancestors and the surnames involved will number in the hundreds.  

At the current time, I have nearly 5000 families represented in my "Kith and Kin" Family Tree at www.ancestry.com.     It has been a labor of love, but one that I have very much enjoyed.   My greatest joy, however, comes in sharing that family information with you gentle readers.

From time to time I will also be writing articles about my hometown, Maple Hill, Kansas.    I have now become email correspondents with the descendants of George W. Fowler, who is the founder of Maple Hill.   They have generously shared family photographs and genealogical information which I will share.   They are very much aware of Fowler's involvement in developing the town of Maple Hill as well as the ranching community which surrounds it.    There will be other articles about Maple Hill families and history.

So with that announcement, I am "back in the game" as they say.    I will begin writing articles within a day or two.    Here's hoping you are enjoying "Happy Trails!"

Nick Clark

Beautiful Big Sky Country and the Yellowstone River in Montana.

July 2013 visit to son Nicholas, wife Natalie, Lian and Mia Clark---outside the Virginia Aquarium.

Grampee, Will and Wyatt Allendorf (two of Amy's boys) making bread sticks for dinner during an October 2013 visit.

October 2013 "reunion" in Kansas for the wedding of Katy Lynn Clark and Josh Ray.   L-R are Rich Allendorf, son Weston, my daughter Amy (Clark) Allendorf, holding Will Allendorf, Wyatt Allendorf, Uncle Les Justice, husband of Sarah Emma (Corbin) Justice, and my brother, Gary Wayne Clark.    Happy days!!

Will and Wyatt Allendorf playing soccer near their home in Cincinnati, Ohio on a beautiful day in October 2013.
 

John Harlan Durham: Early Maple Hill Pioneer

I doubt anyone living in Wabaunsee County, Kansas would recognize the name, John Harlan "J.H." Durham today, but as a student of Maple Hill Township History, I am well acquainted with Mr. Durham.

According to Cutler's "History of the State of Kansas," the following were the first settlers in what is today Maple Hill Township:  Henry Fauerbach, John Winkler and John H. Durham, all of whom came in 1868.

In at least one case, I know that date to be inaccurate.  Henry Fauerbach was a teamster who drove oxen pulling wagons heavy with supplies all the way west to California.  In an interview made during his lifetime, he states that he first visited the Maple Hill vicinity in 1858, a date later repeated by his daughter Charlotte "Lottie" (Fauerbach) Clark on her 90th birthday in Paxico, Kansas.   Perhaps the 1868 date is when Fauerbach first entered a land claim with the United States Government.

At any rate, I have no reason to doubt that John H. Durham first settled in the eastern portion of Maple Hill Township in 1868.   His father, Jeremiah Durham was an early resident of Topeka, Kansas where he was associated with several businesses, but perhaps the longest as an agricultural implement dealer.

 

This illustration is from the 1885 Atlas of Wabaunsee County, Kansas and represents the northeastern portion of Maple Hill Township.  The 160 acre farm of John H. Durham is found in between those of Robert McClelland and Charles H. Geiger. 

 

Just as an aside, John H. Durham was the first owner of this farm, which was purchased by Horace Greely Adams, Sr. in 1888 and became the nucleus of his cattle empire.  Other owners of the farm have been Mr. and Mrs. George Hunterfund, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kemble, and currently the farm is owned by Wabaunsee County Commissioner James Suber and his wife Jeannette.

 

The earliest mention of John H. Durham in Wabaunsee County newspapers comes in the Maple Hill News Items of 1872:  "September 25, 1872 - At the meeting of the Wabaunsee County Agricultural Society Fair in Newbury, the following persons were elected officers of the society beginning January 1, 1873:  J. M. Bisby, President, Wabaunsee City; John Durham, Vice President, Maple Hill; W. W. Cone, Secretary, Dover; Harvey Loomis, Executive Committee, Dover; A. Sellers, Alma, Joseph Fields, Wilmington, Eugene Bourassa, Maple Hill, Enoch Platt, Wabaunsee, and R. J. Stephenson, Newbury, members of the Executive Committee."

 

Also in the September 25, 1872 Maple Hill News Items was this information: "Mr. John Durham of Maple Hill, was elected Treasurer of the Mill Creek Valley and Council Grove Railway.   Offices are now open for purchase of stock at Alma and Maple Hill."

 

I haven't done any research into the history of the Mill Creek Valley and Council Grove Railway, but when this article was written, there was a virtual hysteria of railroad talk in Wabaunsee County.  The Potawatomi Indians had been removed from the area by an 1870 treaty and the United States Congress was about to designate

much of the land in their reservations as railroad land.  These railroad lands were in the form of grants to railroads that built lines through Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma in an effort to reach the West Coast. 

