100 years ago
april 26, 1906
Jack Griffith
This is the way we all knew him. He came to Marion county, Kansas, in 1860, then a totally uninhabited country except the ranches known as Lost Springs and Moore's ranch on the Santa Fe Trail. With him were William H. Billings and family, Geo. Griffith and family and William P. Shrieves and family. Their nearest post-office was Emporia, 50 miles distant. I have said the country was uninhabited. Not so, however, for on all sides were the Merceless Cheyenne, Comanche, Arrapahoe, Kechi and Sioux tribes of savages. Five or six years had he braved the hardships, terrible they were, before the writer of this came to make on more in the settlement. The first night after my arrival as I camped in my wagon, I came to know him as my friend, and now as I write this, let me ask whose friend was he not? To whom did he knowingly do an injury? Jack may have had his failings — can we call them faults? No. Show me the individual, the pioneer who spent the years of his young manhood on the frontier away from civilization and its good influence that is perfect, if you can. Jack Griffith had as good and kind and soft a heart as any of us. His life struggle was a hard one as the world looks at life. Jack was truthful, honest and sincere. I knew him well. About two months ago I spent a couple of hours with him in his home, listening to his talk of early days. Glad I am, that I went to see him on that occasion. It was a pleasure to me, and now that death has taken him from our midst, I realize from that one visit how much I have lost in the 40 years that have passed since I first knew him, had I taken the time to visit him in his home frequently. Yes, 40 years, for it is now 40 years yesterday that I left my home in Pennsylvania for Kansas. Dear old Jack Griffith, pioneer who paved the way for the happy homes we enjoy — let us not soon forget him. Forget his faults if he had any — I don't know that he had — he may at times have been thoughtless. Let us forget all that in looking at life from his standpoint, perhaps not ours. The old pioneers are passing away one by one and quite frequently of late, and it is with great regret I realize this, for they are all dear to me, I cherish their memory. I shall no more hear his friendly greeting or see his happy and pleasant old face. How I wish I could have been with him at the last and said "Goodbye old pioneer."
Alex E. Case
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Marion was the second town in the state to send in a contribution for the relief of the San Francisco sufferers. $241 was raised and sent in last Friday morning. O.C. Billings, Fred Funk and W.H. Carpenter took the initiative and collected the money.
The Durham Schools
The Durham schools closed last Friday, April 20th, and from the sentiment expressed by the patrons and citizens in general, this was one of the best and most successful ever taught there. The closing exercises were marked by an event that was both fitting and patriotic — the erection of a large and handsome monument by the school children of Durham, on the "old Santa Fe Trail." This is the first monument ever erected in Marion county for marking the "Trail" by school children. A large and enthusiastic gathering of people were present to witness the event. Music was furnished by the Durham Cornet Band. An appropriate program arranged by Prin. Hildreth and his assistants, was rendered by the schools. Miss Mae McIntosh, teacher of the intermediate department, read a well prepared paper on the history of Durham, and Prin. Hildreth, in well chosen words, reviewed the history of the Durham Schools. Addresses were made by Supt. Ray, Hon. J.S. Dean and Mr. Alex Case. Altogether the occasion was full of interest and enjoyment to all present.
Too much cannot be said in praise and appreciation of such a teacher as Mr. Hildreth and his worthy assistants, Miss McIntosh and Miss Rice. By their faithful and conscientious labors, they have placed the Durham school on a footing with the very best of its kind in the county.
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J.B. Betts, the contractor, and J.C. Holland, the architect, for the new court house, were down from Topeka last Tuesday. Mr. Holland determined the grades and set the stakes for the building. Excavation will be begun next week. The building is to set back sixty feet from Third street, and will also be sixty feet from Fourth street.
A number of Marion people have relatives at San Francisco, but so far have been unable to get any news from them since the earth quake. Mr. Tom Matlock has a sister there. The Wibles, the Hannafords, the Blanchards and the Locklins also have relatives there.