 

Railroads sold every other section of land at from $2.50 to $7.00 per acre, and the proceeds were used to fund the building of railroads.   These funds were used extensively by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in building their line from Atchison, Kansas to Santa Fe, New Mexico and eventually on west to Los Angeles, California.    John H. Durham was only one of hundreds of enterprising men who hoped to make huge profits from railroad stock sales.

 

John H. Durham was descended from a prominent old Virginia family with English roots.  Many of his direct ancestors fought on the American side in the Revolution and were handsomely rewarded.  One of the most prominent was his great grandfather, John Durham, Sr.  Durham Sr. was born in Stafford County, Virginia in 1742 and died in Mercer County, Kentucky in 1817.  John Durham, Sr. was also prominent in the development of the Methodist Church west of the Alleghany Mountains.   At www.ancestry.com you will find "The Durham Family Tree," which I have just completed.   It begins in the early 1600s and continues through the 1950s when the last of John and Minerva Durham's children died.

 

 

This is a portrait of John Durham, Sr. in the possession of a descendant.

 

 

This plaque is proudly displayed at the headquarters of the Kentucky Conference of Methodist Churches in Danville, Kentucky.

 

John Harlan Durham was born at Brown, Montgomery County, Indiana on November 22, 1833 the eldest child of Jeremiah Briscoe and Minerva Pain (Walker) Durham.  Jeremiah and Minerva Durham were both born in Kentucky, he in 1806 and she in 1807.   They were married in Kentucky and removed to Montgomery County, Indiana prior to the 1830 U. S. Census.

 

In a Harlan Family Genealogy book, Jeremiah B. Durham says that he and his family removed from Indiana to Topeka, Kansas in 1868. 

 

The Maple Hill News Items for August 20, 1873 report this news:  "Township officials for Maple Hill are:  Moses Thompson, Trustee; [Samuel] S. Wakley, Clerk; and J. H. Durham, Treasurer."  John Durham had lived in the county only six years but he was already becoming a leader and politically active.

The Maple Hill News Items of January 13, 1875 include this article:  "Mr. J. H. Durham of Maple Hill, was in Alma to seek aid for the destitute of his township.  He says the number is greater than imagined.   News Items for February 12, 1875 further state:  "The destitute families in the area have been greatly aided by out township relief committee, consisting of Mr. J. H. Durham and Mr. S. S. Blyton."

 

Aid was needed because of the nearly total devastation caused by the Great Grasshopper Plague of August 1874.   This map will show the extent of the invasion, which was caused by an extraordinarily wet year and perfect conditions for grasshopper eggs to hatch.

 

 

If Kansas Pioneers through they had found Ethiopia, they were soon brought to their knees by this invasion of millions and millions of grasshoppers.  Kansas and Wabaunsee County newspapers are replete with horrific stories.  The grasshoppers ate anything that was green, tree leafs, crops, grasses, and also anything that had salt such as horse harness, broom and rake handles.   Nothing was spared and pioneer residents found themselves without cash crops or the necessary feed for live stock.   Aid came primarily from East Coast churches and also through the national Grange, but in general, it was too little too late for many who gave up and moved East or West.

 

 

This is an illustration published by the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.  It shows the futility farmers felt by the grasshopper invasion.

 

 

This illustration shows a farm family raking up and burning piles of grasshoppers.  The devastation at Maple Hill, was no less severe than in any other location from North Dakota to the Texas Panhandle.

If families survived the Great Grasshopper Plague, there were better years ahead.  Crops over the next five years were good and growing conditions were excellent.  The Kansas Agricultural Census of 1880 reports the follow for the farm of John H. Durham:

Total Acerage:  160 of which 138 were in some way used for crop and hay production.
There were 30 acres of "good hay" which was being mown and stacked for feed.
Durham had planted 7 acres of oats which produced a yield of 200 bushels, all used to feel livestock.  The family had one acre of garden and additional acre of potatoes, with the one acre yielding 30 bushels of potatoes.  There was one acre of tobacco which produced #100 pounds, most of which was sold.  There was 65 acres of corn, which yielded 2500 bushels.  Shelled corn sold for 43 cents per bushel in 1880, which yielded a profit of $1,075.00.  Mr. Durham had a buggy team, four Percheron work horses, seven milk cows (which produced #300 of butter) six steers, eight pigs, and 25 laying hens.    The land, with improvements and livestock, was valued at $4,440.00.  All in all, the farm provided a modest income for Mr. Durham, who likely would not have survived the financial losses of the Great Grasshopper Plague without the help of his father, who was a successful Topeka businessman.

At the time John Durham lived at Maple Hill, his family consisted of his wife Mary Ellen (Imes) Durham, and ten children: Merritt (1870), Lillie (1871), Albert (1873), Celia (1876), Mary (1878), John W. (1879), Sarah (1881), Dora (1883), Thomas W. (1885) and Eva (1887).

I find no mention of the family in Maple Hill News Items between 1875 and 1884, when the following was reported:  "May 4 – A cyclone destroyed the tenant house on J. H. Durham’s Ranch on Sunday evening.  The house was occupied by Mr. Durham's tenant family, the H. M. Listers.  Everything was lost."   There is no mention that Mr. Durham's residence or farm buildings were damaged.

Then in the spring of 1888, there are two articles stating that John H. Durham is leaving the Maple Hill Community.

March 15, 1888 – Mr. John Durham has rented his farm and left for a better climate.  His health is poorly.

 

May 10, 1888 - Mr. H. G. Adams has purchased the farm of John H. Durham.

 

If John H. Durham did settle on the farm in 1868, as Cutler suggests, he lived in Maple Hill Township for twenty years, leaving a record of exemplary citizenship.

 

I have no direct evidence of where the John H. Durham family went when they left Maple Hill, however I believe that they may have lived for some time with his elderly mother in Topeka, Kansas.   His father died in 1882 and his mother in 1889.  Both are buried in Topeka, Kansas.

 

Unfortunately, the 1890 U. S. Census was destroyed by fire.   That census would have provided a great deal of information.   The next time we find John H. Durham on a census is the 1892 Washington Territorial Census.   John Durham and his entire family, including a new child Ethel, are residents of Bothell, King County, Washington Territory.  Evidence of the timing of their move from Kansas to Washington can be found in that an eleventh child has been born, a daughter Ethel born in Kansas in 1890.

John Durham is listed as a general farmer, living on a farm he owns, valued at $3,000.

 

John Durham and his family remained in the King County/Seattle area for the remainder of their lives.  John H. Durham died on October 15, 1927 and is buried in Woodinville, King County, Washington.  His wife Mary Ellen (Imes) Durham died February 14, 1941 at the age of 96, and is also buried in Woodinville, King County, Washington.   I can find no evidence that any of the children ever lived in Kansas.  I have completed their family genealogy and it would appear that all of them lived in Washington State most of their lives, excluding military service.

 

(Note:   I have not been able to find any photographs of John Harlan Durham.  If any readers can furnish one, I will gladly add it to this blog post.   Thanks!!)

 

 

 

 

Maple Hill Family Histories

I love genealogy, my own and that of others.   Since I also love history and have research and written about my hometown, Maple Hill, Kansas, I am also interested in the genealogy of the early families who settled there.

I have several of these family genealogies on-line now at www.ancestry.com

These are genealogies that anyone can look at, copy and use.   I am not one of those people who like to do the work and then keep it only for my use.   I know there are a lot of people who would enjoy the information and therefore, the family genealogy, photos and information I have found are all open for you and others friends to use.

Keep in mind that while there may be only one name in the title of the family history, there may be hundreds of names and family lines included in the genealogy because of the family marriages.   For instance, "The Warren Family" also includes the Adams, Stewart and many other early Maple Hill families because of family marriages.  The Jerrue Family also includes the Winklers and other early families in Maple Hill, because as a for instance, Emerald Jerrue married a Winkler.   So these files may be very interesting and include a much broader list of names than the one or two names in the family tree file listing.

Here is a list of the genealogies and family trees that I have online:

The Sage Family - This family migrated from England and settled in the Maple Hill
                                       and Dover areas.  
The Warren Family - The Warrens came from the East Coast in 1874 and settled
                                       along Mill Creek.  Members of the family married into the
                                       Adams and Stewart Families, which were also early settlers.
The Janes Family - Melancton W. Janes settled about three miles east of Maple Hill
                                       in the 1870s.   He was a wealthy land speculator from Ohio
                                       who built a huge mansion.   The house burned, but the
                                       cattle and horse barn still stands on the Johnnie Miller farm
                                       in Eastern Wabaunsee County.
The Dutton-Teeter-Fauerbach Family - Henry Fauerbach was one of the earliest
                                       settlers in what became Maple Hill Township.   He and his
                                       wife Charlotte had many children and their marriages
                                       touched most of the early families in Maple Hill. 
The Jerrue Family - You'll find interesting information about this family who settled
                                       west of Maple Hill in the 1870s on what is today the Imthurn
                                       Ranch.   Emerald Jerrue was quite a well-known opera star
                                       and sang in not only in Topeka and Kansas City but in
                                       Chicago.   She married into the Winkler Family, one of the
                                       earliest to settle along the south side of Mill Creek.  John
                                       Winkler was Maple Hill's first postmaster.
The Rufus A. King Family - Rufus A King was well-known because he murdered at
                                        least three people in the early 1900s, burying them in his
                                        livery stable and hanging at least one body in a gunny sack
                                        in a building at this home.   He was convicted and died in the
                                        Kansas State Penitentiary.

I'm working on other trees but have not yet completed them.   If you have questions about your family, don't hesitate to email me.   I may already have information about them and if not, I'll be happy to get on-line at Ancestry.com and look for them.

Here's the website address again:    www.ancestry.com      Once you're there, just put the family tree name provided above into the search window, and soon you'll be learning a lot about Maple Hill pioneers!

Happy Trails!!

That Wonderful Mother of Mine

My mother, Mrs. Lucille (Corbin) Clark.

June 2003, age 82.



Call me sentimental and mushy---I don't care.   This is Mother's Day weekend and I can't let it pass without remembering my mother, Lucille (Corbin) Clark.  Now the problem is where to begin, since I have so many memories I know I can't include them all.

Lucille Clark loved "baptizing" her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.   She loved putting them in her kitchen sink, and like most mothers, looking them over carefully to see that everything was "alright."  This picture of Lucille was taken on April 21, 2008.  Mom was 87.  Pictured are Lucille (Corbin) Clark, her granddaughter, Amy (Clark) Allendorf, and great grandson, Wyatt Nicholas Allendorf. 

First and foremost, there was never a second I doubted that my mother loved me.   The four Clark brothers used to joke that Mom killed two lilac bushes getting switches to punish us---but it wasn't that bad and she never gave us punishment we didn't deserve.   

She passed away at nearly 90 on January 5, 2011.  My family stood for over five hours as people came to offer us their condolensces.   The phrase I remember hearing most often was, "Your Mom always knew how to cheer me up.   Before you could get a word out, she would grab you, give you a hug and say, 'Well how are you doing today Honey?'"  That was just the way Mom was.   She really didn't know an enemy and she'd say, "Don't let the sun set on your anger."  If only I could come somewhere close to what she taught me.

I remember as a small child, how my mom took what life dished out and never complained.   We didn't have running water in the house, so on Monday's she would take our little red wagon, put two five gallon buckets in it, and we would go the 100' from the house to the well where we'd pump the buckets full and then take them to the back porch where the Maytag washer was kept.  It would take 8 or ten trips to fill the washing machine and both the galvenized tubs for rinsing the wash.  Then she'd connect the submersible water heater to the electric outlet and wait for an hour until the water was heated in the washer.   Then she'd wash the white clothing (underware and Sunday shirts) followed by our colored shirts and finally the jeans.  Bluing always went into the wash water and an additional step was required for the things that had to be starched.   The wash had to be hung on the clothes line, whether it was 100 degrees or -10 below zero.   I remember when Mom got her first washer and drier in the 1960s.  When Maurice Meseke delivered them, I noticed the tears running down Mom's face.    I wondered why she was crying at the time.   Now, I fully realize what a blessing that washer and dryer were for her.  My generation and those that have followed take all that for granted.

Mom was a member of the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church for almost her entire life.   She loved the church, she loved the Sunday School and singing in the choir.   So it was only natural for her to make sure that her four sons were also in Sunday School and church every Sunday.  When our family and the Corbin family sat down for worship, it usually filled a couple of pews.  Since Mom sang in the choir, we sat with our grandparents, Robert and Mildred (McCauley) Corbin.   Mom taught Sunday School as long as we were in grade and high school, and then sporadically for the next 30 years.   She sang in the choir for over 50 years and finally retired when she thought her voice was too "croaky."

I suppose it was only natural that I would love to sing, although I will give God credit for gifting me with a voice and ear adapted to singing.   From the time we were 5 or 6 years old, Mom would teach us songs and then Aunt Joan (Corbin) Andrews-Frazier, or Mrs. Lois (Howard) Hammarlund, would accompany us as we sang for programs, contests and church.  I loved to sing and play the piano, I still do, and I give all the credit to my Mother's love of music.


Robert Corbin in his World War I uniform.  He was in the US Army and served as an ambulance driver in France.  As a child, I loved to hear him tell about how much he hated the mules that pulled the ambulances!


My Mother and Grandmother Corbin (and all of the Corbin family) were charter and/or long-time members of the American Legion Auxiliary in Maple Hill.  It was chartered in 1921 and they joined in honor of the service of Robert Corbin, who was a "doughboy" in France during World War I.  The Auxilary women all worked incredibly hard to build and pay for the two-story American Legion Hall on Maple Hill's Main Street.   They often had programs and teas where there was always a musical program.

I remember when I was about 10-years-old, my mom and Lois Hammarlund decided that I should sing a solo for the Annual Poppy Day Tea at the American Legion Hall.  Lois and mom chose, "That Wonderful Mother of Mine" as the song I should sing.   It was appropriate in that the poppy tea always fell on the second Saturday of May, the day before Mother's Day.   Lois played beautifully as she always did, and I sang in my little soprano voice.   There wasn't a dry eye in the house when I finished, and for twenty more years, I sang the song every Mother's Day in church.    Here's a rendition done by a men's chorus.   I think you'll agree it's a beautiful song and the words are incredibly meaningful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZuS1UbqLVg

When I was 11 and my brother Gary was 8, my mom and dad were "surprised" with the birth of twins, Steven K. and Stanley J. Clark.  Mom always said have twins so late in life kept her young--and to a degree, I suppose it did.   They were happy, healthy little babies and they kept all of us running!    In effect, it gave her two families to nurture and love.  Gary graduated from high school in 1965, and the twins graduated in 1973 so it doubled the time mom and dad spent in auditoriums watching basketball or sitting on baseball diamonds watch children play.   They loved sports.   Dad umpired and pitched baseball until he was past 50 and Mom worked in the concession stand and supported Dad and her children in every way she could.

After Gary and I were out of high school, Mom became the secretary at Maple Hill Grade School.   She was really in her element there.   I think answering the phone, typing reports, keeping track of lunch money and helping the teaching staff was really secondary.  What she really enjoyed was the daily contact with 80 or 90 children.   She treated each one as her own child and at her funeral, dozens of those children came to tell us what she had done for them.  Mom was happiest when she was dishing our love in huge proportions.

If  I could turn back the clock 50 years, I know exactly what I would be doing today.  By 8am, my mother, both grandmothers and all four of we brothers would be mustered into service gathering flowers and containers to be placed for "Decoration Day."   I don't know how long they had been puttin flowers on the graves of relatives and friends but they were surely following that custom by he time I was old enough to rmember in 1950, and we continued to do so until I moved away from Maple Hill, in 1978.

We would pick iris, peonies, spirea, asparagus fern, and anything else that was in bloom,and put the flowers into the trunk of a couple of cars.   The we would take boxes of blue Ball jars and gallon containers of water and we would set off for cemeteries where we had relatives buried.  

That would have included The Green Cemetery near Willard, Kansas, the Bethlehem Cemetery near Snokomo, the Phillips Cemetery on the hillside above Merle and Nora Lietz's home, and finally we would head for the Old Stone Church Cemeter at Maple Hill.   In each location, we would make flower arrangements in Ball Jars, take a small spade, remove a little soil,tamp the jar and soil into the ground and all the while, we would be talking about the relatives tha were buried there.   Perhaps that's why I remember stories about my ancestors.

 

We'd deliver the flowers to all locations on Saturday, because we always attended services at the Old Stone Church on Memorial Day Sunday.  The men of the James Elmer Romick American Legion Post would form a firing line before services and would offer a three-shot salute before forming a processing and carrying the American Flag and other appropriate flags into the church.   Family dinners and a community pot luck always followed the services.

 

The Old Stone Church and Cemetery, Maple Hill, Kansas. This photograph shows the church after it restored following the tornado of 1994, which completely destroyed the building. The Eliot Union Congregational Church was dedicated in August 1882 and was used until 1905, when a new church, the Maple Hill Community Congregational Church, was dedicated in the town of Maple Hill. The "new" church had formerly served as the Maple Hill Elementary School. The land was owned and doated by Maple Hill's founder, George A. Fowler, who also donated $5,000 towards the remodeling. After 1905, the stone church was used for weddings, funerals and Memorial Day Services. The cemetery continues to be the primary burial ground for the town of Maple Hill. This photograph was taken in 2008.  Mother was so proud of the newly placed marker honoring the James Elmer Romick American Legion Post. L-R are Lucille (Corbin) Clark and her eldest son, Nicholas L. Clark, Sr.

I could certainly continue with any number of stories about my Mother.  As gathered at her bedside, her last words to us were.  "I love you and I want you to always love each other."    We loved you Mom, and with your example, how could we do anything but love.

I wish all of my readers a very happy Mother's Day Weekend!!